SABINEWS MORNING NEWS UPDATE FOR FEBRUARY 27, 2017
PDP Wins Final Rerun Polls in Rivers
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner of the conclusive rerun legislative elections for Etche/Omuma Federal Constituency and Etche State Constituency II.
The win by PDP effectively landed a knock out blow on the former Rivers State governor, Chibuike Amaechi, who lost in his home constituency. Read more
DSS Arrests Suswam After Raiding His Home
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested the former governor of Benue State, Mr. Gabriel Suswam for alleged illegal possession of firearms, following the raid on his Abuja residence.
The DSS said during the search at about 10 p.m. on Friday, in the presence of two private security officers employed by Dunes Investment, the ex-governor’s cars were also searched and some items, including a Glock pistol with two magazines and 29 rounds of ammunition were recovered. Read more
Katsina holds prayer sessions for President’s health
Series of prayer sessions were held at various locations in Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari for his health and early return to the country, at the weekend.
The prayers were held in Funtua, the state capital and Daura senatorial zones. Read more
Nigeria Eases Entry Visa for Foreigners
With an eye on making it easier for foreigners to do business in the country, Nigeria has eased its visa processes for persons who wish to visit Nigeria for business and tourism by removing some of the bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Nigerians are also beneficiaries of the review. Read more
Abducted German Archeologists Regain Freedom
The German archaeologist, Prof. Peter Breunij and his associate, Johannes Buringer who were abducted by gunmen in Jenjela village in Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State have been freed.
Polices sources in Kaduna revealed that the Germans were released by their abductors in Kateri village along the Kaduna-Abuja road on Saturday evening, following an intense manhunt for the abductors by the police. Read more
Documents Reveal Disregard for Procurement Laws, Due Process in Award of Amnesty Contracts
Revelations have continue to emerge that the administration of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) between 2011 and 2015 was characterised by blatant disregard for the country’s laws regarding doing business in Nigeria as documents have shown that some of the 354 companies secured open-ended contracts, while some unregistered firms also secure contracts with the programme. Read more
Beware Of Fake Security Agents, NSCDC Alerts Maiduguri Residents
The Borno state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has on Sunday alerted members of the public to be cautious of criminals who disguise as security agents to carry-out all sorts of criminal activities in the state.
This followed the arrest of one Baba Mallam Aji by the operatives of NSCDC around the NNPC Mega filling station along Damboa road wearing NSCDC Arms squad uniform with logo of the corps parading himself as member. Read more
Obasanjo: Buhari is Weak on Economy But Has Not Disappointed Me
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has said President, Muhammadu Buhari, has not disappointed him since he assumed office in 2015. Obasanjo stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at his hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
While reflecting on the Buhari administration since 2015, Obasanjo said the president had done his best to move the country forward. Read more
Akeredolu and the dawn of new realities in Ondo State
Unlike the fiery speech of his predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko eight years ago, the inaugural address of the new governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, delivered moments after his inauguration last Friday in Akure, was largely devoid of the motivational ingredients that could move a crowd to a frenzy.
Speaking at the same venue and on the same podium barely 24 hours after securing a favourable judicial pronouncement, Mimiko, with blazing eyes and clenched fists, told a mammoth crowd of Ondo State citizens that stood with him during a 22-month legal tussle, “I will work for you.” Read more
SON Seizes N5bn Sub-standard Tyres in Lagos
Two Chinese nationals, Taolung Shen and Xu Jing Yau, are now telling the police in Lagos all they know about the over N5billion sub-standard tyre stuffing business which they have been running in the country. The two Asians were paraded before journalists yesterday following their arrest, and the sealing of the warehouse where they had been cloning different sizes of tyres under such brand names as Powertrac, Aptany, Harmony, Duraturn, Bearway, City Tour, Winda, Glory, Chachland, City Grand and Grandsonte (tyre type) And Sunny (for tricycles), among others Read more
FAAN Commences Repair Work at Lagos Airport
Few days after the unscheduled tour of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos by the acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Saleh Dunoma, has given a marching orders to engineers to commence repair works on all facilities at the international terminal of the airport.
Dunoma, who assured travellers of improved facilities at the airport, gave the directive to the engineers and the airport manager after inspecting the terminal at the weekend. Read more
NCAA, operators, disagree over cause of distress among airlines
Airlines operators and the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have disagreed over the reasons for the low survival rate and demise of airlines in the country.
Among the airlines that once ruled the Nigerian airspace were: Nigeria Airways, Bellview, Sossoliso, Chanchangi, Air Nigeria, Virgin Nigeria, Associated Aviation, Hak Air, Kabo Air and TAT Nigeria, EAS, Max Air, Discovery, Concord, ADC Airlines, IRS, Albarka Air and Okada Air, among others. Read more
Aremu blames South Africa’s xenophobic attacks on leadership failure
A labour leader, Issa Aremu, yesterday described the xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa as the result of leadership failure.
He said: “Reprisal attacks and negative radicalism are not the solutions to the attacks, but a global demand for an all- inclusive job-led development and good governance.” Read more
Reshuffle Your Cabinet on Arrival, Senator Sani Tells Buhari
Senator Shehu Sani at the weekend urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reshuffle his cabinet on arrival from his medical trip abroad so as to put the country on track again.
According to him, “Buhari is an island in his government and by the time he is back, he needs to disinfect and fumigate his government because in his anti-corruption crusade, he is the only person who believes in the anti-corruption war, people within his corridors of power are simply Buhari in their faces, but anti-Buhari at hearts. Read more
Lives of Nigerians at Stake in S’Africa, Says FG
The federal government yesterday said the lives and welfare of Nigerians resident in South Africa “are at stake now more than any time in recent history,” lamenting that xenophobic attack had killed over 116 Nigerians. Consequently, it condemned a statement credited to the South African Home Affairs Minister, Mr. Malusi Gigaba, that the issues of attacks on Nigerians “were better discussed at the diplomatic levels.” Read more
PDP Sweeps Council Polls in Gombe, Taraba
The Chairman of the Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission (GOSIEC), Mr. Caleb Maina, yesterday announced the results of the local government elections held in the state where the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) swept all the eleven chairmanship seats as well as the all the 114 councillorship seats. Read more
Form your cabinet without further delay, Williams urges Obaseki
To facilitate government policies and accelerate development of Edo State, Governor Godwin Obaseki must appoint members of his cabinet urgently.
A renowned scholar and author, Prof. Adebayo Williams, handed Obaseki this piece of advice yesterday in Lagos at a colloquium with the theme: ‘Tracking Governor Obaseki’s 100 days in office’ organised by the Coalition for Good Governance and Economic Justice in Africa (CGGEJA). Read more
Justice at last for Fadipe, the masses’ lawyer
Judgment is a good one, but will not bring him back, says head of his chamber
“If he who breaks the law is not punished, he who obeys it is cheated. This, and this alone, is why lawbreakers ought to be punished: to authenticate as good, and to encourage as useful, law-abiding behaviour.” These words of Thomas Szasz, an American academic, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst gave credence to the death sentence passed on Oluwaseun Oladapo, the killer of Lagos lawyer and member of The Guardian Editorial Board, Olakunle Alex Fadipe. Read more
Ayade kicks off construction of 5,000 housing units for Bakassi returnees
Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade has flagged off the construction of 5,000 housing units for the displaced people of Bakassi.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary and Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Christian Ita, said the governor performed the groundbreaking for the construction of 5,000 housing units on Saturday. It was funded by the Africa Nations Development Programme (ANDP) in partnership with the state government. Read more
Africa Re partners World Bank on risk sharing for farmers
In order to reduce premium for farmers in Africa, the World Bank Group’s Global Index Insurance Facility (GIIF) and African Reinsurance Corporation (Africa Re) have entered into agreement to carry out a risk-sharing facility and encourage companies to create affordable insurance products.
The World Bank GIIF is a multi-donor trust fund that has facilitated approximately 1.5 million contracts that cover over six million individuals, which provides access to finance for smallholder farmers, micro-entrepreneurs, and microfinance institutions through the development and growth of local markets for indexed/catastrophic insurance in developing countries. Read more
S’East Governors Meet in Enugu, Agree on Security, Economic Integration
For the first time in over a year, five governors of the South-east states met yesterday in Enugu with a resolution to work together for the interest of the people of the zone.
The closed-door meeting which was held at the Government House, Enugu, had all the five governors present without any representation unlike in the past when some would send their deputies. The governors included Victor Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) Read more
FG to Hire 350,000 More Unemployed Graduates
The federal government has announced plans to hire 350,000 more unemployed graduates under the N-Power Volunteer Corps.
The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Acting President, Mr. Laolu Akande, said President Muhammadu Buhari has requested appropriation of N157.75 billion in the 2017 budget estimates for the N-Power scheme. Read more
Groups warn Imo Assembly against passage of anti-media bill
A coalition of civil society organisations at the weekend vehemently rejected a bill seeking to gag the media in the Imo House State of Assembly.
They demanded that the sponsors, Ugonna Ozuruigbo and 17 others, should withdraw it on the floor of the 27-member House and not at a press conference. Read more
Report: Nigeria Records 79,875 Road Accidents in Three Years
Not less than 79,875 cases of road accidents were reported in the country in the last three years.
Official documents obtained by the Economic Economic Confidential showed that the figure represents the total accidents that occurred between 2013 and 2015. Read more
Army, DSS Arrest Foreign Boko Haram Terrorists
The Nigerian Army and Department of State Services (DSS) have three foreign members of Boko Haram terrorists following a lead.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig Gen Sani Usman, said the three suspects were Chadians and belonged to a faction of the terrorist group. Read more
Kaduna Government Auctions 1,990 Government Quarters
As part of measures to cut down cost, the Kaduna State Government is to sell 1,990 of its non-essential residential quarters to the public through auction.
The government in a statement said the decision to sell the houses was taken at a meeting of the state executive council presided over by the Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai. Read more
Buhari Commiserates with Emir of Katsina on His Mother’s Death
President Muhammadu Buhari has called the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Usman, from London over the death of his mother, which occurred at the weekend.
A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari condoled with the traditional ruler, urging him to take solace in the fact that Hajia Aminatu Mai Babban Daki lived a good life, devoted to serving Allah and humanity. Read more
Osinbajo, Saraki Felicitate with Shagari at 92
The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, yesterday congratulated former President and elder statesman, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, on his 92nd birthday.
Osinbajo, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, joined Shagari’s family, well-wishers and indeed all Nigerians, in celebrating the former president’s selfless service, leadership and steadfast commitment to the advancement of Nigeria, over the years. Read more
FG liberalises visa, immigration regime to boost economic revival
The Federal Government has streamlined visa and immigration processes to spur inflow of foreign direct investments in a bid to hasten the recovery of the nation’s economy.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement yesterday in Abuja, said the measure was part of the action plan for ease of doing business in line with the current administration’s economic diversification agenda. Read more
Benue State spends N1.4 billion on water projects
Permanent Secretary of the Benue State Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, Mr. Agbogbo Ode, said the state spent over N1.4 billion on water projects in the last two years.
He spoke at the weekend during a press briefing organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, in Makurdi. Ode stated that out of the amount, N900 million was spent on payment to the contractor for the resumption of water supply in Otukpo and Katsina-Ala. Read more
Lagos Not Among World’s Worst Cities, Says Report
Lagos, Africa’s largest megacity and the world’s fastest growing metropolis, is not among the world’s worst cities with the historic record of traffic congestion, says the World Traffic Index 2017.
The report, which measures traffic congestion in 390 cities across 48 countries globally, was issued by TomTom, a global leader in traffic management, navigation and mapping products. Read more
Benin is Home for All, Oba Ewuare Tells Ethnic Communities
The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, has assured other ethnic communities of their hospitality, describing the Benin kingdom as a home for all to coexist.
Oba Ewuare gave the assurance when the executives and members of the Igbo Community paid a post-coronation visit to his palace in Benin City at the weekend. Read more
Shiites, Falana petition Osinbajo on release of El-Zakzaky, wife
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Shiites, have written a petition to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, demanding the immediate release of the leader of the group, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife following the directives of the Federal High Court, Abuja ordering their freedom from detention.
Besides, lawyer to Sheikh El-Zakzaky, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), in the petition to Osinbajo through the office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, said the Federal Government had continued to violate the fundamental freedom of the couple by failing to comply with court orders Read more
Lagos Laments Attacks on LASTMA Officials, Drags Two to Court
The Lagos State Government yesterday condemned the recent attack on officials of the State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), alleging that some operators of commercial buses, motorcycles and tricycles were behind the attacks. Consequently, the state government disclosed that it charged two persons namely; Mr. Godfrey Efekoma and Mr. Ganiu Isiaka for allegedly driving without vehicle particulars and deliberately assaulting its traffic law enforcement officials. Read more
Police Nab 23 for Highway Hijacking, Attempted Murder
Operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested 23 persons in connection with attempted murder and highway hijacking.
While 12 were arrested for their part in intercepting heavyduty vehicles and making away with their goods, Read more
CBN boosts financial market, sells $230 million to 16 banks
Sixteen banks shared in the $230 million foreign exchange (forex) mart by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the forward contract agreement.
This forms part of the fulfillment of the apex bank’s pledge to ensure liquidity in the interbank market under the latest policy announced last week. Of the 16 financial institutions, 13 are commercial banks, one is a development financing establishment, while two are merchant banks. Read more
CBN, NIBSS Restate Commitment to Cashless Policy
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigeria Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS) havereiterated their commitment to the cashless policy.The policy is expected to be extended to the remaining 30 states from April this year.
Speaking in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Electronic Payment Incentive Scheme (EPIS) 2016 awards that took place in Lagos at the weekend, the Deputy Governor (Operations), CBN, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, said the central bank was working to ensure that the aim of the cashless policy was realised. Read more
Nigeria To Get $500m World Bank Loan For Out-Of-School Children
The World Bank yesterday expressed readiness to grant Nigeria a loan of $500 million to enable the country tackle the issue of its teeming out-of-school children.
World Bank’s senior education specialist, Dr Olatunde Adekola, disclosed this in Sokoto, yesterday, when he led a five-man team of the bank on a courtesy call on Sokoto State governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. Read more
CBN Assures Nigerians, Investors of Exchange Rate Stability
Basking in the euphoria of the appreciation recorded by the naira last week, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restated its commitment to exchange rate stability.
Speaking at the Guaranty Trust Bank Plc’s 2017 non-oil export workshop held in Lagos at the weekend, the Deputy Director Trade and Exchange Department of the CBN, Olu Vincent urged Nigerians to continue to support public policies. Read more
CBN disburses $221.37m for BTA, school fees
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has sold 221.37 million dollars to 16 banks through the interbank foreign exchange (forex) market.
The apex bank disclosed this in its Forex Forward Sales Report on the second wholesale intervention, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja.
It said that the move was to enable the banks meet demand for Basic Transport Allowance (BTA), school fees and medicals by customers and to ease the stress of genuine customers in obtaining foreign currencies. Read more
NLNG, NNPC on Collision over Pipeline Explosion
Nigeria LNG Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) may be heading for a collision over the explosion that hit the NLNG pipelines in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, which was allegedly caused by the activities of Integrated Data Services Limited, (IDSL), a subsidiary of the corporation, THISDAY has learnt.
NLNG had reported an explosion on one of its gas transmission systems, which houses two gas pipelines in Rivers State. Read more
NLNG Act amendment: an incentive or disincentive to investment?
Since the Senate Committee Chairman on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi’s disclosure to the hallowed chamber of the National Assembly that the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) was not paying the statutory three per cent levy to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), there has been disquiet in the gas company, the petroleum industry and the economy.
Last February, Senator Nwaoboshi alleged that NLNG had refused to pay its NDDC levy since it began commercial operation 16 years ago, and by that action, the company has disobeyed the law of the country. “It is not whether that they contributed certain percentage. The point is that they had refused to obey the law since 2000,” he said. Read more
Govt, others consider non-associated gas fields
The Federal Government, Nigerian Liquefied and Natural Gas (NLNG), gas marketing companies and other stakeholders in the value chain, are beaming their search light on non-associated gas fields to improve power supply in the country.
This came as the House of Representatives’ Committee on Power advised the Federal Government and other operators to give exploration in the non-associated gas fields a priority to boost power generation. Read more
Reversing Nigeria’s Deferred $100bn Crude Oil Income
Though not entirely new, Kachikwu in a podcast he released recently stated that between $50 and $100 billion was not earned by Nigeria in 10 years because of frequent attacks on oil and gas infrastructure by the Niger Delta militants.
Kachikwu explained that at the peak of militancy within these periods, oil revenue dropped drastically, and production particularly ebbed from 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) to one million barrels per day in 2016. Read more
FG Pledges Support For NWFL, Dalung Set For Emergency Meeting With NFF
The Ministry of Youth & Sports Development has pledged support for the Nigeria Women’s Football League board.
The minister in charge of the ministry, Solomon Dalung, made the pledge while declaring open the 2017 General Congress of the NWFL in Abuja over the weekend.
Dalung promised that the Federal Government would continue to invest and support sports and maintain a cordial working relationship with those who have supported the country in maintaining peace and security within the West African sub-region. Read more
CAF Elections Tear NFF, CAF Committee Members Apart
Despite Nigeria not fielding a candidate for the office of the President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) in the elections scheduled to hold on March 16 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, gladiators in the country’s football administration are up in arms against one another.
Last Week’s endorsement of Madagascar’s FA President, Ahmad Ahmad, by NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, is at the centre of the furore tearing apart the hitherto bond existing among the football stakeholders here. Read more
Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale star as Real Madrid rally past Villarreal
With three goals in 20 minutes on Sunday, Real Madrid made sure that Barcelona’s stint at the top of the Spanish league didn’t last more than a few hours. (Latest Sports stories)
Barcelona defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 with a late winner by Lionel Messi earlier Sunday to move into the lead, but Madrid scored three times in the second half to erase a two-goal deficit and beat Villarreal 3-2. Read more
Aguero targets move to Real Madrid as big clubs queue up for PSG star Rabiot
There has been no shortage of speculation about the future of Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero, and now the Sun says the player has decided what he intends to do next.
It reports that the Argentina international has made up his mind that he “wants to join Real Madrid at the end of the season” after being dropped to the bench after the arrival of Gabriel Jesus from Palmeiras. Read more
Spurs still to prove they are the real deal
It is 56 years since Tottenham Hotspur were English champions and even their most optimistic followers cannot realistically expect them to bridge a 10-point gap at the top of the table with Chelsea.
For the second year running, however, Spurs are in second place with a dozen games to play. Now the question being asked is whether they can avoid the sort of anti-climatic finish that left them not only well short of surprise champions Leicester City last May but even pipped for the runners-up position by oldest enemies Arsenal on the final day. Read more
Klopp talks down player power
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp denied players held too much power, insisting only the Leicester City board should be blamed for Claudio Ranieri’s sacking.
Reports suggested senior players had voiced their dissatisfaction with Ranieri after Leicester’s 2-1 first-leg loss to Sevilla in the Champions League last 16. The Italian was sacked on Thursday, but Klopp – whose team face Leicester on Monday – said only the board was responsible. Read more
Theresa May poised to announce end of free movement for new EU migrants next month
Theresa May is next month poised to announce the end of free movement for new EU migrants on the same day that she formally triggers Brexit negotiations.
The Prime Minister is expected to say that EU citizens who travel to Britain after she triggers Article 50 will no longer have the automatic right to stay in the UK permanently. Read more
Kimmel takes aim at Trump in Oscars monologue
Jimmy Kimmel poked fun at US president Donald Trump as he delivered a politically charged opening monologue as host of the Academy Awards.
Kimmel joked about Trump’s criticism of Meryl Streep, who was invited to stand for a round of applause from the Oscars’ audience. On stage Kimmel said: “This broadcast is being watched live by millions of Americans and around the world in more than 225 countries that now hate us. Read more
Trump’s call for US nuclear supremacy raises questions
President Donald Trump would like the US to be “at the top of the pack” when it comes to having nuclear weapons. The statement, in an interview with Reuters Thursday, left non-proliferation experts puzzled and concerned.
The President said the US has “fallen behind on nuclear weapons capacity” and that, while he would like to see the lethal weapons abolished, as long as they exist “we’re never going to fall behind on nuclear power.” And he added that an agreement with Russia to limit nuclear arms is “a one-sided deal.” Read more
Egypt’s Christians are Fleeing the North Sinai After a Spate of Sectarian Killings
After Islamic militants barged into his uncle’s house, shot him and his son dead, then looted the place and set it on fire, Said Sameh Adel Fawzy knew it was time to leave.
The 35-year-old Christian, who owns a plumbing supply business in Egypt’s troubled northern Sinai town of el-Arish, packed up a few belongings and brought his family to the Suez Canal city of Ismailia, joining hundreds of Christians fleeing a spate of sectarian killings last week. Read more
The Salesman wins best foreign language Oscar
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi has won the best foreign language Oscar in Los Angeles, for a second time, for domestic drama The Salesman. Farhadi, 44, did not attend the ceremony because he said that the conditions that would be attached to a potential entry visa were unacceptable.
The director had originally planned to travel to Hollywood for the prize-giving to highlight “the unjust circumstances that have arisen for the immigrants and travellers of several countries to the United States”. Read more
