Residents demand improved electricity supply

Some residents of the suburbs of Abuja have appealed to the Federal Government to improve electricity supply to their areas.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Abuja on Tuesday, that they had yet to benefit from the relatively stable electricity supply being experienced in Abuja.

Mr Murtala Mustapha, a resident of Zuba in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, said that the cost of diesel and maintenance of generating sets was overwhelming.

“Poor Nigerians are not happy in their homes because they don’t have electricity,’’ Mustapha said.

Chief Johnson Okechukwu, a businessman at Deidei Building Material Market, urged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to implement projects for which it would be remembered.

“I have a 150 KVA generator which is supposed to serve as standby to cater for short periods; but now that it is being used as the only source of electricity, it will spoil quickly.’’

Alhaji Mufutaudeen Balogun, an Islamic scholar and resident of Zauda Village in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), said that the community had not seen light for the past two months.

Balogun attributed the blackout in his area to the deplorable condition of the transformer serving the community.

He appealed to the relevant authorities to assist the community by replacing the old transformer with a new one.

“This community has not seen electricity in the past two months, in spite of Federal Government’s efforts at ensuring stable power supply in the country.’’

Another resident, Mr Sikiru Muhammed, said the blackout in his area, had paralysed business activities.

He said the situation imposed additional hardship on owners of generators, making them to spend more money on the fuel.

“We call on the FCT Administration, particularly the Abuja Municipal Area Council to come to our aid and find a lasting solution to this situation.’’

Similarly, Mrs Comfort George, who runs a saloon, said that the inadequacy of power supply in the community was threatening her business.

“I spend over N12,000 to fuel my generator every week just to render service and satisfy my customers but at the end of the day, I hardly make profit,’’ George said.

She appealed to the relevant authorities to provide the community with a new transformer as the residents could not afford to buy one.

Ciara sues Future for $15 million for calling her a bad mother

Ciara is suing her baby daddy, hip hop star, Future, for $15 million for slander and libel. She is angry at him for allegedly blasting her mothering skills and attacking her relationship with current boyfriend Russell Wilson in a bid to promote his music. TMZ reports below..

In the suit ... obtained by TMZ, Ciara calls out Future for a radio interview in which he discussed a now infamous photo of Wilson pushing Ciara and Future's son in his stroller. Future said, "She probably set him [Russell] up. You letting them catch that photo. Leave my son out of all the publicity stunts."


Ciara points out several other interviews, but she's also pissed about her baby daddy's Twitter rant in January when Future said, "This bitch got control problems ... I gotta go through lawyers to see baby future ... the f***ery for 15k a month."


In the suit, Ciara says she goes out of her way to make sure Future sees their son -- and says they've had at least 19 visitations (some spanning several days) since December 2014.


Just last week TMZ got video of Future and his son in L.A. while Ciara was on vacay with Wilson. We thought it was a sign they were settling their differences, but that's clearly not the case.


Ciara believes Future's comments were said with malice. She's suing for slander and libel, wants all his nasty tweets deleted, and wants him blocked from saying anything about private family matters regarding baby Future ... in the future.

Former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, detained by EFCC after 8hours of questioning

Former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh was yesterday detained by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after subjecting him to about eight-hours of questioning. Badeh is being investigated in connection with the ongoing $2.1 billion arms deal scandal. Badeh arrived the commission's headquarters in Abuja at about 9am and did not leave the premises even after the close of work.


A source at EFCC who spoke on condition of anonymity said
“He is having audience with one of the panels we raised to interact with those military chiefs invited. We confronted Badeh with some documents, including letters to the ex-NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd), demanding the procurement of some military equipment. We are not likely to release him on bail now because his interrogation may take a while.

You know, he was central to the control of the Armed Forces. Before being the CDS, he was also a Chief of Air Staff. Some of these equipment were bought under him”.

Photos: Gov. Ambode receives President of Germany, Mr Joachim Gauck at Lagos house, Ikeja

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle, jointly presenting a gift to the President, Federal Republic of Germany, Mr. Joachim Gauck (left) and his wife, Gerhild (2nd right), during a courtesy visit to the Governor by the German President, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, February 08, 2016. See more photos after the cut...

Nigerian Passenger Accused Of Smuggling 1.7kg Of Cocaine In His Intestines Through Dubai

A 40-year-old Nigerian man has been accused of smuggling nearly 1.7kg of cocaine capsules in his intestines via Dubai in transit. A special device helped capture the man carrying the cocaine in his intestines.
Jail wardens did not bring the suspect from his detention and present him before the Dubai Court of First Instance where he was scheduled to enter a plea on Sunday, February 7. Presiding judge Mohammad Jamal adjourned the hearing until the defendant is brought from detention on February 21.


Law enforcement officers at Dubai International Airport were said to have discovered that the Nigerian passenger, C.J., had been carrying drugs in his intestines when they had him checked at the special detecting device at the airport’s transit terminal in November.

The passenger was referred to Dubai Police’s anti-narcotics department immediately after the scanning device exposed tens of capsules in C.J.’s intestines.


Drugs prosecutors charged the suspect with smuggling 80 capsules that contained a stone-like white substance via Dubai in transit. A policeman claimed to prosecutors that he was tasked with accompanying C.J. to a public hospital to make him emit the drug capsules.


“I escorted the suspect to the hospital where he was provided with a medical substance to help him emit the capsules. He got out 45 capsules over a few hours,” testified the policeman.

Dubai Police’s forensic laboratory confirmed that the extracted capsules contained nearly 1.7kg of cocaine.


Source: Gulf News Court

Photos: COZA pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo holds all-white birthday party in Dubai

Popular Abuja pastor, Biodun Fatoyinbo of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly held a lavish all-white yacht party in Dubai to celebrate his birthday in January this year. In attendance were US based popular pastor, Mike Murdock, International singer Tye Tribett and others. He also had a birthday dinner as well at the seven-star Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. See more photos after the cut...

Buhari is not sick, he only went to rest- Adesina

Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, says contrary to opinion held by some people, Buhari's five day vacation is for him to rest and that he is not sick . Adesina who was a guest on Channels TV yesterday night, said Buhari had worked for eight straight months since he assumed office and needs rest

“Any man can fall sick, old or young, but the president is not sick, the president is well. The president has worked for more than eight months non-stop, and he felt it was time to take a respite and he asked for six days leave and he did it the proper way. He communicated it to the national assembly, handed over power to his deputy and nothing is wrong with that.”he said

He denied claims that Buhari's vacation appeared sudden.

“Do you go on vacation because you are sick? You need respite from time to time and when you think it is time for respite, you take it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with his state of health. “Nigerians have been lied to for so long that they are now finding it difficult to believe the truth and that is the problem. You have told the truth yet they did not believe it because they have a carry-over of those who have lied to them for many decades but this government will not lie; it will tell the truth.”he said

Photos: Jay Z, Swizz Beatz, Lewis Hamilton, Kendrick Lamar, Usher hang out after the Super Bowl

Rappers Jay Z, Kendrik Lamar, singer Usher, music producer, Swizz Beatz, F1 racing champion Lewis Hamilton, singer Alicia Keys and super models, Adriana Lima, Alessandra Ambrosio hung out after the Super Bowl 50 on Sunday night. More photos after the cut...

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala reacts to alleged investigation by EFCC

Former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has reacted to reports that she's allegedly being investigated by the EFCC for embezzlement, calling media headlines misleading and untrue. Her statement below..


We want to clarify that some of the media reports alleging that the EFCC is investigating former Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, are misleading and untrue. This is clear from eye witness accounts of the Budget 2016 presentation by the EFCC at the House of Representatives and gaps in the reported stories.



The headlines are a misrepresentation of what the EFCC Chairman actually said during the event. While the headlines claimed that the EFCC Chairman, in response to a question by an APC, member Hon Razak Atunwa, stated that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is under investigation, the actual words quoted in the same reports told a very different story.


His words: “Very soon we will go into the petroleum industry. Such investigation requires that we have to build capacity, we have to bring in experts to enable us tackle what we are doing properly and the investigation must be conducted properly. We have internal lawyers and external lawyers. We have to pay insurance…”

The words said to have been spoken by the EFCC Chairman cannot support the lurid headlines that Dr Okonjo-Iweala is under investigation by the EFCC. The Nigerian media plays an important role in our democracy and we urge them to be fair, balanced and factual in their reports.


Paul C Nwabuikwu Media Adviser to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Nigeria can generate N5trn annually from solid minerals — Metal exporters

Exporters under the aegis of Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria, AMEN have called on the Federal Government to intervene in the solid minerals sector and tap the abundant benefits as the sector has opportunity of generating N5 trillion annually.

The President of AMEN, Mr. Seun Olatunji said that Nigeria can generate at least N5 trillion annually from mining and exporting of its vast solid mineral deposits, with several multiplier effects on job creation , state development and social infrastructure that could make the solid minerals sector as the main catalyst for the national development.


At a press briefing at the weekend in Lagos, the metal exporters called on the Federal Government to provide the enabling environment for the development of the Nigerian solid minerals sector. “Metallic solid minerals are the most exported solid minerals from Nigeria” he added.

The Association, which comprises of various companies in the business of metal export, commended the focus of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mr. Kayode Fayemi, and expressed its readiness to partner with the government in the development of the Nigerian solid minerals sector.

According to Olatunji, “There is need for synergy between government agencies and private operators to unlock the values in solid minerals sector. With not less than 38 viable solid mineral deposits in sustainable export quantity in Nigeria, the solid minerals sector has the potential to generate not less than N5 trillion annually once the government put in place necessary frameworks.

He stated that the solid minerals industry could serve the much-needed solution to unemployment as the development of the value chain from mining to export can create more than five million jobs.

Diversification of the economy

“We are glad that the current government is serious about solid minerals and diversification of the economy. Government should come up with policies that will enable Nigerians to benefit optimally from the country‘s natural resources,” Olatunji said.

According to him, there is need for government regulatory agencies such as Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to work with established private sector companies under the auspices of Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria to develop globally acceptable regulatory standards for Nigerian metallic exports.

Vice president, Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria, Mr. Bamidele Ayemibo, underscored the need for government to consider viable public private partnership (PPP) option to develop basic infrastructure such as crushing plant and standardized weighing bay among others.

According to him, with a crushing plant, government should put in place a general policy that ensures that all metal exports are crushed and SON and other regulatory agencies should see to the enforcement of standards in the solid minerals exports in order to ensure that Nigerian exports are competitive in the global market.

General Secretary, Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria, Mrs Kemi Ayo-Ogunkeye, added that standard-setting will bring values to Nigerian businesses and Nigeria as this will not only enhance the volume of transactions but also the reliability of the business.

In his remarks, financial secretary, Association of Metal Exporters of Nigeria, Mr. Adegbola Ilori, said the association would also interface with the National Assembly to seek review of existing laws and to promote new laws that could help the development of the solid minerals industry.

Nigerian refineries receive 9.5m barrels of crude in 2015

At a period refining operations averaged 26 per cent, three of Nigeria’s five refineries received about 9.5 million barrels of crude oil in 2015, but processed about 7.2 million barrels, data from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources have shown.



This leaves a shortfall of about 2.3 million barrels that were not processed, which the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, said were “sold” but did not give details about who bought them.

The data, which was exclusively obtained by Vanguard, revealed that the processed volumes were used in producing four types ofpetroleum products. These included premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol; automotive gas oil, AGO, also called diesel; dual purpose kerosene, DPK, used for both domestic and aviation fuel; and low pour fuel oil, LPFL, otherwise called black oil.

Based on the output from the refineries, the operations data revealed that about 907.853 million litres of petrol were produced between January and December last year, a far cry from the14.60 billion litres required for domestic consumption, based on the national daily estimate of 40 million litres.

*Refineries

Nigeria has five refineries with combined capacity of 446,000 barrels per day, bpd; four of them operated by the NNPC with daily combined capacity of 445,000 bpd, and the 5th, Niger Delta Petroleum Refinery, NDPR, with a capacity of 1,000bpd. The NDPR is privately owned and devoted to only producing diesel.

The dedicated daily crude allocations to the NNPC refineries have often come under criticism, even more so when the refineries were almost comatose in 2015, and Nigeria relied mainly on imported products to meet daily national demand estimated at 40 million litres daily for PMS alone.

At 445,000 bpd, the NNPC refineries can only produce a little above 28 million litres daily, but operating at about a quarter of their combined capacity, critics questioned the continued allocation of the same volume of crude to the refineries.

*Crude allocations

Broken further, the refinery operations data revealed that between January and December 2015, the New PPRC Refinery with a capacity of 150,000bpd received the highest allocation of over 4.52 million barrels. However, the refinery could only process about 2.91 million barrels or 55.27 per cent of the total crude allocated to it during the period.

Similarly, the WRPC with a template of 125,000 bpd received over 3.48 million barrels and processed 3.08 million barrels (13 per cent), while the 110,000bpd capacity KRPC received about 1.48 million barrels and processed a little above 1.20 million barrels (22 per cent).

With regard to the quantity shortfalls, NNPC, in an email response to Vanguard enquiry said: “Whatever shortfall as you may call it or rather surplus that arises between what was received and what was actually processed in terms of crude oil, is usually sold and the proceeds remitted to the Federation Account.”

The corporation’s spokesman, Mr Ohi Alegbe, added: “Remember that the NNPC is allocated 445, 000 barrels every day at prevailing international market price, thus this means that every molecule of crude received, and utilised or un-utilised as the case maybe, is captured.”

Against this backdrop, NNPC in defence of the continued allocation of the dedicated daily volumes to the refineries at a period of high downturn in operations, said:”The volumes of crude oil allocated to the refineries are usually based on projections generated after detailed realistic production simulations.”

Abuja rail to be operational December 2017 – FCT Minister

In a bid to compliment the present mode of public transportation, as well as reducing traffic gridlock often experienced at peak periods in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Administration said it was working extremely hard to make the Abuja rail system operational in the last quarter of 2017.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, made the disclosure while receiving the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachichwu who paid him a working visit in his Abuja office.

Bello disclosed that the last quarter of 2017 was the new target date envisaged by the FCTA.

The minister noted that when the Abuja rail comes on stream, it would revolutionise the transportation system, as the use of personal vehicles would become unattractive.

Bello addedd that the rail transportation would also go a long way to create employment for some residents of the FCT.

He however called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to build Mega filling stations in the six area councils of the FCT, instead of only one earmarked for each senatorial districts in the 36 states of the federation.



[ThisDay]