Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum and Regulatory Commission has announced that the Federal Government intends to cancel oil exploration leases that were granted to companies but remain unused without any exploration activities. The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, informed Reuters on Monday that only companies possessing both viable technical expertise and financial support would retain their leases. “Based on PIA (Petroleum Industry Act), the commission is focused on delivering value for the nation, so only firms that are technically and financially viable will keep their leases,” Komolafe said. Komolafe said the commission would initiate reviews…

Preceding the anticipated resumption of talks between the Federal Government and organized labour regarding the new Minimum Wage, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) is convening in Abuja to engage in discussions aimed at determining a living wage that aligns with the prevailing cost of living. This came as the NLC had vowed not to be deterred by the recent assault on workers and their leaders in Imo State. The congress stated that such incidents posed a grave threat to freedom of association and collective bargaining, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and…

The Federal Government funded 422 persons to the ongoing COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said. The minister made this known in a statement on Monday following a controversy trailing 1,411 Nigerian registered delegates at the summit. President Bola Tinubu had on November 29, 2023, departed Abuja for Dubai for the summit expected to end on December 12, 2023. Controversy has since surrounded the number of Nigerian delegates at the summit which ranked that of China, with many Nigerians on social media berating the government for…

The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University’s Yelwa Campus in Bauchi has shut down the institution following protests by students over the fatal stabbing of Joseph Agabaidu, a final-year Geology student of the institution, during a robbery attempt. In a circular signed by the Deputy Registrar (Academic), Haj. Fatima Inuwa Abdullahi, the management approved the closure of the university for an ‘initial period of one week with effect from Monday, December 4, to Sunday, December 10. According to the circular, the objective is to prevent a breakdown of law and order while alleging that the protest was hijacked by hoodlums.…

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has ordered an immediate investigation into the airstrike in Tudun Biri village, Igabi Local Government Area of the state. In a statement issued on Monday, he said, “I received with shock news of the tragic incident at Tudun Biri village, Afaka ward of Rigasa District of Igabi Local Government, where Muslim faithful observing Maulud celebration were mistakenly killed and many others injured following a military drone attack targeting terrorists and bandits. Search and rescue operations in the area are ongoing. The State Government has dispatched top government officials to the area to assess the…

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has released the Regulatory Framework for Energy Transition, Decarbonisation, and Carbon Monetisation in Nigeria. A statement issued on Monday said the framework was released during the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference 2023 (COP28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Commission’s Chief Executive (CCE), announced the release of the framework during his keynote talk at a roundtable discussion titled ‘Driving Sustainable Upstream Operations to Achieve Just and Equitable Energy Transition’. Komolafe said the Commission is advocating for the decarbonization of upstream operations. This is to maintain investments in energy security…

The Federal Government has cleared N52 million fines and compensation for 399 inmates at various correctional centres across Kaduna State as part of measures to decongest the facilities. Dr. Ado Saleh, Kaduna State Comptroller of Correctional Services, disclosed this on Monday in Zaria. Saleh said, “We are here to release 68 inmates from Zaria, Makarfi, Soba, and Ikara Correctional Centres.” He stated that 110 inmates were previously released in Kaduna and that the event in Zaria was a continuation of the programme. “In total, 399 inmates in Kaduna State were marked to be released at the cost of N52 million.…

The House of Representatives Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has promised to revitalize the agency in order to ensure the rehabilitation of roads across the country. Hon. Aderemi Oseni, Chairman of the Committee, made the promise during an interactive session with FERMA management in Abuja. He said that the country’s roads are in abysmal condition, causing enormous suffering for Nigerians, impeding economic growth, and ruining the country’s image. He added that the public’s perception of FERMA is one of incompetence, corruption, and ineptitude. According to the legislator, the committee’s goal is to revitalize, reposition and redefine the agency…

The Nigerian Army has claimed responsibility for the bombing of villagers during a Maulud Nabiy celebration at Tudun Biriin in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The army, however, said the airstrikes were inadvertent, saying operatives were targeting terrorists. About 30 residents were feared dead in the airstrikes on Sunday night. Samuel Aruwan, Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Kaduna State, said in a statement on Monday that the Army claimed responsibility for the unfortunate incident. “The Kaduna State Government has received briefings on Sunday night’s attack which left several citizens dead and others injured. In…

UEFA says it is investigating after nookie sounds were transmitted during the broadcast of the Euro 2024 draw on Saturday. Lewd noises could be heard as Switzerland were drawn in Group A with Scotland, Hungary and hosts Germany. YouTube prankster Daniel Jarvis claimed responsibility for the prank. Jarvis broadcast himself live on X, formerly Twitter, ringing a mobile phone at intervals to trigger the noises as the Euros draw, which was streamed on the BBC, took place in Hamburg, Germany. He told viewers: “Listen that was us, that was us. We got it in there, we put the phone in…

The Management of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has announced an increase in the university’s tuition fees for undergraduates by over 100 per cent. It was gathered that the announcement was made in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar on Monday. In the statement by the institution’s spokesman, Mr. Effiong Eyo, said the upward review of the fees was taken at an emergency meeting of the university’s Senate on Friday. The release disclosed that the implementation of the upward review takes effect from the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions. According to the increment, freshers, returning students and final-year…

House of Representatives lawmakers have commenced the Citizens’ Town Hall meeting on the 2024 budget and appropriation in Abuja. The gathering, organized by the House Committee on Appropriation and the Programmes Coordinating Unit under the Office of the Speaker of Representatives, witnessed the presence of numerous notable individuals. Among those present were the Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, Kabir Abubakar, and his deputy, Iduma Enwo, and also the former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Iyiola Omisore, alongside other distinguished personalities. Kabir, in his opening remarks, expressed that the objective of the assembly was to increase the participation of citizens…