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  • Police dismiss rumour of bomb scare in Jos

    Police dismiss rumour of bomb scare in Jos

    The Police Command in Plateau on Thursday dismissed rumour of a bomb scare at the terminus area of Jos township.

    The command’s Spokesman, ASP Terna Tyopev, made the denial in a statement made available to newsmen in Jos.

    He assured that the police would continue to secure lives and property in the state.

    ‘‘On Feb. 14 at about 5.30 p.m., a distress call was received from the officer in charge of our Terminus outstation that a nine-year-old boy, simply known as Hashiru, was seen with a parcel suspected to be an Improvised Explosive Device ( IED ).

    ‘‘On receipt of the information, our Explosive Ordinance Disposal ( EOD ) Operatives were mobilised to the scene.

    ‘‘They professionally carried out EOD rendering safe procedure on the suspected parcel which was later found to be a hair clipper and a pair of scissors without trace of explosive,’’ he said.

    Tyopev said the situation created panic among members of the public within the vicinity, but for the timely response of police team who restored public confidence.

    The spokesperson advised residents of the area to go about their lawful businesses, saying there was nothing like bomb scare.

    He, however, urged residents of the state to be security conscious and report any suspected movements in and around their vicinity to the security agencies.

    NAN

  • Kachikwu directs NNPC to clear fuel queues in Abuja before Sunday

    Kachikwu directs NNPC to clear fuel queues in Abuja before Sunday

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, on Thursday directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure that petrol queues were cleared in Abuja before Sunday.

    Kachikwu gave the directive at a world news conference to intimate journalists on the upcoming international oil and gas conference and exhibition tagged the Nigerian International Petroleum Summit (NIPS).

    According to Kachikwu, the queues have been persistent because logistics and policy issues that could end the scarcity are largely unaddressed.

    “I can tell you behind the scenes, a lot of meetings are taking place because the fuel queue issue is both logistics and policy issues.

    “We will need to address fundamental policy issues to enable it go away especially in the area where the pricing is showing differentials between the landing and sales price.

    “The president is obviously very committed to keeping the price of petrol at where it is because he realises and sympathises with the sufferings of Nigerians.

    “I will hate for my colleagues to come and see the fuel queues so my directive to NNPC would be to get these queues out of Abuja.

    “The NNPC is working round the clock on this;p if you remember when this first started in December, it was a lot more massive.

    “Lagos is fuel queue-free and a lot of the state capitals are. Abuja is still struggling because of the logistics issues.

    “I haven’t gone round today but when I went round yesterday there was a huge improvement and I will be instructing the NNPC to do whatever it takes to ensure there are no queues next week.

    “Quite frankly, they will have to do whatever it takes to get this eliminated in Abuja.

    Read Also: Kachikwu reitrates FG commitment to exploring energy sources in river basins

     

    “That is the directive I will be sending to the NNPC and let them work night and day to put a lot more efforts in trying to do this,’’ Kachikwu said.

    The minister urged Nigerians to be patient about the fuel situation as there was a lot of “efficiency re-engineering’’ going on.

    He said the maiden NIPS conference, which would begin on Feb. 18 and end on the feb. 23 will help Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to build its capacities and competitiveness.

    On the recent rebound of Shale oil, Kachikwu explained that the bullish price rise that the oil market witnessed on the back of production cuts agreements did not worry Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

    He said the slight drop in crude oil prices was not enough for OPEC to become reactionary.

    “In terms of the price, I don’t think we need to be panicky about it; we hit an all-time 70 dollars per barrel in December which was a surprise to all of us.

    “We are not ruffled by it, I know it has come down to highest 60 dollars now.

    “Shale has got to be active and we know whenever we are in excess of 65 dollars, Shale gets very active because the fundamentals become much more supportive to Shale investments.

    “I’ve always said that OPEC needs to just focus on it and what it needs to do, and forget what is happening in Shale.

    “Every OPEC producer must work hard to be a least cost producer because the truth is that if Shale can produce at 65 dollars, there is absolutely no reason why we should be struggling.

    “So, upper 60 dollars is not too bad; we moved from 27 and 28 dollars; let’s not begin to complain, it is a bit too early. These things fluctuate,” Kachikwu explained.

    NAN

  • PHEDC distributes energy-saving bulbs to A’Ibom community

    PHEDC distributes energy-saving bulbs to A’Ibom community

    In a bid to cut down on energy consumption by its customers, the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHEDC) on Thursday distributed power-saving bulbs to Mbiatok community in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom state.

    Speaking at the distribution ceremony, Mr Godwin Orovwiroro, Head Customer Service, PHEDC said that the LED bulb consumed less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs.

    Orovwiroro said that the LED bulb has a minimum lifetime of 10, 000 hours or five years, stressing that every household should use it to save energy.

    He said that the immediate impact of distributing energy saving bulbs would save 32 per cent savings of the current consumption for the average household every month.

    “While incandescent bulbs are cheaper, it has the disadvantage of converting most of the electric energy into heat rather than light.

    “It wastes energy and contributes to energy deficiencies in Nigeria,” he said.

    According to him, the company embarked on the energy efficiency bulb exchange pilot project in the community to save electricity consumption and lower bills.

    He added that the energy efficiency bulb exchange project would lower load pressure on the distribution network and downtime.

    The head of customer service said that the company intends to partner some government agencies to expand the LED bulb exchange project to other communities in the state in the next few weeks.

    He said, “This pilot project shall witness the exchange of LED bulbs free of charge in this community to replace inefficient incandescent bulbs.

    Read Also: Why we should invest in solar  energy

    “Since Mbiatok-Itam Community is served by a transformer substation, reducing the load on this substation would allow other communities elsewhere without electricity to use the electricity saved by your communities and make you to pay less.”

    He appealed to consumers to always remember to switch off their appliances to save energy while leaving their homes.

    Responding on behalf the community, the village Head, Chief Ndiyo Okpokang, thanked the electricity company for the kind gesture.

    He assured that the community would do their best in the area of paying their bills regularly.

    The village head called on the electricity company to ensure regular supply of light to commensurate with the bills supplied.

    The highpoint of the event was exchange of incandescent bulbs with the LED bulbs in the Chief palace.

  • Trump describes Florida school gunman as ‘mentally disturbed

    Trump describes Florida school gunman as ‘mentally disturbed

    U.S. President Donald Trump in his tweets on Thursday called the suspected gunman in the massacre of 17 people at a high school in southern Florida “mentally disturbed”.

    The 19-year-old, identified as Nikolas Cruz, was due in court on Thursday.

    He was arrested after Wednesday’s shooting spree in Parkland, Florida, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the former student had previously been expelled for what school officials said were “disciplinary reasons.”

    “So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behaviour,” Trump tweeted.

    Read Also: Trump urges Israel to ‘Be very careful’ with building settlements

    “Neighbours and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!”

    The White House said Trump would speak publicly about the “tragic shooting” at 11 am (1600 GMT).

    Authorities said 15 people were hospitalized with injuries suffered in the attack, which occurred late in the school day.

    Police said the gunman opened fire with an AR-15 rifle after setting off a fire alarm in the school, 75 kilometres north of Miami.

    NAN

  • Ex-Airways staff raises alarm over FG’s N45b entitlements

    Ex-Airways staff raises alarm over FG’s N45b entitlements

    A former staff of the defunct Nigeria Airways, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, has raised alarm over the N45 billion approved by the Federal Government to offset the entitlements of the staff of the former national carrier.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, in December, last year,  approved the payment of the former staff of the Nigeria Airways, and ordered that the payment be done before Christmas.

    But up till now, the payment is yet to be actualised, situation that made the beneficiaries to cry out.

    In a petition he wrote to the Federal Government, and obtained by The Nation in Kano , yesterday, Yusuf alleged that some highly-placed government officials have formed a bogus union in the name of the bonafied staff of the Nigeria Airways to sabotage the payment.

    According to him, no staff union existed in Nigeria Airways since its liquidation, noting that no one had the right to hide under the guise of any union to extort them of their legal money.

    The former District Manager of Nigeria Airways, Kano office, also alleged that it was the antics of the saboteurs that caused the delay in payment of the entitlements, noting that the situation had inflicted untold hardship on the staff,  who had been waiting for the payment for many years.

    Narrating his ordeal, Yusuf disclosed that he had spent 17 years without earning salary after he was allegedly suspended by the Federal , adding that after he filed a lawsuit, the Federal High Court delivered judgement in his favour.

    “In the first instance, the N45 out of N78 billion said to have been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for payment of the Nigeria Airways Staff entitlement is their legitimate right. Any Government officials involved in the handling of this assignment has their approved salaries and due allowances.

    “And any Union being selfishly and wrongly being patronized by some government officials exists legally only when the Nigeria Airways exists as an Airline. By implication of Liquidation,  therefore both Nigeria Airways and house unions do no longer exist legally.Therefore have no right to have an economic share out of the money whatsoever.

    “It is the selfish personal economic interest of some highly placed government officials here and there and the so called Nigeria Airways union that are responsible for the delay, untold hardship and unmeasured death of the Nigeria Airways Staff.

    “In fact, the situation of Nigeria Airways staff and their families is so pathetic to any human being having human thought.

    “For instance, in view of the large family I have, apart from salt and pepper there is no bag of any food stuff that could last for more than 2 weeks in my house, but having living for 17 years without salary, and  without committing any offence.  I received my last salary in December, 1999. Just  Because I was wickedly suspended unjustifiably but the Federal High Court delivered judgment in my favor the case which federal Ministry of Aviation is fully aware,” he alleged

    He called on president Buhari to direct the payment of their entitlements with exact date, urging the President to direct the stoppage of any deduction from any union.

     

     

  • Not all Herdsmen are Killers’

    Not all Herdsmen are Killers’

    A Fulani herdsman, Alhaji Salifu Jimba, who claimed  he had spent several years peacefully in Akoko area of Ondo state on Thursday blamed his colleagues who indulged in the attack of fellow human beings.

    He described their actions as callous, saying not all herdsmen are killers.

    Jimba said he has been living in Akokoland doing his legitimate job without confrontation.

    According to him, the people of Akoko are accommodating and friendly, stressing that those attacking people and destroying their crops are’ black sheep’.

    He condemned their actions, adding that their mission was to give Fulani, a bad name among other tribes in the country.

    He spoke at a meeting organised by Akoko North West Primary Healthcare Development Board held at Oke-Agbe Akoko under the chairmanship of Dr Abdulazees Adewale.

    The meeting was aimed at sensitizing health workers in the local government on safe immunization in the outreach which are mainly Fulani and Igbira camps.

    Read Also: Soldiers kill vigilante, free  herdsmen

    It also deliberated on the effect of many Fulani’s evading immunization for themselves and their children.

    Dr Adewale urged them to always support anti-Lassa Fever campaign through proper preparation of ‘garri’ and cassava meant for consumption, which he said must be hygienic and safe.

    The medical expert informed them to make use of long lasting insecticidal nets distributed to them for malaria prevention.

    The Fulani and Igbira who came from various camps in the local government demanded for a health center in the camp.

    The meeting was fully attended by stakeholders in the health sector in the local government.

     

     

     

  • There would be a great harvest of souls in Cross River – Kolenda

    There would be a great harvest of souls in Cross River – Kolenda

     

    President of the Christ for All Nations (CFAN), Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, says there would be great harvest of souls in Cross River State in their Crusade which kicked off today and will run till Sunday.

    Kolenda, who is the successor of world renowned Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, told reporters when he arrived Calabar at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport said he was thrilled to back.

    Tagged Great Crusade Calabar 2018 and expected to attract over two million people, Kolenda said they were looking forward to an amazing week in Calabar.

    “It would be a week of miracles, signs and wonders and healing, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and most importantly I believe there is going to be a great harvest of souls. A wonderful time of salvation in the presence of God,” he said.

    Read Also: Calabar ready for CFAN two million man crusade

    Speaking about his predecessor, he said,” We are two different people, but the good news is that we have the same Jesus and the same Holy Spirit. I have been with Evangelist Bonnke for 12 years and we have been all over the world together. About nine years ago, I took over the ministry of CFAN as president and for many years now I have been preaching in this gospel crusades. So we come in the same spirit, the same fire, the same anointing and I believe that because of the way it works in God’s economy, nothing diminishes. It goes from glory to glory. So whatever it is you experienced last time with Evangelist Bonnke, we believe for a double portion.”

    Kolenda, will be having the crusade from February 15 to February 18 at 3.30pm daily, while the fire conference for gospel ministers and church workers will be on the same dates but at 7amdaily at the Cross River University of Technology field.

    President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria in the state, Rev Dr Lawrence Ekwok said the events would be the biggest spiritual event of the decade in the state and probably the South-South and South-East regions of the country.

     

  • Dogara woos Swedish investors in power, ICT sectors

    Dogara woos Swedish investors in power, ICT sectors

    The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rep. Yakubu Dogara, has urged Swedish businessmen to invest in Nigeria to create job opportunities for its teeming population.

    A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Turaki Hassan, in Abuja on Thursday said Dogara made the call when he received the Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Inger Ulvedt, in his office.

    The speaker said that Nigeria was the second largest trade partner to Sweden in Sub-Sahara Africa and had an existing cordial relationship between both countries and their citizens.

    “Swedish companies or corporate citizens are not strangers to business in Nigeria; whether it is in the area of telecommunications, we remember Ericson handsets.

    “I commend the ingenuity and creativity of the Swedish people in the area of automobile and in the area of power generation; they are doing a wonderful work.

    Read Also: Dogara urges completion of Ajaokuta Steel complex

    “We cannot help but call for more engagement in this direction and more flow of foreign direct investment in Nigeria.”

    He said that the desired direct investments were in agriculture “to provide employment for the people, in the area of infrastructure, power, renewable energy, ICT, industries, especially the automobiles’’.

    Dogara pledged legislative support for agreements needed to be domiciled in Nigeria, saying that the legislature would give the power of law to treaties and agreements between both countries.

    He commended the Government and people of Sweden for their humanitarian aid to victims of Boko Haram terrorism in the North-East.

    He said that terrorism was a global phenomenon which may be locally grown “but its devastating consequences would be felt in another country’’.

    Dogara said that a global problem required global response and that there was need for the international community to organise a donor-conference for the North-East as it was done for countries under terror attack.

    Earlier, Swedish ambassador had said that her country was interested in collaborating with the Nigerian government in various sectors to broaden existing bilateral agreements between both countries.

    Ulvedt said that Sweden was supporting Nigerian students in innovation at University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.

    She said that her country had been the biggest donor to the Nigerian humanitarian trust fund for the victims of violence in the North-East.

    The ambassador said that small houses, schools, hospitals, among other social infrastructure had been built as part of the support.

    NAN

     

  • Agriculture way to economic prosperity – Stakeholders

    Agriculture way to economic prosperity – Stakeholders

    Stakeholders on Thursday said that agriculture is the way forward to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

    They said this in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital at the launch/unveiling of Heart and Capital Nigeria Ltd, an agricultural company.

    Both Olojoku of Ojoku in Oyun local government of Kwara state, Oba Abdulrazaq Adegboyega and ex-special adviser to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on agriculture Anu Ibiwoye said that agriculture holds the key to the country’s future.

    Oba Adegboyega said as farmer and monarch “farming holds the future for Nigeria. It is what can bail the country out poverty and food scarcity. It is now a big time business.”

    In his remark, Mr. Ibiwoye said: “From All indications, agriculture has now become the major focus for foreign exchange earnings. It is also a major focus for employment and empowering our young people as well. Agriculture is no longer a business you can just treat with local equipment.

    “A lot of innovation has come into agriculture. A lot of information is available on agriculture and a lot of research is ongoing on agriculture. We must understand the timing of the kind of seeds, fertilizers used and the composition of all of those things. Those are things that call for seriousness, understanding and knowledge. So the face of agriculture is changing.

    “When you take all of these together, you will realize that agriculture is now a business that is profitable, sustainable and it is a business we must focus on out of our myriad of economic problems in the country, which are unemployment and food insecurity. We also need to produce raw materials to feed our industries; when our industries are working more people will be employed.

    “All of these together will help the country to move forward. It is a major source of kick-starting the economy. So it must be taken seriously now.”

    Read Also: Agriculture mechanisation a must, says expert

    Co-Founder, Heart and Capital Nigeria Ltd, Farouk Adelodun said “agriculture is the exit routes out of the persisting economic recession and I believe that this route can only be effectively accessed through aggressive and consistent agric-revolutionary techniques, (ART).”

    Mallam Adelodun added that the company is aimed at strengthening of the nation’s food security, is set to create windows of opportunities for Nigerians on the need to discover more sustainable business acumen towards a reliable

    His words: “I hereby use this medium to call on government at all levels, corporate organizations, individuals across the country, to key into these projects of revolutionizing the agricultural sector through our numerous  windows/platforms of bountiful harvest with even options of little or no physical commitment and maximum security assurance.

    “And to my fellow youths, this is our moment. Our stories are singular but our future is shared. What is required is recognition on the part of every youth, that we have duties not just to ourselves but to the nation as well.

    “Duties we shouldn’t grudgingly accept but seize gladly. Duties to learn and unlearn something’s, teach and get to work, to open new doors of opportunities for ourselves and the future generations in order to restore prosperity and grow the farming business. I hope we can start these duties today.”

     

  • Ethiopia’s Prime Minister resigns

    Ethiopia’s Prime Minister resigns

    Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said on Thursday he had submitted his resignation as both premier and the chairman of the ruling coalition in an effort to facilitate reforms following a period of mass unrest.

    Hundreds of people have died in violence sparked initially by an urban development plan for the capital Addis Ababa.

    The unrest spread in 2015 and 2016 as demonstrations against political restrictions and human rights abuses broke out.

    “Unrest and a political crisis have led to the loss of lives and displacement of many,” Hailemariam said in a televised address to the nation.

    Read Also: Ethiopia‘s Academy graduates 14 aircraft maintenance technicians

    “… I see my resignation as vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy,” he said.

    Hailemariam said he would stay on as prime minister in a caretaker capacity until the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and the country’s parliament accepted his resignation and named a new premier.

    NAN