Author: statereporter
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery is reducing its importation of crude from the United States, taking more of Nigeria’s oil for processing, a report by Bloomberg said. The report stated that the 650,000 refinery is set to import just over four-fifths of its feedstock from domestic sources in the third quarter. That compares with less than three-quarters in the prior quarter, according to tanker-tracking data and information from traders. It was learnt that oil prices were pressured last month on reports that the plant planned on re-selling some of the US barrels it previously purchased, underscoring the pivotal role Dangote already…
One of the world’s largest diamonds ever unearthed — a rough 2,492-carat stone — has been found in Botswana, a Canadian mining company that discovered the gem announced Thursday. The diamond was found in the Karowe Diamond Mine in northeastern Botswana, about 430 kilometres (270 miles) from the capital Gaborone, Lucara Diamond Corp. said in a statement. Lucara did not give a value for the find or mention its quality. In terms of carats, the stone appears to be not far behind the largest gem-quality diamond ever mined, the 3,016.75-carat Cullinan Diamond discovered in South Africa in 1905. “We…
The Federal Government of Nigeria, has approved an upward review of the fees for its International Passport effective from 1st September, 2024. State reporters, gathered that the decision was reached by the Federal Government, as part of its effort to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian Standard Passport. The Nigeria Immigration Service in a statement released through its Public Relations Officer, KT Udo, disclosed that the 32-page Passport booklet with five year validity previously charged at thirty-five thousand will now be fifty thousand naira. The sixty-four page Passport booklet with 10 year validity which was seventy thousand naira…
The Academic Staff Union of Universities has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the federal and state governments to address all the “outstanding issues” hindering the development of the nation’s universities. The ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, announced the ultimatum at a press conference at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike in Abia, on Wednesday. Mr Osodeke said that the press conference was to intimate the public with the outcome of the union’s National Executive Council meeting held between August 17 and August 18 at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State. He said that the union would reconvene at…
Rivers governor Siminalayi Fubara has disclosed that the state government is still waiting for guidelines from the Federal Government to begin the implementation of the minimum wage. He, however, assured that Rivers will be amongst the first states to implement the new minimum wage as soon as the guidelines from the Federal Government is approved. Speaking during the 2024 Rivers State Civil Service Week, themed: ‘Building Resilient Education for Increased Access to inclusive Lifelong Quality and Relevant Learning in the Rivers State Civil Service’, at the Alfred Diete Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt on Thursday, Fubara who was represented by…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has announced the arrest of Hyginus Nkwocha, a 35-year-old suspected billionaire internet fraudster, in Abuja. According to a statement released on Thursday by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, Nkwocha was apprehended on Wednesday at the Ever-Green Estate in the Lugbe area of Abuja. Oyewale revealed that Nkwocha’s arrest followed a carefully planned operation based on credible intelligence that confirmed his involvement in internet-related crimes. The suspect is believed to have amassed significant wealth through fraudulent online activities. The EFCC spokesperson detailed the items recovered from Nkwocha, which included a sum of $2,200, an…
The Sarkin Kudun Gatawa in Gatawa District of Sokoto State, Alhaji Muhammad Bawa, has reportedly been killed by bandits after weeks in captivity. The Emir and his son were kidnapped in July at the Kwanar Maharba area while travelling from Sokoto to his home town, Sabon Birni, the headquarters of Sabon Birni local government of Sokoto State. The abductors few days after the incident requested the sum of N1 billion as ransom for the release of the victims. A video later surfaced online showing the Emir pleading for his life. Speaking in Hausa language, he appealed to the Sokoto State…
The Federal government through the National Data Protection Commission has slammed Fidelity Bank with a fine of N555.8 million for violating customer data protection laws. This announcement was made by the commission’s National Commissioner, Vincent Olatunji, at the Validation Workshop on the Nigeria Data Protection Act General Application and Implementation Directive in Abuja on Wednesday. According to Olatunji, Fidelity Bank breached the National Data Protection Act (NDP Act) 2023 and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, leading to the imposition of the fine. The penalty, which represents 0.1 per cent of the bank’s annual gross revenue in 2023, is…
Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Governor of Rivers State, has firmly stated that he has no intention of leaving the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Wike declared that he is ready to stay within the party and confront the challenges, referring to his adversaries as “vampires.” Wike made it clear that he does not plan to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), emphasizing that he conducts his actions openly. He expressed his determination to remain in the PDP and fight for what he believes in.…
Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, has said he did not appoint suspected terrorist, Bashir Hadejia, as a special adviser. Dauda Lawal said the letter of appointment was forged and did not emanate from him or any member of his government. State reporters revealed that Bashir Hadejia was arrested on Monday last week over alleged gun-running. The suspect was a special adviser to the current Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, when he was the Governor of Zamfara State. After his arrest, a letter of his appointment, dated October 27, 2023, signed by the Secretary to the Zamfara State Government,…