TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigeria

  • Reports of me being deported to Nigeria untrue, malicious – Ibori

    Former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori, who returned to Nigeria on Saturday after serving his jail term in the United Kingdom has denied being deported by the British authorities to Nigeria, describing such reports as malicious.

    Ibori made the clarity through his Media Assistant, Mr. Tony Eluemunor, in a statement issued on Monday.

    The statement explained that though Ibori had wanted to land at Osubi Airstrip in Okpe Local Government Area of the state, he had to change his mind for the Benin Airport, to avoid gridlocks and a lock-down of economic activities his landing would have caused.

    According to the statement, “Ibori wishes to correct the impression created by some news reports that he was deported from the UK. Even though I had wanted to publicise my return to Nigeria so that wrong meanings would not be read into the public interest.

    “I knew what my presence in Nigeria would elicit, and also because I never wanted any crowd that would gather because of me to disturb a single Nigerian in the course of their duties, all my efforts to keep the trip secret failed. The airline that brought me into Nigeria is public knowledge.

    “So, it would be easy to verify that I was not deported because the deporting country’s officials would always hand over deportees to the Nigerian Immigration officials and documents would also be exchanged.

    Those who have chosen to report lies, and claim that I was deported know that no document exists anywhere in the world to back up those malicious claims.”

  • FG has no plans to Islamise Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

    FG has no plans to Islamise Nigeria – Lai Mohammed

    The Federal Government has declared that it is difficult to Islamise Nigeria by any government, saying that it has no hidden agenda to achieve such plan.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed made declaration on Monday at the North-Central Edition of Town Hall Meeting held in Ilorin, Kwara state.

    He said that the alleged Islamisation of Nigeria under the current Administration is totally false and should be perceived in its entirety as a campaign of calumny, saying that the secular nature of Nigeria’s Constitution makes the issue of religious dominance and impunity improbable.

    Mohammed who condemned the action of those preaching religious intolerance stressed that it was difficult to Islamise Nigeria and those claiming the current Federal Government was plotting to Islamise the country were not only political but were also working towards diverting attention from the ongoing anti-corruption crusade.

    ‘‘The media has been increasingly awash with incendiary statements that seem designed to pitch the adherents of the two prominent religions in the country, Christians and Muslims against one another.

    ‘‘Such fallacies like the Islamization of Nigeria, the killing of Christians by Muslims, the labelling of Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians in the world can only serve one purpose: trigger a religious war.

    ‘‘Needless to say that no nation ever survives a religious war. Those who are making these allegations know that they are not true, but they have found in religion another tool to demonize the government of the day, divert attention from the government’s anti-corruption stance and create undue tension in the polity.

    ‘‘It is also important to note that the underlying principle of religious conflict may not be purely religious, but more often than not coloured with political connotations as vividly depicted in the case of the terrorist group Boko Haram.

    ‘‘And more often than not, conflicts between Muslims and Christians are fuelled by political motivations, ethnic differences, extremism, intolerance and terrorism.’’ On achievements of the administration, the Minister said, “a lot has been achieved by this administration, despite the challenges that we have faced since assuming office.

    “But whatever has been achieved in all spheres will pale into insignificance if there is no peace in the country. And there is no bigger threat to the peace and unity of our country today than religion-coated incendiary messages, which are being carelessly sent out there by some religious, political and opinion leaders.

    “Make no mistake about it, there have been conflicts between adherents of the two major religions in certain parts of the country.

    To now extrapolate from that to say Nigeria is the most dangerous place for Christians in the world is a disservice to Nigeria and an overkill.

    ‘‘What those who are pushing this negative narrative about Nigeria do not know is that if they succeed in giving Nigeria a bad name in the comity of nations, they too will not escape the consequences that will result therefore,’’ he warned.

  • Buhari’s extended vacation: Nigeria in trouble, says Fani-Kayode

    Buhari’s extended vacation: Nigeria in trouble, says Fani-Kayode

     

    Former Minister of Aviation, and chieftain of the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has said the country is “in trouble,” following President Muhammadu Buhari’s letter to the Senate for an indefinite extension of his vacation in London.

    The president’s request was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Femi Adesina. Adesina said the president had written to the National Assembly to notify them “of his desire to extend his leave in order to complete and receive the results of a series of tests recommended by his doctors.

    “The President had planned to return to Abuja this evening, but was advised to complete the test cycle before returning. The notice has since been dispatched to the Senate President, and Speaker, House of Representatives.

    “Mr. President expresses his sincere gratitude to Nigerians for their concern, prayers and kind wishes.”

    However, in a series of tweets after the president’s extended vacation request was made public, Fani-Kayode said: “Buhari has finally acknowledged that he is sick and has extended his stay abroad indefinately. It is now clear that Nigeria is in trouble.”

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that the President left the country on a 10-day vacation on January 19.

  • IBB returns to Nigeria after 7-week medical vacation in Switzerland

    Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), has returned to Nigeria after a 7-week medical vacation in the Switzerland.

    He arrived Minna International Airport on Saturday evening at 6.45 pm.

    Babangida expressed gratitude for prayers and goodwill messages from different quarters during his vacation.

    He said: “I am feeling stronger and better now. I must thank Nigerians immensely for the prayers and concerns over my health.

    “I must use this opportunity to also call on Nigerians to continue to pray for the leaders and the country to move forward in positive direction”.

    “We should remain united and work collectively towards the progress of our nation by thinking positively about the leaders and providing constructive criticisms and solutions to any challenge we may face.”

    On the situation in the country, IBB said the current economic recession is not peculiar to Nigeria.

    He said “I am aware that other countries face different political, social and economic challenges. I believe the current government is working assiduously towards addressing some of the issues.”

    “We need to support all arms and tiers of government in their efforts to ensure economic recovery and political stability,” He concluded

    Babangida left the country for medical vacation in Europe on December 18, 2016.

     

  • Those around Buhari only interested in their pockets – Fr. Mbaka

    Those around Buhari only interested in their pockets – Fr. Mbaka

    The Spiritual leader of the Adoration Ministries in Enugu, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has said that those working with President Muhammadu Buhari, are only interested in what they can get from the current administration.

    Mbaka insisted that Buhari has good intentions for Nigeria, but his efforts were being frustrated.

    The controversial Catholic priest stated this during a sermon at the first Adoration Crusade for the year.

    He said Buhari means well, “but unfortunately, he surrounded himself with officials who have different agenda”.

    Mbaka said: “Buhari has good intentions for the country, unfortunately, his subordinates have different agenda – they are interested in their pockets.”

    “Those wishing the president dead don’t love this country. Children of God, what do people gain by wishing somebody dead? We should pray for our leaders; that is what the Bible says,” he added.

    He also encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, as there was light at the end of the tunnel.

  • Sudan advocates stronger economic ties with Nigeria

    Sudan advocates stronger economic ties with Nigeria

    …Marks 61st Independence Day in style

    By Arowosola Ibironke, Abuja

    The Sudanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Ibrahim Muhamed Busra Ali has advocated for stronger economic ties between Nigeria and Sudan to enhance production and overall development of the citizens of both countries.

    The ambassador said this in Abuja at a cultural event recently organised by the embassy to celebrate the 61st Independence Day anniversary of Sudan.

    Ibrahim said Nigeria and Sudan enjoyed years of fruitful relationships because both countries had consistently supported each other in times of need. He said some of the reason the embassy decided to organize the cultural show was to further strengthen the relationship and also explore each other’s rich cultural diversity.

    According to Ibrahim, the cultural event was one of the activities put together by the embassy to celebrate the Sudan’s national day, bring about cooperation between the embassy and the Sudanese community in Abuja as well as celebrate the long term relationship between Nigeria and Sudan

    He added that the cultural event was organized to showcase some of the country’s culture to Nigeria adding that despite the strong relationship between Nigeria and the Sudan, Nigeria do not know much about Sudan’s culture

    Also speaking, Secretary to the embassy, Muhammad Yousif said the cultural show was tactically organized to showcase the rich cultural heritage of Sudan. He added that the cultural troupe known as Sudanese Camirata band consists of 12 members and has been performing since 1997 in over 50 countries.

    In his remarks, the Director General of National Gallery of Art, Abdullahi Muku commended the effort of the embassy and the performance of the cultural troupe. He also requested that other embassies in Nigeria should incorporate cultural dances in celebrating their country’s national day to showcase their culture.

    Dignitaries who graced the occasion include; the Director General of National Gallery of Art, Mr. Abdullahi Muku, Deputy Director, North Central Zone, Mrs. Ngozi John Uyah, Chancellor, Enterprise University, Angel David.

    Others are diplomats, academicians, stakeholders in the art and culture industry, ambassadors from embassy of south Sudan, Libya, Chad, Cameroon, Japan, Algeria amongst others

     

  • Nigeria has been going through hell for a long time- Yinka Davies declares

    Nigeria has been going through hell for a long time- Yinka Davies declares

    Nigerians have been confronted with the stark reality that the economy is in recession. With the soaring prices of goods and services, the general chant on the streets is that of woes and cynicism. Yinka Davies, Nigeria’s revered Jazz musician in an exclusive chat with TheNewsGuru says recession doesn’t exist in Nigeria. She affirms that Nigeria has been going through hell for a long time

    In her words:” The recession is an understatement. What is a recession? Do you look like there is a recession on your body? Is it written on your forehead? Why are you people giving a name to something that doesn’t exist? What exactly is the impact that is being felt that has not been felt before? You people are making noise about spilled milk that has been spilled long before now. You are still not asking the right questions. They give it a name you people jump at the name .Nigeria has been going through hell forever “

    The sensational singer says people are still living the good life despite cries of recession.

    “When the community was taking care of everybody did you hear of riot ion the street? We need to go back to the slate, clean it up, wash it with water and now start to put things into proper perspectives. As bad as people say Nigeria is right now, how come people are still travelling? How come people are still building houses? How come hotels are still climbing up in the skies right now as we speak. Until we answer questions like who we be? Where we dey? We are just wasting our time”

  • James Ibori’s homecoming

    By Donaldson Ugwu

    There are several reports in the media recently that former Governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, may come back home to Nigeria soon after he has served his jail term in the United Kingdom where he was sentenced to jail for alleged money laundry charges.

    For some of us who are not from Delta State, we see the Odidigborigbo’s home coming as a welcome development so that he (Ibori) can once again contribute his quota to the re-engineering of his state in particular and Nigeria in general.

    As a full-blooded Nigerian, he has all the rights like any other Nigerian to come back to his father’s land to help build it up without molestation.

    I make bold to say that he should not be molested or harassed by his political enemies, and they most be many, because Ibori has reportedly filed a case in the British courts to upturn his sentence because it was based on alleged fraud (fraud is not peculiar to Nigeria).

    Even though it has not been established that the conviction was based on fraudulent charges, those of us who are ardent followers of Nigerian politics know that powerful political enemies set up Ibori in the first instance to eclipse his rising political profile during the period of the Musa Yar’ Adua presidency.

    That Ibori was chased out and had to flee the country in the most disgraceful manner seemed not to have satisfied his traducers. The enemies then had to muster the instruments of the state to hound Ibori abroad and used the most crooked and foul means to secure his conviction in a foreign land. It is a pity how Nigeria and Nigerians destroy their own.

    I am not a supporter of fraud or evil. Far from it. I also do not subscribe to the notion that many political actors in Nigeria today did worse things than Ibori was alleged to have committed.

    If any government (or private citizen) is found to have committed ofence against the state, he/she should be accordingly punished. But wasn’t Ibori found not guilty before the Nigerian courts? If the state had not manipulated the London courts, would Ibori have been found guilty?

    Now, the stories making the rounds in Nigeria again are that the enemies (in Ibori’s home state and Nigeria at large) are regrouping to do the man in for a second time because of perceived fear that he (Ibori) is capable of upsetting the apple cart on arrival.

    As such, the main preoccupation of these people is to stop Ibori or destroy him completely. What a pity if this is true.

    I will counsel such people to face their other problems and leave the man alone whenever he comes back. One thing you cannot take away from Ibori is that he has the capability and capacity to galvanize people for development.

    I saw this at close range when I served in Delta State during Ibori’s tenure as governor. Instead of planning to
    destroy him, such people should court him to come back to contribute his quota to the development of the country.

    His energy should be harnessed for development. Enough of distractions.

    Ugwu, self-employed and wrote from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

  • Nigeria to begin production of bio-fuel to supplement petrol imports-PPPRA

    Nigeria to begin production of bio-fuel to supplement petrol imports-PPPRA

    The Executive Secretary of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, Mr. Victor Shidok has said with the right policies, Nigeria should begin production of bio-fuels to augment petrol imports.

    Shidok said this in Abuja at a news briefing to introduce an upcoming workshop on Bio-fuel Development on Feb. 7.

    He explained that the workshop would enlighten Nigerians on the benefits of bio-fuel as part of the country’s energy mix.

    Shidok said that a national policy on bio-fuel development that would provide the incentive for the growth of bio-fuel consumption in the country was underway and could be passed into law soon.

    He said that the policy, when passed would ensure that bio-ethanol and biodiesel, which are blends of petroleum products and agricultural products, were readily available in the country.

    Shidok said that the policy was part of efforts to diversify the country’s energy sources and respect global convention on climate change with the inclusion of alternative clean options.

    “Bio-fuels simply comprise bio-ethanol and biodiesel which are blends of petroleum products and agricultural products.

    “Bio-ethanol E-10 for instance is a blend of 90 per cent gasoline and 10 per cent ethanol, while biodiesel B-20 is a blend of 80 per cent diesel and 20 per cent oil from Jathropha, used palm oil,” he said.

    Shidok said that when production began, the agency would demand that for every litre of petrol sold, 10 per cent of ethanol would be added to it and 20 per cent of oil from Jathropha or used palm oil to diesel.

    He said that the policy was introduced in 2007 but could not be pushed further until now, adding that the project was at no cost to the Federal Government.

    He said that bio-fuel production had a lot of benefits including job creation, agricultural support and electricity generation in communities across the country.

    “This harmony will lead to more jobs in the petroleum and agricultural sectors of our economy.

    “A lot more advantages accrue from this new industry which offers an alternative to fossil fuel thus providing cleaner and cheaper energy,” Shidok said.

    Mr Supo Agbaje, the PPPRA General Manager, Operations said, “an immediate result will be that we will locally produce 10 per cent of expected imports.

    “For instance, if we import 20 million litres per day, when the policy is in place, we import 18 million and produce 2 million; that’s an immediate effect,’’ he said.

    One of the committee members, Mr Mike Oteikwu, further explained to newsmen that Nigeria consumed approximately 50 million litres of fuel a day.

    “Ten per cent of that is five million, which is the savings we are talking about. Another benefit is that you spend one quarter of what you would normally use in your car with petrol.

    “The UN is actively involved and Nigeria is a signatory to some of the agreements that there should be a reduction on usage of fossil fuels and chemicals which cause climate change.’’

     

  • AfDB approves $155m loan for Nigeria’s power sector

    The Africa Development Bank, AfDB says it has approved a loan of $155m for Economic and Power Sector Reform Programme in Nigeria.

    The Senior Communications Officer of AfDB, Fatimah Alkali, in Abuja on Friday said that the loan became effective in October, 19, 2012.

    Recent media reports had indicated that there might be a face-off between the Senate and the Federal Government on plans to secure a facility of 174 million dollars from AfDB.

    The media reports also revealed that part of the security for the loan was the handing over the management of Transmission of Company of Nigeria to AfDB.

    The reports hinted that AfDB would second three of its staff to take over the management of TCN for six months and would terminate the appointment of current management of TCN.

    To this end, the AfDB, in its statement, said that the appointment of the management TCN was a prerogative of the Nigerian authorities and not that of AfDB

    It stated that the loan was aimed at improving power systems, business environment and sustaining growth through sound macroeconomic policies and budget priorities.

    AfDB said the amount was fully disbursed in two tranches on March 1, 2013 and December 21, 2015, respectively.

    According to the statement, the programme was designed to benefit the entire population of Nigeria in terms of extended access to more reliable supply of electricity at reduced rate.

    It said, “The EPSERP will have a major positive impact on the private sector through the substantial reduction in the cost of doing business for all economic sectors, particularly in the formal and informal manufacturing and service activities which are seriously constrained by the power supply gaps.“

    AfDB also said that the bank had also released one of its staff to support the government in its power sector reforms programme for 12 months on September 19, 2016

    It said it was committed to assisting Nigeria to achieve the objectives of its reforms in the power sector in accordance with the priorities already approved by the authorities.

     

    NAN