SABINEWS MORNING NEWS UPDATE FOR NOVEMBER 11, 2016
Defection: S’West APC leaders await Tinubu’s directive
There are strong indications that a gale of defection will soon hit the All Progressives Congress in the South-West. It was gathered that many members of the APC, who are loyal to a former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are awaiting his directive before leaving the ruling party.
It was gathered that high-profile meetings of politicians across party lines were being held discreetly to fine-tune strategies for the emergence of an alternative political platform to fight for power come 2019. Read more
Wike accuses FG of double standard in anti-corruption war
The Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has accused the Federal Government of double standard in its fight against corruption.
Wike observed that the Federal Government had forced some public officers accused of corruption to step aside pending the conclusion of their cases while other public officers similarly accused of corruption were allowed to continue with their jobs. Read more
Reps applaud as Edo dep gov-elect leaves House
The Deputy Governor-elect of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu, took his final bow at the House of Representatives on Thursday ahead of Saturday’s (tomorrow) inauguration of a new government in the state.
Shaibu and the Governor-elect, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will be inaugurated on Saturday in Benin to succeed Governor Adams Oshiomhole. Read more
APC will take over Ondo – Oyegun
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has declared that the party will defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State.
He said Ondo State was very important to the Federal Government, adding that this was the reason why the APC must take over the state from the PDP in 2017. Read more
A’court grants Jegede’s request to challenge Ibrahim’s candidacy
The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday gave leave to the replaced Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate for the November 26 election in Ondo State, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede (SAN), to appeal against the Federal High Court’s order recognising Jimoh Ibrahim as the party’s authentic candidate.
The three-man panel of the appeal court led Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, also granted similar application filed by Makarfi and the secretary of his faction, Ben Obi, to challenge Ibrahim’s candidacy. Read more
Reps want Imo included in N’Delta development plan
The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Federal Government to include oil-producing communities in Imo State in its current plans to find a lasting solution to the problems of the Niger Delta region.
“The House directs the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and that of Niger Delta Affairs to ensure the inclusion of Imo State in all matters relating to oil-producing communities,” a resolution lawmakers passed in Abuja, stated. Read more
LASG seeks high performance in LGs
The Lagos State Government says it plans to ensure smooth running of the state’s local government administration through effective networking.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, stated this on Thursday during the opening ceremony of a two-day retreat for management workers of the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs. Read more
Amosun commissions 7km 2nd East Circular Road, pry school in Benin
GOVERNOR Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, yesterday in Benin City, commissioned the 4-lane 7km 2nd East Circular Road and the Arinze Primary School, bringing to nine the number of projects commissioned in the week as part of the Finishing Strong, Finishing Well agenda of Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
Governor Amosun declared that having seen some of the projects executed by Oshiomhole, the former President of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and foremost labour leader performed extremely well as governor of Edo State. Read more
Niger rehabilitates three schools with N2.3bn
The NIGER State Government on Thursday awarded the contract to renovate and reconstruct three of its secondary schools at the cost of about N2.3bn.
The Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Education, Shuaibu Adamu, during the post-executive council meeting press briefing at the Government House, Minna. Read more
Manslaughter: Synagogue engineers’ trial resumes
The trial of the Registered Trustees of the Synagogue Church of All Nations headed by Pastor T.B. Joshua resumed on Thursday before a Lagos State High Court in Ikeja.
The church is being prosecuted in relation to the death of 116 persons on September 12, 2014 when a six-storey building belonging to the church collapsed in the Ikotun area of Lagos. Read more
MASSOB flays Obama, hails Trump
The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra on Thursday said the outgoing United States President, Barack Obama, disappointed pro-Biafra agitators.
The MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu, said in a statement on Thursday that the group was glad that the Republican candidate, Donald Trump, won the US presidential election. Read more
Ita-Giwa, Duke’s wife back Calabar Festival
Senator Florence Ita-Giwa aka Mama Bakassi, wife of former Cross Rivers State governor Mrs. Owanari Duke and other stakeholders have endorsed this year’s edition of the Calabar festival holding next month.
Ita-Giwa, who spoke during a pre-carnival masque party in Lagos, organised by OKHMA Global Limited, a Lagos-based marketing firm, said the festival would bring a fresh offering for tourists across the globe. Read more
23-year-old dies while struggling for gun …his death a relief, says mother
A vigilance group commander in the Oke Aro area of Ogun State, Quadri Adesina, has been arrested by the police after an alleged accidental discharge from his gun killed a 23-year-old man, Yusuf Azeez.
Azeez reportedly wanted to wrest the gun from the suspect when a bullet hit him in the thigh. He was rushed to a hospital in the area, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Read more
Woman gives fake prophecies, defrauds bank customers
A woman, Biola Simon, has been arrested by the police in Lagos State for allegedly defrauding bank customers after giving them fake prophecies in the Dopemu area.
Our correspondent learnt that Simon, who came from Ibadan, Oyo State, was arrested on Thursday by the Dopemu Police Division, after one of her victims reported her to the police. Read more
Nigeria aims to boost oil production by 500,000 bpd by 2020
Nigeria’s is working out new oil and gas policies to attract more private investors and boost crude production by 500,000 barrels a day by 2020, state firm NNPC said on Thursday.
Last week, the OPEC member’s upper house approved parts of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) aiming to tackle everything from an overhaul of state oil company NNPC to taxes on upstream projects in a sector riddled with corruption. Read more
NEITI says FG blew N70trn of oil revenue in 15 yrs
Fresh revelations have emerged that Nigeria, during the Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan administrations blew over N70 trillion they earned from the sales of crude oil and gas between 1999 and 2014, The Sun reports.
This disclosure was made against the backdrop that Nigeria in the last eight years had lost over $200 billion it could have earned from the exportation and sales of mineral deposits. Making the revelations, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Mr. Waziri Adio, told the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs during an oversight visit to his office that, unless Nigeria develops a prudent way of spending, the country may be in for rough times in the coming years. Read more
Banks not co-operating with CBN on forex, says MAN
Banks are not co-operating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on forex policy, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN) President Dr. Frank Udemba Jacobs has said.
Dr Jacobs said the CBN was sensitive to the plight of the manufacturing sector, but it was unfortunate the apex bank’s good intention were being frustrated by those who didn’t share the same passion for manufacturers, in particular, or the nation. Read more
CIPM lists paths to tackling unemployment
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM) has said harnessing the ingenuity of Nigerians is the path to exiting the economic recession.
At the end of it 48th national conference in Abuja, the Institute identified the human element as critical to the stability of every economy, and described the effective development and deployment of human capital as a proven source of enduring competitive advantage for businesses and nations alike. Read more
Senate backs AMCON on debt recovery
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, has said that time will soon run out on recalcitrant obligors of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria.
He said this was because of the renewed commitment of the Senate to build strategic collaboration with AMCON to develop greater capacity for debt recovery and sustained development in the country. Read more
Nigeria loses $450bn to foreign firms’ exit
Nigeria lost $450bn worth of assets in 2016 due to withdrawal of some foreign firms from the country, according to the Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce.
The NACC said the affected firms suffered a combined loss of N64bn investment due to naira devaluation, inability to repatriate dollar at market friendly rates, unfavourable financial policies, high cost of doing business, poor operating environment, lack of sufficient skilled labour, infrastructural challenges, among others. Read more
Senate rejects ‘padded’ N143bn FIRS budget
The Senate on Thursday rejected the report by its Committee on Finance in which the N143.7bn budget of the Federal Inland Revenue Service was approved.
The lawmakers, while debating the recommendation of the committee during the day’s plenary, criticised the report as lacking details. Read more
2018 FIFA WORLD CUP: Nigeria will qualify, Mikel insists
John Obi Mikel has insisted that Nigeria cannot afford to miss the 2018 FIFA World Cup following their failure to reach the 2017 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon.
The Super Eagles will host Algeria at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium tomorrow, and the captain of the team believes that the unity in the team will help them conquer the Greens when both sides clash this weekend in Uyo. Read more
Eagles to wear new Nike jerseys
Nigeria senior national team will wear a new set of jerseys when they face Algeria in tomorrow’s FIFA World Cup qualifier.
The NFF signed a three-and-half -year contract with Nike in 2015 that will see the US-based sportwear giant provide products worth $3.75m. Read more
S-H-A-M-E! Nigeria lose again in Suwon
Nigeria’s U-19 football team led by coach Manu Garba lost their second straight game at the Suwon Continental Cup yesterday when they went down 1-0 to Iran. On Wednesday, they were battered 8-1 by England in their opening game. Read more
Ogunbote confirmed as new Enyimba Head Coach
Veteran coach, Gbenga Ogunbote has been confirmed as the new head coach of former Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL), the club announced on Thursday.
Ogunbote replaced Paul Aigbogun who had a disappointing season with the Peoples Elephants, as the club finished in distance 12th position. According to statement released on the club’s website on Thursday, the Aba club have concluded all contractual terms to sign the coach. Read more
Thailand cancels, adjusts flights ahead of lantern festival
Dozens of flights to northern Thailand will be cancelled or rescheduled when the country celebrates its annual Floating Lantern festival next week, airport officials said on Friday.
Chiang Mai International Airport, the main airport in northern Thailand – a destination popular with foreign tourists – said some flights would be cancelled between Nov. 12 and Nov. 16. as floating lanterns released during the festival could affect safety. Read more
Chinese boy found dead in well after huge four-day search
A Chinese boy trapped down an abandoned well has been found dead, after a huge four-day rescue operation.
The six-year-old fell into the 80m-deep well in Hebei province while harvesting vegetables on Sunday, state media Xinhua reported. Read more
Donald Trump attacks the media for ‘inciting protests’
Donald Trump has accused the media of “inciting” demonstrations by “professional protesters” in the wake of his victory in Tuesday’s US presidential election.
In a series of tweets on Thursday evening, the President-elect said the actions by the media were “unfair” following a “very open and successful election”. Read more
Trump’s election puts Mexico on edge, ready to respond to campaign threats
In one working class Mexico City neighborhood, some residents fear the effects of a Donald Trump administration.
“Mexico’s economy is so tied to the U.S.,” said Sonia Diaz. Adrian Adame’s take was stronger. “He is racist. He just talks about hating people,” Adame said. Read more
