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
Celebrated Nigerian Comedian, Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke, known by stage name 'I Go Save', will bury his father, late Evangelist Joseph Pender Onodjayeke, who died on June 1st 2016 at age 74 on Saturday, October 22.
The comedian, who is the second son and fourth child amongst seven children, described his father's death as a great loss to the family.
Close to tears, the comedian explained how his father laughed at him the first time he told him he wanted to be a comedian.
"The sound of his laughter was very loud that I almost left the room. I still remember how I was standing in front of you him in the sitting room, back in the 90's.
"It was not even a joke. He only asked if I loved this act of making people laugh, and I answered yes; and his loud sounding laughter was what followed. He laughed so loud and it was a beautiful mockery laugh.
He refused to allow my desire to crack jokes interrupt my education. He motivated me to strive hard in everything I did. A practical disciplinarian per excellent; he tactically adopted several pattern to guide me through life," the comedian recalls.
Late Onodjayeke will be laid to rest at his home town in Kokori, Delta State.
I Go Save also shared that some of his friends in the entertainment industry will be present to support him and his family.
Abuja – President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged the full support of the Federal Government for the Royal Destiny Trust programme of the newly installed Oba of Benin, Ewuare II.
Buhari, represented by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo, made the pledge at the coronation of the Oba in Benin on Thursday.
The president who congratulated the new monarch also prayed for his success.Oba Ewuare II
"On behalf of the president and government of the federal republic of Nigeria, I congratulate you on this momentous and historic occasion.
"We assure you of our full support, especially for the royal destiny trust programme for youth employment and poverty alleviation which your royal majesty has set out'', Buhari said.
Buhari who described the late father of the new Oba as a principled and forthright Nigerian, who contributed to the development of the country, urged Oba Ewuare II to sustain the legacy left behind by his ancestors.
" It is the responsibility of this illustrious legacy that your royal majesty bear from this day forward.
"Consequently, this ceremony is not merely a celebration of the pump and pageantry of history.
"Your walk through your kingdom to this place of your coronation speaks of the great obligation of privilege; the obligation of protecting the cultural rights of the people and promoting their wellbeing.
"We are gratified that your meritorious service as Nigeria ambassador to various nations and your sterling works in the oil and gas industry stand you in good stead to fulfill these obligations.
"All of those who know you are convinced that you will discharge these responsibilities with great wisdom and integrity that your great ancestors have all displayed.''
The president also congratulated Gov. Adam Oshiomhole on being the first Edo man to hand over staff of office to a new Oba.
"Today, your name finds a notable place in the rich history of Edo monarchy'', he said.
Abuja – The newly installed Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare 11, on Thursday in Benin, called for the inclusion of Edo language and history in schools' curriculum.
The Oba made the call in Benin during his coronation and receipt of staff of office.
He implored government to include Edo language and Benin history in schools' curriculum.Eware the Great
He also appealed to the Benin people to uphold and respect traditional institutions at all times.
"I advise my Benin people to try to maintain our culture especially our language, by insisting on its use in communicating with their children and each other.
He equally spoke on what he called "cultural diplomacy" when he said:
"We shall strive to ensure that conflicts are resolved between individuals, families and communities along the principles of social justice.
"We shall use cultural diplomacy as veritable tool for the promotion of harmonious relationship with our neighbours far and near.''
The Oba said that to survive, it was imperative that culture is maintained; adding that culture is a unifying force for the people.
"Our culture and tradition remain the one main factor that international communityrespect us for.
The Oba said that his reign shall uphold the principle of neutrality and non-partisanship in political parties' activities.
"While our people remain free to play politics by subscribing to any political party of their choice, we shall, however, continue to pray for and always support the right kind of political leaders.
"Who will safeguard the welfare of our people, provide for their basic needs and who will accord recognition to traditional institutions."
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – Another Justice of the Supreme Court whose home was raided by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, has opened fresh can of worms, alleging that his ordeal was a function of his refusal at various times, to help the All Progressives Congress, APC, to pervert justice in governorship election disputes involving Ekiti, Rivers and Ebonyi states.
Justice Ngwuta, in a letter dated October 18, which he forwarded to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed and the National Judicial Council, NJC, specifically fingered the Minister of Transport, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and Minister of Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, as those that approached him on behalf of the APC.
In the letter entitled: "Invasion Of My House In The Night, Planting Of Huge Sums Of Money In Different Currencies, Purported Recovery Of The Money, Carting Away Of My Documents And Other Valuable Items And My Subsequent Abduction By Masked Operatives Of The DSS Between Friday, October 7th And Saturday, October 8th, 2016", Ngwuta, said Ameachi begged him to facilitate the removal of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.
He further disclosed that shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed the election of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, Amaechi also called him on phone and said "Oga is not happy".
No fewer than 94,141 pregnant women are said to be HIV/AIDS positive in Zamfara.
A United States Agency for International Aids (USAID) funded programme said this through Management Services for Health Organisation the USAID Prevention and Organisational Systems-AIDS Care and Treatment (PRO-ACT).
Pregnant-mother
The team leader of the organisation, Mr Aminu Sarki, spoke at the end of a seven-year treatment and support rolling plan for those living with HIV in the state in Gusau on Thursday.
Sarki said more than 500 women living with HIV received anti-retroviral drugs in the state during the period.
He said 4,436 persons living with HIV in the state were cared for by his organisation.
He explained that the project was aimed at strengthening the capacity of the country's public, private and community sectors for sustainable HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis prevention, control, care and treatment within the health system.
He said his organisation had succeeded in providing services at four comprehensive care and treatment sites as well as trained health personnel in 19 Management Sciences for Health (MSH) supported facilities in injection, safety and waste management.
He said as the project was winding up in the state by November, there was need for the state government to takeover and continue in order to eliminate HIV in the state.
While applauding the services rendered by the organisation in the state, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Abdullahi Shinkafi, assured that the state government would soon study and takeover in order to sustain the programme.
The project was conducted in the five states of Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the programme participants.
Popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, recently went spiritual after her hubby surprised her with a 2017 Lexus LX 570.
The excited mum of one took to Instagram to make the huge revelation.
“I am indeed speechless by your love for me. Everyday I applaud myself for marrying such an awesome husband as you. Thank you my dearest husband for gifting me such a wonderful gift as this cutie (LEXUS LX 570 2017).
May God bless and enrich you dearly for me, you shall know not lack." She wrote.
"Your Love has made me a better woman and I am grateful to God for letting our paths cross. I Love you so much,” she added.
Former world number one and 14-time Grand Slam title winner Rafael Nadal shut down his season on Thursday to concentrate on recovering full fitness for a fresh assault in 2017.
The 30-year-old has been plagued by injuries in 2016 and has now gone through a second successive campaign without adding to his majors collection.
Rafael Nadal
A wrist injury forced him to withdraw from the French Open before the third round and kept him on the sidelines until the Olympics.
“It is no secret that I arrived to the Olympic Games short of preparation and not fully recovered, but the goal was to compete and win a medal for Spain. This forced recovery has caused me pain since then and now I am forced to stop and start preparing the 2017 season,” Nadal wrote on Facebook
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola was defiant he will not change his ways despite a harrowing night for goalkeeper Claudio Bravo on his return to Barcelona as a Lionel Messi hat-trick inspired a 4-0 Barca win on Wednesday.
Bravo was sent-off with City trailing just 1-0 for saving Luis Suarez’s effort when outside his area after gifting the ball to the Uruguayan striker, putting Guardiola’s decision to jettison England number one Joe Hart under more scrutiny.
“Until the last day I am a coach I will try to play from the goalkeeper,” said Guardiola.
“Of course you cannot play all the time, but it was a mistake and it sometimes happens.”
Bravo enjoyed two almost faultless years at Barca before joining City in August, but has endured a shaky start under Guardiola’s firm instructions to build City’s attack from the back.
“He (Bravo) has a lot of experience, he is one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the last 10 years, but he will learn and is the first one in the dressing room to apologise.”
Bravo’s gaffe was just one of many City defensive howlers on the night as Messi took advantage of Fernandinho’s slip to give Barca an early lead.
Messi curled home a second before Ilkay Gundogan’s misplaced pass played in Suarez, who squared for Messi to complete his hat-trick.
The scoreline could have been even more embarrassing for City had substitute goalkeeper Willy Caballero not saved a penalty from Neymar before the Brazilian made amends with a brilliant fourth.
“It is always difficult to play in Barcelona with 11 players and with 10 the game was over,” added Guardiola.
“We created enough chances, we arrive at the byline many times, but with their strikers when they arrive they punish you.”
Guardiola won his first 10 games in charge, but City have now failed to win any of their last four matches and the Catalan lamented the series of error-strewn performances affecting his side.
A 3-3 draw at Celtic was followed by a 2-0 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur before City missed two penalties in a 1-1 draw with Everton on Saturday.
“Starting in Glasgow, own goals in White Hart Lane (against Tottenham), missing penalties, we give a lot for the opponents,” he added.
Guardiola, who won 14 trophies in four years in charge of Barca, has now lost on both occasions he has returned to the Camp Nou after losing 3-0 in 2015 when with Bayern Munich.
However, Guardiola’s former teammate and Barca boss Luis Enrique agreed Bravo’s dismissal changed the game.
“The sending-off was decisive and conditioned the game a lot,” said Enrique.
“Teams that try to play from the back know those errors can happen and you have to accept it. In the long-run it is more beneficial.”
Messi has now scored two hat-tricks in as many games in this season’s Champions League as the Argentine showed no signs of rust on his first start for a month after a groin injury.
“We have seen the calm that Messi has to finish inside the area as if he was in the school yard,” added Enrique.
“If there is anything you can expect of Messi it is that. It doesn’t matter how many days he has been out or the games he has missed.”
Barcelona’s Uruguayan star Luis Suarez on Thursday collected the Golden Shoe award for the leading scorer in Europe last season and admitted he never imagined being the most prolific member of such a star-studded attack.
“I didn’t imagine myself as the top scorer, I only thought about being a champion, winning the Champions League, which I have done,” said Suarez at a prize-giving ceremony in Barcelona.
“I have team-mates who make it easy but I am not going to take credit from myself because it needs to be done and you need to be in the right place,” Suarez, 29, said of his goal-scoring exploits.
The former Liverpool striker, who moved to the Camp Nou in 2014, scored a remarkable 40 goals in La Liga last season as Luis Enrique’s side edged out Real Madrid to take the title.
That tally allowed him to pip Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain, scorer of a Serie A record 36 goals for Napoli, to the award.
Barcelona’s Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez poses after receiving the 2015-2016 Golden Shoe award to the leading goalscorer in league matches from the top division of every European national league, on October 20, 2016 in Barcelona
Cristiano Ronaldo was third with 35 goals for Real.
He said of all his goals among those that stood out came in the 4-0 destruction of Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“There were many beautiful goals, important ones, but the ones I liked the most for what they meant were the two against Real Madrid and one against Atletico Madrid because it allowed us to stay top,” he said.
It is the second time Suarez has won the Golden Shoe — in 2013-14 he shared the prize with Ronaldo after netting 31 times for Liverpool in the Premier League.
Ronaldo has won it a record four times, while Suarez’s Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi is a three-time winner.
He gave a nod to Messi and Neymar, the other member of the so-called MSN.
“I am in the best team in the world, with the best players,” he said.
“When you fix an objective you can reach it but the priority is the collective and winning titles as a team.
“If individual prizes come with that then it’s even better. But if it’s not me who wins them then let it be Leo or Neymar!”
Suarez is the second Uruguayan to win the trophy after Diego Forlan, who took the Golden Shoe when with Villarreal in 2004-05 and again as an Atletico player in 2008-09.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), says it recovered about N200 million stolen funds in Borno from November 2015 till date.
Malam Ibrahim Bappa, the Head of Operations of Maiduguri Zonal Office of EFCC, stated this on Thursday in Maiduguri.
Bappa via a statement stated that the money belonged to the Federal Government and to an individual.
He said that N196 million belonged to the Federal Government, while about N3 million belonged to an individual who petitioned the commission.
"Since the office resumed operations in November, 2015, it has recovered N196 million for the Federal Government and N3 million for an individual victim.
" For the individual victim, the commission received a petition and acted on it," Bappa said.
He, however, did not state from whom or where the money was recovered in Borno.
Bappa said the EFCC opened its Maiduguri Zonal Office on March 22, 2011, but suspended its operations due to the security challenges.
He said the resumption of operations by the commission now means it was poised to fighting corruption and financial crimes in the area.
No NCC official was bribed over N330B MTN fine -Maikano
By Egufe Yafugborhi
WARRI – THE Nigerian Communications Commission yesterday discredited claims that some of its officials were bribed in the negotiation and ongoing settlement of the N330Billion fine the agency slammed on GSM network provider, MTN Nigeria.
Abdullahi Maikano, Director, Consumer Affairs Bureau, of the commission debunked the claims in Effurun, Uvwien council area, Delta state where the telecoms regulator held its 22nd Consumer Town Hall Meeting.
Represented by his deputy, Dr Femi Atoyebi on the occasion, Maikano said, “No NCC official was bribed. I repeat, nobody bribed any NCC official on that MTN fine issue, quote me. NCC is a very responsible organization under quality leadership which cascades down to the least of staff.
"No NNC staff will ever take bribe. Challenge me if you see one. That allegation is not true. You read in the papers what MTN has done, they have paid some amount and they are to pay the rest by installments. So, that case is actually settled."
On the recurring consumer complaints of unsolicited SMS and poor network among other concerns against service providers, Maikano noted that the continued town hall meetings to bridge and bring telecoms consumers with operators and the regulator are providing gainful results in gradually resolving the complaints by users.
"It's not true that NCC has not been doing anything about complaints. The town hall meetings are not jamborees. Everything going on here is being recorded and we will played. We do a comprehensive report and make recommendations on every outing to management.
"Some of the policies you see being rolled out by NCC emanate from reports from meetings like these. The consumers are the target beneficiaries of all our activities which make them enjoy primary focus in ensuring that they get quality of service, value for money and timely and fair redress of complaints."
At the Effurun Town were various network providers, religious groups, companies and several individual consumers who harped on inconveniences suffered over unsolicited messages, crazy deductions and poor networks among the commonest complaints the NCC promised to resolve with time.
Prince Eheneden Erediauwa was on Thursday crowned the 39th Oba of Benin Kingdom at a colourful ceremony, but his new name is still kept secret.
Prince Erediauwa was crowned at about 2 am by the Usama N' Ihiron also known as the Edion led by Chief Oliha.
Other members of the Edion are Edohen, Ezomo, Ero, Eholo N' Ire, Oloton and Edaiken.
The crowning was done at a private ceremony inside the Usama Palace, a temporary building erected for the coronation ceremony.Ewuare the Great
The ceremony was attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and man state governors.
The traditional chiefs present are Chief Omohor of Benin Kingdom, bearer of the ancient sword carried by the Oba; the Ikpakohen group ( royal drummers) from Ikpema responsible for beating the royal drum; and Ekassa dance group, Isienmwenro guild amongst others.
The new name of the Oba will be unveiled to the public at Urhokpota hall.
Security has been beefed up as activities heightened for the coronation of the new Oba of Benin.
The Edo state government declared Thursday as public holiday for the coronation.
Markets and shop have been closed today as directed by the government to mark the grand finale of coronation rituals.
The ancient Kingdom, which used to be called Igodomigodo, will have a new King after the death of Oba Erediauwa, the 38th King, in April.
The centre and major streets in ancient Benin are wearing a new look.
The new palace, built by Prince Erediauwa, is an architectural masterpiece. All the major roads to the city centre had been condoned off since Wednesday.
The Oba Ovoranmwen Square was closed to traffic and commercial activities around the Square have been prohibited while posters and banners of Prince Erediauwa adorned the streets.
…I was victim of corruption in judiciary, says retiring C-Appeal Justice
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri
ABUJA-The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, on Thursday, asked all the judges being investigated over their alleged involvement in acts of corruption to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or proceed on compulsory leave, until their innocence is fully and completely established.
The legal body said such step was not only necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned, but to also safeguard the public image of the judiciary as an institution.
NBA, which made its position known at a valedictory court session that was held in honour of a retiring Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Sotonye Denton-West, further urged the National Judicial Council, NJC, to take very urgent steps to restore the sanctity of the courts.
It will be recalled that among Judges whose homes were raided by operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, between October 8 and 9, included two Supreme Court Justices- Iyang Okoro and Sylvester Ngwuta.
Others included Justices Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court Abuja, Kabir Auta of the Kano High Court, Muazu Pindiga of Gombe High Court, Mohammed Tsamiya of the Court of Appeal in Ilorin, and the Chief Judge of Enugu State, I. A. Umezulike.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is equally probing some judges allegedly involved in fraudulent transactions.
Meanwhile, the National President of the NBA, Mr. A.B Mahmoud, SAN, in an address he presented at the special court session, said: "My Lords, distinguished ladies and gentlemen permit me digress a little. I am sure that many here will be expecting me to make further statements on the ongoing events affecting the nation's judiciary.
"I have in the course of the last two weeks or so made several statements and remarks on these developments. Our position is therefore well known. We have emphasized our commitment to safeguarding the independence of the nation's judiciary.
"We have also spoken firmly on our commitment to rid the judiciary and indeed the bar of all corrupt elements. I will like to say we remain resolute on these. In the course of the last several days, the NBA has continued to hold high level consultations with all segments of the bar and other stakeholders and indeed the administration on how to address what has obviously become a major concern to all Nigerians within and outside the country.
Ngwuta, Okoroand Ademola
"That is corruption in the judiciary. On Thursday 13th of October at the meeting of bar leaders comprising past NBA Presidents, Past General Secretaries and past Attorneys –General of the Federation, we reviewed very carefully the developments after listening to detailed briefings from both the Attorney General and Minister of Justice as well the Secretary of the National Judicial Council.
"One of the resolutions we took was to set up a Task Force to urgently review the current developments and come up with clear specific recommendations on how best to clean up the nation's judiciary and rebuild confidence of Nigerians in our law courts. I am expecting the report of that task force in two weeks.
"In the meantime we have continued with our consultations and engagements. We will be coming up with bold and clear recommendations which we will pass to the National Judicial Council and the Government.
"In the interim however, particularly having regards to what appears to an ongoing accusations and counter accusations between the some of the Judges and other personalities or agencies, it appears to the NBA that it is extremely important that the NJC takes very urgent steps to safeguard the public image and sanctity of the courts.
"We therefore strongly recommend that, without prejudice to the innocence or otherwise of the Judges involved in the ongoing investigations, they should be required to recuse themselves from further judicial functions or required to proceed on compulsory leave until their innocence is fully and completely established or until the conclusion of all judicial or disciplinary proceedings.
"We believe this will be necessary in order to protect the sanctity and integrity of judicial processes that may involve the judges concerned and safeguard the public image of the institution".
Similarly, Chairman of Akure branch of the NBA, Mr. Oso Adetunji, in his own address, said there was need to deal with corrupt judges without desecrating the sacredness of the judiciary as an institution.
"The task before us as a nation is not to debate whether there are corrupt judges in our judiciary, the task is how to remove or deal with the few corrupt ones on the Bench, without destroying the judiciary.
"A corrupt judge on the bench is a cancer to the system. It eats deep into the system and will eventually kill the system if not removed. But let us remove such cancerous judges with care and due processes so that in our attempt to kill the cancer, we don't inadvertently kill the system too.
"Let us deal with the corrupt judges in the judiciary without desecrating the sacredness of the institution. In dealing with the corrupt judges in our midst, let us treat the system with decency and dignity, so as to preserve the awe with which the ordinary man holds the court.
"Let every corrupt judge first be subjected to the disciplinary procedure of the NJC, disciplined and removed before subjecting him to the ridicule and treatment of a common criminal. It is not for him. It is for the sake of the system. I would be happy to see a corrupt judge handcuffed, paraded and docked. But for the sake of the system, let such be arraigned and docked as dismissed judicial officers. After all, the Nigeria Police Force will not submit its officer, no matter how junior he is, for prosecution without first removing his uniform.
"We all know that the NJC does not have the statutory power to prosecute. It is only saddled with the power to by virtue of section 292(1), Paragraph 20 (b) (d) of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, to discipline a judge.
"Let the NJC first discipline, by removing a judge from office, before handing him over for prosecution. To be able to this, the NJC must embark on a confidence building process by repositioning itself for this task.
"We suggest that petition against and judicial official be treated thoroughly and with dispatch. It must act without fear or favour. Spouses of any politically exposed person should not be elevated to the Bench. Where the spouse of any politically exposed person is serving before his or her spouse was elevated to the Bench, let such spouse step down from the Bench", Adetunji added.
Meanwhile, Justice Denton-West who bowed out of the appellate court bench having clocked the 70 years mandatory retirement age, in her speech, said she was a victim of corruption in the judiciary.
Justice Denton-West, who was the first female judge in Rivers State, said: "I would be failing in my duties as a senior citizen of this country, if I fail to comment on the recent goings in the judiciary. Indeed I know and believe that there is corruption unfortunately even in the folds of the judiciary. I have personally been a victim of corrupt acts from the judiciary on some occasions".
However, she called on the authorities to revisit the remuneration of justices.
"The workload is heavy. Something should be done to give comfort to both serving judges and those that have retired. We spend almost all our time to make the society liveable, so, giving us a liveable life should not be too much. The judiciary still remains the common hope of all. So please may everybody treat the judiciary with respect", she added.
Among dignitaries at the event included Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
Twenty-nine (29) Senior officers of the Nigeria Customs Service have been dismissed for various acts of gross misconduct. The dismissed officers are among forty-four (44) Senior officers who were punished for actions capable of compromising national economy and security.
Ten (10) other officers were retired from Service, while the appointment of one (1) was terminated. Four (4) officers were given written warnings to be of better conduct while another 4 officers who were investigated and tried for some offences were exonerated.
Four (4) of the officers who got the hammer were of the rank of Deputy-Comptroller of Customs, while five (5) were Assistant-Comptroller. Others were seven (7) Chief Superintendents of Customs and four (4) Superintendents, among others.
Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hammed Ali (Rtd) had made it clear upon his assumption of duties that the Service will not compromise on Corruption and Indiscipline among the officers corps. In line with this, the structure and process for investigation of offences was strengthened to handle cases reported promptly and professionally. "We will give all officers fair hearing in line with the principle of natural justice. We will however insist that sanctions be punitive, not only to match the offence committed, but to serve as deterrent to others", the CGC remarked at Management meeting convened to consider the report of the Disciplinary Committee that investigated the cases.
The process leading to the actions taken on the officers was painstaking in line with the Public Service Rules (PSR). All the officers were served with Queries indicating offences committed, before they made appearances before the Special Investigation Committee. The Committee's recommendation was discussed and approved by the Customs Management. The recommendation was thereafter referred to the Presidency for ratification, in the absence of a substantive Board for the Nigeria Customs Service. All the officers affected in the exercise have been communicated accordingly.
The Comptroller-General warned officers that punitive sanctions will continue to be used to discipline officers who refuse to embrace change.
Officers affected in this exercise were investigated for involvement in improper examination and release of containers without proper documentation and payment of duties, illegal release of goods in advance before the arrival of vessels, collection of bribe to release prohibited items, release of export prohibitions, fraudulent sale of seized items, use of fake certificates and bribery to secure auctioned goods.
Last week, seventeen (17) Junior officers were similarly dismissed from service for offences like bribery, drug addiction, use of fake certificates and absence from duty.
By Michael Eboh with Agency Report The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Thursday, slashed the official selling price of Nigeria's crude oil grades as parts of strategy to make Nigeria crude oil attractive to buyers and to help it regain its share of the global crude oil market.
According to a report by Bloomberg Energy, the NNPC cut the price of every type of crude it sells in an effort to regain share of the global oil market at a time when there is a huge glut of cargoes.
The report disclosed that the NNPC lowered by at least $1 a barrel, its official selling prices (OSP), for 20 out of 26 oil grades monitored by Bloomberg, according to pricing lists.
It noted that Qua Iboe, Nigeria's largest export crude oil under normal circumstances, was reduced by the most since 2014.
Specifically, it explained that the NNPC cut the selling price of Qua Iboe for November to a 17 cent premium to the benchmark Dated Brent, according to the price list, from $1.07, while it reduced the price of Bonny Light to a seven cent premium and Forcados to a 41 cent discount to Dated Brent.
Brent crude futures, the report said, slumped as much as 2.7 per cent to $51.27 a barrel, the largest intraday decline since September 27. They were down 2.2 per cent at $51.51 at 3:49 p.m. on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London.
Mele Kyari, Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC, stated that the price reductions are due to a huge cargo overhang as the country attempts to regain market share. Kyari disclosed that five companies that market the nation's crude oil had raised the issue of high official selling prices, adding, however, that the decision to cut the price was unrelated to those complaints.
The Bloomberg report stated that like every other crude oil producer country, Nigeria is grappling with prices that are less than half what they were in July 2014.
What makes Nigeria's situation more acute, the report said, is a militant campaign that resulted in export flows falling to the lowest in at least nine years earlier this year, adding that shipments are gradually resuming, and lower prices are a sign Nigeria is seeking to become more competitive in an already oversupplied global market.
The reductions, the report noted is coming on the heels of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries attempts to cut its combined output to 32.5 million to 33 million barrels a day in an effort to steady oil markets.
According to its survey of four buyers of West African crude after the NNPC announced the price slash, the report stated that the changes to November prices have brought them back to accurate market levels. Commenting on the development, Eshan Ul-Haq, Principal Consultant at KBC Process Technology Limited, said, "It is a bearish signal for the light, sweet market. In order to capture a higher share of the market, OSPs have to come down.
"Because an OPEC output cut would primarily affect medium and heavy crude grades, lower prices from Nigeria are likely to reduce the price differential between light and heavier oil."
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a number of Ecological Fund Intervention Projects for 11 states of the federation.
The projects which are part of the intervention for the 4th Quarter of 2016 are spread across the 6 Geo-Political Zones of Nigeria.
A statement signed by the Director, Press, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Bolaji Adebiyi listed the Erosion and Flood Control Project of Rice Fields in Suru, Bagudu and Shanga Local Government Areas of Kebbi state; the Remediation of Sludge at Kaduna Refinery and
Petrochemical Company (Phase II) in Kaduna state; Flood and Erosion Control Works in Abeokuta Township in Ogun state as well as Channelization and De-Silting of Okoko and Ogbagba Rivers in Osogbo Township in Osun state.
Other intervention projects as listed in the statement are; “Adiabo Okutikang Beach Gully Erosion Control Works, Odukpani Local Government Area (Cross River); Remediation of Sludge Pit and Oil Spillage at Warri Refinery (Phase II) in Delta state; Mubi Flood Erosion Control Works and River Yadzaram Training (Phase I) in Adamawa state; Erosion and Flood Control Works in Bogoro Towa, Bogoro Local Government Area and in Gadon Toro/Market Road, Toro Local Government Area in Bauchi state.
“Erosion Control Works at Nda, Nnobi and, Agbor, Idemili Local Government Area in Anambra state; Owalla – Avuvu Erosion Control Works (Phase II) in Imo state; Amper Flood Hazards and Erosion Control Works; Gully Erosion Control Works at Federal Government College, Itobi in Benue state.
The statement added that “the execution of these projects will address the challenges of gully and soil erosion, incessant flooding and air pollution that has ravaged the impacted communities and caused loss of lives in certain instances.
“When these projects are completed, the sufferings of the affected communities will be ameliorated. There will be increased food production which will stimulate the economy and lead to the creation of jobs”.
A 34-year -old man, Olapade Alden, was on Thursday brought before an Osogbo Magistrates' Court for allegedly assaulting a woman by giving her violent blows.
The accused, whose address was not provided, is facing a charge of assault.
The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rasak Olayiwola, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 27 at about 2.00 p.m. at EledamAsun Street, Ilesa Motor Park, Osogbo.
Olaiwola said the accused dealt several blows on a woman, Akeem Faisat and inflicted injuries on her in the process.
He said there was a disagreement between them.
The offence contravened Section 351 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Osun, 2003.
The accused, who had no legal representation, pleaded not guilty.
The Magistrate, Mrs Olubukola Olowolagba, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in the like sum.
Olowolagba said the surties must reside within the court's jurisdiction and show evidence of tax payment to the government.
Ahead of the Nov. 26 governorship election in Ondo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Olusegun Agbaje, has warned perpetrators of electoral violence to keep off the state.
Agbaje issued the riot act in a statement made available by the Media Manager, YIAGA, Mr David Oluwaseun, on Thursday in Abuja.
The REC handed down the warning at the roundtable meeting and induction of election observers by the Youth Initiative for Advancement Growth and Advocacy (YIAGA), and Watching the Vote (WVT) project.
The statement quoted Agbaje saying that the ballot snatching incidences recorded in the just concluded governorship election in Edo would not be tolerated in Ondo state.
"In Edo state, we still have cases of ballot snatching in 2016; this must not be allowed to happen in Ondo.
"In places where I supervise there were ballot snatching even where old women came to vote as early as possible, some young people still came to disrupt the process by snatching ballot boxes," the commissioner said.
Agbaje said that the commission had put a lot in place to ensure the success of the election, including stakeholders meetings to cement existing relationship between INEC and stakeholders.
According to him, INEC also conducted voter education and public enlightenment, advocacy, sensitisation visits to designated persons and institutions, training and sourcing of ad hoc election officials, among others.
He enjoined the political class to change its "do or die" attitude to good conduct in politics and the political culture of violence has to be done away with.
"Our political parties must imbibe the culture of sincere internal party democracy in the overall interest of the nation's democracy.
"All forms of electoral malpractices such as buying and selling of votes, double, multiple voting, among others, should be eschewed.''
Agbaje said there was pressing need for increased partnership and cooperation among stakeholders' especially political party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and security agencies, among others.
He said that the attainment of this goal is dependent on the cooperation, commitment, contribution and support of all through performance of their respective roles with adherence to law.
Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, the Chairman of the group, commended the REC, describing Agbaje as a man of integrity and command respect.
Nwagwu pledged to support the electoral umpire in its quest to make the election free, fair and credible.
The efforts of the current administration in the aviation sector have received a boost with the coming in of Airbus Group of France to set up an office in Nigeria
The Ambassador of France in Nigeria, Mr Denys Gauer who led a delegation of the Airbus Group to the office of the Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika in Abuja yesterday, confirmed the coming in of the Airbus group to Nigeria.
Gauer informed the Minister that the largest aircraft manufacturers and leasers in the world, the Airbus Group has concluded plans to open an operational office in Nigeria as a mark of confidence in the governments agenda for the aviation industry in Nigeria.
Amplifying the Ambassador, the Vice President of the Airbus Group for Africa, MrVincent Larnicol informed the Minister that Airbus Group had expanded upon its strong European roots to move forward on an international scale with fully-owned subsidiaries in more than 150 field service offices around the world.
According to him, "Airbus, in its desire to get closer to its customers, is also actively developing engineering, manufacturing and service capabilities in Europe, China, India, Russia, the Middle East, Singapore and the United States. This, he said also informed the decision to establish its presence in Nigeria with the opening of an operational office."
Larnicol expressed the Group's interest in the federal government of Nigeria's plan to concession major airports across the country, as well as the establishment of a national carrier, while also commending government's plan to establish an aircraft leasing company in view of the inherent difficulties in acquiring new aircrafts.
The Airbus Group also promised to collaborate, through its Cooperation Programme, with the Nigerian government in the establishment of an Aviation University to which the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is largely committed.
In response, Senator Hadi Sirika informed the Ambassador and the Airbus delegation that the vision of the government for the aviation sector include, amongst others repositioning domestic airlines to make them competitive and profitable, establishment of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities and development of human capital for the anticipated expansion of the sector.
According to the Minister, "The plan of the Buhari government was to gradually reposition the Nigerian Aviation industry in such a way that would turn the nation into a regional hub for air transportation, given the ICAO forecast of a quadruple growth for the nation's air travel in the next ten years."
He expressed Nigeria's preparedness to collaborate with all genuine partners, insisting, however, that government decisions and actions would always be guided by the protection of national interests.
Commuters along the ever busy Owerri-Umuahia and Owerri-Okigwe federal highways yesterday, commended the management of Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, for commencing reconstruction work on the dilapidated portions of the two roads.
The bad portions of the two roads include Awaka and Ezeogba, Emekuku in Owerri North local government area and Ekemele, Akabo, Ikeduru local council area of Imo State.
Speaking to newsmen at the Awaka reconstruction site, the contracting firm’s Site Engineer, Mr. Alaa Assaf, promised that he would deliver the job within 10 days.
“This is no longer a road. Our job here is to construct a completely new road at this and other bad spots. We should be out of this place within seven or 10 days”, Assaf said.
A commuter, who identified himself as Izuchukwu Ugochukwu, recalled that he has not been able to visit his aged parents in the last two months because of the hopeless nature of the road.
“It is a thing of joy that NDDC has commenced work on the hopeless portions of this road”, Ugochukwu said.
He recalled with grief, how more than six vehicles broke down at the deep portions of the road last Tuesday.
“A 16-seater commuter bus was submerged at the bad spot at Awaka. Passengers had to engage the services of youths to lift them on their backs, from the bus to safe grounds”, Ugochukwu recalled.
While commending Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu for “relentlessly drawing the attention of the NDDC management to the road”, Ugochukwu also heaved a sigh of relief that “commuters nightmare will soon be over”.
At the Ekemele axis, a female villager, Mrs. Augustina Iwuala, described the reconstruction as “a great relief to commuters and residents of the area”.
