Blog

2019: APC UK PMB Volunteers says no alternative to Buhari
Buhari
By Emmanuel Mogbede
Abuja, Dec.24, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressives Congress (APC) United Kingdom (UK) chapter of President Muhammadu Buhari Volunteers says Nigerians have no alternative to the APC led government in 2019.
Mr Ade Omole, convener of the group and leader of the APC UK chapter stated this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, in spite of what opposition parties may be saying about the APC, it remains the best for Nigerians at this time of the country’s political history.
Omole maintained that the APC government is doing everything possible to set the country on the right foot and make her the envy of other nations.
He added that Buhari had the interest of the people at heart as he is poised to rebuilding the economy and develop the country’s critical infrastructure.
He, therefore, advised that Nigerians should not make the mistake of not re-electing the President in 2019, saying that such mistake would move the country backward.
He said it was however unfortunate that most of the achievements of the Buhari-led administration were not publicised.
This, he said, is the reason why the group is embarking on Market-2-Market Campaign.
Omole said the essence is to take the message of the achievements of Buhari and the APC government to market men and women and those at the grassroots.
He said the volunteers who began the campaign in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had so far, visited the Garki Modern Market, Utako Market, and Kubwa Market.
He further said that other markets visited within the FCT were Wuse II Modern Market, Gwarinpa Market, Area One Shopping Centre and Nyanya Market in the suburb of the FCT.
Omole said the campaign train is looking at the possibility of taking the message to markets across the federation with a view to sensitising Nigerians on the achievements of the Buhari-led administration.
He also said the volunteers were gaining momentum as the campaign was beginning to yield desired results, especially as people were now appreciating the achievements of the Buhari-led administration.
He said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is at lost and has nothing new to offer Nigerians having been in power for 16 years without bringing about real development in the country.(NAN)
EEM/ABI
Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Personnel
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Minna, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Niger  command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 2,500 officers and men to ensure peaceful Christmas celebration in the state.

Mr Philip Ayuba, the NSCC Commandant in the state, made this known on Monday in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.

Ayuba said that the personnel were deployed to churches, recreational centres and motor parks, among other public places, to boost security arrangements across the state.

He, however, urged the general public to be law-abiding, while eschewing acts that could foment trouble or contravene the law during and after the celebration.

“We want to assure the general public that NSCDC and other security agencies have put in place necessary strategies to guarantee peace during and after the Christmas festivities.

“We also want to use this medium to call on citizens of Niger to report to the security agencies any movement suspected to have the potential of threatening the peace and security of the state,’’ he said.

He urged the Christian faithful to pray for hitch-free 2019 elections in the state and in the country in general. (NAN)
AAG/OOK
=======

Xmas : Lawmaker urges Christians on peaceful elections,

Bago made the  call in a statement ahead of Christmas festivities in Minna, adding that Christmas was an opportunity to reflect on the humility of Christ and his limitless love of God and humanity.

He called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the service of humanity in line with the true teachings of Jesus Christ which emphasised tolerance, patience, brotherliness, kindness, care for the needy and love for one another.”

” I  challenge Christian faithful to remember to show love to their neighbours and underprivileged as they celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ,” the lawmaker said.

Mills
By Chukwuemeka Opara
Abakaliki, Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The Ebonyi Government and rice millers at the popular Abakaliki Rice Mill, have debunked reports that the entire mill was razed by fire which damaged several property.

Chief Moses Nome, State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the news about the fire was mischievous.

“The entire mill was not engulfed by the fire but one milling line, which burnt about six shops and destroyed property.

“The Abakaliki rice mill contains over 100 milling lines and it was only the line ‘13’ that was affected by the fire outbreak.

“It is then unfortunate for anyone to conclude or report that the rice mill was engulfed by fire and this shows that the fight against fake news should be intensified in the country,” he said.

The commissioner said that the fire outbreak was caused by negligence as efforts would be intensified to enlighten the millers on safety practices.

“One of the millers did not switch off the electrical appliance in his shop and the harmattan increased the damage experienced.

“We urge the public to disregard the reports as the rice mill is booming with business activities to meet the demands of the yuletide,’’ he said.

Chief Joseph Ununu, Chairman of the rice mill, confirmed the commissioner’s statement, saying that only one milling line was destroyed.

“The fire started around 9 p.m. on that day and the attention of the mill’s leadership was drawn to it.

“We immediately alerted the state fire service which responded quickly, put off the fire and still salvaged some property.

“We are urging the public to disregard the information that the mill was gutted by fire as we are ready to meet the rice-milling needs of the people,”  he said.

One of the affected shop owners, Jim Ibe, rued his ordeal but insisted that the incident did not affect the entire mill as being publicised.

“I lost several property worth millions of naira to the fire but I am appealing to the government and well-meaning individuals for assistance.

“My life has been shattered because I use the proceeds from my burnt shop to take care of my family,’’ he said.

A NAN correspondent who visited the mill reports that business activities were in top gear as people from several parts of the country were there to process and purchase rice. (NAN)
RCO/FF/AJA
==========
Edited by Fela Fashoro/Adeleye Ajayi

Gas
By Yunus Yusuf
Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN)Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Assa North Gas Development Project in Imo, a major momentum to the domestic gas aspiration of the Federal Government for increased power generation and industrialisation.

At peak production, the project is expected to produce 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and will be treated at SPDC JV’s Gas Processing Facility and distributed through the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben pipeline network.

Mr Bamidele Odugbesan, SPDC spokesman, quoted Mr Osagie Okunbor, managing director of SPDC and country chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, as saying this on Sunday.

Okunbor noted that the project would be a major game-changer in Nigeria’s quest for energy sufficiency and economic growth.

“This is good news for the SPDC JV and Nigeria as we look to grow the domestic market and optimise our onshore footprints.”

Okunbor said that the project is key to driving the Federal Government of Nigeria’s ambition of marching away from a mono-economy through diverse industrial growth.

“ It is premier amongst the Seven Critical Gas Projects initiative led by the Ministry of Petroleum and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“Their integrated focus, support and drive were instrumental to this investment decision.”

Okunbor added that the SPDC JV would continue to explore other areas of support for the expansion of domestic gas supply and continue to make investments under the right conditions.

SPDC’s Director and General Manager Projects, Mr Toyin Olagunju, said the Assa North project would be a significant contribution to GDP growth in Imo State and across Nigeria as the gas produced will be utilised in-country across diverse industries, while providing economic opportunities for local communities.

Just three weeks ago, the SPDC JV signed a gas supply and aggregation agreement with Geometric Power Aba Limited (GPAL) for the supply of about 43million standard cubic feet of gas per day to support the 140MW Aba Integrated Power plant at Ossisioma in Abia State.

By the agreement, SPDC will supply gas from the SPDC joint venture gas plant in Imo River traversing Abia and Rivers States to the power producer, GPAL, via a gas pipeline network which is already installed.

SPDC is the operator of a Joint Venture involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which holds 55 per cet; Shell 30 per cent; Total Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (TEPNG)10 per cent; and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) five per cent. (NAN)
YO/SH
=======

edited by Sadiya Hamza

Campaign
By Muhammad Bello
Sokoto Dec. 24, 2018 (NAN) The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Sokoto state on Sunday inaugurated a 29-member campaign council for the 2019 election.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the party also inaugurated the Senatorial District Campaign Committees and Campaign Coordinators for the 23 Local Governments areas in the state.

Speaking shortly after inaugurating the committees, Sen. Aliyu Wamakko (APC-Sokoto) lauded the people of the state for their support and cooperation to the party and its candidates.

Wamakko said that the efforts of the members and leaders of the party would be crowned with success during the forthcoming general elections.

He assured that the members of the senatorial district and local government campaign committees would be broadened to bring on board all the critical stakeholders.

Earlier, the state APC governorship candidate, Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu said APC remains the leading political party in Nigeria.

Aliyu said that the party has succeeded in fielding sellable candidates across the country for the elections.

He pledged to carry everybody along if elected as the governor, adding that he would sustain the legacies of Wamakko in the state.

The state APC Chairman, Alhaji Isa Achida, said that the members of the council and campaign committees were selected based on merit.

Achida added that the party was intact and united, adding that “We will, in sha Allah succeed, as we are striving to emulate Sen. Wamakko”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Campaign Council, Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi, promised to live above board in the discharge of their resposibilities.

The Campaign Council has the former Minister of Transport, Alhaji Yusuf Suleiman as Director-General while Alhaji Muhammadu Sifawa, the immediate past Commissioner of Environment, is the Secretary. (NAN)
BMN/IS
=======

Crime
By Deborah Coker

Benin, Dec 24,2018 (NAN) The Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 5, AIG Alkali Usman, has tasked the commissioners of police in the zone to ensure robust and proactive crime prevention during the yuletide.

Usman gave the task in statement signed by DSP Emeka Iheanacho, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer(ZPPRO) in Benin.

Usman said that crime prevention should include strategies to enhance security of lives and property of political parties and their candidates during the forthcoming 2019 general elections.

The police boss, however, appealed to politicians and other stakeholders on election matters to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies to ensure hitch-free polls.

While commending the Officers and men of the zone for their resilience in fighting crime and criminality, he urged them to sustain the tempo throughout the yuletide celebrations and beyond

.
TheNews Agency of Nigeria (NAN),reports that the zone, comprises Edo, Delta and Bayelsa.

Usman also directed the Commissioners to cover all the linking roads, recreation centres, worship centres, critical infrastructure and other vulnerable /flash points in their respective commands.

He urged them to ensure high visibility policing along the major Highways, City centres and other flash points.

The AIG further directed the police officers concerned to identify all the strategic and vulnerable points and ensure massive deployment of personnel to the areas for adequate security of lives and property.

He said his directive was also to prevent crime and criminality,especially during the yuletide celebrations.

On the recent ban on road block by the Inspector – General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Iheanacho said that the AIG had directed the Commissioners to ensure full enforcement of the order.

He qouted his boss as having warned officers and men of the zone to be professional while discharging their duties and avoid any act capable of  tarnishing the image of the Force. (NAN)

DCO/DUA

Edited by Dada Ahmed. (more…)

Strike

By Chinyere Nwachukwu

Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN)The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it may not honour further calls by Federal Government for a meeting on the way forward over the current strike by its members.

The union’s National President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said this on the sideline of a news conference on the update of the union’s struggle to salvage the country’s public universities from deterioration on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the members of the union, under the aegis of ASUU, had on Nov. 4, embarked on what it had described as a ‘total, comprehensive and indefinite strike’.

Members of the union were protesting the non implementation of agreements entered into with the Federal Government in 2009 and 2017, as well as funding and improved welfare for members, among other issues.

According to Ogunyemi, to ensure that the agreements were implemented,union had held series of consultative meetings with the government and written series of letters with little or nothing to the effect.

He noted that it was against this backdrop that union resumed strike on Nov. 4.

“Since the commencement of this strike, we have had six meetings with agents of the Federal Government, with no clear commitment from government to resolving the issues we presented.

“Government appears to have adopted ‘keep them talking’ strategy while deceiving the public that progress was being made and that partial agreements had been reached between union and government.

“We want to say that government has continually and falsely raised the hopes of the Nigerian public on the state of duscussion with our union and we may not be interested in holding further dialogue with them until we see signs of commitment and sincerity in addressing the issues before them.

“Our expectation from a very responsive and sincere position is that by now, all outstanding issues would gave been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.

“Unfortunately, government is yet to show commitment and sincerity in addressing these problems,” he said.
.
According to the don, on the renegotiation of Federal Government/ASUU agreeement, there are  still unresolved issues about the leadership of the government team.
.
“We have strong reasons to believe that the continuation of Dr Wale Babalakin as the head of the renegotiation with ASUU will not yield good fruit,” he said.

Ogunyemi said union had taken up its current project as a life time, adding that this was why dating back to the 1980s, union had remained consistent on what was of concern to it.

“If we miss education, we miss development as we will end up being enslaved the second time.

“What is happening in this country now is that people are privatising everything, including education and before we know it, what happened to our primary and secondary education will happen.

“And these are some of the things we are supposed to be tracking and engaged in this society, if we want to make the change that we need.

“Our conviction is the reason behind the prolonged strike and our members have the conviction that until we get education right, Nigeria will never get it right.

“Insurgency will increase, banditry, poverty, kidnapping, misery and other societal ills will continue.

“Let me also state clearly too that our strike has nothing to do with politics or election, as is being speculated in some sectors of the society.

“We have never thought of aborting any election. We do not want to create problem for this country but let government do the right thing,” he said.

Ogunyemi said that the situation might have to rise to the point where Nigerians would have to tell government what to do with the country’s education system.

He said  the union appreciated the understanding of the Nigerian students, their parents, among whom were many ASUU members and other people of goodwill since the resumption of the avoidable strike.

“ASUU does not take your sacrifice for granted. With your continued support and sacrifice, we can make the Nigerian ruling class come to accept the centrality of university education in improving the human condition.

“Qualitative and public-funded education is not an option; it is inevitable if Nigeria ever wishes to banish poverty, ignirance, sqaulor, insecurity, disease and curruption. (NAN)

CN/IA

Spurs

By Victor Okoye

Liverpool (UK), Dec. 23, 2018 (Reuters/NAN) Tottenham Hotspur showed why manager Mauricio Pochettino is “a wanted man’’ by thrashing hosts Everton 6-2 on Sunday to close to within six points of English Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Spurs have had to cope with the unwanted attention of Pochettino being linked with the Manchester United job following Jose Mourinho’s sacking some days ago.

But they showed no signs of being distracted as they roared back from a goal down at Goodison Park.

Braces from Son Heung-min and Harry Kane, with Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen also on target, did the magic, after Everton had led against the run of play through Theo Walcott.

Even a strike from former Tottenham midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson to reduce the hosts’ deficit to 4-2 early in the second half could not spark a revival.

However, fatigue may still derail Tottenham’s bid to win a first trophy under Pochettino, with Spurs still involved in four competitions.

But with Liverpool facing Arsenal and Manchester City in top-of-the-table clashes in their next three games over the festive period, Tottenham have the opportunity to haul themselves back into it.

They can turn it into a three-way title race if they maintain the standards set at Goodison.

Kane had chipped into the side-netting and Jordan Pickford produced a fine save to deny England teammate Kieran Trippier in the early stages.

But it was Everton who struck first in a wildly-open contest when Walcott stabbed home at the near-post from Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s cross.

Marco Silva’s men could even have been 2-0 up had Calvert-Lewin not been penalised for a push on Davinson Sanchez when heading home moments later.

But Spurs looked as if they could score with almost every attack and were soon on level terms after a Pickford error, when he rushed out from his goal.

The England number one only succeeded in getting in the way of his own defender Kurt Zouma and Son took advantage with a wonderful finish from a narrow angle.

Once back on level terms, Spurs were relentless as Pickford denied Son a second but Alli charged into the box to sweep home the rebound to turn the game around.

Kane is now just one goal behind Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang in the race for the English Premier League golden boot and showed his predatory instincts to side-foot into an empty net.

This was after Trippier’s fine free-kick came back off the post three minutes before half-time.

However, there was no let-up in the game’s pace after the break as Eriksen produced a technical and perfectly-controlled volley from the penalty box edge to make it 4-1.

Three minutes later Everton’s deficit was back to two as Sigurdsson dribbled across the whole Tottenham defence before firing back across Hugo Lloris.

Yet, any hope of a fightback was extinguished just after the hour mark when Son’s fine control cushioned Erik Lamela’s pass before he finished through the legs of Pickford.

It was announced some days agao that the South Korean would go to the Asian Cup in January.

This was in spite of his already representing his country at the FIFA World Cup and Asian Games earlier this year.

And Son showed why he would be missed by his club in January once more.

An inch-perfect cross was his contribution for Kane to slide in for his second of the afternoon 16 minutes from time.

Both teams face the least rest time of any English Premier League side over the festive period with another three games to come between now and New Year’s Day.(Reuters/NAN)

VO/OLAL

=========

(Edited by Olawale Alabi)