NEWS
President Tinubu To Attend Joint Arab-Islamic Summit In Saudi Arabia
President Bola Tinubu, joined by top Nigerian officials, is set to depart Abuja on Sunday for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will participate in the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on Monday, November 11.
The summit, hosted by King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, seeks to address the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.
READ ALSO: Tinubu Reappoints Abdullahi Mustapha As Director-General Of NBRDA
In a statement on Saturday titled “President Tinubu Set to Attend Joint Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,” Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed Tinubu’s attendance alongside a high-level delegation that includes National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris; and Director General of the National Intelligence Agency, Mohammed Mohammed.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu is expected to speak on the critical issue of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, urging a cessation of hostilities and a shift toward peaceful negotiations.
“During the summit, President Tinubu is expected to address the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, emphasising Nigeria’s strong call for an immediate ceasefire and the urgent need for a peaceful resolution,” the statement read.
Nigeria, he added, would advocate for the renewal of “efforts to revive the two-state solution as a pathway to lasting peace in the region.”
This trip will be President Tinubu’s third visit to Saudi Arabia since taking office, adding to his tally of 30 foreign trips in 17 months.
During this time, he has visited 16 countries and spent a total of 124 days abroad, accumulating over 127 flight hours.
His international travels have taken him across four continents, with stops in cities such as Malabo, London, Bissau, Nairobi, Porto Novo, The Hague, Pretoria, Accra, New Delhi, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, New York, Berlin, Addis Ababa, Dakar, and Doha.
The summit follows a similar gathering held in Riyadh last year, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s ongoing diplomatic engagement with Middle Eastern and global leaders on matters of regional stability.
President Tinubu is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the summit’s conclusion.
NEWS
NNPC Ltd Announces 1.8mbpd Production, Eyes 2mbpd By Year End
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and its partners have revved up crude oil and gas production to 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4standard cubic feet per day (scfd).
This was revealed at a press briefing on Thursday in Abuja, where the NNPC Ltd attributed the feat to compliance with the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
On the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, congratulated the Production War Room Team that anchored the production recovery process.
ALSO READ: NNPC Ltd To Supply 100mmscf/d Gas To Dangote Refinery
According to Kyari, “The team has done a great job in driving this project of not just production recovery but also escalating production to expected levels that are in the short and long terms acceptable to our shareholders based on the mandates that we have from the President, the Honourable Minister, and the Board.”
Giving details of the efforts of the Production War Room, the Chief War Room Coordinator and Senior Business Adviser to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Lawal Musa, disclosed that the feat was achieved through the collaborative efforts of Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, as well as government and private security agencies.
He said the interventions that led to the recovery of production cut across every segment of the production chain with security agencies closely monitoring the pipelines.
He stressed that when the Production War Room team was inaugurated on the 25th June 2024, production was at 1.430mbpd, but the team swung into action, culminating into it sustaining the production recovery to 1.7mbpd in August and hitting the current 1.808mbpd in November.
“We are confident that with this same momentum and with the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially on the security front, we can see the possibility of getting to 2mbpd by the end of the year,” he stated.
On the development, Chairman of the NNPC Ltd Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure, also congratulated the team, and said he was happy to be part of the production recovery process, adding: “today, I will leave this place with my heart full of joy”.
He charged the Company’s Management to come up with a cashflow projection based on the new production figures to facilitate planning, stressing that he was looking forward to further production increase to 3mbpd.
On his part, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, expressed satisfaction with the performance of the team and pledged the Federal Government’s support for the company to do more.
NEWS
Defence, NA Condole Late COAS’ Family In Osun State
A delegation from the Defence and Army Headquarters (DHQ/AHQ), led by Major General KI Yusuf, Chief of Accounts and Budgets, has visited Osun State to express condolences to the family of the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who passed away on November 5, 2024.
The visit was on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, according to a statement issued via the Nigerian Army’s verified handle on micro-blogging site, X under the signature of Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 2 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel, Polycarp Okoye.
The statement has it that upon arrival in Osun State, the delegation proceeded to the Government House, where they were warmly received by the Executive Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, and other members of the state cabinet. Accompanied by the Governor, the team paid further condolence visits to His Royal Majesty, Oba Ashiru Olatoye, the Olobu of Ilobu Kingdom, at his palace, and to the family of the late COAS.
ALSO READ: Final Journey: Late COAS Lagbaja’s Body Arrives Abuja
Delivering the official condolence message, Major General KI Yusuf emphasized that the delegation’s visit was a mark of respect and honor for the late Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja. He noted that the news of his passing sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Nigerian Army (NA) and the entire Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN). He stated, “We are here to convey the heartfelt condolences of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), the Acting Chief of Army Staff (COAS), and all members of the Armed Forces, particularly the Nigerian Army, which he led with distinction.”
Major General Yusuf highlighted Lieutenant General Lagbaja’s legacy as a brave and committed officer who led from the front in combating terrorism and other security challenges facing Nigeria. He was deeply committed to the welfare of his troops, as demonstrated by numerous projects he initiated and completed across the country. “Under his command, the Nigerian Army witnessed significant transformation,” he added. He also assured the bereaved family of the continued support of the Armed Forces and conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s directive for a state burial at the National Military Cemetery in Abuja.
In his remarks, Governor Ademola Adeleke expressed profound sorrow over the loss of Lieutenant General Lagbaja, describing him as an illustrious son of Osun State. He praised the late COAS for his exemplary life of simplicity, generosity, patriotism, and unwavering dedication to the nation. The Governor recalled his personal interactions with the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja and acknowledged his substantial support for various state projects in Osun State. He thanked the Armed Forces for their condolence visit and encouraged sustained communication with the family and the state at large.
Similarly, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ashiru Olatoye, expressed deep appreciation for the Armed Forces’ support to the Ilobu community and the family of the late Lieutenant General Lagbaja. The Royal Father’s emotional tribute underscored the strong ties between the community and the Nigerian Army.
Key activities during the condolence visit included the signing of the condolence register and the presentation of condolence letters to the Governor, the Royal Father, and the family of the late General. The delegation also , former included other distinguished members of the Armed Forces, such as Major General OG Onubogu, General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2 Division, Major General BA Ilori, Director of Planning at AHQ, Major General JO Adeyemo, Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Artillery, and Major General AP Oguntola, Commandant of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies. Additionally, retired officers Major General JB Olawumi, former Director-General of NYSC, and Major General AS Ibikunle former Corps Commander Nigerian Army Ordnance Corps were part of the delegation.
NEWS
Zamfara Gov Tackles Ghost Workers’ Crisis In Civil Service
The Zamfara State government has raised alarms over the growing issue of ghost workers within the state’s civil service, a situation that has become both worrying and perplexing.
Barrister Ahmad Liman, the State Head of Service (HoS), revealed this concern while addressing journalists in Gusau, stating that the exact number of civil servants in the state remains unknown due to the prevalence of fictitious workers.
“The situation has become alarming,” Liman lamented, explaining that ghost workers are particularly prominent in the health and education sectors. He shared a concerning example from a local hospital, where 22 health workers were on the payroll, but a verification process revealed only two were legitimate employees.
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The ongoing verification exercise, which aims to cleanse the system of these phantom workers, is expected to conclude by the end of November 2024. Following this, a committee dedicated to reviewing salaries will be established to ensure a fair and accurate distribution of funds.
Liman, who also chairs the Steering Committee on the Verification Exercise, noted that the current administration inherited unresolved issues from the previous government, including discrepancies in the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage. He emphasized that the faulty execution of the N30,000 minimum wage needs rectification before any new wage increases can be considered.
“As soon as the verification and salary committees submit their reports, the state government will implement the new minimum wage of N70,000,” Liman stated. “However, we cannot implement a new minimum wage without knowing the exact number of civil servants in the state.”
This development underscores the state government’s commitment to addressing inefficiencies and ensuring the proper allocation of state resources, particularly in the wake of a history of unverified workers drawing salaries.