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COVID-19: ‘We Must Crush The Second Wave,Says Gov Ganduje

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As the second wave of COVID-19 resurfaces at the global arena, of which Nigeria is not an exception, Kano state governor Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said the state would use the same technique used in the early days of the pandemic and crush the wave, through prayers and optimal efforts that would be put by healthcare workers and all other stakeholders.

He made the assertion during COVID-19 Press Briefing held at Africa House, Government House, Kano, Friday, he reveals that, “We are back to the drawing board. This is because COVID-19 is also back in our communities.

Coronavirus, not a conspiracy theory-Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar.

As the situation at the national level bounces back, we have no other option than to tighten our belts also and face it squarely.”

Assuring that what the state did during the heydays of the pandemic, needs to be repeated, “…so that we can win the war again. We have no time to waste.”

Adding that “All our infrastructural facilities, though not out of use, must be reinvigorated. For optimal use, as it was the case before. We also have to recall all those volunteer workers back. Sometimes in the past we reduced the list of our volunteer healthcare workers. We must call them back to the field again.”

Governor Ganduje said the state had no other option than to win the war against the pandemic. Emphasising that, “Together with our Ulamas (religious leaders), our traditional leaders, development partners, non governmental organisations,

community based organisations and all others, we must take the fight to community levels. We must all be on the same page.”

“As rightly observed by our technical committee on the negligence of our communities in complying with the COVID-19 protocols, we are going to use security agencies to see that the protocols are followed. We are also going to use our Ulamas, NGOs, CBOs and all other stakeholders,” he said.

Adding that, all public places must tighten strategies to see to the total compliance with the protocols as enunciated by healthcare workers, “… and it is being obtained through global best practice,” he urged.

On the palliative distribution, which was under the former Vice Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano, Prof Muhammad Yahuza Bello and now under the Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, governor Ganduje appreciated that, “We are lucky that our palliative distribution has been under people who are honest and diligent.”

That, according to him, “…was why during the #EndSARS protest that our warehouses of our palliative materials were not attacked by hoodlums. Those responsible for the distribution of the palliative are people of proven integrity.

And the same Palliative Committee has a very good distribution system. Where we have up to 4 stages for the distribution.”

He also thanked Kano youth who did not participate in the recent #EndSARS protest which turned into violent protests in some states of the federation, saying that, “Apart from commending our healthcare workers, our COVID-19 Committee as well as the Technical Committee, our traditional institutions, development partners,

In a statement by Abba Anwar ,the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ganduje said community and religious leaders, our youth deserve all commendation for being too responsible to participate in the destruction of our warehouses. They did not participate, which shows that they are responsible enough.”

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Breaking: Former Secretary of Federal Electoral Commission, FEDECO, Ahmadu Kurfi Passes On at 93

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Late Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi

 

A former secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi, has passed away.

A family source, Jafar Yakubu, informed NIGERIAN TRACKER about the death of the pioneer secretary of the Federal Electoral Commission, who supervised the 1979 general election.

 

Jafar Yakubu said Alhaji Ahmadu Kurfi died at the age of 93 and his Janaza funeral prayers will take place by 2:30 PM at Kurfi in KATSINA state .

 

Dr. Amadu Kurfi, OFR, was born in 1931. He was a former chairman of the then Marketing Board, former Federal Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Defence, and the first person to acquire a BSc degree in the whole of Katsina State, at University College London in 1957.

 

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President Tinubu Sacks UNIZIK Vice-Chancellor, Registrar

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The governing council of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University has been dissolved by President Bola Tinubu.

The president dissolved the council and approved the removal of the institution’s vice-chancellor Bernard Odoh and the university registrar, Rosemary Nwokike.

A statement by Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy said the action by Tinubu follows allegations of procedural violations in the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor.

He also said that the council led by Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe and including five other members—Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin was accused of bypassing due process to appoint an unqualified candidate, prompting federal intervention.

Onanuga said, “The sacking of the governing council and officials followed reports that the council illegally appointed an unqualified vice-chancellor without following due process.

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He added that following the controversial appointment, the Federal Government stepped in to address the rivalry between the university’s Senate and the governing council of the institution.

“The government expressed concern over the council’s apparent disregard for the university’s governing laws in its selection process”, Onanuga added.

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Boost for Nigeria’s Oil Production, As NNPC’s Utapate Crude Grade Hits Global Oil Market

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Managing Director, NNPC E & P Limited (NEPL), Mr. Nicholas Foucart speaks at the official unveiling of the Utapate crude oil blend during the Utapate Crude Roadshow held on the sidelines of the 2024 Argus European Crude Conference in London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday.

 

 

In a major boost for Nigeria’s crude oil production, revenue generation and
economic growth efforts, the NNPC Ltd has officially unveiled its latest crude oil
grade, the Utapate crude oil blend, before the international crude oil market.

It would be recalled that in July, 2024, NNPC Ltd and its partner, the Sterling Oil
Exploration & Energy Production Company (SEEPCO) Ltd introduced the Utapate
crude oil blend, following the lifting of first cargo of 950,000 barrels which headed
for Spain.

During a ceremony held at the Argus European Crude Conference taking place in
London, United Kingdom, on Wednesday, the Managing Director, NNPC E & P
Limited (NEPL), Mr. Nicholas Foucart described the introduction of the Utapate
crude oil blend into the market as a significant milestone for Nigeria’s crude oil
export to the global energy market.

“Since we started producing the Utapate Field in May 2024, we have rapidly
ramped up production to 40,000 barrels per day (bpd) with minimum downtime.
So far, we have exported five cargoes, largely to Spain and the East Coast of the
United States; while two more additional cargoes have been secured for November
and December 2024, representing a significant boost to Nigeria’s crude oil export
to the global market,” Foucart told a packed audience of European crude oil
marketers.
He added that since its introduction into the global market, the Utapate crude oil
blend has enjoyed a positive response from the international crude oil market, due
to its highly attractive qualities.
Foucart said the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13, fully operated by NEPL and Natural
Oilfield Services Ltd (NOSL), a subsidiary of SEEPCO Ltd, boasts a huge reserves of
330million barrels of crude oil reserves, 45 million barrels of condensate and 3.5 tcf
of gas.
“We have a number of ongoing projects to increase our production from the
current 40,000bopd to 50,000bopd by January 2025 and 60,000bopd to
65,000bopd by June 2025. Essentially, we are targeting opportunities to increase
production to 80,000bopd by the end of 2025,” Foucart added.He said the Utapate crude oil terminal is sustainable, affordable and fully compliant
with the rigorous environmental regulations and sustainability principles especially
those aimed at reducing carbon emissions and other ecological effects.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of NNPC Trading Ltd (NTL), Mr. Lawal Sade
said the pricing structure of the Utapate crude oil blend is similar to that of
Amenam crude as it is a light sweet crude which is highly sought after by refiners
across the world due to its low sulphur content, efficient yield of high-value
products, API gravity and other similarities.
He said in bringing the new crude oil blend to the global market, NNPC Ltd wanted
to optimise value for both its producers and counterparties across the globe.
He added to ensure predictability and sustainability of supply, the NNPC Trading
intends to run a term contract on the Utapate crude oil blend cargoes, principally
targeting off-takers from the European and the US East Coast refineries.
Produced from the Utapate field in OML 13 in Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria, the
Utapate crude oil blend is similar to the Nembe crude oil grade. It has a low sulphur
content of 0.0655% and low carbon footprint due to flare gas elimination, fitting
perfectly into the required specification of major buyers in Europe.
The NNPC E&P Ltd and NOSL partnership is also committed to operating in a
manner that is safe, environmentally responsible, and beneficial to the local
communities.
The Utapate field development plan, executed between 2013-2019 and approved in
October, included converting wells and facilities from swamp/marine to land-
based operations.
The plan involved a multi-rig drilling campaign for 40 wells and the development
of significant infrastructure such as production facilities, storage tank, a subsea
pipeline and an offshore loading platform to facilitate crude oil evacuation and
loading.

The entry of the Utapate crude oil blend into the market is coming barely a year
after the NNPC Ltd announced the launch of Nembe crude oil, produced by the
NNPC/Aiteo operated Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29 Joint Venture (JV).

In a statement by Olufemi O Soneye Chief corporate communications officer NNPCL said the remarkable achievement signals the commitment of the NNPC Ltd to
increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production and growing its reserves through the
development of new assets.

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