Shocking Photos of Illegal Crude Oil Refineries Destroyed by Nigerian Navy in Portharcourt

Several illegal crude oil refineries in Bagama, Asari Toru Local Government Area of River State were yesterday destroyed by the Nigerian Navy Ship Pathfinder, in Port Harcourt, the State capital.

 

The Nigerian Navy on Sunday said that it had begun mopping up of newly discovered illegal refineries which had combined capacity to produce thousand litres of petroleum products daily.

The Commander, NNS Pathfinder Port Harcourt, Commodore Shuwa Mohammed, represented by Cdr. Chidi Ejiofor, Pathfinder’s Base Operation Officer, made this known in Port Harcourt.

Mohammed spoke after taking newsmen on aerial and land surveillance of the newly discovered modular refineries in Rivers.

 

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that several illegal refineries hidden under tick shed of the Mangrove forest were sighted during the aerial surveillance with the environment polluted.

He said the mop up was aimed at putting an end to colossal damage to the environment by activities of oil thieves, who were puncturing pipelines to obtain crude oil illegally.

"The mop up ordered by the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm Ibok-Ette Ibas, is part of a series of operations lined up to end incessant crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

"During our aerial surveillance recently, several new illegal refineries were sighted with their positions in latitude and longitude obtained prompting troops mobilisation.

"During our operation on Sunday, an illegal refinery with 15 storage metallic tanks loaded with 145,000 litres of stolen crude oil was set ablaze in Buguma, Asari Toru Local Government in Rivers."

Mohammed said that more than 50,000 litres of illegally refined diesel stored in 10 cooking tanks were also destroyed. He said that a metallic badge and dump which had capacity to store thousands of petroleum products was also destroyed during the raid.

Governor Nyesom Wike Put on Blast - See Shocking and Exposing Photos

A shocking and yet revealing photos of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, released by SaharaReporters has got people talking...check it out!

 

Saharareporters via their Facebook page, has just put out three pictures of Gov. Nyesom Wike sleeping at different events.

 

They also gave him a new pseudonym, "The Sleeping Governor of Rivers State.

Meet the Nigerian Governor Who Has Not Received Any Salary For 100 Days

The executive Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong has revealed to the press he is yet to collect his salary as a governor in the last 100 days.

Simon Lalong

 

The executive Governor of Plateau state, Simon Lalong who belongs to the All Progressives Congress, seems to be giving the people of his state the change they have been clamoring for. He made an interesting disclosure during a media chat with journalists in the state on Sunday night, 6th of August that he is yet to receive any salary as the governor of the state in his first 100 days.

 

This he has attributed to the financial crisis facing the state which has brought about an unprecedented delay in the making of appointments.

"Even those I have appointed so far have not been paid salaries.

"I myself have not received a single month salary as I speak with you; we want to settle civil servants salaries first," Lalong said.

On the recovery of public funds allegedly looted by his predecessor, Jonah Jang, Mr. Lalong said he has handed the matter to the anti-graft agency, EFCC, to investigate and bring defaulters to book.

"Since the two weeks grace I gave them elapsed without any response, I have written to EFCC to take over from where we stop, but if they delay in the assignment, I will remind them again," he said.

Mr. Lalong also said his administration has paid 5 out of the 7 months workers' salaries arrears he inherited.

"We will pay the 6th month tomorrow (Monday)," he added.

See Photos From President Buhari's Visit to Ghana

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently on a one-day visit to Ghana and photos have emerged from the proceedings of the meeting.

Pres. Muhammadu Buhari getting the gift from the girl

 

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently in Ghana. Ghanaians as well as the Nigerian community in Ghana came out in their numbers to welcome him.

 

Here are more photos from the visit as he is being received by President John Dramani Mahama.

Pres. Muhammadu Buhari and President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana

 

 

 

 

Pres. Buhari being shown the breathtaking view of Aburi by Ghana President John Dramani Mahama

 

President Muhammadu Buhari on arrival

 

Nigerians in Ghana coming out to welcome the President

See the Huge Amount of Money Buhari Recovered From Oil Swap Deals

The NNPC has recovered N55 billion ($227 million) following a review of toxic crude oil for refined products swap contracts, the Presidency said yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

According to an announcement made by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu, yesterday, 6th of September, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has recovered a huge sum of N55 billion ($227 million) from a review of toxic crude oil for refined products swap contracts. According to him, the great feat was achieved through extensive investigation into the various toxic crude oil for refined products swap contracts.

The report has shown that $420 million (N83 billion) has so far been reconciled in favour of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The report, which was recently submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari by NNPC Group Managing Director Emmanuel Kachikwu, revealed that out of the reconciled amount, $277 million has been recovered in lieu of products.

Malam Garba said in the first 100 days of Buhari’s government, the NNPC had begun the process of recovering over $7 billion (N1.38 trillion) in over-deducted tax benefits from Joint Venture Partners on major capital projects. He said the report detailed successes recorded so far by the new management of the NNPC.

He added that the GMD had commenced performance measurement and bench marking as well as value-for-money review of corporation and the JV Companies covering the period 2008 to 2013.

The presidential aide further stated that the report indicated that this process might lead to further cost recovery. He said the report also indicated that a reputable international accounting firm had been engaged by the NNPC.

The firm is to ascertain the exact amount due government on the Strategic Alliance Contracts “entered by the NPDC where up to $2.46 billion (484.6 billion) of government money is to be recovered”.

Shehu stated: “According to the report, the GMD of NNPC is committed to continued review of all existing contracts and addressing the ones that are not favorable to the Corporation.

“It was noted that significant cost reductions are also expected to ensure the Corporation remains profitable in the prevailing low crude oil price regime.”

 

He added that progress was being made toward bringing back the national refineries to full production, noting that the management of the NNPC is working to ensure that this happens before the end of this year.

“If this is completed, the report said, it is expected to achieve an annual savings of about $1billion ( N197 billion) worth of foreign exchange from fuel import substitution and additional total saving of over $500 million (98.5 billion) annually will be made from the petrochemical products of Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company."

The report also disclosed that efforts at re-positioning the NNPC have started yielding result on the nation’s economy. According to its content, gas supply to the power plants that had hitherto been handicapped by the supply of much-needed gas, has improved significantly from about 630 to 861 million standard cubic feet per day, which has resulted in a more steady power supply being witnessed in the country.

“Indeed, the report revealed that gas supply for power and peak generation have in recent times reached a historical high of 876 million standard cubic feet per day and 4,782 Mega Watts respectively”, he said.

Don Jazzy Reveals the Secret to Success and How He Built His Music Empire

Legendary Nigerian hit maker, Don Jazzy has spoken on how he built his music empire to the level of being one of AFrica's best and enviable label.

Don Jazzy

 

Don Jazzy, the CEO and President of one of Africa's largest and most prominent music record label in Africa, Mavin Records, has revealed secrets to his success story.

 

In a recent chat, Don Jazzy revealed the secret of his label’s success.

 

He said,  “I think I was born to do this. There are other record labels doing well also but in my research, I don’t think there’s any record label that’s as passionate about the careers of their artistes as much as I am.

 

"I’m over passionate about my artistes. Until the last man blows, I am not happy, I think about their success before I think about making money, but most labels are always interested in making back the money they’ve invested and making profit. Don’t you ever worry about the money you spend and the possibility of not recouping it.”

 

He further spoke about his non-greedy approach to artiste management .

 

“I believe in the talent that God has given me, and I believe I’ll make many more hit songs, so if you believe in what you are doing and you work very hard, money will come. You don’t need to be greedy and expect to make all the money in the world when your artiste is not making money. Sometimes my lawyers tell me the way my artiste contract is set up is wrong because I’m cheating myself with the sharing formula, but I don’t think I’m cheating myself. I think I’m making my artiste very comfortable and in the long run, we’ll be fine because I care more about my name and the glory than the money, but most labels care more about the money than the glory.”

 

The ace music producer did not give the exact figure he has invested in his artistes, but however, said he has made ‘stupid’ money in the business, so much so that he is comfortable.

 

His record label oversees the musical career of six artistes including Tiwa Savage, Dr Sid, D Prince, Reekado Banks, Korede Bello and Di’ja; seven, if you include Don Jazzy himself.

My Relocation to the Village Has Paid-off - Highlife Legend, Bright Chimezie Reveals

Veteran high-life singer, Bright Chimezie, has disclosed he is still flourishing, despite his relocation to the village after being on stage for about 35 years.

Highlife musician, Bright Chimezie

 

In a recent chat with The Sun, Nigerian high-life veteran singer, dancer and composer, Bright Chimezie who is popularly known as Okoro Junior, has disclosed he is still flourishing, despite his relocation to the village after being on stage for about 35 years.

The Zigima Sound boss, spoke on the gains and pains of his living in the village and his planned relocation to Lagos.

On if he is in any way making moves to relocate from the village to Lagos:
It is now about 12 years since I relocated to my country home actually, but I am planning on relocating to Lagos soon. I am working on it but it would be a gradual process. You would have noticed that I have been doing a couple of shows in Lagos lately. That is part of the process. Henceforth in terms of regular shows, our presence would be felt more often than before in Lagos.

It is part of the process of re-launching the brand in the city. But the Zigima brand is like an institution, and moving it entirely from the East back to Lagos would not be a tea party, just as it was, when we moved down East from Lagos. I was controlling a 16-piece band, and you know what that means.

On whether the drastic relocation to his home town had paid off in any way:
I don’t know how I would have felt, as someone that promotes indigenous culture, if my 25-year-old son cannot speak Igbo. It would have been torturous. It was drastic like you stated because, I took my family home when my children were still very tender. If I had not done it that time, I would’t have been able to do it again. So, I didn’t regret it. Today, my children can speak Igbo fluently. They know their roots, my people, our culture and everything. So, our relocation has paid off tremendously. Having achieved my goal, we are now set to start the process of returning to Lagos.

On how his family felt when they stopped enjoying Lagos life following his relocation:
They were being exposed to ultimate up-town life because we were living in an elitist environment, which was at Omole estate; and I needed to expose them to their real culture – to keep them abreast of the situation back home. It was not easy but it was a decision that I made as the head of the house. I was pained when I noticed that they were finding it so difficult to flow with me whenever I spoke Igbo to them. So, I silently started planning the movement in 2007. I later explained my plans to my wife and she saw reasons with me. But I must confess that it was not easy at all.

On the lessons he learned and Inspiration he got when he relocated to his hometown:
From my relocation exercise, I can say it has inspired me to write and make a new song, which I plan to use as a come-back when I relocate. The song is almost ready and the working title is Asusu Ejiri Mara Gi (Identity Language). The truth is that Igboland is a gift to the Igbos, so are Yorubaland to the Yorubas and Hausaland to the Hausas. To that effect, every tribe should appreciate their language, and parents should also strive to ensure that their children speak their language. The advantages are unquantifiable and my children are already reaping the advantages, courtesy of my drastic relocation back home.