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Jigawa tanker explosion death toll rises to 173

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The Jigawa police command says 173 people have lost their lives, and 70 hospitalised in the recent petrol tanker explosion that occured along the Kano-Hadejia expressway on Tuesday.

Lawan Shiisu, the police spokesperson in Jigawa, confirmed to TheCable on Sunday that the death toll from the petrol tanker explosion on Tuesday had risen by over 80 from the initially reported 90 to 173.

 

Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group, and Babagana Zulum, governor of Borno state, visited the site of the incident on Friday.

 

They were joined by Umar Ganduje, national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, to offer condolences.

 

Lokpobiri described the incident as unprecedented, saying no amount of petrol taken can justify the tragic loss of lives. He urged Nigerians to immediately report such accidents to relevant authorities.

 

“We’ve been hearing of this type of development in different parts of the country, but none has been on this scale. So when we heard of what happened, we had to come,” the minister said.

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“Myself and the head of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who oversees the monitoring of both the mainstream and downstream sectors, along with the leadership of NMDPRA, had to come and see things for ourselves.

 

“We’ve been to the government house, condoled with the government and the people of the state, and felt it was necessary to visit the site as well.

 

“We also witnessed the grief, the mass grave, where over a hundred people are buried, and we want to take this opportunity to condole with the families of those who have lost their lives.

 

“We also appeal to Nigerians that if they see any fuel tanker like this, they should not go near. The amount of petrol taken cannot justify risking one’s life.

 

“I want to use this opportunity to urge Nigerians to report such incidents to the nearest police station, road safety officers, NMDPRA, or any relevant authority, so they can secure the area and save lives.

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“Government is also taking steps to ensure that incidents like this do not happen. We’re implementing certain policies, ensuring that trucks carrying products are certified by NMDPRA, road safety, and other agencies working with us.

 

“Going forward, only roadworthy and certified vehicles will be allowed to transport products to different parts of the country.”

 

Dangote and Ganduje extended their deepest condolences to the families affected and prayed for the quick recovery of the injured.

 

Ganduje, who visited survivors at Rashida Shekoni Teaching Hospital in Dutse, praised the state government for its swift response and commended victims and their families for their resilience.

 

“I am deeply moved by the resilience shown by the victims and their families,” Ganduje said.

 

“I pray for the departed souls and for the quick recovery of those injured. We must take all necessary steps to prevent such a disaster from occurring again.”

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Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, expressed gratitude to the visiting officials and other well-wishers from across the country.

 

He said discussions with the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) are underway to improve safety measures.

 

“Their roadmap includes the redesigning of fuel tanks and other preventive measures,” Namadi said.

 

He urged the minister to involve NARTO in drafting new and effective safety strategies for transporting flammable products.

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EFCC transfers Bobrisky to Abuja for interrogation

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Embattled social media personality and crossdresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, who was re-arrested on Thursday night, will face interrogation on alleged bribery and corruption in Abuja.

Bobrisky, according to an official of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, would be flown to Abuja today (Friday).

The controvwrsial crossdresser was stopped and removed from an Amsterdam-bound KLM flight at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos and detained by immigration officers late Thursday night while attempting to leave the country for London, the United Kingdom.

The popular cross-dresser posted on his Instagram page to alert followers about the arrest, stating that he had sustained injuries during an altercation with the immigration officers.

Bobrisky alleged that the EFCC was responsible for his detention.

He wrote, “Nigerians help me, EFCC just arrested me. I’m badly injured.”

However, according to sources, his arrest was due to his failure to honour several invitations by the commission following his allegations against the EFCC.

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Bobrisky had, in a voice note shared by a controversial social critic, Martins Otse, aka VeryDarkMan, allegedly said he bribed EFCC officers with N15m to drop money laundering charges against him.

Although the EFCC denied the allegations, it set up a committee to investigate the matter.

At a press briefing on Thursday, the Director of Public Affairs, Wilson Uwajaren, had hinted that Bobrisky could face a fresh charge from the commission if the allegations against the EFCC were false.

Uwujaren stated that one could be charged for giving false information to the EFCC, let alone making false allegations against the commission.

However, a top source in the commission told our correspondent on Friday that Bobrisky was picked up to prove his allegations against the EFCC.

The source said, “We have arrested him in Lagos today and will be flown to Abuja today. He accused us of bribery and corruption; we invited him severally, but he did not show up. He who alleges must be ready to prove. Those allegations are too weighty to allow slide.

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“Also, remember that he has also refused to show up at the National Assembly on the matter. We are left with no other choice than to pick him up so that he can substantiate his claims. And that is what we have done. “

EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, confirmed Bobrisky’s arrest.

“Bobrisky is on his way to Abuja as we speak,“ he added.

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Marketers can’t lift petrol without NNPC approval – Dangote refinery

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The Dangote Petroleum Refinery says it has not received any payment from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) for refined petroleum products.

 

In a statement on Thursday, Anthony Chiejina, the company’s group chief branding and communications officer, told IPMAN that the refinery cannot be held accountable for payments made to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), adding that no approval has been received from the national oil firm on the sale of petrol to marketers.

 

On October 29, Aliko Dangote, founder of the Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), said the refinery currently holds over 500 million litres of petrol, but oil marketers are not buying the product.

 

In a counter-response, the IPMAN said its members had been unable to load petrol from the Dangote refinery for days.

 

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on October 30, Abubakar Garima, IPMAN’s president, said the association has paid N40 billion to the NNPC, but still cannot source the product.

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In the refinery’s latest statement, the organisation said it currently has no direct dealings with IPMAN.

 

“Although discussions are ongoing with IPMAN, it is misleading to suggest that they (IPMAN members) are experiencing difficulties loading refined products from our Petroleum Refinery, as we currently have no direct business dealings with them,” the refinery said.

 

“Consequently, we cannot be held responsible for any payments made to other entities.

 

“The payment in mention has been made through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and not us.

 

“In the same vein, NNPCL has neither approved nor authorised us to release our Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to IPMAN.”

 

Dangote refinery reiterated its ability to meet the nation’s demand for all petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel.

 

The Chiejina said the refinery is capable of loading 2,900 trucks per day and has also been evacuating petroleum products by sea.

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He advised IPMAN to register with the refinery directly and make direct payments, noting that there is “more than enough petroleum products to satisfy the needs of their members”.

 

“It is instructive for all stakeholders to refrain from making unfounded statements in the media, as that could undermine the economic re-engineering efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Chiejina said.

 

The company also encouraged all stakeholders to collaborate and heed Tinubu’s advice, promoting a unified approach rather than engaging in media conflicts and unnecessary propaganda.

 

On October 10, IPMAN had asked the NNPC to sell PMS to its marketers at the Dangote refinery rate or refund the oil marketers’ money.

 

During the television programme, the president of IPMAN said the marketers’ monies have been with the national oil company for three months.

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News

Good morning! Here Are Some Major News Headlines In The Newspapers Today: Five found dead in Edo as police begin probe into suspected food poisoning

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1. The Police in Edo State have confirmed the death of five and the arrest of one person in connection with food poisoning at Afashio-Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area. Edo Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Yamu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the food poisoning occurred on October 26, causing panic among residents.

 

2. Oyo State Police Command has confirmed 10 persons dead and eight others injured when a building collapsed in Jegede, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. Oyo Police spokesman, Adewale Osifeso made this known in a statement.

 

3. The National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended the withdrawal of the Tax Reforms Bill from the National Assembly to President Bola Tinubu to allow for wider consultations. Disclosing this to journalists at the end of the 145th NEC meeting at the State House, Abuja, Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said this formed part of resolutions reached at the meeting.

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4. Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said he will take the responsibility for any poorly constructed roads in the country under the current administration. Umahi explained that the federal government had no excuse not to finish the road projects embarked upon, noting that the ministry was not afraid to wield the ‘big stick’ by terminating the contracts of any erring companies.

 

5. The National Economic Council (NEC), on Thursday, disclosed that about 34 states, 217 local government areas were affected by the recent flooding in the country, adding that 321 persons also lost their lives. The Council also said 1,374,557 persons were affected, 740,743 displaced nationwide while 2,854 persons were injured and 281,000 houses, 258,000 cultivated farmlands were also destroyed by the ravaging flood.

 

6. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says a former minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, Betta Edu, is still under the investigation of the anti-graft agency despite permanently exiting the cabinet of President Bola Tinubu.

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7. Governors of the 36 states of the federation have expressed dismay over the lingering crisis in the petroleum industry, saying it is shameful that despite being a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria still imports petrol. Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, made the expression while briefing newsmen in Abuja.

 

8. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau found the wreckage of the helicopter that crashed last Thursday into the Atlantic Ocean while conveying workers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited from Port Harcourt. This was contained in a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, on Thursday.

 

9. The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, CP Danladi Isa, on Thursday, confirmed the death of an employee of a new generation bank identified as Mr. Victor Udensi and two others in Umuahia, assuring that the perpetrators would soon be brought to book.

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10. No fewer than 15 people were reportedly killed in a renewed attack by gunmen suspected to be armed herders at Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State. The attackers were reported to have invaded the town on Wednesday around 6:32 pm killing people.

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