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Corruption Allegation: Leave me alone, face Transparency International, Jonathan tells Presidency

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Nigeria’s former president, Goodluck Jonathan has told the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to leave him alone and face Transparency International, who claimed that Nigeria was more corrupt today than under the last Peoples Democratic Party government.

In a statement released by Jonathan’s media office and signed by his former media aide, Reno Omokri, the presidency is showing signs of guilty conscience in its manner of response to the contents of the new book, launched by the former president, titled, My Transition Hours.

Part of the statement read, “it is just evidence of a guilty conscience. As Shakespeare said “”The lady doth protest too much, methinks”.

“First and foremost, it was not former President Jonathan who said Nigeria is more corrupt today than it was under the last Peoples Democratic Party administration. That fact was actually stated by Transparency International, the only global body acknowledged as an independent rating agency for corruption.

“Whereas under Jonathan and the PDP, Nigeria made her best ever improvement on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, moving eight places forward from 144 to 136 in 2014, but under President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, Nigeria has made her worst ever retrogression, moving backwards 12 places from 136 to 148. This is a fact.”

The statement added, “And other people have stated the obvious besides Transparency International, one of them being Ms. Priti Patel, immediate past UK Secretary of State for International Development, who this week described President Buhari’s anti-corruption war as a sham and an impediment to Nigeria and urged foreign direct investors to shun Nigeria because of Buhari.

“Predictably, President Buhari’s faithful slanderer, Garba Shehu, threw diplomatic etiquette to the winds and hurled invectives at Ms. Patel.

“But Mr. Garba Shehu forgot to tell Nigerians how his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari went to Paris and praised the Governor of Kano state, a man caught on camera hiding dollar bribes in his babanriga. Yet, they charged Ayo Fayose and refused to charge Babachir Lawal.

“Even the blind can see the corruption of this administration and the deaf can hear it. With questionable certificates, fraudulent #NextLevel logo and document, plagiarizing speeches of both Barrack Obama and Charles DeGaulle. Not to talk of the $25 billion dollars’ worth of contracts awarded without due process at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as revealed in Mr. Ibe Kachikwu’s leaked memo, Aisha Buhari’s ADC’s looted billions and the reinstatement and promotion of a thief like Maina.

“Besides, if the Buhari administration is upset at their gold medal for corruption, they should not take out their frustrations at Mr. Jonathan. They should face the umpire who gave them the award, Transparency International.

“Moreover, Garba Shehu descended further into his dark art of lying when he falsely alleged that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweka warned Dr. Jonathan about saving but she was rebuffed.

“That is an obvious lie and is easily demolished by the accounts in Mrs. Iweala’s book, Fighting Corruption is Dangerous. In her book, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said she warned the Governors, but APC Governors led by Rotimi Amaechi, refused to save. Must Garba twist the truth with such satanic abandon?

“This is an administration where the minister of power Tunde Fashola tells the Yoruba ethnic nationality to vote President Buhari and the Southwest will get the Presidency in 2023. The next day, Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Federal Government, told the Igbos to vote for President Buhari and get the Presidency in 2023. They cannot even harmonize their LIES.

“Lies such as the claim that in 16 years of being in office, President Jonathan and the PDP achieved nothing. Meanwhile, the only federal university in President Buhari’s home state was built by Dr. Jonathan. He built 165 almajiri schools, Abuja-Kaduna super-fast railway, four power stations, four hospitals and revived the nationwide rail service. Question for Garba, can he name even one project which was initiated, started and completed in the last three and a half years by President Buhari?

“In conclusion, we urge Garba Shehu to grow a spine and tell his boss the truth about his corrupt laden administration instead of coming out to insult the PDP, a party which brought him to national limelight.”

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NNPC E&P Ltd, NOSL Hit First Oil in OML 13, Akwa Ibom State

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NNPC E&P Ltd, NOSL Hit First Oil in OML 13, Akwa Ibom State

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NNPC E&P Ltd), NNPC Ltd’s flagship upstream subsidiary, and Natural Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL), a subsidiary of Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Company Ltd (SEEPCO), announce the successful commencement of oil production at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The production, which commenced on the 6th of May 2024 with 6,000 barrels of oil is expected to be ramped up to 40,000 barrels per day by May 27th

, 2024.

The first oil flow from OML 13 is a historic milestone in the partnership between NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL, highlighting their dedication to driving growth and development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which remains a vital component of the nation’s economy.

The achievement does not only signify the culmination of rigorous planning and execution by the teams involved, but also represents a new era of economic empowerment and development opportunities for the host communities.

Furthermore, for Nigeria, the first oil from OML 13 holds some significance as it contributes to the country’s efforts to increase its oil production capacity, which is crucial for meeting domestic energy needs and driving economic growth.

The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local communities.

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NCDMB Exec Sec Visits Pipe Coating Firms, Pledges Support For Local Capacities

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NCDMB Exec Sec Visits Pipe Coating Firms, Pledges Support For Local Capacities

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has reassured stakeholders of the industry that oil and gas service companies that have established capacities in the country will continue to enjoy patronage through the award of contracts from operating companies in the industry.


The Executive Secretary NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe made this commitment on Friday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State when he led officials of the Board and Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) to visit companies that deliver pipe coating and related services.


The team visited Brightwaters Energy Limited, formerly known as Willbros Nigeria Ltd, Solewant Nigeria Limited and Pipe Coaters Nigeria, managed by Tenaris Nigeria Ltd.


The Executive Secretary said the visits were to assess the companies’ facilities and determine how the Board can galvanize the industry to patronise them.

He underscored the importance of getting first-hand information on in-country capabilities before making key decisions on oil and gas projects.

He insisted that operating companies must support and patronise local oil and gas service companies in compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.


Ogbe emphasized that activities in the Nigerian oil and gas industry must be used to create employment opportunities for the nation’s teeming youths and help to resuscitate the economy, in line with the aspirations of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.


The Chief Executive Officer of Brightwaters Energy Limited, Mr. Scott Gregory thanked the Executive Secretary for leading the visit while highlighting that Brightwaters, formerly Willbros carried out Nigeria’s first pipe coating in 1962.


He recalled that the facility had 3,000 employees some years back, executing various spheres of oil and gas projects. He conveyed the management’s aspiration to return the firm to those high-performance levels and sought the Board’s support to win oil and gas projects that would resuscitate the sprawling facility.

“We feel that we can be a positive contributor to Nigeria through the capacities that we have. We want to bring real, true value to the table,” he added. He admitted that the coating facility had suffered downtime, but assured that the plant would be up and running within 60 days of the award of a new contract.


The Chairman of Tenaris Nigeria, Dr. Ernest Nwapa welcomed the NCDMB’s team to PCNL’s facilities. He commended the efforts made by the agency to push local content in the industry, attributing it to the good culture that had been established at the Board over the years.


Nwapa, who was the pioneer Executive Secretary of NCDMB expressed delight that some of the oil and gas projects that had been pending for nearly ten years were now being developed and expressed hope that existing local capacities would be maximized in the execution of those projects.


The team was taken around the company’s facilities and shown the various equipment of PCNL in readiness for the award of new contracts. Nwapa pledged the commitment of the company to meet the expectations of clients as well as allow them to participate in the supervision of the work in their factory.


The PCNL facility covers an area of 160,000 m2 in the Onne Free Trade Zone. The company offers Anticorrosion, CWC, Thermal Insulation, Internal and Bends Coating plants as well as Double Jointing and Anode Installation Facilities.


At Solewant Group, an EPCI and Pipe Coating Company, the NCDMB delegation was shown round the company’s facilities as well as the new investments, such as the 5mega watts generators, procured to guarantee power supply to the facility.


Accompanying Engr. Ogbe on the facility visits were the Director Projects Certification and Authorization Division (PCAD), Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, General Manager PCAD, Engr. Maurice Iwhiwhu, Special Technical Assistant (STA) to the Executive Secretary, Engr. Mofe Megbele, Deputy Manager, Corporate Communications, Mr. Obinna Ezeobi, and other staff members of the Board.


The SPDC team was led by the General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, Mr. Lanre Olawuyi.

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Halilu Tasks NASENI Finance Managers On Effective Resource Management

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Halilu Tasks NASENI Finance Managers On Effective Resource Management

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu has underscored the importance of effective resource management, emphasizing the Agency’s responsibility in administering public funds for the benefit of Nigeria.

L-R: Coordinating Director, Engineering Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Prof Bagudu Gwandangaji; Support Officer/NASEN Desk Officer, OAGF, Mr. Mustapha Marafa; Deputy Programme Manager, System Support and Sustainability Directorate, OAGF, Mr. Jeremiah Asanato; Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu; Coordinating Director, Finance and Accounts, NASENI, Alh Ibrahim Baba Dauda; Coordinating Director, Science Infrastructure Directorate, NASENI, Prof Umaru Gaya during a one-day sensitization workshop on Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) policy and guidelines for financial managers organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation held at NASENI Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The EVC stated this while declaring open one-day sensitization workshop on Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) policy and guidelines for financial managers of NASENI in collaboration with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) held at the Agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The workshop was  aimed at enhancing financial management practices for NASENI principal officers, directors, managing directors and accounting officers system-wide.

Urging the participants to take the workshop with all sense of purpose, the EVC/CEO called for accurate financial record-keeping and the adoption of innovative processes which remain integral in the GIFMIS policy. He stressed the significance of staff training and capacity development to ensure the discharge of duties to make NASENI a preferred public sector employer in Nigeria.

While warning staff on classified documents, Mr. Halilu said confidentiality in financial management is a crucial aspect and called for strict adherence to public service regulations regarding the integrity of official information.

He further emphasized the Agency’s 3Cs initiative of Collaboration, Creation, and Commercialization as NASENI’s core operating principles, expressing confidence in achieving the Agency’s goals in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Deputy Programme Manager, System Support and Sustainability Directorate, OAGF, Mr. Jeremiah Asanato, giving overview of the GIFMIS, said it is aimed at integrating budgeting and government expenditure. He emphasized that the policy will help to address irregularities, corruption, and other fraudulent activities in government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

In his vote of thanks, Coordinating Director,Finance and Accounts, NASENI, Alh. Ibrahim Baba Dauda, appreciated all Finance and Accounts Directorate staff from across NASENI centres system-wide for attending the workshop. He challenged them to start thinking of making NASENI an independent revenue-generating agency.

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