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Records Show Slow Response To Report Of California Oil Spill

Angel Gimalo
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Records Show Slow Response To Report Of California Oil Spill

The U.S. Coast Guard received the first report of a possible oil spill off the Southern California coast more than 12 hours before a company reported the major leak in its pipeline and a cleanup effort was launched, records show.

Oil spill reports reviewed raise questions about the Coast Guard’s response to one of the state’s largest recent oil spills, as well as how quickly, Amplify Energy, the company operating three offshore platforms and the pipeline, recognized it had a problem and notified authorities.

Two early calls about the spill came into the National Response Center, which is staffed by the Coast Guard and notifies other agencies of disasters for quick response.

The first was from an anchored ship that noticed a sheen on the water and the second, six hours later, from a federal agency that said a possible oil slick was spotted on satellite imagery, according to reports by the California Office of Emergency Services.

The spill sent up to 126,000 gallons (572,807 liters) of heavy crude into the ocean off Huntington Beach and it then washed onto miles of beaches and a protected marshland.

The beaches could remain closed for weeks or longer, a major hit to the local economy.

Coastal fisheries in the area are closed to commercial and recreational fishing.

Experts say it’s too early to determine the full impact on the environment but that so far the number of animals found harmed is minimal.

Why Osun Celebrated Independence Day with Essay Competition ― Gov. Oyetola

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Why Osun Celebrated Independence Day with Essay Competition ― Gov. Oyetola

Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Monday, said Osun’s choice to celebrate the nation’s Independence with an essay competition for youths in secondary schools and tertiary institutions was to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to building the teeming youth population for future leadership.

According to the Chief press secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola described the essay competition as a wake-up call to youths in the State to embrace intellectually engaging activities and to have a taste of good life, rather than indulging in criminal activities.

Oyetola, while receiving the winners of the 2021 edition of the essay competition at the State Secretariat, Abere, urged teachers to continue to discharge their responsibilities to students with utmost fear of God and total commitment to the teaching profession.

“On the part of the government, the welfare of teachers and other categories of workers will continue to remain priority.”

Oyetola, who also commended the event’s sponsors for their show of interest in developing youths, called on other stakeholders to join hands with the government in its resolve to propel the state to greater heights by investing in the future of the youths.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Lekan Badmus, expressed satisfaction with the successes recorded so far since the introduction of the future-focused and leadership-oriented essay competition.

According to Badmus, the programme has no doubt become a veritable tool for building future leaders through academic development and entrepreneurship advancement.

On behalf of the sponsors, the Managing Director of Omoluabi Holdings, Dr Tunde Faleye, lauded the Administration of Governor Oyetola for the pace-setting effort of Osun, adding that his organisation had resolved to continue to support not just the essay competition, but other good initiatives of the government.

In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Rave FM, Osogbo, Femi Adefila, lauded Governor Oyetola for the initiative which he described as a product of an integrity-oriented process.

Also speaking on behalf of the examiners, Dr Akintunde said “we are happy that this initiative is thriving at a period negative things have been happening among the youth. Osun has become a good example of good things. I must commend your support on this. It shows your deep love for educational development.”

Speaking on behalf of the parents of the winners, Dr Femi Adeyemo applauded the Governor for putting in place an initiative capable of revamping the lost glory of the education system in the State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

He said: “With this initiative, Governor Oyetola has shown us that he is focused, determined, resolute and committed to turning around the State for better and particularly revive the education sector. Sincerely, we are enjoying you. You have given us the hope that, truly, youths are leaders of tomorrow. As far as this initiative is concerned, it is clear that Osun is the pacesetter in education development. I congratulate the organisers, winners, the parents for believing in this initiative.

Gov. Oyetola Award Scholarship To Winner Of Essay Competition

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Gov. Oyetola Award Scholarship To Winner Of Essay Competition

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola yesterday announced award of scholarship to the winner of essay 2021 Independence Day competition, Faith Adegboyega, a pupil of Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo.

While the governor was receiving Faith, who came first in the secondary school category and other winners of 2021 edition of the essay competition at the state secretariat, he said: “The scholarship for Faith will see her through school up to the university level in any public institution of her choice in the country.”

Oyetola added: “The emergence of Faith as winner of the secondary school category is a signpost of my administration’s commitment to the provision of adequate, quality, equitable, functional and affordable education for Osun youths.

“I urge teachers to continue to discharge their responsibilities to pupils with utmost fear of God and total commitment to the teaching profession.”

The Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Olalekan Badmus, said:  “We received 700 entries from 34 participating schools. Entries were also received from 23 local governments and also from non-indigenes.”

“After scrutiny of the final 25 contestants in secondary and tertiary category, the three best candidates who emerged winners were: Adegboyega Abisola Faith from Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Olaniyi Inioluwa Opeyemi from Ambassadors College Ile-Ife and Onwugbofor Happiness from Our Lady and St. Francis College – for the secondary school category.

The winners for the tertiary institution category were: Adeyemo Victor Ayodeji from Bowen University, Ayoola Victor Oluwagbemiga from University of Ibadan and Ademuyi Stella Jesuloluwa from Adeleke University, Ede.

Bayelsa Govt. Decry Schools Resumption Before Nov 2021

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Bayelsa Govt. Decry Schools Resumption Before Nov 2021

Bayelsa State Government has condemned some schools for flouting government’s directives on resumption date.

Education Commissioner Dr. Gentle Emelah said on Monday that it had come to the notice of the government that some private schools had resumed academic activities, against government’s stipulated date of November 2021.

He said the adjustment of the academic calendar was necessitated by the persistent perennial flood experienced recently.

Emelah said: “Due to perennial flooding experienced in the state, government has adjusted the academic calendar to prevent children from going to school during the flood period, for safety and to resume in November, which is the beginning of regular dry season.

“Government is, however, monitoring the flood situation and may announce resumption of schools before next month, should there be any need to do so. But for now, all schools are advised to remain closed.”

He directed schools that had resumed to shut down and advised them to wait for further directive from the government, as the ministry would not hesitate to sanction any erring school.

Acting VC, 15 Profs Battle In UI Vice-Chancellorship Race

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Acting VC, 15 Profs Battle In UI Vice-Chancellorship Race

The process of electing the Vice Chancellor in the University of Ibadan these past months has been marred with various allegations, counter-allegations and engulfed in a series of crises due to clashes and misunderstandings between various interest groups.

Due to the inability to resolve these crises, Professor Babatunde Ekanola of the Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Arts was appointed by the Senate as the acting VC in November, 2020 for a period of six months.

His tenure was extended in June for another six months.

However, the process commenced afresh after a decision to that effect was reached at a meeting of the university Council presided over by its Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

The UI Community Forum had organised an event, tagged: “The Voice of the Next UI VC, Who is Next?”

The UI Community Forum established in 2000, has maintained a culture of having a town-hall meeting with aspirants to the position of the Vice-Chancellor of the University creating a platform for staff, students and other members of the university community to meet the aspirants, listen to them and ask them questions.

Sixteen contestants were expected to present their agenda to the university community but only four Professors were physically present at the town hall meeting on Monday.

The acting vice-chancellor, Professor Babatunde Ekanola, who also is in the race was absent at the session but sent a video presentation.

Ekanola apologised he was on an important official assignment.

The debate held at Trenchard Hall, and was streamed live on various social media platforms.

The event was organised by the UI Community Forum consisting of five unions in the premier institution ― Academic Staff of Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Students Union (SU), Non-Academic Staff Union of University (NASU) and the Non-Academic Technicians (NATS).

Those in attendance were Professor Hakeem Babatunde Faweyinmi of the University of Port Harcourt; Professor Rasaq Olatunde Kalilu of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH); Professor Ganiyu Aderounmu and Professor Adeyinka Abideen Aderinto of the Department of Sociology.

Others, including Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale of the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science; Professor Babatunde Salako, the acting vice-chancellor of the University, Prof. A.B Ekanola made video presentations played at the session.

Others absent because they were on various assignments or engagements were Prof. B.L Salako; Prof. A.B Ekanola; Prof. K.O Adebowale; Prof. E.O Faronbi; Prof. Olaopa; Prof. Raji Oyelade; Prof. Ademowo; Prof. Kolawole and Prof. Layiwola.

The institution’s council has indicated its determination to produce a substantive Vice-Chancellor by Oct. 14 in line with its revised time table while screening to select six out of the 16 contestants would hold on Oct. 13 after the election of Oct. 12.

The council would do the final selection of the six, interview them and ratify the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor on Oct. 14.

ASUU, Federal Govt. In Crucial Talks to Avert Strike

Rhoda Onuzulike
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ASUU, Federal Govt. In Crucial Talks to Avert Strike

The national leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the team from the Federal Government are to meet later this week to avert another round of strike by the university lecturers.

The date for the meeting is to be communicated to the leadership of ASUU during the week by the government team which will include officials of the Education and Labour Ministries, the ministers and leaders of some relevant government agencies.

The Chairman, Lagos Zone of ASUU,  Dr Adelaja Odukoya, while speaking with news correspondent, said the meeting would hold this week, going by assurances from the government side.


“As a union we are not opposed to negotiation and amicable resolution of issues. In this case, we are awaiting the government team to call us for the meeting. They said it going to be this week, we are waiting. They have not given us the date but we are waiting.

“There is no doubt that we have given the government enough time to meet our demands and do the needful. We met with them on August 2, this year and following the meeting, we gave them till the end of August to do certain things. The deadline lapsed and up until now, none of the demands have been met. We have given them more than enough time.

“Let us be hopeful that they would do the needful this time around. But people can see that ASUU has been reasonable and considerate enough,” he said.

Recall that after the nine months strike by the union was called off on December 23 last year, among the expectations by the union was that the N40 billion revitalisation fund promised government-owned universities be paid, as well as the Earned Academic Allowances among others.


However, the government is blaming the delay in the payment of the fund on bureaucracy at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, a claim ASUU has consistently faulted.

Unijos Resumes Oct 11, Confirms Date For 2nd Semester’s Exams

Rhoda Onuzulike
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Unijos Resumes Oct 11, Confirms Date For 2nd Semester’s Exams


The Senate of the University of Jos has approved the resumption of the suspended academic activities in the University with effect from Monday 11th October, 2021.

Before arriving at its decision taken at its 7th Special Meeting for the 2019/2020 Academic Session, the Senate considered the report of the University Management on the provision of visible physical presence of security personnel in and around the University campuses and the proposal for the resumption of academic activities.

Similarly, there was a general review of the security situation in the University as regards easy identification of the University security personnel and the Senate saw the need for the provision of more uniforms for the personnel.


The institution’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Publications, Abdullahi Abdullahi in a statement issued in Jos on Monday noted that “After their deliberation, members of Senate unanimously agreed to make a voluntary donation of some amount of money to support the University Management in providing uniforms for all University Internal Security personnel.”

He disclosed “the earlier suspended Second Semester Examinations for the 2019/2020 Academic Session, will resume on Wednesday 13th October, 2021. Staff and Students are advised to disregard any information to the contrary as a revised Exam Timetable will be released shortly.”


Meanwhile, the Plateau State Government has opened dialogue with authorities of the University towards developing a blueprint on how to properly safeguard the lives and property of members of the University community at all times.

A delegation from the State Government led by the Director General, Plateau State Building Agency, Joseph Lengmang had visited the University to interact with its Management.

Lengmang who represented Governor Simon Lalong said the State Government wants to partner with the University authority to create a systematic and sustainable ways of addressing the security situation confronting the University rather than the ad-hoc approach currently being implemented.

He stressed there was need to “cross fertilize ideas with the relevant stakeholders including the University Management, students and the neighbouring communities among others, in order to develop a robust and holistic security architecture that would guaranty sustainable peace and tranquility within and outside the University.”


Receiving the delegation on behalf of the University community, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, (Administration), University of Jos, Professor Gray Ejikeme, described UNIJOS as an institution that is central to knowledge acquisition in Nigeria and Africa, stressing “the University Management has always taken proactive measures towards addressing security issues on Campus” and appreciated the Plateau State Government for “its initiative in pursuing an actionable programme to rebuild confidence among members of the University community and students’ parents and guardians.”

NANS Demands OAU Reopening, VC’s removal

Rhoda Onuzulike
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NANS Demands OAU Reopening, VC’s removal

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone D, has condemned the ‘reckless’ closure of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State by the Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede-led management and demanded as a matter of urgency and necessity the re-opening of the institution for students to continue their examinations.

The NANS Zone D also threatened to call for the removal of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede even as it disclosed that its Zonal leadership will relocate its secretariat to the University campus gate until the VC reverses the decision.

They also called on the students of the university and all student union bodied across the South West to mobilise in numbers for a showdown on Saturday until the management rescinds its decision, adding that it shall be calling for the removal of the University Vice-Chancellor at that spot and they shall be mobilised in their numbers.

In a press statement signed by the duo of Kowe Odunayo Amos, Coordinator, NANS Zone D and Giwa Yisa Temitope, Secretary-General, NANS Zone D, they described the directive by the institution management to close down the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State as extremely infantile and primitive.

This is even as it demanded an immediate reversal of the decision by the management to close the institution which it claimed was draconian, hasty and unnecessary.

While describing the decision by the management to close down the institution as expected, NANS expressed disappointment at the institution’s management for doing it in response to students’ agitation over the death of Adesina Omowumi Aishat, a Part 4 student of the Department of Foreign Languages who died as a result of negligence by health workers at the University Health Centre.

According to the press statement, “As an association, we find it appalling that the University management could go to the extent of twisting the narrative by saying that she was adequately treated. Meanwhile, reverse was the case.

“As against the content of the 4th paragraph of the circular that was issued by the University management, there was no attempt by the University management “to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the campus and its environs.”

NANS also accused the Vice-Chancellor of refusing to heed all calls to come out and address the protesting students who were actually requesting for his presence at the protest ground.

It revealed that it was public knowledge that the students did not at any point in time during the cause of the protest engage in any form of ‘unbridled brigandage’ or of breaking any known law as put forward by the institution as a reason for their decision.

“At least, protest is an internationally recognised right and the students were still acting within the prism of their fundamental rights. Issues are very clear!”, It concluded.

Japan Relies On Asian Market To Shift To Green Energy

Angel Gimalo
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Japan Relies On Asian Market To Shift To Green Energy

Japan is focusing on its neighbors in Asia as it hopes to take a leadership role in the growing push to reduce emissions, having earmarked $10 billion to help the region speed up the move away from fossil fuels.

The Economy and Industry Ministry hosted the first “Asia green growth partnership” meeting Monday, bringing together more than 20 nations, including Thailand and India, as well as the U.S., Australia and countries in the Middle East.

“There are a variety of energy transition pathways in each country.

It is most effective to make efforts according to each country’s economic, social and energy situation and technological capabilities,” said Hiroshi Kajiyama, the outgoing minister, with the Cabinet reshuffle being held about the same time as the meeting.

He stressed the importance of various options, “such as nuclear power, hydrogen and ammonia, to promote energy transitions in a realistic way.”

Germany Unveils World’s 1st Commercial Plant For Making Synthetic Kerosene

Angel Gimalo
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Germany Unveils World’s 1st Commercial Plant For Making Synthetic Kerosene

German officials on Monday unveiled what they said is the world’s first commercial plant for making synthetic kerosene, touted as a climate-friendly fuel of the future.

Aviation currently accounts for about 2.5% of worldwide emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

While other forms of transportation are increasingly being electrified, the challenge to making large, battery-powered planes is formidable.

Experts say e-fuels can help solve the problem by replacing fossil fuels without major technical modifications to the aircraft.

“The era of burning coal, oil and natural gas is drawing to a close,” Germany’s environment minister, Svenja Schulze, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new plant. “At the same time, no one should have to sacrifice the dream of flying. This is why we need alternatives to conventional, climate-harming kerosene.”

The facility in Werlte, near Germany’s northwestern border with the Netherlands, will use water and electricity from four nearby wind farms to produce hydrogen. In a century-old process, the hydrogen is combined with carbon dioxide to make crude oil, which can then be refined into jet fuel.

Burning that synthetic kerosene releases only as much CO2 into the atmosphere as was previously removed to produce the fuel, making it “carbon neutral.”

The amount of fuel that the plant can produce beginning early next year is modest: just eight barrels a day, or about 336 gallons of jet fuel. That would be enough to fill up one small passenger plane every three weeks.

By comparison, total fuel consumption of commercial airlines worldwide reached 95 billion gallons in 2019, before the pandemic hit the travel industry, according to the International Air Transport Association.

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