General News
FG will stop borrowing to finance budget if it develops solid minerals sector-Sen Ogoshi

Senator Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi represents Nasarawa North, Central Senatorial district in Nasarawa state has maintained that Federal government would have no need engage in external borrowing to finance budget if it develops our rich solid minerals sector.
In this interview with IGNATIUS OKOROCHA, the lawmaker speaks on other issues of national importance.
Distinguished, your colleague, Senator Kenneth Eze is celebrating his birthday anniversary today. As a friend of the distinguished Senator,what do you have to say about him?
We thank God for his life. We felicitate with him for coming this far in his political sojourn
and we are thanking God for what he has done in his life. He is chairman of a committee that is leading us well.He is a team player and he is somebody that I always like to associate with because any leader who seeks an opinion of those he is leading to be able to lead them well, is somebody that you would always like to learn from.I wish him well and pray that he continues to age with grace. I want to assure him that as a young man, this is just the first step of the steps he is going to be climbing and the skey by the grace of God, will be his starting point.
Distinguished, you are from a state that is richly endowed with solid minerals but we are not exploring this huge potentials and Nigeria has been operating a mono-crop economy and this is why the whole nation is suffering today. what is your impression?
My impression is for the leadership of the nation to begin to have a rethink. Oil will soon become a thing of the past, everybody is now thinking towards green energy. Green energy is being generated by solid minerals and the earlier the government begins to give the solid minerals sector attention to develop, the better for the country
The effort being made to keep the oil sector afloat, if half of it is given to solid minerals sector, this country would not have to go and borrow money from anywhere. Just look at how much is a barrel of oil?
A barrel of oil is above $80 whereas one gram of solid minerals that you can just put under your finger nail is about 80 something. And so if you have one kilo of gold today, you are taking about eighty (80,000) something thousand dollars not Naira. So, if we could harness what we have, this country will be better for it and fortunately for us, every local government in Nigeria, (there are about 774 local government areas in Nigeria)have one form of solid minerals or the other just needs to be harnessed.
All this concentration on oil and the degradation of land that people can not fish, people can not farm within the oil region, will be a thing of the past. You can easily reclaim land that is dug to bring out a solid minerals. You can’t do that with oil. So, our government should understand where the world is tinting to. There so many countries that do not have solid minerals
They only have one or two major minerals.
What about renewable energy?
Renewable energy or green energy, I just explained that it is sourced from solid minerals. For instance Nigeria has large quantity of bitumen in every part of the country. This particular mineral has made some individuals very rich. Most people don’t even have it in their country and as such they come to Africa to buy it in large quantity.
So, why don’t we harness what we have. They come to Africa and harvest some of these things and go to their country and process them. We are loosing money. The mineral they buy for one thousand Naira, they could sell for one million Naira in their home country per gram and they are creating employment for their unemployed youths. Our youths have nothing to do and that is why all these kidnappings and other forms of criminality are striving. So, if we can give attention to the development of the solid minerals sector it will go a long way in improving our revenue
The parliament is an integral part of government, what is the National Assembly doing to ensure that the solid minerals sector is developed to the point that the solid minerals becomes an alternative source of revenue to the Federal government?
Fortunately we just resumed plenary today, we will discuss this burning issue with our chairman and we will also want to have an interaction with the Minister of Solid minerals to see what we can do to help government to push towards that direction. The exiting Act needs to be amended. There are a lot of clauses that need to be amended. Something urgent needs to be done so that at least progress can be made from where we are. Lots of work need to be done. The legislature and the Executive arm of government will have to work together to push this forward.
As the nation joined the rest of the world to celebrate the international labour Day last Wednesday and given the harsh economic situation in Nigerians that has subjected workers to untold hardship by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, how do want the Federal government to relief this burden on the people?
The government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into power with aim of giving Nigerians hope by removing the fuel subsidy. The ordinary Nigerian thinks that when the subsidy on fuel is removed, his life would be better, cost of transportation would be go down, lots of things are going to changed and these things are not been seen. The workers are groning and the take home pay of ordinary worker in Nigerian is still below expectation compared to his counterparts in some countries of the world. And so, the workers would have to be patient with government. The government just came into office a few months ago and they are just trying to settle down. Let there be discussions between the leadership of labour and the government representatives. Strikes or violence can not provide the need solution. Let there be roundtable dialogue between labour and government to look at the two parties can do. We all have one country, we don’t have any other country except Nigeria and something can only be achieved if we negotiate, if we tell ourselves this is our problem and our leaders look at those problems with the aim of helping to solve those problems. I wish to remind Nigerian workers that they have endowed for centuries and there light at the end of the tunnel.

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General News
HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new appointment

HOSTCON Youth Council hails Senator Ned Nwoko on his new appointment
By David Owei, Bayelsa
Youths of the Host Communities Producing Oil, Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria (HOSTCON) have described as ” commendable” the appointment of the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District of Delta State, Sen. Ned Nwoko as the Chairman, Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft.
According to HOSTCON, the appointment of Sen. Ned Nwoko by the 10th Senate under the leadership of Sen God’swill Akpabio as a game-changer for the entire oil and gas value chain in the nation’s oil industry.
The Host Communities Producing Oil Gas and Pipeline Impacted States Youth Council Of Nigeria under the leadership of the National President, Comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Path finder, stated in a statement issued via electronic mail, that the Senator Ned Nwoko-led Committee will salvage the nation’s oil and gas sector and the economic woes of the country.
According to HOSTCON, ” it would never be business as usual for the saboteurs, both locally and internationally because he has already hit the ground running, and Nigerians would see what has never happened in the fight against oil and gas thieves no matter who they are.”
“As a round peg in a round hole, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters, his underground strategies would take these thieves by storm and surprise, and this would usher in lasting solutions in curbing the menace of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering activities in the creeks of Niger Delta region and the hinterlands.”
“The Senator Ned Nwoko we know, is a man of courage and master strategist, who has all it takes to rid the oil and gas sector of this ugly menace of sabotage by some devilish persons who have over the years stolen our common patrimony for their self aggrandizement.”
“We must say that Senator Ned Nwoko, a son of the Niger Delta understands the region so deeply and has broad knowledge about the nefarious activities of these plunders of our national wealth, and knows how to marshal out his strategies to change the ugly narrative in the oil and gas sector.”
” His appointment is highly welcomed by all and sundry and due to his pedigree and sagacity as a patriotic, detribalized, and true Nigerian leader who has distinguished himself in serving the nation with national conscience.”
“We also want to assure Nigerians that Senator Ned Nwoko’s 100 days in this saddle will end oil theft and would be resounding and reverberating because we have seen the handwriting already, and that it would bring about a stupendous growth and development of the oil and gas sector in no distant time as he had already commenced the job by leading a courtesy visit to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, seeking a partnership with the military to curb the menace, and also has set up and inaugurated a surveillance team for overt and covert oversight on oil facilities and institutions.”
“Interestingly, the committee has called for strengthening of intelligence-sharing mechanisms, surveillance operations and fostering of seamless inter-agency collaboration to dismantle the complex networks behind crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region and across the international borders.”
“Recently, he affirmed the The committee’s unwavering commitment and sense of patriotism in its resolve to implement watertight policies, deploy cutting-edge security technology, and ensure that those who undermine the national wealth are held accountable.”
“He also said that the task at hand transcends revenue protection; it is about securing the future, bolstering economic resilience, and creating an environment conducive for national progress.”
“0We want Nigerians to be confident about Senator Ned Nwoko because his track record based on his background as an international criminal lawyer. He has the expertise to ensure these thieves are brought to justice, and also his solid performance on the floor of the Senate and impact on his senatorial district is amazing as he has moved numerous life changing motions and bills been sponsored by distinguished Senator Ned Nwoko on the floor of the Red Chambers within the one and half years under the President Bola Tinubu ‘Renewed Hope’ mantra has drastically transformed the lives of his people.”
“Therefore at this juncture, the leadership of the HOSTCON YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA, under comrade Emmanuel Fiawei Pathfinder, National Exco, elders and Board of Trustees, throw our full weight behind Sen Ned Nwoko-led Ad hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft and Other Related Matters.”
“We at HOSTCON, being the most critical umbrella body that is the ears, eyes, strength, energy and heart beat of the nation’s oil and gas producing communities in the creeks as well the strength and the life-wire of the nation’s economy will partner with the 10th Senate under the leadership of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akp, through the Chairman of the Senate Add-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Sen Ned Nwoko, the Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State to join hands together for us to foster a collective responsibility to salvage the economy of our dear country by all means from the hands of this sophisticated oil thieves in collaboration with their foreign counterparts in this illicit business bent to cripple out economy.”
General News
NAS seeks review of laws against gender-based discriminations and violence ..says gender-based biases at the homestead

By David Owei, Bayelsa
The National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC) has called for a review of laws mitigating against cases of gender-based discriminations and violence in the society.
The (NAS-PC), in conjunction with gender based advocacy groups including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State and the Do Foundation, however agreed that despite the needed review, there is the need of addressing gender-based biases at the homestead, noting that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons.
The Capoon of the Oxbow Marino Deck of the National Association of Seadogs—Pyrates Confraternity (NAS-PC), Engr. Adogbeji Egbonoje, while speaking during a state-wide radio discussion programme on Radio Bayelsa 97.1 FM, Yenagoa. This year’s theme, “For all Women and Girls: Rights, Equality and Empowerment, stressed that paying attention to how sons are raised and groomed would have a profound impact on how they relate with women as adults.
He emphasized the importance of addressing gender-based biases at the homestead, noting that perpetrators of gender-based discriminations and violence are often fathers, brothers, and sons.
He stressed that paying attention to how sons are raised and groomed would have a profound impact on how they relate with women as adults.
He also highlighted the significance of cultivating the mind of the girl child from infancy, instilling confidence in young girls as they venture into the world as adults,” This, he believed, would empower them to withstand negative peer pressures and chart their paths in life.”
Also speaking on the radio discussion programme, the National Assistant Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),Barr. Ebiere Emmanuella and the Former Chairperson of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bayelsa State, Dr. Dise Ogbise Goddy Harry also shared expert insights on the historical context of International Women’s Day, progress made in gender equality, and the importance of education and policy changes in addressing systemic barriers.
The two legal experts pointed out the the roles of organizations like FIDA and the NBA in supporting marginalized women and pointed out contending issues of workplace equality, women’s leadership, and the role of men as allies in the fight for gender equality.
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