National
Foundation donates furnished station to Police in Enugu State
The Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu Foundation (OEO) has donated well-furnished station to Nigeria Police in Enugu State to support the federal and state governments’ efforts in fighting crime and criminality.
The foundation’s newly-built police station is furnished with solar lights, adequate offices, public conveniences, standard perimeter fence and outer barb wire fencing of the entire land space of the station to forestall land encroachment.
inaugurating the Police Station located at Petsan Layout, Ogurugu Etteh in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area on Sunday, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kanayo Uzuegbu, noted that the station would help in clamping down on kidnappers, night marauders, cultists and heinous crimes.
Uzuegbu, represented by the Police Area Commander of Udenu Area Command, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ukwa Amanga, said that the station came at the right time, noting: “There will be no hiding place for criminals within this axis of the state.”
“I am highly elated to be here. I have known the Founder of OEO Foundation, Owelle Ejikeme Odumegwu, for a long time and it was for the same reason that we are here today that brought us together then.
“Owelle has been standing behind the Nigeria Police and giving us support in so many areas and I do not think the history of Nigeria Police will be complete without mentioning his name.
“He has done so much for Enugu State Police Command. I was aware when he renovated the Commissioner’s office at police headquarters in Enugu; he renovated so many police divisions in the state and we are here to commission a police station built single handedly by him.
“It is only God that will bless you and your Foundation. God will replenish your source,” he said.
The commissioner assured that police personnel would make judicious use of the station and its facilities.
“We give God the glory that the crime rate has started reducing drastically; while this police station and the present officers that will man the station will bring the crime rate the barest minimum on this road and the adjoining communities in this council area.
“We want everybody to give us support, it is not one man’s support. Owelle Odumegwu has done his part and its now the turn of the community to give us their support by giving us information. If you see something say something and say it to the right person,” he said.
Earlier, Odumegwu said that he built the station to complement the only police station at the local government headquarters, stressing that it would help Nigeria Police respond to distress calls at the needed time.
He said that the station was situated on a large expanse of land, measuring 6,608.52 square metres, fenced all round with solar lights and I have also promised to build a shelter for the officers working here.
He said: “Like Nostradamus, I peeped into the future over some decades and rather than build industries and factories, it interested me most to build a facility for the police.
“I will proudly state also that my value for security and for the protection of life and property has prompted my renovating over 30 dilapidated police stations in Enugu State single handedly.
“I also renovated the CP’s building at the Command Headquarters and over 1km perimeter fencing of the Divisional Police Headquarters Enugu- ezike in 2018. This prevented the intrusion of unknown gunmen in the recent attack of the division.”
According to him, recently, resource persons in a security summit organized by Enugu State government (Gov. Mbah) and state Police Command, theorised that security actually was a catalyst to community development.
Odumegwu, who is also the Director of OEO Foundation, noted that it was important to mention that the new station, which would serve as divisional headquarters, was so strategically placed at the border between and connecting Northern Nigeria, South-East and South-South states of Nigeria.
He said there was no other police presence within a radius of over 40km from Enugu-Ezike Police Station said to be the most populous community in the whole of West Africa, housing over 42 villages.
Odumegwu, who promised to continue supporting the Nigeria Police in combating crimes, urged the Police to embrace a proactive and informed approach of crime-fighting through intelligence- led policing.
The Igbo-Eze North Local Government Chairman, Mr Ejike Itodo, expressed delight at the rare donation, saying: “What happened today shows there is still hope in Igbo-Eze North council area”.
Itodo, represented by the Leader of legislators in the council, Mr Fabian Eze, noted that Owelle and his foundation had contributed immensely to the peace being enjoyed today by the people of the council area.
Dr Sally Adukwu, former member, Economic Advisory Committee to the President, commended Owelle and his foundation for his bold step to built the police station, stressing that he remained “a leader per excellence and problem solver”.
“Owelle Odumegwu has done what the government officials could not do, and I advise that our people should queue behind him in all he does to ensure peace and development in the area,” Adukwu, who is also National President, National Association of Proprietors of Private School (NAPPS), said.
The President-General of the community, Mr Obunwa Mamah, lauded Owelle and his foundation.(NAN)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which includes the removal of Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari and Chairman Pius Akinyelure, along with all other board members appointed in November 2023.
In an announcement, the President introduced an 11-member restructured board, appointing Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari as the new GCEO and Ahmadu Musa Kida as the Non-Executive Chairman. These changes are effective immediately, as stated by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy.
Emphasizing the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restored investor confidence, and a more commercially viable NNPC,” President Tinubu exercised his authority under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 to implement this significant reorganization.
The newly formed board comprises Adedapo Segun, who continues as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), alongside six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East). Additionally, Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, will serve on the board.
The President has charged the new board with conducting a strategic review of NNPC-operated and Joint Venture assets to optimize value. This includes increasing crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030, boosting gas production to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion by 2030, and expanding NNPC’s refining capacity to 200,000 bpd by 2027 and 500,000 bpd by 2030. The administration also aims to attract $30 billion in oil investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030, building on the $17 billion secured in 2024.
Ahmadu Musa Kida, the new Chairman, is a Borno-born engineer and former Deputy Managing Director of Total Nigeria. He also has a background in basketball, having served as the ex-president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF). Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the newly appointed GCEO, hails from Kwara State and was previously the Executive Vice President of Renaissance Africa Energy, where he led a $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell’s Nigerian assets. He brings extensive experience from Elf and Shell, having worked across Europe and the Middle East.
President Tinubu expressed gratitude to the outgoing board for their contributions, particularly their efforts in reviving the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which have resumed production after years of dormancy. Analysts view this leadership change as part of Tinubu’s broader reforms in the oil sector, following last year’s removal of fuel subsidies and the promotion of private refinery investments. With the new team established, there are high expectations for enhanced transparency, efficiency, and profitability within Nigeria’s state oil enterprise.
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The minority caucus in the house of representatives has condemned the killing of 16 Kano-bound hunters in Edo state.
On Thursday, a mob in the Uromi area of Edo killed 16 hunters of northern descent who were travelling from Elele, Rivers state.
The travellers were attacked and lynched after some vigilance group members raised the alarm on suspicion that they were kidnappers.
The Edo state government said 14 suspects arrested in connection with the killing would be transferred to Abuja for further interrogation.
During a visit to some of the families of the victims at Bankure LGA in Kano, Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo, assured that justice would be served.
In a statement issued on Monday, the minority caucus described the killing of the hunters as “barbaric”.
“We find such brutal killings of innocent Nigerians in any part of the country by lawless mobs very reprehensible, and if allowed to fester without being put in check by responsible organs of the federal government, such actions could threaten the peace and unity of the country,” the statement reads.
The lawmakers asked Nigerians never to resort to jungle attacks on fellow citizens but to always report any concerns to security agencies.
“We are a nation under the rule of laws, and our law enforcement agencies are always available to partner with every Nigerian to assuage their concerns,” the caucus said.
While noting that the incident is “already setting emotions on edge” in parts of the country, the legislators urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the security agencies investigate this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Also, adequate compensation should be paid to the affected families,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers implored Nigerians to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding and allow the federal and state governments to investigate the matter and ensure justice is served.
The statement was signed by Kingsley Chinda, minority leader; Ali Isa, minority whip; and Aliyu Madaki, deputy minority leader.