Headline

Refineries Probe: Reps Kick As Kyari Keeps Mum On Oil Swap Deal

Published

2 years ago

May 11, 2022

THE Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, on Tuesday, finally appeared before the House of Representatives’ Ad Hoc Committee on the State of Refineries in Nigeria.

However, Kyari could not answer some of the critical questions posed to him by members of the committee, urging the lawmakers to allow him to come back with documents containing the details.

The details sought by the lawmakers include the actual cost of rehabilitating the refineries, especially the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

This is just as the committee and the GMD failed to disclose the quantity of crude being taken from Nigeria and the volume of petroleum products being delivered to the country on a daily basis, under the Direct Sale Direct Purchase or oil swap deal with firms.

In his presentation, Kyari said, “We recognise that today, none of our refineries are operating for a very obvious reason that I am sure, through the work of this committee, you will find out why they are not operating today. We will hide nothing from you. We will also tell you where we are as we speak.

“Needless is to say that the refineries were essentially not properly managed over time, not just today but in the last 20 to 25 years. The turnaround maintenance processes were clearly mismanaged over time. We clearly admit that those turnaround maintenances were not properly done in the past, leading to where we are.

“When we took over, it is very obvious that what you are dealing with is not turnaround maintenance; you are dealing with a total rehabilitation. The refineries were clearly in situations where ordinary turnaround maintenance would not solve the problem. We have degradation of a monumental proportion that we met. And of course, the only way you can do this is to conduct full turnaround maintenance.”

Kyari also noted that the refineries were shut down as the country was running at a loss using them. He also said the NNPC shopped for “the best of class” contractors to rehabilitate the facilities.

He said, “We did not abridge any process. We took through all the necessary processes of governance to make sure that we have the right contractor in place. And I am happy today that at the end of that exercise that we have put in place, the Federal Executive Council has approved a contractor for the Port Harcourt refinery, the Kaduna refinery and the Warri refinery.

“Even when you rehabilitate the refineries, you must have the pipelines. As we speak now, the pipeline from Escravos, which will feed the Warri refinery and ultimately the Kaduna refinery cannot carry the two refineries as we speak now. This is for many reasons; one is the act of vandals.

“Needless is to say that the rehabilitation work must also be complemented with the replacement of the pipeline network. We are also working on this. It is a very critical component of what we are doing.”

The GMD also noted that the rehabilitation projects would be financed by banks, different from the previous efforts which were frustrated by funding challenges.

A member of the committee, Olanrewaju Edun, however, said Kyari did not speak to the document the NNPC presented to the panel, noting that what the GMD said was not captured in the written presentation.

Responding, Kyari said the committee should adopt his oral presentation also. “We have nothing to hide, that is why I said everything I could remember,” he said. Other members of the committee, however, insisted on getting the details demanded from the NNPC.

Another member, Ayokunle Isiaka, asked if the NNPC was changing the entire structure and systems of the refineries or changing some specific parts. He demanded an asset valuation report on the refineries. He also asked how refined products would be transported from the refineries when they become functional to the depots for onward distribution.

Chairman of the committee, Ganiyu Johnson also said, “It is very important for you to tell us the actual cost of this (Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation) contract. If there are fluctuations (variations), the original contract sum, we should know.”

Responding, the GMD said, “Chairman, I didn’t say I did not have answers to all the questions but it is very obvious that we did not respond to all the questions – the requests – that this honourable committee asked us to do. If we had done so, many of the questions that were asked today wouldn’t have come up in the first instance. That is why I said give me the grace so that I can respond to all the submissions that you have requested and I would clearly come back to you as you directed.

“Secondly, we know the contract sum. We are hiding nothing from you. There is no variation on this contract. If you look at the document I submitted to you, you will see the approval is for $1.559bn including VAT. So, there is no question that we do not have an answer to. I don’t have all the details; I will not be able to have all the details, definitely.”

Johnson also asked, “What is the quantity of crude oil given out per day under the DSDP programme to refiners outside this country? Two, what is the quantity of PMS received per day in exchange for the quantity of crude oil swap?”

Responding, Kyari said, “Definitely, these are very specific numbers and there is no way I can give you a number on these, at this moment. First, let me tell you the principle around this. I know today, how much PMS we have in the country. I know we have up to 2.8 billion litres of PMS in the country at this moment, sufficient to keep us for 47 days if we don’t import.

“This is the basic information that I know. And all the PMS don’t come in equal volumes every day. Some days you can receive cargo and for three days may not receive cargo, and you can also receive up to four cargoes in a day. This is market-determined, supply-determined; you cannot give the volume for every day but we have data for every volume of PMS.”

Headline

Living-in-China: Meet Half-Nigerian, Half-Chinese Youth Who Speaks Igbo, English, Chinese Fluently [VIDEO]

Published

15 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

L-R: Emmanuel Chibike, and Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy

A half-Nigerian and half-Chinese man, Emmanuel Chibike, has left social media users in awe with his ability to speak Igbo, English, and Chinese fluently.

The discovery was made by content creator and social media influencer known as Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy during his visit to an estate in China.

“If you look around, you’ll see that I’m in an estate in China. I met our brother, and as I was looking at him, I was wondering if he was Chinese,” Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy said in a video interview posted on Monday.

“I noticed that as I was speaking (in Igbo language), he was laughing, and I was wondering if he could understand what I was speaking,” he added.

It was then that the comedian learned of Chibike’s unique background.

“After discussions with him, he explained who he was to me. Apparently, his father, who is from Ozubulu (a town in Anambra State), came to China and married a Chinese woman,” he explained.

Chibike’s ability to effortlessly switch between the three languages left a lasting impression on the influencer. “This boy here, he can speak English, Chinese, and Igbo languages,” he marvelled.

In the video, Chibike showcased his multilingual skills by introducing himself in English, Chinese, and then Igbo.

His fluency in all three languages show his knowledge of his cultural heritage.

Real Mc Ezegetive Comedy seized the opportunity to encourage Igbo parents to teach their children their native language.

“It is quite shameful that some Igbo children based in Igbo land can’t speak their native language,” he lamented, emphasising the importance of preserving linguistic and cultural identities.

Watch the video below courtesy The PUNCH:

𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠-𝐢𝐧-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚: 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟-𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐈𝐠𝐛𝐨, 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡, 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲https://t.co/a0iM56ZKoL pic.twitter.com/gXCDUpObjZ
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 6, 2024
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Pandemonium During Church Service As Man Pulls Gun, Attempts To Shoot Pastor [VIDEO]

Published

16 hours ago

May 7, 2024

Editor

A church service in Pennsylvania was paused on Sunday, May 5, when a man pulled a gun on the pastor and allegedly attempted to shoot him during his sermon but his firearm failed to discharge.

The incident happened at Jesus’ Dwelling Place Church in North Braddock, Pennsylvania, shortly after 1:00 p.m. ET, according to the Pennsylvania State Police.

The suspected gunman, who police identified as 26-year-old Bernard Junior Polite, entered the church and allegedly attempted to shoot the pastor, Glenn Germany, as he was delivering his sermon on a live steam.

The suspect’s firearm failed to discharge and a congregation members and the pastor were able to subdue and disarm him before anyone was harmed, police said.

“I’m thankful to God that I’m still here because he definitely pulled the trigger,” Pastor Germany told ABC News affiliate WTAE.

Describing the alarming encounter, Germany told the outlet Polite smiled at him before the attempted attack.

“I started to begin to preach, and all of a sudden, from my left-hand side, I saw him move from the back to the front of the church, and he set up in the front corner of the church and smiled at me,” Germany said.

“All of a sudden, I just saw a gun pointing right at me. And at that point, all I could try to do is run for cover,” he said.

Church service comes to a halt as man pulls gun and attempts to shoot pastor (video)

The pastor went on to praise the congregation member who sprang into action to subdue Polite, saying, “He could have lost his life in that struggle, but he sacrificed himself for everyone, and he’s the hero.”

The suspect was held at the church until Pennsylvania State Police troopers arrived at the scene and arrested him.

Police said charges have been filed.

Watch a video of the incident below.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/RvtSapRnVHafRzmP/?mibextid=oFDknk

Headline

Kenya Deports Nigerian Captured On CCTV Assaulting Woman In Wheelchair [VIDEO]

Published

2 days ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

A Nigerian national who was caught on CCTV camera assaulting a Kenyan woman confined to a wheelchair in Nairobi has been deported.

In the footage that went viral on April 26, 2024, the Nigerian man identified as John Nwankwo Noko, is seen clobbering a helpless Ms. Pauline in the head before two other ladies looking on intervened to stop the act.

In a statement signed by State Department of Gender Principal Secretary Anne Wang’ombe, Nwankwo was deported on Saturday, May 4, 2024, for assaulting his partner, Ms Pauline.

He is accused of physically assaulting his partner, a Kenyan woman confined to a wheelchair, raising concerns about cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

“The act of violence has not only violated the rights of an individual but has also highlighted the broader issues of gender-based violence, that is rampant in our society,” Orwoba said in the statement.

The case was first brought to the attention of the police by Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba on Wednesday, May 1.

Orwoba, acting on the video that first went viral on social media on April 29, visited the woman at her home, who confirmed that her life was in danger.

She [the woman] claimed that her Nigerian partner “had been threatening to kill her and her two domestic workers if they outed him,” Orwoba said.

Senator Orwoba then reported the matter to Karen Police Station, after which it was picked up by the offices of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kindiki Kithure, and that of Immigration PS Julius Bitok.

“Mr Nwankwo Noko has been arrested and processed for deportation,” Gender PS confirmed.

The nominated senator, who has continually advocated for violence against women has since demanded an end to the rising cases, saying they not only leave women with physical and emotional damage but also tear the moral fabric of our society.

“We strongly condemn such behavior and we shall continue working towards creating a safer environment for women, free of fear,” Orwoba added.

Watch footage below:

John Nwankwo, a devil, assaults woman in wheelchair in Kenya…
Criminal:
John Nwankwo Noko
Crime:
Nigerian man by the name of John Nwankwo Noko was captured on CCTV assaulting a woman in a wheelchair. In the footage, the ruthless man is seen raining kicks and blows on the… pic.twitter.com/COGgqaFEzd
— CitizenOlu (@jagabanolu) April 26, 2024