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Refinery investment: Lokpobiri reconciles Dangote, NNPC Ltd., others

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8 months ago

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Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), has convened a high-level meeting with key stakeholders in the oil and sector to resolve issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.

This is contained in a statement by  Nneamaka Okafor. the Special Adviser to the minister on Media and Communications.

The Meeting which held on Monday in Abuja had in attendance Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman/ CEO, Dangote Group and Mr Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Others are Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).

It will be recalled that recent face-off in the industry saw the leadership of the Dangote Group, NMDPRA and NNPC Ltd. in a disagreement over some pertinent issues.

Dangote had declared that the NNPC Ltd. no longer own a 20 per cent stake in its refinery, stressing that the Nigerian oil company now owns only 7.2 per cent of the refinery due to its failure to pay the balance of their shares, which was due in June.

The NNPC Ltd. however, said the decision to cap its equity participation at the paid-up sum was made and communicated to Dangote Refinery several months ago.

The NMDPRA was also at loggerheads with Dangote over issues bordering on licenses, which the Authority said the Dangote refinery was at its pre-commissioning stage while its diesel below international standard.

Dangote, however, refuted the NMDPRA stand on the issue.

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Dangote also accused the International Oil Companies (IOCs) of frustrating its refinery operations by selling crude oil to it through their foreign trading arms offering cargoes at two to four dollars per barrel, above NUPRC official price.

On this background, the minister convened the meeting to find a lasting solution to the current impasse affecting the Dangote Refinery, with all parties demonstrating commitment to collaborative and proactive problem-solving.

Lokpobiri emphasised the importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders.

This, he said would ensure the success and optimal performance of the oil and gas sector, which he described as pivotal for Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security.

The stakeholders expressed their gratitude to the minister for his exemplary leadership and timely intervention in facilitating the dialogue.

The meeting marked a significant step towards resolving the challenges and underscores the minister’s dedication to foster a conducive environment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

The coming on stream of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery with a refining capacity of 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2023, gave impetus to the country’s oil sector as it would ensure that Nigeria was not reliant on fuel from overseas. (NAN

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Man Stabbed Neighbour Over Electricity Bill

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11 hours ago

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March 13, 2025

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ASharia Court in Kano State on Wednesday ordered a 29-year-old man, Abduljabar Nura, to be remanded in a corrections centre for stabbing his neighbour over an electricity bill.

The police charged Mr Nura, who lives in Fagge Quarters in Kano, with causing grievous hurt.

When the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded guilty to the offence.

The judge, Umar Lawal-Abubakar, ordered that the defendant should be remanded in the Goron Dutse Correctional Centre in Kano until April 15 for sentencing.

The prosecution counsel, Zahradeen Abubakar, told the court that Haruna Kasim, the complainant, reported the matter at the Fagge police station on February 28.

He alleged that the defendant and Mr Kasim had an altercation over an electricity bill.

The police said that the defendant stabbed the complainant with a pair of scissors on his back.

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FG converts 750km Sokoto-Zaria road project to concrete pavement — Umahi

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11 hours ago

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March 13, 2025

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The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, said the Federal Government has converted the reconstruction of the 750km Sokoto-Gusau-Funtua-Zaria Road project to concrete pavement for greater impacts.

Umahi disclosed this during an inspection tour to the ongoing road project in Dange-Shuni Local Government Atea of Sokoto State on Wednesday.

He stated that the present government recognised that many constructed Nigerian roads lasted for below 15 years while the concrete road innovation was aimed at ensuring more durability of roads across the country.

The minister explained that President Bola Tinubu deserved people’s support ahead of the 2027 General Elections, adding, “because of his commitment on executing legacy projects that target at maximum impact to the people’s lives at all levels.”

He emphasised that Tunibu was executing a 47-year-old dream of former President Shehu Shagari, which was 1,068 klm Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project which had reached an appreciable stage.

Umahi reminded the contractors and officials handling the project that complete maintenance of the existing road with asphalt was instructed while the concrete work is ongoing in the other side.

” This was the decision reached based on President Tinubu’s mission of reducing the hardships faced by Nigerians and ensure that roads are motorable at all times, ” Umahi said.

According to him, the Minister of State Works, Permanent Secretary and other ministry’s officials would by next week also inspect ongoing road projects from Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna and Kano States to ensure quality and seamless projects.

In his remark, the Minister of State, Alhaji Bello Goronyo, described the project as a commercial booster and life-saving on the citizens, adding that the road project would surely enhance security and social developments.

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The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Alhaji Abdullahi Yakasai, said Tinubu was passionate toward ensuring massive infrastructural development in the region.

Yakasai said that security challenges had drastically reduce due to the president’s efforts and urged Nigerians to support him for his success and consideration for improve people wellbeing.

He also observed that the essence of leadership was to bring development to the people, adding that the president had brought uncountable developments to the people of the country.

Earlier, the Sokoto State Deputy, Gov. Alhaji Idris Gobir, thanked the ministers for the visit, describing the tour along with the project as a clear testimony of Tinubu’s concern to the people of the state.

Gobir reassured that the payment of compensation to the affected communities and structures would soon be completed to ensure hitch-free and hasten the project’s execution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Rep. Al-Mustapha Ibrahim (APC-Sokoto) member representing Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency and the contractor commended federal and state governments for the commitment on the project. (NAN)

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Prisoners on death row rise by 98 in 6 months- NCoS Acting C-G

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11 hours ago

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March 13, 2025

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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), on Wednesday, said that the number of prisoners on death row had risen from 3,590 in September 2024 to 3,688 in March 2025.

This represents a 2.73 per cent increase or addition of 98 prisoners within six months.

The Acting Controller-General of NCoS, Mr Sylvester Nwakuche, gave the figure when he appeared for screening before the Senate Committee on Interior, chaired by Sen. Adams Oshiomhole.

The NCoS also sought strategic collaboration with the Nigeria Police, Department of State Services (DSS); Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to speed up the wheel of justice in the country.

Nwakuche said that the major challenge facing the correctional service in the country was that of inmates currently awaiting trials.

“That is our major headache we are trying to address on a daily basis,” he said.

The acting comptroller-general pledged to collaborate with other security agencies more strategically to ensure that the issues of awaiting trials inmates were permanently resolved to decongest the country’s prisons .

“This is very important for any establishment to forge ahead. An establishment like correctional centres cannot do anything without collaboration.

“We are the recipient of the products of all the prosecuting agencies,” the acting comptroller-general said.

In his remarks, Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, said the committee would submit its report based on the performance of the Acting Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). (NAN)

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