A university don, Prof. Florence Masajuwa has advocated immediate disbandment of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other related agencies over their “failure to end poverty and endemic conflicts in the communities and by extension the region.”
This is as she recommended 50 per cent shareholding/ownership right of the exploration profit of crude oil to host communities.
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Masajuwa made the recommendations while delivering Edo State University, Uzairue Inaugural Lecture titled ‘The Nigerian International Petroleum Industry: Conspiracy of Silence.’
According to the university don, “NDDC as an agency has failed due to government’s inability to alter the opportunities and incentives that allow active participation of communities in the development process.”
Prof. Masajuwa, who is the Dean, Faculty of Law at the university further lamented that the “disquieting atmosphere oil communities found themselves since the advent of the oil industry is due to the absence of transparency between the industry and principal stakeholders including oil producing communities.”
“The lack of transparency and the use of the revenue for the good of the industry and leaving out the host communities is referred to as conspiracy of silence which often disturbs generations”
She urged that the Federal Government to look at other sources of revenue generation which, according to her, would “ameliorate the grim environmental and existential reality of oil producing communities.”
“The Nigerian economy has not broken the oil spell by diversifying the sources of income for development. It’s therefore time government started looking beyond oil revenue from oil producing communities”,she stated.
On the Petroleum Industry Act, she said it promotes “frontier exploration and create transparency and non-confidentiality; transform NNPC in a viable commercially based and self-sustaining national oil company.”
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On the distribution of the gains and pains of the oil industry, she said women suffer innocuous discrimination despite the position of the constitution as stated which provides that “in furtherance of the social order of the country which is founded on ideals of freedom, equality and justice, very citizen shall have equality of rights, obligation and opportunity before the law.”
According to her, the National Gender Policy (NGP) stipulated “the mainstreaming of gender equality into all facets of human activities, hence, it ensures that women’s voices are amplified and their concerns are fully addressed through effective implementation of legislation and proper financing of gender equality work.”
The university don, therefore, “recommended that Federal Government only regulate and issue licenses to anybody that it consider as technically competent to explore the crude oil and get its own share of the exploration through taxes.”
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“Oil bloc should be owned by its rightful natural owners (communities). Licenses can be given to anybody to explore the bloc but the community must retain their natural statutory 50% shareholding/ownership right of the exploration profit.”
“Their 50% royalty should be their inalienable rights and the royalty must be managed well, this way, communities take charge of their development, then there will be no need for PIAs, host communities 3% and the 13% derivation fund,” she added.
The Swedish government has resolved to return 39 pieces of Benin Artefacts in her Museum to the custody of Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.
According to a statement issued by Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Chief Press Secretary to Oba of Benin, the disclosure followed a Gazzette by the Federal Government which recognises ownership and vesting custody and management of repatriated Benin Artefacts in the Oba of Benin.
Iguobaro in the statement said that the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Annika Hahn-Englund, conveyed the Swedish government decision when she paid a courtesy visit to Oba of Benin Palace in Benin City, Edo State.
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Ambassador Hahn-Englund informed the Royal father that Sweden and Nigeria, which is the second largest market in Sub-Sahara Africa, are trading partners, including infrastructure, Telecommunication, Energy and other businesses that supported the economies significantly.
The Swedish envoy, said, “also, I would like to mention that with cooperation, we have in Culture, Education with Nigeria; I would like to mention the decision of why the Swedish government has to return 39 Artefacts to Benin Kingdom.
“So, your Majesty, I am very honoured to be here tonight”,Ambassador Hahn-Englund said this while paying respect to Oba Ewuare II.
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Responding, Oba Ewuare II on behalf of Edo people also welcomed the decision and expressed his deepest gratitude to the Swedish government for the intervention.
The Benin monarch recalled how he made a request through the Swedish monarch in 1998 to return Benin Bronzes in Sweden during his courtesy visit to him as Nigeria Ambassador to Scandinavian Countries.
The traditional ruler disclosed that the federal government-backed Benin Royal Museum project is still on course, and commended partners for their support and devotion towards the project.
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The Oba also commended the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria, responsible for the preservation, promotion, and development of Nigeria’s cultural heritage.
The traditional ruler who prayed for members of the Diplomatic Mission, shared a captivating tale of his Diplomatic exploits as Ambassador in the Scandinavian Countries, noting that the remarkable reign and enduring affection of the Swedish monarch, His Royal Majesty, Carl Gustaf Folke Hubertus remain indelible.
According to Oba Ewuare II, the demand for the return of looted Benin Artefacts has been on since the reign of Oba Akenzua II, “and you are here today telling that it has been approved. This has been my request a long time ago. God’s time is always the best”.
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To underscore the significance of the historic visit to the Palace, the Ambassador in the accompany of her husband and a member of the Diplomatic Mission, presented a souvenir to Oba Ewuare II, who in turn gave a copy of the federal government Gazette on all Benin Artefacts to the envoy in appreciation.
Rivers commissioners Prof. Chinedu Mmom (Education), Dr. Gift Worlu (Housing), and Austen Ben-Chioma (Environment).
Three commissioners serving in the cabinet of Governor Siminalayi Fubara have resigned from the Rivers State Executive Council.
The commissioners are Prof. Chinedu Mmom (Education), Dr. Gift Worlu (Housing), and Austen Ben-Chioma (Environment), who are all loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
They were among the nine commissioners who had previously resigned in the heat of the political crisis in the state before the intervention of President Bola Tinubu.
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Their resignations came 24 hours after Fubara slammed his predecessor and estranged his political godfather, accusing him of leaving a huge debt burden for him.
The three commissioners tendered their resignations in separate letters addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Tammy Danagogo.
Mmom’s letter read, “I write to formally tender my resignation as a member of the Rivers State Executive Council as the Commissioner for Education with effect from today, May 15, 2024.
“It is a truism that a calm, safe, and friendly environment would stimulate efficient service delivery and enhanced productivity. It is, however, unfortunate to note that my current workspace has become toxic and no longer guarantees a favourable environment to enable me to realise my set targets for the education sector in the state.
“There is loss of trust, animosity and sharp division among colleagues in the same cabinet which is unhealthy and very unfortunate. I want to thank Your Excellency for the opportunity to serve in your cabinet and wish your administration well.”
Moments later, Ben-Chioma forwarded his letter dated same May 15. He noted that his reason for resigning is because of the political crisis in the state.
His letter read, “I hereby tender my resignation as the Commissioner for Environment, Rivers State, on this day, May 15, 2024.
“I want to sincerely appreciate Your Excellency for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the State Executive Council. My decision to resign is due to the political crisis befalling our dear Rivers State and other personal reasons.
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“It was a privilege to have been of service to you in your administration and wish you all the best in your tenure.”
Similarly, Worlu in his letter dated May 15, said, “I write to resign my appointment as the Commissioner for Housing formally. One of the most difficult decisions in my life yet, it is precipitated by the toxic atmosphere that has characterised our working relationship, especially the smouldering arbitrariness of decisions and actions, including the attempt to fuse the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State.
“I thank you for the opportunity to serve in your government and wish you the best as you continue to steer the ship of state. Kindly accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
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Before the trio of Mmom, Worlu, and Ben-Chioma, others who resigned were the former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof Zacchaeus Adangor, and former Commissioner for Finance, Isaac Kamalu.
Adangor and Kamalu resigned after Fubara directed that they should be redeployed to the Ministry of Special Duties (Governor’s Office) and Ministry for Employment Generation and Empowerment, respectively.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate has increased to 33.69 per cent in April 2024 up from 33.20 per cent recorded in March 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics has said.
This represents a month-over-month increase of 0.49 per cent points in the headline inflation rate, according to the Consumer Price Index report, the NBS stated in a report on Wednesday.
Comparing year-on-year data, the inflation rate in April 2024 was 11.47 percentage points higher than in April 2023, where it stood at 22.22 per cent. This indicates that the headline inflation rate has risen significantly over the past year.
Additionally, on a month-to-month basis, the inflation rate for April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which is 0.73 per cent lower than the 3.02 per cent recorded in March 2024. This suggests that the rate at which prices increased in April 2024 was slower than the rate in March 2024.
The report read, “In April 2024, the headline inflation rate increased to 33.69% relative to the March 2024 headline inflation rate which was 33.20 per cent. Looking at the movement, the April 2024 headline inflation rate showed an increase of 0.49% points when compared to the March 2024 headline inflation rate.
“On a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 11.47 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in April 2023, which was 22.22 per cent. This shows that the headline inflation rate (year-on-year basis) increased in April 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., April 2023).
“Furthermore, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.29 per cent, which was 0.73 per cent lower than the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.02 per cent). This means that in April 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is less than the rate of increase in the average price level in March 2024.”
Food inflation however reduced by 1.11 per cent caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average prices of basic food commodities.
“On a month-on-month basis, the Food inflation rate in April 2024 was 2.50% which shows a 1.11 per cent decrease compared to the rate recorded in March 2024 (3.62 per cent). The fall in Food inflation on a Month-on-Month basis was caused by a fall in the rate of increase in the average prices.”