A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
AS more and more people arrive the sprawling Redemption Camp venue of the 64th annual convention of the church, countless traders are making bountiful sales and are smiling to the banks.
At every corner, there are traders who are busy selling wares ranging from food, to household items, electronic equipment, cooking utensils, clothes, and other commodities. Some of the traders are not registered while others were duly accredited and allocated space to sell their wares.
Those who are not accredited like hawkers of satchet water, pop corn and ground nuts and several others who are taking advantage of the huge presence of people, are increasingly on the watchout for security personnel who harass them and some time seize their wares.
One of the market women who sells bags of sachet water said she has sold over 40 bags of water within two days while most of the male folks that fry puff-puff also wish the Programme can be extended.
A good number of visitors to the camp for the convention, appealed to the church authorities to provide more toilet facilities for them.
When our correspondent visited the National Kitchen, security men were seen preventing vehicular movement along the Kitchen Road while a crowd of people gathered on one side of the road patiently facing the kitchen and repeatedly saying Amen to prayers coming from the kitchen department.
Some of the onlookers held bottled water, anointing oil and Bible and when asked what was happening inside the kitchen, one of them said the General Overseer is coming to the kitchen to pray and bless the kitchen workers who are always absence from the convention programmes due to the nature of their work at the camp.
He said: “Daddy G.O. will be at the kitchen today (Thursday) to pray for the workers and he always does this every year since those people cooking don’t always have time to attend the various programmes. I believe as he is praying for the workers inside the kitchen, the prayer will also have positive impact on my life outside here and that is why I came with this water”.
A bullet struck the media centre at the Olympic equestrian venue on Saturday, fuelling security fears at the Rio de Janeiro Games.
No one was hurt in the incident, but an AFP journalist at the media centre saw a clear hole where the bullet tore through the canvas roof.
A TVNZ report said the bullet narrowly missed a New Zealand team official who was badly shaken by the incident.
New Zealand’s Olympic team said it appeared to be “unintentionally fired” and landed on the media centre floor.
“Today a bullet entered the press conference work room at the Equestrian Venue at Deodoro in Rio and landed on the floor,” a statement said.
“The New Zealand police assessment is that the bullet was fired unintentionally rather than with intent,” it added.
“We have advised all team members to remain within the accredited areas at the venue and travel bubble to bubble.
“Team members should remain aware and exercise caution.”
The Deodoro equestrian venue, which was hosting the first day of the dressage competition on Saturday, is located on a military base.
Rio also has a reputation for gun crime and there were two fatal shootings near Olympic venues on Friday, including one outside the Maracana stadium where the opening ceremony took place.
On Saturday, bomb-disposal experts carried out a controlled explosion near the finish line of the cycling road race at Copacabana beach.
New signing Sadio Mane scored one goal and made another as Liverpool slickly defeated Barcelona 4-0 in a one-sided friendly match at a sun-soaked Wembley on Saturday.
A 34 million pounds ($44.5 million, 40.1 million euros) capture from Southampton, Mane struck a 15th-minute opener and then supplied the cross from which ex-Liverpool player Javier Mascherano scored an own goal.
Divock Origi added a third seconds later and substitute Marko Grujic chipped in with a stoppage-time header as Jurgen Klopp’s side registered their sixth win in eight pre-season games.
“I’m happy with the result and with a lot of the game,” said Klopp, who lost James Milner to a first-half heel injury.
“I don’t want to over-estimate this game, but it’s still good for us. We didn’t think that we were lower than Barcelona before the game and we don’t think that we’re higher than them after the game.”
Liverpool play Mainz, one of Klopp’s former clubs, in a friendly in Germany on Sunday before tackling Arsenal in their Premier League opener next weekend.
Barcelona’s defeat meant that Paris Saint-Germain won the International Champions Cup friendly tournament for the second year running.
Barcelona coach Luis Enrique was missing Neymar, who is on duty with hosts Brazil at the Olympics, but fielded both former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, who hit the post in the first half.
Barca play Sampdoria at the Camp Nou in their final pre-season friendly on Wednesday and face Sevilla in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup on August 14.
“From the beginning we saw two teams with completely different rhythms,” said Luis Enrique.
“It was definitely not our best day. But there’s enough days for us to prepare and there’s no doubt we’ll be competitive.”
– Milner injury –
The glamour game drew 89,845 spectators to Wembley — the stadium’s second-highest attendance — and it was Liverpool’s fans, comfortably in the majority, who went home with smiles on their faces.
With seven friendly matches behind them to Barcelona’s two, Liverpool were the sharper team and they took the lead with a slick goal.
After winning possession on halfway, Adam Lallana surged forward and exchanged passes with Roberto Firmino before teeing up Mane, whose rising shot beat goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Liverpool had to weather a succession of Barcelona chances before half-time.
Suarez, facing his former club for the first time, teed up Messi to roll a shot against the right-hand post, while Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet saved from Arda Turan and Suarez.
Milner, who announced his England retirement on Friday, was again deployed at left-back for Liverpool, but had to give way to Alberto Moreno before half-time. Klopp said he would undergo a scan on Sunday.
Within three minutes of kick-off in the second half, the game was as good as over.
In the 47th minute, Origi’s flick released Mane and his low cross from the right was bundled into the net by Mascherano.
Barely a minute later, Kevin Stewart caught Jeremy Mathieu dawdling on the ball and freed fellow half-time substitute Origi, who coolly beat Barcelona replacement goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Grujic, signed from Red Star Belgrade in January, put the cherry on the cake in added time, meeting fellow Serbian Lazar Markovic’s scooped pass with a fine header that looped over Bravo.
Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure on Saturday defeated visiting Niger Tornadoes FC in a week 30 fixture of the 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
Michael Egbeta put the home team in front in the 45th minute of the first half, while Samad Quadri scored in the 48th minute to secure the win for Sunshine Stars.
After the match, Solomon Ogbeide, Sunshine Stars' Technical Adviser, said he was happy with the team’s performance.
Ogbeide said the expectation of every coach was for his team to play and win and he was happy his team did just that.
“Football is not basketball where you must convert all the chances you get in order to stay on top. But I am happy my team won at the end of the day.
“Also, I am cautiously optimistic that we will get there with the right motivation,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sunshine Stars will next take on Ikorodu United FC of Lagos, in a week 31 fixture of the NPFL.
Elder statesman Tanko Yakasai, has said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, will lose the 2019 elections, if the exercise is free and fair.
The former presidential adviser in the Second Republic said Nigerians will vote out the government of the APC because the state of poverty and cost of living is on the increase.
"In my opinion, Nigerians will vote out APC in 2019 because they are complaining over the cost of living and the rate of poverty is on the increase. I don’t see how APC will win if they don’t manipulate the process,”
“How much was a dollar last year, how much is it now? What about the cost of bag of rice, basket of tomatoes and other. Farmers are complaining about fertilizers but it was not like this when PDP was in power,” he said.
He said this when High Chief Raymond Dokpesi led members of his campaign team to his Kano residence to seek his support for the position of chairman of the PDP at the forthcoming national convention billed for Port Harcourt.
The Nigerian Army on Saturday expressed optimism that the Government Secondary School (GSS), Chibok, in Borno will re-open for academic activities in September.
Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, told newsmen in Maiduguri that this was based on progress of its reconstruction.
Ezugwu said the army took over the supervision of the reconstruction after a directive from the presidency.
“The school has become a national monument of a sort following the April 14, 2014 abduction of about 217 girls by terrorists at the institution.
“There was actually a presidential order asking army engineers to take over the reconstruction of the school, which led to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), giving directives for us to move in”, he said.
Ezugwu said the engineers had been on site for sometime trying to ensure the reconstruction of the school.
“We are trying to rebuild the entire structures by supervising contractors on site.
“Our target is that we shall be able to get some buildings ready before the commencement of the next academic session so that the school will be able to pick up again because of the total destruction its suffered in the hands of terrorists”, he said.
Ezugwu said Nigerian army was also working toward the take off of a Command Day Secondary School in the state.
“The one that gladdens my heart most is the Command Day Secondary School, Auno.
“The State Government is renovating the buildings of the former Government Secondary School (GSS) Auno, for the take off of the Command Day Secondary School.
“It is one of the efforts to appreciate what the army has done for the state.
“I was there with the Commissioner of Education to see things for myself and going by the level of work done, the school will begin operation in September”, he said.
He said it would be a good opportunity for the Nigerian Army to have its education corps to teach the students who are the future generals, doctors and professors.
The Emir of Katsina, Dr. Abdul-Mummuni Kabir, has urged people to stop castigating President Muhammad Buhari over the economic challenges facing the country.
Kabir made the call during inauguration of a book on family lineage of late chief Imam of Kano residing in Katsina, Muhammad Zaharaddeen, on Saturday in Katsina.
“It has come to our knowledge that some disgruntled people are castigating President Buhari and blaming the economic problems of the country on him.
“The President cannot solve the economic blunder committed in 16 years within one year.
“President Buhari needs some time to marshal plans that will solve the several challenges facing the country", he said
Kabir advised Nigerians to rally round and support Buhari to enable him to discharge his duties for the betterment of the people.
“The President needs the support and prayers of his brothers and sisters from the North to overcome the several problems facing the North and the country."
The emir commended the author of the book for writing the book on his family lineage that migrated to Katsina in 1894 during Hausa/Fulani civil wars.
He said the book will serve as a reference material for history students in tertiary institutions in the state.
Earlier, Gov. Aminu Masari urged citizens to emulate the late chief imam's family by promoting both western and islamic education.
"This prominent family has produced lawyers, doctors, university professors, administrators and politicians.''
Masari said the family had some prominent politicians like Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Alhaji Mustapha Inuwa and Sen. Hadi Sirike, a serving minister in Buhari's Administration.
NAN reports that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi, who was the chief launcher of the book, donoted N1 million. Over N5 million was realized at the launch.
The book is written by retired Aminu Abdullahi, formerly of BBC Hausa Service.
A group, which calls itself Witches and Wizards Association of Nigeria (WITCAN), has described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a workaholic while commending him for transforming Edo State.
*Dr Okhue Iboi
The group, which also asked Oshiomhole to put in place measures to ensure that the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state is successful, however, complained that its members were being persecuted, pleading that the persecution should stop.
It spoke through its Publicity Secretary, Dr Okhue Iboi.
"Members of our association are apolitical. We are not partisan. Our own concern as stakeholders in the project called Nigeria is for peace and unity to reign. Our own witches group are not evil. We do good, and promote whatever will bring progress to mankind. We love Nigeria. Oshiomhole has been working very hard in the last seven years plus, and he has transformed Edo State, but he should be very vigilant so that some hoodlums working for some political godfathers don't unleash violence which may lead to the destruction of properties and lives," Iboi, a trado-medical practitioner, told Sunday Vanguard in Lagos.
The witches spokesman disclosed that the task of delivering the message to Oshiomhole and other political gladiators in Edo State was given to the witches during a meeting members of the group held at Irrua.
"We were holding our monthly meeting at Irrua, and, suddenly, while looking at our crystal ball in the coven, we saw some things that were frightening concerning Edo and thereafter I was mandated as the spokesperson of the group to deliver this message to the governor, and other stakeholders that have one thing or the other to do with the governorship election in Edo State. But we are making a special appeal to Governor Oshiomhole because he is the Chief Security Officer of the state. He should liaise with the police, INEC and other stakeholders to ensure that peace is maintained before, during and after the elections," Iboi said.
Warning politicians in Edo State not to see the election as a do-or-die affair, he said political parties and candidates taking part in the election must respect the will of the electorate. "Power belong to God and He alone gives it to whomsoever it pleases Him to give it to. But one fact our politicians must know is that the will of the people must be respected" .
While advising politicians to take the witches warning seriously, Iboi said: "Witches are not joking over this Edo election. We will not allow any individual or group to destroy the state or give it a bad name. It is unfortunate that many Nigerians are hypocrites. When they hear witches or read about witches, what comes to their mind is evil or darkness. For our own witches group, we are children of light. We are for good. Have people forgotten that even in the Bible there is a story of King Saul who consulted a witch when he was about to go into a battle to enable him know how the battle will go?
"Again people tend to forget that Nigeria is a secular state, Nigeria doesn't belong to only Christians and Muslims, the nation is for all faiths. They should stop persecuting witches or look at us with disdain. As stakeholders they should allow us to make our own contributions to the growth and development of the country." The witches spokesperson said the election is going to be a straight battle between the candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Godwin Obaseki, and that of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Pastor Ize Iyamu.
"The battle is a straight one between Iyamu and Obaseki, and the election is going to be hotly contested. But on who is going to win, we are holding an emergency meeting at Ofosu next Wednesday, and the person who is going to win the election will be revealed to us at that meeting."
Frontline chairmanship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi on Friday described as unfortunate decision to micro zone the position to the Southwest by Southern leaders; saying it is a repeat of the same mistake that led the party to where it is today.
This is even as kano and Jigawa chapters of PDP vowed to give their votes to Dokpesi at National Convention of the Party in Portharcourt.
This was stated in a statement by the media team of Dokpesi Campaign Organisation, as the media mogul took his campaign into Nigeria’s North West, berthing in the ancient city of Kano.
He told delegates in Kano to do the right thing by voting their conscience.
He said he doesn’t have any godfather but is depending heavily on them to vote for him.
“Leaders of the South met and decided to micro-zone to the Southwest.
“These are the same things we did that brought the party to its knees.
“I have come here pleading and begging that if I become National Chairman it is me and you that would be chairman,” he said.
Just as he has been massively received in the 26 states previously visited, Dokpesi was treated to a heroic welcome by party members.
“I’ve been on the road for more than 8 days; moving from hamlet to hamlet, soliciting for support, asking, pleading and begging the people to vote for me.
“They’ve received us well; warmed up strongly to our brand of populist democracy which has pledged to return power to the people “.
Dokpesi said he is enboldened by the massive support from the people; and would be holding on to their words as he goes for the challenge in Port Harcourt.
“It is this assurances that I’ll hold on to as I transverse the length and breadth of the country” , he said, calling on citizens to join in a campaign that is “bound to change the face of politics forever in the country”, he said.
Speaking earlier, Kano State Chapter of PDP led by their Chairman, Alhaji Rabiu Dansharu pitched their tent with Raymond Dokpesi, vowing to give him all of their votes for the position of National Chairman of the party.
The State Chapter said it is not concerned about the position by leaders in the south to zone the seat to the Southwest.
Dansharu thanked him (Dokpesi) for deeming it necessary to come to Kano.
He said his visit has brought new hope to members in Kano.
The State Chapter endorsed Dokpesi; promising to give him their votes.
The north is home to Dokpesi. His mother being from Adamawa State but it is from Kano that the business mogul launched his campaign to his brothers and sisters deep in the North.
From Kano, Dokpesi Campaign train journeyed to Jigawa where party members trooped out in large numbers to welcome him.
Again in Jigawa, Dokpesi pleads for votes; saying he is very much in the race.
He promised that if he becomes National Chairman, he would ensure that Presidency returns to the North and that there would be level playing field for every section of the north.
Just as it happened in Kano, delegates vows to reward Dokpesi handsomely with their votes.
He also held private meetings with prominent Nigerians including Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai and former governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido in Kano.
Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has presented N1.8bn retirement bond certificate to 266 pensioners in the state.
One of the 266 retirees from the Osun state civil service receiving her Retirement Bond Certificate from Governor Rauf Aregbesola
The 266 beneficiaries are the third batch of retirees under the contributory pension scheme in the State of Osun to received their Retirement Bond Certificate.
Aregbesola during the presentation made it known that two hundred sixty six (266) retirees, both in the State and Local Governments Service benefited from the scheme. This he said, includes 139 primary school teachers, 55 local government and 72 state retirees.
He assured the retirees that, presentation of bond certificates would be a continuous exercise sequel to the availability of funds, noting that, no retirees will be short changed.
Speaking at the programme, the Head of Service, Mr. Sunday Owoeye explained that, as part of government’s effort to make life comfortable for retirees, the state government has approved the establishment of a data base for the use of the bureau which will bring about improvement in the prompt remittances of monthly contribution and efficient transfers of accrued benefit to Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of workers.
Mr. Owoeye stated that, Osun is ranked among the states that is diligently implementing the scheme, noting that, this is as a result of the doggedness of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
He said the scheme is implemented to surmount the challenges of old defined benefit scheme. He however, advised them to spend the money judiciously.
In his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Bureau, Mr. Kayode Afolabi said that, the contributory pension scheme will assist civil servants to save towards their retirement.
Mr. Afolabi explained that, the scheme also ensures that persons who leave or retire from public service will receive their benefits as and when due because there is a system of rules and regulations for the administration and payment of retirement benefits to beneficiaries.
He maintained that, since the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the state in 2010, positive development had been recorded.
According to him, in line with the global best practices and PENCOM’s recommendation, a pre-retirement workshop was earlier organized for the beneficiaries of the scheme to assist them prepare for a new life as pensioners.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs. Moji Adeleke appreciated the state Government for the kind gesture and prayed that God will improve the state of the economy in Osun and Nigeria.
The much-awaited maiden edition of the annual Warri carnival in Delta State has been confirmed to hold September 28 - October 1, this year. This is so, as arrangements towards the successful hosting of the five-day event have reached advanced stage.
Announcing this during a media chat in Lagos, the chief promoter and initiator of the carnival, Sunny Nikoro, stated that the carnival is targeted at entrenching Warri as a gateway to the Niger Delta region, and listing it as a tourist destination in Nigeria.
Activities lined up for the five-day event include unveiling of symbol of unity, top artists performance and comedy fair, carnival float/street parade, land boat regatta, Miss Warri beauty pageant, cultural dance and performance, including carnival cup 2016 - football novelty match. The match will feature the likes of ex-Nigerian footballers, Segun Odegbami, Frank Obire, and Henry Nwosu, among others, who will be playing alongside the local team, Warri Wolves
Land Regatta will feature the festival that offers a breathtaking display of the wealth and artistic splendour of the heritage of the riverine people of Delta State. It provides an opportunity for all riverine communities and dwellers to showcase their dexterity in boat building, decoration, parading, paddling and manoeuvring. The most artistic and creative boat will win a trophy.
Noting that the Warri Carnival is being organised to also coincide with the Nation's 56th Independence Day Anniversary celebration on October 1, Nikoro assured that the event which is already attracting tourists' enquiries from African countries and across the world, will be nurtured to become Africa's biggest street carnival.
"Apart from entertaining the anticipated millions of spectators coming from within and outside the state, the Warri Carnival will bring out the joy and bliss associated with the season, while also promoting commerce, laughter and love among the indigenes of Warri," he went further to say.
Warri city is one of the major hubs of petroleum activities and businesses in southern Nigeria. It is the commercial capital city of Delta State, with an estimated population of 2,000,000 people," says Nikoro.
Two policewomen were wounded in the southern Belgian city of Charleroi on Saturday by a machete-wielding man who shouted “Allahu akbar” (God is the greatest), local police said.
The attacker was shot and injured, they said on Twitter.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised communities along the River Niger to evacuate immediately to safer ground.
The agency warned in a statement it issued in Abuja on Saturday that flooding might occur at any moment following intense rainfall and rises in water level.
The Director-General of the agency, Malam Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who gave the advice in the statement, said the agency had received alerts of the imminent flooding.
He said information given by the authorities in the Republic of Niger indicated the present water level in the river had reached a point that may result in flooding that could be compared with that of 2012.
He said: “Niger Basin Authority (NBA) notified Nigeria that rainy season, which started in the Middle Niger (Burkina Faso and Niger Republic) in June, has led to a gradual rise of the level of River Niger in Niamey, Niger Republic.
“This high level of water in Niger Republic is already spreading to Benin Republic, and invariably, to Nigeria.''
He further said that the level of water in all the hydrological monitoring stations across the country, as at Aug. 5, had already exceeded the corresponding values at that time.
According to him, this development is an alarming situation that requires the prompt and coordinated action of all governments and stakeholders.
“If the heavy rainfall continues in intensity and duration within these regions of the River Niger, it is imminent that flood situation similar to that of the year 2012 may occur,'' the director-general quoted the report as saying.
Sani_Sidi, therefore, called on all stakeholders to take necessary actions in line with their various mandates.
He said that states and local governments should ensure observance of the threat to avert imminent loss of lives and property that might arise in the event of flooding.
He identified the states along the river Niger belts as being the most vulnerable and those along its major tributaries such as in Benue river belts , the confluence states and downstream to the Atlantic Coast.
He said NEMA zonal and operation offices had been instructed to continue with advocacy visit to the state governments.
He also urged the states to utilise the flood vulnerability maps given to them earlier by NEMA to identify safer ground for temporary shelters in time of evacuation.
He advised them to always review all their contingency plans.
Tanzania's golden boy of music, Diamond Platinumz has confessed that his wife, who is older than him, gets jealous of his female fans.
He admitted this during a recent TV interview, "Whenever I'm shooting videos, she's not always there, but she could call me up to 50 times. When I eventually show her the video, and she watches some scenes where I'm frolicking with women, she asks me why I did that. But I make her understand that I'm a musician, and that's part of my job."
He continued, "There was a time I was in Europe for a tour, and I tweeted 'Where my ladies at …' She took offence to that and said why was I asking for the ladies, that do I want them to come and meet me. I told her it means nothing, and it's only part of our artistic language."
In the same interview, Diamond hinted that he will soon be releasing a song with pop twins, P-Square, and that it's going to be one of the biggest tracks in Africa, as he feels it will be a hit already.
Diamond is one of the biggest artistes in East Africa, and he has also collaborated with Nigerian acts such as Waje and Davido.
Ghollywood actor, John Dumelo recently disclosed the secrets behind his charming self, which makes him very attractive to ladies. The talented actor who made the revelations at the Nigerian launch of
Ghandour Cosmetics product range in Lagos, said keeping his hair neat is one of the features ladies find irresistible.
"I always keep my hair well cut and neat, I know a lot of boys or a lot of men who have always wanted to use the product too because it's good for the hair. It straightens out the hair and makes the hair
look neat and it attracts the women as well. "
He explained that keeping his hair neat is also part of the reasons he was chosen as a brand ambassador for Ghandour Cosmetics, 'Style Up'.
Even though I work with style app, I still have links with BO16 and other brands that Ghandour does. That's the reason I'm here. I'm here for BO16 and I always support their activities", he noted
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State says it will conduct a primary election on Aug. 8 to pick a candidate for Oorelope State Constituency re-run election.
Mr Olawale Sadare, the Director of Media and Publicity of the party, announced this in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the seat became vacant following the assassination of Assemblyman Gideon Aremu on July 1.
NAN also reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed Aug. 20 for the election to fill the vacant position.
Sadare said that the eligible party members had been informed to visit the state secretariat for the collection of expression of interest and nomination forms.
According to him, the deadline for payment and collection of forms is Aug. 8 by 10a.m.
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has fixed N150 per litre as the official depot price of kerosene.
Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of the union, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday.
According to him, the price will encourage more importation of the product by the marketers.
He said that most of the filling stations selling kerosene between N200 and N220 as the pump price was as a result of additional money on transportation of the product and some other levies paid by marketers.
The chairman said that at present, NNPC was the only importer of kerosene and was using private depots to sell the product.
“The NNPC has fixed N150 per litre as the new depot price of kerosene and has directed all its depots and private depot to comply with the directive.
“This did not include the transportation of the product or several levies and bank interests paid by marketers.
“Consequently, marketers will now add all these expenses to the depot price to arrive at N190, N200 or N220 depending on their locations.
“The advantage of this is that it will open door for more marketers to commence importation of kerosene just like petrol,'' he said.
Korodo, however, commended Federal Government for its transparent policy in oil and gas sector.
He urged NNPC to commence loading of its products from depots nationwide, adding that the System 2B oil pipelines were saved from being vandalised.
NAN reports that the Federal Government han on Jan. 24 increased the price of kerosene to N83 per litre from N50 per litre thereby officially removing subsidy from the product.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was at the Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja on Friday to attend a meeting of Zero Hunger in Africa-Nigeria chapter and not a meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a photograph of the former president was wrongly captioned as having been seen arriving at the venue of the PDP meeting.
NAN reports that Obasanjo was at the centre for the Zero-hunger meeting and not for the PDP meeting, a party he openly left.
According to a statement by Mr Tunde Arosanyin of the Zero Hunger in Africa in Abuja on Saturday, it was just a coincidence that the two meetings were holding at the same venue.
”He came for zero hunger in Africa-Nigeria chapter meeting with commodity Association stakeholders.
”At closing, some PDP members came to greet him at the boardroom of the hunger meeting venue,” Arosanyin saidi.
NAN reports that the PDP, on Friday, Aug. 5, inaugurated a convention committee ahead of the Aug. 17 convention in Port Harcourt
Originally named Avwraka until anglicized to "abraka", Abraka town is one of the 22 towns in Urhobo kingdom, located in the southern parts of Nigeria. Endowed with some of the most beautiful sceneries in Urhobo land, the town is one of the Delta state's - and Nigeria's - most popular vacation spots for both domestic and international tourists. The city's pleasant climate makes it a very popular holiday destination, particularly for those in the southern regions of the country. Though destinations often are said to offer something for everyone, the Abraka area offers multiple enticements for everyone: its trendy nightlife, the plush hotels, and resorts, historic hideaways, the lures of deep-sea fishing and canoeing, Art festivals and outdoor food and picnics, the Abraka area offers all of this - and so much more.
TOP THREE SITES River Ethiope
River Ethiope is one of the most important rivers in Delta State with natural flowing spring water. It is the deepest inland waterway in Africa, and it flows through seven local government areas in the state before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean.
Abraka turf and country club
Located in Abraka, Abraka turf and country club is surrounded by a rich tropical rainforest and bordered by the River Ethiope.It is Nigeria's only equestrian leisure club, as it features a horse club where an international polo tournament takes place every year during Easter.
The Abraka beach
This beach is famous for its natural flowing spring water, and has some sports recreational facilities for outdoor activities like canoeing, fishing, swimming, barbecue, picnicking
LODGING
From intimate boutique hotels to plush resorts, you can find your perfect home away from home in Abraka. It's all about atmosphere. The rooms of most hotels may look chic, but are as comfortable as sleeping on a concrete slab. Once you decide how much atmosphere you want, the choice will be easier. Fortunately, the hotels in Abraka - though not many- are moderately priced, more casual options. Worth checking out is Abraka River Resort Motel, which has its own sandy beach on a river that flows through a beautiful forested area, and Gordon River Resort, another great spot which is a delight for those wanting to get away into the kind of serenity that an African jungle can offer. It pays to try to negotiate the price of a room. You, however, can save yourself all the stress by booking and getting the lowest possible price for rooms via Jumia Travel.
DINING Whatever you're craving, Abraka's got it. It would, however, be great to try some of the local delicacies such as Banga soup and starch. Basically, Abraka is one place you can experience fine dining without the pretense. Although travelers do not necessarily choose a hotel by its dining options, a number of Abraka's best restaurants can be found inside hotels. And with just about a handful of restaurants to choose from, dining out is unique for locals and visitors alike. You can enjoy a moderately priced meal while having a waiter hover over you. Again, because seafood is plentiful, it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to enjoy the appendages of a crab or shrimps.
SHOPPING
Abraka may not be one of Nigeria's premier shopping towns;but visitors who come every year do find what to spend their money on. The town offers some unique shopping spots, where you can buy groceries, clothes, and even electronics.
FUN FACT
Abraka is home to the prestigious Delta State University. That's why the town has nickname 'University Town'
No comments:
Post a Comment