INNS NEWS

One of the primary concerns for the Nigerian Government has been addressing insecurity, especially in areas grappling with militancy, insurgency, and banditry. In oil-rich regions, rising incidents of oil theft, illegal refining, and infrastructure vandalism have posed significant threats to the nation’s oil production goals for decades.

Considering Nigeria’s heavy reliance on oil for economic prosperity, the government has taken a firm stance against sabotage and is committed to tackling these issues through decisive measures. The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) emphasizes the importance of creating a secure and stable environment for both local and international investors, which is crucial as Nigeria seeks to achieve its target of producing an average of 2.5 million barrels of oil and condensate per day in the near future.

To accomplish this, Nigeria’s security forces have been tasked with protecting critical infrastructure and combatting illegal activities that threaten production levels. Recently, the Nigerian Navy has increased its efforts in this regard, intensifying protective operations in the country’s territorial waters and creeks. Through high-intelligence maritime patrols and teamwork with local security agencies, the Navy has dismantled illegal refineries and thwarted oil theft.

These proactive measures seem to be bearing fruit. Since March 2024, Nigeria’s oil production, including crude oil and condensates, has steadily increased, adding over 130,000 barrels per day as of August 2024. In an ongoing initiative called Operation Delta Sanity, aimed at restoring order and security in the Niger Delta, the Navy has successfully shut down illegal mining operations and apprehended offenders in communities such as Otougbene, Ogboinbiri, Babaragbene, and Igbomotoro in Bayelsa State, as well as in Delta and Ondo states. During these operations, operatives have also intercepted and recovered stolen crude oil, engaging in fierce confrontations with armed ex-militants.

In September, acting on credible intelligence, the Navy intercepted a large wooden boat laden with stolen crude oil originating from Ondo State, leading to the arrest of five suspects linked to the theft. While battling oil theft and illegal mining, the Navy has made significant strides in community engagement, humanitarian efforts, and personnel welfare.

This year, the Navy has accelerated infrastructural projects, nearing completion of new accommodations for its personnel, such as a new housing complex in Navy Town, Ojo. Additionally, a recent renovation of NOWA Primary School in Ojo and modern upgrades at the naval base in Igbokoda highlight the Navy’s commitment to the well-being of its members.

The Navy also prioritizes community outreach. For example, in Esuk Mba, Cross River State, they conducted a medical campaign offering general health screenings and treatments, including dental care and malaria medication. They’ve also provided essential school supplies to students in Rivers State.

However, policing Nigeria’s maritime waters often comes with significant risks. In July, Lieutenant Commander Gideon Yashim Gwaza made the ultimate sacrifice while leading a successful rescue operation that saved 59 individuals from drowning at the mouth of Opobo River.

Despite the challenges and sacrifices, the Nigerian Navy, under the leadership of Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, remains resolute in its mission to enhance maritime security and protect national interests.

In addition to its security responsibilities and community support, the Navy has demonstrated impressive prowess in sports management. The Chief of Naval Staff’s volleyball club, CNS Spikers, has excelled in Nigerian Professional Volleyball since its inception in 2021, with the men’s team enjoying an unbeaten domestic record and the women’s team currently holding the title of 2023 Defending Champions in the Volleyball Female Premier League.

These achievements and the evident dedication of Vice Admiral Ogalla’s Navy highlight the organization as a critical force in Nigeria’s development. With strong leadership and strategic insight, the Navy stands as a cornerstone in Nigeria’s pursuit of long-term security, economic growth, and regional stability. Their multifaceted initiatives ensure that the country’s vision for holistic socio-economic advancement remains within reach, even in the face of complex challenges.

BALTIMORE — Comparing prices at the grocery store can be a pain as food prices are high.
Salem Abo-Zaid, an economics professor at UMBC, says we have reached the highest period of inflation since the 1970s and early 80s.
That’s partly because of the hits on the nation’s supply chain coming locally and from overseas as a result of the pandemic, but Abo-Zaid says prices are actually going down.
In June of 2022, inflation peaked nationwide at more than 9 percent. Now it’s at 3 percent, according to U.S. Labor Department data.
However, many families are still feeling the pain in their pockets.

Prices for fats and oils rose the fastest in 2023 by 9 percent, according to the USDA. Sugar, sweets, cereals and bakery products also saw price hikes.
Abo-Zaid said the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia still hurts our grain supply since they make up 30 percent of the world’s grain market.
He also said the droughts and wildfires in Texas have caused major cattle loss and that is why shoppers are seeing high beef prices.
But restaurants are still battling inflation, labor, and energy costs, according to Abo-Zaid.

The Maryland Food Bank is on pace to distribute more than 52 million pounds of food which is a 20 percent jump in comparison to pre-COVID times.
The food bank’s president, Carmen Del Guercio, says they are now buying about $25 million worth of food. Before the coronavirus pandemic, they say they bought about $6 million worth.
They saw a spike in clients around October 2023 and say they are still trying to cater to the extra demand.
“Some of the government support has gone away and then you tie that with inflation going up at the same time,” Del Guercio said. “Many families are trying to muster their way through that but as time went on it’s harder and harder to do that.”
To save some dollars, Abo-Zaid advises shoppers to compare prices, cut coupons, and avoid wasting food.
“For example, minimizing the number of visits to grocery stores,” Abo-Zaid said.

TALLAHASSEE – The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled Sept. 26 to discuss whether it will hear a First Amendment challenge to a 2021 Florida law that placed restrictions on major social-media companies.
A court docket Wednesday said the case will be considered during a “conference,” a closed-door meeting that includes making decisions about which cases to hear.
The conference will come after U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar and other Department of Justice attorneys filed a 25-page brief this month that said the Supreme Court should hear arguments about the Florida law and a similar Texas law.
The brief also said justices should uphold an 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that blocked parts of the Florida law.
The state and two industry groups challenging the law — NetChoice and the Computer & Communications Industry Association — also have urged justices to take up the case.

The law (SB 7072) placed restrictions on large companies such as Facebook and Twitter, now known as X.
Ron DeSantis made a priority of the law after Twitter and Facebook blocked former President Donald Trump from their platforms after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
The law, for example, would prevent the platforms from banning political candidates from their sites and require companies to publish — and apply consistently — standards about issues such as banning users or blocking their content.
Companies could face steep penalties for violating restrictions in the law. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued a preliminary injunction against the measure, describing it as “riddled with imprecision and ambiguity.”

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last year upheld much of the preliminary injunction, though it said parts of the law could take effect.
In a supplemental brief filed Wednesday, the tech-industry groups argued, in part, that the Supreme Court should strike down the entire law.
The brief said “all the law’s provisions reflect the same viewpoint, content, and speaker discrimination that permeate, and should doom, the entire law.”