… As Military Uncovers Gun Factory, Recovers Weapons In Kaduna***

Zamfara’s Gov. Dauda Lawal on Saturday issued a ban on illegal mining in the state. He also ordered security agents to shoot violators of the order at sight.

The governor’s media aide, Malam Suleiman Idris, quoted Lawal as saying in Gusau that the order was part of measures to restore law and order.

The governor noted that illegal mining had fuelled banditry and other criminal activities in parts of Zamfara over the years.

“Illegal mining is undeniably one of the driving forces behind the rampant banditry plaguing Zamfara. “We must take swift and decisive action to curb this menace and restore peace and security to our communities,’’ Idris quoted Lawal as saying.

The governor ordered security agencies to take other stringent measures against those caught violating the order. According to him, it is time to end the destructive activity and implement measures to protect the safety and well-being of the people.

“The directive is necessary to ensure the safety and security of the people of Zamfara and deter potential wrongdoers. “It is also a swift action to enable the government to be in total control of the state’s resources and block activities that endanger the lives and properties of the people,’’ the governor said”

In another development however, Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), a military task force, maintaining peace in Plateau, Bauchi, and Kaduna States, has uncovered a gun factory at Kafanchan, Jama’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Capt. James Oya, the Media Officer of the operation, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen, on Saturday in Jos.

Oya said that it had also arrested one Napoleon John, a suspected gunrunner and recovered various types of weapons and ammunitions.

He explained that the feat was possible owing to a week-long operation conducted by its troops.

”In line with our resolve to deal decisively with sponsors and perpetrators of crime as well as mopping up illegal weapons in our joint operation area, our troops have uncovered a gun manufacturing factory in Kafanchan, Jama’a LGA of Kaduna State.

”This followed a week-long intelligence operation that finally led to the capture of a wanted gunrunner, Napoleon John who has been on our wanted list.

”The suspect, who confessed to the crime, led troops to a concealed factory where arms of different calibre were sold by another miscreant identified as Monday Dunia.

”Dunia confessed to have been in the business for more than five years, fuelling the crisis in Kaduna State and neighbouring Plateau.

”A thorough search of the factory led to the recovery of 22 different weapons, including seven pistols, two locally fabricated AK-47 rifles, two military grade AK-47 rifles, and nine revolvers,” he said.

Oya said that its troops also recovered one submachine gun, rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, machine tools, and a gas cylinder.

”In a follow-up operation held between Thursday night and early hours of Friday, troops raided another hideout in Adua 1 community of Kafanchan and recovered additional two AK-47 rifles, two revolver rifles, live rounds of 9mm and 7.62 ammunitions, six dangerous daggers, one hacker axe.

”Several empty cases of 7.62mm special rounds, two mobile phones, one fragmental jacket, two Police uniforms, one pair of military camouflage trousers, one ammunition magazine carrier, one pistol holster and one military grade camel pouch.

”We also recovered one police combat helmet, two masks, four identity cards, gunpowder, shrapnels, charms and amulets.

Oya said that the Commander of the operation, Maj.-Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar, commended the troops for the feat and urged them to do more.

He, however, warned sponsors and perpetrators of criminalities to abandon their evil ways and embrace lawful means of livelihood.

He thanked residents of the state for cooperating with the military and other security agencies and called for more support towards a peaceful Plateau

…CCECC completes only 1.24% of the targetted 2,044.1 km in 2 years***

The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Sa’idu Alkali, on Friday, expressed serious disappointment in the slow progress of work on the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri narrow gauge railway project.

Alkali expressed his disappointment after he and some top officials of the Ministry of Transportation inspected the project at Oyibbo Community in Rivers State on Friday.

The minister, according to a statement from the ministry also expressed a grave disappointment in his observed project handling by the contractor, the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).

He said he was concerned by the delay and inefficiencies that had plagued the construction process.

“The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri Narrow Gauge Railway Project, once completed, is expected to facilitate the movement of goods and people, stimulate regional trade, and contribute to the overall socio-economic advancement of the country.

“The contract for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 2,044.1 km Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Eastern Narrow Gauge was signed on 16th November 2020 with a completion period of 36 months.

“The project is jointly financed by the Federal Government and the CCECC, with the Nigerian government providing 15% funding while the CCECC will provide 85% of the funds.

“However, the physical progress of work on the entire project so far is 243 km (1.24%) of the 2,044.1 km,” Alkali said.

He said that the delay had caused significant frustration among stakeholders and the local communities that were eagerly awaiting the completion of the railway line.

The minister, however, assured the public of quick completion of the project, saying that his visit underscored the government’s determination to prioritise infrastructure development and deliver on its promises to the Nigerian people.

 The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) said the oil and gas industry generated over $23billion in 2021.

The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya-Orji said this while presenting highlights on the 2021 Oil and Gas report unveiled on Monday in Abuja.

According to Ogbonnaya Orji, the revenue sources included sales of federation crude oil and gas, taxes, royalties, concession rental, gas flare penalty, bonus and license fees, and transportation fees.

He said that the total revenue was also generated through dividends from NLNG, NDDC levy, NCDMB levy, Ness fee, and miscellaneous income.

According to the NEITI boss, a total of $13.2 billion dollars was remitted from the sum to the federation account.

He said that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, before its transition failed to remit about $2 billion to the federation account and a total of $6.9 billion was deducted at FAAC.

Ogbonnaya-Orji said that while oil production for the year under review stood at about 566,129 million barrels per day, gas production came at over 2,743,700 million standard cubic feet per day.

He said that the sector contributed a total of 7.2 percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021 with the export contribution of 76.2 percent

The executive secretary said that the Federal Government paid about $3.087 billion in cash calls as equity contributions while the outstanding cash-call liabilities payable by the federation stood at about N330.007 billion.

On data of Beneficial Owners (BO) of Assets, Ogbonnaya-Orji said that about 69 companies were covered in the production of the report and have disclosed some BO information through NEITI or CAC portal except four companies.

On subsidy, the NEITI boss said about $1,159 trillion was paid by the government as subsidy between March to December 2021.

“NEITI audits revealed that between 2006 and 2021, a total of N8.149 trillion has been so far expended on petroleum subsidy, now referred to as under-recovery,’ he said.

On recommendations, he said that based on the outstanding liabilities payable to FIRS and NUPRC, the NNPC and NPCD should be investigated while other companies should promptly pay their liabilities.

Ogbonnaya-Orji said the report also recommended that a special investigation be instituted to establish the status of our non-operational refineries and value for money assessment on the refineries should be carried out.

He further reiterated the need to strengthen remediation mechanisms and involve independent third parties to conduct detailed investigations when necessary among other recommendations.

Earlier, stakeholders in the oil and gas sector commended NEITI on efforts towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the industry.

Representing the Secretary to Government of the Federation, George Akume, his Permanent Secretary on Political and Economic Affairs, Esuabana Nko-Asanye, reiterated the importance of the report to economic development.

Akume reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to support and deepen the implementation of the EITI in Nigeria.

He then restated the need for security issues especially in the Niger/Delta to be tackled to reduce losses in the sector.

The Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, represented by his Chief Compliant Officer, Nasir Usman, pledged the unreserved support of NNPCL to NEITI to enable it to achieve its mandate.

Representing the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, his Permanent Secretary, Nebolisa Anako, stated the importance of data for economic planning.

He then reiterated the commitment of the government to the mandate of NEITI as the oil and gas sector was one of the major sources of foreign exchange for the nation.

The Chairman of, House Committee on Petroleum, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, called for the need to amend the NEITI Act and urged for more government allocation to the initiative to enable it better carry out its mandate.

Ugochinyere also pledged the commitment of the House to work towards the implementation of the report that was unveiled today.

Similarly, the Chairmen Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Etang Williams, and the Senate Committee on Oil and Gas Host Communities, Benson Agadaga also expressed commitment to stand by NEITI in implementing the recommendations of the report.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the unveiling of the 2021 report, was attended by various stakeholders and partners in the oil and gas sector in the country