News
EFCC seeks specialised court to try cases of oil theft, vandalism
The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has made a case for a specialized court to try culprits of oil theft in the country.
Mr Michael Uzokwe, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the commission, Mr Ola Olukoyede said this during the investigative hearing of crude oil theft in Abuja.
Uzokwe said that the delay in prosecution through regular courts was hampering prosecution and militating against elimination of crude oil theft and other financial crimes.
He therefore made a strong case for the establishment of Specialized Courts to try cases of those apprehended for oil theft and related crimes to facilitate recoveries.
Rep. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, Chairman, Special Committee on Crude Oil Theft, also resolved to constitute a sub-committee that would investigate the desirability or otherwise of continuing with Molecular Power System (MPS) oil theft detection system.
He said the setting up of the sub investigative panel became necessary due to zero level of recovery recorded so far from the multi-million dollar contract with a retainer-ship fee of $5 million built into it without commensurate results.
The sub panel was due to the engagement with the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the inquiry on how to minimize and eradicate the incidence of oil theft in Nigeria.
Rep Sada SoliA who later stood in for Ado-Doguwa queried whether it was necessary to retain the hard-earned revenue draining MPS detection system, with no success recorded since its deployment.
He said some powerful lawyers, who were already enjoying the retainer-ship largesse were already putting up stiff resistance.
This according to him is in order not to lose the easy money coming their way faced with the possibility of losing the retainer-ship in case of eventually losing the contract.
Soli also queried the intention behind the Attorney- General’s instruction that the retainer-ship to Nigerian lawyers, practising in Nigeria should be paid in dollars.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that a report released by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) revealed that Nigeria lost 619 barrels worth 46.16 billion dollars (N16.25trillion) from oil theft in 2022 alone.
NEITI’s audit reports covering a period of twelve years, show that Nigeria loses an average of more than 140,000 barrels of crude oil per day (NAN)
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, and Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, arrived in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Friday for a high-level operational visit to Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), the military’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North East.
The visit, according to a statement by Ahmad Dan Wudil, the minister’s media aide, aims to evaluate the troops’ operational readiness, boost morale among frontline personnel, and review strategies to restore lasting peace and stability in the region.
The statement underscored the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The trip comes amid growing concerns over resurgent attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
Earlier this month, Governor Babagana Zulum warned that the security situation was deteriorating, with insurgents dislodging military formations in areas such as Wulgo, Wajiroko, and Sabon Gari.
Zulum urged the federal government and security agencies to act decisively to prevent a reversal of the gains made in the fight against insurgency.
“While we appreciate the tremendous support from the federal government and the military, the current shift in focus away from the North East risks undermining our progress,” Zulum said, highlighting the need for renewed efforts to curb the escalating violence.
The minister’s visit signals a renewed commitment to addressing the security challenges in Borno, where sporadic attacks have raised fears among residents and displaced communities.
Operation HADIN KAI remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s efforts to combat insurgency and restore stability to the troubled region.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Malaria Day 2025, the Caleb Danladi Foundation has stepped up its efforts to combat the disease, with a special focus on protecting vulnerable populations.
Aligning with this year’s theme, “Malaria Ends With Us: Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite,” the Foundation facilitated the re-enrollment of hundreds of women, children, and other at-risk groups into the Kaduna State Health Insurance Scheme.
Founder of the Foundation, Captain Caleb Danladi, disclosed that the organisation fully funded the beneficiaries’ insurance premiums to enhance their access to malaria prevention and treatment services.
Speaking during Friday’s commemoration, Danladi lamented that malaria continues to claim countless lives, particularly in underserved communities.
“Healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” he said. “On this World Malaria Day, we reaffirm our commitment to saving lives through direct support, strong advocacy, and strategic investments in community health solutions.”
He emphasised the need for sustained investments in healthcare and a reimagined approach to delivering equitable services across communities.
Danladi also urged government agencies, healthcare workers, and development partners to strengthen collaboration efforts aimed at eradicating malaria, noting that safeguarding the health and dignity of Nigerians especially women and children is a shared responsibility.
The Director-General (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that Africa would be minimally impacted by the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump.
Okonjo-Iweala made the remark during an interview with Nigerian journalists at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C. on Friday.
She explained that only 6.5 per cent of Africa’s exports go to the USA, while 4.4 per cent of its imports come from the U.S., meaning that the impact on the continent would be minimal.
“The trade of the continent is very limited with the USA. We have done the analysis, and the impact on the continent as a whole is not significant,” she said.
However, she noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.
The D-G emphasised that Africa needed to focus on utilising its own resources to reach its full potential, as aid was declining, and the continent required more investment.
She pointed out that Africa must strengthen internal trade, citing Lesotho as an example.
In spite of Lesotho exporting 200 million dollars’ worth of textiles to the USA, the country faced challenges due to the shrinking U.S. market.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that Africa spent 7 billion dollars annually on importing textiles, suggesting that Lesotho should instead focus on selling textiles within African markets.
She also urged the USA to consider the effects of tariffs on least-developed countries, calling for a reassessment of the reciprocal tariffs in poorer nations.
Okonjo-Iweala concluded that Africa needed more investments and should work towards boosting intra-Africa trade, which remained underdeveloped.
“We cannot trade more externally, where our trade is only 3 per cent of world trade, or internally, where intra-Africa trade is 16 to 20 per cent at most,” she said.(NAN)