The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Ifeanyi Ubah, has said that two refineries- Port Harcourt and Warri would be fully operational by the end of 2024.

Ubah said plans have already been put in place to achieve the target, stressing that the Kaduna Refinery would also be operational before the end of next year.

He said that the completion of the plants and the addition of supply from the 650,000 barrels per day, bpd Dangote Refinery would enable the nation to meet its domestic fuel demand.

The senator also called on the federal government and other stakeholders to work toward the establishment of modular refineries to further expand the nation’s domestic capacity to refine crude oil.

“My mandate is to ensure that the refineries in Nigeria are up and functional. By my involvement, before the end of this year, two refineries will be up and running.

“Also, before the end of next year, the Kaduna refinery will come on stream.

“I can assure Nigerians that I will tirelessly pursue and ensure that these refineries are up and running before the end of the year. We have set up a technical team to visit the refineries every two weeks in order to meet the set target,” he said.

The Chairman/CEO of Chisco Transport, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, has commended the Dr. Peter Mbah Administration in Enugu State for its effort to reposition the transport and logistics sector in the state, including the administration’s plans to build modern transport interchanges in various parts of the state.

Anyaegbu noted that as a political leader, who came from the business world, he had an unwavering conviction that the governor would drastically change the fortunes of the state for good.

The business mogul stated this while fielding questions from Government House correspondents during a visit to Mbah on Wednesday, urging the residents and people of the state to continue to accord the governor their total support.

“I came for a private visit to the Executive Governor of Enugu State. We had a good discussion and I can say that the Executive Governor has a very good intention of how to develop the state, which I also know because he came from the business sector or business environment. He understands how to add value to what he met,” he said.

Speaking on Governor Mbah’s modern transport interchange plans, Chief Anyaegbu said, “His plans are very good. Transport is life, I have been in Transport for 46 years. I know what transport is.

“I understand that transport adds a lot to the economy. And which I will repeat myself again, after listening to the Executive Governor, I know he has good plans about this and this is why I am telling you that when you give him time, in a very short time, Enugu people will see a lot of improvement under his administration.

“He has a lot of plans on logistics and how to develop Enugu State in the area of logistics and every other area he has plans for. I am convinced that all his plans will come to fruition,” he stated.

The bandits, who abducted over 30 persons recently in Maradun Local Government Area, Zamfara State, the country home of the Minister of State, Defence, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, have demanded the sum of N500 million as ransom.

A resident of the area, Ibrahim Maradun told DAILY POST that all available channels to raise the money have proved abortive as wealthy individuals have not shown any concern to pay the ransom.

“We have wealthy people in the town but they could not risk their wealth for the kidnapped victims to regain their freedom from the notorious bandits”, he stated.

Maradun explained that since the incident happened, both the State government and the security agencies have not made any official statement.

“The State Government has neither visited the town to show sympathy, nor has the Governor delegated any government official to show concern,” he lamented.

Maradun noted that the people of the area revolted against former Governor Matawalle through the ballot box owing to insecurity.

“During the electioneering campaigns, Governor Dauda Lawal assured electorates that if voted into power, he would end banditry activities within 100 days in office.

“But now, the situation is getting worse as bandits’ operations continue to escalate unabated.

“Recently, armed bandits ambushed the operatives of the State’s local security outfit, known as Community Protection Guard, CPG, killed three of them, injured many and made away with their arms,” he disclosed.

He called on the State Government and the security operatives to intensify more efforts to ensure the release of the kidnapped victims.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has arraigned a former Registrar of Zamfara State Upper Sharia Court 1, Gusau, Abubakar Garba Dandare, before Justice Bello Shinkafi of Zamfara State High Court in Gusau.

The Commission docked Dandare on a two-count charge, accusing him of misappropriating the sum of N3.8 million belonging to a late businessman, Alhaji Ladan Mada, and the forgery of the signature of his next of kin, Aminu Mada.

In the suit number, ZMJ/GS/13C/2024, Dandare was charged for misappropriating N3,837,634.46, entrusted to him for the family of late Alhaji Ladan Mada by the Zamfara State Ministry of Finance in December 2012, when he was the Registrar of Upper Sharia Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State.

Dandare was also alleged to have forged the signature of Aminu Mada, late Alhaji Mada’s next of kin, on the Court Cash Deposit Register of the Upper Shari’s Court 1, Samaru Gusau, Zamfara State, aiming to access the funds.

The EFCC said that the actions constituted the offense of Criminal Breach of Trust, as outlined in sections 311 and 312 of the Penal Code, CAP 89 Laws of Northern Nigeria, 1963.

Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi granted bail to the defendant, under the condition that he provides two sureties who are residents of the state, in the sum of N5 million.

They must also submit their passports and two GSM numbers to the court registrar.

The Police in Kano State have arrested seventeen suspected forex hawkers for illegal operation of Bureau de Change.

Spokesman of the command, SP. Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa confirmed the arrest in a statement issued to newsmen.

He said the arrest followed a raid conducted by the Kano Police Command with combined personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) at locations where FOREX Transactions were being carried out in Wappa Bureau De Change, Fagge LGA, Kano.

According to him “At the end of the operation, a total of twenty-nine (29) people were arrested out of which twelve (12) were screened out for lack of evidence, while seventeen (17) were arrested with the following exhibits recovered; (1) Sum of Sixty-eight Thousand (68,000) CFA, and (2) Thirty (30) Rupees (Indian Currency).”

He said further investigation revealed that the seventeen suspects were operating under one Association of unlicensed Bureau De Change and they will be charged to Court for prosecution.

SP Kiyawa explained that the essence of the operation was to flush out elements that operate illegally to stabilize the foreign exchange market in the country.

The arrest excluded genuine Bureau de Change operators who carry on their legitimate businesses in their offices.

The State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, noted that illegal financial activities would not be tolerated, and that those engaging in such practices would face the full wrath of the law.

He advised all individuals and business operators within the financial sector to operate within the confines of the law, obtain the necessary licenses and always avoid unwholesome practices.