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Tag: Nigeria News

  • Shell opens fast-charging service for electric vehicles

    Shell opens fast-charging service for electric vehicles

    Oil major Royal Dutch Shell has launched a fast-charging service for electric vehicles at three Shell service stations near London and in northern England, the company said on Wednesday.

    The service, which charges most electric vehicle batteries from zero to 80 per cent within half an hour, is the oil major’s first foray into fast-charging electric vehicles.

    The service is set to grow with consumers’ demand for cleaner cars.

    Shell will expand the service further in Britain, the Netherlands and Philippines.

    The launch comes a week after Shell announced the acquisition of NewMotion, one of Europe’s largest electric- vehicle charging networks.

    “Shell believes electric vehicles will form a material part of the transport network going forward,” Jane Lindsay-Green, Shell UK Future Fuels Manager, told reporters.

    Shell projects that a quarter of the world’s car fleet would be electric by 2040, although there are currently fewer than 100,000 electric vehicles on the roads.

    Morgan Stanley estimates that one million to three million public charging points may be needed in Western Europe by 2030 to meet rising demand.

    Oil companies are increasingly aware of the threat to parts of their downstream business from electric transport.

    Shell rival BP said in August it was in talks with electric vehicle makers about partnering to offer charging stations at its retail sites.

    Customers using Shell Recharge pay 49 pence per kilowatt-hour (kWh) after the end of a promotional 25 pence-per-kWh offer until the end of June 2018.

    They pay using a mobile payment app that is subscription-free. The service will be available at 10 British locations by the end of the year.

    Shell already offers electric-vehicle charging through a partner scheme in Norway, and earlier this year, opened a hydrogen refuelling station in Britain.

    “This is a new space for Shell. We need to be exploring different opportunities.

    “We are starting small and are going to learn quickly. Then we are going to move in 2018 based on what our customers want.

    NAN

  • NCPC introduces award in CRK to school pupils

    NCPC introduces award in CRK to school pupils

    The Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission ( NCPC ) has introduced awards in CRK for the junior secondary 3 and senior secondary 2 classes of Loyola Jesuit College, Gidan Mangoro, Karu-Karshi Road, Abuja.

    Mr John Akume, Special Assistant to NCPC Boss, Rev. Tor Uja Executive Secretary of NCPC, explained that the award would be based on merit.

    Akume noted that the award would create a desire in the students to go for Christian Pilgrimage next year and beyond.

    He thanked the management of the schools for providing the platform for the Commission to sensitise the students on Christian Pilgrimage.

    “We want you to know about Christian pilgrimage so that you can go to Israel, Greece and Rome.

    “We intend to give the award to the best deserving students in those classes in Christian Religious Knowledge ( CRK ),’’ Akume said.

    Earlier, Mrs Victoria Ojogbane, Legal Adviser, NCPC told the students that there was a new paradigm shift in the way pilgrimage was being run.

    Ojogbane enjoined the students to develop interest in embarking on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

    She said that this could be possible if they were able to convince their parents of their desire to go on pilgrimage rather than going on holidays to Europe and America.

    In his remark, Mr. Sunny Udeh, Head of Mobilisation Department, NCPC, explained why pilgrimage was important to every Christian.

    Udeh further expatiated that pilgrimage would enable them to observe what was in Israel in terms of spiritual Biblical endowments.

    According to him, observation is key to advancement.

    “It will also help you to confirm that the stories in the Bible are true, not a figment of imagination”.

    He admonished them to have a desire to go to Israel.

    He further explained that pilgrimage would afford the students the opportunity to meet with other children from other nations and exchange ideas spiritually, economically, technologically and otherwise.

    Mr Udeh hinted that the Commission would work out the modalities with parents of the students and the school authority to come out with a template for the pilgrimage programme next year.

    He stressed that the Commission would continuously carry out its sensitisation drive to the schools.

    The NCPC’s sensitisation team included the Head of Media, Mr Celestine Toruka and the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Office, Mrs. Evelyn Farry Okuobeya.

    NAN

  • Reps task FG on extreme poverty eradication

    Reps task FG on extreme poverty eradication

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday called for effective implementation of programmes aimed at tackling extreme poverty in the country.

    The call was sequel to a unanimous adoption of an Urgent Motion of National Importance move by Rep. Muhammed Wudil (Kano-APC) at plenary.

    Moving the motion earlier, Wudil said UN General Assembly passed a resolution which adopted Oct. 17 as International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

    He said the 25th anniversary of the resolution was a wake-up call for governments across the world to rise up to the challenges of providing basic necessities of life.

    “Efforts of the Federal Government to eradicate poverty in Nigeria through the 2017 budgetary provision for the Special Intervention Fund to cater for unemployed youths, women empowerment and job creation has not impacted positively on the country,’’ he said.

    According to him, UN report on Nigeria’s Common Country Analysis (CCA) published in 2016 described the country as one of the poorest.

    The lawmaker said the report showed that over 80 million Nigerians or 64 per cent of the country’s population lived below 1.9 dollars a day.

    In his contribution, Rep. Mohammed Monguno (Borno-APC) said the North-East was the least developed zone in the country and that poverty was endemic in the zone.

    He said the only way to eradicate poverty in the zone was by conscious investment in agriculture for job and wealth creation.

    Also, Rep. Hulayat Omidiran (Osun-APC) said the South-West was equally feeling the pains of hardship.

    Omidiran said that the poverty in the land was unusual as the people now begged for food without shame, a situation hitherto, was unheard off in the zone.

    She said lawmakers representing the zone were also feeling the pinch of extreme poverty in the area.

    She therefore urged the Executive to ensure that the various poverty alleviation programmes got to the right beneficiaries.

    Also speaking, Rep. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Abia-PDP) said that in dealing with poverty, there was need to address the basic issues of infrastructure.

    She said government must fix the roads, hospitals, schools and other social amenities needed to raise the standard of living.

    Onyejeocha said that in a situation where government could not increase salary, cost of schools and hospitals could be subsidised to address extreme poverty.

    She said the house must insist on 100 per cent budget implementation, adding that 30 per cent implementation was not acceptable.

    In his contribution, Rep. Wale Raji (Lagos-APC) said a situation where less than 10 per cent of the nation’s populations control over 90 per cent of national resources was unacceptable.

    He said there was need to take a critical look at the managers of the economy with a view to ensure optimum performance.

    Raji called for upward review of minimum wage as a means to address extreme poverty in the country.

    The house urged government to promote the establishment of small and medium enterprises and to ensure the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ).

    NAN

  • Magu calls for bottom-up anti-corruption initiatives

    Magu calls for bottom-up anti-corruption initiatives

    Mr Ibrahim Magu, acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ), has called for anti-corruption initiatives at the grassroots level.

    Magu made the call on Tuesday while receiving an honorary award of excellence from a delegation of the National Association of Polytechnic Students ( NAPS ) which visited him in Abuja.

    He said in a statement by EFCC Spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, that there was need for education to be in the vanguard of teaching and awareness-creation on anti-corruption as a proactive measure to tackling the monster.

    The call came amid suggestions by anti-corruption campaigners that state and local governments are aloof in the ongoing anti-graft war.

    Mr Peter Adeyemi, Deputy President of Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), emphasised this point at an anti-corruption dialogue in Abuja in March.

    Adeyemi had said there was no evidence to show that the state and local governments were in support of the Federal Government’s war against graft.
    “If we are seriously fighting corruption as a nation, we must ensure that all strata of government keys in,” he said.

    “The invitation to curb corruption in Nigeria is open to everyone.

    “It is my desire for the Nigerian youth and indeed, everyone to partner with EFCC in this fight against corruption.

    “The celebration of corruption must stop as corruption is evil. We must join forces to combat this societal ill,” Magu said.

    The leader of the delegation, Jamilu Hassan of the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State, said the award was in recognition of Magu’s outstanding contribution to the war against corruption.

    NAN

  • Hillary Clinton says U.S. threats of war with North Korea ‘dangerous, short-sighted

    Hillary Clinton says U.S. threats of war with North Korea ‘dangerous, short-sighted

    Former U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday said “cavalier” threats to start war on the Korean peninsula were “dangerous and short-sighted”.

    Clinton, however, urged the U.S. to get all parties to the negotiation table.

    Clinton also called on China to take a “more out-front role” in enforcing sanctions against North Korea aimed at curbing its missile and nuclear development.

    “There is no need for us to be bellicose and aggressive over North Korea,” Clinton told the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul, stressing the need for more pressure on North Korea and diplomacy to bring Pyongyang to talks.

    Tension between Pyongyang and Washington has soared following series of weapons tests by North Korea and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

    “Picking fights with Kim Jong Un puts a smile on his face,” Clinton said, without mentioning Trump by name.

    Clinton also indirectly referred to Trump’s social media comments on North Korea, saying, “the insults on Twitter have benefited North Korea, I don’t think they’ve benefited the United States”.

    The war of words has seen Trump call the North Korean leader “little rocket man” on a suicide mission, and vow to destroy the country if it threatens the U.S. or its allies.

    In turn, the North called Trump “mentally deranged” and a “mad dog”.

    Talks between the adversaries have long been urged by China in particular, but Washington and its ally, Japan have been reluctant while Pyongyang continues to pursue a goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile to hit the U.S.

    On Tuesday, Deputy Secretary of State, John J. Sullivan, said the U.S. did not rule out the eventual possibility of direct talks with North Korea.

    The situation on the Korean peninsula was now touch-and-go point and a nuclear war may break out any moment”, North Korea’s Deputy UN Amb. Kim In Ryong had told a UN General Assembly committee on Monday.

    In Seoul, the vice foreign minister said South Korea was considering levying its own sanctions on the North, although no decision had yet been made.

    NAN

  • Amaechi inaugurates transport committee

    Amaechi inaugurates transport committee

    The Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, on Tuesday, inaugurated an 11-man Committee, Short Code *735# and social media App to curtail the menace of road transport related crimes.

    Amaechi, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said that the initiative would subsequently aid the creation of a long overdue database for the sector.

    The Minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sabiu Zakari, said that the Road Crime Control System (RCCS) project was conceptualised as a social service delivery programme in 2010.

    He said that the programme, which was created by Messrs 2TOC Solution Limited, was forwarded to the ministry by the Nigeria Police having realised that it would thrive best in the ministry.

    “The company has secured a code from the Nigerian Communication Commission ( NCC ), which is *735# for passengers to derive the driver’s Electronic Number(EN) to ascertain the authenticity of the genuine transport unions and their membership.

    “Having realised the importance of the solution, the Minister moved further and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Messrs 2TOC Solution and sought the collaboration of the critical and relevant stakeholders for effective implementation of the RCCS project.

    “The decision to set up the committee was reached as a result of the advice sought from the Federal Ministry of Justice.

    “Membership of the committee was draw from the relevant stakeholders with the mandate to map out a strategy for effective flag-off of the project,” he said.

    The minister urged the committee members to ensure that they come up with strategic recommendations towards a successful flag-off of the project due to the immense benefits it will bring to bear in the sector.

    Also speaking, Mr Benson Olatunji, Chief Executive Officer of Messrs 2TOC Solution Limited , said that the RCCS was targeted at providing platform through which the public can prevent themselves from falling victim of kidnapping.

    Olatunji said that every motor park approved and documented by the Road Safety Corps would be coded for the public to verify designated motor parks from illegal motor park operators.

    He said that the transport code was a policy tool to verify transport union and prevent passengers from entering unregistered vehicles.

    NAN

  • Qatar emir says open to dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis

    Qatar emir says open to dialogue to resolve Gulf crisis

    Qatar is “open to dialogue” in resolving a dispute that has seen the Gulf state isolated from its Arab neighbours, its emir said during a visit to Indonesia on Wednesday.

    Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic and trade ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of financing terrorism and maintaining too close of ties to their arch-rival Iran.

    Doha denies the charges.

    Qatari Emir Tamim Thani said he discussed the issue with President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, which has the world’s largest population of Muslims and has close ties to the Arab world.

    “We conveyed…that Qatar is ready to conduct a dialogue to solve the problem as we already know that no one will win,” Thani told reporters after meeting with Widodo at the state palace in Bogor, outside the capital of Jakarta.

    “We are all brothers and suffering because of this crisis,” he added.

    President Widodo did not publicly address the dispute.

    The leader of the world’s biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas also visited Malaysia, another Muslim-majority nation, and Singapore.

    Saudi and other Arab nations have made a list of 13 wide-ranging demands of Qatar, including closing down the Al Jazeera television network and curbing ties with Iran.

    Kuwait and top United States officials have attempted to mediate between the parties, but there is little sign that the crisis will be resolved soon.

    NAN

  • Police nab 10 suspects over various crimes in Enugu

    Police nab 10 suspects over various crimes in Enugu

    The Police Command in Enugu State said it had arrested 10 suspected criminals who had been terrorising the people of Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

    The Command’s Spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu, said this in a statement issued in Enugu on Wednesday.

    Amaraizu said that police operatives arrested the suspects when they raided some suspected black spots in the area on Monday.

    He noted that the arrest followed intelligence information given by some members of the public.

    “The command through the combined efforts of its operatives of Udenu Police Division, Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) and Anti Kidnapping, raided some suspected black spots in the council area and its environs.

    “During the raids, six suspects, who were suspected to have link with armed robbery and other related criminal activities were nabbed,’’ he said.

    According to him, they are currently helping police operatives in their investigations in relation to their nefarious activities.

    The spokesman also disclosed that the police operatives arrested additional four suspects who had in their possession, suspected Customs Service uniforms.

    “They are currently being investigated by operatives in connection with their nefarious activities with the Customs uniforms and other crimes,’’ he said.

    Amaraizu assured members of the public of the command’s readiness, in conjunction with sister security agencies in the state and relevant stakeholders, of their continued security and safety in the state.

    NAN

  • Senate summons Fayemi over Zamfara lead poisoning

    Senate summons Fayemi over Zamfara lead poisoning

    The Senate on Tuesday, summoned the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to appear before it and brief on the ministry’s mining roadmap and implementation framework.

    The minister is also expected to brief the upper chamber on how the ministry intended to ensure protection of the residents of mining host communities against lead poisoning and other hazards.

    This followed the resolution of the Senate sequel to a motion by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC-Lagos) and four other senators.

    The motion is on the “Update on Lead Poisoning in Zamfara and the need to prevent further propagation of the resources theory”.

    She said that the senate received with great distress, updates on lead poisoning which occurred in 36 villages and communities in Zamfara.

    “It was observed that besides Zamfara, mining host communities in states like Kogi, Niger and others have also been affected by the negative effects of mining practices.

    While noting that Nigeria did not qualify as a mining state, she said that the 2016 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) breakdown showed the mining sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP as abysmal.

    “It revealed that the nation’s mining sector is almost redundant, that the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Fayemi, is working to resuscitate the sector, and that the ministry has approved a mining roadmap.”

    In his contribution, Sen. Magnus Abe (APC-Rivers) urged the senate to make use of the opportunity to address the situation before what happened in the Niger Delta repeated itself.

    “This is how the situation in the Niger Delta started and the communities paid for it, because there are no laws in the country governing mining of minerals.

    “The institutions are weak and ineffective and sometimes, we have the institutions running over themselves doing the same thing and the communities suffering for it.

    “We have to use this opportunity to set it right before it gets out of hand and before we have another Niger Delta situation in this country,” Abe said.

    In his remarks, the Deputy President of the Senate, Mr Ike Ekweremadu, who presided at plenary, said that the senate must pursue its mandate by putting things right.

    “We are aware that a lot of illegal mining is going on and we must set things right,” he said.

    After the debate, the lawmakers mandated its Committee on Environment and Solid Minerals to visit the affected communities to ascertain the level of damage done and report back.

    The senate further directed committee to investigate the activities of the Ministry of Environment as it affected the mining sector.

    The upper chamber equally urged the minister to ensure adoption of safer mining methods by mining concerns.

    NAN

  • Alleged fraudulent bishop ends up in Enugu prison

    Alleged fraudulent bishop ends up in Enugu prison

    The Police Command in Enugu says a cleric, Bishop Ginika Obi, recently arrested over his alleged advance fee fraud involving over N500 million, has been remanded in Enugu Maximum Prison.

    The spokesman of the command, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, disclosed this in a statement issued in Enugu on Tuesday.

    The bishop whose church/office is at Km 111, Enugu-Port Harcourt highway, Enugu, had been alleged to have tricked many people to pay huge amounts of money to him.

    He was said to have claimed that he would help his victims reap bumper financial dividends in return.

    Amarizu said Obi was arraigned on Oct. 11 in an Enugu Federal High Court presided over by Justice A. Liman.

    He said the suspect had been in prison custody since Oct. 12 and that further hearing on his case had been scheduled for Nov. 1 and Nov. 2.

    “His offences ranging from conspiracy and advance fee fraud were committed in conjunction with others now at large.

    “On Oct. 11, he took his plea after his 82 count charges of conspiracy and advance fee fraud was read to him.

    “He was later remanded in police custody based on the plea of his defence counsel to be brought to court on Oct. 12 for further hearing.

    “He was later remanded in prison custody as he could not meet his bail conditions,’’ the command’s spokesperson said.

    Amarizu said that the suspect’s arrest and arraignment followed several petitions against him and others now at large for allegedly swindling unsuspecting members of the public.

    He said that the bishop and his alleged cohorts disappeared without traces until the command, through intelligence, closed up on him in a hotel in Enugu.

    NAN