Federal Government to construct pipelines from Niger Republic to Kaduna Refinery to curb militancy and vandalism

The federal government has finalised plans of the construction of a 1,000 kilometer crude oil pipelines from Niger Republic to Kaduna Refinery.


This move was decided following the continued difficulty of transporting oil from the Niger Delta region to the Kaduna refinery due to the activities of militants and oil saboteurs.

According to Vanguard, Dr. Maikanti Baru who is the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) spoke at a town hall meeting with management and staff of the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) in Kaduna.


Baru said: “Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery has been epileptic. This we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods, including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipelines of over 1, 000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna. That effort is being championed by Mr. President himself.”

“It was important to explore alternative crude supply to KRPC, which has been affected by vandalism of pipelines and obsolescence, assuring that the initiative will reduce downtime of the plant and ensure optimal utilisation.

“The Corporation has already started engagements with the Nigerien Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem (The Agadem Block is located in the East Niger Rift Basin)”

Baru promised that he would ensure the energy supply project to power industries in Kaduna is made possible with the completion of the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline.

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Fulani Herdsmen kill over 20 persons in a clash at Jema LGA Kaduna State

Armed herdsmen between Saturday and Sunday allegdely killed not less than 20 persons after they lay a surprise siege on Godogodo, a semi-urban settlement, in Jema’a Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna State, Vanguard reports.


Eye-witnesses and escapees said the area was razed down with a tentative casualty figure of 20, apart from the injured.

The gory incident was said to have heightened tension between the majority Christian population of Kafanchan, about 12 km, north of Godogodo, and its minority settler population of Hausa/Fulani Muslims.

Dr. Humble Katuka who is the Interim Management Committee, IMC, Chairman, of Jema’a LGA, acting on mitigating measures, on Sunday imposed a 24-hour curfew as a result of the tragic incident.

Kafanchan is the Headquarters of Jema’a LGA, about 250 km South of Kaduna metropolis and also the commercial and socio-political hub of Southern Kaduna.

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War against Terrorism or Recession ?? PMB donates 2 aircraft from the Presidential fleet to the Nigerian Air Force

Two aircraft from the presidential fleet have been handed over to the Nigerian air force, barely a weeks after two jets from the same fleet were put up for sale.



At the handover ceremony on Monday, Babagana Monguno national security adviser, signed the transfer documents on behalf of the president.

The two helicopters, which are part of the 10 aircraft in the presidential air fleet, were acquired on October 20, 2014 and May 21, 2015.

According to the presidency office of digital engagement, the two aircraft being handed over today are Agusta Westland AW101 helicopters and possess ballistics defence capabilities, and are equipped against certain forms of missile attacks.


“It is with a big sense of appreciation that I accept these helicopters into the Air Force,” said Sadique Abubakar, chief of air staff.

“One of the helicopters will be configured and deployed as an air ambulance, while second will be deployed as a troop carrier. The two helicopters will be immediately reconfigured and deployed to the northeast for the use of Nigerian troops.

“The air ambulance will carry a trauma unit, to ensure that injured troops get immediate medical assistance during airlift. These helicopters are some of the most sophisticated, most comfortable and most equipped in the world.

“We can’t wait to fly our new aircraft. That’s why we’re all dressed in combat gear.”

Since Muhammadu Buhari ascended the presidency in May 2015, this is the second time he is handing aircraft from the presidential air fleet to the Nigerian air force.

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Police arrests 6 suspects linked with the kidnap of CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele's wife .

The police in the Federal Capital Territory have arrested six suspected members of the gang that abducted the wife of the Central Bank Governor, Margaret Emefiele, last Thursday.



The suspects, who were arrested at their hideout in Edo State over the weekend, are being held at the state command headquarters, Benin.


It was made known that the suspects were apprehended by the operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Special Monitoring and Intelligence Team, led by CSP Abba Kyari.



This brings to seven the number of suspects arrested in connection with Mrs.Emefiele’s abduction, which occurred along the Benin-Agbor Road.

Punch had reported that Kyari and his team were on the trail of the gang members.

The team had relocated to Edo State after the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, directed them to go for the criminals and rescue their victims, which included a driver and three women.

The gang had demanded N100m ransom, but they were forced to release their victims following pressures from the police, army and Department of State Services.

It could not be confirmed if any ransom was paid, but the hostages were released early Saturday morning, while the security agencies arrested one suspect shortly afterwards.

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