Posts in category: by The Telescope Magazine

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday announced DIG Usman Alkali Baba as acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP).

According to the Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, the appointment takes immediate effect.

The Yobe born Police chief has held several strategic positions in the past.

Here are few things to know about the acting IGP:

1. Usman Alkali was born on 1st March, 1963.

2. He hails from Geidam in Yobe State and has had meritorious years in the force.

3. He has also served in various capacities such as DIG Force CID and was also the Force Secretary at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

4. He has served in various commands including Kaduna as the Deputy Commissioner, Administration; He was in FCT as the Deputy Commissioner, Investigation and was also in the staff college as a directing staff.

5. He was in Ilorin as an Area Commander. He was the second-in-command in Ebonyi, He was also an Assistant Commissioner, CID in Kaduna and before then was DPO (Divisional Police Officer) in various places like Yola, Gombe, Kaduna, and Jos.

6. He holds a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) Degree from the University of Maiduguri, Borno State 1997 and a BA (ED) Political Science from Bayero University, Kano State as well as Professional Courses/Workshop Institution.

7. Alkali was a member of Course 22/2014 2014, National Defence College (NDC)

8. He is a member of the International Association of Police and also a fellow of the International War College.

…To Award Warri, Kaduna Refineries Rehab EPC in June

The drive by the Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to boost in-country refining capacity was bolstered on Tuesday with the signing of the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning (EPCIC) contract for the rehabilitation of the 210,000 barrels per day capacity Port Harcourt Refinery in Alesa-Eleme, Rivers State.

The rehabilitation project which has a completion timeline of between 18 and 44 months under a three-phase arrangement was awarded to Milan based Tecnimont SpA at a lump sum contract price of US$1.5 billion, inclusive of VAT and other statutory payments.

An elated Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, described the PHRC rehabilitation project as a dream come true, noting that the project was in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to the Nigerian people to make the refineries work.

Mallam Kyari reiterated that in arriving at the choice of Tecnimont SpA, the Corporation embarked on a transparent tender process which can withstand any forensic audit, noting that NNPC was ready and open to answer any question pertaining to the project.

He assured that the same transparent process has been emplaced for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna Refineries whose EPCIC contracts would be awarded in June 2021.

Left-Right: Vice President, Sub-Saharan Africa Region of Tecnimont SpA, Davide Pelizzolam Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari and Engr. Ahmed Dikko, Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company at the signing ceremony of $1.5billion PHRC Rehabilitation project.

The GMD explained that the rehabilitation exercise was very different from a routine Turn-Around Maintenance as it would entail a total retrofitting of the plant with major part and equipment replaced with new ones.

Providing further insight into the project, Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited, Engr. Ahmed Dikko, explained that Phases 1 and 2 of the project would get the refinery ready to receive hydrocarbon, while Phase 3 will focus on the start-up the refinery for operation, stressing that the entire work shall be delivered in 44 months from today.

In his remarks, Vice President, Sub-Saharan Africa Region of Tecnimont SpA, Davide Pelizzola, pledged the readiness of his company to work assiduously with the NNPC to comply with the terms and obligations of the contract.

The signing ceremony of the PHRC rehabilitation project was witnessed by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers NUPENG amongst others.

The trio of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and Yahaya Bello of Kogi States are among the top dignitaries expected to attend this year’s Annual International Symposium to celebrate the 50th birthday of former Niger Delta freedom fighter, Chief Government Ekpemupolo alias Tompolo.

The event billed to hold at the Warri Township Stadium Monday, April 12, 2021 will attract dignitaries from across the country to celebrate the golden jubilee of the former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND).

In a statement jointly issued on Tuesday by the National Coordinator of the Tompolo Annual International Symposium/Celebration, Mr. Jacob Abai; Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Mr. Michael Tonlagha, and Comrade Fiyebo Eperetei, Secretary LOC, said the event will anniversary lecture, cultural activities/performances and many more.