Sabinews Daily Morning News Update for February 1, 2015
National News
Boko Haram Faces Defeat in Borno Border Towns
A major coordinated military onslaught against Boko Haram has commenced. While Chadian and Cameroonian troops are approaching Nigeria from the borders, Nigerian troops are moving northward from inside.
The result is that several towns and villages previously controlled by Boko Haram have been retaken given the new fire power of the Nigerian and Chadian troops. Read more
No group has opted out of debate –NEDG
The Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) has said that no political party or group has written to say that it is not interested in participating in the elections debate.
Founding Chairman/Consultant of the NEDG, Taiwo Alimi, said this in an interview with newsmen after a meeting in Abuja on Friday preparatory to the conduct of the debate. Read more
Rivers judicial workers suspend strike
Eight months after it embarked on an indefinite industrial action, Rivers State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria JUSUN has suspended the strike.
The National Publicity Secretary of the JUSON, Comrade Kayode Igbarago, disclosed this yesterday at a news briefing in Port Harcourt. Igbarago, therefore, directed members of the union in the state to resume work on Monday, February 2, 2015. Read more
NPAN, ARISE Tv, Channels Tv to Host Presidential Debate Feb 3
Nigerian voters will have an opportunity to assess those seeking their mandate to administer the affairs of the country as presidential debate has been scheduled for Tuesday, February 3 as part of the build-up to the February 14 elections. Read more
Ki-moon Supports Regional Troops against Boko Haram
The United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, has expressed support for the establishment of a Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to fight Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria’s North-east region.
Ban made the affirmation while addressing newsmen on Saturday on the sidelines of ongoing African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa. Read more
Nigerian Farmers Hold Carnival at Eagle Square
The festivity took on a carnival air with troupes of traditional dancers from all over the country displaying cultural costumes, as well as, crops and animals from their ethnic groups. The farmers who gathered at Eagle Square in Abuja for the recent AGRIFEST did not just celebrate the newfound respect for farming and farmers, they also saluted the courage and creativity of the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina. Read more
‘467 Nigerians in UK prisons’
There are at least 467 Nigerian prisoners in the United Kingdom, the British Ministry of Justice has said. She also disclosed that one prisoner had been exchanged between Nigeria and Britain under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement. Read more
‘Interesting Signs Suggest Chibok Girls Still Alive, Well’
Leadership Sunday has gathered from sources around Chibok community that the terrorists had married most of the girls and are keeping them in good condition of living.
When the group seized towns around Gwoza, Minchika and Mubi, it was believed that the insurgents moved into those communities with the girls who are now serving as wives for the terrorists. Read more
Iran offers to help fight Boko Haram
Iran on Saturday announced plans to assist in the fight against Boko Haram, as part of its contribution for global peace.
The country’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Amir Hossein Abdollohian made the announcement while addressing the press on Saturday on the sideline of the ongoing 24th Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa. Read more
Storm brews over South Africa’s military advisers in Nigeria
Nigeria and South Africa may be heading towards a fresh diplomatic row after about 100 South African ‘private military experts’ arrived Abuja to train Nigerian soldiers on how to confront the Boko Haram terrorism.
The South African government is opposed to the arrangement, calling the ‘military experts’ mercenaries. Read more
Oyo UPN adopts Alao-Akala as gov candidate
The Oyo State chapter of the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) on Saturday announced its adoption of the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the state, Adebayo Alao-Akala, as its candidate.
The party said it did so to be actively involved in the February 28 governorship election in the state despite not presenting a governorship candidate for the election. Read more
2,000 APGA Members Defect to PDP in Anambra
No fewer than 2,000 members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Onne, Akpu, Ogboji and Agbudu communities of Orumba South local government Area of Anambra state have defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). Read more
Concern as over 20m Voters Yet to Collect PVCs
Sloppiness in the distribution of the permanent voter cards by the Independent National Electoral Commission together with delay in the printing of the cards may deny over 20 million registered voters their right to vote in next month’s general election. Read more
Presidential Debate: PDP Wants All-APC Panel Members to Moderate
The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organisation (PDPPCO) has said that it is insisting on the participation of All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) in a live television debate with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Director of Media and Publicity of the PDPPCO, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the PDP is ready to attend any debate, anywhere in the country with Buhari, even if that debate was organised by the APC spokesman Lai Mohammed and the APC itself, as long as it would be televised live. Read more
Economy
CBN on Confidence-boosting Mission, Says No Cause for Panic
Last Tuesday, members of the economic and business community converged on the prestigious Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos, for what looked like a town hall meeting, organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria in partnership with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group to rub minds on the state of the Nigerian financial sector. Read more
Forum seeks diversification of economy
Worried over the parlous state of the nation’s economy as a result of the plummeting oil prices at the global market, the Forum for Inclusive Nigerian Development (FIND) has stressed the need for a paradigm shift aimed at developing other streams of national income.
The Forum made this resolution at the end of an interface and discussion session under the collaboration of Consensus Building Institute and New Nigeria Foundation. Read more
Nigeria Severely Affected by Illicit Financial Flows, Says ActionAid
ActionAid Nigeria, an anti-poverty agency, has called on the Nigerian government and the country delegation to the 24th African Union Summit holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to throw its weight behind the report of the Mbeki-led High Level Panel (HLP) on illicit financial flows (IFF) from Africa.
African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development at their 4th Joint Annual Meetings at the AU Economic Commission for Africa Conference held in March, 2011, adopted Resolution L8 mandating the establishment of a High Level Panel (HLP) on illicit financial flows, with former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, as its Chairman. Read more
World News
Japan outraged after ISIL claims to behead hostage
Outrage and grief have gripped Japan after the Islamic State released a video online Saturday that purports to show the beheading of Kenji Goto, a journalist who had been taken hostage by the extremist group.
“I feel indignation over this immoral and heinous act of terrorism,” Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters after convening an emergency Cabinet meeting. He vowed that Japan will not give in to terrorism and will continue to provide humanitarian aid to countries fighting the Islamic State extremists. Read more
China manufacturing shrinks for the first time in two years, survey shows
China’s manufacturing activity contracted for the first time in more than two years in January, an official survey showed on Sunday, signalling further downward pressure on the world’s second-largest economy.
The official purchasing managers’ index (PMI) released by the national bureau of statistics came in at 49.8 last month, down from the 50.1 recorded in December. Read more
Power
‘Nigeria to Require 45,000MW Installed Capacity of Electricity by 2020’
Director General, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Prof. Eli Jidere Bala, has said that about 45,000MW installed capacity of electricity would be required by the country in year 2020 and about 120,000MW by 2030.
However, Bala noted that if the economy is to grow at double the current rate, the supply for electricity would have to reach about 90,000MW by 2020 and over 300,000MW by 2030. Read more
Sports
AFCON 2015: Nigeria FA president Pinnick leads Ghana, Guinea clash
The President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick returns to CAF duty Sunday as Match Commissioner of the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal clash between Ghana’s Black Stars and Syli Nationale of Guinea at the Nuevo Estadio do Malabo.
Since the commencement of the tournament on January 17 in Equatorial Guinea, Pinnick had taken charge of four matches. Today’s game in Malabo will be his fifth CAF duty in the championship. Read more
Brazil set to pass on Nigeria
Nigeria’s proposed international friendly with the Selecao of Brazil might not see the light of the day after the South Americans confirmed they will play fellow South Americans, Chile.
The Super Eagles were to meet the Brazilian national team on March 29 at the newly built Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo, but Brazil have now made alternative plans. Read more
Serena Williams Beats Sharapova to Win Australian Open
Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova to win her sixth Australian Open and 19th Grand Slam title on Saturday. The American world number one served superbly to win a pulsating final 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) after Sharapova fought back in the second set. Read more
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