Author: Samuel Akpenpuun

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has requested a refund of ₦4.71 trillion from the Federal Government to cover debts incurred from importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. This claim is categorised under “Exchange rate differential on PMS and other joint venture taxes” for the period from August 2023 to June 2024. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, revealed this information during the June meeting of the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee. The minutes of the meeting, obtained on Thursday, provide further details. Exchange rate differentials refer to the variances in currency values…

President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to intensify efforts to crack down on illegal miners in the country. He gave the order while receiving a presentation titled, ‘Harnessing the Mining Industry for Enhanced National Security and Development: Strategic Options for Nigeria by 2035,’ by Course 32 participants of the National Defence College (NDC) on Thursday in Abuja. He also said his administration will ensure that companies engaged in mineral exploration prioritise the health and safety of Nigerians and the host communities. The course 32 participants were tasked by Tinubu, to use their findings during their 11-month study focused on…

The Federal Government has taken delivery of 60 locally assembled Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) hybrid buses. Revealed in a post through its official X handle on Thursday, the buses were delivered by Jet Motor Company under the Presidential CNG Initiative. According to the statement, the development is in continuation of efforts to provide affordable and comfortable transport solutions for Nigerians. The vehicles were handed over to a team comprising the Ministry of Finance and representatives of the Presidential Initiative on CNG (Pi-CNG) at the company’s car manufacturing plant in Ajah, Lagos State. President Bola Tinubu’s national broadcast during the #EndBadGovernance…

The Kano State Government has filed a fresh fraud charge against the immediate past governor, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, his Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Garo, and two others. The charges, meticulously documented and submitted by the Kano State Ministry of Justice, accuse the defendants of conspiring to divert over ₦57.43 billion meant for the 44 local government areas of Kano State. This colossal sum, intended for developmental projects and public services, was allegedly funnelled into personal accounts and used to acquire luxurious properties both locally and internationally. The charge sheet names Garo, Lamin Sani, and Muhammad Takai, accusing them of…

President Mokgweetsi Masisi gave Botswana the afternoon off on Friday to celebrate Letsile Tebogo, the country’s first gold medallist and the first African to be crowned 200-metre Olympic champion. Masisi hailed the 21-year-old sprinter as “Botswana’s Sensation” after his outstanding performance at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. “Botswana’s finest sporting moment,” beamed the MMegoi newspaper, after Tebogo produced a stunning run in the 200m to take gold, leaving pre-race favourite Noah Lyles trailing in third. To put the cherry on the cake, he also set an African record of 19.46 seconds. Tebogo’s achievement will be “etched in the annals of…

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde has denied taking part in the ₦570bn hardship grant claimed to have been given to the state governments by the Federal Government. President Bola Tinubu while addressing Nigerians in a broadcast during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests against hunger and hardship, said the government has disbursed ₦570bn to the 36 states. Tunubu also said that Nigeria spends ₦2tn monthly to import Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil, otherwise known as diesel. He disclosed that ₦9.1tn was accumulated as total fiscal revenue to the Federal Government’s coffers during the first half…

Dangote Petroleum Refinery Limited has insisted that it has been unable to secure its full crude requirement from domestic production, and has urged that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) fully enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). In a statement signed by the Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina, the company clarified issues relating to the challenges it has been facing at getting crude oil supply locally for its operations. It said, “Our attention has been drawn to media reports alleging that the Dangote Refinery has backtracked by acknowledging…

The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh has said the federation was at the last minute, able to secure a bicycle for Nigeria’s cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye, to compete in the keirin and sprint events, contrary to reports that the sport ministry did not provide equipment for her at the ongoing Olympics in Paris. Earlier reports had said Ukpeseraye had no bicycle to race with and had to borrow one from a German cycling team. “Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,” Ukpeseraye said…

The prolific Soufiane Rahimi scored twice and captain Achraf Hakimi netted a stunning free-kick as Morocco hammered Egypt 6-0 on Thursday to take Olympic men’s football bronze. Rahimi’s brace took him to eight goals at the Olympics, cementing his status as the tournament’s top scorer, while Abde Ezzalzouli, Bilal El Khannouss and Akram Nakach also scored in a comprehensive win at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes. Hakimi’s late strike put the icing on the cake as Morocco claimed a first Olympic football medal and a first for North Africa. Morocco, who beat Argentina in their opening group game…

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule has clarified that the World Bank loan received by states is intended solely for infrastructural projects and not for alleviating economic hardship. In recent months, the Federal Government has disbursed N573 billion to state governors to combat poverty. This allocation has drawn scrutiny from various quarters, including human rights lawyer Femi Falana, who has called on states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to account for how the funds were used. Governor Sule addressed these concerns, stating that the World Bank funds are earmarked for specific projects rather than for direct aid or palliatives. “The…