Tinubu commends NNPCL over re-opening of Warri Refinery

President Bola Tinubu has expressed his profound joy at the re-opening of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, describing it as another remarkable achievement in 2024 that has strengthened Nigerians’ hope in his administration. Today, the Warri Refinery returned to operation weeks after NNPC Limited restarted the 60,000 Barrels per day at the Port Harcourt Refinery in November. With Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) going into operation after several years of inactivity, President Tinubu has once again expressed his administration’s determination to ramp up local refining capacity and make Nigeria a hub for downstream industrial activities in Africa. The All Progressives Congress-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari awarded the contract for the complete rehabilitation and overhaul of the four state-owned refineries. President Tinubu noted with confidence that with the 125,000 (bpd) Warri Refinery now operating at 60% capacity, his administration’s comprehensive plan to ensure energy efficiency and security is entirely on course. He praised the Mele Kyari-led management of the NNPCL for working hard to restore Nigeria’s glory and pride as a major oil-producing country. “The restart of Warri Refinery today brings joy and gladness to me and Nigerians. This will further strengthen the hope and confidence of Nigerians for a greater and better future that we promised. This development is a remarkable way to end the year following the feat recorded earlier with the old Port Harcourt Refinery. I am equally happy that NNPC Limited is implementing my directive to restore all four refineries to good working condition. “I congratulate Mele Kyari and his team at NNPCL for working hard to restore our national pride and make Nigeria a hub for crude oil refining in Africa,” President Tinubu said. President Tinubu enjoined NNPCL to accelerate repair work on Kaduna Refinery and the 150,000 (bpd) second refinery in Port Harcourt to consolidate Nigeria’s position as a global energy provider. WRPC will focus on producing and storing critical products, including Straight Run Kerosene (SRK), Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), and heavy and light Naphtha.

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Lancashire Yoruba Community holds end of the year party in grand style

It was all pumps as Lancashire Yoruba Community holds their end of the year party at Village Hall, Preston on Saturday. The Principal founder of Community, Mr. Abiodun Sola Fakemi, said their aim to promote the Ọmọluabi philosophy among members, emphasising that being an Ọmọluabi means demonstrating the highest standards of behaviour in society, stressing that this trait encourages Yoruba individuals to avoid vices and always embrace peace. “In our new environment, fostering a sense of community among members is essential. We believe in supporting one another, a core aspect of our Yoruba identity. We celebrate with those who celebrate and mourn with those who mourn, helping each other grow in various areas. “As a community of Black individuals, LYC operates as a charity organisation and actively engages in government policies that affect our lives in the UK. We firmly believe that LYC can assist the government in numerous ways, and our collaborative efforts will help build stronger social cohesion in Lancashire. “As a social and ethnic group, we participate in various events, including the end-of-year party. “The new administrative body plans to host its first Cultural Festival during the summer of 2025. It aims to implement numerous empowerment programmes to support our members’ personal and professional growth,” he disclosed. Fakemi thanked previous executive committee members, including Mr. Pius Ibitoye, and recognised the party planning committee chair, Mr. Olakunle Ajayi, for the event’s successful organisation. He also thanked everyone involved in the planning and encouraged new committee members to work diligently for the group’s success. Two government officials attended the 2024 end-of-year party, are; Mrs. Nweeda Khan and Mrs. Irene Evelyn Amahwe. They highlighted the importance of collaborating with the government and the value of communities like LYC. The Lancashire Yoruba Community (LYC) was founded on September 2, 2023.

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Paris-bound businessman arrested for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin, cocaine

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have arrested a 48-year-old businessman, Orizu Ifeanyi Arthur while attempting to board an Air France flight 844 from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, NAIA Abuja to Paris, France for ingesting 74 wraps of heroin and cocaine. Orizu was arrested at the boarding gate of the Abuja airport on Sunday 22nd December 2024 during the outward clearance of passengers on Air France. When he was pulled aside for body scan, he turned down the request claiming his medical condition won’t allow him. He was thereafter taken into custody for excretion observation during which he excreted a total of 74 wraps of the Class A drugs over a period of seven days. In his statement, Orizu claimed he owns a shop at Balogun market, Lagos Island where he sells school and travelling bags, adding that he was promised 3,000 Euros upon successful delivery of the consignment in Paris. He left his base in Lagos for the Abuja airport to connect his Air France flight to Paris, hoping to escape detection. In another interdiction effort, operatives of the Marine Command of NDLEA at 2:30am on Christmas eve, Tuesday 24th December intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis at the Eleko beach in Lekki area of Lagos. Six foreign nationals who brought the consignments from Ghana were arrested during the operation. They include: two Ghanaians: Godsway John, 38; and Freedom Kelvin, 33; as well as four Beninese: Chegoun Hounsou, 23; Gadabor Nyameto, 47; Adantg Sasa, 34; and Ayao Kayivi, 21. In Katsina, a suspect Ibrahim Shaibu, 35, was arrested in possession of 40 album-size parcels of compressed cannabis sativa weighing 35kg on Christmas day 25th December at Central Motor Park, Katsina, while another suspect Umar Ahmed, 47, was nabbed along Zaria-Malumfashi road, Katsina with 27 parcels of same psychoactive substance weighing 13.5kg on Saturday 28th December. A 21-year-old suspect Kosisochukwu Ozigbo was arrested at new Lagos road Benin City, Edo state when the area was raided on Monday 23rd December by NDLEA operatives. Recovered from the suspect include: 32,490 pills of tramadol 225mg, 200mg and 100mg; 936 bottles of codeine-based syrup and various quantities of other opioids. The Commands across the country balanced their drug supply reduction operations with War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaigns to schools, markets, worship centres and communities. Some of these include: WADA sensitisation lecture delivered by Lagos State Strategic Command in collaboration with Menitos Foundation to residents of Akoka community at Ayetoro primary school, Akoka Bariga; while the Adamawa State command of NDLEA delivered same lecture to members of Jama’atul Nasril Islam during their annual first aid group and leadership camping in Adamawa among others. While commending the efforts of the officers and men of NAIA, Katsina, Edo and Marine Commands of the Agency for job well done in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) tasked them and their compatriots nationwide not to rest on the achievements of 2024 but continue to raise the bar in their offensive action against drug barons and cartels with an equal measure of WADA sensitisation campaigns in the new year.

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Breaking: 176 dead in South Korea Plane crash

At least 176 people were killed after a passenger jet crash-landed at an airport in South Korea on Sunday morning, authorities said. Jeju Air flight 2216 was landing at Muan International Airport around 9 a.m. local time when the plane went off the runway and crashed into a wall. There were a total of 175 passengers and six crew members aboard the Boeing 737 aircraft, which had taken off from Bangkok, according to the Korean Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport. The official death toll, which has been provided by the National Fire Agency, has steadily climbed in the hours since the crash. The transport ministry was on the scene investigating the cause of the crash, and details of what happened were beginning to come into focus. Prior to the plane’s crash landing, the control tower issued a warning of a possible bird strike, the ministry said. About a minute after that warning, a pilot sent a mayday distress signal, after which the tower issued permission for the aircraft to land, the ministry said. Video from the scene at the time of the crash appears to show the landing gear was up when the plane touched down, possibly indicating some sort of malfunction, and it also appears the plane landed at a high speed. Videos taken at the scene showed flames and a thick column of dark smoke at the crash site. As of 1 p.m. local time, authorities said the plane had completely burned. A temporary morgue was being set up at the airport. By about 8 p.m., the official death toll had climbed to 176 people, the National Fire Agency said. Eighty-three of the dead were women and 82 were men, the agency said, adding that another 11 bodies remained unidentified. A man and a woman were rescued from the wreckage and were taken to the hospital, according to the transport ministry. Both were crew members, the fire agency said. Their conditions were not released. Initially, there were conflicting reports on the number of people rescued. Jeju Air is a South Korean low-cost carrier that operates an all Boeing fleet, with 42 planes and nearly 3,000 staff. “We deeply apologize to all those affected by the incident at Muan Airport,” Jeju Air said in a notice posted in English on its website. “We will make every effort to resolve the situation. We sincerely regret the distress caused.” The website’s landing page replaced Jeju Air’s logotype, which is usually orange, with an all-black version. Boeing was in contact with Jeju Air regarding the crash and was “standing ready to support them,” a Boeing spokesperson told ABC News. “We extend our deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones, and our thoughts remain with the passengers and crew,” the spokesperson said. Muan, a city of roughly 90,000 people, is located in southwest South Korea.

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Adeleke appoints ex-deputy Gov. as new Owa Obokun

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has approved the selection of 76-year-old ex-deputy governor, Prince Clement Adesuyi Haastrup as the new Owa Obokun of Ijesa land. The appointment of Haastrup from the Bilaro Olu-Odo Ruling House followed a selection process that was held at Ilesa West Local Government Secretariat on Friday morning. The new Owa-Obokun who served as the deputy governor with Isiaka Adeleke, the elder brother of the incumbent governor of Osun State between 1992 to 1993, was elected by the kingmakers amid a restraining order. Earlier this month, Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe of an Osun State High Court issued a restraining order preventing Prince Clement Haastrup, Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Attorney-General, and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, among others, from proceeding with the election or appointment of a new Owa-Obokun until a pending suit is resolved. However, in a statement issued on Friday, Isaac Haastrup, the Public Relations Officer of the Bilaro Olu-Odo Ruling House, confirmed that Clement Adesuyi Haastrup had been elected as the Owa-Obokun Ajimoko III and Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland after defeating nine contestants. Subsequently, Adeleke through his Commissioner for Information, Kolapo Alimi confirmed that the Osun State Executive Council chaired by the governor has approved the appointment of Prince Clement Haastrup after ratification. He added that the appointment of Asaoni of Igbomina, Prince Johnson Adekanmi Abikoye was also approved in the meeting held on Friday. According to him “The appointments of Prince Haastrup as the new Owa-elect was sequel to the demise of the immediate past Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesha land, Oba ( Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II on the 11th of September 2024 while that of Prince Abikoye as the new Asaoni of Ora Igbomina followed the demise of Oba Tinuoye Atolagbe on the 19th of Nov.2023. “Governor Adeleke while congratulating the two newly approved monarchs whom he said their choices followed due processes in line with the Chiefs’ law of Osun State 2002( cap 25), enjoined all sons and daughters of the two towns to co-operate with their new traditional rulers, particularly in allowing peace and unity to take the centre stage.”

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Man slits friend’s throat in Kogi

A 19-year old student of Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi State, Usman Tijani’s throat has been reportedly slit by his friend over N200,000. Media reports claimed Tijani was lured to a burialground by one Abdulmuqeet Musari, who attacked him, resulting in a throat injury and stole the sum of ₦200,000 meant for Point of Sale (PoS) business. According to a family member, Zainab Avosuahi, the incident occured on December 24, 2024, when Musari deceived Usman into a secluded area. Usman is now receiving medical care at a Lokoja hospital, where he is undergoing surgery. The authorities are currently searching for the suspect, who is now at large. This incident highlights the importance of community vigilance and support for one another to prevent such unfortunate events in the future.

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Police arrest Catholic Priest, others over Abuja stampede

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested the parish priest and several officials of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, following a tragic stampede that resulted in the deaths of at least ten individuals, including children. The incident occurred during a grocery distribution event aimed at assisting the needy on December 23, 2024, when a large crowd surged towards the church’s gates, leading to chaos and fatalities. Police spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the arrests, stating that the action was necessary to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede. She emphasized that organizing such a large event without notifying the police is a serious oversight, especially given the tragic loss of life. After initial questioning, the arrested individuals were allowed to return home as the investigation continues. Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Abuja Diocese criticized the arrests, describing them as counterproductive and lacking compassion. In a Christmas message, he urged the government to support the church and the victims’ families instead of pursuing legal action against church officials. He expressed concern over the government’s response, suggesting that it should focus on improving safety measures for future events rather than threatening prosecution. The stampede in Abuja is part of a larger pattern of similar incidents, with over 60 lives lost across three separate events in Abuja, Anambra, and Oyo states. President Bola Tinubu has also commented on the situation, attributing the tragedies to poor planning by the event organisers. Witnesses reported that the stampede began around 4 a.m. as thousands gathered for the distribution, with many refusing to queue, leading to a dangerous crush at the entrance. The police have since issued new guidelines for organizing large gatherings to prevent such tragedies in the future.

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