Headline

Group Gives Seplat 90 Days Ultimatum To Relocate Gas Loading Point To Oben

Published

4 years ago

February 23, 2022

A group on the platform of Concerned Youths for Development and Equity Initiative for Oben, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State, on Wednesday gave the management of Seplat Energy Plc, 90 days ultimatum to rescind it decision of siting gas loading point in Mosoga, Delta State against Oben, the host communities.

Addressing newsmen, the Assistant Secretary of the group, Comrade Raymond Omokaro, alleged that the said oil firm has decided to setup loading point in Mosogar.

He said it is unheard of that a company would be carrying out its activities in a particular community while the end part that would be of an immense benefit to its host community would be diverted elsewhere.

“We are still asking that the gas loading point that Seplat is taking to Mosogar, should be returned, you cannot be exploring gas in Oben and then take the loading point to Mosoga, we will not allow that.

“They should come and build the loading point in Oben, and if the road is the problem, they can as well do a dua carriage way for us. We are tired of having a resources and the resources are not working for us”, he said.

Omokaro also alleged that the multinational firm has constantly marginalized its host communities in various ways and such should be addressed in the interest of all.

“It is very unfortunate to see that since they have been operating in our land, they have not done any project that is meaningful. We have graduates in this environ that are not gainfully employed by this company.

“You have gone through the four communities (Oben, Iguelaba, Ikobi, and Obozogbenugu), there is no constant electricity, the health facilities that we have here is like a maternity. We have asked them to upgrade it to a standard hospital.

“We are requesting that they should give the host communities employment into the managerial cadre, we are also asking that before now, they used to give scholarships scheme to our people but for quite a number of years now, we have not been seeing that, they should enact it and start giving scholarships to our people”, he said.

Corroborating the Assistant Secretary of the group, the president of the group, Comrade Humprey Igbinigie, alleged that the oil firm have failed to employ graduate from the community and empowered the rural women.

“This oil company has been existing since 1972. We have about 68 oil well heads, and a gas oil field as well.

“We have a flow station, we have a compression station, we have a gas plant as well. We are really lacking a lot in terms of development, is as if nothing is happening, no graduate has been employed, a lot of graduate sitting at home, no women empowerment, the elderly ones are not being paid, no amnesty, if you take a look at our roofs, you will notice that this gas flaring is affecting us badly.

“And Seplat don’t have a plan for this in the next year. So, we are calling on the state government, the federal government to come to our aid and sit Seplat down and tell us what are their plans and what they want to do for us”, he said.

However, a call to get the management’s comments on the issues raised was left unanswered.

Headline

EU Fines Elon Musk’s X €120m For Violating Digital Content Rules

Published

2 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has been hit with a €120 million ($140 million) fine by European Union tech regulators for violating multiple provisions of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).

This marks the first significant penalty imposed under this landmark legislation.

On Friday, the European Commission announced the fine, citing various violations by X, including misleading platform features and a lack of transparency in research practices.

Regulators pointed out that one of the violations involved the misleading design of the blue verification checkmark. This feature is now linked to subscription payments instead of identity validation, which the EU described as “deceptive and potentially harmful.”

The Commission also criticized X for not maintaining transparent advertising records and for restricting researchers’ access to publicly available data on the platform.

This ruling is likely to heighten diplomatic tensions between Brussels and Washington. U.S. officials from the Trump administration had previously condemned Europe’s regulatory approach toward major tech companies, claiming that EU policies unfairly target American firms and restrict free expression.

However, the European Commission defended its stance, stating that enforcement under the DSA is not influenced by nationality. They emphasized that the legislation is designed to promote online accountability, protect users, and ensure transparency in digital operations—standards that are increasingly becoming global benchmarks.

“The DSA does not discriminate by company origin,” the Commission argued, maintaining that the penalties reflect Europe’s commitment to protecting democratic values and responsible digital governance.

The fine marks a significant test case for the EU’s new regulatory regime and could set precedent for similar action against other platforms not in full compliance with the law.

Headline

Nigerian Ringleader Of Nationwide Bank Fraud, Money Laundering Jailed In US, Says FBI

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced the sentencing of Nigerian national Oluwaseun Adekoya, the mastermind behind a sprawling bank fraud and money-laundering operation that targeted victims across the United States.

According to investigators, Adekoya, who operated under multiple aliases including “Ace G.,” “BRODA,” “Legendary,” “SANTA,” “SANTANA,” “Sammy LaBanco,” “Sean Maison,” and “Kiing_maison” led a sophisticated criminal network that stole and laundered more than $2 million by impersonating individuals nationwide.

The FBI said the long-running operation, internally code-named Operation Catch Me if You Can, relied on coordinated efforts across numerous law enforcement and banking agencies.

Headline

VIDEO: Nigerians In UK Lament Delayed Passport Capturing At ‘Crowded’ Birmingham Centre

Published

3 hours ago

December 6, 2025

Editor

Nigerians in the United Kingdom (UK) have cried out to the Nigerian authorities over delays in renewing their international passports, describing the capturing experience as frustrating.

According to a video from the Nigerian Passport Intervention Centre in Birmingham, sighted by Tribune Online, hundreds of people are seen lurking around while waiting for officials to arrive for the exercise.

In the video, a lady narrated how the crowd had gathered since around 4am on Friday after their names had been taken down the previous day with the promise that the capturing would be done the next day.

“They promised they’re going to start at 9am and at 12pm when I was leaving, they’ve not even started attending to people. We heard that the officials were not even at the scene,” she said.

Continuing, the video showed the arrival of some of the officials, whom the lady said had asked the crowd to return the next day.

“While I was walking to my taxi, I saw some of the officials. I recognised them from yesterday when he addressed the people saying ‘Go and come back tomorrow’. The one driving that car was the one who was addressing us yesterday,” she added, referring to a vehicle in the viral clip.

The lady further criticised their attitude to the plight of Nigerians at the centre, saying many, including herself, came with babies.

“It’s so shameful that Nigeria will still happen to you even if you’re outside Nigeria. It’s the people, not only the government,” she added.

Reacting to the video, another user simply identified as OduduAbasi Umo-Odiong, posted two short clips showing people agitated at the centre.

“People are already getting agitated today. The frustration is rising and the situation is becoming tense,” he captioned.

However, an X user, identified as Williams Ibironke, disagreed with the information in the video, saying the officials work till midnight.

“The information she posted was purposely made as content to miss direct people. those pple are working til midnight everyday, they closed @3am so how can they resume early again. I did mine @12:33am this morning and I still left people there, meaning they may not close until 2am,” he posted.

Other X users reacting to the video called on the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, to act swiftly on the issue, wondering how the positive reform he introduced is addressing the issue.

“Someone has fingered a working system to their benefit. Just a few weeks ago, you can start and finish your passport renewal process on your mobile phone without leaving your home.

“What happened to that positive change?,” a user asked.

All possible efforts to get Nigerian authorities’ reaction to the issue proved abortive as of the time of filing this report as neither the Minister nor the Interior Ministry responded to messages sent to them.

Watch video here

Source: Nigerian Tribune