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PETROAN lauds FG’s exportation ban of crude oil allocated to refineries

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The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has commended the Federal Government for placing a ban on the exportation of crude oil allocated to local refineries.

Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, PETROAN’s National President, gave the commendation on Wednesday while reacting to the development.

Gillis-Harry urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to take swift action against refineries, cargo vessels and companies that would default on the directive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the NUPRC had warned oil exploration and production companies against diversion of crude oil designated for domestic refineries, saying it is a contravention of the law.

The commission said it would no longer grant henceforth disallow export permits for exportation, designated crude oil cargoes meant for domestic refining.

The PETROAN President, however, said that the move was expected to boost local refining capacity, reduce the importation of refined petroleum products and ease pressure on foreign exchange supply.

According to PETROAN, the exportation of crude oil meant for domestic refining has led to the abandonment of local refineries.

“It has been a major racketeering scheme, with producers and traders prioritising quick foreign exchange proceeds over local refining.

“Approximately 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day are allocated for domestic refining, but these volumes often find their way to the international market.

“The ban is expected to have a positive impact on the economy, as refining crude oil locally will enrich the petrochemical industries and agricultural sector.

“It will reduce inequalities in income and enable Nigeria to transition from a raw material supplier to a value-added product supplier.

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“I believe that this policy will guarantee sufficient refined petroleum products in the country, leading to price reductions and better days ahead for Nigerian consumers,” he said. (NAN)

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Anambra Sanctions School For Selling Prefect Post

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The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.

This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.

According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.

Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”

According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.

She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.

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Atiku Blasts EFCC Over Kazaure’s Detention

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Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.

In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.

Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.

 

He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”

Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.

“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.

“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.

“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.

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“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.

“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.

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Suspended Sen Natasha Trends Over ‘Omo Ologo’ TikTok Amid Akpabio Feud

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Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.

The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.

The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.

The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.

Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.

In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”

The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.

Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.

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In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.

The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.

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