Riot Happening in Uniport right now.

I actually just received the message from my paddy lady in school. I shall post it the way it was sent to me.

"Latest info : a 200level female student of Uniport 4rm dept of theatre arts has bin confirmed death due to injuries obtained wen having her bath early this (Sunday) mrn due to an accident. She was rushed to 
UPTH as at 5am wen it occurred. The medical practitioners present told dem there was no bed space as at den.they pleaded with dem 4rm den till around 2pm dis afternoon wen suddenly d girl passed out.funny enough they took her to the mortuary in that same clinic(UPTH) and there was bed space to admit her.."

 "Upcoming protest..the students of theatre arts and all mandalites have decided to go on a protest 2day... tinx go spoil well well.evry1's blood is as hot as multi magma"

The girl died yesterday and the riot is happening now!At Choba Junction. My friend told me that they just opened the school gate. But who knows what would happen next?

Well. It's so sad that University Of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH)won't give students the treatment we paid for. Our school fees and Non Statutory fees helped build that hospital.

I will be back with more info. Let me get to school first.
Meanwhile,if your where the action is taking place please send me pictures...

[Music] BurnaBoy - Soke [HipHop Version] prod. @DJMoreMuzic

Another compilation of creativity from the Young Trendy Nigerian DJ/ProducerDJMoreMuzic. he has just added some extra flame with this banging hot Hiphop Remix to the Club banger “SOKE” by BurnaBoy. 

Download & Enjoy

MIXTAPE: Dj Figgzy – The Best Of Meddy

10:11 Music Presents “Dj Figgzy” – Best Of Meddy.
The Man Of The year “Meddy” is on the spotlight again but this time, all Credit goes to the baddest Dj Figgzy. He Bring out some of the hit tracks Meddy has given to his fans.
A fantastic mix which truely bring out the best of Meddy

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even killed as Air force jet crashes in Kaduna

A Nigerian Air Force aircraft, a Donnier 228, has crashed at the Old Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.

It was gathered on Saturday that the aircraft, which took off from the Nigerian Air Force base, Kaduna, was heading for Abuja when it came down in the early hours of the day.

The military aircraft was said to have crashed into a residential building within the neighborhood NDA, igniting fears that the casualty figure could be high.

It was gathered that there were no survivors in the crash.

The Director of Public Relations and Information of the Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Dele Alonge, confirmed the crash to our correspondent on the telephone but did not give details.

He said the NAF would issue a statement on it later.

Our correspondent learnt that the seven people on board the aircraft, comprising the crew members and the passengers, died in the crash.

It was gathered the captain, the co-pilot, the board technician and four passengers were involved in  the crash.

Meanwhile, combat ready soldiers have condoned off the barracks, preventing people from gaining access to the area.

The North-West Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, Musa Ilallah, confirmed the crash and the casualty figure.

10 Reasons You Should Start Eating Cucumber

Cucumber is a vegetable that is found around us. Dark green cucumber is a super food that is good for the total well being of the human body.


Cucumber and slices

Here are ten reasons you should start eating cucumber:

1. Cucumber re-hydrates the body

Cucumber replenishes water in the body because the vegetable is 90% water. It hydrates the body making the skin look healthier.

2. Cucumber fights internal and external Body-Heat

Cucumber heals heartburn and calms the heart. Application of cucumber to the face will give relief from sunburn.

3. Cucumber eliminates toxins and replenishes vitamins and minerals

With the help of its high content of water, cucumber eliminates waste products from the body. Regular intake of cucumber dissolves kidney stones. Cucumber skin contains vitamin C; about 12% of the daily recommended intake. Cucumber is also high in potassium, magnesium and silicon.

4. Cucumber aids digestion and weight loss

Cucumber is good for people who need weight lose as it is low in calorie. The fibre in it is great for digestion. Daily consumption of cucumber can help to cure chronic constipation.

5. Cucumber fights cancer

Cucumber is known to contain substances linked with reducing the risk of several cancer types including; ovarian, breast, prostate and uterine cancer.

6. Cucumber is anti-diabetes and controls blood pressure

Cucumber juice contains the hormone needed by cells of the pancreas to produce insulin beneficial to diabetic patients. Cucumber contains a lot of fibre, potassium and magnesium. These nutrients work effectively for regulating both high and low blood pressure.

7. Cucumber revives the eye

Placing a chilled slice of cucumber over the puffy eyes is a beauty therapy. But it really works to reduce under-eye bags and puffiness due to its anti inflammatory properties.

8. Cucumber refreshes the mouth

Cucumber juice heals and refreshes diseased gums. press a cucumber slice to the roof of your mouth for a half minute, and the petrochemicals will kill the bacteria that causes unpleasant breath.

9. Cucumber promotes joint health, relieves arthritis and gout pain

As cucumber is an excellent source of silica, it promotes joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. When mixed with carrot juice, cucumber can relieve gout and arthritis pain.

10. Cucumber cures hangover

To reduce the severity of headaches and hangover, eating a few slices of cucumber before going to sleep calms the nerve.

World Bank Offers N27.58bn To Nigeria

The World Bank disclosed on Wednesday, August 26, that it would soon start the disbursement of N27.58 billion under its assisted Community and Social Development Project to 26 states, The Punch reports.

In the statement, the organization said that about N39.4 billion had been disbursed under the first phase of the project, thus bringing the total amount provided under the programme to N66.98billion.

According to the project, the additional financing would focus on the most vulnerable households in poor communities of Nigeria.

The bank stressed that Anambra, Kaduna and Sokoto states are also set to participate.




The World Bank explains that the financing is expected to fund micro-project facilities (rehabilitation and construction of school class rooms, health centres and clinics and skills acquisition, rural electrification, rural transport, community water schemes, community housing schemes and rural market infrastructure).

Foluso Okunmadewa, the leader of the project, said: “This project will not only help vulnerable people in the short term, including those in conflict-affected areas, but will also help build and rebuild long-lasting partnership between local governments and communities. In addition, it will help integrate communities as well as make smart investments in people for the future. The first phase of the World Bank funding of the Community Social Development Project, which benefited over 5,600 communities and about two million people in 26 states of the federation, was fully disbursed by December 2014.”

Previously, the organization announced that Nigeria will get about N417 billion to rebuild areas in the north east that have been affected by the activities of Boko Haram. It also should be noted that World Health Organization (WHO) will also invest about $300million in the fight against malaria.

How Lamorde Allegedly Diverted Recovered Funds

The Senate committee on ethics, privileges and public petition probing allegation of diversion of fund leveled against Ibrahim Lamorde, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission was inundated with facts on how the chairman allegedly diverted a whopping N2.051 trillion into his personal purse.


The petitioner, Geroge Uboh, stated that the anti-graft agency recovered over N3trillion loot between 2004 and 2011, insisting that the agency must be asked to account for N2.051 trillion that was not paid into the federation account.

The Will, a US-based online newspaper, has reported that Oboh revealed that some of the properties seized by the EFCC from former Bayelsa state governor, DSP Alamieyesigha and others were allegedly given to the EFCC boss younger brother, Usman Lamorde,

In his defence , the petitioner said: “In a December 02, 2011 letter EFCC sent to the Chairman, House Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries from 2004 to 2011 (8 financial years) was N1,326,754,554,482:80. EFCC did not mention where the N1.3 Trillion recovered was remitted to.”

He maintained that EFCC’s claim that it did not recover up to a trillion naira is complete false, Obuh gave the breakdown as follows:

2004—N7,070,693,130:00

2005—N965,651,737,039:00

2006—N6,622,261,783:79

2007—N7,700,150,381:20

2008—N18,141,628,546:98

2009, N130,885,187,726:83

2010—N52,877,464,867:00

2011—N137,805,431,008:08.

Oboh continued by saying: “In EFCC’s “Summary Of EFCC Monetary Recoveries 2003-March, 2013” (11 financial years), EFCC stated that the aggregate recoveries for 11 financial years is N497,385,427,485:63; EFCC did not mention where the N497.3 Billion recovered was remitted to, going by the following breakdown-

2003—N974,783,213:06

2004—N21,018,557,263:28

2005—N71,053,996,008:60

2006—N8,199,908,189:03

2007—N41,479,032,319:70

2008—N44,542,822,622:30

2009—N255,306,693,033:55

2010—N10,559,513,355:91

2011—N11,117,460,717:88

2012—N27,844,769,688:19

2013—N5,287,891,074:13.

He insisted that the documents submitted were being prepared during Lamorde’s watch, adding that the total recoveries by the EFCC as N2.051trillion. He asked how come over N2trillion could not be accounted for.

The petitioner alleged that EFCC under Lamorde’s supervision also indulged in doctoring of bank accounts and diversion of already seized loots.

Oboh said: “Two Access Bank recovery account statements tendered herein show opening balances of -0- as of 1, July 2004, but no transaction occurred until June/July 2008 respectively. These transactions are expunged. Where are the funds deposited between July 2004 and June/July, 2008?

“EFCC diverted and concealed N779 Million of recoveries from Tafa Balogun in its record (aggregate should be 3,037,255,521.60 – not 2,258,100,516.98); Instead of transferring N3.3 billion from Spring Bank to its Access Bank recovery account, EFCC transferred only N2.2 billion and concealed it by understating the summation of the balances in the various accounts hence the Access Bank statement had N2.2 Billion after the concealment.

“Access Bank should be compelled to bring complete and unadulterated statements from 2004 till date. Aminu Ibrahim and Co, Auditors, should be compelled to come and shed light on discrepancies in its records and that of the already traced EFCC accounts.”

The committee chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, explained that the committee is not out to rundown or witch hunt anyone but on a fact-finding mission saying that the allegations leveled against the anti-graft boss are very weighty and must be taken very seriously.

However, the committee ordered officials of the EFCC out during Wednesday, August 27, sitting after hearing the submission of the commission’s head of legal services, Chile Okoroma even as the agency had earlier sought for permission through a letter for an extension of date to appear before the committee.

Recall that the Senate was divided over the planned probed of Lamorde. While the PDP caucus in the Senate are against the probe, the leadership of the upper chamber insisted that the probe must go on.

EFCC Should Probe Nollywood- Shan George

The popular Nollywood actress Shan George, who recently threatened pirates with “local charm”, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to probe Nollywood.


Shan told the EFCC, to beam its searchlight on the movie industry after the Bank of Industry denied receiving $200 million from the former president Goodluck Jonathan for the movie industry.

According to Daily Post, the actress said she believed that the money had been squandered by some people in the industry.

Shan said: “I’m using this fine morning to ask this fine question. Who ate the money ex-president Jonathan gave to Nollywood? EFCC please probe this.”

The Nollywood actor Lari Williams also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the $200 million released to the movie industry by the Jonathan administration, but the Bank of Industry released a statement saying that they did not receive any money.

Olamide, Davido, Others Battle Over Lekki Land

It is the survival of the fittest and battle of the heavyweights as Olamide, Davido, Patoranking, Kiss Daniel and other Nigerian stars battle for a plot of land at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

They will take their battle to the annual Beat of Lagos 2015 concert scheduled to be held on Sunday, August 30, 2015 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.


The event has the backing of the Lagos state government through the Ministry of Tourism and Inter-Governmental Relations.

Beat of Lagos 2015 will witness performances from its official talent sponsors Chocolate City with signees, MI Abaga, Ice Prince, Jesse Jagz, Ruby Gyang, Victoria Kimani ,DJ Caise set to thrill the crowd.




The Beat of Lagos award was introduced last year with Lagosians asked to vote online for their favourite song in the year in review. Dorobucci by Mavin crew was the winner of the maiden edition.


The organizers decided to take the stakes higher this year by offering the winner of this year a plot of land at the Lekki Free Trade Zone.

The songs that will battle it out this year are: Woju Remix by Kiss Daniel ft Tiwa Savage and Davido, Sade by Adekunle Gold, Do Something by Koker, My Woman My Everything byPatoranking ft Wande Coal and Bobo by Olamide.

Lagos Police Inspector Accidentally Shoots Self

A Lagos police inspector simply identified as Medugwu has died from gunshot wounds he sustained while adjusting a faulty rifle at the Mobile Police Force 20, in the Ikeja area of Lagos.

The incident happed around 10 a.m on Tuesday, August 25 when the deceased, who was the second in command to the armourer accidentally, pulled the trigger of a faulty rifle, sending a bullet into his jaw which fatally wounded him.

The Punch reported that on the fateful morning, a police officer had brought the gun to Medugwu to complain about the weapon’s malfunctioning. He was said to have been fingering the rifle, trying to find out the problem when he accidentally pulled the trigger and shot himself.

He was rushed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital by the policemen present at the scene but passed away around 1 p.m.

According to The Punch, a policeman who claimed to witness the accident said the inspector’s head was badly injured from the gun shot.

“He was the second-in-command at the armoury in the MOPOL 20. A policeman brought a faulty rifle to his office to examine. While he was doing that, he mistakenly turned the barrel of the gun on himself, and he mistakenly pulled the trigger.




“We rushed him to LASUTH, where the medical personnel battled to save his life. But, he died at about 1.p.m. His head was badly injured. Medugwu’s death shook all of us.”

In a another incident, a police officer was ran over by a trailer when he was trying to apprehend a bus driver.

See list of illegal tertiary institutions as released by NUC

 Below is a list of illegal degree awarding Institutions operating in different parts of Nigeria as released by the National Universities Commission on August 24th. The NUC Executive secretary, Julius Okojie, says anyone who patronise these schools, do so at their own risk. Full list after the cut..



Full list:
1. University of Accountancy and Management Studies, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
2. Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology Nkpor, Anambra State or any of its campuses.
3. University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos or any of its other campuses.
4. University of applied Sciences and Management Port Novo, Republic of Benin or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
5. Blacksmith University, Awka or any of its campuses.
6. Volta University College, Ho, Volta Region, Ghana or any of its other campuses in Nigeria.
7. Royal University Izhia, P.O. Box 800, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State or any of its other campuses.
8. Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi State or any of its other campuses.
9. Sunday Adokpela University, Otada Adoka, Otukpo, Benue State or any of its other campuses.
10. United Christian University, Macotis Campus, Imo State or any of its other campuses.
11. United Nigeria University College, Okija, Anambra State or any of its other campuses.
12. Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue State or any of its other campuses.
13. UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers State or any of its other campuses.
14. Saint Augustine’s University of Technology, Jos Plateau State or any of its other campuses.
15. The International University, Missouri, USA, Kano and Lagos Study Centres, or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
16. Columbus University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
17. Tiu International University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
18. Pebbles University, UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
19. London External Studies UK operating anywhere in Nigeria.
20. Pilgrims University operating anywhere in Nigeria.
21. Lobi Business School Makurdi, Benue State or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
22. West African Christian University operating anywhere in Nigeria.
23. Bolta University College Aba or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
24. JBC Seminary Inc. (Wukari Jubilee University) Kaduna Illegal Campus.
25. Westlan University, Esie, Kwara State or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
26. St. Andrews University College, Abuja or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
27. EC- Council University, USA, Ikeja Lagos Study Centre.
28. Atlas University, Ikot Udoso Uko, Uyo Akwa Ibom State or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
29. Concept College/University (London) Ilorin or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
30. Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
31. Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
32. Acada University, Akinlalu, Oyo State or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
33. Fifom University, Mbaise, Imo State or any of its campuses in Nigeria.
34. Houdegbe North American University Campuses In Nigeria.
35. Atlantic International University, Okija, Anambra State.
36. Open International University, Akure.
37. Middle Belt University (North Central University), Otukpo.
38. Leadway University, Ugheli, Delta State.
39. Metro University, Dutse/Bwari, Abuja.
40. Southend University, Ngwuro Egeru (Afam) Ndoki, Rivers State.
41. Olympic University, Nsukka, Enugu State.
42. Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja.
43. Temple University.
44. Irish University Business School London, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
45. National University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
46. University of Accountability and Management Studies, Mowe, Lagos Ibadan Expressway and its Annex at 41, Ikorodu Road Lagos.
47. University of Education, Winneba Ghana, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
48. Cape Cost University, Ghana, operating anywhere inNigeria.
49. African University Cooperative Development (AUCD), Cotonou, Benin Republic, operating anywhere in Nigeria.
50. Pacific Western University, Denver, Colorado, Owerri Study Centre.
51. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos.
52. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Gboko Campus).
53. Career Light Resources Centre, Jos.
54. University of West Africa, kwali-Abuja, FCT.
55. Coastal University, Iba-Oku, Akwa-Ibom State.
56. Kaduna Business School, Kaduna.
57. Royal University of Theology, Minna, Niger Delta.
The NUC listed another eight illegal institutions as currently undergoing investigations and court actions. The commission said the action will lead to the prosecution of the proprietors and recovery of illegal fees and charges on subscribers.
Below is a list of the illegal Universities
1. National University of Nigeria, Keffi, Nasarawa state.
2. North Central University, Otukpo, Benue State.
3. Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University, Enugu.
4. Richmond Open University, Arochukwu, Abia State.
5. West Coast University, Umuahia.
6. Saint Clements University, Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State.
7. Volta University College, Aba, Abia State.
8. Illegal Satellite Campuses of Ambrose Ali University.

Pirates attack boat, abduct 2 monarchs, one security escort in Bayelsa

Unidentified gunmen suspected to be sea pirates on Wednesday, attacked two passenger boats and kidnapped three persons along the Ogbia to Brass waterways in Bayelsa.

Asinim Butswat, Police Spokesman for Bayelsa Command, confirmed the development on Thursday but said that details were still sketchy,
“I am waiting for details.”, Butwat said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the abducted victims were two Okpoama community Chiefs, identified as Chief Blessing Wagio and Chief Isaac Akono-Igolo, as well as a security man whose identity could not be ascertained.

The victims’ boats reportedly left the Ogbia water front at about 2pm on Wednesday for Brass, when they came under attack around Kiberibio area of the Ogbia-Brass waterway.

A staff of the state Ministry of Education heading to Brass, a naval officer and a former Chief Librarian in the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Chief Jigekuma Ombu-Kieri, escaped the attack unhurt.

An eyewitness in one of the boats, Mrs Kilete Arum, also told NAN that she saw an unidentified man lying face down in the pirates’ speed boat when they were being dispossessed of their valuables.

#EXCLUSIVE MUSIC We Dont Party EMCE BAUS FT R_JAY @emceebaus @roy_percy

Once Again Yayaneh Inc finest Rapper Emcee_Baus is back with another exclusive hit this time around feauting R_Jay   Download share and comment.....

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Australia Supports Disabled Nigerian Women With N119m

The Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, HE Jonathan Richardson, on Thursday said he was proud of his country's assistance to Nigeria with N119m in its efforts at empowering and supporting people with disability especially women.

The High Commissioner to Nigeria disclosed this at a press briefing tagged “The Way Forward for Persons with Disability in Nigeria" held at the National Human Rights Commission in Abuja.

The event was hosted by Patience Ogolo-Dickson, National Coordinator of Advocacy for Women With a Disability Initiative (AWWDI), whose work the Australian government supports through its project partners CBM Nigeria and CBM Australia.

Details later

Nigerians okay planned merger of MDAs, EFCC, ICPC, others

File Photo

A RECENT poll result from a partnership between NOI Polls Limited and a media organisation has revealed that most Nigerians have endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposal to merge some ministries and parastatals.

Majority of Nigerians (72 per cent) support the proposed merger of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government, with the fusion of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Further findings indicates that most Nigerians (65 per cent) are well informed of the President’s decision to appoint his ministers in September 2015, which was made public after the publication by the Washington Post in July 2015 of the President’s article titled: “Nigeria Committed to Good Governance and Fighting Terror”(1). This decision stirred varying opinions from Nigerians.

On the one hand, most Nigerians (87 per cent) consider September 2015 as a good time for the President to appoint his ministers, citing ‘he needs time to select the best persons’ (31 per cent), ‘for better governance’ (13 per cent), among other reasons.

On the other hand, some Nigerians viewed the President’s decision as a delay, while reporting that the appointment of the ministers is ‘long overdue’ (61 per cent of 13 per cent), and has resulted in ‘delay in the execution of programmes’ (14 per cent of 13 per cent) as well as ‘economic stagnation’ (12 per cent of 13 per cent).

More than half (58 per cent) of Nigerians surveyed showed awareness of the proposed merging of some ministries and parastatals by the President; following the recommendation of the transition committee to reduce the number of ministries from its present number 42 to 19, with the aim of reducing the cost of governance as well as making these agencies more effective and responsive to the needs of Nigerians.

In conclusion, the poll has revealed that most Nigerians (65 per cent) are aware and in support (87 per cent) of the President’s decision to appoint his ministers in September 2015; mainly as they believe ‘the President needs time to select the best persons’ (31 per cent) to serve in this capacity; which in turn would aid good governance.

Although some Nigerians (13 per cent) showed no support for the appointment of ministers in September as they believe this exercise is ‘long overdue’ (61 per cent), and has caused ‘delay in the execution of programmes’ (14 per cent) among other reasons.

Similarly, more than half of the Nigerian adult population (58 per cent) are aware of the President’s proposition to merge some ministries and parastatals to reduce their current figure from 42 to 19; and a higher proportion of
Nigerians in this category (72 per cent) confirmed their support for the proposed merging of some ministries and parastatals.

In line with this, a larger proportion (16 per cent) of them suggesting that the EFCC and ICPC should be merged together.

Children Threatened By Malnutrition

About 400,000 Nigerian children die of malnutrition yearly

With 1.7 million children severely malnourished and about 1,000 dying every day in Nigeria due to the menace, Martins Ifijeh writes on why the government, health bodies, parents and the society must give priority to eradicating the scourge from the country.

The Nigerian government may not be at war at the moment, safe for the fight to defeat Boko Haram, as that has been in the front burner for the present government. But the Nigerian child is at war with malnutrition and unfortunately, they are presently loosing the battle, as over 1.7 million infants and children under age five are severely malnourished and wasting away in the country.

A report last week by the United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and the Federal Ministry of Health showed that about 1,000 children die everyday in the country due to malnutrition- related issues, which means almost 400,000 children die from malnourishment every year.

In a survey conducted in 2013, almost 30 percent of Nigerian children are underweight, while the ratio of those who are wasted or too thin for their height has risen from 11 per cent in 2003 to 18 per cent in 2013.

The survey also showed that up to one million Nigerian children under age five suffer from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), while four out of five do not meet the World Health Organisation’s (WHO’s) recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life.

Children, they say, are the responsibility of the parents and the society because of the illumination they bring and the hope of a sustained future they resonate among adults and the society in general. And hence the responsibility to protect them from things that deems the illumination and hope seen through them.

It is in this regard that experts are saying that malnutrition and its related issues must be tackled head on, and that government, health bodies, parents and well meaning Nigerians must come to the aid of saving the Nigerian child.

According to a public health physician, Dr. Marcus Obasohan, issues of nutrition can be tackled from long term perspective involving tackling the root cause, and the short term perspective which involves having to identify malnourished persons and treating them adequately.

He stated that tackling the root cause means tackling poverty, insecurity, general re-orientation of the society on breast feeding and then how to adequately take care of new borns.

He said: “Despite being the largest economy in Africa, a lot of Nigerians are still living below poverty line and are unable to feed themselves and their children. How would such families take care of their children. The high poverty rate in the country is why the number of children affected by malnutrition is high. This new government should make eradication of poverty one of its cardinal priority,” he added.

On issues of insecurity, Obasohan said the bulk of children affected by the menace were from the north, a region currently affected by heinous activities of Boko Haram. “Most villages affected by insurgency have seen residents flee their homes and abandoning their farmlands to live in places where they can neither farm nor work, thereby increasing their poverty level and their inability to provide food for themselves and their children,” he said.

He said the government should niche it in the bud by bringing lasting peace to the region, and also commence rehabilitation of displaced persons.

“Now that President Buhari has given a deadline for peace to return, we pray it truly returns, because insecurity has greatly affected nutritional status of the people in that region, especially children,” he added.

On the short term perspective, Obasohan said it was necessary that affected children be taken to healthcare centres where acute malnutrition was being treated, so that treatment, including therapeutic food can be given to the malnourished children.

He called on government to identify such children across the country and set up programmes for their rehabilitation and care.

According to experts, malnutrition is a condition that occurs when people consistently do not consume or ingest the right amounts and types of food and essential ingredients in order to get the required nutrients for the body. 

A Nutritionist, Mrs. Faith Olaoluwa, in a chat with THISDAY, explained that malnutrition was one of the biggest killers of children, as it not only wastes their muscles which makes them underweight and thin, but also weakens their immune system, thereby causing preventable diseases and infections to thrive in the body.

She said apart from the fact that malnutrition causes high rate of death, it also causes stunted growth in children, diminishes their immune system, causes lack of cognitive ability to learn fast, among others.

“Pregnant mothers should also eat well nourished food so that they don’t give birth to underweight children.” Adding, she said, “underweight children or stunted growth also causes the brain to be underdeveloped, which on the long run would make such children to not add to the development of the society when they eventually grow up,” she noted.

Olaoluwa called on mothers to feed their children with exclusive breast milk for the recommended period of at least six months, has been proven to give aid to the growth and mental capacity of children.

She noted that a lot of new borns and infants in the country were not receiving the standard diet which was abundant in breast feeding. “Breast milk contains hormones, all nutrients needed for the ideal growth of children as well as antibodies that help wade off infections and diseases,” she said.

She explained that if the country’s population continue to rise while economy continue to dwindle, the issue of malnutrition will continue to resonate in the country. “People should also understand the times and then prune down on the number of children they give birth to. They should be able to match number of children with their income since feeding a child adequately or not would most likely depend on how much of such food the parents can afford.

“It is sad that we see parents whose income can not cater for a family of four, but would rather have over eight children. How can such family afford proper and balanced diets for their children and themselves?” She queried.

She also stressed that the problem of malnutrition was not limited to parents alone, adding that the government, organisations and health bodies must make eradication of the scourge a priority in the country through deliberate policies that targets children’s health and general nutrition.

She called on the government to give priority to the welfare of children, as they are the future of the country.

Meanwhile, UNICEF and the Federal Government has stated during their joint press conference last week that they have reached more than a million Nigerian children with a highly successful and cost-effective treatment for acutely malnourished children, saving over 200,000 lives in the past six years.

They said one of the efforts to eradicate malnutrition in the country was the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM), which was piloted in Gombe and Kebbi States in 2009 and has now been introduced in 11 northern Nigerian states where malnutrition poses the greatest threat.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Linus Awute, said the government was committed to reaching more children with CMAM. “We cannot accept to see Nigerian children continue to die of malnutrition and that our potential future leaders should be diminished by its effects,” he added.

Smartphones creating negative social skills

PHOTO: themarketingbit.com

It’s OK to use your smartphone walking down the street or on public transportation. But not at a family dinner. And definitely not in church.

Users of mobile devices are struggling to find the rules of the road for how and when to use the devices around others, but a survey out Wednesday shows a surprising consensus.

The Pew Research Center found 77 percent of Americans polled felt it was acceptable to use a smartphone while strolling down the street. Three-fourths also said it was OK on public transit or while waiting in line at the store.

But 88 percent said a family dinner was not an appropriate place for phone use and most said the same about a meeting (94 percent), the movie theater (95 percent) and a place of worship (96 percent).

But survey respondents did not always practice what they preached.

Eighty-nine percent said they used their phone during a social gathering — 61 percent to read a text message or email, 58 percent to take a photo or video, 52 percent to receive a call, and 25 percent to surf the web, for example.

Etiquette has become a challenge as more people keep their smartphones on and with them at all times, Pew noted.

Pew found 92 percent of US adults now have a cellphone of some kind, with two-thirds owning a smartphone. Some 90 percent of them say that their phone is always with them. Thirty-one percent said they never turn their phone off and 45 percent say they rarely turn it off.

“This ‘always-on’ reality has disrupted longstanding social norms about when it is appropriate for people to shift their attention away from their physical conversations and interactions with others, and towards digital encounters with people and information that are enabled by their mobile phone,” said Lee Rainie, Pew’s director of Internet research.

“These are issues with important social consequences. Norms of etiquette are not just small-scale social niceties. They affect fundamental human interactions and the character of public spaces.”

The survey found that conduct which might have been considered rude in the past is now gaining acceptance.

Two-thirds of cell owners frequently or occasionally look up information about where they are going or how to get there, and 70 percent coordinate get-togethers with others using their device.

Some 23 percent of cellphone owners say that when they are in public spaces they use their device to avoid interacting with others.

The survey found younger adults between the ages of 18 and 29 are most tolerant of public mobile device usage.

Ninety percent of this group said phone use on public transportation is acceptable compared with 54 percent of people 65 and older.

This group is also most likely to use their cellphone in public spaces, the survey found.

But Rainie noted that “Americans of all ages generally trend in the same direction about when it is okay or not to use cells in public settings.”

He said that fully public venues are viewed by all age groups as generally acceptable places to use a phone but that “usage in quiet or more intimate settings is mostly frowned upon by all.”

The findings are based on a survey of 3,217 adults, 3,042 of whom are cellphone users, in May and June 2014. The margin of error was estimated between 2.2 and 2.3 percent.

NNPC cancels contracts for crude oil delivery to refineries

General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe

• Okays seven firms for fresh bids

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has cancelled contracts for supply of oil to refineries among other steps aimed at boosting operational efficiency.

General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Ohi Alegbe, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday said the new measures would strengthen the corporation across its value chain.

He added that the steps were taken after proper evaluation in line with the terms of contract for delivery of crude oil to the nation’s refineries in Warri, Port Harcourt and Kaduna, after which the corporation cancelled the current contract due to exorbitant cost and inappropriate process of engagement.

It noted that, as a stop-gap measure, NIDAS Marine Limited, a subsidiary of the NNPC, has been engaged to provide crude delivery service on negotiated industry standard rate pending the establishment of substantive contract. “We have also commenced a rigorous and transparent process of securing capable and competitive contractors for the delivery of crude oil by marine vessels to Port Harcourt and Warri/Kaduna refineries, pending the restoration of the crude pipeline infrastructure,” the corporation stated.

The NNPC explained that it resorted to the delivery of crude oil to the refineries by marine vessels following incessant attacks on the Bonny-Port Harcourt refinery pipeline and the Escravos crude pipelines by vandals and oil thieves, which resulted in complete unavailability of the pipelines in 2013.

It also announced the termination of the Offshore Processing Agreements (OPA) entered into in January 2015 with three companies, namely- Duke Oil Company Inc., Aiteo Energy Resources Limited and Sahara Energy Resources (Nig) Ltd.

Under the agreement, NNPC allocates a total of 210, 000 barrels of crude oil per day for refining at offshore locations in exchange for petroleum products at pre-agreed yield pattern.

It added: “However, after detailed appraisal of the operation and its terms of agreement, the NNPC is convinced that the current OPA is skewed in favour of the companies such that the value of product delivered is significantly lower than the equivalent crude oil allocated for the programme.”

NNPC also observed that the structure of the agreement does not guarantee unimpeded supply of petroleum products, as delivery terms were not optimal.

To address these lapses, NNPC hinted that it has commenced the process of establishing alternative OPA based on optimum yield pattern with tender processing fees. “After due appraisal of performance trajectory, we have invited Messrs.

Oando, Sahara Energy, Calson, MRS, Duke Oil, BP/Nigermed and Total Trading to bid for the new Offshore Processing Agreement while we have engaged AITEO, Sahara Energy and Duke Oil to exit the current OPA,” it explained.

On the status of the crude for product exchange agreement (SWAP) reportedly entered into by the NNPC and some oil traders, the corporation informed that the last SWAP arrangement lapsed in December 2014 and was never renewed.

The NNPC also informed that it has obtained the permission of President Muhammadu Buhari to kick-start the tendering process for the 2015/2016 Crude Oil Term Contract for the evacuation of Nigeria’s crude oil equity from the various crude and condensate production arrangements.

The Corporation noted that the process, which would commence with the advertisement of the Crude Oil Term contract in both National and International print media for a period of one month, has been carefully structured to weed out ‘briefcase companies’ and rent seekers.

Power generation hits 4,748 megawatts

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it has recorded another peak generation of 4,748 Megawatts of electricity.
This is contained in a statement issued by Mr. Dipak Sarma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (System Operation/Market Operation) of TCN in Abuja on Tuesday.
The statement said the feat was made possible due to a coordinated effort of TCN with the generating companies and the distribution companies.
It said that this was based on the wheeling capability of the TCN network and implementation of ‘real-time online power optimisation tools’ developed by the company’s National Control Centre (NCC).
It said that more megawatts could be generated since fuel supply to the generators had been stable and adequate.

Tinubu Denies Involvement in Attacks against Fashola

Bola Tinubu


Davidson Iriekpen
National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Governor of Lagos State, Senator Bola Tinubu, has denied any involvement in the attacks against his successor in office, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

Tinubu in a statement made available to THISDAY last night titled: ‘APC Lagos is one Family United by a Progressive Cause,’ faulted those peddling rumours that he was behind the attacks against Fashola to thwart him from being appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari administration into his cabinet.

In the statement issued by his media office, the APC leader said he could not have been behind the attacks because any attack against the performance of Governor Fashola was indirectly an attack against him and the edifice of achievement they had constructed in the state.

He said since the commanding victory of the APC in Lagos and all over Nigeria, the enemies of progressive governance had been
cleverly trying to regain through intrigue and subterfuge what they so openly and fairly lost in the elections.

The APC leader contended that having fared woefully with the electorate, the game plan of the opposition is to sow discord within the ranks of the party people had chosen to lead them.

“Since the commanding victory of the APC in Lagos and all over Nigeria, the enemies of progressive governance have cleverly been at work, trying to regain through intrigue and subterfuge what they so openly and fairly lost in the elections.

“Our political opponents now try to steal victory when their only entitlement is resounding defeat.
Having fared woefully with the electorate, their game plan is to sow discord within the ranks of the party people had chosen to lead them. The PDP hopes to strike division in the APC, in that way weakening us and our ability to govern.

“Apprised of their wiles, we in the progressive camp must be wiser still. We must not allow ourselves to be pawns in this cynical strategy. We cannot fall into their obvious snares for that would be embracing defeat when victory has already been won.

“It is our responsibility to govern as the people want. It would be to our detriment to fall victim to our opponent’s sly instigations by allowing ourselves to be utensils picking each other apart.

“This brings me to recent developments in the Lagos political scene. Born of this motley stew is the recent gossip mongering that I have willfully instigated false and negative reports against Fashola to thwart him from being appointed to a major post in the Buhari administration. I want to declare clearly and categorically that these rancid attacks do not come from me nor do I endorse them. Neither my hand nor my heart are in these mean submissions. I deplore them. An attack against the performance of Fashola is indirectly an attack against me and the edifice of achievement we have constructed in leading Lagos state out of a protracted time of stagnation and into an era of sustained progress and development.”

Describing Lagos as a much better place than when they came into governance in 1999, Tinubu said Fashola was an integral part of the improvement and does not deserve the pillory.

He said he was proud to play an instrumental role in bringing the former governor into politics.

“Lagos is a much better place than when we came into governance in 1999. Each year, it has gotten better. With the APC at the helm, each subsequent year will be better yet. Fashola has been an integral part of this improvement. He does not deserve the pillory. His record has been applauded and will continue to be when all this rumour mongering has died its natural and quick death.

“I am proud to say that I played an instrumental role in bringing Fashola into politics in the first instance. He served as my trusted chief of staff, performing excellently in that role. Due to his leadership qualities and diligent work ethic, I endorsed him for governor notwithstanding the stiff and vocal opposition of many. I am not ashamed of backing him. I believe the progress the state made under his administration has more than vindicated my endorsement.

“Fashola, the present Governor Akin Ambode including myself are the products of a progressive political institution and its programmatic expressions. I laid the governance foundation and started the first lap, running as well as I could. I handed the baton to Fashola, knowing he would do the same. He did; he ran as well as he could. Now, he has handed to Ambode who is off and running as well as he can. We have achieved much in Lagos; but, we recognise as much as anyone that we have much more to do.
“We also know that progress is fragile and easily undone, while destruction is easily transacted but hard to undo. I for one am not the type to tear down my own house or to bring my enemy’s rubbish into it.”

“We must remember something. We have always governed Lagos state as an open forum where democracy and free expression were respected. Those who are against us were never placed in fear of the heavy hand of government descending on them even as they played funny tricks. We also must remember than in any democracy, a number of people will always oppose you no matter the quality of your performance. If an office holder has an approval rating of 70 per cent, this means, in Lagos, roughly five million people dislike the person. Also remember the PDP is just recently out of office at the federal level and that it built a vast, unprecedented financial war chest to contest the elections. The residual of that war chest is still at work, buying media space to plant rumours in hopes of spreading discord through the APC. Thus, the enemy camp may be a minority but it is a large and well-funded one that knows its only chance lies in us attacking ourselves.

“I for one will not bend to the artificial provocation of those seeking to tear at what we have painstakingly built over the years. In my mind, r Fashola and I are and shall always be political allies and fellow travelers on a vital journey; that alliance is unshakeable and our journey must not be interrupted. I would no more attack his character or his administration than I would attack myself.

“ I see this present moment as crucial to Nigeria’s future. The nation faces acute challenges of security, corruption and economic development. Our task is to create policies that bring prosperity, dignity and hope to all. Great change is in reach because we have progressive governments at the federal and state levels for the first time. With great change at hand, it would be a terrible abdication of our duty to allow agents provocateur to prompt us to suspect and toss dirt at each other at a time when we should be focused on building a better, more equitable nation and society.

“I for one shall never allow myself to be a tool of a political enemy that has nothing good in mind for Nigeria. I for one will never engage in the intramural character attacks of which I am being accused. I stand for the unity of the APC and for the progressive purpose we serve. I will not be guilty of tearing down our progressive house, not a brick of it. That I vow to all.”

EFCC Begins Probe of Amaechi’s Administration

Chibuike Amaechi

Strong indications emerged wednesday that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a detailed investigation into some financial transactions during the tenure of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi.
The investigation, THE MEDIA gathered, was based on a petition by a Port Harcourt-based group, The Integrity Group, which on July 29, wrote to the EFCC, detailing three instances of alleged corruption, graft and abuse of office under Amaechi’s government.

In the petition, the group alleged that Rivers State electric power projects were sold and the proceeds converted to other uses through payments amounting to N60 billion to three companies all located at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt.

The petitioners alleged that the transfers, made in US dollars, occurred within a space of one week between December 1 and 8, 2014.
The Integrity Group also alleged that the proposed Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital in Port Harcourt was a failed contract, which cost the state a whooping N4.63 billion in what the petitioners described as questionable circumstances.

In the third allegation in their petition to the EFCC, the group stated that Amaechi as governor, appointed a firm of tax consultants, which was given a relatively exorbitant fee of 12 per cent of taxes collected on a much lower monthly collection target of N2.5 billion, even as the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service was raking in about N7.5 billion monthly at five per cent administrative cost, as prescribed by law.

The consultants were said to have collected over N1.5 billion in fees within weeks of their being engaged by Amaechi’s government.
Responding to the petition, the EFCC in three separate letters titled, “Investigation Activities”, and dated August 13, 2015, swung into a detailed probe of Amaechi’s dealings as alleged by the petitioners.

All the three letters by the anti-graft commission exclusively obtained by THE MEDIA, were signed by the Head, Economic Governance, Olufunke Adetayo-Ogunbode.

While two of the letters with reference numbers CR: 30/EFCC/ABJ/EG/T4/Vol.26/386 and CR: 30/EFCC/ABJ/EG/T4/Vol.26/379, respectively were addressed to the Permanent Secretary, state Ministry of Finance, in respect of the sale of the state power projects as well as Clinoriv Specialist Hospital and Leisure Limited, which was engaged to have constructed the still-born Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital, the third one with reference number CR: 30/EFCC/ABJ/EG/T4/Vol.26/380 was addressed to the state Accountant-General in respect of the activities of Messrs Collect Nigeria Limited on the collection of internally generated revenue (IGR) on behalf of the state.

One of the EFCC letters to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, read in part: “The commission is investigating a case of conspiracy, abuse of office and fraud. In view of the above, you are kindly requested to furnish the following: Details of all the assets sold to the NG Power-HPS Limited; total amount received and the account it was paid into; Sales Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding; House of Assembly resolution/approval; investments made from the proceeds if any; documents indicating due process; and any other information that will assist the commission in its investigation.”

In respect of the Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital, the EFCC also requested the permanent secretary to furnish it with the following: MoU with Clinoriv Specialist Hospital and Leisure Limited; evidence of due process in the award of the contract; executive council resolution/approval; total sum allocated for the project; account number and bank where the funds were paid; status of the contract awarded to the company; payment certificates issued/valuation reports; contract award documents and; any other information that will assist the commission in its investigation.

On the tax consultancy allegation, the EFCC asked the state accountant-general to supply it with the following information: Details of internally generated revenue between 2007 to date; evidence of disbursement and five per cent retained within the period; the MoU between the state government and Messrs Collect Nigeria Limited; details of due process in the award of the contract; details of payment made to Messrs Collect Nig. Limited; House of Assembly resolution/approval; state executives (that is, State Executive Council) resolution/approval; and any other information that will assist the commission in its investigation.

The anti-graft commission concluded in each of the letters that the request for the specific information in the on-going investigation of the allegations against Amaechi’s government was “made pursuant to Section 38 (1) and (2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004".

FRESH Ochipet: One love @ochipet

Thronemusicscholarz™ present Ochipet the third Runner of Idoma Got Talent session one as he drops his new single One love, Prd by Mr Zeg. download and leave your comments. Enjoy…..©

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With Slowing Growth, Oil Slump, Petrol Subsidy May be Ready to Go

President Muhammadu Buhari 

• Buhari blames past govts for huge subsidy bill
• Kachikwu: PIB to be fine-tuned
• Nigerian oil exports to hit annual high in October

Tobi Soniyi, Chineme Okafor in Abuja and Ejiofor Alike in Lagos with agency report 



With oil prices heading south in the international market and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announcing yesterday that Nigeria’s growth rate slowed to 2.35 per cent in the second quarter, the federal government has very few options than to seize on the opening presented by the oil slump to remove the subsidy on petrol.


This, according to economic analysts who spoke to THE MEDIA, will enable the government to reduce the country’s fiscal imbalance and reduce pressure on foreign reserves and the naira resulting largely from the importation of petroleum products.


The price of Brent crude fell close to a six-year low of $42 on Monday, before rising to $43 a barrel yesterday, while the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) traded at $38.73 per barrel, up 1.2 per cent on the day, and off Monday’s low of $37.75.


But yesterday’s marginal recovery was considered temporary, as oil analysts have predicted that oil could fall to a 16-year low of $20 a barrel due to the over supply from the US and Middle East and the economic slowdown in China.


Based on the computation undertaken by THISDAY using the average price of $527.25 per metric ton for petrol quoted by Platts yesterday and at the exchange rate of N197 to the dollar used by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPRRA), the cost of petrol stood at N77.45 per litre, almost N10 below the official pump price of the product.


The price of petrol quoted by the PPPRA on Monday, which was the prevailing price used to pay marketers was $553.12 per metric ton or N81.26 per litre.


The agency also put its landing cost for petrol at N92.34 per litre and total cost at N107.83 per litre when marketers’ distribution margins were added.


However, market analysts believe that several of the costs inputted by PPPRA are unrealistic in a competitive market and would be eliminated under a deregulated price regime, as several importers of petroleum products will be eliminated, leaving only the major marketers with the economies of scale and therefore lower costs.


“Most of the charges on the PPPRA pricing template for petrol and kerosene only exist because it keeps inviting smaller marketers without the facilities and infrastructure to import products.


“But once the subsidy is removed, they will fall on the wayside and leave only the major marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which have the depots and distribution channels to convey fuel at lower costs to filling stations nationwide.
“So with crude oil prices this low, this is an opportune moment for the federal government to eliminate the subsidy element completely.


“This will go a long way in helping the government to reduce the current fiscal imbalance and free up funds for other projects, and at the same time reduce pressure on our foreign reserves as fuel imports alone account for more than 30 per cent of forex demand in the foreign market,” explained one analyst, who preferred not to be named.


But even as market analysts pushed for the removal of subsidies, President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday blamed past administrations for the billions spent by the country on subsidies for petroleum products.


The president also said that it was unconstitutional for any revenue-generating agency to retain part of the revenues they make.
A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu, said Buhari spoke at a meeting in Abuja with the Chairman and members of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).


Buhari expressed the view that the escalation of petroleum products subsidy payments in recent years was due to the deliberate neglect of the nation’s refineries, oil pipelines and other related infrastructure to pave the way for the importation of petroleum products and for corruption to thrive.


The president, who restated his huge disappointment with the way Nigeria’s oil industry had been run since he left office as petroleum minister and military head of state, said he was convinced that if the development of the country’s domestic refining capacity and petroleum products distribution network had kept pace with national demand, there would not have been a need for the huge subsidies currently being paid to importers.


“They allowed the infrastructure to collapse so that their cronies can steal by bringing in refined products from overseas,” Buhari said.
The president urged the chairman and members of the RMAFC, who availed him of their view on petroleum subsidy payments, to go “back to the drawing board” and come up with more humane proposals to rescue ordinary Nigerians from the “wicked manipulation” of the country's oil industry by corrupt operators.


Buhari also warned that severe sanctions would be visited on any individual or organisation that violated the directive on the payment of all national revenue into the Federation Account.


The president said NNPC, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and other MDAs, which previously relied on the laws establishing them to retain all or part of the revenues collected by them, did so illegally and must now comply with the Nigerian constitution by paying all revenues into the Federation Account.


In a related development, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has acknowledged that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which has been pending before the National Assembly for the last eight years, requires extensive engagement with all stakeholders to iron out all grey areas.


Kachikwu, who yesterday chaired a special session on the proposed law at the ongoing 55th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Abuja, in his paper titled: “Legal and Regulatory Framework of the Petroleum Industry in Nigeria: Review of Existing Laws and the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)”, described the bill as an essential legislation which must be approached with all the seriousness and the thoroughness it deserves.


A statement from the NNPC spokesman Ohi Alegbe quoted Kachikwu as stating: “PIB is a serious affair, it is an essential piece of legislation but as we all know a lot of engagement is required to address all the issues because the oil and gas environment has changed.
“There are issues of cost, with oil going down to $40 per barrel, the PIB cannot be the same.”


The NNPC GMD explained that because of the volume of extensive consultation and time required to make the bill a workable document, it was only natural to kick-start the reforms in the industry with the existing laws while waiting for the eventual passage of the proposed law.


“The reform of the petroleum industry is key and it is an area where we are going to put a lot of focus. Transparency is key. Restructuring is key.


“Sometimes people don’t realise that the problem hasn’t been NNPC, it is a problem of political will to go forward and implement the outcome of researches and reports that had been done. But fortunately for us this time around, that is what the president has brought to the table. He has the strong political will to see this through,” he said.


Commenting on what the federal government intends to do with the draft legislation, Kachikwu stressed that the PIB had come to stay though it would take a bit of time to perfect the draft.


“The PIB is important, but we need to x-ray the issues. We need at least one year to get it back on track. The reality is that we cannot afford to wait any longer for change in the petroleum sector because of the delay in the passage of PIB. Things have got to start happening and that’s exactly what we are doing,” the GMD stated.


Echoing Kachikwu’s position, Mr. Peter Esele, a former President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) who was also President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), noted that though the PIB was key, the industry could make do with existing laws to activate essential reforms in the sector.


With the oil industry reforms taking centre stage yesterday, Reuters reported that Nigeria plans to export some 2.04 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) in October, the highest level this year, with planned shipment of 68 cargoes of 17 grades of crude oil, even as loading programmes for about two grades were yet to be released.


This is coming as the non-Gulf members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) have called on the organisation to take action on the glut in the oil market.


Algeria has written to OPEC expressing concern about the slump in oil prices, and Iran said on Sunday an emergency OPEC meeting may be “effective” in stabilising prices.


Nigeria’s export figure for October is above the less than two million barrels per day to be exported in September and is the highest volume since January when the country initially planned to export 2.03 million bpd, according to the provisional loading schedules obtained by Reuters.


It was not however clear if the international market will absorb these volumes of crude as European refinery maintenance typically peaks in October, thus limiting the amount of crude oil they refine.


According to the provisional loading schedules, Nigeria will export one cargo of Abo grade (23,000 barrels per day); eight cargoes of Agbami (252,000 barrels per day); three cargoes of Amenam (92,000 bpd); seven cargoes of Bonga (215,00bpd); and seven cargoes of Bonny Light (221,000bpd).


Others include five cargoes of Brass River (133,000bpd); one cargo of EA (31,000bpd); one cargo of Ebok (21,000bpd); three cargoes of Erha 97,000bpd); six cargoes of Escravos (184,000bpd); six cargoes of Forcados (184,000bpd); one cargo of Okono (29,000bpd); and one cargo of Oyo (21,000bpd).


Additional loading schedules include 12 cargoes of Qua Iboe (368,000bpd); three cargoes of Usan (97,000bpd); two cargoes of Yoho (61,000bpd); and one cargo of Okwuibome (10,00bpd).


However, the loading schedules for Antan, Okwori and Pennington were still pending, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, Algeria and Iran have called on OPEC to convene an emergency meeting to address the current glut in the oil market.
The last extraordinary meeting to discuss a price slump in 2008 resulted in the OPEC’s largest ever production cut, paving the way for prices to double within a year.


But the current calls for an unscheduled meeting to address spiralling prices were more a sign of growing friction within the group than a leading indicator of policy action, according to Reuters.


Although OPEC’s statutes say support from a simple majority of the 12 members can trigger an extraordinary meeting, none will occur without support from Saudi Arabia, which has yet to give its blessing, according to OPEC delegates.


With oil falling further, support is growing among non-Gulf members for action and even some Gulf officials are concerned about the latest drop in prices. But the top OPEC producer’s policymakers have remained publicly silent.


Without the Saudis on board, even some OPEC members who are desperate to shore up prices, say an abrupt public gathering is not the way to go and might only make matters worse.


Expectedly, low oil prices continued to take their toll on the Nigerian economy, as the country’s growth slowed in the second quarter of this year to 2.35 per cent the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said yesterday.


Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by only 2.35 per cent on an annual basis, compared with 3.96 per cent a quarter earlier, the head of the NBS, Yemi Kale, said on his Twitter account. According to Bloomberg, Kale said the oil industry contracted 6.8 per cent.


At 2.35 per cent, this is the slowest growth recorded by the country in well over a decade.
The oil-price slump has forced Nigeria, the top producer in Africa, to cut its budget and deplete foreign currency reserves to stem depreciation in the currency, which has declined 7.8 per cent against the dollar this year.


The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All Share Index also fell to the lowest in six months yesterday on concerns that oil prices near a six-year low will deepen the country’s economic challenges.


Manufacturing contracted by 3.8 per cent during the quarter, compared with growth of 14 per cent a year ago, Kale said.
Buhari, who took office in May in the country’s first democratic transfer of power between parties, has yet to name a cabinet and hasn’t articulated his economic vision for the nation.

Suicide Bomber Hits Airport Junction Maiduguri Kills one military guards commander

A suicide bomber last night struck at a military checkpoint at the airport junction in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
The tragic event took place about 10.30p.m. near the Maiduguri Airport, killing a guards commander whose identity was withheld for security reasons.


THE MEDIA was reliably informed that some of the military personnel, mostly airmen, were already relieved to travel and meet with their families when the dastardly act took place.


“This is tragic. Do you know that our signal came out Monday afternoon for changes. We were already thanking God after eight months we were going to see our love ones again. We were to be withdrawn on the September 3, 2015 but see what has happened to our friend. It is so painful and unbearable,” one of the officers said.


Boko Haram terrorists have increasingly adopted guerrilla tactics and use of suicide bombers since they lost territories in the last three months.


And this is coming several hours after another suicide bomber struck in Damarturu, Yobe State, killing five persons.

Nigeria sees highest ever power generation in July – TCN MD

Nigeria saw a highest ever peak in power generation at about 4,652 megawatts in July, according to Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN.

Deputy Managing Director of TCN, Dr. Atiku Abubakar‎, revealed this during a facility inspection of some ongoing transmission projects and a training exercise of some auditors in Lagos.

“Nigeria has been able to generate the highest peak so ever in July which is about 4,652 megawatts and our transmission capacity is a little bit above that. TCN is capable of transmitting about 5,300 megawatts at the moment,” he said.

Dr. Atiku, who also spoke on the country’s plan to achieve 8,000 megawatts transmission capacity in two or three years from now, said TCN would required a minimum of N15 billion fund annually to meet the plan.

“TCN will required a minimum of about N15 billion per annum to achieve 8,000 megawatts, mw, within a‎ period of two to three years,” Abubakar stated

He explained that the fund would be use to expand the country’s current transmission capacity of 5,300mw to 8,000mw, noting that this has become imperative following improved gas supply to power generating plants which has resulted in improved power generation.

He maintained that though has been able to generate the highest peak so ever in July, it is expected that asgeneration is improving, the transmission network would be upgraded to be able to evacuate all that is being generated.

“l can assured that we have our plans, projects that are very critical has been mapped out so that within the shortest possible time, we will be able to hits 8,000 megawatts transmission capacity,” he said.

Abubakar also hinted that about 30 firms willing to invest in the country’s transmission sector and capable to deliver projects effectively have been short-listed .

He explained that TCN is currently evaluating the investors’ technical and financial strength to ensure smooth delivery of projects and on time.

NNPC Sets New Terms for Crude Swaps

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for the cancellation of the offshore process contracts and crude oil swaps, the state-run oil firm has started the process of setting out new terms for the selection of new traders for the oil swap programme.


Speaking on the cancellation, a top NNPC official said though the president had approved the Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu’s request to cancel contracts, it had not been communicated to the traders.


He disclosed however that part of the criteria for the selection of new traders would require that they either own and operate refineries or have access to refining capacity while Nigerian companies would be required to show evidence of depots and retail services to make the shortlist.


The official clarified that the terms for the selection process was still a work in progress and would be expanded to ask traders to provide evidence of their financial capability by meeting a minimum capital base, among other requirements.


But the minimum capital base, he explained, has not been determined as NNPC was still working on the criteria that would ensure that “arm chair contractors” are eliminated.


“We intend to make the re-tendering process very transparent once we are done with the terms that traders will have to meet, and this will be advertised in the local and international media for the world to see,” he said.

The cancelled swaps were initiated in January by the Goodluck Jonathan administration and were to last till December 2016. The swaps are designed to supply primarily petrol and kerosene in exchange for crude, as Nigeria relies on imports for the bulk of its domestic consumption.


Nigeria is often chronically short of fuel, as its neglected refining sector operates well below capacity. In order to meet the refining shortfall, NNPC allocated 210,000 barrels per day of crude to swap for products in 2015 to Sahara Energy, Aiteo, Ontario Oil and Gas, and Trafigura.


Reuters quoted a source at NNPC as stating that the president cancelled contracts for roughly half of the 445,000 barrels per day of crude earmarked for Nigeria's refineries — the amount traders use in the products swap deals.


“The government may not have completely dumped the idea of swaps but the aim is to re-evaluate the whole contracts terminated to extract some favourable terms,” the source told Reuters.


Crude-for-products swaps became controversial after several Nigerian officials raised questions about their transparency, including the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), an EITI affiliate.


The Department of State Security Services (DSS) in June launched an investigation to determine whether the government had been short-changed in the scheme. The outcome of the investigation is yet to be announced.

Mobil Oil Chairman Blames Fuel Tanker Explosions on Price Regulation

Chairman and Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji



Ejiofor Alike

The Chairman and Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji has attributed the increasing spate of fuel tanker explosions across the country with the attendant fire outbreak to the inability of oil marketing companies to make new investment as a result of the regulation of prices petroleum products by the government.

Speaking in Lagos at the recent 2015 conference of the National Association of Energy Correspondents (NAEC), Oyebanji stated that the inability of the marketers to make reasonable margins from their business has hindered their capacity to invest in new trucks for lifting petroleum products.

In his presentation on “Deregulation of the Petroleum Products Sector: A Key to Sustainable Development,” the Chairman and Managing Director of Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji noted that the margins of the marketers have remained fixed for the past eight years.

He said apart from having a negative impact on the downstream business, regulation and payment of subsidies also have serious impact on the Nigerian economy.

Oyebanji listed the opportunity cost of subsidies to include lack of investments in infrastructure, health, education and investment in local refining, which he said was private sector driven.

Budgetary constraints, leakages/smuggling, wrong beneficiaries and inadequate investment in pipelines, storage facilities, and jetties were also listed as some of the negative effects of subsidy payment.

Oyebanji also identified rent seeking/corruption, administrative cost of enforcement, low taxes, safety issues, adulteration of product and market distortion as some of the ills of price regulation.

According to him, price regulation encourages what is known in the industry parlance as “Rice and Beans” where the marketers adulterate high cost product with low cost product to sell it as high cost product.

Quoting the 2003 report of the IMF and others on Indonesian experience, Oyebanji noted that “given that higher income groups consume the lion’s share of petroleum products, it is tempting to conclude a priori, that these groups would bear the brunt of any additional reduction in the subsidy. Such a conclusion would be premature, however, in light of the ripple effects of higher petroleum prices on production costs and incomes throughout the entire economy.”

According to him, these results suggest that in the short run, a reduction in petroleum subsidies will result in an increase in the price level and a reduction in household consumption.

“Even though higher-income groups lose the most from subsidy reduction, the poor are also affected; the latter could be protected by well-targeted social safety nets, using some of the fiscal savings generated by subsidy reform. Given the contribution of subsidy reduction to fiscal sustainability, higher petroleum prices are unlikely to adversely affect the poor in the long run,” he added.

He noted that marketers margin has remained unchanged in almost eight years as a result of deregulation, thus discouraging investment, with the country experiencing frequent supply shocks due to lack of refining capacity, logistics infrastructure and delays in subsidy reimbursement by government

Oyebanji said the supply shocks have created pricing arbitrage opportunities along the supply chain, while opaque allocation of imports quotas has given opportunities to importers with no retail outlets



According to him, delays in subsidy reimbursements to oil marketers have seen government incur avoidable costs in overdue interest payments and forex differentials

Army Recalls 2,700 Dismissed Soldiers and Officers after Buhari’s Intervention

Insists review still ongoing

Senator Iroegbu in Abuja¨
Investigations have revealed how President Muhammadu Buhari sanctioned the recall of officers and soldiers who were said to be “unjustly disciplined and dismissed” through various general court martials set up by the immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Kenneth Minimah (rtd).

Through the process, an estimated 2,700 soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army have been recalled.

Military sources told MEDIA that President Buhari, after reviewing most of the cases and the circumstances under which the affected personnel were sanctioned, called for the review of the trial to determine if there were cases of injustice.

According to one the senior officer, the case was brought to the attention of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, who on the assumption of office vowed to continue with the disciplinary measures adopted by his predecessor.
However, the source noted that Buratai had a change of heart when the whole picture of the circumstances under which the affected officers and soldiers were court martialled.

It was disclosed that one of the affected commanders was the immediate senior to the new army chief who narrated the plight of the servicemen “who were almost forced to fight without weapons.”

Incensed by the revelations, it was said that Buratai had to first assess the situation and subsequently presented it to President Buhari who wasted no time in approving the need to review all the cases with panel of enquiry set up.

“The commandant who was also affected was not happy about the things that happened...with those boys being dismissed. So when the new man (Buratai) came, having been next to him in hierarchy, he approached him with the situation of those boys. The fact is that the former army leadership was the ones who did not provide the needed weapons to those boys. So how can they come up to claim that the boys were running from Boko Haram.

“Consequently, the new man (army chief) took the case to the president who also felt sad about it and directed that the cases be reviewed so that they can be recalled,” the source explained.

Further enquiries also revealed that not all the affected officers and soldiers have been recalled as many are yet to be informed or respond to the call.

Another military source confirmed that about 2,700 men had been readmitted to the force, while some others who are still aggrieved with the way they were treated by the military authorities have simply refused to submit themselves to the review panel.

“Right now, we cannot have a cohesive figure because there are those who have either not reported or heard about this latest development. Some of them still feel embittered that after all their sacrifice to the service and the nation they were treated unfairly. We will not tell them sorry but we are also encouraging them to come back. But for now, I think about 2,700 have been recalled,” the source said.
However, the Nigerian Army has said it was yet to decide on the fate of about 4,000 officers and soldiers who were dismissed through various GCMs during Minimah’s era.

The Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Sani Usman, in response to MEDIA enquiries yesterday, dismissed reports making the rounds that the army had recalled about 2,500 to 3,000 officers and soldiers.

Usman said what had reported so far have been speculative since the panel of enquiry set up by the army authorities and sanctioned by Buhari was yet to conclude its work.

He said: “People are basing this on speculation because of movement here and there. I don’t know where they got such outrageous figures from.

“You can recall that there is a committee for this and the committe has not finished its work, let alone deciding on what to do. We cannot talk of a line of action to take when the review is still ongoing. It is not conclusive yet. The committee is working and nothing has been done yet.”

The Nigerian army last month said it would be reviewing some of the disciplinary and court martial cases, especially those handled by the immediate past army chief.

Usman made the clarification in response to some reports regarding the recent disciplinary actions by the army.

“The attention of the Nigerian army has been drawn to a correspondence making the rounds in the media regarding an administrative procedure to review some recent disciplinary cases in the Nigerian army.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it should be noted that the Nigerian Army is reviewing all recent disciplinary cases due to the wave of litigations and petitions by some aggrieved personnel,” Usman said.

According to him, the public should not misconstrue the recent directive to mean total recall of dismissed and deserter soldiers.

Chelsea’s Cuadrado set for Juve medical

Chelsea forward Juan Cuadrado is set to undergo a medical at Juventus on Tuesday ahead of joining the Italian champions on a season-long loan deal.

Cuadrado moved to Stamford Bridge in a 35 million euro ($34.9 million) deal only six months ago from Fiorentina, but the Colombian international has become surplus to requirements under Blues coach Jose Mourinho.

Juventus have been looking to bolster their attacking midfield since the departure of Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich) and Andrea Pirlo (New York City FC) and amid the ongoing injury absence of Sami Khedira.

The signing of Cuadrado has been welcomed by fans, especially after Juve’s shock 1-0 defeat to Udinese on the opening weekend of Serie A when their attacking midfield failed to spark.

Television pictures in Italy on Monday night showed the 27-year-old arriving at Milan’s Malpensa airport, where he was surrounded by over 100 enthusiastic Juventus supporters.

Juventus have yet to make any official statement, although club CEO Beppe Marotta said last week: “He will come on a loan deal. Six months ago Cuadrado was the subject of a 35 million euro transfer: today this opportunity came up, and we took it.

“Now, it’s up to (Juventus coach, Massimiliano) Allegri to see where he fits in with the team.”

La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper said Tuesday Cuadrado could play for Juventus as early as this weekend’s clash with scudetto rivals Roma at the Stadio Olimpico.

Pregnant woman, five others killed in Damaturu twin explosions

Six people, including two suspected suicide bombers, have died in two bomb explosions that occurred on Tuesday in Damaturu, Yobe State capital.

Yobe Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Toyin Gbadegeshin, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria.

Gbadegeshin said three others were in critical condition, while 40 others, who sustained various degrees of injury, had been taken to hospitals in the area.

He said one of the explosions involving a female suicide bomber of about 12 years of age, happened at the entrance of the Damaturu main motor park.

“The girl detonated the explosive at the screening centre of the motor park gate, killing herself and four others, including a pregnant woman and a baby.

“The other explosive went off at about the same time with the first one at Pompomari, when a suspected male suicide bomber, sensing he will be apprehended, ran into a nearby bush and the explosive went off, killing him alone,” the police spokesman said.

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Meanwhile, Director of Press to Yobe Governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, described the incident as “sad and unfortunate.”

NAN reports that officials of the State Emergency Management Agency and hospital staff were providing emergency support to the victims.

No room for gays in Catholic Church, says Bishop

The Catholic Bishop of Lokoja, Dada Olorunmolu, on Tuesday reiterated Catholic church’s position against gay marriage, saying it was unequivocal and the church would not compromise on it.
The Bishop made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
He said that approving gay union would amount to standing the Bible on its head.
According to him, the issue is against the teachings of the church and the Bible; it will amount to bending its teachings, its injunctions, just to accommodate what is unnatural.
Olorunmola support Pope Francis in not condemning gay people but leaving it to God to handle in his own terms for judgement.
“When you talk about gay union, it is man-to-man or woman-to-woman relationship.
‘’For us, the Bible teaches officially that it is the relationship between a man and woman that is marriage and not the other way round,” he said, adding that the Bible condemns homosexuality.
‘’What I am saying with emphasis is that if the Bible says something, there is no way you will trample on it by saying what is opposite and still be correct unless we are no more believing in the Bible,” he added.
The bishop prayed for those who indulged in the act, asking God to give them the grace to understand what was right.
“If you now want to compel the church to recognise you as homosexual and for the blessing of the union, the church is saying that it is against the bible because the bible says marriage is a union between man and woman.
“This is the difference; we are not saying gays are automatically condemned to hell but what we are saying is that it is not in accordance with the bible and therefore we cannot make it a sacrament.
‘’If we do that, it will nullify the official teaching of the bible and the church on marriage,” he said.
He said stressed that gay union could not be referred to as marriage but an ‘’unholy union’’, adding that where it was permitted, there would be chaos as family life would no longer be meaningful.