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  • Police confirm abduction of Sokoto businessman, Tukur Sabaru

    The Police in Sokoto on Tuesday confirmed the abduction of a business man, Alhaji Tukur Sabaru by armed hoodlums.

    The Command Police Public Relations Officer(PPRO), Mr. Abubakar Sadik, said a distress call was put to Kwannawa police Station at about 2025hrs of Monday night.

    He revealed that armed hoodlums in their numbers attacked the residence of one Alhaji Tukur Sabaru of Sabaru village via D/Shuni LGA.

    READ ALSO: Catholic priest escapes abduction in Abia

    According to Sadik, reports gathered revealed that the hoodlums shot sporadically and abducted Sabaru.

    ” During the gun shots, two women were hit by stray bullets on the arm each,” he confirmed.

    The Command Image maker explained that the duo was rushed to the hospital where they are responding to treatment while efforts of the Police operatives are on top gear to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book.

  • Reps to revisit NGO control bill – Gbajabiamila

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, says the House would revisit the bill for an act to regulate the operations of Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs) in the country.

    Gbajabiamila made the announcement at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “There were disturbing revelations concerning operations of NGOs during the meeting of the House leadership and Service Chiefs last Monday,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was on the state of security in the North East.

    The speaker said that the bill which was sponsored by late Rep. Buba Jibrin (APC-Kogi) generated tremendous outcry from the general public.

    “I am sure even the NGOs will like this because they will not like a few giving all of them bad names,” he said.

    In a related development, the green chambers has urged the Federal Government to create a Special Security Fund for security agencies apart from the national budget.

    Read Also; NILDS building won’t be abandoned – Gbajabiamila

    This followed a unanimous adopted of a motion of urgent matters of public importance by Rep. Mohammed Mungonu (APC-Borno).

    Moving the motion, Monguno said that Nigeria in recent times had witnessed unprecedented level of insecurity.

    He said that the development had made national security a major issue for the government.

    The House, therefore, resolved that its leadership should interface with parliaments of other countries especially the United States with a view to granting Nigerian security agencies access to buy arms and ammunition.

  • Ten things you should know about yellow fever

    Months ago, there were reports over 40 persons had died from yellow fever outbreaks in different parts of the country.

    Yellow fever is caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites.

    The disease is vaccine-preventable and is not contagious and can only be spread through bites from mosquitoes carrying the virus.

    Yellow fever can be commonly found mostly in African countries where millions of people have been killed by the disease.

    Below are some facts you should know about yellow fever:

    * Vaccination is the best preventive measure against the deadly disease.

    * The disease is treatable if diagnosed early.

    * Symptoms take three to six days to develop and they include fever, chills, headache, backache and muscle aches.

    * About 15 per cent of people who get yellow fever develop serious illness that can lead to bleeding, shock, organ failure, and sometimes death.

    * Vaccines are advisable for people within six months to 49 years. If you are above 60, you might want to consult a medical expert before taking the vaccine.

    READ ALSO: Yellow fever: Bauchi to vaccinate 500,000 residents

    * The yellow fever vaccine can have serious and sometimes fatal side effects. People older than 60 years and people with weakened immune systems might be at higher risk of developing these side effects. Pregnant and nursing women are advised to talk to their doctor about whether getting the vaccine or not.

    * In some cases where vaccination is not available, prevention can be achieved through mosquitoes repellent.

    * Vaccination is compulsory for those travelling to Africa and some parts of South America.

    * People travelling to yellow fever risk countries are advised to receive the vaccine within 10 days of the trip so as to develop the immunity to protect them against the deathly disease.

    * 10. 99% percent of people who take the vaccines are protected within one month of vaccination and this appears to be life-long.

  • Senate awaits MTEF, Budget-Lawan

    Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said the Senate has resolved to await the presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) as well as the 2020 budget proposals to it by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Lawan, who spoke after an executive session of the Senate, also disclosed that all the 69 Standing Committees of the Senate would be inaugurated on Wednesday at plenary.

    The Senate had on resumption from its annual recess immediately went into an executive session.

    Lawan said that the Senate resolved during the executive session to inaugurate all its Standing Committees on Wednesday.

    He said that the Senate also resolved to await the presentation of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper as well as the 2020 budget proposals by the executive.

    READ ALSO: 9th Assembly: Ahmad Lawan storms NASS

    He however did not give a definite date when the two important communications from the executive would get to the National Assembly.

    Meanwhile Section 11 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act clearly stipulates that the MTEF/FSP “must not be submitted later than four months before the commencement of the next financial year.”

    Section 18 of the Act also provides that “the MTEF shall be the basis for the preparation of the estimates of revenue and expenditure required to be prepared and laid before the National Assembly under section 81 (1) of the Constitution.”

  • Auchi Polytechnic not closed-Management

    Management of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, has denied reports that it has shut down the institution due to cult -related killings.

    About five persons have been killed in a cult war that began last weekend.

    Spokesman for the institution, Musa Oshiobugie, statement said students are only on vacation.

    Oshiobugie said the reported cult killings and violence happened at Iyakpi, a community that is two kilometres away from Auchi.

    He said no student of the institution has been killed or injured in the violence.

    READ ALSO: Don’t tarnish image of Auchi Polytechnic, council warns staff

    According to the statement, “The polytechnic has been on holidays for the past one week when the students finished with their examinations and the hostels were vacated.

    “A school already on holiday cannot be shut. What appears to drive this rumour is a reported violent incident that occurred in Iyakpi, a town two kilometres from Auchi.

    “Preliminary reports show that no student of the polytechnic is among the reportedly dead.”

  • One killed, four injured as Customs clash with smugglers

    At least one person was killed while four others, including two custom officers and one soldier, sustained various degrees of injuries on Tuesday when operatives from the National Border Drill Operations comprising of personnel from Customs, Air force, Army ,Police and other paramilitary agencies, clashed with smugglers at the Jibia border in Katsina state.

    The Assistant Controller General of Customs and Sector 4 Coordinator of the operations, Bashir Abubakar, confirmed this newsmen.

    He maintained that closing the nation’s borders were also part of economic security measures and to complement the activities of conventional security agencies through joint operational network.

    READ ALSO: Row over death of two residents during customs, smugglers clash

    On the Jibia border clash with smugglers, he said following intelligent and covert operations report, they were led at about 1am to a warehouse that contained over 300 bales of smuggled clothing materials.

    He however said they were only able to remove 235 bales from the warehouse when the smugglers mobilised the villagers and attacked them

    He said: ‘’By the time our troops were leaving the Jibia warehouse, there was a shootout followed by attendant loss of lives caused by stray bullets.”

    While appealing for cooperation from members of the community and traditional rulers, he urged them to report the movements and activities of the smugglers warning them on the dangers of smuggling, human trafficking and cross border crimes

  • No evidence Abdulsalam is critically sick

    CLAIM: Former Head of States General Abdulsalam Abubakar is critically sick and has been flown abroad, a recent publication alleged.

    FALSE: Abubakar, who lives in Minna Niger state, was present at a lecture by his foundation in Minna last Saturday.

    Full Text

    A news report from “yahoournalist.com” stated former the former Head of States General Abdulsalam Abubakar is critically sick and has been flown abroad for medical treatment.

    The reporter claimed to have gotten the scoop from Jackson Ude, former Director of Strategy and Communication under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Ude on Thursday, September 19 tweeted: “Please pray for General Abdulsalami Abubakar. He is sick and hospitalised in a London Hospital.”

    Ude’s tweet gathered over 127 likes and 63 retweets. It should be noted that Ude is a prominent influencer with his followership ranging over 31,000 users. He has also been at the centre stage with respect to a lot of online activism in the country.

    Verification

    The Nation confirmed that Abubakar is in Niger state, Nigeria. He was at the second General Abdulsalam Abubakar Foundation annual Peace lecture in Minna on Saturday, September, less than 32 hours after the post circulated.

    The Former President was also at the Central mosque in Minna for the Jummat prayers on 20th September.

    Most of the worshippers who saw him attested that he was behind the Imam in the mosque during the prayers.

    One of the worshippers at the mosque, Abubakar Sani said:  “I observed my Jummat Service today at the Minna Central Mosque and saw the General behind the Chief Imam seated on a chair.”

    Conclusion – The news report is FALSE. Abubakar is not critically sick.

    This fact-check was done by a Dubawa Fact-checking Fellow in collaboration with The Nation.

  • Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Wins Maritime Awards in Dubai

    Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria (SHIN), the leading operator of the SHI-MCI fabrication and integration yard, has won a highly commended award for the contribution to the development of regional maritime Cluster at the prestigious Sea trade Maritime Awards Middle East, Indian Subcontinent & Africa held in Dubai on September 22, 2019.

    Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria has committed to empowering the African oil and gas industry through local content leadership. Prior to the construction of the company’s fabrication and integration yard in Lagos, customers in the regional oil and gas industry had to work outside of Africa.

    In order to complete the Egina FPSO project, significant investment was needed to develop a local workforce and facilities.

    These have become the core of a world-class marine construction capability that benefits all shipping and marine construction and maintenance companies in the region with greater access to opportunities as well as providing economic stimulus to the whole West African region.

    The Sea trade Maritime Awards are recognised internationally as the most influential in the industry with a very robust selection process led by independent judging panels consisting of CEOs from maritime companies around the world.

    An impressive list of nominees was shortlisted, from over 120 entries across 20 countries, made it to 2019’s shortlist.

    Over 200 industry and governmental representatives from attended the award ceremony across Africa, the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent.

    Commenting on the award, Managing Director of Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria, Mr. Jejin Jeon, said “it is a great honour to be recognised for our contribution to the development of the Regional Maritime Cluster in Africa. Empowering the African oil and gas and maritime industry in practice means developing the capacity to deliver world-class work locally. We hope the SHI-MCI yard with its international standard marine construction capability can play a role in stimulating even more opportunities”.

    Samsung was the only nominee from Africa to be listed for four individual awards.

    READ ALSO: Samsung’s nominations for Dubai’s award places Nigeria on global maritime map

    This Maritime Cluster award is an encouraging acknowledgement of the significant work SHIN has done in initiating collaboration with the Nigerian government and local partners to improve the profile of Nigeria as the most advanced integration and fabrication hub in Africa. The company has already been receiving worldwide recognition, winning multiple national and international awards for its dedication in bringing about economic and local talent development. It has received notable accolades from the Nigerian Content Board, NOGOF and Africa Assembly Paris hosted by World Energy Council.

    The judges noted that Samsung Heavy Industries Nigeria Limited was commended for its contribution to the development of maritime cluster award, they also took a moment to congratulate Samsung for being shortlisted for the awards.

    After successfully delivering the Egina, the world’s largest FPSO, SHIN’s next focus is to widen its integration and fabrication work for the on- and off-shore oil & gas industry as well as power and infrastructure projects. The high profile generated from this award will also drive increased interest among the maritime industry into the immense potential and capability of Nigeria and indeed the whole West African region, showing what they have to offer to international customers.

    This will continue to stimulate local employment, on going talent development and vocational training to continue performing at international standards.

  • UPDATED: $9.6b verdict: Senate summons AGF Malami, others

    The Senate on Tuesday summoned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami to brief it on the details of the $9.6billion judgement awarded against Nigeria and the details of the 2010 Gas contract to the Process and Industrial Development (P&ID) Limited.

    This followed a motion for a matter of urgent public importance moved by the Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District.

    Also to appear before relevant committees of the Senate on the matter include officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and professional arbitrators engaged on behalf of the Federal Government in that regard.

    In his lead debate, Senator Bamidele who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, noted that the motion was for the need to invite the Honorable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami and other relevant stakeholders to brief relevant committees of the Senate on the award of $9.6billion against the Federal Government of Nigeria, by a United Kingdom Court in the matter of P&ID – Process & Industrial Development Limited versus Federal Government of Nigeria.

    He called on the Senate to note with concern that “Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora have become apprehensive while several committees of the Senate have over the last few weeks received several petitions and other direct and circumstantial information on the ongoing legal imbroglio involving the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and by extension the Federal Government of Nigeria and the United Kingdom firm known as Process and Industrial Development Limited, hereinafter referred to as P&ID.”

    He urged the Senate to be aware that in January 2010, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, acting on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria executed a Gas supply processing agreement with P&ID whereby Nigeria was to supply zero cost natural gas to P&ID through a pipeline to be constructed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to P&ID processing facility.

    He said that under the terms of the TSPA which had a tenor of 20 years, from the date of first supply of wet Gas, P&ID had an obligation to process the wet gas and deliver the derivative to the Federal Government free of charge for power generation while taking any other residual liquid itself at no cost.

    He said that based on the facts of the case, P&ID served a notice of arbitration on the Federal Government in 2012 on the ground that Nigeria repudiated its obligation under the terms of the TSPA by defaulting to make wet Gas available to it.

    He said that the Senate is also aware that a commercial court in the United Kingdom in the suit referred to has ruled that the Federal Government must pay the British firm – Process and Industrial Development Limited – a sum of $9.6billion or have its assets to the tune of that amount forfeited.

    He urged the Senate to be alarmed that the UK Court’s decision converted the subsequent arbitral award into a domestic judgement against the Federal Republic of Nigeria thereby creating a situation where Nigeria’s asset around the world, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States of America risk being taken over by P&ID or its agents.

    He lamented that the damages awarded to P&ID were “manifestly excessive, exorbitant, punitive and a big threat to the economic well-being and security of Nigeria.”

    He added: “The Senate is deeply concerned that the issues arising from the default aforesaid as well as the consequential arbitration, court proceedings and the ensuing award against Nigeria have thus far been concealed from the Senate and the entire National Assembly.”

    Read Also: Senate to inaugurate Standing Committees Wednesday

    He observed that the principal role of the National Assembly, is among others, “to undertake oversight of all government ministries, departments and agencies or amend subsisting laws of the Federation of Nigeria, for the proper functioning and good governance of the country which power is derived from the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”

    Senator Opeyemi prayed the Senate to invite the “Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation and other relevant stakeholders, including officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and professional arbitrators engaged on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria in this regard to comprehensively brief the Senate Committees on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Petroleum Resources (Upstream and Downstream), Gas Resources and Power on the details of the 2010 contract with P&ID as executed, reasons for the default as well as the handling of resultant negotiations, arbitration, court proceedings and steps being taken to resolve the matter in the overall best interest of the Nigerian economy and security of the nation’s assets at home and abroad.”

    However, citing order 53 (5) of the Senate Standing Rules, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege cautioned his colleagues to limit their contributions on the motion which is to invite AGF and other relevant government agencies to brief the Senate as the matter is presently awaiting judicial decision.

    The only prayer of the motion was unanimously approved when it was put to vote by the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.

    Lawan added that the judgement $9.6billion awarded against Nigeria is one reason the country needs to strengthen its diplomatic engagements with other countries.

  • DPR shuts down three illegal gas plants in A’Ibom

    The Eket Field Office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has shut down three illegal gas plants in Ikot Ekpene local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    The Operations Controller of the Department, Mr Tamunoiminabo Kingskey- Sunday, who disclosed to journalists on Tuesday, said the shut down exercise took place last week..

    “Last week in the cause of our surveillance activities, we notice three illegal gas plants found within Ikot Ekpene axis.

    “These are gas plants that they just brought gas vessels and they planted them just to do business in spite of the dangers impose to people’s property, environment and danger to life,” he said.

    He said that those illegal gas plants lack and does not have standard facilities like engineering, safety, earth and environment.

    “Before the DPR will give you an approval or license, there are certain engineering and standard you must achieved.

    READ ALSO: DPR seals 12 filling stations in Sokoto, Kebbi

    “You just don’t come and run a facility, you must have an international standard and they are business that are governed with same code and same standard,” kingsley-Sundaye said.

    Kingsley- Sunday said that the department had written to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to enforce law and order to the illegal gas plants if operational.

    He explained that any illegal gas plants owners that does not comply with International Standard would be arrested and possibly prosecuted in the state.

    He advised gas plants owners to ensure that their plants meet up the minimum standard and guidelines of doing business in the state.

    The Operations Controller appealed to owners of gas plants to get details that gives impetus to DPR in order to grant them license and approval to operates.
    Kingsley-Sundaye thanked NSCDC for their support towards achieving the objectives of the department.