National

By Zayyad I. Muhammad

The 60,000 barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery has officially resumed operations after years of inactivity. This marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to revitalise its oil and gas sector. As one of the country’s oldest refineries, with a history spanning 59 years, the Port Harcourt facility is now expected to load at least 200 trucks of petroleum products daily, easing supply constraints, reducing dependence on imported fuels, and introducing a new price regime to compete with the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote refinery. 

Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries have long been entangled in corruption, mismanagement, and relentless pipeline attacks by organised oil thieves. These issues have not only crippled their operational capacity but also forced the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products, despite its status as a major oil producer.

As the old Port Harcourt refinery has resumed processing crude, with Warri and Kaduna expected to follow soon, an important question arises: Should Nigeria continue with the traditional model of absolute state control and management of its refineries? This outdated approach has proven ineffective, plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and underperformance.

This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revamp Nigeria’s refinery management system and introduce reforms to ensure long-term production and efficiency.

When all four state refineries are fully revived and operational, as anticipated, President Tinubu’s government has three viable options for reforming the management of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries. One approach could involve retaining ownership of one refinery while granting it full autonomy to manage its operations independently, cover its expenses, and remit dividends to the government.

Another option is to lease one of the refineries to an oil company or a group of investors interested in petroleum product refining, ensuring it operates efficiently under private-sector expertise. Lastly, the government could fully privatise one refinery, distributing shares among the federal government, host communities, and Nigeria’s 36 states. This inclusive approach would address diverse stakeholder interests while ensuring effective management.

However, discussions about Nigeria’s refineries are incomplete without addressing the critical issue of managing the country’s extensive 5,120-kilometre oil pipeline network and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd.). While the engagement of local communities by NNPC Ltd. has started yielding positive results, significant challenges persist.

The most pressing issues include frequent illegal tapping by oil thieves, sabotage, encroachments on pipeline rights-of-way, delays in detecting leaks, and equipment failures caused by the inaccessibility of certain locations. Compounding these problems is the reliance on outdated methods of pipeline management, which hinder the system’s efficiency and responsiveness.

To address these challenges, adopting advanced technologies is essential. Systems like SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), Fibre Optic Cable (FOC) networks, and tools such as “go-devils,” scrapers, or smart pigs can revolutionise pipeline management. These technologies provide real-time monitoring and early warning systems, enabling swift responses to potential threats or damages, even in remote and inaccessible areas. By integrating these solutions, Nigeria can significantly enhance the security and functionality of its pipeline network, ensuring a more reliable and efficient oil and gas sector.

The revival of the Port Harcourt old refinery and the anticipated return to operation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries are commendable achievements. However, the Tinubu administration must critically evaluate and adopt a new, feasible, profitable, and masses-friendly approach to managing these refineries.

The traditional model of state absolute control has consistently failed, resulting in inefficiencies, corruption, and financial losses. It is time for a transformative strategy that ensures the refineries operate sustainably while delivering maximum benefits to the Nigerian people.

Zayyad I. Muhammad writes from Abuja, zaymohd@yahoo.com.

By Uzair Adam

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has assured that the country’s Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) remain resilient amid ongoing internal and external economic challenges.

CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the communiqué from the 298th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

Cardoso stated that the MPC commended the sustained stability of the banking system despite various economic headwinds.

“Key financial soundness indicators, such as the Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR), Non-Performing Loan ratio (NPL), and Liquidity Ratio (LR), continue to reflect the strength of the sector,” he said, adding that the CBN will maintain close monitoring to ensure banks adhere to regulatory thresholds and remain healthy.

The MPC also highlighted the CBN’s ongoing efforts to deepen financial inclusion, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission.

Addressing inflation, Cardoso noted that data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed a rise in headline inflation to 33.88% in October, up from 32.70% in September.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation increased to 2.64% in October from 2.52% in the previous month.

Food inflation climbed to 39.16% in October from 37.77% in September, while core inflation rose to 28.37%, compared to 27.43% in the preceding month.

Despite the inflationary trend, the MPC observed a slight moderation in the prices of farm produce and commended the Federal Government’s efforts to boost productivity in the agricultural sector.

On economic growth, Cardoso disclosed that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.46% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2024, driven by both the oil and non-oil sectors.

The non-oil sector expanded by 3.37%, while the oil sector recorded a 5.17% growth.

Additionally, Nigeria’s external reserves increased to $40.88 billion as of November 21, up from $40.06 billion at the end of October, providing enough to finance 17 months of imports.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission has uncovered warehouses where federal government palliative rice, marked as “not for sale” and bearing the image of President Bola Tinubu, was being re-bagged for potential resale.

The operation, led by the commission’s chairman, Muhuyi Magaji Rimingado, revealed the illicit handling of approximately 28 trucks of 50kg rice, valued at over N1.4 billion, around the Kano Western Bypass.

“This is a serious case of mismanagement and diversion of public goods. These palliatives were meant for the poor and vulnerable, but some individuals are profiting from the people’s suffering,” Rimingado stated during the raid on Tuesday.

One suspect has been apprehended, and investigations are underway to identify others involved in the scheme.

The commission pledged to recover the diverted palliatives and ensure their proper distribution to intended beneficiaries.

Rimingado assured the public of the commission’s commitment to holding those responsible accountable, stating, “We will leave no stone unturned in bringing those behind this act to justice.”

The incident has sparked outrage among residents, with many condemning the misuse of resources meant for the less fortunate.

A community leader in Hotoro, Garba Isah, described the act as “shameful and heartless,” adding, “People are struggling, yet some individuals are stealing from the poor. We commend the anti-graft agency for their swift action.”

The commission has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities involving government relief materials.

It reaffirmed its dedication to transparency and accountability in addressing corruption and ensuring public resources reach the vulnerable.

By Anwar Usman

Dr. Victor Okhai, a seasoned filmmaker and critic in Nigeria, decried that cultural imperialism has made people forget about Indigenous films, which has caused a significant setback in the local film industries.

This was made known during the Kano Indigenous Languages of Africa Film Market and Festival (KILAF) conference, which was held on Monday at the Faculty of Communications, Bayero University, Kano.

He explains that ” one thing about indigenous film is that it contains a variety of activities. One can see how a particular culture operates, their way of life, and other things contained within that particular culture that people cannot know without being portrayed in a local movie.”

Dr Okhai further added that people mainly rely heavily on American movies. As such, they ignore their own heritage and embrace the Western way of life, which later cultivates them and makes them behave in a particular way the filmmakers want.

He also asserts that “through local films, individuals within a particular culture can be able to know their roots, what their forefathers have done which they might not necessarily know.”

“Indigenous film serves as an important medium of explaining cultural heritage, an avenue for generating revenue and an important tool for entertainment,” Okhai stated.

By Ibrahiym A. El-Caleel

Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda won the 2023 Katsina State gubernatorial elections and has since taken office. However, he seems to struggle with the transition from CEO of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to his new role. He keeps lecturing the youths on entrepreneurship, telling them that there are no jobs. He would always tell them why being a worker is a misfortune in today’s world. Surprisingly, he is never caught on tape talking about the key role of the government in entrepreneurship.

This society has normalized throwing jibes at salaried workers. People who despise salaried employees behave as if they are the next smartest people on earth since Albert Einstein while in reality, there is nothing spectacular in this. It is a tepid argument, and when Nigerian leaders do it, it reflects their reluctance to take responsibility for the economic challenges we face.

One significant reason for the current suffering of Nigerians is the systemic push of workers into poverty. Despite advancements in technology, automation, and artificial intelligence, no national economy thrives without the contributions of workers. Even if entrepreneurs automate production and supply chains, consumption remains a human necessity. Who will buy the products? Machines? No, it is people- primarily workers- who drive consumption. So, when anyone is throwing jibes at these employees, I usually imagine what planet they come from.

Let us return to Dr Radda and other Arewa leaders who always want to deliver free lectures on entrepreneurship. It is crucial to note that no business thrives in a commercially toxic environment. How have these Arewa leaders been able to create a conducive environment for business? They have always been in the business of blame games and never taking leadership responsibility seriously. This is exactly why it is easy today for President Tinubu and his Tax Boys to tell them they are rejecting his proposed VAT sharing formula because they have lazied around for too long, earning more Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) than they actually deserve.

We have vast fields of arable land, yet companies like Nestle who need maize and soya beans prefer to set up their factories in Lagos. We have cattle that FrieslandCampina and Promasidor would ordinarily obtain fresh milk from through modern animal farming processes. However, these companies are based in Lagos because the north is either faced with farmers-herders clash on Monday, or fighting bandits on Tuesday, or discovering Lakurawa by Wednesday. Which multinational company will waste its time, energy and resources building a business in such an environment? This is why they prefer to be based in South-West, then buy these raw materials from up north and transport them for processing and ship some of it back to the north for consumption.

I will not discuss why 19 northern states believe they are okay with this type of poor electricity supply over the years. Your Kano and Kaduna textiles are dead; reptiles now live where we had textile machines and very many workers running shifts. Even on the planet Saturn, they are aware that no development happens without electricity in this modern age. But since Arewa leaders know an alternative way to do this, let us keep waiting for the miracle. I am sure it is very close to happening. Sokoto is just an inch away from advancing like South Korea, since Kaduna is already competing with Silicone Valley!

The other day, Dr Radda’s tape was virally circulated. He was still talking about workers, and how an Indomie Joint vendor earns better monthly income than them. The irony is that on 23 November, 2024, Daily Trust wrote a report that this type of business is crumbling. They cited that the astronomical rise in the prices of egg, milk, noodles and bread is telling on the business. Nigerians can no longer afford this. These food items have become a luxury to the who used to consume them. It is a pointer to the fact that people are getting poorer.

This was not always the case in Nigeria. Workers began suffering after Buhari did his trial and error economics for eight solid years, and now Tinubu is here to shut down the economy finally so that everyone can go and rest in their graves. Otherwise, ten years ago (2014 to be specific), a salaried worker on a minimum age of N18,900 could afford to buy a 50kg bag of foreign rice at N7,500 which he could feed his family for at least three months. He would still have the remainder of this salary which will at least cover his transportation to work. The political class destroyed this. The same political class which Katsina state governor belongs to.

In my opinion, the governor should realize that it is no longer the SMEDAN days. All Nigerians cannot be entrepreneurs. In every real national economy, the workers are always far more than the entrepreneurs. The earlier he and members of his social class come together to chart a sustainable economic plan for the north, the better for all of us. The South-West governors who have created economically viable environment are not begging their citizens to go into entrepreneurship. The citizens are identifying the opportunities already. When you put your house in order, you don’t need to tell anyone to start a business. People will naturally see the opportunities. This is why the South-West is ahead. It is not magic. They are deliberate about developing their environment, and this is a good one. Had other leaders developed their regions in a similar manner, we would not be fighting over the VAT sharing formula.

Arewa’s economic recovery starts from reviving the New Nigeria Development Company (NNDC) Limited to be what the Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello meant it to be. Arewa governors should give politics a break and focus on governance by revitalizing the NNDC and truly investing in that company. NNDC was a big dream to save this region from the economic mess it has found itself today.

Sardauna was visionary and NNDC actually delivered on its objectives for decades before the Arewa governors class of 1999 to date decided to watch it die a slow and painful death, folding their arms and waiting for oil royalties from the newly found Kolmani oil in Gombe or Bauchi State. Arewa leaders should wake up and save this region. It is their responsibility. It is not the responsibility of Tinubu or FG or anyone. But your Excellency, please, allow workers to face their predicament. They were never in this situation until your political class decided to make them poor through extreme taxation and careless policies that spiked inflation to all record high. Therefore, if you cannot help them, you do not need to add insult to their injury.

El-Caleel writes from Kaduna State

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC), Dr. Mustafa Sugungun, has said that the ongoing Quick Fix Project for the Kaduna refinery is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2024.

 Recall that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) awarded a $741m contract to South Korea’s Daewoo Engineering & Construction to rehabilitate the Kaduna Refinery.

Under the quick-fix repair contract, the firm will restore production at the 110,000 barrels-a-day facility to at least 60 per cent of its capacity by the end of 2024.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony of the renovated Rido Community Primary School and a solar-powered borehole in Maraban Rido, Kaduna State, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, he emphasised the company’s commitment to improving the living standards of its host communities.

 The MD, who was represented by the Manager of Operations, Mr. Emmanuel Ajiboye, noted that the success of the Quick Fix Project will bring immense economic benefits and job opportunities, boost petty trading, and foster other local businesses.

He said the school renovation aims to provide a conducive learning environment for pupils and teachers, while the borehole is expected to address water scarcity in the community and reaffirm KRPC’s dedication to sustainable development through initiatives like youth empowerment, rural electrification, periodic medical outreach, and other community-focused programs.

He urged the Rido community to support the Quick Fix Project, noting that its success would further strengthen the relationship between KRPC and its host communities.

In her remarks, the Head Teacher of Rido Primary School, Mrs. Rachael Aduwak, commended KRPC for the good gesture. 

She also appealed to the company to construct a perimeter fence for the school, adding, “We appeal to KRPC to furnish our classes with tables, chairs, and chalkboard as most of our students are sitting on bare floors during class hours.”

By Uzair Adam

Katsina State police operatives successfully thwarted a kidnapping attempt by bandits on Sunday evening, rescuing 14 individuals and neutralizing one attacker.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:55 PM in Dan’arau village, located in the Magama-Jibia area of Jibia Local Government Area.

Armed bandits, wielding dangerous weapons, ambushed two commercial vehicles, aiming to kidnap the passengers.

Responding swiftly to a distress call, police officers engaged the bandits in a fierce gun battle.

The timely intervention led to the rescue of 14 hostages, while one of the assailants was fatally wounded.

Unfortunately, two victims sustained gunshot injuries during the confrontation.

They were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention, but one succumbed to their injuries.

The state police command has commended the bravery of its officers and urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.

By Anwar Usman

Operation Hadinkai of the Nigerian Air Force has destroyed a terrorists’ food depot and killed several insurgents during bombardment on their enclave at Jubillaram in the Tumbuns area of the Lake Chad Basin.

This was contained in a statement released by the Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Olusola Akinboyewa, on Monday in Abuja.

Akinboyewa stated that NAF aircraft operated on 23 November at a strategic location identified through meticulous intelligence efforts.

The location was described as a critical food storage site and a holy place for terrorist commanders and fighters.

He added that intelligence had linked the terrorists in the area to recent attacks, including an assault on troops in Kareto on 16 November.

NAN reports that it was in response that NAF fighter jets launched a robust air interdiction mission, destroying identified structures used as storage facilities and neutralising terrorists on-site.

He further explained that the victory was facilitated by extensive Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions conducted over several days, which confirmed the presence of terrorist structures camouflaged under dense vegetation.

“The destruction of the terrorist enclave, including food storage facilities, has severely disrupted their logistical operations, while the neutralisation of a significant number of fighters has diminished their capacity to launch future attacks,” Akinboyewa explained.

He further emphasised that the mission demonstrated the NAF’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation and its people independently and in support of ground forces in counterterrorism operations.

He reiterated the NAF’s resolve to sustain robust independent and joint operations until all enemies of Nigeria’s prosperity and well-being are brought to justice.

By Anas Abbas

President Bola Tinubu expressed his condolences to the government and people of Katsina State following the death of Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, the Maradin Katsina and district head of Kurfi. 

Alhaji Kurfi, a distinguished elder statesman, was renowned for his significant contributions to public service throughout his career. Notably, he served as the executive secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO), playing a crucial role in overseeing Nigeria’s transition to democratic rule in 1979.

President Tinubu praised Kurfi’s exemplary dedication to the nation and humanity, urging current public servants to reflect on the legacy he has left behind.

The President also offered prayers for the eternal peace of the late elder statesman and extended his deepest sympathies to Kurfi’s family during this difficult time.

The passing of Alhaji Kurfi marks a significant loss for Katsina State and the nation as a whole.

By Abdullahi Muhammad

Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian separatist and leader of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to prison in Finland following his arrest for inciting violence and promoting terrorism. 

The Päijät-Häme District Court found Ekpa guilty of using his social media platforms to encourage terrorist activities, particularly in southeastern Nigeria, a region plagued by unrest.

Finnish authorities stated that Ekpa’s online rhetoric, including support for sit-at-home orders and calls for election boycotts in Nigeria, fueled violence that has disrupted communities in the region. 

Ekpa, who claims leadership of IPOB in exile, has been a controversial figure, previously linked to threats that led to his initial arrest in February 2023. Finnish police also detained four others for alleged involvement in financing terrorist activities.

Nigerian officials have long criticised Ekpa’s activities, accusing him of exacerbating instability. The Nigerian government has been in discussions with Finnish authorities regarding Ekpa’s influence, though legal hurdles and human rights concerns have complicated potential extradition efforts.

The case highlights increasing international cooperation to combat cross-border terrorism and raises questions about balancing free speech with accountability for incitement to violence.