ANT OF AFRICA !! Nigeria signs MoU to import fuel from Niger Republic

 

The Nigerian government, through the ministry of petroleum resources, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Niger Republic for petroleum products importation.

According to a statement released by the ministry, Soraz Refinery in Zinder, Niger Republic, has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 barrels per day compared to the nation’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement.

This leaves a surplus of 15,000 barrels per day.

Mele Kyari, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria while Alio Toune, director-general of Niger Republic’s National Oil Company, Societe Nigerienne De Petrole (SONIDEP), signed on behalf of his country.

The signing was witnessed by the ministers of state for petroleum of the two countries, Timipre Sylva for Nigeria and Foumakoye Gado for Niger Republic.

“This is a major step forward. The Niger Republic has some excess products which need to be evacuated. Nigeria has the market for these products. Therefore, this is going to be a win-win relationship for both countries,” Sylva said.

“My hope is that this is going to be the beginning of deepening trade relations between Niger Republic and Nigeria.”

In his remarks, Kyari said the two countries have had long engagements in the last four to five months with a view to restoring the importation of petroleum products (excess production) from Niger into Nigeria.

“With this development, we hope to have a long-lasting and sustainable commercial framework to have a pipeline from the Soraz Refinery in Zinder (Niger) into the most proximate Nigerian city so that we can develop a depot.

“We are happy that we have reached that conclusion and our two ministers have endorsed this framework. We are also working on a detailed MoU between our two companies so that we can continue the execution process immediately.”

Nigeria currently imports refined petroleum products despite having four refineries. As a result, scarce forex is spent to ensure that there is no scarcity in the country.

Government officials have expressed hopes that the 350,000 capacity Dangote refinery being constructed will end the era of petroleum products importation in Nigeria.

- THECABLE

Abuja court orders arrest of Atiku Abubakar Jnr

 

Kubwa Upper Area Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Jr. for disobeying its judgment directing him to release his three sons to their mother, Maryam Sherif.

Sherif had filed a suit for the custody of the children after her divorce from Abubakar, son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

The judge, Bashir Danmaisule, delivered judgment in favour of Sherif on October 27, 2020.

But her lawyer, Nasir Saidu, returned to the court complaining that Abubakar had failed to comply with the judgment.

Saidu urged the court to issue a judgment-debtor summons for the defendant to appear in court to explain why he did not obey the order and why he should not be jailed for disobeying the judgment.

Both Abubakar and his lawyer, Abdullahi Hassan, were absent in court on Thursday.

However, the court bailiff said the defendant was served with the summons on November 3 through the Nigeria Customs Service, where he works.

- PM NEWS

Lekki shooting: We stand by our report, CNN replies FG

 CNN says it is standing by its report that soldiers used live bullets on #EndSARS protesters in  Lagos. 

On Wednesday, CNN published an investigation on the Lekki incident, alleging that soldiers used live rounds on protesters who had converged on Lekki tollgate on October 20.

The report had drawn the ire of the federal government who threatened to sanction CNN over “irresponsible reporting”.

At a press conference on Thursday Lai Mohammed, minister of information, described the alleged killings at the tollgate as “massacre without bodies”.

But in a statement on Thursday, CNN said the report was carefully and meticulously researched.

The news outlet said the report is based on multiple witness account, adding that the army and police declined calls to respond to the investigation before the story was published.

“Our reporting was carefully and meticulously researched, and we stand by it,” the statement read.

“The report was based on testimony from dozens of witnesses, and photos and video obtained and geolocated by CNN. It painted a picture of how members of the Nigerian army and the police shot at the crowd, killing at least one person and wounding dozens more.

“CNN verified photos and videos acquired from multiple eyewitnesses and protesters using timestamps and other data from the video files.

“Video footage shows soldiers who appear to be shooting in the direction of protesters. And accounts from eyewitnesses established that after the army withdrew, a second round of shooting happened later in the evening.

“Prior to publishing the report, CNN tried multiple times to elicit comment from the Nigerian army and police. A Lagos State police spokesman declined to comment because of an ongoing investigation.

“While a statement from the Lagos State government said that there would be no comment while a judicial tribunal was underway.”

- THECABLE

CORRUPTION SHOWBIZ !! Nigerian allegedly uses ghosts to commit N11m fraud

 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arraigned one Ibrahim Mohammed Ali before Justice S.I. Mark of the Federal High Court, Kano.

He faces a six-count charge of money laundering.

The defendant, who worked at Abshat Engineering Resources Limited, allegedly created ghost workers.

Ali subsequently paid monthly salaries to the tune of N11,187,619 to different bank accounts he operated.

When the company discovered the fraud, he tendered his resignation and fled with official documents.

His offence contravenes section (15) (2) (d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.

The defendant pleaded ”not guilty” when the charge against him were read.

Buhari Mohammed Balarabe, prosecution counsel, asked the court for a date for the commencement of trial.

A. S. Bawa, defence counsel, prayed the court to grant Ali bail pending trial.

Justice Mark adjourned the case to November 20, 2020 for hearing of the bail application.

The judge ordered that Ali be remanded in EFCC custody.

- DAILY POST

Rohr worst coach in Nigeria’s history- Yakubu Aiyegbeni

 Gernot Rohr is ‘not good enough’ to coach Nigeria to success, according to former Super Eagle Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

With the Super Eagles producing a sub par performance in the latest international break, questions have arisen over the Franco-German tactician’s ability to lead the team to greater heights.

Critics have considered Rohr’s time with the Super Eagles to be largely underwhelming.

Former striker Aiyegbeni believes that the coach and some of the players, are just not good enough to play for the national team.

“The coach is not good enough, let him go,” the former Maccabi Haifa, Everton and Portsmouth striker said on Lagos Talks.

“Some of the boys are not good enough, I don’t know where they are bringing them from. Who is inviting these players?

“Our football is getting worse every day. When I was there, people criticise us, but we’re way better than these ones.

“The coach is not good enough, no clue. Gernot Rohr is one of the worst coaches in our history. He is not good enough.”

Rohr replaced Sunday Oliseh as the country’s permanent handler in 2016. He led the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where they crashed out of a group that had Argentina, Iceland and Croatia.

He was also in charge when Nigeria placed third at the 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt.

The three-time African champions lead Group L with eight points from four games.

- PM NEWS

End SARS: FG shifting focus from Shekau to DJ Switch – Shehu Sani

 

Shehu Sani, former Kaduna lawmaker, has taken a swipe at the Nigerian government for describing the Lekki massacre as one without bodies.

Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information, on Thursday had insisted that there were no killings at the Lekki toll-gate, describing footage from the incident as false.

He also threatened to expose DJ Switch who had a live session showing the shooting of End SARS protesters on Instagram.

According to him, “In the fullness of time, Dj Switch will be exposed for what she is, a fraud and a front for divisive and destructive forces.”

Reacting, Sani on his Twitter page criticised the government for shifting focus from going after Boko Haram leader, Shekau to targeting Dj Switch.

According to him, “Some people have become Egyptian Archaeologists; looking for Lekki corpses. Shifting from Shekau to Switch.

“NTA should blast CNN and FRCN should counter BBC. We move on.Shikenan.”

- DAILY POST

LOOTING LOADED !! Rivers misses out as FG disburses N66.5bn World Bank COVID-19 grant to states

 

The federal government has disbursed N66.5 billion to 35 eligible states on the basis of the amended COVID-19 responsive 2020 budget results achievement.

According to a statement by Hassan Dodo, director of press at the ministry of finance, budget and national planning, Rivers was the only state that missed out of the grant due to its inability to meet the required criteria to publish its COVID-19 response amended budget. 

The ministry explained that each state received N1.9 billion ($5 million).

The programme is wholly-financed with a $750 million loan from the International Development Association (IDA).

Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget and national planning, said the disbursement is under the performance-based grant component of the World Bank assisted states fiscal transparency, accountability and sustainability (SFTAS) programme for results.

“Rivers State is the only one that missed out on the grant due to its inability to meet the eligibility criteria which required the states to have passed and published online on a state’s website by July 31, 2020, credible, fiscally responsible COVID-19 responsive amended 2020 budgets duly approved by the state house of assembly and assented to by the state governor,” the statement read.

“It must also significantly lower the gross statutory revenue projections, consistent with the revised medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) and federal government’s budget; reduced non-essential overhead and capital expenditures.

“The budget must be tagged and found to have allocated at least 10 percent of the total expenditure of the amended budget for COVID-19 relief, restructuring and recovery programs; and identified credible sources to fully finance the budget deficit to avoid the accumulation of arrears.”

Ahmed said the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant economic shocks have put significant pressure on states’ fiscal resources and undermined the reality and credibility of the states’ original 2020 annual budgets. 

The minister expressed optimism that the fund will strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal response to COVID-19 and align efforts at the federal and state levels. 

The federal government had earlier, in April 2020, disbursed N43.4 billion ($120.6 million) to 24 states, based on their performance. 

- THECABLE