Tinubu appoints Abiola’s son as SSA on linguistics, foreign matters....Read Full Article>>

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jami’u Abiola, son of late Moshood Abiola, as senior special assistant to the president on linguistics and foreign matters.

Segun Imohiosen, director of information, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), in a statement, said the appointment takes effect from November 14, 2024.

“This is in line with the provisions of the Certain Political and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act 2008, as amended”

Until his appointment, Jami’u has served as the special assistant to the president on special duties in the Office of the Vice President.

The statement said President Tinubu tasked the appointee to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and bring his wealth of experience to bear in his new assignment.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has said its customers can purchase a minimum of two million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also known as fuel at N970 per litre.....Read Full Article>>

This was contained in a flyer posted on its X handle.

According to the flyer: “High-quality PMS (Petrol) for your vehicles and engine and also good for the environment.

“Buy a minimum of two million litres @N970 per litre.”

This is coming amid an announcement by the spokesperson of Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, that the price of PMS was reduced.

According to him, the 650,000 barrels per day refinery slashed the petrol price by N20 from N990 per litre to N970.

“Dangote Petroleum Refinery has affected a reduction in the prevailing price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from N990/litre to N970/litre for the marketers,” he said.

Akwa Ibom State government has declared Friday, November 29, 2024, a work-free day in honour of the late first lady, Mrs Patience Umo Eno. This was contained in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, SSA, Prince Enobong Uwah in Uyo, on Wednesday. The SSG said the decision was to enable Akwa Ibom people and other well-wishers pay their last respects to the late first lady of the state. Mrs Patience Eno who passed away in September this year after a brief sickness, will be laid to rest at her husband’s hometown, the....Read Full Article>>

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has officially relocated to its new headquarters in Jahi, Abuja. The facility, which is still under development, represents the first phase of the agency’s national headquarters project and was inaugurated during an interdenominational service on Wednesday, November 26, 2024. Chairman/CEO of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), described the move as a major milestone in the agency’s transformation into a modern, results-driven institution. “This is a phase in the....Read Full Article>>

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has arraigned a former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, FMBN, Gimba Kumo Ya’u.....Read Full Article>>

He was arraigned alongside two others over an alleged diversion of $65,000,000. The money was meant for the development of 962 units of residential housing units in Kubwa District in Abuja.

Ya’u was brought before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, alongside Mr Bola Ogunsola, former Executive Director and Tarry Rufus, Managing Director of T-Brend Fortunes Nigeria Limited.

The ICPC told the court in a charge sheet marked FHC/ABJ/CR/333/24 that the alleged offences of the defendants go against the Public Enterprises Regulatory Commission Act and Section 19 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

In a five-count charge, the anti-graft commission told the court that the ex-bank CEO made payment to Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited in the sum of N3,785,000,000 out of the total contract sum of $65,000,000.

The money was meant to erect 962 units of residential housing in Kubwa, Abuja, named “Goodluck Jonathan Legacy City.”

ICPC alleged that Yau and Ogunsola, in their roles as CEO and ED of the bank in August 2012, had secured a loan of N14 billion from Ecobank Nigeria PLC on behalf of the bank.

ICPC further alleged that Yau, as the then CEO of FMBN, awarded the $65 million contract despite knowing that the company lacked the capacity to carry out the contract.

It added that the project remains incomplete “as of today.”

The other defendants were accused of giving and receiving $3,550,000 of the contract sum in cash in contravention of the Money Laundering Act.

Tarry Rufus, Good Earth Power Nigeria Limited and T-Brend Fortunes Limited were accused of directly converting the sum of N991,399,255 into $3,550,000 and handing over the same to one Jason Rosamond (now at large) in cash, contrary to Section 18(2) (b) and punishable under Section 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Following their plea, the judge adjourned the case until February 6, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

The Ondo State Government, on Wednesday, absolved itself of any connection with the arrest of some farmers in its Ofosu forest in Idanre Local Government Area of the state.....Read Full Article>>

The Senior Special Assistant to the state Governor on Agric and Agribusiness, Mr Wemimo Akinsola, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Akure. Akinsola, who is also the Chairman of the Ondo State Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, said the current government was farmer-friendly and would not do such, particularly during this trying period.

The governor’s aide said he had been inundated with several calls from lawyers of the farmers erroneously claiming that his office ordered the arrest of farmers in the Ofosu forest.

He said the government was working tirelessly to resolve all contentious issues with farmers that had been existing in the past and would not do anything to compound the already tense situation.

Akinsola said though the issues that led to the farmer’s arrest were not clear, he got a hint that their arrest might not be unconnected with not joining a certain cocoa association.

“We got a report that some people were going into the forest, arresting people, farmers, this morning.

“We just want to make it clear, the governor has not given any instruction for anybody to arrest anybody over anything.

“We are in a situation where we’re trying to settle issues with our farmers, who we were having problems with.

“We need our farmers to cooperate with the government, and we want our farmers on the farms not in police stations or police cells,” he said.

Akinsola, who described the report of the farmers’ arrest as disheartening, said the major preoccupation of the government at this period was ending food insecurity in the land.

“We have been trying as much as possible to end this food insecurity, which is a global phenomenon, and we don’t need any of these, not at all,” he said.

The Senate has screened the acting Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for appointment as the substantive COAS in a closed door session, just as there are strong indications that he will be confirmed today (Wednesday).....Read Full Article>>

Addressing journalists shortly before the doors of the meeting venue were shut, Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, APC, Katsina Central said that the Army Chief was being screened in closed session for security reasons.

Yar’adua who noted that the screening and legal confirmation process of nominees form an important part in legislative engagement, said that Senate at its sitting on Tuesday, read the request of the President, seeking the confirmation of Oluyede’s appointment as Chief of Army Staff.

The Chairman, who noted the National Assembly remained the only arm of Government vested with powers to make for peace, order and good governance of the country, said, “As a result, the Parliament must be seen to respect and take active notice of and uphold any law relating to national legislation, institutional provision and judicial pronouncement made by court of competent action in matters affecting the nation.

He said there is no doubt that security sector governance seeks to establish standards that enhance both state and human security.

“This is in order to ensure efficiency and drive effectiveness of institutions and their operators in fulfilling their respective roles and responsibilities in the spirit and culture of service.

“It is a known fact that our nation is currently bedeviled with multiplicity of security challenges requiring cogent and urgent solutions.

“May I however, commend the gallantry of the Officers and Men of the AFN for the success recorded so far in the war against terror, curtailing of insurgency and other criminalities within the Country, even to the laying down of their lives.

“This screening exercise intends to bring to bear your professional skills, experiences and expertise based on your strategic security knowledge and vision towards defending Nigeria from external aggression.

“This is being done through maintaining its territorial integrity: securing its borders from violation on land suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order among others.

“Furthermore, your abilities to offer proposal towards finding solutions for military funding and welfare of personnel will be of interest to this Committee.”

Culture and family affect how a man and woman think and act, with a deeper factor—the brain neurological development—coming into play.....Read Full Article>>

Studies show that male and female brains are different in structure and chemistry as these differences affect how they process information, think, and their risk of certain health conditions. Man and woman brain size and structure.

Men’s brains are about 10% larger than women’s. However, this size difference does not impact intelligence. Some specific brain areas are different in size:

Inferior-Parietal Lobule (Men): This area is larger in men and helps with solving math problems, judging speed, and estimating time.

Hippocampus (Women): Women have a larger hippocampus, which is key for memory and emotional processing. They also have denser neural connections, which helps them process and absorb more emotional and sensory information.
How man and woman process information using their brain

Man and woman process information differently because of differences in brain structure and pathways.

Verbal Processing: Women have verbal centres on both sides of their brains. This improves their verbal communication and empathy. Men usually have verbal centres only on the left side, making their verbal skills more task-specific.

Grey and White Matter: Women have more grey matter, which is important for sensory perception, memory, muscle control, and emotions. Men use more white matter, which connects brain areas for better communication. Women also use white matter to multitask and interpret emotions.
Brain connectivity

The way male and female brains are connected is also different: Women’s brains connect more side-to-side, helping with analysis, intuition, and drawing conclusions while men’s brains connect more front-to-back, which supports motor skills, perception, and action-focused tasks.
Behaviour and strengths

These brain differences explain why men and women excel in certain areas. Men often perform well in action-based tasks, problem-solving, and focused projects. Women usually shine in multitasking, language, and understanding emotions.

During pregnancy, women’s brains also change. Their grey matter decreases, which may cause “pregnancy brain” or forgetfulness.
Health and brain chemistry

Man and woman have their brains processing neurochemicals differently, which impacts their health risks. Women’s serotonin processing makes them more prone to anxiety and depression. Men are at greater risk for autism spectrum disorder and Parkinson’s disease.
Looking at the bigger picture

While these differences explain some trends, not everyone fits into these categories. People often excel in skills linked to the opposite gender.

“Brain differences help us understand our unique strengths,” says Dr. Steven Meyers, a neurologist.

Learning about these differences can help us appreciate how people think and work in their own special ways.

Prominent human rights advocate Emeka Gift has made serious allegations against Simon Ekpa, claiming that he is being used by the Nigerian government to damage the reputation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) on the global stage.....Read Full Article>>

In a detailed post on Twitter, Gift argued that Ekpa’ s presence within IPOB was orchestrated by notable political figures like Nyesom Wike and Dave Umahi, who he believes are part of a broader scheme to undermine the movement’ s fight for self- determination.

Gift accused Ekpa of employing violent methods purportedly in support of Biafran freedom, including intimidation and abduction. He expressed concern that these actions served the interests of the Nigerian state by falsely linking IPOB to terrorism.

According to Gift, Ekpa’ s rhetoric is designed to provoke international condemnation of IPOB and jeopardize its longstanding quest for a peaceful referendum regarding Biafran independence.

He praised IPOB’ s leadership for their proactive stance in distancing the organization from Ekpa’ s alleged misconduct. Gift emphasized the numerous announcements made by IPOB to clarify its non- involvement with Ekpa’ s violent activities, asserting that any collaboration with him could have catastrophic consequences for the movement’ s reputation.

The activist noted that any findings by Finnish authorities that support accusations against Ekpa could severely affect IPOB’ s credibility on an international scale.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has revealed that fuel produced by the old Port Harcourt Refinery is significantly more expensive than that sold by the Dangote Refinery.....Read Full Article>>

According to PETROAN’ s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Joseph Obele, the price disparity poses challenges for marketers and consumers alike. Speaking during the reopening ceremony of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which is currently operating at 60, 000 barrels per day, Dr. Obele highlighted that the price difference per litre is as high as N75, with Dangote Refinery offering petrol at N970 per litre while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) sells it at N1, 045 per litre.

This price gap is a significant concern for businesses in the downstream petroleum sector. Competitive pricing plays a crucial role in ensuring the profitability of fuel marketers, and such a steep margin could lead to reduced sales and increased financial strain on operators. The disparity also raises questions about the efficiency and economic viability of the products churned out by the old Port Harcourt Refinery compared to the state- of- the- art Dangote Refinery.

The controversy surrounding the Port Harcourt Refinery extends beyond pricing. The NNPCL recently confirmed earlier reports that the refinery is not producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, directly from its operations. Instead, the refinery produces Straight- Run Gasoline (Naphtha), which is blended into PMS.

This blending process results in the production of 1. 4 million litres of PMS daily, but the practice has raised eyebrows about transparency and authenticity in product labeling.

SaharaReporters had earlier disclosed, through reliable sources, that the NNPCL was blending Cracked C5 petroleum resins and Naphtha to create PMS, rather than trucking out fully processed petrol as claimed.

This revelation undermines the perceived operational effectiveness of the Port Harcourt Refinery, which is said to be running at 70% of its installed capacity. Critics argue that the blended fuel sold as PMS may not meet the same standards as fully refined products, thereby posing potential risks to consumers.

The higher cost of fuel from the Port Harcourt Refinery, coupled with allegations of non- standard production practices, underscores the need for improved oversight, transparency, and efficiency in Nigeria’ s refining sector. For consumers, these issues translate to higher pump prices and potential quality concerns, further highlighting the need for robust reforms in the country’ s petroleum industry.

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