The House of Representatives at plenary today constituted a special joint investigative committee of the downstream and midstream petroleum resources to immediately embark on a deep rooted forensic investigative hearing, probe and stakeholders engagement towards finding a lasting solution to the issues and challenges affecting and deliberating killing the Nigerian downstream midstream petroleum sector ranging from subsidy payments, pfi/depot Sharp practices, non availability of domestic crude supply to local refinery, killing of local refinery, fuel queues, high cost of pms, source of funding of pms subsidy , endless shifting of timelines for refinery rehabilitation, nefarious activities at the petrol depot , status of all downstream pipeline and depot project, indiscriminate issuance of licenses, OVH and NNPCL Retail products anomalies and lack of product to marketers , use of middle men in crude sales to refinery , non domestication of profit from sale of crude oil by IOCs etc The House Unanimously mandated Ideato Rep Hon.Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Chairman of Downstream Sector to lead the joint investigative committee of the downstream and midstream petroleum resources committee to unearth all the anomalies militating against the Downstream Midstream Sector. The motion on this matter of urgent importance was sponsored by Hon. Billy Osawaru, who moved the motion, and Hon.Philip Agbesse, the Deputy Spokesman of the House of Reps. Moving the motion, Osawaru noted that the National Assembly is saddled with the task of making laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federation or any part thereof as enshrined in Section 4(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended). He said the House is aware that in recent times there has been a resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, with allegations of high cost of PMS and non availability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries in Nigeria and disruption of distribution of PMS products. He expressed concerns about the failure of the regulators such as NMDPRA, NUPRC, etc to enforce compliance with standards that will help achieve the growth of downstream sector and the lack of support to local crude refiners, issuance of import license, despite local production He said, “informed that there is also allegation of unfair subsidization of PMS and other petroleum products which negatively affects competitiveness in the sector. There are also allegations of racketeering and favouritism in the Pro Forma Invoice System (PFI) regime, indiscriminate issuance of licenses and importation of refined petroleum products. “Further Informed of the alleged return of PMS price intervention with its impact on domestic market, there is also the allegation of product unavailability to marketers from NNPC Retail. Endless shifting of timelines for refinery rehabilitation, the nefarious activities at petrol depot which have affected product distribution and caused scarcity. There is also the use of middlemen in trading and has negatively affected domestic crude supply. “Disturbed about the indiscriminate issuance of licenses, the unavailability of laboratories to check adulterated products and the influx of adulterated products into the country, allegation of non domestication of profits realized from crude marketing sales in local banks, abuse of the PFI regime, importation of products already being produced in Nigeria like jet fuel, AGO, etc, use of international trading companies to resell fuel stock to local refineries, and all issues surrounding subsidy regime. “Also disturbed about the allegation of the return of subsidy on downstream PMS products, unclarity about the exact landing cost of PMS, reduction in retail price and its impact on downstream operations, allegation of importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, sale of petroleum products below fair market value and its impact on downstream and local refineries and as the source of funds for such interventions.”

  Cars stolen in Western countries are increasingly finding their way into Ghana, reports say. In October 2022, Logan LaFarniere, a Canadian resident, woke up to an empty driveway after his brand new Ram Rebel truck, which he bought a year and a half ago, was stolen by two hooded men. A few months later, that same truck appeared on a website of vehicles for sale in Ghana, a BBC report published on Monday said. In 2022, more than 105,000 cars were stolen in Canada — about one car every five minutes. Among the victims was Canada’s federal justice minister, whose government-issued Toyota Highlander XLE was taken twice by thieves, the report added. The International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) said it has detected more than 1,500 cars around the world that have been stolen from Canada since February, and around 200 more continue to be identified each week, usually at ports in other countries. Last year, a Digitpol report said Ghana was the preferred destination for criminal organisations dealing in stolen vehicles. Digitpol is a criminal investigation agency headquartered in The Netherlands that provides expertise in forensics, investigation, tracing, and intelligence. “Modern stolen cars are globally traceable through tracking systems, and a significant number of SUVs stolen in The Netherlands are transported to West Africa, particularly Ghana,” the report said. “The stolen car investigation unit in Digitpol is hunting down the stolen cars together with the Vehicle Crime Insurance Bureau (VbV), the digital evidence on Digitpol’s platform, which records the movements of cars stolen in the Netherlands, paint a clear and alarming picture. “Ghana seems to be the preferred destination for highly organized criminal organizations to ship their stolen vehicles. Once in Ghana, these cars are given a new lease of life, either within the capital, Accra, or through it.” The report said suspects take advantage of Ghana’s National Road Transport Agency’s lack of interest in addressing car theft, with local law enforcement seemingly turning a blind eye. “Whether this is due to corruption or sheer disinterest remains unclear. Criminal groups take advantage of the Ghanaian government’s inaction, resulting in the streets of Ghana being inundated with stolen Western cars,” the report said. The report also said movement patterns of the stolen cars suggest that they often end up in private hands. “An interesting observation is made regarding online locations in European countries where stolen cars often end up, particularly near large churches in Ghana,” the report added. “While it is not yet established whether these churches are being exploited as a cover or vehicle for organized car theft, it remains a noteworthy fact.” Digitpol also named Togo and Burkina Faso as preferred hubs for stolen vehicles in West Africa.

  A bill seeking to create 74 seats for women in the national assembly has passed second reading in the house of representatives. The green chamber voted in favour of the bill during plenary on Tuesday, in a bid to encourage more female participation in politics. Sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker, and 12 other lawmakers, the proposed legislation seeks to alter Sections 48, 49, 71, and 117 of the constitution to create one “special seat reserved exclusively for women in the senate and house of representatives for each state of the federation and the federal capital territory (FCT)”. The bill proposes to take effect after the term of the current national assembly elapses, and is subject to review every 16 years. The bill also proposes to alter Section 91 of the constitution to provide for three special seats “reserved exclusively” for women in houses of assembly of each state of the federation. Leading the debate, Joshua Gana, co-sponsor of the bill, said the proposed legislation is aimed at addressing a “profound imbalance and the under-representation of women in the national assembly and at sub-national levels”. He said the bill is “anchored on the fundamental principle of equitable representation, and aims to empower women by ensuring their voices are not only heard but that they actively contribute to shaping the legislative landscape, and the overall development of our nation”. “The issue of gender equality and representation lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy,” he said. Gana added that even though the constitution guarantees equal rights, the representation of women in the legislature has been “alarmingly low”. “In the 7th, 8th, and 9th assemblies, women accounted for only 6.4%, 6.1%, and 2.7% of the senate respectively; and 6.4%, 3.05%, and 4.7% of the house of representatives respectively,” he said. “These statistics underscore the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure equitable representation and amplify the voices of women in our legislative houses at the national and sub-national levels. “The rationale behind this amendment is grounded on the principles of fairness and inclusivity. “Globally, Nigeria lags behind in women representation in parliament, ranking among the lowest. Countries that have implemented affirmative action, like Rwanda and Andorra, have seen significant strides towards gender equality in governance.” The legislator said the bill proposes a “temporary measure of seat reservation” for women to catalyse similar progress in Nigeria, “ensuring that women’s perspectives and priorities are fully integrated into our national and sub-national decision-making processes”. ‘BROAD CONSENSUS’ Contributing to the debate, Akin Rotimi, spokesperson of the house, said there is a “broad consensus” that it is necessary to have more women in parliament. Kingsley Chinda, minority leader, supported the bill, saying parliament needs to correct the deficiency. “We must make deliberate effort to solve problems where we see them,” he said. Kelechi Nwogu from Rivers, corroborated Chinda’s argument, saying women should be given a “better opportunity” in politics. Several other lawmakers who contributed to the debate, opposed the bill on the premise that it is against the provisions of the constitution on equal opportunity for all. Ghali Tijani from Kano said rather than reserve special seats for women, political parties should deploy mechanisms to improve women’s participation in politics. Olamijuwonlo Alao Akala from Oyo, Patrick Umoh from Akwa Ibom, and Billy Osawaru from Edo also opposed the bill, citing violations of the constitution. Following the debate, Kalu proposed to withdraw the bill, noting that he may be biased as the lead sponsor since he was presiding. “I will step down the bill until the day I am not presiding,” he said. Ahmad Satomi from Borno countered Kalu, insisting that he should put the bill to a voice vote. “It does not matter if you are presiding,” Satomi said. Subsequently, Kalu put the bill to a voice vote. The “ayes” were louder than the “nays,” but he ruled in favour of the “ayes”. A similar bill was considered in the 9th assembly during the constitution amendment process. The senate and house of representatives voted against it.

  President Bola Tinubu has approved the creation of a new Ministry of Livestock Development. This came as he inaugurated the Renewed Hope livestock reform implementation committee at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday. The committee is mandated to provide sector-focused solutions to address the age-long farmers-herders crisis. On September 14, 2023, the National Livestock Reforms Committee recommended that Tinubu create a “Ministry of Livestock Resources” to, among other deliverables, reduce the decades-long gory conflict between farmers and nomadic cattle herders nationwide.   Former Kano State Governor and Chairman of the All Progressives Congress Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed this to State House Correspondents shortly after he led the committee in an audience with the President at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja. It formed part of 21 recommendations captured in a document submitted to the President to enhance the Federal Government’s holistic response to the lingering cases of bloodshed. The document spelt details of the proposed solutions where the committee advocated a reform agenda examining conflict mitigation and resource management. “This agenda should include the establishment and resuscitation of grazing reserves as suggested by many experts and well-meaning Nigerians and other methods of land utilisation. “Create the Ministry of Livestock Resources in line with practice in many other West African countries. In the alternative, Federal and State Governments should expand the scope of existing Departments of Livestock Production to address the broader needs of the industry,” it read. Ganduje, who explained the complexity of the challenge at the time, said that the government’s approach must address the four kinds of herders: those who settle at home, nomadic herdsmen traversing the country, those from neighbouring West African countries as well as those who have settled among certain ethnic tribes and indigenized. He lamented the sector’s low productivity, saying it made Nigeria import-dependent, draining scarce foreign reserves for importing dairy, meat, and other livestock products. Similarly, Ganduje argued that the conflicts are resulting in killings of citizens and loss of livelihoods, further affecting peaceful coexistence in the country. “The Report grew out of the urgent need to reform and develop the livestock industry and to provide solutions to the age-long conflicts between herders and farmers in Nigeria. “But to find the solution to achieve the desired goals, you’ll need a strong institution. “We recommended the establishment of the Ministry of Livestock and subsequent agencies so that various aspects of the recommendations will have appropriate institutions for implementation,” the APC helmsman explained 10 months ago. He noted that the committee also recommended a funding source, including inflows from international organisations, the private sector, and the government. Details shortly…

  Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has voluntarily slashed his salary by 40 per cent. “In fulfillment of his commitment to fiscal integrity and national financial security, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced a voluntary 40% reduction in his salary,” a statement on the Liberian Government website read. Boakai said the move reflects his resolve to lead by example in strengthening accountability. “In addition to his own salary reduction, the President has pledged to empower the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to ensure that public servants’ salaries are in line with the current state of the nation and that workers receive fair compensation for their contributions to the country,” the statement read further. “The Liberian Chief Executive pledged his commitment to financial responsibility and fair compensation for public servants from various sectors of society as a positive step towards fostering a culture of accountability and equity within the government.”

  The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has warned Nigerians against paying for electricity distribution infrastructures such as transformers, cables or poles. In a statement shared alongside a video on X on Tuesday, NERC emphasised that consumers should not be coerced into purchasing transformers, cables, or poles, as this responsibility lies squarely with the distribution companies. The statement reads, “Is your distribution company expecting you to buy transformers, cables, or poles? Don’t! It is the DisCo’s obligation, not yours!” NERC stated emphatically. The regulatory body urged consumers to report any coercion or delays in providing necessary materials by the distribution companies. The statement added, “Report any coercion to purchase, or delays in providing these materials to NERC for prompt action.” NERC assured the public of prompt action upon receiving such complaints. To facilitate this, NERC said it has established a dedicated email and phone number for reporting issues related to network investments. “A dedicated email and phone number have been set up to address issues relating to investments in the network as follows: idn@nerc.gov.ng 07074865354.

  The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) has said that there is no provision in the SAMOA agreement which requires Nigeria to accept or in anyway recognise LGBTQ or gay rights as a pre-condition for a loan of $150 Billion USD. “Instead, the agreement was expressly made subject to the local laws and the sovereignty of the contracting nations”, the NBA President said in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the NBA, Habeeb Lawal. The NBA President said, the SAMOA agreement recognises, for instance, Nigeria’s Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act, 2023 and of course, the Supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). Related Posts Seven quick facts about Samoa agreement FULL LIST: Nigeria, Ghana, 76 other countries sign Samoa agreement Samoa agreement had nothing on gay rights, $150bn deal – FG “If this were not the case, the NBA would have since advised the Federal Government not to enter or engage in any form of partnership or agreement that has the ability to undermine the sovereignty of our nation in anyway. “For avoidance of any doubt, the SAMOA agreement does not, in any way, seek to compromise our existing legislations nor undermine the sovereignty of Nigeria”, he said. Maikyau explained that, prior to the signing of the SAMOA agreement, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning requested the NBA, as a major stakeholder in the polity, to look at the agreement. Consequently, a committee chaired by Mr. Olawale Fapohunda (SAN), former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ekiti State and Chairman of the NBA Law Reform Committee was constituted to vet, evaluate and advise on the agreement accordingly. He said, the SAMOA Agreement (named after the central South Pacific Ocean country of Samoa, where the agreement was signed), is a broad legal framework between the European Union (EU) member states and more than half of the 79 members of the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS). “It is meant to serve as a basis upon which subsequent specific agreements can be negotiated between the European Union and the Federal Government, its sub-nationals and/or the Private sector. “The agreement covers six main areas, namely: democracy and human rights, sustainable economic growth and development, climate change, human and social development, peace and security, and migration and mobility. The NBA President’s statement followed publications in newspapers and social media platforms of reactions by some Nigerians to the signing of the SAMOA Agreement by the Federal Government; the alleged clauses in the agreement requiring Nigeria to endorse or accept LGBTQ rights, as a pre-condition to access an alleged loan facility to the tune of $150 billion. ALSO READ: NDLEA arrests drug baron in Imo mansion, recovers meth, guns He said, the narrative being propagated was either due to ignorance of the content of the agreement or, a deliberate intention to mislead the public (neither of which is good) and stressed the need for all stakeholders, who have had the opportunity of engaging with government on the agreement prior to its execution, and others who have read and understood the objective of the agreement to endeavour to educate the public on its true content. According to the NBA boss, the negative narratives on the agreement are being pushed and propagated along very sensitive lines of faith, culture and morality, thus the need for caution and proper education. He called on the government to continue with the public enlightenment already being undertaken and for other stakeholders to join in doing so, in order to counter the negative perception being promoted on the agreement. The NBA, he noted remains committed to ensuring that actions of Government are people-focused and shall see to it that nothing is done to compromise the integrity of the sovereign nation, Nigeria. He said the NBA will continue to engage with government, advise, provide direction, advance the cause of the nation and at the same time, hold government to account on behalf of the people of the country.

  The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, urged the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the Samoa Agreement over the alleged Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender clause. This is as the legislative chamber directed its Committee on National Planning to investigate the agreement within four weeks and report back for further legislative action. The House resolution was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance brought on the floor of the green chamber by the Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, and 87 others during plenary on Tuesday. The Samoa Agreement is the overarching legal framework for the European Union’s relations with 79 countries. This includes 48 African, 16 Caribbean, and 15 Pacific countries. Last week, a national daily (not The PUNCH), in its lead story, alleged that the agreement contained a clause to legalise same-sex relationships in Nigeria. Reacting, the Federal Government denied the claim, stating that Nigeria has “existing legislation against same-sex relationships.” It also threatened legal action against the media house. Details later…