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UPDATED: Why I resigned as NIA DG, by Abubakar
UPDATED: Why I resigned as NIA DG, by Abubakar
Director General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmad Rufai Abubakar on Saturday tendered his resignation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House.
Speaking to journalists after his meeting with Tinubu, Abubakar revealed that his decision was due to personal and family issues, emphasising that nothing was seriously amiss.
He expressed gratitude for the understanding shown by Tinubu and stressed that his friendship with the President would endure.
The outgoing DG pledged to remain vigilant and concerned about the nation’s security situation, indicating his continued commitment to Nigeria’s well-being despite his resignation.
“There are quite a number of reasons one will do that, some personal family issues, but nothing very serious, actually, and the friendship will continue.
“I discussed with Mr. President, he understood very well and I promise to remain with issues and the security situations of the country,” he said.
Abubakar expressed gratitude to the President for the opportunity to serve as DG for seven years, while he appreciated his willingness to listen to his briefings and advice.
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The outgoing DG highlighted his pride in mentoring younger officers, ensuring a strong succession plan, noting that many capable officers are equipped to excel in the role, leaving a legacy of a well-prepared and competent intelligence agency.
“I think, I think it’s not for me to say this, actually, probably I’ll be breaching a protocol but maybe the NSA and or Mr. President himself will say it but what I can tell you is that I’m very grateful for the opportunity that the President gave me to serve the country and his leadership, the encouragement I got, the confidence he had in me and in my service, the opportunity to listen to me, to read briefing notes and advices and so on.
“I think this is this for me, is, everything and I have had the opportunity to mentor officers and staff for all the period I have been DG. This is the seventh year by the way to
mentor officers and staff for all the period that I’ve been DG, this is the seventh year, by the way, and the opportunity to mentor younger officers to come up, and now we have a lot of many officers who can do this job and do it excellently well,” he said.
He revealed that President Tinubu graciously approved and accepted his resignation, acknowledging the rarity of serving two presidents consecutively, a testament to his dedication and expertise in national intelligence.
“After the briefing today, actually I tendered my resignation and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted the resignation.
“I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to serve Nigeria under his transformational leadership for a period, for an extended period of 15 months, which is very rare, by the way, to serve, to have the opportunity to serve two Presidents at a stretch, at a go,” he said.
The exiting NIA was first appointed in 2018 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, who extended his stay in office in December 2021.
The Nation
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NNPC has no right setting price of Dangote petrol – Falana
NNPC has no right setting price of Dangote petrol – Falana
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, says the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, do not have the power to fix the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, for the Dangote Refinery after deregulation.
Falana said the NNPCL action violated the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, which stipulated that the price of petrol must be determined by the market forces
In a statement on Tuesday, the legal luminary said it was an aberration for the NNPCL to peg the price of petrol produced and refined in Nigeria at 950 per litre.
“On September 5, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) stated that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity had been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) governed by unrestrained market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
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“The NNPCL was explaining the pump price of PMS imported into the country at the material time. Specifically, the Executive Vice President of Downstream NNPC Ltd Mr. Adedapo Segun, explained that Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd, stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by free market forces.
“But contrary to the well-publicised statement, the NNPCL has fixed the price of PMS produced by the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited. The action of the NNPCL is a violent contravention of section 205 of the PIA, which stipulates that the prices of petroleum products shall be determined by market forces.
“Furthermore, since the petrol sold by Dangote is not imported into the country but produced at the Lekki Economic Free Trade Zone, the NNPCL cannot justify the sale of petrol at N950 per litre without freight cost, lightering cost, jetty depot fees, storage fees, foreign exchange costs, NPA charges: NIMASA charges, Customs duties etc,” he said.
Falana’s outburst followed the commencement of PMS lifting by the NNPCL from the Dangote Refinery.
You would recall that as soon as lifting commenced, NNPCL announced that the product would sell for N950 per litre in Lagos State and its environs, and above N1,000 per litre in states such as Borno.
Reacting, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on Monday, criticised NNPCL, saying it was not right for petrol lifted from the Dangote Refinery to cost higher than imported ones
NNPC has no right setting price of Dangote petrol – Falana
News
Coffee prices double in Nigeria after global supply disruptions
Coffee prices double in Nigeria after global supply disruptions
Nigeria is feeling the impact of the global coffee crisis as futures prices surge by over 30% due to severe supply disruptions caused by drought in Brazil, the world’s largest Arabica coffee producer.
In Nigeria, coffee prices have doubled in 2024, with popular brands like Nescafe and TopCafe experiencing significant hikes.
For instance, “Nescafe 3 in 1” spiked to N34,000 per carton in August, up from N28,000 in May, and a steep rise from N18,000 last year.
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The rainfall shortage in Brazil, which began in April, has led to a sharp decline in coffee production, sparking a global rush to secure supplies.
This has driven up coffee futures, with U.S. Coffee Futures and Arabica Futures both soaring by more than 30% in 2024, impacting markets worldwide, including Nigeria.
Coffee prices double in Nigeria after global supply disruptions
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UN donates $6m to support Borno flood victims
UN donates $6m to support Borno flood victims
The United Nations has announced the donation of a $6 million fund in support of the Maiduguri flood victims in Borno State.
In a statement on Tuesday, the UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, said a joint mission comprising UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), alongside the Nigeria Red Cross Society, visited the main city of Maiduguri over the weekend.
According to Fall, the team met with people who had been impacted, many of them had already displaced multiple times by conflict and insecurity in the area.
The flood was caused by an overflow in the Alau Dam located just over 10 miles to the south of Maiduguri.
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“We and our partners are providing them with hot meals, we are facilitating air drops of food in hard-to-reach areas cut off by flood waters, and we are also trucking in water.
“We are also providing water and sanitation hygiene services and water purification tablets to stem disease outbreaks.
“This is in addition to supplying hygiene and dignity kits to women and girls, as well as emergency health and shelter services.”
He added that the staff of the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs were also working closely with donors to secure additional funding.
UN donates $6m to support Borno flood victims
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