By Our Reporter
Nigerian President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday, commended the increase in crude oil production, which has risen to 1.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) in response to recent emergency measures introduced by the Nigerian National Petroleum Conpany Limited (NNPCL) to address gaps in priduction volume.
Tinubu, who gave the commendation in a nationwide broadcast in response to the ongoing protests against economic hardship and high living costs, stated that Nigeria’s gas assets are now receiving the attention they deserve after a seeming under utilization.
While noting that the new development would attract more investors into the country, he said the government has already secured two Foreign Direct Investments and signed off over half a billion dollars since then.
He said: “Our once-declining oil and gas industry is experiencing a resurgence on the back of the reforms I announced in May 2024 to address the gaps in the Petroleum Industry Act. Last month, we increased our oil production to 1.61 million barrels per day, and our gas assets are receiving the attention they deserve.
“Investors are coming back, and we have already seen two Foreign Direct Investments signed of over half a billion dollars since then.
Speaking further, Tinubu spoke of how blessed the nation is with oil and gas resources but lamented the neglect of gas resources to power the economy.
He said, as a result, his government immediately launched Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy and bring costs down.
According to the President, the CNG would save over two trillion Naira on a monthly basis, being used to import PMS and AGO and free up national resources for more investment in healthcare and education.
“Fellow Nigerians, we are a country blessed with both oil and gas resources, but we met a country that had been dependent solely on oil-based petrol, neglecting its gas resources to power the economy. We were also using our hard-earned foreign exchange to pay for, and subsidise its use.
“To address this, we immediately launched our Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (CNG) to power our transportation economy and bring costs down. This will save over two trillion Naira a month, being used to import PMS and AGO and free up our resources for more investment in healthcare and education.
“To this end, we will be distributing a million kits of extremely low or no cost to commercial vehicles that transport people and goods and who currently consume 80% of the imported PMS and AGO.
“We have started the distribution of conversion kits and setting up of conversion centres across the country in conjunction with the private sector. We believe that this CNG initiative will reduce transportation costs by approximately 60 per cent and help to curb inflation, the President stated.
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It has been revealed that the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpehbolo, hoarded the palliative given to him by the Federal Government for the Edo Central Senatorial District his senatorial zone, Edo central.
In a statement by Edo Movement for the Masses, the group alleged that Okpehbolo was given 5 trailer loads of rice and 3 trailer loads of fertilizer by the Federal Government to ease the hardship of the people of the Edo Central Senatorial Zone.
“He was given given rice and fertilizer for the masses of his senatorial zone to sponsor empowerment programmes for women, youth and people with good ideas to create emplpoyment and ease hardship.
He was asked to give one trailer load of rice to each of the 5 local government areas and the fertilizer that constitute the senatorial zone.
” Instead of distributing the palliative, he hoarded them to use during this campaign period. Now he is telling our people that he is coming to share materials to ease their hardship ”
Raymond Ebosele who signed the statement, urged the electorates in the senatorial zone to collect the rice and fertilizer and still not vote for Okpehbolo.
These palliative was given to the APC governorship candidate just like other senators, “while others gave theirs out but Okpehbolo kept them to bribe the electorates, let’s collect them. They belong to us. A man who can sit on our food and our fertilizer for 8 months for his own selfish gain, does not have our interest at heart. He does not mean well for our people.
“Collect everything they bring to you. Collect the rice, collect the fertilizer. It is your own but don’t vote for Okpehbolo. Reject him at the polls ”
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Constitutional Breach: Law Professor Faults Announcement of New CCT Chairman
A renowned law professor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Mamman Lawan Yusufari, has expressed concerns over the announcement of a new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) without due regard for the status of the current office holder and relevant constitutional provisions.
Prof. Yusufari, former Dean of the Faculty of Law at Bayero University Kano (BUK), said the Presidency should have considered the constitutional tenure of the current CCT Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar, who is 53 years old and will reach the retirement age of 70 in 2041.
The announcement by Presidential Spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale of Dr. Mainasara Umar Kogo as the new CCT Chairman last month has raised legal concerns and constitutional questions on the status of Danladi Umar.
According to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Chairman and Members of the CCT are appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), which receives advice from the Federal Judicial Service Commission.
Furthermore, the Constitution stipulates that the President can only remove the Chairman and Members upon an address supported by a two-thirds majority of each House of the National Assembly and only on the grounds of inability to discharge functions. They must also vacate office upon attaining 70 years.
Speaking to PRNigeria, Prof. Yusufari noted that the Presidency made a mistake with the announcement, as the due procedure for removing the incumbent Chairman has not been followed. He emphasised that the legislature must approve the removal of the Chairman of any member of CCT, citing acceptable constitutional grounds. Since Umar is in his 50s, age cannot be invoked as grounds for removal.
“I think the presidency must have realised that announcing the appointment of Mainasara Kogo as Chairman of CCT was a mistake because due procedure has not been followed to remove the incumbent Chairman, Danladi Yakubu Umar.
“The legislature must give a nod to his removal, and there must be acceptable constitutional grounds for the removal, such as inability to perform the functions of the office or misconduct.
” Danladi Umar is in his 50s, so you cannot talk about leaving the office on age grounds. The realisation of this mistake probably led to the Presidency’s inaction after the announcement, which permitted Danladi Umar to remain in office.
The professor stressed that the stringent provisions on appointment and removal are rooted in the sensitivity of the offices, ensuring effective public service delivery, good governance, national development, peace, and security.
“The CCT must be insulated from interference and job insecurity,” he concluded.
PRNigeria reports that as the Chairman of CCT, Justice Danladi Umar has presided over several high-profile cases, including the trial of Senator Bukola Saraki, former Kwara Governor and Senate President, and Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Lagos Governor and current Nigerian President.
Additionally, Justice Umar has issued warrants for the arraignment of top government officials across various tiers of government for falsifying properties and personal wealth in their asset declaration forms.
These cases have been among the most controversial and closely watched proceedings at the CCT under Justice Danladi Umar’s leadership, with significant political and legal implications in Nigeria.