AFR Business Media

AFR Business Media

Ad example

AFR Business

SSS to raid fuel stations, clear fuel queues within 48 hours

by

The State Security Service, SSS, at a meeting with oil marketers and other stakeholders have resolved to address the challenges of fuel scarcity and lingering queues at filling stations within 48 hours.

The Public Relations Officer of SSS, Dr Peter Afunanya said this on Thursday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the end of a meeting with petroleum distribution stakeholders.

He said the meeting was attended by representative of the SSS, NNPC Limited, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria and other stakeholders.

Mr Afunanya said part of the resolutions reached was that the NNPC would provide fuel at normal and affordable official rate to all marketers.

He said the meeting also resolved that marketers who operate depot would work on a 24-hour basis to ensure adequate supply of fuel in the country.

According to him, it was also agreed that the SSS will ensure protection and provision of security to all marketers and their products across the country while moving oil products.

Mr Afunanya said the DSS would take action against any filling station, marketer or oil stakeholder that reneged on the agreement reached at the meeting.

He said the meeting was called to address the challenges of fuel scarcity, adding that the DSS would not sit back and watch the current scarcity persist despite availability of the product.

The DSS spokesman said the lingering fuel scarcity could lead to economic sabotage and threat to national security, if not properly handled.

He said plans were concluded by the SSS to raid all fuel stations and quiz any marketer found hoarding petroleum products.

Osinbajo in New York for African carbon market meeting

by

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has arrived in New York for a high-level meeting to activate the African carbon market initiative (ACMI). The ACMI was launched on November 8 during the United Nations climate change conference (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt and aims to support the growth of carbon credit production, create jobs and unlock billions of climate finance for Africa.

Mr Osinbajo arrived in New York on Wednesday and was received by Uzoma Emenike, Nigeria’s ambassador to the United States. The Vice-President is expected to have a meeting that will lead to the mobilisation of funding and technical support for Nigeria’s energy transition plan – the strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2060.

Mr Osinbajo is expected to deliver a keynote address at a meeting organised by the Rockefeller Foundation, and attend meetings with global agencies and potential financial partners on December 9.

Mr Osinbajo’s spokesperson, Laolu Akande, said through the ACMI, “Nigeria could mobilize $600 – 800 million per annum in capital by 2030 (assuming the current average price of $20 per ton of carbon) from voluntary carbon markets and potentially support 3-5 million jobs over the energy transition period”.

“In a major push for funding and technical support for the Nigerian Energy Transition Plan, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, will be delivering the keynote address at a high-level meeting hosted by The Rockefeller Foundation in New York, with global agencies and potential financial partners in attendance to facilitate the activation of the Voluntary Carbon Market in Nigeria and on the African continent,” the statement reads.

“Participants at the meeting include the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, GEAPP; UN-Sustainable Energy for All, SEforALL; the UN’s Economic Commission for Africa and the U.N. Climate Change High-Level Champions, all of whom have been advocating and actively planning for the African Carbon Market Initiative.

“The high-level meeting which holds on Friday will also be attended by officials from the US government and will explore potential opportunities which carbon markets offer to generate resources for clean energy transitions while accelerating economic growth in Nigeria and other African countries.

“Ahead of the high-level meeting on Friday, Prof. Osinbajo will interact tomorrow with some of the agencies with whom the Federal Government has been engaging on the Energy Transition Plan and the activation of the Voluntary Carbon Market including GEAPP and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

“An International Steering Committee is driving the activation of African Carbon Markets in Africa, under the auspices of the African Carbon Market Initiative. Members of the Committee include the Nigerian Vice President, former President of Colombia, Ivan Duque Marquez, officials of the United Nations, United States Agency for International Development, USAID; Gates Foundation among others.”

The Rockefeller Foundation praised Osinbajo’s “bold voice advocating for a carbon market as a solution to simultaneously accelerate economic development and address the effects of climate change in Africa”.

Lagos says it has paid over N125bn to 29,518 retirees

by

The Lagos State government on Friday said it had paid not less than N125 billion to 29,518 retirees since the inception of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2004.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, represented by Mrs Folashade Jaji, Secretary to the State’s Government (SSG), said this while delivering a keynote address at the 98th Batch Retirement Bond Certificate Presentation to the state’s retirees.

The event was organised by the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu stated that the state government had also paid over N47 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of its retirees since the advent of his administration in 2019.

He noted that 12,642 retirees from the state’s Mainstream, Local Government, State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB), Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) and other parastatals were enjoying their retirement benefits under CPS in the state.

“The Lagos State government has paid 125,996,687,159.13 to 29,518 retirees since the advent of CPS and N47,050,805,734.16 to its retirees since the inception of my administration,” he said.

According to him, the state had paid not less than N2,522 billion into the RSA’s of another set of 755 retirees for the month of December.

Sanwo-Olu said: “This is alongside their monthly contributions which has already been remitted into their respective RSAs with the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

“Today’s event is a continued affirmation of the commitment of the state government to the welfare of its workforce, both active and post-service.

“This event is a landmark occasion as the number of retirees and the amount to be paid is the single largest we have paid since the inception of the CPS in Lagos State.

“We are not unaware of the backlog in the payment of accrued rights but we are focused on the intentional and strategic eradication of this backlog.”

He said despite the challenges faced, Lagos State had continued to be the leading light, not only in the administration of pension benefits but generally in good credible governance.

“Lagos State emerged as the top performer in pension payments among other quality indices of the CPS this year,” he added.

According to him, the state through LASPEC is assiduously working on its administration’s goal to ‘pay as you go. ‘

The governor said the state would continue to ensure that public service retirees would not only get what was due to them statutorily but also receive support and assistance that would add value to their lives in retirement through other agencies and programmes.

Sanwo-Olu promised that his administration would continue to run an open government that promoted diversity and inclusion.

“I want to reaffirm that no matter your gender, sex, tribe, or special needs, as long as you are a retiree of the Lagos State public service, your welfare and well-being is top priority.

“My prayer at this particular time is that God in His infinite mercy will see us through the year as it winds up and make us witness many more prosperous years ahead,” he said.

In her address, Mrs Ajibola Ponnle, Commissioner for Establishments, Training And Pensions, said the accrued pension right paid by the state government between 2019 and till date was the highest paid by any state government.

Ponnle, represented by Dr Abiodun Onayele, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment training And Pensions, lauded Sanwo-Olu for fulfilling his promise to the public service workforce despite the huge liabilities incurred in running a megacity like Lagos.

She said: “Lagos State has been consistent in her leadership role in the implementation of the CPS and have won numerous awards such as the best compliant state in the federation consecutively and consistently.

“We are committed to maintaining this rating by improving on timely payment of retirees’ pensions and other applicable benefits upon disengagement from service.

“As you receive your retirement bond certificates, I wish to advise you to embrace the joy and challenges of this new phase of life and take advice from competent and reliable sources.

“In this regard, please do not hesitate to contact LASPEC or even the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions should you require clarifications or advice regarding the modalities surrounding your retirement benefit matters.

In his welcome address, Director-General, LASPEC, Mr Babalola Obilana said since the inception CPS in Nigeria, Lagos State has remained focused and resolute to the ideals of the scheme.

Obilana stated that the state government had consistently prioritised pension contributions in the annual state budget and did not owe monthly pension contributions.

“LASPEC in line with its role as the regulatory body for pension matters in the state is constantly reviewing its business processes to ensure the financial well-being of public service retirees.

“This year, the commission inspected all PFAs and Annuity Service Providers (ASPs) registered by the state government to ensure their compliance with the CPS.

“We also concluded the review of the Lagos State Pension Law to ensure your retirement obligations are adequately protected.

“From January 2022 till date, the state government has paid a total sum of N11,397,120,522.69 into the RSA of 3,481 retirees,” he said.

Femi Adesina says Buhari will continue to serve Nigerians until last day in office

by

Femi Adesina, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, said the president would continue with the mandates of serving Nigeria and implementing policies for the betterment of the nation until May 29, 2023.

Mr Adesina stated this at the sideline of the 2022 Campus Journalism Awards organised by Youths Digest in Abuja.

He said: “The mandate is for four years and those four years do not lapse until May 29, till the very last day, governance will continue. The president will continue to serve Nigeria.”

He also advised journalists, especially young students, to adhere to the ethics of the profession and avoid being used to propagate negative ills in the society.

“If they strive to become ethical journalists, they can never fail because ethics will guide them to stay on the positive part of the profession.

“The profession has its positive and negative parts, there are those who use journalism for all the things that are despicable.

“They pull down others; they do untrue stories, they blackmail and all others. But if you are determined to become an ethical journalists, certainly not even the sky is your limit, you will go as far as you can in the profession.

“So I will advise our young journalists to take ethics seriously,” he said.

Also, Mannir Dan-Ali, Director, Media Trust Limited, Publishers of Daily Trust Newspaper, encouraged young journalists to contribute meaningfully towards developing the nation.

Mr Dan-Ali also advised them to continue to highlight reports that would build the nation and unite the country.

On his part, Gidado Shuaibu, Executive Director, Youths Digest, said the annual award started in 2019 to encourage youths to engage in journalism as a profession and work within the ethics.

“The whole point of the Campus Journalism Awards is to pick out those doing well in journalism.

“Everybody now is a journalist, using the social media platform.

“But what we are doing now is to pick out those who are acting professionally, recognise and award them.

“This is what we do every year and we will continue to do it,” he said.

On her part, Chinalurumogu Eze, overall winner of the 2022 campus Journalist, said the award would encourage her and others to perform well in the profession.

“You have to keep putting yourself out there as journalists, you have to wait for the certificate before you start practising.

“Being a campus journalist means you have to practice professionally, your portfolio becomes bigger and when you apply for bigger opportunities you will get it by putting your contents out there,” she said.

Other highlights were the conferment of awards for different categories such as the Campus Journalist Of the Year, Broadcaster of the Year, Upcoming Writer of the year.

Others are best investigative reporter, best entertainment report, author of the year, sport news of the year, editor of the year, pen club of the year, amongst others.

Contestants were drawn from various higher institutions nationwide.

NDLEA nabs man with cocaine hidden in baby food

by

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, have intercepted parcels of cocaine concealed in different parts of a travel bag brought into Nigeria by a Brazil returnee, Nwadinobi Charles Uchemadu from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Doha on a Qatar Airways flight.

Uchemadu was arrested on Monday 5th December at the Lagos airport during inward clearance of passengers on the Qatar airways flight following the discovery of three parcels of cocaine weighing 2.70 kilograms factory sealed in parts of his travel bag.
At the SAHCO export shed of the airport same day, NDLEA operatives equally intercepted cans of powdered milk, baby food and beverages used to conceal 3.4 kilograms of cannabis going to Dubai, UAE. A freight agent, Ewelike Chibuike Cyril who presented the consignment for export was subsequently arrested.

In the same vein, parcels of cannabis weighing 6.30kgs concealed in sound systems (speakers) going to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea through the SAHCO export shed of the airport were also seized on Thursday 8th December by the operatives who initially arrested a freight agent, Joseph Obiji involved and later the following day, Friday 9th Dec nabbed another agent, Mbanu Ifeanyi Andrew in a follow up operation at ASPAMDA market, Trade Fair complex, Ojo area of Lagos.

At the Akala notorious drug hub in Mushin area of Lagos, no fewer than 15 drug dealers including two ladies were arrested with 1,400kgs of cannabis sativa among other illicit substances such as heroin, methamphetamine, and 320 bottles of codeine syrup recovered from them during a raid of the area on Friday 9th December.

Another raid of the popular Idumota business district of Lagos Island on Saturday 10th December led to the seizure of 35,014 pills of tramadol, diazepam, rohypnol and 21.2 litres of codeine syrup while a targeted notorious dealer is still on the run. This is even as officers of the Directorate of Seaports Operations of the Agency arrested a Malian, Dembele Ousmane on Monday 5th December with 32,400 capsules of tramadol 225mg concealed in factory packed buckets of custard while attempting to travel to Mali via boat at Ebute -Ero Jetty in Lagos.

In Ondo state, operatives on Tuesday 6th Dec. stormed sharp corner, Ipele forest in Owo area of the state where they arrested Rotimi Oyekan and Precious Aluju with C/S weighing 903.3kgs, while another team of NDLEA officers arrested Babatunde Oluyara at Igbotako area of the state, with 168.5kgs of the same substance; 6kgs of monkey tail and various quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin.

In Kebbi state, two suspects: Austine Julius and Sale Yakubu were arrested on Sunday 4th December along Yawuri-Kebbi road in a loaded Dyna Truck with 117 bags of Cannabis Sativa weighing 1,070 kilograms concealed under bags of oranges. The following day, Monday 5th December, another set of two suspects: Abdullahi Bala and Ibrahim Wade were intercepted along Koko- Kebbi road in a Dyna Truck loaded with 114 bags of the same substance weighing 1,140 kilograms concealed under crates of soft drinks.
A raid operation in Abbi town, Ndokwa West LGA, Delta State led to the arrest of a pregnant 30-year-old dealer, Aniekem Evelyn, with 1,161kgs of C/S recovered from her warehouse.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Seaports Operations, Ondo, Delta and Kebbi state commands for their hard work and diligence leading to the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) CON, OFR urged them and their compatriots across other formations to intensify their efforts.