NEWS
‘There Were Fears’ — Energy Expert On African Immigrants’ Concerns Over Trump’s Return
Renowned energy policy analyst, Yemi Adeoye has voiced concerns about the potential impact of the 45th U.S. President, Donald Trump’s return to the White House, on African immigrants, especially Nigerians, residing in the United States.
Biztellers reports that Trump who bore the flag of the Republican Party beat Vice President Kamala Harris, who flew the flag of the Democrats in the November 5, 2024 US elections, in the race for the White House and is set to become the 47th POTUS.
In an interview on TVC News on Monday, monitored by our correspondent, Adeoye expressed concerns within immigrant communities, particularly among Nigerians in the United States, regarding Trump’s immigration policies and rhetoric.
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He said, “There were fears, and the fears were simply based along the issues in discourse. The American election is all about the economy—it was a decision made by the economy, and second to that will be immigration.
“For Nigerians, Africans, we were hopeful for the Democratic Party because some of the policies were a little bit friendly to Africans in the United States.”
Adeoye noted that while “the incoming president (Donald Trump) is a gentleman in his own right,” his communication style can be interpreted as “rash depending on who is analyzing it,” and this can sometimes lead to misunderstandings that impact immigrant communities negatively.
“A lot of people take this communication and push it in a very negative direction,” he explained, adding that it “has adverse effects on immigrants, including Africans, and that is a concern of a lot of Nigerians.”
Adeoye emphasized that even legal immigrants, many of whom felt that previous policies added stress to their lives, are particularly concerned about the effects of any renewed immigration crackdown.
“Even if you are in the U.S. and doing well, your children, your relatives will go to school and they are bullying in schools, so that is a concern for immigrant families, especially legal immigrant families,” Adeoye said.
“A lot of people might not understand why Nigerians were a little bit skeptical about the conservative Party policies. It is simply because at the end of the day, it is not all about grass and groceries, it is about being able to have a sense of dignity in the society where you operate and that was not 100% in the last time when Mr. Trump was the president.”
He further noted that, during Trump’s previous administration, some legal immigrants “faced backlash” from policies aimed at curbing illegal immigration. “Some legal immigrants will be pulled over unnecessarily just to do all of those things they were not used to. It was a little bit heated at that time, and that was the concern,” he recalled.
Adeoye went on to say that “under the Democratic administration, a lot of that has been cooled off, that has totally disappeared, especially as it concerns legal immigrants. Because Africans come to the United States legally.”
Nonetheless, he expressed cautious optimism, adding, “We are hopeful that the new administration of Mr. Trump would be beneficial to legal immigrants because he mentioned that during the campaign that his concerns were illegal immigrants. So some persons in the United States were like, ‘Okay, if he comes in this time, it will be favorable to immigrants.’”
Adeoye’s remarks come as the U.S. immigration debate remains a core issue, with many African immigrant communities closely watching how future policies may shape their lives and opportunities in America.
NEWS
NNPC Ltd To Supply 100mmscf/d Gas To Dangote Refinery
. . . 10-year Deal To Boost Local Production, Revamp Industrial Growth
The NNPC Gas Marketing Limited (NGML), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, has successfully executed a Gas Sale and Purchase Agreement (GSPA) with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
This was detailed in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi O Soneye.
The agreement, according to the statement, was signed by the Managing Director, NGML, Barr. Justin Ezeala and the President/CEO of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote on Tuesday at the Corporate Head Office of Dangote in Falomo, Lagos State.
It was gathered that the agreement outlines the supply of natural gas for power generation and feedstock at the Dangote Refinery, in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State.
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This major milestone is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s policy of utilizing Nigeria’s abundant gas resources towards revamping the nation’s industrial growth and kickstarting its economic prosperity.
This development, which sees a huge investment of this nature penned with zero capital expenditure (CAPEX) outlay, has been described by many as unprecedented in the history of NGML or any gas Local Distribution Company (LDC) in the country.
Under the terms of the agreement, the NGML will supply 100 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCF/D), 50MMSCF/D being firm supply and the rest 50MMSCF/D interruptible natural gas supply to the refinery for an initial period of 10 years, with options for renewal and growth.
This collaboration is a significant step toward ensuring the operational success of the Dangote Refinery and enhancing Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization.
The NNPC Ltd, through NGML, its gas marketing subsidiary, continues to lead efforts in promoting the use of domestic gas to support industries and businesses nationwide.
The agreement represents a milestone for both the NNPC Ltd and the Dangote Refinery, aligning with their shared commitment to boosting local production and providing vital products for the benefit of all Nigerians.
It is also a further proof of the NGML’s unwavering commitment to business excellence and fulfilling the NNPC Ltd’s core mandate of ensuring Nigeria’s energy security through the execution of strategic gas projects across Nigeria.
NEWS
NNPC Ltd Strengthens Board With New Appointments
The Board of Directors of the NNPC Limited, on Wednesday, in Abuja, announced a series of strategic leadership appointments.
These changes, according to a statement by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, ‘reflect our continued dedication to enhancing corporate governance, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring long-term success in Nigeria’s energy sector’.
It disclosed that the appointments made include, Adedapo A. Segun, appointed as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Segun had served as the Executive Vice President, Downstream, where he made significant contributions to the company’s downstream operations, the statement added.
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Also, Isiyaku Abdullahi has been named Executive Vice President (EVP), Downstream, while Udobong Ntia has been appointed Executive Vice President (EVP), Upstream.
Soneye noted that the appointments align with NNPC Limited’s commitment to building a unified and competent leadership team to drive operational excellence and support the organization’s strategic objectives.
“The Board and Management also extend their deepest appreciation to Mr. Umar Ajiya and Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa A. Eyesan for their outstanding dedication and service to NNPC Limited,” he stated.
Soneye noted that the NNPC Limited remains committed to achieving operational excellence, enhancing global competitiveness, and ensuring financial sustainability, while prioritizing the interests of the Nigerian public in the petroleum industry.
NEWS
Vandals Wreak Havoc On Obajana Substation – TCN
Armed vandals have attacked the Obajana Transmission Substation in Kogi State, damaging a critical 330/132/33 kilovolt power transformer.
The incident occurred late on the night of November 12, 2024, around 11:55 PM, causing significant disruption to the ongoing project.
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In a statement released Wednesday, Ndidi Mbah, spokesperson for the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), confirmed the attack.
According to Mbah, “Reports from security personnel at the site indicate that the assailants opened fire indiscriminately, causing the guards to flee.”
During the assault, a 150MVA 330/132/33kV power transformer, already installed on its plinth, was hit, resulting in a burst radiator.
TCN has launched an assessment of the damage, working closely with the contractor managing the project.
“In response to the incident, TCN is evaluating the level of damage in collaboration with the contractor managing the project,” Mbah added.
This latest attack is part of a broader wave of vandalism targeting the country’s power transmission infrastructure.
The Obajana Transmission Substation, which is designed to provide a 1X150MVA 330/132/33kV capacity, is expected to significantly improve power supply to Kogi State and surrounding regions once completed.
The company has faced increasing challenges from similar attacks in recent months.
Just days before the Obajana incident, TCN had to implement a blackout in Lokoja, Kogi State, due to the vandalization of the Lokoja-Gwagwalada 330 kilovolt transmission line 1.
TCN has also pointed to these acts of vandalism as a major contributing factor to the recent collapses of Nigeria’s national power grid.
“The company had also blamed incessant national grid collapses in Nigeria on the vandalization of its facilities,” the statement noted, referencing at least twelve national grid failures in recent months.