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  • Employment Scam: DSS warns public

    Employment Scam: DSS warns public

    The Department of State Services ( DSS ) has warned members of the public against the activities of fraudsters as regards employment into the service.

    A statement issued by an operative of the service, Mr Tony Opuiyo, on Thursday in Abuja, said it was not currently employing or carrying out any form of exercise in that regard.

    Opuiyo said some fraudulent persons and groups were extorting money from unsuspecting members of the public with the promise to employ them into the service.

    “The Service wishes to state for the umpteenth time that it is not currently employing or carrying out any form of exercise in that regard,” he said.

    He said that the service does not charge money for the purpose of recruitment.

    Opuiyo advised the public to be wary of these fraudulent persons and groups whose stock in trade remained the spread of falsehood and engagement in impersonation.

     He warned that the Service would not hesitate to deal decisively in accordance with the law with anyone caught in the act of impersonating it.

    The official enjoined members of the public to pass relevant information relating to the nearest Service Command, while efforts were being sustained at uncovering the network of these fraudsters.

    NAN

  • Supply shortfall cause of fuel scarcity – Kachikwu

    Supply shortfall cause of fuel scarcity – Kachikwu

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, says the major cause of the fuel scarcity currently being witnessed across the country is shortfall in supply of petroleum products.

    Kachikwu, who stated this in a news briefing on Thursday in Abuja, however, said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) was making efforts to ensure that queues at filling stations disappeared in a couple of days.

    “Presently, queues in Lagos have reduced. We know that Lagos, Abuja, Benue, Port Harcourt were among the worst-hit areas.

    “Benue has been dealt with; Port Harcourt is quite moderated. Apart from these areas, other places in the country are probably liquid.

    “The major problem is the gap in terms of volume, because NNPC is the only one importing the product to the country,” he said.

    The minister assured that there was adequate storage facility for imported products, adding that emergency measures were in place to ensure that the products were available during the Yuletide and post-January.

    He said that four vessels laden with petroleum products would “berth in a few days and a total of 20 cargoes are also expected with petroleum products’’.

    Kachikwu said that the NNPC had, as at Wednesday, discharged products at its depots, adding that emergency supply, quick truck delivery and stricter monitoring were measures adopted to ensure that queues disappeared.

    He added that NNPC would use additional trucking to major cities using strategic reserves from Suleja, Minna, Gusau and Gombe.

    This, he said, would help to service Abuja, Kano and Sokoto axis to feed the North-West, North-East.

    “I have asked the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency to ensure stricter sanctions on any station that refuses to abide by the rules.

    “They need to take a firm action to ensure that we get quick results,’’ he said.

    Kachikwu further assured that the market would be flooded with more products to cushion effects of over-subscription through Kaduna refinery production, adding that Port Harcourt was expected to start producing 2.1 million litres of petrol per day.

    He said that it was expected that with the adopted strategies, the queues would “slide down’’ in one week.

    On long-term strategy, he said that ultimate result would come when the refineries resumed optimal production.

    The minister said that work would commence effectively in the refineries in January.

    Executive Secretary of DPR, Mr Modecai Ladan, said that many sanctions awaited filling stations found compromising the dispensing process, warning that the stations would be shut down or charged N275 per litre.

    He said that any station found hoarding products would either be sealed or its product auctioned or dispensed free-of-charge to consumers.

    Ladan added that depending on the offence, defaulters may be shut down for six months or blacklisted.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a drive round Abuja metropolis and highways revealed that only a few filling stations were opened for operation, serving long queues.

    NAN

  • Charge d’Affaires – Some Nigerians unwilling to return from Libya

    Charge d’Affaires – Some Nigerians unwilling to return from Libya

    Charge d’Affaires of Nigeria in Libya, Mr Illiya Fachano, says some Nigerians in Libya have refused to be repatriated inspite of the “unfavourable situations.”

    Fachano revealed on Thursday that  “not all of them (Nigerians) want to come back home”.

    “Before you can assist them, they will have to sign a consent form, after which emergency travel certificates are issued.

    “I want the public to know that we have some Nigerians who are not willing to return inspite of the unfavourable situations and the fact is that we can’t get them on the flight without their consent”.

    “Migration is a natural and has always happened but becomes an issue when there are people migrating illegally meaning the migrants arrive without proper documentations and conceal their identity.

    “What we do is identify the Nigerians in the camps, register them then issue them an emergency travel certificate but those who happen to be sick get medical treatments before being confirmed to fly.

    “The Internationl Organisation for Migration ( IOM ) has rallied support of the European nations and particularly Italy for the Libyan Coast Guards who are particularly ordered to prevent boats that smuggle migrants and refugees from Libya to Europe.

    “The fact that the coast guards at the Mediterranean Sea are professionally trained and well funded by the EU, they have captured many people who are trying to illegally cross to Europe and returned them to Libya.

    “Unfortunately, we have noticed that in every batch of people brought back to Libya from Europe or the Mediterranean Sea, a larger number of the migrants come from Nigeria because of our population causing us to have much more Nigerians to be repatriated,’’ he said.

    The charge d’affaires said it is worrisome that with all the efforts of the government to rescue stranded migrants, more Nigerians are still trying to go to these places hoping that they will be lucky in achieving their European dream.

    Read also: 3250 have been repatriated from Libya – FG

    The Federal Government said yesterday, that it has so far identified 2,778 Nigerians trapped in the Libyan detention camps.

    Of this figure, government said 250 were repatriated on December 5.

    So far the government said 3,250 have so far returned from the Libyan enclave.

    Foreign Affairs ministry spokesman, Tiwatope Elias-Fatiile, said that the 2778 were Nigerians

    identified in detention camps that embassy officials had been visiting.

    Those registered in these camps, the spokesman said, While the government indicated that the repatriation exercise was a continuous exercise.

    The government said it would continue to engage the legitimate government in Libya and other stakeholders in addressing the plight of Nigerian migrants in that country.

    NAN

     

  • 3250 have been repatriated from Libya – FG

    3250 have been repatriated from Libya – FG

    The Federal Government said 3250 Nigerians have so far been repatriated from Libya in recent times.

    This is even as 300 other Nigerians are to be repatriated from Libya every week.

    Charge d’Affaires of Nigeria in Libya, Mr Illiya Fachano revealed this in an interview and said government continue to make efforts to save Nigerians that are trapped in Libya.

    “We, the embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli, Libya, have been doing our best to register Nigerians.

    “We have visited  the detention camps, and also collaborated with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to repatriate migrants weekly.

    “We also ensure that we are up to date with the number of Nigerians in specific detention camps.

    “I want it to be clear that the mission and Nigerian government have been doing this long before the CNN report.’’

    “We have asked the Nigerian presidency to provide us with an extra airplane to assist with quick repatriation of registered Nigerians who are willing to return.

    “I want the public to know that we have some Nigerians who are not willing to return despite the unfavorable situations and the fact is that we can’t get them on the flight without their consent.

    Fachano said that the  repatriation exercise would wont  be a temporary thing – as he promised it would be a continuous exercise.

    He said that the government would continue to engage the legitimate government in Libya and other stakeholders in addressing the plight of Nigerian migrants in that country.

    Read also: Obasanjo condemns resurgence of slavery in Africa

    The Foreign Ministry has urged citizens to reach the Nigerian Embassy in Libya for assistance through these emergency numbers: +218910144487, +218925099384 and +218917953365.

    “The contact email addresses for the embassy and the ministry are: nigeria@nigeriantripoli.org and help@foreignaffairs.gov.ng.

    The ministry said that the embassy had received requests for intervention from some relations of the victims based in Nigeria through these contacts.

    NAN

  • Obasanjo condemns resurgence of slavery in Africa

    Obasanjo condemns resurgence of slavery in Africa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Thursday, condemned the resurgence of slavery in some parts of Africa, saying that the development was worrisome.

    Speaking at the 2017 Annual Conference of the Comptroller General of Immigration held at the MITROS Residences in Abeokuta, Obasanjo said that slave trade in the 21st century should be condemned in the strongest  term possible.

    The theme for the conference was : ” Managing Migration and Facilitating Trade and Development in 21st Century Nigeria : NIS’ Perspective”.

    The former president noted that the current development in Africa should be a sober reflection for African leaders.

    He explained that the leaders must feel a sense of regret on what they ought to do, what they had done and what they had not done.

    “I believe that slave trade in the 21st century should be condemned in the strongest language possible and nobody who is involved in it should be excused.

    “What can we do and what must we do? We must ensure that conducive atmosphere is created for genuine exchange of goods and ensure development within our country, sub-region, continent and the world which we live.

    “But then today, migration has a very nasty connotation particularly when you watch the television and you hear the story of thousands of our youths daring to go through the desert.

    “Then after they have embark on such perilous  journeys, some of them are sold as slaves. Slaves in the 21st century, Africans being sold by Africans and maybe to Africans.

    “All of us as leaders must feel a sense of regret and have sober reflection on what we have done or what we have not done to bring this about to our own people, ” he said.

    Obasanjo, charged the men of the NIS  to imbibe the culture of training, professionalism, integrity, loyalty, and service, saying that all these must not be taken for granted.

    Read also:Politics not about life and death – Obasanjo

    In his address, the Comptroller – General of NIS , Muhammad Babandede, said that the service was committed to safe and regular migration of Nigerian citizens and foreigners.

    He disclosed that the current issue being witnessed  in Libya was not new to the NIS and it had regularly engaged in measures and activities to reduce the menace.

     

    Earlier, Gov. Ibikunle Amosun who declared the conference open, also condemned the resurrection of slave trade in Libya, saying that African leaders should rise to condemn the act.

    Amosun charged all the participants at the conference to see the programme as an avenue to brainstorm and come up with practical solutions that would be of benefits to the Nigerians and the country.

    NAN

  • Farmer docked for stealing transformer cable

    Farmer docked for stealing transformer cable

    A 22-year-old farmer, Rasheed Falere, was on Thursday brought before an Iyaganku Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for allegedly stealing a transformer cable worth N1m.

    Falere, of the Local Authority School area, New Eruwa, Eruwa town is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, ASP Sunday Ogunremi, told the court that Falere allegedly conspired with others now at large to commit the offences.

    Ogunremi said Falere was alleged to have stolen the transformer cable, valued at N1,000,000 property of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company.

    He said the offence was committed on Nov.17, at about 4:30 a.m. at opposite motor park, Maya, via Lanlate.

    Ogunremi said the offences contravened Sections 516 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him in court.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mr Abdulateef Adebisi, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.
    Adebisi, thereafter, adjourned the case till Jan. 31, and ordered that the case should be transferred to Lanlate.

    NAN

  • Fayose approves N200m car loan for workers

    Fayose approves N200m car loan for workers

    Gov. Ayo Fayose of Ekiti on Thursday approved the disbursement of over N200 million as car loan to 645 workers in the state’s service.

    The State Commissioner for Finance, Chief Toyin Ojo, said that the loans would be disbursed to beneficiaries in sums ranging from N80,000  to N1.5 million.

    According to Ojo, the amount accruing to each individual depends on their status and grade level.

    “I just want to affirm the commitment of this administration to the welfare of workers.

    “As we speak, since the inception of this administration, N896.8 million has been given out as car loans to 2,942 workers in the state not counting the just disbursed loans.

    “Also, 2,165 workers have received N490,730,000 as housing loans during the same period.

    “It must be noted that government’s gesture is in spite of the paucity of funds in the state occasioned by the general economic downturn and dwindling allocation from the federation account,’’ the commissioner said in a statement.

    Read also: Fayose presents N98b budget

    He advised the loan beneficiaries to make the most use of it, and cautioned them against spending the loan on items that would not add value to their lives.

    Ojo solicited the continued support of workers for government’s efforts to improve their lot and develop the state.

    The commissioner said that the state’s workforce was the engine-room of government.

    He stressed that it would be difficult for the government to achieve its set goals without the workers’ support and dedication to duties.

    NAN

  • Man jailed three months for drug peddling

    Man jailed three months for drug peddling

    A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a 32-year-old man, Shola Adewuyi, to three months imprisonment for dealing in 33.3g of hemp.

    The convict faced a charge of dealing in restricted narcotics, brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA )

    Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo sentenced Adewuyi after he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Oguntoyinbo held that the accused was guilty as charged.

    “You are hereby sentenced to three months imprisonment, beginning from the date of your arrest,’’she said.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, Mr Jeremiah Aernan, had told the court that the accused committed the offence on September 22 at Coker Estate, Shasha Egbeda, Lagos.

    He said the accused was caught with about 33.3 g of Cannabis Sativa, popularly known as hemp.

    According to the prosecutor, the offence contravened the provisions of Section 11 (c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation, 2004.

    In his review of the facts of the case, Aernan tendered in evidence a written statement of the accused, the hemp, a request for scientific aid form and a drug analysis form as exhibits.

    The court, accordingly, admitted and marked them as exhibits.

    Before his sentence, the accused had begged the court to temper justice with mercy, promising that he would never commit such crime again if pardoned.

    NAN

  • Pope Francis calls for change in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’

    Pope Francis calls for change in ‘The Lord’s Prayer’

    Pope Francis has said the Roman Catholic Church should adopt a better translation of the phrase “lead us not into temptation” in the ‘The Lord’s Prayer,’ the best known prayer in Christianity.

    “That is not a good translation,” the pope said in a television interview on Wednesday night.

    Francis said the Catholic Church in France had decided to use the phrase “do not let us fall into temptation” as an alternative and indicated that it or something similar should be applied worldwide.

    Read also:Pope Francis prays for peace in Nigeria

    The prayer, also called ‘Our Father’, is part of Christian liturgical culture and memorized from childhood by hundreds of millions of Catholics.

    It is a translation from the Latin vulgate, which was translated from ancient Greek, which was in turn translated from Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus.

    Liturgical translations are usually done by local Churches in coordination with the Vatican.

    NAN

  • Egypt ‘s court sentences 13 terrorists to death

    Egypt ‘s court sentences 13 terrorists to death

    Egypt ’s Giza Criminal Court on Thursday ordered that 13 convicts be  executed  for launching terrorist attacks against security forces, official MENA news agency reported.

    The convicts were from a disbanded militant group that referred itself as Ajnad Misr (Soldiers of Egypt).

    They were charged with installing explosive devices.

    The explosive devices targeted various venues which included checkpoints, police stations, vital institutions and public properties as well as murdering policemen and citizens.

    On October 8, Giza Criminal Court referred the files of the 13 defendants to the country’s highest religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for his non-binding Islamic legal opinion on their execution.

    The case started in July 2014 and it includes 44 defendants in total.

    The execution verdict comes about two weeks after a terrorist attack against a mosque in North Sinai killed at least 310 Muslim worshippers and wounded over 120 others.

    This is the deadliest terror operation and the first against a Muslim mosque in Egypt’s modern history.

    Egypt has been fighting against a wave of terror activities that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers since the military toppled former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.

    This came as a response to mass protests against his one-year rule and his currently blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group.

    Terror attacks in Egypt focused on targeting police and military men in North Sinai before spreading nationwide and targeting the Coptic minority as well, with most of them claimed by a Sinai-based group loyal to the regional Islamic State (IS) militant group.

    Ajnad Misr pledged allegiance to the IS in 2014, a year before its founder was killed as announced by the Egyptian police in April 2015.

    Meanwhile, the Egyptian military and police have killed hundreds of militants and arrested a similar number of suspects as part of the country’s anti-terror war declared by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, the army chief then, following Morsi’s removal.

    NAN