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  • FG set to replace fuel with Compressed Natural Gas to stop subsidy payment

    FG set to replace fuel with Compressed Natural Gas to stop subsidy payment

    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva says that plans are ongoing by the Federal Government to expand the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in order to stop subsidy payment.

    Sylva made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

    CNG is a fuel that can be used in place of gasoline, diesel fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

    CNG ccombustion produces fewer undesirable gases than the aforementioned fuels.

    He said that government was set to discourage the use of Premium Motor Spirit PMS also known as petrol for transportation, especially for commercial purposes.

    Sylva said that payment of subsidy on petrol was taking a toll on the finances of the country, adding that the government was working toward encouraging Nigerians to use CNG as fuel for transportation.

    The minister of state noted that government had over the years done a pilot scheme on CNG in Benin City, and it had proven that it would go a long way in serving as an alternative to fuel if expanded to the entire country.

    According to him, while PMS at subsidised price goes for N143 per liter, CNG goes for between N95 and  N97 per liter

    “We will start very soon to roll out. Already, there is a pilot programme in Benin, which has worked for a long time.

    About 4,000 vehicles are already on CNG in Benin.

    “We want to expand that CNG programme across the country and we believe it is going to create a lot of opportunities for Nigerians and also give Nigerians a new lease of life because the commodity would be accessible,’’ he said.

    Sylva said that the Ministry would focus on two key areas in 2020 to help in the stabilising the oil and gas sector and move it to the next level.

    He said that government would support all efforts to ensure the increase in crude oil  production level.

    According to him, the country is currently produces about 1.774 million Barrel Per Day (BPD) which is still far behind the target.

    “Few years ago, we produced more  than two million barrels per day but we are projecting three million barrels and ultimately to get to four million bpd.

    The United Arab Emirate used to produce 2.7 million bpd but today, they have moved to four million per day.

    “We have gone back, today, according to OPEC report, we are producing 1.774 million bpd. You can see the need for us to move forward and that is actually the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to us,’’ he said.

    He added that the ministry would ensure improved relationship between industry stakeholders and the common man on the street by ensuring accessibility of petroleum products.

    The minister of state said that the ministry would also in 2020 focus on tackling the insecurity challenge around oil and gas facilities in the country.

    “Crude oil theft is being contained with strong legislation but it has continued to linger, this is because of lack of community inclusion.

    “Our recommendation will be use of technology, community participation, Engagement of Petroleum Technology Institute (PTI) and infrastructure development in the Niger Delta region among others,’’ he said. (NAN)

  • Police rescues 19 children from illegal orphanage in Kano

    Police rescues 19 children from illegal orphanage in Kano

    Following the discovery of an alleged illegal private orphanage, Du Merci Children Development Ministry, Kano State Police Command says it rescued 19 children from its possession.

    The State Police Public Relations Officer DSP Abdullahi Haruna, made the disclosure while briefing newsmen in Kano on Thursday.

    Haruna noted that a suspect and his wife, now at large, connived and sourced for the children through unlawful means.

    He disclosed that a medical doctor with a private clinic in Kano facilitated the procuring of pregnant women whose babies are handed over to the suspect after delivery.

    He added that investigation is in progress.

    On his part, the suspect denied all allegations stressing that the facility was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

    Kano state government had expressed concern over the discovery of Du Merci Orphanage located at Nomansland.

    The orphanage has been operating for over 25 years without a license from the state government. (NAN)

  • Gov. Wike approves payment of minimum wage to workers in Rivers

    Gov. Wike approves payment of minimum wage to workers in Rivers

    Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Thursday approved the payment of a monthly minimum wage of N30,000 to workers in the state’s Public Service.

    The approval was contained in a Special Announcement by Pastor Paulinus Nsirim, the State Commissioner for Information and Communications

    It stated: “His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, has graciously approved the payment of the minimum wage of N30,000 monthly salary for employees of the Rivers State Public Service with the consequential salary adjustments as approved by the Federal Government.” (NAN)

  • Gov. Sule assures women of inclusive leadership

    Gov. Sule assures women of inclusive leadership

    Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has assured women of inclusive leadership to give them a sense of belonging and enable them contribute their quotas to the development of the state and Nigeria at large.

    Sule gave the assurance while playing host to the state All Progressives Congress (APC) women leaders on Thursday in Lafia.

    He said that inclusive leadership would not only give the women a sense of belonging but would also improve on their standard of living.

    The governor urged the women leaders to continue to educate women and other people of the state on government policies and programmes in the interest of development.

    According to him, there are lots of measures put in place by the state government in order to enhance the economic status of the women across the state.

    “I want to commend you for the visit and to urge you to continue to support the state government policies and programmes.

    “And also to continue educating the people and drumming support to the government to succeed.

    “I want to assure you that my administration is determined to carry you along to enable you contribute your quota to the development of the state and the country at large,” he said.

    Sule also assured women of his administration’s commitment to better the standard of women and other people through various policies and programmes in the state.

    He solicited for prayers and support of all and sundry to enable him succeed.

    Earlier, Mrs Esther Monde, the Acting Women Leader of the party in the state, said they were in the Government House to re-assure the governor of their continued support to his administration to succeed.

    She assured Sule of the party’s women leader’s readiness to continue to mobilise women and other people of the state to support his leadership in the state.

    The state APC women delegation comprised women leaders from ward, local government, zonal and state levels. (NAN)

  • Chinese medical aid program helps Myanmar children suffering from congenital heart diseases 

    Chinese medical aid program helps Myanmar children suffering from congenital heart diseases 

    By Lin Rui, Wang Hui, People’s Daily

    “I’m so grateful to China,” said Wutyee Tun, a 13-year-old Burmese girl who received treatment from a Chinese medical program aiming to save Burmese children suffering from congenital heart disease.    

    The girl, who now has a chubby face and rosy cheek, lives in a town of southern Yangon Region, capital of Myanmar. She was diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), a complicated heart disease when she was only one year old.

    “I was so ill when I was little that I could hardly walk. Every time when I needed to go out my father had to carry me on his back,” said Wutyee Tun.

    “Local hospitals are incapable of curing this disease, so we were confused and desperate,” U Myint Thein, the girl’s father told People’s Daily, recalling the family’s misery back then.

    The medical program from which Wutyee Tun received assistance was launched by China Charity Federation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2017. By cooperating with Yankin Children Hospital in Yangon Region, Chinese doctors examined more than 170 child patients, among which 36 have received surgeries in China’s Beijing Anzhen Hospital and Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital in three batches so far. Wutyee Tun’s situation was the worst among the first batch of 12 Burmese child patients. 

    In April 2017, Wutyee Tun, accompanied by her father, arrived at Beijing Anzhen Hospital. 

    “The doctors made detailed treatment plan, and told us all the possible scenarios that could happen. With the efforts of the Chinese doctors, my daughter made it. Now, she is just as healthy as other children. Chinese doctors are really amazing,” said U Myint Thein.

    “Now I’ve completely recovered from the disease. And my father smiled again – something that had disappeared in my family for a long time. China and the BRI are great,” said Wutyee Tun.

    According to Dr. Myint Myint Khine, director of Yankin Children Hospital, there are more than 50,000 children with congenital heart diseases in Myanmar, but few of the hospitals in the country is able to treat them.

    In order to cure every child patient they receive, the Chinese doctors have made painstaking endeavors and great efforts. 

    “We discuss treatment plans with Burmese doctors every day on WeChat,” said Duo Lin, head of the research department of chronic diseases in Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital.

    “Some children not only suffered from congenital heart disease, but also other diseases, so we held group consultation with doctors from other departments. We share the same goal: to cure the children completely,” Duo said.  

    Thiri Ko is a 7-year-old Burmese girl living in a small village in suburban Yangon with her mother Daw Thandar Moe. Her father passed away years ago, and a small grocery store her mother runs is all the source of income for the family. 

    When she was 7-month-old, Thiri Ko was diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Daw Thandar Moe had to choose only drug therapy for her daughter as the surgery was totally unaffordable for her. Seeing her daughter getting worse day by day, Daw Thandar Moe’s became distraught.    

    After receiving free treatment in Fuwai Yunnan Cardiovascular Hospital in Oct. 2018, Thiri Ko fully recovered.

    “After my daughter was cured, the Chinese side also offered a loan to us to support my grocery store,” Daw Thandar Moe introduced. 

    The loan was offered by a supporting program providing economic assistance for the child patients’ families. The program, launched at the end of 2019, was jointly operated by Kunming Yundi Behavior and Health Research Center and Myanmar Chinese Cooperation & Communication Center.

    “We have customized plans for different families according to their demands. There are 11 families currently receiving our help,” said Li Bobo, executive chairman of Myanmar Chinese Cooperation & Communication Center. 

    “We hope to try our best to help those Burmese families overwhelmed by the diseases. This is a natural decision driven by the friendship between the people of China and Myanmar,” noted Li.

    “I’m so happy to see the children recover, not to mention the economic assistance the Chinese side has offered. Such good deeds deserve our respect. The seeds of friendship have been planted in our hearts. May China-Myanmar ‘Phauphaw’ (fraternal) friendship be carried on from generation to generation,” said Dr. Myint Myint Khine.

  • Two Abducted Children Rescued by Taraba NSCDC.

    Two Abducted Children Rescued by Taraba NSCDC.


    By Danzumi Ishaku, Jalingo.


    The Taraba Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) on Thursday said it has  rescued two abducted children in Lau Local Government area of Taraba


    Alhaji Aliyu Ndanusa, the Taraba Commandant of NSCDC, who disclosed this to newsmen in Jalingo said the two children were abducted from their community in Askira Uba in Borno state.


    Ndanusa explained that men of the command got a hint about the evil act through its intelligence and trailed the abductors to their hideout in Lau.


    According to him, the abductors ran away on sighting operatives of the NSCDC, leaving the two children behind.


    The commandant named the children as Yakubu Usman, 9 and Umaru Muhammed 7, both from Askira Uba community of Borno.


    “On sighting the operatives of the command, the abductors ran away while the children were rescued by our men.
    “We have already contacted the family and will soon reunite them with their parents,” he said.


    Ndanusa, who noted that there was no hiding place for criminals in Taraba, said men of the command were working tirelessly to apprehend the perpetrators.
    He however, advised parents across the country to be vigilant so as to avoid a recurrent of such an ugly incident. 

  • UZODINMA ORDERS PROBE OF OHAKIM, OKOROCHA, IHEDIOHA

    UZODINMA ORDERS PROBE OF OHAKIM, OKOROCHA, IHEDIOHA


    The new governor of Imo state, Senator Hope Uzodinma, on Wednesday night called for the probe of three former governors of the state.

    The former governors are, Ikedi Ohakim, Rochas Okorocha and Emeka Ihedioha.

    The governor who gave the order in his inaugural speech immediately he was sworn in, ordered the Accountant General of the state to within four days from Wednesday forward to him the comprehensive financial status of the state from May 29, 2010, till date.

    He equally ordered all permanent Secretaries of all the ministries in the state to within the same period forward to him the status of all the contracts awarded.

    The governor ordered the immediate stoppage of payment of all ongoing contracts in the state.

    He said that his administration was anchored on rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery.

    According to him, he would revive the state and make it working again.

    Uzodinma said that he had forgiven those he said conspired to “rob me of hard-earned victory”.

    He said that the judiciary demonstrated huge bravery by declaring him the duly elected governor of the state.

    Uzodinma said that he was dedicating his victory to God.

  • PUZZLE OVER ACE BROADCASTER’S WHEREABOUT A YEAR AFTER KIDNAPPED

    PUZZLE OVER ACE BROADCASTER’S WHEREABOUT A YEAR AFTER KIDNAPPED

    By Joseph ETTA in Calabar

    One year after ace – broadcaster Peter Etim otherwise known as Peter was kidnapped on his way to work in Calabar, nobody seems to know his whereabout.

    The question on everybody’s lips is “is he dead or alive?”. Yesterday, his family members, friends and well wishers went on a procession on the street of Calabar with posters with inscription such as “Please anyone with useful information should help us” ‘if he is alive, please release him or if he is dead release him for a befitting burial’.

    Peter Etim until now was a presenter with the local Radio Station – Cross River State Broadcasting Corporation (CRBC).

    In a chat with Daybreak, Mrs. Esther Etim said since she paid the ransom of N600,000 to the kidnappers a year ago (January 2019) they failed to release her husband and stopped calling her or any member of her family.

    When pressed further, she opined that her husband would have been dead concerning his health status “my husband was hypertensive and the last time and day I spoke with him while in their custody, he was really gasp for breath and could hardly talk to me”.

    However, she made a passionate plea to the kidnappers, if he is dead I am appealing to them to release his corpse to us, to honour him with a befitting burial

  • BOSG LAYS FOUNDATION FOR 500 HOUSING UNITS

    BOSG LAYS FOUNDATION FOR 500 HOUSING UNITS

    By Dauda R Pam Maiduguri

    Professor Babagana Umara Zulum of BORNO state, has laid the foundation for the construction of 500 Housing units in the attempt to address the housing needs of the state.

    The occasion which took place at Jimtililo in the Metropolis,Wednesday, quoted GOVERNOR ZULUM to have said that,” it gives me a great pleasure today, as I lay the foundation for the construction of 500 housing units in our determination to reduce the gap of the housing deficits in the state.”

    He said,the construction of the housing estate will cost the BOSG a whooping N5 billion and that so far,already the sum of N1.6 billion has been releasesd for the take off of the projects and the balance   will be paid as the projects go on.

    Hear him,” I want to commend President Buhari and the federal government for granting approval for the construction of 10,000 housing units. The Borno state government is also going to construct another 10,000 housing units this year to compliment the federal government efforts and by the grace of God we are going to ensure that all Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Maiduguri are closed in 2020″

    He reiterated goverments efforts to ensure proper administration of urban land management adding that Borno state government has since  established a State Geophysical Information system with a view to reduce fraud in our land allocation and management system “, he added.

    Earlier in a welcome address, the  chairman of the 500 housing unit construction,who is also Borno state Deputy Governor, Hon. Umar Usman Kadafur,said ” our 30 man committee which was constituted and inauguratedoin 20th December 2019 swung into action by identifying two locations along Maiduguri- jos road and Maiduguri- Gubio road. 
    According to him,the Maiduguri -Jos road will consist of 300 Housing units,250, 2bedroom flats and 50,1 bedroom fats, while the Gubio road will have 150, 3 bedroom flats and 50 , 2 bedroom flats.”respectively.

    The Deputy Governor said ” the housing estate is going to have school, mosques. market, police outfit, clinic and road networks and drainages. We have team of engineers to ensure proper supervision and high quality based on  specifications, and very soon we will InshaAllsh also gather here for the commissioning of the Housing Estate” .

    In a vote of thanks, the Vice chairman of the committee who is also  the state commissioner of Housing, Engr Saleh Bungas, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to work in the committee and assured that they will work hard to ensure that the work is carried out according standard and specification., as well as time frame.

  • Respect fallen Heroes- gov Sule

    Respect fallen Heroes- gov Sule

    Abel Leonard lafia

    As Nigeria marks this year’s  Army  Remembrance Day,  Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has called for respect for the country’s  fallen heroes who sacrificed their lives for the unity, peace and  security of the country.


     Engineer Sule made the call  at the wreath laying ceremony in honour of the country’s  fallen heroes at the Government House in Lafia, on Wednesday. 
    While acknowledging the enormous contributions of the fallen heroes in ensuring the unity and security of the country,  Sule emphasized that the fallen heroes deserve every respect from all Nigerians.


    The Governor re assured the people of the state of the determination of  his administration to ensure the enhancement of welfare for children and families of the fallen heroes, as demonstrated by the recent sponsoring of the children of police officers killed during the Ombatse incident in the state.


    He further urge all nasarawa people to be law abiding and support him as he transform the state from natural resources to a digital economic development state.