Day: July 2, 2024

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has set up a disciplinary panel to investigate two operatives accused of assaulting a woman during a raid on a hotel in Lagos on Thursday.

Its Spokesman, Dele Oyewale, who said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja, added that the officers were to appear before the panel on Monday.

Oyewale said that the EFCC Chairman, Mr Ola Olukoyede, set up the disciplinary team to look into the case of the two errant officers of the commission who allegedly assaulted a female staff of Regional Hotel, Ojo, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the officers were sighted in a viral video assaulting the staff of the hotel in an early morning sting operation on Thursday.

‘Olukoyede ordered the arrest of the two officers and has directed them to appear before a joint Disciplinary Team comprising the Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee, APDC and the Department of Ethics and Integrity.

‘They are billed to appear before the Team on Monday July
1, at the Corporate Headquarters of the Commission, Abuja.

‘ The team would look into the case of the officers and recommend appropriate disciplinary measures to be taken against them,’ he said.

According to him, Olukoyede stressed that no stone will be left unturned in getting the officers to account for their unprofessional conduct.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) on Tuesday declared a state of emergency on production in oil and gas industry.

The NNPCL has also called on all players in the industry to collaborate towards reducing the cost of oil production and boosting production to target levels.

Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, stated this in Abuja at the ongoing 23rd edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference and Exhibition holding from June 30 to July 4.

‘We have decided to stop the debate. We cannot afford to negotiate further, we have declared war on the challenges affecting our crude oil production.

‘Our biggest interest is to produce more oil and gas in spite of oil theft and other challenges.

‘We have the right tools. We know what to fight. We know what we have to do at the level of assets. We have engaged our partners and we will work together to improve the situation,’ he said.

Kyari said a detailed analysis of assets revealed that Nigeria could conveniently pr
oduce two million barrels of crude oil daily without deploying new rigs, but decried the inability of players to act in a timely manner as major impediment.

He said obstacles to effective and efficient production such as delays in procurement processes and old pipeline network were affecting the industry.

He said NNPCL would replace all the old crude oil pipelines built over four decades ago and introduce a rig sharing programme with its partners to ensure that production rigs stayed in the country.

This, he said, would be a medium to long-term measures aimed at boosting and sustaining production.

He expressed commitment to investing in critical midstream gas infrastructure such as the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline to boost domestic gas production and supply for power generation.

On Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Kyari said the NNPCL had keyed into the Presidential CNG Initiative drive.

He said in conjunction with partners such as NIPCO Gas, NNPCL had built a number
of CNG stations, 12 of which would be commissioned on Thursday in Lagos and Abuja.

The Secretary-General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Mr Mohamed Hamel, in an address, also advocated for natural gas infrastructure and penetration for energy stability and security.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

WINDHOEK: A suspected robber was fatally shot on Tuesday morning along Independence Avenue next to Engen service station in Windhoek’s central business district.

One suspect was apprehended, while another escaped during an attempted robbery.

Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi of the Namibian Police Force said the incident occurred around 07h40 at Kwasi (The Tailor) clothing shop.

Allegedly, the owner of the shop, a 47-year-old Ghanaian male, received information from a woman of a neighbouring salon that his car had been broken into.

‘Immediately, he ran outside through the back door and when he reached the entrance he observed two male suspects coming towards the entrance gate, while one of the suspects stood next to him holding a pistol and a bank bag with money. The suspect allegedly fired a shot towards him, but he immediately ran outside towards Engen yelling for help as the robbers ran after him,’ Shikwambi said.

The commissioner also mentioned that near the service station, an off-duty police officer wit
nessed the shooting. He immediately got out of his vehicle with his service firearm and when the robbers saw him they fired shots in his direction.

The officer fired back, and during gunfire exchange, the robbers reportedly dropped the money and fled on foot through Independence Avenue.

‘One of the robbers fell to the ground at the intersection of Independence and Luther Strasse, however succumbed. He was found with a pistol in his possession and he was declared dead by paramedics at the scene,’ said Shikwambi.

She stated that one suspect was arrested and that the officer was unharmed, while the victim sustained minor injuries. Shikwambi mentioned that N.dollars 45 000 was recovered.

She also noted that a Mercedes Benz vehicle, which was passing by during the exchange of fire, was hit by one of the bullets causing damage to it.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Network of Water Rights Initiative (NEWARI), an NGO, has urged the Enugu State Government to ensure that the water being consumed by residents of the state is safe.

The Enugu Coordinator, Amb. Amaka Nweke, who made the call on Monday in Enugu, said that such step would avert the outbreak of cholera in the state.

Nweke said that the organisation was committed towards promoting access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services across Nigeria.

‘The network urges the Enugu State Government to adopt proactive measures to ensure that the water consumed by its residents is safe,’ she said.

It would be recalled that, Prof. Emmanuel Obi, the Enugu State Commissioner for Health, recently declared that the state had not recorded any confirmed case of cholera.

The NEWARI official said that the state government should deploy systems-change-approach to address the root cause of waterborne diseases.

She urged the government to monitor the quality of water being delivered by water tankers to households in the s
tate.

‘These suppliers are the primary sources of water for many households in the state. There is need to adopt household water treatment schemes such as filtration, boiling, and disinfection.

‘This will be a critical step to prevent an outbreak and spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the state.

‘It is important to effectively regulate the operations of water tankers to ensure that they provide safe and potable water,’ she said.

Nweke further suggested regular water quality testing, monitoring and citizen education on the dangers of unsafe water.

‘Our message is that the government can protect its residents from the scourge of cholera and other waterborne diseases by simply prioritising water quality and water services delivery.

‘As an organisation, we appreciate the government’s effort so far in water and sanitation issues, we cannot afford to be complacent at this time, we must remain resilient,’ she said.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) board is reviewing the judgment handed down by the Labour Court on the termination of the contract of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Zolani Kgosietsile Matthews.

‘We are currently reviewing the judgment in detail, in consultation with the legal department, and we will communicate any further actions in due course,’ PRASA said on Tuesday.

The PRASA board terminated Matthews’s contract in December 2021 after an investigation by seasoned senior counsel that established whether Matthews deliberately and intentionally failed to disclose material information to PRASA in respect of his dual citizenship.

According to media reports, months later, retired judge Robert Nugent ruled that PRASA should reinstate Matthews with back pay during arbitration proceedings.

PRASA applied to the Labour Court to review Nugent’s ruling. On Monday the Labour Court reportedly ruled that Matthews’s contract was still valid.

‘In promoting good governance, the PRASA Boar
d is committed to ensuring that our actions align with legal obligations and the company’s best interests. The Board Of Control (BOC) remains dedicated to ensuring that PRASA builds on its successful rail rebuilding turnaround.

‘PRASA is focused on fulfilling its primary mandate of providing rail commuter services and long-haul passenger rail and bus services in the public interest. The BOC continues to discharge its fiduciary duties whilst upholding a high standard of fairness and integrity,’ the agency said.

Source: South African Government News Agency