Bayelsa Good Governance Initiative Urges Political Leaders, National Lawmakers To Emulate Dickson

The Bayelsa Good Governance Initiative has called on the senators, reps and political leaders from the state to emulate the principled nature and bold activities of the Senator representing Bayelsa West, Chief Henry Seriake Dickson.

The Coordinator of BGGI, Mr. Epipadei Lawyer, said in a statement on Saturday that Senator Dickson’s action have shown his continuous passion and commitment to the cause of the entire Bayelsa, the Ijaw nation and indeed the Niger Delta.

He said that others should take a cue from the Senator and begin to look beyond the restrictive confines of their senatorial boundaries to focus on issues that will benefit the entire Bayelsa and the Ijaw nation as Senator Dickson has always done.

Lawyer commended Dickson for the mature intervention when the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr Simbi Wabote, was summoned by the Senate.

He said that Dickson’s intervention was in the interest of the state and the Ijaw irrespective of party affiliation.

He said that the BGGI’s observation of the events of the day showed that Senator Dickson’s contributions during the deliberations promoted the interest of Bayelsa because a negative statement emanating from the Senate wouldn’t have meant well for Mr. Wabote.

Lawyer stated further that Dickson’s continuing support for the promotion of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, and the management team led by Col. Dixon Dikio (retd) as a prominent member of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta and his support for the clearance of the Independent National Electoral Commission nominee from the State, Prof. Gumus, who is not from his senatorial district is worthy of emulation.

“The BGGI has observed with keen interest the activities of former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, since he got to the Senate. We have seen how he has has continued to project and protect the interest of the state, the Ijaw nation, and even the Niger Delta in critical issues in the Senate.

“For instance, it would have been convenient for him to join others to destroy the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, if he were to follow the political affliation but he didn’t.

“It is also worthy of note that Senator Dickson’s stout defence of Prof Gumus left the Senate with no better option than to clear her.

“It is in view of this that the Ijaw nation should speak with him to retain his position In the Senate even if he doesn’t not intend to. He is a voice that cannot be ignored and the Ijaw nation needs him now more than ever before.

“We are particularly interested in his proactive intervention during the Senate proceedings when the NCDMB Executive Secretary, Mr Simbi Wabote, was summoned by the Senate to brief it on the raging controversy involving the Executive Secretary of the commission.

“We admire this courage and attitude which sees representation beyond senatorial boundaries and even party lines.

“What we need at this difficult time is effective cooperation among our people, our representatives and senators at the National Assembly irrespective of party affiliation.

“We call on others to emulate Dickson who has distinguished himself

as a reliable defender and voice of our people all these years .

AA Zaura Foundation Refurbishes 500no. Boreholes In Kano

 

A Kano based Foundation – AA Zaura Foundation had sponsored total repair of 500no hand pump and Motorized Solar powered Borehole across the 44 Local Government of the State.

In an exclusive chat with Zaura Communication team on Thursday evening, the Founder and the President of the foundation; His Excellency Abdussalam Abdulkarim Zaura said the idea is to make the abandoned boreholes to become serviceable and bring succor to people in the communities the boreholes are.

He said ” the idea is to consolidate on a lot being done by the NGO in areas of Social and Human service in critical sectors of Health and education through the Zaura Medical Outreach and Education Support Fund, this time around, we refer back to our scale of preference and see the nest on it was water provisions, the Ganduje led Administration had done excellent in rural water supply and as an NGO we are obliged to complement the various efforts hence this commitment”

“Our target is to bring back to service 500no Boreholes in the interim, taking priority of areas based on need, eventually we will conduct a review to see how far has the project goal of Complementing effort of the government in providing people with water for domestic use has yield effort, as you all know in our foundation, we have plans therefore we will look back and see what is needed to be done” Zaura added

On tour to site of the projects, as at report time this Friday, the 21st of January, the project has achieved almost 20% in 10 day with over 70no hand Boreholes and 10 motorized restored in Ungoggo, Nassarawa, Dala, Bebeji, Garko, Gwale and Tarauni Local Government areas.

In an interview with Beneficiary Communities, the response was emotional as they showered prayers to the founder of the foundation, while praying for Allah to bless him with a greater Avenue to expand the gesture.

Ahmed Dikko's Transformative Efforts At PHRC

 

By Adewole Kehinde

The Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Mr. Ahmed Dikko, is on course to end the protracted rot in the establishment and ensure it works at full capacity again.

The Port Harcourt Refining Company has witnessed rejuvenation in the last two year since the current Managing Director took over the reins of the company. Before March 2020, the refinery was comatose and regarded as a waste of public resources because it has gulped billions and yet had not worked.

Due to the failure of successive administrations to do the needful, the company has failed to serve the purpose it was built.

Since the approval of $1.5bn by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Engr. Ahmed Dikko, has rolled up his sleeves to drive the company to yield the right result with the ongoing extensive rehabilitation of the Refinery.

Since he took over the helms of affairs in March 2020 as the Managing Director of PHRC, Ahmed Dikko has been putting his best foot forward to making PHRC proud again. With the signing of an agreement with EPC Contractors, Maire Tecnimont SpA on April 6 and followed that up with the technical kick-off of this project on May 6, the project activities have swung into action after the contractor shared the detailed project execution plan, the PHRC broke up into discipline sessions with various groups for engineering, quality control, and construction among others.

The ongoing rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery is one of the key planks of this policy.

Given the significance and magnitude of the task, only a thoroughbred, a professional knowledgeable not only in the technical aspects of the job but one also nuanced in the matter of administration and coordination, would effectively deliver on the assignment particularly as President Buhari has set the rehabilitation of the refinery, Nigeria’s largest till date, as one of the priorities of his administration.

It was thus not surprising that the NNPC would turn to Dikko, a man who had in the decades he has worked with the corporation beginning from his first stint at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company limited, where he worked in the Operations and Engineering & Technical Services Departments, he has traversed units and departments within the NNPC until finally rising to the position of Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) in March 2020.

He was charged with key task of delivering the Rehabilitation Project of the Refinery and brings its facilities to optimal production capacity and sustainable operations. Phase 1 of the Rehab Project which is the integrity study and inspection has been completed. The Project is in the second Phase with the signing of the EPC contract for the rehabilitation with Maire Tecnimont SpA and the subsequent Technical kick off meeting in May, 2021.

Although the approval of the $1.5 billion may seem gleeful for PHRC and indeed the public, it was greeted with mixed feelings. However, Dikko’s reaction remains optimistic. This is as he says they are putting in the energies required nonetheless to ensure they cover all angles.

He expressed, “This way, they can deliver a refinery that can run sustainably and profitably over a long period of time. A lot of people were making all sorts of comments, probably, out of not having the correct information but this is the first time in NNPC that this kind of approach has been taken. So much consultation and transparency went into this process. Right from the bidding process, to the selection of the contractor, and the eventual award of this project.”

In the process of selecting the contractor, he revealed that PHRC had to use reputable international EPC companies to bid for this exercise. In the words of the MD, “this is a very big plus, and the bidding process was quite open and transparent. We utilised other external stakeholders in all these processes that we are doing so that they can contribute and see the openness in it. Clearly, the Bureau of Public Procurement, NEITI, ICRC, and Federal Ministry of Finance among others were there with us. This is unprecedented in the history of project development in NNPC and we are very sure it will yield the right result.”

Notwithstanding, Dikko acknowledged that they got approvals from NNPC management for a robust project management consultant and owner engineer, who would support them as owners in this process to make sure that they truly deliver the project based on what has been scoped earlier in phase one of the project.

“Part of what is in our contract is to make sure, as much as possible, that we use the original manufacturers of these equipment and things that we need to change during this project. Then there is the presence of a lot of the licensors of these process plants here with us like UOP who are licensors to the FCC unit and Axxeis to the KHU are also part of these.

“So you can see it is a robust combination of experience and international bodies that are part of this project. And then to crown it up, we that are here locally as owners in Port Harcourt have a dedicated team that has shown resilience, professionalism, and commitment to ensure that exactly what is captured in our scope of work is what is going to be delivered,” while crossing his heart, “I will like to assure Nigerians and other stakeholders that we would surely get this right; we would put in the energies that is required, and we would make sure that we cover all angles so that together we can deliver a refinery that can run sustainably and profitably over a long period of time.”

Indeed, Dikko, a veteran engineer, declares that the rehabilitation activity is very dear to the staff and management of the company. This is as he shows concern on the safety around the pipelines particularly from the main plants to the jetty. According to the PHRC chief, “We know very well that we truly need to put these barriers together so that we can protect our right of way, our pipelines and also the people who are around these facilities.

He, however, chipped in that in the first phase of the project, they needed to have a robust engagement with the communities so that they can relocate those who are encroaching on the right of ways properly. This, he added would enable them to have sincere discussions with the communities so they can understand that the benefit of staying away from the right of way of the pipelines is for their safety first.

Dikko acknowledged that host communities engagement is one of the key priorities for the success of this project and PHRC management recognised this right from the earlier days of the award of this contract, hence, the company, through Public Affairs, has been doing a lot of engagement with these communities.

Interestingly, PHRC plans to put out the information correctly about this project as well as manage the expectations of these communities. While their approach is to get the communities to buy into this project and be part of it, the contractors have nominated a community rep that is working closely with the PHRC Public Affairs team in the manner to ensure that the right information is given to the communities. “The expectations are managed and together we can work as partners to deliver this project without any hindrance,” expressing that everything is good, thus, he is very delighted with the efforts so far.

Critics have queried what the government would achieve by injecting such a humongous amount of money into the rehabilitation project. For the purpose of clarity, there are quite a number of benefits in bringing the nation’s refineries back on stream. The project when completed, would ensure increased revenue and energy sufficiency in the nation and prevent unplanned shutdown as well as increasing GDP.

Other benefits will include local production of Aviation Turbine Kero and reduction in foreign exchange demand through reduced importation of petroleum products, satisfying local energy demand, strengthening the Naira by reducing the demand for Forex, and creating thousands of jobs across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply etc) including several third-party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods.

The refined products also will serve as feedstock for small-scale local manufacturing. The most significant and visible benefit is energy security for the country.

For Dikko, he is neither resting on his oars nor allowing the challenges to slam their efforts. While he describes the ride so far as very good, he’s pleased with the cooperation of all staff members of PHRC and the commitment. “So this is what I would like to appeal to everybody around PHRC and indeed NNPC to contribute and dedicate anything possible to make sure that this project succeeds because the whole Nigeria; 200 million Nigerians are waiting for this and we cannot afford to fail.”

 

Adewole Kehinde is the Publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846, 08123608662

CP Abdulkarim Dauda Extension Of Tenure Followed Due Process

 

Contrary to the report by the Police Service Commission that a Commissioner of Police, CP Abdulkarim Dauda breached due process in seeking for extension of tenure because there is no document showing the President Muhammadu Buhari approved an extension for him and also no record showing when or where IGP Adamu authorized his extension of service, Our Reporters can authoritatively says that there are available documents to proved the extension of service.

It will be recalled that the Police Service Commission, (PSC), presided by its Chairman, former IGP Musiliu Smith, after its 13 plenary meeting in Abuja which held on Monday 20 December and Tuesday 21 December, has directed CP Abdulkarim Dauda to tender his letter of retirement with immediate effect for breach of due process/illegal extension of tenure.

Commissioner in charge Media and Publicity in the Board of the PSC, Mr. Austin Briamoh who made this known at a briefing after the plenary said CP Dauda claimed that he was given extension of service during the tenure of former IGP Mohammed Adamu to year 2021.

But Mr. Briamoh disclosed that during plenary, all the records were searched and there was nowhere or any document showing the President Muhammadu Buhari approved an extension for him while there was also no record showing when or where IGP Adamu authorized his extension of service.

Furthermore, Mr. Braimoh disclosed that the cat was let off the bag when the former CSO sent a correspondence to the PSC demanding promotion to the next rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police arguing that he was qualified for such since by virtue of the extension, he was still in the force.

“So the board of the PSC haven discovered several infraction on the issue of extension for CP Abdulkarim Dauda without due process, rejected the extension and backdated his retirement to 1st of January 2020 when he was actually due for retirement”, Mr. Braimoh said.

“We have no record that his tenure was extended by Mr. President. So quietly, we have asked for him to go. He is to retire and return the salaries he collected from January 2020 till date. We even tempered justice with mercy because when he was to retire, he was given extension.

“It was a violation of the Police act and statutes. On top of that he is appealing that he should be promoted upwards when he is on illegal extension”

Contrasting the Police Service Commission, according to a letter sited by Our Reporters dated 18th September 2019 addressed to President Buhari titled "Re: Notification of retirement in respect of CP Abdulkarim Dauda (CPSO-President): Recommendation for Extension of Service in the Nigeria Police Force),” the former IGP Mohammed A. Adamu in considering the exceptional professional experience and competence of CP Abdulkarim Dauda, the former IGP recommended that President Buhari draw his presidential power as well as his discretion as Chairman of the Nigeria Police Council to approve an extension of service of CP Abdulkarim Dauda to 13th May 2023 when he would be attaining the age of 60 years of age.

The former IGP said the recommendation is being made in National security Interest

In another letter dated 21st February 2020 addressed to the Chairman, Police Service Commission titled “Re: Extension of service CP CP Abdulkarim Dauda” signed by AIG Alkali Baba Usman, the then Force Secretary, it indicated that the President has confirmed the extension of service for CP Abdulkarim Dauda, from 1st January 2020 (when he was due to retire) to 13th May, 2023.

The letter further stated that the approval for the service extension of the officer was sequel to recommendation of the Inspector General of Police in exercise of the power of the President under Section 171 (1) (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and in cognizance of Section 11(1)(a)(c)(i) of the interpretation Act, CAP 123 Laws of the Federation.

Abuja Estate Landlords Worry Over Diversion Of Five Residential Houses To Hotels

 

The Homeowners Association of sprawling estate In Gwarimpa, Karsana District, the Mab Global Estate, are living in fear over the brazen diversion of the residential homes in the estate to hotels.

As a result of this, homeowners in the District have petitioned the Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Development Authority.

In the petition signed by the President, Ahmed Ihedioha and General Secretary, Kufre Charles, they urged the department to address the situation and ensure that the buildings were returned to their original purpose.

The last count, three of such home owners have diverted their residential homes to hotels with attendant security implications to bewildered residents and landlords of the estate.

The operators of the hotel, it was gathered, have not got approval from the regulatory authorities in Abuja, to convert the houses in a gated estate to commercial use.

With three hotels in operation, all manner of guests with questionable characters, criminals, drug peddlers now see the estate as a safe haven.

To the consternation of the landlords of the estate, the hotel guests move into the estate at odd hours and expose the entire community to danger.

Penultimate week there was a breakdown of law and order in the estate as two groups engaged each other at the hotel located at Plot 400 and the fight spread to the gate into the night.

Worried by this weird turn of events, the Homeowners Association of Mab Global Estate, a community of 634 houses held its Annual General Meeting to deliberate on the threat posed by the illegal hotels in the estate

The estate agreed with unanimity that the Executive led by Engr Ahmed Ihedioha, wrote to the Development Control to alert the regulatory body of the brazen violation of the estate master plan.

The estate through EXCO wrote Development Control on November 21, 2021 and the regulatory body acknowledged receipt of the petition dated December 1, 2021. No action has taken place on the letter.

The hotel owners are quoted to have said that they have the support of some allies in Development Control in spite of the fact that a Development Control allegedly refused to grant approval to convert the houses to hotel since the estate is a gated community.

Nnamdi Kanu’s Defence Team Walked Out On Justice Binta Nyako

Contrary to the report from Bar Ejiofor, the led counsel and some section of the media, that Nnamdi Kanu’s defence teams were locked out of the Federal High Court room during the proceedings.

The proceedings resumed after the Justice Binta Nyako entered the courtroom, Mohammed Abubakar, announced an appearance for the prosecution.

However, the defence team, led by Bar. Ejiofor was nowhere to be found, prompting Justice Binta Nyako to ask Nnamdi Kanu of his Defence team whereabouts.

In his response, Nnamdi Kanu said his lawyers were protesting the denial of access to Mr Fein, the IPOB lawyer from the United States, who was on the Federal High Court premises to observe the day’s session.

But the Judge, who was visibly unhappy about the walk-out, said she will not dismiss the applications against the wish of the Prosecutor, Mohammed Abubakar, who asked the court to dismiss Nnamdi Kanu’s pending applications

It will be recalled that a diplomat from the British High Commission, who was in the courtroom to watch proceedings was allowed because she had written the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking his consent to attend Wednesday’s sitting.

Justice Binta Nyako noted that individuals seeking to attend Nnamdi Kanu’s trial must write her court for consideration.

Nnamdi Kanu US lawyer, Bruce Fein should have followed the same process the diplomat from the British High Commission took by written the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking his consent to attend Wednesday’s sitting.

Thereafter, the Judge adjourned the suit till January 19 and 20, 2022 for trial.

It was gathered that few Journalists and lawyers were allowed into the courtroom in observance of the COVID 19 Protocol and the capacity of the court room.

Nnamdi Kanu is being tried on charges of treasonable felony regarding his separatist activities. The trial was scheduled to resume before Justice Binta Nyako, for arguments on an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

The separatist, who was granted bail in April 2017, fled the country after the invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the military in September that year, a situation one of Nnamdi  Kanu’s lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor, described as the “rule of self-preservation.”

Justice Binta Nyako subsequently revoked his bail for ditching his trial, and ordered his trial to be separated from the rest of the co-defendants’.

While the trial of the rest of the defendants has made some progress, Nnamdi Kanu’s has been stalled since 2017.

On June 29, 2021, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, announced that Nnamdi Kanu had been rearrested and brought back to Nigeria to continue facing his trial.

I Have Come Into Politics Because I Believe I Can Add Value – AA Zaura

 

Since my childhood growing through Adulthood, a lot of questions exist in my mind; why do ordinary children like me have to suffer before getting educated? Why does an ordinary Bakano child like me have to walk distance before having access to Medical facility and Medicare? Why do people who live in communities like mine – Zaura have to plead before getting access Road, Electricity among many other Social Amenities? These and many mind bugging questions exist in minds of every reasonable Bakano and this is vis a vis the numerous resource Allah has blessed us with.

It’s in response to the above plethora of questions, I have had since began the little I could, to support indigent poor Children from my Locality, this initiative has further developed to be established as a formal organization; with Corporate governance structure -the AA Zaura Foundation. Through the Foundation a lot was achieved, but not to my macro satisfaction.

In an attempt to provide a statewide response to the above Highlighted questions Comes my venturing into Politics in 2019, it is my firm believe that controlling state institutions could had given me greater chances of expand those good works I was doing in an attempt to excellently answer those questions. Nonetheless, even without clinching the ticket, I had increased investments through the Foundation in Multi Billion Naira to cater for Indigent Poor; Education, Health, Housing, Electrification and a number of Social Development Initiatives.

As I kept on saying, I have come into politics because I believe I can add value, I have come into Politics because if our likes leaves it, we are only creating a vacuum that eventually have to be filled by people of no or less ideas. Therefore, Politics cannot change me, but I will change the Politics.