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
The Supreme leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has said that Bayelsa is part of Igbo and being that one of the region's founding fathers, Late Ken Saro-Wiwa equally supported the cause of Biafra, then Bayelsa is not South-South but Biafran.
Kanu who was joined by his father to welcome some Biafran supporters from Bayelsa also said that the Igbo man is more related with the Nkwere man from Bayelsa than a person from Maiduguri. He also said that Nigeria will return to the original state where it was before the coming of the whites who amalgamated her.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – ACTING president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Thursday summoned security chiefs and the Governor of Taraba State Darius Dickson Ishaku over the recent violent attack that led to the death of many in Taraba state.Osinbajo and Darius Ishaku
Prof. Osinbajo also condoles with the victims of the attacks in a number of communities and outrightly condemned the acts of violence, adding that perpetrators of the attack would be brought to book.
A statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Acting President, Laolu Akande said. “While commiserating with the people of the affected communities, the entire government and people of Taraba State, the Acting President Thursday summoned and held an emergency meeting with top security officials of the Federal Government and Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku.
“Acting President Osinbajo has therefore ordered the deployment of an extra military battalion, police reinforcements and also a deployment of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps to the areas affected.
“Equally the Acting President has ordered the provision of relief materials to be delivered to the affected communities in Toffi, Mayo Daga, Mayo Sina, Tamiya, Kwara-Kwara, Tungan Lugere, Timjire, Nguroje and other villages in the hinterlands of Mambilla Plateau.
“The Federal Government has also put in motion long time solutions including mediation between opposing groups in the communal conflict.”
Also Governor Darius Ishaku, asked security agencies to restore peace in troubled Mambilla Plateau.
Ishaku enjoyed the people of Mambilla Plateau to embrace peace describing crisis, which has reportedly led to the deaths of over 100 people and destruction of property worth millions, as "a sad development".
"I hereby appeal to the people of the state, especially the people living on Mambilla Plateau to eschew violence and live in peace with one another," he said.
"Security agencies have already been charged to be on top of the situation in order to ensure peace return to the area as soon as possible."
A foremost political leader in Oghara Community, Chief Henry Ofa has disclosed that his kinsmen are currently gearing up to occupy one of the federal legislative positions in Nigeria.
Chief Henry Ofa addressing newsmen
Ofa, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Delta State, said the decision is a proactive measure to correct the series of poor representation which the concerned constituents have received on the floor of the National Assembly.
“I will not tell you the positions we are targeting now, but I can assure you that come 2019, Oghara will certainly contest for one of the federal legislative seats”, the former DESOPADEC Commissioner told newsmen in Oghara, Ethiope West Local Government Area of Delta State.
He added: "When you look around our constituency, you will find no viable project being executed by those representing us at the National Assembly; not even a functional constituency office that people can visit to address relevant issues.
"That is a deliberate act of misrepresentation that has to be stopped through the ballot and I am convinced that Oghara is eminently qualified to produce a leader that will bring out purposeful leadership to the masses”.
He said the Ethiope West Local Government Area, particularly Oghara community, is notable for working hard to legitimately poll the winning votes during national assembly elections, regretting that some politicians have jettisoned their promises after enjoying the support of the masses to climb the seat of power.
"The situation is very clear; you cannot enjoy the support of the people only to dump them when you have achieved your aim.
“We need a more vibrant and viable representation on the floor of the National Assembly and I am sure that at all legitimate costs, Oghara is prepared to contest for and win one of the federal legislatives seats", he stressed.
The Government of Edo State has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nigeria Institute of Welding (NIW) to establish a fabrication yard in the state.
Signing the MoU at Edo State Government House in Benin on Thursday, the state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, revealed that the MoU was to fast-track industrialisation in the state, assuring the body of power supply to the proposed fabrication site in the state.Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo (r) after signing an MoU with Dr Solomon Edebiri (l), President, Nigerian Institute of Welders (NIW) at the Government House in Benin City to establish a fabrication village in the State, on Thursday.
He said, "Industrialisation is at the core of my administration; at the core of industrialisation is fabrication, and welding drives fabrication. We are very excited to work with you and it is an understanding that we will give life to," he said.
He noted that Human Capital was needed to coordinate all aspects of development and commended the institute for its initiative to train human capacity in state, adding that the MoU with the institute would give the state global access to welding processes and technological capacity to have welding colonies.
Meanwhile, the President of the Institute, Dr Solomon Edeberi, said the signing of the MoU went to show the level of confidence the state government had in the institute.
Edeberi assured that the team working on the fabrication project would bring its wealth of experience to bear to justify the confidence reposed on them, and that the institute would work with all aspects of the state to ensure that professionalism was inculcated in technical training.
He added, "We will work to actualise your vision of a technologically driven state and bring up a centre for welding and technology.
——-Accuses FG of paying N1trn for darkness By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – HUMAN Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, Thursday said that it was the utterances of a one-time Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Prof. Ango Abdullahi over the brutal killings of four students of the university that allegedly led to the protests by the Nigerian students and the arrest of eight students of University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN, by the Gen. Ibrahim Babangida's military regime and plan to sentenced them to death. Falana Falana who is the legal adviser to the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, also noted that the person behind the quit notice to the Igbos living in the 19 states of the north does not stay in the north rather he lives in Lagos.
Meantime, the human rights lawyer has accused the Federal Government of paying about N1 trillion to Electricity Generating Companies, GENCOS, in what he described as paying for darkness.
The Acting President had on Tuesday disclosed that the Federal Government will soon release a second tranche of the N701 billion for Power Assurance Guarantee approved by the Federal Executive Council in March this year for the Bulk Electricity Trading NBET, Plc.
The Acting President at the inaugural event of the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roundtable organised by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, said it was expected that the release of the funds would free up the value chain that had created several problems of its own.
Speaking at the media briefing organized by the NLC on the raging agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and the quit notice given to the Igbos to vacate the 19 states of the north before 1st October by 16 northern youth groups which has the backing of Prof. Abdullahi, Falana said that it was the utterances of Prof Abdullahi that sparked off the nationwide students protest.
He said, "The recently concluded election in the UK, two weeks ago, seven Nigerians emerged as Legislators, can we repeat that, can we look at the challenges before us and stop following those ones trying to divide us?
"This information is very crucial to all of us and I want to say this publicly. The man who is giving quit notice (to the Igbos to leave north) does not live in the North, he lives in Lagos, he is a Lagos man. So to stay in Lagos and be giving quit notices is not the answer.
"On May 23, 1986, young people, four of them were killed in the Ahmadu Bello University because somebody had said we are against coup… Ango Abdullahi was the Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University when these students were killed by the Police, he came out and said only four students were killed.
"That angered Nigerians particularly the Nigerian students and there were protests. One of the universities where that protest was very successful was the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Please listen to me, the man who led the protest was late Chima Ubani, what happened? The state did not like the case that it was a national protest against the killing in ABU.
"What did they do? They didn’t arrest the students who were protesting in the North. They didn’t arrest the students who were protesting in the West, (Ibrahim) Babangida regime went for Chima Ubani and arraigned him and eight of his colleagues under a military rule that required that they be sentenced to death.
"I left Lagos to go to Enugu to defend those men. We got them freed when they returned to campus, the Vice Chancellor expelled them. Again, I went to court and got them freed. Please this story is very important.
"A Hausa Vice Chancellor invited the police and they killed young Hausa students, four of them. Nigerian students protested and an Igbo young man led that protest in the East against injustice, a Yoruba man in the West to free them. So we must look at those things that the elites are using to divide our people. Injustice is injustice, so there no nation without challenges."
Calls for economic restructuring
Speaking on the implementation of the 2014 National Conference, he said, "Please those who are talking of restructuring, many of them are talking in the air. We must concretize this debate now.
"You can’t have political restructuring without economic restructuring. If you are talking of restructuring you won’t be selling the assets of a country to individuals. How can a serious nation be giving serious items to individuals when states are broke? You are not giving what belong to the states to them, states are not buying the electricity companies. Nigeria paying N1 trillion for darkness
"Please Mr. President, you have just informed us that what is owed to pension those who served our fatherland is N300 billion. Just this week, the Federal Government has just released N701 billion to those who bought our electricity companies, are you not aware? Initially they were given N300 billion, that’s over a trillion naira to manage darkness in our country. So let us begin to ask the relevant questions.
"On the National Conference, I beg you, don’t be carried away. Power is not given without a fight. Those who want implementation of the recommendations should be prepared for struggle like the labour and the struggle by the civil society.
"The most important recommendation is never touched by the ruling class, which is what the President of the NLC has just addressed our minds to. It is Chapter 2 of the Constitution that the fundamental objectives of the state shall be made justiceable in order words, right to education, right to life, right to employment benefits, right to living minimum wage.
"These are all centre in that chapter. This who are talking of restructuring and federalism are not interested in these. But please all of us must remind them that the Awolowos, the Ahmadu Bello’s when we have the First Republic addressed social services of our people. That is no longer the case.
"Please this talk about restructuring, we must concretize it, this talk about federalism, we must concretize it. You can’t be coming to Abuja every month to collect money and you are talking of true federalism. True federalism means you must produce what you need in your area ad they can ask everybody to pay tax." Debate on State and Local Governments budgets: On his take on the 2017 budget, he said, "We only talk about the budget of the Federal Government, we don’t talk about the budget of the States and Local Governments. Whereas, the money that goes out of the federation account, while Federal Government takes 52 percent, the Local Governments and States take 48 percent. Just like we are debating the budget of the Federal Government, we must be debating the budget of the State Governments and the Local Governments."
The image seen therein is an alleged pastor caught with charms being chased out with his family by the residents of Enugu community.
It was gathered via the voices in the clip that the unknown pastor is from Na’ara in Nnobi, an impoverished small rural town in the hinterland located within the axis of Idemili south, Anambra state.
What is you opinion on this?
Note this video was extracted from Pulse television.
By Emmanuel Elebeke ABUJA – THE Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) Thursday shared the sum of N462.359 billion among three tiers of government in the month of May. The amount was N47 billion more than N415 billion shared in the previous month.
The amount shared consisted of N317.562 billion from the statutory Federation Account shared for the month; N64.812 billion from the exchange rate differential; 0.067 billion Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) Account and N79.985 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), while the NNPC refund was empty.
He further noted that there was a slight drop in the average price of crude oil from $55.38 to $55.18 per barrel and another decrease in export volume by 1.023 million. Barrels, which reduced oil revenue by about $57.12 million.
According to him, Crude oil production suffered due to leakage. Shut-ins and shutdowns at terminals for maintenance and the Force Majeure declared at Forcados Terminal since February, 2016 subsisted.
A breakdown of the allocation showed that Federal Government received a total of N147.682 billion; the states got N74.906 billion, while the Local Governments received the sum of N57.750 billion.
The sum of N20.505 billion was paid to the oil producing states in the Niger Delta as 13 per cent derivation on oil revenue.
From the VAT, the Federal government got N11.518 billion, states received N38.393 billion, while Local Governments received N26.875 billion.
The Minister disclosed that the Excess Crude Account currently stands at $2.303 billion.
Fielding questions from newsmen at the end of the meeting, the minister explained that the NNPC refund was zero because the payment had been completed.
On possibility of paying salaries before Sallah, she promised that government would do everything possible to ensure that workers are paid their June salaries on or before the Sallah break.
•As Wizkid, Davido, others battle for Best Int’l Act award
By Benjamin Njoku with agency report
WITH just two days to go, this year’s BET Awards is adding more big names to its performer line up. The latest additions include, Mary J. Blige, A$AP Rocky, French Montana, Gucci Mane, Maxwell, Swae Lee, SZA, Xscape, Khalid, El DeBarge and Kamasi Washington. They join such previously announced hit makers as Bruno Mars, Chris Brown, DJ Khaled, Migos, Future, Trey Songz, Tamar Braxton, New Edition, Post Malone, Roman Gian Arthur and Jessie Reyez.
Yvonne, Wizkid and Davido
Concurrently, Remy Ma, Irv Gotti and the cast of the forthcoming movie Detroit (Algee Smith, Jason Mitchell, Laz Alonso and Jacob Latimore) have signed on as presenters. They will be sharing those duties with Yara Shahidi, Issa Rae, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Jamie Foxx and Demetrius Shipp Jr., among others.
Organizers revealed that iconic RnB group New Edition will be honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the awards night. Also, receiving special tributes that evening will be Chance the Rapper (humanitarian award) .
Africa will be greatly represented at the prestigious event with singer and humanitarian Yvonne Chaka Chaka and social activist Ilwad Elman being awarded with International Global Good Star and Power Awards. The South African songstress, fondly known as the Princess of Africa, has long been synonymous with excellence in the music industry, locally and internationally. Her lyrics resonated with freedom fighters during the apartheid years. After democracy, her focus shifted when one of her backup singers died of malaria. "She began the Princess of Africa Foundation, where she worked to eradicate the effects of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV and to carry out community and social charity works," said BET. "There, Chaka Chaka focuses on healthcare, education and sanitation."
Eight leading African artists including AKA, Nasty C, Babes Wodumo, Wizkid, Tekno, Mr Eazi, Davido and Stonebwoy will all vie for the Best International Act: Africa category.
"Amazulu" hitmaker Amanda Black and Tanzanian performer Ray Vanny are nominated for Viewer's Choice Award "Best International Act", in conjunction with performers from the UK, South Korea, Canada, Australia and Jamaica. Recall that Beyonce leads with seven nominations, followed by Bruno Mars with five and Solange, Chance the Rapper and Migos with four nominees apiece. Comedian Leslie Jones will host the BET Awards for the first time. BET Network will air the show live on Tuesday, June 27, on BET (DStv channel 129)
Pix. 1: from the left, DIG Habila Joshak; DG SSS, Lawan Daura; NSA, Babagana Monguno and the Minister for Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau welcoming Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo to the meeting.Ag. President Yemi Osinbajo being received by the SSA Media to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu and the SA Media to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina as he arrived for the meeting.from the left, Publisher Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka; President NPAN, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena; Publisher Leadership, Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah; Publisher Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Publisher Daily Trust, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf; Publisher Source Magazine, Ms. Comfort Obi and the GMD, Champion Newspapers Limited, Dr. (Mrs.) Nwadiuto Iheakanwa during the meeting.: from the left, Managing Director/Editor-In-Chief, Edward Dickson; the GM Publications, Vanguard, Gbenga Adefaye; MD The Nation, Victor Ifije and Ms. Ijeoma Nwaogugu of This Day Newspapers at the meeting.Cross section of Editors at the meeting.: (l-r) Publisher Vanguard, Mr. Sam Amuka; Publisher This Day, Mr. Nduka Obaigbena and the Political Advier to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu at the meeting.the SSA Social Security, Hajia Maryam Uwais discussing with the MD Voice of Nigeria, Mr. Osita Okechukwu at the meeting.the Publisher Daily Trust, Mallam Kabiru Yusuf exchanging greetings with the Editor Vanguard, Eze Anaba while the Editor Northern Region, Sony Daniell (m) looked on during the meeting.
The Benue state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has alleged that the state governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom is tampering with the future of Benue children by failing to conduct the state's annual Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Junior Secondary School students.
The party also alleged that while parents are being owed salaries by the Ortom administration, the government went ahead to collect an increased registration fees for the said yet to be conducted exams.
A statement signed by Bemgba Iortyom, the state's Publicity Secretary of the opposition PDP also said that Governor Ortom had sacked the substantive Executive Secretary of the Benue State Examinations Board, Mr. Charlie Young and replaced him with Mr. Asen Alexander, all in a failed promise that the exams would be conducted. It said, despite that, Ortom's administration has still not been able to conduct the exams but has rather engaged in shifting blames from one ministry to another.
Gov. Ortom
The statement read thus:
"It is a shocking and unacceptable development that the Administration of Gov. Samuel Ortom in Benue State has failed to conduct the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Junior Secondary School students in the state.
"The examination routinely held every academic year immediately after the conclusion of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations for Senior Secondary School candidates, and before the conduct of the National Examination Council (NECO) examination.
"This year, the WAEC examination has been concluded and the NECO examination is currently ongoing, yet BECE is yet to be conducted, and this is in spite of the fact that interested students have since paid the registration fees which were even raised to very high rates.
"Each student was made to pay the sum of N5,500.00 this academic year, from the N5,000.00 paid in the 2015/2016 Academic year and N3,500.00 in the 2014/2015 Academic year.
"This represents an increment in excess of 50% by the Ortom administration from the N3,500.00 which was the highest fees paid during the immediate past Suswam administration, a development which in itself is insensitive considering that this administration is owing workers salaries for upwards of ten months.
"Yet, having charged and collected those exorbitant fees, the Ortom administration has failed to conduct the examination which represents the assessment and certification platform for students who have completed the junior stage of the two legged secondary school education system.
"Only a few days back, the administration sacked the substantive Executive Secretary of the Benue State Examinations Board, Mr. Charlie Young, and in his place, Asen Alexander has been appointed in Acting capacity, a move which the Commissioner of Education, Mr. Dennis Ityavyar, says was taken to re-position the examinations board and have it conduct the delayed examination in a matter of weeks.
"But the questions remain, that why did it take the Ortom administration this long to realise that things were wrong at the examinations board?
"Why did parents and students have to suffer this much for what is clearly incompetence and lack of forward planning on the part of the Ortom administration?
"Findings reveal that in the course of this delay, a round of blame-trading and buck-passing has been going on between the state’s Ministry of Education and the Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS).
"The Ministry of Education is said to have claimed that BIRS is yet to remit to the Benue State Examinations Board the full amount of monies paid by students as registration for the examination, that being the reason for the delay in conducting the examination.
"But BIRS insists it remitted to the Exams Board 75% of the total amount realised from the registration and that being the statutory stipulation by the state’s tax law for all revenues generated by such Essential Services bodies through the operations of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) financial system.
"Ortom administration needs not more than N1,500.00 per candidate to conduct the examinations, and if the Examination Board got 75% of N5,500.00 from BIRS, then there is no excuse for the failure to conduct the examinations up to this moment.
"This is a situation which is totally unacceptable, one which further highlights the lack of vision and weak capacity for delivery of good governance to the people of Benue State by the Ortom administration.
"We demand that the Ortom administration ensures the BECE examination which poor parents laboured to pay for despite being owed salaries, be conducted without further delay.
"This must be done to save the parents and students further suffering, and the promises made for the conduct of the examination within weeks must not end up being another of the administration’s many empty promises."
THE last is yet to be heard of the lingering marital crisis between actress Tonto Dikeh and her estranged husband, Churchill Olakunle Oladunni, as the former has opened a can of worms, revealing how she paid her bride price, clothed and supported her husband with every sweat in her body.
Tonto and Churchill Tonto's photo
The actress made this shocking revelation, in a leaked chat with her mother-in-law, which went viral on the Internet during the week. The chat was released online by Lara Olubo, an OAP who is also a niece of Churchill.
According to Tonto Dikeh, "Thinking back and after talking to Bimbo Coker, it's safe to say you are (mother-in-law) in on Kunle's fraud and dirty lifestyle. I flew your son, clothed him, gave him pocket money, helped him with every sweat in my body, you watched your son dupe me for all my hard earned money."
Tonto Dikeh went on to reveal how her hubby's ex-wife sponsored her own wedding. "You disappoint me, even Bimbo Coker (ex-wife) paid for her own wedding and bride price. Is this a curse?"
However, reacting to the leaked chat, Churchill's former wife, Bimbo labels her ex-husband family as liars. "These people will never stop lying or even change from their evil ways… soon I know your can of worms will be open, Kunle and your mom. Someday people will know the real you, Kunle, just can't wait for that day to come," she wrote.
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Churchill is planning to announce his marriage to the actress. Speaking through his rep, he refuted Tonto Dikeh's claims, saying "All traditional necessities regarding his traditional marriage, including payment of the bride price, were met.
"Churchill has stated officially that he has all intentions of annulling his marriage to his wife," said the rep.
South Sudan's media regulatory body has lifted the ban on foreign journalists to allow them operate in the country.
Alfred Taban, Head of Information, Steering Committee for National Dialogue, made the disclosure on Thursday in Juba during a meeting with diplomats and UN envoys.
He said that the leadership of South Sudan Media Authority (SSMA) had pledged to allow unhindered media coverage of the war-torn country.
He added that the authorities had agreed to relax restrictions placed on foreign journalists to allow them cover the ongoing national dialogue, the humanitarian crisis and issues of concern to the public.
Taban, who also heads the association for Media Development in South Sudan, said that the media authority had pledged to ease conditions for acquiring media accreditation permits.
"I took up the issue of banning foreign journalists from the country with the Media Authority and they promised me that the (ban) has been suspended.
"So now if somebody wants to come, there will be no question of the person being denied visa because that has been cleared.
"The South Sudan Media Authority recently said it had banned at least 20 foreign journalists from media coverage in the country for what it termed "unsubstantiated and unrealistic stories," Taban said.
He said that the media regulatory body however did not name the journalists or media outlets affected by the ban.
The ban attracted condemnation from the Association for Media Development in South Sudan (AMDISS), the Foreign Correspondents Association of East Africa (FCAEA) and Reporters without Borders (RWB).
However, Elija Alier, Managing Director, SSMA denied imposing ban on foreign journalists entering South Sudan.
He said that the body would continue to ease entry and work permit for foreign media in the East African nation.
"We have never stopped foreign journalists from coming to South Sudan and they will continue coming.
"As media authority, we will continue giving them permits," Alier said.
The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, says his ministry is working toward commercialising research findings to encourage the development of Science and Technology for national development.
Ogbonnaya Onu
Onu made the remark in Minna on Thursday while inaugurating a two day workshop tagged: "Nanotechnology: An Emerging Science, Technology and Innovation Tool for National Development'' organised by the ministry for stakeholders.
"I am happy to inform you that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is committed to securing our nation, growing economy, fostering sustainable and productive industries.
"Government is also committed to providing jobs and creating wealth through building a robust, effective and resilient national system of innovation.
"Our endeavour and commitment shall remain to look inward as a people so as to produce locally, many of the things we now import into the country by commercialising research findings.''
He said that the policy would be realised through collaboration with the private sector and other relevant stakeholders.
The minister said that the measure would create jobs and wealth thereby eradicating poverty and re-orienting the people toward knowledge based innovative driven economy.
He said that the policy would ensure that research findings materialised and fully implemented.
Onu said that the ministry had put together a National Science, Technology and Innovative Roadmap (NSTIR) from 2017 to 2030.
He said that the responses from stakeholders on the NSTIR would soon be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.
The minister said that the workshop aimed at encouraging stakeholders to embrace a new direction where science, technology and innovation would help the country become a world leader.
Earlier, Hajiya Fatima Madugu, Niger Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, appealed to the minister to consider staff of the state ministry in all their trainings on nanotechnology.
"We want to be part of your trainings to build the capacity of our staff in order to help the Federal Government achieve technological advancement,'' she said.
Madugu said that nanotechnology was science, engineering and technology conducted in a small scale.
"Nanotechnology is about how all fields of sciences such as chemistry, biology physics, material science and engineering can be made small,'' she said.
The workshop will is expected to develop a framework for the development and utilisation of nanotechnology in the country.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted cloudy morning conditions over the Central States of Nigeria on Frigate with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over Abuja, Bida, Minna, Ilorin, Jos, Yola and Jalingo.
NiMet's weather outlook by its Central Forecast Office (CFO), on Thursday in Abuja, also predicted day and night temperatures of 25 to 31 degrees Celsius and 17 to 22 degrees Celsius.
It added that prospects of localized thunderstorms were likely over Lafia, Jos, Bauchi, Abuja, Lokoja, Kaduna, Jalingo and Mambila plateau later in the day.
The agency predicted that the Southern states would experience cloudy conditions with isolated thunderstorms and rains over Iseyin, Shaki, Abeokuta, Akure, Enugu, Umuahia, Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Calabar in the morning hours.
It also localized thunderstorms over Obudu, Ogoja, Awka, Owerri, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Eket in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 28 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius and 21 to 23 degrees Celsius.
According to NiMet, Northern states will experience cloudy morning with prospects of localized thunderstorms over Sokoto, Kano, Gusau, Kano and Katsina.
"There are chances of localized thunderstorms over Maiduguri, Potiskum, Damaturu, Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi and Dutse in the afternoon and evening hours with day and night temperatures of 29 to 33 degrees Celsius and 20 to 23 degrees Celsius.
"Cloudiness with prospects of rains and thunderstorm activities are expected over most parts of the country in the next 24 hours," NiMet predicted.
Erstwhile National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh, has debunked reports in some quarters of the media that he was barred by the court from seeking adjournment in his case.
Recall that Chief Metuh is being tried over allegation that he received N400million from the Ex-National Security Adviser, NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki, retd, prior to the 2015 general election.
A statement signed by his counsel, Barr. Obinna Okonkwo, however, said that the report that the court barred him from seeking adjournment to his case was misleading, malicious and completely false.
Metuh said that the report was authored by a correspondent who was not even in court on the said day and that the reporter also twisted the submission of his lead counsel, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, in the false report to further "enhance the well orchestrated and unrelenting media trial" against him.
Chief Olisa Metuh
Chief Metuh who cautioned against media trial however reminded that he was not being tried for stealing, corrupt enrichment or abuse of office, but that the payment he received for a national assignment approved by the last administration was from alleged unlawful activity of that administration's National Security Adviser for which he is establishing his innocence in court.
The statement read thus:
"We read with rude shock the malicious, misleading and completely false report sponsored in a prominent Nigerian online news portal, claiming that the Federal High Court on Wednesday barred our Client, Chief Olisa Metuh from seeking further adjournment in his on-going trial.
"This false report, which is now being circulated in other section of the media, also went ahead to heavily twist facts regarding the circumstances surrounding the request by our lead Counsel in the matter, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN.
"It will be recalled that Dr. Ikpeazu had informed the Honourable Court on the 19th of June 2017 that he will be appearing before the same Federal High Court, Port Harcourt division in an EFCC prosecuted case involving a retired Chief Judge.
"More shocking is the fact that the correspondent who authored this mischievous report was not even in court and only spread the falsehood to enhance the well orchestrated and unrelenting media trial against our client.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal High Court did not at any time bar our client, Chief Metuh from seeking further adjournment.
"It is instructive that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) under Section 396 (5) is clear in providing for adjournments in a criminal trial. This section states, without ambiguity; "where it is impracticable to conclude a criminal proceedings after the parties have exhausted their five adjournments each, the interval between one adjournment to another shall not exceed seven days inclusive of weekends."
"In fact, the only option left for the court on issues of adjournments, if for any reason it believes the request is frivolous is to award costs and this is clearly stated in section 396 (6). Furthermore, the fact that our Client is entitled to as many adjournments as justified by circumstances has since been settled before the same Court.
"It is therefore totally inconceivable that a Court can bar a defendant from seeking adjournments in the course of establishing his innocence as guaranteed by the laws and the constitution.
"On the unfortunate twisting of the request for adjournment by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, on Wednesday, we find it scandalous that normal Court practice and procedure, which has also been enjoyed by the prosecution in the past, is moved from the courts and made a subject of media controversy with heavy distortions.
"We also find it ridiculous that whereas Dr. Ikpeazu SAN’s letter which I, Barr. Obinna Okonkwo, also a Counsel in the matter, directly presented to the Court, clearly sought for an adjournment between June 21 and 22, 2017 to enable him attend a crucial matter at the Port Harcourt division of the Court, what is in the media is that Dr. Ikpeazu said "he would be at another matter at the Federal High Court, Enugu on the dates" and that he "prayed the Court to 'adjourn to any date other than June 26, 2017."
"Whereas we are aware that these distortions are meant to put our lead Counsel in bad light, we know that the whole aim of the unrelenting media trial against our Client is to upset, tarnish and cow our defence while attempting to stampede and sway the Court against our Client.
"This resort to media trial in the war against corruption must stop. The essence of the anti-corruption war is not to harass, hound and scandalize people in the court of public opinion, neither is it to secure conviction with intimidation and manipulation. The fight must be within the ambit of the law and not through media court-martial.
"While we commend the media for their support in the anti-corruption war, the newsroom gatekeepers must endeavour to examine and cross-check the facts in the report being pushed to them especially on judicial matters to ensure that they are accurate.
"It is our firm view that media trial always leads to the ridicule of the war against corruption as media convictions obtained are often not sustained by Court verdicts.
"Finally, while we will not join in externalizing proceedings in the Court like the prosecution, who issue skewed and subjective media releases after Court sessions, we wish to restate that our Client is not being charged for stealing, corrupt enrichment or abuse of office, but that the payment he received for a national assignment approved by the last administration was from alleged unlawful activity of that administration's National Security Adviser for which he is establishing his innocence in the Court."
In a recent report published by a national daily, the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy was listed among the 11 key reforms that block corruption in the Nigerian civil service. It was one of the initiatives credited with saving the government billions of naira monthly and promoting service efficiency. The report quotes Professor Badayi M. Sani of Bayero University saying the 11 reforms stand a good chance to outlast the current administration by instilling a culture of accountability in the nation's public sector. This is impressive and signals a new dawn in the administration of public funds and accountability.
So much has already been said and written about the TSA, but its inclusion on this list is significant, given the amount of flak the policy has taken since implementation by the current administration in September 2015.
Whatever the case, no policy can wear a bad label for returning over N7 trillion to the country's coffers by the close of March this year like the TSA has done. While making the announcement, Accountant General of the Federation Ahmed Idris clarified that the figures recorded so far represent monies belonging to different Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) viewable as one balance, but not meant for spending or borrowing to fund budget deficits like many argue. This is instructive and puts to rest the submission that the TSA is a fund where monies are 'trapped' while the nation languishes needlessly.
If we are still experiencing pockets of financial impropriety gulping trillions of Naira 2 years after the adoption of the policy, one begins to wonder how bad the situation would have been if there was no such policy to start with. Take the Senate, for instance, where the Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff is currently probing a N30 trillion customs tax evasion. This probe has such high-ranking government functionaries and captains of industry such as CBN Governor Godwin Emefelie, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun and the managing directors of all commercial banks, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service being invited to explain their knowledge of this gross financial impropriety and how further revenue leakages can be plugged going forward. It is quite commendable that none of these statistics on revenue were accurately represented until the adoption of the TSA.
If not for the TSA, I am sure the rot in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) would not have been unearthed. For some strange reason, executives of the NHIS took up arms against the inclusion of the scheme in the TSA last year amid claims that it stifles the liquidity of funds meant for the healthcare of enrolees. Their passionate appeal seemed altruistic to all who cared to listen. But some months down the line, investigations have revealed that former Executive Secretary of the NHIS Dr. Femi Thomas and acting Executive Secretary Mr. Olufemi Akingbade have unilaterally made payments running into billions of Naira to dubious HMOs which were not remitted to hospitals where enrolees were supposed to get treatment. At this point, there are claims that several of these HMOs are owned by former Senate Presidents David Mark and Anyim Pius Anyim. If the TSA identifies cases of high-wire fraud such as this, I would rather we vote for it rather than against it to keep top government functionaries in check.
Lest we forget, a financial crisis is currently rocking Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, whose top management has been found to operate 97 different bank accounts and HMOs. The institution was said to have received a cumulative N13.7 billion from owner states in the last 5 years which it failed to remit into the TSA in compliance with policy. The benefits of this tracking mechanism are two-fold. First, it updates the government on the actual state of its finances at any point in time. Second, defaulters are quickly identified and probed, while a steady pipeline of funds into the Treasury is maintained after years of mismanagement and impunity.
Arguments to the contrary will always abound, but the TSA has lots of merits that we should not overlook. Its successful implementation by the current administration is meant to be celebrated in a society where people-oriented policies hardly see the light of day. In fact, we should at this point consider exporting the policy to less fortunate African nations were mismanagement of public funds holds sway without any end in sight. And just for our education, Nigeria is not the only African country that has implemented the policy. Rwanda adopted a zero-balance drawing system in 2005 which mandates its MDAs to maintain accounts in the National Bank of Rwanda. The policy stipulates that all ministries and budget agencies begin a new fiscal year with zero cash balance on their accounts. Uganda did same in 2013 to ensure the efficient and cost-effective cash management of its Consolidated Fund. In 2015, Kenya announced its proposed adoption of a TSA policy in reaction to the loss of billions of dollars in its public system. Its earlier Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) had proved ineffective in waging and winning this war.
Digitalised governance is the future, and the TSA includes Nigeria in the comity of nations that appreciate this trend and are prepared for it. There have been several changes in the payment system since the policy was adopted that have increased process efficiency and saved productive man-hours for busy individuals and groups. These days, commercial and microfinance banks are not the only avenues through which customers can make payment to the government. Alternative channels abound such as POS terminals, debit/credit cards, online banking sites and digital wallets, among others. Long queues in banking halls for taxes, levies and subventions are much reduced, leaving room for customers to deploy their productive energies elsewhere. Distance is no longer a barrier to payment because government can receive funds from any part of the country, and pay salaries without uploading salary schedules from varying software. The MDAs, on their part, make less deals with physical cash and contractors are paid for their services much faster due to the new system.
The Nigerian dream is achievable if only we can make sacrifices today for the beautiful tomorrow we envision. To be sure, the anti-TSA elements will stop at nothing to vilify the policy for their own selfish interests. Recognising this, we must continue to counter their offensive until probity returns to the administration of public funds meant for our welfare and generations still to come.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – Twenty Four governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC have blamed the current wave of separatist agitation on weak governance as provided across the different tiers of government.SYMPATHY VISIT—From left: Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Kashim Shettima of Borno State, during a sympathy visit to the Enugu State Governor, by his colleagues, over the recent attack by herdsmen, in Enugu, yesterday. Photo: NAN.
The governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors’ Forum PGF also blamed the dwindling fortunes of the economy as well as poor law enforcement mechanisms for the agitations.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, and signed by the Director General of the PGF, Salihu Moh. Lukman, the APC governors also called on separatist groups in the country to refrain from making further inciting comments.
“In line with the social democratic principles of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PGF promotes all-inclusive government, for the development of policies and programs that improve the life of every Nigerian citizen, regardless of ethnicity and religious orientation. It is with this in mind that the Forum condemns in the strongest terms the present secessionist and separatist agitations promoting ethno-regional identity in the country. These sundry factional groups, claiming to represent different ethnic nationalities, sow seeds of disunity and promote secessionist agenda in the nation. We decry and reject their activities in all intents and purposes.
“Acknowledging the rich diverse heritage of Nigeria as a country, the PGF particularly notes that the resurgence of desperate youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions from the different geo-political zones across the nation as currently experienced is a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system in Nigeria”, the governors stated.
They noted that the challenge before Nigerians therefore is to commit themselves to the unity of the country.
“We must create by all means necessary, a country that we can collectively call our home, irrespective of tongue and locality. This is a vision the APC as a party is committed to lead and for which the PGF is unapologetically and intrinsically loyal. These threats to national unity must cease totally and put away into history.
“While acknowledging that as a nation, we do have challenges, PGF believes that the resolution of those challenges rests with the development of our democracy and with it, the ascendancy of structured processes of national consultations, negotiations and invariably, agreements. As Governors elected under APC, we will work with our party leaders, the Federal Government and all Nigerians who are committed to democratic development of all parts of the country to ensure unencumbered protection of lives of all citizens in every part of the territorial boundary of our nation.
“PGF therefore call for the rise of all Decent Voices across this country to speak up against the upsurge of some desperate irredentist movements across all ethnic groups and support the emergence of a stronger and virile unified Nigeria for us all. The Forum insists that, regardless of our diverse identities and whatever differences, Nigeria has to thrive. Hence, there has to be a nation first”, they submitted.
The UK has deployed officers from the Royal Air Force (RAF) Force Protection (FP) Wing from RAF Lossiemouth to Nigeria to train the Nigerian Air Force Regiment for six weeks.
The Royal Air Force is the UK's aerial warfare force formed toward the end of the First World War on April 1, 1918 and it is the oldest independent air force in the world.
A statement by the UK High Commission, Press Officer in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, said this on Thursday in Abuja.
Abuku said that the detachment was made up of a 66 person Short Term Training Team (STTT) from No. 5 FP Wing of RAF.
"The focus of the STTT is to deliver a training package which enables students to operate effectively in the Complex Air Ground Environment (CAGE) by understanding their role to provide security and Force Protection operations both inside and outside an Air base.
"This forms a key part of a layered defence system; deterring and defeating an enemy away from the airfield whilst also assuring internal security of a base.
"Additionally, Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers will be given the opportunity to enhance their tactical leadership and planning skills, whilst the Junior Air-officers will build on the skills they learned during basic training," he said.
He explained that the detachment, the third undertaken by 5 FP Wing in a five year programme came after a request from Nigeria.
He said that the Nigerian Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had requested UK to assist in capacity building for the Nigerian Air Force Regiment.
He quoted Abubakar as saying, "given the importance of bases in the airpower delivery matrix, it is not inconceivable to expect our adversaries to target our airbases.
"As a matter of fact, we have had an attack on one of our airbases in the recent past, and current intelligence reports keep highlighting the possibility of attacks on our bases.
"All these reinforce the need to emplace a robust base defence concept that is capable of providing guidance for responding to a wide range of situations that may threaten our bases."
He quoted Officer Commanding 5 FP Wing, Wing Commander John Rees as expressing delight that the detachment was in Nigeria and appreciated the warmth welcome given to them.
"We are proud of our Royal Air Force heritage and the opportunity to represent our service in the Defence Engagement arena," Rees said.
The Wing Commander said that the detachment had already delivered Train the Trainer package to 50 Non Commissioned Officers and Commissioned Officers.
He added that a further 250 students would now begin the Foundation Phase bringing a total of around 300 Nigerian personnel to be trained across a mixture of ranks.
The programme, according to him, will culminate with a demanding final exercise at a live airfield to validate the understanding of all skills taught in a realistic environment.
He said that this would be prior to the graduating students deploying to their first operational assignment in the Nigerian Air Force.
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Justice Joyce Abdulmaleek of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday remanded a former minister, Olajumoke Akinjide, and Olanrewaju Otiti, in EFCC custody over alleged N650 million fraud.
recall that former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, Sen. Ayoade Adeseun, as well as Akinjide and Otiti where arraigned on a 12- count amended charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful conversion and stealing of N650 million in the build up to the 2015 general elections.
Abdulmaleek adjourned the case till July 6 to hear their bail application.
At the resumed hearing of the matter, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecution counsel, informed the court that the commission had amended the charges against the accused persons and prayed that the amended charges be read.
But the defence counsel objected to the amendments and reading of any charge to their clients.
Mr Bolaji Ayorinde, Mr Michael Lana and Mr Adeniyi Isola, all defence counsel, argued that no charge had ever been read to their clients before, adding that there was therefore no cause for any amendment.
The defence counsel also submitted that it was an irregularity on the part of the prosecution to be amending charges that were not known to be existing.
The judge, however, overruled them directing that the charge sheet be read to them.
The two accused persons present in court—Akinjide and Otiti– pleaded not guilty to the 12- count charge.
There was a stir, however, as Ayorinde and Lana in separate submissions told the court that they were withdrawing further appearance in the case, claiming the court had not been fair to their clients.
The two defence counsel subsequently walked out of the court.
Akinjide, however, had begun moves to explore plea bargain arrangement with EFCC.
Oyedepo, who confirmed the move during the court's proceeding, said that the process was still ongoing.
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
L-R: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State; Niger State Governor, Abubakar Belo; Nassarawa State Deputy Governor, Silas Agara and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State at the meeting.L-R: Governor Dave Umuahi of Ebonyi State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Governor Samuel otom of Benue State discussing at the meeting.From left, the NSA, maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno; the Defence Minister, Alh. Dan Ali; the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’allah; Minister for Interior, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau; Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; Speaker House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and the Ag. President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as he arrivrd for the Consultative meeting with Governors.L-R Governor Ifeanyi uguanyi of Enugu State; Presidential Liaison to the National Assembly, Ita Enang; Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Na’allah and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State during the meeting.From the left, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State; Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State and Governor rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State discussing during the meeting.From the left, Governor Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu State; Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State at the meeting.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – ACTING President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Wedneday, warned state governors against playing politics with national security
From the left, Governor Ifeanyi Uguanyi of Enugu State; Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State; Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; and Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State at the meeting.
The Acting President also reiterated that the Constitution guaranteed all Nigerians to live in any parts of the country without molestation, just as he warned people talking carelessly in a way that would threaten the unity of the country.
Prof. Osinbajo who gave the warning when he met with the 36 governors at the Old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, further noted that the Constitution guarantees freedom of expressions but he said that it must be done in a decent way.
According to him, "There is a part of all of these agitations and statements that are made that is fair and may well be considered as freedom of expression. Clearly, we are all allowed to express our views and there is a part of this that is expected in any healthy and robust democracy, people arguing and disagreeing sometimes even silently.
"But borderline has to be drawn and that is when conversations or agitations degenerate into hateful rhetoric where the narratives degenerate to pejorative name-calling, expressions of outright prejudice and hatred.
"We must sometimes ensure that even in the use of words, we are careful essentially because the kinds of problems that we have seen, the kinds of conflagration that we have seen all over the world even in our own society…..the use of words. Some words can carry a lot of weights and so important that responsible use of words, the responsible expression of dissent is taken as priority.
Abuja – The Senate on Wednesday hinted that the National Assembly may request supplementary budget from the executive for funds needed for 2017-2018 campaign against measles.
Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Primary Healthcare and Communicable Diseases, gave the indication when he received a delegation of Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) in Abuja.
He said that the national assembly was aware that Nigeria was to provide a counterpart funding of about 11 million dollars (about N3 billion) for the measles campaign during the period.
"There is no appropriation for this campaign in 2017 budget, but I want to assure you that the national assembly is aware of the enormity of the situation,'' Ohuabunwa said.
He urged GAVI to pre-fund activities for the campaign pending when the operational funds from the organisation and the Federal Government would be released.
He said the gesture would not only keep the momentum on the measles campaign but maintain the pressure established on measles control over the years.
He pledged the commitment of the national assembly to re-positioning the health care system in Nigeria.
"The National Assembly has been very conscious of the need to re-engineer our health care sector and took the bold step of setting up the Committee for Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases in the past two years.
"The goal of this committee is to drive on the required efficiency and accountability of our many partnerships such as with GAVI, which continue to have great impact on our primary health care delivery.
"These, I believe, should indeed rekindle GAVI's confidence in dealing with Nigeria, especially in up-scaling the partnership and the support in the country,'' the lawmaker said.
Earlier, GAVI's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Seth Berkley, who led the delegation, decried the ranking of Nigeria as highest among countries with un-immunised children in the world.
He called on the Nigerian Government to put measures in place to stem the tide, adding that there were huge challenges to the health sector "and having a strong system to respond is very important''.
"We are quite concerned about the immunization system in Nigeria. The estimate of coverage was very high but not compared to disease outbreak.
"Nigeria has the highest number of un-immunised children in the world, an unenviable position initially held by India,'' Berkley said.
He, however, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to eliminating polio, acknowledging that the work on polio had been strong.
He urged the government to do all within its power to ensure that polio was eradicated from the country.
While commending Nigeria for supporting the GAVI programme, he said that the country ranked among the lowest in the world in terms of funding the health sector.
According to Berkley, Nigeria is one of the lowest countries in the world with 0 to seven per cent of funding to the health sector but the world sector is 15 per cent.
Gov. Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state has disowned supporters placing his posters across the state, urging him to re-contest the 2019 elections.
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Vasta, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Minna.
"The governor and the entire government of Niger state are dissociating themselves from such outright contraventions that are not in the character of the administration in the state.
"The governor believes in the rule of law and will not support placing of posters in form of campaign when INEC, the body constitutionally empowered to give such go ahead, has not done so.''
Vatsa said that Bello would not encourage such distraction when he was occupied with delivering the dividends of democracy to the people as promised during his campaigns.
•Gov.Abubakar Sani Bello
"The government has well-articulated restoration agenda on education through the whole school approach; infrastructural development by providing good roads and healthcare delivery.
"Others include agricultural development, youth and women empowerment and many other sectors.
"The people can see the revolutions in these sectors and this is not the time for Mr. governor to be distracted by such politicking and we dissociate ourselves from it,'' he said.
Vatsa said that the policies and programmes of the government had always been conducted in consultation with the people as permitted in democracy.
The Commissioner alleged that such act might be the handiwork of mischief makers.
He advised the people to disregard such posters that had no bearing with the governor's effort to deliver on his mandate to them.
Lagos – An Agege Customary Court, Lagos, on Wednesday dissolved the 10-year-old marriage between Adebisi and her husband, Olatunji Abiodun, over constant battering by the husband and his audacity to give their daughter tribal marks. lTribal marks Adebisi had on March 31, 2016, approached the court seeking the dissolution of the marriage, also said the husband was unfaithful and irresponsible.
The President of the court, Mr Phillips Williams, who gave the verdict, said the marriage had broken down irretrievably.
"Once the two parties have consented to the dissolution of their marriage, then there is evidence that the relationship has broken down irretrievably.
"Therefore, the marriage between you is hereby dissolved and any party who may feel dissatisfied with this judgment can appeal within the next 30 days," he ruled.
Adebisi had earlier told the court that her husband for 10 years had been harassing him everywhere. "l seek dissolution of this marriage so that my husband can stop harassing me anywhere he sees me.
"I want him to be responsible for the children's upkeep and education." She described her husband as a drunkard and as a secret cult member.
"He lured my daughter to his village on the pretext of visiting his parents and gave her tribal marks on her face without my consent.
"I can no longer bear the pains of constant beating and the hardships the marriage is going through. " l am fed up with his unfaithful and adulterous ways," she said. Olatunji, a middle-aged man and a father of two, also consented to the dissolution of the marriage.
He alleged that the petitioner was not submissive and lacked manners, saying she does not dress like a married woman. "My wife likes wearing skimpy and indecent clothes which l do not like and have complained several times, but she refused to change."
The process for the recall of Sen. Dino Melaye is gathering momentum as his constituents, Kogi West Senatorial District, submitted a petition to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) demanding his removal from the Senate.
Melaye is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), represents the district at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Leader of the constituents, Chief Cornelius Olowo, told newsmen at INEC headquarters on Wednesday, shortly after submitting the petition, that electorate in Melaye's constituency were resolved to recall him.
He said that the petition, which had signatures of more than 52 per cent of the electorates in the area, was submitted at the office of INEC Chairman.
Olowo said that the move to recall Malaye was based on his "abysmal performance'' since he was elected to represent the district in 2015.
Sen. Dino Melaye
He accused the senator of distancing himself from his constituents, saying that the lawmaker's performance was low.
"In the last two years, some senators have been meeting with their people quarterly. They update them on what has been happening and seek their contributions on issues and their aspirations to be presented at the senate.
"For the past two years, Sen. Malaye has not organised one town hall meeting anywhere in Kogi West to meet with the people to present his scorecard or stewardship.
"He has been completely disconnected from the people. Since he won his election and the legal battle at the court, he is no longer reachable.
"He has no constituency office in Kogi West as we speak, as a way to reach him on matter of interests from the people that elected him,'' Olowo said.
He said that the petition had signatures of registered voters in the senatorial district, who endorsed the recall.
"We have over 360,000 registered voters in Kogi West and after about one week of collection of signatures, we were able to gather over 188,500 signatures, endorsing the recall of the senator.
"We have submitted the petition at the office of INEC Chairman. It is now left for INEC to go and do confirmation of the signatures before going on the process needed for the recall,'' he said.
On the allegation that the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, was sponsoring the recall and that people fought over the money disbursed for the exercise, Olowo said it was untrue.
He said that the genuineness of the demand would be confirmed when INEC would visit the area for confirmation of the signatories.
He expressed optimism that INEC would do what was required of it over the petition.
The Director, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, confirmed the receipt of the petition by the commission.
"Yes, such petition was submitted today (Wednesday),'' he told pressmen in a short message reply on telephone.
By Soni Daniel Abuja – No fewer than 100 delegates of the Presidential Amnesty Programme have been inducted as fellows of the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality. Paul Boroh A statement by the Presidential Amnesty office in Abuja on Wednesday indicated that the newly inducted fellows are the first tranche of delegates to conclude a month-long training at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The training explored the diverse opportunities in Nigeria’s tourism sector, while highlighting the nation’s rich cultural heritage as a solid base for fashion and catering businesses.
Speaking at the induction ceremony, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, Brig. Gen. Paul Boroh(Rtd) described the training as expansive enough to integrate key elements of Nigeria’s social environment as unique selling points for targeted Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the hospitality industry.
Boroh said, ”I am optimistic that the delegates would make remarkable contributions to the growth of the nation’s tourism and hospitality industry. I therefore urge them to engage in activities that will help sharpen whatever skills they now possess and to put these skills to use in ways that will benefit them and society".
Gen. Boroh was also firm in support of young people who strive on their own to acquire skills in vocations that have bearing on subsistence. He advised the delegates to be worthy ambassadors of the Amnesty programme and their families stating that society expects much from them.
Vanguard learnt that while all 100 were duly inducted as fellows of the institute, a few others were recognised for outstanding performance with awards of excellence conferred on the deserving delegates.
Another batch of 100 delegates is expected to be deployed to the institute soon for training with a projected one thousand completing training in Tourism and Hospitality in the next ten months.
The event in Yenagoa attracted a large turnout of guests which included strong representations from the state government and the traditional rulers council represented by HRM King Alfred Diette-Spiff. Bayelsa state.
Governor Seriake Dickson was represented by the commissioner for tourism development, Mrs Ebiere Irene Musa, who encouraged the delegates to take advantage of the opportunity given them by the government to do great exploits in the hospitality and Tourism sector.
She said the delegates have been equipped with practical and theoretical aspects in the industry to compete with their counterparts globally.
The training of Amnesty delegates in Tourism and hospitality at the International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality is considered by the Amnesty Office as a home grown approach to tackling some development needs in the Niger Delta.
This first set of delegates trained at the institute were empowered with business start up packs to enable them begin their own enterprise.
A half man half dog was allegedly spotted in South Africa moving round Limpopo with his fellow dogs. The video which went viral on the internet “Facebook’ left people with many questions.
New York – Nigeria is projected to be the world's third most populous country by the year 2050, according to a report released by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs.Statistics by experts show that by2040, Nigeria's population growth would have quadruplewithout commensurate amenities and employment to sustain it
The report, titled 'World Population Prospects: The 2017 Revision', said with such development, Nigeria would overtake the United States in terms of population just as world population would reach 9.8 billion people.
The report said "by 2050, the third most populous country will be Nigeria, which currently ranks seventh, and which is poised to replace the United States.
"Among the 10 largest countries of the world, one is in Africa (Nigeria).
"Amongst these, Nigeria's population, currently the seventh largest in the world, is growing the most rapidly.
"Consequently, the population of Nigeria is projected to surpass that of the United States shortly before 2050, at which point it would become the third largest country in the world.
"In 2050, the populations in six of the 10 largest countries are expected to exceed 300 million: China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and United States of America (in alphabetical order).
"Africa, which has the youngest age distribution of any region, is projected to experience a rapid ageing of its population, the report noted.
"Although the African population will remain relatively young for several more decades, the percentage of its population aged 60 or over is expected to rise from five per cent in 2017 to around nine per cent in 2050, and then to nearly 20 per cent by the end of the century."
In addition, the birth rates in African countries are likely to "at least double" by 2050, according to the report.
That trend came in spite of lower fertility rates in nearly all regions of the world, including in Africa, where rates fell from 5.1 births per woman up to 2005 to 4.7 births in the five years following.
In terms of other population trends depicted in the report, the population of India, which currently ranks as the second most populous country with 1.3 billion inhabitants, will surpass China's 1.4 billion citizens, by 2024.
The report noted that the world population, now at least 7.6 billion, was up from 7.4 billion in 2016, adding the concentration of global population growth is in the poorest countries.
The report said in spite of an overall drop in the number of children people have around the globe, the population was spurred by the relatively high levels of fertility in developing countries.
"With roughly 83 million people being added to the world's population every year, the upward trend in population size is expected to continue, even assuming that fertility levels will continue to decline.
"At this rate, the world population is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and surpass 11.2 billion in 2100," the report further revealed.
The growth is expected to come, in part, from the 47 least developed countries, where the fertility rate is around 4.3 births per woman, and whose population is expected to reach 1.9 billion people in 2050 from the current estimate of one billion.
In contrast, the birth rates in Europe are up to 1.6 births per woman, up from 1.4 births in 2000 to 2005.
"During 2010 to 2015, fertility was below the replacement level in 83 countries comprising 46 per cent of the world's population," according to the report.
The lower fertility rates are resulting in an ageing population, with the number of people aged 60 or over expected to more than double by 2050 and triple by 2100, from the current 962 million to 3.1 billion.
The UN Department said the population growth presented a challenge as the international community sought to implement the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda seeking to end poverty and preserve the planet.
The report also noted the impacts of migrants and refugees between countries, in particular noting the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis and the estimated outflow of 4.2 million people.
In terms of migration, "although international migration at or around current levels will be insufficient to compensate fully for the expected loss of population tied to low levels of fertility, especially in the European region, the movement of people between countries can help attenuate some of the adverse consequences of population ageing". (NAN)
Abuja – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on steps he had taken to douse tension in the country occasioned by "hate speeches''Osinbajo
Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, Chairman, PDP National Caretaker Committee, said at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, that Osinbajo deserved to the commended.
Makarfi, however, called on government to build on the effort by making all sections to be viable and operate an inclusive government.
He advised the government to ensure that its programmes, policies and steps were tailored in a manner that no section of this country would have the impression that it didn't count. Makarfi also called on leaders and governments at all levels to handle emerging challenges confronting the nation in best way possible.
According to him, the emerging challenges include insecurity in the North-East, herdsmen/farmers' clashes, kidnappings as well as agitations and counter-agitations for secession.
He said that PDP believed that human and national development normally had challenges, but that "handling of such challenges determines the direction that the development takes''.
"As a country and a people, we have faced several developmental challenges; some have been resolved while many others are yearning for resolution.
"Even after such resolution as it's typical of the evolution of human societies, we should expect to be confronted by new and emerging challenges.
"It is thus the responsibility of each generation of our leaders to grapple with and handle such emerging challenges in the best way possible. It is always a work in progress,'' Markafi.
On herdsmen and farmers' clashes, he said that while both groups had constitutionally guaranteed rights to existence, government needed to come up with measures that would once-and-for-all address the issue.
"We must, however, be able to differentiate between the business of peaceful cattle rearing and criminal activities and take appropriate steps to protect lives and property.
"We must also secure our borders in order to prevent the influx of foreigners who may not respect the laws of our land.
"Of concern also is the issue of cattle rustling, which is also taking an altogether unprecedented dimension.
"This unlike the pastoralists/farmers problem, is clearly an issue of criminality, which governments and security agencies need to wake up to, to reassure victims that the state is there for them also.''
On kidnappings, Makarfi said it was worrisome that school students and teachers were had become targets of the criminal act.
He said that the development underscored the urgent need for security agencies to "up their ante'' in the fight against the scourge.
"Apart from additional funding, equipping and intelligence gathering, capacity of the security agencies must be improved as a matter of priority as this will enable the nipping of this criminal activity in the bud.
"We, however, wish to commend the security agencies for the bursting last week, of a criminal gang of kidnappers which had brought untold hardship and anguish to several Nigerian families.
"It is our hope that this feat is just the start of series of efforts to not only bring this criminal enterprise to an end, but also bring the perpetrators to justice. ''
Makarfi also urged the security agencies and the judiciary to ensure that criminals faced the full wrath of the law.
He said that PDP believed that in any democratic space, allowance must be made for people to express grievances and agitate for the redress of such.
He added that while PDP had no problem with agitations, those calling for succession should respect the rights legitimate rights and dignity of other citizens.
The chairman described recent altercation which degenerated into the issuance of ultimatum and counter-ultimatum for some Nigerians to leave certain parts of the country as an ill-wind that blew no good.
"Hate speeches either coming from the North, South, East or West must be avoided and be condemned by all of us.''
Makarfi, however, prayed for President Muhammadu Buhari and wished him quick recovery.
Graduates' representatives of Ijaw, Itsekiri and Ilaje ethnic Nationalities, host communities to Chevron Nigeria Limited have threatened mass action in the next 24 hours if their members in the VTP5/OTP2 Operator/Maintenance Trainees of Chevron are not confirmed as staff.
The position of the graduates under the auspices of Egbema-Gbaramatu Graduates' Employment Front, KOMBOT, National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG and National Association of Ilaje Graduates, NAIG, came on the heels of a strike action embarked upon Wednesday June 21 by the VTP5/OTP2 Operator/Maintenance Trainees over claim that they could no longer work in "hazardous conditions without being confirmed staff of Chevron".
The ethnic bodies in a joint statement signed by Collins Edema, Yabrade Moses and Ikuesan Ademola, President of National Association of Itsekiri Graduates, NAIG, KOMBOT and National Association of Ilaje Graduates, NAIG respectively, demanded for the sack of the Operations Manager of EGTL over alleged threats to their members.
They also called for the firing of the Human Resources Director "who masterminded the recruitment of our people into slavery".
The Lagos state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has signed into law, the state kidnapping prohibition bill, 2016 which prescribes Life Imprisonment or death penalty for the offence of Kidnapping and forceful extortion in Lagos State, meaning that the recently arrested kidnap kingpin, Chukwudubem Onwuamadike, a.k.a. Evans may get a life imprisonment or death penalty sentence.
The law provides for death penalty for kidnappers whose victims die in their custody, and life imprisonment for the act of kidnapping.
The Lagos State House of Assembly passed the bill on January 5.
The governor said that the law was enacted to address key issues bordering on security.
EVANS
He said that kidnapping had become a major threat to the safety of residents and, therefore, required decisive action by the government.
"This law imposes a penalty of life imprisonment for kidnapping for ransom.
"The law stipulates that, where a victim dies in the course of kidnapping, the suspect is liable on conviction to death.
"Security is of utmost importance to our administration, and we are confident that this law will serve as a deterrent to anybody who may desire to engage in this wicked act within the boundaries of Lagos State.
"Our justice system will be required to execute this law in absolute and make sure that any criminal caught faces the full wrath of the law," he said.
Recall that Evans himself had advised kidnappers or intending ones to desist from the act, saying it does not pay any longer.
He had said that if he can be caught, then nobody can escape the police being that the force has improved greatly in her anti-crime fight.
Evans, a billionaire kidnap kingpin had successfully coordinated and masterminded several high profile kidnappings and armed robberies within Lagos, Anambra and Enugu States.
According to him, "My advise to them is that as they are watching me standing here with policemen, they should stop everything about that, it doesn't pay."
He gave the advise to other kidnappers while leading police operatives to two houses in Ejigbo and Igando areas of Lagos state where he keeps his victims until huge ransoms are paid.
According to him, he keeps most of his victims in the two houses for months. He said he even pays up to seven hundred thousand Naira, (700,000) yearly for a three bedroom flat çells' where the victims are kept. Upon departure from Igando area Evans had opined, "The Nigeria Police is not what it is used to be. They are far more advanced than they were. If they could arrest me, there is no criminal they can't arrest."
The ranging storm generated by the quit notice issued by a coalition of Arewa Youth Organizations on their Igbo brothers and sisters living in the Northern part of the country is getting more interesting by the day especially when viewed against the background of a counter quit notice on the Northerners issued by another Youth Organization precisely the militants from the Southern part of the country.
The Arewa Youth Organizations made it clear that the Igbo have been blackmailing the whole country with secession tendencies and that they were fed up with such threats. And this contentious issue has been trending in the Mainstream and in the Social Media for the past two weeks now until a comic side was added to it when the Ohaneze-the Igbo Apex Social –Cultural group replied to the open letter that the Arewa group wrote to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
In that letter, the Youths from the North who kindled the fire urged the Acting President to allow the Igbo have their own nation of Biafra which they had been clamouring for right from 1967 since they don't believe in the geographical entity called Nigeria.
The Arewa groups even went ahead to detail several 'sins' of the Biafran Agitators since the 1960s. And hence, they urged the Acting President to give his accent to the demands of the Agitators to leave the Union (Nigeria) peacefully instead of throwing the nation into another needless civil – war or unnecessary hostilities among ethnic groups within the nation.
But pronto, the Ohaneze quickly replied their Arewa detractors that nobody can force them out of Nigeria. And in the actual sense, nobody is forcing out any group out of Nigeria. The purported Quit Notice reportedly issued by the Arewa boys which they have refused to vacate is a response to the activities of the IPOB and its leaders which was made clear in the Kaduna Declaration.
Kanu Nnamid – the self – acclaimed Supreme Leader of the Biafra Agitators have refused to keep to the terms of his bail – conditions which he has been violating with impunity barely few weeks after his release from the Kuje prisons.
He has been granting interviews and he had even organized rallies within the South- Eastern Region. It was when the IPOB ventured to carry their activities outside the region that the other ethnic groups cautioned them to stay clear of other peoples' domains/territories. Kanu is noted for his hate speeches and has even reportedly lashed out at his Igbo Kinsmen who are worshiping in churches that have Yoruba as their Pastors. He called such Igbo worshipers imbeciles.
This is because in Kanu's assessments, such Yoruba Pastors are worse than Boko – haram. His aim might be to trigger another chain of reactions from the South –West and cause katakata in the whole country. In some peoples opinion, the IPOB leader should be re – arrested for violating the terms of his bail.
But leading him to the doors of Kuje prison again may make the man to be more popular and make an hero out of him, despite his unrelenting secession moves and campaigns. Honestly I do not know what the Yoruba Pastors got to do with this secessionist struggles if not that he- Kanu specializes in fanning the embers of disunity among the ethnic groups in the country with the sole aim of increasing the political tension and make the country ungovernable for those in authority at the Federal level.
The bone of contention has been the alleged marginalization of the Ibos? But are the Ibos really marginalized vis – a – vis other ethnic groups in Nigeria? The National President of Ohaneze answer to this particular question is noteworthy which he gave on the occasion of BIAFRA AT 50.
The President – General/the National President of the Igbo Apex Social –Cultural Organization noted inter –alia, that during the Administration of the former President Goodluck Jonathan, apart from the fact that the Secretary to the Federal Government (SFG) and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy (CME)/Finance Minister were Igbo, all the six Kitchen -cabinet members of the former President were all Igbo.
This was to the effect that ahead of each session of the Federal Executive Council meetings, it was what these kitchen cabinet members who decide that sees the light of the day at the Federal Executive Council meeting. The respected Elder statesman further noted that the only visible Minister from the Yoruba extraction in the President Jonathan Goodluck Administration was Dr. Akinwummi Adesina who held the ministerial portfolio of Agriculture and Rural Development. That was not all.
According to the President – General of Ohaneze, at a time when Dr. Adesina – the immediate past Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was being allocated 2% of the Nation's budget, his counterpart in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity was given 10%. But alas, the Igbo did not make use of these opportunities to attract tangible infrastructural development to their area. Besides, the Secretary to the then Federal Government (SFG) – Senator Anyim Pius Anyim ensured that the Grade A – list of most Federal Agencies and Parastatals were headed by the Ibos from the core South – East or from Ibo speaking areas of the South – South geo – political zone.
But is this writer trying to justify the Kaduna Declaration made by the Arewa Youths Organizations? No and far from it.
Rather we want to proffer a lasting solution to the issue of bad – blood being generated among the contending groups. And the preferred option is for the nation to adopt the Practice of True Federalism. And the first step to achieve this objective is to subject the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference which reportedly gulped almost N29 billion to a Referendum.
Specifically, the nation's political system should be restructured in such a way that Federal Appointments will become less attractive to intending Treasury – looters since there won't be much loose money to loot.
Let each of the Federating States/Units making the Federal Republic be allowed to retain as much as 50% of the resources generated within their respective territories while they contribute only 50% or even less to the Federal Treasury for the purposes of running National Security in terms of maintaining Internal peace and the Defence of the country against any form of external aggression. We can continue to retain the same National Currency, Customs, Immigration, etc. But let each of the Federating Units have some measures of control over their resources and develop at their own respective paces.
If well – developed, there is no single Federating Unit in the country that is not well – endowed either with natural or human resources which can be exchanged with others for their mutual benefits.
In other words, when the Federating States within the Republic are encouraged to look inwards and tap their own resources for the common good of their own people, there will be healthy competition and only genuine leaders who are Nationalists will emerge to go to the Federal level and lead with a sense of direction driven by passion, vision, and integrity and not by greed and avarice as seen in some of our leaders who have smuggled themselves into corridors of power just to enrich their personal accounts at the expense of our National Treasury.
In this respect, we admonish the Arewa Youth leaders to vacate their Quit Notice on their Ibo kindred while the Ohaneze and the Elders from the South – East should talk to their boys to shelve their secessionist tendencies while we wait for the Federal Government to remove the 2014 National Conference Report from the upper shelve with a view to consider its recommendations.
The Biafran Agitators who are mostly in their 20s, 30s or 40s who did not witness the civil – war should listen to the voice of reason of Elder statesmen and Leaders of Thought like Chief Emmanuel Iwanyanmu and President – General of the Ohaneze and allow the sleeping dog of Biafra dream to continue to rest until the dogs sleep slips into eternal rest.
This is the ultimate goal of all Nigerians as soon as the nation is properly restructured into a True Federal Republic . We don't want the Biafran ghost that has been buried and forgotten since 1970 to be raised from the dead again by some misguided Youths from both sides (North and the South) who have not witnessed any civil war before. And we pray that such will not be the lot of this generation of youths in Jesus name.
If there is any war the Youths should encourage themselves irrespective of their different religious or ethnic backgrounds, it is the war against poverty and bad – leadership that may be denying them of their birth- rights as citizens of this country.! Shekenah!
Gbemiga Olakunle,JP General Secretary, National Prayer Movement
Thirty percent of investments planned by oil and gas majors over the next decade could be wasted if the world economy retools to cap global warming at two degrees Celsius, researchers warned Wednesday.
Oil rig worker
The 2C (3.6 degree Fahrenheit) target is the cornerstone of the 196-nation Paris Agreement, inked in 2015.
Projects worth $2.3 trillion (two trillion euros) could become unprofitable as energy shifts toward renewables and if fossil fuel prices stagnate, according to an analysis of investment budgets for 69 publically traded oil and gas companies.
Some players will be more exposed than others, said the report, “Two degrees of separation: Transition risk for upstream oil and gas in a low-carbon world.”
Up to 50 percent of ExxonMobil’s proposed capital expenditure to 2025, for example, is allocated to uneconomical projects likely to disappoint shareholders, the researchers concluded.
Shell, Chevron, Total and Eni were found to have put 30 to 40 percent of future spending at risk, about average for the companies examined.
At the other end of the scale, 14 companies — including state-owned giant Saudi Aramco — were seen as well-aligned with the 2C scenario.
“This report is a real game-changer for the future of corporate-investor engagement,” said Nathan Fabian, director of policy & research at PRI, a UN-backed network of investors who oversee $62 trillion (56 trillion euros) in assets.
“Investors in oil and gas companies have been in the dark about their exposure to climate risk — now they will be able to confront companies with precise information.”
PRI produced the report in collaboration with Carbon Tracker, a financial think tank that assesses the impact of climate change on capital markets and investment.
Major energy companies are already under growing pressure from investors to explain how global warming — and the shift to a low-carbon economy — will affect their bottom lines.
Last month, three-fifths of ExxonMobil shareholders defied the board and voted for the company to report annually on how new technology and 2C policies will affect business and investment plans.
– Off the table –
Weeks earlier, a majority of Occidental Petroleum shareholders called for similar measures.
“There are clear signs that oil demand could peak in the early 2020s, so companies need to start taking options that would come onstream then off the table,” said James Leaton, Carbon Tracker’s research director.
“Sticking with the growth-at-all-costs scenario just doesn’t add up for shareholder value when policy and technology are heading in the opposite direction.”
The move towards corporate transparency around climate issues extends beyond the fossil fuel industry.
On June 29, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures — initiated at the COP21 Paris climate summit by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg and Bank of England Governor Mark Carney — will issue final recommendations.
The task force has already called for the disclosure of climate-related impacts and risks, and strategies to confront them — backed by metrics and targets.
The Carbon Tracker report on investment risk in the fossil fuel industry looks at oil and gas production to 2035, and capital investment to 2025.
The proposed projects would generate 380 billion tonnes of CO2 — 60 percent from oil, 40 percent from gas — by 2035, exceeding the fossil fuel “carbon budget” consistent with a 2C cap on global warming.
Companies will need to knock off at least 60 billion tonnes of that total for the world to have a 50/50 shot at a 2C world.
In a joint statement, institutional investors backing the report — including Britain’s Legal & General Investment Management, Dutch pension fund PGGM, and the French fund FRR — cautioned against the risk of stranded assets.
“Some companies have to reconsider their business strategy,” they said.
ExxonMobil, Total, Eni and Shell are all involved in the single biggest uneconomic asset flagged by the report, the $33.5 billion (30 billion euro) Kashagan Phase 2 project in Kazakhstan. Analysts estimate it would require oil prices of at least $110 a barrel to break even.
London Brent crude closed at just over $45 (40 euros) a barrel on June 21.
By Michael Eboh The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Wednesday disclosed that an Indonesian firm, PT Intim Perkasa Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of PT Intim Perkasa, Indonesia, has indicated interest in building a 10,000-barrel per day modular refinery in Akwa Ibom State.
According to a statement by the NNPC, Mr. Adi Hartadi, Head of Investor Relations of PTPP (Persero) Tbk, partners to PT Intim Perkasa Nigeria Limited, disclosed this in Abuja during a business meeting with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru.
Hartadi stated that the company has more than 50 years of experience in construction and engineering and it was desirous of diversifying into downstream operations in Nigeria.
Commenting on the planned investment in the refinery, Maikanti Baru said the NNPC placed high premium on investment in the nation's refining sector, adding that the corporation would give necessary support to the Indonesian Company's interest in the downstream sector.
Baru, who was represented by Chief Operating Officer, Refineries and Petrochemicals of the NNPC, Mr. Anigbor Kragha, stated that the country's three refineries, with a combined capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, could not function optimally over the years due to lack of investment.
Baru explained that given Nigeria's expected population by 2025, more than 40 million litres of petrol would be required for local consumption, adding that the combined capacity of the nation's three refineries would only be able to satisfy just above 50 per cent of the projected local demand.
He expressed optimism that with this kind of investment coming steadily, Nigeria could serve as a regional hub of refined petroleum products for West Africa and beyond.
He called on the investors to be mindful of clean fuel policy across African countries and ensure that they produce fuels that meet specification with regards to sulphur content.
He said, "On our end, we have embarked on ambitious plan to fast-track programmes to restore our capacity utilization from 30 per cent to a minimum of 90 per cent in the next 24 months.
To do that, we are working on securing financing from third parties, not just funding, but also technical expertise to help us increase our performance to world class levels that they should be."
Baru further stated that in line with the Federal Government's policy on modular refineries the NNPC had set up a Greenfield Refinery Department that specialized in new refinery projects and also provide professional support to potential investors in modular refinery in the country.
Also speaking Third Secretary for Economic Affairs, Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria and the leader of the Indonesian delegation, Mr. Dwiyatna Widinugraha stated that the visit was a follow-up to the earlier visit by the Indonesian envoy to NNPC, the bilateral meeting between the Indonesian Trade Minister with his Nigerian counterpart as well as the visit of Indonesian Prime Minister to Nigeria.
The country's decision to build a refinery in Nigeria was coming few weeks after Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Harry Purwanto, had expressed the interest of the country in purchasing more crude oil from Nigeria.
Minna – Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger, has disowned supporters placing his posters across the state, urging him to re-contest the 2019 elections.Abubakar Bello
The Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Jonathan Vasta, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Minna.
"The governor and the entire government of Niger state are dissociating themselves from such outright contraventions that are not in the character of the administration in the state.
"The governor believes in the rule of law and will not support placing of posters in form of campaign when INEC the body constitutionally empowered to give such go ahead has not done so.''
Vatsa said that Bello would not encourage such distraction when he was occupied with delivering the dividends of democracy to the people as promised during his campaigns.
"The government has well-articulated restoration agenda on education through the whole school approach; infrastructural development by providing good roads and healthcare delivery.
"Others include agricultural development, youth and women empowerment and many other sectors.
"The people can see the revolutions in these sectors and this is not the time for Mr governor to be distracted by such politicking and we dissociate ourselves from it,'' he said.
Vatsa said that the policies and programmes of the government had always been conducted in consultation with the people as permitted in democracy.
The Commissioner alleged that such act might be the handiwork of mischief makers.
He advised the people to disregard such posters that had no bearing with the governor's effort to deliver on his mandate to them.
In the first incident, at least three loggers were killed when their truck ran over a landmine outside Abbari village in the Konduga district of Borno state on Tuesday.
“The truck hit the landmine at about 4:30 pm (1530 GMT) and went up in flames, killed all three loggers on board,” said Ibrahim Liman, from the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF).
Babakura Kolo, Another member of the CJTF in Maiduguri, confirmed the incident, adding: “The mine was obviously placed by Boko Haram terrorists operating in the area.”
Abbari village was previously attacked in April, when scores of Boko Haram fighters on motorcycles rode into the farming community, killing seven men and stealing 360 cattle.
In the second incident on Tuesday, Boko Haram fighters killed two men, including a police officer, and injured six others in an ambush on a convoy near Dalwa West village.
Borno state police chief Damian Chukwu told reporters the jihadists opened “indiscriminate fire” on a convoy of vehicles heading from Maiduguri to the town of Damboa, some 90 kilometres (56 miles) southwest of the Borno state capital.
The dead officer was among a contingent of 58 police on its way to new postings in the southern Borno town of Askira Uba, as well as mourners carrying the body of a dead policeman for burial.
No other officer or mourner was hurt in the attack, said Chukwu.
Civilian vehicles are regularly escorted on the road because of sporadic Boko Haram attacks. The road is near the Sambisa Forest, where the militants had camps.
The Konduga district has been a hotbed of Boko Haram activity in recent months, despite government and military claims that the rebels are the verge of defeat.
On June 11, gunmen killed eight members of the CJTF in a dawn ambush as they waited to go on operations with the military.
In May, four other militia members out hunting in the bush near a camp for those displaced by the Islamist insurgency had their throats slit on the outskirts of Maiduguri.
Two of their colleagues were also killed when two female suicide bombers detonated their explosives in Konduga town, which is about 35 kilometres from Maiduguri by road.
By Davies Iheamnachor PORT HARCOURT – Unidentified arsonists believed to be cultists has set ablaze a family house at Okpako-Ejemah in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State killing, and report has it that all the occupant of the house, Alhaji Hamza Garuba, his wife and a step son died in the fire.
Mr. Muhammed Sani, younger brother to Garuba, narrated to Vanguard that the arsonists, five in number invaded his brother’s house at about 10.00p.m. on Sunday and attempted to rob the family.
Sani said the bandits had attempted to rape wife of Garuba, but that the deceased who was infuriated stabbed one of the bandits to death.
He said: "I believed the stabbing of that criminal may have infuriated other gang members who quickly ran out of the house, locked the entrance door and set the house ablaze. My brother, his wife and a step son were locked up inside the house while the house was on fire. Nobody was at hand to rescue them as all of them were burnt beyond recognition."
Muhammed stated that killing was not in connection of the clash between Hausa community and task force team in Onne, Eleme LGA, Monday, adding that Garuba was killed by criminals that invaded his house.
However, the Public Relations Officer of Rivers State Police Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident and added that two persons have been arrested in relation to the matter.
Meantime, Arewa Consultative Forum, South-South, South-East branch, yesterday condemned the killing and worried that mischief makers want to cause disunity among Hausa community and the people of Eleme.
Speaking, the Coordinator of the body, Alhaji Musa Saidu, noted that Garuba was killed by bandits, saying: "The incident at Okpako-Ejemah was a clear case of robbery and arsonist attack. The Young man and his family were killed by arsonist who set their house ablaze. Hausa people have co-habited with their host community and they don't have any issue."
A Cristiano Ronaldo’s 8th minute header was the difference between Portugal and Russia as the Confederations Cup entered its second round of matches on Wednesday.
Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) and Portugal’s defender Cedric celebrate after winning their 2017 Confederations Cup group A football match against Russia at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow on June 21, 2017. / AFP PHOTO
Raphael Guerreiro swung in a wonderful, deep cross from the left-hand side and Ronaldo left Russian goalie Igor Akinfeev helpless with a trademark header at the back post after peeling away from Fedor Kudryashov.
Both sides started the game slowly, giving the ball away cheaply on few occasions but it was Portugal that settled in quickest with the goal from Ronaldo acting as an evidence.
Another opportunity came for Fernando Santos’ men when they were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out to the right of the goal following a foul by Kudryashov, but Ronaldo shot straight at the keeper.
Russia got their share of the chances when former Chelsea man, Yuri Zhirkov drove down the left-hand touchline before playing a ball that was too heavy for Smolov who was being chased down by Bruno Alves.
Both teams failed to capitalise on the few other chances that came their way, with Russia now risking elimination in the event that they fail to beat Mexico in their final group game.
Portugal now with four points will be expected to grab all three available points and qualify for the Semi-final when they meet New Zealand on Saturday.
