PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021
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News
Gas Flaring: Reps to investigate revenue loss, unpaid penalties to FG By Christiana Ekpa
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he House of Representatives at yesterday mandated its Committee on Gas Resources to investigate the gas flare volume reported by the government and the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Tracker to ascertain the amount of gas flared, extent of discrepancies and the amount of revenue due to the government from gas flare penalties. The move by the House followed the adoption of a motion, titled ‘Need to Check the Activities of Oil Companies Flaring Gas in Nigeria,’ sponsored by Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim Halims. Presenting the motion, Halims
noted that Nigeria gazetted the Flare Gas (Prevention of Waste and Pollution) Regulations 2018 to reduce and eliminate gas flare in Nigeria through monetization and investment in the gas flare ecosystem. The Lawmaker disclosed that, paragraph 12 of the Policy, increased penalties from $0.30 to $2.00 IMSCF (one thousand standard cubic feet) on flared/ vented gas volumes, while paragraph 21 stipulated a penalty of USD2.S0 IMSCF (per thousand standard cubic feet) against a producer, who fails to provide flare gas data or supply accurate and complete flare gas data. The lawmaker expressed concerns that after the penalty
regime started, the gas flare volumes reported by Nigeria was drastically reduced for 2018 and 2019 and created a huge discrepancy between the gas flared volumes reported by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) Gas Flare Tracker (GFT) which is satellitebased and the volumes declared by the federal government for the period. He is worried that the discrepancy will cost the government huge revenue loss from penalties estimated at $680 million & 98GWh for 2018 and 2019 and present a planning challenge in terms of inaccuracies in figures that may be presented for gas flare investments.
He said: ”Aware that FOSTER (DFID Sponsored -Facility for Oil Sector Transformation) informed the Gas Resources Committee that the discrepancy as currently determined is 190bcf and IS0bcf in 2018 and 2019 respectively which potentially represents an aggregate revenue loss of $680 million in unpaid penalties to the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2018 and 2019. ”Alarmed that the loss to Nigeria may be higher when the penalties accrue from venting are determined and added to the money ‘accruable’ from flared gas discrepancies and other losses in terms of power generation which is now estimated at 98 GWH for 2018 and 2019 respectively.”
Speaker, House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (middle), Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen (R) and Deputy Whip, House of Representatives, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (L) during the opening of a 2-day retreat on ‘Achieving Gender Equity in the Constitution Review Process’ yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa
2023 Presidency: Allow South South complete her second term -Zonal Officer By Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
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he South South Zonal Officer of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) Mr Chux Nwaebuni on Thursday said that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be ceded to the South South Geopolitical zone in 2023, stressing that it would be the only way the party will win the presidency among others Nweabuni who spoke to Journalists in Asaba averred that all the presidents since 1999 had not given the opportunity for the South South president as expected apart from Dr Goodluck
Johnathan who hailed from the South South region but only did a single tenure and warned that failure by the party, PDP to recognize this facts might spell doom where All Progressive Congress ( APC) might continued to rule the country in abysmal failure Nweabuni stressed that President Muhammadu Buhari with APC failed Nigerians adding that it would be better opportunity for PDP to ensure that South South president was possible saying” President Good luck Johnathan was frustrated through high powered conspiracy thereby shortchanging the South
South Geopolitical zone” He revealed that having Johnathan from the South South preside over the affairs of the country as president under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) was the greatest blessings which most Nigerians never appreciated until they tasted the All Progressive Congress ( APC) version of governance hitherto doomsday Nwaebuni noted that the South South people were liberal minded adding that the PDP as acceptable party in Nigeria at moment should work harder to get it right for the freedom of Nigerians who had been under siege of terrible
learnership He said”What we see today in the administration is the exact opposite of what democracy is all about.It is such a terrible learnership and situation for Nigerians and it’s time for the South South Geopolitical zone to capture the Presidency come 2023 and ensure we push out the All Progressive Congress ( APC) for us to move forward in Nigeria” Nwaebuni however called on other Geopolitical zones in the country to join hands in the quest for an elected president from the South South to complete the zone’s second term for equity sake and good dividend of democracy
Coalition advocates tax on sugary drinks consumption in Nigeria By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
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coalition of nongovernmental organisations under the National Action on Sugar Reduction(NASR), said it is advocating for government to tax sugary drinks in Nigeria and subsidize high cost of diabetes treatment. The group made the disclosure during its inaugural meeting held in Abuja recently, saying that, there is a need for policy measures to tackle the health risks of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages in the country . This was contained in statement signed by the Coalition representative, Omei BongosIkwue said “if Nigeria government will taxed sugary drinks this will go a long way in saving public health and create economic value. “Sugar-sweetened beverages (soft drinks) contribute significantly to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, including type II diabetes, stroke and heart disease. A single soft drink bottle contains staggering amounts of sugar -up to 12 cubes. “Soft drinks are also a major contributing factor to tooth decay and obesity, a risk factor for a host of chronic diseases. A Euromonitor report lists Nigeria as the 4th highest consumer of soft drinks in the world,”Bongos-Ikwue stated. The statement mentioned that ,”there is a growing evidence to suggest that suitable health policies, such as tax, can discourage the consumption of sugary drinks and potentially prevent their poor health effects. The coalition recognizes that a tax would not be a complete solution itself but rather one component of a comprehensive approach to preventing NCDs.”. The statement stated that the coalition’s recommended that that Federal Ministry of Health should initiate a public awareness and education campaign on the health risks associated with excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and the cost of diabetes care and the management of other NCDs. Also,the Coalition specifically called on the Minister of Finance to introduce an excise duty of 20% on sugar-sweetened beverages such as carbonated sugary drinks and energy drinks. The NGOs ‘believes that, the National Assembly should introduce a tax on sugary drinks to provide a more lasting solution. The coalition was drawn from Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Nigeria Cancer Society ,Breast Without Spot,Lafiya Wealth Initiative. Others are :TalkHealth9ja,Nigeria Health Watch,Project PINK BLUE, Sustainable Development Initiative and African Youth Initiative on Population, Health and Development (AfrYPoD).
PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 2021
15-yr-old college student electrocuted in Benue
From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
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15 year old Emmanuel, student of Benue State University Technical College has been electrocuted to death in Makurdi, Benue State capital. The incident happened in Achussa, a suburb in the State capital. Narrating how the incident happened, uncle to the deceased Samuel Olokpo said on the morning of 19th April, 2021, officals of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN came to the house when everyone had gone to work and disconnected electric lines belonging to four households. He said two(2) of the neighbors quickly brought out their bills and were immediately reconnected. “In the afternoon, one Emeka, a boy of 5 years was playing and mistakenly stepped on the wire and it shocked him. So, my niece decided to roll up the wires to avert any further danger and in the process, he was electrocuted. Hitherto, one of our neighbors Mr. Jonathan Adi said his wife told him that electrical appliances in the house were still functioning despite the disconnection. We rushed him to Ushakaa hospital where he was pronounced dead and later deposited his body at Benue State University Teaching Hospital, BSUTH. “PHCN staff came to the house to condole us. Meanwhile, we have notified our lawyers. He was a cool, quiet headed boy who was gifted in the art of handcraft (he used to make shoes)that is why we enrolled in a technical college Grand mother of the deceased who raised him from.infancy Mrs. Veronica Odo, a staff of Benue State Hospital Management Board wept uncontrollably, lamenting that the negligence of PHCN has cut short the life of his grandson. “Can his memory ever wipe up from my mind. He promised to buy me a car. My only grandson”, she said amidst sobs. Meanwhile, another resident of Achussa Mr. Ejembi Oloja complained bitterly the illegal and obnoxious practice by the Jos Electricity distribution company. He narated how on several occasions the company will negligently leave live wire after disconnecting it. “I was very lucky on getting home to discover my kids playing very close to a live wire disconnected by JED in my compound. I called them to remove it but they refuse to come for several hours and eventually when they did it was discovered it had power on it He also disclosed that JED has been cheating the people of Achussa over bills, maintaining that in a situation where power supply is absent for three weeks yet JED will send a full month estimated bill amounts to cheating.
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Kano sponsors surgery of 7 hermaphrodites, to establish center for patients From Mustapha Adamu, Kano
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he Kano State Government has said that it has sponsored the surgery of seven hermaphrodite patients at Tetfund Centre of Excellence in Urology and Nephrology, Usman Danfodio University Sokoto. The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje disclosed this while receiving six patients recently sponsored for the surgery during the state’s executive council meeting on Wednesday in Kano. “Kano state government was worried when we got information that there was one person with that intersex problem. We also learned that the person needed assistance for surgical operation. We quickly
intervened and took the patient to Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto,” he hinted. “We then ordered for search for other similar cases in the state. We got other 6 cases, whom we also sent to UDUS, Centre of Excellence. Alhamdulillah all of them were successfully operated. “All the seven patients were operated free of charge. The state paid all the bills. So, anybody with a similar case should please come forward and get our attention. We have already ordered for more search, as stated earlier,” he said. The governor further revealed that the state government had ordered for the search of more similar cases in the state, assuring that, the state would sponsor their
operations in the same centre in Sokoto. He however disclosed that the state government has to institutionalise such gestures, while embarking on a plan to establish such centre in the state. “We are now starting to establish a similar Centre in Kano, in partnership with the Centre of Excellence, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. We are institutionalising the process and intervention. Our concern is always the health and happiness of our people.” He noted that places with higher population may likely be more prone to such health issue, adding that Kano state as the most populated state in the country has
every tendency to have more of such people. “That is part of the reason why we must institutionalize the process and our determined intervention,” he stated. During his presentation remarks, Professor Nasiru Yawuri, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, commended the state government and the foresight of the governor for sponsoring 7 people for that surgical operation. He said “On behalf of the University and the Centre of Excellence, we are very much grateful for the people-oriented leadership of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, for making it necessary by the state government to support these people.”
From left: Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; First Lecturer, Prof. Abdulafees Oladosu; Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta States, Alhaji Daud Akinola; and Chairman of Ibadan Muslim Community, Chief Bayo Oyero, at the 7th Annual Omituntun Ramadan Lecture in Ibadan on Wednesday (21/4/21).
Malaria still life threatening disease - PSN
From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
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he Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) kaduna State Branch has said malaria is still a life-threatening disease especially in pregnant women and children under 5 years of age. The PSN Chairman Pharm Talatu Uwa Ebune stated this in a statement made available to media in kaduna yesterda Pharm Talatu Uwa Ebune disclosed that about 3.3 billion people - half of the world population still live at risk of this
preventable and treatable disease. “Africa carries the highest share of the global malaria burden and Nigeria accounted for the 25% out of the 219 million global cases of malaria in 2017, it accounts for 60% of outpatient visits and 30% hospitalization in Nigeria. “ Malaria is associated with a significant burden on public health and economic stability, and has a direct impact on households’ income, wealth and productivity of both the sick and the caregivers. “ she said Speaking on the forthcoming
World Malaria Day on 25th April, she said it is a day to highlight the need for continued investment and sustained political commitment for malaria prevention, control, and drive down the incidence to zero. As part of the activities to commemorate this day, she said PSN Kaduna State Chapter is organizing public enlightenment campaigns on malaria prevention, malaria testing and distribution of malaria prevention materials on 26th April, 2021 by 10:00 am at the PSN Kaduna secretariat,
No.2 Ali Akilu road Kaduna. The PSN Chairman added that the theme of the World Malaria Day 2021 is “Zero Malaria starts with me” and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria Sub Theme is “Pharmacists stand against Malaria.” “ we would like to commend the efforts of all stakeholders (governments, health care team, international partners led by W.H.O, donor agencies, etc.) for the successes achieved in the fight against malaria so far.
of Agriculture and Rural Development, Pharmacist Samaila Adamu Burga stated this in Bauchi whien he declared opened a 5 days training workshop for staff of the BASAC organized in conjunction with Namus Agric Consult Nigeria Ltd ,He said that the government in order to provide succor to plight of farmers every year. Burga said that the scheme is aimed at eliminating all hindrances
to availability of the commodity to peasant farmers across the state through the provision of fertilizer ,good seeds and other genuine farming implements to farmers . He said that, “it’s the responsibility of the company BASAC to ensure that the farmers got quality farm inputs in order to boost food production. Over the years, the company has done well as can be seen in the produce of our
farmers yearly”. Commissioner said that, “in order to ensure that the farmers got fertilizer without hitches, the government has released the sum of N300m to BASAC as a revolving scheme to procure the commodity from the blending company, sell it to the farmers and go for another round of supply, with that, there will be no break in supply of the commodity “.
Bauchi releases N300m fertilizer revolving scheme to boost agric production From Mohammed,Bauchi
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Ahmed
auchi State Government has released the sum of N300m to the State Agricultural Supply Company (BASAC)to procure a fertilizer under a revolving scheme program to procure the fertilizer commodity and distributes it to farmers in the state. The State Commissioner