Recruitment of next phase of federal fire service personnel begins

The Civil Defence Correctional Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has announced the commencement of the next phase of ITs 2023/2024 recruitment into the Federal Fire Service (FFS).

The Secretary to the Board, Ja’afaru Ahmed, disclosed this in a statement made available to the media on Saturday.

Dangote fuel supply forces Scotland refinery to announce shutdown date

Grangemouth, Scotland’s only oil refinery, is to close in 2025 with the loss of 400 jobs, operator Petroineos has said, according to Reuters, as part of plans to turn the 100-year-old plant into a fuels import terminal.

Petroineos said last November it was preparing to shut down Grangemouth, Britain’s oldest refinery. Production will cease in the second quarter of next year, subject to an employee consultation, a company spokesperson said.

The decision was criticised by trade unions and politicians.

“It is deeply disappointing that Petroineos have confirmed their previous decision to close Grangemouth oil refinery,” UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said.

The site will become an import and distribution terminal for finished fuels, which will cut the number of employees at the site from 475 to around 75 over the next two years.

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Petroineos is a joint venture between PetroChina International London (PCIL) and INEOS Group, a British chemicals firm founded by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The company cited economic difficulties as the reason for the closure, stating that the company had invested $1.2 billion since 2011, and returned losses in excess of $775 million over the same period.

“Grangemouth is increasingly unable to compete with bigger, more modern and efficient sites in the Middle East, Asia and Africa” where Dangote Refinery just opened.

Due to its size and configuration, Grangemouth incurs high levels of capital expenditure each year just to maintain its licence to operate,” the company said.

It said the plant is currently losing around $500,000 per day, and expects to see a $200 million loss for 2024.

Petroineos’s plans for Grangemouth had been opposed by trade unions and local politicians and there were campaigns to extend production until a low-carbon alternative for its long-term future could be secured.

Dangote fuel supply forces Scotland refinery to announce shutdown date

JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Abuja today after China, UK trips

President Bola Tinubu is set to return to Abuja on Sunday after concluding his official trip to China and a brief stopover in the United Kingdom.

Tinubu departed Abuja for Beijing on August 29. His visit commenced on September 2 with a meeting at the Great Hall of the People, where he was warmly received by President Xi Jinping.

A 21-gun salute and an honor guard marked his arrival in China, highlighting the significance of the visit.

According to a statement released by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu engaged in a series of bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. During these discussions, both countries signed five Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).

These agreements covered various areas, including a cooperation plan to further the Belt and Road Initiative, peaceful applications of nuclear energy, and development initiatives related to human resources.

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One of the MoUs emphasized media exchange and cooperation between China’s media outlets and the Nigerian Television Authority. Another key agreement was signed with the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) for the construction of the Lagos Green Rail Line, a 68-kilometer project that will connect the Lekki Free Zone to Marina, interfacing with the existing Blue Line.

Additionally, an agreement for a $1 billion iron ore-to-steel project in Kogi State was reached between Nigeria’s Chart and Capstone Integrated Limited and China’s Sinomach-He.

During his stay in China, President Tinubu also visited prominent companies, including Huawei and CHEC, before attending the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit. At the summit, representing the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as chairman, he delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of multilateralism and global cooperation for peace.

In his final engagement in China, Tinubu met with representatives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (China chapter) to discuss the ongoing reforms in Nigeria. He expressed hope that these changes would pave the way for improved infrastructure, consistent power supply, and enhanced education, akin to what is seen in China.

After leaving Beijing, President Tinubu headed to London for a brief visit. There, he met with King Charles III to discuss pressing issues, including climate change.

President Tinubu’s return to Abuja is eagerly anticipated as he concludes this important diplomatic mission.

JUST IN: Tinubu returns to Abuja today after China, UK trips