News

‘I inherited $587m, N85bn debts, 115 contract liabilities from El-Rufai’ – Gov Sani

Published

6 months ago

March 30, 2024

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, revealed that his administration inherited a substantial debt load totaling $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 contractual obligations from the previous governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Speaking at a town hall meeting in Kaduna on Saturday, Governor Sani emphasized that this debt burden was significantly impacting the state’s federal allocation. He noted that due to the depreciation of the exchange rate, the state is now repaying almost three times the amount borrowed by the previous administration.

Governor Sani expressed concern that a substantial portion of the state’s March federal allocation, amounting to N7 billion out of N10 billion, was utilized to service the debt. Consequently, only N3 billion remained, an insufficient sum to cover the state’s monthly salary bill of N5.2 billion.

Despite facing this challenging financial situation, Governor Sani asserted that his administration has refrained from borrowing any additional funds over the past nine months. He affirmed his commitment to steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development.

Highlighting his administration’s priorities, Governor Sani outlined key areas such as safety and security, housing, education, healthcare, and support for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). He emphasized the importance of inclusive development, focusing on human capital investment, economic stimulation, and affordable housing initiatives.

Looking ahead to 2024, Governor Sani identified safety and security, infrastructural development, education, housing and urban development, social intervention, and investment drive as top priorities for his administration.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (retd), stressed the need for addressing security challenges as a prerequisite for meaningful development. He commended Governor Sani for implementing cost-cutting measures in governance despite the state’s debt burden, urging residents to support the government irrespective of political, religious, or ethnic differences.

Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Nuhu Bamali, expressed optimism about the state’s future under Governor Sani’s leadership and pledged the support of traditional rulers in achieving developmental goals.

News

We’ll be forced to export 97% of our petrol – Dangote Refinery warns

Published

15 hours ago

September 12, 2024

ARS NEWS

Dangote Refinery has announced that it will need to export 95-97 percent of its Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) due to low interest from Nigerian marketers. The refinery, which processes 650,000 barrels per day, revealed that only 3 to 5 percent of petrol marketers are purchasing its fuel.

Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, shared these details during an X Space session hosted by Nairametrics on Wednesday. He highlighted the challenges facing both the Dangote Refinery and Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Edwin explained, “I’m selling 2 to 3 percent to small traders who are willing to buy, while the remaining 95 to 97 percent has to be exported,” referring to the local sales of the refinery’s products.

This situation arises as the NNPCL’s deadline for adjusting the Dangote Refinery’s fuel distribution approaches without a clear plan in sight. It is worth noting that while Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced the refinery’s initial petrol rollout, its distribution to marketers is contingent upon NNPCL’s decisions.

News

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup: Round of 16 fixtures confirmed [Full list]

Published

4 days ago

September 9, 2024

ARS NEWS

The final sixteen teams for the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Colombia have been determined following the conclusion of the group stage.

In recent matches, Ghana triumphed over New Zealand with a score of 3-1, and Japan secured a 2-0 victory against Austria.

As a result, Japan has advanced to the Round of 16, joining the other 15 teams in this knockout stage.

The Round of 16 matches are scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.

The full lineup for the Round of 16 is as follows:

Spain vs Canada
Brazil vs Cameroon
Colombia vs South Korea
Mexico vs USA
North Korea vs Austria
Germany vs Argentina
Netherlands vs France
Japan vs Nigeria

News

Nigerian Army debunks reported mass resignation of soldiers

Published

4 days ago

September 9, 2024

ARS NEWS

The Nigerian Army has refuted claims of widespread resignations among its soldiers due to issues like corruption and low morale.

In a statement, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, dismissed these reports as unfounded.

A news outlet had alleged that numerous Nigerian soldiers were resigning because of corruption and low morale. However, the statement condemned these allegations as misleading and a deliberate attempt to create discontent and undermine the Nigerian Army’s reputation and the dedication of its personnel.

Major General Nwachukwu clarified that, similar to other military organizations worldwide, service in the Nigerian Army is voluntary rather than mandatory. This means that personnel have the freedom to resign following established procedures.

He explained that the resignation process allows personnel to prepare and manage their entitlements, including pensions and gratuities, as outlined in the Harmonized Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers).

Contrary to the report’s implications, the statement emphasized that Nigerian Army personnel are highly motivated, and their welfare is a priority under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja.