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We’re Losing Our Investments, Best Brains To US, UK, Canada – PTDF

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Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF, has lamented that a good number of students trained abroad through its scholarship scheme for studies/ researches in oil and gas sector have failed to return to Nigeria upon completion of studies.

The Head, Overseas Scholarship Scheme of PTDF, Mrs Bola Agboola, stated this in her keynote address tagged, “The Role and Impact of PTDF on Nigerian Students/Youths and our Institutions” during a one day PTDF students sensitization/capacity building program held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital on Thursday.

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Agboola noted that due to lack or under employment by oil and gas companies many of the students that the PTDF sponsored chose to remain in Canada, US, Germany, China or any of the foreign countries where they would be readily employed with adequate payment.

She also said the PTDF has put measures in place to ensure that these students or beneficiaries are brought home upon completion of studies to help develop Nigerian economy and solve nagging problems in the society with the result of their researches.

READ ALSO: Chidinma Breaks Silence, Tells Court How She Found Super TV CEO, Usifo Ataga Dead

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Agboola who regretted that the alumni of the scheme are scattered across the world said PTDF is working to harness them for the benefit of the country, adding that over 8000 students have been sponsored since the inception of the scheme.

Her words, “We also have to harness our alumni, we have a lot of them scattered all over the world. How do we harness them for our own benefit and also improving recruitment and number of scholars of our product in the oil and gas industry, this is the major problem for us.

“We have trained over 8000 students and some of them after the training remain over there, all our investments are retained over there in the US, UK, Canada etc. Also there is a complaint that when they come back to Nigeria they don’t get a job, they are finding it difficult to be absorbed into the oil and gas industry. To that end, we need to create more cooperation and partnership with the oil and gas industry to ensure our people are employed in good positions.”

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She pledged the Scheme’s 100 percent commitments to building indigenous capacity in the oil and gas sector even as she announced that PTDF is looking for different ways of generating funds as the licensing fees which is their major source of income was no longer sustainable for operations.

In his remarks, the Senior Special Assistant to president Bola Tinubu on students Engagement, Asefon Dayo commended the PTDF for their continued investment in education, training, and human capital development, particularly in oil and gas sector.

READ ALSO: Tension As Gunmen Attack Senator Natasha’s Family Residence

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Dayo said the youths are ready to learn, lead and contribute meaningfully to the oil and gas industry and by extension, to the future of Nigeria but all they needed is to have access to opportunities.

According to him, “The oil and gas sector is no longer a space for only technical experts. It now demands a multi-disciplinary approach—involving engineers, policy analysts, digital innovators, environmental scientists, legal minds, and even community mobilizers. Our youth and students must be equipped with the tools not only to participate in this space but to innovate within it.”

Also speaking, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Oladoja Olushola urged the students to take the opportunity presented by PTDF with seriousness, curiosity, and a spirit of innovation. “You are not just beneficiaries-you are torchbearers for the next generation of professionals who will shape the future of Nigeria’s petroleum industry and beyond.” He said.

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Oladoja said NANS as a body would continue to advocate for more inclusive, impactful, and sustainable student-centered interventions to ensure that no student is left behind.

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Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.

The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.

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According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.

READ ALSO:Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X

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Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.

In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”

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READ ALSO:‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book

Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.

“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.

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In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.

 

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Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead

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The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.

Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.

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Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.

READ ALSO:Army Kills Notorious Bandit, Babangida, In Kogi

A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.

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Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”

Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.

READ ALSO:Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

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Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.

Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.

This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.

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Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.

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Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management

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The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.

Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.

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Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO:Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power

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He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.

According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

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“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO: Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.

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“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”

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