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Christmas: Mrs Ajimobi urges women to help the less privileged

Help

By Ibukun Emiola

Ibadan, Dec. 23, 2018, (NAN) Mrs Florence Ajimobi, Wife of the Oyo State Governor has urged women in the state to help the less privileged in the spirit of Christmas.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ajimobi made this known in Ibadan on Sunday at an event she organised to distribute Christmas gifts to orphans and widows in the state.
“I thank the entire women of the state for your support in the last eight years; without you I wouldn’t have achieved so much.
“I want women to let the fear of God continue to guide them.
“They should be charitable, particularly in this season of Christmas which is a time of giving because there are so many people around us that don’t have the same opportunity as we do,” she said.
She, however, enjoined them to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Adebayo Adelabu in the 2019 governorship election so there could be continuity in the good work done by Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.
Ajimobi further prayed for the women that Christmas would be a happy period for them and the New Year would bring them all the best in life.
NAN reports that items distributed included bags of rice, vegetable oil, salt, juices and tissue papers, among others. (NAN)
IBK/CIA/ABI
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Edited by Cecilia Ologunagba/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Yuletide: Police deploy 2, 331 personnel in Niger
Christmas
By Aminu Ahmed Garko
Minna, Dec.23, 2018(NAN) The Police Command in Niger has deployed 2,331 personnel across the state to ensure hitch free Christmas and New year celebrations.
Mr Bibal Yakadi, the state Commissioner of Police disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Sunday.
“We have deployed armed personnel with communication gadgets on various roads including Minna-Suleja road, Suleja-Kaduna road, Bida-Makwa-Kontagora road and Makwa -Birnin Gwari road to ensure safety of road users.
“We have also deployed plain cloth personnel to churches, recreational centres, motor parks and public buildings across the state against any form of threats to lives and property.
“Our personnel are battle ready to deal with any form of security threats before, during and after the festivities,” he said.
Yakadi advised residents attending religious programmes in various Churches to be security conscious.
“People attending religious functions should be conscious of happenings around them. They must all be watchful and observe their environment,” he said.
He explained the security challenge facing the country would be minimised if people were more alert, saying that more security consciousness at public functions would forestall unpleasant occurrences.
He said extra security measures had been taken to guarantee the safety of lives and property during and after the festive period.
“We don’t want to be taken unawares; we have adopted proactive security measures to deal with any unforeseen circumstances,” he said.
The commissioner urged residents to use the Christmas to pray for peace, progress and economic development of the country.
He also advised members of the public to assist the police with useful information to track down criminals in their midst.( NAN)
AAG/ABI
Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Group rallies support for Buhari’s anti-graft war
Anti-corruption
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN)A Non Government Organisation (NGO), Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI),has urged Nigerians to continue their support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption war until the country is totally free from corruption.
According to the group, the anti-corruption fight of the Federal Government is on course and yielding desired results.
ARDI’s Executive Secretary, Mr Dennis Aghanya, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday, saying the president has written his name in gold as the father of modern Nigeria.
“In my judgment, I will say that Buhari has written his name on gold as father of modern Nigeria on the basis of the successful foundation he has laid so far in the fight against corruption.
“No matter how bad subsequent leaderships would turn out to be after 2023, the country can never again slide back to corruption as our way of life because a standard has been established by the president,” Aghanya said.
The scribe noted that the administration is being careful so that political opponents would not play up that card of persecution to condemn the efforts at eradicating the scourge of corruption in the country.
He described as “unfair and a disservice” to the leadership of the country for anyone to insinuate that the pace of fighting corruption has been deduced or weakened because of the 2019 general election.
He said the undue criticisms of the government’s posture to the fight against corruption is worrisome, saying Nigerians ought to be concerned about the massive looting that had almost brought the country to her knees.
“Everybody wants every aspect of corruption wiped out over night, but wiping corruption is not a task that can be achieved overnight.
“It’s a gradual process and that’s exactly what Mr President is doing,” he said. (NAN)
LED/OSA/ABI
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ali Baba-Inuwa

Budget: 2.3mpbd, $60 dollar oil benchmark not realistic – Expert

Budget
By Edith Ike- Eboh
Abuja, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) Mr Bank-Anthony Okoroafor, an energy expert says the projected 2.3 million barrel of crude oil production per day and 60 dollar oil benchmark in the 2019 budget is not realistic.
Okoroafor in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, on Sunday, said the projection does not follow the uncertainties in the global oil market.
“Production of 2.3 mbpd projection for 2019 may not be realistic owing to OPEC’s plan to cut production in order to shore up prices and growing crude inventory and excess supply verse demand.
“The benchmark price of 60 dollar used for the budget is not smart based on all the uncertainties and volatility surrounding the price of oil and surplus production,’’ he said.
According to him, the reality today is 59 dollar per barrel.
He added that the global crude oil price would average 61 dollar a barrel in 2019 according to the short- term energy outlook by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
“The estimate is 11 dollar per barrel lower than the EIA prediction just a month ago.
“The forecast dropped after oil prices dipped below 50 dollar a barrel in November, the average for the month was 65 dollars.
“They believed higher U.S. supplies will flood the market at the same time slowing global growth and will cut into demand. Saudi Arabia and Russia had also produced oil at record levels.
“On Dec. 7, OPEC agreed to cut 1.2 million barrel per day from the October levels. Members will cut 800,000 barrels per day and allies will cut 400,000 bpd. Cuts will continue for six months.
“OPEC’s goal is to return prices to 70 dollars a barrel by early 2019. Will this happen based on the volatility of oil prices today? Only time will tell,’’ he said
Okoroafor further stressed that government must consider all of the uncertainties in the global market noting that the volatility of oil prices would continue in 2019.
He added that the U.S. average daily production would rise to a record level of 12.1 million barrels per day in 2019 from 9.4 mbpd in 2017 and 10.9 mbpd in 2018.
He said that the U.S. shale producers became effective that they were profitable at 30 dollars per barrel adding that production from West Texas alone would increase by two million bpd in 2019
“The oil wells in Gulf cannot stop producing even at low oil prices. OPEC has not been willing to cut output enough to rebase the oil price.
“Members do not want to lose market share to U.S. companies.
“Increased U.S. production in 2019 means OPEC will no longer have the clout to control prices. Finally global demand for oil will drop in 2019 as China which consumes 12 per cent of the global oil production has slowed down. (NAN)
ENO/ABI
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Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

Media
By Edwin Nwachukwu
Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) A U.S. based Group, Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA) says the Nigerian press is the first line of defence of democracy as the 2019 general election approaches.
Mr Geoffrey Nzeadibe, the National Chairman, PNF USA, Inc., made the assertion in an open letter to the media and sent to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

The group advised media practitioners to be more professional in carrying out their responsibilities, particularly during and after the election.

“You are the ears and eyes of the electorate. You are the group positioned to see the bad actors first before many others can see them.
“Nigerian press should say something when you see something that is not right. What good are you to the public if you cannot do your job well?
“Let the electorate know what you have uncovered in the course of doing your job and keep talking about it until something is done to correct it,’’ the group said.
On the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the group advised the body to endeavour to leave no stone unturned towards conducting free, fair and credible election.
“Without mincing words, INEC needs to be deeply committed to democratic election that will contribute to political stability and consolidation of democracy, which will propel the nation to greater economic prosperity.
“The 2019 general election need to be credible and made to meet the goals of election integrity comparable to developed nations.
“It is true that political stability is a prerequisite for economic growth and development and it is also true that no economy flourishes in a state of uncertainty,’’ the US-based foundation said.
The group, however, noted that no nation develops if that nation is unstable.
“We have seen nations destroyed by unacceptable electoral outcomes. Democratic transition through credible election is the best way to ensure certainty that will guarantee and sustain political stability,” he said.
The group also called on all stakeholders to fervently play by the rules.(NAN)
ENN/ABI
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Ali Baba-Inuwa

DPR Ibadan sanctions 158 filling stations in 2018 – Official

Sanction

By Ibukun Emiola

Ibadan, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Ibadan Field Office, says it sanctioned 158 filling stations and issued warnings to 277 in 2018.

Mr Oluyemi Olaonipekun, DPR Operations Controller, disclosed this in Ibadan on Sunday at the end of the year party organised for staff by the agency.

Olaonipekun said the agency had worked assiduously to ensure that what happened at the end of the year 2017 diddid  happen again.

“The summary of our activities in 2018 include 3,822 stop checks, product availability at outlets; which was at 46 per cent in the first quarter of the year and rose to 87 per cent as at present.

“We have sanctioned 158 stations for various offences such as under dispensing of products at forecourt, non-compliance to standard operating procedures among others, we also have issued 277 stations warnings.

“Also, we have engaged stakeholders through various avenues during the year such as annual marketers meeting, presentations at seminars organised by the association of the operators and other inter-governmental agencies meetings,” he said.

The operations controller also disclosed that the year under review witnessed the migration of application processing from manual to electronic which had yielded improved efficiency and service delivery.

Olaonipekun said the Federal Government directives to the agency had been carried out to the latter, adding there are no indices that there would be hike in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in January 2019.

“We have ensured that the products given to Oyo and Osun States get to the forecourt because of our proactive activities in the past months.

“It is difficult for any marketer to divert products; that is why we are saying we have tried our best and we can beat our chests on that. (NAN)

IBK/CIA/WOJ

Edited by Cecilia Ologunagba/Wale Ojetimi

Electorate

By Edwin Nwachukwu

Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) A US-based socio-cultural group, Pan Ndi-Igbo Foundation (PNF USA), has urged Nigerian electorate to wake up to their civic duty and vote for credible candidates in the 2019 elections.

In “An Open Letter to the Nigerian Electorate on Your Inherent Obligations,’’ the group advised the electorate against electing people with questionable character into offices.

“Look at it in the light of being the owner of the corporation and you are hiring managers and officers to run the corporation for you.

“You would never hire a known thief to run your business on your behalf.

“If you would not do so for your small business, why do you engage in doing the opposite in the much bigger operation of a nation?

“You own corporate Nigeria and you have the power to hire and fire any and all managers that are not performing well,’’ it said.

The pan Ndigbo group, in the letter signed by Mr Geoffrey Nzeadibe, PNF USA National Chairman, urged Nigerians to elect accountable candidates to manage nation’s resources, adding that there was never a good thief.

“A thief is a thief and is a thief anywhere,’ ’the US-based group said in the open letter.

The group reminded the electorate that their present and future net worth was far more than a bag or rice.

They urged the electorate not to mortgage their future for a bag of rice that may not last more than a month.

“Some of the politicians are equating your life as equal to or less than a bag of rice.

“That is why they come around election time to buy your vote for a bag of rice and turn around and rob you blind when you vote them into office.

“Please, stop that practice and vote into office the person that will perform the duties assigned to that office.

“For you to achieve this is by making yourselves available on the day of election to vote a candidate of your choice.

“Someone you consider credible and fit to manage nation’s resources with sense of accountability,” the group added.

It noted that the most powerful group in any nation was the electorate and they should not relinquish their power to any other person or group for anything.

“Never should the electorate relinquish power to anybody and that is why PNF USA says, wake up.

“The Nigerian electorate have been in a big slumber for too long, dreaming a lot of fantasies and now we believe you have rested enough, and it is time for you to wake up and go into action,’’ it said.

The US-based pan Igbo group urged the electorate to rise up and use their PVCs to install good governance and vote out those who have performed below their expectations.

“If you take election days as holidays and sit back at home, then you are the enemy of yourself and the nation.

“Any Nigerian of voting age, who displays apathy towards electoral process perhaps because he or she thinks votes won’t count, remains part of the clog in the nation’s wheel of progress.

“It is saddening that most people sit at home on election days,’’ the group said. (NAN)
ENN/WOJ
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Edited by Edwin Nwachukwu/Wale Ojetimi

Coy calls on EFCC to release detained $2.8m cash, employees

Plea

By Tajudeen Atitebi

Lagos, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) The management of Bankers Warehouse has called on the Financial and Economic Crimes Commission (EFCC) to release the $2.8 million cash and its employees arrested at Enugu Airport on Thursday, Dec. 20

Bankers Warehouse is a company registered by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to carry out cash movement as well as currency processing.

The company said in Lagos on Sunday that the cash were seized while its employees were arrested while carrying out legitimate business of cash movement for one of its banker clients.

It said the employees were arrested, interrogated and detained at Enugu Airport by the EFCC while carrying out cash movement of its clients from its Onitsha branch to Lagos in spite of providing identification details.

“The document provided also included a covering note from the bank authourising the team to move the consignment which is the standard practice.

“We hereby state categorically that the movement of this currency was a legitimate business carried o on behalf of a legitimate financial institution.

“We emphasise that our employees are in no way criminals carrying out any act of illegality as the EFCC has tried to portray.

“These young men whose character and reputation have been deliberately soiled by the EFCC operatives were conducting their legitimate duties as requested  bank customer of our company.

“We request for swift and immediate release of our employees and our customer’s currency both detained without proper cause.

“We also demand immediate retraction by the EFCC and and an apology issued to our company and our employees whose images have been maligned.”

The company said that its client who had been unfairly exposed and accused of implied illegality and whose money was still improperly held by the EFCC operatives also deserved a special apology for the disclosure and damage to their image. (NAN)

PR/TA

Edited by Tajudeen Atitebi

Ban
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Dec. 23, 2018 (NAN) The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu on Sunday called on states to enact bye-laws to ban open defecation in the country.

Adamu, who made the call at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja, said the call became necessary following continuous practice of open defecation in parts of the country.

He said that it was a matter for regret that Nigeria is the second largest country after India with over 66 million of its population defecating in the open.

According to him, when this law becomes operational, it will check the practice, fine offenders and also encourage people to construct and use their toilets.

He said that Nigeria had developed a Roadmap and Action Plan to reposition the water and sanitation sector, saying there was a pledge to end open defecation by 2025, before the end of the Sustainable Development Goals.
• CUE IN AUDIO

“One of the key issues we are asking the states to do is to put up a legislation to ban open defecation, state governments must look at their building codes to enforce the need for people to build toilets, the appropriate kinds of toilets in their houses; there must be more public toilets, public buildings should be able to open up toilet facilities for people, this is what is happening all over the world.

“We are lucky to have engaged the wife of the president on this because we need champions to help us campaign against open defecation and she has accepted to lead the campaigns along with wives of state governors.

“I am sure very soon, you will begin to hear us making waves in all of our campaigns, our communication strategies has been in place, and they are trying to mobilise the country against open defecation.’’
• CUE OUT AUDIO

Adamu said that the campaign for ending open defecation could not be run under a ministerial department alone, calling for priority of attention to be given to it just like ending Polio and HIV and AIDS.

He added that the ministry would encourage water and sanitation enterprises to encourage private sector investment in toilet business.
He said that there was the need for all water supply component construction to have a sanitation component, adding that this would go a long way to promote hygiene and end open defecation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a projection of the Joint Monitoring Progress Report 2015 and MICS 2017 data revealed that Nigeria is unlikely to achieve the target of completely eradicating open defecation by 2025 and universal use of safe sanitation by 2030.

According to a World Bank 2012 Report, about 122,000 Nigerians including 87,000 children under-five years die annually from diarrhea, nearly 90 per cent being directly attributed to water, sanitation and hygiene.(NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

2019: Don’t betray public trust INEC warns staff

INEC
By Sunday Bassey
Uyo, Dec. 23, 2019 (NAN)The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says it will not hesitate to discipline any staff found to have betrayed public trust during the 2019 general election.

INEC Public Affairs Officer in Akwa Ibom, Mr Don Etukudo gave the warning in a statement in Uyo on Sunday.

Etukudo urged INEC staff to ensure that the commission is able to deliver free, fair and credible election to the people of the state in line with its mandate.

“In the last one year, the commission have been counseling staff on how to ensure a successful 2019 general election and will initiate disciplinary measures on staff that compromise the process,” he said.

He said the commission had withdrawn some electoral officers from the field and re-assigned them to different Local Government Areas (LGAs) other than where they were serving before.
According to him, the exercise is a strategic re-organisation and re-positioning to ensure that the process leading to the general election is fool proof.
Etukudo said the commission was rejuvenating and re-positioning its personnel to the core values of integrity and impartiality necessary to drive them towards delivering on the commission’s mandate.
He urged politicians in the state to steer clear of INEC’s staff in the forthcoming general election by refraining from “unethical engagement” that may jeopardise the careers of the staff.
Etukudo further said INEC staff recently elevated had been given their letters of promotion.
He enjoined the affected staff to reciprocate the gesture by re-dedicating and committing themselves to the mandate of the commission.(NAN)
SDB/OSA/ABI
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ali Baba-Inuwa