NNPC Sacks 38 Senior Managers

In a bid to restructure the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) it has announced the retirement of 38 senior managers.
Ohi Alegbe, general manager of the corporation, in a statement issued in Abuja on August 13 has announced the appointment of new group general managers for some of its departments.
President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved the appointment of Mele Kyari to the head the crude oil sales department of the oil corporation.
The statement said that management of the corporation had approved and started the retirement of 38 senior managers.
It clarified that the reducing of personnel, which saw the exit of all senior managers billed to retire from now to December 2016, was intended to cut cost.
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“The exercise, apart from refocusing the corporation in the direction of a leaner and more efficient organisation, has enormous cost-saving benefits,’’ it said.
It named the new general managers as Mele Kyari, crude oil marketing division, Ahmadu Sambo, NNPC oilfield services, Surajdeen Bola Afolabi, information technology division/SAP, Zubair Aliyu, NNPC capital, Dafe Sejebor, Nigerian petroleum investment management services, Kemi Akitoye, human resources division.
Others are Godwin C. Okonkwo, finance, Bello Rabiu, corporate planning, Anibo Kragha, treasury, and Dalhatu Makama, shipping.
The statement also listed other group general managers as Samuel Ndukwe (power), Mike Balami (accounts), Yusuf Matashi (LNG), Rabiu Suleiman (engineering and technology) and Olubunmi Oyetunde (medical).

Ooni’s Death, Irreversible Loss To Oodua Race – Gani Adams

He had promised to share the contents with the public at the appropriate time.
The governor pointed out that the “king is not dead” because people do not say the king is dead in Yorubaland.
The Oba’s death was trailed with controversy as the Royal Traditional Council (RTC) of the town continued to deny the report. They said the paramount ruler was alive and in good state of health.
The Ife Traditional Council finally announced the passing away of the Ooni of Ife yesterday.
According to his son, Prince Adetokunboh Sijuwade, the late Ooni will be laid to rest on Friday, August 14, in Ile-Ife.

Content Of Ooni’s Last Text Message To Aregbesola Revealed

The Osun state governor, Rauf Aregbesola has disclosed the content of a text message the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, sent to him before he passed away.
Aregbesola disclose the message on Wednesday, August 12, in Osogbo at a press conference where members of the late monarch’s family and his traditional council members officially announced his death, Premium Times reports.
The message read: “His Excellence, I am still not feeling good, So I am travelling abroad for medical check up of my body therefore I place your government under God’s guidance.”
Recall that Aregbesola had last Friday, said he received a text message from the monarch shortly before he left the country.

Why Nigerian Army can’t defeat Boko Haram – UK High Commissioner

The outgoing British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Andrew Pocock, has said the problem of Boko Haram insurgency in North-east Nigeria is not something that can be resolved with the use of the army, the police or the security agencies only.
Speaking at a farewell interactive session with members of Kaduna chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists Correspondent Chapel in Kaduna on Monday, Mr. Pocock said: “We don’t look at the problem in the Northeast as purely a security problem. It is not something that can be resolved with the use of the army of the police or the security agencies only. It is not going to be solvable.
“There has to be three different things; the first is a properly articulated security efforts. The second is that, there has to be a different kind of politics in the Northeast, where state and Federal Government work together instead of against each other and where there is a much more common and agreed agenda about what needs to be done to correct many years of mis-governance and of poor policy in the North-east.
“The third dimension has to be a developmental and economic uplift agenda. Too many, particularly young people are not only without employment in the North-east but because of the insurgency are without any economic prospect whatsoever. No one can live without hope and indeed if the economic and the developmental aspect of these are not addressed, the opportunities for radicalisation are much greater. So, those three things have to work in tandem, the security instrument, politics and development/economic approach.”
He however stated that with the new government of President Muhammadu Buhari, people are looking to a chance to get out of the security situation in the North-east, adding that, in the overall, there is greater possibility of stability and economic success, economic recovery perhaps than they might have been before the election.
The High Commissioner said although the army had some successes in 2013, those efforts were not followed up and Boko Haram came surging back in 2014 and effectively controlled most of the North-eastern country in Borno State as well as Adamawa and Yobe.
“20, 000 people killed in a conflict is a very serious matter,” he said.
He said in the overall, there is greater possibility of stability and economic success, economic recovery perhaps than they might have been before the election.
“The British government has long been involved in training Nigerian soldiers to fight the very difficult anti-insurgency combat that they are faced with in the North-east,” he said. “We have done this with some success. There is a lot more that we can do. What we need is high level access to the new people that President Buhari is likely to appoint.”

Senate President thanks Buhari for not interfering in elections

Saraki, who was elected yesterday, June 9, 2015, also promised to be just and fair to Nigerians and to defend the independence of the National Assembly.

Newly-elected Senate President, Bukola Saraki has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for remaining steadfast in his defence of the right of the National Assembly to choose its own leaders.

Saraki, who was elected yesterday, June 9, 2015, also promised to be just and fair to Nigerians and to defend the independence of the National Assembly.

“I am most honoured and privileged to be elected to serve as President of the Senate. I accept with humility and respect the honour you have conferred upon me today,” he said.

“The change that our people voted for is a change from a life of poverty, misery to a life of prosperity, happiness, security and comfort, accountability and respect for democracy. This is a change that all of us in the National Assembly must strive to justify. Nigerians want to see a proactive National Assembly,” he added.

After his speech, the upper legislative house was adjourned till Wednesday, June 10, 2015.

Saraki was unanimously elected as Senate President by 57 out of 108 Senators.