NAIJAFEED

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

NYSC member, eight others rescued by Nigeria military

The Joint Task Force (JTF) in the Niger Delta, Operation Delta Safe, says its troops on Monday rescued nine kidnap victims abducted by gunmen on 29 March along the Ugheli-Patani axis of the East-West road.

The Commander of the joint military force deployed to the Niger Delta, John Okeke, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday night.

Mr Okeke said that 10 suspected kidnappers were arrested in the rescue of the victims who included an NYSC member and a Navy rating.

“In continuation to ensure safety of lives and property in the Niger Delta Region, the gallant troops of the Joint Task Force South South Operation Delta Safe (OPDS), comprising troops of Quick Response Force (QRF) of Headquarters OPDS, Land, Maritime and Air Components on Monday, April 1, 2024, rescued nine kidnap victims.

“The freed victims were kidnapped on 29 March 2024, along Patani-Ughelli Road in Delta State.

“During the rescue operation, 10 suspects in connection with the kidnap incident were arrested. Amongst the rescued victims is a Naval Rating and an NYSC member,” Okeke said.

The JTF Commander subsequently warned criminal elements within the Niger Delta region to desist from their nefarious activities as there will be no haven for them in the region as troops will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring a conducive environment for the safety of lives and properties.

Mr Okeke also commended the troops for their gallantry and efforts in the rescue operation.

He urged the general public to always provide useful information to security agencies on criminal activities within their communities.

Premium Times

Dangote refinery supplies petroleum products to local market in Nigeria

Nigeria's Dangote oil refinery started supplying petroleum products to the local market on Tuesday, a company executive and fuel marketing associations said, a major step in the country's quest for energy independence.

The refinery, Africa's largest, was built on a peninsula on the outskirts of the commercial capital Lagos at a cost of $20 billion by the continent's richest man Aliko Dangote and was completed after several years of delays.

It can refine up to 650,000 barrels per day (bpd) and will be the largest in Africa and Europe when it reaches full capacity this or next year.

Dangote's group executive, Devakumar Edwin, confirmed shipping of diesel and jet fuel into the local market.

"We have substantial quantities. Products are being evacuated both by sea and road. Ships are lining up one after another to load diesel and aviation jet fuel," Edwin told Reuters.

"Ships load a minimum of 26 million litres, though we try to push for 37 million litres vessels, for ease of operations."

Local oil marketers agreed a price of 1,225 naira ($0.96) per litre of diesel following a bulk purchase agreement, before putting their mark-up, said Abubakar Maigandi, head of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria.

The association's members control about 150,000 retail stations across Nigeria, Maigandi said.
Another marketers' group, the Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria said its members were seeking letters of credit to buy petroleum products from Dangote.

"Our members are discussing with banks and these talks have reached advanced stages, when we have our letters of credit, we will begin lifting products," Femi Adewole, the association's executive secretary said.

The Dangote refinery is touted as the turning point to end Nigeria's reliance on imported petroleum products. Nigeria is Africa's most populous nation and its top oil producer, yet it imports almost all its fuel due to lack of refining capacity.

By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

KFC Nigeria sorry after wheelchair user Adebola Daniel refused service at Lagos airport

KFC Nigeria has issued an apology after the airport authority shut one of its outlets over alleged discrimination against a disabled client.

Adebola Daniel, son of a former Nigerian state governor Gbenga Daniel, said in a post on X that he was ordered to leave a KFC outlet at Lagos airport because of his wheelchair.

The post sparked widespread outrage.

It also prompted an investigation by the federal airport authority, ending in the branch's closure.

In a long thread, Mr Daniel described the incident, which happened on Tuesday, as "the worst sort of public humiliation" he had ever experienced.

"Today I felt less than human, like a guard dog not allowed into the house. Lonely and isolated."

He alleged that the manager of the KFC outlet at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria's busiest airport, denied him service despite multiple pleas from his wife and two brothers, who were travelling with him.

"She refused to listen to reason and stood her ground that at [KFC] Murtala Muhammed branch, wheelchairs and wheelchair users of all shapes and sizes were not permitted in the premises and we should leave immediately," he said.

In an audio clip taken after the incident, Mr Daniel's wife can be heard complaining to a female worker, presumably the manager, that they "could have handled the situation better".

"When you guys came in, we should have told you guys that wheelchair is not allowed... people know that wheelchair is not allowed [at KFC]," the employee replied, suggesting that the restaurant's policy barred wheelchair users.

In a post on X on Thursday, KFC Nigeria said sorry to Mr Daniel and announced measures to address the situation, including training its employees on inclusion and empathetic customer service.

"We deeply regret the frustration and distress experienced by our guest and extend sincere apologies to those affected," it said on X.

The statement followed the restaurant's closure by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the authority's order for KFC to apologise to Mr Adebola.

FAAN has also ordered the fast food chain to display a non-discrimination policy at the restaurant as a condition for reopening.

By Gloria Aradi, BBC

Nigeria to cut electricity subsidy to ease pressure on public finances

Nigeria plans to axe an electricity subsidy for 15% of consumers to reduce its 3.3 trillion naira ($2.6 billion) cost, part of a series of reforms to ease pressure on public finances, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said on Tuesday.

Onanuga said the government was under pressure to allow a price increase in the electricity sector as it only budgeted 450 billion naira for the subsidy this year.

He did not say when the tariff increase would come into effect, but said that when it did the government expected to save close to 1.1 trillion naira per year.

Nigeria last reviewed electricity tariffs in 2020, Onanuga said, adding the proposed increase would help businesses recover costs and boost investment.

"With the huge subsidy burden and high cost of gas ... the current electricity tariff is not realistic," he said.
President Bola Tinubu embarked on Nigeria's boldest reforms in decades last year after he scrapped a popular but costly fuel subsidy and allowed the currency to devalue sharply.

The reforms Tinubu hopes will revive growth in Africa's biggest economy have stoked inflation to more than 30% and worsened a cost of living crisis, angering workers.

Onanuga said only 15% of consumers, accounting for 40% of electricity consumption, would be affected.
Nigeria's power sector faces a myriad of problems including a failing grid, gas shortages, high debt and vandalism. The country has 12,500 megawatts of installed capacity but produces only about a quarter of that, leaving many reliant on expensive diesel-powered generators.

Also, state-controlled power tariffs are too low to allow distribution companies to recoup costs and pay generating companies - leaving the sector with ballooning debts.

Onanuga said the government would consider helping generating companies to offset around 1.5 trillion naira of debt owed to the country's bulk electricity purchaser.

By Felix Onuah, Reuters

Video - Nigeria SMEs turn to alternative energy sources to address chronic power crisis

Video - Nigerian coach raises awareness over mental health issues

Samuel Okinrodoye swam 12 kilometers along a famous bridge in Lagos to raise awareness about mental health in Nigeria. In Lagos, many people have used the 3rd Mainland Bridge to commit suicide. Okinrodoye wants to encourage Nigeria's conservative society to be more open about mental illnesses.

CGTN

School in Nigeria helps girls to heal after Boko Haram

Video - Salsa teacher helps to dance the blues away in Nigeria