Nigeria Plans Importation Of Crude Oil From Niger Republic

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29/11/2016

The Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Barau Mikanti has said Nigeria will start importing petroleum products from the Niger republic to Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) for refining.

This according to him would serve as an alternative to crude oil supply to KRPC which its supply had been affected by incessant vandalism of pipelines carrying crude oil from the Niger-Delta region and aging.

Mikanti who disclosed this to newsmen in Kaduna recently also revealed that, the project will involve the building of 1000 kilometers of pipelines from Agadam in Niger to Kaduna.

According to him, “President Muhammadu Buhari has made several contacts with the President of Niger Republic. We are talking with Niger Minister of petroleum and with the Chinese Company operating in Agadam.

“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally, the operations of the refinery have been epileptic. This, we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of pipelines of over 1, 000 kilometers from Agadam to Kaduna,” he stated.

Mikanti further revealed that some investors have shown interest in building another refinery of 50,000 barrels per day capacity in Kano, but efforts are also made in order to convince them to locate it in Kaduna for greater synergy. He said: “The intention is to build around Kano but we think there is greater synergy to what I have seen here. I am more convinced they will benefit from some of the utilities of Kaduna refinery.

While at the Kaduna state Government house, the GMD applauded the contributions of politicians in their effort to end pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and call on Kaduna state government to do more in sensitizing its citizens on the dangers of destroying oil facilities.

In a remark, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai, expressed dismay over NNPC’s previous Involvement in corruption, and call on the new leadership to do more in restoring the lost glory of the company.

Fidel Castro’s Death: Thousands of Cubans Queue To Pay Their Respect

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Africaprimenews

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29/11/2016

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Thousands of Cubans are paying their respects to the leader of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro, who died on Friday at the age of 90.

Long queues snaked around Revolution Square in the capital Havana, where mourners filed past a picture of the late leader holding a rifle.

It is the first public commemorative event during the nine days of mourning declared after his death.

The mourning period will end after his ashes are laid to rest on Sunday.

BBC Reports that, Castro’s ashes were expected to be on display at Revolution Square but have instead been kept elsewhere.

‘Soul of Cuba’

Some Cubans joined the queue before dawn to ensure they would be among the first to pay their respects.

Fifty-three year old Tania Jimenez, a mathematician, told the Associated Press news agency that “Fidel is everything to us, the soul of this country who gave everything, all his life”.

Castro came to power in 1959 and ushered in a Communist revolution.

Supporters say he returned Cuba to the people and praise him for some of his social programmes, such as public health and education.

But critics call him a dictator, who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent, accused of numerous human rights abuses.

Towering figure

A nine-storey-tall portrait of Castro towered above those queuing to pay their respects, many of whom carried their own favourite photographs of the late leader.

Simultaneous 21-gun salutes were fired to mark the beginning of the public commemoration in Havana and the south-eastern city of Santiago de Cuba, from where Castro launched the revolution in 1953.

It contrasted with the subdued atmosphere which had prevailed after the announcement of Castro’s death.

With concerts and sports events cancelled, some Cubans gathered to discuss the news but they were muted and reflective, the BBC’s Cuba correspondent Will Grant said.

With the public mourning now under way, thousands are expected to attend the memorial event on Monday and on Tuesday in Havana.

‘Solemn oath’

The place chosen is the memorial to Cuban independence hero Jose Marti located in the imposing Revolution Square.

Cuban officials said that mourners would sign “a solemn oath to comply with the concept of the Revolution expressed by our historic leader”.

Revolution Square will also be the venue for a mass commemorative event expected to be attended by world leaders on Tuesday evening.

Bolivian President Evo Morales and Ecuadorean leader Rafael Correa, close allies of Cuba, have already confirmed their attendance and North Korea said it would send a delegation to the Caribbean island.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who praised Fidel Castro as a “true and loyal friend of Russia”, will not attend.

US President-elect Donald Trump, who has called Castro “a brutal dictator”, will not be attending either.

He threatened on Monday to “terminate” the US-Cuba thaw seen under Barack Obama if the Cuban government did not improve the “deal” on offer.

On Wednesday, the ashes will begin a 1,000km-long journey to Santiago de Cuba, retracing the route Castro took during the Cuban revolution, only in reverse.

His ashes will be laid to rest on Sunday in the city’s Santa Ifigenia cemetery, which is also the resting place of Jose Marti.

Boko Haram: More Than 230, 000 Nigerians Still Refugees In Cameroon, Niger, Chad – NEMA

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28/11/2016

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National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Logo

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has on Monday revealed that, no fewer than 230,000 Nigerians who fled their communities in the North-eastern part of the country as a result of insurgency activities are still refugees in Cameroon, Niger and Chad.

NEMA’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti in a statement noted that, some of the Nigerians that fled to Neighbouring countries (Niger, Chad and Cameroun) were provided with humanitarian relief support by the Federal Government of Nigeria through NEMA to alleviate their suffering. “The displaced Nigerians have also received humanitarian supports from the host governments, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the host communities and Nigerian citizens living in the three host countries.

“There are presently 20,804 displaced Nigerians living the Republic of Chad, 80,709 in the Republic of Cameroun and 138,321 in the Republic in Niger,” the report says.

The statement also pointed out that, 13,046 Nigerian returnees from Niger Republic in May, 2015 were received in Geidam, Yobe State while Between April and December, 2015, NEMA received about 16,595 Nigerians that have voluntarily returned from Cameroon through the Sahuda border crossing area near Mubi, Adamawa State.

“The agency adopted a monthly Humanitarian Coordination Meeting; a forum consists of relevant Federal government Agencies, UN Systems and International Non-Government Organizations (INGOs) undertakes analysis of causes of humanitarian situations, conducting of need assessments, and identification of priorities and provision of humanitarian interventions based on their respective mandates. The system operates through different sectors lead by national MDAs and co-lead by UN Agencies.

The report added that, “due to the successes recorded by the Nigerian Military with the support of Multi-National Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents, the humanitarian dashboard is fast changing. The focus is gradually shifting towards Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Resettlement, Recovery and dignified return of IDPs back home while process for the return of Nigerian refugees from neighboring countries is equally on-going.

“NEMA will continue to support and work towards bridging the identified gaps in humanitarian response through enhanced coordination, capacity building and strengthening of collaboration with the affected States and relevant stakeholders including line MDAs, local and international response organizations and the UN system”, the statement added.

We Remain Committed To Ending Violence Against Women – FIDA

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Africaprimenews

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26/11/2016

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Iyakale Yakubu
Jos (Nigeria) — The International Federation of Women lawyers (FIDA) has asked Nigerian women facing domestic and work places violence to report such cases to it for free legal services.

At a rally in Jos, to draw attention to the plight of women that suffer all forms of violence, Chairperson, Plateau chapter of the Federation, Halima Nshi, said FIDA is ready to continue the campaign for elimination of violence against women.
“Some women and children keep suffering in their husband’s houses; Plateau has even more serious cases because we currently have five cases at the courts,” she said.

The chairperson said the group was always willing to handle cases of violence against women and children, and called on those affected to come forward.

“Our focus is to ensure justice for every women; whoever feels victimised should not hesitate to complain,” he said.

Speaking, Secretary, National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ), North-Central Zone, Tongnaan Bawa, called for an end to domestic violence.

“Wife battering is on the rise in our society; women are human beings that need love and care, the beatings cause psychological and health effects on the woman and the children,’’ she explained.

How Introduction Of Phonemes Speeds Up Learning In Nigerian Rural School

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Africaprimenews

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25/11/2016

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By Iliya Kure

Kaduna (Nigeria) — Firdausi Mohammed is a year 2 secondary student who witnessed a turn around in reading and pronunciation of English words within two weeks. This dramatic turn around did not happen to her alone, but to about 150 other pupils in her school, courtesy the introduction of English phonemes.

This turn around happened in Green Light Academy, a Nursery and Primary school, located in Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna northern Nigeria.

Miss Mohammed, the focal student proudly came out to read and pronounce words to visiting journalists, explaining how people generally pronounce words wrongly.

She said, “introduction of the English phonemes has helped me develop confidence in knowing the place of words and how to pronounce them.”

[Play the audio for her voice reading]

A Nigerian youth, Christogonus Nnoromelem, undergoing a mandatory one year National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme is behind the improvement.

“I developed the sound because of the communication problems we have in this locality, microcosm called Kasuwan Magani. It has been difficult for us here to communicate effectively with the students. So I conceived it as a solution to the communication problem in the area and so far the students have been responding in their communication,” said the Youth Corps member.

Nnoromelem designed a chart which contains the 44 phonemes in English Language, showing signs that indicate their distinct sounds.

This he uses to address the gap he found, “It’s not just the nursery, primary and the secondary students that are guilty of this, but even the graduates pronounce words badly.

He pegged the rate of pupils progress at 70% saying they were learning fast. “I desire that by the end of this term, we would have produced students who will be able to communicate effectively without any problem,” he said.

On his dream, Nnoromelem said, “We intend to extend it from Kaduna to Nigeria as a whole. We have been drilling students on the sounds, on how to pronounce words well. As a Corp member and as part of our Community Development program, CDS, we still go to other community, school and extend this to them. Last week, we were at Tudun Mare Secondary school. So this is a stepping stone as we intend to extend it to other places.

“What we intend to achieve at the end of the day is to groom a considerable number of the students at least 70 – 80% to communicate effectively,” he said.

[listen to audio below]

Proprietor of the school, Mr. Vincent C. Okoro called on the government to include the phonemes in the school curriculum, as that would help the pupils students to have a sound concrete educational foundation.

PTA Chairman, Dimka Bahago who was delighted with the development said he saw a bright future ahead of the children as he saw future leaders and governors among the children.

Meanwhile, Chairman Governing Board of the school, Mohammad Sa’adu called on the government to assist the public and private schools with educational amenities to ensure the students are properly groomed.

Nigeria: $1.5bn Spent Monthly On Importing Petroleum Product, Food Items, Others – CBN Governor

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Africaprimenews

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25/11/2016

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Kaduna (Nigeria) – Governor of Nigeria’s Central bank Godwin Emefele, has said that Nigeria spent 1.5 billion dollars monthly on Importation of petroleum products, raw materials, food items such as rice, wheat, sugar, fish and other services.

Emefele made this known at the Northern Stakeholders Town Hall Engagement seminar organized by CITAR (a Non Governmental Organization) in Kaduna, with the theme, ‘responding to Realities’, an advocacy on public participation in changing the face of Nigerian Economy.

Represented by the Kaduna state CBN controller, Ibrahim Mohammed Gusau, he said the drop in global oil price and the huge amount of money spent in importing petroleum products and other goods into the country have affected the nation’s economy that some states were unable to meet up with some basic recurrent expenditure including payment of workers’ salaries.

According to him, in 2014, the Central Bank of Nigeria received monthly inflows of $3bn dollars and with the decline in crude oil price it now receives $500 million monthly.

He noted that, Nigeria wouldn’t have been experiencing the challenges it is facing if government had continued with the policies of past leaders.

In a remark, Nigeria’s senate president Bokula Seraki who was represented by Senator Aliyu Wamako said the National Assembly is playing its part in ensuring that Nigeria gets out of the present Economy recession and improve on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

Also speaking, former Head of state General Yakubu Gowon, said the fight against corruption is a fight that all Nigerians must join hands together win decisively. He said for Nigeria’s economy to strive and come back to its feet, there is need for continuity in the development plan, adding that over dependent on oil and corruption are the main factors which have made good governance impossible in the country.

Participants at the seminar were Northern elders and stakeholder of the nation’s economy.

Nigerian Breweries, KRPC, Coca-cola, Others Lauded For Maintaining Hygienic Environment

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Africaprimenews

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25/11/2016

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kaduna-state-house-of-assembly — Kaduna State House of Assembly Complex

Kaduna (Nigeria) – Nigerian Breweries, 7Up Bottling Company, Kaduna Refinery and Petrol Chemical Company (KRPC) and few other companies operating in Kaduna state have been commended by the Kaduna State House of Assembly for creating hygienic environment around their plants.

Others are Peugeot Automobile Nigeria and Coca-Cola bottling company.

The House Committee Chairman on Environment, Labari Tella, while speaking at the Assembly Complex on budget performance and Oversight functions on Wednesday noted that the companies are environmentally compliant, maintaining that, Nigerian Breweries Plc stands out, followed by Kaduna Refinery and Petrol Chemical Company (KRPC) and Peugeot Automobile Nigeria.

7UP bottling company and Coca-Cola were lauded for making conscious effort at improving on their Hygienic levels.

According to Tella, “For oversights, we have gone out to both private companies and Government agencies. We have gone to KRPC, Nigerian Breweries, 7Up, Coca-cola, Peugeot and other places in fact most of these places have high level environmental compliant especially Nigerian Breweries, KRPC and Peugeot Automobile. We went there and they took us round, where they conduct their activities and we made some observations and they were ready to take corrections but so far so good things are getting better.”

On budget performance, he said “so far so good the level of budget performance by the Ministry is fair enough even though part of their responsibility is being handled by Government House. But I hope the Governor will look at the issues involve and give the ministry full authority to operate.

“Like the woman that is handling refuse evacuation, she had some challenges at one point because there are areas specifically assigned to her and the Ministry at several occasions will tell you they are not the ones handling such areas. But we are trying to see how the whole process can be harmonized but for now she is performing fairly good because if funds are disburse adequately to her she will even do more. So we are appealing to government to also pay the three months outstanding so that she can continue the good job’’

On Erosion and Flood, ‘’The Government has also made provision for erosion control mechanism in the budget, and adequate monies have been voted for that, this was why the state Government flagged off the cleaning of the River banks here in Kaduna and that will also improve the control of flood because once the River banks are clean there is free flow of water,’’ he added.

The committee Chairman however appealed to stakeholders to work strictly in accordance to the budget provision while appealing to the state government to release funds for effective implementations of projects.

Two Killed In Another Borno Suicide Bombing

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24/11/2016

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The Police Command in Borno state, North-eastern Nigeria has on Thursday confirmed the killing of two persons after a suicide bombing around Muna garage in Maiduguri on Wednesday night.

Spokesperson of the state command Victor Isuku, made this known in a statement, noting that, “About 2106hours of Wednesday, an explosion occurred at Muna garage along Gamboru Ngala road Maiduguri.

“Two persons, including the suicide bomber, died on the spot while a Mercedes Benz car with registration number, AX 571 ABJ, parked by the road side was damaged by the impact of the explosion.”

He said that normalcy had returned to the area.

“Last Friday, a suspected suicide bomber detonated explosives at the entrance of Muna garage, killing himself alone. Another bomber killed himself and two vigilantes a few metres away from Gamboru-Ngala road, almost the same time while another bomber was killed before gaining entry into the Custom House refugee camp on that same Friday,” the statement added.

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