News
The supreme court has affirmed the nullification of the participation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Andy Uba, in the November 2021 Anambra governorship election.
In the judgment delivered on Tuesday, the apex court, in a unanimous decision by a five-member panel of justices, held that Uba did not emerge through a valid primary.
The court held that the primary which produced Uba was conducted in breach of the party’s guidelines.
George Moghalu, an aspirant in the APC primary election, had approached the court challenging the process and the outcome of the primary.
He sought N122.5 million in damages, including a return of the cost paid for expression of interest and nomination forms, as well as N100 million “for the breach of contract to commence and conclude primary election”.
In a judgment delivered in December 2021, Inyang Ekwo, a federal high court judge, had held that the primary that produced Uba was not validly conducted as it was in breach of the electoral act and the party’s constitution.
He had described the conduct of the primary by APC as “crude and primitive” and ordered INEC to delete Uba’s name from its record as a candidate in the election.
Ekwo had also ordered the party to refund the N22.5 million paid by Moghalu for expression of interest and nomination forms.
The appeal court, on February 23, said it found no reason to set aside the high court judgment that disqualified Uba and the APC.
The decision was affirmed by the apex court on Tuesday.
New pictures of the persons abducted by gunmen during the Abuja-Kaduna train attack have surfaced online.
The victims were abducted when bandits attacked a Kaduna-bound train on March 28.
Eight passengers were killed during the train attack, while a yet-to-be-confirmed number of persons were kidnapped.
In one of the pictures, the victims were women and kids seated on the floor while the second picture showed men, with half of them standing and the other half seated.
Abdulfatai Jimoh, chairman of the forum of the abductees’ families, confirmed that the pictures were just released.
“Yes, the pictures are true. They are pictures of the victims. I’ve seen them. The one of the men and the ones of women and children,” Jimoh said.
He added that the families were still praying that the victims are found safely.
TheCable had reported that the bandits contacted several family members of the kidnapped passengers, demanding various amounts as ransom to facilitate the release of the captives.
The ransom reportedly demanded by the kidnappers ranges from N5 million to N100 million.
The bandits are also said to be demanding the release of 16 of their top commanders and sponsors in government custody in exchange for the hostages.
Alwan Hassan, acting managing director/chief executive officer of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), who was also abducted during the attack was later released by the bandits because of his “old age”.
A video of the abductees appealing to the federal government for help had earlier surfaced on social media.
Following the release of the video, family members of the abducted victims had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the federal government to ensure the safe rescue of the abductees.
Meanwhile, the federal government has said it is making efforts to ensure the safe rescue of the victims.
Federal Ministry of Works and Housing has shortlisted 18 firms from among 75 bidders seeking to operate and toll 12 economically viable highways on a concession basis.
The ministry has also concluded the evaluating proposals for phase one of the Value-Added Concession (VAC) under the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI), revealed a statement from Hakeem Bello, spokesman of the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Monday.
The 12 roads of 1,963 kilometres will be managed by technically and financially capable private sector firms/consortia. They are Benin-Asaba, Abuja-Lokoja, Kano-Katsina, Onitsha-Owerri-Aba, Sagamu-Benin and Abuja-Keffi-Akwanga.
The rest are Kano-Maiduguri (Kano-Shuarin), Kano-Maiduguri (Potiskum-Damaturu), Lokoja-Benin, Enugu-Port Harcourt, Ilorin-Jebba, Lagos-Otta-Abeokuta and Lagos-Badagry-Seme.
The winning operators are expected to add value to the roads, construct and operate tolling facilities, as well as install and operate weighbridges.
The bid evaluation process was approved on Thursday at the Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting chaired by Fashola, where the head, Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) unit of the ministry, Abimbola Asein, said proposed preferred/reserved bidders had been identified.
The process started on March 29, 2021, with the opening of the HDMI portal, and by May, 2021, 75 firms/consortia submitted valid applications.
A team evaluated the bids and prequalified 18 firms who proceeded from October, 2021, to February, 2022, when the Request For Proposals (RFP) were opened.
The due diligence of the 18 firms are ongoing and bidders can be disqualified if they falsify submissions, the ministry said.
The ministry afterwards will negotiate the technical and financial terms and get a nod from the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and approval of Compliance Certificate by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) before signing the concession agreement to finalise the contract.
Governor Dapo Abiodun, has declared openly that he and the people of Ogun state would give their support to the presidential ambition of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to enable him continue with some of the laudable projects of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He stated this today while receiving the Vice President at a stakeholders meeting held at the Akarigbo Palace Sagamu, the Alake Palace in Abeokuta and the Presidential Lodge, Ibara, Abeokuta, as well as the Palace of Olu of Ilaro and Paramount ruler of Yewaland.
Abiodun said Osinbajo, in the last seven years, has contributed immensely to the many successes recorded by the federal government, noting that he “is eminently qualified to lead the country”.
In his words Governor Abiodun said “the Vice President presence here is homecoming. We are pleased with his decision to run for the office of the president. He is competent and committed to leading the country in a higher capacity.
“Your steadfastness, integrity and character are all well known. You are serving this country and the president meritoriously for the last seven years as the vice president. We have no doubt that you will do well as the president and we will support you,” Abiodun stated.
The governor, who extolled the VP’s academic exploits and recalled how he stood behind his gubernatorial election described him as a man who is interested in fairness, justice, equity and the Rule of Law.
Responding, Osinbajo said he was not in the state to campaign, but to inform his people of his intention to run for the office of the president.
He said he had consulted widely across all sections of the society, including President Muhammadu Buhari before he threw his hat into the ring to succeed his boss.
Recounting his contributions to the present federal government, Osinbajo said he was actively involved in the Nation's judicial reforms and its repositioning to work optimally and ensure that judges were adequately enumerated.
He said his working with Buhari had exposed him to governance at the highest level and placed him in a position to tackle serious issues concerning the economy and security, among others.
“The Vice President's position is an opportunity to serve and I have served with utmost loyalty. I put everything into my work. I am a candidate who will hit the ground running when I am elected.
“I have the requisite knowledge to do the job and build on what others have put in place. My presidency will bring peace, unity and development to the country”, the VP said.
“After all I have learnt if called upon to serve the nation, should I say No? I have decided that I will run for the office. I have sworn an oath to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is an oath to our people, our children and the future of Nigeria. I owe nobody else any allegiance outside the oath,” he added.
Osinbajo, who commended the Abiodun-led administration for the giant strides it has recorded in the last three years, expressed hope that his quest to lead the country would be fruitful.
The Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, in his remarks, posited that the vice president was competent with the required qualification to lead the nation, stressing that his performance as the acting president was there for all to see.
Speaking on the ambition of the Vice President, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, attested to the competence of Osinbajo, saying: “the vice president has paid his dues and is eminently qualified to succeed as President.
The Department of State Services (DSS) has raised alarm over what it called plans by criminal elements to return the country to the pre-2015 era reminiscent of IED attacks on soft and hard targets in parts of the country.
DSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya said in a statement that though there are already reported cases of such incidents in some areas, the Service has uncovered a ploy by suspected criminal gangs to forge an alliance among themselves with a view to launching further attacks on critical infrastructure and other frequented public places like worship and relaxation centres, especially during and after the holidays and festive celebrations.
“The objective is to achieve some self- serving interests as well as cause fear among the citizenry,” he said in the statement.
“The Service, however, recalls its earlier warning that some groups and individuals were plotting to stoke violence in the country.
“Following these, patrons, owners and managers of aforementioned public places are advised to be wary of this development and implement basic security measures to deter the threats.
While the Service is committed to the disruption of this trend and pattern of violent attacks, it will continue to partner with other security agencies to ensure that necessary drills are emplaced in order that public peace and order are not jeopardized.
“To this end, residents are enjoined to go about their lawful businesses and share, with security and law enforcement agencies, useful information on the activities of criminals.
“Meanwhile, the DGSS, Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, fwc wishes all and sundry a hitch free Workers’ Day and Sallah celebrations.”
A trigger-happy policeman is currently on the run after he allegedly shot dead two persons at the venue of a birthday party organized at a bar in Gowon Estate, Egbeda area of Lagos.
According to eyewitnesses, the officer was given food and drinks by the party organizers who asked him to join in their celebration.
It was after he ate and drank alcohol to his satisfaction that he began to shoot sporadically, allegedly killing two of the guests who were spraying money at the celebrant.
A video shared online showed the gory bodies of the deceased persons as well as those who sustained gunshot injuries.
Confirming the incident, the spokesman of the state police command, SP Benjamin said. “i can confirm there was shooting at the bar on sunday night and two persons were killed. we are investigating the circumstances that led to the shooting. i can assure you that those responsible will not go free. They will face the music.
"The commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Abiodun Alabi, has zero tolerance for such behaviour and has already given marching orders to the DPO to fish out the culprits.”
It was also gathered that the policeman was invited to provide security by the celebrant identified as Ifeanyi alias Asiwaju of Computer Village.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has pardoned a civil servant in the State, who was suspended for spreading death rumour about the Governor. Akeredolu directed the Head of Service, HoS, Pastor Niran Adeyemo to recall the suspended civil servant back to service.
The HoS had last week disclosed the suspension of the civil servant who was accused of spreading the false information on his Facebook page.
While breaking the Ramadan fast, Iftar, with the muslim faithful in Akure, the State capital, the Governor said “father forgive them for they know not what they were doing”.
The Governor, who was making his first public appearance in the State after his vacation, frowned at the high rate fake news. He also challenged journalists to always cross-check and confirm stories.
Akeredolu added that civil servants should channel their energy into more meaningful conversation of sharing good news in the State, rather than spreading fake news.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), on Monday, opposed the endorsement of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for a second term. This was contained in a statement by Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
It would be recalled that the NIGERIAN NEWSTRACK reported that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), last week, endorsed the incumbent Governor of the State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for a second term in office for the 2023 gubernatorial election.
However, MURIC, on Monday, in a statement, disagreed with the leadership of the party, saying that the endorsement violated a long standing unwritten rule on rotational governance between Christians and Muslims in Lagos State.
He said the Christians have had their two terms and it is the turn of Muslims to produce a governor by 2023.
According to him, “It is on record that ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, a Christian, spent four years in office and another Christian, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was brought in ostensibly to complete the Christians’ two terms which expires by May 2023 when a Muslim, ceteris paribus, is expected to take over the reins of office.
“That is why Muslims in Lagos State regard the recent endorsement given to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to run for the Christians’ third term as unfair, unjust and provocative.
"It may not be known in official circles, but Lagos Muslims are grumbling and we have been under pressure for some time now to speak up,” he said.
The statement said it rejected exclusivism in matters of governance, adding that “Lagos Muslims are tax payers and key stakeholders in issues affecting the welfare of Lagos citizens. We must, therefore, be consulted on matters of governance.”
“We refuse to be blindfolded on the way to the polling booth. Neither shall we be satisfied just as voters, we must also be voted for. That is the essence of democracy. It must be participatory. The choice of candidates and leadership must not be lopsided in a democracy. Every segment of society must be consulted,” he added.
The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has replied to the alleged threat by some group of herders to attack and take over the entire South-East geopolitical zone.
According to a Daily Post report, there has been threat by the herdsmen to invade the region and take over the land as they have done to other places across the country.
The spokesman of the secessionist group, Emma Powerful, while reacting to a statement by a former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, lamenting the killings in Benue State by suspected Fulani herdsmen, said they are waiting for them (herdsmen) to do their worst in the South East.
According to Emma Powerful, the IPOB members are not disturbed by threats from the herdsmen that they own the country and have conquered many parts of Nigerian.
He said, “We are waiting for them, let them come and invade and take over Igboland. We will not spare them, let them come again and invade any part of Igboland and let us see if they can succeed.
“They can only do what they are doing in the places they are doing it now, but not in Igboland. Everybody knows that these people are the problem of Nigeria and we can’t relent until their evil control is dissolved”.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a billionaire drug baron Afam Mallinson Emmanuel Ukatu.
He is behind the N3 billion Tramadol deal involving the embattled suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari-led Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), the Director, Media, and Advocacy of the NDLEA Femi Babafemi confirmed in a statement on Monday.
“After months of surveillance and evading arrest, Ukatu who is Chairman of Mallinson Group of Companies was eventually nabbed onboard a flight to Abuja at the MM2 terminal of the Lagos airport, Ikeja on Wednesday 13th April,” he explained.
“Investigations revealed he’s been a major importer of large consignments of different brands and high dosages of Tramadol Hydrochloride, ranging from 120mg, 200mg, 225mg, and 250mg, all of which are illicit.
"Ukatu owns pharmaceutical and plastic manufacturing companies, which he used as a cover to import illicit drugs into Nigeria.
“This is in addition to operating 103 bank accounts, most of which are used to launder money.” Mr Babafemi noted that the drug baron came under watch last year after five cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on 4th May 2021 when he sent them to sell to undercover police officers (unknown to Ukatu) from the then Kyari-led IRT of the Nigeria Police, Ikeja Lagos.
The price of a carton of Tramadol was negotiated at N17 million each as against the then black market value that ranged between N18 million and N20 million a carton in Lagos, the NDLEA spokesman added.
He said after the arrest of Ukatu’s staff – Pius Enidom and Sunday Ibekwete – Kyari’s men were then led by the suspects to Mallinson’s warehouse at Ojota in Lagos where 197 additional Cartons of Tramadol 225mg were seized by the IRT Team.
The monetary value of the 202 cartons of Tramadol seized from Mallinson in one day was over N3 billion. According to him, three weeks after the seizure, the Kyari’s IRT team transferred only 12 Cartons of the Tramadol with one truck and a suspect to the Lagos Command of the NDLEA, leaving 190 cartons unaccounted for.
“After over eight months of following the lead, anti-narcotic officers of the Agency eventually arrested Ukatu at the Lagos airport on 13th April 2022.
"Kyari and four top members of his team are already facing trial for a different but similar offence at a Federal High Court in Abuja,” the statement added.
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PRESS RELEASE
In 2005, a US National Intelligence Council paper “Mapping Sub-Saharan Africa’s Future” floated the idea there could be a military coup in Nigeria. At the time this was hardly an earth-shattering prediction: 2005 was only six years after the return of civilian democratic rule and just over a decade since the Abacha military coup of 1993 – the final of seven coups since independence.
However, for the last 29 years – close to a generation – there have been none. Since the return of democracy in 1999 there have been six general elections, four elected presidents, four transfers of power – including one in 2015 between the winning opposition candidate and the losing incumbent president seeking re-election.
Yet despite all the evidence to the contrary, the collapse predictors keep doubling down on their bets.
Most recently retired former US Ambassador to Nigeria 2004-7 John Campbell has updated his book, of which the first edition said:
“While Nigerians often claim they are masters of dancing on the brink without falling off, the disastrous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, the radical Islamic insurrection Boko Haram, and escalating violence in the delta and the north may finally provide the impetus that pushes it into the abyss of state failure”.
It didn’t of course, quite the opposite: Jonathan was defeated at the 2015 general election with power peacefully transferring to the victor, President Muhammadu Buhari.
Campbell is always more careful than others who openly claim their predicted collapse is just around the corner. Still, it is always there, as innuendo: “I have never predicted the breakup of Nigeria because I have never thought it would happen. But, were it to do so, the likely consequence would be a humanitarian disaster” – said Campbell in a blog post in 2012 for the US Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) think-tank.
That same CFR is now publishing the new edition of Campbell’s book. It seems unlikely the conclusion will be that Nigeria is improving on any measure as – for international Nigeria watchers - there seems little that can ever be found to suggest it is.
Yet the people of Nigeria - the majority of which were born after the last coup of 1993 - and who have known nothing their whole lives except democracy and elected government are the living proof that democracy is here to stay.
Though often negative, Campbell does however consistently express an important view that it is in the interests of the United States to encourage democracy and security in Nigeria. The government of Nigeria concurs. It is a pity therefore that US policy and support towards our country, including during the Buhari administration, has been so inconsistent.
In 2015 the then newly-elected Buhari government requested US military support in the form of Super Tucano jet fighters for the Nigerian Air Force. The Nigerian military, security, and intelligence services repeatedly made this request. The US administration of the time concurred: the delivery of such jets would help deliver a critical turning point in Nigeria’s struggle against jihadist terrorists across the Sahel.
Yet two years later, that jet delivery was rescinded, the reasons given that unless Nigeria improved its religious relations between Christianity and Islam then US support would not be forthcoming in this, and many other areas.
Such views were compounded by the constant lobbying of US Congress by the opponents of the Nigerian government who had lost the previous election, and many of their southern religious supporters – including Mathew Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Diocese of Sokoto, who, unsurprising, provides a supportive quote for the dustcover of the new edition of Campbell’s book. (Kukah even took to addressing the US Congress himself, briefing his audience on the history of coups in Nigeria – without, of course, mentioning that none had occurred since 1993, some 29 years ago).
Fortunately, now today under a new US administration these jets have been delivered, and with it, a serious blow against the terrorists - with the supreme leader of Islamic State in West Africa and scores of other leaders of the group eliminated in airstrikes.
It is all very well to claim it is in the United States’ interests to help Nigeria become an even-better democracy and stable country. It is quite another to forever avoid mentioning the last coup was 29 years ago, and that since 1999 Nigeria has enjoyed 23 unbroken years of democratically elected governments and peaceful transitions between them.
It is also inconsistent to preach the need for stability but needlessly delay sharing military equipment in the form of jets - not least when it is now proven they would have helped Nigeria much earlier defeat the terrorists who threaten our country.
Hopefully, the United States and Nigeria are going to forge ahead with our continuing partnership in fighting terrorism in and out of the subregion.
The dream of our founding fathers of a strong, united and prosperous Nigeria remains very much intact.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 24, 2022
President Muhammadu Buhari has mourned the victims of an explosion that rocked an illegal refinery in Imo State and also ordered an intensified clampdown on illegal refining sites across the country.
About 100 people were killed on Friday after a fire engulfed an illegal crude oil refining site in the Abaezi forest, in Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State.
Two days after the tragic incident, President Buhari described the explosion as a “catastrophe and a national disaster.”
In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Garba Shehu, the Commander-in-Chief said the responsibility for the loss of lives and property must squarely lie with the sponsors of the illegal refinery, “who must all be caught and made to face justice”.
The President conveyed “the condolences and the full depth and range of the nation’s shock and trauma” to the families of the victims, the Ohaji Egbema community, and the government and people of Imo State.
To forestall a reoccurrence of the incident, the President ordered the armed forces, security, and intelligence agencies to intensify the clampdown on illegal refineries.
This is even as he urged community leaders, the police, and the secret service to never allow the occurrence of the heart-breaking incident in any part of the country again.
Meanwhile, the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma has commiserated with the families of affected victims.
He, however, explained that running an illegal refinery in the area amounted to economic sabotage to the state and the nation and a criminal act that all should desist from.
The governor warned those still in the business of running illegal refineries in the state to stop forthwith or face the wrath of the law.
Illegal refineries have remained a menace, posing an environmental and economic threat to the nation and resulting in condemnation and crackdowns by the government – especially in the South-South.
Earlier this month, amid reports of widespread crude oil theft and the environmental impact of illegal refineries – evident in the soot problem in Rivers State, the Nigerian Navy launched an operation to combat the threat.
Like the Biblical Daniel in the Lions den, Former Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel said he passed through harrowing and tempestuous persecution for eleven years on political trial strewn with thorns, bats and vampires after leaving office.
NIGERIAN NEWSTRACK reports that Daniel made this known on Sunday in a paper titled, “The Daniel Odyssey: A journey through the Courts, made available at a church thanksgiving service to celebrate his final victory from malicious trial instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in conjunction with Ogun State Government under former Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
The former Governor at the Abrahams Tabernacle Church, Sagamu in the paper, recalled that on completion of his term when he handed over on May 29, 2011 to his successor, Ibikunle Amosun, he secured the needed clearance from the Commissioner of Police and the State Director, Department of Security Service (DSS) and left for United Kingdom.
“After handing over on the 29th of May 2011, looking back, I felt I was a fulfilled man, turning around the fortunes of the state and impacting on the lives of many positively. I therefore decided to board the British Airways flight to London to rest from the stress of eight years of hardwork”, he recalled.
Daniel said to his amazement, on arrival in London, and just settling down to much needed rest, he started receiving several calls from concerned citizens about his whereabouts, adding that some of the calls were mischievous, to confirm speculations which was already flying around about his purported arrest in London.
The former Governor said at this stage, he consulted his family and legal team, and was advised he should return to the country, to face whatever allegations that might have been raised against him, explaining that he heeded to the advice because he had no skeleton in his cupboard.
“Living in strong conviction that I have no untoward in my closet . I heeded the advice of my family and legal team, even at my most inconvenience. My entire eight years of stewardship as the Governor of Ogun State (2003-2011) was a clear signpost. I jumped into the next available plane back to Nigeria”, he said.
Daniel going memory lane said on his arrival, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) swooped on his Sagamu residence,combing all areas to proofs of graft to no avail, and was thereafter transported to the commission office in Lagos, then onward to their headquarters in Abuja.
The former Governor said that was the painful start of the 13 days of hurtful detention for serving Ogun State, and was eventually arraigned on October 11, 2011 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on allegations which fell flat after eleven years of trial in the face of the law and remained unproven.
The EFCC arraigned him on a 32-count charge, bordering on alleged false declaration of assets, land allocations and ‘underpayment’ of values and alleged mismanagement of N211.3 million Ogun State fund.
But, Daniel, through his counsels led by Professor Taiwo Osipitan, filed a “no case submission”, debunking all the allegations.
In 2019, the Ogun State High Court hearing the case since 2011, knocked out 15 out of the 32 counts, leaving Daniel to open his defence on the remaining 17 counts.
But, he approached an appellate court in Ibadan and the Court of Appeal led by Yargata Nimpar discharged him on all the counts.
Speaking to journalists, the Ogun East senatorial aspirant maintained that he neither stole lands nor money as governor.
While conceding that he is not a saint, Daniel, however, said he did everything right to the best of his knowledge.
When asked if he was not worried during his trial when some of his fellow former governors being tried were sent to jail for funds misappropriation, Daniel said he used to feel strong that God would vindicate him, but he got worried at times.
“What I was sure of is that, I am not a saint, but I did everything right to the best of my knowledge. I don’t know how anyone will say I stole the land on which this (Abraham Tabernacle) church was built. I don’t even know who the complainant is. The land was paid for, the church is not for profit-making. We donated the church back to the Baptist convention.
“Another one is The Church of the Lord in Ogere, where we gave them a land to build a university. How do we turn things around in the nation if we don’t encourage this kind of thing? What’s my duty as a governor? I’m supposed to look at areas where people need support and help them.
“The perception was that everybody is taking money. Do you take money from the church?
“Those are the things I had to face; and quite honestly, I felt strong, felt God will vindicate me, but there are certain times I got worried because when you see what is happening, you wonder. I think the tragedy is, in whatever we do, we must not see every single person as a thief. Because, there must be consequence for doing bad and appreciation for doing right. But when you have a society where those that do right are being persecuted, there will be no incentive for doing right. That’s my own worry,” he submitted.
OGD, as he is fondly addressed, commended the judiciary for standing by the truth, saying: “Let me end this thanksgiving by saluting the judiciary, I have a strong belief that the judiciary being the last chance of a common man is the only succour that our country continues to have.
“I am praising the judiciary today that, despite the challenges they have, the difficulties they have encountered, (because it is not easy to decide who is wrong or who is right in our country), but for the judiciary to stand and decipher and come to the kind of judgment they gave, I want to dedicate this victory to them. They failed to succumb to pressure.”
In his sermon, the Retired Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Sunday Makinde, congratulated Daniel for his triumph over the trial.
Makinde implored Christians to imbibe the spirit of praises and thanksgiving to God at all times.
The thanksgiving service was well attended as families, friends and political associates among others joined the former Governor to rejoice.
The number of functional crude oil production rigs in Nigeria decreased by 37.5 per cent to just 10 operational rigs in March 2022, the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries has said.
An oil rig, offshore platform, or oil and/or gas production platform is a large structure with facilities to extract, and process petroleum and natural gas that lie in rock formations beneath the seabed.
Nigeria is a strong member of OPEC and has been championing activities of the group for decades, though failing lately in meeting its monthly oil production quota as approved by the organisation.
Data obtained on Friday from OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report for April 2022 showed that Nigeria’s operational oil rigs had been on the decline since 2019.
In its world rig count and units, OPEC stated that in 2019 Nigeria had an average of 16 functional rigs, but this dropped to 11 in 2020 and crashed further to an average of seven in 2021.
In fact, the organisation revealed that the country’s rigs dropped to as low as five in the second quarter of 2021, before picking up to 10 in the third quarter of same year, but eventually dropped again to seven in the fourth quarter of last year.
It moved up to eight functional rigs in the first quarter of this year, going by OPEC data, as the organisation’s report further showed that Nigeria’s oil rigs were eight in February 2022.
The rig count appreciated marginally in March this year to 10. Hence, the fluctuations in Nigeria’s rig counts indicated that it dropped from an average of 16 in 2019 to 10 in March 2022, representing a decrease of 37.5 per cent.
Meanwhile, the report showed that aside from Iran which had maintained 117 rigs since 2019, some other oil-producing nations witnessed varying degrees of declines in their rig counts.
The rig counts of Saudi Arabia, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates, for instance, also dropped from 115, 45 and 62 to 74, 30 and 41 respectively between 2019 and March 2022, according to OPEC data.
However, countries such as Angola, Venezuela and Libya, for instance, saw a marginal rise in the number of functional oil rigs in their various domains.
Amidst the drop in oil rig count for Nigeria, the country has also suffered massive decline in its crude oil production making it unable to meet its OPEC approved oil production quota since this year.
Operators in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector had also attributed the drop in oil production to oil theft, while the government had raised concerns about the exit of international oil companies from Nigeria due to the global push for net zero carbon emission.
Also an analysis of the OPEC report showed that Nigeria’s oil production had been falling since January this year.
It was observed that while the country produced 1.413 million barrels of crude oil daily in January, this dropped to 1.378 million barrels per day in February and plunged further to 1.354 million barrels per day in March.
The situation confirmed concerns by both government officials and International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria that crude oil production in the country had been on the decline since 2021.
On March 24, 2022, for instance, the total value of Nigeria’s crude oil stolen between January 2021 and February 2022 was about $3.27bn (representing N1.361tn at the official exchange rate of N416.25 to the dollar), according figures from the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
International oil companies and their counterparts in Nigeria also stated recently that the massive oil theft across the country posed a threat to not just their existence, but to the Nigerian economy.
But NNPC’s Group Managing Direction, Mele Kyari, had announced recently that measurable outcomes against the massive crude oil theft in the Niger Delta would be visible in three weeks time.
Kyari had said, “As we speak now there is massive disruption to our operations as a result of the activities of vandals and criminals along our pipelines in the Niger Delta area.
“This has brought down our production to levels as low as we have never seen before. Today we are doing less than 1.5 million barrels per day simply because some criminals have decided that they should have some infractions on our pipelines.”
Nigeria’s oil production quota by OPEC has revolved around 1.8 million barrels per day. The country has repeatedly missed this target due to oil theft.
“And that clearly is the biggest form of business disruption that we are facing today,” the NNPC boss had stated.
He added, “This kind of engagement, the certifications that we have today around our systems and processes should be able to respond to this. And part of the response is to bring in the best framework possible to contain this situation.
“I’m happy to tell us that enormous work is going on between us and the Federal Government recognised security agencies, our partners, particularly those on the corridors that are impacted, and also the community members.
“And I’m very optimistic that within the next two to three weeks some very measurable outcomes will come so that our businesses will continue. As we speak now, the Nigerian Navy is launching a massive operation to contain oil theft in the Niger Delta.”