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  • We have large deposits of oil and gas in Plateau – Senatorial Aspirant

    We have large deposits of oil and gas in Plateau – Senatorial Aspirant


    UGAR UKANDI ODEY, JOS

    A senatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State has disclosed that there are oil and gas deposits in Plateau in commercial quantity even as this has failed to attract the attention of the federal government over the years.


    In a chat with journalists in Jos, Barrister Phillip Peter Isah Nyitni said the oil and gas deposits are found in Shimankar, a location in Plateau South, specifically in Shendam local government area.


    These extractive mineral deposits, along with economic trees and agricultural produce, he said, provide a wide range of employment opportunities and hope for the youths if explored and harnessed as huge revenue earners.


    Nyitni said that a new economic blueprint which hopes to transform Plateau South and, indeed, the entire State to and investment and industrial destination is part of the reasons he is aspiring to be elected as Senator to represent Plateau South in the upper chamber of the National Assembly.


    He regretted that palm produce which used to be part of the economic vegetation of Plateau South has been allowed to wither out of the landscape, promising that if elected, he will restore palm produce cultivation in export quantity, and engage and train the youths in modern ways of palm produce production and its value chain.


    He said employment opportunities should not be lacking in the area because, as an agrarian environment, what is needed is training of man power and application of improved and mechanised farming methods for massive engagement and large scale farming.
    With the right leadership and policies, he said, Plateau South will develop faster and become a global exemplar of economic and industrial revolution.

  • Edo Elections:: You wont have excuse, YIAGA Africa tells security agencies

    Edo Elections:: You wont have excuse, YIAGA Africa tells security agencies

    By Mike Oboh

    Security  agencies in Nigeria should not give any excuse if violence takes the centre stage in the forth coming Edo State governorship election. 

    This was the position of Yiaga Africa at it press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday.


    According to a board member of Yiaga Africa, Ezewan Nwangwu, the security agencies are aware of the pilling up of arms in 13 local councils in the state and this development should prepare them to take control of the situation. 


    Nwangwu said it was quite unfortunate that the situation has degenerated to this level but can be checked if the security agencies act rightly by picking up the suspects to set the stage for a free and fair election.”The security should move in so that the stocked piled arms are not used, if the security are on top of the game, we are going to have a better outcome in Edo election,” he said.


    He said the body in its pre election monitoring report, found out the spate of pre election violence was escalating, discovered potential hotspots and flash points of violence, state of INEC,s preparedness for the election, voter inducement and purchase of voter card.


    He said the two dominant parties in the governorship race were guilty of violent rhetoric , hate speech, vandalism and violence, adding that the state is also witnessing a surge in cult groups’ activities especially in Ikpoba-Okhai, Oredo, Orhionmwon and Owen West local governments areas.


    He explained that the potential hotspots and flash points in the local councils in the state were Etsako West, Etsako East, Etsako Central,Owen West and Akoko-Edo in Edo North senatorial district, in Edo South senatorial district, Oredo, Orhionmwon , Egor, Ovia north east and Ikpoba-Okha are the councils involved while in Edo central district Esan Central, Esan north east,  and Esan west were potential hotspots.


    Yiaga Arica in its recommendation, stated that security agencies curtail the proliferation and use of firearms and other weapons and ensure sanctions for those implicated in thuggery and violence.


    “Employ preventive measures to neutralize existing security threats in Edo state to enable voters to exercise their constitutional right to vote in a peaceful and secure environment.


    “Improve inter-agency collaboration and cooperation to forestall rivalry and unhealthy competition in the management of election security,” Yiaga Africa stated.

    The body advised the federal and state government to desist from partisan use of the police and security forces to manipulate the electoral process just as it urged political parties and candidates to conduct issues based campaigns rather than engage in voter inducement and recruitment of thugs and cults for violence.


    It also charged INEC to collaborate with stakeholders like the National Peace Committee, traditional and religious institutions, security agencies, media and CSOs to deescalate the rising political tension and violence by signing peace accord or pact between the candidates in the election.

    The Commission, was also informed of the need to address the perceptions of lack of independence, impartiality, and professionalism, this the body argued include proactive disclosure of election related information, consistency in the application of electoral guidelines and transparency in the results collation process.


    Also speaking the Executive director Yiaga Africa, Sam Itodo, said it was worrisome that the election is not witnessing voters education and their was the need to enlighten  the voters on the expected outcome from them.Itodo revealed that it sent 24 Long Time Observers to Edo state to monitor the election from the pre election to election period.He said Yiaga Africa was in support of the decision of the Oba of Benin, INEC and the National Peace Committee to reconcile warring factions and deescalate the tension in the state.  

  • Zamfara by-elections: Gamji emerges APC Candidate

    Zamfara by-elections: Gamji emerges APC Candidate

    From Abba Kabara, Gusau.

    At the end of about seven hours intense deliberations, Zamfara state All Progressives Congress (APC) has produced a consensus candidate for the forthcing October by-elections for Bakura local government state assembly constituency.


     The chiarman Bakura bye-elections committee Hon. Umar Kareto Lawan appointed from the party’s national headquarters Abuja, had earlier announced that four contenders purchased and returned the nomination forms, but one was disqualified.

    He said the three qualified aspirants, Bello Dankande Ganji, Lawali Isah Birnin Tudu and Sa’idu Danbala will participate in either direct primaries, delegate primaries or consensus primaries as enshrined in the electoral law.


    After rigourous deliberation which ended at about 2.00am today, Hon. Bello Dankande Gamji, a former commissioner for local government and chieftiancy affiars, emerged winner as a concensus condidate.


    Soon after the election, the two contenders Sa’idu Danbala and Lawali Isah who withdrew in favour of Gamji, submitted formal letters of voluntary withdrawal, support and loyalty to the concensus coandidate in particular and the party in general.


    Dankande Gamji was three times a council chairman Bakura local local government and later appointed commissioner for local government and chieftiancy affiars in the cabinate of the former APC governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar.


    In his comment after what he addressed as peaceful conduct, the by-election chairman Hon. Umar Kareto Lawan thanks the three contenders, the state executive of the party and the entire state party members for a show of maturity and orderly posture throughout the process.

  • Video: Police put hood on Black man killed by asphyxiation

    A Black man who had run naked through the streets of a western New York city died of asphyxiation after a group of police officers put a hood over his head, then pressed his face into the pavement for two minutes, according to video and records released Wednesday by the man’s family.

    Daniel Prude died March 30 after he was taken off life support, seven days after the encounter with police in Rochester. His death received no public attention until Wednesday, when his family held a news conference and released police body camera video and written reports they obtained through a public records request.

    “How did you see him and not directly say, ‘The man is defenseless, buck naked on the ground. He’s cuffed up already. Come on.’ How many more brothers gotta die for society to understand that this needs to stop?” Prude’s brother, Joe Prude, asked at a news conference Wednesday.

    The videos show Prude, who had taken off his clothes, complying when police ask him to get on the ground and put his hands behind his back. Prude is agitated and shouting as officers let him writhe as he sits on the pavement in handcuffs for a few moments as a light snow falls.

    Then, they put a white “spit hood” over his head, a device intended to protect officers from a detainee’s saliva. At the time, New York was in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Prude demands they remove it.

    Then the officer’s slam Prude’s head into the street. One officer holds his head down against the pavement with both hands, saying “stop spitting” as Prude’s shouts turn to whimpers and grunts. Another officer places a knee on his back. The officers appear to become concerned when they notice water coming out of Prude’s mouth.

    “My man. You puking?” one says.

    Prude stops moving and falls silent. One officer notes that he’s been out, naked, in the street for some time. Another remarks, “He feels pretty cold.”

    His head had been held down by an officer for just over two minutes.

    Medics can then be seen on the video performing CPR before he’s loaded into an ambulance.

    Spit hoods have been scrutinized as a factor in the deaths of several prisoners in the U.S. and other countries in recent years.

    A medical examiner concluded that Prude’s death was a homicide caused by “complications of asphyxia in the setting of physical restraint.” The report lists excited delirium and acute intoxication by phencyclidine, or PCP, as contributing factors.

    Prude was from Chicago and had just arrived in Rochester for a visit with his family. Police responded after Joe Prude called 911 to report that his brother had left his house and was experiencing mental health issues.

    The city halted its investigation into Prude’s death when state Attorney General Letitia James office began its own investigation in April. Under New York law, deaths of unarmed people in police custody are often turned over to the attorney general’s office, rather than handled by local officials.

    James said Wednesday that investigation is continuing.

    “I want everyone to understand that at no point in time did we feel that this was something that we wanted not to disclose,” Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren said at press briefing. “We are precluded from getting involved in it until that agency (the AG’s office) has completed their investigation.”

    One officer wrote that they put the hood on Prude because he was spitting continuously in the direction of officers and they were concerned about coronavirus.

    Still, activists demanded that officers involved with Prude’s death be prosecuted on murder charges and that they be removed from the department while the investigation proceeds.

    “The police have shown us over and over again that they are not equipped to handle individuals with mental health concerns. These officers are trained to kill, and not to deescalate. These officers are trained to ridicule, instead of supporting Mr. Daniel Prude,” Ashley Gantt of Free the People ROC said at the news conference with Prude’s family.

    Protesters gathered Wednesday outside Rochester’s Public Safety Building, which serves as police headquarters. Free the People ROC said several of its organizers were briefly taken into custody after they entered the building while Warren was speaking to the media.

    They were released on appearance tickets, said Iman Abid, regional director of the NYCLU, who was among those taken into custody.

    Associated Press

  • HILWA urges gov Matawalle to facilitate bill on girl-child hawking

    HILWA urges gov Matawalle to facilitate bill on girl-child hawking

    By Abba Kabara, Gusau.

    A women NGO group known as High Level Women Advocates (HILWA) has appealed to governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state to facilitate the passage of the two bills before the State House of Assembly for the prohibition of girls’ hawking, especially during school hours.

    Similarly, the group also urged the governor to facilitate another supporting bill seeking for thirty per cent inclusion of women in education decision making for the purpose of promoting women folks in the state.

    The State Chairperson of the organisation, Hajiya Maryam Muhammad Na’Inna made the call during a courtesy call on the governor at the government house Gusau.

    She said her organisation was at the Government House to express support for the governor Bello’s efforts in upgrading the state education sector to a satisfactory standard.

    Maryam discloses that her organisation is committed at promoting increased access to quality education for children especially girls, through increased participation of women in education.

    She reveals that her organisation is collaborating with UNICEF and Zamfara State Universal Basic Education Board for the training of over 20,000 mothers on basic skills on a campaign for enrollment of children in schools which has yielded positive results

    In his response, governor Bello said female education will remain one of the top priorities of his administration especially the enrollment of out of school female child.

    He said his administration will continue to lay great emphasis on providing quality education for female children and equip them with sound and quality teaching and learning facilities at all levels.

    He noted that provision of quality female education is of greater value and benefit, considering the roles they play in the social and economic development of the society.

    Matawalle views that educating a female is like educating the entire society, just as he promised to create a more enabling environment for women in the state in order to have access to quality education through partnership with education-based non-governmental organisations

    He stressed that his administration will continue to welcome development partners that will advocate for more participation of women in education and the enrollment of girls in schools in the State.

    Governor Matawalle then donated an 18-seater bus to the organisation and urged the members to continue with their crusade of mentoring women and girls in the education sector.

  • HURIWA Carpets Buhari, South East leaders over Enugu Airport commissioning

    HURIWA Carpets Buhari, South East leaders over Enugu Airport commissioning


    “The idea that elected politicians of South East extraction are falling on themselves in their sycophantic gambits to outperform each other towards pleasing the ‘powerful’ President Muhammadu Buhari over the yet to be completed renovations works at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, South East of Nigeria, shows that there is a deep deficit of leadership in the South East of Nigeria and should be a pointer for the people who will vote in subsequent elections to look beyond the momentary bribes of bags of salt, rice and wrappers to search for leaders who have strong will and greater peoples friendly character to be elected”.

    With the above preamble, the prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has carpeted President Muhammadu Buhari for deceiving the people of the South East of Nigeria  by going ahead to commission the Akanu Ibiam International Airport which renovation works have not even reached significant proportion or percentage. HURIWA also dismissed as sycophantic rhetorics, the praises heaped on President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration by some political nitwits of South East extraction over the commissioning exercise which is a ruse to deceive the gullible people to believe that the Central government is up and doing with delivering the needed infrastructures that will enable economic growth to take place. The Rights group said assuming without conceding that the renovations of the only International Airport serving Nigeria’s most travelled population is a good thing, why do we have to praise the President as if he personally bankrolled the project. Far from it, the services and projects delivered by political office holders are done from the resources of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

     
    “We are disappointed that the Airport was shut down for over a year for renovation and was supposed to have been completed back in April, but the Federal Government failed to keep to their words and even when the re-opening was deferred, it has still emerged that the strategic components that should make the Airport Standardized, are yet to be installed, but yet over 60 million South Easterners were deceived into believing that the government at the centre has completed the renovations for which a paltry N10 billion was approved whereas the National Assembly said the same government has spent N60 billion to renovate the fence at the university of Maduguri in Borno North East of Nigeria”.

    HURIWA wonders why it took the same government less than two months to renovate the Abuja international Airport, build brand new road to Kaduna Airport and renovated Kaduna Airport to take in flights coming to land in Abuja, but the Akanu Ibiam international Airport was shut for over a year but almost all of the strategic components to enhance safety and standardised services at the Airport are yet to be installed and yet Nigerians of Igbo extraction are made to venerate the President as if the South East of Nigeria is not part of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

    HURIWA stated thus: “We have just read the scientific report by Charles Ogbu who reported authoritatively that the Enugu Airport has yet to be fully renovated when he wrote that:”Just to put the record straight, some of the pictures being peddled online ARE NOT pictures of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

    HURIWA has therefore condemned the haste in pouring rain of gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to fully renovate the Enugu International Airport even one full year after it was shut down and Nigerians were told it would be finished in few weeks. The Rights group said the people must evolve the culture of demanding account and transparency from their elected politicians if we truly want constitutional democracy not to collapse just as the Rights group said praising

    government officials for using public money to build public assets is one way of bringing into being a very dangerous and lawless dictatorship of the strong African ruler which is antithetical to everything we should hold so dear as lovers and builders of a democratic nation. 

  • Contract breach judgment: Firm lists 33 Nigeria’s UK properties to be sold

    Sequel to the judgment given to Eurafic power Limited, against the Federal Government by a United Kingdom High Court, that some identifiable properties be confiscated and disposed, over alleged breach of contract entered into on the sale of Sapele Power Station, about 33 properties belonging to Nigeria in the UK have been identified and listed to be forfeited.

    The development comes as Nigeria continues to battle another firm, P&ID, which is attempting to seize $9bn Nigerian assets.

    In the fresh case with number CL-2017-000781 a UK High Court ordered the payment of $2.51m, £225, 949.19 and N57.9m (a combined N1.12bn based on the current Central Bank of Nigeria’s exchange rate).

    According to documents made available to our correspondent, the legal tussle emanated from a contract entered into by the Federal Government and Eurafric Power Limited in February 2013.

    The firm entered into a share sale agreement with the Bureau of Public Enterprise and the Federal Ministry of Finance, both acting on behalf of the Federal Government.

    The deal involved the purchase of Sapele Power Plc, owners of Sapele Power Station at the cost of $201m. The purchase included material properties and core assets of the company which listed ‘site land’ as one of its properties.

    Pursuant to the share sale agreement, the National Council on Privatisation issued Share Certificate 0001 to Eurafric Power Limited on February 10, 2014, approving the sale of the Federal Government’s equity in Sapele Power Plc.

    A Certificate of Handover with No 0002 also showed the handover of Sapele Power Plc to Eurafric Power Limited. All assets, liabilities, employees, rights and obligations of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria were also handed to Sapele Power Plc, now owned by Eurafric Power Limited.

    However, trouble started when, after the handover had been completed, the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company began arrangements to transfer a substantial portion of the premises already sold to Eurafric Power Limited to one Ogorode Power Generation Company. 

    The Federal Government insisted that the portion it transferred did not form part of the sold assets, this prompted the firm to subsequently commenced arbitration against the Federal Government in the UK in line with the agreement signed by the parties.

    A tribunal was set up comprising a former Attorney General of Pakistan, Makhdoom Ali Khan as Chairman; with a retired Nigerian Supreme Court Judge, Justice Samson Uwaifo, and a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) both named as co-arbitrators.

    On September 28, 2017, the arbitral tribunal ruled in favour of Eurafric Power Limited. A UK High Court presided over by Justice Popple Well subsequently recognised the award as a court judgment.

    A copy of the judgement dated January 15, 2018, reads in part, “The defendants are jointly and severally ordered and directed to pay to the claimant the following amounts: $2,500,000 as legal costs; £215,930.60, as an advance paid on costs and N57.9m, £10,018.50 and $11,158.33 as disbursements. All other claims and counter claims are dismissed.”

    The court further stated that the defendants had 30 days to appeal after which the claimants would be free to enforce the judgment.

    In a letter addressed to Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), titled, ‘Enforcement of the Arbitral Award Against the Federal Government of Nigeria- Matters Arising,’ Eurafric Power Limited called on the Federal Government to honour the court judgment and pay immediately.

    In the letter dated October 23, 2019 which was signed by its lawyer, Godwin Obla (SAN), the firm stated that it had identified 33 of Nigeria’s properties in the UK which were not being used for diplomatic purposes, adding that it would liquidate some of the assets soon.

    The letter reads in part, “In our view, the identification of the 33 properties by the foreign counsel may pose a significant risk to the interest of the Federal Government of Nigeria if or when the report is tendered before the UK court at which stage it becomes a public document and accessible to any member of the public.

    “As it is now common knowledge, in the wake of the global publicity attracted by the P&ID case, Nigerian assets abroad now stand the increased risk of seizure/forfeiture for the liquidation of judgment debts. In our opinion, therefore, it will not augur well for potentially hostile interests to gain access to actionable information of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s assets in the UK such as are contained in the report of the foreign counsel.”

    The spokesman for the AGF, Umar Gwandu, said the Office of the AGF would exploit remedies available at its disposal in addressing the case.

    “The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation will work within the context of the law in exploiting remedies available at our disposal,” Gwandu said.

    Show quoted text

  • Mali Coup: ECOWAS and Military Junta Agrees on 12 Months Transition

    Mali Coup: ECOWAS and Military Junta Agrees on 12 Months Transition

    By Raphael Oni

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government in an extraordinary summit have agreed to a 12 months transition period with the military Junta to restore democracy to Mali.

    The Summit was said to have considered the report of the mission by the ECOWAS Mediator, in reaching its decision.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, who joined the meeting in Abuja, charged the military junta in Mali to set an acceptable timetable for a return to democratic government since the country could not afford to stand-alone in the sub-region.

    Buhari expressed his happiness with the release of the ousted Malian President. In his words, “I am, however, personally happy to hear of the release from detention of the former President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who is reported to be in good condition.

    The disposition of the new leadership to free the remaining senior officials is noted, as this should contribute to the renewed sense of belonging to the Malian people.” he said.

    “With regards to other areas being negotiated, Nigeria believes that the people of Mali and the military leaders need to appreciate the fragility of their country and the imminent danger which it poses to the citizens of Mali as well as the ECOWAS sub-region,”

    Highlights of the communique issued to the press called on the leadership of Mali to begin the process for a civilian transition in consultation with the Constitutional Court as well as all relevant parties and stakeholders stating that the transition period should not exceed twelve months.

    The summit expresses its encouragement to the Malian people and reaffirms its commitment to help Mali emerge from this situation; while commending the Mediator and his team for the results achieved during their mission.

  • NAF airlifts conjoined twins back home after successful seperation

    NAF airlifts conjoined twins back home after successful seperation

    By Samuel Itsede

    The Nigerian Air Force weekend airlifted previously conjoined twins, Mercy and Grace Aeiygbenmi, back to Yenagoa after a successful separation surgery at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Yola.

    A statement by Air Commodore Ibikunke Daramola Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force said this was in fulfillment of a promise earlier made to the couple by the force.

    The twins and their parents arrived the Bayelsa International Airport in company of the NAF Chief of Medical Services (CMS), Air Commodore Gideon Bako, onboard a NAF Beechcraft KingAir 350i aircraft.

    They were received on arrival by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as well as other members of the Bayelsa State Executive Council and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the FMC Yenagoa, Dr Dennis Allagoa.

    They expressed their appreciation to the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the entire NAF family for the humanitarian airlift as well as the support provided throughout the process.

    A Press Conference was earlier held in Yola, before their departure, to announce the successful separation of the twins.

    The ceremony had in attendance the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,Boss Mustapha as well as the representatives of the Adamawa State Governor and the Honourable Minister of Health.

    The CMD of FMC Yola, Professor Awul Abubakar, said the successful separation of the twins, who were joined at the abdomen was as a result of collective efforts of medical professionals as well as support received from various quarters, including the NAF.

    In his remarks at the event, the CAS, who was represented by the CMS, said that the NAF would sustain its numerous humanitarian relief operations, including medical outreaches, to alleviate the sufferings of victims of insurgency, banditry and natural disasters.

    He noted that the Service had, through such initiatives, provided free medical services to over 400,000 people across the Country, including Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North East.

    He noted that the airlift of the Aeiygbenmi twins was one of such gratifying humanitarian airlifts. “It is heartwarming to see the girls enjoying life as independent individuals”, he added.

  • Transportation University: Construction To Begin September, Says Amaechi

    Transportation University: Construction To Begin September, Says Amaechi

    By Dino Amadin

    Minister of Transportation, Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has said that construction work at the Transportation University, Daura, Katsina state would commence by September.

    Amaechi made the statement, during a courtesy call on the governor of Katsina state, Mallam Aminu Massari at the Government House, Katsina.

    According to him, ” Construction work will commence in September. What they are doing now is clearing, they have promised to build a primary school and a secondary school in the university. This university is a donation by the Chinese government through CCECC. The Teachnigue, Engineering, and Marketing (TEAM) has also accepted to do the consultancy job”, he said.

    Amaechi, had earlier, shortly after inspecting the project site, also paid a courtesy call on the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farooq Umar. He said the university was not part of the railway contract but was donated to the FG by the Chinses government free of charge.

    Hear him, ” We are here on the assignment of ministry of transportation. The President wanted to know the status of the university that he performed it’s groundbreaking, so, we decided to come today with CCECC and TEAM. I also want to thank you for even providing land to construct the university.

    ” Having done that, let me also thank the CCECC for accepting to construct the university free of charge. It is not part of the railway contract, we spoke with CCECC and told them to train Nigerians who will take over from them in their technology and they agreed. All Nigerians from all parts of the country are entitled to come here for studies, In the same as lecturing. Those who will teach are not only going to come from Daura, they will come from all parts of the country.

    ” So, we agreed with CCECC to build the University , and we chosed Daura. We believe that the school would be completed next year hopefully, and then we can start studies”,he said.

    Responding, Katsina state governor, Mallam Aminu Massari, thanked the minister for citing the university in Daura, assuring that the state government would ensure cordial relationship exists between them and the construction company.