The appointment of Mr. Ogbonnaya Onovo as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the massive retirement of top officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) captured the headlines in the Nigerian media during the week.
Nigeria’s President Umaru Yar’Adua on Thursday announced the appointment of Onovo as the acting IGP, pending his confirmation by the appropriate authorities.
Onovo becomes the 14th indigenous IGP and the first person from the South East to hold that office. He takes over from Mr. Mike Okiro, who retired from the Force after reaching the retirement age of 60 years. Onovo himself will retire on 1 J u ne, 2012, when he attains the age of 60.
The privately-owned Guardian newspaper headlined its story “Onovo Assumes Duty, Pledges Better Policing”.
The paper reports that Onovo assumed duty on Friday with with a pledge to justify the confidence reposed in him by President Yar’Adua with his appointment.
Onovo spoke as his predecessor, Mike Okiro, said he was not afraid of his tenure and would continue to relate with the force because “police is my life”.
The acting police chief, who said he was overwhelmed by joy following his appointment, gave the assurance that he would not disappoint the nation but live up to the expectation of Nigerians by ensuring safety of lives and property.
According to the paper, Onovo has promised to continue from where Okiro stopped and solicited the co-operation of all policemen and Nigerians.
Onovo said safety of lives and property would be given maximum attention while welfare of officers and men of the force would be vigorously pursued.
“I Won’t Disappoint Nigerians, Onovo Pledges”, was the headline of the Daily Independent on Saturday.
The paper reported that Onovo, in his brief speech at the handover ceremony, promised to uphold the policies of his predecessor and assured the public of his commitment to a crime-free society.
“Tell Nigerians that I will not disappoint or fail them, I thank the President immensely for the confidence reposed in me by this appointment and I will not dis a ppoint him and Nigerians,” the paper quoted Onovo as saying.
The Sun newspaper, writing under the headline “Nigerians hail Onovo’s appointment as IGP”, reported that Nigerians from all walks of life have continued to commend President Umar Musa Yar’Adua for appointing Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ogbonnaya Onovo, the acting Inspector General of Police.
According to them, Yar’Adua took the best decision on the matter, as Onovo is a fine officer, who has a pedigree.
The paper said by this appointment, President Yar’Adua was acting in line with his administration’s cardinal principles of due process and the rule of law.
This Day newspaper, reporting the re-organisation (promotions and retirements) in Nigeria’s most-important economic sector, screamed “Major Shake-up in NNPC, 15 Top Officials Retired”.
It reported that the Federal Government on Friday approved the immediate retirement of 15 General Managers and three others in a major shake in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
It said that the re-organisation, seen to be in line with the on going reforms in the oil and gas sector, also saw 67 top management officials elevated to various positions.
The paper quoted the Group General Manger, Corporate Affairs, Dr. Livi Ajuonuma, as saying that the exercise was to ensure the survival and growth of the corporation.
“And according to the Oil Minister, Dr. Rilwanu Lukman, the ongoing changes are in response to the enormous challenges of survival and growth of the NNPC,” Ajuonuma said.
Painting a gloomy business picture in the country, the Vanguard newspaper on Friday headlined its story “820 manufacturing companies close down in 9 years – MAN”.
It said that the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), has declared that 820 manufacturing companies closed down in the past nine years of civilian rule and rendered thousands of people jobless, even as the Federal Government said the solution may not be very quick in coming.
It said that the MAN president, Alhaji Bashir Borodo, made the revelation in Lagos while addressing Nigerian top government functionaries, policy makers and industrialists at the 37th annual general meeting of MAN.
Borodo also said between 2000 and 2008, about 820 manufacturing companies closed down or temporarily suspended production, and urged the Federal Government to take pragmatic steps to save the sector from imminent total collapse.
He blamed the growing closure pattern on tough operating environment that is cha racterised by unstable electricity, high interest and exchange rates, smuggling, high cost of petroleum products to power their generators or boilers as well as multiple taxation and levies slammed upon the manufacturers by the various tiers of government.