Author Archives: MOONLIGHT NEWS

ABU assumes presidency of International Institute of Online Education for 2024

As Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, accepts the challenge with all sense of responsibility

Ahmadu Bello University has assumed the Rotating Presidency Unit of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) for 2024 with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, accepting the challenge with all sense of responsibility and pledging to do the best to move the institute forward during the period.

With its assumption of the rotating presidency, ABU is expected to closely collaborate with UNESCO-ICHEI and IIOE secretariat by providing strategic guidance and support for the development of IIOE and digital transformation of higher education in various regions. 

ABU’s selection as the 2024 IIOE Rotating Presidency Unit was announced during the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Global Partners Summit held at Shenzhen, China from 7th – 9th December, 2023. The institution now takes over from University Putra Malaysia (UPM) as the IIOE rotating presidency unit for the year 2024. 

The IIOE rotating presidency unit plays a crucial role in the governance structure of IIOE and it has been in place since its inception in 2019, rotating annually among partner universities in different regions. 

Since the launch of IIOE in 2019, four IIOE partner universities have successfully served as the rotating presidency unit. 

These institutions are Ain Shams University, Egypt (2020); University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan (2021); University of Nairobi, Kenya (2022); and Universiti Putra Malaysia (2023). In his acceptance speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Kabiru Bala, said that ABU was greatly honoured to be offered the opportunity to serve as the IIOE Rotating Presidency Unit for the year 2024. 

“It is indeed humbling that you have found Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and myself worthy of undertaking this responsibility. 

“We have accepted this challenge with all sense of responsibility and pledge to do our utmost best to move the IIOE forward in 2024. “We will also strive to onboard more HEIs on the ever-growing IIOE network”, he said. The Vice-Chancellor noted that the emerging digital technologies, AI, and other associated tools are already playing a big role in the digital transformation of higher education teaching, learning, and research. 

“We must then be prepared to retool ourselves as teachers because as Carl Rogers said ‘The only person who is educated is the one who has learned how to learn and change’. 

“And as administrators, we must develop strategies and guidelines to ensure ethical, safe, and accountable use of these technologies and tools that will ensure equity, accessibility and inclusiveness. 

“We must do all it takes to ensure that our students are competitive on the global stage and we can achieve this by working together, especially in the area of the use of AI in HE”, the Vice-Chancellor stressed. 

Ahmadu Bello University, according to Prof. Bala, would work closely with UNESCO-ICHEI in 2024 to support all IIOE partner HEIs is developing micro-certification courses and encourage the HEIs to find ways of incentivizing them so that teachers could be encouraged to utilize them for continuous professional development.

 He also said that ABU is already committed to collaborating with UNESCO-ICHEI to develop at least two micro-certification courses for teachers, stressing that the University would use the experience from the co-creation to develop micro-certification courses for non-teaching staff. 

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated Prof. Jin Li on his recent appointment as the second Director of UNESCO-ICHEI and expressed hope that they would work together to further the spread and impact of the IIOE worldwide. 

Prof. Bala also acknowledged the foundation laid by Prof. L. Ming, the first Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, saying that ABU would forever remember Prof. L. Ming for his strong commitment towards the progress of UNESCO-ICHEI. 

The IIOE Global Partners Summit was rounded off on Saturday, 9th December, 2023 with enterprise visits to various places and sub-forum. 

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kabiru Bala, was accompanied to the Summit by the Director, IIOE Nigeria National Centre, Prof. M.B. Mu’azu; and Head of Department of Computer Engineering, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Adewale Adedokun. 

The Ag. Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Mr. Chris Maiyaki, and African Centre of Excellence National Focal Point Leader and Project Coordinator, National Universities Commission, Dr. Joshua Atah, also attended the three-day summit.  Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Monday, 11th December, 2023

Public Affairs Directorate, Office of the Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria Monday, 11th December, 2023

Northern Coalition of Socio-Political Group on Friday warned that it was too early and out of place for anyone to give the last Sunday accidental bombing in Tudun Biri, Kaduna, an ethnic or religious coloration when investigations are still ongoing.

The Nigerian Army air component had at about 10 p.m. on Sunday, December 5, 2023, accidentally bombed some residents of Tudun Biri in Igabi local government area of Karuna State leading to the death of over 100 people during a Maulud (birthday of Prophet Muhammed) celebration.

Addressing a press conference at the Kaduna State Secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the President of the Group, Balarabe Lawal Zaria noted that the religious and political leaders demanding the sack of the Chief of Defense Staff, General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, and other top Army Officials were just steering unnecessary tension in the Country.

To this group, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, and other top government functionaries visited victims’ families and survivors in Kaduna hospitals.

Buttressing the group’s position in the development, Balarabe noted that from the information gathered, the Nigerian Army was on a routine mission against terrorists, but inadvertently affected members of the community leaving several citizens dead and many others injured.

“We, therefore, wish to commiserate with the Muslim Ummah as many of the affected who were said to be celebrating the Maulud. We also commiserate with Kaduna state government and families of victims, praying that God grant the dead peace.”

“The devastating impact on lives and emotional effects are better imagined, therefore, we are urging the government and international communities to assist members of the community, especially victims’ families to cushion the effect of the bomb attack.

“Of course, it is natural for such incident to attract condemnation, little wonder, the pan-Northern political and cultural association, the Arewa Consultative Forum, and the Jama’tu Nasril Islam have added their voices with calls for those found culpable to be punished.

“However, it is too early and out of place for anyone to give the incident an ethnic or religious coloration when investigations about the circumstances surrounding the bombing are still ongoing.

“For us, the religious and political leaders demanding the sack the Chief of Defense Staff; the Chief of Army Staff, other service chiefs and the GOC are unnecessarily steering up tension. We want peace and tranquility to despite the ugly incident”, he said.

He continued, “the group and few other people who have embarked on campaign of calumny should please stop pointing accusations at the chief of Defence. We therefore call on the good people of Kaduna and Nigeria in general to avoid bringing up the issue of religion, ethnicity, and sentiment.
“It is worthy of note to say, the chief of Defence staff is not for the Southern Kaduna or Kaduna Christian or Muslim but rather for the whole nation”, he cautioned.

… Express Confidence in Supreme Court

Ahead the supreme court hearing and verdict of the controversial Kano Governorship election case, Group of retired judicial personnel under aegis of Transparent Justice Initiative has urged Supreme Court to affirm what it termed ‘popular victory’ of Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf (Abba Gida Gida) and safe judiciary from further embarrassment.

According to the group, the judiciary remains the last hope of common man and it should reflect so in its verdicts , especially on election matters.

“Worried by the Appeal Court verdicts and subsequent erroneous impressions in the public domain, as a group of retired personnel,we want to reassure Nigerians that the Supreme Court as the final arbiter and the last resort for dispute resolution will ensure justice prevailed.” It stated .

Recalled that the appeal court sitting in Abuja upheld the ruling of the tribunal that sacked Governor Yusuf and declared Nasiru Gawuna of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the March 18 election.

In a press statement signed by the Coordinator of Transparent Justice Initiative, Mr. Stanley Kingsley and made available to journalists today in Kaduna,the group which expressed confidence in the supreme court said, “Over the years it has demonstrated ability to protects rule of law; ensure supremacy of law and safeguards rights of individuals.”

” And we have no doubts in our minds that the Supreme Court will critical study the tribunal and appeal Court judgement in order to ensure that voices and rights of the people which are of utmost importance and are guaranteed as stipulated in our constitution electoral act .”

While noting that it will amount to a case of “Miscarriage of Justice” for the court to remove a popularly elected candidate. We saw how on March 18, 2023, people came out en masse and voted for Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf with a total of 1,019,602 votes and a margin of 128,897 votes between him and second place, APC candidate.

The panel upheld the verdict of the tribunal led by Justice Oluyemi Akintan Osadebay that sacked Yusuf on September 20, 2023. The lower court had declared 165,663 votes of Yusuf, who contested under the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), invalid on the grounds that they were not signed or stamped by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

” We have carefully read the judgement and discovered that this is the first time in the history that a tribunal would annul an election over non-signing of the back of ballot papers and this must be avoided in future.

The group which ask the court to shun pressure from the judiciary however said, “We believe and have full confidence that the Supreme Court will do the needful and ensure the mandate of the Kano people who voted.

“Everywhere in the world , the judiciary is widely respected and relied upon for justice and we strongly believe it be same afterwards.

It therefore urged Nigerians not lost confidence in the judiciary as it remains a dependable institution that strengthens democracy .

By Musa Mohammed

Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, last night, apologised for the bombing of civilians at Tundun Biri, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on Sunday. Musa said the army acted on intelligence, but missed, and described the incident as highly regrettable.

Speaking on Arise Television, the defence chief noted that going forward, the military would fine-tune its operations and ensure that such incidents do not reoccur.

In a similar vein, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), yesterday, explained that the targets hit by the military drone in the Kaduna bombing were acquired by air surveillance and subsequently eliminated, presuming that terrorists, who were in the habit of using civilians as shield, were operating at the time.

The DHQ regretted the civilian casualties and claimed it always did its best to distinguish between civilians and terrorists. It said the suspicious movement of the allegedly celebrating crowd, had posed a major threat in an area notorious for terrorist activities, thus propelling the drone attack.

Musa, while responding to a question on why it was the army that carried out the operation rather than the air force, which had the training, noted that all the segments of the armed forces had a smaller version of the sister security agencies within their ranks.

The CDS explained that the pattern of movement of the civilians, who were affected, looked almost like that of the terrorists, who had been operating heavily around the area, causing the army to engage them.

Musa refuted insinuations that it was lack of synergy among the armed forces that probably caused the incident. He explained that the cordial relationship between the heads of the forces had never been better.

He stated, “The army has air operation. We have the army aviation, the air force has its own, and the drones are also enablers that we use for modern warfare. The pilots are well-trained and well prepared for the operations.

“I just want to remind individuals that it is a war we’re fighting and, therefore, we make mistakes. As human beings, we all make mistakes and this is just one of them. It was not deliberate.
“They went on after receiving an information of a threat of attack within the general area and they saw the traits of individuals moving similar to the way the terrorists also move, and then they went to congregate under a tree, just the way terrorists do.

“And I think from there, they felt it was time for them to act and then they reacted. It was based on intelligence, but I think they just missed it. And now we just want to convey to Nigerians to understand that mistakes are human and it is highly regrettable.

“We will make amends and ensure we look back and see where these mistakes came from, and then to be able to make sure that we get rid of them properly and to avoid such mistakes.”
Musa noted that it was the duty of the military to protect civilians, not to harm them, especially Nigerian citizens, describing the incident as “highly unfortunate.”

He added that the allegation of partiality against him in some quarters was unfortunate, stressing that the area comprised a mix of more than one tribe and one religion.
“We’re trying to make sure that we’re putting up our best to ensure that we defeat the terrorists and mistakes do happen.

It has nothing to do with tribe, religion or ethnicity,” Musa said.
From DHQ, a statement by Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, said on December 3 about 2200hrs, and based on untoward activities by terrorists, the Nigerian Army Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) detachment observed movement of terrorists at Ligarma, a terrorist-infested area of Kaduna State.

The statement said, “Aerial surveillance captured movement of groups of persons synonymous with the terrorists tactics and modus operandi. The observed advance of the terrorists that were gathered posed a threat to key infrastructure within reach of the untoward activities. Accordingly, the threat was eliminated to prevent the terrorists from unleashing terror on innocent civilians.

“It should be noted that terrorist often deliberately embed themselves within civilian population centres in order for the civilian population to bear the consequences of their atrocities. Nevertheless, the Nigerian military does its best at all times to distinguish between civilians and terrorists.
“The military views every civilian death in the cause of operations as a tragedy. Such tragedies are needless and unwanted, that cause the armed forces to take extensive measures to avoid them.

“One of such measures taken by the military is to continually give precise instructions to communities. For instance, communities are to always alert troops of their activities, particularly when such a community is known to be infested with terrorists and their sympathisers. These instructions are intended at enabling the military distinguish between friendly and untoward activities.”
The defence headquarters affirmed that the armed forces would continue to operate consistent with international law, as it had always done, and will also continue its determined and cautious progress in eradicating terrorists from the country.

It said, “These terrorist, as part of their tactics, disguise as civilians to perpetrate terror. Accordingly, we will continue to find innovative solutions to the challenges faced in the conduct of operations.”

Confederation of All Progressives Congress Support Groups has congratulated the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Engineer Mele Kyari over his well deserved reappointment.

According to the support groups , the extension of Mele Kyari’s tenure shows clearly that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is dedicated to his RENEWED HOPE AGENDA, where round pegs are kept in round holes and square pegs vice- visa for optimal results.

While applauding the President for not being distracted by dissident voices to replicate the dogma of inept ideas orchestrated by a few cabals to replace Mele Kyari with a stooge to serve their interests, the group appreciated the positive developments that are unfolding in the Oil and Gas sector, where synergy templates have made the difference and ensured for a significant paradigm shift for a generational sign post that have acquired the topmost in line with global energy practice.

Speaking at a press conference held at the headquarters of Confederation of All Progressives Congress today, the Director General, Engineer Kailani Muhammad explained: “We are celebrating this feat, not just because Mele Kyari remains in the saddle, we are celebrating because, Mele Kyari has become a composite factor in the Oil and Gas sector in Nigeria. His commitment to the development of the sector, will ever remain a footprint for generations to come as he remains at the helm of affairs at NNPCL.

The DG who acknowledged Mele Kyari’s records of achievements, said his contributions to the petroleum industry and the Oil and Gas in particular, have positively impacted the Nigeria’s economic strides for development.

Speaking further on his achievements, Kailani stated : “We are talking about the poor success rate by many international giant oil companies in the past, to conduct various seismic exploration activities in search for oil in the northern part of the country without tangible results, where his TAPE agenda changed the narratives .

“When Kyari came on board as the GMD of the NNPC, his efforts yielded positive achievements in the Upper Benue Trough and the Gongola Basin in North Eastern Nigeria, particularly the Kolmani River fields. Kolmani integrated oil field development project located in Alkaleri local government area of Bauchi State, where about over four billion of crude oil deposit is located.

“For the first time in over four decades, Kyari broke a 43 year- old jinx in the NNPC by up -dating and publishing the 2018 Audited Financial Statement for the year ended December 31, 2018. To consolidate on the landmark achievement, he quickly followed up with the publication of the company’s 2019 AFS, which showed a remarkable loss reduction to just N2.3 billion, with a declaration of a N287 billion Profit After Tax (PAT).

“He was a major factor in the resolution of the issues that delayed the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), by the National Assembly for almost two decades.

“Since the unveiling of the Kolmani field development, Kyari has spearheaded more frontier exploration activities across Niger, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Gombe states in the northern part of the country.

“Through Kyari, the NNPCL has a proven gas reserve base of 208.62 trillion cubic feet (TCF). He also plans to increase gas reserves to 220 TCF in less than 10 years and 250 TCF thereafter. Although the operational environment has posed a huge challenge, Kyari is determined to ensure the country realises these targets.

“In this lap of the journey of Mele Kyari at NNPCL, we implore the media, the Nigerian Public and stakeholders in the petroleum industry and especially, the Oil and Gas sector and the NNPCL management, to avail Mele Kyari, the requisite cooperation and commitment to his noble ideals.

“Kyari is also involved in the execution of the 474 million standard cubic feet of gas per day trans-regional pipeline system, to deliver Nigeria’s natural gas resources to 15 countries in the West and North Africa.

“Construction of the 5,660 kilometres long NMGP, which commenced from Nigeria, that would traverse Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, and Mauritania, to end at Tangiers, a Moroccan port on the Strait of Gibraltar, with a spur connecting the existing Europe gas pipeline through Spain.

“Kyari initiated the construction of the 4,128 kilometres long Trans-Saharan gas pipeline championed by the NNPCL, with its Algerian and Nigerien counterparts as a strategic investment to transport about 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year to the European market. Rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to start production by December, 2023.

Group under aegis of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations have commended President Bola Tinubu for reappointing Engineer Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

According to the CSOs, the appointment is not only well deserved and reward for hardwork,but also necessary to ensure that the ongoing reforms are carried out to the later.

The Civil Society Organisations,which made the commendation in a press statement signed by the Chairman and Secretary,Comrade Ephraim Jonathan and Comrade Yusuf Ibrahim Kudan said,”By the reappointment of Kyari,President Tinubu has demonstrated a high sense of focus and commitment to uninterrupted and smooth operations of the National oil industry .

In the statement , the CSOs acknowledged Kyari’s programmes and policies that have enhanced transparency and efficiency in the operations of NNPCL, adding that the idea of setting up of a new trading subsidiary, establishment of a new crude oil marketing division, and the implementation of a new performance management system ,which enhances accountability in the Nigerian oil and gas sector is laudable.

The Coalition further explained: “When Mele Kyari assumed duty as the group Managing Director of the now-defunct Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on July 7, 2019, it was at a critical period not only in the life of the corporation but for the entire Nigerian oil and gas sector as well as the national economy.

“With his appointment in 2021 by Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari as chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Oil Company Limited (NNPCL), the successor company to the NNPC under the new dispensation ushered in by the petroleum industry act, which came into force in 2021, the TAPE became the standard for steering the new company forward in a global economy still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, which devastated the world in 2020 and 2021.

” Since he was appointed NNPCL CEO, the performance of the company under him has been impressive with situations, and circumstances, which in the past had appeared insurmountable, had been turned around.”

The CSOs, which spoke about on-going reforms and company’s growth from a loss-making one into a profit-making commercial entity, recognized Kyari’s efforts at checkmating crude oil theft and illegal refineries that have yielded positive results as there has been a significant spike of daily oil production. Noting that Nigeria has regained its position as the largest crude oil producer in Africa, ahead of Algeria’s 1.021mb/d and Angola’s 1.088mb/d in November 2022.

“We gathered that under his tenure , NNPCL posted its second consecutive year of ‘profit’ announcing N674.1 billion in the 2021 financial period and growing it from N287 billion in 2020. The figure represented an increase of N387 billion or 134.8% when compared to the previous N287 billion recorded in 2020.

“We have also noticed that the lingering fuel scarcity characterised by long queues at filling station is gradually becoming history.The availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) is one feat that Nigerians will remember Kyari for.

Worthy of note is the good news that $2.8bn Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project constructed by Oilserve Limited will be inaugurated December.The AKK pipeline is a 614km-long pipeline to transport natural gas from southern Nigeria to central Nigeria.

“The most impressive accomplishments of Kyari’s stewardship at NNPCL is the commencement of commercial oil to exploration in the Northern part of Nigeria.The Kolmani Oil Field, estimated to have a reserve of about one billion barrels of crude oil, OPL 809 and 810, lie in the Gongola Basin of the Upper Benue Trough, straddling Bauchi and Gombe States.

“The laudable Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP),which is an initiative of the federal government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco, is a 5,600 kilometers gas pipeline project traversing 13 African countries namely: Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal and Mauritania to Morocco is indeed a great feat. “

Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto has directed the total renovation of the first residence of former President Shehu Shagari that was gutted by fire last week.

This was contained in a Press Released signed by Abubakar Bawa, Press Secretary to Sokoto State Governor.

The Governor gave the directive shortly after visiting the burnt house to assess the extent of damage caused by the inferno.

He described the inferno as catastrophic and unfortunate, describing the burnt house as historic not only to Sokoto State but the country as a whole.

“To us, this house is of great historical importance being the first residence of the former Nigeria’s first democratically-elected President Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari.

“Its like a historical
monument to the upcoming generation, therefore, we’ll renovate this house,” Aliyu added.

Governor Aliyu commiserated with the family of the late
President over the inferno and prayed Almighty Allah to prevent the recurrence of the disaster.

He thanked the Almighty Allah that no life was lost in the inferno, and appealed to the family to see it as an act of God.

It could be recalled that the former President’s residence was razed down by fire on the 18th of this month,leading to the loss of many properties.

The Governor was taken round the affected portion of the burnt house by some of the family members of the former President.

The Governor was accompanied on the visit by the APC leader in the State,Sen. Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tukur Bala Bodinga, his Deputy, Kabiru Kware, State APC Chairmam, Isa Saddiq Achida,Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Bello Sifawa, members of the State Executive Council, Special Advisers and Special Assistants, among others.

Prior to the above subject matter, it was factually gathered that it was a mis-representation of facts.

We later gathered from reliable sources after thorough investigation that the stories carried by our online platform that “Custom Area Controller, Federal Operations Unit (FOU) Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, Comptroller Musa Ibrahim Jalo has been arrested by operatives of the Department of state security service (DSS), for Allegedly Involvement in arms deal” was not false and erroneous , but also a misrepresentation of facts .

The above statement was not thoroughly investigated and therefore all the allegations therein were not true and lack evidence with a lost of reality, hence should be disregarded accordingly.

At this juncture,we wish to sincerely apologise for smearing the name of the customs Comptroller and equally promise to follow-up the matter and give details in our subsequent publication.

We wish to also apologize that the wrong representation was not intentional or aimed at tarnishing or ridiculing the Customs and Comptroller Jalo, this apology include that of abuse of office.
Certainly, our Reporter goofed .

We are working towards ensuring that the credibility of the customs is not dented in anyway.

We also wish to state that the report has been deleted from our media website.

signed:
MANAGEMENT

By Murtala Adogi Mohammed PhD.

Governments exist to deliver results for their citizens. This is true even in the most challenging contexts, where leaders strive to provide good governance for their people. No matter where one lives, making government deliver effectively for its citizens is one of the great moral issues of our time.

The beginning of the success story of Senator Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, senator representing Nasarawa West constituency, who in less than 6 months in office, has won the accolades of quality representation as a Distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On Sunday the 19th of November 2023, Senator Ahmed Wadada in his Keffi Polo Ranch distributed empowerment items worth Sixty million Naira (N60,000,000), to 600 beneficiaries in his constituency within his first 6 months in National Assembly

The items distributed to 600 beneficiaries include 106 sets of Welding Machine, 106 Sewing Machine, 105 Farm Harvester, 71 sets of Irrigation Water Pulmp, 70 sets of Vulcanising Machine, and 70 sets of grinding Machines.

The empowerment program is specifically designed to support vulnerable women, youths, and the elderly in this difficult time, and alleviate their suffering. Also, the program would go a long way in cushioning the pains of the targeted beneficiaries.

In line with his determination to ensure self-reliance and sustainable development among the people of Nasarawa West Senatorial District because of the present economic reality in the country, Senator Wadada has distributed empowerment items worth sixty million Naira to the people of his constituency to improve their wellbeing.

Since his assumption in office in this 10th National Assembly, there has been remarkable progress in youth engagement and empowerment.

This step of progress is based on his demonstrated capacity and initiatives in the constituency which has drawn a length of applause from the public.

Sen. Wadada has engaged in youth and women empowerment, human capital development, etc which are parts of his commitment to deliver on the dividends of democracy to the good people of his constituency.

Wadada has demonstrated in the Senate, in less than six months, a commitment to quality leadership and development. He has carved for himself a niche of selfless representative in governance as evidenced by his human empowerment.

Senator Wadada not only aims to deliver dividends of democracy but also to be different from others in laying a long profound foundation in the constituency for the the the benefit of his people in various schemes and skills acquisitions.

The gesture was his way of showing appreciation to his constituents for finding him worthy to represent them in the Senate.
He promised to continue to deliver on his campaign promises.

The people of Nasarawa West Senatorial District were proud of the representation of Senator Wadada.

Democracy dividends are one of the main intakes of the democratization process and expectations of the masses towards political leaders like SENATOR ALIYU AHMED WADADA.

By Murtala Adogi Mohammed PhD
Danmasanin Adogi

… Praise Tinubu’s Govt

Confederation of All Progressives Congress Support Groups (CAPSG) has hailed Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for announcing introduction of Nembe Crude Oil Grade, into the international crude oil market.

According to the support groups,the introduction of the blend is coming at a time when the lingering conflict between Russia and Ukraine has made many European countries to seek for crude oil products that aligns with their market preference.

Briefing journalists in Kaduna on the positive developments and the challenges in the country, the Director General of Confederation of APC Support Groups,Engineer Kailani Muhammad explained: “Since the war, the crude industry has been changing faster than ever before as markets in Europe become more tied in with global crude oil trade. But with the introduction of Nembe grade, Nigeria’s crude oil grade is on its way to becoming a steady preference for many European refiners.

“From all indication, the move by the NNPC is a significant development for Nigeria, as it will help to diversify the country’s crude oil exports and reduce its reliance on a few key grades.

“Before the export of Nembe Crude, the crude oil grades peculiar to Nigeria are Bonny Light which is a light, sweet crude oil with a low sulfur content prized for its high quality and versatility; Qua Iboe which which is similar to Bonny Light, but it is slightly heavier and has a higher API gravity.

“There is also Forcados, which is a slightly higher sulfur content than Bonny Light or Qua Iboe but more viscous than the Bonny Light and Qua Iboe.
Similarly, Nigeria’s crude oil grades include Brass River and Escravos which have higher sulfur content than the other Nigerian grades and are also more viscous.

“But the unique selling point of the Nembe Crude Oil grade with an API gravity is that it has a low sulphur content and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting perfectly into the required spec of major buyers in Europe.

“In the past twelve months, the oil market has absorbed the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions imposed in response by the United States, the European Union and their allies in Asia.

“Russia’s crude and fuel exports have been redirected to South and East Asia, while former markets in Europe have been backfilled with crude and products from the Middle East and Asia.”

Speaking on efforts made in the area of education , the DG commended the President for ordering the immediate cancellation of a policy empowering the Federal Government to automatically deduct 40% from the internally generated revenues (IGR) of federal universities. The policy was scheduled to commence in November 2023. Critics had deemed it detrimental to the financial stability of public universities.

“The 40 per cent IGR automatic deduction policy stands cancelled. This is not the best time for such policy since our universities are struggling,” Tinubu said at the 75th Founder’s Day ceremony of the University of Ibadan (UI) on Friday.”

He expressed optimism that with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in helms of affairs as the President , Nigerians should be assured the challenges of bad economy and insecurity will soon become history .