The Nation Newspaper

Tag: highest

  • Oil hits $80, highest since Nov 2014

    Oil price climbed to $80per barrel yesterday for the first time since November 2014 on concerns that Iranian exports could fall due to renewed U.S. sanctions and reduced supply in an already tightening market.

    Brent crude futures reached an intraday high of $80.18, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 57 cents at $72.06 a barrel, also their highest since November 2014.

    President Donald Trump’s decision this month to withdraw the US from an international nuclear deal with Iran and revive sanctions that could limit crude exports from OPEC’s third-largest producer, has given strong tailwind to oil prices.

    France’s Total on yesterday warned it might abandon a multi-billion-dollar gas project in Iran if it could not secure a waiver from U.S. sanctions, casting further doubt on European-led efforts to salvage the nuclear deal.

    A rapid decline in Venezuela’s crude production has further roiled markets in recent months.

    “The geopolitical noise and escalation fears are here to stay,” said Norbert Rücker, Head of Macro and Commodity Research at Swiss Bank Julius Baer.

     

     

  • UNICEF ranks Nigeria 11th highest on newborn deaths

    UNICEF ranks Nigeria 11th highest on newborn deaths

    The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), has ranked Nigeria 11th position on newborn deaths globally.

    This is according to a new report on “Newborn Mortality’’ released by UNICEF, which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Lagos.

    According to the report, eight of the 10 most dangerous places to be born are sub-Saharan Africa, where pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance during delivery due to poverty, conflict and weak institutions.

    “With the newborn mortality rate of 29 deaths per 1,000 births, the global estimates rank Nigeria as the 11th highest on newborn deaths.

    “In the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted by the Government of Nigeria in 2016/17, the rate of newborn deaths per 1000 births is 37.

    “This national average hides the differences between the 36 states and the slow progress in some of them,’’ the report said.

    On the causes of newborn deaths, the report said that more than 80 per cent of newborn deaths were due to prematurity, asphyxia, complications during birth or infections such as pneumonia and sepsis.

    “These deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives during antenatal and postnatal visits as well as delivery at a health facility.

    “These should be along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact, proper cord care, and good nutrition.

    “However, a shortage of well-trained health workers and midwives means that thousands don’t receive the life-saving support they need to survive,’’ it said.

    The report said that globally in low-income countries, the average newborn mortality rate was 27 deaths per 1,000 births, while in high-income countries, it was three deaths per 1,000.

    A UNICEF Nigeria statement by Eva Hinds, quoted Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Nigeria’s Representative as saying “a fair chance in life begins with a strong, healthy start.

    “Unfortunately, many children in Nigeria are still deprived of this, MICS data tells us that the trend is improving but urgent action needs to be taken for Nigeria to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).’’

    The statement also quoted Henrietta Fore, UNICEF’s Executive Director as saying “we have more than halved the number of deaths among children under the age of five in the last quarter century. We have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old. Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly we are failing the world’s poorest babies.’’

  • I’ll take my constituency to highest level’

    I’ll take my constituency to highest level’

    All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Hon. Olajide Jimoh, is aspiring to represent Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. In an interview with MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, the youthful politician speaks about his ambition and why he is the right man for the job.  

    Why are you vying to represent your constituency at the House of Reps?

    It is because I have passion to serve my people in the Mainland Federal Constituency, Lagos State. I believe I can do that effectively through legislative business. I have tried that before and I know I represented my people well. I give thanks to God for that.

    What gives you such optimism?

    Let me just say this. Power belongs to the Almighty God and He gives it to whoever he wishes. He is the ruler of heavens and earth. He has absolute power and control over every other being. I put my aspiration in His hand and I trust my God that in anything I put my hand, I have never been disappointed by God. I believe He will do it again. For the fact that I have been in politics for a very long time, and God has endowed me to do a lot of things for my people. I believe in doing that and more for my people. That is why I have decided to go to the House of Representatives to represent my people. I want to take their messages to that highest legislative authority in Abuja.

    But, to answer your question, I was once a councilor at Lagos Mainland Local Government. I was once a Deputy Leader of the council. At a time, I was a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly for two terms. I served as Chairman, House Committee on Local Government for eight years.  That is to show you I have cognate experience for my aspiration to serve again at higher level. Now, I am aspiring to go to the House of Representatives.

    What quality distinquishes  you from other aspirants contesting for the same position?

    All I can say is that I am a contestant, while others are also contestants. It is not necessary for me to start mentioning names. All I know is that it is only God that crowns people. With my trust in Him as the merciful God, I will emerge victorious at the end of the day. That is why my campaign slogan is ‘The Merciful God’.

    How has the people of your constitutency reacted towards your aspiration?

    If you are talking about my relationship with the people at the grassroots, I will say they love me. I am one of them. I have been one of them and I shall continue to be one of them.

    I have an open-door policy in governance. I am very open in everything I do. I don’t have anything to hide from my people and that is why they love me and are very close to me. They know my stand on issues and my stand is always my people’s stand. And anything I want to do is always backed by vision. My vision this time is to take my local government and the entire Mainland Federal Constituency to the highest level. That is what I promised my people and I will continue to pursue it. As a former member of State House of Assembly who knows what it takes to participate in legislative activities, I believe I am the man for the job. I know it is about robust debates. It is about oversight functions. It is about resolutions and motions. I know it is about lobbying because one cannot do it alone. You have to connect with others, so that with collaboration, things will work on fine.

    The manifesto of our party, the APC, is clear; that you must first of all consider the welfare of the people. I promise to discharge that responsibility with sincerity and commitment.

    If you eventually clinch party ticket, how are you sure of victory over the opposition candidate?

    With God on our side, not even me as a person, but as a party, we are going to defeat candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), not only in Lagos, but in Nigeria as a whole. That is the trust we have in God. We have no other enthusiasm other than our trust in God. I can assure you, by God grace, we shall come out victorious.

    Do you think your party can handle the issue of succession very well?

    We have a leader that is God-fearing, resolute and who listens to the people. We have a leader, who bows to a superior argument, if he is faced with one. That is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He is also a dogged fighter and a committed democrat. With God being with him, I believe there would not be any problem. When he was about to leave office in 2007, you know the number of those who wanted to succeed him before the incumbent Governor Babatunde  Fashola (SAN) took over. Now, we have about 11 contestants for one position. He has had discussions with them; he has advised them and told them to be democratic in their conduct. He urged them to take themselves as one family. That is, whoever wins eventually should be seen as God’s choice and so should be supported by others.  I can assure you that there would not be any crisis and that there will not be any friction in our party either in Lagos or at the national level.

  • N18m Akpabio Classics prize money, highest in the world circuit

    N18m Akpabio Classics prize money, highest in the world circuit

    Despite a  review of the prize money for this year’s Godswill Akpabio International Scrabble Classics, the prize money of N18 million is still the highest in the world.

    The President of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation (NSC), Suleiman Gora said yesterday in Abuja, that despite a slight review of the prize monies the N18 million is the highest in the world, far above the World Championship that carries a  prize money of less than $30,000.

    Gora, who was trying to justify why the Ebola virus scare may not grossly affect the attendance of foreign players, said he was however happy to note that the star prize of $20,000  equaling about N3.3 million for the star winner in the Masters category was still intact.

    The second placed winner in the Masters category will earn $10,000 while the third place winner earns $7,272 up to 10 winners.

    In the intermediate category, there will be 10 winners with the first prize being $10,000, the second prize $5,454 and the third prize $3,030. There are also 10 winners in each of the Veterans and Open categories. The Open winner will smile home with $6,667, runner up $3,636 and the second runner up $1,818 same as the Veterans winners.

    At the prompting of the sponsor, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State Godswill Akpabio, there are also gender friendly prizes set aside to the tune of about N400,000.

    The best female Masters player will earn N100,000, the best female Intermediate player N80,000 and the best Open and Veterans female players will be paid N65,000  each, up to third places.

  • ‘Akwa Ibom not the highest revenue earner’

    ‘Akwa Ibom not the highest revenue earner’

    The Akwa Ibom State government has debunked the assertion that it is the highest revenue earner in Nigeria.

    The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Aniekan Umanah, said no state earns up to one per cent of the revenue.

    Umanah spoke with reporters yesterday in Uyo, the state capital.

    He said: “I will like to say that Akwa Ibom State is not the highest revenue earner in Nigeria. And like the governor would say, no state earns up to one per cent of the revenue. It is only the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that earns up to one per cent.

    “I want to say that we earn little or nothing compared to what we should ordinarily earn. But having said that, Akwa Ibom is doing big things; Akwa Ibom is putting its money into big projects.”

    Umanah, who also reacted to last week’s report  by a Federal Government agency showing N135.84billion allocation accrued to Akwa Ibom between January and June, said the state is running at a deficit.

    He said the N135billion was grossly inadequate compared to the gargantuan projects embarked upon by the Godswill Akpabio-led administration.

    Umanah said the greatest challenge faced by the administration is how to source for money to finance its key projects.

    “When you are talking about allocation-N135.84billion-it sounds big to you but it is not a lot of money when you are doing key projects. When you look at projects like the new international stadium, these are not bread and butter projects. These are quality projects that cost money.

    “You don’t build flyovers with N1 or N2. You don’t build underground tunnels with N2; you don’t dualise federal roads with N2; you build them with billions, so you put these monies into big projects. So the states you are mentioning, are they able to do these types of projects?”

    The commissioner said the much-touted N135.84billion was a “drop in the ocean” when juxtaposed with the over N400billion budget estimates which provides for 80 per cent capital expenditure and 20 per cent recurrent expenditure.

  • Deutche Bank’s boss: Nigeria offers highest rate of returns

    Deutche Bank’s boss: Nigeria offers highest rate of returns

    Compared with other emerging markets, Nigeria still offers the highest rate of returns to investors, Vice- Chairman, Deutche Bank Group, Mr Caio Koch-Weser, has said.

    The revelation from Deutche Bank Group chief came minutes after the Minister, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga yesterday confirmed that Nigeria and four Japanese firms are billed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) within the next few days.

    These disclosure were made at the Nigeria Investment Forum in Tokyo, Japan venue of the on-going World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) annual meetings.

    Mr Koch-Weser, whose bank has a branch in Nigeria, said: “Nigeria offers the rate of returns investors seek and it is the best in terms of returns in the emerging markets.”

    He said with a Gross Domestic Growth (GDP) growth of more than seven per cent, Nigeria is an investment destination that cannot be ignored. “It will be one of the winners in the last decade,” he added.

    Aganga, on his part, said the Japanese firms that are signing MoU with Nigeria have made commitments to invest in the country.

    The minister said Nigeria has made the investment environment conducive enough for any genuine foreign investor willing to do business in Nigeria, especially with various forms of tax holidays and other incentives.

  • Abacha’s son gets highest Ijaw title

    Abacha’s son gets highest Ijaw title

    THE Bayelsa State Government yesterday honoured Mohammed, son of former Military Head of State, the late Gen. Sani Abacha, with the highest title in Ijaw land.

    It bestowed on him the “Izon Ebidouwei of Ijawland.”

    The title means “One who seeks the good of Ijawland”.

    Mohammed was also presented with the flags of the Ijaw Nation.

    Mohammed was invited by the government to be part of the 16th anniversary celebration of the state.

    Bayelsa was created in 1996 by the late Abacha.

    At a dinner organised by the government marking the anniversary, Governor Seriake Dickson, in the company of other Ijaw leaders, conferred the title on Mohammed and also presented the state’s Coat of Arms and flag to the people.

    The event was held at the Banquet Hall of the Government House in Yenagoa on Monday night.

    The government had earlier named a 150-unit housing estate, the main auditorium of the newly inaugurated Ijaw House and a road in the state capital, after the late Abacha.

    Dickson said the state and the Ijaw Nation in general will continue to honour the late Abacha because of the bold step he took by creating Bayelsa state, a development he said has not only opened up Ijaw-land, but has made the Izon man proud.

    Dickson said Mohammed is now an indigene of the state and urged him to build a family house in the state