12 - 2023 - Platformsafrica

28 Routes, 5 Bus Companies: How To Benefit From Tinubu’s 50% Transport Rebate

December 21, 2023December 22, 2023 Abibat Babalola

God is Good Motors; Chisco Transport; Young Shall Grow, Others To compliment Free Train Rides On Lagos -Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Warri-Itakpe Rail In the spirit of the 2023 Yuletide season, the Nigerian Government on Wednesday rolled out programmes aimed at reducing the effect of rising inter-state transportation fares across the country. To this end, the government at the centre announced rebate for commercial road and rail transportation across 28 luxury bus routes and three railway corridors nationwide. THE 28 ROAD TRANSPORT ROUTES The 28 luxury bus daily routes…

Kogi: Yahaya Bello Signs 2024 Budget Into Law

December 21, 2023December 21, 2023 Ganiyu Amodu

Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday signed into law, the state’s 2024 budget of N258.2 billion, few hours after its passage by the House of Assembly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor signed the budget at the Government House in the presence of Governor-elect Usman Ododo, Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, and other government functionaries. Bello, who described the occasion as very significant, being his last, said that it was a budget his successor would not find difficult to implement. “It is my belief…

53,836 Inmates Awaiting Trial Nationwide, Says Official

December 21, 2023 Ganiyu Amodu

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said no fewer than 53, 836 inmates inmates in the 253 the correctional centres nationwide are awaiting trial as at Dec,18. The spokesperson of the service, Assistant Controller of Corrections (ACC) Abubakar Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Thursday. Umar said that, summary of the inmates across the country by conviction and those on awaiting trial list were 77,849 within the period under review. According to him, the total number of convicted inmates was 24, 013 persons “adding that the…

Nigeria’s Public Debt Stock Now N87trn – DMO

December 21, 2023December 21, 2023 Ganiyu Amodu

Nigeria’s total public debt stock hit N87.91 trillion (114.35 billion dollars) as of Sept. 30, according to a statement by the Debt Management Office (DMO) on Wednesday in Abuja. The DMO said that the amount represented the domestic and external debts of the Federal Government, the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the N87.91 trillion total debt stock represents a marginal increase of 0.61 per cent, when compared to the June figure of N87.38 trillion. The debt office said…

Angola Mulls Exit From OPEC

December 21, 2023 Abibat Babalola

…Plan triggers crude price fall Angola, the second largest oil producer in Africa after Nigeria, has announced its departure from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the country’s news agency Angop reported. EnergyDay gathered that the announcement was conveyed by Angolan oil minister Diamantino de Azevedo. on Thursday, following the 10th session of the council of ministers under Angolan President Joao Lourenco. This development comes in the wake of OPEC, led by Saudi Arabia, reducing Angola’s oil output target for the upcoming year as part…

Port Harcourt Refinery’s Rehab Completed, Begins Production Next Week – Minister

December 21, 2023 ADEOLA YUSUF

10 days to the promised delivery of PH Refinery as Platforms Africa’s Countdown continues Minister of state for Petroleum Resources (oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has announced the mechanical completion of the rehabilitation of the 60,000 barrels per day Port Harcourt Refinery. Lokpobiri, who disclosed this in Port Harcourt at the Refinery site, added that the plant would be expected to produce Petroleum products anytime next week after Christmas. This came 10 days to the promised delivery of PH Refinery as Platforms Africa’s Countdown continues. READ ALSO: French…

French IT Workers Arrested In Burkina Faso Amid Diplomatic Strain

December 21, 2023 Abibat Babalola

In a development adding strain to the already tense relations between Burkina Faso and France, four French information technology (IT) workers holding diplomatic passports and visas have been apprehended in Burkina Faso’s capital, Ouagadougou. Contrary to media speculations, a French diplomatic source, speaking on condition of anonymity, refuted claims that the detainees were intelligence agents. According to the source, the four individuals, identified as civil servants, arrived in the West African nation to conduct IT maintenance for the French embassy. However, they were arrested on December 1 and subsequently transferred…

Guinea-Bissau President Fires Prime Minister Amidst Political Tensions

December 21, 2023 Abibat Babalola

In a surprising turn of events, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau wielded his executive power to dismiss Prime Minister Geraldo Martins, merely a week after Martins assumed the role. This unexpected move on Wednesday resulted in the appointment of economist and seasoned politician Rui Duarte de Barros as the new Prime Minister, as announced in a presidential decree read on national television by Embalo’s advisor Fernando Delfim da Silva. Martins had been reappointed as prime minister on December 12, following his prior tenure in August of the same year,…

Reps Probe NNPCL JV Deals, $60bn Revenue Loss

December 21, 2023 Ganiyu Amodu

The House of Representatives has expressed readiness to investigate the loss of over $60bn revenue due to alleged inflated cash calls by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Joint Venture Agreements. As a result, the House mandated the relevant committees to conduct a thorough probe of all the NNPCL Joint Venture operations to determine income and cash call costs due to each partner, especially the federation and also whether due process and diligence were followed. This decision was a sequel to the adoption of a motion sponsored by Chika Okafor…

Ekpo Lauds PIA’s Transformative Power In Gas Sector

December 21, 2023 Abibat Babalola

Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo has lauded the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 for introducing transparency, efficiency, and sustainability both in planning and operations in the Nigeria gas sector. Ekpo stated this in a speech at the unveiling of Gas Aggregation Company Nigeria Ltd/Gte’s (GACN) New Identity and Expanded Mandate in Abuja on Tuesday. The minister described the event as a momentous occasion, not just for GACN, but for the entire Nigerian gas sector. READ ALSO: Meet Bunmi Onabanjo-Kuku, Nigeria’s first female MD of FAAN American Court…