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Reps expand investigation into dirty fuel

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Reps expand investigation into dirty fuel

By Derrick Bangura

The Nigerian House of Representatives has directed that the Committee on Petroleum Downstream investigate the continuing issue of fuel scarcity.

This, according to the lawmakers, was to see if there was an interim report on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) claim that it had enough fuel despite ongoing scarcity.

The lawmakers had mandated the Committee to investigate the release of methanol-blended petroleum in the country on February 10, while adopting a motion sponsored by the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno), with a view to ensuring that culprits are brought to book and making recommendations to avoid reoccurrence.

The lawmakers also ordered the NNPC Limited to suspend enterprises involved in the distribution of tainted petrol and to provide their names to the committee.

The downstream committee was also tasked with determining if the product’s importation, distribution, and dispensing in Nigeria up to that point had met international standards.

In the plenary on Tuesday, Minority Leader Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta), speaking under order 8 rule 4 of the House rules, said the existing committee charged with investigating the issue of adulterated fuel should also check if there was an interim report on the NNPC Limited’s claim that it has enough fuel despite lingering scarcity across the country.

He lamented how difficult it was for him to get to work because all of the roads were completely blocked by people hunting for gasoline.

“I’m coming under this rule for us to discuss the topic of Nigeria’s continuing gasoline crisis,” Elumelu stated. I agree that the NNPC has enough fuel, but it does not appear to be consistent with their argument that they have enough fuel because there is still a lingering fuel problem in Nigeria.

“It took me a long time to get here since all of the roads are completely clogged by people hunting for gasoline.” There’s already a committee tasked with researching the issue of contaminated fuel, so I’m thinking they should see whether there’s an interim report as part of their current work.”

The Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, echoed Elumelu’s view and asked the Committee to continue its probe into the continuing situation.

“There’s a nexus between the motion from last week on contaminated fuel and what you have very rightly brought out,” Gbajabiamila added. The standing committee should take note of this and continue their probe into the ongoing situation.”

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has demanded that the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Police properly investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Abubakar Abdulkadir Rano by terrorists in Jibia division, Katsina state.

While condemning the assassination of the police officer and others, the House also asked the DSS and police to look into similar cases across the country and assist bereaved families. The legislators’ motions came after the plenary yesterday approved a motion of urgent public interest sponsored by Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum.

Rurum, who moved the motion, stated that the late Rano, the commander of the Jibia Division, was savagely murdered by bandits while attempting to rescue an abducted woman.

According to him, the officer had had success in confronting and battling bandits in the region, which helped to reduce community attacks. He bemoaned the fact that nothing had been done to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death since the incident.

He went on to say that a detrimental trend that needed to be addressed was the absence of swift investigation into the deaths of police officers slain in similar situations.

The House conducted a minute of silence after passing the motion in honor of the late DPO and other police officers who died while serving the country.

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Commission, journalists partner to revamp water sector in Kaduna

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The Kaduna State Water Services Regulatory Commission (KADWREC) says it is partnering media practitioners towards revamping water services in the state.

Mr Dogara Bashir, the Executive Chairman of KADWREC, disclosed this on Monday at a one-day workshop organised for media practitioners on regulation of ‘Water, Sanitation and Hygiene’ (WASH) activities held in Kaduna.

Bashir said the commission was aware of the importance of the role media practitioners played in the society.

He stated that the workshop was to provide an avenue to liaise with them as important stakeholders on water supply and sanitation services in the state.

Bashir said: “As media practitioners, we believe you are a gateway to the citizens so, the workshop would acquaint you with some of the regulations already in place so that you can in turn transmit it to the public

“The state of water services in Kaduna State is in dire need of attention and the State Water Corporation and KADWREC were established towards addressing the seeming challenges.

“The commission is mandated to ensure better service delivery and regulation of water and sanitation services in the State.

“The idea is that once the regulations are developed, we send them to the State Ministry of Justice to gazette and then we get the state government to endorse and give the go ahead to commence the implementation of the regulations

“We intend to implement them fully come January, 2025 God willing, as we have embarked on advocacy activities having gone to zones 1 and 2 where we talked to traditional rulers, security agencies and the Judiciary.”

He disclosed that a special Court has already been attached to the commission by the Chief Judge of the State for service providers who may likely violate regulations.

The chairman further said that amongst the commission’s objectives include ensuring security, reliability and quality of service in the production and delivery of water to the consumers as well making regulations to control the sinking of boreholes.

Others included; maximising access to water services by promoting and facilitating consumer connections to distribution systems in urban and rural areas.

According to Bashir, they also include ensuring that regulatory decision-making has regards to all the relevant health, safety, environmental and social legislation applying to the water sector.

Bashir further said that the commission collaborate with the relevant state and federal agencies on water policies.

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Crime

2 ladies docked for allegedly obtaining money by fraud

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The police in Lagos have dragged two women, Mmesuma Ofunna, and Blessing Adimekwe, before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, over alleged obtaining money by false pretence.

Ofunna, 22, and Adimekwe, 25, were arraigned before the Magistrate, Mr L K J Layeni, on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and conduct likely to breach peace.

They each, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, ASP Simon Uche, told the court that the defendants conspired with others now at large, to commit the offence on Oct. 26 at the Okokomaiko area of Ojo.

He alleged that they had obtained the sum of N70, 000 from one Faith Ahamefule, with a promise not to post her nude photo on social media.

The prosecutor alleged that the defendants later posted the nude photo of the nominal complainant on social media, knowing that their promise was false.

He alleged that they stole the N70, 0000, thereby conducting themselves in a manner likely to breach public peace.

The offence contravenes the provisions of sections 168(d), 287, 314, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The court granted the defendants bails in the sum of N500, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

He adjourned the case until Jan. 8, 2025 for mention.

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Driver jailed 6 months for attempting to steal a car

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A Jos Magistrates’ Court on Monday, sentenced a 37-year-old driver, Ahmad Umar to six months in imprisonment for attempting to steal a car.

The Magistrate, Shawomi Bokkos, summarily tried and sentenced the convict after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

Bokkos in his judgment, ordered the convict to pay an option of N30, 000 fine or spend six months in prison.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp Ibrahim Gokwat, told the court that the case was reported on Oct. 10, at the Area Command Police station through a distress call by one Sydney Peacemorie the complainant.

Gokwat said the complainant parked his Toyota RAV4 in front of Access Bank and went inside to carry out some transactions, only to return to find the convict inside his car.

“The convict unlawfully opened the car and was in the driver’s seat when the complainant raised alarm and he was apprehended, but his accomplice escaped.

“The convict was severely beaten by a mob but was rescued by the police,” said Gokwat.

“The prosecutor said that the offence contravened the Plateau Penal Code Law.

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