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Protest: We are ready for dialogue – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has called on the people protesting against hunger and hardship to come for dialogue.
Wike made the call while handing over Staff of Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, in Abuja on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some Nigerians in different parts of the country have begun a 10-day protest from Aug. 1, to draw the attention of the current administration to address hunger, hardship and bad governance in the country.
He commended protesters who refused to be violent and urged them to continue to remain peaceful, noting that it was better to dialogue and iron out issues with the government.
“I want you to continue with that peace process, and he who makes peace, will at the end of the day, enjoy the dividend of peace.
“I want to commend you and urge you to still talk to our people, that we are still ready to talk to them, dialogue with them and iron out the grey areas.
“We’ll also brief them on certain things they do not know so that they will be well informed to make informed decisions,” he said.
He added that “Abuja is the centre of unity; Abuja is for everybody. If we lose Abuja, we have lost Nigeria.
“That is why we have always said, let us work together. There is nothing we can’t achieve under the current administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Give him time and a lot of things will change.”
Speaking to the coronated chiefs, the minister said that traditional rulers have a lot of roles to play, adding that they were the closest to the grassroots and interphase more with the people.
He said: “You are the one who know what the people feel at home; you are the one who will tell us whether government is making any impact or not.
“You will convey to your subjects what government is doing and what government is about to do; you are the one to sell government policies and programmes to your people.
“If you convey a wrong message, that is what the people will accept; if you convey the right message that is what the people will accept. So, you play a very pivotal role.”
Wike added that their role was no longer to just sit at home, but to make sure they maintain peace in their domain and ensure there was security.
He also said that the traditional rulers were expected to draw the attention of government to any issue that requires government response for the government to act.
He urged the chiefs to take their responsibilities very seriously and assured them that the government would do all it can to provide what they would need to work for their people.
“If you want the government to do something it is not by going to the church, to the mosque, reach us and tell us what you want, and we will dialogue and make sure those things you want are provided,” he said.
Also, FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, commended the traditional rulers for their unwavering leadership and dedication to rural communities.
“The presentation of the staff of office is a testament to your esteemed roles and the respect you command. We pray that you will continue to lead with wisdom and integrity,” she said.
Also speaking, Mr Bitrus Garki, Mandate Secretary, Area Council Secretariat, FCT Administration, urged the chiefs to keep their respective chiefdoms united.
Garki identified the coronated chiefs as Joseph Danfulani as Sa’Karuyi of Karu, Mr Luka Nizassanas as Esu of Kwali, Alhaji Abubakar Sani as Sarki of Pai and Alhaji Aliyu Ndatsu as Etsu of Yaba.
Sakaruyi of Karu is a second-class Chief in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Esu of Kwali, a second-class Chief in Kwali Area Council, Sarkin Pai, a third-class Chief of Pai Chiefdom, also in Kwali Area Council, while Etsu of Yaba is a third-class Chief in Abaji Area Council. (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.