Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, on Monday, approved the
indefinite suspension of the state Coordinator of Anti-Grazing
Agency, Sola Durodola, over alleged comments about Fulani
herdsmen.
The suspension comes after the state government placed a ban on
all government functionaries from further addressing the
journalists on critical government policies without first seeking
clearance from the top echelon of government.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that Mr Durodola’s
suspension comes barely 48 hours after he made a public statement
to the fact that the state had resolved to embark on mass
registration of herders operating in the state, as part of measures
to stem the tide of incessant clashes between them and farmers.
A statement by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG)
Biodun Oyebanji, said the indefinite suspension was with immediate
effect.
The SSG directed Mr Durodola to hand over all government
property in his care to the most senior officer in the agency.
Meanwhile, the state government has dissociated itself from the
information given by Mr Durodola that modalities had been put in
place to begin registration of herdsmen in the state.
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Values
Orientation, Muyiwa Olumilua, described the information as fake and
irresponsible, and did not represent the plans of the Fayemi-led
administration, neither did it have the approval of the
governor.
The commissioner stated that the investment of the governor in
the security of lives and property in the state since his
assumption of office in October 2018, was yielding positive
results.
He stressed that such news could create unnecessary tension or
suspicion among innocent residents of the state.
He added that a law regulating activities of herders and farmers
was already in place, hence, the need to refute any form of
duplicity that could cause confusion.
Mr Olumilua said Ekiti people were known to be peaceful and
accommodating and that there was need to maintain the peace and
harmony in the state, as there was enough room for all to thrive in
whatever they choose to do.
He however urged the people of the state to continue their
legitimate businesses without any form of apprehension.
The commissioner warned all government functionaries to desist
from addressing the media on matters bordering on state policy.
“The Ministry of Information is the only organ of government
with the accreditation and function of disseminating information in
this regard
“All government functionaries serving in all MDAs must seek and
obtain clearance from the office of the Commissioner for
Information, Tourism and Values Orientation before addressing media
on such sensitive issues
“Flouting this directive will henceforth warrant unpleasant
consequences and sanctions against erring government
functionaries.”
(NAN)
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Aliko Dangote
Dangote refinery awards $368m worth of contracts to
local contractors
Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical has so far awarded $368
million to 120 local contractors at the site as part of its
contribution to Nigeria content development initiative.
The Group Executive Director, Strategy, Portfolio Development
and Capital Projects, Dangote Industries Limited, Mr. Devakumar
Edwin, who made this disclosure during the tour of the Dangote
Refinery by members of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and
Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), yesterday in Lagos,
said there are several Nigerian content opportunities in the
company’s refinery and petrochemical project.
He noted that the Refinery would lead to significant skills
transfer and technology acquisition opportunities in the
country.
He said the Group has embarked on a landmark integrated Refinery
and Petrochemical project, regarded as the largest industrial
complex in the history of Africa, which is expected to take Nigeria
to new heights through the transformation of the economy.
According to him, the company is already partnering with the
Lagos State government and Siemens in the skills development of the
local community for employment at the construction site. “We have
already trained and employed 250 artisans,” he added.
He disclosed the company’s intention to train 900 Nigerian
engineers in India. “The company has completed the overseas
training of first and Second batches of Nigerian engineers and are
being acclimatized at site. The third batch left for India
classroom training for one month, on the job training for one
year and working in real time with experts in the industry every
day”, he added.
He said that company has so far employed 3580 Nigerian personnel
on site. “This excludes employment by the various contractors and
subcontractors at the site”, he said.
Edwin disclosed that the company, in partnership with the
Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and the
National Directorate of Employment (NDE), kicked-off of training
for 200 youths in its host communities, as part of its corporate
social responsibility initiatives.
He disclosed that the programme is meant to prepare the selected
youth with vocational skills that will make them employable or
self-employed.
According to the company, the youth are currently be trained in
areas of plumbing, masonry, welding, iron bending, auto mechanics
and electrical works because of the instant value addition to their
lives and communities.
Speaking on the progress made so far on the refinery project,
Edwin disclosed that the company has imported world’s largest
Reactor Regenerator and well as a Crude Column, which is equivalent
to 30-storied building weighing about 100 fully loaded trucks.
He said that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery can meet 100 per
cent of the Nigerian requirement of all liquid products, such as
Gasoline, Diesel, Kerosene & Aviation Jet and also would have
surplus of each of these products for export.
According to him, the Refinery will ensure that the security of
local supply of petroleum products is guaranteed as well as the
availability of petrochemical feedstock (Poly-propylene &
Polyethylene), which will be enough for the Nigerian market as well
as the neighboring countries.
With a fast-growing population and poor infrastructure, he said
the refinery would also reposition Nigeria as an attractive
investment destination and a major industrial hub in Africa.
Edwin added that the company also possess strategically located
marine infrastructure for crude receipts and product trade when the
refinery is fully completed.
He noted that the 650,000 barrels per day refinery has been
designed to process a variety of light and medium grades of crude
and produce extremely clean fuels that meet Euro V
specification.
He said that company has invested in most advanced units to
produce Euro V fuel due to help Nigeria meet the European Standard
of gasoline.
Edwin said in addition to the refinery plant, the company is
constructing the largest fertilizer Plant in West Africa. “Current
consumption of Urea in Nigeria is 700,000 tonnes. There is very
poor per hectare usage of fertilizer leading to very poor crop
yield. By 2020, Nigerian population, which is around 207 million,
would lead to increased food consumption.
“Estimates point out that around five million tonnes of
fertilizers are required per year in Nigeria in next five to seven
years bifurcated into 3.5 Million tonnes of Urea.
“Dangote Fertilizer Project is the largest Granulated Urea
Fertilizer complex coming up in the entire fertilizer industry
history in the World, with an investment of $2.0 Billion capacity
of 3 Million tonnes per annum. The Dangote Fertilizer complex
consists of Ammonia and Urea plants with associated facilities and
infrastructure, to produce 3 MMTPA Urea,” he stated.
President/Chairman of council Nigerian Institute of Public
Relations, (NIPR) Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo, commended the President
of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote for his investment in the Nigeria’s
petroleum sector.
Chairman, Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Lagos State
Council, Dr. Qasim Akinreti, thanked the company for giving the
union opportunity to embark on the tour of the refinery
project.