Strong Warning for the Niger Delta Avengers Blowing Pipelines

The Defence Headquarters has warned against further attacks on oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta, and declared that it would deal ruthlessly with individuals or groups involved in the sabotage.

The military said all those who will start shouting "human rights" when they begin to deal with criminals in the guise of Niger Delta Avengers, should call them to other now. A words is enough for the wise!

Hunchback Man Murdered In Benin; His Liver, Private Part and Hunch Removed

People and their evil ways...na only God go save us! The police in Benin have confirmed the abduction of a 37-year-old man with a hunchback, identified as Usokpowu (alias Tokyo), in Benin, Edo state.

He was kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be ritualists. According to family sources, the victim said to be a musician and Master of Ceremony, was abducted at his residence at Okhokhugbo in Egor area.

Sadly, he was found dead three days later where his corpse was dumped at a primary school.
Vital organs such as liver, private parts and the hunch were found to have been removed.

The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, who confirmed the incident, said it all started as a case of missing person. He said investigation has commenced into the case and that he has directed the Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case.

Mixed Reactions as Government Increases Fuel Price to N145

It has been a long standing argument by critical assessors of the economy that deregulation remains the tonic to turn around the fortunes of the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry. Those who canvass this position argue that it will provide enduring solution to the recurring scarcity of petroleum products and halt the corruption in the subsidy regime.

The payment of subsidy has been digging a hole in Federal Government’s purse to the tune of about N1trillion annually.

Apart from halting the payment, which not a few Nigerians describe as a scam,
deregulation will also encourage investors to build refineries and sell products at market prices, boost investments and create jobs.

More importantly perhaps, those clamoring for deregulation say that it will end the paradox of a nation dependent on importation of petroleum products despite being world’s sixth largest oil producer.

However, the Federal Government’s announcement of an increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol to N145 per liter did not go down well with some.

Labour union leaders are literarily up in arms over the decision. Some of them, who spoke with The Nation, could barely hide their anger and frustration over what they termed as “wrong timing and ill-conceived” manner the Federal Government deregulated the sector.

But the Director-General, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Sir Emeka Okereke, said:“We have always said let subsidy go; deregulate so that market forces will determine the price of petroleum products and the dollar.” . He recalled that because of political exigency, Goodluck Jonathan failed to take the bull by the horns and deregulate the sector.

He said this was why the administration buckled under the pressure by labour unionists and civil society in 2012 when there was a nationwide protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.

“Subsidy doesn’t make economic sense anymore. It has become unsustainable. We will never come out of the woods as long as we continue to subsidize the price of petroleum products,” Okereke said.

The Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which statutorily moderates pricing for the industry said Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Retail stations on the outskirts of major cities are advised to sell at price lower than N145/litre.

Labour kick, says increase is unacceptable
NLC President Ayuba Wabba claimed that increase in pump price of petroleum products would impoverish more Nigerians and distabilise the country. “Any increase in the price of petroleum products is unacceptable to labour and we are going to fight it,” he threatened.

London mayor reacts to Donald Trump exempting him from Muslim US ban, says he hopes Trump doesn't win the US Elections

US Presidential candidate Donald Trump had earlier mentioned that the newly elected London Muslim Mayor, Sadiq Khan is exempted from his Muslim US ban when he becomes president of America.

In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Sadiq Khan reacted to the comment and revealed that he hopes Donald Trump does not win the U.S. presidential election. He said,

"I’m really proud London choose Unity over division. My message to Donald Trump and his team is that, you know, your views of Islam are ignorant. It is possible to be a Muslim and to live in the West. It is possible to be a Muslim and to love America. By giving the impression that Islam and the West are incompatible, you are playing into the hands of the extremists. I'm not exceptional. So for Donald Trump to say, 'Oh, but Mayor Khan can be allowed, but not the rest is ridiculous’ and I’m hoping he’s not going to win.”

Suspected militants kill three soldiers in Bayelsa

Suspected militants killed three soldiers at Foropa, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State today May 10th. The reason behind the killing is yet unknown. Rivers state has witnessed a lot of political killings in recent times. Details later...

N23bn Fraud: CBN Officials Storm Fidelity Bank Headquarters

Officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Compliance Unit stormed the headquarters of Fidelity Bank Plc in Lagos on Tuesday in connection with the ongoing investigations into the $115m (N23bn) scam involving the bank's Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, and Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

A top executive of the bank confided revealed that the CBN officials visited the bank’s headquarters as part of investigations into the messy deal.

It was learnt that a committee from Fidelity Bank had already made a comprehensive presentation to the CBN on its involvement in the deal.

This, according to the source, will further help both the apex bank and the EFCC in their investigations.

It was gathered that the visit by the compliance unit of the apex bank to Fidelity Bank was to compare some of the transaction documents with the presentation made by the committee.

These would be compared with the statement made to the EFCC by the embattled managing director.

Recalled that during the build-up to the 2015 elections, Alison-Madueke allegedly invited Okonkwo to help her handle some cash, which would be disbursed to electoral officials and groups (as bribe).

Herdsmen Attack: FG Removes Enugu Police Commissioner

The Nigeria Police has removed the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu, over the attack on Ukpabi Nimbo in the State by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Bisi Kolawole, confirmed on Tuesday that Ekechukwu had been posted out of the state to another command.

“Enugu CP has been posted out of the state to another command and a new CP, Emmanuel Ojukwu, has taken over. The redeployment is part of strategies to improve police effectiveness across the country.”

On Monday last week, no fewer than 20 persons in Ukpabi Nimbo, an agrarian community in the Uzo-Uwani area of Enugu State, were killed while many others were injured during an attack.

It was claimed that scores of armed cattle breeders, reportedly numbering more than 100, stormed the sleepy community in the early hours of the day.

The police high command was said to have been angry due to the fact that the villagers had informed the state police command about the impending attack but the formation did nothing to forestall it.

None of the cattle rearers, who were allegedly the aggressors, was arrested.

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered heads of security agencies to take all necessary actions to get those behind the attacks and bring them to justice, either they are Fulani or not.

Meet Olamide's First Female Artist Signed to YBNL

Temmie Ovwasa is a student of LAUTECH. She is YBNL's first lady, just released her first single. Nice!

Photos: President Buhari holds State Banquet for Cameroonian president and his wife in Aso Rock

President Buhari held a state banquet in honour of the President of Cameroon, Paul Biya and his wife at the Presidential villa in Aso Rock, Abuja. Senate President Bukola Saraki was also present at the banquet. More photos after the cut...

Photos from Senator Peter Nwaoboshi father's funeral in Delta

Senator Peter Nwaoboshi who represents Delta North Senatorial district buried his late father, the Obi Of Ibusa on Saturday April 30th. The state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, Sen. Dino Melaye, Senator James Manager, former governor of Delta state Emmanuel Uduaghan and other dignitaries attended the burial ceremony. See more photos after the cut...