Reps set up ad-hoc c’ttee to probe alleged N20b theft in NNPC

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to set up an committee to investigate the alleged theft of twenty billion naira (N20bn) by the staff of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL.

The House decision was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance by a member from Kano State Hon Hafiz Kawu, during plenary.

The lawmaker alleged that staff of NNPCL were reported to have diverted the funds under the guise of consultancy fees paid to it’s consultant Messrs Sapphire.

The funds according to him is part of the money meant for the payment of taxes to state governments by the corporation.

He expressed concern that at a time when the Nigerian government was doing it’s best to fight corruption and harnesses resources for the development of infrastructure, staff of an agency of government ought to be prudent in the utilization of state resources not to corruptly divert same.

“Staff of an agency of government ought to be prudent in the utility of state resources not to corruptly divert it. If no action is urgently taken by this hallow chamber to nip this unethical and unwholesome practice in the bud, it will negatively affect the budget of our nation as well as deprive other state government of its revenue,” Kawu said.

The committee is expected to report back in four weeks for further legislative action.

NGO trains participants on creating wealth, job from used tyres

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Anongovernmental motorsports organization that promotes motorsports and road safety advocacy in Nigeria has trained participants on the “opportunities available for entrepreneurs to create employment and wealth thereby reducing poverty” in the country.

The programme which was organized by the Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), a nongovernmental motorsports organization that promotes motorsports and road safety advocacy in Nigeria, took place at the the Cyprian Ekwensi Arts and Culture Centre, Area 10, Abuja.

More than 200 participants who were trained on how diesel and furniture could be produced from used tyres by Umar Yabo and Priscilla Babajide respectively and took part in the street rally were presented with certificate of participation.

The president of Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), Mr. Isiaku Bamayi, stated that, the “program aims at raising awareness on the hazards posed by improper disposal of used tyres and to promote a circular economic approach via extended producer responsibility (EPR) to the environmentally sound management of used tyres, which in turn will promote environmental quality an aspect of the environmental pillar of the FIA Sustainability Roadmap. “This awareness campaign will also educate Nigerians on the opportunities available for entrepreneurs to create employment and wealth thereby reducing poverty. In essence, there will be training on the uses of waste tyres to develop materials to enhance your knowledge”, he said in his speech.

Engr. Chukwudi, an assistant director, plastic sector in the National Environmental Standards and Regulatory Agency (NESREA) who took day one training session explained that “the essence of applying EPR is not only to control and manage solid waste but to also engage manufacturers to ensure a policy action on how to re-use spent tyres instead of burning them and polluting the environment”.

The president of Association of Erudite Entrepreneurs of Nigeria, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, said that, “the advocacy helps us to understand that Tyre burning is a problem in terms of environmental hazards”.

Hon. Billy Nwoye, the managing director of Used Tyres Producers Responsibility Organisation of Nigeria (UTPRON), charged the participants to ensure that they take advantage of the entrepreneurial opportunities and tips the training would give to them while the principal technical officer of the VIO, Mr. Moses Daniel, commended ATCN for the advocacy programme.

More than 200 participants who were trained on how diesel and furniture could be produced from used tyres by Umar Yabo and Priscilla Babajide respectively and took part in the street rally were presented with certificate of participation.