SABINEWS MORNING NEWS UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER 30, 2016
Protests as INEC declares Obaseki winner
The Independent National Electoral Commission, on Thursday, declared the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Godwin Obaseki, the winner of the Wednesday, September 28 Governorship Election in Edo State.
A short but heavy rain momentarily dispersed a crowd that had started gathering at the popular Ring Road in the state capital. Read more
Lagos gunmen kill man, two sons, injure wife, daughters
There was a bloodbath on Thursday in the Ipakodo, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, after some gunmen invaded a residence and shot dead a man and his two sons.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the attackers, who were suspected to be sent, after killing the man, Celestine Nwokoye, and his sons, also shot his wife and his two daughters, leaving them for dead. Read more
PDP chair, APC chief trade blame
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State, Dan Orbih, has slammed a former House of Assembly member in Edo State, Oghuma Johnson, for accusing him of using policemen to chase away All Progressives Congress members in Ogbona village in the Etsako Central Local Government Area during Wednesday’s governorship election in the state.
Oghuma had alleged that many APC members were unable to vote in the village because the police allegedly chased them away. Read more
I didn’t threaten collation officer –Deputy gov-elect
The Deputy Governor-elect of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has denied threatening the Collation Officer for Etsako West Local Government Area, Prof. Adewole Atere, when the Independent National Electoral Commission was collating the results of Wednesday’s governorship poll in the area.
All Progressives Congress candidate Godwin Obaseki won the election by polling 319, 483 votes to beat his closest rival Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the Peoples Democratic Party, who got 253, 173 votes. Read more
Budget padding: Police invade Jibrin’s office, cart away documents
A combined team of security operatives on Thursday stormed the office of the suspended former Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the House of Representatives, Abdulmumin Jibrin, at the National Assembly Complex.
This is as Jibrin insisted that the House was a den of corruption. Read more
Obaseki’s victory fraudulent – Ikimi
A former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, has rejected the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, claiming the result was manipulated in favour of the All Progressives Congress.
The Peoples Democratic Party chief, who hails from Igueben Local Government Area in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state, insisted the APC didn’t deserve victory in the poll. Read more
Speed Limiter: October 1 Deadline And Drivers’ Race Against Time
The Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi, recently announced that enforcement of the speed limiters on commercial vehicles will commence nationwide on October 1, 2016.
According to the head, media relations and strategy, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, the Corps Marshal, commended all the stakeholders for endorsing the use of speed limiters, noting that without such support, it would have been difficult for the country to get to where enforcement date would no longer be controversial. Read more
Again, FG Fails to Produce Dasuki in Court, Trial Aborted
The federal government has failed to produce the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd), before an Abuja High Court for trial in the charges of money laundering and breach of trust brought against him and others since last year.
Dasuki who was charged along with five others before Justice Peter Affen, was granted bail when he was first arraigned but re-arrested and had been kept in custody of the Department of the State Service (DSS) since December 2015. Read more
FG to pay states on rehabilitated roads – Fashola
The Federal Government is set to pay states that have used their resources to rehabilitate federal roads in
their areas.
Speaking Thursday in Katsina State, Minister of Power, Works and , Babatunde Raji Fashola, said President Muhammadu Buhari has assured to pay the debt. Read more
Enelamah Denies Involvement in Illicit Money Transfers on Behalf of MTN
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, has distanced himself from the allegation by the Senate that he was involved in the fraudulent repatriation of $13.92 billion in collusion with MTN Nigeria Limited, without authorisation.
In a statement last night, the minister who said he welcomed any investigation the Senate might decide to carry out on the matter, said all the allegations made by the upper legislative chamber were without merit and baseless. Read more
RoW: Telcos use gutters, trees in Lagos
Investigation has revealed that telecommunications service providers in Lagos State are installing fiber optic cables through gutters and on trees as right of way (RoW), contributing to flooding and other economic losses to the State.
During the investigation, it was discovered that key areas such as, Saka Tinubu St., Kofo Aboyimi St., Saka Tinubu/Akin Adesola St. junction., Ozumba Obamdiwe St., (junction)., Ajose Adeogun St., all on the Victoria Island, Lagos, were the worst hit by the indiscriminate installation of telecoms cables. Read more
‘We must review past agreements before concessioning airports’
The Federal Government has been urged to review past concession agreements and address its sticking points before giving airports out to new investors.
Besides, concerned stakeholders have also asked for a clear-cut master plan on airport concessioning; seeking details on aspects of the facilities that are for private investments. Read more
Shaping Nigeria’s future is your responsibility, India tells FG
The Vice-President of the Republic of India, Mohammed Hamid, yesterday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), charged the federal government to recognise its enormous responsibilities in shaping the future of the country.
Hamid, who stated this in a lecture at the University of Lagos, entitled Legacy of Indian Freedom Movement,’ said: “Nigeria and India, as large developing countries with multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual societies, have enormous responsibilities within their countries and in shaping the future of their region and beyond. Read more
Aero Contractors’ workers protest, seek goverment’s intervention
Several aviation workers on Wednesday staged a protest march in Lagos, demanding Federal Government’s intervention in the plight of Aero Contractors.The workers, under the aegis of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSN) and National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), alleged that the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) is behind the closure of the airline and on the verge of liquidating the airline.
The protesters that staged peaceful demonstration at the three terminals of the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, appealed to the government not to allow Aero Contractors go the way of defunct Nigerian Airways.It would be recalled that Aero, the oldest airline after Nigerian Airways, at the beginning of this month “temporarily” suspended scheduled flight operations, citing need to reposition for profitability. Read more
Human Trafficking: Couple Bags 14 Years With Hard Hard Labor
A federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo state on Monday, September 26 2016, sentenced 37 years old Mr. Idowu Folorunso and his 35 years old wife Mrs. Titilayo Folorunso to 14 years imprisonment.
In a statement to LEADERSHIP signed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) Head, Press and Public Relations Josiah Emerole, it revealed that “the sentence also carries hard labour for procurement and facilitating the trafficking of a woman to Libya for prostitution.” Read more
Presidency removes speech writer accused of plagiarism
President Muhammadu Buhari has removed one of his speechwriters, who caused him national embarrassment after he was alleged to have plagiarised US President Barack Obama.
The president delivered the lines at the launch of a landmark campaign on September 8, unaware that part of the speech was lifted. Read more
Government plans 45,101MW electricity generation by 2030
The Federal Government has unveiled a sustainable energy for All- Agenda (SE4ALL-AA) that would increase Nigeria’s power generation the present 3,000 Mega Watts (MW) to 45,101MW by 2030. Government planned to achieve this target gradually from the present 3,121MW from fossil fuel to 18,200MW by 2030.
The Federal Government, which disclosed this its Sustainable Energy For All Action Agenda document obtained by The Guardian on Tuesday, also expected renewable energy generation to reach 13,800MW.It declared that by 3030, the country would be generating 13,000MW from gas, 3,200MW from coal; 2,000MW from nuclear; 5,000MW from solar; 1,000MWfrom solar thermal; and 1,100MW from biomass. Read more
FG declares Monday, public holiday
Federal Government has declared Monday, October3, 2016 as public holiday to mark Nigeria’s 56th Independence Anniversary.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Lt General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, (rtd), while making the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government congratulates Nigerians at home and abroadon the commemoration of this year’s independence anniversary and assures them that government is working assiduously to put in place various palliative measures to cushion the effects of the current economic challenges. Read more
Three suspected rapists arrested for impregnating 14-year-old girl
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested three men for allegedly raping and impregnating a 14-year-old girl in the Agric, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent learnt that the suspects – Kingsley Oke, Henry Osadere and Francis Ekwe – were arrested in the Majidun, Ikorodu area of Lagos State, before they were transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja. Read more
Man batters wife over missing N2,000
The police in Lagos State have launched a manhunt for a resident of Azeez Olaosebikan Street, Agege, Babatunde Igbara, after he allegedly battered his wife’s eyes.
The man reportedly rained punches on the 38-year-old woman, Gbemisola Igbara, in the presence of their four children until her eyes became swollen. Read more
NUPENG to resist fuel price hike
National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) President IgweAchese has said the union could not afford to embark on a strike now, because it would increase the suffering of Nigerians.
He said this while addressing reporters at the end of NUPENG’s third Quarter Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Meeting in Asaba, the Delta Sate capital. Read more
Crude Oil Slumps One Day After OPEC Deal to Cut Output
Despite the decision of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut crude oil production by 200,000-700,000 barrels per day to achieve price recovery, oil prices fell yesterday after the gains recorded on Wednesday.
This was just as Royal Dutch Shell on Thursday in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, launched its “#makethefuture” programme, where it unveiled six new technologies from different youth entrepreneurs around the world to provide sustainable and cleaner energy than conventional energy sources. Read more
DESOPADEC budget not padded, says lawmaker
The member representing Warri Constituency 1 in the Delta State House of Assembly, Omawumi Udoh, has assured her constituents that there is no fraud in this year’s budget of the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).
Udoh, who spoke yesterday at a town hall meeting with her constituents in Warri, also urged the people to work with her for the unity of the constituency to attract the best of the current administration to the area. Read more
Buhari to open Lagos International Trade Fair
President Muhammadu Buhari will launch this year’s Lagos International Trade Fair to begin on November 4.
The fair with the theme “Positioning the Nigerian economy for diversification and sustainable growth”, the organisers said, would explore management mechanics of achieving sustainable growth in the pursuit of diversification. Read more
Naira exchanges at N480 to dollar in parallel market
The naira yesterday tumbled to new low of N480 to dollar on the parallel market as dollar shortage persisted.
The local currency was exchanging at N476 to dollar in the morning hours, but weakened and closed at N480 to dollar in the last trading sessions of yesterday. Read more
‘Foreign reserves dip to $24.74b’
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, has said Nigeria’s foreign reserves dropped from $26.51 billion in the second quarter of 2016 to $24.74 billion in September.
Udoma said this in Abuja on the sideline of the 57th yearly conference of Nigeria Economic Society (NES) with the theme: “The developmental state and diversification of the Nigerian economy.’’ Read more
Buhari urges private sector to join economic recovery battle
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday challenged private sector operators to take the lead in the battle to revive the economy saying they hold the key to its quick recovery.
The president, who spoke at the 44th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Abuja, enjoined the private sector to work with the Federal Government towards taking the country out of recession. Read more
‘Lagos consumes N1.6bn worth of cattle daily’
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending on Thursday said about 8,000 cattle and small ruminants valued at N1.6bn were being consumed in Lagos State daily.
The Managing Director, NIRSAL, Mr. Aliyu Abdulhameed, stated this at a programme to celebrate the movement of the second cattle train of 15 wagons from Nguru, Yobe State, to Oko-Oba, Lagos. Read more
Lagos trade fair adopts sector-based space allocation
In order to improve space allocation process and facilitate access to exhibitors, the organisers of the 30th Lagos International Trade Fair have introduced scientific approach to space allocation, based on sectors.
The Vice President and Chairman of the Trade Promotion Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Sola Oyetayo, disclosed this recently while unveiling plans for the fair. Read more
Why Imo didn’t give Onye N1m, car – Commissioner
The Imo State sports commissioner Rodney Ajaelu has explained why Rio 2016 Paralympic Games gold medallist Lauritta Onye was not among athletes rewarded by the state last week.
Governor Rochas Okorocha gave N1m and car gifts to three powerlifters from the state namely Roland Ezeruike, Ndidi Nwosu and Josephine Orji, who all won gold medals in Rio. Read more
ZAMBIA TALK TOUGH: WE WILL BEAT NIGERIA
The Chipolopolo welcome the three-time African champions on October 9.
The home-based players have started preparations for the big match while expressing confidence they will win in front of their fans. Read more
Man City Congratulate Iheanacho For Golden Boy Nomination; Challenges Iwobi, Dele, Rashford
Premier League side Manchester City have congratulated Nigerian whizkid Kelechi Iheanacho after he was nominated for the prestigious 2016 Golden Boy award.
To clinch the accolade, the Taye Academy product has to see off competition from two former England youth internationals of Nigerian heritage in the shape of Arsenal’s Alex Iwobi and Tottenham Hotspur star Dele Alli, plus 37 other outstanding youngsters under the age of 21 who represent European teams, including Rashford. Read more
Lady Gaga to headline Super Bowl halftime show
Lady Gaga will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February, the National Football League (NFL) has announced.
The six-time Grammy Award winner will take to the stage on 5 February in Houston, Texas, the league said in a statement, adding the announcement “is just the beginning” of what promises to be a “historic” show. Read more
Wyatt Roy: Australian PM blasts ex-MP’s ‘stupid’ Iraq trip
Australia’s prime minister has said a former MP’s trip to Iraq which saw him caught up in fighting was “stupid”.
Wyatt Roy, a former assistant minister and Australia’s youngest ever MP, lost his seat in the July election. Read more
ISIS jihadis REWARDED with Christian sex slaves for informing terror cult about defectors
The captured ISIS extremist claims he was given three badly beaten women as a thank you from his depraved commanders for telling them his own brother wanted to leave the death cult.
Abu Al-Mughaira Al-Muhajer, taken captive by the Al-Sham front in Aleppo, Syria, said girls are dealt like currency by the twisted terrorist group. Read more
USA Today make history by slamming Donald Trump’s presidential bid
For the first time in its 34-year history, the editorial board of USA Today have taken a side in a presidential election race and launched a blistering attack on Donald Trump – who they slammed as “unfit for presidency”.
In a fiercely critical editorial on Friday, they said their ever-standing no-endorsement policy has been scrapped this year because “Trump has demonstrated repeatedly that he lacks the temperament, knowledge, steadiness and honesty that America needs from its presidents.” Read more
