$40bn Investments Needed for Nigeria’s Gas Plan, Says NNPC Barkindo: Oil industry's upstream spending slumped 30% in 2020 Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja will require at least $40 billion Also, the Secretary that capital investments in billion cubic feet to 10 billion organised by the Association in direct investments in basic General of the Organisation the upstream of the oil and cubit feet of gas in the next of Local Distributors of The Nigerian National infrastructure to achieve the of Petroleum Exporting gas industry fell by 30 per couple of years, compared Gas (ALDG), tagged “The Petroleum Corporation federal government’s much Countries (OPEC), Dr. Sanusi cent in 2020. to its current 1.6 bcf supply Decade of Gas: Unlocking (NNPC) has said that the talked-about about “Decade Barkindo, said the cartel's NNPC said yesterday that capacity. Nigerian oil and gas industry of Gas.” latest assessment showed it was targeting between 7.4 Speaking at a virtual forum Continued on page 10 Osinbajo: FG to Provide 20,000 Jobs Annually for Graduates... Page 6 Thursday 3 June, 2021 Vol 26. No 9551. Price: N250 www.thisdaylive.com T RU N TH & REASO TODAY'S WEATHER ABUJA MAIDUGURI ENUGU KANO LAGOS PORT HARCOURT 25°C-33°C 31°C-31°C 25°C-28°C 27°C-33°C 24C-27°C 20°C-30°C FG Protests Deletion of Tweet, Says Twitter Can’t Gag Buhari Accuses microblogging site of double standards Deji Elumoye in Abuja on the Nigerian civil war. The president, in the post The federal government on Tuesday, had warned yesterday accused the social against insurrection, saying media giant, Twitter, of double that those fomenting trouble standards in its treatment of in the South-east are in for a issues affecting Nigeria. rude shock. It warned that it would Buhari, in a series of tweets not allow the microblogging on Tuesday via his verified site to dictate to President Twitter handle @mbuhari Muhammadu Buhari his views had said: “Many of those on national issues. misbehaving today are too The accusation followed the young to be aware of the decision of Twitter to delete a controversial post by Buhari Continued on page 8 Ezeife: South-east Violence, Plot to Undermine Clamour for Igbo Presidency Editors express concern over growing insecurity Alex Enumah in Abuja Ezeife, while featuring on ARISE NEWS CHANNEL, the A former Governor of broadcast arm of THISDAY Anambra State, Chief Newspapers, however, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, exonerated members of yesterday accused sponsors the proscribed Indigenous of the ongoing violence in People of Biafra (IPOB) and the South-east of plotting the Eastern Security Network to forestall elections in 2023 (ESN) from the recent killings with the sole aim of thwarting of police personnel and the THE POWER BEHIND THE GOVERNOR AT 60... the clamour by the zone to Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa (left), with his wife, Dame Edith Okowa, who celebrated her 60th birthday with so produce the next president. Continued on page 8 much laughter and panache, in Asaba... Tuesday North-west, South-east Renew Demand for Additional States...Page 5 2 THURSDAY JUNE 3, 2021 •THISDAY THURSDAY JUNE 3, 2021 • THISDAY 3 4 THURSDAY JUNE 3, 2021 •THISDAY THURSDAY, ͻ˜ͺ͸ͺ͹˾THISDAY 5 Group News Editor Ejiofor Alike NEWS Email [email protected], 08066066268 North-west, South-east Renew Demand for Additional States CAN recommends 18 years as minimum marriage age for girls Christopher Isiguzo, Gideon nation remain sacrosanct to to enable states control their Gen. Godwin Ugwuoke (rtd) River Federal Constituency, opportunity to maximally Arinze in Enugu, Ibrahim the National Assembly. resources and the creation renewed the demand for the said the demand remained explore inclusiveness and Shuaibu in Kano and James The speaker, who was of an additional state took creation of Adada State out one of the oldest and as such, participation growing to Sowole in Akure represented by Leader of centre stage at the second of the present Enugu State, merited attention from all adulthood. the House and member day of the hearing. noting that it remains the stakeholders. "We recommend that the The North-west and South- representing Tudun Wada/ Stakeholders also canvassed most crucial demand from "If there is any state that constitution shall bring clarity east geopolitical zones Doguwa Federal Constituency the inclusion of persons living the South- east. should be created in the and emphasis to recognising yesterday renewed their of Kano State, Hon. Alhassan with disabilities, PWDs and Ugwuoke said the South- South-east, it has to be Adada and affirming 18 years as the demands for additional Ado Doguwa, stressed women in governance and east region had marginalised State and we must collectively age of maturity and that for states at the public hearings the determination of the decision making. in the distribution of state support the creation of the sexual consent. conducted by the House of National Assembly to address The Deputy Governor of resources, hence the need for state," he added. "Guarantee for the rights of Representatives’ Committee contentious issues bordering Ebonyi State, Mr. Kelechi the creation of an additional In its presentation, CAN women and girls, females, to on Review of the Nigerian on the continued survival Igwe, said there was the state for the region. asked the National Assembly contest or seek appointment Constitution. of Nigeria, irrespective of need for fiscal federalism According to him, the to consider 18 years as the based on equal opportunities The Christian Association of ethnicity, regious, faith and to allow states to exploit demand for the creation of minimum age for girls to that secure their active Nigeria (CAN) also asked the background. their resources, generate their Adada State has come a long marry. participation in politics," National Assembly to consider While declaring the public revenues and pay taxes to way, adding that leaders in The CAN President, he said. 18 years as the minimum age hearing open, Kano State the centre. the region met in 2006 in Imo Reverend Olasupo Ayokunle, While addressing journalists for a girl to marry. Governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Igwe said if allowed to State to support the demand while presenting the position after the hearing, the At the Kano venue of Ganduje, expressed worry that control their resources, states for the creation of the state. of CAN to the Constitution Chairman of the South-west the public hearing for the Nigeria has failed to convert would exploit their potential In his response, the Leader Review Committee for the Constitution Review Centre North-west geopolitical its diversity to prosperity. for growth and would no of the team for Enugu/ South-west zone in Akure, for Ondo, Osun and Ekiti zone, the demand for the Ganduje said the country longer need to depend on Ebonyi/Anambra zone lamented that the girl-child states, Hon. Peter Akpatason, creation of new states, was endowed with unique the federal government for and the Deputy Minority are being exposed to indecent stated that all the submissions requests for special status, differences from across zones survival. Leader of the House of tradition and circumstances. would be relayed to the local government autonomy, and regions that should He stressed the need Representatives, Hon. Toby Ayokunle, who was House of Representatives. residency/indigenship, federal remain a major source of to ensure that various Okechukwu, said there was represented by the Ondo Akpatason said no fewer character and constitutional strength. contributions to the review of a consensus in the zone for State CAN Chairman, John than 35 proposals were role for traditional institutions At Enugu, one of the the constitution are considered the creation of Adada State. Oladapo, said pegging the submitted and presented dominated submissions to the venues for the public hearing, for equity and fairness. Okechukwu who also marriage age at 18 years before the committee for committee. the need for fiscal federalism On state creation, Maj. represents Aninri/Awgu/Oji- for girls would avail them consideration. The Chairman of the Movement for creation of Ghari State from the present Kano State, Alhaji Sani Gadanya, in a presentation, said the proposed Ghari State was endowed with resources to make it self-sustaining. Also, Senator Masud Jibril Doguwa made a presentation on behalf of the Movement for the Creation of Tiga State out of Kano State. However, a representative of Gaya Emirate, Professor Abba Gaya of Kano State University of Science and Technology, requested for constitutional roles for traditional rulers. At the session, the Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, reiterated the dedication of the parliament to sustain national integration despite the raging disunity and acrimony being orchestrated by some interest BOOSTING TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENT... groups. The speaker stated that L-R: Consul General of Germany in Lagos, Dr. Stefan Trumann; Past President of VDMA, Dr. Reinhold Festge; President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Nigeria's multiple divergence Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, during the launch of Dangote Foundation-VDMA technical training programme, and mutual interests of the in Lagos...yesterday Outrage as Gunmen Murder Ortom’s Security Aide in Jos Chuks Okocha, Udora Orizu "It is on a sad note that the Borno and Edo states. He they did, a retired AIG gunned the murder. It described it as of Benue State. in Abuja, Seriki Adinoyi command received an ugly hailed from Katsina Ala down. This is very sad." barbaric as well as ominous, On its part, the Minority in Jos and George Okoh in report of the death of AIG local government area in He called on security given the recent attempts on Caucus in the House of Makurdi Christopher Dega (rtd).