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PTD Mocks Augustine Egbon, Says “A Group You Claim To Lead Fails To recognize You As Leader”

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), has maintained that Augustine Egbon is not the valid national chairman of the Branch, stressing that Comrade Lucky Osesua and Comrade Yusuf Garga, remain the Chairman and 1st Deputy National Chairman chairman of the union as recognized by law.

The Oil and Gas Union also reiterated that Comrade (Dr) Humble Obinna Power is their National Secretary as recognized by the extant rules and convention. It added that it was shameful to see that the illegal faction Egbon claimed to lead couldn’t even recognize him as their chairman in the minute of their meeting, noting that the group lacked legitimacy and coordination.

The union, which described Egbon as an impostor added that he cannot assume leadership position of the Branch through the back door or on the basis of Lagos kangaroo election which was an outright product of court contempt, calling it also an effort in futility.

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In a chat with journalists by an elder in the PTD Branch of NUPENG in Port Harcourt Zone, Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack (JP), on the sidelines of a National Executive Branch Meeting held in Calabar on Saturday, September 28, 2024, he described as ridiculous the refusal of NUPENG leadership to follow due process, court orders and the path of peace to advance the union in positive direction.

“I am deeply happy to see you journalists here today and I must say thank you for honoring our call. You can also see that the crowd here is massive which reflects that Comrade Osesua is the authentic national chairman of PTD, I’m sure you also saw our 1st and 2nd Deputy National Chairmen, Comrades Dayyabu Garga and Peter Muodebelu (Onwa), our National Secretary, Comrade Dr Humble Obinna Power and other National, Zonal and Unit Executives. This is a reflection of acceptability by our members and a validation of legitimacy. There is one National Chairman accepted, and loved by the majority of PTD members, and that person is Lucky Osesua.

“We learnt that Augustine Egbon held a shambolic National Executive meeting too, which didn’t gain any traction, it was a show of shame for the President and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale of NUPENG who were financially induced to attend the meeting, only to see a very low turnout. Not only that, the illegal faction Augustine Egbon claimed to be leading couldn’t even recognize him as their national chairman in the highlights of the minute of their meeting which was signed by one Ibrahim Yahaya Abdulrahman, the letters of the minute described Otunba Salimon Akanni Oladiti as the national chairman, a man whose tenure expired many years back. This is an indication that Egbon’s group outrightly lost legitimacy and coordination. It’s also a validation to the fact that God has destroyed their government and as well exposed their evil plot and put them all to shame.

“As you can see our meeting built its strength on topical industrial and union matters, it also sought to assess our progress and set fresh objectives for tanker drivers with timelines; we also placed our interest on how to engender unity and cooperation among our numerous registered and legitimate members. We also consider reviewing our primary objectives as Tanker drivers, which include, 1. Protect workers’ rights and interest, 2. Improve working conditions and safety, 3. Negotiate fair wages and benefits, 4. Enhance job security and stability, 5. Promote collective bargaining, amongst others.

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“On the issue of health and safety, we expanded our focus on how to reduce workplace accidents and injuries, improve emergency response procedures and safety, enhance occupational health monitoring, foster positive relationships with management and ensure fair treatment and representation. We also spoke on pending issues in courts and the success we’ve recorded so far and other matters which I am not permitted to reveal because of their sensitive nature”, Comrade Joseph stated.

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Guinea Woos Nigerian Investors to Join $20bn Projects

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By Gloria IkibahGuinea’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Siaka Cissoko, has said that his country has ongoing projects worth about $20 billion, and Nigerian companies are welcome to take part.He shared this during a visit by members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria (DICAN) to the Guinean Embassy in Abuja.Cissoko spoke about the long-standing ties between Nigeria and Guinea, and said it was time both countries did more together, especially in business.He also pointed out that many Guinean businesspeople tend to overlook Nigeria when looking for partners, and he hopes that will change going forward.
He said: “As I speak to you, there is an ongoing mega multibillion-dollar project in Guinea, about $20bn that could be handled by Nigerian companies.
 
“I know, with this new partnership, Nigerians will be aware of the projects and key into it.”
 
“Our businessmen always go to India, Pakistan, and other Asian countries to look for $5m to $10m business opportunities that could be gotten in Nigeria because they don’t have comprehensive information,” he said.
 
He emphasised the need to deepen ties between Guinea and Nigeria by working closely with the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria.
According to the ambassador, the association can play a key role in helping people from both countries understand each other better. He also pointed out that Nigerian banks like Access Bank, UBA, First Bank, and Polaris are already operating in Guinea. Cissoko added that both countries, being rich in minerals, have great potential to work together in the mining sector.“In Guinea, many people form their views of Nigeria mainly through Nollywood films. But with this kind of partnership, they can learn more about the country beyond what they see on screen.
“Guinea and Nigeria have a long-lasting bilateral relationship. “It is a good thing that a credible association like yours, the Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, is paying us a courtesy visit.
 
“We are great mining countries, which Nigerian investors could leverage on the opportunity to invest in our country,” he said. 
 
The ambassador pledged Guinea’s readiness to work with the association in various areas, including information exchange, sponsorship, training, and charity work.
 
“We will support your charity work to ensure that you affect the lives of the less privileged in society,” Cissoko said. He also extending an invitation for the association to explore and report on the Guinean community in Nigeria. 
 
In response, the Chairman of DICAN, Comrade Fredrick Idehai, pledged the association’s commitment to partnering with the Guinean Embassy in Nigeria.
 
“DICAN is ready to share information on their business investments and development as part of the partnership.
 
“We will be available to support the embassy at all times”, he asserted.
 
Guinea and Nigeria have historically maintained generally strong diplomatic relations, particularly since Guinea’s independence in 1958. Both nations share close ties within the West African region, and both countries have been actively supporting each other’s development and played key roles in regional initiatives.
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Nigeria’s inflation jumps to 24.23% in March 2025

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Nigeria’s headline inflation rate rose to 24.23% in March 2025, according to the official government data source, the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The rise in the country’s inflation rate, from 23.18% back in February 2025 to 24.23% in March 2025, reflected a major increase in the rising commodity and energy costs in the last few weeks.

According to the March 2025 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Report which measures the inflation rate released by the government agency on Tuesday, the country’s food inflation rate was 21.79% year-on-year in March 2025.
The food inflation rate, however, showed a decrease compared to the food inflation rate of 23.51% recorded in February 2025.

Economists had predicted that the country’s inflation rate which decreased minimally in February would rise when the Dangote Refinery and the state-run NNPCL got entangled in a petrol price war that culminated in the temporary termination of a naira-for crude agreement between the two oil companies and the subsequent increase in the pump price of petrol.

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Some observers had also said the minimal reduction in the prices of food commodities experienced earlier in February was not sustainable, attributing the temporary decline in the prices of food to the importation intervention of the Federal Government.

Food and commodity inflation have skyrocketed as Nigerians battle what can pass for the worst cost of living crisis since the country’s independence over six decades ago, a development that economic wizards have attributed to President Bola Tinubu’s twin policies of petrol subsidy removal and unification of the forex rates.

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Plateau 51: Mutfwang mourns, says “we failed you”, begs affected community

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Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State has apologised to the people of Bassa Local Government Area (LGA) for the failure of government and security agencies to protect lives and properties.

Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.

Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.

Fifty-one persons were gunned down early Monday in the Zikke community of the LGA, with houses razed and many displaced about two weeks after a similar attack led to the killing of scores of persons in Bokkos Local Government Area.

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Less than two days after the most recent assault, Governor Mutfwang apologised for the government’s inability to protect the people.

The governor said this on Tuesday at the palace of the Paramount Ruler in Miango.

“I will tell you the truth: I have been crying since yesterday because I had trusted God that all the arrangements were put in place, that this will not happen again. We have made investments in security,” he said.

But like all human arrangements, sometimes they fail. I want to admit that on Sunday night into Monday morning, we failed you. Please, forgive me.”

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He urged the people not to relent in their efforts to secure their communities and ensure that they complement security agencies’ efforts by providing vital information for intelligence gathering and expose the antics of the criminals.

Governor Mutfwang, in the company of security chiefs and members of the state executive council, was in Zikke community to commiserate with the people on the death of over fifty persons killed in Monday’s attacks.

The Paramount Ruler of Irigwe land, Ronku Aka, who is the Brangwe of Irigwe, urged the government to come to the aid of the communities with the provision of social amenities in the area.

The governor and the entourage also went to see some of the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. The victims have been buried just as members of the community demanded action to stem the rising wave of insecurity in the state.

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Plateau State has been a hotbed of attacks, but the renewed spate of attacks adds a fresh layer of twist to the decades-long crisis rocking the North-Central state.

After the most recent assaults, President Bola Tinubu ordered security agencies to fish out the masterminds, describing the attacks as condemnable.

While experts have linked the lingering Plateau crisis to farmers-herders tussle for resources, Governor Muftwang said it was sponsored and genocidal.

According to him, over 64 communities in the state have been taken over by gunmen.

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