I want to see more Women at Work in Shaping the Society — First Lady.

I want to see more Women at Work in Shaping the Society — First Lady.

•••Says it is a new dawn for women especially with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, says efforts to reshape Nigeria and address societal ills plaguing the female gender require active participation of women.

She said this when she granted audience to the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who led senior female police officers on a courtesy visit to her office at the State House, Abuja.

Noting with pride, the fact that a large number of women are actively involved in policing and securing the country, the First Lady says the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has given more room to women to contribute their own quota to national development.

” It is the beginning of a new dawn for women in the country as the current administration will give women more room to contribute their quota. I am also looking for ways to contribute. We can not have a Nigeria without people doing new and great things”.

On how the senior female police officers and other women can help forge a better Nigeria, the Senator Oluremi Tinubu charged them to lead the action in addressing some of the ills, such as rape, child abuse, human trafficking and proliferation of baby factories, that affect them the most in the society.

“Women must thrive and be empowered in a safe environment. We want to see our children not abused through crimes and maltreatment, rape of minors and children. There must be reduction in cases of human trafficking, organ harvesting and baby factory.”

She added that she is looking forward to a day when a female will become the nation’s Inspector General of Police.

Applauding the steadfast advocacy by the First Lady for setting the pace and advancing the interest of women in the country, the minister of State for Police Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that gender equality, safeguarding of human rights and empowerment of women were key anchors of a just and fair society.

“We are working on a bold initiatives aimed at not only addressing existing challenges, but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria Police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution. We recognize the limitations of past reforms and are now taking a more proactive and holistic transformation that permeates every facet of police operations.

 We are here today not just to discuss but to seek your collaboration, for we understand that the collective advancement of these crucial issues requires your esteemed support and partnership”.

Appointed by President Bola Tinubu, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is the First female Minister of State for Police Affairs in Nigeria.

Just In: No fuel subsidy whatsoever, says NNPCL.

Just In: No fuel subsidy whatsoever, says NNPCL.

The federal government, on Monday, October 9, debunked claims that Nigeria has restored subsidy for premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

President Bola Tinubu had on May 29, during his inauguration as President at Eagle Square, Abuja, announced the effective end of the subsidy regime.

However, the removal of fuel subsidy has been trailed by serious economic repercussions, which have led to protests from the organised Labour.

Just last week, the Tinubu administration managed an arrangement with Labour, including the implementation of some palliative measures, including a provisional wage increment.

Oil marketers and a section of organised Labour have recently alleged that the government had restored the subsidy, contrary to its earlier resolve, claiming that with the removal of the subsidy, fuel pump price stability, despite fluctuations, is unexplainable. 

However, responding to journalists’ questions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting with President Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, said there is no fuel subsidy at all.

He said: “I told you there’s no subsidy whatsoever, we are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market, we understand why the marketers are unable to import. We hope that they do this very quickly and these are some of the interventions the government is doing. There is no subsidy.”

Credit: The Nation Newspaper

Solid minerals will promote climate change, says Alake.

Solid minerals will promote climate change, says Alake.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Oladele Alake, reiterated that the Federal government’s shift from hydrocarbon to prioritizing the minerals sector as a significant contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) aligns with their commitment to combat climate change.

He said Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for a long, adding that the shift to solid minerals is overdue.

The head of press and public relations of the ministry, Alaba Balogun in a statement said the minister made the statement when he received a delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by their national president, Dele Ayanleke.

He stated: “Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake has reaffirmed that the decision of the Federal government to diversify from hydrocarbon to making the minerals sector a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is our contribution to climate change.

“Dr Alake dropped this hint when he received a delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by their National President, Mr Dele Ayanleke. The delegation comprised representatives of the VUKA group, co-organizer of the forthcoming Nigeria Mining Week and Price Waterhouse Coopers, the foremost accounting firm.

“While commending the Association for its suggestive recommendations and consistent role in organizing the Mining Week; Dr Alake stated that Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for a long noting that the shift to solid minerals is overdue.”

He said: ”Our vision is to make solid minerals our pride, a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product.

“To this end, the Minister emphasized that the Ministry is committed to making requisite policies that will sanitize and rejig the regulatory framework and to make it more conducive for local and foreign investors to play”.

“On the issue of incursion by the second tier of government into mining, Dr Alake stressed that the federal government will engage the state government and local government with a view to resolving surrounding issues within the ambit of the law.

“Speaking on securing the mining sector environment for maximum yield to the Federal government, the Minister revealed that high-end technology will be deployed coupled with an inter-agency task force to arrest the menace completely. He, therefore, sought a partnership with the Miners Association of Nigeria to strengthen capacity in this regard for the growth and repositioning of the sector.

“In his earlier remarks, the National President of Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke, in a vote of confidence, expressed  absolute assurance that the seven-point agenda unfolded by the Minister of Solid Minerals under the renewed hope agenda of this present administration will consolidate and enhance  the sector for maximum contribution to national development.”

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.

Court Sentences Killer Cop To Death For Killing Lagos Lawyer.

Court Sentences Killer Cop To Death For Killing Lagos Lawyer.

Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on Monday, convicted and sentenced suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi to death by hanging for the murder of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem.

Justice Harrison handed down the verdict after holding that the prosecution had proven its case against the suspect beyond all reasonable doubt.

The Judge, in the judgment that lasted for over two hours, held that it was only the convict that had the opportunity to commit the crime even though no eyewitness saw him fire the shot.

The court also held that the evidence of the 11 witnesses who testified for the prosecution was credible and convincing enough to convict the suspended Police officer.

Justice Harrison, therefore, sentenced the convict to death, stating tha: “You are to be hung by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”

The Lagos State government had arraigned Vandi before the court for allegedly shooting to death the 41-year-old pregnant lawyer at the Ajah underbridge checkpoint on December 25, 2022.

Nigeria Will Become Net Exporter Of Petroleum Products In 2024 – NNPC.

Nigeria Will Become Net Exporter Of Petroleum Products In 2024 – NNPC.

Speaking at the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit 2023 in Abuja on Monday, Kyari said as a resource-dependent country, Nigeria should not be exporting 100 percent of its crude as it does at present.

“Today, we export 100 per cent of our productions, no resource-dependent country does this and that is why we must deliver on our mandate. I don’t want to speak about it; when it is done, you will see it,” Kyari said.

“So, I don’t want to tell you we are going to revamp our refineries. That is too much of PowerPoint talks. So, it will be done and you will see it. I don’t want to speak about it, we are tired of speaking about it.

“But what we must achieve is that this country must be a net exporter of petroleum products and this is within sight.”

“I strongly believe now, without giving you a date so that people don’t get angry again, but in 2024, this country will become a net exporter of petroleum products.”

According to him, this means Nigerians will have sufficient volumes in the country and those that can leave the country.

The NNPC boss however made it clear that refining crude oil in the country would not necessarily bring down the local price of petrol, which he said was controlled by the international price.

Government-owned refineries have been moribund for years but the Federal Government has assured Nigerians that some of the refineries will become functional again soon as part of efforts to end importation of petrol into the country.

During an inspection tour of the rehabilitation work progress at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant, in Port Harcourt, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Port Harcourt refinery would be back on stream by December.

Also, the Dangote Refinery is expected to start production soon which will see more crude refined in the country.

The President of Dangote Industries Limited had during the inauguration of the 650,000 bpd refinery in Lagos State in May stated that production would start between July and August this year but that has been delayed for an undisclosed date.

“Government is putting money into this and NNPC is investing with partners and we believe in 2024 the revolution will become very manifest and people will become have access to cleaner and cheaper fuel in 2024.

“It’s already happening, number of buses has converted, a number of state governments have bought buses that are running on CNG. We are carrying out significant projects that will bring CNG into the market with our partners and we believe that this will work for our country,” Kyari added

FG to Launch Home Delivery of Passports in 2023, Streamlining Application Process.

FG to Launch Home Delivery of Passports in 2023, Streamlining Application Process.

Starting from next year, the Federal Government has announced that Nigerians will have the option to have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, or any location of their choice.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this announcement on Monday in Lagos during the opening ceremony of the 2023 University of Lagos International Week.

He mentioned that Nigerians will soon enjoy a more streamlined passport application process as the ministry has initiated automation in the system.

“We have commenced the automation of our end-to-end passport application process, and we have given a timeline from which Nigerians will begin to experience the ‘sweet experience,” he said at the event.

“By implication, Nigerians will not need to wait longer than two weeks before they get their passport.

“By January next year, Nigerians will be able to complete this application process online, and by February next year, with collaboration and partnership with other relevant stakeholders, Nigerians will have their passports delivered to their homes, offices, and other locations of their choice.”

“This, of course, would be extended to our visa application process. We are deploying technology throughout the entire process to make it as seamless as possible. To achieve this, we have set everything into motion to open more visa application centres across the world,” the minister added.

“In this regard, we are also working on strengthening our visa-on-arrival policy. We are working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enforce the principle of the doctrine of reciprocity, and a committee has been set up in the ministry to achieve this.”

Furthermore, the minister stated that the integrity of travel documents will be reinstated through the process of data harmonization.

“Identity is who we are, what we are, and what we live for. But today, what we have is a duplication of our registration,” he said.

“Arguably, Nigeria is the only country I know that has a BVN for the bank, the international passport, the NIN, SIM card registration for telecos, and so on all of which request your data. The integrity of our travel documents must be restored through the harmonisation of our data.”

Governor Obaseki Approves Payment of 28-Year Gratuity Backlog for Edo State Pensioners.

Governor Obaseki Approves Payment of 28-Year Gratuity Backlog for Edo State Pensioners.

In a significant development for pensioners in Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki has granted approval for the settlement of a long-standing 28-year overdue gratuity. This landmark decision was communicated by Mrs. Osas-Ehigie Sandra, the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) and Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, in an official statement.

The gratuity backlog in question pertains to pensioners under the purview of the Edo State Local Government Staff Pension Board. The governor's decision to address this issue is a testament to his commitment to the welfare of retirees in the state.

In addition to the approval, Mrs. Sandra announced that a comprehensive screening process will be organized for pensioners listed on the payroll of the Local Government Staff Pension Board who retired between 1979 and 2008. This step is aimed at ensuring that the release of funds for gratuity is accurate and reaches those who rightfully deserve it.

The screening exercise will take place at the Local Government Staff Pensions Board Premises, located at King Square in Benin City. This move is expected to bring relief to retired civil servants who have been waiting for their gratuity payments for nearly three decades.

Governor Godwin Obaseki's commitment to addressing the pension backlog reflects the state government's dedication to supporting its retirees and honoring their years of service. This news brings hope and relief to pensioners in Edo State who have long awaited the settlement of their gratuity backlog.