$600m Jets’ Deal Raises US Imports of Nigeria’s Crude

The importation of Nigeria’s crude by the United States has hit the highest in about four years buoyed by the talks of $600 million fighter jets’ deal between the two countries. The latest data released by the U.S. agency, Energy Information Administra-tion (EIA), showed that Nigeria is now the fourth highest exporter of crude among members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to the U.S.

Washington, the EIA data revealed, imported an average of 332,032 barrels daily, translating to 10.293 million barrels of Nigeria’s crude last January. The last time the country exported close to this figure of crude barrels from Nigeria was June 2013.

MAGU'S SHOCKING PERSONALITY: SSS REPORT AND SENATE CONFIRMATION

 

Exactly three months after they declined to confirm Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), The Senate yesterday affirmed their December 15, last year’s position on the EFCC’s acting chairman. The Red Chamber relied on three-paragraph memo from the Department of State Services (DSS) dated March 14, affirming the Services’ earlier report on Magu. Below is the Report:
In August 2008, following a search at his residence during the tenure of Farida Waziri (AIG/rtd) as the commission’s chairman, some sensitive EFCC documents which were not supposed to be at his disposal were discovered. He was subsequently redeployed to the police after days of detention and later suspended from the Force.
In December 2010, the Police Service Commission (PSC) found Magu guilty of “Action prejudicial to state security, withholding of EFCC files, sabotage, unauthorised removal

Show Mercy On Nnamdi Kanu- Fayose To Buhari

Ayodele Fayose, governor of Ekiti state, says it is God who made President Muhammadu Buhari to come back alive after a 49-day medical vacation in the UK.

Speaking with members of his cabinet shortly after he returned to the country on Friday, Buhari said he could not recall being “so sick” in his entire life.

“I have received I think the best of treatment I could receive. I couldn’t recall being so sick since I was a young man, including the military with its ups and downs. I couldn’t recall when last I had blood transfusion, I couldn’t recall honestly, I can say in my 70 years,” he had said.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Idowu Adelusi, his chief press secretary, Fayose said Buhari received the mercy of God.

He advised the president to also show mercy to Sambo Dasuki, former national security adviser, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and other Nigerians “suffering illegal and unconstitutional incarceration under your directive”.

“You have received the mercy and favour of God. You have come back from medical vacation alive. By what people had said and by your own account, it is the mercy and favour of God that have seen you through as well as the prayers of everyone,” he said.

“It is incumbent on you to now also show mercy. I advise you to show mercy to Nnamdi Kanu and

Kaduna releases White Paper on Zaria Clashes: #Gov. Nasir El-Rufai

The Kaduna State Government yesterday released the White Paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Zaria clashes of December 2015. The Judicial Commission of Inquiry which examined, among other issues, the immediate and remote causes of the clashes between the Nigerian Army and the outlawed IMN, submitted its report in July 2016. Following the receipt of the report, the Kaduna State Government made the report public within 10 days, and set up a committee of senior public servants to prepare a draft White Paper.

This White Paper sets out the views and decisions of the Government on all the recommendations that have been made to it by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. All recommendations that are within the purview of the Kaduna State Government can be accepted, noted or rejected. Those pertaining to institutions or tiers of government not under the direct control of the state government are noted and referred to the appropriate institution for consideration and decision.

UN Committed To Resolving Nigeria’s Environmental Problems – Heredia

The Head of the Avian Species Team, Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), Mr Borja Heredia has reiterated the commitment of the United Nations in resolving environmental problems in Nigeria.

To this end, he noted that the UN is working under the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to find a lasting solution to sustainable land management and further support countries implementing sustainable land use at the national level.

He stated this in Abuja yesterday when he led a 5-man delegation on a courtesy visit to the ministry of Environment on the sidelines of a 3-day workshop on “Sustainable Land Use in West Africa: National and International Policy Responses That Deliver for Migratory Birds and People”, organised by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with CMS and Ministry of Environment.

THE EFCC AND THE MEDIA BLACKOUT

STATEMENT ON THE TACTICS OF THE EFCC AND THE MEDIA BLACKOUT ON THE EVENTS THAT OCCURED IN THE COURT OF JUSTICE MUSLIM HASSAN ON 14TH NOVEMBER, 2016

On Monday, November 14th, 2016 at the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Muslim Hassan lambasted the EFFC and its prosecutor, one Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, in open court for arresting Chief Femi Fani-Kayode at the Federal High Court premises on 21st of October, 2016, without an arrest warrant and for detaining him illegally without any detention order for 24 days.

This was made all the more damning by the fact that Justice Hassan had previously warned the EFCC not to re-arrest Chief Fani-Kayode who had been previously detained by them for 67 days.

Justice Hassan said this because he had granted Chief Fani-Kayode

Nigeria may face famine in January, Presidency warns

The Presidency on Monday warned that Nigeria could face famine in January if drastic steps are not taken now.

Nigeria, which is currently Africa’s largest producer of cereals and grains risks famine from early next year as a huge demand in the global market is targeting Nigeria’s surplus production.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu made the grim forecast in a radio interview in Kano on Monday.

Shehu told Pyramid radio that the “huge demand for our grains in the global market is creating an excellent environment for the mindless export of Nigerian grains across our borders and unless this is curtailed, Nigerian markets will be bereft of food by January next year.”

He said the Ministry of Agriculture has advised the President on the need to draw the attention of all Nigerians to the issue which, if not addressed promptly, could lead to a shortage of grains in

Guided missile destroyer USS Ross enters Black Sea

A US guided missile destroyer, USS Ross, equipped with the Aegis advanced missile defense system has entered the Black Sea and is heading to the Ukrainian port city of Odessa to join the international maritime exercises Sea Breeze 2016.

The Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Ross is set to join the international exercises in the Back Sea that involve several NATO countries, including the US, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Italy, Poland, Romania, Turkey and the UK, as well as non-NATO members, such Georgia and Ukraine.

The second stage of the drills called Sea Breeze 2016 started on Monday and will last until July 30. The exercises are the 15th iteration of Sea Breeze, which is “an annual exercise held in the Black Sea designed to enhance interoperability and strengthen regional security,” according to the US Navy.

Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim on Nigerian Army-Islamic Movement clash

The Clash Between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria - Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim, Deepening Democracy Column, Daily Trust, 18th July 2016

It would be recalled that between December 12th and 14th 2015, hundreds of people were killed in Zaria following clashes between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN). On Friday, the Justice Garba Commission of Inquiry on the clashes presented its report to Governor Nasir El Rufai of Kaduna State. In his speech, the Governor promised to read the report diligently and act on the recommendations. He also promised to release the report to the public for their information and scrutiny, but hesitated when he saw the Commission had marked the report “TOP SECRET” in red and added he 

Russia to mobilize forces if Finland joins NATO: Putin

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (L) gestures during a joint press conference with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto (unseen) at the presidential summer residence in southwestern Finland, July 1, 2016.

Russia has threatened it will mobilize its forces to areas closer to its border with Finland should Helsinki choose to join the US-led military alliance of NATO.

Fayose: My election funded by Zenith Bank, donations …Linking me with Obanikoro, Dasuki spurious

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has opened up on how his election was funded two years ago by the Zenith Bank Plc, fund raising, donations from friends and associates as well as sales of campaign souvenirs, saying;

"I have no financial transaction whatsoever with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Col Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro either by cash, cheque or electronic transfer.” 

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish statements made by Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, his son or any other person associated with money from the NSA office where they claimed they gave him money for the election, adding that “EFCC is only acting a movie scripted, produced and directed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of President Mohammadu Buhari just to silence me being a major opposition voice in the country.”