CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk has shared a deeply personal experience involving his child’s gender transition, revealing that he felt “tricked” into consenting to puberty blockers.

In a candid interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his concerns about the treatment’s long-term effects and the motivations behind its recommendation.

He described the experience as “incredibly evil” and claimed that he “lost” his son, Xavier, now known as Vivian Jenna Wilson, to the “woke mind virus.”

Musk stated: “It’s evil. You’re taking kids who are far below the age of consent.

“It’s very possible for adults to manipulate children who are having an actual identity crisis into believing that they are the wrong gender.”

Musk disclosed: “Well, it happened to one of my older boys. I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys, Xavier. This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on, and we had COVID going on, so there was a lot of confusion. And I was told Xavier might commit suicide.”

Peterson, challenging the notion, said: “That was a lie right from the outset. No reliable clinician ever believed that.

“There was never any evidence for that, and also, if there is a higher suicide rate, the reason is the underlying depression and anxiety and not because of the gender dysphoria. And every good clinician knows that, too, and they’re too cowardly to come out and say it.”

Musk added: “It’s incredibly evil. And I agree with you that the people that are promoting this should go to prison.

“I was tricked into doing this. It wasn’t explained to me that puberty blockers are actually just sterilization drugs.

“I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead, so my son, Xavier, is dead, killed by ‘the woke mind’ virus.”

“So I vowed to destroy ‘the woke mind’ virus after that. And we’re making some progress.”

This revelation comes as Musk announced plans to relocate his company’s headquarters from California to Texas, citing the state’s new legislation on gender identity and parental rights as the final straw.

“This is the final straw. Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas,” Musk wrote on X.

Daily Mail reports that Vivian Musk, formerly known as Xavier, publicly announced her transgender identity in June 2022, at the age of 18.

At the same time, she petitioned to legally change her name to Vivian and adopt her mother’s surname.

“I no longer want to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form,” Vivian said.

[TheNation]

Reduces the time for Periodic Review of Minimum Wage from 5 to 3 years

 

THE Senate has passed a bill that seeks to amend the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, to increase the National Minimum Wage from N30,000  upward to the sum of N70,000.

Also passed by the Senate on Tuesday is a bill, inter alia that seeks to reduce the time for periodic review of the National Minimum Wage from Five (5) years to Three (3) years, and for Related Matters. 

A  Bill for an Act to Amend the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019 to increase the National Minimum Wage and reduce the time for periodic review of the national minimum wage from five years to three years and for related matters, 2024, 2024 (SB. 550) was presented by the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, APC, Ekiti Central. 

The Executive bill forwarded to the Senate by President Bola Tinubu was first presented for the first reading, then scaled second reading and was read the third time and passed.

In his lead debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Bamidele said, “Mr. President, Distinguished colleagues, I humbly rise to lead the debate on the general principles of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (SB. 550). The Bill, inter alia seeks to amend the National Minimum Wage Act, 2019, to increase the National Minimum Wage and reduce the time for periodic review of the National Minimum Wage from Five (5) years to Three (3) years, and for Related Matters. 

“The Bill was read for the First Time today, 23rd  July, 2024. 

“You will recall, Mr. President, my dear Colleagues, that in recent times, a plethora of agitations and clamours have been recorded from Organised Labour and another segment of our society, for an increase in the National Minimum Wage given the prevailing economic situation in the country. In response to the agitations and after a series of negotiations between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour, the current National Minimum Wage of N30,000 Naira only has been reviewed upward to the sum of N70,000 Naira only. 

Details later…

[Vanguard]

The monetary policy committee of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has raised the monetary policy rate (MPR), which benchmarks interest rates, to 27.65 percent — from 26.25 percent

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the apex bank, announced the rate adjustment on Tuesday at the end of the committee’s 296th meeting in Abuja.

Last week, Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 34.19 percent amid the surge in food prices.

The MPR is the baseline interest rate in an economy, every other interest rate used within the economy is built on it.

More to follow…

[TheCable]

The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Engr. Mele Kyari, has categorically denied that the oil company owned a blending plant in Malta.

The refuttal came in response to claims made by businessman Aliko Dangote that NNPCL officials were operating an oil facility on the Mediterranean Island.

LEADERSHIP reports that Dangote, while addressing the leadership of the House of Representatives on July 22, claimed that apart from NNPC personnel, oil traders and terminals have established a blending plant in Malta. An oil blending plant, unlike a refinery, blends re-refined oil with additives to produce finished lubricant products.

But, the NNPCL boss took to his X handle (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday to debunk the claims. 

Kyari wrote: “I am inundated by enquiries from family members, friends, and associates on the public declaration by the President of Dangote Group that some NNPC workers have established a blending plant in Malta, thereby impeding procurements from local production of petroleum products.

“To clarify the allegations regarding the blending plant, I do not own or operate any business directly or by proxy anywhere in the world, with the exception of a local mini agric venture. Neither am I aware of any employee of the NNPC who owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.”

He further asserted that such a plant in Malta or anywhere globally has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions. “A blending plant in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions,” he added.

Kyari also underscored the company’s commitment to compliance and accountability. “For further assurance, our compliance sanction grid shall apply to any NNPC employee who is established to be involved in doing so if availed, and I strongly recommend that such individuals be declared public and be made known to relevant government security agencies for necessary actions in view of the grave implications for national energy security,” he concluded.

[Leadership]

The President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, says Nigerian government will be the loser in the wake of criticism targeted at Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his refinery.

He noted that such criticism would discourage foreign investors from coming to the country.

There has been a disagreement between Dangote and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as well as Nigerian petroleum regulatory authorities over the alleged substandard quality of diesel produced by Dangote Refinery, among other issues.

Adesina, who dismissed claims of Dangote’s monopoly of the country’s manufacturing sector, expressed shock at the controversy, saying it was creating bad waves for Nigeria globally.

Adesina’s remarks are contained in a statement shared on X by business mogul Femi Otedola on Tuesday.

The statement read in part, “Monopoly often exists where there are high barriers to entry or high capital costs. How many individuals or companies can do railways? How many can do refineries of the scale of Dangote Refineries? In a nation that has been importing refined petroleum products for several decades, the abnormal simply became very normal.

“No smart investor would make a $19.5 billion investment and want it to be undermined by importers. To manufacture is extremely expensive and risky. This is even more so in Nigeria, given the very challenging business and economic environment, fraught with policy uncertainties and policy reversals, and where the self-defeating default mode of ‘simply import it’ is always so easily rationalized and chorused to solve any problem.

 

“…This whole disparaging of Dangote is uncalled for. It is self-defeating. And it is very bad for Nigeria. Who will want to come and invest in a country that disparages and undermines its own largest investor? Investing is tough. Pettiness is easy. It sadly sends a signal that the price for sacrificing for Nigeria is to get sacrificed.”

[DailyTrust]

Senate President Natasha Apoti-Uduaghan has apologized to the Chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, for rebuking her.

Last week Thursday, Akpabio had cautioned Akpoti-Uduaghan on the floor of the Senate, saying she was not in the night club.

The Senate was in session when Akpabio said those in favour of the second reading of a bill to say ‘Aye’, while those against should say ‘Nay’.

The ‘Nay’ response came the loudest and as the Senate President contemplated his next action, Akpoti-Uduaghan rose to explain why she and some others were against the second reading of the proposal.

“Mr President, we don’t want it to be killed. We just want a bit of modification. We don’t want the bill killed but there should be slight modification.”

Responding to her, Akpabio said, “You see Senator Natasha, in the chamber, you have to be recognized before you speak. We’re not in a nightclub.”

However, Akpabio has said his “night club” remark was reported out of context.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, the Senate President said: “We are still learning, even those of us who have been in the Senate for 16 years, we are still learning.

“But in the cause of speaking with one of my distinguished sisters on not speaking when not recognized, I made reference to the fact that we are not in a night club where people have to shout above the noise of the music.

“The social media went agog, my wife called me that they published her number and she received around 2,000 to 3,000 calls per day.

“I’m happy with the interest generated by Nigerians with what goes on in this chambers because we are here for their interest.

“The communication was totally misunderstood, instead of making meaning with what we said, they went into private abuses; I don’t want to say what they did to me.

“I will not intentionally denigrate any woman, I have a wife and four daughters and I always pray that God will lift a girl to the highest zenith in Nigeria politically and in business. So Senator Natasha I want to apologize to you if you felt offended.

“There is nothing I will say that would not be misrepresented, I felt I should tender a public apology to you.”

[DailyPost]

•NNPC mum as dealers insist government still paying subsidy, Reps probe crude shortage

•Dangote eyes foreign markets for refinery products, FG meets Kyari, Dangote over dispute

With a landing cost of N1,117 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, the monthly subsidy on the commodity has increased to about N707bn, oil marketers projected on Monday.

It was also gathered that as the Dangote Petroleum Refinery begins petrol production in August, the company might export the product following the crude oil supply crisis and other regulatory challenges confronting the $21bn firm.

This came as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, met with officials of Dangote refinery, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The meeting in Abuja on Monday bordered on the recent concerns between Dangote refinery and oil sector regulators and operators.

Also, the House of Representatives inaugurated an investigative committee to look into the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries and allegations of deliberate hike in the cost of the product for profiteering.

Last Wednesday, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria stated that the landing cost of petrol as of the preceding day was N1,117/litre.

This came as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria insisted that the Federal Government was still subsidising PMS. IPMAN stressed that this was not sustainable and might lead to an increase in the pump prices of petrol soon.

MEMAN also revealed last week that the landing cost of diesel was N1,157/litre, while that of aviation fuel was N1,127/litre.

While the pump prices of diesel and aviation fuel are considerably higher than their landing costs, the pump price of petrol is way lower than its landing cost.

Although retail outlets operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and some major marketers dispense petrol at between N617/litre and N670/litre, dealers said the ex-depot price of the commodity by NNPC is N585/litre.

Idependent marketers hardly get the product at the N585/litre ex-depot price. They mostly buy from private depot owners at higher rates findings show. This makes their pump prices much higher. Some of them dispense the commodity above N700/litre.

NNPC is Nigeria’s sole importer of petrol. Other dealers stopped importing the commodity due to their inability to access the United States dollar, required for PMS imports.

The difference between the landing cost of N1,117 and an ex-depot price of N585 is N532. This implies that every litre of petrol consumed in Nigeria is subsidised by about N532.

Nigeria consumes tens of millions of litres of petrol daily. There are different petrol consumption figures from various agencies of the Federal Government.

NNPC, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, have stated different figures ranging from 66.8 million litres in September 2022 to 44.3 million litres in October 2023.

When the most recent daily PMS consumption figure of 44.3 million litres is multiplied by the N532 subsidy reportedly paid on each litre of petrol, it gives N23.57bn as the daily subsidy spending.

This means that in 30 days, the petrol subsidy should gulp about N707bn.

The Secretary of IPMAN, Abuja-Suleja, Mohammed Shuaibu, said though the Federal Government and NNPC had claimed that there was no subsidy on petrol, the latest figures by MEMAN proved otherwise.

He said petrol subsidy was over N700bn monthly considering the landing cost of the commodity as revealed by MEMAN.

“Petrol price is determined by the forces of demand and supply in the international market. When there is a global price increase, we should experience it in Nigeria. Therefore the N1,117/litre is not just based on our foreign exchange rate, but also the global PMS cost. The sole importer of this product is NNPC and the company is not telling us the truth.

“But data sourced by our counterparts, the major marketers, showed clearly that the landing cost of petrol is above N1,100/litre. This means that the monthly subsidy has crossed N700bn. That also means we should be prepared so that any time the price of petrol jumps, we should not be surprised because they have already told us,” Shuaibu stated.

The IPMAN official insisted that if government was not subsidising petrol, it should have allowed the full deregulation of the downstream sector.

“Of course, you know NNPC will hide this information from you. Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, stated a few months ago that the Nigerian government is not telling Nigerians the truth about fuel subsidies because they are still paying subsidies.

“If they are not paying, why is it that up till now only NNPC is importing petrol when they claim that they have liberalised the market? They should open the market to competition by allowing investors to come in and compete favourably. This will crash the price of the product.

“But where only one entity controls the importation of PMS then the sector has not been deregulated. That is why we feel NNPC is economical with the truth by saying that it is not subsidising petrol,” Shuaibu added.

In April, El-Rufai told journalists in Maiduguri that many citizens were not aware that the government had reintroduced the PMS subsidy.

“The Federal Government is now subsidising fuel; many people don’t know this. It is the right policy. I have always supported the withdrawal of oil subsidies; but in the course of implementing the policy, the government realised that subsidy has to be back; right now, the government is paying a lot of money for subsidy, even more than before.

“You start implementing a policy because you are sure it is the right policy, but in the course of implementation, you come across bottlenecks and you modify.

“The keyword in leadership, in my view, is pragmatism. You should be pragmatic. So, when you make a policy, you start implementing it, and if it doesn’t seem to work well, you should have the humility to stand back and say this is not working, and you modify it,” El-Rufai had stated.

NNPC mum

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, did not respond to an enquiry on whether the national oil company was subsidising petrol based on the latest revelation of MEMAN.

However, Soneye had earlier insisted that the national oil firm had stopped subsidising petrol.

“We are recovering our full costs from the products we import. It is important to emphasise that the subsidy is no longer in place. Contrary to allegations, the petrol subsidy has not been reinstated,” the NNPC spokesperson had stated.

Before the recent revelation by MEMAN on the N1,117/litre landing cost of petrol, the GCEO of NNPC, Malam Mele Kyari, had told state house correspondents after an audience with the President at the Aso Rock Villa a few months ago that fuel subsidy had not been returned.

“No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market, and we understand why the marketers are unable to import. We hope that they do it very quickly and these are some of the interventions the government is doing. There is no subsidy,” Kyari had stated.

But the Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, insisted that petrol prices at the pumps should be over N900/litre if the commodity was not subsidised.

“I’ve said before that the PMS subsidy had been returned, and the government said it was a lie. I said before that the government is subsidising PMS and it is on till this moment. I said before that what the government was doing was quasi-subsidy and that has not changed,” Ukadike stated.

He said the N1,117/litre landing cost for petrol as revealed by MEMAN is a clear indication that subsidy on petrol is still implemented by the government through NNPC.

Petrol export

It was also gathered that as the Dangote refinery begins petrol production in the next couple of weeks, the company might be forced to export the product out of the country.

The PUNCH reliably gathered that the company was contemplating selling its product to other countries as it failed to get crude oil from International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria.

Multiple sources within the organisation told one of our correspondents that the cost of importing crude oil from the United States was impacting the cost of production, making the product more expensive than the one imported by NNPC.

Some fuel marketers also stated that because Nigerians may not buy high-priced petrol, the Dangote Group was considering exporting PMS to countries where it would not be seen as too expensive.

Dangote refinery recently disclosed that it had exported about 3.5 billion litres of refined petroleum products, which, according to the firm, constituted about 90 per cent of its total productions so far.

A top official of the refinery, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorised to speak on the matter, maintained that the much-awaited PMS might go the way of other products being exported to other countries.

“I can confirm that we will supply PMS in August. That is certain. But I don’t know if we will sell to the Nigerian market. The refusal of the IOCs to supply us with crude oil is affecting the cost of production, and that will make the product more expensive compared to what the government is selling. To avoid issues, it is better to send our PMS to other countries. We have the market out there. West Africa alone is a big market for us.

“The main issue we have is crude oil. Importing it from the US is not easy. I guess Nigerians will understand; nobody wants to sell below the cost price. Everybody wants to buy cheaper fuel, but the cost of crude import is high. If we take the product to the market and the government keeps subsidising the imported one, what do you think will happen? There is no way anybody can survive in the face of government subsidy. If we don’t get crude locally, most likely, our PMS won’t be sold in Nigeria.

“If we can stop fuel importation, we will save our dollar and reduce the pressure on the naira, but sadly, this is turning out to be the way it is,” our source stated.

The source further stated that this was why the Dangote refinery had yet to release the price of its PMS.

“We ought to have met with marketers to disclose the price of our product, but we have yet to do so because of this situation and we are not even sure if the product will be sold in Nigeria. The situation is too dicey. Alhaji (Aliko Dangote) wants to end importation of PMS and give Nigerians cheaper access to energy, but there’s a mafia who don’t want that to succeed,” the source stated.

However, when asked if there are conditions that may make Dangote refinery to export its petrol instead of selling it locally, the spokesperson for the company, Mr Tony Chiejina, simply said, “Our policy is: Nigeria first.”

Experts react

Reacting, an energy expert, Prof Wumi Iledare, said the Dangote refinery was in a free trade zone and the export of PMS should not be seen as a problem as long as regulations were not violated.

“Dangote does not necessarily have to sell to the Nigerian market if the Nigerian market does not want it. NNPC could decide to get their petroleum products and decide to sell them in Nigeria. If you look at the regulation, what they call the domestic crude supply obligation, it is willing-seller, willing-buyer; the government cannot dictate the price of crude. It is going to be a negotiation between the two of them. I think people are just being sentimental about this issue,” Iledare stated.

“If Nigerians are willing to pay for whatever other people will pay for PMS, why will Dangote not sell it for them?”

He stated that by selling the product in Nigeria, the refinery would save the cost of transporting the same product, but would not sell the commodity lower than what the Nigerian market can support.

“The gap between the cost of diesel and petrol in Nigeria is much. It’s never like that all over the world. That means something is wrong. Dangote doesn’t mind selling if you are going to pay the subsidy for him to supply to the Nigerian market.

“I don’t know if NNPC is paying subsidies or not, but somebody is absorbing the difference. You can call it under-recovery or subsidy, but the price of petrol today does not reflect the market cost of producing a litre of petrol,” Iledare disclosed.

The $20bn Dangote refinery located in Lekki, Lagos State, is expected to begin the sale of petrol in August.

The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had said his refinery would stop the importation of refined petroleum products into Nigeria and Africa.

However, the company has repeatedly raised concerns over the alleged refusal of International Oil Companies to sell crude to the refinery.

“It’s like the IOCs’ objective is to ensure that our petroleum refinery fails. It is either they are deliberately asking for ridiculous/humongous premium or they simply state that crude is not available. At some point, we paid $6 over and above the market price. This has forced us to reduce our output as well as import crude from countries as far as the US, increasing our cost of production,” Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, stated recently.

Reps wade in

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, said the quality of petroleum products imported into the country must comply with global standards.

He spoke at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Monday during the inauguration of the House joint investigative committee assigned to carry out a forensic investigation into the allegations of domestic production and importation of substandard petroleum products into the country.

The investigating panel, made up of the House Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Midstream), is also looking into the non-availability of crude oil to domestic refineries and allegations of deliberate hike in the cost of the product for profiteering.

Addressing the committee members, Abbas, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, condemned the resurgence of fuel queues at petrol stations, the increasing cost of PMS, and the unavailability of feedstock for the local refineries.

He said, “The quality of petroleum products imported into Nigeria has come under scrutiny, and we must ensure compliance with global standards. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria must guarantee that petrol imported into this country is rigorously tested in laboratories to meet the standard sulphur and octane levels.

“It is unacceptable that the petrol imported into the country contains high sulphur levels, and has low octane levels — as we notably experienced in the recent past that even led to socio-economic losses on a national scale including the knocking down of the engines of vehicles of Nigerians in their hundreds.”

In his speech at the event, co-chair of the committee and Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Ikenga Ugochinyere, listed the tasks before the panel to include “Carrying out a legislative forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, allegations of high cost of PMS, unavailability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries and disruption of distribution of the product.”

He added, “To ensure a thorough and transparent investigation, the committee will undertake detailed laboratory investigations at all local refineries, marketers and importers facilities, regulatory agencies, state oil companies and other players in the sector.

“We will visit various filling stations, depots and tank farms to take samples in line with international standards, verify the quality of imported products and assess the testing capacities of all refineries and all refined product handling outfits.

“The collection of samples will be done transparently and in line with global best practices and would be in specimens for independent testing in different standard, accredited laboratories. This will include that of stakeholders involved in the refining and importation of refined petroleum products.”

Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Imo State, added that middlemen involved in shady marketing of crude oil as well as indiscriminate issuance of licenses would be traced and brought to book by the committee.

He added, “The committee will also conduct a legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in crude trading, indiscriminate issuance of licenses, alleged unavailability of international standard laboratories to check adulterated products and the influx of contaminated products into the country,

“There is also the allegation of non-domestication of profits realised from crude marketing sales in local banks, abuse of the Pro Forma Invoice regime, importation of products already being produced in Nigeria and use of international trading companies to resell fuel stock to local refineries at high mark up prices,” he added.

The House of Representatives had at the plenary on July 9 adopted a motion on “Urgent need to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors in Nigeria and other related matters to find out a lasting solution to all challenges.”

The committee is starting its mandate barely 24 hours after Speaker Abbas led a delegation of the legislative body to Lagos, headquarters of the Dangote refinery, for the spot assessment of controversy on the non-supply of crude to the indigenous company.

Lokpobiri intervenes

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, held a meeting with the leadership of Dangote refinery, NMDPRA, NUPRC and NNPC on Monday in Abuja.

Lokpobiri’s media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, said the minister convened the “high-level meeting with key stakeholders to address and resolve the ongoing issues surrounding the Dangote refinery.”

Present at the meeting, according to a statement by Okafor, were “Mr Aliko Dangote, Chairman and CEO of Dangote Group; Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of NMDPRA; Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of NUPRC; and Mr Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC.”

The stakeholders expressed gratitude to the minister for his intervention in facilitating the dialogue.

“The meeting focused on finding a sustainable and lasting solution to the current impasse affecting the Dangote refinery, with all parties demonstrating a commitment to collaborative and proactive problem-solving.

“The minister emphasised the importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders to ensure the success and optimal performance of the oil and gas sector, which is pivotal for Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security.

“This meeting marks a significant step towards resolving the challenges and underscores the minister’s dedication to fostering a conducive environment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” the statement stated.

A lot of media people have been talking to Alhaji Aliko Dangote lately; more would give an arm to be able to reach him – all because of the refinery which was advertised as the answer to our perpetual fuel problems. Laymen and women have developed the notion that, when it starts supplying fuel, prices would crash to pre-subsidy removal levels – among other expectations. More unsolicited write-ups have been sent to me by strangers and friends, alike, about Dangote himself and his refinery than I have ever received in a long time.

Suddenly, the Dangote Refinery, apart from pervasive hunger, appears to be the only subject worthy of attention. The opinion leaders are almost evenly divided – those sympathetic to Dangote and those totally against – even though the latter are often afraid to be identified. That is power – the ability to make people fear you even when you don’t know them.

  However, of all those who published articles on the subject, Segun Adeniyi of THISDAY made revelations that are pertinent to my article today – which does not seek to advise the man or even request for an appointment. According to Segun, Dangote was invited to Saudi Arabia by a top official of the Ministry of Petroleum of that country.

The Arab leader pointed out to the Nigerian businessman that only global oil companies or nations build petroleum refineries – not individuals – in a bid to persuade Dangote to stop. He was told point blank that his advice was not needed. A more expensive waste of lunch would be hard to imagine. To some extent, Dangote was right to reject the counsel. By then, he had invested too much to turn back. Moving forward was the only option left.

He moved forward; and in May 2023 the refinery was commissioned by President Buhari who played a major role in bringing about the problems now associated with the Dangote Refinery. On that day, the Nigerian Factor, symbolised by Buhari was on full display. The refinery which was not close to processing crude was presented as if   tankers could line up the next day to collect fuel for our use. Deliberate, but subtle, falsehood is at the heart of the Nigerian Factor. It leads people to believe that they have been promised something; when indeed nothing definite was offered. Americans call it a swindle.

Who promised Dangote 650,000bpd of crude?

“The combination of these two has now seen us restoring production in our country, and we believe that, as the Honourable Minister has said, we will soon hit the target of 2 million barrels of oil production per day.

  “Yes, this country, as we have said, will be a net exporter of petroleum products by the end of this year.”

Mr. Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Abuja, July 16, 2024.

If you believe that, then you will believe anything from Kyari and the FG. Nigerians remember the promises made last year when fuel subsidy was hastily removed and the economy was thrown into a tail-spin from which it has not recovered. NNPCL promised to get the refineries pumping fuel by December 2023 and Dangote Refinery would start by March 2024. None of those promises has been redeemed till today. As late as last month, Dangote fuel was again supposed to start flowing by this month. Nigeria’s obsolete museum pieces, misnamed refineries, are now expected to be fully operational by December this year. The goal posts keep receding each time the GMD-NNPCL opens his mouth without the decency of any apologies to the stakeholders he had misled each and every time. This is not the time to explain why Nigeria cannot be a net exporter of petroleum products. We wait until December to address that.

“Impress it on the mind of any man [or woman] that he [she] can do no wrong; and he [she] will soon convince you of your mistake.” Joel Barlow, 1754-1812.

  However, one promise made by Kyari is emblematic of the way every government, since Jonathan’s has misled investors in the petroleum sector. In the 2014 presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework, MTEF, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had projected 2.3 million barrels per day of crude oil for 2015-2017, at a time Nigeria was struggling to produce 1.7mbpd. In my response, several reasons were given why FG’s projections were off the mark and would result in larger deficits and negative economic variances every year. The National Assembly, NASS, accepted it without a single dissenting vote; perhaps out of fear of questioning a world class economist. Since then, 2 mpd has become almost sacrosanct. Every year FG’s budgets have been based on 2mpd; yet in no single day since Okonjo-Iweala made that error, had Nigeria been able to produce and export up to that level. In fact, the average daily production has averaged less than 1.5mbpd since 2014. For January to June this year, the average has been less than 1.4mbpd.

That is fact; unlike the wishful thinking which is the basis of Kyari’s promise. To begin with, no oil-producing nation can unilaterally increase its production by 50 per cent without triggering a major disturbance in the global market. Furthermore, Nigeria remains a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC; and its weakest member. Nigeria needs OPEC   more than the organisation needs its poorest member. Nigeria’s interests are served by operating within OPEC’s quota system than by violating it. Kyari knows that 1.7mbpd is Nigeria’s quota for this year. Why then is he promising 2mbpd to the NASS?

  Possible crude oil production is a function of the number of rigs in operation and their capacities to deliver. Under Buhari, there has been a steady decline in the number of oil rigs in operation from over 30 in 2014 to less than 15 last year. Rigs, meanwhile, are not things you start and stop like your private car. To be able to deliver 2mbpd of crude from our present low levels regularly must mean that more rigs will return to operations and remain in business henceforth. Kyari has not told Nigerians how many more rigs are re-starting this year. And, invariably, producers are tied to binding long term agreements. Thus, even if Nigeria can ramp up production, not all of it will be made available to Dangote.

  Obviously, Dangote, while embarking on his 650,000bpd refinery, had been given assurances by top FG officials – President, Ministers and GMD-NNPCL – which they knew were dubious. They knew, ab initio, that there was no way Dangote could receive that amount of crude oil from Nigeria. Yet, they encouraged the man to develop a sense of “entitlement” – the feeling that the nation owes him a duty to deliver the crude oil and, perhaps at a discount. It is certain that he will not receive 650,000 bpd of crude from Nigeria. But,   I strongly believe should be entitled to quantity discount; which is standard practice in commercial transactions. People might raise the question of fairness with regard to smaller private refineries. That is always a difficult issue for marketers of commodities. I know how the matter is handled by brand owners. That should not delay us here. There is an important question needing answers which only Dangote can provide – if he wants.

Why did Dangote embark on a 650,000bpd refinery without settling the issue of steady supply of crude? Surely, supplying Nigeria’s needs cannot be a good reason for such a large country.

Sgt. Cynthia Maurice of the Nigerian Airforce has made history by becoming the country’s first Professional female golfer in the military.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long Professional Examinations which held from July 14 to July 20 took place at HSD Golf Club Bayelsa.

The examinations sanctioned by the Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria (PGAN) consisted of playing ability tests, written and oral.

Pro Emmanuel Odoh, the Assistant Resident Head Professional, TYB International Golf Resort and Country Club told NAN that Maurice’s journey was a testament to her resilience, perseverance, and determination.

Odoh said that her achievement had indeed paved the way for other female golfers in the military and inspired young girls to pursue careers in sports.

He noted that it also highlights the progress made in promoting gender equality and diversity in the Nigerian military.

“Just four years ago, Cynthia took up golf, inspired by the professionals she saw on the course. She set her sights on becoming a pro herself, refusing to settle for amateur status.

“With unwavering dedication, she channeled her mind and body towards her goal, sacrificing tirelessly to hone her skills.

“From a 36-handicap beginner to a professional golfer, Cynthia’s transformation is a remarkable achievement. Her hard work, discipline, and courage have earned her the crown of bravery, resilience, and honor.

“Today, we celebrate Cynthia’s remarkable journey, her perseverance, and her refusal to accept anything less than excellence. Congratulations, Pro Cynthia Maurice,” he said.

(NAN)