Connect with us


BIG STORY

BREAKING: Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church, Is Dead

Published

on

The Senior Pastor of Fountain of Life Church, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, is dead.

His demise was confirmed via the officially Facebook page of the church.

He was said to have died on Monday, August 7, in the United States of America (USA).

His first wife, Pastor Bimbo Odukoya, was among the passengers who boarded the ill-fated Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 going to Port Harcourt from Abuja in 2005.

The plane was involved in a crash while landing at Port Harcourt International Airport on December 10th. Although the female cleric survived the initial impact, she died from injuries on December 11, 2005.

He later married another woman, who died in November 2021 after battling with cancer.

May his soul rest in peace.

BIG STORY

Donald Trump Plans Mass Deportations, End Birthright Citizenship

Published

on

United States President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to deport all immigrants in the United States illegally over his upcoming four-year term.

In an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump outlined his vision for a broad crackdown on illegal immigration, which he intends to classify as a national emergency upon taking office on January 20.

According to Reuters, the Department of Homeland Security estimates that as of January 2022, over 11 million people are in the US without legal status, a figure likely higher today.

Trump affirmed his intention to remove all unauthorized immigrants, stating, “I think you have to do it. It’s a very tough thing to do. You know, you have rules, regulations, laws.”

While emphasising enforcement, Trump signaled a willingness to negotiate protections for “Dreamers,” immigrants brought to the US illegally as children.

During his first term, Trump attempted to dismantle the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which provides deportation relief to this group, but was blocked by the Supreme Court.

Trump also plans to issue an executive order to end birthright citizenship on his first day in office.

The policy, which grants citizenship to anyone born on US soil regardless of their parents’ immigration status, is rooted in the 14th Amendment of the Constitution and reinforced by an 1898 Supreme Court decision.

“We’ll maybe have to go back to the people,” he said.

Trump acknowledged potential legal challenges to his proposal and suggested that achieving this goal might require a constitutional amendment.

The implementation of these measures would demand substantial financial resources.

The American Immigration Council estimates the cost of deporting all unauthorized immigrants at $88 billion annually. Trump’s team, including incoming border czar Tom Homan, has called on Congress to provide significant funding increases to support immigration enforcement efforts.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

UPDATE: Marketers Begin Direct Loading From Dangote Refinery

Published

on

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has begun lifting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

This follows an agreement reached with the refinery last month by IPMAN.

It was gathered that IPMAN members have so far lifted millions of litres of petrol from the Dangote refinery, located in the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, confirmed in an interview (with The Punch) that the lifting of petrol from the Dangote refinery started in late November.

According to Ukadike, independent marketers began the prior loading of the product through MRS Oil.

“This, he said, had been taking place pending the completion of the terms of the agreement earlier reached by the refinery.

“There is a pre-arrangement we had. Our experts are putting things together for our documentation. Dangote refinery made some products available to us in MRS and we started the loading gradually (in November). We are buying Dangote products through MRS,” Ukadike said.

Asked if this is not like buying through a middleman, he refuted the claim, saying, “This is not the issue of a middleman. We have to start with something first to bridge that gap.”

He stated that it is important to note that independent marketers have started buying PMS directly from the $20bn refinery.

Ukadike maintained that the decision by the Dangote refinery to reduce PMS price from N990 per litre to N970 had increased the demand for PMS in the local market.

He added that the deal between IPMAN and Dangote influenced the drop in prices of petroleum products, especially as it eliminated middlemen and profiteering.

“The most important thing is that IPMAN members have started buying directly from Dangote. We’ve been uploading products stored in the tank and meant for commuters.

“The reduction in the price of Dangote PMS has also increased demand. We are also anticipating that the price decrease will strengthen the economy.

“IPMAN’s direct purchase agreement with Dangote influenced the dwindling price of petrol because it has eradicated the issue of middlemen and profiteering of petroleum products. So, the era of middlemen has gone. You can access Dangote as quickly as possible once you pay your money,” he noted.

After several days of battling the crude supply crisis, the Dangote refinery commenced the sale of petrol on September 15, 2024, selling to only the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), which served as a middleman between the refinery and the marketers.

However, the supply chain was not as effective as planned, prompting independent marketers to demand direct transactions with the $20bn refinery.

Consequently, the Federal Government announced that the NNPC should no longer be the sole off-taker of Dangote fuel, allowing willing buyers to seek direct purchase from the 650,000 barrels per day capacity refinery.

“Moving forward, petroleum product marketers are now able to purchase PMS directly from local refineries without the intermediary role of NNPC. Marketers are encouraged to initiate direct purchases from refineries on mutually negotiated commercial terms, which will promote competition and improve market efficiency,” the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, who is also the chairman of the naira-for-crude committee, said in a statement in October.

Barely a month later, IPMAN National President, Abubakar Maigandi, announced that the association had signed a deal with Dangote.

“After meeting with Aliko Dangote and his management team in Lagos, we are pleased to announce that Dangote Refinery has agreed to supply IPMAN with PMS, AGO, and DPK directly for distribution to our depots and retail outlets,” Maigandi told newsmen in Abuja last month.

Recall that IPMAN has insisted that it would not patronise the newly refurbished Port Harcourt refinery if it sells its PMS at N1,030 per litre.

The association’s spokesman, Ukadike, said, “If the Port Harcourt refinery’s PMS price is truly N1,030, it is unacceptable to us independent marketers. We will not buy from them. We will buy where it is cheap.”

Ukadike, however, expressed hope that NNPC would review the price.

  • “N3.32tn Petrol Imported”

In a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), PMS worth N3.32tn was imported into Nigeria in the third quarter of 2024.

The NBS report stated that diesel worth N1.33tn was brought into the country during the same period.

In return, the country exported crude oil valued at N13.40tn and liquefied natural gas of more than N2.10tn between July and September.

“The most exported commodities included crude oil, liquefied natural gas, other petroleum gases in a gaseous state, floating or submersible drilling or production platforms,” the NBS said.

It stated further that Nigeria’s export trade continued to be dominated by crude oil exports.

“In the third quarter of 2024, crude oil export was valued at N13.40tn, representing 65.44 per cent of total exports while the value of non-crude oil exports stood at N7.08tn, accounting for 34.56 per cent of total exports; of which non-oil products contributed N2.5tn or 12.21 per cent of total exports,” the NBS disclosed.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Tinubu, Others Congratulate Mahama As Opposition Clinches Ghana Presidency

Published

on

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday, congratulated President-elect John Mahama on his victory in the December 7 general election in Ghana.

This came after his rival, the country’s vice president and ruling party candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, conceded defeat on Sunday.

Bawumia stated that he conceded defeat before the official results to ease tensions after reported fights in several local constituencies.

Although the Electoral Commission has yet to announce the official results, Bawumia’s ruling National Democratic Congress said its internal review showed Mahama leading with 56.3 percent of the vote against its 41.3 percent.

A statement signed on Sunday by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said, “In a telephone call to Mahama, President Tinubu hoped that Mahama’s ascension to power for the second time would further bring stability to the Economic Community of West African States, of which President Tinubu is the chairman.”

The statement was titled, ‘Ghana: President Tinubu congratulates President-Elect John Mahama in a telephone call.’

President Tinubu commended the people of Ghana for their commitment to democracy, demonstrated through the peaceful and successful conduct of both the presidential and parliamentary elections.

“He applauded Ghanaians for demonstrating again to the world that democracy is the preferred path to achieving political stability, economic development, social justice, and transparent governance in Africa.

“He affirmed that Nigeria’s and the region’s belief in the principles of the people’s right to choose their leaders freely will remain a source of pride.

“The Nigerian leader applauded the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, the Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for conceding defeat before the official announcement by Ghana’s Electoral Commission,” Onanuga revealed.

President Tinubu said Bawumia’s stance reinforced Ghana’s democratic ethos.

He noted that President-elect Mahama’s return to Jubilee House, after having served as President from 2012 to 2017, reflects the Ghanaian people’s trust in his stewardship and vision to take the country to greater heights.

Mahama served as Vice President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012, a member of parliament from 1997 to 2009, and held deputy and ministerial roles between 1998 and 2001.

Tinubu said he looked forward to working with President Mahama’s incoming administration to strengthen bilateral ties across various sectors and build a brighter future in the West African region.

Also, the President of the Economic Community of West African States Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has extended congratulations to the people of Ghana for conducting successful and generally peaceful presidential elections on December 7, 2024.

Touray commended the democratic maturity displayed throughout the electoral process and praised the smooth transition of power.

He congratulated Ghana’s former president, Mahama, on his electoral victory and lauded Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia for his statesmanship in conceding defeat promptly.

“The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr Omar Touray, congratulates the Ghanaian people on their successful and generally-peaceful elections.

“The President of the Commission also congratulates His Excellency John Mahama on his victory.

“The President equally commends Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia for his timely concession, which demonstrates his statesmanship and love for country,” a statement from the commission read on Sunday.

In a similar vein, former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, congratulated Ghana’s President-elect on his victory in the country’s recent general elections.

In a statement, Dr. Fayemi also commended Bawumia, the presidential candidate of the incumbent New Patriotic Party, for his gracious concession speech, noting that “his acceptance of the electoral outcome in the spirit of peace and national unity exemplifies the very best of African political leadership.”

Fayemi said: “As a friend to both men and a committed advocate of democratic principles across Africa, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the President-elect of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, on his resounding victory in the recently concluded general elections. This triumph reflects the trust and confidence the people of Ghana have in his leadership and vision for their country.

“I equally commend Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, for his gracious concession speech. His acceptance of the electoral outcome in the spirit of peace and national unity exemplifies the very best of African political leadership.

“Dr. Bawumia’s decision to place the interest of Ghana above personal ambition reinforces the values of democracy and demonstrates a maturity that will undoubtedly serve as a model for political actors across the continent.

“As Africans, we must draw lessons from Ghana’s example. The supremacy of the people’s will is the cornerstone of democracy and the desire to serve must always align with the mandate freely given by the electorate, not through coercion or manipulation.”

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular