Politics
NNPC, CBN, Others Assure Nigerian Exonomy’s Swift Recovery
Critical stakeholders of Nigeria’s economy, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), came together in Abuja to declare that the ailing economy is on the path to revitalisation.
This assurance was conveyed during a crucial interactive session between the joint committees of the National Assembly on Finance and key ministers and executives.
During the session at the national assembly, the Group Executive Officer of NNPC, Mela Kyari, presented positive indicators in the Energy and Gas sector, stating that Nigeria is set to become a net exporter of petroleum by December this year.
He stated that the upcoming production of the Port Harcourt Refinery, followed by the Warri refinery a few months later, and the Kaduna refinery by December, will contribute to this achievement.
Kyari expressed confidence that oil production levels will reach two million barrels per day in the near future, thanks to ongoing efforts.
“We acknowledge the critical role of NNPC and the oil and gas industry in revitalising our economy. We are taking practical steps to achieve this goal.
“Through President Buhari’s initiatives and our intensified focus on production activities, we have already witnessed growth in oil and gas production.
“As the minister mentioned, we are on track to reach the target of two million barrels per day. Furthermore, by the end of this year, Nigeria will be a net exporter of petroleum products”, Kyari said.
Deputy Governor of the CBN (Economic Policy), Muhammad Sani Abdullahi, assured that the challenges of rising inflation, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and food inflation would soon begin to show a downward trend.
He cited emerging indicators as evidence of the impending improvement.
Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, on his part, emphasised that the implementation of the 2024 budget is already underway.
He also noted ongoing negotiations with labour leaders regarding the minimum wage, with the aim of avoiding further disruptions to the economy.
Responding to the stakeholders’ presentations, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Sani Musa, urged Nigerians to remain resilient, assuring them that the government is tirelessly working to stabilise the economy.
“As representatives of the people, the National Assembly is deeply concerned about economic growth and how our policies can be effective in supporting Nigerians”, Senator Musa stated.
He continued that “We understand the challenges our economy has faced in the past, and we acknowledge that it will take time for significant changes to occur.
“However, we believe that with perseverance and united support for President Buhari, we can overcome these challenges and emerge stronger.
“The indicators show that our economy is on the right track, although it may take time for inflation to decrease. We urge Nigerians to remain patient and optimistic”.
The joint session with the stakeholders provided a platform for open dialogue and showcased the collective commitment towards restoring the nation’s economy.
A chieftain of the Simplified Movement, Oyigbo Chapter and Prime Minister of Okoloma-Ndoki Council of Traditional Rulers’, Chief Sampson Akaya, has said that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s policies and people- oriented development projects and programmes will guarantee him a second term ticket in the 2027 governorship polls in Rivers State.
Chief Akaya stated this while exchanging views with newsmen recently in Afam Okoloma -Ndoki, headquarters of Oyigbo Local Government Area, on the most remarkable strides in policies and programmes of the Fubara-led administration in the state for the past one year.
“For the first time, after the first indigenous Military Governor of old Rivers State and Amanyanabo of Twon-Brass, His Majesty, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, we are having a government that is transforming all the nooks and crannies of the state simultaneously. Go to the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, the story of quality service delivery is the same. So, why won’t such a Governor get a second term.
“What Rivers people should rather be praying for, is for the Governor to keep doing the right thing, despite the avalanche of distractions by those who never wished the state and her people well, when he returns.
“His rescue mission mantra must continue unabated. Rivers people can’t afford to return to the land of Egypt, when we are on the march to the promised land, where milk and honey flows”, Chief Akaya declared.
The royal father used the opportunity to thank Governor Fubara for the appointment of Engr Gogo Philip as Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Oyigbo LGA.
“I am indeed happy that the Governor deemed him fit to serve the LGA in that capacity. Primarily, his vision is to take the LGA to the next level. What he touches becomes gold and this is courtesy of God’s grace; and now that he is involved in the development of Oyigbo LGA, he will do his very best to ensure that Oyigbo becomes one of the finest in Nigeria.
“He knows quite well that with Governor Siminalayi Fubara in the saddle of governance in the state, every sectors of the economy, especially those of them in the LGAs, would enjoy unquenchable transformation fire, where better future will thrive.”
On his fitness to govern Rivers State, Chief Akaya said that the Governor has the wherewithal to rule the state beyond 2027 in order to attract more democracy dividends to the people.
He, however, urged the Governor not to be deterred, going by the political crisis rocking the state, adding that “No amount of distractions can change the narratives of the Governor’s commitment to quality service delivery, as to take the state and her people to a better development pedestal”.
Bethel Toby
He said if lack of funds for tuition had hindered them from going to school, they could now grab the Tinubu administration‘s students loan to go to school.
“The loan scheme is a beacon of hope for those interested in going to school, for they have no reason not to go to school any longer,” he said.
Senator Jibrin spoke at Amani Events Centre, Kano, during the distribution of admission letters to beneficiaries of his postgraduate foreign scholarship programme.
Barau Jibrin Foundation has sponsored 70 graduates from Kano to do Master’s in Canada, United States, India and others in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Information Security and Cyber Forensic as well as Robotics Science.
He noted that the Foreign Scholarship Programme was a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) identifying and supporting gifted and talented youths in Kano State to acquire postgraduate degrees in selected fields to give them competitive advantage to contribute to development of Nigeria.
Five of the beneficiaries are women, it was learnt.
“In this first edition, we are sponsoring 70 candidates from our three senatorial districts to pursue higher degrees abroad. This is to expose them to best global educational standards in their fields.
“The scholarship is designed to showcase our commitment to educational development of our youths, who we considered as pillars of societal development.
“At Jibrin Foundation, we give pride to development of the youth, who reshape and energise our society. What we are doing is a demonstration of the hallmark of our political ideology to build and empower the youth to secure our future and society,” he said.
He noted that beneficiaries were picked on merit, not because of political party or geographical affiliation.
Senator Jibrin called on the private sector and individuals to support the Tinubu administration’s efforts in revolutionising the education sector, as government, he said, could not do it alone.
The resignation letters, dated September 4 and September 6, 2024, were addressed to their party’s respective local government and ward chairmen.
The resigning aides are Osayande Emenya (Ward 6, Oredo Local Government), Henry Osaheni Ukato (Ward 6, Oredo Local Government), Efosa Edo-Osagie (Ward 6, Oredo Local Government), and Timothy Edokpolor (Ward 8, Ikpoba Okha Local Government).
The aides cited non-payment of salaries since their appointments as their primary reason for resigning. They also complained about the alleged marginalisation of original party members, stating: “We are resigning from the party based on the principles of equity, fairness, and justice, which are no longer upheld at the ward levels, coupled with the marginalisation of the original PDP members who have sustained the party.”
However, the aides did not disclose their future political destination.
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