Sabinews Morning News Update for July 20, 2015
National
Bomb Scare at DPR Manager’s Residence in Asaba
The anxiety in many parts of Nigeria over the prevailing levels of insecurity in the country came to fore following a bomb scare at the weekend at the GRA in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
THISDAY learnt that pandemonium broke out at Bright Ndubuisi Street, GRA, Asaba, following the discovery of an object suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at the entrance of the country home of a senior management staff of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr. Anthony Konwea. Read more
Search on Dasuki’s house legal, says Falana
The search on the residence of former National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) by officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) last Thursday was legal and authorised by law, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) said yesterday.
Falana, who spoke in a statement in Lagos, said Col. Dasuki breached the law when he refused the DSS officials “free and unhindered access” to his residence for several hours. Read more
20 CSOs Demand Lamorde’s Sack
Over 20 civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of Coalition for Civil Liberty and Equity, (CCLE) have concluded plans to demand the sack of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde, through a peaceful demonstration in Abuja today.
The coalition in a statement jointly signed by Mallam Isa Haruna of the Arewa Front for National Advancement (AFNA) and Muideen Olaniyi of the Network for National Integration (NNI), said the protest would draw the attention of Nigerians to the compromised nature of the EFCC under Lamorde’s leadership. Read more
PMB, 33 Others Arrive US, Meet With Obama Today
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday arrived at the Joint Base Andrews Airport, Washington D.C. to kick-start his official visit to the United States.
Buhari’s arrival to the US was announced by the senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, who tweeted: [email protected] has just arrived at the joint base Andrew’s international airport, Washington D.C. for tomorrow’s meeting with Pres. Obama. #PMBmeetsOBAMA.’’ Read more
Ex-police chiefs disagree over Buhari’s security
A retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Adebayo Adeoye, has called for the immediate restoration of the Department of State Services personnel to the Presidential Villa to provide close protection for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former DIG noted that the use of soldiers as presidential guards could expose Buhari to danger and jeopardise his life. Read more
Soldiers clear mines planted by terrorists on Damaturu/Biu Road
The Nigerian Army yesterday said it has cleared Improvised Explosive Devises (IEDs) planted by Boko Haram terrorists on the Damaturu/Yobe road.
Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, who made this known, said a team of Nigerian Army cleared the mines and other with support from the Nigeria Police and the local vigilance group. Read more
U.S. To Help Trace Nigeria’s Stolen Funds, Boost Military Aid
Ahead of his official visit beginning from today and at a time the Federal Government needs all the money it can muster to fund promises made during the last electioneering campaigns, the United States has offered to help President Muhammadu Buhari track down billions of dollars in stolen assets and increase U.S. military assistance to fight Boko Haram insurgents, Reuters on Sunday quoted U.S. officials as saying. Read more
Anambra: Protests subside as FG promises to move B/Haram detainees
AFTER many days of protests by traders in all the major towns in Anambra State, calm has finally returned, even as the alleged promise by the Federal Government to remove the detainees from the state is being waited.
The latest visit to Ekwulobia showed that the people were beginning to realize that the Boko Haram suspects may have been finally settled in the town. Except for glances that people make towards the Prison gate while walking along the road, life has returned to normal there. Read more
NAFDAC Staff Move Against Finance Director
Members of staff of Nigeria’s food and drug regulatory body, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), have called to the agency’s management to invoke necessary disciplinary actions against its Director of Finance and Accounts, Ademola Mogbojuri.
The workers on the platform of the Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) were miffed that the director has refused to resume as head of the agency’s training institute in Kaduna following his redeployment there. Read more
Economy
MAN wants CBN’s list of imported items reviewed
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria on Sunday called on the Federal Government to review the Central Bank of Nigeria’s circular on the list of imported items not valid for foreign exchange allocation, which was issued last month.
Although the association believes that the CBN’s initiative aimed at raising local industrial capacity through effective foreign exchange management was manifested in the circular, the MAN President, Dr. Frank Jacobs, said, “It is our considered opinion that the bank should have considered the stakeholders in the initial articulation of the policy in view of some contentious issues we have noticed after the release of the circular.” Read more
CBN sets up centre in South Africa for BVN exercise
Nigeria’s Consul-General in South Africa, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said yesterday that the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has approved a centre to conduct biometric verification for Nigerians in South Africa.
Ajulu-Okeke said CBN was worried about the number of Nigerians abroad not captured in the Bank Verification Number, BVN exercise. Read more
Forex Pressure: CBN to Intensify Use of Administrative Tools
As the pressure faced by the naira in the parallel market becomes intense, analysts at Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) have anticipated that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will increase use of administrative measures in its quest to protect the nation’s currency.
These administrative tools are the cash reserve ratio (CRR) and Open Market Operations (OMO). Read more
External Financial Flows into Nigeria Now N4.38tn
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) latest External Sector Development Report (ESDR), has revealed that external financial flows to Nigeria has continued to grow with the current transfers amounting to $21.9 billion (N4.38 trillion) in 2014.
Remittances are the second largest source of foreign exchange inflows into Nigeria recorded in the balance of payments. Read more
Stock Market Continues to Bleed, Sheds N208.06bn in Four Days
Despite renewed investors’ interest in banks shares that helped the Nigerian equities market to the positive territory last Thursday after 11 sessions of negative close, the market ended the week in red as uncertainties in the economy continue to tell on the market.
The situation was worsened during the week when Nigerian Breweries Plc, Cadbury Nigeria Plc and Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc, among others released their half year results, which reflected macroeconomic and sector specific headwinds. Read more
Nigeria, others attract $128bn in FDI –Report
Reports have shown that Nigeria and other African countries have recorded a year-on-year increase of 136 per cent surge in foreign direct investments (FDI), among $128 billion of capital investment into the continent.
The report released by EY 2015 Africa Attractiveness Survey indicated that although the number of FDI fell by 8.4 per cent in 2014, average investment increased to $174.5 million per project, up from $67.8 million in 2013. Read more
Oil and Gas
Pipeline security: We saved NNPC N7bn daily –Fasehun
Founder of Odua People’s Congress, OPC, who is also chairman of New Age Global and Business Nigeria Limited, Dr. Frederick Fasehun, has disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was losing about N7 billion daily to vandalism and disruption of pipelines in Mosimi, Ogun State, and some parts of Oyo State alone before the company took over surveillance of pipelines in March this year.
Fasehun also urged the Federal Government through the NNPC to, as a matter of urgency, pay the security outfit N1.9 billion as agreed in the contractual terms for three months before termination of the contract in June this year. Read more
NNPC begins repairs of Kaduna refinery’s pipelines
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has started rehabilitation on the pipelines that supply crude oil to the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company.
The repairs, a source told The Nation at the weekend, started early this year, adding that the oil giant did not want to make noise about it to avoid another vandalism of the asset. Read more
NNPC Raises the Alarm on Diversion of Petrol by Marketers
Concerned that the nationwide scarcity of petrol has refused to ease despite its efforts to flood the market with the product, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has raised the alarm over the alleged diversion of trucks of petrol meant for Abuja and other major cities to unknown destinations, where they are sold at high prices.
But some major marketers and depot owners, who spoke to THISDAY on the condition of anonymity, have blamed the NNPC for the diversion, alleging that the corporation had directed that most of the trucks that load petrol in Lagos should discharge in Abuja and the Suleija axis “as if these two cities were the only towns in Nigeria”. Read more
Queues resurface at filling stations, despite govt, NNPC, others’ assurance
Notwithstanding the assurances the immediate past government, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and marketers that the crisis that had bedevilled the downstream sub sector occasioned by lingering fuel scarcity will be frontally addressed through the payment Þof outstanding subsidy arrears, long queues have again resurfaced at lling stations nationwide.
The latest ugly development may not be unconnected with the inability of marketers to replenish their stocks due to the refusal of banks to renew their loan agreements just as the furore over nonpayment of the subsidy arrears remains, albeit subtly even as another subsidy regime has just been confirmed by the Presidency. Read more
Sports
Dream Team VI Walk Tight Rope After 2-1 Win Over Congo
Nigeria’s U-23 side, Dream Team VI, now walk a tight rope after clawing its way to a slim 2-1 victory over Congo in an African U-23 Championship qualifier played out at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Though the team edged closer to qualifying for the competition with the win, its slim advantage could be upturned by the Congolese side in Brazzaville, in the return leg. Read more
Mali Outclass Nigeria To Claim FIBA Africa U-16 Girls’ Trophy
The audacious march of Nigeria’s Junior Tigresses towards the FIBA Africa U-16 Girls Championship was, yesterday, halted by their Malian counterparts in the final of the competition.
Mali, who enjoyed a competition almost without formidable opposition, handed the Nigerian girls a 46- 57 defeat. Read more
Ogba faults Keshi’s sack
The Chairman, Ebonyi State Football Association and Senator of the Federal Republic, Senator Obinna Ogba, has argued that the incumbent President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Pinnick Amaju is not directly in charge of the running of the federation, insisting that he is removed from outside by some cabals.
Answering questions from journalists at the National Assembly recently, Senator Ogba maintained that the events that culminated in the sack of erstwhile Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, was an attestation to his claim, adding that Keshi did not offend Amaju as a person to warrant the sack. Read more
42 athletes for Special Olympics
A total number of 42 athletes will be representing Nigeria at the 2015 Special Olympics holding in Los Angeles, USA from July 25.
The athletes, who will be assisted by 18 officials, will be feature in seven sports including swimming, athletics, basketball and table tennis. Read more
Enyimba beat Rangers, Pillars draw again
Champions of the Nigeria Professional Football League Kano Pillars continued their poor run this season by throwing away a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Lobi Stars on Sunday at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi.
On the other hand, last season’s runners-up Enyimba won a keenly contested Oriental derby, beating Rangers 2-1 in Enugu to remain tied on the top of the league table with Sunshine Stars, who beat FC Taraba 2-1 in Akure. Read more
World News
Former Chad dictator faces war crimes trial
The former Chadian leader, Hissène Habré, is to go on trial in Senegal accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture committed during his brutal eight-year rule from 1982 to 1990.
The opening of the case on Monday at the Palais de Justice in Dakar represents a historic step for African justice: it is the first time that the courts of one country on the continent have prosecuted the former ruler of another for alleged human rights crimes. It will also be the first universal jurisdiction case to proceed to trial in Africa. Read more
Kenya ‘homecoming’ to cap Obama’s Africa tour
Barack Obama will make a first presidential pilgrimage to his father’s homeland of Kenya this week, the capstone of a weeklong overture to Africa taking in three key nations.
On Monday, Obama will host recently elected Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria – Africa’s most populous nation and biggest economy – at the White House. Read more
One killed, five injured in Welkom crash
One man was killed and five people were injured when their vehicle crashed into a tree in Welkom on Sunday night, paramedics said.
ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring said that when they arrived at the scene, at the intersection of Tempest and Long roads in the Free State town, they found the car crushed against a tree. Read more
Kenya and Somalia feuds far from over
Kenya and Somalia are headed for a legal duel at the International Court of Justice regarding the maritime delimitation of the Indian Ocean.
Somalia wants the boundaries redrawn in a move that could see Kenya become a landlocked state and lose at least five oil-rich petroleum blocks. Read more
Shabaab set up camp in Boni forest
Al Shabaab militants have set up permanent bases in the vast Boni Forest, where they live with their families, the Star has learnt.
The militants and their wives and children hunt game for food and use water from several rivers in the forest. Read more
30 African first ladies meet today in Nairobi
At least thirty First Ladies from Africa are today expected to attend the 9th Stop Breast, Cervical and Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta will lead her colleagues, to raise cancer awareness in Kenya. Read more
Burkina Faso reshuffles government three months before elections
Burkina Faso interim President Michel Kafando has stripped the prime minister of the defence ministry as part of a reshuffle aimed at ensuring stability three months ahead of elections.
The reshuffle, announced late on Sunday, follows talks with political, religious and civil society leaders intended to resolve growing tensions between Prime Minister Isaac Zida and top military brass. Read more
Children Told to Behead Dolls at ISIS Training Camps
The children had all been shown videos of beheadings and told by their trainers with the Islamic State group that they would perform one someday. First, they had to practice technique. The more than 120 boys were each given a doll and a sword and told, cut off its head.
A 14-year-old who was among the boys, all abducted from Iraq’s Yazidi religious minority, said he couldn’t cut it right. He chopped once, twice, three times. Read more
Reclaim Australia rallies ‘fuel racial tensions to Cronulla riot levels’
Racial tensions are so high after the weekend’s Reclaim Australia rallies that another Cronulla-style riot could be on the cards, the president of the New South Wales anti-discrimination board, Stepan Kerkyasharian, said on Monday.
Speaking on ABC radio, Kerkyasharian said that fear over international events such as the rise of Islamic State (Isis) was fuelling bigotry and mistrust. Read more
Suspected asylum seeker boat spotted near the coast of Western Australia
A small boat believed to be carrying asylum seekers has been spotted near the coast of Western Australian.
The boat was sighted around dawn on Monday by the crew of an oil tanker near Dampier on the Pilbara coast, about 1,500km north of Perth. Read more
Six foreign jihadists killed in Syria air strike – Observatory
One senior Tunisian Islamic State leader alongside five other foreign jihadists were killed in an air strike near the northeastern city of Hasaka, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported on Monday.
The Observatory, which gathers its information from an activist network on the ground, said the fighter jets hit a car carrying the foreign militants in a location near a village called Faouj al-Maylabeih in the southern countryside of the city. Read more
Greek banks ready to open Monday as Merkel urges swift bailout talks
Greek banks are ready to open their branches across the country on Monday after a three-week shutdown, officials said, while German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for swift aid talks so Athens could also lift withdrawal limits.
The cautious reopening of the banks, and an increase in value added tax on restaurant food and public transport from Monday, are aimed at restoring trust inside and outside Greece after an aid-for-reforms deal last week averted bankruptcy. Read more
China’s Xi tells army to learn from uncorrupt past
China’s military must learn from the glorious, uncorrupt example of its revolutionary forebears and thoroughly banish the deep-rooted, pernicious influence of the army’s worst corruption scandal in decades, President Xi Jinping has told officers.
Xi, who heads the military, has made weeding out corruption in the armed forces a top goal. Several senior officers have been felled, including one of China’s most senior former military officers, Xu Caihou. Xu died of cancer in March. Read more
FIFA To Set Date To Appoint Blatter Successor
FIFA’s executive committee will today set a date for the election of Sepp Blatter’s successor and discuss a series of reforms intended to try and ease pressure on the organisation.
The meeting is the first since Blatter announced his intention to “lay down his mandate” in the wake of the FBI charging 14 people, including 10 football officials, with racketeering in a global investigation. Read more
Libyan planes sink ship, attack another near Benghazi – spokesmen
Libyan war planes on Sunday sank one ship and attacked a second vessel near the eastern city of Benghazi, military spokesmen for the country’s internationally recognised government said on Monday.
There was no eyewitness report or independent confirmation for the strike near the town of Mareesa that was also reported by the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television network. Read more
Mitsubishi Apologizes for Using U.S. Prisoners as Slaves During World War II
Executives of the Japanese firm Mitsubishi Materials issued a formal apology on Sunday to the American soldiers who were forced to work in the company’s mines while prisoners during World War II.
“Working conditions were extremely harsh and the POWs were subjected to severe hardship,” senior executive Hikaru Kimura said, speaking at a ceremony at Los Angeles’ Museum of Tolerance. “As the company that succeeded Mitsubishi Mining, we cannot help feeling a deep sense of ethical responsibility for this past tragedy.” Read more
Texans threaten to cover land with pigs’ blood to block Muslim cemetery
Angry residents of a small Texan town have threatened to put pigs’ heads on poles and pour the blood onto land which has been earmarked for a Muslim cemetery.
The latest manifestation of anti-Islamic sentiment in America surrounds a small plot of undeveloped land 35 miles north-east of Dallas. Read more
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