Headlines

A group under the aegis of Igbo National Council (INC) Worldwide has revealed that about 98 security checkpoints exist in the five states of the Southeast region.

It also lamented what it described as incessant harassment and extortion from citizens and motorists by the security personnel manning the checkpoints.

In a press statement issued by its National Coordinator, Chilos Godsent, he revealed that Abia State topped the list with 37 checkpoints followed by Imo State with 23 checkpoints.

It further revealed that Anambra and Enugu have 15 checkpoints each, as Ebonyi came behind with 8 checkpoints.

The press statement said that the research was carried out by the directorate of human rights protection, a research department of the council with the mandate of checking human rights violations by various security outfits in the region.

It further stated that the council was propelled to embark on the task following a series of reports from members of the public on the humiliations they were encountering in the hands of the security personnel on a daily basis.

Godsent further stated in the press statement that some of the checkpoints are manned by a joint task force, comprising the military, police and civil defense, while at some blockades it will be either the military or the police.

He stated that even though the group was not happy with the rate of insecurity in the region, the security operatives should carry out their operations with human face.

The group pointed out that if the security personnel kept to rules of their professional engagement, it would build a healthy relationship between them and the civilians who also have responsibility of helping the security outfits in the fight against criminalities.

But the group, however, regretted that the checkpoints and outposts have allegedly turned to illegal toll gates and humiliation points against civilians who are the road users.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning that he will not permit any individual to seize control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) structure in Rivers State.

The former Governor of Rivers State has threatened to spark a political crisis in the states of any PDP governors who dare to meddle in the party’s affairs in Rivers State, vowing to fiercely defend his home state’s PDP chapter against external interference.

The PDP governors, who met in Taraba State on August 23, weighed in on the crisis rocking the party in the state and reiterated their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The PDP Governors’ Forum, in a communiqué read by its Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, called for a review of the party congress outcome to restore Fubara’s leadership role in the state.

Speaking at the PDP secretariat in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Saturday during the party’s state congress, Wike urged the PDP governors to stay clear of the party’s affairs in Rivers.

He said, “Let me assure all of you, not while we live will anybody take away the structure of the PDP from us. But let me tell people, I hear some governors who say they will take over the structure and give it back to somebody.

“I pity those governors because I will put fire in their states. When God has given you peace, you say you don’t want peace – anything you see, you take.

Because I heard they got some money from a signature bonus, and so their heads are getting big that they will put a hand in my own state. Prepare because I have the capacity to do the same thing in your state.

“Whether you are from Bauchi, I don’t give a damn; whichever state you are from, as far as I know that you are trying to put yourself in Rivers State, your hand will get burnt, and you will never sleep in your state.”

The Rivers PDP has been in crisis following the fallout between Wike and his predecessor, who was absent at the congress.

Amidst Nigeria’s economic woes and soaring inflation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Yemi Cardoso, and his four deputies have allegedly purchased bulletproof SUVs valued at over N10 billion, sparking controversy and public outcry.

According to reports, the CBN officials have been spending extravagantly, including the purchase of ultra-modern armoured vehicles and an increase in their allowances, even as many Nigerians struggle with hunger, hardship, and inflation.

It is reported that Governor Cardoso recently procured six armoured Lexus LX 600 2023 models for himself and the four deputy governors—Emem Usoro, Philip Ikeazor, Bala Bello, and Sani Abdullahi—at a cost exceeding N10 billion.

Cardoso secured two SUVs for his personal use in Lagos and Abuja, while the other four deputies received one.

Furthermore, sources indicate that the officials already had armoured vehicles in their convoys before acquiring the new ones.

Additionally, it is claimed that about 20 Toyota Camry cars, each costing approximately N85 million, were purchased for CBN management and board members.

Reports also allege that the CBN governor and his deputies have significantly increased their annual housing allowances to around N1 billion, despite residing in official residences in Maitama, Abuja.

Moreover, they have reportedly upgraded their international travel privileges from business class to first class, with the cost of a first-class ticket from Abuja to New York currently around $15,000.

Their foreign travel allowances have also allegedly been increased, with each official reportedly receiving $7,000 per night during foreign trips.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, and General Secretary, Emma Ugboaja, have been summoned by the Nigeria Police Force to appear at the Force Headquarters on September 5, 2024.

This fresh summons comes less than 24 hours after Ajaero honored a previous police invitation related to allegations of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.

The police are now summoning both Ajaero and Ugboaja to respond to new allegations of criminal intimidation, conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace, and malicious damage to properties.

The invitation was reportedly issued by the Force Intelligence Department (FID) of the Nigeria Police Force.

This development signals an escalating tension between the NLC leadership and the Nigerian authorities, as the union has been at the forefront of challenging government policies and actions deemed detrimental to Nigerian workers and the general public.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited says it is seeking to engage reputable and credible Operations and Maintenance companies, to operate and maintain the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company.

This was disclosed in a statement on Friday on its official social media handle.

The Warri refinery located at Warri in Delta State was commissioned in 1978. Warri is a complex conversion refinery with a nameplate distillation capacity of 6,250,000 MTA (125,000 bpd). The refinery complex includes a petrochemical plant commissioned in 1988 with production capacities of 13,000 MTA of polypropylene and 18,000 MTA of carbon black. The refinery is meant to supply markets in the south and southwest regions of Nigeria.

On its part, the Kaduna refinery was commissioned in 1980 to supply petroleum products to Northern Nigeria with a capacity of 50,000 B/D. In 1983, the capacity was expanded to 100,000 B/D by adding a second 50,000 B/D crude train dedicated to the production of lubricating oils (lubes). In 1986, the capacity of the first crude train was expanded to 60,000 B/D. The expansions have increased the current nameplate capacity of the refinery to 110,000 B/D