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LANDLADY’S DAUGHTER BEAT MALE TENANT TO DEATH
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Ms Tina Essi, f, for the alleged murder of 49 year old Christian Akparie of No 26 Orijamogun Street, Oreyo, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Police preliminary investigation revealed that on 31st January 2021, an argument, over the payment of Nepa Bill, ensued between the Landladys daughter, Ms Tina Essi and the deceased, both of the same address, which led to a fight.
After the fight, the deceased had continually suffered severe pains but unfortunately, on Saturday 6th February 2021 at about 7am while the deceased was being rushed to the General Hospital, Ikorodu, he gave up the ghost.
The police operatives attached to Ikorodu Division of the command were contacted and arrested the suspect immediately. The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Departmet, SCIID, Pantifl for thorough investigation. The suspect is presently cooling her feet at the State CID, Panti, Yaba.
The Commissioner of Police Lagos State command CP Hakeem Odumosu has however urged the relatives of the deceased to remain calm as the command will do the needful to have justice done in the matter. The police boss also appealed to Lagosians to always manage their differences and conflicts with maturity and seek police intervention where necessary to avoid untimely deaths and running into troubles.
February 11, 2021
Today’s Major Nigerian Newspaper’s Cover Stories 11-February -2021
February 11, 2021
Fulani Herdsman Entered Soyinka’s Compound To Search For Missing Cow- police
The Police in Ogun State have reacted to a viral video claiming that Fulani herdsmen had invaded Professor Wole Soyinka’s house in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
In an attempt to set the record straight, the police said a young Fulani man, Awalu Muhammad, whose cow had got missing entered Soyinka’s vicinity in search of the animal.
“While the Fulani man was searching for the stray cow around Kemta estate where Prof Wole soyinka’s house is located, the Prof. himself, who was going out then saw the Fulani man with some of the cows and he came down to ask where the man was heading to with the cows. He there and then asked the fulani man to move the cattle away from the vicinity,” the police spokesman in Ogun, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said in a statement.
Oyeyemi said the DPO of Kemta division, who heard about the incident quickly moved to the scene with his patrol team.
It was said that the entire place was inspected by the DPO and it was established that it was just a case of stray cow, saying that nothing was damaged or tampered with.
“It was therefore a thing of surprise to see a video trending on social media that the respected Professor Wole soyinka’s house was invaded by Fulani herdersmen with the view to attack or kill him.
“The video is nothing but a calculated attempt by mischief makers to cause panic in the mind of people. There is nothing like invasion of Prof Wole soyinka’s house or any form of attack on his person,” he said.
February 11, 2021
Fuel Scarcity: IPMAN members block depots
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Wednesday disrupted loading of petroleum products at private depots in Apapa as well as Ibadan, Ejigbo and Mosimi depots belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
Our correspondent learnt that the marketers picketed the facilities to protest their inability to get products due to a new payment method introduced by the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC.
The Chairman, IPMAN, Ore Depot, Mr Shina Amoo, confirmed the development in an interview with our correspondent in Ibadan on Wednesday.
He said the members of the association blocked the depots with tankers to protest the new payment method.
Amoo said independent marketers were angry because the new payment method, called ‘PPMC Customer Express’, was foisted on them suddenly and the NNPC expected compliance immediately without considering the business interests of many members of the association.
He explained that with the new arrangement, major marketers and very few independent marketers with huge funds could pay for 200 trucks and load them while those who had paid for one or two trucks would be on queue for many months unattended to.
He said, “They must return to the old way of payment, which is also an online payment through Remita. IPMAN members held a meeting last night and decided to block loading depots in Ibadan, Ejigbo, Mosimi and private depots in Apapa.
“IPMAN members blocked the depots this morning with their trucks to protest the new payment method.”
According to Amoo, the picketing will continue until the PPMC reverts to the previous payment method.
He said, “The new payment requires various prerequisite documents like renewal of bulk purchase, renewal of licence and several other documents that are not readily available.
“Within few days of this new payment method, some northern big marketers have used the situation to shortchange independent marketers in the South-West. With this, fuel scarcity is imminent.
“PPMC Customer Express mode of payment was introduced without consideration for billions of naira worth of tickets which IPMAN members already tied down in NNPC system.”
Amoo said the new payment method was introduced by the PPMC on February 4, adding that since then, no independent marketer had been able to load.
The NNPC, which has been the sole importer of petrol into the country in recent years, is still being relied upon by marketers for the supply of the product despite the deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector.
Private oil marketing companies have continued to lament that their inability to access foreign exchange at the official rates has hampered efforts to resume petrol importation.
February 11, 2021
Real Reasons For Replacing BVN, Others With NIN – FG
The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, recently disclosed that the federal government has begun the process of replacing the Bank Verification Number (BVN) and other national database systems with the National Identity Number (NIN).
the real reasons behind this move.
Aside from BVN, there are other key data systems in Nigeria.
Some of these are the Drivers Licence, issued by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Tax Identification Number (TIN) and the International Passport Number.
Others include professional licences like medical practice licence, pharmacology, nursing licence, teachers’ registration licence and engineering licence, among others.
According to the minister, his office was leading the initiative.
And the key reason for the migration of all databases to NIN is the fact that NIN is backed by law.

He said there is the need to replace BVN with NIN because the BVN is a bank policy but NIN is a law.
Because it has been established by law, the strength of the law everywhere is higher than a policy made by an institution.
The BVN was a policy directive by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) that all customers of commercial banks must be identified through a verifiable number system.
Just like BVN and other data systems, there are limitations: you must be eligible to be captured in one or all these databases, but the NIN is not so, as long as you are a Nigerian or living in Nigeria.
February 11, 2021
Dangote Refinery Can pull Nigeria Out Of Economic Recession – IMF
The International Monetary Fund, IMF, the global financial watchdog, is projecting that Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery would provide an elixir for the country’s economy when it is completed and start production by 2022.
In its latest report on Nigeria’s economy, the Fund raised the hope that the start of production from the refinery, solely owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote could help Nigeria improve its Current Account balance.
It said Dangote Refinery has “the potential to catalyze more domestic crude oil production and boost GDP growth.”
“On the upside, the Dangote refinery, if commencing production in 2022 as planned, could meet the full demand for domestic consumption of refined petroleum products—which are almost all imported at present—thereby improving the CA balance.
“With crude oil for local refining not subject to the OPEC quota, the refinery also has the potential to catalyze more domestic crude oil production and boost GDP growth,” the IMF wrote in its Article IV report on Nigeria’s economy released on Monday.
Many experts have also projected that the refinery, which may cost Dangote about $15 billion to complete is capable of helping to save Nigeria huge foreign exchange in fuel importations.
The 650,000 capacity Dangote Refinery, is regarded as one of the world’s biggest oil refineries and could end the irony of Africa’s biggest oil producer importing estimated $7 billion of fuel yearly, and instead see it meeting its own needs and supplying neighboring nations.
Renaissance Capital in a report in 2018 projected that Dangote Refinery has the potential to revolutionize Nigeria’s economy, with its operations adding $13 billion, or 2.3 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Dangote Refinery, which is described as Nigeria’s largest-ever industrial project, boasts of a distillation column for separating crude into various fuels at different temperatures that is the largest of its kind in the world.
The 650,000 barrel-per-day refinery is just part of a $15 billion petrochemical complex that will also house a gas processor and the world’s biggest plant for ammonia and urea, which is used in making plastics and fertilizer.
Already, the Fertiliser plants is said to be ready and could be commissioned any time to add to the agricultural revolution not only in Nigeria but in some parts of Africa to boost the continent’s economy.
The optimism by the global financial watchdog on the potential of Dangote refinery is a victory to the resilient of Africa’s richest man’s contributions to the economic emancipation of Nigeria and the continent at large.
Dangote’s initial plan to enter the refining business was frustrated by government policy flip-flops when in 2007 he bought one of the country’s refineries under the privatisation programme of the then President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.
However, the dream was short-lived as the entire process of privatization was swiftly reversed by the successive government that came after Obasanjo.
Today, Dangote’s quest to play in the oil refining business is gradually coming to pass with the impending completion of the plants in the Lekki export free trade zone and the accolade from the global financial watchdog.
February 11, 2021
GOVERNOR LALONG MEETS AMB. MARTIN ADAMU JNR(photos)

Newly appointed Nigerian Ambassador to Cote d’Ivoire Martin Adamu, a career diplomat from Plateau State on Wednesday 10th February 2021 visited Governor Simon Bako Lalong at the new Government House, Little Rayfield Jos.

Ambassador Adamu told Governor Lalong that he was at the Government house to pay his respects to the Governor and appreciate the support of his administration and the people of Plateau State throughout his diplomatic journey which culminated in his appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He assured Governor Lalong that he was determined to represent Nigeria with all excellence and patriotism as he has over the years recieved the training for the task ahead.

Martin said although his primary assignment was to protect the interests of Nigeria and Nigerians in his country of assignment, he will do all within his power to also ensure that opportunities for investment and development are attracted to States including Plateau.

While wishing him well in his new assignment, Governor Lalong said the people of Plateau State were happy that he has been conscientious and diligent in his duties to have attained the zenith as Ambassador.
He expressed confidence that the Ambassador will succeed in his assignment amd bring pride to Nigeria and Plateau State just as his late father Gen. Martin Martin Adamu did during his military career.
He asked him to do all within his capacity to sell Nigeria and Plateau State to the world and assist in projecting the return of peace and stability to the State which is ready to receive investors and tourists from within and outside the nation.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State. 10th February 2021.
February 10, 2021
Presidents Buhari and Xi Jinping Exchange Letters On 50 Years Of Diplomatic Relations
Presidents Muhammadu Buhari and Xi Jinping of Nigeria and China respectively exchanged goodwill messages on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria-China relations on Tuesday February 10.
In the letter titled ‘Letter of Felicitations’ shared by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Monday, Buhari expressed satisfaction with the progress of support from China in the building of rail, road, power, defences, and many other areas.
Replying, President Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nigeria relations, and is ready to join efforts to take the opportunity of the anniversary to promote the traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation in all fields under the Belt and Road Initiative and within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation so as to bring benefits to wo countries two peoples.
“In recent years, the China-Nigeria strategic Partnership has enjoyed a good momentum of development, which effectively improved the well-being of two peoples. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, China and African countries including Nigeria have joined their hands in the fight against the pandemic, and showcased the brotherhood of China and Africa in weal and woe,” he wrote.
Earlier, President Buhari praised the cooperation between both countries in the fight against the COVID-29 outbreak.
“In recent years, Nigeria and China have also witnessed steady development of their strategic partnership. In the face of significant challenges faced by international community, the two sides are upholding a common position of preserving multilateralism, not interfering in other countries’ internal affairs and safeguarding common interest of developing countries,” he wrote.
“This year is vital for China-Nigeria relations. The FOCAC has become a model of mutually beneficial cooperation between Nigeria and China, as well as between Africa and China. Nigeria is ready to work with China to make the new session of FOCAC this year a success.”
Caption: Dignitaries at the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Nigeria-China diplomatic relations in Abuja on Tuesday February 9
February 10, 2021
Nigeria’s rep arrives in Cameroon to repatriate 9,800 Nigerian refugees
Nigeria’s representatives have arrived in Marwa, in Cameroon for the repatriation of 9,800 Nigerian refugees.
The 9,800 are those in the first phase of the repatriation from Cameroon out of 46,000 Nigerians taking refuge in Minawao camp in Central Africa country.
A statement on Wednesday by Spokesman for the Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum, Mallam Isa Gusau, said his boss had arrived Marwa in Cameroon alongside officials of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development towards the voluntary repatriation of 9,800 Nigerians of Borno origin, who are among the 46,000 Nigerians taking refuge
He said the 9,800 constitute the first batch of citizens who have shown willingness to be evacuated to resettlement houses built by the Borno State Government in Bama and Banki towns.
He disclosed that Zulum arrived in Cameroon on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday led the Nigerian delegation to a meeting on the tripartite (repatriation) agreement signed between Nigeria, Cameroon and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, which is to hold in Marwa in far north Cameroon, with Governor of Cameroon’s far north, Mijinyawa Bakare as the host.
He said before travelling to Cameroon, Zulum had had a series of meetings with Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, the federal commission, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Senator Basheer, and with relevant ambassadors with all meetings aimed at following all established procedures towards lawful repatriation.
Gusau said, “Zulum is in Cameroon alongside the Perm Sec Fed Min of Humanitarian Affairs, Malam Bashir Nura Alkali and the ministry’s humanitarian director, Ali Grema, some officials from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, the governor’s adviser on External and Liaison Services, Ambassador Adamu Abbas who is also a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) established for the implementation of the tripartite repatriation agreement; a member of House of Representatives representing Bama, Ngala, Kala-Balge federal constituency of Borno State, Zainab Gimba, chairperson of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, commissioner for local government and emirate affairs, Sugun Mai Mele, special adviser on projects monitoring and evaluation, Engr Abba Wakilbe and the governor’s principal secretary, Bar Mustapha Busuguma.
Today’s (Wednesday) meeting is in line with provisions of the tripartite agreement which has spelt out international best practices on humanitarian issues involving movements of persons between two or more countries as well as roles and limitations of all parties, and the protection of the rights of refugees who can only be repatriated at their own will.”
The majority of refugees at the Minawao camp are mostly from Borno State and have regularly appealed to Governor Babagana Zulum to spearhead their repatriation.
In September 2019, Zulum during his trip to the camp had promised the refugees that he would in response to their appeal work with stakeholders towards their successful repatriation and dignified resettlement.
February 10, 2021
Fed Govt To Crash Oil Production Cost To $10
The Federal Government yesterday launched the Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme (NUCOP) to cut down the cost of crude oil production to $10 per barrel.
The new programme is targeted at boosting industry collaboration and process enhancement, according to the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, at the ceremony in Abuja.
He said of all the nine priority areas given to the Ministry as its operational mandate, reduction of oil extraction cost remains pivotal.
The minister noted that the Ministry has since identified some initiatives to tackle the challenges stacking against lower production cost.
Sylva added that countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia record lower cost of crude production as opposed to Nigeria.
He noted that high cost would rob the country of its desire to attract investments and remain globally competitive.
The minister also said capital expenditure, operational cost, policy-related elements, weak collaboration, capacity and capability issues, facility reliability, single sourcing syndrome, high magnitude of crude loss, multiplicity of tariff, among others, were issues that needed to be tackled.
His words: “Members of the NUCOP are officials of the Petroleum Ministry, DPR, NCDMB, PETAN, NNPC, among others.
“They’ve found short and medium term solutions. Average total cost is now below $30/barrel for JV contract and less than $20 for PSC. We need to do more. Engagement should reach a consensus on cost reduction. We are making a case for shared services. Our target is 3mpd daily production and 40 billion barrels reserves.”
Sylva assured the gathering that the executive arm of government was on the same page with the legislature to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) this year.
“We want to position Nigeria as the best designation for investment in the hydrocarbon sector. The benefits of NUCOP are many. It includes; reducing the contracting cycle to three months or less, prompting efficiency, profitability and competitiveness. Its success is dependent on collaboration of stakeholders,” he added.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari said Nigeria must pull down production cost, describing it as a self interest pursuit.
He said: “There’s a global energy transition. Less cost efficient company cannot survive today. $50/barrel production cost cannot survive. There are issues around synergy that we’ve not achieved. “There are issues of security. Many companies are hiring their own armies and we can’t continue like that. Issues of taxes and others have to be addressed. Our practices must change so that service providers can deliver.
“So, we can achieve economic growth and our partners can derive benefits. It’s not CSR but pure business. We must have the best of fiscal environment and policies so that cost of operation can come down and our target is at least $10/barrel.
“If we do these, tax benefits will increase and profit margin will increase. This is a task that most be done. This partnership will help the country. Crude has hit the $60 and it comes with products price increase. We are trying to keep the country wet. We are engaging with labour. No provision for subsidy in the budget,” the NNPC boss explained.
In his remarks, the Chairman Senate Committee, Upstream, Mr Albert Bassey Akpan said there is a need to take a second look at production cost for Nigeria to remain competitive.
“We must pay attention to the passage of PIB and pass it before the end of 2021. We need to look at tax structure and security issues. There is need for relevant stakeholders to harmonize their logistics structure”, he said
Also commenting, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote said that the discussion on cost reduction was long overdue.
He assured of the Board’s support and collaboration towards achieving the target.
“Cost reduction comes with some pain and what’s important is how the business will survive to sustain jobs. Local content is a panacea for cost reduction. There is massive cost savings when Nigerians run the business unlike when expatriates flood the business”, he noted.
For the President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Festus Usifo, he urged the gathering to look at expatriates’ costs as many of them are earning fat pay doing jobs capable Nigerians should handle.
February 10, 2021