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By Ismaila Chafe
Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo has resigned his membership of All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he will soon announce his next line of action.

Obaseki, who made his position known to State House correspondents after visiting the Presidential Villa, on Tuesday said his resignation from the ruling party followed his disqualification from the June 22 APC primaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Obaseki was disqualified by the APCs screening committee over alleged discrepancies in his personal and academic records.

The National Working Committee (NWC) of APC also endorsed the disqualification of Obaseki as a candidate for the partys governorship primaries.

The NWC of APC, led by its National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, had on June 15 met behind closed doors with the Chief of Staff to the president, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, at the State House, Abuja.

Obaseki had in a statement vowed not to challenge his disqualification by the party, allegedly accusing Oshiomhole as the brain behind the disqualification while Oshiomhole said the party was going ahead with its primaries on June 22.

Oshiomhole, after the meeting with Gambari on Monday, said: Weve gone a long way: weve advertised the timetable, there was the stage of collection of forms and about six people collected forms. In that time table we also provided for screening and we also provided for appeals arising from the screening.

This is standard practice that the NWC has adopted since 2015 and in the case of Edo, we have completed the process of selling forms; we have also completed the process of screening; we have completed the process of appeals arising from the screening by those who wish to take advantage.

The NWC has met and has reviewed the report of the screening committee and we were unanimous that the screening was thoroughly done and found that three people were eligible to contest, with regards to the provisions of our Constitution.

Obaseki, however, said: You would recall that my statement in my last tweet I said that I will make a decision after my disqualification was announced by APC that I will make a decision after I have consulted with the leadership and my supporters in Edo state and also having informed the president.

So, just here today to inform you that I have now decided formally to resign my membership of All Progressives Congress.

Having done that I would now announce in the next few days my specific line of action and what platform I will be contesting the gubernatorial elections on,

The governor, who dismissed all allegations against him by the partys screening committee, described his disqualification as unfortunate.

On why announcing his resignation while on visit to the State House, the governor said:

I have said that before I make a decision, I have to show respect to my President, who I adore, who for me is an epitome of incorruptibility, an epitome of order, an epitome of lawfulness.

This is the man whom for him that is what Nigeria should be all about. I think I owe him that respect to come and tell him what I have done and why I have decided to take the decision I took.

Source: NAN News

NEITI Boss Waziri Adio

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), has commended the decision of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to make public its audited accounts on its website.

NEITI gave the commendation in a statement signed by its Director of Communications, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, in Abuja on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the NNPCs 2018 Audited Financial Statement currently published was the first in a long while.

NEITI acknowledges that this historic development fulfills a pledge made by the GMD of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, to the management of NEITI at a meeting on Aug. 6, 2019.

Kyari reiterated the pledge on Nov. 25, 2019 during the official visit to Nigeria of Mr Mark Robinson, the Executive Director of the global EITI.

During the August 2019 advocacy meeting, the NEITI management had urged the then new GMD of NNPC to consider demonstrating his espoused commitment to transparency by making public the corporations audited accounts.

Kyari acceded to the rerequest, he said.

He quoted the Executive of NEITI, Waziri Adio, as saying that the publication was a welcome development.

We welcome the eventual fulfilment of this important pledge and obligation.

Given NNPCs antecedents and its prominent role in the sector and country, the publication of its audited accounts is positive, signaling more openness for the oil and gas sector and for Nigeria.

When combined with the monthly reports that NNPC started publishing in 2016, this development marks a sea-change for a national oil company that used to be renowned for opacity

We urge NNPC to make this a routine practice and to mainstream transparency into all facets of its operations, Adio said in the statement.

He called on NNPC to go further by publishing its previous audited accounts and in open data formats so that the reports can be more accessible to citizens who are the shareholders of the corporation.

He also urged NNPC to strengthen and sustain its commitment to data mainstreaming and systemic disclosure.

He noted that NEITI was working closely with the NNPC in this direction through a joint committee on remediation and mainstreaming.

The committee, he said, was set up by the two organisations and tasked with the responsibilities of examining the status of legacy and other lingering issues about NNPC in NEITIs reports over the years.

The committee was also to recommend workable strategies for resolving the issues, he added.

According to him, the committee is also charged to devise action plans on systematic disclosure of information on NNPCs operations in an open and accessible format, as well as data mainstreaming, among others.

The work of the NEITI-NNPC joint committee on addressing the remedial issues is already at an advanced stage and the report will be made public very soon.

We do not want to be the only entity talking about and practising transparency.

There is little use being an island of transparency. Our goal is for all our stakeholders to believe in and model transparency.

To demonstrate our commitment to this new way of working, we are engaging with all covered entities bilaterally and collectively on outstanding issues and how we can further push the boundaries of openness. he added. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu

By Veronica Dariya

The Federal Government has advised institutions of learning to put in place preventive measures against COVID-19 before announcing re-opening dates.

The Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, gave the advice at the 2020 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to signify the commencement of admissions into tertiary institutions.

Adamu was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukwwuemeka Nwajiuba.

He said it would be wise for all heads of institutions in the country not to wait until formal order to reopen schools was made, before putting necessary measures in place, in compliance with advisories of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

All institutions of learning must have hand washing facilities, body temperature checks, body disinfectants at all entering points to their major facilities including the gates, hostels, classes and offices.

The whole premises of each institution must be decontaminated and all efforts must be geared toward maintenance of the highest level of hygiene.

Ensure social and physical distancing in class sizes and eating spaces, the minister said.

He said the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 was working assiduously with facts and figures that reflected the realities of the countrys current situation.

The process, he explained, was to enable response to the challenge so that it could limit and manage the negative effect of the pandemic.

Adamu however commended institutions that responded promptly with different innovations, including the manufacturing of some of the facilities that were required to attend to the pandemic.

Some of the innovations, the minister noted, were the production of ventilators, body disinfectants, hand washing, liquid dispensers and body temperature gauges.

The products, he added, were manifestations of the abundance of talents in the country.

He urged heads of institutions to showcase the various innovations and submit the details to the ministry in order to honour the inventors and as well as serve as an encouragement to others with potentials.

NAN reports that the meeting, which took place at the JAMBs headquarters, had in attendance the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education; Director General of the National Youth Service Corps and staff of the Board.

Other participants included the Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of all tertiary institutions across the country, as well as members of JAMB governing board who attended the meeting via Zoom network. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the government and people of Delta State over the passing of retired Maj.-Gen. Orho Esio Obada.

Obada was a former Federal Commissioner for Works.

In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday Buhari extended sympathies to family and friends of the deceased.

The president commiserated with Agbarho Kingdom in Ughelli North Local Council, and Urhobo Progress Union.

He urged all his associates to draw strength from the legacies that he left behind, most commendably his willingness to serve the country, and humanity.

President Buhari acknowledged that the former acting Chief of Air Staff served in many strategic positions in the military, and his wealth of experience had been helpful to the country for many years after his retirement.

He prayed that the almighty God would accept the soul of the departed, and comfort his family.

Source: NAN News

NNPC Headquarters

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), an upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), made N179.1 billion profit after tax from its operations in 2018.

The NNPC disclosed this in its 2018 Audited Financial Statements (AFS), released in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the corporations account was last audited in 2016 under the watch of Dr Ibe Kachikwu as the Group Managing Director of the Corporation.

The AFS of the NPDC indicated that a profit after tax of over N179.1 billion came as significant improvement from the 2017 profit after tax of over N157.4 billion.

During the period, NPDC posted revenue of over N1.3 trillion compared to the 2017 revenue of over N882.3 billion, it said.

It added that the National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), another upstream subsidiary of the corporation, indicated a profit after tax of over N4.5 billion for 2018, a remarkable improvement from the previous year record of over N2.4 billion.

The AFS further indicated that the NNPC flagship subsidiary had a total asset of over N5.3 trillion within the period, compared to the N4.007 trillion asset recorded in 2017.

It noted that the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), recorded a profit after tax of over N13.2 billion with a comprehensive annual income of about N19.9 billion.

It valued the NGC total assets in 2018 at over N251.7 billion compared to N196 billion in 2017.

In the Downstream Sector, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) for the first time, recorded gross profit of N24.3 billion in the year under review.

According to the report, NNPC Retail Limited posts profit after tax of over N2.2 billion compared to the N1.8 billion recorded in the preceding year.

The AFS also indicated that National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), posted revenue of N5.04 trillion in 2018 and profit of N1.01 trillion, with total assets under the portfolio of the service valued at N18.6 trillion.

NNPC and its partners are considering modalities to cap crude oil cost per litre at 10 dollars by 2021, in order to ensure that Nigeria benefits more from the nations hydrocarbon resources.

The Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), an NNPC Subsidiary in charge of acquisition and interpretation of seismic data, posted a total comprehensive income of about N3.2 billion with profit of about N154 million within the period.

In all, the audited financial statements of the 19 subsidiaries and the corporate service unit(NAPIMS), were laid bare in a novel move to enshrine high level transparency and accountability in the National Oil Company, it added.

The AFS named the key achievements recorded in the year under review to include, Recapitalization of PPMC through transfer of the negative revenue reserve to CHQ.

It said that NNPC achieved a second straight year without incurring additional cash call arrears and repayment of over 2.7 billion dollars of total cash call arrears due to industry operators.

These entities, it said included, NAPIMS, IDSL, NPDC, NETCO, Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Warri Refining and Petrochemicals Limited (WRPC), and Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company (KRPC).

Others were, Duke Oil Services (UK) Limited, Duke Oil Incorporated, Duke Global Energy Investment Limited, The Wheel Insurance, Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) NNPC Retail Limited and NIDAS UK Agency.

Also, NIDAS Shipping Services, NIDAS Marine FS, Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), and N-Gas among the entities.

The 2018 AFS covered the corporations 19 Strategic Business Units (SBUs), and a Corporate Services Unit (CSU).

It also revealed that the release of the AFS was in compliance with the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari and his Administrations commitment to accountability and transparency by way of full disclosures of government agencies transactions.

It is also in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, apart from being a requirement for the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

The 2018 reports which posted positives in many of the National Oil Companys Upstream going concerns, however, recorded low figures in the Midstream.

This was unsurprisingly because of the long downtime of the nations four refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kadunam, it said.

However, the report revealed that the corporation had begun the process of comprehensive diagnostic assessment of the refineries that would culminate into their thorough rehabilitation, starting with Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

It added that proposals to change the refineries business models to that similar to Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limiteds (NLNG), which had been a success story over the years, was also afoot.

It added that the 2019 Audited account report was already being prepared and expected to be ready in a couple of months.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Akinwumi Adesina

By Oluwabukola Akanni

The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, says he is saddened by the demise of the renowned nephrologist, Emeritus Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akinkugbe, who was a pioneer nephrologist in Africa, died on Monday at the age of 86 after a protracted illness.

Adesina expressed sorrow over the death of the professor via his official Twitter account, @akin_adesina, as monitored in Ibadan on Monday.

I am saddened by the death of Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe today at the age of 86 years. Prof was a rare gem.

An exceptionally brilliant and globally acclaimed Professor of Medicine.

He made Nigeria proud and served selflessly. Thank you sir for your life of immense service. RIP, he tweeted.

NAN reports that the late octogenarian had outstanding achievements in the field of nephrology and hypertension.

The late don was conferred with the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) Pioneer Award in 2019 for his extraordinary efforts to advance nephrology in Nigeria.

Akinkugbe successfully trained the first generation of indigenously taught nephrologists who went on to become leading figures in nephrology in the country and inspiring a new generation of African doctors to take up nephrology. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NLC president Ayuba Wabba

By Joan Nwagwu

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has told the Federal Government to come up with a blueprint on how to address the perennial insecurity plaguing the country.

The President of the NLC, Mr Ayuba Wabba, made the call while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Monday.

He said that insecurity was thriving in Nigeria, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and that the development was affecting the economy adversely.

Wabba said that government needed to fashion out strategies to tackle the problem, which he said, had resulted to loss of lives in parts of the country.

This is essential because the primary purpose of every government is actually to provide security for its citizens.

The issues of COVID-19 and the rising state of insecurity are affecting businesses. More so, this is affecting our farmers and the effect is already being felt.

So, it is important for us to call on government to address the insecurity in the country.

According to the unionist, the gains that have been made in recent years are being reversed.

I think the current strategy deployed in repelling attacks is not working and I think what is required is a new technique and strategy.

He said: each time, we hear news that we have repelled attacks and that we are defeating the insurgents, whereas the problem is on the increase.

As we speak to you, many farmers in some communities have been displaced and there is threat to security in Nigeria this farming season.

Wabba lamented that many farmers had become displaced in their communities, saying that labour will not fold its hands to allow the situation to continue to deteriorate.

Without security, businesses cannot flourish; economic activities cannot prosper and investors cannot come in.

This is a real challenge at this point in time because whatever gains we have made are being reversed.

In fact, there are new security challenges in every aspect of our endeavour.

It, therefore, behooves government to come up with concrete strategy to put the security challenges to an end, said Wabba. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje made this known during a media interactive session on Monday at the Government House, Kano.

On the probe of former Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, the governor said the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission would continue with the investigation.

Our state anti-corruption agency will continue probing the former Emir over the issues.

When he took them to court to stop the agency from probing him, the case was quashed. So they will continue probing him according to the set down law, he explained.

Our party is very conscious about the legality aspect of it. You remember Bayelsa governorship election? We won the election, but the issue of legality took away that victory from us.

Source: NAN News

COVID-19

Maureen Ojinaka

The Enugu State Government has announced 22 new cases of COVID-19 in the state, bringing the total number to 57.

The states Commissioner for Health, Prof. Ikechukwu Obi, said this in a statement in Enugu on Monday.

Obi said that the State Ministry of Health gave the confirmation through the update given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The Enugu State Ministry of Health confirms 22 new cases of COVID-19 in the state since the last update which have (cases) been updated by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), he said.

He added that the state has 57 positive cases, 26 active cases, 26 discharge and five deaths.

The commissioner noted that out of the 57 cases, 23 were health workers, who were infected.

Consequently, Enugu State has recorded 57 positive cases of COVID-19, 26 active cases, 26 discharged and 5 deaths. Of all these, 23 out of the 57 cases are health worker infections, he said.

He urged residents to continue to endeavour to stay at home when it was not absolutely necessary to go out, wear facemask whenever they must go out, keep a safe distance from other people at all times.

Others include practicing of good respiratory hygiene (when coughing or sneezing),cleaning of surfaces with a 1 in 6 concentration of bleach and water, washing of hands with soap for 20 seconds under running water as often as possible.

He explained that when facilities for handwashing were unavailable, people should sanitise their hands as often as possible using alcohol-based hand sanitisers so as to stay safe. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NAWOJ National President, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole

By Justina Auta
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has started a one-week nationwide protest against increased cases of rape, killings and other forms of violence against women in the country.

The NAWOJ National President, Mrs Ifeyinwa Omowole, made this known in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Omowole said that the protest would be virtual, in compliance to the federal and state governments physical distancing protocol on the management of COVID-19.

The NAWOJ boss stated that in the last few weeks, we were inundated by reports of rape at an alarming dimension.

Rape now occurs almost everywhere in homes, offices and even religious places.

Unfortunately, a number of Nigerians have fallen prey to perpetrators of this dastardly act. Sadly, children have not been spared.

Omowole, therefore, urged women journalists and other stakeholders to join in the fight against rape, which was disrupting the peace and stability of families and the country.

She added that as women journalists, we cannot remain silent over the havoc created by this monster that is threatening the peace and stability of families and societies.

She encouraged members of the association to drop their e-flyers and write-ups on their various social media platforms at noon between Monday and Thursday, and at 8 p.m. on Friday to Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that UNWomen recently reported a rise in Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Lagos State, with 300 per cent increase between March and April.

The group also said that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded an increase of rape cases during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Similarly, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, recently urged lawmakers to enact laws and evolve policies that would ensure a safe society and end violence against women and girls.

Tallen made the call following increased cases of rape and killings of children, young girls and women recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Source: NAN News