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Category: Press release

  • SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, AMB. SOLOMON ADODO DURING THE 2024 NEW YEAR BROADCAST AT THE NIGERIAN YOUTH HOUSE, ABUJA.

    SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, AMB. SOLOMON ADODO DURING THE 2024 NEW YEAR BROADCAST AT THE NIGERIAN YOUTH HOUSE, ABUJA.

    1st January 2024.

    Protocols.

    It is with renewed hope and high optimism that I stand to address the Nigerian youth today! We give God the glory for keeping us alive and keeping the country together, despite daunting and hurting challenges. Welcome to 2024.

    Since my captainship of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) from 2019, we have passed through a lot of remarkable epochs. Some of them are very pleasant, and some very troubling or challenging. In all of it, we have steered the ship, making the voices of the youth heard and indeed, we have survived all anchored of an unwavering hope and undying tenacity. Having come to the evenings of my stewardship in the National Youth Council of Nigeria, this shall be my last address as we prepare for the conduct of elections to pave way for a new breed of vibrant young leaders to emerge and steer the affairs of the Council.

    May I begin by commending the resilience of the Nigerian youth, I offer my salute and extend my gratitude to a generation that has refused to be bowed; we have been challenged but not chained; hopeful and confident; progressive and productive. It is my earnest belief that by our sheer determination and abiding faith, we have crossed the toughest times.

    It is on record that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda came with excruciating reforms, but these were only made to save us from a pending and inevitable economic doom. We have had to take it with stoicism and equanimity. The criminal subsidy regime was ended and the worst forex round tripping crime ever known to this country was also ended. It dealt us some blows to the masses also, but it was the right and righteous things to do. We thank the Nigerian youth for your patience and urge you to continue to support President Tinubu. It is still “Morning Yet on Creation Day.” And the signs of massive improvement are already showing in few months.

    Apart from the Dangote Refinery which will certainly begin full production this year, the Port Harcourt Refinery is also ready to start production. These are undeniable achievements which will change the economic narratives. President Tinubu did not start these projects, but he has clearly opened the economic space and swiftly completed them. Others are following in quick successions. We must remain focused, vigilant and have faith in the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    As a nation, we are faced with security challenges. My heart goes out to the families and communities that have lost their loved ones to insecurity, especially the people of Plateau State whose Christmas Celebration was turned into mourning. We, condemn in the strongest terms that act of monstrosity. May the soul of the victims rest in peace.

    The Nigerian Youth herein reiterate our faith and unflinching confidence in the Nigerian Military under the command of the Chief of Defence Staff – Gen. C. G. Musa and other Security Agencies who are facing an unusual war which is asymmetric and frustratingly tricky. We urge them not to relent. Our prayers and thoughts are with them. We call on all Nigerians to give them needed support and cooperation.

    Having interacted with some persons in the upper echelons of the Tinubu Government and the Security Agencies, we are confident that succor is on the way and this administration as led by President Tinubu will do more to restore peace to the country. We therefore call on the Military and other Security Agencies to maintain crushing pressure on all terrorists and criminal elements till they are eliminated from our territorial space. May we seize this medium to commend the Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Yusuf Magaji Bichi for providing the needed intelligence to foil several attacks planned by enemies of the State. The Nigerian Youth shall keep playing our role in assisting with information to counter the activities of all renegade elements.

    It is a fact that we cannot run a country where we are not progressively active stakeholders. I therefore urge the youth to continue to be solution providers rather than naysayers and destabilizing tools in the hands of purveyors of crisis and agents of instability.

    To this end, let me recognize the strength of young people on the internet, social spaces and mainstream media. It is a great strength. But I plead that our intellect, creativity and energy should be channeled to the promotion of “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress” which is the motto of Nigeria. We must shun all calls for ethnic hatred, religious division and regional supremacy tussles. Our strength is in our numbers and unity. We must therefore focus on our respective Comparative advantages for the overall economic growth and development of the nation. We all need each other as a nation to emerge stronger

    As we plan to exit the stage to allow younger people take the stage, we plan to harness the strengths of the youth and middle-aged on another platform to keep the light of the young people on. All stakeholders are invited to ensure that young Nigerians are not allowed to only react before the are called negative names or engaged. Government must be proactive. We therefore call on the Federal government and the respective State governments to embark on massive technical and vocational education training programs for youth to guarantee improved local productivity and improve our balance of trade. Our vast lands should also be deployed to engage youth in innovative agriculture to shore up agricultural productivity, tackle food inflation and ease the plight of the masses. Governments at all levels should ensure that all intervention programs are geared towards sustainable productivity and jobs creation rather than political appeasement and looting. The 75billion naira Nigerian Youth Investment Fund has remained largely unaccounted for and its impact has not been felt by the youth and the nation because it was used as a tool for political settlements while a considerable amounts were stolen. Mr. President should ensure this is investigated and such should not be allowed to reoccur.

    May we use this medium to thank President Tinubu for already entrusting a lot of young people with high responsibilities starting from Ministers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Heads of MDAs. He must not relent. And on our part, we will reciprocate with our love and support.

    The Ministry of Youth in particular has taken an unusual trajectory in terms of the agencies and backgrounds of the Minister and Minister of State. For the first time, the Ministry is run by young persons, with the correct youth backgrounds. We hope they break away from the old tradition that disconnected the youth from Government because merchants took over the Ministry. We urge all young appointees of the government to be more in the field with their sleeves rolled up better understand the felt needs of the youth and convey the needed government intervention to them.

    Finally , we herein appreciate the National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio for sacrificing their holidays to ensure that the 2024 Appropriation Bill was passed into law in record time. The Nigerian Senate led by Sen. Akpabio and the Federal House of Representatives led by Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas have shown that there can indeed be a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature amidst the appropriate checks and balances. We urge the National Assembly to continually give Mr. President the veritable support at all times.

    I urge all Nigerian Youth to maintain faith and unflinching confidence as we march into the year knowing that Nigeria is in safe hands under the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidency. We shall be open at all times to interface with the youth and provide solutions to emerging challenges as we march on to take our pride of place in the frontlines in the comity of nations.

    God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

    Amb. Solomon Adodo

    President, National Youth Council of Nigeria

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Abdulganiyu Driving change at FFS,despite daunting challenges

    Abdulganiyu Driving change at FFS,despite daunting challenges

    From the plethora of achievements of his predecessors and a strong will to consolidate on the various development programmes on ground; to enhance advocacy on fire-fighting equipment for building across the country; implementation of the fire policy and safety measures; boost high morale of staff and espirit-de-corps, the story cannot be the same at the Federal Fire Service (FFS) under its present boss, Engr Abdulganiyu Jaji.

    Other areas, also impacted by the FFSs’ thriving management drive include the seamless public-private-partnership (PPP) with contractors on best practices, robust inter-agency collaboration with sister agencies for improved security, thereby creating a viable and virile institution that is sustainable, accountable and high morale of men and officers.

    This is judging from the fact that the present management of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), under the leadership of Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, has done so much in its short stay in office by consolidating on the premium achievements for the overall betterment of the organization; transforming, rebranding and repositioning the Service to meet with best global standards, as well as maintaining high performance measurement, efficiency, accountability, transparency and good governance structure in all its operations nationwide.

    In a press release issued in Lagos by the National Coordinator of Workers Rights Protection (WORP) Network, Comr. Adio Wahab Salami and Secretary, Comr. Benjamin Olusi respectively, the duo said the present management has improved service performance measurement, enhanced staff welfare, increased espirit-de-corps, maintained prompt payment of emoluments, allowances and salaries, and morale of staff, including carrying out strategic direction for the FFS like never before seen. These achievements, they note, have drawn applause from far and near.

    The statement emphasized that the present management has upgraded the Fire Academy and all institutions of the Fire Service to boost the capacity and manpower development of the ranks and files. According to them, the management has intermittently approved seminars and courses for officers outside the shores of the country. However, it also gave kudos to the purchase of fire equipment and trucks recently to mitigate the issue of disaster and fire management within the country, though with the new administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Service is very optimistic that the issue of shortages of equipment and fire-fighting trucks will be a thing of the past.

    Consequently, WORP endorses and encourages the partnership and collaboration with sister agencies such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and others; the private sector initiatives and the citizenry which have paid off as Nigerians have been sensitized on the issues of disaster management and fire policies of buildings and what to do when fire occurs. This, WORP acknowledges, is clearly a win-win situation for all stakeholders, due to citizens’ engagement and the dynamism of the present leadership and sound management practice in carrying everyone along, which, they also observed, is indeed novel and has really endeared Nigerians to the FFS, due to the transparent ethical mechanism put in place and entrenched by the leadership of Abdulganiyu.

    Accordingly, it has been observed that the present management under Jaji had turned around the fortunes and repositioned the state of infrastructure development, maintenance of equipment and also put due process mechanism in place to check the arbitrary abuse of the standards. It has also maintained checks and balances in every aspect of its operations for optimum productivity and efficiency at the workplace, which has made the paramilitary organization adjudged as the ‘Best Place to Work’ in terms of enhanced human capacity, conducive environment, friendly staff with high morale and change management like never seen before.

    WORP said it is proud to acknowledge that the management had done creditably well and Nigerians are impressed about the milestones and giant strides in shifting the goal post and paradigm shift to a new way of doing things for the overall betterment of the Service, including the avowed stance on transparency, corruption and, above all, the present Comptroller-General’s blueprint on the “Federal Fire Service of Our Dreams,” as encapsulated in his vision and mission statement since assuming the mantle of leadership in April 2022.

    Nevertheless, Workers Rights Protection (WORP) Network says also worthy of mention is the concept of inaugurating fire stations within markets across the country, while the Investigation, Inspectorate and Enforcement (IIE) Division is presently inspecting most of these markets to ensure fire safety compliance in public buildings across the country so as to carry out the PPP.

    However, as observed by WORP, the present management is also urging market leaders to enlighten business owners through signs, announcements and advertorials the importance of switching off electric appliances before close of business as well as has advised traders to always be at alert always.

    WORP has reiterated that it is encouraged by Jaji’s leadership style, open door policy, discipline and most importantly his remarkable fight against indiscipline amongst staff and his patriotic disposition against fire incidents, assessment and general disaster management. That, in spite of the paucity of funds allocated to the Service, WORP is soliciting and canvassing for improved budgetary allocation as it has seen that the present management is doing all it can to reposition the Service to meet with international standards.

    Therefore, WORP has affirmed its confidence on the leadership style and management on the day-to-day decisions in repositioning and rebranding the Federal Fire Service (FFS) for better service delivery and urges all relevant stakeholders to support the on-going proactive drive at FFS and the anti-corruption stance of Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji.

  • Fire Service CG Abdulganiyu Jaji under Fire as Amalgamated CSOs Call for His Immediate Sack

    Fire Service CG Abdulganiyu Jaji under Fire as Amalgamated CSOs Call for His Immediate Sack

    The Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN), a pressure group of civil society practitioners, pro-democracy development and anti-corruption agitators, has demanded the immediate sack of the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Abdulganiyu Jaji, for what it referred to as “gross incompetence, maladministration and non-adherence to the laid down rules of engagement, including core values of integrity, transparency and pro-active development of the workforce of the organization.” The group of CSOs noted that since Abdulganiyu took over the affairs of the FFS, the organization has witnessed gradual but steady decline in all ramifications.

    In a press release issued in Lagos December 18, 2023, and jointly signed by the National President, Comrade Gbenga Ashiru Abiodun and General Secretary, Comrade Yakubu Abdullahi, the group recalled that on October 23, 2023, the Interior Minister, Dr Olubunmi Ojo, rightly referred to the CG of the Federal Fire Service (FFS): “You Are a Sleeping Giant.” This pronouncement made by the Minister, the group insisted, because “nothing positive has been heard of the organization since Abdulganiyu came on board.” They went on to also recall that the Interior Minister called for the “transformative rebranding and expansion of FFS responsibilities, which have been stifled since the present leadership took over.”

    The Amalgamated CSOs said they are solidly behind the Interior Minister who reiterated that “The proposed rebranding of the Fire Service and Rescue Service seeks a shift in focus towards comprehensive risk assessment and a commitment to safeguarding lives and property.”

    They also recalled that the Minister asserted, “The Federal Fire Service, very soon, when the Bill on Fire Rescue is assented to (by the National Assembly), we will play a major role on national development,” adding that, “for any country to attain its potentials, the role of the Fire Service cannot be taken for granted. I say this to the Federal Fire Service, ‘You are a Sleeping Giant.’ The time to wake up to your responsibilities is NOW!”

    The Amalgamated CSOs further maintained that “the morale of staff of the FFS is the lowest in the history of the Service, as there are no enough motivation for staff, late payment of allowances, salaries and other emoluments, have increased the level of indiscipline among the rank and file, including the non-availability of enough fire trucks and equipment as the leadership is not focused on its challenges, but on self-aggrandizing issues and inordinate ambition of the leadership.”

    The release also exposes the procurement process, “as sham and contract awards to cronies and friends of the CG who have continually fleeced the organization to the detriment of the work force, as they do not follow any laid down extant rules of contract awards and procurement processes.”

    The group noted that they draw this conclusion because, “On several occasions, documents at our disposal show that awards of contracts to self, cronyism and relations, have become the order of the day. The management of the Fire Service is not focused on the delivery of its mandate, but are daily witch-hunting the ranks and files that are not from the ethnic stock of the CG, and causing bad blood amongst its work force, and is ostensibly responsible for the low productivity from staff as well as their lateness to work.”

    It has also been diligently observed that “the operatives of the organization are cult-like, as the public and societies are not allowed to the Headquarters and several letters written, are not replied, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) letters sent by our different CSOs, under our umbrella, are also not received or answered for over a year now. The awards of contracts and procurement processes have been bastardized as the operatives of the Service are on a roller-coaster to Eldorado.”

    The Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN) will be leading a one million man march to protest this December to the Headquarters of the Federal Fire Service, for a week to ask for the removal and ouster of the current Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, CG Abdulganiyu Jaji for his failure to deliver on the core mandate of the FFS, as well as failure on his part, to sustained the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The group added that, it is calling on other CSOs across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), irrespective of whether their members of ACN or not, to join in “this epoch-making protest to remove the management of the FFS, as they have all failed to rescue the organization from its various problems, as the organization continues to be on its knees. In contrast, the leadership is hell-bent on continuously engaging in acts inimical to the progress of the Service.”

    “It is owing to all these that we hereby, pass a “VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE” on the Abdulganiyu Jaji-led leadership of the Federal Fire Service and call for his immediate removal and outright sack, due to his lackadaisical attitude towards transformative initiatives and acts unbecoming of a leader of his status, heading such a sensitive organization,” the CSOs insisted that this is just the beginning more are on their way and we will fight till the necessary change is achieved and sustained.

  • Audi Driving Institutional Devt., Culture of Transparency, Professionalism and Productivity- Group 

    Audi Driving Institutional Devt., Culture of Transparency, Professionalism and Productivity- Group 

    A civil society and pressure group, the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ), a foremost anti-corruption, pro-democracy and good governance organisation with over 550 civil society groups, rights activists, bloggers and media executives, is encouraged and hereby applauds the re-branding and repositioning process presently being put in place by Dr. Abubakar Audi, the commandant-general of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    This is as part of its efforts to strengthen and safeguard critical national assets and reduce the menace of kidnapping in schools. This inventiveness, GOCEMJ, gathered is due to the various initiatives enacted and the professionalism being displayed by men and officers of the Corps.

    In a press statement jointly signed by the organisation’s President and Country Representative, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, and the head of media and publicity, Comrade Gabriel Gwajime, GOCMEJ noted the various institutional reformations presently taking place across the Corps as well as the sense of belonging, prompt payment of emoluments and allowances including the zero tolerance for corruption initiated by the Audi-led management. This, without doubt, has given the Corps a pride of place in the paramilitary organisations in the country.

    The arrest of students for acts unbecoming of them across institutions of learning in the country; arrest of same sex marriages which is a major milestone; the commendations given by governors of Zamfara, Gombe, Ogun, Jigawa and Katsina states recently are also worth mentioning; the reduction of the incessant herders’ and farmers’ clashes and cattle rustling; the deployment of undercover Corps officers to schools;  the collaboration with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) to reduce criminal activities across the country with the toga ‘See something, Say something; the robust relationships of inter-agency corporations and partnerships with sister agencies such as the Navy, Army, Customs, Immigration, NNPC, and civil society organisations is a major achievement that must be applauded; the consistent advocacies carried out by the CG to intimate and assure Nigerians to believe in the Corps’ operations to engender faith in security agencies, are all worthy of note.

    The continued fight against cyber-crimes, child abuse and the flushing out of illegal guard private operators; the arrest of smugglers, vandals and pipeline/oil thieves in the Niger Delta region has become an herculean task that must be achieved, according to the CG, saying that the Service “is presently doing all it can to curb the proliferation of small arms across the length and breadth of the country. He also read the riot-act to the Corps’ commandants in the Niger Delta states, assuring them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has a zero-tolerance to civil theft. He asked them to do all they can to nib crimes in the bud in line with a presidential order to rid the nation’s oil sector of economic saboteurs, vandals, criminals, oil thieves and other nefarious activities inimical to the growth of the sector.

    According to the statement, the NSCDC recently graduated 280 personnel from the Command and Staff College in Jos, Plateau state. At the graduation, the CG reiterated that “it is expedient to inform you that this is the first in the series of capacity building programmes lined up to prepare the corps personnel physically, mentally and psychologically for the greater task ahead.” The commandant-general further explained that 280 were drawn from all the 36 states’ Commands including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), comprised 104 female officers and 176 male participants who were exposed to both academic and physical exercises during the course which included staff course, staff duty, Command course, administrative duty, intelligence and a leadership course respectively to enhance the capacity of its personnel and meet up with global practice internationally.

    The Guild can attest to the fact that the giant strides achieved so far by the current leadership are as a result of the strategic directions taken on the commissioning of the standard curriculum for NSCDC for entrenching career progression, effective supervision and transparent regulation of the Private Guard Companies in Nigeria which has reduced insecurity across the country. The Guild asserts that it’s connected to a new reinvigorated legal department, successes in anti-vandalism, protection of farmers’ physical security at mining sites and the establishment of Special Female Squad (SFS) targeted at boosting the fight against insecurity and the location of the squad in all Commands across the country. This has also enhanced the safe school response coordination and the protection of schools in remote areas and border communities, which is done in collaboration with other security agencies of the Army and the Department of State Security to foil attempts to attack schools. This is endorsed by all stakeholders.

    Similarly, the commandant-general has continuously urged security agencies/operatives to shun inter-agency rivalry to foster national security. The CG gave this charge at a recent security seminar tagged “Promoting inter-agency collaboration among security agencies.” He noted “that the rivalry was capable of eroding relationships building over time between security agencies and consequently rubbed off negatively on the provision of adequate security.”

    The Guild also endorsed the amicable settlement of conflicts and dispute resolutions between herdsmen, farmers, cattle rustlers and villagers, community leaders and bandits – all championed by the current management of the NSCDC. The pressure group also applauded the vision, mission and the ability to implement its mandate as regards the settlement of disputes through Advisory Dispute Resolute (ADR) between warring parties.

    GOCMEJ recognises the importance of conflict and dispute resolution mechanism in today’s contemporary issues and conflict management, and commended the leadership for thinking out of the box and finding lasting solutions in today’s crises-prone society, where conflicts have become the order of the day.

    The Guild emphasised a renewed vigour for the increment of national budget allocated to the NSCDC in view of the pivotal role it plays in the reduction of criminal elements in the protection of critical national assets and the reduction of kidnapping in our schools as a result of the school initiative, which if properly funded will give the NSCDC the impetus to do more for the nation and its workforce.

    We are encouraged to commend the public procurement and contract approvals, accountability in procurement process, payments and the high esprit-de-corps of the NSCDC officers and men, as the morale of the officers has never been this high. We also applaud the transformation, vision and forthrightness of the leadership in changing the narrative to make the Corps the cynosure of all eyes through discipline, promotion of officers when due and capacity building of officers and men, including building strategic alliances with various ivory towers across the land, to upgrade the service institutions to meet with what is attainable globally and build robust sister inter-agency collaborations.

    GOCMEJ, therefore, has no hesitation in passing a vote of confidence on the Dr. Abubakar Audi-led management and calls on the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on blackmailers operating within supervising, institutions of the government to stay off the NSCDC management and allow them to concentrate on their mandate; communities should continuously support the proactive leadership to enable it further its commitment and efforts to the general well being of the nation.

    GOCMEJ realises that the management has won several laurels and awards from across the academia, media, and government institutions just to mention a few. Presently, the commandant-general, we learnt, has deployed massively personnel across the country for the yuletide period and has given marching orders to states’ commanders to brace up and reduce criminal activities to the barest minimum during this period.

  • Adesina: $34.82bn investment interest for sustainable corridors devt, shared prosperity across Africa

    Adesina: $34.82bn investment interest for sustainable corridors devt, shared prosperity across Africa

    The attention of the Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI), has been drawn to the Africa’s premier flagship news making event and formidable platform as a result of the remarkable milestones generated to the tune of 34.82 billion investment during the recently held Africa Investment Forum (AIF) market place in Marrakesh, Morocco from 8 to 10th November, 2023. The African renaissance platform of connectivity and corridors with its challenges of poverty, unemployment, insecurity, inequality and inconsistencies of government policies including intra-African trade that has remained abysmally low at about 15% must be re-engineered for growth by the continent’s leaders, so as to meet with other developing nations. Indeed, African leaders has so much on their table to be delivered which has been championed by the AIF an arm of the AfDB to continuously guide, encourage and support the economic growth and paradigm shift in the continent.

    The Africa Investment Forum (AIF), which is an arm of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), recently held an annual investment forum entitled ‘Africa’s Investment Market Place in Marrakesh, Morocco,’ with a bankable $34.82 billion investment interest.

    The theme of the three-day event was, “Unlocking Africa’s Value Chains.” The event which was graced by His Majesty, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, was a high-level, top-notch event and a very successful one. It was aimed at charting a new course for Africa’s new prosperity and connectivity.

    The auspicious African flagship platform and global brand was attended by Heads of State and Governments; Ministers from Africa; Captains of Industries and Corporate Africa, prominent among whom were His Excellency, Mr. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros, and Chairperson of the African Union; Her Excellency, Ms. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania; Her Excellency, Ms. Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Republic of Barbados; His Excellency, Mr. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone; His Excellency, Mr. Edouard Ngirente, Prime Minister of the Republic of Rwanda; Her Excellency, Ms. Nadia Fettah Alaoni, Minister of Economy and Finance of the Kingdom of Morocco, and Honourable Ministers that included Professor Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank; Mr. Samaila Zubairu, President of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC); Mr. Alain Ebobisse, Chief Executive Officer of the Africa 50; Ms. Boitumelo Mosako, Chief Executive Officer of the Development Bank of Southern Africa; Mr. Werner Hoyer, President of the European Investment Bank; Dr Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank; Mr. Admassu Tadesse, President Emeritus and Managing Director, Trade and Development Bank; His Excellency, Babajide Sanwolu of Lagos State of Nigeria. Others in attendance were business leaders and investors from around the globe.

    Sub-themes discussed at the event included: Digital Disruptors and Transformative Technology, Renewable Energy and Natural Capital; Accelerating Green Growth, Climate-Resilient Infrastructure; Securing the Future, Capital Market; Mobilizing Investment for Transformational Growth, Africa’s Creative Industries: Strategies for Promoting Investment and Growth, and was a response to the Feed Africa Commitment of the AfDB and other Partners at Africa Investment Forum, which unveiled a platform known as the Alliance for Special Agro-industrial Processing Zones to mobilise equity funding for the continent’s agro-ecosystem.

    At the event, King Mohammed VI reiterated that Africa Investment Forum was the place where bankable projects in Africa meet with investors, where investors meet with Heads of State and Governments in investment boardrooms converge and give comfort to investment as a result of which risks are managed and deals closed.

    According to the Executive Secretary of Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI), Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, who was a participant, “The event has been considered by stakeholders as the most strategic and important in terms of conveying power and capacity to galvanise investment actions on the continent, and harness its resources. From what happened in Morocco, the Africa Investment Forum (AIF) is indeed, renowned to be Africa’s premier investment market place.”

    At this year’s event, His Excellency, Mr. Omar Kabbaj, Advisor to the King, representing His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, stated: “The AIF is unique, it is not just any forum; it is a transactional platform, where real business is conducted; where deals are made and where actions supersede rhetoric.”

    It was also revealed that since the launch of the Africa Investment Forum in 2018, AIF has drawn more than 16, 500 participants; generated investment interests of nearly $143 billion.

    A retrospective analysis was made at the 2022 AIF Market Days, wherein the Abidjan – Lagos highway corridor was able to secure $15.5 billion of investment interests: What makes the AIF unique and remarkable is that it is highly innovative and 100% transactional. Investors have discovered that there is no other global investment forum like it. “They develop and curate projects; reduce transaction costs and risks and accelerate the closure of deals. They also improve the overall business environment within which projects and investments are structured, developed and delivered, making investments to land in Africa smoothly.”

    Nevertheless, this corridor will transform the entire West Africa region and speed up regional integration and trade. Also, last year, other investment interests were secured for 3.6 billion dollars for the East Africa Railway corridor, linking Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi respectively. That the AIF has so far closed on deals, investment gaps with 11 billion dollars, ranging from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) renewable energy, agribusiness, industrial manufacturing, creative industry, housing and transport.

    According to global statistics, the Africa population will reach 2.5 billion by 2050; the continent will account for 25% of the global population. The New York Times recently affirmed in a headline what we know that the world is becoming more African. With a youth population of 477 million people between the ages of 15 and 25, Africa will be key for supplying the global labour force. Then, the size of the food and agriculture market in Africa will be worth one trillion dollars by 2030, in less than seven years from now.

    It was revealed at the event that the future of the $7 trillion electronic vehicle market is tied to Nigeria and other African countries. Also, the size of the electric vehicles value-chain is estimated to increase from the current $7 trillion, to 157 trillion dollars by 2050.

    According to the President of AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the future depends on Africa. That is because, as he asserted, Africa accounts for the largest source of the green metals for the development of electric vehicles, including platinum (70%), cobalt (52%), manganese (46%), bauxite (25%) and graphite (21%).

    An assessment by Bloomberg NEF shows that the cost of manufacturing of lithium-iron precursor batteries in Africa is three times less than in the United States, China and Poland, all together. The global electric vehicle market has experienced significant growth, which is driven by increasing environmental concerns and advancement in technology. China, the United States and Europe are the three biggest electric vehicle markets globally. China has incentives such as subsidies, tax breaks and license plate restrictions which has encouraged consumers to embrace electric mobility.

    President of AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, further said, “Five of the six pre-pandemic top performing African countries are projected to be back in the league of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies for 2023-2024. African economies provide some of the best investment opportunities in the world.”

    The Africa Continental Free Trade Area, when fully operational, offers incredible opportunities for boosting intra-regional trade across borders and regions as well as the emergence of a more competitive national, regional and globally connected value chain as envisaged in the Special Sessions on Regional Corridors: Quest to Integrate Africa. This, it was agreed, can only be achieved through the development of infrastructure.

    The AfDB and partners are implementing the 20 billion dollars Desert-to-Power Initiative to develop 10GW of solar power across 11 countries of the Sahel zone, when completed, will be the largest solar zone in the world. These countries are ; Nigeria, Burkina faso, Cameroon, Chad, The Gambia, Guinea, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Eritrea and Senegal including the Sahel regional transmission lines to assume reliable and competitively priced electricity for development of the corridors. The AfDB also supports the development and expansion of regional power pools, in collaboration with the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities.

    “That is the Africa we want: A Fully Interconnected Africa, using regional corridor infrastructure and innovative regional financing instruments, to unleash economic opportunities and assure competitiveness of national and regional value chains; a well-connected Africa will be a more competitive Africa,” as asserted by Dr. Adesina, the president of AfDB.

    The Lagos – Abidjan highway connects Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Cote d’Ivoire, secured investment interest of 15.2 billion dollars at the AIF last year, from multiple financiers and investors.

    According to His Majesty, Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, his country has been championing for an Inter-African coordinated and cooperation mechanism to be enhanced in various fields of endeavours with a view to achieving regional economic integration and hub; that is why the Morocco – Nigeria Gas pipeline project is part of that endeavour closest to his heart.

    He said this reflects his resolve to lay the groundwork for genuine regional cooperation. The project, he further stated, will enhance all countries along the pipeline route to have access to reliable energy supplies and to be more resilient to exogenous energy price shocks.

    The African Development Bank has pledged 500 million dollars to develop the strategic Lobito corridor, connecting Angola, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to interlink countries and boost trade. The AfDB president has highlighted five priority areas to fully optimize the benefits of the developing regional corridors across Africa. These include: dedicating pooled financing facilities to corridor projects; building special industrial zones around the corridors to optimize existing infrastructure; adopting a systematic approach; and platform to syndicate around the development of strategic regional corridors.

    The Alliance for Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones to mobilise equity funding for the continent’s eco-system, a new initiative by the AfDB following the success of the Feed Africa Summit (FAS), which AfDB in partnership with the Senegalese government and Africa Union, held in January in Dakar, was attended by 34 Heads of State and Governments, according to the AfDB boss. He also informed that the summit had successfully mobilised 72 billion dollars towards implementing food and agriculture delivery compacts.

    The Initiative, according to Dr Adesina, is aimed at mobilizing at least 2 billion dollars in financing and investment commitments from Alliance members and partners over the next five years. However, meeting the financing goal will deliver an additional 15 to 20 Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) projects in various countries across the continent.

    The AfDB President emphasized that the Alliance will also raise funds through various investment windows for project preparation, project development and construction and financing for tenant companies. By doing so, the Alliance will bridge critical financing gaps, complement existing initiatives and mobilise resources towards the common goal of enhancing agricultural value addition in Africa. The platform will also provide project preparation, finance, equity and debt investments, technical assistance, as well as project tracking and oversight. It will further help with improving administrative policy and investment incentives never envisaged previously.

    The Presidential Panel was attended by five Heads of State and Governments. There was robust engagement in challenges facing the continent. President Julius Maado Bio of Sierra Leone called for aggressive diversification of economies and attributed the desperation of youths to leave the continent to the low knowledge index of the economy.

    According to him, hundreds of African youths who die in the Atlantic Ocean while crossing to Europe are searching for jobs exported by African countries, owing to failure to add value to their communities. The President of Sierra Leone said value addition is a necessary option for growing resilient national economies across Africa and noted that the continent needs to move from merely talking to action.

    For the Tanzanian President, Suluhu Hassan, there are a lot of obstacles to trade and investment in the continent. He urged his colleagues to work towards removing the obstacles to make the continent a destination of global investment and pride. On his part, the Rwandan Prime Minister, Edouard Ngirente, noted that time is ticking fast and the government could not afford to continue lamenting missed opportunities and chances, but rather move quickly and build the economy that their citizens deserve.

    Consequently, the King of Morocco noted, “That is why initiatives such as the African Investment Forum (AIF), which is sponsored by the AfDB, are commendable, because they help direct private investment towards the most promising economic sectors, thus reinforcing the integration of Africa’s economies into global value chains.”

    All the high network corporate Africans, Heads of Governments, Ministers from across Africa, agreed that the economic potential of Africa is growing rapidly and of immense importance and promise of opportunities with incredible richness in vast natural and human capital resources in technology, agriculture, and entrainment. Africa is home to a youthful and dynamic workforce with a demography that cut across the youth population and abundant natural resources that will change the landscape in a few years ahead and that indeed, President of the AfDB, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, is a global brand; chief optimist of Africa and a great and foremost marketing chief executive of Africa who has used the AfDB platform to change the narrative of Africa; deconstruct conversation favourable to Africa and shape opinions that, indeed, Africa is bankable and the risks are minimal, unlike what most books are saying as he re-echoed time again that “the future is indeed Africa and the time is now for investments and investors to see the continent as the new marketplace of ideas and unlocking the continent’s value chain.” He reiterated that, “Invest in Africa and reap high-risk adjusted returns!”

    Senior Director of Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Chinelo Anohu also echoed that, “Africa must trust Africans with their ideas, innovations and strategy for the future.” The event was co-sponsored by the Africa Export-Import Bank, Africa Finance Corporation, Africa 50, and Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank and the Islamic Development Bank, with an estimated $34.82 billion investment interest.

    CWAI’s executive secretary emphasized that the Heads of State and Government, as well as all participants at the event, overwhelmingly agreed that, the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, was “indeed spreading shared prosperity across Africa with this innovative and bankable financial platform for building infrastructure corridors.”

  • NUPENG Suspends Indefinitely 12 Members for Breach of Peace, drags them to court for prosecution

    NUPENG Suspends Indefinitely 12 Members for Breach of Peace, drags them to court for prosecution

    Information emanating from the National Secretariat of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), the Petroleum Tankers Drivers Branch has slammed an indefinite suspension on some members of the union over their anti-union activities and actions that may lead to breach of peace in the country.

    In a circular made to members of the union, it reads that the members lend their support to the executives led by the current president Comrade Augustine Egbon, the circular reads, “This is to inform all our members that the President, the Deputy President of NUPENG, General Secretary and the National Chairman Of PTD are greatly doing well.

    “But Lucky Osesua and Dayyabu Garga who before now were members of the union has been arrested over activities that nearly caused breach of peace, they were reported to the police who arrested them and will prosecute them in the court where their fate will be decided.”

    The circular further employ the members to disregard any contrary information coming from any other source other than the recognised structure of PTD headed by the National chairman, Comr. Augustine Egbon.

    Those placed on indefinite suspension are Peter Moudebelu, Dayabu Garga, Musa Dennis, Osesua, Walter, Tiamiyu Ojo, Osahon Osamuyi, Humble Obinna, Dele Nwaka, Sylvanus Idanwekhai, Akinlolu Olabisi, Gambo Ibrahim Tuge.

    In the letter of suspension cited they were accused of conducting illegal congress to elect new national leaders of the union in disobedience to the order of the court nullifying such.

    Below is a sample of the letter sent to the suspended members;

    LETTER OF INDEFINITE SUSPENSION FROM THE UNION

    The National Secretariat of the Union is in receipt of documentary, audio and video evidences of you and some other individuals illegally organizing and conducting elections for the national offices of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Union in Abuja, in the early hours of Tuesday,3lst October, 2023 in disobedience and in contempt of the

    judgement of Hon. Justice Bashar A. Alkali of the National lndustrial Court of Nigeria, in the Yenagoa Judicial Division, holden at Yenagoa on Suit No. NICN/YEN/L/2022 that

    nullified the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG’s election held on 30th June, 2022 in lbadan, Oyo State, dissolved the former executive and mandated the National Secretariat of NUPENG to conduct a fresh elections for the national offices of the

    Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch ofthe Union.

    Your actions, conducts and utterances were totalviolations of the Union Constitution and the Bye Laws of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch including the resolutions

    taken at the Branch Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch on 20th September 2023 in Asaba, Delta State.

    It was on the basis of the above that a resolution was taken and adopted at the Special Delegates Conference of the Branch on Tuesday, 3L’t of October,2O23 recommending

    LETTER OF INDEFINITE SUSPENSION FROM THE UNION

    The National Secretariat of the Union is in receipt of documentary, audio and video

    evidences of you and some other individuals illegally organizing and conducting elections

    for the national offices of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of the Union in Abuja, in

    the early hours of Tuesday,3lst October, 2023in disobedience and in contempt of the

    judgement of Hon. Justice Bashar A. Alkali of the National lndustrial Court of Nigeria, in

    the Yenagoa Judicial Division, holden at Yenagoa on Suit No. NICN/YEN/L/2022 that

    nullified the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch of NUPENG’s election held on 30th June,

    2022 in lbadan, Oyo State, dissolved the former executive and mandated the National

    Secretariat of NUPENG to conduct a fresh elections for the national offices of the

    Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch ofthe Union.

    Your actions, conducts and utterances were totalviolations of the Union Constitution and

    the Bye Laws of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch including the resolutions

    taken at the Branch Executive Council meeting of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Branch

    on 20th September 2023 in Asaba, Delta State.

    It was on the basis of the above that a resolution was taken and adopted at the Special

    Delegates Conference of the Branch on Tuesday, 3L’t of October,2O23 recommending your expulsion from the Branch and the Union to the National Executive Council of Nigeria

    Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    your expulsion from the Branch and the Union to the National Executive Council of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

    To worsen the matter, on Wednesday, 1’t November 2023, the President of the Union,

    Comrade Williams Akporeha and the General Secretary of the Union together with the

    Chairman of the Caretaker Committee set up after the dissolution of the former executive

    by court and six principal officers of the newly elected executive of the Branch were

    brutally and viciously attacked at the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch office at 50

    Moses Majekodunmi Crescent, Utako , Abuja by you and co- conspirators ably assisted by

    some assailants, thugs and arsonists.

    These actions are definitely condemnable and heinous crimes and cannot be condoned

    in any way by the Union and in any decent Society.

    ln the light of the above, you are hereby immediately placed on an indefinite suspension

    from the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG and from the Union

    generally pending when the National Executive Council of the Union shall take

    appropriate actions and measures on the matter.

    You are hereby directed to hand over all the Union properties in your possession to the

    Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Chairman of your Zone and by a copy of this letter all

    relevant Security Agencies, Government lnstitutions and all Stakeholders in the Oil and

    Gas lndustry should not transact business or have any official union relationships with this

    ma n.

    Thank you.

    Yours faithfully,

    FOR: NIGERIA UNION OF PETROLEUM AND NATURALGAS WORKERS

    BI OLAWALE

    General Secretary

    P resident – NUPENG

    Trustees – NUPENG

    State Commissioner of Police – Nigeria Police Force, Kaduna State

    State Director of DSS – Department of State Services (DSS), Kaduna State

    State Commandant – NSCDC, Kaduna State

    President and Executive Secretary – NARTO, Abuja

    Chairman/Secretary – Kaduna Zonal Councll of NUPENG

    Chairman/Secreta ry – PTD Branch of NUPENG

    Chairma n/Secreta ry – PTD Kaduna Zone of NUPENG

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Kyari: Driving Culture of Transparency, Professionalism, Productivity

    Kyari: Driving Culture of Transparency, Professionalism, Productivity

    Mele Kolo Kyari is driving high performances index in spite of the daunting challenges since assuming the mantle of leadership and has worked assiduously with the corporation and the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry for over 33 years. The reform-minded oil and gas industry technocrat unfolded an agenda for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited’s rebirth, calling it the Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE), a five-step tracking and strategic road map for NNPC’s attainment of efficiency, effectiveness and global competitiveness and excellence.

    He pivoted and pioneered a unique new lease of life in terms of institutional building, infrastructural development; championing a new management of ideas into the next millennium, by driving change and expanding the scope of NNPC’s operations like never before.

    For the first time in the history of NNPC, after 43 years, it published its financial account to the public. This is no mean achievement.

    Defying all the odds with outstanding financial performance since he assumed office, thereby making his plans very clear, which has also transformed the corporation into a Limited Liability Company in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

    These efforts have yielded impressive results, with Nigeria now the largest producer of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) in Africa, and one of the top ten producers globally. This feat has earned the country’s gas reserves, estimated at over 200 trillion cubic feet, providing a huge opportunity for growth and development.

    This has made Nigeria taken full advantage of the potential. Under Mele Kolo Kyari’s direction and strategic policy template, the NNPC has launched several initiatives, including the Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NPEX), a platform for trading Nigerian crude oil and other petroleum products and the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIP), a $200m (200 Dollar million fund) aimed at supporting the development of local content in the industry.

    According to Honourable Philip Agbese (APC, Benue), representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, “The biggest legacy has been the approval of fuel subsidy removal which has already saved Nigeria over one trillion Naira (N1trillion).

    Hon. Agbese further described the “350MV First Phase of the NNPC Limited Gwagwalada Independent Power Project (GIPP) as the brainchild of Kyari.” This, no doubt, is a legacy that will remain in the footprints of time and future generations of Nigerians.

    In view of the foregoing, the attention of the Coalition of over 250 frontline Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Activists, the Human Rights Community as well as that of Media Executives has been drawn to the recent editorial publication of a mainstream newspaper.

    The editorial under reference wilfully maligned the selfless and pivotal sacrifices of the present management of the NNPC and asked for a change in the baton of leadership without taking into consideration the transformative and strategic milestones and achievements recorded since the assumption of Engineer Mele Kolo Kyari’s proactive leadership.

    From all indications, there was no iota of truth whatsoever in the editorial, as it lacks merit; it is outright falsehood, mischievous fallacies orchestrated and concocted to deceive the gullible Nigerian public, the African continent that has hopefully look at Nigeria as a “Big Brother.” This editorial falls short of all known rules that guide editorializing, which is supported to be guided by the basic truth, and nothing but the truth.

    As Champions and Advocates of Accountability, Transparency and Good Governance practice in public office, it behooves on us, as “custodians of conscience of the people,” to right the wrongs and wholly dispel the negative orchestration and publish the succinct truth for Nigerians to be aware.

    In a Press Statement signed by the under-listed executives of the organizations, “Within the first year of managing the NNPC, Engineer Kyari, through cost reduction strategy, was able to reduce NNPC’s losses from N803 billion in 2018 to N1.7 billion in 2019.” This was before the eventual declaration of N287 billion net profit in 2020, a feat hitherto unheard of in the annals of the then Corporation.

    The Coalition went on to reveal that the NNPC was able to engage all its contractors and insisted on cutting cost to at least 30 per cent in the 2020 financial period, which pulled down most of its procurement cost by 30 per cent amidst the daunting challenges and harsh operating environment which had tested the resilience of institutions and businesses globally.

    Notwithstanding, the NNPC continued to wither the storm by posting a profit of N674.1 billion in the 2021 financial period in view. This positive result came as global economies struggled with reactionary forces and weak economies.

    However, in spite of tough and volatile environment, the Company’s investment strategy proved resilient and enabled the National Oil to deliver favourable outcomes during the 2021 financial year. That made the Company to become a CAMA (Companies and Allied Matters Act) registered entity in the same year. This, no doubt, followed the meticulous implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

    The group accounts of NNPC was listed by the Price WaterHouseCoopers, SIAO and Muntari Dangana Accounting firms. This financial year of 2021 was the fourth consecutive year that the NNPC would be declaring its financial statement in the public domain. These were the innovative and transformative leadership spearheaded by Engineer Kyari when he took over the affairs of the Company.

    Consequently, other factors that contributed to the high profitability of the NNPC was the outcome of the N173.7 billion, arising from the reconciliation with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS); stronger emphasis on performance management and measurement, rationalization of non-essential expenditure and implementation of the transparency and accountability agenda put in place by him.

    There was also rapid increase in the revenue which was attributable to improvement in the production and price of crude oil during the period under review in line with the trajectory role of the leadership and management of TAPE which was the only way to turn around the Corporation’s fortunes and make it relevant and globally competitive, which roadmap ensured and still ensures transparency at maintaining a positive image, shared values of integrity and transparency to all stakeholders.

    This occured while the accountability segment of the campaign was to assure compliance with business ethics, policies, regulation and accountability to all stakeholders.

    In furtherance of our investigations, we discovered that innovative reforms have been implemented by the Group Chief Executive Officer and are yielding positive results for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which plans are centred around operational efficiency and output productivity and transparency for the Limited Liability Company, which was once a cesspool of corruption, and abuse of office.

    Under Engineer Kyari, the management has transformed and revolutionized the way the nation produced and distributes its most vital resources, driven by a fierce sense of direction, purpose and an unshakable commitment to excellence and the implementation of a series of bold and innovative reforms that have changed the sector. It entered into partnership with Italian Oil Company, Eni, to rehabilitate and upgrade the refinery with a target of achieving full production capacity by the end of 2023.

    These efforts have led to several innovations and initiatives designed to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations and the establishment of new trading subsidiary, the creation of a new crude oil marketing division, and the implementation of a new performance management system to enhance output and productivity.

    Thereby dovetailing into a massive effort to increase domestic gas utilization, reduce its energy mix, reduce also its carbon footprint involving the development of a new gas infrastructure, the expansion of existing facilities and the promotion of gas-based industries such as petrochemicals and fertilizers never envisaged before.

    The GIPP project is led by the NNPC in a Joint Venture with China Machinery and Engineering Corporation (CMEC) for the EPC, and General Electric (GE) for the Long Term Service Agreement. This is designed to provide a reliable electricity; strengthen Nigeria’s energy sector and accelerate economic prosperity of the nation and very much on track towards sustainable growth and development.

    Nevertheless, it was a known fact that Nigeria’s Extractive Industries Initiative (NEITI), a resource utilization watchdog and the Auditor-General of the Federation, dealing with the NNPC to get it to account for its financial transactions was distressing, because the Company was always recalcitrant in opening up its books for public scrutiny, but with the efforts of Engineer Kyari’s leadership, it all changed overnight, due to transparency, open door policy and for accountability purposes.

    The era of opaqueness in managing the affairs of the Company has since ended. This was captured in the five steps for realizing the objectives of TAPE, according to our painstaking investigations which are: The NNPC opens up its systems to public scrutiny; Its operational processes were made transparent and accountable to the Nigerian people; the new systems would operative along with well-defined operational processes, benchmarked against established global best practices by world-class Oil and Gas Companies; set the right operational cost structure, to guarantee value addition towards NNPC’s sustained profitability and set achievable goals; priorities and performance standards and criteria, by developing suitable governance structures for its strategic business units, including the entrenchment of team-spirit, work ethics and collaboration with all key stakeholders to achieve set corporate goals.

    With the above templates and innovations put in place, we are rest assured that Nigerians will, indeed, count visible footprints of milestones across all segments of the country’s petroleum industry – Upstream, Downstream, Gas and Power, as well as his interventions in other sectors related to the industry.

    The Coalition noted that the AKK Pipeline Project considered to be at the heart of the country’s economic growth posited by the management to see that it is completed by the end of the year. The strategic Fuel Reserve/Refineries’ repairs is another major milestone of the Group Chief Executive Officer built over two billion litres by PMS, the country could fall back on till it was able to import more products, including the involvement of the local workforce, employing graduate trainees and engineers working with the National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), the engineering and technical subsidiary.

    It is worthy of note, to also state that since the pivotal and proactive management came on board, Regulatory Compliance is topmost and the Implementation of various Financing Reporting Standards (IFRS), as well as Implementing the Centralized Invoice Processing Systems, applications and products to Remitta, SAP Funds Management and others for financial autonomy of the NNPC.

    These involve SAP Enterprise Management Software in performance management, procure to pay, travel management to ensure automated and integrated operational processes. The management has also inaugurated the NNPC Delivery Team, charged with the responsibility of ensuring the effective performance tracking of top five priorities across the business, as well as launching the Code of Conduct and TIP Portal.

    The Coalition can categorically state that, while expanding the frontiers and infrastructural development of its assets, the Engineer Kyari led management invested in Methanol of $3.6 billion in Bayelsa State, an Integrated Methanol and Gas Project in Odioma, Brass Land, Bayelsa State, which will commence operations next year with an expected production rate of 10,000 tons of Methanol daily.

    Another US$260 million Finance Funding Agreement for ANOH Gas Processing Company Limited (AGPC). The project will deliver 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and 1,200 megawatts of electricity to the domestic market and the launching of Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimization Programme (NUCOP) to drive the cost of crude oil production in the country, so as to remain competitive in the global market.

    During our investigations, we found out that the Kyari-led management was proactive and had a strategic directional policy in place and template that encompasses the NPDC’s growing output, alternative financing deal for NPDC, the revision of unit costs for Joint Ventures, PSCs, sustaining average oil output, investment in Nigeria’s Train 7FID, the completion of power projects met on a ground and recent ones initiated by his leadership, and also the downstream sector covers ground like, Uninterrupted Fuel Supply; “Operation White” entrenching security and deepening of transparency, including the determination of the national daily consumption ratio.

    These efforts have also produced refineries rehabilitation, the diversification of the NNPC portfolios, timely remittance of oil revenues to FAAC, revenue optimization and so many other benchmarks and challenges surpassed to make the NNPC a household name, not only in Nigeria, but in Africa, and reviving moribund subsidiaries and the expansion of oil drilling in Kolmani River II and benchmark for legal arbitration and the enhancement of leadership structure for the oil industry, fight against COVID-19, which was a major achievement and efforts that assisted the county to curtail the pandemic, which major funding was sponsored by the NNPC.

    The Coalition can also authoritatively attest to the fact that the NNPC’s US$3 billion commitment letter and term-sheet for an emergency crude oil repayment loan has brought with it major advantages, because a fresh injection of US$3 billion into the country’s Foreign Exchange (FX) market would have a far greater impact on the entire economy as it would leverage other market forces and the economy, reduction or no increase in the pump price of petrol; increase the value of the Naira against the US Dollar and other currencies.

    These are, indeed, pointers to the immediate benefits of the facility to Nigeria on a sustainable basis and, therefore, should be commended and applauded by well-meaning Nigerians, for the foresight, vision and forthrightness in sourcing the funds in the first place.

    We, as well note that, through our painstaking investigations, the NNPC is very much on track towards sustainable growth and development, as it has presently constructed roads networks and rehabilitated over 21 roads under the Federal Government Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme and on Tuesday, 21st December, 2021, it officially handed over N621 billion cheque to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

    Presently, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration has removed fuel subsidy and the present management of the NNPC are doing everything possible to regulate, manage, block loopholes used by oil marketers and keep the nation thriving in spite of the enormous challenges of managing issues of fuel subsidy removal, feared by previous administrations.

    But, we are assured that by December 2023, the Portharcourt Refinery will be up and running and fully operational, according to the Minister of State, Oil and Gas. The issue of crude oil theft, economic sabotage, pipelines vandalism and smuggling across the borders, has become a major challenge as clandestine refineries are daily operated by saboteurs to cause economic loss running into billions of naira including illegal connections from base stations. The management of the NNPC, Service Chiefs, Minister of Defence and Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) are daily working assiduously, strategizing to arrest and prosecute organizations and individuals responsible for the economic theft and diversion of our national resources meant for development of the country.

    Accordingly, the NNPC is in collaboration and partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across the country in the delivery of their mandates of making government accountable to the people; Freedom of Expression; Freedom of Information; and enshrining good governance practice and accountability, as well as transparency in their operations nationwide, in its day-to-day affairs.

    We therefore have no hesitation in passing a resounding Vote of Confidence on Engineer Kyari’s administration. We, as well, call on the International Community, stakeholders and well-meaning Nigerians to continuously support this proactive leadership to enable it further its commitment and efforts to the general good of the nation; reemphasizing that the editorial in reference is, indeed, hogwash, politically motivated, repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience. Hence, should be disregarded and discountenanced as fake news, hate speech, wilfully concocted by Fifth Columnists and traducers as well as agent-provocateurs.

    Signed:

    1. Comrade Umar Farouk, Convener, Africa for Peace Initiative Network (APIN)

    2. Comrade Ejikeme Udeh, Secretary, Change Network for Leadership (CNL)

    3. Comrade Okoronkwo James, National Coordinator, Peace and Advocacy Initiative (PAI)

    4. Comrade Onoja Charles, Esq. Coordinator,Middlebelt Lawyers Forum (MLF)

    5. Comrade Adio Wahab Salami, National Coordinator, Workers’ Rights Protection Network (WORP)

    6. Comrade Gbenga Ashiru, National President, Amalgamated CSOs of Nigeria (ACN)

    7. Comrade Ishaya Issa Saka, President, Coalition of CSOs Against Corruption (CCAC)

    8. Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele, Executive Secretary, Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative(CWAI) & President, (GOCMEJ).

    9. Comrade Johnson Eze,National Coordinator,Network for Change, Good Governance and Leadership (NCGL)

    10. Comrade Michael Ekamon,National Convener, South-South Youths for Good Governance (SSYGG)

    11. Comrade Gabriel Gwajime, President, Middle Belt Renaissance Group(MBRG)

  • Disregard Fake News, Skewed Narrative Against NSCDC

    Disregard Fake News, Skewed Narrative Against NSCDC

    The attention of the Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Equity, Justice and Transparency in Nigeria (GOCMEJ) has been drawn to fake news and skewed narrative driven by a non-registered self-acclaimed NGO (Non-Governmental Organization), spearheaded by few self-serving private individuals.

     

    The said “organization,” a few days ago, vehemently tries to cast aspersions and malign the hard-earned reputation of the management of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), when it said many unprintable things against this professionally run organization with the highest esprit-de-corps, as well as high morale of officers and men amongst paramilitary organizations in the country.

     

    In a terse press release by the Guild’s Executive Director (Programmes), Comrade Mahmud Bello, and the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Gabriel Gwajime, the organization lampooned the unregistered so-called NGO and its National Coordinator. The duo described the helmsmen as a political jobbers and willing tools of blackmail, who go about castigating one organization after another in a bid to settle scores on behalf of their bankrollers, thereby currying undeserved favour.

     

    The organization descend heavily on these fifth columnists and agent provocateurs for their fake rumour-mill and candidly advised them to engage themselves in lucrative and progressive endeavours to earn a decent living, instead of going about telling tales without iota of facts or empirical evidence whatsoever.

     

    The Guild emphasized that the so-called group and its promoters are mischief makers, former disgruntled staff of the NSCDC, whose new stock-in-trade is peddling of falsehood and circulating fake news, in order to drag the hard-earned reputation of the Corps into odium and public ridicule. As such, GOCMEJ warned Nigerians to disregard the innuendoes orchestrated against the management, especially as it concerns the strict application of its anti-corruption policy under the leadership of the current Commandant-General, Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, which ostensibly saw many old staff out of the NSCDC.

     

    The Guild condemned in its entirety this malicious and mischievous skewed narrative by a self-serving non-registered organization and called on well-meaning Nigerians to disregard and discountenance contents of this lucid campaign of calumny.

     

    Based on this, the organization conducted a painstaking independent investigation and hereby affirms that all the allegations levelled against the management of the NSCDC are clandestine, pedestrian and malicious, all orchestrated by a shadow group of disgruntled people who are self-serving and envious of the superlative performances of management. The Guild has also confirmed that this orchestrated blackmail by fifth columnists cleverly laced with blatant lies and without an atom of truth whatsoever.

     

    The statement added that “As foremost champions and advocates of accountability, good governance and transparency in public service in Nigeria, these malicious ethnic coloration and casting of aspersions on management is not only detrimental to good governance practice, but as well a threat to the NSCDC management.”

     

    The organization therefore advised that these malicious publications in reference, should be regarded as null and void and of no consequence whatsoever, and should be disregarded, disparaged and discountenanced by all well-meaning Nigerians.

     

    The Guild added that the so-called group are vindictive, callous, wicked and repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience, and their intent is to distract and pull down the hard-working management of NSCDC.

     

    At this juncture, after the Guild’s thorough investigation in all ramifications, it hereby calls on Nigerians to disregard these campaigns of calumny against NSCDC management. The Guild also emphasizes for the umpteenth time and calls on these political jobbers and blackmailers to be mindful of their unprofessional language and stop forthwith this charade due to NSCDC’s consistency and patriotism in safeguarding critical national infrastructure across the length and breadth of the country.

     

    On this premise, the Guild avers that these fellows have goofed, have become parochial, partisan, clannish and alien to the genuine efforts by NSCDC management to rid the country of criminal elements, banditry, cattle rustling, as well as protect lives and property of Nigerians.

     

    GOCMEJ attests that the giant strides so far achieved in spite of the daunting challenges are as a result of the strategic directions, policies and programmes of the present Commandant-General such as the commissioning of the Standard Curriculum for the NSCDC aimed at entrenching career progression, effective supervision and regulating of the private guard companies in Nigeria. The Guild also notes with satisfaction, the establishment of the Special Female Squad (SFS); creation of the Intelligence Squad under the CG’s office for effective monitoring and prosecutorial duties of the Corps.

     

    The Guild notes that the Commandant-General is a key asset in the protection and safety of lives and property, including critical national assets, which operations are not in doubt. GOCMEJ also acknowledges the fact that the CG recently gave marching orders to Commandants of the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to ensure that they protect key assets within their jurisdiction during the Eid-el-Kabir celebration, so as to reduce planned activities of trouble-makers, who foment and visit mayhem on innocent patriotic and unsuspecting public.

     

    With nostalgia, the Guild asserts that the present transparent leadership of NSCDC qualifies the leaders to be referred to as ardent advocates of the change mantra to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s administration. This was arrived at, judging from these officers’ display of honesty, professionalism and patriotism to the core.

     

    It is in view of the foregoing that the Guild hereby wilfully passes a “Vote of Confidence” on the management of NSCDC for the current institutional capacity building and repositioning that can best be compared with international best practices. GOCMEJ equally urges them to remain focused and undeterred in their efforts to rebrand the organization and provide best management practices to actualize President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proactive agenda.

     

    The Guild equally calls on the international community to as well support the efforts of this proactive management to enable it further its best for the good of the generality of Nigerians, as the Guild asserts that it has no hesitation in endorsing the CG’s transparent and prudent management of scarce resources.

  • Northern APC Stakeholders Reject Baduru, Others Hail New Criteria for Appointments

    Northern APC Stakeholders Reject Baduru, Others Hail New Criteria for Appointments

    Some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress in the North under the banner of Northern Progressives Union (NPU) have outrightly rejected any attempt by the immediate past Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Abubakar Badaru to smuggle himself as the ministerial nominee of the party from the northern states.

    In a statement signed on behalf of the group by Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Kiyawa on Monday, the group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resist the temptation of appointing any of the immediate past state governors in his soon to be constituted cabinet as a ministerial nominees based on the fact that they are all spent forces, failed politicians and disgruntled so-called leaders who don’t fit into today’s reality of the present vision of the Renewed Hope mantra of the present administration.

    “We are the foot soldiers of the APC in this part of the country and therefore making a categorical statement urging Mr. President and the APC as a political party not entertain the idea of nominating any of the former Governors from the region in the incoming cabinet “as they do not have the required capacities and capabilities to drive the process.

    “Our demand is legitimate and is consequent upon the misdeeds of some of them during the 2023 general elections where most were moles and fifth columnists used by the opposition parties and in most cases funds given to them for elections were personalized and kept for self-serving purposes”.

    “While President Tinubu was mobilizing at all levels, the former Governor seeking ministerial nomination could not deliver votes from his area”.

    According to them, Jigawa, Yobe and Zamfara states can be adjudged among the least politically astute states in the northern Nigeria and thus they are most likely to move in line with the body language of their key leaders that they identify with and not necessarily any other factor.

    “In Jigawa State 2023 presidential election, the Hadeijia Emirate consisting of Birniwa, Kirikasamma, Guri, Hadejia, Malam Madori, Kaugama, Auyo and Kafin Hausa local governments, massively voted for APC owing to the fact that one of them was made APC governorship candidate for the first time ever since the creation of the state, the votes were not necessarily due to any funds disbursed by the former Governor. In the first place, the Governor never disbursed any money; the truth is that for some of us on the ground, it was found out that People’s Democratic Party outspent APC, thus the reason for PDP gathering some considerable votes otherwise. It should have been landslide for APC because of the zoning arrangement in favour of the governorship candidate of our great party as stated.

    The PDP had a very good show in the Gumel Emirate comprising Gumel, Maigatari, Sule Tankarkar local governments, this again may be due to those places being traditionally PDP apologists and perhaps APC’s non-mobilization of the appropriate resources, the group stated.

    “APC did very well in the Ringim Emirate consisting of Ringim, Garki, Taura, Gagarawa owing to the philanthropy of a man called Gerawa who’s arguably the biggest entrepreneur in the state and the biggest investor in the politics of the state”.

    “As for Kazaure zone which is the governor’s zone, it was more of even between the two parties, again it may be due to lack of necessary goodwill and lack of appropriate resources. The local governments include: Babura, Kazaure, Gwiwa, Roni, Yankwashi”.

    The group posited that Dutse Emirate was majorly PDP owing to it being Sule Lamido’s zone as well as perhaps passing a vote of no confidence on Governor Badaru whom they didn’t really support throughout his tenure. The local government areas include: Dutse, Gwaram, Buji, Kiyawa, Miga, Birnin Kudu and Jahun. PDP won Dutse, Birnin Kudu and Gwaram with wide margins while the places that APC won in the other areas were a slim margin.

    “That it amounts to injustice and morally unjustifiable on the part of anyone to smuggle the former governor as the representative of the state in the federal cabinet”.

    “We whole-heartedly align with the new policy of Mr. President as announced by Mr. Dele Alake, Special Adviser to the President on Stategy and Communication stating that anyone seeking a federal appointment must attach a copy of his voter’s card and results of his polling unit during the elections.

    “We commend such a wonderful criterion in other to checkmate desperate politicians seeking to reap where they did not sow and failed politicians who go about grandstanding without doing anything for their people nor have the support of the grassroots”.

    “That it is inconceivable, unimaginable, irreconciliable and unacceptable that in this era of “Renewed Hope” some members of the old order are trying to pollute the agenda with their continued presence in the system when they are supposed to retire and watch from the sidelines for the new and young breed to give Nigerians a new lease of life. There is need to tackle this anomaly and quickly too in the interest of the Nigerian people.

    “Therefore, we have resolved to constitute ourselves as the vanguard and agenda setter that would monitor and ensure the new cabinet is devoid of old order syndicate vaunting to use their money to buy their way into the cabinet. We shall resist them for our own good and that of the generation yet unborn.

    “We are going to institute a legal action to stop them making to the new cabinet. While it is the turn of the new breed in the block, it is turn of the immediate past class of 2015-2023 Governors, Ministers and other political office holders to take the back seat and allow patriotic citizens with fresh blood and ideas to contribute their own quota in the process of nation building in a government progressive, promising and performing administration geared towards changing the narrative for the betterment of Nigerians and the socio-economic development of the country.

  • At NSCDC, Audi Drives Civil Society Partnership That Works

    At NSCDC, Audi Drives Civil Society Partnership That Works

    The Guild of Civil Societies and Media Executives for Good Governance in Nigeria (GOCMEJ), a foremost anti-corruption, pro-democracy and good governance organization with over 550 civil society groups, human rights activists, bloggers and media executives under It’s umbrella across the country, is encouraged and hereby applauds the enormous efforts put in place by the able leadership of Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi, Commandant-General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) as part of its efforts to strengthen and end insecurity and the attendant consequences in the citizenry vis-à-vis the economy.

    The NSCDC is in collaboration and partnership with civil society organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) across the country in the delivery of their mandate of making government accountable to the people; freedom of expression; freedom of information; enshrining good governance practice in our everyday life and transparency of government activities in its day-to-day affairs and functions as it relates to financial and prudent management of resources in all functions of government and the private sector accordingly.

    This was contained in a statement by the Country Representative/President of the Guild, Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele in Lagos recently, where the organization emphasized the enormous contributions of the NSCDC leadership in support of germane challenges facing civil society organizations in terms of support for staff to enhance their capacities, build capacity development and training of civil society groups and non-governmental organizations across the country; support for monitoring of elections during the election periods; the mobilization and assistance of logistics/vehicles for NGOs and CSOs for project monitoring and the development of a blueprint to support and implement a civil society assistance base scheme for development in all ramifications.

    The organization noted with nostalgia that this was indeed the first time such an initiative/innovation gesture was carried out by any security organization in Nigeria; and added that the NSCDC has given priority, knowing full well the nature of the operations of the NGOs as well as the enormous challenges the sector faces on daily basis to cater for its numerous activities that include agenda setting, monitoring, evaluation and gate-keeping, making government accountable and report back to its various constituents and the publics.

    The Guild further observed that both the civil society organizations (CSOs) and NGOs have become the “eyes and ears,” as well as the “conscience of the nation.” As such, the government should look at ways and means to support the enormous functions carried out by the civil society organizations and see what areas it can partner and support its activities for effective and efficient mechanism to make governmental accountable to the various publics, including the private sector.

    According to the Country Representative, “It has become imperative as the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent global recession have greatly affected the operations of most CSOs/NGOs as they are no longer able to cater for the humanitarian jobs carried out on daily basis to the various communities.” He therefore appealed to government and good spirited organizations to come to the aid of NGOs in partnering and collaborating with this sector on a long term strategic initiative to strengthen and empower the personal sacrifices and humanitarian jobs being carried out by these organization to make organizations transparent, accountable and assist human security.

    The press release also called on other organizations to look within and to always adhere strictly to the provisions of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act whenever civil societies write to them. They should also use these provisions when replying the CSOs and NGOs within the stipulated time limit, “as organizations with transparent and accountable systems have nothing to be scared of.”

    The Guild observed that it has become a norm for various governmental organizations to refuse releasing information on the pertinent questions asked by these civil societies, an act which it observed, is not good for the growth of the nation, democracy and the economy. “It will be said also recently that the CSOs across Nigeria have witnessed a large chunk of financial sleece been perpetrated by various government agencies on white elephant projects while the present administration has less than one month to leave office.

    In view of this, the Guild calls on all government organizations to stop forth-with the “cashing-out” approvals and withdrawals. It also urges the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, the anti-graft agencies and security agencies to stop these antics and bring to book these phantom projects, bogus approvals for financials within the public space in this short period to scrutiny.

    GOCMEJ also sounds a note of caution, that even if the government of the days leaves, we will assiduously work with the in-coming administration to verify the authenticity of these various projects approved; follow the funds and know what the funds are used for and to make sure that such funds are not expended into private pockets as has almost become the tradition.

    The Guild is encouraged to commend the public procurement and contract approvals, accountability in procurement process and the high esprit-de-corps of the NSCDC officers and men, as the morale of the officers has never been this high in the past and also applauds the transformation, vision and forthrightness of the leadership in changing the narrative in making the corps the cynosure of all eyes through discipline, promotion of officers when due and capacity building of officers and men, including building strategic alliances with various ivory towers across Nigeria, to upgrade the service institution to meet with what is attainable globally and build robust sister inter-agency collaborations.

    Similarly, the Guild is encouraged by the activation of the Public Procurement Act 2007, being strictly followed and adhered to by the NSCDC’s management. It is also in view of this that GOCMEJ unflinchingly supports the present purchase of equipment in combat readiness, the transparent and due diligence carried out in the service operations; enhanced staff welfare; promotions of personnel to enhance service delivery; the productivity and loyalty of officers to the nation at all times.

    The Guild gives kudos to the present hierarchy of NSCDC, for repositioning of the security outfit. The Guild also praises the security outfit’s efforts in conflict management and dispute resolution put in place, including the establishment of the Special Female Squad (SFS) and the entrenchment of “see something, say something” syndrome by the rank and file and the prudent management of scarce resources available to the Corps.

    GOCMEJ therefore has no hesitation in passing a vote of confidence on the Dr Audi-led management and calls on the international community and well-meaning Nigerians in particular to continuously support this proactive leadership to enable it further its commitment and efforts to the general good of the nation.