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N100bn Deal: Gov Mbah flags-off revitalisation of Enugu United Palm Products Ltd

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N100bn Deal: Gov Mbah flags-off revitalisation of Enugu United Palm Products Ltd
Gov Peter Mbah flagging off revitalisation of United Palm Products Ltd
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…Says it’s triumph of vision over cynicism

of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, Thursday, performed the formal flag-off of the revitalisation of the Enugu United Palm Products Limited, EUPPL.

The flag-off, which took place at Ibite-Olo, Ezeagu LGA of the state, was sequel to the N100bn deal between the Enugu State Government and Pragmatic Palms Limited, PPL, in May this year.

At the event during which he equally performed the groundbreaking for the staff quarters at the plantation, Mbah thanked the people of the state for believing in his vision and determination to revive and convert the state’s moribund assets to productive assets.

“For me, this flag-off is a triumph of vision over cynicism. Recall that a few months ago, when we announced an investment of N100bn in partnership with Pragmatic Palms Limited, the news was greeted with a lot of cynicism and doubt. We had a lot of naysayers and critics, who ascribed all sorts of things to this humongous investment. But as you have seen, we were absolutely clear as to what we wanted to achieve and accomplish for our people in Enugu State.

“So, what this groundbreaking ceremony represents for us is a new lease of life for Pragmatic Palm Product Limited. It also shows that we are getting closer to our dream to transform Enugu State as a premier destination for investment, industry, tourism, business and living.

“Therefore, I want to use this opportunity to reassure the management and executive of PPL of our commitment to supporting every step of this investment,” he said.

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Speaking, the Managing Director/CEO of Pragmatic Palms Limited (PPL), Prof. George Nwangwu, rolled out a five-year aggressive plan to reposition EUPPL as one of the leading integrated oil palm establishments in Nigeria, playing in the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors.

He added that the firm would create 3,500 direct and indirect jobs.

In the upstream, he said that with only 40 per cent of the 6,700 hectres of land planted so far, EUPPL would embark on aggressive planting of the unplanted lands, increasing the planted area to at least 20,000 hectres in five years.

In the midstream, Prof. Nwangwu said, “We will set up world-class oil mills across the three locations as well as increasing the oil production capacity over time.

“We will also set up and improve our refining capacity to produce crude palm oil, palm kernel oil, olein, stearin, biodiesel, as well as refined, bleached, and deodorised oil.

“In the downstream, we plan to have a share of the retail market by setting up the largest network of agents to aggregate fresh fruit bunches from around our catchment area.”

In her remarks, the Commissioner for Trade, Investment and Industry, Adaora Chukwu, recalled that EUPPL, originally established by the government of the defunct East Central State in 1970 on 6,700 hectares traversing Ibite-Olo in Ezeagu LGA, Ugwuoba in Oji River LGA, and Umulokpa in Uzo-Uwani LGA, though initially viable, was crippled by mismanagement, obsolete equipment, and limited market access.

She, however, said that the N100bn joint venture sealed between the state government and Pragmatic Palm Limited in which the state provides the land/plantations, while PPL provides finance for 60 per cent of the transaction, would see to the turnaround of the company to the immense benefit of the state through job creation, economic diversification, infrastructural development, revenue generation, technology development, innovation, among others.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-Industrialisation, Patrick Ubru, said the partnership between the Enugu State Government and PPL towards the revitalisation of EUPPL was very strategic to the overall vision of the Mbah administration for the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, the host communities, lauded Governor Mbah for reviving the EUPPL after over 40 years of dormancy and ruin, with a businessman and community leader from Olo, Johnmary Anagolu, pledging a donation of N50m to support the administration’s infrastructural development in the area.

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FG reforms NYSC, replaces military leadership, redesigns uniform

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President Bola Tinubu administration has approved the comprehensive reform of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Under the new arrangement, the military will no longer head the scheme.

Instead, the agency will be led by a civilian in its operational leadership, while the military will continue to handle security for corps members across the country.

The development was announced on Monday by the Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Tinubu also directed the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, and the Minister of Youth, Ayodele Olawande, to amend the NYSC Act and its regulations to reflect all the approved reform measures, enabling immediate implementation of the new framework.

Some of the landmark reforms include:

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A technology-driven call-up process.

Risk-sensitive deployment to better protect corps members.

A redesigned six-week orientation programme with a stronger focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, digital skills, and specialised career streams.

Skills-based primary assignments aligned with academic background and career pathways.

Modern governance with civilian operational leadership while the military continues to provide security support.

Improved camp standards through a national grading and certification system.

A new graduation ceremony to replace the Passing Out Parade, and a redesigned NYSC uniform that reflects professionalism and national pride.

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Group asks court to disqualify Tinubu from 2027 Election over alleged Certificate Forgery

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President Ahmed Bola Tinubu
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The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Kano seeking the disqualification of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the 2027 presidential election over allegations of certificate forgery.

‎According to court documents seen by Daily Trust, the plaintiff alleged that Tinubu presented forged academic certificates from Chicago State University and a fake National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2023 elections.

‎The suit, marked FHC/K/CS/312/2026, lists Tinubu, INEC, and Chicago State University as defendants.

The plaintiff contended that Tinubu never attended Government College Lagos as claimed, noting that the school was established in 1974, four years after Tinubu allegedly graduated.

The CSO further argued that Tinubu does not possess a valid secondary school certificate, which is the minimum constitutional requirement to contest for the presidency.

It claimed that INEC had failed to act on its petition dated June 19, 2026, demanding clarification on Tinubu’s eligibility.

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‎In its statement of claims, the group referenced a 2023 U.S. court ruling in Re: Application of Atiku Abubakar (No. 23 CV 05099), which compelled Chicago State University to release Tinubu’s academic records.

The plaintiff insisted those records revealed false entries and inconsistencies, including a forged University of Cambridge General Certificate of Education.

‎The prayers asked by the plaintiff included declaration of forgery against Tinubu’s Chicago State University certificate, issuance of an order directing INEC to disqualify him from the 2027 presidential election, directing CSU to strike Tinubu’s name from its records and perpetual injunction restraining INEC from uploading Tinubu’s name as a candidate.

‎The plaintiff also submitted affidavits of non-multiplicity of action, witness statements, and letters to the NYSC and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, demanding disclaimers on the alleged fake NYSC certificate.

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Firm expresses concern over repeated missing Court File in Ojukwu Property case

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Monarch, four others remanded for arson
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Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has raised concerns over what it described as the repeated absence of court records in its ongoing property dispute with Bianca Ojukwu and her sons, even as it filed a motion for stay of execution pending the determination of its appeal.

Proceedings before Justice A.M. Lawal of the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, last Monday were stalled for the second time in six weeks due to the unavailability of the case file.

The matter was adjourned after the file was reportedly not returned to court.

A similar situation occurred on May 8, 2026, when the case could not proceed because the file was unavailable.

OTL alleged that the file had been taken from the Ikeja Judicial Division to Lagos more than two months ago for the execution of a warrant and had not been returned.

The claimants’ legal representatives were absent from court on both occasions.

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Describing the development as troubling, OTL said the repeated absence of the file had effectively stalled proceedings and raised questions about accountability in the handling of court records.

Amid the delays, the company disclosed that it had filed and served a motion for stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, seeking to halt enforcement of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal against the 2022 decision in Suit No. LD/1539/2012.

OTL maintained that the application became necessary because steps were being taken to enforce the judgment despite its pending appeal.

The company also contended that the properties in dispute had previously been the subject of a warrant of execution arising from a separate judgment delivered in 2018 by Justice Adedayo Oyebanji in Suit No. LD/794/2011.

The case was subsequently adjourned to October 8, 2026.

Present in court on both adjourned dates on behalf of Ojukwu Transport Limited was one of its directors, Dr. P. Ike Ojukwu.

Counsel to OTL are Ifeanyi Okumah Esq and Chief O. Ugolo, SAN, while Bianca Ojukwu and her sons are represented by Nick Omeye Esq and Co.

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