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Concerned Ekid People Give EMOIMEE HCDT 21 Days for Accountability 

Concerned Ekid People Give EMOIMEE HCDT 21 Days for Accountability 

Okon Bassey in Uyo 

A coalition of community stakeholders under the umbrella of The Concerned Ekid People has petitioned the Board of Trustees of EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust, calling for full disclosure, transparency, and strict adherence to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in the management of funds meant for host communities in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The petition by the coalition is coming few days after the National Assembly had complained over poor performance of some of the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) despite huge amount of money made available to them.

The petition, addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Trustees and copied to key national security, political, and anti-corruption institutions, expressed deep concern over what is described as a “complete deviation” from the guidelines and intentions of the PIA by EMOIMEE in the handling of the 3% Host Communities Development Trust Fund contributed annually by SEPLAT and the NNPC Joint Venture.

According to the petitioners, the HCDT was created to end decades of marginalization, neglect, and agitation in oil-bearing communities, giving them a voice in project selection, budgeting, and development priorities. 

The group alleges that funds accruing to EMOIMEE for the benefit of Eket communities have not been managed in line with the statutory provisions.

In the petition signed by Pastor Bassey Iyaha (Chairman) and Chief Samuel Etti (Secretary), the coalition demanded detailed disclosures covering the years 2021 to 2025. 

The group demanded the Host Communities Development Plans for each of the five years; total funds received from the settlors; a list of all contracts executed and the contractors involved; names of beneficiaries of scholarship programmes and empowerment initiatives; annual project lists and budget allocations; evidence of statutory audits and reports submitted to regulatory agencies; proof of regular engagement between the Trust and community stakeholders.

The group stated the absence of transparency and statutory reporting has created mistrust and rising tension across the host communities, warning that such tension could threaten the peaceful environment required for uninterrupted oil and gas operations if not addressed promptly.

“The implementation of the PIA was intended to correct historical injustices,” the petitioners wrote. 

Adding, “But what we see today in EMOIMEE’s operations in Eket is far from what the law prescribes. The Host Communities Development Trust must function with openness, accountability, and strict compliance with the Act.”

They gave the Board of Trustees 21 days to provide the requested documents and clarifications, adding that doing so would help restore confidence in the Trust and reaffirm its commitment to the welfare of the communities it was created to serve.

The petition was copied to the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Security Adviser, Governor of Akwa Ibom State, the EFCC, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security and government agencies.

The Concerned Ekid People insisted that only transparency and adherence to due process can guarantee the peace, trust, and collaboration needed between EMOIMEE, the settlors, and the communities whose lands host critical oil operations.

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Okon Bassey in Uyo  A coalition of community stakeholders under the umbrella of The Concerned Ekid People has petitioned the Board of Trustees of EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust, calling

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You’re an Uncommon Nigerian, Shetima, Oyebanji, Others Eulogise Fayose at 65th 

You’re an Uncommon Nigerian, Shetima, Oyebanji, Others Eulogise Fayose at 65th 

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti 

Vice-President Kashim Shettima, weekend, eulogised former Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, at his 65th birthday celebration, in Lagos, describing him as an uncommon Nigerian, distinguished by his courage, boldness and unflinching honesty.

Shettima spoke just as the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, hailed the celebrant at an event held at 10 Degrees Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos. 

Shettima, who  commended Fayose for his fearlessness, political consistency, and his unwavering courage, said those qualities have set him apart in Nigeria’s political landscape

The vice-president maintained that his readiness to speak truth to power, regardless of whose interest was affected has made him one of the  most distinctive figures of the Fourth Republic.

“Governor Fayose has given the media enough headlines to last several election cycles, and sometimes it feels as though the cameras chase him even when he is simply minding his business. 

“He is a very colourful politician, one of the best we have in the system. He is a man who acts from a place of deep conviction, a man whose passion refuses to be contained, and whose sincerity, whether one agrees with him or not. 

“It is part of the charm, part of the myth, and certainly part of the reason Nigeria will always have a special corner reserved for him in its political climate. 

“Today, as we gather to honour a truly remarkable Nigerian, I join his family, his friends, and countless well-wishers across our nation, and on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in celebrating this milestone. Your Excellency, may this 65th birthday usher you into a season of renewed strength and deeper fulfillment,” he asserted.

In his remarks, Oyebanji described Fayose as straight foreword, authentic and bold, highlighting  his clarity in politics.

He commended Fayose for rising above partisanship to support his government and the development of Ekiti State, stressing that his contributions have changed the nature and texture of politics in Ekiti State. 

In his goodwill message, Wike, described Fayose as a dependable friend and fearless political figure, commending him for his loyalty, consistency and commitment to his belief, all of which he said had distinguished him in Nigerian politics.

In his response, Fayose, thanked God for his journey so far, describing it as a product of divine grace. He also thanked Shettima, Oyebanji, Wike and other dignitaries for honouring him at the event. 

While noting that his life’s journey had been full of diverse experiences and important lessons that had shaped his character and strengthened his resolve to serve humanity, Fayose used the occasion to ask for forgiveness from anyone he might have offended in the course of his political activities.

He stressed that genuine reconciliation and unity were essential for the progress of the state and the country at large.

Other dignitaries at the event included former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa,  Deputy Senate President, Barau  Jibrin, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, former Ekiti State Governors, Niyi Adebayo and Kayode Fayemi; and Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, among others.

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Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti  Vice-President Kashim Shettima, weekend, eulogised former Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, at his 65th birthday celebration, in Lagos, describing him as an uncommon Nigerian, distinguished by his courage, boldness

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Ganduje Urges Security Operatives, Other Stakeholders to Provide Efficient Service at Lagos Airport

Ganduje Urges Security Operatives, Other Stakeholders to Provide Efficient Service at Lagos Airport

–         FG Kicks-off work on Kano Airport 2^nd runway

Chinedu Eze

 The Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on the security operatives at the Lagos airport, other stakeholders urging them to provide the best service to travelers and eschew corruption to improve the image of the country.

Just as he disclosed that work has started at the second runway of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, while government is effectively handling the second runway at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Ganduje stated this while fielding questions from journalists after the facility tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, yesterday, saying there is the need for the major stakeholders at the airport to provide good customer service that will make the airport more functional and this could be achieved through effective coordination.

“We have been briefed that every month there is meeting with the major stakeholders at the airport. It is not only FAAN that will provide customer service that will make the airport more functional. There are other major stakeholders. 

“The Nigeria Immigration is there, the Nigeria Customs Service is there, the NDLEA is there, the Nigeria Police Force is there, the military is there, the DSS is there, even Civil Defence is there, and also the private sector. So, I think it is very, very important to have good coordination and build good attitude of providing services to travelers.

“On the issue of corruption. We should have zero tolerance of corruption so that passengers, both local and international will not have a bad image on the country. So, we expect the security services to develop high standards so that our country will be proud of them,” Ganduje said.

Reviewing what he saw during the tour of the airport facilities, he said that FAAN is doing very well in terms of work on airport infrastructure, improvement on safety and security at the airport.

He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for providing the agency the support it needed to actualize the objectives of the administration in the aviation industry.

Ganduje thanked FAAN specially for upgrading the facilities at the Lagos and Abuja airports for them to meet the international standard required for their International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) certification.

He expressed optimism the next re-certification process would be a workover because the management of FAAN is continuously transforming the infrastructure at the airports, providing state of the art equipment and training technical personnel to meet the standard required to make the airports some of the best in Africa. 

“There is no doubt, (Lagos airport) is the biggest and busiest international airport in West Africa. We have to thank Mr. President, who, within two years, has been able to improve our airports, especially international airports, Lagos, Abuja, and Kano. 

“We have seen a lot of improvement in Lagos. We have seen new scanners all over. We have seen new e-gates, making the international airports really international, comparable to many developed international airports. We have to thank Mr. President for that. 

“Also, we have to thank you (FAAN), for creating an enabling environment for private airlines to thrive. The degree of mortality of private airlines was very high in Nigeria.

“If we start mentioning those now in the graveyard, it will take a lot of our time. But by creating an enabling environment, the private airlines now can be profitable and thrive well.

“They (the airports) have been providing services that are obtainable in developed airports in the world. So, we have to thank you for that. We have to thank the management for obtaining certification. 

“Certification is very, very vital for this country, for this airport. And from what I have seen, they will continue to provide good services so that the next certification will be automatic. We have to thank them for that,” the FAAN Board Chairman said.

He said that during the facility tour he also saw abandoned projects and the challenges FAAN is facing and stressed the to address these challenges.

Ganduje also frowned at the grasses that have not been attended to and attributed it to the broken down of the tractors that cut the grasses and promised FAAN that the Board would look into facilitating ways for the acquisition of more tractors.

“We have gone around, we have seen a number of ongoing projects. We have also seen some abandoned projects. We have seen some challenges. And in fact, our attention has been drawn to some of the challenges which we need to address, especially issues pertaining to safety, issues pertaining to security, and issues pertaining to good infrastructural facilities that will attract more airlines into the country. We have seen the environment with a lot of grasses.

“I think the grasses; the management needs to take care of that. We have been told the tractors for cutting the grasses, most of them are old and cannot do the work. They need new ones. The board will look into that,” Ganduje promised.

He also said that beyond the grass cutting, FAAN should provide landscaping at certain areas of the airport to make it look beautiful and attract people coming from abroad and in that way promote the image of the country.

“So, after cutting the grass, please provide good landscaping. The lighting, which is important for airlines to take off, for airlines to land, both domestic and international. 

“We cannot afford to have problems in that area because safety is our number one priority. Also, we have seen a lot of useful spaces that are turned into graveyards by some airlines.

“I think there is a need to solve that problem so that such places can be put into operation,” Ganduje also said.

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–         FG Kicks-off work on Kano Airport 2nd runway Chinedu Eze  The Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, has called on

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Training Institute Pledges Legal Support for ADR Organisations to Achieve Accreditation, Chartering

Training Institute Pledges Legal Support for ADR Organisations to Achieve Accreditation, Chartering

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Mediation Training Institute, Nigeria, has committed to helping Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) organisations across Nigeria comply fully with national regulatory and legal requirements.

In a statement signed by its President, Ambassador Segun Ogunyannwo, MTI-Nigeria said it would support ADR institutions in obtaining accreditation from the Centre for Management Development (CMD) and assist in facilitating the passage of charter bills through the National Assembly.

Ogunyannwo explained that under the Nigerian Council for Management Development (NCMD) Act, 2022, every organisation engaged in training and consultancy must be CMD-accredited, along with its three principal officers – typically the President, Registrar, and Director of Training.

Certificates issued by unaccredited organisations are considered invalid and unlawful.

“Our investigations confirm that MTI-Nigeria remains the only ADR body in the country fully compliant with CMD accreditation requirements for both the organisation and its principal officers,” Ogunyannwo stated.

He emphasized that MTI-Nigeria is ready to assist other ADR institutions to regularise their operations, noting that collaboration should take precedence over competition in Nigeria’s ADR sector.

Ambassador Ogunyannwo also cautioned against the misleading use of the term “Chartered” by organisations that have not completed the legislative process.

To be officially chartered, an institute must have a Bill passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and receive Presidential assent, granting it statutory recognition and authority.

“Using the title ‘Chartered’ without completing this process is deceptive,” he said. “Some organisations even claim that their members are chartered despite the institute itself not being legally recognised. This is impossible – nothing comes from nothing.”

He urged transparency among ADR institutions and advised practitioners to verify two critical points with their organisations: whether both the institute and its principal officers are CMD-accredited, and whether any claim of being “Chartered” is backed by an Act of Parliament.

Ogunyannwo also expressed concern over institutions operating without a charter bill while collecting fees from members.

“Citizens who invest in training deserve assurance that their certificates are valid and legally recognised,” he said.

Reaffirming MTI-Nigeria’s commitment to professional standards, he said the Institute is ready to guide all ADR organisations to achieve legal compliance and proper chartering.

“It is better to seek assistance to do the right thing than to mislead the public,” he concluded. “What affects one affects the entire ADR community.”

Interested organisations are encouraged to contact MTI-Nigeria for guidance on CMD accreditation and legislative chartering.

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Kuni Tyessi in Abuja The Mediation Training Institute, Nigeria, has committed to helping Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) organisations across Nigeria comply fully with national regulatory and legal requirements. In a

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Christian Gov Possible in Kwara, Says Ex-PDP Chair Warns Against Islamist Sentiments

Christian Gov Possible in Kwara, Says Ex-PDP Chair Warns Against Islamist Sentiments

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin 

A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State and two-time commissioner, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, has declared that nothing forbade a Christian from emerging as governor of the state in 2027.

He, therefore, warned that attempts to exclude candidates based on religion, saying it could fan dangerous sectarian embers already threatening Nigeria’s fragile peace.

Oyedepo, an arrowhead of the historic O To Ge (enough is enough) movement during the 2019 election in the state stated this in Ilorin, the state capital while speaking with newsmen on the state of the nation.

Oyedepo, who also recently resigned from ruling APC dismissed claims that Kwara’s next governor must be Muslim, insisting that, “We all own Kwara together and contribute to its economy,” and that “it is nowhere written that a Christian cannot rule in Kwara.

“Those thinking otherwise are a very small minority. The majority of Muslims in Kwara only want good governance, regardless of what faith that person practices.”

The elder statesman said religion has always been cynically exploited as a political tool, not a genuine reflection of voters’ beliefs.

“Politicians deploy many variables to win elections — religion is one of them. But saying a Christian cannot win in Kwara is self-serving and against public interest,” he said

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Hammed Shittu in Ilorin  A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State and two-time commissioner, Chief Iyiola Oyedepo, has declared that nothing forbade a Christian from emerging

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KACRAN: Our Members Extorted by Bandits, Terrorists, Mislabelled, Killed by Volunteers 

KACRAN: Our Members Extorted by Bandits, Terrorists, Mislabelled, Killed by Volunteers 

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has cried out that members of the association continued to be extorted by bandits and terrorist group, killed by volunteers 

The association, while condemning all forms of violence, called on bandits and terrorist groups to put an end to the siege on the country, and lamented ceaseless killing by volunteers who wrongly labeled them as bandits

The association in a signed statement by its National President, Khalil Bello on Sunday condemned all forms of violence and urged bandits and terrorist groups to end their atrocities.

The statement read: “We, the Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), find ourselves in a moment of great concern. Say it to anyone if you so wish: the shameful, brutal killings of innocent Nigerians, the destruction of properties worth billions of Naira, and the rustling of millions of livestock in the Northern part of our country are issues generating heated debate worldwide.

“We are highly worried that our innocent members and law-abiding citizens have now become victims of circumstances. The nature of their pastoral occupation forces them to be in the bush, where they face all types of ruthless extortion in the name of Zakat or are forced to give one of their sons to join banditry as a condition to continue their business of livestock production.

“Secondly, our members are also vulnerable to volunteers who, instead of entering the deep forests where the actual bandits are, always end their operations by killing innocent Pastoralists.

“Likewise, when the security operatives attack the Bandits, too many times innocent Pastoralists are killed. We are the people who are being forced to give the actual bandits cover, as the Bandits will not allow us to freely go into the deep forest to do our business otherwise.

“We of KACRAN are also so concerned and state that, if God forbid, an external attack were to happen, our innocent pastoralists would be the first and the last target, just as they have been during previous attacks by volunteers or security operatives.

Bello said KACRAN, as an association of peace and unity that is always working hard towards promoting peaceful coexistence between pastoralists and farmers, decided to issue this statement and took the following positions.

“KACRAN, for whatsoever reason, rejects in totality and condemns in unmistakable terms any act of killing innocent Nigerians. We call on bandits, vigilantees and volunteers to end their act, which is a heinous crime that has no cause or justification.

“We are highly disturbed and very worried about how people in their real common sense would kill their fellow human being.

“Among the bandits’ condemnable acts that KACRAN rejects and strongly confirms is the killing in some parts of Katsina, Kano, and Zamfara States where Bandits broke the peace deals reached with some respected peace-loving Communities in Katsina State.

“We are all aware that some few months ago, the people of some Local Governments in Katsina State accepted the bandits’ deal to reconcile their misunderstanding and live in peace, but unfortunately, as reported by media, some disgruntled elements of the bandits broke the promise and moved ahead to painfully attack, kill, and abduct some communities who reposed trust in the peace accord.”

KACRAN alleged the security volunteers, on their own part, also, if they want to attack the bandits, instead of going into the deep forest to confront the actual bandits, they unfortunately resort to attacking innocent pastoralists, killing their wives, elderly, and children, as well as stealing their livestock.

The statement further read that: “KACRAN has painfully considered the recent bandits’ attacks as a setback to our move to assist in the amicable solution to the North West and North Central conflict to restore peace, confidence, trust, and unity in the region and the nation at large.

“In the same vein, we call on the Katsina State Government to support the peace accord organized and reached between some Local Government communities in the state to enable them to confiscate the bandits’ and volunteers’ weapons to end the insecurity in the state.

“Similarly, KACRAN condemned the volunteers and vigilantes recent brutal killing of about 70 innocent pastoralists and burning their houses  in Kebbi State, and passionately appeal to Kebbi State governor to kindly use his good office to immediately stop the continuation of the attack under reference on the people who are operating their pastoral occupation in the most peaceful manners.”

They assured “Katsina, any State in the North West/North Central, and the federal government that KACRAN is ready to help through dialogue, kinetic, and non-kinetic approaches to end the insurgency in the said North West and North Central regions and the country as a whole.”

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Michael Olugbode in Abuja Kulen Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has cried out that members of the association continued to be extorted by bandits and terrorist group, killed