The Nigerian Navy has received praise from the Civil Centre on Security and Governance (CCSG) for its achievements in thwarting crude oil theft and boosting public revenue.

Speaking on Sunday at a press conference in Abuja, Emmanuel Agabi, a member of the CCSG, praised Chief of Naval Staff Emmanuel Ogalla for exercising the kind of leadership that is leading to success in the battle against crude oil theft.

Agabi stated that the navy’s forward operating bases in the Niger Delta area have been reorganised by the chief naval staff, who has shown a “exceptional commitment” to combating oil theft.

He went on to say that the bold move to secure national assets is the deployment of 500 ballistic boats, two helicopters, and ten warships as part of a special amphibious exercise.

“The results are impressive. Nigeria recorded its highest oil production in almost two years, with crude oil production rising from 1.08 million barrels per day in July 2023 to an average of 1.38 million barrels per day in January and February 2024, representing a 300,000 bpd increase.

Furthermore, from an average of 16 LNG export shipments per month in 2023 to 21 monthly in the first quarter of 2024, Nigeria is now exporting 21 LNG.

“The reduction in oil theft and illegal refining has led to a decrease in oil spills and environmental degradation, which has a positive impact on the livelihoods of people in the region.

“We commend the Nigerian Navy for their dedication and hard work in securing our national assets and increasing government revenue.”

A disabled Nigerian man, who has resided in the UK for 38 years, is facing the prospect of being forcibly removed from the country by the Home Office, the Guardian UK reports.

Olubunmi Anthony George, who is currently 61 years old, travelled from Nigeria to the UK in 1986, when he was just 24 years old.

He has been in the UK ever since, and the Guardian reports that he has no criminal convictions on his record.

He suffered two strokes in 2019 that significantly affected his speech and movement.

George claims that none of his close family members are now living in Nigeria.

According to George, he no longer has any immediate relatives residing in Nigeria.

He is said to have faced numerous episodes of homelessness and admitted that he has lost track of the countless friends who have sheltered him over the years.

George said, “I don’t know how many different sofas I’ve slept on—too many to count. I don’t have my life, living the way I’m living now. My health problems since I had my stroke are my biggest worry. All I’m asking for is some kindness from the home office.”

George has submitted multiple applications for leave to remain in the UK, all of which have been denied by the Home Office, with the most recent rejection occurring on May 7, 2024.

In 2005, his previous solicitors submitted a falsified entry stamp in his passport, which has since been reported to the police and the legal regulatory bodies.

According to George, he was completely unaware of the passport stamp until several years later, as he revealed to the Guardian.

According to his current lawyer, Naga Kandiah of MTC Solicitors, George’s difficulties can be attributed to his poor past legal representation.

In their latest rejection, officials from the Home Office stated that the situation was not deemed to be an exceptional circumstance.

Kandiah has filed an appeal challenging the most recent denial.

Kandiah said, “My client has been living in limbo for 38 years with no family, has suffered two strokes and has no family left in Nigeria.

“His situation is not just because of Home Office policies but also because of poor representation by previous solicitors who failed to uphold professional integrity and ethical standards.”

A spokesperson for the Home Office told the Guardian that “applications have to be considered on their merits in accordance with the immigration rules, with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.”

The Guardian also covered the story of Nelson Shardey, a 74-year-old newsagent from Merseyside.

Shardey has been living in the UK since 1977 and was recently denied indefinite leave to remain by the Home Office, despite having spent the majority of his adult life in the country.

Nigeria’s President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has set up the presidential committee on climate action and green economic solutions.

The committee will be chaired by Tinubu, and its vice-chairman will be Environment Minister Balarabe Abbas.

Segun Imohiosen, the director of information in the secretary to the government of the federation’s office (AGF), stated in a statement on Sunday that Ajuri Ngelale was also named by the president as the special presidential envoy on climate action.

Ngelale serves as the president’s special media and publicity advisor.

The committee is expected to “coordinate and oversee all policies and programmes on climate action and green economic development”.

The statement added that the committee will also “identify, develop, and implement innovative non-oil & non-gas climate action initiatives”.

The committee will coordinate the activities of relevant federal government institutions towards the “attainment of all agreed climate action and green economic objectives and non-oil/non-gas ambitions”.

FULL LIST

(1)  President Bola Tinubu – Chairman

(2) Balarabe Abbas Lawal (Minister of Environment) – Vice-Chairman

(3) Ajuri Ngelale (Special Adviser) – Secretary/Special Presidential Envoy

(4) Lazarus Angbazo (CEO, InfraCorp) – Member

(5) Salisu Dahiru (CEO, NCCC) – Member

(6) Michael Ohiani (CEO, ICRC) – Member

(7) Aisha Rimi (CEO, NIPC) – Member

(8) Aminu Umar-Sadiq (CEO, NSIA) – Member

(9) Yusuf Maina-Bukar (CEO, NAGGW) – Member

(10) Abdullahi Mustapha (CEO, ECN) – Member

(11) Abba Abubakar Aliyu (CEO, REA) – Member

(12) Uzoma Nwagba (CEO, CrediCorp) – Member

(13) Khalil Halilu (CEO, NASENI) – Member

(14) Fatima Shinkafi (CEO, SMDF) – Member

(15) Bala Bello (Deputy Governor, CBN) – Member

(16) Lolade Abiola (UN SE4ALL) – Member

(17) Teni Majekodunmi (NCCC Adviser) – Member

(18) Representative, Federal Ministry of FCT – Member

(19) Representative, Federal Ministry of Finance – Member

(20) Representative, Federal Ministry of Power – Member

(21) Representative, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment – Member

(22) Representative, Federal Ministry of Water Resources – Member

(23) Representative, Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Food Security – Member

(24) Representative, Federal Inland Revenue Service – Member

(25) Representative, Nigeria Customs Service – Member