Sabinews Evening News Update for June 28, 2015

Buhari, APC need prayers, PDP tells Nigerian

NATIONAL leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has pleaded with Nigerians to pray for President Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying that thirty days in government has been a case of all motion, no movement.

In a statement by PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the need to pray for President Buhari has become imperative because it was a very sad story that having been elected March 28, he was yet to decide on key appointments such as ministers, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), a Chief of Staff and advisers in key sectors of the economy. Read more

4,940 Nigerians Are Studying In India—High Commissioner

The Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb. Ajjampur Ghanashyam, has said that there were 4,940 Nigerian students studying in India while no fewer than 27,890 Nigerians graduated from Indian institutions.

He said this on Sunday in Abuja while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum. Read more

Nigeria, India to sign prisoners swap pact

Arrangements are on ground for Nigeria and India are to sign Prisoners Transfer Agreement to allow prisoners of the two countries to return to their home countries to serve their jail terms.

The Indian High Commissioner, Amb. Ajjampur Ghanashyam, who said this while featuring on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum on Sunday in Abuja, said no fewer than 1,100 Nigerians were serving various prison terms in India. Read more

Osun judge, PDP conniving against Aregbesola – APC

The All Progressives Congress has accused Justice Folahanmi Oloyede of conniving with the Peoples Democratic Party to destroy the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The judge, who is currently serving in Osun State Judiciary, had, in a petition sent to the House of Assembly, asked the lawmakers to impeach the governor who she accused of financial recklessness. Read more

Presidency orders VC, registrar to refund salaries’ overpayment

The Presidency, through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, has directed the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Prof. Mobolaji Aluko, to refund over-payment of salaries running into millions of naira.

The Registrar of the university, David Suowari, was also directed to refund cumulatively the sum of N130,692.71 per month in excess of his due salary. Read more

Ekiti Clay company resumes operation after 17 yrs

Ire Clay Products Limited has returned to production 17 years after the company was shut due to major technical problems.

The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Biodun Adedeji, told journalists that about N815 million was spent to resuscitate the company now worth N1.05 billion due to valuation on land and building of old Ondo State Bricks Work Limited.

According to him, the plant, when fully become operational on July 1, would focus on five products: Decking pot, hollow block, faces lift, partitioning blocks and sun breakers. Read more

NANS mourns 11 students of OOU

The National Association of Nigerian Students mourned the death of 11 students of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, who lost their lives on Friday in a road mishap.

Ayenuro Gbenga, the Vice President (National Affairs) of NANS, expressed the mood of the association in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Akure.

He said, “it is with caring thoughts that the national secretariat of NANS regrets and commiserates with the teeming Nigerian students and the Olabisi Olabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, over the death of 11 students of the institution. Read more

Five killed in Borno suicide bomb attack

Five people were killed and 15 others injured after a suicide bombing incident near a hospital in Nigeria’s Maiduguri city, capital of the northeastern Borno State, an official and witness said Sunday.

Two female suicide bombers on Saturday attempted to gain entry into a government-run hospital located in Molai area of the city but were stopped by security operatives on duty at the facility, said Mohammed Kanar, the regional coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency.

The female suicide bombers blew up themselves, while detonating the explosive devices wired round their body, the chief rescue worker said. Read more

Ndigbo hails FG over lift of ban on importation of textile, furniture products

A group, Ndigbo Cultural Society of Nigeria (NCSN), on Sunday commended the Federal Government for the decision to lift ban on the importation of textile and furniture products.

The group made the commendation in a statement signed by its President, Chief Udoka Udeogaranya in Lagos.

The Federal Government, through the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, announced the lifting of the embargo on June 22. Read more

Jubilant NY crowds celebrate gay marriage ruling at pride march

Hundreds of thousands of jubilant gay rights supporters were expected on New York’s streets Sunday for the annual Gay Pride March, just two days after the US Supreme Court’s landmark ruling to legalize gay marriage.

Described by organizers as New York’s most historic Pride march since the event began in 1970, record numbers of people could pour into the city to celebrate, with the weather forecast to be mostly warm and sunny. Read more

Group wants President Buhari to consolidate on MDGs projects

A group, Africa Youth Patriotic and Development Mission (AYPDM) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to consolidate on the various community projects under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) across the country.

Mr Adefila Kamal, the Executive Director, AYPDM, made the call at a news conference in Abuja on Sunday to draw support for the achievements of the MDGs with the help of development partners. Read more

Sierra Leone announces new curfew to halt Ebola

Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma said Friday he was imposing a three-week daytime curfew in the last Ebola-hit areas in a bid to curb a resurgence of the deadly virus.

Koroma announced on state television he was imposing “with immediate effect a 6:00 am to 6:00 pm chiefdom-level curfew” in parts of the northwestern districts of Kambia and Port Loko, the only areas still reporting new infections. Read more

British, Canadian, US students feared to have left Sudan to join IS

Twelve students including British, Canadian, Sudanese and US citizens are feared to have travelled from Khartoum to Turkey to try to join the Islamic State (IS) group, their university’s dean told AFP Sunday.

Another group of British students of Sudanese origin from the same private University of Medical Sciences and Technology travelled to Turkey in March and it is believed they crossed into Syria. Read more

SpaceX rocket explodes after launch

An unmanned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded minutes after liftoff from Cape Canaveral, Florida, following what was meant to be a routine cargo mission to the International Space Station.

“The vehicle has broken up,” said NASA commentator George Diller, after NASA television broadcast images of the white rocket falling to pieces. “At this point it is not clear to the launch team exactly what happened.” Read more

2,200 Chinese officials investigated over corruption

Chinese authorities have investigated more than 2,200 government officials for involvement in major fiscal fraud, the country’s top auditor said Sunday.

Liu Jiayi, head of the National Audit Office (NAO), said this when he briefed lawmakers on the audit of the central government 2014 budget. Read more

US warship moves to Georgia amid Ukraine crisis

A US warship arrived Sunday in Georgia’s Black Sea port of Batumi on a training mission, the US embassy said, sending a message of support to the NATO aspirant amid the conflict in Ukraine.

The US 6th Fleet’s guided missile destroyer USS Laboon “will conduct routine combined training with the Georgian Coast Guard,” the US embassy in Tbilisi said. Read more

I never struggled for anything in life – Dogara

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday, said he had been a product of grace and never had to struggle for anything in his life so far.

Dogara said this when he attended a Thanksgiving Service at the Winners Chapel, Durumi, Abuja.

The speaker said that ever since he encountered God before his university days, he never lacked any good thing. Read more

Burundi’s head of parliament flees country eve of controversial elections, slams president

The head of Burundi’s parliament on Sunday said he had fled the country on the eve of key elections following weeks of violence, denouncing the president’s “illegal” third term bid.

Amid international criticism of the government’s defiant refusal to delay the vote, parliament head Pie Ntavyohanyuma said Sunday he had fled to Belgium due to the violence, criticising President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid to stay in power for a third term.

Denmark pledges to support Nigeria’s agriculture development

Denmark on Sunday pledged its readiness to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the development of the nation’s agriculture sector.

Mr Jacob Erikstrup, Minister Counsellor of the Royal Danish Consulate-General in Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that his government would want to see the administration’s intended areas of cooperation with Denmark in the years ahead. Read more

Petrol tanker explodes kills five, injures 6 in Kebbi

A fully loaded petrol tanker on Saturday exploded at Dabi in Kebbi, killing five people and injuring six others.

The tanker was heading to Mahuta in Kebbi when the driver lost control of the vehicle on the hilly Dabai junction resulting in the fall of the vehicle and subsequent explosion.

The accident also left 12 houses and some vehicles parked by the roadside destroyed by the resultant inferno. Read more

India Ready Too Help Boost Capacity Of Nigeria’s Refineries – Envoy

India says it is ready to help end the perennial fuel scarcity in Nigeria by boosting the capacity of Nigeria’s oil refineries through technical support.

The High Commissioner of India, Mr Ajjampur Ghanashyam, made this known at a Forum of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Read more

DPR Urges Investors To Embrace Modular Refinery To End Fuel Scarcity

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has advised investors in the oil and gas sector to embrace small refineries in order to put an end to fuel scarcity in the country.

Mr Alphonsus Mudi, the Deputy Director Downstream Sector of DPR, gave the advice during the NewsDirect Quarterly Roundtable Conference on Nigerian Economy in Lagos on Sunday. Read more

CP Confirms Release Of Kidnapped Kogi High Judge

The Kogi High Court Judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi, who was abducted on May 25, has been released by the kidnappers, after spending 34 days in their custody.

Mr Samuel Ogunjemilusi, the Commissioner of Police in Kogi ,who confirmed the release of the Judge, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lokoja that Obayomi was released Saturday night between 10:00 and 11:30.Read more

NGO Urges Politicians To Prioritise Welfare Of Victims Of Terrorist Attacks

A cultural group, Nzuko Ndi-Igbo Welfare Initiative, has urged political office holders to prioritise the welfare of victims of insurgency by setting aside funds to take care of the victims.

Mr Gideon Iwuoha, the Chairman of the group, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at an event to mark the first Anniversary of the organisation on Saturday in Lagos that such action would foster peace in the country. Read more