Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has urged leaders of all countries to vaccine at least 10 percent of their population by September. The WHO DG said this on Friday in his opening remark at the media briefing on COVID-19. Speaking at the virtual briefing, the WHO boss said that this would protect health workers and those at most risk, effectively ending the acute stage of the pandemic and saving a lot of lives. “I have urged leaders across the world to work together to ensure that by this time next year, 70 percent of all…
Author: Temitope N.
South Sudan is experiencing a rapid decline in oil output, with its oilfields yielding less crude after reaching maturity, a senior government official said late on Thursday. At least five blocks “have already reached their peak and are on the decline”, Awow Daniel Chuang, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Petroleum, told Reuters. The country’s crude output now stands at 154,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared with 180,000 bpd in 2019. Crude reserves in the African nation are also declining, Chuang said, adding that the government and companies need to find ways to increase oilfields’ recovery rates to sustain the country’s…
The federal government has projected a rise to 4.2 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2022. The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, said this at the Public Consultation on the Draft 2022 to 2024 Medium Term Fiscal Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTFF/FSP) on Thursday. Mrs Ahmed said the GDP projected in 2021, to close at three per cent, had been adjusted downwards to close at 2.5 per cent. “In 2022, we are expecting an uptake to 4.2 per cent, then a dip to 2.3 per cent in 2023 and up to…
Nigerian lawmakers are calling for a future amendment to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), recently passed by the national assembly for presidential assent. The executive bill was passed with some contentious issues bordering on funds for ‘frontier exploration’ and the host communities. Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf and Hon. Henry Nwawuba who spoke on Channels TV said while the bill may get the nod of the executive because it initiated it in the Ninth Assembly, it would be good to have the bill reworked to meet the aspirations of all the people, especially its critical stakeholders, in this case, the host communities.…
The Federal Government will, on Oct. 13, arraign the Managing Director (MD), Dana Air, Hathiramani Jacky Ranesh, in a Federal High Court, Abuja on allegations bordering on fraud. Justice Obiora Egwuatu fixed the date after counsel to the defendant, Ade Adedeji, SAN, told the court that the absence of his client in court was to the knowledge of the prosecution. Newsmen report that the arraignment of Ramesh and two others, in suit number CR/101/21, was in the cause list for Wednesday’s proceeding. The MD of Dana Air is the first defendant in the suit. Although other defendants in the matter…
Oyo State Government has approved the construction of an aviation fuel facility at the Ibadan airport, at the cost of N1.2 billion. Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Seyi Makinde, on Thursday in Ibadan. The statement said that the facility would enable airline operators to use Ibadan as their operational base. The facility, when constructed, will also ensure that the airport serves as an immediate alternative to the Lagos airport in case of weather or other challenges. The statement said that the approval for…
OPEC+ is moving towards gradually adding about 2 million barrels per day (bpd) to the oil market from August to December, an OPEC+ source told Reuters as the group eases back on output curbs amid a recovering global economy and an oil price rally. Monthly increases would be 0.4 million bpd under the plan, the source said, adding that an OPEC+ ministerial committee had proposed this to the wider group. Another source said Saudi Arabia and Russia, the biggest producers in the OPEC+ alliance, had reached a preliminary agreement. Responding to oil demand destruction caused by the COVID-19 crisis, OPEC+…
The minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva, says the federal government’s decision to acquire equity in private refineries is to prevent fuel scarcity. He said this on Thursday in Abuja while receiving an award from a group called “Corruption Reporter.” The group said the award was conferred on him for his achievements in fighting corruption and the pursuit of transparency and accountability in the petroleum industry. On Tuesday, Mele Kyari, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), confirmed that the federal government would acquire a 20 percent equity stake in the Dangote Refinery. The corporation…
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has warned Nigerians against consuming Pure Tassie organic apple and blackcurrant imported from Australia, noting that it contains patulin, a dangerous toxin. The agency noted that the products are certified harmful for human consumption. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this on Tuesday, noting that the “Centre for Food Safety of Hong Kong’s Food and Environmental Hygiene Department warned against the consumption of Pure Tassie Organic Apple and Blackcurrant juice originating from Australia. “This was due to an unacceptable level of patulin (a mycotoxin) which had exceeded the…
The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Health, to eradicate fake and substandard foods and drinks in Nigeria. According to the lawmakers, the current security crisis in the country is linked to the widespread circulation and use of fake drugs and unwholesome drinks. The call by the lawmakers was based on a motion moved by a member, Henry Nwawuba, which the House unanimously adopted at the plenary on Wednesday. The motion was titled ‘Need to Stop the Production and Circulation of Unwholesome Drinks and Fake Drugs in Nigeria.’ The House, following the adoption, urged…
The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday decried rise in open defecation in some communities across the state. Abubakar Hassan, Executive Secretary, KADSEMA, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the level of open defecation in some communities was worrisome. He said the environment was faced with health challenges due to the high level of open defecation around flood-prone communities, thereby exposing residents to diseases. “We have a serious health situation in our hands, you can see excreta everywhere close to wells, streams and with children playing inside,” he said. Hassan stressed the need to sensitise communities of the…
The amount spent on subsidising electricity every month in Nigeria is now about N30bn, the Federal Government has said. It disclosed that the government’s subsidy on electricity had been reduced by N20bn monthly following improvements in the collection of power tariffs by distribution companies. The government stated this in a document on the progress and overview of Nigeria’s power sector. The document was obtained by our correspondent from the Federal Ministry of Power in Abuja. In February this year, the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, stated that the Federal Government was subsidising electricity supply across the country to the tune…
Qatar Airways says it has increased its service to Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, to two daily flights starting from July 1, 2021. The airline made the announcement in a statement on Friday. The development, which the airline attributed to its “response to high demand”, will be operated through the Boeing 787 Dreamliner featuring 22 seats in business class and 232 seats in economy class. “This frequency increase will offer passengers even more flexibility to travel on board with the highest standards of hygiene measures and to enjoy a seamless travel experience on board at Hamad International Airport,” the statement reads.…
The federal government has acquired two mobile air traffic control (MATC) towers worth N1.7 billion as a measure to enhance flight safety. Hadi Sirika, minister of aviation, recently inaugurated the mobile towers at the Lagos airport. Mobile towers can be used for smaller airports, military deployments, airport visual control room (VCR) refurbishments, disaster relief or special events. Sirika said the equipment would be deployed by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja. He also said it would be deployed to any other airport where they…
Hundred of passengers on Abuja/Kaduna train are currently stranded in Dutse, Kaduna, as the train developed faults few minutes into the journey. Newsmen report that five minutes after the train departed the Rigasa Station in Kaduna, it developed a mechanical fault. Twice, the train stopped before getting to Dutse, where it finally broke down. Midat Joseph, an Assistant National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), who is one of the passengers, said the train developed fault around 7:am. “ I left my house as early as 5:am to join the 6:40am train but unfortunately I have been trapped…
The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last week listed Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GT HoldCo) after delisting Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. The entire 29,431,179,224 issued shares of GTB were delisted while GT Holdco’s entire issued share capital of 29,431,179,224 ordinary shares of 50 kobo each were listed on the bourse. The NGX had penultimate week suspended trading in the shares of GTBank in preparation for the delisting and listing of GTHoldCo pursuant to the Scheme of Arrangement between the bank and its shareholders. In November 2020, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) had notified NGX that it had obtained regulatory approval-in-principle (AIP)…
The federal government says the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will provide N60 billion for the first phase of its national mass metering programme. This is contained in a document which highlights some of the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in six years. The fund will be provided for the supply of one million electricity meters meant for free distribution to unmetered power users across the country. There has been a nationwide rollout of electricity meters to all on-grid consumers, as this was inaugurated in August 2020, with funding provided by the CBN. “The CBN is providing N60bn for…
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is neither planning to go on strike nor planning to shut fuel stations nationwide, its National President, Sanusi Fari, said on Monday. In a statement issued in Awka and signed by the association’s National Secretary, Chidi Nnubia, he said that the public should dismiss any information regarding the planned strike. The association’s National Public Relation Officer, Yakubu Suleiman, had threatened in Abuja on Monday that IPMAN would go on strike and shut fuel stations nationwide beginning from Tuesday because the police laid siege on its secretariat. Suleiman alleged that some police officers…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reassured Nigerians that the financial system of the country is safe, sound and in line with the best possible financial practices. The reassurance was made by the Governor of the CBN, Godwin Emefile, while speaking at a 2-day CBN Fair with the ‘theme: ‘Promoting Financial Stability and Economic Development’ held in Bauchi and Gombe simultaneously on Monday. The CBN Governor added that the apex bank is ever ready to listen to the people of Nigeria in order to know how best to serve them with the aim of improving the financial base of…
The Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company in Ologbo, Edo State, will commence operation in August, Governor Godwin Obaseki has disclosed. The governor made the announcement after a tour of the refinery located at Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area. Speaking with reporters, Governor Obaseki expressed satisfaction that work on the plant has moved to such at a great speed in spite of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the pre-commissioning with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) had been done and the plant certified okay, adding that what is left is to finalize the crude sales contract…