By Monday Ijeh

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to the protection of human rights, peace and unity in Nigeria and Africa.

Minister of Police Affairs, Alhaji Mohammad Dingyadi, disclosed this in a statement by Mr Odutayo Oluseyi, the Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry on Saturday in Abuja.

The minister made his known when he received the Canadian Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Nicholas Simard during a courtesy visit.

Dingyadi said the relations between Nigeria and Canada had grown stronger over the years and provided the needed support in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria.

He said that the two countries would not relent in their quest to support and promote human rights, peace and unity in Nigeria and others parts of Africa.

He said the EndSARS protests started with youth making legitimate demands which government acceded to but was eventually hijacked by hoodlums.

Earlier, Simard said Nigeria was a multi-faceted developing country, with insecurity posing a great challenge to its growth.

He said the challenge had become a thing of worry, hence the advocacy for the upholding of human rights in the country.

Simmard applauded the Nigeria police for the overwhelming services rendered to him since his arrival in the country, especially during his tour to assess the level of damage during the EndSars protest.

He said the Canadian government had concluded plans to support the Nigerian government with the sum of 10 million dollars to build the capacity of police personnel. (NAN)

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with Chief Bisi Akande, the pioneer Chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), as he marks his 82nd birthday.

In a congratulatory message by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday Buhari described Akande as “one of the biggest and strongest pillars of democracy in the country.

Buhari said that Akande, a former Governor of Osun, was committed to service of the country and welfare of all citizens.

“The party he helped to form and lead as the pioneer chairman has benefited tremendously, and continues to benefit from his astute leadership, wisdom and strong democratic convictions,” Buhari added.

The president prayed for Akande’s good health and longer life so that the elder statesman would continue to be useful to his fatherland and humanity. (NAN)

By AbdulFatai Beki

Some of residents of the ldofian community in lfelodun local government area of Kwara on Saturday embarked on a protest over non completions of one kilometer excavated portion of the ongoing rehabilitation of Ilorin-ldofian road project.

The residents including aged and children blocked the Federal highway that links the community with other towns, condemning what they described as abandonment of one kilometer portion of the road which had been excavated.

The protest, which lasted for over four hours led to long queue of vehicles passing through the community that also led to disruption of both vehicular and human traffic.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the protesters mounted road blocks and bonfire of tyres on the road.

It deprived motorists and pedestrians from going about their normal business activities in the town.

Leader of the protesters and personal Assistant to Oludofian of Idofian, Alhaji Salihu Balogun, while speaking with newsmen said the road was causing various health implications and obstructing business activities in the town.

“The heavy dust emanating from the abandoned portion of the road had led to closure of many shops including some houses on the road,” he said.

Some shop owners, who decried the effect of the dust on their health and their businesses, appealed to the government to do the needful.

The youth leader in the community, Mr Kamaldeen Jimoh, said that the community had written many letters to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency and the Kwara State Government to assist in the rehabilitation of the road without response.

In a reaction, the Federal Controller of Works in Kwara, Mr Wasiu Atitebi, while speaking with NAN, appealed to the community to exercise patience with the federal government on the completion of one project.

Atitebi said that the contractor handing the project was still on site and would start the job as soon as he got mobilisation.

“The road project has been captured in 2021 Appropriation bill, the community should give the federal government time to start implementing the budget,” the Controller said. (NAN)

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for initiating the Extended Special Public Works Programme aimed at addressing mass unemployment in the country.

Mr Austine Elemue, Special Assistant on Media to the minister in a statement on Saturday, in Abuja, said Aliyu made the commendation at the Kogi state inauguration of the programme in Lokoja township stadium.

The minister explained that the interventionist programme, approved in October 2019 was specifically for 1,000 persons each from the 774 Local Government Areas of the country for temporary employment during the dry season.

Aliyu, who acknowledged that although the programme was not entirely new in Nigeria, however, said that it was the first time in Nigeria government was focusing on unskilled workers.

She said that before now, the emphasis has been on unemployed graduates and skilled workers.

“These types of programmes were used during the Great Depression by industrialised nations to immediately respond to grinding poverty at the lowest level of the society that normally bear the brunt of such economic upheavals.

“The programme was also effectively used during Colonial Africa to quickly respond to situations such as drought and famine by mobilising the unskilled persons to engage in other labour intensive infrastructural projects as a means of immediately alleviating their situation.

“The programme is not entirely new to Nigeria as the National Directorate of Employment in collaboration with International Labour Organisation (ILO) first introduced it in the mid 90s.

“Even though, the ILO itself derived the idea of Special Public Works programme from several historical templates.

“Let me add that although the programme is not entire new, but what is novel is the fact that this is the first time Nigerian government is focusing on unskilled workers.

“Before now, the emphasis has been on unemployed graduates and skilled workers,” Aliyu said.

She, therefore, enjoined the participants especially from Kogi to reciprocate the gesture of the President by diligently executing their assigned roles through out the duration of the short-term but fruitful engagement of the programme.

Earlier, Malam Abubakar Fikpo, the Acting Director-General, National Directorate of Employment, stated that the initiative would have commenced some three months ago, but was regrettably delayed due to unnecessary and unavoidable circumstances.

Fikpo noted that with the launch of the programme, the communities would witness a facelift through the activities of specific works to be carried out by participants ranging from drainage clearing and maintenance, vegetation control, feeder roads amongst others.

He  gave the assurance that participants were duly documented and their details captured by designated banks to guarantee a fraud free, transparent and fair service delivery.

The acting D-G stressed that in order to ensure effective monitoring of the scheme, supervisors were appointed in all the electoral wards of the country. (NAN)

By Ebere Agozie

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, (SAN) has denied the allegation that he collected gratification  from the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio in respect of the appointment of a Sole Administrator for the NDDC.

Malami made the denial in a statement issued by Dr Umar Gwandu, his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, in Abuja, on Friday.

He said that his attention had been drawn to a fictitious and malicious publication, by alleged mischief makers, describing the report as ”fake and marred by contradictions, saying that it was a figment of the imagination of the writer, sheer fabrications and filthy assumptions of mischief makers and detractors”.

“Any discerning mind who read the story will not fail to note the desperate attempt to cast aspersions on the Attorney General of the Federation and dent his hard earned reputation, with unsubstantiated allegations spread by perfidious elements.

“The Minister, hereby, makes an outright denial of the report in its entirety.

“The Minister has not collected and does not intend at any time to receive any gratification from any dealing in discharging any function he is constitutionally empowered to perform”, the statement said.

Malami, who stated that gratification was a criminal offence, therefore, called on Nigerians to disregard the publication.

“Let individuals who have any information regarding those who facilitated, accepted, delivered or took part in one way or another in the alleged offer and purported acceptance of gratification for me or my office, come out publicly with the information with a view to exposing them and taking further necessary action’’.

He asked the purveyors of the fictitious publication to approach relevant security and law enforcement agencies, and proffer information that could lead to a criminal investigation against him, if they felt strongly enough about their purported claim.

By Ismaila Chafe

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed his condolence over the death of Alhaji Abdulkadir Jeli Abubakar, Dikkon Sokoto, the Commissioner of Home Affairs in Sokoto State.

The deceased was the younger brother of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III.

Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja, said Buhari conveyed his feelings in a condolence message to the Sultan on Friday.

The president said: “I have received with great shock and profound sadness the death of your younger brother, Alhaji Jeli Abubakar.

”As he answered the call of his creator, may God forgive his shortcomings and reward his good deeds with aljanna. May Allah comfort you over this incalculable loss of your dear brother.”

Buhari also condoled with the family of the deceased as well as Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State for losing someone dear to all of them.(NAN)

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Heirs Holdings (HH) an affiliate of Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) has acquired 45 per cent participating interest in Nigerian oil licence OML 17 from Shell Petroleum, Total and ENI.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Chike Anikwe, Acting Group Company Secretary, Transcorp made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.

According to the statement, the transaction is one of the largest oil and gas financings in Africa in more than a decade, with a financing component of $1.1 billion, provided by a consortium of global and regional banks and investors.

It said that the transaction was through TNOG Oil and Gas Limited (a related company of Heirs Holdings and Transcorp), which will have sole oparatorshio of the asset from Shell Petroleum Development Nigeria Plc, Total E&P Nigeria Limited and ENI.

Mr Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Heirs Holdings, said in the statement: “We have a very clear vision: creating Africa’s first integrated energy multinational, a global quality business, uniquely focused on Africa and Africa’s energy needs.

“The acquisition of such a high quality asset, with significant potential for further growth, is a strong statement of our confidence in Nigeria, the Nigerian oil and gas sector and a tribute to the extremely high-quality management team that we have assembled.

“As a Nigerian, and more particularly an indigene of the Niger Delta region, I understand well our responsibilities that come with stewardship of the asset, our engagement with communities and the strategic importance of the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

“We see significant benefits from integrating our production, with our ability to power Nigeria, through Transcorp, and deliver value across the energy value chain,” he said.

Elumelu further said: “I would like to thank Shell, Total and ENI, for the professionalism of the process, the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and the NNPC for the confidence they have placed in us,” he noted.

Speaking on the investment, Mr Owen Omogiafo, the President and Group Chief Executive Officer, of Transcorp, said that the transaction was an evidence of the company’s strategy to power Africa.

“This deal further demonstrates Transcorp’s integrated energy strategy and our determination to power Africa.”

Heirs Holdings was advised by Standard Chartered Plc, as Global Coordinator, and United Capital Plc, with a syndicate of lending institutions including Afreximbank, ABSA, Africa Finance Corporation, Union Bank of Nigeria, Hybrid Capital, and global asset management firm Amundi.

The deal also involves Schlumberger as a technical partner, as well as the trading arm of Shell as an offtaker.

According to the statement, OML 17 has a current production capacity of 27,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and, according to our estimates, 2P reserves of 1.2 billion barrels of oil equivalent, with an additional 1 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources of further exploration potential.

The investment demonstrates an advance in the execution of Heirs Holdings’ integrated energy strategy and the Group’s commitment to Africa’s development, through long term investments that create economic prosperity and social wealth.

Heirs Holdings’ heritage and approach to business fundamentally underscores its commitment to inclusive development and shared prosperity with its host communities. Heirs Holdings is fully invested in the development of the Niger Delta region.

The statement also reported that Heirs Holdings’ strategy of creating the leading integrated energy business in Africa is executed through a series of strategic portfolio holdings.

Transcorp is one of the largest power producers in Nigeria, with 2,000 MW of installed capacity, through ownership of Transcorp Power Plant and the recent acquisition of Afam Power Plc and Afam Three Fast Power Limited.

Transcorp closed the US$300 million Afam acquisitions in November 2020. Transcorp supplies electricity to the Republic of Benin, as part of an emphasis on promoting regional integration and delivering robust power supply to catalyse development in Africa.

Transcorp also operates OPL281, under a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (“NNPC”).

Similarly, Heirs Holdings’ subsidiary, Tenoil is the operator of OPL 2008, under a production sharing contract with NNPC.

Tenoil also owns the Ata Marginal Field, which will commence production in Q2, 2021, with 3,500 barrels of oil per day.

By Sumaila Ogbaje

The National Personal Asset Acquisition Scheme (NAPAAS) says it has established an empowerment development fund to cater for ex-servicemen, widows and children of fallen heroes in commemoration of the 2021 Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The chief executive officer of the scheme, Mr Aminu Bello, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the wreath-laying ceremony  to mark the day on Friday in Abuja.

Bello said that the aim of the fund was to transform Nigeria Legion, ex-servicemen, widows and children of fallen heroes from being “cost centres” to a profit/revenue and commercial entities.

According to him, the NAPAAS Empowerment Development Fund is a fund whereby every Nigerian is expected to donate to alleviate the suffering of ex-servicemen as well as the widows and children of the fallen heroes.

“It is a fund that is set aside for as much as we can raise and people can donate both from within the country and in diaspora.

“Our appeal therefore goes to the federal government, the National Assembly, the Nigeria Legion and Ministry of Defence to assist us through these challenges.

“We are also calling on Investors both local and foreign as donor organisations to come to our support as we progress to succeed together,” he said.

Bello said that the organisation was motivated principally by the wordings in Nigeria’s National Anthem which pledged that the “labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain”, which it adopted as its slogan.

He said that NAPAAS had tried its best within its limitations to provide for and link up the ex-servicemen, widows and children of the fallen heroes with items of basic needs.

He said the organisation had so far empowered them with items such as tricycles, motorcycles on hire purchase, donations, gifts and joint venture commercial partnership in agriculture, health, housing, skill acquisition, education and transport.

Bello said that NAPAAS had distributed 5,000 bags of rice, 2,000 motorcycles and 100 tricycles to interested ex-servicemen through hire purchase/credit basis since 2016.

He added that 250,000 bags of rice, 10,000 motorcycles and 5,000 tricycle were also available for only those interested to access and also access into NAPAAS Joint Venture Commercial Partnership in housing, agriculture, transportation and health.

According to him, this project will serve as a reward to ex-military/ex-para-military pensioners of their unreserved service to their fatherland.

“The programme goes further to avail members the opportunity to become employer of labour, thereby eradicating poverty and unemployment in the country,” he said.