A stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama District of Abuja on Saturday morning has resulted in several deaths and numerous injuries.

The tragic incident occurred during a palliative distribution event organized by the church to assist struggling residents.

It was reported that chaos erupted as thousands of residents rushed to receive relief items, leading to the deadly crush.

Over 3,000 people, including children, mostly from nearby areas such as Mpape and Gishiri Village, had gathered for the event before the unfortunate incident took place.

Mike Umoh, the National Director of Social Communications at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, confirmed the incident.

“Yes, it’s true, but the details are sketchy,” he said in a brief statement.

On the same Saturday, a stampede in Okija, a community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State in Nigeria’s South-east, also left many people dead.

According to Premium Times, witnesses reported that the victims had gathered to participate in the distribution of bags of rice donated by a well-known entrepreneur, Ernest Obiejesi, commonly referred to as Obijackson.

• says product loading ongoing

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has affirmed that the renovated Port Harcourt refinery is fully operational.

The state-owned oil company clarified that preparations for loading operations were ongoing as of Saturday.

This clarification was made in a statement by Olufemi Soneye, the NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, on Saturday.

Soneye was responding to reports suggesting that the refinery had halted loading petroleum products just one month after its reopening.

He confirmed that the refinery is fully functional, with a recent verification by former NNPC Group Managing Directors.

An earlier report by Saturday Punch said that less than a month after the Port Harcourt Refining Company appeared to have resumed production, the facility had stopped working.

Reacting, Soneye said preparation for today’s loading was ongoing at the time of sending out the statement.

“The attention of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has been drawn to reports in a section of the media alleging that the Old Port Harcourt Refinery which was re-streamed two months ago has been shut down.

“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false as the refinery is fully operational as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC.

“Preparation for the day’s loading operation is currently ongoing,” he said in the statement.

He urged members of the public to disregard the report saying the malicious reports were the work of individuals attempting to create artificial scarcity and exploit Nigerians.

“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip-off Nigerians,” he stressed.

Olatunji Grace, a social media user with the handle @Tunjigrace, expressed her frustration, questioning the intentions of those who wish for things to go wrong in Nigeria.

She criticised individuals who discredit positive developments, stating, “Who are these people?

Does any other nation have such unfortunate citizens who pray for failure?”

She also expressed disappointment in a report by Punch Newspaper, describing it as “devilish and stupid journalism” that hides behind the guise of a “report.”

Another user, Patrick @Williamskane4, accused news media organisations of working with opposition political parties to spread fake news and misinformation.

He stated, “In collaboration with some opposition political parties, they spread lies, making propaganda their trade.”

Meanwhile, another user, Sarki @Waspapping_, defended the Old Port Harcourt Refinery’s operations, stating that the refinery is fully functional.

He questioned why some individuals and media outlets were spreading false narratives about shortages, claiming they aimed to exploit Nigerians.

Sarki emphasised that such misinformation benefits those who profit from scarcity and high prices and urged Nigerians to see through the lies and support local production efforts.

For decades, efforts to revive the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) seemed insurmountable. However, under Mele Kyari’s leadership, the once-elusive goal has been realised, signalling a critical step toward achieving energy self-sufficiency. This success is not only a milestone for the NNPCL but a testament to Kyari’s resolve to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape.

The Port Harcourt Refinery Company in Eleme is a sprawling facility divided into a 60,000-barrel-per-day-old refinery, and a new one capable of refining 150,000 barrels per day. The old refinery, operational since 1965, is Nigeria’s first refinery and had remained idle since 1990 when the newer unit became the primary production hub.

After over 30 years of dormancy, the old Port Harcourt refinery, which has a unique configuration where one barrel of crude oil yields a maximum of 23–24 per cent gasoline, was recently reopened by the NNPC Limited amid shock by forces against the revival of the country’s four refineries.

After the $1.5 billion approved by the Federal Government in 2021 for the comprehensive rehabilitation of the refinery had been judiciously spent, the NNPCL under Kyari’s sound leadership, reopened the Old Port Harcourt Refinery on Tuesday, November 26, 2024.

Today, the old Port Harcourt refinery is currently producing straight-run gasoline (Naphtha) blended into 1.4 million liters of PMS daily; 900,000 liters of kerosene; 1.5 million liters of Automotive Gas Oil (Diesel); 2.1 million liters of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO), and additional volumes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas.

Attempts by sceptics to rubbish the achievement recorded with the 60,000-barrel-per-day Port Harcourt refinery had been roundly repudiated by the NNPCL, workers at the refinery, experts, and delegates from the Presidency, Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.

Credit: The Punch

The Nigerian Communications Commission has unveiled a draft regulatory framework aimed at addressing fraud, spam, and other challenges in the “Application-to-Person” messaging sector.

The telecom regulator made this announcement in a statement on Friday.

The proposed framework was introduced during a virtual Stakeholders’ Forum, a key step towards enhancing the sector’s integrity and ensuring a fair, transparent environment for all parties involved.

The draft framework, presented by the acting Head of Legal and Regulatory Services at the NCC, Mrs. Chizua Whyte, on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, seeks to regulate the A2P messaging space.

A2P messaging, used for notifications such as bank alerts, promotional campaigns, and government updates, has become a vital communication tool in Nigeria.

However, the sector faces significant challenges, including consumer protection concerns, fraud, and data privacy issues, as well as an unequal distribution of value within the ecosystem.

“The international A2P messaging space in Nigeria faces gaps that have led to issues such as fraud, spam, and data privacy concerns. These challenges threaten the sustainable growth of this communication tool,” the NCC said.

The regulator emphasised its commitment to fostering innovation while ensuring a secure, transparent environment for businesses, consumers, and service providers.

The proposed framework aims to address these challenges by protecting consumers, promoting fair competition, and holding service providers accountable.

“This forum marks a pivotal step towards addressing these challenges,” the NCC said. “We are here to engage with all stakeholders—operators, aggregators, businesses, service providers, and consumers—to refine the framework and ensure it meets the needs of the entire ecosystem.”

The NCC stressed the importance of inclusivity and collaboration in creating an effective regulatory environment.

The commission’s efforts are focused on promoting a sustainable A2P messaging ecosystem that enables business innovation, enhances communication efficiency, and supports Nigeria’s socio-economic growth.

Stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback and contribute ideas during the forum to help shape the final framework.

The NCC reiterated its commitment to creating a regulatory environment that supports innovation while safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders in the A2P messaging sector.

For further updates, the NCC urged stakeholders to remain engaged throughout the regulatory process, stressing the importance of cooperation in shaping the future of A2P messaging in Nigeria.