Outraged Nigerians launch campaign to identify students’ killers

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Uniport lynching: faces of killers?
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Nigerians outraged by the lynching of four University of Port Harcourt undergraduates in Aluu, Rivers State, have launched an online campaign to have the killers identified and punished.

Although it was learnt that the community has been deserted following the arrest of the village head, Alhaji Hassan Walewa, and 13 others by the police, users of social media argued that some of the killers could still be traced.

Already, photographs of some of the suspected killers, have surfaced on the Internet.

The photographs were frozen from the video tape of the killings.

One of the suspects was believed to have poured petrol on the students and lit the fire. For instance, a blog, AmeborTalk.com, has the photographs of two of the suspected killers and a crowd at the scene on its page.

A contributor on Nigeria Online Community wrote. “The guy holding the plank was an especially enthusiastic BEAST and deserves capital punishment.

“The video appeared to have been shot by the woman in purple/jeans. If you know anyone of them on this picture, have them reported to the police.”

Popular blogger, Linda Ikeji, wrote, “If the Rivers State government thinks this is an incident that will eventually die off, then they have another thing coming! They must prosecute and jail the people who committed this dastardly act before we let it rest!

“We the youths of this country demand that the River State Government look into this matter and arrest everyone in that video. Except the government want to tell us that they have given the youths of Aluu power to arrest and kill indiscriminately.

“The Rivers government MUST make a scapegoat of the people who did this so it doesn’t repeat itself. Next time, it could be my brother or your brother, my child or your child! We can’t let this happen again.”

A blogger, identified simply as Kel, warned that the United Nations would be alerted if any attempt was made to sweep the matter under the carpet, adding that “if our government can’t help us then I guess we’ll get help elsewhere.”

It was also being claimed on some blogs that some policemen were allegedly at the scene of the incident and when the mob told them the young men were killers, they gave their ‘go ahead.’

Some bloggers were enraged that contrary to claims in some quarters, neither arms nor “stolen items”were found on the four young men as confirmed by the JTF who brought their bodies to the mortuary.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

FG to spend N251bn on repair of three refineries

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An oil refinery in Port Harcourt. Inset: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke
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The Federal Government plans to spend N251.2bn on the repairs of three refineries.

The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke made the disclosure  on Monday when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream).

The minister was at the Senate with the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Andrew Yakubu, and the Managing Director of Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, Mr. Haruna Momoh. They were summoned to explain the continued scarcity of Petroleum Motor Spirit and the increase in the price of the product by marketers.

Alison-Madueke said the government would be spending N251.2b on the Turn Around Maintenance of the three refineries in the country, adding that there were some adjustments in the timelines for executing the TAM. She noted that although there were plans to build new refineries, existing ones would still be maintained.

The minister, however, incurred the wrath of the lawmakers when her security aides prevented journalists from recording her testimony. She, at a point during her speech, pushed off a reporter’s tape recorder, insisting that the device should not be placed by her side.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Magnus Abe, had to caution Alison-Madueke and threatened to throw out her security aides if the minister refused to comport herself and allow journalists to do their work.

Earlier, the members of the committee had accused the PPMC of operating a system that bred corruption.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Magnus Abe, said a visit to the refineries on oversight functions showed that the style of operation at the depots was tardy and subjected the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria to untold hardship.

Abe said, “We were at the Port Harcourt Refinery and we saw about 5,000 people waiting to get products; some of them told us that they had paid for the products five months back and were yet to get the products. How do you expect them to sell at the official price?”

He asked the minister, PPMC and the NNPC to address alleged unwholesome practices at the depots. He added that it was the only way to ensure that petroleum products were objectively and effectively distributed.

Reacting, the minister said she was not aware of the observation raised by the committee regarding the practices at the depots. She explained that she had no preferences in the allocation of petroleum products.

Momoh noted that the problem of vandalising had been a major constraint to smooth product distribution,.

The PPMC boss said the easiest and cheapest means of transporting products were through pipelines but that continued disruptions by vandals had stalled the smooth distribution of the products across the country.

According to Momoh, the company has identified about 774 vandalised spots in the distribution network, adding that stakeholders and communities could help in keeping the pipelines safe. has identified sharp practices and shoddy operations at depots of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation as factors responsible for the increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at filling stations.

Although NNPC officials said they were making efforts to make the product available and blamed the continued scarcity on the activities of recalcitrant marketers,Secretary of the Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, Thomas Alawore, admitted before the committee that marketers incurred hidden charges before they could access the products.

He said, “There are hidden costs. You have to pay some money to the unions. Even the security agencies along the line will collect their own. You may go home with an official receipt which states that you bought the product at N84.66 per litre, but you have to add those hidden costs.”

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Source : punchng[dot]com

UNIPORT Students Attack Residents Of Aluu Community In Revenge

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We just received reports that students of the University of Port Harcourt are attacking an area (Aluu) in Rivers State where five students were brutally murdered last Friday.

The students are reportedly on rampage, burning markets houses and attacking the community members some of who watched and filmed the horrendous killing of the students with their phones.

The community members took the laws into their hands to serve jungle justice, maybe they are been paid back with same coins.

Meanwhile the government of Rotimi Amaechi reports that some of the lynch mob and even village elders have been arrested.

Watch the Video of four that were burnt alive on friday

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PHOTO: Face Of One Of The UNIPORT Students Murderers..Aluu 4

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Jonathan to address Nigerians on Tuesday morning

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President Goodluck Jonathan is expected to address Nigerians in a nationwide radio and television broadcast at 7a.m on Tuesday.

This was contained in a statement by presidential Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati.

Jonathan may address the raging controversy over calls for his administration to call for a review of the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice which awarded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun.

More details later.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

20 Wedding Guests Killed In Auto Crash In Abeokuta

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No fewer than 20 people were reported dead in auto crash 2 days agoo [Oct 6] along Kobape-Abeokuta. The accident occurred at Ot*t* village located between Paramount F.M Radio Station and Police Computer College, Abeokuta around 7.30 a.m. The accident was reportedly caused by a truck with registration number, Lagos, JJJ 489XB, which allegedly veered off its lane and rammed into a fully loaded Hiace passengers bus conveying the victims. It was gathered that the victims, all members of the African Church Solution Camp, Ewang Estate, Abeokuta, had left for Lagos to attend a wedding ceremony of one of their members when tragedy struck.

 The driver of the truck was said to have lost control and killed the bus passengers. Many of the victims, according to an eye witness account, died on the spot following the impact of the collision, while others died in hospital. Two infants, including a two-year-old, were said to be among the victims. An eye witness claimed the survivors were taken to a state hospital for treatment. Ogun State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Ayobami Omiyale, confirmed the accident, but said only nine died. He however said that sympathisers took some corpses away before rescue team arrived the scene.

 When Vanguard visited the State Hospital Ijaye, where the victims were allegedly taken, worried relations were seen, asking for the victims whereabouts. A doctor coordinating Ogun State Ambulance Services, Hassan Adelakun, said some of the victims died at the scene of incident while others died at the hospital. Adelakun added that some of the victims corpses were deposited at State Hospital while others were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
Source:  Vanguard

Jonathan decorates new CDS, service chiefs

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President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday decorated the new Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Ibrahim; the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Alex Badeh, with a marching order to deal decisively with terrorism and oil theft.

Jonathan, who decorated the new military chiefs with the assistance of Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Council Chambers of State House, Abuja, said they must put an end to both vices.

The President said, “These fine officers and gentlemen are taking up command at a time when our nation is faced with serious challenges.

“Given their inspiring antecedence, however, and working in synergy with other security services, I am confident that they will bring fresh impetus into the new security architecture to combat the menace of terrorism in all its ramifications across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

“May I further reiterate that the security of life and property in all parts of this country is a sacred obligation which our administration will do everything in its power to live up to. We cannot allow threats to national security to compromise our national transformation efforts,” the President said.

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, was not decorated as he retained his position as the Chief of Army Staff.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

Good Samaritans Rescue Baby That Was Dumped In Faeces

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I have been told that the wages of sin is death but what about this young being which i believed knows nothing about sin? The baby in the picture above was wrapped and dumped in a toilet filled with faeces. Luckily, a good Samaritan was able to find and rescue the child from that horrible condition.


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Lagos ACN unruffled over loss of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA – Spokesman

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Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria on Monday said it was not rattled by its loss of Ikoyi/Obalende Local Development Council Development Area at the state local government election petitions tribunal.

Spokesman for the state ACN chapter, Joe Igbokwe, said in a statement that the party’s lawyers were studying the judgment of the tribunal, which last week declared that Jide Obanikoro won the October 22, 2012 and not Ade Adeniji of ACN won the poll.

“In a democratic dispensation, it is natural that after elections, there are bound to be disputations and that is why the judiciary is there to sieve the grain from the chaff. In the case of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, we saw the desperate efforts to claim the LCDA every means possible.

“We expected to contest against other parties and as such, we expected to either win or lose elections, which is how it is supposed to be. After what we believed was a free and fair election, our opponents who have planned another strategy, knowing their strength, went on an extensive campaign to rubbish the election and even went to the extent of mobilising thugs and urchins to cause a breach of the peace in Lagos.

“They denied that any election took place and in another breath, claimed they won the election.
 
“While we felt that the election was free and fair, we advised those who felt otherwise to approach the court. Thank God they did only after seeing the futility to resort to self-help and thank God that the judgment they are now celebrating was got through the same system they desperately tried to rubbish.

“Thank God, what they presented as obtained in the same election they were desperately trying to deny is the basis of the present judgment’ but we seriously object to this. We are pleased that the process in Lagos is giving room for the opposition to canvass for and win local councils, contrary to what obtains in all PDP states where the party merely awards itself all available local council seats in the name of elections and where the courts have been made annexes of PDP head offices and approve whatever the party desires.

“We have no doubt about the capacity of Lagos to midwife a free and fair democratic process in the face of the deliberate efforts of the PDP to rubbish the local councils and its electoral system for their selfish benefits.

“The present judgment, even in its flawed nature, is proof of the credibility of the electoral system in Lagos. We had 60 cases arising from the election and we have won 46 so far, lost 6 including two ordered re-runs.

“We have already won one of the re-runs and we are awaiting the rest. Lagos ACN has appealed the cases we lost at the tribunal so it is an on going process that has not been concluded,” the statement reads.

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Hundreds stranded as flood overflows East-West Road

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Hundreds of motorists were stranded on Sunday as heavy flood cut off access through a portion of the busy highway at Ume, between Ughelli and Patani in Delta State.
The situation forced many motorists to either brave the flood and attempt crossing or seek alternative routes, on the advice of the Federal Road Safety Commission.
The flood blocked the only highway linking Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
Deputy Corps Public Education Officer, FRSC, Bisi Kazeem, confirmed the development in an SMS to our correspondent.
He also called on the Delta State Government, National Emergency Management Agency and charitable organisations to provide relief for persons displaced by the flood in the area as well as stranded motorists.
“There is heavy flooding along Ughelli-Patani axis of the East-West Road which has cut off a segment of the road rendering the Ume village portion difficult to pass.
“Motorists travelling/plying Patani, Bayelsa State and Rivers State through the Ughelli – Warri route are advised to make a detour and ply Sapele – Warri – Agbor Road as an alternative route.
“Meanwhile, stranded commuters /motorists at Ume community transiting the Ughelli-Patani axis of the East -West Road are being assisted by the FRSC Ughelli Unit Command to return to their take-off points or in some cases cross to the Patani end.
“A patrol vehicle is involved in the evacuation. NEMA, Delta State Government and charitable organisations are humbly requested to come to the aid of displaced persons in the area by setting up camps,” the SMS reads.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

15 persons escape death in Ogun bus crash

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Fifteen persons escaped death on Monday morning on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway when their bus veered off the road into the bus.
The Mazda bus, in which they were travelling to Lagos, lost a propeller near the Sagamu Interchange, forcing the vehicle to plunge into the bush.
Ogun State Sector Commander, Ayobami Omiyale, who broke the news on a programme on Lagos Trafiic Radio, said 15 of the occupants of the bus sustained varying degrees of injury.
He said they were all taken to the hospital for medical attention.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

Nigerian Celebrities Who Have Difficulty Speaking English - Video

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Let's accept, English is not our language, officially or unofficially, even with joke we no dey try!

So flytime entertainment went out to ask celebs what the word "Incumbent" means and alot of them do not know that meaning of the word, as usual, I am more concerned with those that don't know it than those that knew.

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Bakare predicts Mimiko’s victory

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Pastor Tunde Bakare
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Convener, Save Nigeria Group, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has predicted that Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko will be re-elected during the October 20 governorship election in the state.

Bakare, who is the Serving Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly, said this in the church auditorium on Sunday.

The cleric said, “Mimiko will win hands down.  Thereafter, he will muster strength and there will be an alternative party as people would begin to see leadership by living right and not by material acquisition of flying jets over the people which you want to vote for you, without letting them know how you came about the jets when you have little or no money in your pocket.’’

According to him, the Peoples Democratic Party, with the exception of Lagos, won South-West states in 2007 because the people believed that former President Olusegun Obasanjo was just trying to limit himself to the presidential election.

He stated, “But to their chagrin, their states were swept off and we had the PDP in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states. They later reclaimed some through court proceedings, verdict and judgments. But God preserved Lagos State in the midst of that hurricane. Through Lagos that was preserved, Bola Tinubu who became the leader of Action Congress of Nigeria, alongside the leadership of the party, began to muster strength and they were able to secure the region from the PDP. It was a breath of fresh air.’’

On economic integration being promoted by the ACN in the region, the clergyman noted that it should be preceded by enabling legislation in each of the state Houses of Assembly to empower individual governor to carry it out.

He also urged the people of Ondo State to be vigilant, vote for candidates of their choice and defend their votes.

Bakare stated, “I want  those who said they will win at all cost to remember what Samuel Akintola said in the election that led to ‘Operation we ti e’, that if people refused to vote for them angel would vote for them. We know the consequences of that. If anybody thinks they can perpetuate any violence in Ondo State, violence will consume the perpetrators of violence.”

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Lead City University student, others arrested for internet scam, robbery

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SUSPECTED bank robbers and a fraudster, Nurudeen Oyeniyi, were on Thursday paraded by the Oyo State Police command.
Twenty-three year Oyeniyi, a 300-level Mass Communication student of Lead City University, Ibadan, was arrested for allegedly defrauding some foreigners of millions of dollars.
The suspect, who confirmed his involvement in Internet fraud, told the police that he got into the business two years ago.
He also accepted to have swindled two women of huge sums of money.
He said, “I am involved in yahoo business (Internet fraud). I had duped some women living in the United States of various sums of money.
“I was arrested by the police as a suspected armed robber but I told them that my mother owned the car (Range Rover Sport) that they saw me with.
“My mum is a doctor and my dad a retiree.
“I got into the internet fraud business one year ago. The first deal fetched me $17m while the second fetched me $25,000.”
The police also paraded one Kingsley Aniankan, a house keeper, who allegedly robbed the wife of his former employer.
Aniankan, who was sacked by his employer for questionable character, later attacked their residence and stole jewelry and laptop.
The police said Aniankan sold the stolen items to one Alhaji Umaru Haruna in Ibadan.
Also, corpse of one of the suspected robbers, who reportedly attacked a first generation bank in Iseyin on Wednesday, was displayed by the police.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, said the stolen gold was valued at N25m.
The suspect, who the police chief claimed sold the gold for N13m, said he used the remaining sum to build a house at Aba Pan, Oluyole Extension and to buy a Bora Volkswagen car.
He said, “The receiver confirmed that he knows Kingsley and that he used to buy gold from him. Investigation shows that he had bought about N9m worth of gold from the suspect.”

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Fashola, a better administrator than Tinubu – Mimiko

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Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko
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ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko says his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, is a better administrator than  the Action Congress of Nigeria Leader, Chief Bola Tinubu.

Mimiko said this on Saturday at a rally in Okitipupa ahead of the October 20 governorship poll in the state.

He faulted the  comments allegedly made about him by Tinubu, urging  the former Lagos State  governor to be civil in his utterances.

He said, “Those whose pedigree or track records are in the public domain must tread cautiously.

“The cries of him (Tinubu) coming to capture Ondo State,  which is being better managed than any of the ACN controlled states, is a dream that would fall flat on his face.

“In Ondo State, the ACN is not on the ground and they will meet their political waterloo here.  What are they doing in Osun that we have not done better?”

The governor added, “Ondo State is better managed than any of their states. I salute Babatunde Fashola. Whatever anybody may say, he has shown a flash of brilliance in governance. But the eight years before Fashola, what did they do in Lagos?

“They used eight years to build just one Millennium School;in just three and a half years, we have built world-class mega schools all over Ondo  State.

“They talked about integration, if they want to integrate the South-West, is it going to be in one person’s pockets? If that is integration, then Ondo State will never be a part of such a phoney and deceitful integration.

“If it is the integration for the development of our people; to give world-class education to our people; to give world-class hospitals; integration to develop our public transport; to bring development like we are doing in Ondo State for the generality of the people; oh yes, we are for it.

“But if it is integration of the pockets of one person, we will not be part of it and we are aware that the Yoruba across Ondo State and in the South West know the type of integration that they want.

“It is definitely not the type of integration being preached by the leadership of the ACN.”

Mimiko said he was seeking re-election due to his achievements.

He said, “Our people will vote for me based on my performance and based on the fact that they want a real governor, not a District Officer who will repatriate our funds to his taskmasters.”

The governor insisted that  his  adminstration had   placed  the state “on the path of sustainable development”.

Mimiko  accused Agagu   of “surreptitiously trying to draw back the hands of progress in the state by attempting to foist his stooge on the people”.

He described Agagu as “a non-performer” and challenged him to point to any major project that he executed and completed in the Southern senatorial district of the state.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

Slaughter of Uniport Students: Monarch, 13 others Arrested, More Details

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Information available obtained through sources within the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State indicate that the four [4] students slaughtered by the mob may have been the result of actions sanctioned by the community monarch of the Aluu in Rivers State.

The brutal beating, burning to death and video taping of the four University of Port Harcourt students whose names were reported as Ugonna, Lloyd, Tekana and Chidiaka was the result of official vigilante work setup by the community and authorized by the Rivers State government.

Senator’s driver arraigned for killing nurse

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Senator Ajayi Borroffice
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A middle-aged man, Mr. Micheal Agunloye, identified as the personal driver of Senator Ajayi Borroffice, was on Friday arraigned before an Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly killing a nurse, Mrs. Florence Olusori.

Agunloye said to be driving a vehicle in the convoy of Boroffice when the incident happened.

The police accused him of driving dangerously on the Akure-Owo Expressway and in the process killed the 52-year-old nurse.

The charge preferred against the driver reads, “That you Michael Agunloye ‘m’ on August 29, 2012, at about 1630hrs along Akure/Owo Expressway, Akure, in Ogbese Magistrate district, being a driver in charge of an unregistered Nissan Titan V8 Pick-up van with inscription the ‘Pilot vehicle’ driven same on the public highway in a manner in which was dangerous to the public.

 “With regard to the circumstance of the case, including nature, condition and use of highway and the amount of traffic which actually is at the time of which might reasonably be expected to be on highway and caused the death of one Mrs. Florence Olusori and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 and punishable under Section 18(1)RTL Cap 111 Vol.6 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria.”

Agunloye however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

His lawyer, Mr Michael Adeyemi, applied for his bail on liberal terms, saying the offence was a bail able one.

Adeyemi told Chief Magistrate Adeusi Fatusin that since the accused had been on police bail without running away, he would always produce him whenever the case comes up.

The police prosecutor, Mr John Zakari, urged the court to use its discretion in granting the bail.

In his ruling, Fatusin granted Agunloye N500,000 bail and one surety in like sum. He said the surety must have three years tax clearance and Certificate of Occupancy.

He adjourned the hearing of the case until October 15.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

40 billion-barrel oil reserves possible by 2020 – NNPC

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GMD, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has reiterated its determination to work with other stakeholders to grow the nation’s proven crude oil reserves from its current level of 37 billion barrels to 40 billion barrels by the year 2020.

Speaking in Kaduna at a reception organised by the state government in honour of some illustrious sons and daughter of Kaduna State, the Group Managing Director, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, who was one of those honoured, said apart from ensuring an increase in the level of proven reserves, the corporation was working towards increasing production from the current figure of 2.4 million barrels per day to four million bpd by 2020.

The country’s crude oil production currently averages 2.4 million barrels daily after recording an all-time high of 2.7million bpd late July.

“As we endeavour to achieve effective transformation of the oil and gas industry in line with the Transformation Agenda of the President, our target is to ensure that we grow our proven crude reserves to 40 billion by 2020 and also increase our production to four million barrels per day by 2020,’’ Yakubu said.

The GMD also gave an assurance that the corporation, alongside its Joint Venture partners, was strategically focused on electricity generation through effective alignment with the power supply aspiration of the Federal Government.

He said NNPC was also working on the strategic upgrade of gas infrastructure in Kaduna and other northern states to help resuscitate the ailing textile industries in that part of the country.

Yakubu also reassured residents of Kaduna and adjoining states of adequate supply of petroleum products, noting that the Kaduna refinery was currently producing about four million litres of  petrol per day.

“The Kaduna refinery is one of the best run in the country today. It currently produces four million litres of petrol every couple of days and this has helped us to stabilise supply in Kaduna and its environs, especially at this trying period,’’ he said.

The GMD pledged that the plan to ensure complete turn around and rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries was still intact, as the major equipment for the maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery had arrived.

“Once we are done with the Port Harcourt refinery, Kaduna is next in line, and from there, we will move to the Warri refinery,’’ he  said.

Yakubu thanked the government and people of Kaduna State for the special recognition, noting that it was reassuring to know that “you are loved back home when embarking on a journey like this’’.

The event, which had Vice- President  Namadi Sambo as special guest of honour, and former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammadu Uwais, as chairman, also witnessed the conferment  of awards on  theMinister of the Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailafia; Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Kumai Akaahs; and National Organising Secretary, Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha.

In his remarks, Sambo commended Yakubu for piloting the corporation in the right direction, especially the recent effort to resuscitate the search for oil in the inland sedimentary basins, particularly the Chad Basin, which had recorded significant breakthroughs.

A similar position was echoed by the Kaduna State Governor, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, who praised Yakubu for his focus and sterling leadership qualities.

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Flying Eagles beat S/Africa, qualify for 2013 AYC

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South Africa’s Asive Langwe (left) evades Tolulope Aluko of Nigeria’s Flying Eagles during an invitational tournament at the Cape Town Stadium ... on Tuesday
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Nigeria have qualified for the 19th African Youth Championship to be hosted in Algeria next year following the Flying Eagles 3-1 victory over Amajita of South Africa in Ilorin, Kwara State on Sunday.

Nigeria, the defending champions and six-time winners of the tournament, picked the ticket to Algeria 4-2 on aggregate.

The Flying Eagles took the game from the first blast of the whistle but it was not until the 38th minute when Abduljaleel Ajagun, who was voted Most Valuable Player, turned smartly inside the six-yard box before firing past goalkeeper Lebo Ngubeni.

But almost immediately the Amajita drew level on the back of a quick counter attack as the Nigerians seem to still be celebrating their opening goal.

And again it was danger man Thabani Mthembu who scored for South Africa, just as he had done two weeks ago in Nelspruit.

Flying Eagles coach John Obuh commended the resilience of the South Africans.

“It was a mistake on our part as we over-celebrated our goal and we got punished for it,” lamented Obuh after the encounter.

“They are a very good team and they kept us on our toes from start to finish.

“Kudos to the entire team for putting in their best to ensure we will be in Algeria to now defend our crown.”

The game was then delicately balanced at 1-1 before Ajagun delivered the best goal of the day on 45 minutes when he blasted home into the roof of the net to the relief of the large crowd at the Kwara State Stadium.

Enugu Rangers striker Alhaji Gero further settled the nerves of the home crowd when he slipped home a stylish through ball by the outstanding Ajagun.

However, to the credit of the visiting South Africa they did not give up the fight as they opened up and took the game to their hosts.

Goalkeeper and skipper Samuel Okani was at his best as he kept out a goal-bound shot in the 74th minute and in stoppage time, Okani tipped another effort for a corner as Amajita continued to press for another goal.

Okorie was forced to clear into the side netting for a corner as South Africa kept on the pressure.

And when the Ghanaian referee blew the final whistle, players, officials and fans erupted into a wild celebration.

South Africa coach, Solly Luvhengo, commended the sporting skills of both his team and that of the Nigerian team.  He, however, said the weather was not favourable to his team. He added that his players were doing well but caved in when the goals started coming in from Flying Eagles.

“I think for the first 20 minutes, the boys played very well. But when they started scoring goals,  we became jittery.

“The impact of the weather was another factor. It was crazy.  You cannot play football well with this weather,” Luvhengo said.

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Source : punchng[dot]com

Sunshine defiant despite Al Ahly advantage

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Despite letting in three goals at home, Sunshine Star said they could still go past Al Ahly and qualify for the CAF Champions League final.

Sunshine Stars midfielder Tamen Mendrano told MTNFootball.com they are in a tight corner after a 3-3 at home against Egyptian champions Ahly, but they will hope to wriggle out of it to reach the final against either Esperance or TP Mazembe. 

“It is not over for us, we wanted to win but ended up with draw,” insisted Mendrano, who capped a fine display in Ijebu-Ode with a great goal.  

“We still have second leg to play. It has happened before and we survived it. We will again take the battle to Al Ahly in the second leg.” 

Sunshine Star coach Gbenga Ogunbote was equally defiant after the six-goal thriller.

“It is not over. We will go to Cairo for our result to take us to final,” maintained Ogunbote.

“If we get the kind of officiating that we had here in Cairo, we will get to final.”

Ahly coach Hossam Al-Badri said his players’ fitness ensured they got a good result on the road.

“We know what Sunshine Stars can do, so we went into long-term camping to make sure the players maintained their fitness level and plan for the game. We also played friendly matches to put the boys in match situation,” said Al-Badri.

“It really worked for us. We came here to tame Sunshine and go for goals which we were able to achieve, scoring three goals away is good for us.

“Sunshine are a good side with great character. I must give them credit for their display and we won’t relent in our preparation ahead of the second leg.”

 

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Source : punchng[dot]com