Group seeks probe of N380m health agency contract

Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has accepted to join Galatasaray on loan. According to a statement on Fabrizio Romano’s X…

The Nationalists Movement, NM, has backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claims that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has mismanaged the nation’s refineries. The Movement, in a statement signed by Elder Ogbor Awuru, on Friday, said Obasanjo’s revelation that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries is an indictment of the management
NNPCL: Nationalists Movement backs Obasanjo’s claims on Port Harcourt, Warri refineries

The Nationalists Movement, NM, has backed former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s claims that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, has mismanaged the nation’s refineries.

The Movement, in a statement signed by Elder Ogbor Awuru, on Friday, said Obasanjo’s revelation that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries is an indictment of the management of the NNPCL.

Speaking in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, Obasanjo had expressed doubts over the workability of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, despite announcements by the NNPCL that the oil facilities have resumed operations.

Obasanjo also accused the NNPCL of blocking Aliko Dangote’s $750 million offer for the refineries in 2007.

Obasanjo revealed that his successor, late President Umar Yar’adua, refunded Dangote the $750 million he paid to the Federal Government to manage the refineries on a Public, Private Partnership, PPP, arrangement.

According to Obasanjo, the NNPCL knew that it would not be able to effectively manage the refineries but still informed Yar’Adua that it can operate the facilities, leading to the rejection of Dangote’s offer.

Responding to Obasanjo’s claims, NNPCL insisted that it had indeed revived the refineries, and invited the former President for a tour of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.

However, weighing in on the matter in a statement on Friday, the Nationalists Movement agreed with Obasanjo that the NNPCL’s decision to reject Dangote’s $750 million offer to manage the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries in 2007 was a gross misjudgment.

The Nationalists Movement noted that the NNPCL’s decision led to billions of dollars being squandered on the refineries without achieving any meaningful results.

Also, contrary to the NNPCL’s claims, the Movement alleged that Port Harcourt refinery is merely blending and not refining crude oil.

The group noted that the alleged act is unacceptable, adding that it highlights the need for urgent action to address the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued the NNPCL.

Parts of the statement said, “The Nationalists Movement is throwing its weight behind former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent claims about the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) mismanagement of the nation’s refineries.

“Obasanjo’s revelation that over $2 billion has been squandered on the refineries, which still remain non-functional, is a damning indictment of the NNPCL’s leadership.

“We concur with Obasanjo that the NNPCL’s decision to reject Aliko Dangote’s $750 million offer to manage the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries in 2007 was a gross misjudgment.

“It is even more appalling that the NNPCL has gone on to squander billions of dollars on the refineries without achieving any meaningful results. The NNPCL’s claim that the Port Harcourt refinery has commenced crude oil processing has proven incorrect.

“The truth is that the refinery is merely blending and not refining. This level of deception is unacceptable and underscores the need for urgent action to address the corruption and mismanagement that have plagued the NNPCL.”

The Movement further raised concerns over Mele Kyari’s tenure as NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, noting that his administration has been marred by mismanagement, corruption, and a blatant disregard for accountability.

“His leadership style is defined by a lack of transparency and a reluctance to confront the systemic problems plaguing the oil and gas industry.

“Kyari’s handling of the Port Harcourt Refinery issue is a prime example of his modus operandi: using elaborate publicity stunts to mask underlying failures.

“We call on President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action to address the corruption and mismanagement at the NNPCL. The Nigerian people deserve better, and it is time for the government to take decisive action to ensure that the nation’s resources are managed efficiently and effectively.”

NNPCL: Nationalists Movement backs Obasanjo’s claims on Port Harcourt, Warri refineries

Kogi State House of Assembly has passed into law the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N582,404,119.489. The passage of the budget, followed the adoption of the report of the House Standing Committee on Appropriation, Budget Monitoring and Economic Planning. At the clause-by-clause consideration by the committee of supply, Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf said the
Kogi Assembly passes 2025 Appropriation Bill of N582.4 billion

Kogi State House of Assembly has passed into law the 2025 Appropriation Bill of N582,404,119.489.

The passage of the budget, followed the adoption of the report of the House Standing Committee on Appropriation, Budget Monitoring and Economic Planning.

At the clause-by-clause consideration by the committee of supply, Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf said the bill had authorised recurrent expenditure of over N281,153,215,687 billion Naira, while the authorised capital expenditure stood at over N301,280,903,802 billion Naira.

According to the Speaker, the bill which had shown the allocation of funds to each Ministries, Departments and Agencies, takes effect from January 1, 2025, and ends December 31, 2025.

Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf thanked the lawmakers for discharging their fundamental responsibility in attending to the budget.

It could be recalled that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo had on Dec. 3, 2024, presented N582,404,119.489 billion Naira as Kogi State’s 2025 appropriation bill for approval by the Assembly.

Kogi Assembly passes 2025 Appropriation Bill of N582.4 billion