Police Says Maina Will Be Extradited To Nigeria Soon

Earlier thread: https://yusocial.com/post/6376...._intelligence-operat

ABDULRASHID MAINA TO BE EXTRADITED TO NIGERIA SOON

AS NPF-INTERPOL OPERATIVES ARREST THE FORMER PENSION BOSS IN NIGER REPUBLIC

Following the arrest of former chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrashid Abdullahi Maina in Niamey, Niger Republic, the NPF is perfecting extradition processes of the fugitive to Nigeria to enable him face trial in pending criminal proceedings against him.

Abdulrashid Maina, who was declared wanted by a court of competent jurisdiction, was arrested last night, 30th November, 2020 through the collaborative efforts of the operatives of the Nigeria Police Force, INTERPOL NCB, Abuja and their Nigerien counterpart.

He is currently in a detention facility in Niger Republic awaiting the completion of the extradition processes.
The Force assures the citizens, that there shall be no hiding place for any suspect, no matter how highly placed

#nairaland

Linda Ikeji Acquires A 2020 Rang Rover (Video, Photos)

Nigerian Ace blogger @Linda Ikeji just gifted herself a brand new 2020 Rang Rover Autobiography (Long Wheel Base).
She took to her IG page to share the good news.

She wrote:

My baby is finally here! ���. 2020 Range Rover Autobiography (Long Wheel Base). Gift from me to me! Whoop whoop! Lol. And inside of the vehicle is absolutely stunning! ��. (Swipe to see). So chuffed!

Thank you God for making me win on my own terms. #womanlikelinda ��#blessed #sograteful

And thanks to @centurionautosng for going above and beyond to find me my dream car.

Hmmm, thinking my Bentley Mulsanne needs an upgrade? We'll see! �� Hehe #lifeisgood #Godisgreat

#LINDAIKEJI

Dry Season: Enugu Buys Rapid Response Vehicles For Fire Service


…As agency commences sensitization campaign against fire outbreak

The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Tuesday, handed over four rapid response vehicles and a 12,000-liter capacity water tanker it newly purchased, to the State Fire Service, to aid operations of the fire-fighting agency in the state, especially this dry season.

Handing over the utility vehicles to the State Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Daniel Ohaa, on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, disclosed that the state government procured the vehicles “to enhance the work of the Enugu State Fire Service”.

Prof. Ortuanya noted that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, in recognition of the importance of an effective and efficient fire service in safeguarding lives and property, had earlier constructed five ultra modern fire service stations across the three senatorial districts of the state, after 56 years such life-saving infrastructure were built in the state.

The SSG added that the state government had also procured five IVM fire-fighting trucks for the five fire service stations, stressing that the newly procured rapid response vehicles and the water tanker handed over to the agency were timely in view of the harmattan season.

“It is therefore, to the glory of God and in the interest of our state and humanity that I, on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, inaugurate these rapid response vehicles and also perform the formal hand over of these vehicles to the Enugu State Fire Service”, Prof. Ortuanya said.

Responding, the Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Ohaa expressed the agency’s deep appreciation to Gov. Ugwuanyi for “the type of attention His Excellency is paying to us to ensure that we discharge our duties effectively, professionally and efficiently”, saying: “There is never a time we received this type of support in the past”.

Engr. Ohaa who disclosed that the state government has approved the procurement of additional water tanker for the State Fire Service, promised the governor and the people of Enugu State that the fire-fighting agency will not disappoint them but “will do our best to make sure that lives and property of our people are protected”.

The Chief Fire Officer had earlier in the day led his team to Ogbete Main Market, Enugu and Timber Market in commencement of the scheduled public enlightenment campaign in the markets to sensitize traders on how to prevent fire outbreak during this dry season. A mini fire-fighting truck was stationed at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, by the agency, Engr. Ohaa further disclosed.

Enugu State is in the hands of God!
#amokelouis

Dry Season: Enugu Buys Rapid Response Vehicles For Fire Service


…As agency commences sensitization campaign against fire outbreak

The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Tuesday, handed over four rapid response vehicles and a 12,000-liter capacity water tanker it newly purchased, to the State Fire Service, to aid operations of the fire-fighting agency in the state, especially this dry season.

Handing over the utility vehicles to the State Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Daniel Ohaa, on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, disclosed that the state government procured the vehicles “to enhance the work of the Enugu State Fire Service”.

Prof. Ortuanya noted that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, in recognition of the importance of an effective and efficient fire service in safeguarding lives and property, had earlier constructed five ultra modern fire service stations across the three senatorial districts of the state, after 56 years such life-saving infrastructure were built in the state.

The SSG added that the state government had also procured five IVM fire-fighting trucks for the five fire service stations, stressing that the newly procured rapid response vehicles and the water tanker handed over to the agency were timely in view of the harmattan season.

“It is therefore, to the glory of God and in the interest of our state and humanity that I, on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, inaugurate these rapid response vehicles and also perform the formal hand over of these vehicles to the Enugu State Fire Service”, Prof. Ortuanya said.

Responding, the Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Ohaa expressed the agency’s deep appreciation to Gov. Ugwuanyi for “the type of attention His Excellency is paying to us to ensure that we discharge our duties effectively, professionally and efficiently”, saying: “There is never a time we received this type of support in the past”.

Engr. Ohaa who disclosed that the state government has approved the procurement of additional water tanker for the State Fire Service, promised the governor and the people of Enugu State that the fire-fighting agency will not disappoint them but “will do our best to make sure that lives and property of our people are protected”.

The Chief Fire Officer had earlier in the day led his team to Ogbete Main Market, Enugu and Timber Market in commencement of the scheduled public enlightenment campaign in the markets to sensitize traders on how to prevent fire outbreak during this dry season. A mini fire-fighting truck was stationed at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, by the agency, Engr. Ohaa further disclosed.

Enugu State is in the hands of God!
#amokelouis

Dry Season: Enugu Buys Rapid Response Vehicles For Fire Service


…As agency commences sensitization campaign against fire outbreak

The administration of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Tuesday, handed over four rapid response vehicles and a 12,000-liter capacity water tanker it newly purchased, to the State Fire Service, to aid operations of the fire-fighting agency in the state, especially this dry season.

Handing over the utility vehicles to the State Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Okwudiri Daniel Ohaa, on behalf of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, disclosed that the state government procured the vehicles “to enhance the work of the Enugu State Fire Service”.

Prof. Ortuanya noted that Gov. Ugwuanyi’s administration, in recognition of the importance of an effective and efficient fire service in safeguarding lives and property, had earlier constructed five ultra modern fire service stations across the three senatorial districts of the state, after 56 years such life-saving infrastructure were built in the state.

The SSG added that the state government had also procured five IVM fire-fighting trucks for the five fire service stations, stressing that the newly procured rapid response vehicles and the water tanker handed over to the agency were timely in view of the harmattan season.

“It is therefore, to the glory of God and in the interest of our state and humanity that I, on behalf of His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, inaugurate these rapid response vehicles and also perform the formal hand over of these vehicles to the Enugu State Fire Service”, Prof. Ortuanya said.

Responding, the Chief Fire Officer, Engr. Ohaa expressed the agency’s deep appreciation to Gov. Ugwuanyi for “the type of attention His Excellency is paying to us to ensure that we discharge our duties effectively, professionally and efficiently”, saying: “There is never a time we received this type of support in the past”.

Engr. Ohaa who disclosed that the state government has approved the procurement of additional water tanker for the State Fire Service, promised the governor and the people of Enugu State that the fire-fighting agency will not disappoint them but “will do our best to make sure that lives and property of our people are protected”.

The Chief Fire Officer had earlier in the day led his team to Ogbete Main Market, Enugu and Timber Market in commencement of the scheduled public enlightenment campaign in the markets to sensitize traders on how to prevent fire outbreak during this dry season. A mini fire-fighting truck was stationed at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, by the agency, Engr. Ohaa further disclosed.

Enugu State is in the hands of God!
#amokelouis

Lagos Bye-Elections: INEC Delivers Non-Sensitive Materials To LGAs

INEC
Lagos by-elections: INEC delivers non-sensitive materials to LGAs — Spokesperson
The election, according to INEC, is going to take in five local government areas of Somolu, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki that make up Lagos East senatorial district
ByAgency Report December 1, 2020 2 min read
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State said that it had delivered non-sensitive materials for the Saturday’s Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe Constituency II House of Assembly bye-elections to all the five affected councils in the area.

The INEC spokesperson in Lagos, Femi Akinbiyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the commission would soon receive the sensitive materials for the elections.

Mr Akinbiyi said the receipt of the materials would be in the full glare of the political parties’ representatives, election observers and the media.

“The non-sensitive materials have been delivered to various local governments already, and they have been batched into various registration areas (Wards).

“We are not leaving any stone unturned in our preparations to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable by-elections on Saturday in Lagos East Senatorial District and Kosofe State Constituency II,” INEC PRO said.

Mr Akinbiyi said the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, had advised the people to come out en mass to exercise their franchise on Saturday in a peaceful and orderly manner.

He said the commissioner was poised about conducting elections that everyone including all participating political parties would be proud of.

He said INEC in collaboration with security agencies had made adequate arrangements for the smooth and safe conduct of the election.

NAN reports that the five local government areas that make up the Lagos East Senatorial District are Somolu, Kosofe, Ikorodu, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki.

Candidates from 12 political parties will be contesting in the Lagos East Senatorial by-elections while eight candidates will be contesting the Kosofe Constituency II, Lagos State House of Assembly by-elections.

The contestants for the senatorial election are Muyiwa Adebanjo, Action Alliance (AA); Mercy Adeoye, African Action Congress (AAC) and John Kome, African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Others are Adebowale Ogunlaru, Action Democratic Party (ADP); Adetokunbo Abiru, All Progressives Congress (APC); Olusola Babatope, Allied Peoples Movement (APM); Florence Trautman, Labour Party (LP) and Adijat Lawal, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The rest are Babatunde Gbadamosi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); Akin Olukunle, National Rescue Movement (NRM); Saheed Aluko, Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Taiwo Temitope, Young Progressive Party (YPP).

The eight contestants for the Kosofe Constituency II bye-election are: John Akerele, AA; Sadiq Olawale, AAC; Wasiu Saheed, APC; Adekunle Oladapo, LP; Muyideen Agoro, NNPP; Ademorin Adelaja, NRM; Sikiru Alebiosu, PDP and Mary Abojeh, ADC.

The two by-elections, slated for Dec. 5, became necessary following the demise of the former occupants who were members of APC.
(NAN)

#premuimtimes

Tension As Boulos Sacks 70 Workers

There was tension around Acme Road, Ogba, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Tuesday as Boulos Enterprises, sacks over 70 workers and some union members.

Boulos is a company assembling Suzuki motorcycles and other products.

It is learnt that the company embarked on the sacking spree as a result of biting Coronavirus effect.

Family members of some of the sacked workers expressed shock over the sack of their bread winners.

According to one of the affected staff, “I am yet to come to terms with the reason why they sacked most of us, including some union members.

“This is a very disturbing situation. How do I feed my family during this end of the year? I sincerely do not know what came over them on this mass sack.”

But expressing anger on the sudden dismissal, another staff affected by the sacked said “Which pandemic are they talking about? Look, in the next two weeks, Boulos will still employ new staff, that has been their way but what is now disturbing is why this time?”

At as press time, affected workers were still hanging around the gate as other members of staff promised to effect a total shutdown of the company, especially their sister company Bel Impex, makers of tissue papers.


#nairaland

Francis Erhabor: Policeman Who Never Took Bribe In 30 Years Wins IgbereTV Award

A widely acclaimed police officer who is renowned to have never collected a bribe in thirty years of active service, CSP Francis Osagie Erhabor, has been voted as 'Police Officer of the Year' in the 2020 Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards.

Erhabor, divisional police officer (DPO) in charge of 'D' division Itam, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, beat five other nominees — including Frank Mba, Olushola Oyebade, Abba Kyari and Aisha Abubakar — to emerge the winner in a seven-day massive voting by Nigerians via online platforms.

The prestigious Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards, recognises and honours the outstanding impacts of leaders across several sectors and industries in Nigeria. The most anticipated 2020 'lockdown edition' is slated for December 10 at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, in Abuja.

The Award is endorsed by the African Union Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU-ECOSOCC), an advisory body of the African Union (AU) designed to give civil society organizations (CSOs) a voice within the AU institutions and decision-making processes.

CSP Erhabor was nominated and voted for by Nigerians for his uprightness in the Force. For instance, in the 'D' division, which he oversees as DPO, bail is free and no policeman dares take a bribe from community members. His officers have earned the trust of the community for their stand on integrity and this has gained the needed support and collaboration to fight local crimes.

Erhabor is very involved in community projects and mentoring young people. While on duty as the pipeline commander in Edo State, he refused bribes of N1.5million offered to him weekly from four individuals who were involved in illegal oil bunkering. In addition, he rejected N500,000 per week as returns from his subordinates, given to them as bribes to allow adulterated petroleum products to be brought into the state. Rejecting these tempting offers earned him several enemies, especially considering that his N37,500 monthly allowance was not steady.

In a telephone interview with the awardee over the weekend, following his emergence, Erhabor said that his belief in integrity stems from the trust and respect he earned from the community he serves, which makes his job much more easier.

He advocates “standing for truth even when no one is on your side.” In the future, he hopes to actualise a Police Force that is the dream of the citizenry. CSP Erhabor equally lauded the Igbere TV Award team for their sustained good works.

Expressing gratitude to Nigerians for finding him worthy of the honour and deserving of the prestigious award, Erhabor added, “this goes to show that we have been doing well [in the Force], and being monitored and watched closely by Nigerians.”

This year’s Award event would be one of the most outstanding and credible award ceremonies in Nigeria, as personalities in the Presidency, State Governments, National and State Assemblies, Economic Industries, Humanitarian Affairs and Human Activism are expected to grace the occasion.

Some of the awardees include, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President (Foundation of the Year); Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (Car Maker of the Year); Chief (Hon) Alex Ikwechegh, Founder of Alex Ikwechegh Foundation (Personality of the Year); Rt Hon (Engr) Chinedum Orji, Abia Assembly speaker (Speaker of the Year); Apostle Chinyere Chibuzor, General Overseer, Omega Power Ministries (Most Outstanding Humanitarian of the Year); and Chief Uche Nwosu, former Imo State governorship candidate and Chief of Staff to the Imo State Government (Hospitality Personality of the Year).

Others are: Senator Uba Sani, Kaduna Central (Senator of the Year); Gbene (Dr) Joi Nunieh, immediate past acting NDDC managing director (Public Servant of the Year); Dr. Betta Edu, Cross River State Commissioner for Health (Medical Expert of the Year); Hon. Sir. Melie Onyejepu, General Manager of Anambra Bureau of Public Procurement (State Public Servant of the Year); Chief Mrs Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, Ondo First Lady (Woman of the Year on Empowerment); and former Governor of Kano State, Sen. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Founder of Kwankwasiyya Foundation (N.G.O of the Year).

Also on the list are, Mrs Karima Babangida, Director FDA, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Civil Servant of the Year); Valentine Ozigbo, the immediate past President and CEO of Transcorp PLC, founder of VCO Foundation and frontline governorship aspirant in the Anambra 2021 election (Empowerment Personality of the Year); Justice Nuagbe a.k.a Ushbebe, Comedian of the Year; Dr. George Moghalu, Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA (Maritime Personality of the Year) and Gelor Paul, Managing Director, Dominion Oil & Gas Limited (Outstanding Social Impact Award).

While Dr. Alice Onyema, Vice-Chairman of Air Peace is being awarded as Aviation Personality of the Year; Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuife, CEO/Managing Director of Property Finders Limited, developers of Centage Estate, Lagos and Oil Spring Estate, bags Businesswoman of the Year award; with Prof. Georgewill Owunari, the former Deputy Provost, College of Health Sciences (UNIPORT) and Board member of the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, emerging as 'Educationist of the Year'; and Olakunle Churchill as 'ICT Personality of the Year', among others.

The 2019 edition of the Igbere TV Leadership Excellence Awards which held 28th November, 2019 at the Sheraton Hotels, Abuja saw distinguished and prominent captains of industry, public figures and leaders cling on to the various Award categories.

Prominent awardees included President Muhammadu Buhari, United States-based Nigerian billionaire medical doctor, Dr. Godwin Maduka; former President Goodluck Jonathan, former House of Reps Speaker, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara; minister Rotimi Amaech, Senator Rochas Okorcha, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, among others.

According to Igbere TV, organizers of the Award event, this year’s edition which holds Dec. 10, has been tagged Africa’s biggest and most glamorous online media award. The programme will be transmitted live on DSTV, GOTV, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Zoom, Instagram and other social media platforms with over 10 million audience globally.

BUA Group Signs Technology Deal With France's Axens For A Refinery In Akwa Ibom

Nigeria/France – BUA banks on Axens tech to buck energy

Axens' Jean Sentenac and BUA Abdul Samad Rabiu celebrate the refinery deal.

BUA Group’s Abdul Samad Rabiu has inked a technology deal for a refinery in Akwa Ibom State with France’s Axens, and according to him there is room in the market for everyone

Refineries in Nigeria can be like buses: you wait for ages, and then three come along at once. Where petrol production is concerned, Nigeria is heading from drought to glut amidst a global pandemic that has cut fuel consumption and investment in oil production.

The 1 September deal between Nigeria’s BUA Group and French energy technology group Axens will lead to the building of an oil refinery in Akwa Ibom State with a capacity to produce 200,000 barrels per day (bpd). It should be operational by 2024.

And just outside Lagos, the 650,000bpd mega-refinery being built by industrialist Aliko Dangote should come onstream next year. On top of that, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigeria’s state oil company, has revived plans to rehabilitate its existing and moribund refineries.

“It’s about time”, says the ebullient BUA Group chairman Abdul Samad Rabiu, sitting with Axens chief executive Jean Sentenac during a contract-signing ceremony held in the 16th-century Château de Vert-Mont outside of Paris, France. “Nigeria imports 90% of it’s petroleum products. We spend 35% of our foreign exchange on importing petroleum products. Let’s use whatever we have locally and add value.”

For decades, the country has imported petrol from abroad in eye-watering swap deals with traders including Vitol, Gunvor and Trafigura and oil majors like Total and BP. Cargoes of crude leave Nigeria, and petrol is imported in return. NNPC group managing director Mele Kyari said in December last year: “For a country that has been producing oil for over 50 years, it is really a difficulty to explain why we are still importing petroleum products.”

Others have an idea as to why: Dangote himself went on record against the “cabals” who profit from keeping Nigeria’s state-owned refineries perpetually in disrepair. Former president Olusegun Obasanjo in an interview in 2011 told The Africa Report it was “sabotage”.

Rabiu’s safe gamble
The danger now, ironically, is overcapacity. If the commercial and state refinery projects all come to term, Nigeria could refine 1.3m bpd. The country today consumes between 450,000 and 500,000bpd. On top of that, there are concerns globally about refining margins.

“It’s been brutal – our global composite gross refining margin averaged a paltry $0.20/barrel in May and June. The $1.40/barrel we forecast as an average for 2020 is down from $3.70/barrel last year and is the lowest this century,” Alan Gelder, head of downstream oil at Wood Mackenzie, told reporters in July. “Some refineries will close – we reckon almost 10% of high-cost refineries in Europe, 1.4 million bpd of capacity, is in serious threat of closure in Europe alone over the next three years.”

But for Rabiu, the gamble is a safe one. Nigeria’s own growing demand, plus the region’s, will match the combined output of Rabiu’s, Dangote’s and the NNPC’s refineries. “Our population is our biggest strength – that is the market,” says Rabiu. The demand from the region also determined the waterfront location of the project in Ntaikang, Akwa Ibom State, where the marine infrastructure provides easy loading on to ships.

The plastics output of the BUA refinery will similarly be turned to export, where “the market is very, very strong”, says Rabiu. The refinery complex is set to produce 350,000tn per annum of poly­propylene. BUA Group is still in talks about the feedstock and says that it will build a plant to provide power to its refinery.

As for NNPC’s plans, market analysts are sceptical about the state’s ability to deliver on any turnaround of government refineries. This is mostly because a ‘rehabilitation’ would in practice mean rebuilding from scratch, given the state of decay they are in.

Climate-proofing
With the transition away from fossil fuels, the outlook is more complicated than a decade ago for refineries. To ‘climate-proof’ against future emissions regulations, BUA Group chose a technology partner specialised in this field. Axens is a world leader in the production of Euro-V fuels, says chief executive Jean Sentenac. “Because you don’t have the sulphur and other precursors you will significantly reduce the pollution in the big cities like we’ve done in Europe, so it’s very important for Lagos because the engines will emit much less.” It will also allow the use of the latest generation of more fuel-efficient cars.

Rabiu argues that his investment in sustainability — “It wasn’t cheap!” — will pay off in the long run, as new fuel standards continue to evolve along with the climate crisis. “It is in the DNA of BUA Group. Look at our cement plants, the most sustainable in Nigeria, same with our sugar plants.”

Rabiu stresses the importance of good technology: “This is the hard part, we cannot get this wrong. It is like in an aeroplane, you always look at who built the engine, it is the most important thing.”

Axens’ Sentenac adds: “It is a very technical process, refining. We have almost 100 catalytic processes in our portfolio, which continuously need to be improved, as standards get stricter.” Belying the caricature of French industry being great at ideas but poor at marketing, Axens is the commercial wing of the French petroleum institute, IFP Énergies Nouvelles (IFPEN). “IFPEN had a Nobel Prize winner in 2005. All our work requires heavy investment in fundamental research,” he says.

Axens will supply the basic design for the refinery and the catalysts that make it work. BUA Group is now in the tender rounds for the engineering contracts to execute the design. But there are likely only two companies in the world able to build this kind of refinery: Axens and Honeywell UOP from the United States. When the Dangote refinery contract appeared to be heading Axens’ way in 2017, Baker Hughes eventually won it. ‘1-1’ then, for those keeping score in the competition between Paris and Washington.

Certainly, France has pulled out all the stops. President Emmanuel Macron, who is keen to woo Nigerian investors, has made Rabiu the chair of the France Nigeria Investment Club. With Great Britain and the US both absorbed with internal battles, France’s economic diplomacy has gone into overdrive.

The French minister for foreign trade, Franck Riester, officiated at the BUA/Axens signing ceremony (see interview), and there is a strong push from Paris to help other French companies in the energy space into the ecosystem of service and engineering contracts surrounding the BUA refinery.

Inevitably, comparisons with Dangote have surfaced. Some of the harder-edged comments that appeared after news broke of BUA Group’s refinery technology deal with Axens suggested that Rabiu’s business strategy was to benefit from Dangote’s slipstream. ‘Somebody said their corporate strategy is: “Let Aliko use his head to break the coconut, then we follow,”’ tweeted @Ambrosia_Ijebu.

BUA’s refinery plan has been around for a while, however. The Africa Report first heard about it in March 2018, during an interview at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan. Sentenac confirms the wheels have been turning for some time: “Technically the size of the refinery is good, the location is well chosen, we could tell that there had already been a lot of work done within the BUA Group on this project.” Back in September 2017, Nigeria’s Department for Petroleum Resources granted a ‘licence to establish’ for the project.

Home and away
Perhaps the key difference in corporate strategy between Nigeria’s two leading conglomerates is their expansion. Dangote Cement, for example, has chosen to establish itself in 10 African countries. Rabiu insists the opportunities of scale are in Nigeria, and he is looking at steel and glass manufacturing projects. “If your investment ticket is $1bn, where do you put that in Africa?” he asks.

That argument won’t be settled soon. Clearer are the ripple effects of the new refinery project, in particular through the financial sector, both in terms of the foreign-exchange savings and the financing of the plant itself. Though much of the upfront money will be from the BUA Group, there will also be debt financing. “They are all keen to participate,” says one BUA Group insider about Nigeria’s banks. Large development finance bodies such as the African Development Bank are also in talks about the project.

For Rabiu, Nigeria will not be transformed by a couple of billionaire industrialists alone. The real work has to be in creating thousands of dollar millionaires. “And the money is there, the market is there […] there are a lot of rich Nigerians, but they don’t understand manufacturing.”

#nairaland

Nigerian Army 80RRI List Of Shortlisted Candidates. Screening Begins 2ndDec 2020

The Nigerian Army has just announced through its Twitter handle that the List of shortlisted candidates for the 80th regular recruit intake has been released on their website and screening is to commence tomorrow being 2nd of December 2020. Check your name on their website

https://ims.army.mil.ng/darrr/shortlisted

It is a very short notice and I'm not sure many people are aware of this. If you applied and you're shortlisted, dust your bags and get going. Goodluck