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Forget Ethnicity, Religion , Let’s Join Hands To Fight Insecurity- Hamzat

By
Gladys Phillip
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0

Lagos State Deputy Goveror, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has called on Nigerians, irrespective of tribe religion, to come together to fight insecurity and other challenges facing the country.

He made the call on Sunday while speaking at the 2021 Annual Ramadan Lecture of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Council with the theme, “Insecurity: The Impact on Socio-Economic Development of the Nation” held at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.

Hamzat who stressed the need for Nigerians to shun all forms of tribalism, ethnicity and religious bigotry, noted that Nigerians must all come together as one united entity to fight insecurity so that the country can survive.

According to him, “This issue of being Fulani, Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo must stop. We must act together as one. If we are united in that purpose, then it is very easy for us to solve it. But, we must first of all agree that we want to leave together as a people.

“Nothing happens if there is insecurity. There will be unemployment, you can’t do anything. The biggest threat to humanity is when you don’t have peace of mind. You can’t do anything, you can’t sleep, you can’t think and that is what insecurity brings. So as a people we must come together and fight it so that we can survive as a nation, he said.

Speaking further, the Deputy Governor who opined that there is no problem that humanity cannot solve, stated that if Nigerians are united in purpose, it would be very easy to resolve all issues presently facing the nation.

He however called on all Nigerians to love one another as it is only in an atmosphere of love and peace that the nation can overcome insecurity and other challenges facing the country.

Speaking on the topic, the Guest Lecturer and National Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria and Overseas, Sheik Abdur-Rahman Olanrewaju Ahmad berated the recent increase in insecurity challenges bedeviling the country.

He added that this has brought a lot of negative impacts on the socio-economic development of the country as many companies have closed down leading to unemployment in the country, and many citizens are now living in fear and panic.

The cleric therefore called on the government at all levels to spend more on internal security, engage the citizens more productively, and embark on massive and rapid infrastructure development.

He added that security agencies in the country must be united and harmonized in intelligence gathering and information sharing.

Sheikh Ahmad further urged the government to do everything to ameliorate the sufferings of the people as there are lots of hardship in the country.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman, Lagos State Council of the Society, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Olabode Salaudeen urged Muslims to use the Holy month of Ramadan to purify their minds, body and spirit.

He therefore urged them to take the opportunities of the period to get closer to Allah, seek His favour and perfect their godliness towards one another.

Amaechi, Community Leader In Verbal War Over Naming Of Rail Station In Delta

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation was embroiled in a hot verbal exchange with High Chief Godwin Notoma, President-General of Ujevwu community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

The verbal exchange was due to the naming of the Railway Station in the Urhobo community after Chief Alfred Rewane,an Itsekiri during the Nigerian Railway Corporation formally flagged off its freight services on its Warri-Itakpe Standard Gauge Railway Line.

The scene started with High Chief Notoma in his goodwill message at the event held at the Ujevwu Railway Station, he faulted the Federal Government’s naming of the Railway Station in Udu Local Government Area of Delta Central Senatorial District, an Urhobo Community after late Chief Alfred Rewane, an Itsekiri from Warri South Local Government Area, an Itsekiri enclave.

High Chief Notoma was of the view that the public asset (Ujevwu Railway Station) could have been named after an equally eminently qualified Urhobo sons or daughters, some of whom he said had fought gallantly for the emancipation of railway projects in the area.

The community President-General also kicked against identifying the location of the Railway Station as Warri insisting that Ujevwu is a prominent community in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State just as Warri is domiciled in another Local Government Area.

According to High Chief Notoma, “the name of the Railway Station should reflect the sensibility of the people of Udu. Udu has its own monarch just as Warri has its own. Our sensibility should not be taken for granted. And we are making this submission for the sake of posterity”.

In his comments Amaechi, the Transportation Minister dropped off his prepared text when it came to his turn to address the gathering warning against anyone using the forum to aggravate inter communal tensions or clashes that can jeopardise Government’s projects.

According to him, “we will not allow anybody to use primordial sentiments to incite the youths to forment trouble whatsoever over location of well-intended government projects. After all, people from the immediate catchment area are ultimately the highest beneficiaries, socially and economically”.

The Minister specifically warned that government would not take lightly to a situation where communities degenerate to infightings against one another rather than rallying round and jointly protect development projects in their areas.

Earlier, Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) who was represented by Engr. Seyi Omotosho, Managing Director, Nigeran Gas Company Limited noted with delight that the official flag-off of haulage of NNPC line pipes imported for the construction of 614 kmx40″ Ajaokuta, Kaduna, Kano (AKK) GAS pipeline project inaugurated since June 30, 2020 would go a long way in cushioning the haulage problems of the corporation.

According to Kyari, “the maiden cargo rail travel championed by NNPC will further support the dream of an industrialised Nigeria through improved transportation of goods across the country. The benfits of freight services can only be imagined than described”.

While equating one trip of rail haulage of the NNPC pipes to 32 trailers on the road, the NNPC boss described rail freight services as cheaper, safer and faster means of cargo movement.

The NNPC Managing Director explained that the resolve by the Corporation to use rail option of haulage was propelled by the desire to mitigate all identified projects and safety risks to as low as reasonably practicable while delivering the project in the right quality and time.

Also , the Chairman, Governing Board of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, Engr. Ibrahim Alhassan Musa remarked that “the railways had propound impact on the initial socioeconomic development of Nigeria and will continue to substantially contribute to the railway corridor community development and the movement of passengers and freight in the most cost-effective, affordable, energy saving and environmentally friendly manner”.

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, Governorof Delta State in his message charged all communities across the State wherever public assets are located to protect them jealously as if they are their personal proerties.

Production Of Local Vaccine On COVID-19 Reaches Advanced Stage, NABDA Boss

By
Ola Akinola
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0

The Director General/ Chief Executive Officer of National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha has revealed that, the processes leading to the production of local COVID-19 vaccines have reached an advanced stage.

Mustapha, in an interview with newsmen, shortly after the presentation of awards to journalists who emerged winners at the Continental level at the fourth Edition of Open Forum On Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Africa Media Award 2020,revealed that the team from the Agency in collaboration with both local and international partners has gone to stage three of the vaccine development.

Speaking on the efforts made by the Agency to develop local vaccine, Mustapha said, “Vaccines cannot be developed in one day.

His words :”It has to undergo series of research. Our team has gone to about stage 3 of the vaccine production.

“The vaccine development has to do with so many components.

“We are working with our collaborators from all over the world and within the country.

“We are coming up with something tangible. We hope and envisage that in the next two to three years, we would have our own output from NABDA.”

On the Pod Borer Resistant Maruca(PBR) Cowpea which has been commercialised in Nigeria, the NABDA boss assured that Nigerian farmers would get the high yielding cowpea or beans during the 2021 planting season.

It would be recalled that the Federal Government approved commercialisation of a biotech cowpea variety resistant to pod borers in December 2019.

This development places Nigeria as the first country to commercialise genetically improved cowpea.

The PBR Cowpea Project is a pubic- private partnership that is developing and disseminating cowpea with resistance to Maruca Pod Borer for increased productivity.

The project partnership that brings together leading African and international institutions is led by African Agricultural Technology Foundation(AATF) through support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The project is being implemented in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Nigeria and Malawi.

Stakeholders in the biotechnology said the PBR Cowpea would increase cowpea production through the control of Maruca Pod Borer, as it would increase yields, generate higher incomes to farmers and improved their health through reduced use of harmful chemicals to control pests.

NABDA boss, therefore, tasked journalists to be in the vanguard of disseminating accurate information to the farmers.

He further called on science journalists to avoid fake news, focus on factual reportage of issues that promote the deployment of technology in agricultural development to guarantee food security in Nigeria.

According to him, “It is the duty of the media to monitor all the stages and channels through which the PBR Cowpea seads reach the farmers to ensure that there is no compromise or sharp practices that will deny farmers of maximum benefit the technology offers.”

Also speaking, Country Coordinator of OFAB, Nigerian Chapter, Dr. Rose Gidado, commended Nigerian journalists who participated in the competition for winning awards at the Continental level.

Gidado underscored the need for science journalists to make their reports simple and easy to be understood by readers or audience, urging them to always include human angle in their reportage.

N60bn Saga : Buhari Implementing Idi Amin’s Economic Policies, Rep Chinda

By
Ola Akinola
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A member of the House of Representatives, Rep. Kingsley Chinda, has described the decision of the federal government to print currency notes to the tune of N60bn as exposed by the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, as akin to the economic policies of the late Ugandan dictator, Idi Amin.

It would be recalled that the bubble bursted when governor Obaseki of Edo state disclosed how about N60bn was printed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to augment revenue shortfall for the Federation Account and Allocation Committee (FAAC), in the month of March.

Obaseki had said that, “When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share. This April, we will go to Abuja and share. By the end of this year, our total borrowings are going to be within N15-N16 trillion”.

FAAC is the committee which presides over the nation’s revenue distribution among the three tiers of government. An arrangement the Edo state governor seriously criticized, saying that the practice of going to Abuja every month to share money has bred laziness among the lower tiers such as states and local governments in Nigeria.

But reacting to Obaseki’s revelation, the Finance Minister, Zainab Ahmed had denied the allegation that money was printed and shared at FAAC in March.

She said: “The issue that was raised by the Edo state governor for me is very, very sad. Because it is not a fact. What we distribute at FAAC is a revenue that is generated and in fact distribution revenue is a public information. We publish revenue generated by FIRS, the Customs and the NNPC and we distribute at FAAC. So, it is not true to say we printed money to distribute at FAAC, it is not true”.

Meanwhile, in his defence of the alleged act, the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele contradicted the Finance Minister, saying that the bank printed money to bail government out of a financial difficulty, an intervention he said was a normal practice globally.

“Most countries in the world are confronted by health challenges coming from the pandemic, economic crisis and the rest of them. It will be irresponsible for the central bank of Nigeria or any central bank or any Fed to stand idle and refuse to support its government at this time.

“What is being done is being done in any clime. Nigeria is unfortunately in a very bad situation. I’m not going to pretend about it, in the sense that we are facing problems about productivity output which is GDP, we are also confronted with issues of inflation and prices and the rest of them,” he added.

However, Hon. Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), said the APC administration has broken the records of all known absurdities, particularly its handling of the economy.

According to him, “This government is fond of reprobating and approbating: They are full of paradoxes: They are consistently inconsistent in policies, actions and words: They are irresponsive to the yearnings of the people and in totality an irresponsible government.

“It was under rulers like Idi Amin that we heard of such lame, cripple and ignoramus economic policies, where a government prints its currency at will.

“Am not surprised because under Buhari, anything goes and nothing happens. Nigerians have shown their limitless level of gullibility under this government.

“The Federal government should apologise to Gov. Obaseki and hide their heads in shame for once again trying to deceive Nigerians.

“It is clearly unlawful for CBN to unilaterally and capriciously print currency at will for any reason whatsoever. It is not supported by our laws. This is another pointer to the fact that our economy has collapsed and is standing on one of the three legs and ready to crumble any moment.

“Some of the consequences is galloping inflation, which is at its highest level ever and likely to get worse as the value of Naira plummet by the deliberate action of government continues to nose dive.

“Government is living in self denial, the unfortunate thing is that the masses will bear the brunt of government’s ineptitude and recklessness,” Chinda said.

He added that “in a sane clime, the Minister of Finance and CBN Governor ought to resign without any more prompting but as is usual of Nigeria today, they will rather be promoted.”

Insecurity: Troops Arrest Boko Haram Informant, Tighten Security Around Kamuya Community in Yobe

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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Troops of Operation Lafiya Dole have arrested suspected Boko Haram informant who was simply identified as Modu Ari for spying activities and that of his accomplices who were responsible for the attacks on troops position by terrorists in Kamuya, Yobe State.

Ari was apprehended by troops of 27 Task Force Bridge.

This was made known in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Damaturu by the Director Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima.

On interrogation, he confessed to have revealed troops’ movements and position to his Boko Haram collaborators.

Investigation is however ongoing to unravel the network of local informants whose nefarious activities have endangered troops on clearance operations around the fringes of Timbuktu Triangle.

The statement hinted that the unfortunate sabotage of troops movement by Ari and his accomplices made it possible for the terrorists to attack the rear element of troops on patrol. Though the attack was swiftly repelled by troops from the Tactical Headquarters of 27 Task Force Brigade and Army Super Camp 3 Buratai, own troops suffered some casualties.

In spite of the setback, the Chief of Army Staff has encouraged troops of Operation Tura Takaibango to keep their fighting spirit up and to remain dedicated in the effort to flush out the remnants of the terrorists as quickly as possible.

He, however, charged them not to relent even in the face of gross unpatriotic acts of some locals who are snitching on their movements and positions.

The COAS also admonished citizens to as a matter of patriotic duty, avail the troops of credible and timely information that will help them flush out the adversaries.

FG Flags Off Warri-Itakpe Rail Line Freight Services

By
Ekaette Ibuot
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The Federal Government has officially flag off warri-Itakpe standard gauge for
Commercial freight services.
The rail project had faced serious setback, following about thirty years of abandonment by numerous administrations, but recently rehabilitated and put into operation by the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

Speaking at the occassion at the Warri railway station in Delta State, the Minister Of Transportation Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, said the mile stone project would not only contribute immensely to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), but will also strengthen the socio-economic development of the communities where the project is sited.

The freight service, he said, is a partnership between the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to move materials for the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipe project, adding that it will hasten the completion of this project and improve the electricity supply for domestic and industrial usage, and also accelerate the movement towards industrialization.

According to him, “It has been one of the strategic aims of the present administration to ensure that all critical infrastructure abandoned by previous Governments that would benefit the country and citizenry will be completed and commissioned by this administration.

“Only recently, precisely last year September, the President and Commander-in-Chief, Muhammadu Buhari virtually commissioned the Warri-Itapke standard gauge passenger train service. Reports available suggest that patronage on this route has increased by over 200% in the last few months and is becoming a preferred means of transportation for communities along this route in Delta, Edo and Kogi States”, he said.

Amaechi noted that the modernization of railways in Nigeria is not confined or restricted to any geographical location in the country, called on the communities where these facilities are sited to make the best use of them by protecting the critical Federal Government infrastructure from vandalism.
In his speech, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Land Transport, Senator Buhari Abdulfatai, said the commencement of freight services on the Warri-Itakpe standard rail line is a major step in Nigeria’s quest to have a functional rail transportation, adding that it is also significant as it addresses the huge infrastructural deficit confronting the nation, the transportation sector inclusive.

Abdulfatai who was represented by Senator Istifanus D. Gyang representing Plateau North Senatorial District, gave the Senate’s assurance of continuous cooperation and commitment to the Minister, towards the full realization of the long held dream of a functional nationwide rail network through much needed appropriation and effective oversight.

“The Senate looks forward to the speedy completion of more rail line arteries. This will relieve our roads from heavy duty haulage that shortens the lifespan of our roads. It also provides a cheaper and safer alternative to road transportation”, he said.

Synergy Imperative For Optical Mining Benefits, Says Ogah

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

In an effort to ensure diversification of the economy, create wealth and grow the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for sustainable industrialization of the country, the Ministry has initiated programmes and policies geared towards creating synergy between the Federal, States, Local Governments and community leaders as such synergism is imperative to harness the mining benefits that abound in the country.

The Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah has stated that this during a sensitization visit to the Executive Governor of Delta State, His Excellency (Senator) Dr Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa on Revenue Generation Optimization in the Minerals Sector, in Asaba Delta State, recently.

According to him, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by Director Press & Public Relations Unit, Mrs Etore Thomas stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated the Ministry to efficiently develop the mining of 7 priority minerals in the mining roadmap, strengthen collaboration with State Governments and relevant security agencies, introduce incentives to improve the investment climate for mining activities as well as stamp out illegal mining and formalize Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining activities across the country.

He added that the Ministry is determined to actualize its mandate as it would create large number of well-paying jobs for Nigerian youths.

Speaking further, Ogah enjoined the State to take advantage of its strategic position in the mineral and metal sector as it is endowed with abundannc of sand deposits which can be mined and used for construction, glass manufacture, foundry operations and other industrial purposes as well as other solid mineral endowments which abound in the State, including the two integrated Steel Plants in Nigeria, Delta Steel Company located at Aladja near Warri with an installed capacity to produce one million tonnes of liquid Steel for the benefit of Delta State and Nigeria.

The Minister notified the Governor that the Federal Government has commenced the establishment of mineral processing clusters across the six – geopolitical zones of the country, citing the Barite processing cluster for the South – South Zone in Cross River State. Saying “the project was conceived to harness fully, the abundant barite resources in Nigeria and put an end to baryte importation”.

He solicited the Governor’s continuous support towards ensuring information sharing between the State and the Federal Mines Office and the proper functioning of the Delta State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO).

Earlier, the Governor of Delta State, (Senator) Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa stated that a strong collaboration between the Federal Government and the Private Sector would help in the development of the sector.

Okowa who stated that the State has always enjoyed a warm relationship with the Federal Government on issues of mining, commended the Ministry for developing a structured approach to mining, adding that it would leverage on the mining potentials to generate revenue and develop the State.

Our Input Support Initiative Strategy Is To Boost Agriculture, Aliyu

By
Toyin Adebayo
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0

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu on Friday disclosed that the FCT Administration has put in place an Input Support Initiative, a strategy aimed at increasing access to critical Agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, agro-chemicals, pesticides, feeds, irrigation equipment to support all year farming in the nation’s capital.

She gave this disclosure at the flag off/roll out of Agricultural inputs distribution to small-holder farmers as palliative to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic in the FCT, organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Minister also hinted that under this programme, the administration provides 50 percent subsidies on all inputs.

Aliyu who was represented by the Senior Assistant on Agriculture and Rural Development, Mallam Abdul Agbadi, the minister affirmed that the policy thrust of the present administration under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, is human capacity development.

She stressed that the policy lays emphasis on adopting strategies that would help facilitate the growth of small businesses through improvements in Agriculture and land use which are fundamental in addressing the plight of less vulnerable groups and the attainment of food security.

Aliyu maintained that in the FCT Administration, the core of Agricultural policies was the implementation of grassroot developmental programmes that are targeted at harnessing the vast arable land mass.

Her words, “with a large percentage of small-holder farmers, the FCT Administration has put in place an Input Support Initiative which is a strategy that is aimed at increasing access of farmers to critical Agricultural inputs such as Fertilizers, Agro-chemicals, pesticides, feeds, irrigation equipment to support all year farming amongst others.

“It is no longer news that Nigeria’s Agricultural sector has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic. Therefore, we must use every opportunity to proffer measures on how to better support all the production systems towards mitigating the impact of the pandemic. We must evolve better strategies to build on what we have already been doing in our different ways and synergize efforts towards our collective desire to attain food security. There is no better time to act than now”.

Aliyu, however, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other critical stakeholders for the distribution of inputs to small-holder farmers aimed at cushioning the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in the nation’s capital, noting that with the pandemic, Nigerians must begin to chart a new course for the Agricultural sector which plays a crucial role in the economic growth of any nation.

Chief of Defense Staff Bemoans Rise of Arms in Nigeria

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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0

Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Lucky Irabor has described the proliferation of illegal arms across the country as a threat to its corporate existence.

He made this known in Asaba while briefing newsmen after he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa at Government House, while stating that the Presidential directive to shoot-at-sight anyone with an AK-47 rifle was very clear and must be enforced.

According to him, “Nigeria as a country forbade illegal bearing of arms, and warned that anyone found with such weapons was an enemy of the state and would be treated as such.

“The mandate of the President for dealing with everyone holding AK-47 illegally is a mandate that must be enforced because we are a state that does not condone illegal bearing of arms.

“The armed forces and other security agencies are the only institutions that are mandated to carry arms in the course of their duties.

“So anyone who is carrying an AK-47 or any other weapon, for that matter, is considered a threat to the existence of the state.

He continued; “And, because he is an enemy of the state, it must be addressed; so it’s not a question of my view but rather a question of having to carry out the mandate of Mr President.

“The Armed Forces in partnership with other security agencies will do all that is necessary to bring peace and security across the land and Nigeria certainly, will know peace again.”

He said that he was in Delta for the first time since he was appointed CDS and commended Governor Okowa for his support to the armed forces and other security agencies in the state.

“Delta is my home and it feels good to be home, and I said that I cannot come home without paying a courtesy call on the Executive Governor of the state who has done pretty well, giving very credible support to the members of the armed forces and security agencies.

“I am aware of the threat dispositions within Delta even though it is stable now, but we know that there are areas of interest that we will need to do a lot to add value in up-scaling the security disposition of the state and this is part of what myself and my colleagues were doing.

LI believe that the state will in no time begin to experience greater level of peace and security,’’ he added.

Earlier, Okowa congratulated the CDS on his appointment and promotion and urged him to do more to secure the nation.

He said that, “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate you again on your appointment and subsequent promotion to the rank of General.

“We have had a very challenging time because of the COVID-19, but when the appointments were made, we were very happy because we believe that it will improve the security situation, with the injection of new strategies.

“I also believe that there is no problem that is insurmountable and with the cooperation of all security agencies we can combat the insecurity in our land.

“I must say that you have started well because I had the opportunity of being at the stakeholders meeting in Abuja and I must commend you for that.

“Here in Delta, we have our own security outfit – Operation Delta Hawk – and we are able to work together in terms of our information gathering.

“We will need more support, especially in the Warri area where we have oil installations because when the place is more peaceful and secure, more industries will come,” the governor stated.

NEITI Boss Says Volume Of Crude Oil Production In Nigeria Unknown

By
Ola Akinola
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0

The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji has revealed that no Nigerian knows the exact volume of crude oil produced in Nigeria especially at deep offshore fields.

He said that the absence of meters at wellheads and the lack of capacity to monitor deep offshore means Nigeria do not have the exact amount of crude oil produced in the country.

Orji made this revelation on Thursday during a courtesy visit to the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, (FRCN) Dr. Mansur Liman in Abuja.

NEITI have in all its oil and gas audit reports recommended that meters by placed on oil wellheads to measure the volume of crude oil produced in the country.

He explained that efforts to reform the petroleum industries have not yielded the needed results because those who benefit from the outdated oil law governing the sector have resisted the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.

“The only law that governs the oil and gas industry in Nigeria currently is the Petroleum Act of 1969. And if you use this law in computations of taxes and royalties based on very old rate, Nigeria losses a lot of revenue”, he stated.

He said NITEI has helped in drawing attention to this, noting that the industry has been operated through regulations, guidelines and pronouncements with no new law since 1958.

He stressed that Nigeria’s failure to update its laws in the sector means when prices go up, the country is unable to derive maximum benefit from the situation.

He pointed out the International Oil Companies, IOCs do not have interest in updating the laws because it currently favours them.

According to him; “We do not have capacity to go deep shores to know how much we are producing. As we speak, it is very difficult for any Nigerian to ascertain how much actually we are producing. This is one of the challenges that NEITI is dealing with because if you do not know how much you are producing how would you know how much you are expected to earn.

“Because the companies the companies that go deep shore that are involved on offshore exploration none of them are indigenous Nigerian companies and they cannot really protect the interest of the country as much as Nigerians can.

“But we must concede to those companies, they are doing a great job here because without them there will be no oil industry”, he added.

Orji described his visit to FRCN as a home coming, having worked there as a journalist for many years.

He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for making it possible and solicited the support of the media in ensuring that the petroleum industry is reformed.

In his response, Dr Liman assured the NEITI boss of the support of the Corporation, saying it was important that the media support the reform of the sector to ensure that Nigerian benefit more from the sector.

While congratulating Orji on his appointment, he assured him of the radio station’s support on the activities of NEITI.

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