How to end fuel scarcity; marketers tell Nigerian government

Oil marketers have said that the scarcity of petroleum products being witnessed in various parts of Nigeria would end if the government decentralises the distribution of the product.

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, on Sunday urged the Nigerian Government to decentralise loading of petroleum products to make for effective loading at depots across the country.

The National President of IPMAN, Lawson Obasi, said in Port Harcourt that spreading of petroleum products to other coastal depots across the country would end the current scarcity.

He said a situation where government only distributed petroleum products to tank farms in Lagos was partly responsible for current scarcity and high cost of product.

'I am more worried about mosquitoes' than terrorists in Africa – Pope Francis

Pope Francis is on a six-day tour of Africa, which Western media rushed to dub the riskiest of his papacy so far.

Their justification was that this trip takes him to Kenya and Uganda, which have suffered attacks from Islamist militants Al-Shabaab, and to the Central African Republic which has struggled to come to grips with sectarian conflict.

Francis however shrugged off the safety fears, joking that he was “more worried about the mosquitoes”. 

He was also very serious: the mosquito, despite its tiny frame, belongs to the deadliest animal family in the world. It has had more impact on African history than many realise. It was instrumental in defining mass movements of groups in Africa, and indeed the story of colonialism would have been markedly different today had colonisers been able to come to terms with malaria.

The world looks to Africa as the continent of hope - Pope Francis

Pope Francis being received by President Yoweri Museveni (in hat)

Pope Francis hailed Africa as “a continent of hope” on Friday as he toured Uganda on the second leg of a landmark trip that has seen him railing against corruption and poverty.

The 78-year-old pontiff was given a rapturous welcome as he flew in to the central town of Entebbe, heading straight to Uganda’s Presidential Palace, State House, in a small hatchback car.

In his opening speech, Francis said his visit was “meant to draw attention to Africa as a whole: its promise, its hopes, its struggles and its achievements.

“The world looks to Africa as the continent of hope,” he said.

Kogi Election: APC Group Endorses Abubakar Audu’s Son

The All Progressives Congress (APC) key stakeholders and delegates from Kogi East Senatorial District have resolved that the late political icon and APC candidate in the November 22 governorship election that was pronounced to be inconclusive, Mr. Abubukar Audu, be substituted with his son Mohammed Audu in the event that the party goes for fresh primary.

This was contained in a communiqué read by Daniel Isah, the Kogi East Zonal Chairman at the Party Secretariat in Lokoja, Kogi State.

The decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare Kogi State governorship election inconclusive has continued to generate controversies within the party.

Payment of N5,000 to unemployed Nigerian youth to kick-start by 2016 – Dalong

The federal government has ​​​assured that it would commence payment of N5,000 promised unemployed Nigerian Youth during the electioneering campaign, from 2016 .

​The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong, made the commitment on Wednesday when he paid a condolence visit to the national chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie-Oyegun, over the death of the party’s governorship candidate in the recently held inconclusive election in Kogi state, Abubakar Audu.

Mr. Dalong, who spoke to ​ journalists​ during the visit​,​ said the APC government ​wa​s fully committed to fulfilling all campaign promises made before the last elections.

He said the​ payment of the promised N5​,​000 can only begin after it ha​d​ been included in the budget.

“I would want the youth to understand that every promise must be backed up by budgetary provision and our promise to pay N5000 is not contained in the 2015 budget. So, definitely, it is going to begin in 2016 as we have made budgetary allocations for that​,” he said.​

House of Representatives Demands End to Customs’ Roadblocks

The House of Representatives has asked the Nigerian Customs Service to stop the practice of mounting roadblocks in search of goods that have already been brought into the country.

After considering a motion of public importance raised by Temitope Olatoye, the House urged the Comptroller General of Customs to deploy more personnel to the borders to curtail the activities of smugglers.

The Nigerian Customs Service has also been encouraged to engage in continuous training and development programmes for its officers for optimal performance.

According to the lawmaker, there has been low generation of revenue by the Customs due to corruption and other factors, which he listed.

Buhari Tasks Senators on Infrastructural Development

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged the Nigerian Senate to look at the extant laws Nigeria had entered into with other countries to consider the chances of accessing funds needed to carry out infrastructural development.

The President told the lawmakers at a special presidential dinner on Wednesday that “Nigeria now enjoys goodwill from within and the outside the country now that his cabinet is formed”.

He attributed the development to the speedy consideration and approval of the names he sent to the Senate as ministerial nominees.

President Buhari stressed that his request was made considering the state of the economy and problems of infrastructure, which his administration had promised to address.

“Look at the agreements that were made five, six years ago on infrastructure. Look at how generous those countries were, especially China, and see how we can get funding. The advantages are so many. If the power sector works well, it will affect barbers, welders and even tailors.

“If we can get the railways working, we will save a lot of lives and we will save a lot of fuel,” he told the lawmakers.

Kogi Election: PDP Rejects Call For APC’s Candidate Substitution

Olisa Metuh

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has kicked against an advice by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) that the party can substitute its late candidate in the Kogi State Governorship Election.

The opposition party also asked Mr. Malami to “immediately vacate his office for harrying and misleading the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) into arriving at the decision”.

In a statement by party’s spokesman, Olisa Metuh, the party said it was shocked that “INEC, a supposedly independent electoral umpire, could allow itself to succumb to the antics of the APC by following the unlawful directive of an obviously partisan AGF to substitute a candidate in the middle of the ballot process”.

Pope Francis in Africa

Pope Francis arrived in Kenya yesterday (Wednesday) evening on his first visit to Africa, that will include trips to Uganda and Central African Republic on 27^th and 29^th November respectively.

The pope’s stop in Kenya, makes 2015 the year that the East African nation has seen its most high profile visits by global leaders in 20 years. Barack Obama in July became the first sitting US president to visit.

The last time a pope visited Kenya was in 1995 when Pope John Paul II travelled to the country on a 16,900-kilometre African tour that also took him to South Africa, Cameroon and Rwanda.

Like Obama, Pope Francis will speak at a university, and then Kasarani Stadium although he will pray at a church in a slum.

President declares corruption threat to national security

Kenya President, Uhuru Kenyatta Monday came out fighting against wide criticism that he had lost grip on the fight against corruption, declaring it a threat to national security.

He has also nominated a new team to head the country’s embattled anti-corruption body. Kenyatta put forward Philip Kinusu, along with those of another four proposed members of the state-owned Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission, to the national assembly for consideration.

“The bribe accepted by an official can lead to successful terrorist attacks that kill Kenyans. It can let a criminal off the hook for them to return to crime and harming Kenyans. Terrorism itself is a national security threat,” he said in a televised address.

“The damage to our economy puts millions of lives at peril and undermines our very aspirations as a nation. I am therefore declaring with immediate effect corruption as a national security threat.”  

INEC Weighs Its Options on Kogi

The demise of the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate in the Kogi State governorship election, Alhaji Abubakar Audu has thrown up issues that may require judicial interpretation of the courts on the legal status of a gubernatorial election in which a candidate dies before the declaration of results by the electoral commission.

While some lawyers, including Prof Itse Sagay and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN), said the death of a candidate before the declaration of results or emergence of a winner renders the election inconclusive and mandates the conduct of a fresh election, others held the opinion that the election would have to be concluded and the party that wins, even when the candidate is dead, would have to be declared the winner.

Of paramount consideration for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be the glaring fact that this is the first time a candidate will die midstream into an election, after it has started and before it was concluded with the declaration of a winner and losers. This dilemma was not envisaged by the framers of the constitution or the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended). All the constitution provides for is a situation in which a declared winner dies or is unable to be sworn into office after the election while the Electoral Act provides for a situation where the candidate dies after his/her nomination, but before the election.

Abubakar Audu finally laid to rest

The remains of Prince Abubakar Audu was this afternoon laid to rest at Ogbonicha, Ofu Local Government Area.

The burial took place at his residence. The burial rites were conducted by a team of Imams from across Igala land.

Controversy had trailed the burial of the former governor when rumour filtered into town that he had resurrected. A prophet had earlier promised to revive Audu to life.

There was mild drama between the prophet and members of the Audu family refused to let him in. The youths of Ogbonicha, in their infuriated state, broke the door to the room where Audu was laid to let the prophet in.

Attempts to revive Audu was futile.

The burial was well attended as scores of the who-is-who in Nigerian politics as well as members of the business community were in Ogbonicha to give their last respect to the departed hero.

Many residents of Ogbonicha paid tribute to arguably their most illustrious son.

Hajia Mariam said the death of Audu is an irreparable loss not only to Igala Kingdom, but Nigeria as a whole. She said the late Audu will be greatly missed by the people of Ogbonicha.

Individuals got their tear glands ripped when his body was lowered into the grave.

Mauricio Macri poised to be next President of Argentina

Mauricio Macri

Opposition candidate Mauricio Macri is poised to become Argentina's next President after a runoff vote that marks the end of a political dynasty.

"Thank you for believing in me. ... I am here because you have decided," a triumphant Macri said from his campaign headquarters Sunday night as throngs of supporters erupted in cheers.

"Today is a historic day," he said, "a new era."

Macri spoke shortly after Daniel Scioli, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner's hand-picked successor, conceded defeat.

With more than 98% of votes counted, Macri of the Let's Change coalition had won 51.4% of votes, while Scioli had garnered nearly 48.6%, elections officials said.

Pope's visit to Africa

Pope Francis visits Africa this week for the first time.

If his planned visit to the Central African Republic goes as planned, the church will historically for the first time flag off a Jubilee Year, a period devoted by the Catholic Church to forgiveness and reconciliation in a place other than the Vatican. 

The Argentine pontiff will urge efforts towards peace, social justice and conciliation between Islam and Christianity on his travels to Kenya, Uganda and the Central African Republic (CAR) during the five-day trip that starts Wednesday.

Kogi APC Governorship candidate, Abubakar Audu, is dead

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Saturday’s governorship election, Abubakar Audu, has died.

“Audu is gone,” the distraught associate, who requested not to be named, told reporters.

Though too shattered to provide details of the politician’s passing, he confirmed he was in the candidate’s company when he passed on.

The source said the former governor suddenly took ill and was being rushed to Abuja preparatory to being flown abroad when he passed on.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had declared the Saturday governorship election inconclusive, but Mr. Audu was in a pole position to be declared winner eventually.

Jonathan asks African ex-leaders to obstruct attempts by incumbents to sit tight in office

Jonathan has called on retired African leaders to encourage sitting presidents to follow their country’s rules on tenure limit.

The former president spoke on Thursday as the sole featured speaker at a Washington DC event.

Tagged, “Presidential elections and democratic consolidation in Africa: Case studies on Nigeria and Tanzania,” the event was co-hosted by the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

The former President said; “democracy is being institutionalized in Africa” at a pace, which guarantees that the continent would be rid of present electoral challenges within the next decade.

Mr. Jonathan said his foundation, which would be launched mid-2016, will work with other African statesmen to “consolidate the gains of electoral democracy” throughout the continent.

Commenting on Africa’s place in the world, Mr. Jonathan acknowledged that historical reticence of the western world about positive developments in Africa is still evident in present day reports about the march of democracy on the continent.

Top Muslim cleric urges separating Islam from attacks

Egypt’s top Muslim cleric issued an impassioned appeal Saturday to disassociate Islam from extremist attacks, saying Muslims themselves had suffered most from “the catastrophe of terrorism.”

Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb, head of Egypt’s prestigious Islamic Al-Ahzar Institution, also appealed for an end to anti-Muslim violence in Western countries, such as attacks on mosques.

“Those who have burned Korans or mosques in the West should know that these acts are also terrorism by any standard,” Tayyeb said at a meeting of senior Muslim clerics.

“So don’t respond to terrorism with terrorism,” he said in a speech.

Presidency warns Biafra agitators

“Right to protest is limited by the rights of others to safety and peaceful existence”

The Nigerian presidency has warned those clamouring for a breakaway Biafra Republic to have a rethink, saying the federal government would not fold its hands and allow anyone plunge the country into crisis.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who gave the warning on Saturday, in Jos, said government would not watch while some individuals and groups create unnecessary tension in the country in the guise of seeking to break away from Nigeria.

“We need to build the civic capacity to defeat the false and dangerous premises and assumption of violence extremism. Never again should we allow mindless violence inspired by false and evil precepts to threaten our national security,” Mr. Osinbajo said.

“Let me again call on persons or group in the country who have some grievance or disaffection to submit to peaceful and democratic means of expressing themselves.”

The vice president spoke at the graduation ceremony of the Executive Course 37 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru, which graduated 63 participants Saturday.

In his speech, Mr. Osinbajo reminded those embarking on mass protest for Biafra that their “right to protest is limited by the rights of others to safety and peaceful existence”.

New Ebola cases reported in Liberia after country declared virus free

Few months after Liberia was declared free of Ebola, three confirmed cases of the deadly disease have emerged in the West African nation.

The nation's health ministry said a new case was confirmed Thursday, when blood samples from a patient admitted in a hospital the same week tested positive.

“Two other high-risk contacts also tested positive, and all three are undergoing care at an Ebola treatment center in the capital of Monrovia,” the health ministry said in a statement.

More than 40 contacts are being monitored, said Margaret Ann Harris, a spokeswoman for the World Health Organization.

"It is possible that we will find more cases," said Dr. Bernice Dahn, Liberia's' Health Minister. "The key is to stop it, find the source, and prevent the next one."

Liberia was first declared Ebola-free in May, but new cases later emerged.

Wada, Audu and 19 other candidates in race for Governor

The Kogi governorship election slated for today is underway, with 21 candidates and their political parties vying to take over power in the state.

There would have been 22 candidates, but the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Zainab Usman, announced her withdrawal from the contest on Friday night.

Ms. Usman, the only female in the race, withdrew and then asked her supporters to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Abubakar Audu. Withdrawing on the eve of the election when it was too late to alter election materials, her name would definitely remain on the ballot paper as voters go to the polls.

With two prominent candidates, namely Idris Wada of the Peoples Democratic Party and Abubakar Audu of the All Progressives Congress, other parties such as the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Accord and 18 others have registered their names on the list of contestants for the office.

Saraki Vs AGF: Court adjourns till December 2, for AGF’s counter motion

A Federal High Court, Abuja, will hear the Attorney General of the Federation counter motion on Bukola Saraki’s Code of Conduct trial on December 2.

Mr. Saraki, who is the President of Senate, is challenging the legality of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to try him.

He joined the AGF, ICPC, EFFC, Inspector-General of Police, Ataedze Adza, Sam Saba, Mohammed Diri, M.S Hassan, CCB, CCT and Justice Danladi Umar, as co-defendants.

EFCC can’t intimidate me to dump Dasuki – Ex-Governor Bafarawa

Former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa

A former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, on Friday said he would not be intimidated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s siege on his residence to abandon former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.

The former NSA is facing charges of unlawful possession of firearms and alleged retention of funds, contrary to Section 15 (2)(d) of Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2011.

The former governor had accompanied Mr. Dasuki to court on at least two occasions.

It was reported by Premium Times on Thursday that as early as 6am on Thursday, operatives of the anti-graft commission, supported by armed mobile policemen, laid siege on Mr. Bafarawa’s house.

A credible source at the anti-graft commission, who pleaded anonymity confirmed the raid, saying “it was a botched attempt to arrest Bafarawa”.

It was learnt that Mr. Bafarawa was away in the United States on vacation at the time of this siege.

Mr. Bafarawa and 15 others, mostly his aides while he was a governor, are facing trial for alleged misappropriation of public funds totalling N15 billion.

Missing soldiers finally rejoins unit – Nigerian Army

The Nigerian Army on Friday said soldiers who disappeared after a fierce encounter with Boko Haram insurgents at Gudumbali area of Borno State have rejoined their unit.

Spokesman of the Nigerian Army, Sani Usman, however admitted the return of the missing soldiers, lamenting that the army suffered a “slight setback”.

“Nigerian troops operating in the Northern Borno State towns of Gudumbali and Kareto had slight setback within the week. However, the situation is being stabilized.

“The troops have re-joined their units for further action.

“The earlier media reports were exaggerated. The CO (Commanding Officer) is currently with his soldiers.”

“The incidence was just a minor setback, which is common in military operations,” Mr. Usman, a colonel, said in a brief statement.

Premium times gathered that the commanding officer, alongside a few other soldiers, emerged from the bush in a van several hours after the encounter.

It was also gathered that some injured soldiers were taken to the 7 Division hospital in Borno State.