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Port Harcourt Refinery Replies Falana On Completion Date

By
bvichannel1
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In a letter addressed to Falana on Thursday, Maire Tecnimont’s legal representative, Muyiwa Ogungbenro, a partner at Olajide Oyewole LLP, stated that the company is currently reviewing the request.

The Managing Director of Maire Tecnimont S.P.A, the company awarded a $1.5 billion contract by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Port Harcourt Refinery has formally responded to human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN.

Falana had filed an official request under the Nigerian Freedom of Information Act, seeking clarity on the completion date of the much-delayed refinery overhaul.

In a letter addressed to Falana on Thursday, Maire Tecnimont’s legal representative, Muyiwa Ogungbenro, a partner at Olajide Oyewole LLP, stated that the company is currently reviewing the request.

Ogungbenro assured that a detailed response would be provided no later than October 2, 2024.

The rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries has been a subject of public concern, with repeated delays fueling frustration over the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products despite possessing domestic refining capacity.

The letter read, “We are counsel to Maire Tecnimont SPA, and we have our client’s instruction to let you know that they have received your letters dated 17 and 24 September 2024 requesting for information on the contract between our client and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd.

“Our client is considering your letters and they intend to get back to you on or before 2 October 2024.”

Earlier on Monday, our Reporter reported that Falana officially requested information regarding the completion date for the long-overdue rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries.

In a letter addressed to the Managing Director of Maire Tecnimont S.P.A., the company handling the project, Falana referenced the $1.5 billion contract awarded by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the overhaul of the refineries.

The request, made under the Nigerian Freedom of Information Act, seeks clarity on the timeline for the long-awaited refinery overhaul.

Falana, who chairs the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), an influential NGO in Nigeria, expressed the urgency of obtaining transparency on the progress of the rehabilitation project.

In his letter, dated September 17, 2024, Falana stated, “I have confirmed that the Federal Government of Nigeria awarded the contracts for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries to your reputable company for the sum of US$1.5bn.”

Falana explained that in line with the terms of the contract which was awarded sometime in April 2021, the project is expected to be completed in three phases of 18, 24 and 44 months.

He said, “It has therefore become necessary to request the Management of your company to furnish me with information on the completion dates of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries.

“As this request is made under the Freedom of Information Act applicable in Nigeria, you have seven days within which to respond to this letter.”

“Notwithstanding that Saipem is a private company, it is bound by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act because it has utilised huge public funds to execute the rehabilitation contract.

“In the case of Coscharis Motors Ltd. v. The E.I.E Project Ltd/GTE & Anor. (2022) CLRN 63, the Court of Appeal held that a “private body or company would be as accountable as a public institution or body under the Act if it has provided any form of public services, or performed any form of public function or utilized public funds.

“In view of the foregoing, you are advised to accede to our request in order to assure the Nigerian people that the contract sum of $1.5 billion has been judiciously utilised for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refineries.

“Therefore, if you fail to accede to my request, I will not hesitate to approach the Federal High Court for legal redress.”

Source : Sahara Reporter

Support Sane People Into Leadership Positions – Anaenugwu

By
bvichannel1
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Holding people in the frontline accountable is key to building a modern society .Again ,having sane people in Leadership position encourages egalitarian and productive society. They work hand in hand .

Majority of us see Tinubu and APC Government as most insensitive towards the overall well-being of indigenous people living in Nigeria. With the right system,Nigeria has surplus material and human resources to build a modern society where majority of the people will feel the impact of modernity .

Ndubuisi Anaenugwu GGM Admin

Gov Otti To Announce His Welfare Packages On October 2

By
bvichannel1
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The Abia government announced that it will begin implementing the new minimum wage in October.

Commissioner for Information Okey Kanu shared this update on Tuesday during a briefing about the recent State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Umuahia.

“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Abia government will initiate the payment of the minimum wage to its workers starting in October. This initiative will enhance the welfare of Abia workers and fulfill Governor Alex Otti’s promise to the citizens,” he stated.

Mr. Kanu also noted that the minimum wage payments would apply to all categories of workers.

Additionally, he revealed that the state government plans to construct court halls in all 17 local government areas (LGAs) of Abia, a project aimed at improving the timely delivery of justice in the state.

The commissioner announced that on October 2, the governor will commission the pilot road under the RAMP project in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, a road that connects Isiala Ngwa South and Obingwa LGAs

Furthermore, Mr. Kanu mentioned that the governor will soon host members of Nigeria’s Paralympic team from Abia, who distinguished themselves at the last Paralympics. Among those to be honored are gold medalist Onyinyechi Mark and silver medalist Esther Nwogu.

He also highlighted that the governor’s wife, Priscilla Otti, would kick off the enrollment of children, women, and elderly individuals into the Abia State Health Insurance Scheme on Wednesday. This event will take place in Ugwunagbo LGA, alongside a medical outreach for the community.

Just In: Justice Nyako Withdraws from Nnamdi Kanu’s Case

By
Queen Madu
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Justice Binta Nyako of the the Federal High Court in Abuja has withdrawn from the treason trial of the self acclaimed leader of the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Justice Nyako announced her withdrawal on Tuesday shortly after Kanu demanded that the judge recuse herself from his trial.

At the mention of the case on Tuesday, Kanu’s lawyer, Alloy Ejimakor urged the court to postpone the commencement of trial, claiming that his client was denied the opportunity to prepare his defence.

But, before Ejimakor could conclude his submission , Kanu rose from where he sat in a dock and told his lawyer to sit down.

Kanu said: “Sit down! I say you should sit down,” adding “my lord, I have no confidence in this court any more and I ask you to recuse yourself because you did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.

(Journalist101)

Exchange Rate: Naira Appreciate Against Dollar Today

By
Queen Madu
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The value of the naira has appreciated again against the United States dollar in the official foreign exchange market. According to data from FMDQ securities, the naira exchange rate against the dollar closed at N1,541.52/$.

The latest exchange rate is N2.70 or 0.16% depreciation compared with Wednesday’s closing rate of N1,544.02/$1.

The good performance of the naira for the second straight trading day happened as forex supply increased on Friday by 117.8% or $103.06 million to $190.57 million from the $87.51 million recorded a day earlier.

(legit)

Open Letter To Mr Governor – Prof Chukwuma Soludo On Development Levy

By
bvichannel1
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This open letter has become necessary in view of the current economic situation in the Country as well as the need to encourage productivity. I had expected Mr Governor to automate all the land assets in the major cities in the State within 24 Months of his administration .This is in line with Solution manifesto which promised Ndi Anambra that processing of title document(s) will be done within 72 hours .

I have been reliably informed that ministry of land is making arrangements to digitalize land assets in the State,however ,such arrangement is still on the drawing board and has not seen the light of the day .

The purpose of this open letter is to draw the attention of Mr Governor to what has been going on in various communities in the name of development levy. In Nkpor for instance, youths and community leaders demand as high as N800,000 as development levy before property owners could be allowed to develop on their legally acquired properties. In Nkwelle Ezunaka, developers pay higher including all forms of levies . In Awka , youths have set a parallel government with different command structures extorting money from innocent property owners . In Nnewi and Oba axis , the story is the same . Few months ago ,a friend of mine wanted to fence his property in Isiagu , some youths stopped his site Engineers from mixing cement until development levy of N300,000 is paid . Mgbakwu and Okpuno are not left out in the development levy collections ! This development levy has become a tradition in all the communities in the State that even the Army and Police recognize it as a legitimate levy ,alas , nobody has seen where such money is utilized for any known purpose like construction of roads and drainage system!

Mr Governor , i have always believed that you would reform the institutions in Anambra State the very way you reformed the Nigeria financial market . In 21st century , technology has made very complex workload become easier.With technology ,Land management has become a major source of Government revenue earnings as well as avenue to build public wealth and increase people purchasing power. Land administration is not in exclusive list like crude oil and gas , it is under the command of Mr Governor.

Looking around us , the major source of income in most communities is land transactions,that many people can kill in order to control the ”oil business ‘ called land speculation ‘ .Your Government can do better by streamlining the land transactions such that it will encourage investment and increase Government revenue as well as creating quality jobs for youths and community leaders . A working formula could be worked out such that all the stakeholders will be smiling to the banks.

Note that lack of economic opportunities and income inequalities could be among others, reason why youths and community leaders see  land development levy as their legitimate rights .

Mr Governor , the confusion in land transactions within the State calls for your urgent attention and intervention. It is a complex situation but only your office can resolve the situation and this could be done by working closely with the hardworking Commissioner of Land .

Our youths need to be shown how to earn legitimate income while enforcing the law on rural and urban planning . I still believe that our people are the best but they need visionary leadership.

Thank you.

Anaenugwu Ndubuisi
Ambassador General,Good Governance Ministry (GGM)

Why Some Persons Falsified Documents, Declared 54-yr-old Widow Dead – Ônurube Explains In A Petition To IGP

By
Joseph Albert
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…fingers officers at police zones 9 Umuahia, 13 Ukpo

Ônurube, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged deprivation of Mrs. Perpetua Nwagbo’s right to inheritance, the perpetuation of harmful widowhood practices, and fundamental rights abuse by the Federal Investigation Department (FID) Abuja and State Investigation Department (SID) units of the Nigerian Police, as well as one Dr Charles Nzeh.

The group, based in the five Southeast states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo, and with special focus on gender-based violence, in the petition signed by the Convener, Marjorie Ngozi Ezihe, among other things, called on the IGP to engage actions to bring to justice all those in the corridor of justice who have enabled the continued marginalization, traumatization and sustained abuse of the vulnerable widow, as well as members of her extended family.

The group also wants the IGP to stop the ongoing harassment of Mrs. Nwagbo and her husband’s family by persons using the police in zones 9 Umuahia and 13 Ukpo.

It was gathered from the petition that Mrs. Nwagbo, from Umunachi village of Osuama autonomous community in Isiala Mbano Local Government area of Imo State, was allegedly abducted from her shop in the state on Friday, September 13th, 2024, by men of the Police from the SID.

Without definite unit information, the NGO reached out to the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, who assisted in locating the widow.

The petition to the IGP also explained that when Mrs Nwagbo was later found seated in a police facility in Imo, she looked pale, mute and withdrawn, and that a man seated beside her who introduced himself as Dr. Charles Nzeh persisted in responding to questions posed at Perpetua on why she was brought to the police facility.

According to the NGO, the man, Dr Nzeh, claimed to represent “a brother,” Obiora Ezeakabekwe, who is the second respondent in a case instituted by the widow and her late husband’s family. Dr. Nzeh alleged Mrs Nwagbo’s culpability in criminal infractions against Obiora Ezeakabekwe, the reason she was wanted in Onitsha as ordered by the Abuja office of the FID.

Though they were said to have expressed willingness to stop proceedings against the widow and pay her 10 million naira for Livelihood support if she renounces support for legal action and ownership of her late husband’s property, the NGO petition to the IGP further alleged that to forcibly take over the widow’s late husband’s landed property situated at Trans-Nkisi Onitsha, the said Dr. Nzeh and others had falsified documents; declaring Mrs. Nwagbo dead, and presenting themselves as executors of the estate of her late husband, Clement, who died in 2002.

Meanwhile, a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State, has granted bail to the sum of five hundred thousand naira to the 54-year-old widow and mother of a girl child, who is currently facing trial for allegedly conspiring with others to break into a building with the intent to commit a felony, among other 5-count charges.

With the Inspector General of Police as complainant, Mrs Nwagbo, alongside her brother-in-law, Michael Nwagbo, aged 45, and others now at large, are accused of conspiring among themselves sometime in 2020 at Onitsha.

Among other charges brought against the defendants were that they criminally and unlawfully broke into the fence housing Plot No 288 Trans-Nkisi Layout Onitsha said to be the property of one Mr. Obiora Ezeakabekwe, and chased away his workers who were working on the land and thereby committed an offense punishable under section 381 of the Criminal Code Law CAP 36 Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.

The defendants are also accused of giving false information to the police by denying knowledge of the existence of the said plot of land and their involvement in any transaction relating to the land, an offense punishable under section 154(1) of the Criminal Gode Law, CAP 36 Revised Laws of Anambra State 1991.

Addressing journalists after the court proceedings presided over by Justice U.B Okoye granted the defendants bail and adjourned the case to 22nd October for the continuation of trial, an Owerri-based lawyer and leader of the defense team, Sylvia Iwejor, said their widow client was arrested and detained on trumped-up charges, adding that the bail conditions for her and co-defendant were very severe.

On her part, the Convener of Ônurube, Ezihe, explained that without a frantic search at police facilities that led to her being found in police custody in Imo, Mrs Nwagbo would have been brought to the Onitsha court in kangaroo style for continued detention.

Election Fever : Can The Appointment Of Dr Law Mefor Save Soludo Poor Public Rating?

By
bvichannel1
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In the past few weeks, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has been reorganizing his media team. This commenced after Sir Paul Chukwuma announced members of his campaign team made up of experienced and credible hands who are familiar with Anambra State and its politics.

Apparently rattled by this development, Governor Soludo responded starting by appointing Mr. Chuka Nnabuife as Managing Director of the Civic and Social Reformation Office.

Nnabuife who was the Managing Director of Anambra Newspaper and Printing Corporation, which Soludo has shut down, was initially interviewed for the position more than six months ago.

Coincidentally, his appointment, it would appear, came as part of Soludo’s response to Sir Paul Chukwuma, who is now the new face of strategic opposition politics in Anambra State.

Last week, the governor announced the sack of the Managing Director of Anambra Broadcasting Service – ABS, Chido Obidiegwu, and immediately replaced him with Mr. Molokwu. Then on Tuesday, Soludo’s Commissioner for Information Paul Nwosu, left the government and on that same day, the governor sent Dr. Law Mefor as his new nominee for the position of Commissioner for Information in Anambra State, to the Anambra State House of Assembly. The same day, he was screened and confirmed and sworn in immediately as the new Anambra State Commissioner for Information. During the screening at the plenary presided over by Rt. Hon. Chukwuma Okoye, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Dr. Mefor was required to respond to questions from honourable members. Rt. Hon. Okoye took time to recognize and call members to ask their questions. Hon. Noble Igwe, Hon. Golden Ilo, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme, the Majority Leader, Hon. Tony Muobike, Hon. Ndubuisi Ngobili, and Hon. Augustine Ike, asked questions to which Dr. Mefor duly answered.

Two things stood out from his responses; one is that Dr. Law Mefor is fully aware that his appointment carries significant political weight and an unimaginable demand on him to deliver on that mandate.

Unsurprisingly, Dr. Mefor kept emphasizing that he would rely on political communication and also work with Chuka Nnabuife’s agency, to manage the people’s perception. The second thing that stood out when responding to the inquiry about how he intends to get the money to fund his political communication, he said he would rely on his goodwill and longstanding contacts.

This may suggest that Dr. Law Mefor is already familiar with the problem funding has created for the media in Soludo’s government.

As an experienced media personality, Dr. Mefor might have done his bits if he started the journey with Governor Soludo. But right now, with the level of disconnection between the current government in Anambra State and the people, the rising insecurity, the lack of human face which the government is often accused of, and the more traditional accusation of lack of listening ability by the government; all these have now made the job far more uneasy. Although Dr, Mefor is grounded in media practice and may better manage press men and women in Anambra State, the challenge now is that he has inherited a neglected media community and the benefits will naturally rub off. He has inherited goodwill that has now dried up and a relationship that has turned sore.

For that and many more reasons, there is only a slim chance for him to make a good impression and quickly win the support he needs to succeed. With about a year to the next governorship election, Mefor has not exactly joined the government in the best of times. However, at least, Anambra State now has a Commissioner for Information who will answer his phone calls and respond to messages from journalists. But it is not enough.

The reality is that it is not going to be an easy ride. Whatever it’s worth, what Dr. Law Mefor plans to do differently might not align with the expectations of his employer. Considering that Prof. Soludo is now almost anxious about his public perception, his expectations are certainly high. At some point, if Dr. Mefor falls into work pressure as the stake becomes higher, political dynamics might change with intense speed and cause a sweep. This is predictable. For now, the only person who can make a difference in Governor Soludo’s public perception is Governor Soludo himself.

Written by Ebuka Onyekwelu

Source: Pilot News

GGM endorses appointment of Dr Law Mefor.

By
bvichannel1
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Good Governance ministry would like to convey our warmest congratulations to Dr Law Mefor ( Ichie Anueyiagu) on his appointment as the Commissioner for information in the Government of Anambra State.

Your appointment comes at this auspicious moment where the challenges of communicating Government information is at its lowest ebb and when Citizen’s awareness about government activities is much needed more than ever before.

Therefore,we have the conviction that you posses the confidence, clout and the track record to navigate the emerging complexities of managing information in meeting and exceeding expectations especially in the current globalization of things.

Be assured of our support and sincere wishes in carrying out your duties in furtherance of progress and prosperity of Ndi Anambra.

Signed

Henry Ebubeogu
Spokesperson,GGM.
Email: ggovernanceministry@gmail.com

BREAKING: DSS Arrests Sowore at Airport

By
bvichannel1
-

The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested Omoyele Sowore, the convener of the #RevolutionNow Movement, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

Sowore was taken into custody immediately upon his arrival in Nigeria on Sunday.

Earlier that day,our Reporter reported that members of the Take It Back Movement and other activists gathered at the airport to await Sowore’s return.

He had been in the United States with his family. His flight departed from Washington Dulles International Airport at 6:14 AM EDT and arrived in Lagos at approximately 9:43 AM WAT.

On September 12, 2024, SaharaReporters exclusively revealed that a DSS memo ordering Sowore’s arrest upon his arrival had leaked.

In response, Sowore criticized the DSS for issuing the arrest directive, stating that he intended to return to Nigeria “very soon.”

In a post on his X account on Thursday, Sowore remarked, “The current administration, led by Tinubu, has shown an alarming inability to effectively track and apprehend terrorism suspects, bandits, and kidnappers, while the @officialEFCC has yet to arrest former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

“Meanwhile, the lawless @OfficialDSSNG has added my name to their ‘watchlist’ for arrest upon my arrival in Nigeria.”

He emphasized, “It is crucial to acknowledge that Nigeria needs salvation, and our people require liberation, which will require considerable effort. I plan to return home shortly, I mean very soon.”

The arrest directive, issued by the newly appointed DSS Director General, Adeola Ajayi, was linked to Sowore’s involvement in the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests.

[SAHARA REPORTERS]

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