Alleged N44.8bn fraud: Desperate elements trying to implicate me, Beta Edu cries out – Newstrends
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Alleged N44.8bn fraud: Desperate elements trying to implicate me, Beta Edu cries out

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4 months ago

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Dr. Beta Edu

Alleged N44.8bn fraud: Desperate elements trying to implicate me, Beta Edu cries out

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has alerted of desperate plans by some persons to implicate her in the N44.8bn fraud in the National Social Investment Programme Agency, NSIPA.

She insisted that some elements who have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud, “are behind this latest misadventure.”

The minister, reacting to the allegation of her involvement through her Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, on Friday evening, explained that the fund for the vulnerable groups in four states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states was not only approved but also went through due process.

“For the avoidance, the said N585,198,500.00 was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of Grants to Vulnerable Groups, GVG, in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states,” she added.

A response to the allegation by the ministry, read:”The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation notes with dismay, on a memo from the Ministry to the Accountant-General of the Federation approving for payment, of the sum of N585,189,500.00 Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups for four states, which is currently being circulated in the social media.

“It is glaring that the same sponsored disgruntled elements in the past few days have been trying to smear the Honourable Minister, Dr Betta Edu, and stain her integrity following the Federal Government’s ongoing 44.8 Billion Fraud in NSIPA. These elements have been trying to link her to a phantom fraud and are behind this latest misadventure.

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“However, this latest vile effort of theirs is another infantile blackmail doomed for evisceration.

“For the avoidance, the said N585,198,500.00 was approved, and it is meant for the implementation of Grants to vulnerable groups in Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ogun, and Lagos states. We must, however, note that GVG was first launched in the Kogi state where recipients testified.

“Akwa Ibom and Cross River were launched in December 2023, Kogi in November, and others will be launched in the coming weeks.

“The general public is invited to note that the Renewed Hope Grant for Vulnerable Groups is one of the social intervention schemes of the federal government, which is being implemented by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

“Oniyelu Bridget is the Project Accountant for GVG from the Department of Finance and it is Legal in civil service for staff, the Project accountant to be paid and use the same funds legally and retire same with all receipts and evidence after the project or Programme is completed.

“The evil motive of the mischief-makers behind the circulation of the memo is well-known and should be ignored. Of note is the fact that since assumption of duty about five months ago, the Minister has religiously visited different parts of the country like Borno, Zamfara, Niger, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, FCT, Lagos Cross River among others and this is done to ensure she delivers on her mandate and she has remained focused, unbiased and committed to duty.”

Alleged N44.8bn fraud: Desperate elements trying to implicate me, Beta Edu cries out

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FG to give full operating licence to Dangote

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2 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery

FG to give full operating licence to Dangote

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced that the commissioning of the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Petroleum Refinery is imminent. Furthermore, the Authority will soon grant the refinery an operational license.

This announcement was made by NMDPRA’s Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, during a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, where he revealed that only three refineries currently possess valid licenses.

“We have issue three refineries with three valid licences. We awarded to Dangote Refinery even in their pre- commissioning and sooner than later they will have full commission and a valid license to also operate,” he said.

Ahmed also noted that about 15 gas facilities have valid licences while more were undergoing processing.

According to him, there are 1,199 facilities with valid licences in the downstream.

He also said there are more than 176 operators, who hold gas import permits.

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The Authority Chief Executive also noted that there are 130 depots with valid licences while 69 hold valid coastal vessels licences.

In terms of retail, Ahmed said NMDPRA has licensed 9,464 retail outlets as at 10:00am yesterday.

His words: “In the gas processing facility, within the midstream, there are about 15 of them with valid licenses. And much are under processing.

“If you go to the downstream, in the gas state of the downstream, there are facilities more that 1,199 facilities are with NMDPRA valid licences. More than 176 operators hold gas import permits. In the liquid licensing side of the downstream, there are 130 depots with valid licenses, coastal vessels of more than 69 valid licenses as at today.”

The CEO of NMDPRA emphasized the importance of including midstream and downstream operations in the Host Community framework, as they are impacted by emissions and effluence. He used the examples of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and NLNG to illustrate the scope of emissions.

He presented data on midstream and downstream operations to help stakeholders understand their reach and encouraged them to provide input on which facilities should be included in the Host Community and the criteria for doing so. The forum was organized to gather stakeholders’ ideas and feedback.

FG to give full operating licence to Dangote

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ICPC tracks N219.84bn projects in 176 MDAs

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2 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

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ICPC tracks N219.84bn projects in 176 MDAs

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has tracked N219.84 billion to contractors and ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, of the federal government.

The Chairman of the ICPC, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, who disclosed this at a briefing in Lagos yesterday, said the tracking focussed on critical sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure which he added, spanned 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, across all six geo-political zones of the country.

“The Constituency and Executive Projects Tracking Group (CEPTG) has tracked a total of N219, 843,922,945.48 across 176 ministries, departments, and agencies, MDAs, since its inception in 2019.

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‘’The initiative is to ensure government funds are directed towards impactful projects that benefit the most vulnerable Nigerians,’’ he said.

According to the ICPC boss, the phase 6 tracking which commenced in November 2023 and continued through the first quarter of this year, is ongoing.

He said: “Finally, we want to assure Nigerians that ICPC, in the discharge of its enforcement mandate, is committed to adherence to the rule of law and international best practices in the investigation and prosecution of persons suspected to have committed corrupt practices.’’

The CEPTG, conceived in April 2019 as a preventive and intervention measure, is initiated to tackle corruption and, among other things, engender good governance, transparency, and accountability within the body polity. It focuses on how well monies allocated to critical sectors by the government are utilised.

Highlighting the findings from Phase 6 tracking, the commission’s chairman said a total of 1,721 government-funded projects were tracked within the Phase 6 tracking cycle.

ICPC tracks N219.84bn projects in 176 MDAs

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Nigeria’s solid minerals worth over $750bn — Minister

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3 hours ago

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May 1, 2024

By

Dele Alake, Nigerian minister of Solid Minerals

Nigeria’s solid minerals worth over $750bn — Minister

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, revealed a preliminary report by German firm GeoScan that estimates Nigeria’s solid minerals are worth $750 billion. He highlighted this during a summit organized by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and Bruit Costaud, emphasizing the sector’s potential contribution to Nigeria’s goal of achieving a trillion-dollar economy.

Alake noted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to reforms in the mining sector to prevent Nigeria from merely being a mining pit for solid minerals. He stressed the importance of data availability to attract investors and stimulate job creation and economic growth through mineral processing plants.

“We are working with the World Bank, Excalibur and GeoScan, a German company, to get the necessary data on the sector. That is why the federal government signed a memorandum of understanding with Geoscan, and they did a preliminary survey of our minerals’ output and potential. They gave us a figure of $750bn worth of minerals embedded under the ground of Nigeria.”

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Collaborations with organizations like the World Bank, Excalibur, and GeoScan aim to gather essential data for the sector. The memorandum of understanding signed with GeoScan resulted in a preliminary survey revealing the substantial value of Nigeria’s mineral resources.

Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule highlighted the importance of investing in solid minerals, particularly citing the significance of lithium, which he likened to gold. He announced the impending commissioning of Nigeria’s largest lithium processing factory, expected to process 4,000 metric tons daily and transport over a million tons of lithium annually.

Ayo Omotaya, Director General of NIPSS, reiterated the summit’s purpose of charting a path forward for the mining sector, underscoring the necessity of strategic planning and collaboration to harness Nigeria’s mineral wealth.

Nigeria’s solid minerals worth over $750bn — Minister

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