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July 16, 2024 FG Repatriates 190 Nigerians From UAE

FG Repatriates 190 Nigerians From UAE

The Nigerian Federal Government has successfully repatriated 190 stranded Nigerians from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This was confirmed in a statement issued by Mr. Bashir Garga, the Zonal Director of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the North Central region, on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Garga, the returnees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 5:57 a.m. They were received by a coordinated team of government officials led by NEMA. Upon arrival, the returnees underwent profiling and documentation by relevant agencies. They were also sensitized on the importance of conducting themselves with decorum and responsibility upon their return to Nigeria.

"The Federal Government urges all Nigerians, regardless of their location, to serve as exemplary ambassadors of their country, by upholding fundamental values such as patriotism, rule of law, decency, and integrity," the statement from NEMA emphasized.

July 16, 2024 Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Override Amaewhule, Authorize Governor to Spend Government Funds

Pro-Fubara Lawmakers Override Amaewhule, Authorize Governor to Spend Government Funds

The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Victor Oko-Jumbo, has condemned the resolution by the Martin Amaewhule-led House barring Governor Siminalayi Fubara from spending public funds. Speaker Victor Oko-Jumbo stated this in his opening remarks during the plenary on Tuesday.

He declared that the actions of Amaewhule and the 24 others, whom he referred to as former members of the House, were unfounded and without validity. Oko-Jumbo argued that the group had no legal capacity or moral basis to bar the governor from spending public funds. He insisted that Amaewhule and his followers ceased to be members of the Assembly after defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in December 2023.

Supporting his argument, Oko-Jumbo noted that the section of the constitution addressing defection is self-executing. This section was further enforced when Edison Ehie, legally recognized by a court as the Speaker, declared the 25 seats vacant. Oko-Jumbo emphasized that the Assembly under his leadership is the legally recognized body managing the statutory allocation of the House.

READ ASLO: Amaewhule-Led Rivers Assembly Stops Fubara from Spending

He explained that Governor Fubara had duly presented the appropriation bill to the House when Edison Ehie was the Speaker, and it was subsequently passed and signed into law. The House is now awaiting the presentation of the medium-term expenditure framework for the 2025 fiscal year. Oko-Jumbo urged the public to disregard Amaewhule's pronouncement and called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct bye-elections to fill the 25 vacant seats in the House without delay.

On Monday, the Martin Amaewhule-led House of Assembly shut down all expenditures of the Rivers State governor following a seven-day ultimatum for the governor to present his budget before the House. The Leader of the House, Major Jack, raised the motion after informing the House about the expiration of the ultimatum. The House then voted to shut down the Rivers State Consolidated Revenue Account, preventing Governor Fubara’s administration from spending any money on behalf of the state.

Earlier, Governor Fubara had presented the budget to lawmakers loyal to him, led by Edison Ehie, who is now the governor’s chief of staff. Ehie and the lawmakers had passed the budget estimates, which Fubara later signed into law.

 

July 16, 2024 Nigerians Now Eligible for UAE Visas — Minister

Nigerians Now Eligible for UAE Visas — Minister

The Federal Government has secured an agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) permitting Nigerian passport holders to obtain visas for travel to the UAE starting July 15, 2024.

Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, announced this development on Monday during a briefing with State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

“Following successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations between the Government of the United Arab Emirates and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, an agreement was reached allowing for the resumption of travel to the UAE for Nigerian passport holders,” Idris stated. “This agreement includes updated controls and conditions to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa. The resumption of visas will be effective from July 15, 2024.”

He added that Nigerians seeking more information about the updated visa conditions could visit the UAE's official website.

This announcement comes over two years after the UAE suspended visa issuance to Nigerians due to a prolonged diplomatic dispute with Nigeria. It also follows the recent announcement by UAE national carrier Emirates Airlines, which will resume flights to Nigeria from October 1, 2024.

Emirates Airlines suspended its Dubai-Lagos flights in 2022 due to an inability to repatriate trapped funds in Nigeria amid the diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

The diplomatic friction between Nigeria and the UAE has a long history, including restrictions on flights between both countries over unresolved issues surrounding the Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA). Visa restrictions subsequently emerged as the diplomatic disputes continued. The UAE is a popular destination for Nigerian migrants and tourists.

In September 2023, President Bola Tinubu met with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi to address and resolve the diplomatic issues between the two countries.

July 16, 2024 Port Harcourt Refinery Set to Begin Operations in Early August — NNPCL

Port Harcourt Refinery Set to Begin Operations in Early August — NNPCL

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed its readiness to start refining crude oil at the Port Harcourt refinery in early August. This announcement was made by NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, on Monday during an emergency session with the National Assembly's joint committee on finance.

Kyari clarified that the Port Harcourt refinery will begin production by early August this year, while the Kaduna refinery is expected to start operations by December 2024. Previously, Kyari had set the kick-off date for the Port Harcourt refinery for two weeks from March 2024. He reaffirmed the new August date, emphasizing that he had not been deceptive about the timeline.

He also stated that with the addition of the Dangote refinery, Nigeria aims to reach a production target of two million barrels per day and become a net exporter of petroleum products by December.

The Port Harcourt refinery complex includes two refineries located at Alesa-Eleme near Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Port Harcourt II, a complex conversion refinery with a distillation capacity of 7,500,000 MTA (150,000 bpd), started operations in 1988. Initially designed as an export refinery, it has been repurposed to serve the domestic market due to frequent supply interruptions from Nigeria’s other three refineries. Port Harcourt II is capable of producing clean fuels, including lead-free gasoline.

Senior officials at the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NNPCL disclosed on Saturday that the refinery is undergoing various licensing processes after receiving crude supply following its mechanical completion in December 2023. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, confirmed that the refinery is in its final rehabilitation stage.

"The mechanical work at the Port Harcourt refinery has been completed, and crude oil has been sent to the plant. The remaining steps involve licensing and similar processes, which follow specific timeframes," explained a petroleum ministry official who requested anonymity. "Officials responsible for issuing these licenses are currently inspecting the plant. These inspections are thorough and conducted at their own pace, as they must ensure the integrity and safety of the refinery. They also need to test-run the plant. Many of the inspectors are foreign, and they can't be rushed."

In March this year, Kyari announced that the Port Harcourt refinery had received 450,000 barrels of crude oil and was set to begin operations in April, although this did not materialize. He made this statement during a press briefing after appearing before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating the various Turn Around Maintenance projects of the country’s refineries.

“We achieved mechanical completion of the refinery as we stated in December. Crude oil is already stocked in the refinery, and we are conducting regulatory compliance tests, which are necessary for every refinery before starting operations. I assure you that the Port Harcourt refinery will start within the next two weeks,” Kyari stated. “Completing the mechanical work means the rehabilitation work is finished; now we must test the systems. We have also completed the mechanical work on the Warri refinery, which is undergoing regulatory compliance processes. The Kaduna refinery will be ready by December. Although we haven't reached that stage in Kaduna yet, we promise it will be delivered by December.”

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