NEWS MIRROR

Lagos  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Lagos government, yesterday, announced a 2-night traffic diversion from 12:00 midnight till 5:00 am in the state.  The government, in a statement issued and signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Proctor House Company Limited,Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said that there would be diversion of traffic at  Alaka inward Stadium Flyover Bridge and Ojuelegba Flyover Bridge by the Fire Station. The statement said the closure begins from Friday 29th to Saturday 30th December, 2023 for the installation of truck barriers. He said consequently, motorists from Eko Bridge/Constain/Iponri inbound Ojuelegba/Alhaji Masha Road were to make use of the service lane from Alaka via National Stadium gate to link Barracks or Alhaji Masha Road to continue their journeys. Osiyemi stated that motorists from Eko Bridge via Costain and those from Apapa Road going through Iponri were also advised to make use of Iponri Estate road to link Bode Thoma...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Bayelsa Government has summoned the newly wedded four-year old bride and her 54 years  her husband for questioning. Both allegedly involved in a marriage in  Akeddei community in Sagbama Local Government Area of the state. They got married on December 26th, a day after Christmas. The government’s intervention is coming on the heels of media reports of a December 26 marriage between the ‘bride’ and a 54 years old. In a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) in Yenagoa on Saturday and jointly signed by Dr. Dise Ogbise-Goddy, Chairman, Gender Response Initiative Team (GRIT) Bayelsa and Mr Paniebi Jacob, Director, Child Development in the  Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Social Development, the government expressed displeasure at the incident, describing as too bad. It expressed concern over the “illegal marriage” based on tradition and customs, saying that it was repugnant to natural justice,...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Defence Headquarters says  its has achieved tremendous success  a gainst terrorists, bandits and other criminal suspects across the nation in the year 2023  The Army Chief of Defence Staff(CDS), Major General, Christopher Gwabin Musa, said this in Abuja,  during the end of year briefing on troops operational activities from January to December 2023. Represented by the Director,  Defence Media Operation (DMO), Major General Edward Buba, Musa noted that major security threats within the year 2023 were terrorism, armed banditry, kidnapping, oil theft, secessionist agitations and farmers-herders clashes.” He said “Troops neutralized 6,886 terrorists and other criminal elements in the outgoing year. They arrested 6,970 suspects, rescued 4,488 kidnapped hostages as well as recovered 3,320 assorted weapons and 39,075 assorted ammunition. He said the troopsv recovered 100,316,600 litres of crude oil, 60,339,426 li...

Bandits bombed three electricity transmission towers belonging to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Confirming the attack in a statement,the TCN noted that the destroyed towers are located along Maiduguri – Damaturu transmission lines. Ndidi Mbah,the General Manager, Public Affairs,who signed the statement,saidan official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was also killed in the attack. “The Transmission Compnay of Nigeria TCN hereby confirms the destruction of three of its towers along Maiduguri – Damaturu Transmission Line with explosives yesterday 28th December, 2023. “In addition to the destruction of the three towers, the very sad incident also cost the life of an NSCDC officer. “It’s truly another very sad day for us at TCN, with this incident, especially with the loss of life of the NSCDC official. “TCN commiserates with the family of the deceased and the NSCDC for this very sad and shocking incident” reads the statement in parts. Like 224   Dislik...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Bandits, yesterday, bombed three electricity, yesterday, bombed three transmission towers belonging to Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). The destroyed towers are located along Maiduguri- Damaturu transmission lines. The General Manager, Public Affairs, TCN, Mrs Ndidi Mbah, in a statement signed and made available to the media, said the attacks were the handorks of bandits, based on the explosives damaged the towers. According to her, an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was also killed in the attack. “The Transmission Compnay of Nigeria TCN hereby confirms the destruction of three of its towers along Maiduguri – Damaturu Transmission Line with explosives yesterday 28th December, 2023. “In addition to the destruction of the three towers, the very sad incident also cost the life of an NSCDC officer. “It’s truly another very sad day for us at TCN, with this incident, especially with the loss of life ...

Dangote Refinery gets 4 million barrels of crude oil before  end of  year The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) may provide Nigerians with a new year gift in January 2024. The gift, sources close to the National Oil Company ( NOC) is in form of mechanical completion of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Plant. If   might surprise Nigerians with a New Year gift, as there are plans to ensure that the Mechanical Completion of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical is achieved by the end of January 2024, a source close to NNPC disclosed to Business Standards.  This would be followed by a test run of the plant in February and by the second quarter of 2024, the refinery would start operations fully, the source said. According to the source, the NNPCL and its management have determined that both Port Harcourt and Warri Refineries will be up and working at least by the first half of Next year. By this, he said, the country’s dependence on importation of Petrol ...

CBN's Headquarters By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has passed a vote of confidence on the nation's deposit insurance banks, saying that they are safe and sound.  The bank, in a statement signed by its Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Sidi-Ali, Hakama and made available to the media including the  News Mirror, an online publications, said the reports insinuating that the Federal Government is about to take over some  CBN-supervised financial institutions in the country, stating they are not true.  “For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerian banks remain safe and sound. The CBN encourages the public to continue their regular activities without being alarmed by reports that have not emanated from the CBN about the health status of Nigerian banks. “The CBN is fully equipped to carry out its statutory duty of upholding a stable financial system in Nigeria. We assure the general public and depositors about th...

CBN's Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Barely few days after his bail from Kuje Correctional Center,  the immediate past Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria ( CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele has described his arrest and subsequent detention by the Federal Government as malicious and  falsely made.  In his reactions to the publications released by the Punch Newspaper and Premium Times online news platforms, the ex- CBN's helsman said a certain report credited to Punch and Premium News and  prepared by a Mr. Jim Obazee, who was appointed by the President as a private investigator was false.  Emefiele said: " I have gone through the publications, and I say boldly that the contents of the said publications are false, misleading and calculated to disparage my person, injure my character and to serve the selfish interest of the private investigator".  He said that his lawyers, due to the fact the matter has been submi...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, says that it has mechanically completed the rehabilitation of Area 5 Plant of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC). The nation's oil company began rehabilitation of the refinery two years ago, while at the same time, promised to complete its by 31st December 2023. The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd., Mr. Mele Kyari, said as of December 15th, 2023, 84.4% of Area 5 Plant, a key component of the Refinery, and 77.4% of the entire rehabilitation project have been completed. “In our quest to ensure that this refinery is re-streamed to continue to deliver value to Nigerians, we made a promise that we will reach a mechanical completion of phase one of the rehabilitation project by the end of December and get the other plants running in 2024. Today, we have kept those commitments,” Kyari stated. The GCEO commended NNPC's staff and the EPCIC contractors for doing a g...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  Angola, one of the largest oil producers in Africa will depart from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) soon.  Being th e second largest oil producer of crude oil in Africa after Nigeria, the country holds the record as one of huge exporter of the product in Africa. News Mirror gathered that the announcement was conveyed by Angolan oil minister Diamantino de Azevedo. on Thursday, following the 10th session of the council of ministers under Angolan President Joao Lourenco.  This comes in the wake of OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, reducing Angola’s oil output target for the upcoming year as part of a series of production cuts announced at the latest ministerial meeting.  This move by Angola reflects its response to the oil cartel’s decision to decrease the country’s oil output target for the following year. In October 2023, Angola’s crude oil production was reported at 1,172,000 barrels per day ...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  The House of Representative says that it would investigate the loss of over $60 billion revenue due to inflated cash calls by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Joint Venture Agreements.  Also, the House has  mandated relevant committees to conduct a thorough probe of all NNPCL Joint Venture operations in order to  determine income and cash call costs due to each partner and also know whether due process and diligence were followed on the issue. The resolutions were passed sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Hon. John Chika Okafor on the floor of the plenary on Wednesday. Hon. Okafor,who moved the motion said NNPCL on behalf of the Federal Government operates Joint Ventures and related agreements with private oil companies in both oil and gas sectors, with the aim of providing sustainable revenue and further enhance the economic development of the nation. He noted that that the NNPCL, as r...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade No fewer than twenty four lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule as Speaker on Wednesday(yesterday) withdrew their impeachment process on the Governor of the state, Sir Siminalayi Fubara. The lawmakers loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, had on October 30 this year,  attempted an impeachment on the state Goveror, a development, which sparked  leadership tussle in the House.  Two of the members namely Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule and Rt. Hon Ehie Edison had been at loggerheads over the speakership of the house. Four lawmakers loyal to the Governer following the failed impeachment attempt, convened and impeached Amaewhule from the position of the Speaker and elected Edison the new Speaker. This was as a State High Court presided over by Justice M.W. Danagogo recently recognised Edison as the authentic Speaker of the House. A statement signed by Mart...

Egbin plant By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Nigeria has lost 676(MW)  megawats of electricity, due to the maintenance works, which are been carried on Egbin Power Plant, the News Mirror reports have said.  By this, some parts of the country, as usual are witnessing power failure, pending the time major faults are rectify on the plant  According to a notice issued by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) the plant was shut down as at 11:13 hours of 18th December 2023, to allow the Nigeria Gas Company (NGC) to maintain a linking gas pipeline supplying gas to Egbin Power Station. The report said that the station will be shut down for three day Monday, the company stated. “This means a reduction of 676MW of bulk power generated into the nation’s grid for 3 days and consequently the quantum of bulk power available to be delivered to distribution companies load centers nationwide for the period”, TCN explained.  

Apabio  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade Senate President Godswill Akpabio, yesterday (Thursday) at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja and was rushed to the hospital. It was learnt that Akpabio slumped while seeing President Bola Tinubu off, a report by Sahara reporters showed. Tinubu and other dignitaries had gathered at the Congress Hall of the hotel for a Colloquium to mark the 61st birthday of the Senate President in Abuja. Sources told the online newspaper that Akpabio was briefly stabilized before being taken to the hospital. “Senate President Akpabio collapsed today after his 61st birthday colloquium in Abuja while seeing the President off. “He was briefly stabilised before being rushed to the NNPC hospital in Abuja where he was wheeled into a special room on a stretcher,” one of the sources said. “He has remained at the hospital.” At the event, President Tinubu said the executive and legislative arms of government would jointly tackle the challenges con...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)  has a generated a total sum of N4.5 trillion revenue as at October this year, its Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari said this in Abuja. He spoke yesterday ( Wednesday) during an  interactive session with the Senate Committee on Finance. According to Kyari, the NNPCL generated the N4.5 trillion as revenue for the federation for 2023 as at October. He said better days were ahead, adding that reforms contained in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for the oil sector had placed the company at par with its peers across the globe. “The NNPC Limited that as a creation of the National Assembly, requires that that the company  conducts its business transparently in line with provisions of the law. “And to create value for shareholders, and not to lose money, and also to continue to add value and pay dividends to shareholders. I’m glad to inform you Mr Chairman and Distinguished Senators, that as at October,...

Late Dr John  By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) has announced the death of a former Group Managing Director (GMD) and Acting Alternate Chairman of the Board of the defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Thomas Maurice Asuquo John, at the age of 84. The Company 's Chief Corporate Communications  Mr Olufemi O. Soneye, in a statement on Thursday, described the deceased as a quintessential administrator and oil & gas industry professional. He added that Dr. John who succeeded the late Dr Aret Adams between April 1990 to June 1992 was the 5th GMD of NNPC.  “He was also a Non-Executive Director, South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO), Executive Chairman, Hydropec Engineering Services Ltd., and former Non-Executive Director, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc., among other positions. “On behalf of the entire NNPC Ltd. Management and Staff, the GCEO, Mr Mele Kyari, extends the Comp...

Queque in fuel filling station in Lagos  The World Bank says Nigerians will pay N750 per litre of Premium Motoring Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as fuel, if prices are truly not reflecting cost and the current exchange rate.  Recall that the rate is rose to  N796 today Thursday from its lowest price of  N447  in January 2th January this year. The local currency ( Naira) has for sometime been fluctuating against United States dollar.  Speaking during his presentation of Nigeria's Development Update, December 13th edition in Abuja, the bank’s Lead Economist for Nigeria, Alex Sienaert said in paper titled: Turning The Corner (From Reforms&  Renewed Hope, To  Eesults)’ and delivered in Abuja, that the Federal Government may still be paying for fuel subsidy, considering that fuel prices are currently not cost-reflective in the country. He said, “It does seem like petrol prices are not fully adjusting to market conditions so that hints at...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade.  The planned unbundling of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) by the Federal Government, portends great dangers as stakeholders would be in  fear and tredipation if it is allow to take place,  the President, Nigeria Labour Congres(NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero has said.  In a statement signed by NLC and made available to News Mirror, the labour leader picked holes in the exercise, saying it would not bring any benefit to Nigerians. According to him, the issue implies that the country cannot controll, regulate and guarantee the safety of the nation’s grid system at all times,  adding that the idea behind the so-called plans to restructure the transmission segment of the nation's electricity sector is equal to semantic spoken before and during the failed privatisation exercise of the industry. The main motive, he said, behind the plans for the proposed restructuring is non other than to prepare the TCN for ev...

CBN's headquarters, Abuja  Few Naira Notes By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade  The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says the current cash scarcity in Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna and other major cities  across the country was caused by hoarders.  Its  Acting Director in charge of Corporate Communications, Mrs Hakama Didi, told reporters that some persons are hoarding the Naira due to  challenges experienced during the Naira redesign project. According to her, the apex bank was not only monitoring the situation, but had released sufficient cash to its branches across the country for onward distribution to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs.  She noted  that the currency in circulation had  increased from N1trilion in February 2023 to over N3.4 Trillion as of December 11, 2023.  This, according to her, indicated that there was sufficient cash in circulation, except that the cash was in the hands of individuals who were apprehensi...

By Favour Ifeoluwa & Akinola Ajibade The Nigerian Army, 6 Division, says four of its personnel on routine escort duty for an oil servicing company in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State were killed by unknown gunmen while on duty. The military force, in a statement, signed  on Tuesday, by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Divisional Army Public Relations, Major Danjuma Jonah, said that two oil workers’ whereabouts are yet unknown.. He said two of the slain soldiers were attacked at Emesu junction, along Aminigboko – Emughan road in Abua-Odual Local Government Area of the state.  He further said that the assailants, following the unfortunate incident, allegedly escaped through the Emesu waterside, using the Orashi River, adding that troops of the Division were currently combing the area to fish out the perpetrators, as well as ensure that the missing oil workers were found. Danjumah said, “Troops of 5 Battalion on routine escort duty for an oil servici...