News
Atiku demands NNPCL’s listing on stock market
The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to promptly list the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited on the Nigeria Stock Exchange.
The former Vice President declared that this move aligns with the stipulations set forth by the Petroleum Industry Act.
Atiku’s demand follows the recent decision by NNPCL to transfer the management and operation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries to private operators.
In a statement issued by his media adviser, Paul Ibe, on Sunday, Atiku emphasized that NNPCL should be listed on the stock exchange as required by the Petroleum Industry Act.
“Currently, the NNPCL claims to be private, but this is only a ruse to fool the feeble-minded because it remains the ATM of the Federal Government. Anything short of listing the NNPCL on the stock exchange is nothing but a cosmetic development,” he added.
He explained that this move would improve profitability, transparency, and corporate governance.
The statement read in part, “The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate said previous arrangements and concessions had not worked because of a lack of transparency in the contract award process as well as the failure of the government to attract investors.
“The former Vice President said that for such a deal to succeed at all, the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and a credible technical partner like Standard and Poor’s must be part of the process.
“Former President Olusegun Obasanjo revealed recently that even Shell, one of the world’s wealthiest oil companies, rejected the offer to operate Nigeria’s refineries. This is because the NNPCL has, for years, been a cesspool of endemic corruption.
“This is why over $20bn that has been spent on the refineries in the last 20 years has led to nowhere. It is also curious that a government that is still paying petrol subsidies is trying to make its refineries profitable. Which businessman will invest in a refinery that has been programmed to operate at a loss?”
Atiku questioned the viability of the NNPC’s new plan, noting that similar arrangements in the past had not been successful or profitable.
The Waziri Adamawa urged NNPCL to avoid making the contract process opaque as it did with OVH last year, which proved dubious and did not resolve the ongoing fuel scarcity.
He continued, “The management and operating approach has not always worked. The Manitoba Hydro International, which was handed to the Transmission Company of Nigeria, led to nowhere. Similarly, Global Steel Limited, which was handed to the Ajaokuta Steel Company, was not able to make the facility profitable.
“The contract was questionably revoked by the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua administration, and Nigeria ended up paying Global Steel a compensation of nearly $500m while Ajaokuta remains comatose 17 years later.
“In 2022, Nueoil, an unknown and newly registered company, acquired OVH and Oando filling stations. Barely four months later, NNPCL Retail bought Nueoil and took control of all its assets, including the Oando filling stations.
“Barely eight months later, OVH turned around to take over NNPCL Retail. This convoluted transaction was done in order to hide the corruption involved. If this is the approach that the NNPCL wants to use in handing over its refineries to private hands, then Nigerians should not expect any positive development whatsoever.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia-North) has been announced by the Senate as the Committee Chairman of South-East Development Commission (SEDC).
Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during plenary on Tuesday 4, January, 2025. Before the new appointment, the former Abia Governor was the Senate Committee Chairman on Privatisation.
Senator Ken Eze (Ebonyi Central) was also appointed as the Vice Chairman of the committee. Akpabio further noted that other members of the committee will be announced in due course.
The Senate confirmed the board membership of the SEDC after considering the report presented by Senator Kalu.
The 18-member board is led by Dr. Emeka Wogu as Chairman, while Hon. Mark Okoye was confirmed as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
Other confirmed members include Ugochukwu H. Agballah, Hon. Okey Ikenwa, Chief Hyacinth Ikpor, Chidi Echeazu, Ifeanyi Agwu, Nasiru Usman, Hamma Adama Ali, Kumo Edward David Onoja, and Orure Kufre Inima.
Also appointed are Daniel Akwari, Chief (Mrs.) Joke Adebayo-Chukwuma, Hon. Stanley Ohajuruka (E.D. Finance), Chief Sylvester Okonkwo (E.D. Corporate Services), and Hon. Toby Okechukwu (E.D. Projects).
Others include Senator Anthony Agbo (E.D. Commercial and Industrial Development) and Dr. Clifford Ogbede (E.D. Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Rural Development).
A Nigerian man living with HIV has shocked many with his confession about engaging in intimate affairs with nearly a thousand women.
The man made the shocking revelation about his HIV status during an episode of Doyin’s Corner, a podcast hosted by former BBNaija housemate, Doyin.
According to him, he was diagnosed with HIV seven years ago but continued to have unprotected sex with numerous women, including commercial sex workers. He admitted that many of his partners were willing to engage in intercourse without protection after he offered them extra money.
Reflecting on his past lifestyle, the man shared that he once visited Obalende, a popular area in Lagos, where several women recognized him, as he had been intimate with many of them.
“A total number of ladies I have had sex with can be close to a thousand, to be honest. But in that seven-year period, I could say more than 400 because it was so cheap. I used to just have sex with anybody. There was a time I went to Obalende, and all the girls there knew me because I had slept with all of them,” he revealed.
“I was paying 700 to have sex with women in Obalende with condom and 1000 naira without condom after.
I slept with over 1000 women after realizing I had HIV”
Please protect yourselves if out there if you can’t abstain 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/Auhj2J51MQ
— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) February 3, 2025
In an attempt to change his ways, he said he started attending churches for deliverance, where congregation members often contributed money to support him. However, he did not clarify whether he disclosed his HIV status to his partners or took precautions to prevent transmission.
The confession of the HIV man has since sent the social media abuzz, with many condemning his actions while others expressed concern about the potential spread of the virus.
Read some netizens’ reactions below;
authentik_gymwears: “Na why I dey celibate be dis. Just look at….”
dupe_clark: “How do someone sleep with 400 women or men hmm thank you Mum and dad for a good home training”
dorothy_chris13: “This virus no dey show for face 😢assume that everyone you meet has it and protect yourself 🙏🙏🙏🙏 better to abstain and honor God with your body”
The latest development was disclosed in a statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, to journalists in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
The affected aides include Ewatomilola Emiola, Senior Special Assistant on Research & Documentation, and Kikelomo Isijola, Special Assistant on Digital Media.
Both officials have been instructed to hand over all government properties in their possession to the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor.
The statement reads:
“The Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved a reorganization of the Government House Media team. As a result, the following media aides have been relieved of their duties with immediate effect: Ewatomilola Emiola, Senior Special Assistant on Research & Documentation, and Kikelomo Isijola, Special Assistant on Digital Media.
“They have been directed to hand over all government properties in their care to the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor. The Governor appreciates their contributions and wishes them success in their future endeavors.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has criticized the recently signed 2025 state budget, labeling it a “budget for looting.”
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa signed the ₦698.6 billion budget into law just a week after its passage by the State House of Assembly.
The budget includes ₦200 million allocated for lawmakers and ₦280 million designated for the Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker as ‘phone expenses.’
Reacting to the budget on Tuesday, PDP Publicity Secretary Kennedy Peretei issued a statement condemning the allocations as outrageous and unnecessary.
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