NNPC deploys drones to monitor movement of oil vessels

Fresh vista to the fight against the perennial problem of oil theft and pipeline vandalism appeared on the horizon Tuesday with the disclosure by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu that the Corporation is working towards the deployment of drones across the nation’s territorial waters to monitor the inwards and outwards movement of oil bearing vessels.

In a presentation at the special conference on Security in the Gulf of Guinea organized by the Gusau Institute, Dr. Kachikwu stated that the Corporation is working on a range of far reaching options designed to end the ugly episodes of crude and petroleum products theft within the next eight months.

The press statement of the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ohi Alegbe quoted the helmsman as saying: “We are launching an armada of approaches which will include incorporation of drones to check movements of vessels within our territorial waters; We are looking at the current logistical nightmares of changing staffing at the loading bay of crude oil export terminals virtually every 90 days, We are trying to equip the navy sufficiently though they are very well equipped in terms of skill set but not in terms of arsenal for patrols within the maritime area.”

On the issue of pipeline protection, the GMD explained that though the Corporation is working assiduously with the law enforcement agencies to increase the presence of military personnel in the area, the ultimate security for the critical oil and gas assets lies squarely with the host communities.

“The best security for these pipelines lies with the communities. We are trying to create enough incentives for them to see these pipelines as their own,’’ he said

Lamenting the impact of oil theft on the smooth operations of the nation’s refineries, the NNPC GMD warned that if left unchecked, the menace could invariably make it impossible for the NNPC to operate the refineries.

“Most of our product pipelines are ruptured and attacked frequently. For instance between June 2014 and June 2015, we recorded about 3, 500 to 4,000 attempts at the various products pipelines across the country. In addition to that, the pipelines that are supposed to convey crude to the refineries are perpetually hacked, ’’ he added.

Dr. Kachikwu noted that the resort to the use of marine vessels to convey crude to the refineries is coming at heavy cost.

“What this means is that no matter what we do with the refineries today, unless that is solved, we really are going nowhere, we cannot operate the refineries.”

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Drama as PDP, Gulak disagree on Mu’azu’s replacement

The aspiration by some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to vie for the national chairmanship of the party, has suffered a setback with a declaration by the leadership of the party that the position is not vacant.

The position is being occupied in acting capacity by the party’s National Deputy Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, following the forced resignation in May of the substantive chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu.

A mild drama played out on Tuesday as Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, an erstwhile Political Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, stormed the party’s Abuja secretariat to register his intention to vie for the chairmanship position.

Speaking with journalists shortly after meeting with some of the party leaders, Gulak said the three months that the party’s constitution allowed Secondus to act as chairman had expired and that there was need to choose a substantive chairman for the party.

Gulak said, “I came to inform the National Working Committee (NWC) of my intention to contest the chairmanship of the party for the purpose of rebuilding, rebranding and renovating the party.

“Going by the PDP constitution, the position is vacant because the three months allowed for anyone to act as chairman had elapsed and the party constitution stipulates that the replacement must come from the same Northeast zone as the erstwhile substantive chairman.

“The PDP cannot continue in the illegality of continuing with Acting Chairman because the three months stipulated by the party’s constitution had elapsed.

“So it is time for the NWC to convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting for the party to call for nominations to fill the vacancy. We have had enough of impunity.”

But the leadership of the party could hardly wait for Gulak to leave the party secretariat before declaring that the position is not vacant.

At a joint briefing by the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo and National Legal Adviser, Mr. Victor Kwom, the party leaders countered that the party constitution did not stipulate time limit for an acting chairman.

According to them, the party was waiting for the report of the Post Election Review and Assessment Committee, headed by the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu.

Oladipo said, “The position of chairman is not vacant because there is an acting chairman in place. We cannot call a NEC meeting until we have received the report of the Ekweremadu led committee.

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Why I restructured civil service – Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, ‎on Tuesday explained that his decision to embark on a restructuring of the public service within the first 100 days of his administration was geared towards improving the lot of public servants and enhancing service delivery in the state.

Speaking at the inauguration of a forum of retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the state, the governor said the forum was aimed at helping the state to continue to tap from their wealth of experience, knowledge and institutional memory, noting that the forum could further add value to good governance and efficiency in public service delivery.

Ambode, who was represented by his Deputy, Mrs. Oluranti Adebule, described the forum as a blessing in disguise, saying that the new forum would help the state to harness the potentials and diverse contributions of the retired public servants to enrich policy formulation, development and implementation in the best way that can impact positively on the lives of the people of the state.

He said, “As you are aware, the past few months have witnessed some restructuring in the public service featuring the realignment of MDAs and creation of new ones. All these are aimed at repositioning the public service for better performance in terms of quality and timely service delivery.”

He commended members of the new forum for their selfless contributions to good governance, noting that they had through the dint of hard work, laid the solid foundation for excellent public service upon which successive administrations in the state have erected super structures.

“As founding fathers of the state public service, you have toiled day and night at different times under different circumstances to lay a solid foundation for an excellent public service upon which successive administrations have erected super structures that we are all proud of today. This summit will therefore ensure that your collective dreams and vision then and now, including your hopes and aspirations continue to live on,” Ambode added.

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Driver docked for impregnating 16-year-old girl

An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 45-year-old driver, Ganiyu Afolabi, for allegedly impregnating a 16-year-old girl.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, ordered that the accused should be held in prison custody until Sept. 9, when the court would deliver its ruling on his bail application.

The prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede, told the court that the accused, who lives at 9, Ayinde Close, Meiran, a suburb of Lagos State, is facing a three- count charge of sexual assault, defilement and attempt to procure abortion.

Iseghede said that the alleged offences were committed sometime in May 2015 at the accused residence.

Iseghede alleged that the accused had called the 16-year-old victim to his room under the pretext of sending her on an errand and defiled her.

“And when the victim told the accused that she had missed her monthly flow, he procured a drug for her to use but the girl told her mother and the accused was apprehended,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offences contravened Sections 137, 145 and 259 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

 

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Photo : Osinbajo at swearing-in of AFDB President

Darius Dickson Ishaku Taraba State Governor, Gov Umar Ganduje Kano State Governor, Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Daniel Kablan Duncan Prime minister, Côte d’Ivoire at the swearing in ceremony of president of AFDB.

Dr. Kayode Fayemi Former Governorof Ekiti State, Amb. Ifeoma AKABOGU-CHINWUBA, Head of Mission Embassy of Nigeria in Côte d’Ivoire Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina as President of the African Development Bank, AfDB , Mrs Adesina Wife of President of AfDB,Governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, Gov Umar Ganduje, Kano State Governor,Darius Dickson Ishaku, Taraba State Governor,Cecilia Akintomide Vice President African Development Bank, AfDB.

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Photo : Buhari at polio eradication meeting

Chief of Staff to the President Mallam Abba Kyari, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Linus Awute, President Muhammadu Buhari,Executive Secretary Primary Health Care Development Dr.Ado Mohammed and the Emir of Argungu Alhaji Isma’ila Mohammadu Mera after their meeting on Polio Eradication in the Country at the State House Abuja yesterday.

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Global economic growth weaker than expected- IMF

Global economic growth is likely to be weaker than earlier expected, the head of the International Monetary Fund IMF) said on Tuesday.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde told university students at the start of a two-day visit to Jakarta that low growth was due to slower recovery in advanced economies and a further slowdown in emerging nations.

Lagarde also warned emerging economies like Indonesia to “be vigilant for spill-overs” from China’s slowdown, tighter global financial conditions and the prospects of a U.S. interest rate hike.

“Overall, we expect global growth to remain moderate and likely weaker than we anticipated last July,” Lagarde told the university students.

The IMF in July forecast global growth at 3.3 per cent this year, slightly below last year’s 3.4 per cent.

Lagarde said China’s economy was slowing, although not sharply or unexpectedly as it adjusts to a new growth model.

“The transition to a more market-based economy and the unwinding of risks built up in recent years is complex and could well be somewhat bumpy.

“That said, the authorities have the policy tools and financial buffers to manage this transition.”

Lagarde, who is visiting Indonesia for the first time in three years, said Southeast Asia’s largest economy had the “right tools to actually react” to the global volatility.

“You have very sound public finances with overall government debt in the range of twenty per cent relative to GDP, you have a relatively small deficit,” she said before meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

 

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