Sabinews Daily Morning News Update for April 9, 2015
National News
No One Will Steal Under My Watch – Buhari
President-elect Muhammadu Buhari yesterday vowed to make judicious use of the nation’s resources, declaring that he will neither embezzle nor allow anyone to embezzle the country’s resources.
Buhari, who made the statement during a town hall meeting yesterday in Yola, said he would give priority attention to fighting corruption, insecurity and enhancing educational development, noting that most of the social ills bedeviling the country could be traced to dearth of education. Read more
I won’t leave PDP, says Mark
The Senate President, David Mark, on Wednesday, said he was not contemplating joining the All Progressives Congress.
Mark also reaffirmed his loyalty to the Peoples Democratic Party. Read more
UNHCR: We Never Said Chibok Girls May Have Been Killed
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, has disclosed that at no time did the body say the Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram insurgents about a year ago might have been killed.
Al Hussein, who was reacting to reports in some quarters that he said the abducted Chibok girls might have been killed, disclaimed the reports. Read more
Nigeria election excites Axa
Paris-based Axa is excited that the March 28 elections were peacefully conducted in Nigeria, saying such a peaceful transition in political power would not only have positive impact on the nation’s economy, but would also affect other African countries.
Speaking during an interview, head of Axa’s global property and casualty business, Jean-Laurent Granier, said “We think that political stability and the respect of democratic rules in this vote can only consolidate development potential in Nigeria and other African countries.” Read more
Governorship poll and uncertainty in Northwest
Elections have been described as a consolidation of democratic process, which is indeed very true. In Nigeria, the presidential election has come and gone, leaving a sour taste in the mouth of some people, and in others, a sweet taste. After the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaration of General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election, some gubernatorial candidates have lost hope of winning their states, while others’ hopes of clinching their seats have been rekindled. But with the new attitude of Nigerians, people no longer vote for only parties but also personalities who have impacted their lives positively; they now also ensure that their votes count. Read more
INEC assures of better preparation
Emerging from the technical glitches recorded in the last presidential election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Lagos yesterday assured of improved readiness for the governorship and House of Assembly elections this Saturday.
The body, at a stakeholders’ forum yesterday, said it had restrategised to ensure that Card Readers work at every polling unit, timely distribution of materials and conduct of election in all units without exception; maintaining that it is illegal to site polling units in front of a house, palace and religious centres. Read more
Ladoja slams N10b libel suit on Ajimobi
Former governor of Oyo State and governorship candidate of Accord Party, Senator Rasheed Ladoja, has slammed a N10 billion libel suit against Governor Abiola Ajimobi for what he described as ‘a false and malicious publication.’ Ladoja in suit number I/14/2005 filed by his lawyer, Biodun Abdu-Raheem, at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan yesterday, is asking the court to declare a publication entitled “N500m Refund by Ladoja: Face of Ladoja, the Serial Liar” in two newspapers in January this year as libelous. Read more
Wike Alleges Plot to Postpone Elections
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Rivers State, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday claimed that he had information that the security agencies want to collude with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to postpone the election; to conduct it after the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari would have been sworn in.
Wike made the claim in Port Harcourt during a meeting of the leadership of both parties and service commanders representing the Army, Navy, Airforce, and the police. Read more
Council Boss Accuses Suswam of Burning INEC Office, Petitions NHRC
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State has submitted a petition against the state governor, Gabriel Suswam over allegations of intimidation and the burning down of the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the area.
According to him, preliminary reports by the party’s supporters revealed that upon gathering that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had lost the three elections in Koshinsha, the presidential, Senate and House of Representatives, Suswam allegedly instructed one Mathias Byuan, a known thug who works for him and goes about with police protection to burn down the INEC office and destroy the results. Read more
Group Calls EFCC to Investigate Fashola over Video Clip
A group, Lagosians for Real Change (LRC), on Wednesday called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take advantage of a recently released video to commence investigation into how the Babatunde Fashola-led administration in the state has been running the state’s bank account.
The video, which was released to social media ahead of the governorship election in the state, detailed alleged financial improprieties of the state government under Fashola. Read more
Assembly Poll: Party Sues INEC over Exclusion
The United Democratic Party (UDP) and one of its candidates have dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before a Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State over the listing of its candidate in the wrong State Constituency for the Saturday election into the Anambra State House of Assembly.
In the suit, No. FHC/AWK/CS/171/2015, filed by their lawyer, Mr. Chijioke Emeka, both the aggrieved political party and its candidate, Mrs. Angela Nnaneme, in their originating summons are seeking an order compelling the INEC to list the party and its candidate for Anaocha II State Constituency. According to the plaintiffs, UDP filed all the required forms and submitted them with a list in all of which Mrs. Nnaneme was presented as the party’s candidate for Anaocha II State Constituency. Read more
Irate Women Protest Alleged Manipulation of National Assembly Polls Result in Abia
No fewer than 1,000 Abia women, all dressed in black attires, staged a protest march in Umuahia on Wednesday against what they described as the falsification of the March 28 National Assembly elections in favour of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They expressed concern that the results of the election, which was peacefully conducted in the state, “were rigged by PDP in connivance with some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).’’ Read more
IMT Enugu, French Embassy to Improve Study among Mass Comm Students
Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu said it is to receive resource and logistics support and the cooperation of the Embassy of France, Nigeria, for the teaching of the French course on offer in the department of mass communication.
French Government Attaché for Cooperation in education and Deputy Head of Service, Daniel Rignault, announced this during a recent visit to the institute. Read more
Train kills boy who had earphones on
An unidentified young man, who had earphones on, was killed by a passenger train at Cappa area for Oshodi, Lagos yesterday.
He was reportedly standing on the rail tracks. Read more
Nigeria misses 2015 global education goals
The indicators were there, but not much was done by the powers that be in the country, including education authorities to ensure that this day does not come to past. Indeed, judging from the signs, which were replete, it would have been a shocker if the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) reached a contrary verdict.
Alas, Nigeria has failed to reach any of the global education goals. This bewildering revelation is contained in the 2015 Education For All (EFA) Global Monitoring Report (GMR), being released officially today by UNESCO in Paris, France. Nigeria, is not groping alone in this unfortunate milieu, but is in company of hordes of other sub-Saharan, that have been adjudged not to be doing enough to better the lives of their children educationally. Read more
Economy
NCRIB charges Buhari to embrace insurance
In view of the fact that no economy could develop without taken into cognizance the place of insurance and risk management, the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) has urged the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) to ensure that insurance is given its pride of place in all strata of government operations.
While congratulating Buhari and applauding the electoral process for ensuring that the wishes of Nigerians counted at the polls, the President of NCRIB, Ayodapo Shoderu, stated that the peaceful conduct of the election and emergence of a new President has paved the way for the socio-economic and political stability of the country. Read more
NECA advises in-coming govt on dialogue with OPS
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) has called on the President-elect, Mohammadu Buhari to carry the Organised Private Sector (OPS) along, through dialogue and consultation in the formulation and execution of key economic policies.
NECA’s President, Mr. Larry Ettah, who spoke in Lagos, explained that though the task ahead of the President-elect were onerous, but they are not insurmountable. Read more
UBA Lists N30.5bn Bond Issue on NSE, FMDQ
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc’s N30.5 billion bond has been listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Financial Market Dealers Quotation, over-the-counter (FMDQ-OTC) market. The dual listing was done in Lagos on Wednesday.
Listing on the NSE provides opportunity for retail investors to take advantage of the fixed return on the investment grade notes, through the primary market while listing on the FMDQ provides a secondary market platform for institutional and foreign investors to trade the UBA Bond. Read more
‘Only 65 Nigerian Companies Attained Global IT Certification Status’
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Jewels Limited, Mrs. Adedoyin Odunfa, has revealed that only 65 out of 7,207 registered Nigerian companies, including banks, have achieved the global best practice standard certification status as at February this year.
The number of companies with global best practice for IT standard certification status is low, according to information on the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). Read more
World News
Homicides in El Salvador reach record as gang violence grows
El Salvador had more homicides in March than any other single month in a decade, a dark milestone that some attribute to the collapse of a gang truce and one that could mark a trend of greater violence to come.
Data from the National Civil Police show 481 homicides recorded last month, or more than 15 a day. April’s start is no better, with 73 killings reported in the first five days. At this rate, El Salvador is on pace to surpass Honduras as the deadliest peace-time country in the world. Read more
Tibet Chief Demands Monasteries Display Chinese Flags
Tibet’s Communist Party chief has demanded that Buddhist monasteries display the national flag as part of efforts to shore up Chinese control over the restive region.
In an editorial appearing in state newspapers, Chen Quanguo wrote that national flags should be among the key elements found in monasteries. Read more
Bomber jury to decide life or death
The jury which convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev must now decide whether he lives or dies.
Tsarnaev, 21, was found guilty of 30 counts against him, including conspiracy and deadly use of a weapon of mass destruction. Seventeen of those charges are punishable by death. Read more
Witness who filmed officer shoot man in back speaks out
The quick-thinking bystander who filmed the moment a police officer shot an unarmed black man in the back as he ran away has spoken for the first time.
The video, recorded by Feidin Santana, was cited by officials in South Carolina as being the reason why officer Michael Slager was charged with murder over the death of 50-year-old Walter Scott. Read more
Power
Solve Electricity Theft to Save Power Sector from Collapse, FG Told
The federal government has been advised deal with electricity theft in the country in order to save the power sector from total collapse.
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG), Mr. James Agada, who gave the advice in Lagos recently, said although government has taken steps to resuscitate the electricity sector, through privatisation, intervention funds, meter procurement and investment in new power plants, among others, he however insisted that these fundamental changes will not ensure constant power supply, except the issue of theft is addressed. Read more
NERC, Discos adopt embedded generation to cushion electricity shortage
Faced with a myriad, the stakeholders in the nation’s electricity industry have adopted the embedded generation concept to immediately procure electricity for customers, while waiting for national grid power to improve significantly.
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC)’s embedded generation regulation allows an independent power producer to embed power within the network of the local distribution company without going through the trouble of connecting to the transmission network. Read more
Expanding Access to Electricity With Modular Power Generation
As Nigerians continue to lament over poor power supply in the country, experts have advised the federal government to pay more attention to modular power generation as part of its strategies and efforts to ensure steady and reliable electricity supply in the country.
Modular power generation is a system where electricity is generated using available renewable energy source within a particular community, and the power distributed within the same community or supplied to a home or an office complex without tying it to the national grid. Read more
Sports
Glo Urges U-23, Falcons to Go for Tickets
Nigeria’s biggest corporate supporter of football, Globacom, has tasked the national U-23, Dream Team VI to go for total victory when the team meets its Zambia counterpart for the second leg of the All Africa Games (AAG) final qualifier billed for Lusaka on Sunday.
“We believe the task of winning in Lusaka and sealing the AAG ticket is possible given the quality of the players in the Dream Team,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos yesterday. Read more
AFCON 2017: Eagles Draw Egypt, Tanzania, Chad in Group G
Nigeria and Egypt who failed to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations along with Tanzania and Chad were yesterday drawn in Group G of the 2017 edition whose qualification matches are slated to begin in June.
By this arrangement, either of Super Eagles or the Pharaohs will be missing again when the finest of Africa’s football nations gather on Gabon for the kick off of the biennial continental showpiece. Read more
F’Eagles Skipper Muhammed ‘Vanishes’ From U-23 Camp
Flying Eagles captain Musa Muhammed has left the camp of the Nigeria U23s in Abuja without informing coach Samson Siasia or any other official of the team.
“Musa has left the camp without telling anybody of his where about,” Siasia told media in Abuja when asked about the skillful right back. Read more
ITTF lists Nigeria, others for World Championships
International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has confirmed Nigeria and 99 others for the World Championships in Suzhou, China, serving off on April 26 to May 3.
A total of 310 men and 238 women will compete at the eight-day event. Read more
Falcons Coach hails NFF for hiring psychologist
Head Coach of the Super Falcons, Edwin Okon has showered encomiums on his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for hiring a psychologist for the team so that they will focus on the tactical aspect of the game and not play the dual role of a tactician and a psychologist.
“The hiring of a psychologist for the team is a welcome development because I personally requested for it. We need somebody to handle that so that I can face my job of coaching the team squarely. We need somebody of that class that will be able to psyche the players up every time we have matches. Read more
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