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COVID – 19: Emmanuel Alayande donates Food Items,Customised Hand sanitizers Worth N2m to Oyo Govt

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The provost of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education,Oyo , Dr. Rasaq Adefabi has paid a glowing tribute to the Oyo state governor,  Engr. Seyi Makinde for his commitment to prevent, curtail and control the Coronavirus disease in all the nooks and crannies of the State.

The provost who gave the commendation while donating the customised food items including garri, y am flower and alcohol based hand sanitizers worth two million Naira (#2,000,000.00) to the state government through the Ministry of Agriculture, said the kindheartedness of the governor, towards ensuring the welfare of the staffers of tertiary institutions in the state motivated the institution to donate the school based relief items for the State.

“Cost of these food materials presented to Oyo State today is over two million Naira. We were moved to do this because of the kindheartedness of His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, especially towards ensuring that the welfare of staff of tertiary institution, particularly Emmanuel Alayande, which has always been giving him concern, is well catered for. So, we believe it was about time we reciprocated the generosity.

“Also, we saw him being seriously bothered about the COVID-19 pandemic, which is spreading all over, and his concern that Oyo State should not be seriously affected. We thought we should join hands with him by presenting our own window’s mite, especially towards ensuring that the people of Oyo State do not pass through undue pain borne out of the lockdown they have found themselves.”

He noted that the food items donated were of good hygiene that were produced in a very clean environment by professionals.

“We have a little factory in our campus producing bread, producing water, and we also have a committee in charge producing agric products including garri and yam flower. So, we want to guarantee the people of Oyo State that their hygiene is well guaranteed.

“We brought five hundred and five copies of garri. They are well packed and customized in the name of the college, and in the name of the Provost as the team leader. Added with that is customised five hundred and twenty four pack of yam flower, and seventy three copies of hand sanitizers produced by our department of Chemistry in Emmanuel Alayande College of Education.”

Oyo State Commissioner for Agric, Hon.Muyiwa Ojekunle , while receiving the donations on behalf of the state government, described the gesture by the Institution as commendable, saying the food items donated would be of immense benefits to many citizens in the state.

Ojekunle, however assured the Institution of that all the donations received from different quarters would bring succor to the people of the state and will get to the grassroots by the time the distribution commences .

He, therefore admonished other institutions to emulate good gesture of the citadel of learning by assisting the people at this trying period.

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IGP Steps In: FCID to Investigate Death of Man Detained Over N220,000 Debt

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IGP Kayode Egbetokun during his visit to the family of late Jimoh Abdulquadri in Kwara

 

The Kwara State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 35-year-old man, Jimoh Abdulquadri, who passed away in police custody in the early hours of Friday.

 

Abdulquadri, who was arrested on December 19, 2024, reportedly died under controversial circumstances, with his family accusing police operatives of subjecting him to brutal treatment during his detention. Reports indicate that the deceased had been detained over an alleged debt of N220,000 owed to an individual identified as Peter.

 

In response to the incident, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has directed the Force Criminal Investigations Department (FCID) to immediately take over the case. A statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed that the IGP also visited Kwara State to meet with the bereaved family.

 

During the visit, the IGP was received by the Balogun Fulani of Ilorin, Alhaji Sadiq Atiku Fulani, who represented the family. The IGP expressed his condolences and assured them of a thorough investigation.

 

“The IGP expressed his profound condolences and assured the family that no stone would be left unturned in uncovering the circumstances that led to the tragic incident. He has ordered the FCID to handle the case with utmost diligence and ensure a conclusive and impartial investigation,” the statement read.

 

The IGP reiterated the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to upholding accountability, professionalism, and respect for human rights. He further called on all stakeholders to remain calm and allow the due process of law to take its course.

 

 

 

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FG Lifts Five-Year Ban on Mining in Zamfara, Eyes Economic Boost

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The Federal Government has officially lifted the five-year ban on mining activities in Zamfara State, citing improved security and the potential for economic growth in the mineral-rich region.

The announcement was made on Sunday by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, through his representative, Segun Tomori, during a press briefing in Abuja.

“The Federal Government has lifted the ban on mining exploration activities in Zamfara State, citing significant improvements in the security situation across the state,” the minister said in a statement.

Security Gains and Economic Promise

The ban, imposed in 2019 due to escalating insecurity and illegal mining, was described by Alake as a necessary but temporary measure to protect lives and resources. However, he noted that the ban inadvertently created a vacuum exploited by illegal miners, leading to resource plundering.

Alake praised recent security advancements under the Tinubu administration, highlighting the neutralization of notorious bandit commanders and other strategic wins, including the capture of Halilu Sububu, one of the state’s most wanted criminals.

“The existential threat to lives and properties that led to the 2019 ban has abated. The security operatives’ giant strides have led to a notable reduction in the level of insecurity,” Alake said.

He added that with the restoration of mining activities, Zamfara’s mineral wealth—ranging from gold and lithium to copper—could now be harnessed under strict regulation to contribute significantly to national revenue.

Boosting Regulation and Combating Illegal Mining

The minister emphasized that lifting the ban would pave the way for better regulation and monitoring of mining activities. This, he said, would enable authorities to tackle illegal mining more effectively and ensure Nigeria benefits fully from Zamfara’s mineral resources.

“By reopening this sector, we are prioritizing not only revenue generation but also intelligence gathering to curb illegal mining,” he said.

Addressing Controversies

Alake also addressed concerns surrounding Nigeria’s recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with France, which had sparked controversy. He clarified that the agreement focused solely on capacity building and technical support for the mining sector.

“The high point of the MOU is on training and capacity building for our mining professionals. Similar agreements have been signed with Germany and Australia. Misinformation about ceding control over our mineral resources is uncalled for,” Alake said.

Press as Partners in Progress

Commending the media for their role in promoting reforms in the mining sector, Alake urged continued collaboration to drive transparency and attract foreign investments.

 

 

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NNPCL Refutes Shutdown Claims: Port Harcourt Refinery Fully Operational

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed media reports suggesting that the recently resuscitated old Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down, labeling such claims as baseless and misleading.

In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that the refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, is “fully operational.”

The facility resumed operations two months ago after years of inactivity.

“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false, as the refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC,” Soneye said.

He added that preparations for the day’s loading operation are currently underway, emphasizing that the public should disregard the claims.

“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip off Nigerians,” Soneye stated.

The old Port Harcourt refinery is part of the country’s efforts to revive its local refining capacity. Three years ago, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the plant, which was initially shut down in 2019 due to operational challenges.

Despite being one of the largest oil producers globally, Nigeria has long relied on fuel imports to meet its domestic needs, swapping crude oil for petrol and other refined products. This dependency, coupled with government subsidies, has strained the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.

The recent return of the Port Harcourt refinery to operation follows the commissioning of the Dangote refinery, which began petrol production in September 2024. These developments are expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports and address long-standing issues in the petroleum sector.

 

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