December 2022 – Page 67

Post Date : December 9, 2022

DAILIES TOP STORIES: Emefiele insists on limits, Reps demand suspension

Friday 09 December 2022 INEC plans voting centres for two million IDPs LCCI knocks FG over worsening credit ratings N-Power fraud: Lawyer seeks D’banj’s release 48 hours after Fuel Scarcity: DSS gives dealers 48 hours to stop scarcity or face FG’s wrath ECOWAS demands 2 permanent seats for Africa in UN Security Council New York Times journalists stage one-day strike over pay dispute Anger as Baze University sends 185 amnesty students out of exam over fees New Naira: Emefiele briefs Buhari, says no going back N500bn Devt Fund: FG ‘ll review criteria for disbursement – Finance Minister Finally, Imo PDP inaugurates presidential campaign council Govt agencies, marketers agree to end petrol scarcity in 48 hours Why we stopped mining in Zamfara – Minister Peter Obi to speak at Chatham House Jan 16 2023: PDP raises concern over destruction of its campaign materials in Benue Gunmen Attack Atiku Campaign Chairman’s Residence In Rivers Russia Frees Brittney Griner In Prisoner Swap Yuletide: FG To Open 2nd Niger Bridge For One Month Banditry Report 2022: ECWA Church Says 807 Members Kidnapped In Kaduna Celine Dion Diagnosed With Rare Neurological Disease: ‘All I Know Is Singing’ ‘Outright nonsense’ — defence chief reacts to report on forced abortion for victims of insurgency Abia guber: Court convicts Uche Ogah for forging APC primary result sheet 2023: I’m Ready To Debate From Morning Till Night – Tinubu Visit a newspaper stand this morning, buy and read a copy for yourself…

Post Date : December 9, 2022

Nnamdi Kanu Asks People In SouthEast To Ignore 5-day Sit-At-Home Order, Igbo Leaders Slam Ekpa

By Ibe Pascal The detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has again, asked residents of South East and all “Biafrans” to ignore the purported five-day order being circulated in a viral video. Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, who spoke exclusively with Vanguard on Thursday after visiting the IPOB Leader at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, where he is currently detained, said that his brother told him that he never issued any such orders. According to him, promoters of “such senseless and anti-people order are the real enemies of Biafra.” “My brother said: ‘At no time did I order anybody or group to issue such sensitive orders. ” He directed all IPOB members to ignore anybody calling for a 5-day sit-at-home. ” My brother said that our people should know that that those who issue such orders are the real enemies of Biafra, and must be dealt with. ” He equally told me that Biafrans should know that he is in detention for their sake and not to compound their problems.” The IPOB Leader, therefore, urged people in the Biafran region to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of molestations. A viral video surfaced three days ago, showing a gun with a background voice ordering people in Biafra land to remain indoors from Friday December 9 to December 14. The video which issued death threats to anyone that violates the five-day sit-at-home has been greeted with wide condemnation. Ohanaeze Ndigbo has renounced the masterminds of the video and urged Ndigbo to discountenance the evil video. ALSO, IGBO Elders Consultative Forum, under the leadership of former Anambra governor Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has urged Southeast residents to reject the five-day sit-at-home declared by Finland-based Simon Ekpa, a protege of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. They described Ekpa’s draconian order as the height of insensitivity to the plight of the people; insisting that it must never be observed nor allowed to stand. Ezeife, who briefed journalists in Abuja on Thursday night, said the Forum met, discussed and made critical analysis of some national issues and questions that have far reaching consequences on the peace, unity, stability and corporate existence of Nigeria in general, and Igbo land in particular including EKpa’s sit-at –home order in the South East. According to him, “The Igbo Elders Consultative Forum has always believed that some faceless individuals in government and other unpatriotic elements who do not wish ndi Igbo well, and have been working hard with evil collaborators to truncate the scheduled 2023 General Elections in the South East are behind the purported sit-at-home order in the zone. “The scheduled February, 2023 Presidential election will be historic in Nigeria because we are optimistic that patriotic and progressive Nigerians will elect Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party as the next President of this country in a free, fair and credible election; hence evil and wicked elements must never be allowed to use the purported sit-at-home order to truncate next year general election.” In the same vein, Secretary of the Forum, Prof. Charles Nwekeaku, maintained that it was the firm belief of Igbo elders that the release of Nnamdi Kanu is central to peace process initiatives in the South East, as well as the conduct of a free, fair and credible election in the zone next year. “The moment Mr Kanu is released; no person will hide under IPOB and similar organizations to impose any draconian sit-at-home order on our people. We still ask the Federal Government to obey the unanimous and laudable ruling of the Court of Appeal and release our son Mr Nnamdi Kanu. The Court of Appeal had in a unanimous and historic judgment cleared Mr Kanu of the remaining 7 of the original 15 count-terrorism charges against him. Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court, FCT, Abuja had earlier quashed 8 of the original 15 charges against Mr Kanu. The honorable thing for the Federal Government to do now is to release Mr Kanu, and stop this wide goose appeal at the Supreme Court.” Speaking also, the Ezeigbo of Abuja, HRH Igwe (Dr.) Ibe Nwosu,said now that IPOB has publicly condemned and distanced its members from Ekpa’s sit-at-home order, the State Governors as the chief security officers of the various states in the South East must rise up to their responsibility of ensuring effective protection of lives and property of the citizenry, as well as freedom of movement of people and goods in the zone. “The Governors should empower and sustain vigilante groups in the state to assist in the internal security maintenance in the South East. We also call on the traditional rulers, community and town union leaders, the clergy, youth organizations and other peace loving institutions and individuals to rise up to the challenge of ensuring not just free movement of people, goods and services in the South East, but also immediate casting of this draconian sit-at-home order permanently to the dustbin of history. The sit-at-home order must never be allowed to come back to the South East.” The Igbo elders also called on the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to take necessary measures to provide a level playing ground for all the political parties and their candidates as well as conduct a free, fair and credible election in 2023. “The people of the South East, both at home and in Diaspora, should all collect their permanent voters’ cards, PVCs, and ensure effective participation in the electoral process of next year,” they added. Sit-at-home order: We ‘ll no longer allow reign of terror to continue in S/East – Ohaneze youths The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has asked the people of Southeast to resist a full reign of terror in the land, saying it will no longer allow terror to continue to reign. The organization spoke on the heels of a 5 day sit-at-home order by Simon Ekpa, a scribe

Post Date : December 9, 2022

N-Power fraud: Lawyer seeks D’banj’s release 48 hours after

Pelumi Olajengbesi, the lawyer to popular musician, Daniel Oladapo, also known as D’Banj, has called for the release of the singer from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. Olajengbesi in a statement on Thursday said D’Banj who was arrested by the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, was innocent of the allegations of fund diversion trailing him regarding the social empowerment programme ‘N-Power Scheme.’ This was also as he demanded that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs should make public the names of government officials allegedly involved with D’Banj in the alleged fraud. Olajengbesi, the Managing Partner at Law Corridor, thereafter sought the release of the singer, especially having spent 48 hours in detention in the course of interrogation. “It has become necessary in the interest of justice and for public record to make known the following facts with regard to the false allegation against Mr. Daniel Oladapo (D’banj) especially as his immediate release has become expedient under the law and constitutional convention having satisfactorily cooperated with Commission’s investigation within the last 48 hours: “Investigators of the Commission have between December 6 and 7, 2022, thoroughly examined D’banj’s honest and straightforward answers to all its inquiries to the mutual satisfaction of the Commission and his legal representatives. “That D’banj has dutifully cooperated with the Commission in the course of their investigation and demonstrated a shared zeal to help the Commission make its impassioned and honest findings on the matter as he is interested in clearing his name as well,” the lawyer said. He added that after Wednesday’s interview session, “we were informed he would be released as a matter of course having found nothing on him and with no further grounds for his continued detention. However, the Chairman of the Commission was required to sign off on his immediate release before it could be effected and that never happened. “We were at the Commission today (Thursday) to give D’banj the required legal representation and all we waited for was still the ‘approval from above’ that never came. D’banj was also not interviewed today on any other issue before his lawyers.” “While holding on to the sustained hope that D’banj will not somehow become the victim of targeted blackmail or faceless malice from certain quarters with perhaps vested interest in his downfall, we want to reassure the general public and the Commission by implication that we are fully ready and willing to cooperate to the extent of the law that makes for the finding of the truth in this matter which we take quite seriously,” the statement said. D’Banj’s lawyer sought the provision of names of government officials allegedly involved in colluding with the singer to perpetuate the alleged fraud. “We in the same vein reiterate that D’banj has no such access nor colluded with any government officials over any dubious transaction. The very allegation is a nightmare that must be dissipated by an assertion of the truth of D’banj’s unimpeachable innocence. “As a matter of course, we now place a major demand on the oversight Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to immediately cause the release of the names of the government officials alleged to have colluded with D’banj and the investigation of same should be made public. We also demand that the ministry should make public immediately money alleged to have been traced to D’banj’s account. “We call on the National Assembly’s Public Account Committee to open a wide investigation into the N-Power scheme through an open and all-free entry public hearing without protecting any sacred cows. “It is alarming and incongruous to design such an allegation against D’banj who does not have access to government accounts or government platforms to have been alleged to have diverted such huge sums without any single government official in custody with him. “We have opted to treat this matter with all sense of diligence and with the benefit of doubt extended to the Commission given that we are mindful the Commission is headed by a Professor of Law and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria whom we believe reckons with the principle that an accused is innocent until proven guilty and would constitutionally comply with same,” Olajengbesi said. “It is to this end that we implore the Commission to be mindful of having detained D’banj beyond the constitutionally allowed limits without a charge made in court, following which we encourage the Commission to have him brought before a competent court with the necessary charges forthwith or duly release him while continuing their investigation which we understand can be a demanding and pressing task. “D’banj is innocent of all the laughable allegations and deliberate publicity and has demonstrated patriotism by encouraging the Commission and such an act in good faith must not be unfairly rewarded,” he added.

Post Date : December 9, 2022

INEC plans voting centres for two million IDPs

Ahead of the 2023 elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission is planning to set up voting centres for over two million Internally Displaced Persons across the country. The voting centres will be sighted in IDP camps. Findings from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development indicate that many of the IDPs are living in Borno, Zamfara, Benue, Nasarawa and 23 other states. The IDPs were displaced from their communities and ancestral lands by Boko Haram insurgents, armed herdsmen and bandits, natural disasters and other emergencies. The Chairman, Board of Survey and Technical Committee on Equipment Acquisition, INEC, Mohammed Haruna, confirmed to The PUNCH on Monday that the commission was working on setting up voting centres for the displaced persons to ensure that no one was disenfranchised in 2023. But responding to inquiries from one of our correspondents on the plans for the IDPs for the 2023 election, Haruna explained that with the spread of insecurity across the country, INEC would conduct elections in IDP camps where they still exist, but would adopt a different approach for the internally displaced persons living in communities. Although the INEC official did not give the number of IDPs that will be affected, findings by The PUNCH indicate that about two million IDPs in camps and communities may fall into this category. He stated, ‘’The issue of people voting in IDP camps is complicated. When insecurity was essentially restricted to the North-East ahead of the last general elections in 2019, it was easy to create IDPs camps. This time, however, many of the camps in the North-East and the few elsewhere have closed and most of the displaced persons are dispersed inside communities away from where they registered. ‘’Besides, insecurity has now spread nationwide. We will conduct elections in IDP camps where they still exist. But for the internally displaced persons living in communities, we need a different approach. We will do our best to see that no one is disenfranchised.’’ The PUNCH reports that the electoral commission designed “a special voting regime” and procedure for internally displaced persons in the North-East and other victims of natural disaster, insecurity, land disputes and other emergencies in 15 states during the 2019 elections. The INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, had disclosed then that voting modalities were established for 930,000 IDPs in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, FCT, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe states. “These displacements are the result of insurgency, farmers/herders’ clashes, land disputes, banditry, natural disasters and other emergencies. “It is estimated that there are around 930,000 IDPs in Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Edo, FCT, Nasarawa, Ondo, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe. INEC has classified the IDPs by location, surveyed their voter registration status and designed a special voting regime and procedure for them,” Okoye had said. Officials of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, confirmed on Monday that about 3.2m IDPs are in the country. This includes children and infants. According to analysts, eligible voters among the number may not be less than two million IDPs. Although the spokesperson for the ministry, Rhoda Iliya, could not provide the latest figures when contacted last night, impeccable sources cited figures earlier released by the United Nations. In April this year, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UN agency for refugees, said over 80,000 refugees and 3.2 million IDPs were in Nigeria and in dire need of help. These include children and infants. Last July, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, confirmed that 3.2m internally displaced persons are scattered nationwide out of which over one million were believed to be children. The commission said Borno State tops the states with the highest number of IDPs, numbering 1.6m while Ekiti state has 5,377. The NCFRMI Federal Commissioner, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, who gave the breakdown said Zamfara has 678,000 IDPs; Benue (300,000), Adamawa (208,334), Yobe (156,437), Niger (150,380), Katsina (130,113), Cross River (101,404), Ebonyi (93,404), Plateau (91,524), and Taraba (82,661). Others are Bauchi (65,595), Nasarawa (46,769), Imo (42,335), FCT (31,029), Kwara (25,024), Kogi (20,477), Kano (17,981), Bayelsa (12,292), Akwa Ibom (10,062), Edo (11,716), Oyo (8,912), Rivers (8,119), Ondo (7,012), Delta (6,172) and Ogun (5,623). The PUNCH gathered that there are several unofficial camps in Gwoza, Damboa and other locations in Borno state. The Director-General of the Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Princewill Ayim, disclosed that there were five IDP camps in the state. “There are two in Bakassi and three in Ogoja,’’ he noted, adding that the ceding of Bakassi, flooding and communal clashes were responsible for the displacement of the people. Unconfirmed reports also indicated that Sokoto state is hosting about two camps for displaced persons. The camps were said to be located in the Gandi, Rabbah Local government Area of the state and Ramin-kura, a suburb of Sokoto town. No fewer than 10 IDPs camps are in Benue state with five in Abagana, Ortese, Daudu I and Daudu II, all in the Guma LGA as well as one in Gbanjimba. Three other camps are also located in Logo LGA, Makurdi and in Kwande. Many displaced persons estimated at over 2m also stay with family members. Meanwhile, Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom on Tuesday reiterated his call on the Federal Government to create voting centres in all the internally displaced persons camps in the state to enable the inmates to vote in the forthcoming general election. Ortom stated this through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase. The governor said he had already made the request to the INEC that displaced persons are also Nigerians who should not be denied their rights. Akase said, “The governor has made that request to INEC that the IDPs are also Nigerians who have inalienable rights. The fact that they have been driven away from their ancestral homes to camps does not mean

Post Date : December 9, 2022

Govt agencies, marketers agree to end petrol scarcity in 48 hours

Federal Government agencies and petroleum marketers have undertaken to end the crippling shortage of petrol across the country that has seen pump prices hit N285 per litre. Speaking after a meeting at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, in Abuja on Thursday, the operators said the depots would work for 24 hours daily until the queues are cleared. The meeting had in attendance officials of the Department of State Services, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers, National Association of Road Transport Owners, among others. The Executive Secretary, MOMAN, Clement Isong, told journalists that operators would ensure that they implemented the decisions reached at the meeting. According to him, “As these decisions are being implemented, the queues will subside. We have committed to work with NNPC to continuously improve operational efficiency in order to achieve operational excellence”. On his part, the Executive Secretary, DAPPMAN, Femi Adewole, blamed the challenge for sourcing foreign exchange as one of the reasons for the shortage. “The challenges to marketers, especially depot owners, were explained and the meeting agreed and actually noted the forex component challenge and its input into our cost, which we should in all ideal cases recover reasonably. That was agreed upon. “We also agreed that based on the assurances of products given to marketers, provided by NNPC, we will ensure that, going forward, all depots work 24 hours, based on the security risks appraised. “We will work 24 hours to ensure that the queues in town are reduced. Our retail outlets, spread nationwide, will also ensure that they sell 24 hours based on our security situation appraised. I want to assure Nigerians that going forward, they will be able to get fuel in filling stations without too much hitch or harassment.” Speaking earlier, Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, said all parties had committed to ensuring supply and clearing the queues within the given time. “We’ve heard from all the stakeholders on each of their individual commitments to ensuring adequate supply and distribution of petroleum products. And they re-emphasised that the commitment is to take effect within 48 hours. “So we are hoping that with the efficiency in the distribution, both by marine and trucking, in the next 48 hours the commitments will really start and hopefully we will see a positive environment, away from the difficult situation we are experiencing across the nation”.

Post Date : December 9, 2022

ECOWAS demands 2 permanent seats for Africa in UN Security Council

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted a resolution demanding two permanent seats for Africa in the United Nations Security Council. This was part of the resolutions contained in a communiqué released at the end of the 62nd Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS held in Abuja, under the chairmanship of Umaro Sissoco Embalo, President of the Republic of Guinea Bissau, and Chair of the Authority. The resolution said “The Authority of Heads of State and Government, considering the Ezulwini Consensus, the Sirte Declaration, the Common Africa Position (CAP), the Progress Report of the Committee of Ten on the Reform of the United Nations, under the coordination of Sierra Leone, and all related initiatives which consider the principles, objectives and ideals of reforming the United Nations for a fairer world based on universalism, equity regional balance, and ensures Africa’s legitimate rights to a fair and equitable geographical representation, adopts the Abuja Declaration on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council and calls for the allocation of two (2) permanent seats to Africa with all the attendant privileges, including the right of veto, and five (5) non-permanent seats on the Security Council.” The leaders said they welcome the contribution of the Peace Support Missions deployed by ECOWAS, particularly the ECOWAS Mission in the Gambia (ECOMIG) and the Stabilisation Support Mission in Guinea Bissau (SSMGB). They resolved to extend the mandate of ECOMIG for a further year from January 1, 2023 and instruct the Commission to consider, within that period, a gradual downsizing of the Mission and commence the training and reorientation of The Gambia Defence and Security Forces to enable them to play their constitutionally assigned roles in a democratic dispensation. The ECOWAS leaders also urged the Gambian Government to diligently implement the Security Sector Reforms (SSR) and instruct the Commission to ensure that the ECOMIG Force composition reflects a balanced regional outlook comprising troops from the ECOWAS Member States beyond the current countries participating in the Mission. The Authority reaffirms its strong condemnation of unconstitutional changes of government and underscores the urgent need for collective action to entrench democracy and promote stability in the region. The Authority reaffirms its determination to scrupulously enforce the principle of ‘Zero tolerance for power obtained or maintained by unconstitutional means’ and to apply without exception the severest of sanctions for non-compliance. To this end, in accordance with the instructions issued at its 61st Ordinary Session held in Accra, Republic of Ghana on 3 July 2022, the Authority directs the President of the Commission to continue discussions with Member States and if need be, with other stakeholders, with a view to reaching consensus on outstanding issues, to finalise the revision of the 2001 Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The Authority further directs the President of the Commission to submit the draft revised Supplementary Protocol at its next session. The Authority also decides to set up a regional force whose mandate will include the restoration of constitutional order where they are threatened in the sub-region. On unconstitutional changes of government the Authority reaffirms its strong condemnation of unconstitutional changes of government and underscores the urgent need for collective action to entrench democracy and promote stability in the region. On Transition Processes in the Region the Authority was briefed by the ECOWAS Mediators on the transition processes in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali. The Heads of State and Government commended the Mediators for their commitment, which has led to the positive results from in their discussions with the transition authorities in the three Member States and for the quality of their reports. The Authority took note of the recommendations made by the Mediators. On combating terrorism the Authority expresses grave concern about the worsening regional security situation due to the recurrence and expansion of terrorist attacks and their humanitarian consequences. In particular, it expresses deep concern over the security situation in Burkina Faso and its possible consequences on the coastal countries and thus calls for urgent measures to support Burkina Faso in its efforts to counter terrorist attacks in the country. The Authority underscores the urgent need to accelerate the implementation of the ECOWAS 2020-2024 Priority Action Plan to eradicate terrorism, through improved resource mobilisation and strengthening of the region’s operational and logistical capacities to effectively combat the scourge. On the Single Currency, the Authority takes note of the conclusions of the meeting of the Ministerial Committee on the Single Currency Program of ECOWAS and commends it for the efforts deployed in the search for a consensus on the definition of “majority” within the framework of the Convergence and Macroeconomic Stability Pact among ECOWAS Member States. Summit instructed the Ministerial Committee to pursue the search for consensual solutions on all outstanding issues with a view to creating harmonious conditions for the launching of the ECO. On the Common External Tariff the Authority noted with satisfaction the activities undertaken by the Commission and Member States towards the creation of a common market in West Africa. The Authority adopted the draft Regulation extending the period of implementation of the ECOWAS Supplementary Protection Measures of the Common External Tariff for another five years. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the promotion of peace, security and stability in the region as prerequisites for the economic development and integration of the region. They also reaffirmed the inextricable link between the consolidation of peace and security and the harmonious economic development of the region. They reiterate their commitment to the promotion and defence of the principles of democracy, good governance, peace and security as contained in the relevant ECOWAS texts.

Post Date : December 9, 2022

Finally, Imo PDP inaugurates presidential campaign council

The Imo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Thursday officially inaugurated its presidential campaign council, PCC, with former governor of Imo state, Emeka Ihedioha as the chairman of the campaign. The inauguration was conducted by the state chairman of the party, Charles Ugwu, at the PDP state secretariat along Okigwe road in Owerri. This came after the controversies that stalled the earlier plan to inaugurate the PCC, last month. This time, the party through what was described as a “harmonisation of the list” they were said to have concluded that Ihedioha becomes the chairman of the council and Greg Egu, as the Director General of the PCC. It was different from the earlier arrangement where it had Charles Ezekwem, a former state chairman of the party as the DG of the PCC. According to Ihedioha, “We are proud to be inaugurated today. We accept to work for our presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and his running mate, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa. We have an arduous task. Last presidential election, PDP polled 67% of the total votes cast in Imo State, and in the election, before that one, we got 93%. In the last election, we delivered for Governorship. “When we were in government, granted autonomy to the local government system, restored confidence in governance and paid pensions, thereby alleviating poverty in the state. These are the credentials we are taking to Imo people. PDP has the best massage in Imo. Our vice presidential candidate is a full-blooded Igbo man. So we have a stake in this election. Imo is a PDP State.” Adding his voice, Egu said: “If we elect a PDP President, nobody will kick us out of office after seven months. If we deliver a president, anyone who wins the ticket of PDP for Imo governorship will move straight to Douglas House.”

Post Date : December 9, 2022

Yuletide: FG To Open 2nd Niger Bridge For One Month

The Federal Government has disclosed that the Second Niger Bridge will only be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023. Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), made this known while answering questions from journalists in Abuja on Thursday. The minister said the Federal Government is taking the measure to relieve pressure from the bridge currently used for the Christmas festivities. He said that even though the construction of the bridge has been completed, work is still ongoing on the road linking the bridge to the major highway. Fashola said, “We have completed work on the bridge, so if you go there now you can walk from one end of the bridge to the other or drive from one end of the bridge to the other but the connecting road that links that bridge to the main highway, is what we want to finish. “What delayed us is rain and the stop work orders on Mondays in that part of the country. “The President approved that since the bridge is finished that we should create a access road so that during Christmas you can begin to experience what it would feel like plying the bridge. “It would be open for traffic going from the West to the East from the 15th December, 2022 to 15th January 2023. “Let me be clear again: we haven’t finished construction work but we would open it for people to use to relive the pressure from the one bridge, it wouldn’t be available for heavy duty trucks, it would only be small vehicles for now until we finish our work. “On the 15th January we would reverse that movement for those coming from the east to the west. We have told all the contractors that they shouldn’t open anymore sections for construction i.e. there shouldn’t be any barrier on the roads this season.

Post Date : December 9, 2022

Oil price falls to $75 a barrel — first time in one year

Oil price fell to $75 a barrel on Thursday for the first time in over a year. The development comes 24 hours after Brent crude hit a 2022 low of $77 a barrel. Falling further, Brent crude, the world’s oil benchmark, dipped 1.56 percent to $75.97 a barrel — first time since December 1, 2021. West Texas Intermediate crude also dropped 0.47 percent to $71.67 a barrel. The decline follows the prospect that Canada’s 622,000 barrel-per-day Keystone pipeline, which was shut down after an oil release, would resume service. This, Reuters said, would return a hefty amount of crude to the market at a time when global economic slowdowns are raising fuel demand fears. “The concern about the Keystone situation is just not there anymore, and I think that will get back up and running in no time so it won’t be a material loss of crude…,” John Kilduff, partner at Again Capital LLC in New York, told Reuters. “We’re back looking at the demand outlook.” Although the current international price for crude oil has dropped significantly, it is still above Nigeria’s 2022 benchmark of $62 a barrel. In the face of the Russia-Ukraine war, international oil prices rose at an exponential rate in the year, before falling below $100 a barrel. With the country’s oil wealth and export status, high prices should mean higher revenue but petrol subsidy continues to erode gains. Also, the country failed to maximise the increased oil prices due to underproduction — hovering below the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) quota.

Post Date : December 9, 2022

Emulate Buhari, Gambari Tells Public Officeholders

The Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, has urged public officeholders to emulate President Muhammadu Buhari on the provision of infrastructure and enhancing the capacity of the civil service on service delivery. Gambari stated this when he inaugurated the 54-seater State House Multi-Purpose Training Centre – fitted with state-of-the-art multimedia equipment, renovated ward and three new ambulances at the State House Clinic, on Thursday, in Abuja. The new ward is housing the Medical Out-Patient Department (MOPD), dialysis unit and HIV/AIDS unit, among others, at the State House clinic. He extolled the president’s style of leadership, saying the president will be remembered for leaving a legacy of leadership by example and excellence. According to the Chief of Staff, President Buhari is determined to leave Nigeria better than he met it. ”If everybody does their best to improve on what they find, by the time President Buhari leaves office at the end of his administration, he will leave facilities much better than he found it,” While commending the significant improvements at the Clinic, Gambari noted that the renovated ward would improve the quality of service to staff members and other beneficiaries of the medical centre. He also applauded President Buhari for enhancing the capacity of State House staff and all agencies of government to deliver to the best of their abilities. At the multi-purpose training centre, Gambari affirmed that the Buhari administration was committed to promoting excellence in public service, driven by ICT development. He added that directors in the Federal civil service aspiring for the position of Permanent Secretary must pass an ICT proficiency test. (NAN)