Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has announced the return of petrol subsidies to support farmers in insurgency-affected communities.

Speaking in Bama town on Friday, he revealed that irrigation farmers would now purchase petrol at N600 per litre, compared to the N1,000 to N1,200 price in Maiduguri.

This initiative seeks to alleviate the financial strain on farmers and revitalize agriculture in areas disrupted by Boko Haram activities.

Alongside the subsidy, Zulum distributed farming tools and materials, including fertilisers, water pumps, sprayers, and pesticides, to over 5,000 farmers.

Additionally, the government has constructed over 100 tube wells for irrigation and approved 250 more to enhance farming efforts.

The move builds on last year’s intervention in Damasak, which reportedly improved food production and livelihoods.

“One of the major challenges that are facing the farming communities here as regards irrigation farming is the increasing cost of fuel, as a result, I want to announce to the general public that the government will procure petroleum products and sell them to the farmers at a subsided rate, a litre of petrol is being sold in Maiduguri at the cost of about N1,200 but in sha Allah, henceforth for irrigation farmers this season a litre of petrol will be sold at the rate of N600,” Zulum said.

As the battle for who wears the crown of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo president,IPEC has warn that the candidature of Okiro(Formal IGP) does not follow the Constitution of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo since he hails from imo State.

The Igbo Province Executive council passes vote of no confidence on the coming Ohaneze election; advices Rivers contestant to reconsider their candidacy.

The council maintains that featuring a candidate from the south East in an election whose slot is for Rivers state damages the founding principle of Ohaneze aimed at equity and curbing over politicking hence the rotational presidency.

The council noted that while by Nigerian constitution, it may be considerate for citizenship to be affiliated to the mother’s state, however in Igboland, citizenship is patrilineal (attached to the father) and Ohaneze is going the part that will put many unique aspect of Igbo culture to a test.

The Okpara concept is strong in Igboland. It is only in few Igbo communities that a man is allowed to take up the citizenship of the mother’s community and that is usually when the bride price of the mother is not paid and even at that the said son can’t aspire for certain position in the mother’s community. Again, a candidate with strong ties with the south East will definitely have an upper hand in an election where southeast is responsible for over 80% of the voters.

The council also recognizes the right of full rivers contestants to go ahead with the election if they so desires but noted that they stand no chance against a veteran like former ISP of Nigerian police from Imo state irrespective of how one chose to look at it.

The council cautioned Ohaneze’s Ime Obi to go back to the drawing board and consult elders of AlaIgbo before taking a step that may undermine the very fabric of our culture and threaten the integrity of the institution (Oheneze) due to politics.

The institution also advised against inflammatory statements as the fragile peace in AlaIgbo needs to be preserved. For those who prefer to continue with the contest, best wishes, those who feel aggrieved may use appropriate channels to seek redress.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed displeasure at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited’s (NNPCL) approach to inviting him for a refinery tour.

The invitation, announced publicly, followed Obasanjo’s recent comments about past mismanagement of Nigeria’s refineries and failed privatization efforts during his tenure.

Obasanjo criticized the manner of the invitation, describing it as inappropriate and lacking formality.

His dissatisfaction stems from unresolved issues dating back to his presidency, where efforts to hand over refinery management to private entities were derailed.

Notably, a $750 million proposal from Aliko Dangote to manage the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries was rejected by his successor, Musa Yar’Adua, based on assurances from NNPC that it could handle operations internally.

Despite substantial investments over the years—reportedly exceeding $2 billion—Obasanjo lamented the persistent dysfunctionality of the refineries.

Contrasting this, NNPCL maintained that rehabilitation efforts are yielding results, citing recent operational updates for the Port Harcourt and Warri plants.

Observers have criticized the public nature of the invitation, suggesting it undermines the dignity of a former head of state.

The former president, while speaking through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, stated that the oil company had not sent any formal invitation to him as of Thursday, January 2, 2024.

“Is that the right way to invite a former president of the country? Who says Baba has even seen the statement or read the news? It is a total disrespect for the office of the former president.

“Ask the NNPCL that as of January 2, have they written to him? Is there any official letter addressed to him, inviting him to the refinery? It is an absolute insult, and the former president cannot dignify such with a response,” Obasanjo’s aide stated.