Blog

By Awayi  Kuje
Election
Wakama (Nasarawa State), Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN)Mr Labaran Maku, the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa State, says APGA is sensitizing the electorate across the state on how to defend their votes during the 2019 general elections.

Maku, a former Minister of Information, made this known on Thursday while speaking with journalists at Wakama, Akun Development Area of the state.

Maku, who is also the National Secretary of APGA, said that with the awareness created by the party, the electorate were ready to defend their votes in the state.

“Awareness among the electorate across the state has increased and they are ready to defend their votes, to avoid election rigging in 2019.

“In 2015, only few people defended their votes, but now, they have been lectured and sensitised on how to vote and defend their votes,” he said.

“Anybody planning to rig election, I am sorry for that person as there is no more room for election riggers in 2019.”

The former minister, who promised to prioritise workers’ welfare, education, health and infrastructure development, among others, if elected, urged his supporters to work tirelessly for the victory of the party at all levels in 2019.

The APGA governorship candidate advised his supporters, the people of the state and Nigerians to live in peace and respect constituted authorities, irrespective of affiliations.

“Let us pray for peaceful election, reduce poverty to the barest minimum, wanton killings, destruction, general insecurity, economic hardship and hunger in our land.” (NAN)
AKW/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed

Driver, 36, docked over alleged break in, stealing

Break-in

By Vivian Ibobo

Ikeja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) A 36-year-old driver, Victor Chinedu, who allegedly broke into a container and stole 33 bags of polypropylene worth N478, 500 was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

Chinedu, who resides at the Alagbado Area of Lagos, is facing a three-count charge of break-in, conspiracy and stealing.

The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu, told the court that Chinedu committed the offences on Sept. 6, at 07:30a.m. at the Gbagada Oworoshoki Expressway, Barrack Bus-stop, Ilupeju, Lagos.

Ogu said the accused broke into a Container belonging to Dangote Agro Sack Limited, and stole the polypropylene.

“Chinedu broke into the Container in the early hours of the morning and stole the polypropylene, valued N478, 500” he said.

The offence contravened Sections 287, 411 and 309 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 287 stipulates a seven-year jail term for stealing, while Section 309 provides three years for break-in.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

In his ruling, the Magistrate, Mr J. A. Adegun, granted Chinedu bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Adegun said that the surety must be gainfully employed and should show evidence of two years tax payments to the Lagos State Government.

He adjourned the case until Jan. 7, 2019. (NAN)
IZU/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)

Stealing

By Vivian Ibobo

Ikeja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) A 25-year-old truck driver working for the Nigeria Breweries PLC, Kelly Osang , who allegedly stole his employer’s 700 empty crates of different brands of beer valued at N1.4million, on Thursday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

Osang, who resides at No 4, Sango St., Iyana Iyesi, Sango Ota, Ogun, is charged with conspiracy and stealing .

The Prosecutor, ASP Clifford Ogu, told the court that Osang committed the offence sometime in October at Abule Egba, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused stole the empty crates after delivering some Nigeria Breweries products to some customers in Port Harcourt.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 411 and 287 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section stipulates a three-year jail term for offenders.

The Magistrate, Mr J. A. Adegun, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until Jan. 28, 2019 for mention. (NAN)
IZU/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Migration

By Monday Ijeh

Abuja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) A Non-Governmental Organisation, Migration Enlightenment Project, Nigeria (MEPN) says human traffickers are the main drivers of irregular migration among youths in Nigeria.

NAN reports that MEPN is a Germany-based Nigerian diaspora initiative which started a campaign for safe migration in 2017 and is already in its second phase this year.

Mr Kenneth Gbandi, a Co-Project Director, MEPN, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja that  irregular migrants were often deceived by the traffickers adding that if fully enlightened on the risk, would not embark on the journey.

“Just listen to the accounts of the returnees from Libya, a common strand runs through their stories, they were lied and deceived and did not know what they were getting into,” he said.

Gbandi called on stakeholders to embark on sensitization of youths on the risk and dangers of irregular migration adding that about 2,000 persons had been reported drowned in the Mediterranean in 2018.

He said that reports had also shown that thousands of young Nigerians had been left stranded in Libya, Algeria and Morocco where they were exposed to horrendous human rights abuses.

The co-project director said that thousands of the irregular migrants were sometimes lucky to get to Europe after being rescued in the high sea and taken to European ports.

According to him, landing in Europe in such a manner does not mean the struggle is over another struggle to acquire legal residency commences.

“Today, thousands of Nigerians are in legal limbo across Europe because entering Europe without visa means you have to apply for political or humanitarian asylum to be granted a temporary stay.

“The asylum claims of most Nigerians are rejected because Nigeria is not considered as a country where there is political persecution, which is the key condition for granting of asylum.

“In fact, Nigerians have the highest rejection rate of asylum applications made by Africans in Europe,” he said.

He said that information from German authorities had shown that about 30,000 Nigerians were awaiting deportation with over one million migrants in legal limbo in Europe.

The co-project director said the NGO was formed in 2016 in view of the need to sensitize Nigerians youths on the dangers of irregular migration.

NAN reports that the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) revealed that it has facilitated the return of 15,000 stranded Nigerians from various countries in Europe from 2001 till date.

Of this figure, IOM said, 9000 were returned to Nigeria in one year from April 2017 till date under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme.

The IOM said the returnees arrived from more than 20 countries across Europe, Middle East and North Africa.

Though the IOM/European Union initiative targets 3,800 irregular migrants for reintegration under a three-year programme, the figure of returnees has tripled.

The figures, the IOM said,  also showed that more than 50 per cent of the returnees were from Edo state; 17 per cent of the returnees were from Delta while Oyo, Ogun and Imo indigenes completed the top five states. (NAN)

IMC/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

Training
By Bosede Olufunmi
Kano, Dec. 27, 2018(NAN) Foremost Islamic organisation, Nasrulahi-l-Fatih Society (NASFAT), has commenced a three-day train-the-trainers
programme in Kano for Muslim women in the northern part of the country.

Chief Missoner of NASFAT, Imam Abdulazeez Onike, disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Kano.

According to him, the programme which started on Dec. 26 will end on Dec. 28, saying it is part of measures to educate women on nation building through
dialogue.

Onike said that the training with the theme “Understand Your Religion” had 63 participants comprising Muslim women drawn from the northern part
of the country.

He stressed the need for increased training of Muslim women who would, in turn, pass the knowledge to other Muslims and non-Muslims alike, to
create the right impression about lslam.

He added that “most Muslims behave contrary to the teachings of Islam, thereby creating bad image for the religion and demonstrating
poor understanding of some Islamic concepts.”

He explained that the training would enlighten participants on the need for good inter-faith relations, peaceful co-existence, causes of misconceptions
about Islam, women’s rights and many more.

In the same vein, the NASFAT Zonal Women Leader for North West 1, Hajiya Aishat Gobir, said that the training was intended to instill in the participants,
the necessary confidence to discuss Islam with a view to building understanding and obliterating misconceptions.

The Southern version of the training was conducted between Dec. 21 and Dec. 25 in Ibadan. (NAN)
BO/MUYI/HA
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Edited by Muhyideen Jimoh/Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Resumption
By David Adeoye
Ibadan, Dec 27, 2018(NAN) Civil servants in Ibadan, Oyo State, are yet to resume work after the two days public holidays declared by the Federal Government to celebrate Christmas.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, who visited the Federal Secretariat in Ibadan on Thursday, reports that activities were low with few workers seen going in and out of the complex.

NAN also reports that most of the major roads linking the secretariat, at Ikolaba area in Ibadan, which were usually busy during week days as early as 9 a.m., as well as the car park, were scanty.

The few people who showed up for work, were seen exchanging pleasantries.

Some of the civil servants who spoke to NAN said the low turnout of workers after the holidays was because most of their colleagues travelled out of station to celebrate the Christmas with their families,.

They, however, commended the Federal Government for paying their December salaries in time to enable them to enjoy the Christmas holiday.

Also, Mrs Agnes Odiagbe of the Centre for Management Development, said the low turnout of workers might be due to the fact that some workers were on their annual leave.

Odiagbe said she had a good outing during the Christmas holidays and was able to do some domestic works.

Also, Mr Adepoju Olayiwola, a staff of NAFDAC, said “the holidays has come and gone. So a serious-minded worker should be at his or her duty post by now”

Olayiwola, who commended the Federal Government for the prompt payment of workers’ salaries, urged the other workers to reciprocate the good gesture by carrying out their duties as expected.

Also speaking, Mr Kehinde Mohammed, a staff of Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, under Federal Ministry of Education, said he was reporting to his duty post with a new vigour and zeal to accomplish his tasks.

Mohammed said he received his salary alert on the eve of Christmas and was able spend quality time with his family during the holiday. (NAN)
DAK/OSA/SH
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edited by Shittu Obassa/Sadiya Hamza

Taekwondo

By Chukwuemeka Opara

Abakaliki, Dec.27, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian Taekwondo Federation (NTF) says its National Ranking System has impacted on performance tracking and development of  elite and upcoming takweondo stars,  especially at the just concluded National Sports Festival (NSF).

Chika Chukwumerije, the NSF Technical Director,  disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN reports that the national ranking, which is updated after every major event, shows that the top ten taekwondo stars in the country are unchanged, though some names changed below the top position.

NAN also reports that the NTF Ranking System, debuted in 2017.

“Nine out of the 16 ‘Kyeorugi’-gold medalists were top-seeded as 44 out of the 64 medalists were seeded players.

“It was only in one weight category (female—73kg) out of the 16 weight categories that a top seed did not make it to the medal stage,” the Olympic Games bronze medalist said.

He noted that only four athletes from the 2012 edition of the NSF defended their titles in the 2018 and they include: Chinazum Nwosu (female-53kg) Uzoamaka Otuadinma (female-73kg) among others.

“In the female category, there was a huge domination of junior players who were at the national camp in early 2018 and also represented Nigeria at the 2018 African Youth Games (AYG).

“The 2018 African junior bronze-medalist–Uzoamaka Chidiebere (14 years-old) who represented Abia, won a bronze in the female -49kg category.

“Bayelsa’s Happiness Adirimo (17) and Taraba’s Bukola Ogunnusi (17) who both represented the country at the 2018 AYG, won NSF silver and bronze respectively in the female-49kg and 62-kg categories.

“Lagos’s Oyebanji Adeteju (16) who represented Nigeria at the 2018 AYG, won a bronze at the female +73kg.

“Taraba’s Faith Osita (15) who won a bronze at the 2018 National Youth Games (NYG) followed up with a bronze in the 2018 NSF in the female-53kg class,” he said.

The African Games gold medalist noted that its top athletes also performed outstandingly during the NSF with Delta’s Ifeoluwa Ajayi (male-63kg) and Abuja’s Elizabeth Anyanacho (female-67kg) being the best pick.

“Established athletes such as Chinazum Nwosu-(female-53kg) Uzoamaka Otuadinma and Sunday Onofe (male-87kg) deserve special recognition for their longevity at the top and consistency across all tournaments for the past six years.

“They have demonstrated their class repeatedly and winning at previous NSF editions and defending their titles in 2018, is a testament of their class as best in their generation.

“Their feats become more outstanding because they defended the titles with a whole, different set of rules and systems,” he said. (NAN)

RCO/SH

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edited by Sadiya Hamza

2019 budget will stimulate economic growth – Sen. Adeola

Budget

By Bolaji Buhari

Lagos, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West) says the 2019 budget proposal is a progressive budget that will take the country to the next level.

Adeola spoke with newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, during a Christmas party he organised for residents of his constituency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Dec.19 presented the N8.83 trillion 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly.

Of the budget, N4.04 trillion or 50.31 per cent was earmarked for recurrent expenditure while N2 .03 trillion or 22.98 per cent was earmarked for capital projects.

Also,  N2.14 trillion was earmarked for debt servicing while N120billion was dedicated as sinking fund.

Reacting, Adeola said the budget was the best in recent years, as it was designed to stimulate economic growth.

He said it was the first time any government would earmark as much as N2 .14 trillion to service mainly local debts.

Adeola said the economy would benefit immensely from the budget.

“This is a very progressive budget. This is budget taking Nigeria to the next level.

“For the first time in the history of this nation, we have a budget where N2 .14 trillion has been earmarked for the payment of debts.

“And basically, 80 per cent of these debts are local debts because much of the N2.14 trillion will be used to pay local contractors.

“What that means for the country is that there will be more money in the economy, because local contractors will be stimulated through payments,” he said.

Adeola said there would be more investments in the economy once those contactual obligations have been met by government.

Adeola, Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, said the pegging of budget oil bench mark at 60 dollar per barrel and oil output of 2.3 million barrel per day was a step in the right direction.

He said in spite of the the volatility of the oil price in the international market, the president had shown sincerity and optimism on the budget oil price/output bench mark.

Adeola urged Nigerians to support the president in his efforts to turn around the economy.

He said he organised the party to appreciate his constituents for the support they had given him as their representative.

Adeola implored constituents to continue to support him to deliver democratic dividends in the senatorial zone.

While wishing the people of the area a happy celebration in the festive season, he urged them to vote the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019, for the continuation of  strides recorded both at the state and federal levels.(NAN)
BHB/SOA

Edited by Oluwole Sogunle

Concert
By Anita Eboigbe
Abuja, Dec. 27, 2018 (NAN) Afro-fusion sensation, Damini Ogulu aka Burna Boy pulled a stunning performance at his headline sold-out show alongside D’banj, Wizkid, Davido and 2 baba.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the concert tagged ‘Burna Boy Live’ held at the EkoHotel Convention Centre, Lagos on Wednesday.

The ‘Gbona’ singer performed his hit songs such as ‘On the Low’, ‘Ye’ and ‘Wo Da Mo’ with D’banj who brought his famed harmonica to stage which excited ecstatic fans.

‘Burna Live’ will mark a direct follow-up to the singer’s highly publicised concert at Brixton Academy, O2 Arena in London, which was entirely sold out.

Since the concert was announced early in December, fans had taken to social media to list their expectations and encouraged Burna Boy on what was his first headline Lagos show.

NAN reports that while the event went on, guests shared live updates on Twitter and were full of praises for the energetic performances from Burna Boy and the other A-list acts.

@IamAbdul tweeted, “My favorite part of #Burnalive was when Burna Boy was performing ‘Killin them’ alongside Zlatan.”

@Bissi96 said, “Thank you King Burna. Even though things happened, we are glad you stole our hearts once again.”

@Bhadoosky said, “@Wizkidayo came to support his brother from another mother. His performance with Burna boy was lit!”

@thepamilerin tweeted, “What a way to end an incredible concert. This was the moment everybody waited for.

“President OLUWABURNA gave the command for the ‘national anthem’ and everyone sang their hearts out.” (NAN)
AEE/IS
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NNPC
Edith Ike-Eboh
Abuja, Dec.26, 2018 (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation,(NNPC) says it made a trading surplus of N9.85 billion  in September 2018.

The Corporation disclosed this in its monthly financial and operation report released in Abuja, on Wednesday.

It said the surplus was a significant rebound from the N3.90 billion deficit recorded in August 2018.

It attributed the N13.75 billion improvement in its bottom line to higher revenue by its upstream subsidiary, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

“NPDC’s production has been on the rise as a result of successes  recorded in repairs of vandalized pipeline in the Niger Delta and the resumption of crude oil lifting activities at Forcados Terminal,” it said.

On Crude oil and Gas export, the report explained that total crude oil and gas export sale of $626.62 million  was recorded in September under the NNPC’s US dollar transactions.

This, it said was 33.32 per cent higher than the previous month.

It stated that crude oil export sales contributed 508.54 million dollars which was 81.16 per cent of the dollar transactions compared to 337.62 million dollars contribution in the previous month.

” Export gas sales amounted to 118.08 million dollars in the month under review,” it added.

It further noted that from September 2017 to September 2018 crude oil and gas transactions indicated that crude oil and gas worth 5.45 billion dollars was exported.

In the downstream sector, the report said that NNPC in the month under review continued to ensure increased petrol supply and effective distribution across the country.

It stated that during the month, 1.66 billion litres of petrol, translating to 55.50 million litres per day, were supplied by the corporation.

It also stated that 125 pipeline points were vandalized; out of which eight points failed to be welded and only one pipeline point was ruptured.

According to the report, the figure translated to a significant increase from the 86 vandalized points recorded last month.

“A further breakdown of the September, 2018 records indicates that Aba-Enugu and Mosimi-Ibadan accounted for 36 points and 33 points respectively or approximately 29 per cent or 26 per cent of the vandalized points respectively.

“While PHC-Aba and Zaria-Gusau accounted for 10 per cent each; Atlas Cove-Mosimi and other locations accounted for 14 per cent and 11 per cent of the pipeline breaks respectively,” it said.

On natural gas off-take commercialisation and utilisation, it said that out of the 238.91 billion Cubic Feet (BCF) of gas supplied in September 2018, a total of 142.09 bcf of gas was commercialised.

This, it added comprised 30.36bcf and 111.73bcf for the domestic and export market respectively.

“This translates to a total supply of 1,011.96mmscf/d of gas to the domestic market and 3,724.26mmscf/d of gas supplied to the export market for the month.

“This implies that 59.47 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised while the balance of 40.53 per cent of gas was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared.” it said.

The report further gave gas flare rate for the month at 8.60 per cent, which was 684.69mmscfd compared with average gas flare rate of 10.17 per cent which was 800.59mmscfd for the period September 2017 to September 2018.(NAN).
ENO/