The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced a scheduled maintenance shutdown of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), set to begin on May 24, 2025.
In a statement released on Saturday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, the NNPC said the shutdown is part of a planned maintenance and sustainability assessment aimed at ensuring optimal performance of the facility.
The statement reads: “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to inform the general public that the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) will undergo a planned maintenance shutdown.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24,2025.
“We are working closely with all relevant stakeholders, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to ensure the maintenance and assessment activities are carried out efficiently and transparently.
“NNPC Ltd remains steadfast in its commitment to delivering sustainable energy security.”
The company added that further updates will be provided regularly through official channels, including its website, media platforms, and public statements.
This is not the first time the refinery would be shut down. It suffered a similar fate in December 2024, shortly after operations resumed following a $1.5 billion rehabilitation. Vanguard
National secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja and 4793 other properties revoked by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in March 2025 will be sealed on Monday, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has said.
The FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze and Director Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, disclosed this during a press briefing yesterday.
Lere said: “Ownership of the revoked 4,794 properties in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts, had already reverted to the FCTA, and as from Monday, next week, the government will begin to exercise its rights of ownership on the affected landed properties.
“As usual, this will be done without consideration as to ownership of the affected landed properties. It will be purely in line with extant laws and regulations guiding the process.”
He emphatically said the affected properties will be sealed up and access to them restricted beginning from Monday, adding that the FCTA will decide what to do with the affected properties in due course.
Speaking on the claim that some people went to court, the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze stated that there was no court decision on the revocation, and as such, the FCTA is not restricted in the discharge of its lawful functions on the affected properties.
He disclosed that the FCTA was already compiling records of compliance and non-compliance of title holders that were in default of payment of Ground Rent for between one and ten years, who were given a grace of 21 Days to pay up.
He said the government will act accordingly as soon as the records are fully compiled and analyzed.
It was learnt that the properties to be sealed include the popular Wadata plaza that currently houses the national secretariat of the PDP as well as the new national secretariat at plot Number 243 within Central Area District, Abuja.
Nwankwoeze had clarified that although the property currently occupied by the PDP in Wadata Plaza was among those revoked and to be sealed on Monday, it was not in the name of the PDP.
“The one in Zone 5, where they are currently occupying as their national headquarters, does not belong to PDP. It belongs to Samaila Mamang Ofu.
And the revocation notice has been served on him at his Kaduna address – the address on record. We did not serve any such notice on the PDP. The only one we served on them was the one for the central area. You don’t serve a revocation notice on a tenant or an occupier. You serve it on the title holder – that’s what the law says.
“And I want to also mention that we are talking about 4,794 titles. There are so many people who are affected. Government institutions, private organizations, private individuals – the Nigerian Postal Authority is there, the Central Bank of Nigeria is there, NNPC is there, INF is there, the Nigerian Universities Commission is there, NNPC is there, Borno State Government is there, NDDC is there, the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria is there, the Federal Ministry of Environment is there, the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company is there – and so many others. It’s not only PDP.”
Lere recalled that on March 18, 2025, “we informed you of the revocation of 4,794 land titles in the Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama and Guzape districts.
These 4,794 properties were among the total of 8,375 land titles on which Ground Rent was not paid from one year to 43 years.
We did say then that consequent upon the revocation of these titles, ownership of the affected properties have reverted to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)”
“As from Monday, May 26, 2025, the FCTA will begin to take possession of the affected properties, using relevant agencies of government.” Nation
The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has re-elected Dr. Ike Neliaku as President, Chairman of Council for a fresh term of two years.
He emerged in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Thursday at the ongoing 2nd Nigeria Public Relations Week as the leader of the Institute following his election into the Governing Council by members and subsequently returned as President by the Electoral College.
In the same vein, Prof. Emmanuel Dandaura was re-elected as Vice President along other 15 Council Members, representing various states of the country.
Seventeen newly elected council members, chosen through a keenly contested election by NIPR members, unanimously endorsed Dr. Neliaku’s continued leadership.
These council members, along with five federal government nominees, constitute the 22-member Governing Council responsible for steering the institute’s affairs.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Neliaku said that he and members of the council of the institute will use the NIPR platform to continue the work they have started for the institute in re-inventing Nigeria image.
The 17 elected council members of the institute are; Comfort Nwankwo – Lagos, Olusegun McMedal – Lagos, Dr. Ike Neliaku – Abuja, Prof. Emmanuel S. Daudara – Nasarawa, Sajoh Ahmed Ibrahim – Adamawa, Mr. Akin Agbejule – Niger, Mrs. Olubunmi Adedoyin Badejo – FCT, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha -Anambra, Mallam Bashir Adamu Chedi, Dr. Saudat Salah Abdubaqi – Kwara, Comrade Ini Ememobong – Akwa Ibom, Malam Kabir Ali Kobir – Bauchi, Pastor Paulinus Enyidah Nsirim – Rivers, Prof. Sarah Benjamin Lwahas – Plateau, Mr. Adaramola Temitope – Ogun State, Dr. Adewale Oladipo Oyekanmi – Osun and Chief Patrick Ogoegbunem Uka – Delta.
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, Thursday, inaugurated the Enugu State Ease-of-Doing-Business Council, saying it was in tandem with his electoral promise to grow the state into a $30bn economy from $4.4bn by repositioning it as the premier destination for business, investment, tourism and living.
Inaugurating the 25-man Council at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah, who is also the Chairman of the Council, stressed that investors were not Father Christmas and would naturally tilt to where there is conducive environment and higher return on investment, RoI.
“Recall that one of the first activities that I performed after my swearing was to sign Executive Order 005, which speaks to Ease of Doing Business. It largely tells us that we cannot achieve the ambitious economic growth plan that we have given ourselves if we do not attract private investments.
“Therefore, for us as a state government, this Ease-of- Doing-Business Council is consistent with our objectives to ensure that we create an environment for businesses to thrive.
“If you look at all the key indicators of Ease of Doing Business, you would notice that we have aggressively intervened across those various indicators,” he stated.
Among others, he listed ease of access to land through the establishment of the Enugu State Geographic Information Systems, ENGIS, and establishment of a one-stop shop for processing of permits, the investments in ultramodern security infrastructure, building of transport infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and skilled manpower as some of the strategic steps taken to ease up the business in Enugu State.
“So, as the chairman of the council, we will all work hard to ensure that we come close as a state to become frontiers of the Ease of Doing Business,” he concluded.
Speaking to newsmen, the 2ND Deputy President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Eric Chime, who represented the president and the body, described the council as another great leap for Enugu State under Governor Mbah’s leadership.
“The Chairman, who is the Governor, has stated all he has done to make Enugu State attract investment. What we are going to do is to be the wagon that will carry this message and let investors come. Enugu is the safest place to invest.
“Any investor that you want to tell to come, they will ask you about security first. If you are talking about security, the governor has taken care of it. If you talk about technology, the governor has taken care of it; infrastructure, the governor has taken care of it. So, our job is to take the good message and attract investors to the state because Enugu is a safe haven,” he enthused.
Also, fielding questions from Government House correspondents, the President of the Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Barr. Sam Otobueze, commended Mbah for efforts to align Enugu State with global standards to attract businesses.
“This is a very wonderful initiative. The world economy is changing, and the best way to get into it and be recognised is what we are doing because the more we attract businesses and investments into the state, the better for us. The more we get to the world map as one of those states you can go and invest in business, the better for us,” he stated.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti says his administration has procured 20 electric buses which will be rolled out in the next 2 months.
Governor Otti disclosed this while addressing Aba community who organized a thanksgiving carnival tagged ‘Promise Kept Carnival’ at Umuagbai Secondary School premises, Port Harcourt road, Aba in celebration of the Governor for reconstructing and completing Port Harcourt Road, abandoned for over 3 decades.
He said that the bus terminals are being built for the transport system in the State while the 20 electric buses for the transportation would be for the first instance.
“In the next two months, not more than two months, our transport system will start working. So, if you go around, you will see the bus terminals we are building.
“We have paid for the 20 electric buses. So, they are bringing the buses to carry you and I, and the buses will be beautiful.
“You know the kind of buses you see abroad. That is the kind of buses you will see in Abia. The only difference is that these buses will not use petrol. It will not use diesel. It will not use gasoline. They will be electric buses,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti, who recalled his efforts in fixing the Port Harcourt Road as against the attacks of the noisy opposition, said that he replies the shameless opposition with performances. He also revealed that the amount of money spent by the immediate past administration in the reconstruction of Port Harcourt road, which was not realized was much more than what his government spent in realizing the Road.
“But, we have always ignored them. And we have continued to ignore them. We respond with performance. But, there is a response I want to give.
“So, listen to the response. In 2017, they awarded this Port Harcourt Road. The amount at that time was N9.8 Billion. And they paid out the entire money. But the Road was not done.
‘So, when in 2025, the Road cost N36.5 Billion, they started making noise. So, I said, since you people understand mathematics, the average exchange rate in 2017 was N333 to a Dollar. Now, if you apply that, the N9.8 Billion was actually USD29 Million (equivalent)
“In 2025, at the average exchange rate of N1,600, N36.5 Billion is actually USD22.8 Million equivalent. So, let us do the maths.
“USD29 Million and USD22 Million, which one is higher? But, the real issue is that in 2017, USD29 Million was spent, and no Road was done. In 2025, USD22 Million was spent and a standard Road is done and delivered for use” Gov. Otti explained.
While appreciating the reception organized for him, Governor Otti thanked Aba people for their sustained support for him right from 2015 when he contested the Governorship election for the first time and said that Aba has been giving him massive support since then.
He used the opportunity to give N1.4 million as a reward to a ‘Keke’ driver in Aba, who returned N2.4 Million Naira forgotten by a passenger in his keke and commended such act of honesty, which he said Abians are known for.
In their goodwill messages, Senator Darlington Nwokocha and Speaker Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa saluted Governor Alex Otti and his giant strides in Aba and Abia State in general. They said that the feat so far achieved by Governor Otti is testament of a focused leadership in the State.
Speaking on behalf of the Aba business community and the Aba Landlord’s Association, Chief David Ogba Onuoha, Chief Leo Nnodi Okoye, Chief Alphonsus Odigbo and the Chairman of the occasion, Ide John Udeagba said that they decided to put the event together to show appreciation to the Governor, and emphasized that though he has done great things in Aba, but Port Harcourt Road is top among others.
They described the event as not just a celebration of restoration but a vote of confidence on the Governor, adding that with his achievements, he has already completed political campaigns for his re-election.
Earlier, the convener of the carnival, Chief Onyeka Ernest Udeajah praised and thanked the Governor for his giant developmental strides. He said that, what Aba is witnessing is evidence of God’s goodness.
Chief Udeajah said that Port Harcourt Road stands tall in the achievements of the Governor and described the event as an emergence of a new day and a new season, affirming that indeed, help is here for Abia people
Also, the State Chairman, Cooperative Motor Union, Mr. Chukwuma Azodo described Port Harcourt Road project as legendary, adding that in less than 2 years in office, Governor Otti has done a lot, including fixing many roads for the people and making driving experience easy and seamless.
The Carnival featured music displays from many Aba born artistes while many dignitaries graced the Carnival.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced a fresh cut in the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) nationwide.
The new rates now range from ₦875 to ₦905 per litre, depending on location.
A breakdown of the revised prices shows, Lagos:₦875, South-West ₦885, North-East: ₦905, North-West & Central: ₦895, and South-South & South-East: ₦905
Prices indicate a ₦15 reduction per litre across all regions and partner retail outlets, applying to all major fuel marketers in partnership with the refinery, including MRS, Ardova, Heyden, Optima Energy, Techno Oil, and Hyde Energy.
Before the new price template, Lagos residents paid ₦890 per litre, while prices rose to ₦920 in the North East and South-South regions.
Lagos residents will now pay ₦875, while those in the North East and South South will pay ₦905 per litre with the new adjustments.
“Our quality petrol and diesel are refined for better engine performance and are environmentally friendly,” the company stated in the notice.
The development comes after the 650,000 Lekki-based refinery on Monday said the naira-for-crude deal allowed it to reduce the price of petrol at the pumps.
In a release signed by its Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company said the decision to maintain price stability reflects its unwavering commitment to supporting the Nigerian economy and alleviating the burden on consumers from the increase in fuel prices by maintaining price stability.
The company affirmed that the prices of petrol will remain affordable and stable.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has proposed the sum of N1.48tn as the 2025 Rivers State Appropriation Bill to the Senate for consideration and approval.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read Tinubu’s letter of request during Thursday’s plenary.
In the letter, Tinubu explained that the proposed budget includes N324 billion for infrastructure development, N166 billion for health, N75.6 billion for education, N31.4 billion for agriculture, and N5 billion for the free distribution of drugs across all categories of people in the state.
He also noted that the budget prioritises the creation of 6,000 jobs.
The letter read in part: “Please find forwarded herewith the 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State for the consideration of the Senate.
“The Distinguished Senate may wish to recall that Rivers State is currently under emergency rule, which was proclaimed and duly gazetted in March 2025. Regulation 4, subsection 2(f) of the Emergency Rule 2025 requires authorisation for expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of Rivers State in the absence of a functioning state assembly.
“It is expected that the National Assembly acts on behalf of the State Assembly, hence this request for Senate approval of the Rivers State Government 2025 Appropriation Bill.
“The total sum of N1.481 trillion is allocated for both ongoing and new infrastructure projects.
“The sum of N166billion is earmarked for the health sector, including N5billion for free drugs to treat malaria and other common ailments.
“The sum of N75.6 billion is proposed for the education sector, while N31.4 billion is allocated for agriculture.
“This spending plan prioritises investment in critical sectors such as infrastructure, health, education, and agriculture, which is projected to generate approximately 6,000 jobs.
“Accordingly, I hereby forward the Rivers State Government 2025 Appropriation Bill and trust that it will receive the expeditious and favourable consideration of the Senate.
“Please accept, Distinguished Senate President and Distinguished Senators, the assurances of my highest regards.”
Following the reading of the letter, Akpabio referred the bill to the Senate ad-hoc committee on Rivers State and urged the committee to report back as soon as practicable.
The Senate had on March 20 approved Tinubu’s request to impose a state of emergency in Rivers State. On May 6, it inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to oversight the administration of the emergency rule in the state.
The committee is chaired by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central). Other members include Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Osita Izunaso (Imo), Osita Ngwu (Enugu), Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno), Aminu Iyal Abbas (Adamawa), Tokunbo Abiru (Lagos), Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo), Mohammed Sani Musa (Niger), Simon Lalong (Plateau), Asuquo Ekpeyong (Cross River), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Ireti Kingibe (FCT), Onyekachi Nwebonyi (Ebonyi), Idiat Adebule (Lagos), Ede Dafinone (Delta), Mohammed Nakudu (Jigawa), and the Clerk to the Senate, Andrew Nwoba. Nation
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has said some Nigerian politicians and members of the armed forces are acting as informants and collaborators for Boko Haram insurgents. The governor also warned that the Nigerian army is increasingly under-equipped to deal with the insurgency, especially as terrorists adopt advanced technologies like drones.
Zulum made these known during an interview, speaking about the escalating security challenges in the North East, and what he believes must be done to end the over-decade-long insurgency.
“We have informants and collaborators within the Nigerian armed forces, within the politicians, and within the communities. What we shall do is to strengthen our intelligence and to deal with them ruthlessly,” Zulum stated.
He also expressed concern over the Nigerian aArmy’s limited capacity to respond to evolving threats, revealing that insurgents are now deploying high-tech weapons, including drones.
“The army does not have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgency. Right now, the insurgents are using drones to fight soldiers on the ground,” Zulum said.
He called President Bola Tinubu to cut through bureaucratic red tape and urgently approve military procurement based on the armarmarmy’serational needs.
“A few days ago, I visited the Chief of Army Staff. He said he is looking for about 32 drones and he would end the insurgency. My plea is that let us deal with this matter decisively. The president of Nigeria should listen to those that can distinguish between the right and wrong, not sycophants,” he added.
It will be recalled that Nigerian Army recently also confirmed that terrorists have begun deploying armed drones as early as November last year, using technology comparable to that seen in modern warfare in Israel and Ukraine. These drones, he said, present a significant challenge to conventional defence systems.
Despite Borno State experiencing renewed attacks in recent weeks, Zulum praised the federal government’s plan to establish forest guards as a strategic initiative in the fight against insurgency, but emphasised that such personnel must be sourced locally to ensure effectiveness.
Candidates who registered but missed the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will have another opportunity to sit the examination.
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, a professor, disclosed on Wednesday that the board would conduct a mop-up examination for candidates who missed either the UTME in April or the rescheduled UTME in May.
Mr Oloyede said almost five per cent – about 19,000 candidates – of the 379,997 candidates expected to sit the rescheduled UTME were absent.
JAMB had initially disclosed that 71,701 candidates were absent when the UTME was conducted.
This means about 90,000 candidates would have a second opportunity to sit the UTME.
“We are creating a new mop-up. Even those who missed the earlier exam due to absence will get another opportunity,” he said.
He explained that it’s not extraordinary for candidates to be allowed a make-up test when they miss the tests.
Apart from the UTME held in April, JAMB also conducted a rescheduled UTME for over 300,000 candidates last week after it found that a glitch affected their results.
The glitch affected candidates in 65 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in Lagos State and 92 CBT centres across Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, and Enugu States.
JAMB found the errors after it conducted a review of UTME results following widespread concerns of low scores by candidates with a track record of better performance in both the UTME and other examinations.
Mr Oloyede admitted the errors, apologised to the candidates and announced the rescheduling of the UTME for affected candidates. Premium Times
Britain ‘horrified’ by Israeli escalation, suspends trade talks
Hundreds of Gaza Palestinians killed by strikes in recent days
UN says no aid distributed yet after Israel eases blockade
EU’s Kallas asks for review of EU-Israel trade deal, ANP says
Israeli forces killed at least 55 Palestinians in airstrikes in Gaza on Tuesday, local medics said, continuing to bombard the enclave despite mounting international pressure to halt military operations and allow unimpeded deliveries of aid.
Britain announced it was suspending trade talks with Israel and summoning its ambassador over “egregious policies” in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, while European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas asked for a review of the EU-Israel trade deal, according to Dutch news agency ANP.
The war, now in its 20th month, has left Gaza in ruins and its population facing a worsening hunger crisis. It has strained Israel’s relations with much of the world and those with its closest ally, the United States, now appear to be wavering.
The United Nations said no humanitarian aid has been distributed yet in Gaza, despite more supplies being dropped off on the Palestinian side of the Kerem Shalom crossing after Israel eased its 11-week-old blockade on Monday.
“Today, one of our teams waited several hours for the Israeli green light to collect supplies. Unfortunately, they were not able to bring those supplies into our warehouse,” said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
Separately, indirect ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas militants in Qatar appeared to falter again, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying he had decided to bring back the senior negotiating team from Doha for consultations.
Hamas accused Netanyahu of entering the talks in bad faith, pretending to participate in a bid to mislead global public opinion. “No real negotiations have taken place since last Saturday,” the Palestinian Islamist group said in a statement.
18 DEAD IN AIRSTRIKE ON TWO HOMES, MEDICS SAY
Israel conducted further airstrikes on Tuesday across the densely populated enclave and medics said the sites hit included two homes where women and children were among the 18 dead, and a school housing displaced families.
Israel’s military, which on Monday warned those in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis to evacuate to the coast as it prepared for an “unprecedented attack”, had no comment. Israel says Hamas uses civilian buildings for cover; Hamas denies this.
In Gaza City, Reuters footage showed men, women and children sifting through the rubble of the Daraj neighbourhood school where they had been sheltering, and where charred pieces of clothing and a red teddy bear lay among scattered belongings.
At nearby Al-Ahli Hospital, men said prayers over bodies wrapped in white shrouds, before carrying them to their graves.
“What is our fault? What is the fault of children? What is the fault of the women we found on the stairs with their hair and clothes torn and burned?” said Omar Ahel, who had been sheltering at the school. “By God, this is injustice.”
Israeli strikes have killed more than 500 people in the past nine days as the military campaign has intensified, Gaza medics say.
Military vehicles drive their way from the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border into Gaza, as seen from Israel, May 20, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
SANCTIONS
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told parliament he, along with the leaders of France and Canada, was “horrified” by Israel’s military escalation, repeating calls for a ceasefire.
The three nations had warned on Monday of “concrete actions” against Israel if it did not stop military operations in Gaza and lift restrictions on aid.
In addition to suspending trade talks, Britain announced sanctions against a number of individuals and groups in the Israeli-occupied West Bank over alleged violence against Palestinian residents.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said Britain had failed to advance free trade negotiations for some time and called the sanctions “unjustified and regrettable”.
“External pressure will not divert Israel from its path in defending its existence and security against enemies who seek its destruction,” Marmorstein posted on X.
Israel’s ground and air offensive has displaced nearly all Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and killed more than 53,000, according to Gaza health authorities.
The campaign began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israeli communities near Gaza’s border in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and seizing 251 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
‘EVERYTHING’S EMPTY’
The hunger crisis in Gaza deepened after Israel imposed a blockade on supplies from March 2. The territory is facing a critical risk of famine, a U.N.-backed hunger monitor said earlier this month.
On Monday, Israel cleared nine trucks for entry into Gaza, and on Tuesday the United Nations said it had received permission from Israel for about 100 aid trucks to enter, though they had yet to be distributed.
The U.N. says Gaza needs at least 500 trucks of aid and commercial goods every day. Throughout the war, trucks with aid have waited weeks and months at Gaza’s border to enter.
Louise Wateridge of the U.N. Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA said on Tuesday there was little food left.
“Everything’s empty. The warehouses, the distribution centres, they’ve been empty for weeks,” she said, speaking from a warehouse in Jordan that she said had food for 200,000 people that could be driven to Gaza in just a few hours.
Israel’s leadership has insisted that it can free remaining hostages and dismantle Hamas through stepped-up military action. Hamas has said it would free the hostages in exchange for an end to the war and the release of Palestinians in Israeli jails. Reuters
…We saw evidence of good governance in Enugu – RMAFC
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has tasked the Federal Government on the inclusion of the state in the disbursement of 13 per cent oil revenue share, in line with the Derivation Principle as provided for in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
He made the call when he received the Indices and Disbursement Committee of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, at the Government House, Enugu, on Tuesday.
It is recalled that the RMAFC had in December 2022 listed Enugu as an oil producing state.
However, receiving the RMAFC team in his office, Mbah regretted that the state was yet to receive 13 per cent of revenues accruing to the state from the affected oil fields.
“We still have this pending issue of Enugu State being recognised as an oil producing state, which your Office actually communicated to us sometime in December 2022 based on the report of the Inter-agency Technical Committee. The Committee came up with a recommendation that Enugu should be benefiting from the 13 per cent derivation of the Anambra River Basin 1, Anambra River Basin 2, and Anambra River 3. But we have still not benefited from those fields.
“So, it is our hope that your Office will put the necessary machinery in motion to ensure that we begin to benefit from that,” he stated.
Mbah, however said his government was not resting on its oars, as it was mobilising internal revenue sources, growing the state’s IGR by over 400 per cent by broadening the revenue sources and deploying of technology to block leakages.
“It is our hope that your indices also would be updated to reflect that much growth in our domestic revenue. We hope to actually surpass that. Our IGR in our 2025 budget is over 500 billion. And from the indications, we are going to surpass that projection,” Mbah stated.
He added that his administration ensured that all revenues accruing to the local governments got to them 100 per cent in addition to assisting them in the funding of big projects. This, he said was in the spirit of transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, speaking earlier, the leader of the team and Commissioner representing Kwara State at RMAFC, Mr. Ismaila Mohammed Agaka, commended Mbah for the proper utilisation of federal allocations and IGR to transform the state in a short period.
“Before we came, we thought it was one of those media blitz that accompany the activities of state governors. But we have gone around. We have seen for ourselves the work going on. I particularly noted that illegal structures have no place again in Enugu. And that is the way it should be. There should be sanity and discipline in the way we do things; and we have seen evidence of that, sir.
“I am pleased to note that the Smart Schools, and the Health Centres across the 260 wards are very commendable. It clearly demonstrates the fact that it is clearly the government of the people by the leader of the people in the overall interest of the people,” he said.
He said the RMAFC team was in Enugu State to monitor the disbursements from the Federation Account to Enugu State.
“The major aim and objective of this exercise is to assist in identifying any irregularities, misapplication or wrongful application of indices with respect to the indices used in sharing revenue to Enugu State and the local governments from the Federation Account; to examine the actual deductions made before the disbursement to the state and the local governments and to identify possible causes of zero application, if any, to the local government councils with the view to resolving it amicably,” Agaka stated.
The International Federation of Women Lawyers, Abia State branch, has condemned the recent alleged incident of domestic violence and child abuse in which a father set himself, his wife, and their one-year-old daughter ablaze in Onicha Ngwa community in Obingwa Local Government Area of the state.
The incident occurred between 1am and 2am on Saturday, when Mr. Udochi Amala, 40 years old, allegedly set himself, his wife, Mrs. Amarachi Amala, and their three children on fire, citing suspicion of alleged infidelity by his wife.
Following the incident, Udochi, who resides in Amapuihe village in Osisioma LG and was also affected by the fire, reportedly attempted to flee but was apprehended. One of his daughters died as a result of severe burns.
According to initial reports, Udochi stated, “I have an issue with my wife, and I did not know that it would get to this extent. I am tired of this life.”
He also allegedly confirmed that he had not caught his wife, who is from Ikwuano LG, with another man.
The Police Public Relations Officer of Abia State Police Command, DSP Maureen Chinaka, confirmed the incident, stating, “Yes, the Police are aware. Investigation is ongoing.”
FIDA Abia, in a statement signed by its Chairperson, Njideka Aniawonwa, and Secretary, Eberechukwu Kanu Oji, on Tuesday, expressed its “shock, outrage, and deep concern over this horrific act, which is a gross violation of human rights and dignity.”
The organisation is demanding a thorough investigation into the incident and justice for the victims. FIDA Abia and also called “for support and protection for survivors of domestic violence and child abuse.”
FIDA Abia reiterated its commitment to promoting human rights, particularly the rights of women and children, and urged the public to report cases of domestic violence and child abuse and to support efforts to protect vulnerable individuals.
An unconfirmed source indicated that Mrs. Amala and her two other children died late Monday while receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Punch
