Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) members are considering bidding for prime oil blocks recently put up for sale. PETAN, an association representing Nigerian Indigenous Technical Oilfield Service Companies, expressed interest in acquiring 12 onshore and seven deep offshore blocks currently available for bidding. Chairman of PETAN, Engr. Wole Ogunsanya, affirmed this interest, stating, “We are trying to study the available fields to determine if viable in scale for our members.” The blocks in question include Petroleum Prospecting Leases (PPLs) 300, 301, 3008, 3009, 2000, 2001, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, and Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 51 for onshore exploration,…
Author: Omolemi Eboisetale
The Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) has taken decisive action in response to the alarming situation of 4,817 export containers trapped at the Lagos port, summoning a stakeholders meeting to address the pressing issue. This development comes after persistent complaints from shippers and their agents regarding the prolonged detention of export containers at the port. During a recent working visit to the terminal, the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Shippers Council, Pius Akutah, expressed deep concern over the substantial delays experienced by export cargo, particularly amidst the federal government’s efforts to diversify the economy. APM Terminal, the facility responsible for handling these…
The United Kingdom (UK) has through Dr. Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, revealed in an exclusive interview with Newsmen on Sunday in Abuja that only Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) students would be eligible to bring dependents into the country. The policy alteration, enacted earlier this year, marks a departure from previous practices aimed at curbing the influx of foreign students accompanied by dependents. Dr. Montgomery emphasized that the surge in dependents was exerting unsustainable pressure on UK universities, particularly in terms of accommodation, access to medical services, and schooling. While discussing the rationale behind the policy change,…
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi state has spoken out against what he perceives as a concerted effort to undermine his administration’s developmental initiatives. Addressing attendees at the Uhola Festival and Agricultural Show in Zuru Local Government Area, Governor Idris expressed determination to stay focused on achieving his targeted goals despite the challenges. During his speech, Governor Idris highlighted a specific instance of sabotage regarding the rehabilitation of the KoKo-Dabai road. He revealed that despite submitting a request for the urgent repair of the deteriorating road, the submission was altered without his consent. This alteration redirected attention and resources to a…
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has taken legal action against Nigerian governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, for their alleged failure to account for a sum of N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion in loans obtained by their respective states and the FCT. The lawsuit, filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, follows a recent disclosure by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, revealing the dire financial situation left by the previous administration, including a debt of $587 million and N85 billion, making it challenging for the state to meet its financial…
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday condemned an attack on one of his party’s European Parliament deputies as a “threat” to democracy after authorities said a political motive was suspected. Police said four unknown attackers beat up Matthias Ecke, an MEP for the Social Democratic Party (SPD), as he put up EU election posters in the eastern city of Dresden on Friday night. Ecke, 41, was “seriously injured” and required an operation after the attack, his party said. Police confirmed he needed hospital treatment. “Democracy is threatened by this kind of act,” Scholz told a congress of European socialist parties…
The death toll from floods and mudslides triggered by torrential storms in southern Brazil has climbed to 58 people, with the major city of Porto Alegre particularly hard-hit, the country’s civil defense agency said Saturday. The deaths included two people who died in an explosion at a flooded gas station in Porto Alegre where rescue crews were attempting to refuel, said an AFP journalist who witnessed the blast. Overall, raging flood waters have left 74 people injured and another 67 missing, the civil defense agency said. Fast-rising water levels in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were straining dams…
The President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Samuel Agbeluyi, has articulated optimism regarding Nigeria’s potential to cultivate a robust cadre of tax professionals in the coming years. Speaking at the All Secondary Schools Tax event in Benin, Edo State, Agbeluyi emphasized the significance of taxation and the vast opportunities it presents for students aspiring to pursue careers in this field. Agbeluyi highlighted the pivotal role of taxation, asserting that it not only offers avenues for employment but also fosters expertise that can contribute significantly to the nation’s economic landscape. He underscored that proficient tax professionals could…
Osun State University Teaching Hospital (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, has issued a stern ultimatum for the retrieval of unclaimed corpses. The hospital management declared that the mortuary is congested with unclaimed bodies, prompting the need for immediate action. According to a statement released by the hospital’s management, relatives of deceased individuals who have bodies stored in the hospital’s mortuary between January 2019 and June 2023 are urged to come forward within 14 days to claim them. Failure to do so will result in the hospital resorting to mass burial as a measure to decongest the facility. “The management of UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital,…
The Lagos State Government has issued a stern 48-hour ultimatum to illegal squatters occupying the abandoned Ikoyi Towers on Lagos Island to vacate the premises immediately. The directive was issued by Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, during an inspection of various sites, including the Ikoyi Towers, located behind the abandoned Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi. Comprising three blocks of 12 floors each, tagged A, B, and C, the Ikoyi Towers have become a focal point for illegal occupation, prompting the state government’s intervention. Wahab emphasized the urgent need for evacuation, citing concerns over environmental…
In the case of the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, three Indian nationals have been arrested and charged. The 45-year-old Nijjar was fatally shot by masked gunmen last June in a busy car park in a Vancouver suburb, igniting a major diplomatic dispute between Canada and India. The arrested suspects, identified as 22-year-old Karan Brar, 22-year-old Kamal Preet Singh, and 28-year-old Karan Preet Singh, were apprehended in Edmonton, Alberta, where they had been residing. They face charges of first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder, as per court records. Superintendent Mandeep Mooker…
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State expressed his gratitude towards journalists in the state for their significant contribution to fostering a strong relationship with his administration since its inception. In a solidarity message commemorating World Press Freedom Day, Governor Eno stated the Important role of the media in promoting transparency and accountability. Through a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ekerete Udoh, Governor Eno acknowledged the media’s commitment to upholding the principles of journalism by providing constructive criticism and highlighting issues pertinent to the public good. He commended journalists for their dedication to the ARISE…