News

Bello-Koko opens up after being fired as NPA MD

Published

2 months ago

July 13, 2024

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Former managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Mohammed Bello-Koko has reacted after he was sacked by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu sacked Bello-Koko as NPA managing director and appointed Abubakar Dantsoho as replacement.

No reason was given for the sack.

Reacting to his dismissal, the former MD in a post on Twitter wrote:

“I’d like to deeply appreciate His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and former President Muhammadu Buhari for the incredible opportunity to serve as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“Having worked round the clock for the past eight years in the maritime sector, I feel greatly honored to have served the nation in this very important position.

“From my first appointment as Executive Director of Finance & Administration in mid-2016 to an acting Managing Director and later as the substantive Managing Director, these roles availed me of the opportunity to learn, unlearn, and relearn the ropes of maritime business and master the art of public service.

“It has been a great experience working to build a strong institution that will form the foundation for a number of reforms. In these years, we have leveraged staff development, technology, and equipment renewal to improve user experience in the ports. The result is evident in a productive workplace, improved customer satisfaction, and high remittances to the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“The deployment of the Port Community System and port modernization program (about to commence) are projects that remain close to my heart as they are catalysts for port efficiency.

“Today isn’t much about myself, so I congratulate Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, with whom I have high hopes to build on these legacies.

“To the Executive Management and the entire staff members of the Authority, your support and commitment have been incredibly satisfying. Let’s keep the ball rolling!

“At this point, I also recognize in no small measure, the support, learnings, and cooperation of major maritime stakeholders, such as the Terminal Operators, Shipping Companies, Joint Venture Companies, Freight Forwarders, etc without which we would not have witnessed the major developments in the port sector.

“I will not forget the unflinching support of my friends in the media that made it possible for the whole world to know what we have done.

“Lastly, to my friends who felt slighted for my inability to return their calls (between, it’s not deliberate ), and to my family who’ve endured my absence due to the exigencies of work, I extend my gratitude for your cooperation and understanding throughout my sojourn at the Nigerian Ports Authority”, he wrote

News

Rupture In PDP Governors’ Forum deepens

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Austin Ojomah

By Ojomah Austin.

The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.

After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.

Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.

Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.

The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.

While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.

News

Tears As Man Takes Own Life Over Tinubu’s Govt Hardship

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.

According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.

Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.

“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

News

Just in: Dangote Petrol Now Available at N765.99 Per Litre

Published

2 hours ago

September 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

By Mario Deepromoter

11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.

Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.

“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.

It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.

He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.

Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.

See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.

“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.

“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”