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Mr Paul Osu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, made this known in a statement in Lagos.

Osu said the national aspiration of Nigeria was to increase its reserves from 36.91 billion barrels to 50 billion barrels, in the short to midterm.

He said the government was also targeting increasing Nigeria’s proven gas reserves from 206.53TCF to 250TCF.

Osu said the government was also looking at increasing frontier exploration activities, which had been given a boost by the recent signing of the Petroleum Industry Act, by President Muhammadu Buhari.

In terms of increasing production, he said the DPR had initiated the Maximum Economic Recovery ( MER) strategy for the oil and gas industry and would be rewarding deserving individuals and companies.

Osu said plans to reduce cost of production to $10pb was still being implemented and was achievable, in order to attract more investors to the sector.

He said the DPR would continue to create opportunities for investors and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, as well as enable the successes of businesses, using its service instruments of licences, permits and approvals.

NAN

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The secret police released the eight detainees, their lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, told news correspondent.

The secret police, however, refused to release the remaining four detainees.

Those released appeared at a press conference with their lawyer. They are Abideen Shittu, Abdullateef Onaolapo, Ayobami Donald, Olakunle Oluwapelumi, Dikeola Ademola, Bamidele Sunday, Raji Kazeem, and Taiwo Tajudeen.

Those still in DSS custody are Tajudeen Irinloye, Uthman Adelabu, Amudat Babatunde, and Jamiu Oyetunji.

Speaking at a press conference after the release of eight of the 12 detainees in Abuja, Olajengbesi insisted that the remaining four of his clients must be freed because they had been granted bail by the court.

He also stated that the DSS must account for the two associates of Igboho killed during the bloody raid of July 1, 2021.

Punch

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The association’s position was contained in a communique issued at the end of the meeting made available to journalists.

The communique was jointly signed by the President of NARD, Okhuaihesuyi Uyilawa; Secretary General, Jerry Isogun; and Publicity Secretary, Dotun Oshikoya.

It was titled ‘Communique issued at the end of an extraordinary National Executive Council meeting of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors.’

“After critical appraisal of the actions of both federal and state governments on all the issues affecting the welfare of our members as observed above and the perpetual insincerity from government as evidence by the reckless ex parte injunctions sought by the government and the ambiguity in the interpretation of the ruling of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, the NEC unanimously agreed via vote to sustain the ongoing industrial action until her demands are met as contained in the MOA signed more than 140 days ago and the recent MOU signed between the government and NMA,” it read.

In coming to the conclusion, the NARD decried what it described as the nonchalant attitude of government officials towards the sufferings of Nigerian doctors.

Punch

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NBC made this known in a letter to the television station titled, ‘Notice of Infraction’.

NBC said, “The programme which had as guest the Executive Governor of Benue State, Governor Samuel Ortom, was observed to contain inciting, divisive and unfair comments which were not thoroughly interrogated by the anchors.”

It said the actions allegedly negated Sections 1.10.4, 3.1.1, 3.3.1(b), 3.3.1(e), 3.11.1(a), and 3.12.2 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code.

“Consequently, Channels Television is required to explain why appropriate sanctions should not be applied for these infractions of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code. Your response should reach the Commission within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter,” the NBC said.

Ortom, who was a guest on the TV programme on Tuesday morning, had said, “Mr President is pushing me to think that what they say about him, that he has a hidden agenda in this country is true because it is very clear that he wants to fulanise but he is not the first Fulani president.

“Shagari was a Fulani President, Yar’ Adua was a Fulani President and they were the best in the history. But President Buhari is the worst President when it comes to issues of security and keeping his promises.

“Go back to 2015, what did he say, human rights issues, he talked about press freedom, about the economy, corruption, security, tell me one that Mr President has achieved.

“He has achieved some level of development in other sectors but these prominent things that are concerns to Nigerians and we are all worried about.. tell me when Mr President has come out to address them. Is it corruption, we are worse in the history of this country.”

However, the Presidency subsequently came hard on the governor and accused him of using sectarian language similar to that of the Rwandan Genocide of 1994, while reacting to the security challenges in his state.

Punch

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Passengers are stranded at Cele Bus Stop on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway following a protest against the Lagos State Taskforce by road transport workers, including thugs wielding machetes and knives.

The protesters have set up bonfires on the expressway, inward Oshodi and are preventing commercial vehicles and motorcyclists on both side of the expressway from operating.

According to them, taskforce officials routinely and indiscriminately seize their vehicles for which they allegedly pay huge sums before they are released.

TheNation

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After 53 days in the custody of the Department of State Services, the 12 aides of embattled Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, are set to taste freedom again as Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court, Abuja signed their Release Order.

The detainees’ lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi, confirmed the development to news correspondent.

He said the judge could not sign the Release Order of the other eight detainees because three of the sureties withdrew before concluding the process of perfecting the bail conditions of his clients.

The eight detainees are Abdullateef Onaolapo, Tajudeen Irinloye, Dikeola Ademola, Ayobami Donald, Uthman Adelabu, Olakunle Oluwapelumi, Raji Kazeem, and Taiwo Tajudeen.

Olajengbesi, however, expressed optimism that the three sureties that pulled out would be replaced and the judge would sign their Release Order too.

The lawyer also urged the DSS to comply with the court order and release his clients immediately.

Punch

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Justice John Targema of The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja made the order while ruling on an exparte application by the federal government.

“It is hereby ordered that claimant/applicant and the defendant/respondent suspend all forms of hostilities forthwith pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice,” he ruled.

Justice Targema adjourned the substantive suit to September 15 and ruled that a hearing notice should be issued and served on the defendant.

Punch

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The Head of Service, Pastor Niran Adeyemo gave this clarification at this year’s Public Service Day Celebration held in Akure, the state capital.

Adeyemo said ” l want to clarify this issue of salary payment. The government of Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu is not paying the workers half salary. The percentage payment came into being because of the COVID – 19 pandemics.

” That’s is not true. What this government does every month as we receive an allocation from the Federation Account is to sit down with the labour union leaders in the state to decide jointly how to distribute what was received.

” lt is what comes to the state that we pay to all workers including tertiary institutions. There was a time 170% was paid to workers. The amount payable each month depends on what the state received with the understanding of our workforce.

” lf 70% was paid last month, the balance of 30% would be paid the following month. That is how we’ve been doing it since the outbreak of the COVID -19 pandemic.

” You will recall that this Administration inherited 7-month unpaid salaries and allowances. Within a space of about 2 years, the salary backlogs are almost completely cleared, leaving only a month.

Vanguard