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Fuel price to reduce to N500 as Porthacourt Refinery commence Production.

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Porthacourt Refinery

The Federal Government, on Thursday, confirmed the commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt Refining and Petrochemical Company in Rivers State.

It announced that the facility commenced operations on December 20, 2023, as the first phase of work at the plant had been completed, adding that refined petroleum products would start flowing from the refinery after the Christmas break.

The government had earlier in the year repeatedly stated that the Port Harcourt refinery would begin operations before the end of 2023.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who led members of the Refinery Steering Committee to inspect the facility, congratulated the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and Nigerians in general for the feat.

Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri have been dormant for decades, as the Federal Government has spent several billions of naira to revamp the facilities.

“The meeting today coincides with the commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt refinery,” Lokpobiri stated at the refinery.

He added, “This is to announce to Nigerians that in fulfillment of our pledge to complete phase one of the Port Harcourt refinery by the end of 2023, and the subsequent streaming of phase two in 2024, we happily announce the mechanical completion of flare start-up on December 20, 2023.

“This heralds the commencement of the production of petroleum products after the Christmas break. We want to thank Nigerians for their patience and trust in the NNPC to deliver on our promise and mandate in the rehabilitation of our refineries.”

Also, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Mele Kyari, said the employees of the company worked day and night for over 9.6 million man-hours to get the refinery back on stream.

On April 7, 2021, The PUNCH reported that the NNPC officially signed a contract with Tecnimont SPA for the $1.5bn rehabilitation programme of the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

 

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Alleged Land Grabbing: We have enough evidence to investigate monarch- Delta govt

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The Delta State government said it has gotten enough evidence from protesters that would help in its investigation of alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi, Emmanuel Efeizomor.

The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Peace Building and Conflict Resolution, Edwin Uzor, leading the inquiry process, confirmed he has received evidential testimonies from some of the aggrieved persons; majority of whom are widows.

While addressing Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative, ADI, which had earlier protested over the matter but soft-pedalled following appeal by the leadership of the State House of Assembly, he said his office has commenced investigative inquiry into the matter.

He assured that the state government would speed up investigation with a view to resolving the crisis and come up with a peaceful resolution.

While enjoining the aggrieved parties to sheath their swords, he assured that the state government would get to the root of the matter. He said the administration of Hon Sheriff Oborevwori was irrevocably committed to ensuring that no Deltan is victimized by anyone on the account of his or her financial or social status.

He enjoined the youths in the community to give the state government the benefits of the doubts by remaining peaceful and calm.

Addressing the over hundred persons, all of whom are indigenes of Owa Kingdom, Uzor said, “we have gotten enough evidence from you that would help us in our investigation process.

“I want to commend you for your peaceful disposition so far. Meanwhile, we wish to appeal that you continue to maintain the existing peace even as we continue in our investigation”.

However, Chairman, Owa-Oyibu Development Initiative, Ogha-ni-ihun Oyibu, Benson Nkeki said the group had decided to embark on a wide protest against the monarch and the palace over alleged high-handedness, bothering largely on land grabbing and forcefully dispossessing land owners of their lands under false pretense.

He said the meeting was an aftermath of the group’s protest on the alleged land grabbing by the traditional ruler of Owa Kingdom, Obi Emmanuel Efeizomor.

Nkeki assured that following the intervention by the state government vis-a-vis the ongoing investigative inquiry into the allegation, the group is committed to giving the state government the benefits of the doubts.

“As law abiding citizens, we are prepared to give the state government the benefit of the doubts. If things are not done the way it should, we will continue with our protest even to the National Assembly level and beyond” Nkeki said.

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Ghana Deports Nigerian Convicted for Smuggling Fake $100,000

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A Ghanaian court has ordered the deportation of Nigerian Aremu Adegboyega after convicting him for smuggling counterfeit CFA francs worth over $100,000 through an illegal border route.

Arrested in 2023 at the Aflao border, he was fined GH¢4,440 or faces up to two years in prison if he defaults.

Adegboyega admitted receiving the fake notes from a Nigerian contact on instructions from a suspected mafia figure in Côte d’Ivoire.

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‘Benue most underdeveloped state I’ve visited’ – Verydarkman

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Controversial social media personality, Verydarkman, has stirred reactions online after describing Benue State as the most underdeveloped state he has ever visited.

In a viral video shared after a recent visit to the state, the influencer claimed, “Benue is still in the year 1940. It is the most underdeveloped state I have ever been to.”

He went on to lament the state of infrastructure and insecurity in the region, saying investors are discouraged from coming due to deplorable road conditions and safety concerns.

“Investors can’t come because of bad roads and insecurity.

“I’m currently drilling a borehole in Yelwata, but the people can’t continue the work because they are afraid of being killed,” he said.

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