UNBELIEVABLE: Gbenga Daniel Bought 1.5 Hectares Of Government Land For N2000?

Months after the revocation of the allocation of the land on which Abraham’s Tabernacle, former Governor Gbenga Daniel’s father’s church was built and its subsequent demolition in Sagamu, the immediate past Governor of Ogun State might have cause to worry again.
This is coming on the heels of the revocation of the allocation of the land on which Otunba Daniel built Asoludero Court, his Sagamu home.. Also affected by the revocation is the expanse of land which houses the Compass Newspapers owned by the former Governor.
The state government had constituted a panel to probe the allocation of land during Daniel’s eight-year rule. The panel submitted that the acquisition of the lands on which the properties were built neither followed due process nor laid down procedures.
According to the White Paper submitted by the panel after its investigation, the only evidence that the former Governor paid for the land on which he sited his Sagamu home pointed in the direction that only N 2,000 was paid. It was further stated that the file for the allocation of the Sagamu property has since disappeared from the state’s Bureau of Lands.
Findings made by the panel on former Governor Daniel’s Sagamu land in the report read inter alia:
1    The file for this allocation has disappeared from the offices of the Bureau of Lands and Survey. The Commission was informed by the officials that it was one of several files whose last movements were traced to the office of the former DG Lands, Surveyor Gbenga Ogunnoiki and could not be found after he left office. They informed the Commission that the former DG took away with him several files which he never returned, and that this was one of them.
2    The Commission however summoned the allottees Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Yeye Olufunke Daniel to appear and explain the circumstances of the allocation. Although they did not appear in person, they sent a representative in the person of BARRISTER GBENGA OJEKUNLE who told the commission that he had their authority to testify for, and on their behalf, and the commission allowed him to do so.
3     Barrister Gbenga Ojekunle not only testified orally on behalf of the Daniels, he also tendered as exhibits, documents evidencing the allocation.
4    Officials of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, also testified. So did the petitioners, DIPO DINA MOVEMENT.
5     The Commission found that an allocation letter dated 6th August 2004 was issued to the allottees for ”portion of Block 1 plots 7 and 8, and Block XXXVIII plots 1 and 2 within the amended part of the GRA Sagamu” measuring 8752.243 sq. mtrs for the sum of N1,227,810.00, for which copies of receipts of payment was tendered.
6     The Commission found also that there had been an earlier letter of allocation simply ‘dated April 2004′, issued to the allottees for the same land, measuring the same size, for a consideration of N3, 367,805.00, for which there were cheques dated 8th April 2004 issued and purportedly paid but for which they could not produce official receipt, and of which there is no trace whatsoever in the records of the Bureau of Lands
7    The Commission found that the former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, signed the Certificate of Occupancy  on the 21st April, 2005 and the same is  registered at the lands registry Abeokuta as No: 15/15/628.
8     The commission found that whereas the allottees were granted and paid for only 8752.243 sq mtrs, the survey plan attached to the certificate of occupancy issued to them indicates a larger area, specifically, 1.659 HECTARES.
9    The Bureau of Lands submitted a report to the Commission and also confirmed in their oral testimony as follows:
a.     that the only evidence of payment for this allocation in their records is for the sum of TWO THOUSAND NAIRA ONLY (2,000.00 naira only)
b.     that part of the land allocated to the Daniels, specifically, plot 12, had on it a GOVERNMENT VIP GUEST HOUSE and a PHCN QUARTERS at the time of the allocation    .
c.    that part of the land, specifically, plot 1A, had already been allocated to and belonged to one MR ADENIYI LATEEF ADENUGA (with certificate of occupancy)
d.     that part of the said land, specifically, plot 1B, was already allocated to and belonged to one Oluwatoyin O. Amuzat (with certificate of occupancy)
e.    that part of the land, specifically, plot 1C, was already allocated to and belonged to one TEMITOPE BUKUNOLA SODE (with certificate of occupancy)
f.     that both the government VIP GUEST HOUSE  and the PHCN QUARTERS were immediately before the allocation to the Daniels being occupied by officials of the government and the said agency.
10.    Alhaji Busura who testified on behalf of the Bureau of Lands on this allocation, and who personally did the allocation, admitted before the Commission that it was wrong to have merged all the land which had these prior commitments and allocation and grant same to the Daniels, but that he had no choice in the matter as he acted strictly upon the instruction and directive of his boss, the them DG, surveyor. Gbenga Ogunnoiki.
11.     The commission was further informed by the Bureau of Lands that only one of the allottees who were displaced and dispossessed as a result of the allocation made to the Daniels, Mr Adeniyi Lateef Adenuga was relocated to another plot.
12.     It is worthy of note that the titles of these previous owners remain unrevoked, valid and still subsisting on the Register of Titles till date.
The panel also made the following recommendations
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1.    Certificate of occupancy registered as No 15/15/628 of 21/4/05 (and the recertified one number 0000003 dated June 2010) issued by ex-Governer Gbenga Daniel to himself and his wife while other prior registered interests/rights in the land subsisted, and for a size of land larger than what they were allocated and paid is VOID in law having NO LEGAL EFFECT WHATSOEVER. Two or more registered titles cannot exist on the same land at the same time. By law, the first in time must prevail. Accordingly, the Commission recommends that Certificate of Occupancy no 15/15/628 of 21/4/05 and the recertified Certificate of Occupancy thereto be cancelled.
2.    Also, the Commission will be failing in its duty if it does not comment further on the conduct of Otunba Gbenga Daniel in this matter. While acknowledging the fact that a sitting public officer such as a governor has a right, like other citizens to buy and own property in the state where he is governor, the Commission considers it a blatant abuse of office, power and breach of the trust reposed in him by the people, for the ex-governor, OTUNBA JUSTUS OLUGBENGA DANIEL, to APPROPRIATE to his family, land belonging to other  citizens, the State and even a Federal Government Agency and to have allowed his personal interest to override public interest in this manner.
Meanwhile, the panel also stated that the allocation of the Compass Newspapers land was done in 2008. It however averred that papers and payment for the land, which in the first instance was 50 hectares, were only perfected in 2011.
Source: Street Journal

INTERESTING: EFCC Dump Fuel Subsidy Report?

It has been uncovered that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission may not be making use of the investigative report on the fuel subsidy management conducted by the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee led by Mr. Farouk Lawan.
It has been revealed that the EFCC is considering dumping the report as a result of its doubt on the credibility of the report. The  leadership of the EFCC presently see the Lawan committee’s report, which is involved  in a $620,000 bribe controversy involving Lawan and Femi Otedola, as a mere fact-finding committee which does not have the power to prosecute due to the controversy that surrounds the outcome of the investigation.
The commission believes that it would be wrong to rely on the investigation conducted by the ad hoc committee, which revealed the theft of N1.07tn subsidy funds by oil importers and their collaborators, due to what it got itself involved in.
The committee  headed by Lawan had recommended that 72 companies be investigated by “the relevant anti-corruption agencies in order to establish their culpability and to recover the N230.1bn said to have been misappropriated by them.”
Dailypost reliably gathered that the commission would be depending on the investigation carried out  by its Director of Operations, Mr. Laolu Adegbite, to prosecute all those involved in the oil scandal,
It is the view of the leadership of the commission that all those found to have played various roles in the issue of the subsidy and whose names came up during the investigations would face prosecution irrespective of whether the person is an importer, or a Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency or the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation worker.
Even though the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, had disclosed that the prosecution of indicted oil importers  will commence next week, it is obvious that probing is still ongoing and there is doubt on whether investigation would be over before next week.
“The report was not discussed as an issue, but assurances were given that as soon as the EFCC finishes its assignment, which is very soon, you will begin to see prosecution probably in the next one week.
“So, Nigerians should rest assured that this is not an issue that will be swept under the carpet.
“We have gone this far because we want a proper and painstaking investigation done so that when we charge people to court, there will be no lapses or loopholes for lawyers to explore,” the AGF had told State House correspondents in Abuja.
When our correspondent contacted the acting Head of Media of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, he said he did not have the details about the investigations being carried out.
Source: Daily Post

Download A Copy Of Petroleum Industry Bill 2012

This is one great document you need to have. Download the attachment below.
The compelling intrigues allegely scripted by IOCs, entrenched local political-economic interests and shadowy business cabals to hobble or dilute the initial structuring of the Petroleum Industry Bill for parliamentary endorsement was indicative of its critical importance to the transformation of Nigeria. Today, after a 12-year marathon kicked off by efforts of the Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC), an authentic executive bill, encapsulating a blue-print for the reinvention and management of the nation’s hydro-carbon resources was transmitted to the National Assembly last week. LOUIS ACHI examines the bill to elucidate the key highlights and how it will impact various socio-economic dimensions along the line.
Why do Saudi Arabia’s Aramco,Brazil’s Petrobras and Malaysia’s Petronas represent world-class oil companies, cutting-edge models of economic drivers of their countries while their peer, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is not?
Urgent, soul-searching questions in the strangely opaque management arena of the nation’s hydro-carbon resources sparked efforts to undertake a fundamental restructuring of the industry to maximize returns on the country’s investment in the oil and gas sector.
The central target of the Oil and Gas Reform Implementation Committee (OGIC) was to fundamentally review the subsisting 16 laws that governed the nation’s hydro-carbon resources arena and generate a one-stop-shop legislation that would guide the sector and effect a pro-Nigeria restructuring of the country’s lop-sided relationship with international oil companies (IOCs).
From OGIC’s work, a new draft legislation known as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) was produced and first transmitted to the Sixth National Assembly.
This was scuttled by intense intrigues thereby provoking business divestment from Nigeria as well as prospective investors heading to nearby countries such as Angola, Ghana and Burkina Faso which boasted more stable policies. Today, for Nigeria, the story appears different.
The PIB essentially incorporates the legal outline that will delineate and shape the oil sector. The creation of a conducive business environment for petroleum operations; optimization of domestic gas supplies, especially for power generation and industrial development; establishment of a progressive fiscal framework that encourages further investment in the petroleum industry while optimising revenues accruing to the government; the establishment of commercially oriented and profit-driven oil and gas entities; as well as the deregulation and liberalisation ofthe downstream petroleum sector form central pegs of the PIB.
Both chambers of the National Assembly have confirmed receipt of the magical Petroleum Industry Bill and pledged accelerated consideration.
Between vision and specific executive action, what remains to give teeth to the painstaking efforts to produce a transformative blue-print to guide operation of the nation’s petroleum sector is consideration and endorsement by the national parliament. Nigerians wait with bated breath. But meanwhile, what are the key highlights of the all-important bill?
Highlights: (New Agencies And Corporates) Sector Driver: Ministry of Petroleum Resources
If given parliamentary enactment in its current form, the Petroleum Industry Bill willprovide for the establishment of nine agencies accountable for the operations of the oil and gas sector. This scenario is in addition to affirming the existence of theMinistry of Petroleum Resources as sector driver, running with policy guidance.
The nine agencies which will be answerable to the Minister of Petroleum Resources include - Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (Regulatory); Petroleum Technology Development Fund, Petroleum Equalisation Fund, Petroleum Host Community Fund (Funds); National Oil Company; National Gas Company Plc. and National Petroleum Assets Management Company (operations under commercial terms); National Frontier Exploration Service and Petroleum Technical Bureau (technical and support bureau.)
The Agencies: Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate (Regulatory)
Empowered to acquire, hold, mortgage, purchase and deal with property, whether movable or immovable, real or personal amongst others isthe Upstream Petroleum Inspectorate (UPI). It shall also be empowered to take over assets and liabilities relating to the upstream petroleum sector, which were hitherto vested in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
These include regulating all technical aspects and commercial activities of the upstream sector; promoting the efficient, safe, effective and sustainable infrastructural development of the upstream sector.
Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (Regulatory)
In the new setting, the Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency shall be in charge of assets and liabilities relating to the downstream petroleum industry, which before nowwas performed by the DPR and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).
It shall enforce compliance with the terms and conditions of all licences, permits and authorisations issued in respect of downstream petroleum operations amongst others.
Petroleum Technology Development Fund (Funds)
The existing Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), under Section 73 will be retained. The PTDF shall be responsible for training Nigerians to qualify as graduates, professionals, technicians and craftsmen in the fields of engineering, geology, science and management and other related fields in the petroleum industry.”
It will source its fund from grants accruing from multilateral agencies, bilateral institutions and related sources and donations dedicated for capacity building, as well as the outstanding balance of the monetary assets of the PTDF, which was created by the PTD Act of 2004.
Petroleum Equalisation Fund (Funds)
Section 100 of the PIB also provides for the continued existence of the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).Where any net surplus revenue recovered from petroleum products marketing companies and such sums as may be provided by the Federal Government for the purpose of the equalisation fund shall be paid into.
A fundamental aspect of the PEF will be to hold the equalisation fund in safe custody and in trust, for reimbursement of petroleum products marketing companies suffering loss solely and exclusively as a result of the sale of petroleum products at uniform benchmark prices throughout the country.
Petroleum Host Communities Fund (Funds)
An inclusive footing, the PIB provides for the creation of a fund to be known as the Petroleum Host Communities Fund (PHC Fund) to be utilised for the development of the economic and social infrastructure of communities within petroleum producing area. Basically, this is slanted to involve the oil-producing communities in the joint ownership of oil and gas assets.
Every company that is involved in oil and gas exploration and production, under Section 118 of the bill, is required to remit into the fund on a monthly basis, 10 per cent of its net profit, which the reform bill defined as the adjusted profit minus the Nigerian hydrocarbon tax and minus the companies’ income tax.
Petroleum Technical Bureau (Technical Support)
The Petroleum Technical Bureau (PTB) will serve as a special unit in the office of the petroleum ministerand will in addition to its other duties, carry out the functions of the former Frontiers Exploration Services of the NNPC.
The PTB will be responsible for developing exploration strategies and portfolio management for the exploration of unassigned frontier acreages in Nigeria, and will undertake activities to stimulate the interest of local and international oil and gas companies in exploration of the country’s frontiers basins.
CORPORATES: National Petroleum Assets Management Corporation (NPAMC)
The NPAMC will operate fully on commercial principles and shall be responsible for the acquisition and management of investments of the government in the Nigerian upstream petroleum industry.
National Oil Company (NOC) (Corporates)
Within three months of the commencement of the Act, the Minister of Petroleum will take necessary steps as stipulated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to incorporate the National Oil Company (NOC) as a public company to be vested with certain assets and liabilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
Its shares shall be held by a nominee of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and Ministry of Finance Incorporated on behalf of the government.
National Gas Company (NGC) Plc. (Corporates)
After incorporation under the Companies and Allied Matters Act the National Gas Company Plc., as a company, limited by shares, shall be vested with certain asset assets and liabilities of the NNPC.
This action will be taken by the minister not later than 3 months following the effective date of the enactment of PIB by parliament
National Frontier Exploration Service (Corporates)
There is established by this Act a body to be known as the National Frontier Exploration Services (The Frontier Service) which shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and a common seal.
The Frontier Service shall, amongst other things, promote the exploration of hydro-carbons in the frontier basins of Nigeria and evaluate all unassigned frontier acreages in the country.
Effect On JVCs
At press time, the impact that the PIB will have on the Joint Venture Companies cannot totally be gauged. But for one, it is clearly going to redefine that relationship in ways that should benefit Nigeria more.
After 50 years of a lopsided relationship in the upstream petroleum with JVCs mostly dictating proceedings, the PIB in the works has streamlining that cooperative business partnerships into formats that will serve the nation’s economic interest better.
Gas Flaring Deadline/Penalties
Perhaps the expected clarity and specific time-line for total stoppage of gas flaring in the PIB were not as defined as it should be.
However, Section 275 (General Terms) of the Bill states that “Natural gas shall not be flared or vented after a date (‘the flare-out date’) to be prescribed by the Minister in regulations made pursuant to this Part, in any oil and gas production operation, block or field, onshore or offshore, or gas facility such as, processing or treatment plant, with the exception of permits granted under subsection (1) of section 277 of this Act.”
Section 276 (1) further states that “The oil and gas operators with flared gas resources shall within six months of the commencement of this Act categorize all of their flared gas resources (daily flare quantity, reserve, location, composition) and submit this data along with gas utilization plans to the Inspectorate for the gas they intend to utilize before the flare out date as stated in section 275 of this Act.
Section 277 (1) (Prohibition of Flaring) states, “A person shall not direct, permit or otherwise aid, empower or authorize any company engaged in petroleum operations to flare or vent gas with the exception of such permits granted under this section.
Section 277 (2) The Minister may grant a permit of not more than one hundred days, or such longer period as may be approved by the Minister, to flare or vent gas in cases of start-up, equipment failure, shut down, safety flaring or due to inability of Gas customer to off-take-Gas.
Where IOCs Stand
The PIB, pushing international best practices in the strategic oil sector, is expected to demand from International Oil Companies (IOCs) a higher level of responsibility in its operations in the sector. From henceforth, changes in the game-rule are afoot.
At press time specific feedbacks from the major IOC players in the sector are muted. But given the fact that they allegedly played a role in the delays experienced in passing the bill into law suggest they are not unfamiliar with the new policy footing contained in it.
But specific positions are expected to be expressed by them in good time.
How Will PIB Impact Petrol Prices In The North?
By Scrapping the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF), currently under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and replacing it with the Petroleum Host Communities Fund, which will now provide 10 per cent stake in the profits of oil and gas companies to host communities, northern Nigeria would pay more for Fuel.
In effect, prices of petroleum products in the north will be higher than what will be paid by users of fuel in the south if the current version of the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) is enacted into law. PEF has two key objectives.
One is to apply the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as they affect the uniform pricing system, in ensuring that each marketing company complies with the laws regarding the management of the transportation equalisation process. The second is to equalise the transportation differentials in product marketing in the country.
PEF has been an avenue to equalise the differential gap that marketers incur as a result of the transportation of petroleum products from the coastal part of the country to the hinterlands.
About 90 percent of the fuel used in north Nigeria is transported by road, using diesel-powered tankers by marketers.
Currenntly, the transportation cost of a 44,000 liters tanker from Lagos or Port Harcourt to either Maiduguri, Kano or Sokoto is between   is between N380,000 to N500,000, depending on the destination. Because of this, PEF reimburses the marketers the fees that cover the cost of transporting petroleum products from depots to filling stations.
“If really there is no provision for the bridging and equalisation fund in the new bill, then we should get ready to pay more prices for petroleum products in this part of the country,” said DanladiPasali, a national official of independent marketers.
Source: Leadership
This is one great document you need to have. Download the attachment below.

Attachments:

pib_2012.pdf, 1.7MB

DANGER: Police Detonate Bomb In Abuja Catholic School?

The men of the bomb disposal units of the Nigeria Police on Thursday foiled a bomb attack on St. Alloysius Schools, Area 3, Garki, Abuja.
A security man, who briefed the Head Teacher of the schools, Sister Philomena Akem, said the item was planted under a mango tree near where pupils buy biscuits and other items after school.
According to the security man, a woman who saw the bag became curious and called the attention of the church security personnel to the strange item.
He said when the security personnel found the object they in turn called the policemen on duty at the St. Alloysius Catholic Arch Diocese to the bomb.
He added that the policemen alerted the bomb disposal unit which came in to defuse the device.
It was learnt that the incident caused a serious panic among parents, residents and passersby around the area while the police team cordoned off the road to prevent access to the device during the operation to defuse it.
The head teacher of the school, who was just arriving the school from a meeting confirmed the disturbing incident to our correspondent.
She said one of her members of staff called her during to tell her about the incident.
She said the management of the school had alerted the Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory on the need to close a portion of the road where the vast Catholic Church and the schools are located.
She said the development had sent some of its personnel to the school to take a look at the road in response to the school’s petition on Wednesday.
Also, the Chairman of the Parents Teachers Association of the Schoool, Dr. James Agbonhese confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
He said the PTA and the Security Committee which comprises security operatives were taking measures to strengthen security in the schools.
He was full of thanks to God that the device was discovered by the woman who quickly called attention to it.
Source: Daily Post

AT LAST: Rapper Saucekid Change Name To Sinzu SMG?

Saucekid, the rapper that stormed the music industry with I CAN’T FEEL MY FACE, and many other songs still electrifying radios up till date, has anounced on Twitter some days ago that he has officially dropped the name we all know him by – Saucekid, for a new Alias ‘Sinzu SMG’.
The bone of contention has been how fans will react to this changing of an already established name, which has so much been engraved into the hearts of both young and old. No word has been heard from him further on his reasons for doing that, but your guess is as good as mine. Check out the twitter declaration.

Source: Information Nigeria

SURPRISING: Patience Jonathan Now A Permanent Secretary In Bayelsa?

Nigeria’s first lady was on Friday sworn into a senior government post in the oil-rich state of Bayelsa, an appointment tagged as scandalous by some opponents.
Patience Jonathan, wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, was named a permanent secretary in Bayelsa by Governor Seriake Dickson.
Dickson is said to be close to the president and accusations of nepotism and patronage have long plagued Nigerian politics, but the governor insisted that the first lady “merits the appointment”.
“I have not done anything wrong and illegal,” Dickson said at the ceremony.
Sunday Frank-Oputu, the state chair of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, an opposition coalition, said the appointment was greased “with the oil of corruption”.
He charged that she lacked the requisite experience and that her official credentials were doctored following the public uproar that ensued when her appointment was revealed on July 11.
“They must have re-arranged the document to cover-up the scandal that followed the announcement,” he said.
While Bayelsa is one the top three oil rich states in Nigeria, the world’s eight largest producer, the sector is managed federally, with state officials playing almost no formal role in the petroleum industry.
A permanent secretary is the administrative head of a ministry and Jonathan will be assigned a specific portfolio at a later date.
Source: Vanguard

FUEL SUBSIDY: Jonathan, Sack Madueke Now - Dino Melaye

Former Member of the Lower Chamber of National Assembly from kabba/Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency in kogi state, Honourable Dino Melaye has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Petroleum Minister, Mrs Allison Madueke from office in order to add credibility to his resolve to sanitise petroleum industry in the country.
Hon. Melaye stated this in a personal letter addressed to the presidency, which copies were on friday made available to journalists in Lokoja, the state capital.
He averred that several reports on fuel scam had held the management of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC and Minister responsible for the overwhelming corruption in oil sector since 2010 that the minister assumed duty.
The radical former legislator said the president should endeavour to act on his ‘no sacred cows’ in the fuel subsidy, adding that since the minister has refused to resign honourably, she should be given General Azazi’s treatment.
“A fish starts to rot from the head, so the minister can not be spared while others are sacked,  Something immediate should be done to save the petroleum Industry.” he stated.
Source: Daily Post

INTERESTING: Ghana Discover More Oil?

Ghana's economy is becoming increasingly diversified

Samples of oil recovered from the well indicate that it was of "high quality of API values of between 38 and 44 degrees''.
The state-owned Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) on Friday announced that another oil discovery had been made in the West African state.
It said in a statement issued in Accra that the Wawa-1 exploration well, located in the DeepwaterTano (DWT) Block offshore Ghana, discovered 20 metres (65 feet) of gas-condensate column and 13 metres (42 feet) of oil.
Samples of oil recovered from the well indicate that it was of "high quality of API values of between 38 and 44 degrees".
GNPC said pressure data indicated the Wawa discovery was separate and distinct from the adjacent Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme (TEN) cluster of discoveries.
25It said further evaluation of this well would be conducted after which the well would be suspended for possible future use in appraisal and development operations.
According to Thomas Manu, Director of Exploration and Production at GNPC, "the Wawa discovery is a confirmation of the prospectivity of the offshore Western Basin."
"The discovery has enhanced the value of the TEN (Tweneboa, Enyenra and Ntomme) complex, for which the plan of development is currently being discussed among the partners."
He hinted that further exploration drilling is planned within the block before the end of the year.
GNPC has 10 per cent carried interest in the Deepwater Tano Block and has the option to acquire additional paying interest of five per cent upon declaration that the discovery is commercial.
The other Partners in the Block include Tullow Oil plc (49.95 per cent working interest and operator), Kosmos Energy (18 per cent working interest), Anadarko (18 per cent working interest) and Tano Block Sabre Oil & Gas Holdings Ltd (4.05 per cent working interest).
Source: Premium Times

BIG BROTHER: I Am Sorry - Goldie

Nigerian Singer, Goldie Harvey, has apologised  to Nigerians who felt disappointed over her uncontrolled emotions while representing the country at the ongoing Big Brother StarGame in South Africa.

Goldie

In a chat with P.M.NEWS at a special media session yesterday at Protea Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Goldie said she was sorry if Nigerians had seen another character different from the usual Goldie that thrill them as an entertainer.
“I want to tell Nigerians that I am so sorry. I am human just like everyone. I am an extremely emotional person. Everybody has two sides. What we entertainers represent on stage is different from who we are off stage. And I didn’t go into the Big Brother StarGame with any strategy. I went in there as an individual and just to be my real self. And that’s what Africa saw. I didn’t go into that house as Goldie, the performer, I was in there as Susan. Fortunately, my teeming fans got to see the human side of me and not the woman they see on stage,” she stressed.
Goldie insists that she was her true self from the beginning of the show till last Sunday when she was evicted.
“I wear my heart on my sleeve. I am brought up to be loyal and be truthful to everyone. I am not the type that plot or play schism. So, when I.K. showed me the nomination last Sunday, the discovery was shocking and my knees went weak. Every other guy had like 8, 6 and 5 nominations, but I had just two. And I was the one to leave. I felt betrayed when I discovered one of the persons that nominated me for eviction,” Goldie told P.M.NEWS.
On her 70-day run in the house, Goldie explained that she was overwhelmed by the positive lessons she learned about other African cultures. She said whatever people might say, she is convinced that she represented Nigeria well in the house as she showed to the rest of Africa that rare qualities of Nigerians.
“Nigerians are loving, caring and religious people. We have high moral standards. And all these qualities I tried to exhibit while in the Big Brother house,” she stated.
After an impressive 70-day run, Goldie, Nigeria’s last representative at the ongoing reality TV show, was booted out of the show on Sunday night. Nigeria had won the show on three consecutive occasions—Kevin Pam in 2009, Uti Nwachukwu in 2010 and Karen Igho in 2011.
After an impressive run and unexpected voluntary exit of other two Nigerian representatives, Ola and Chris, from this year’s show, a lot was expected from Goldie, as the only Nigerian left in the show. But on the contrary, many Nigerians vent  their anger on her as she was seen to be on the hunt for love than the $300,000 prize at stake and honour for her father land.
On her tumultuous relationship with fellow housemate, Prezzo, The Kennis Music recording diva said the Kenyan-born rapper told her that he has been separated from his wife for two years now.
“In the early weeks of the game, Prezzo told me that he has separated from his wife. I asked him thrice on different occasions and he reaffirmed his statement. I even advised him to reconcile with the woman because of their child but he insisted that his mind was made up.
“He said if he had wanted to, he would have done that about two years ago. There are cameras in the house, if only people can playback to prove what I am saying,” Goldie said.
She added that she didn’t regret  giving her heart to the Kenyan because she saw in him as a gentle person and he seemed to be intelligent.
“You had about 50 cameras to watch you but I had only two eyes and two ears and I believed in what I saw. But when I heard everything he had said, I was sad, but I realise that he went into the house to play a game. I have learnt my lesson and I am stronger for it,” the singer said.
Source: PM News

DISASTROUS: Another Tank Explosion In Rivers, Over 30 Dead?

At least thirty people have lost their lives while five others were rescued as more fuel-originated explosions rocked Abuloma waterside and Rumuokehi around Eneka area of Rivers state today.

The thirty people who were burnt to death and the five rescued alive were trapped in a vessel that caught fire at the Abuloma water front.

Our correspondent in Rivers said earlier that NEMA advance teams are moving to the Abuloma scene while fire fighters were battling that of Rumuokehi already.

Officials of NEMA's information department are asking for help from the fire service and multi-national companies around Abuloma for urgent assistance to battle that fire.

At Rumuokehi, a total of three tankers were seen still in flames while one had been successfully put out by men of the fire service.

A source told Daily Trust that the tankers were set ablaze by men of the JTF because they were being used by bunkerers.

Efforts are still being made to contact the JTF spokesman to get confirmation about their involvement.

However, FRSC's sector commander in Rivers state Kayode Olagunja said this about the Abuloma fire; "An oil vessel, around 9:45am, caught fire and exploded at the Abuloma water front, Trans Amadi in Port Harcourt.

"Fire is still restricted to the water area. FRSC, NEMA, Police and other rescue agencies are on ground. Casualty figures are yet unknown."

The Rivers Police Command said it did not suspect any foul play in the fires which gutted the Abuloma jetty.

Spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the the fire at Abuloma jetty was caused by a gas explosion.

He said that rescue agencies tackled the fire at the jetty but could not say if there were casualties.

Ugwuegbulam advised people to always be safety-conscious and switch off all electrical appliances when leaving their houses, and also avoid scooping petroleum products from accident tankers.

The spokesman said that it was dangerous to allow children to light a gas cooker which could cause fire outbreaks.

The Police also ruled out sabotage in another fire today which gutted parts of the administrative building at the state government owned the Tide newspaper.

The state's Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mrs Ibim Semenitari, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the inferno destroyed the top floor of the building.

She said that Gov. Chibuike Amaechi had directed experts from the state Ministries of Works and Housing to evaluate the extent of the damage.

Semenitari said the outcome of the evaluation would determine action to be taken on the affected floor and that in the interim, staff would be given a temporary office.

‘’ It will be very important that government does that. I have briefed his Excellency the Governor of Rivers state who has directed that Honorable commissioners for works and housing look at the building so that we can begin even with the evaluation of the integrity of the building.

‘’ I have briefed the honorable commissioner for Special Duties whose men were here to work alongside men of the Total fire service to put out the fire.

‘’ And, I believe that when you have these kinds of things the first things that happens, of course, is that you find out the cause of fire.

‘’ We are not competent to do so, either at the ministry of information or at the Tide . We will expect that those who have the capacity and the men to do so will do so.’’

Semenitari said no life was lost but that vital documents were lost.

Mr Celestine Ogolo, the General Manager of the newspaper corporation, said the fire began at about 2 a.m. on Friday.

He said the fire consumed the entire top floor housing the general manager’s office.

‘’ Well, it consumed the entire left wing of the second floor housing the general manager’s office , the credit control unit, the administration general office , the board room and a few other offices that are close by.

‘’ A lot was lost, you know. We bought new sets of computer sets which were to replace others in the computer room, we lost all that.

‘’ We bought new sets of chairs that we just bought; we are yet to complete payment for these chairs.

‘’A lot of furniture, a lot of documents, a lot of very very important documents. Some had their original documents destroyed because they were also trying to fine tune their  papers  for retirement .

‘’So, original documents have been lost. A lot have been lost to this inferno.’’
Source: Daily Trust