World Bank Grants Nigeria $2.1bn Loan

The World Bank has reportedly granted Nigeria a $2.1billion loan to be used exclusively for seven projects.

The development bank in a statement Thursday said the projects cut across supporting Nigeria’s investment in nutrition, access to electricity, states’ fiscal transparency, polio eradication, women’s economic empowerment, public finance and national statistics and reducing vulnerability to soil erosion.

It was reported that Nigeria which just recovered from a short but painful recession, is determined to diversify its economy from sole reliance on crude oil by encouraging investments in agriculture and other areas.

Nigeria’s foreign reserves has since recovered from around $28billion and now stands at $47 billion mainly assisted by the return of FDI and the recovery in the price of crude and CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele’s ingenious strategies that has stabilized the naira.

Plateau Killings: APC Youths Accuse Elders of Conspiracy of Silence

Plateau State APC Youths Online Forum on Thursday expressed shock that since the recent killings of over 200 persons which threw the state into utter confusion, elders in the state have remained silent, describing the development as sickening.

Members of the forum expressed surprise that the elders have remained silence leaving the security business to the state Governor, Simon Lalong, alone.

They said: “It is bad that all the elders in the state are divided and scattered along political lines.”

They also described the call for Lalong to resign his position as governor of the state as untimely, as the crisis didn’t start with his administration, and considering the laudable efforts he has made to maintain peace in the state.

Rather, the youths called for the immediate arrest and questioning of the North Central Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma, “who has given a lead about the perpetrators of the attack by referring to it as retaliatory, where he justified the killing on the basis that over 300 cows were allegedly rustled by some natives of Barkin Ladi.”

The APC youths also condemned the hijack of the peaceful protest by the Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) by paid hoodlums, who they said took the laws into their hands and attacked the Government House, damaging car and offices complex.

“CAN should come out and condemn the attacks so that it will not send wrong signal of partisanship, and dragging the name of the church in the mud, as its well-intended peaceful protest ended in violence.

“We want to also condemn the activities of the opposition in the state that have been feasting on the attacks to make a capital issue by spreading propaganda, inciting and hate speech on social media.

“This is a ‘Plateau Project’ that involves all the citizens of the state; they should therefore rise above party lines, ethnic differences and religious bigotry to face a common enemy that is hell-bent on capturing our land,” the forum noted.

The youths also demanded “the reclamation of all the lands and villages overpowered and taken by the herdsmen, and secure it for the natives as a matter of significance.

According to them, “Rehabilitation programmes should be organised for traumatised victims and internally displaced persons (IDP) that have fled their ancestral homes.”

They also demanded a full implementation of ‘Plateau Roadmap to Peace’ document that has compensation plans that entails rebuilding and restoration of all affected communities.

Appeal Court Launches Mediation Centre to Enhance Justice Delivery

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, on Thursday inaugurated the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre, as part of efforts to enhance justice delivery in the country.

Onnoghen, at the inauguration ceremony at the headquarters of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, expressed confidence that the innovation would reduce the workload of judges and improve the efficiency in the country's court system.

The CJN, who was represented by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola enjoined judges to encourage the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in cases that are less contentious in order to decongest the jurisprudence.

"A mediation centre, such as the one I will be inaugurating today (yesterday), heralds a new era for court connected Alternative Dispute Resolution or ADR in Nigeria. It is noteworthy that this centre is proof that the Nigerian judiciary is fast becoming a legal system able to deploy multi-model justice delivery, thereby ensuring that the wheels of justice are speedy up to meet the demands of the citizenry," he said.

The CJN used the occasion to call on all heads of courts to make ‘Practice Directions’ that will dissuade litigants who institute actions without first exploring the arbitration clauses in contracts.

He also caution the management of the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre to ensure that they develop a robust, fair and impartial system in the selection process while ensuring that appropriate cases are referred to it for determination.

In her remark, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, stated that there was the need to set up the Appeal Court Mediation Centre in order to equip judges with the requisite skills to grapple with the escalating commercial disputes resulting from the growth in business activities and increased in international trade on one hand and breakdown of relationship on the other hand.

Bulkachuwa, noted that with the inauguration of the centre, litigation will cease to be the only method of determining appeals in the Court of Appeal.

"Parties before the court can now choose between litigation and mediation. This signifies an opportunity by parties as well as their counsel to enjoy the full flavour of Order 16 of the Court of Appeal Rules 2016.

"By the virtue of the provisions of Order 16 Court of Appeal Rules, 2016 Civil, appeals in respect of breach of contract, liquidated money demand, matrimonial causes, child custody, parental actions, inheritance, chieftaincy and personal actions in offence are eligible for reference to the Court of Appeal Mediation Centre at any time before an appeal is set for hearing," she said.

Presidency Dismisses PDP's Declaration of National Mourning as Shedding Crocodile Tears

The presidency on Thursday in Abuja accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of shedding crocodile tears over last weekend killing of over 100 persons in Plateau State.

The president's spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, criticised the party's decision to declare seven days of national mourning and fly its flag in all its secretariats across the country at half mast, saying PDP's reaction to the massacre amounted to dancing on the graves of the dead.

Adesina, who went down memory lane to exhume various violent incidents across the country during the administrations of PDP from 1999 to 2007, said it was nauseating that the party which never declared any national mourning during any of those incidents is now lowering its flag after the Plateau killings, which he described as sad and unfortunate.

The president's mouth-piece, who said the PDP flag is not just lowered but had rather been lowered since 2015 when it was kicked out of power, added that Nigeria would not be hoodwinked by what he described as PDP cheap antics.

The statement said: "The sad and unfortunate killings in Plateau State over the weekend have been turned to opportunity to once again play irresponsible politics, particularly by the PDP, which says it is declaring seven days of mourning.

 "These are dolorous times that call for deep introspection on how cheap human lives have become, and the proffering of actionable ideas on how to get out of the bind. But the PDP would rather dance on the graves of the dead, playing cheap, infantile politics.

 "The comatose and prostrate party is declaring seven days of mourning, during which flags in its offices would be flown at half mast nationwide. But unknown to the party, those flags had been forcefully lowered since its 2015 loss at the polls, and may remain so for a long time to come, because Nigerians are politically discerning, and cannot be hoodwinked by cheap antics.

 "A quick checklist of some savage and brutal killings in Nigeria during PDP rule, between 1999 and 2015, for which no national mourning was declared:

 November 20, 1999. Odi, in Bayelsa State, was invaded on orders of a PDP President. About 2,500 people killed. No national mourning.

 Between February and May, 2000, about 5,000 people were killed during riots over Sharia law in different parts of the North. No national mourning.

 "In 2001, hundreds of people, including the old, infirm, women and children were killed in Zaki Biam. No crocodile tears. Between September 7-12, 2001, Jos, Plateau State, erupted in internecine killings. Between 500 and 1,000 people were killed. Flags were not flown at half mast. In February, 2004, at least 975 people were killed in Yelwa-Shendam, Plateau State. No mourning by the then ruling PDP.

"Between November 28 and 29, 2008, Jos was in flames again, with 381 deaths.  

 No mourning. In 2010, 992 people killed in Jos. Mum was the word. In 2014 alone, according to Global Terrorism Index, at least 1,229 people were killed in the Middle Belt. No mourning. Boko Haram killings in PDP years were over 10,000. PDP flags were still fluttering proudly in the sky."

Adesina said his statement was not meant to claim that many more people were killed during the administrations of the PDP than the case during this administration, saying rather the "intention of this statement is to show that wanton killings had been with us for awhile," adding: "this government is working towards enduring solutions; and should be given the opportunity to do so."

He added that "a single soul is precious, and no man should take a life, which he cannot create. But when tragic situations as had happened in Plateau State occur, such should never be used to play crude politics. Those who are wont to do so should have change of hearts, or lose their very humanity."

IPOB Members Bombed Ohanaeze Leader's House, Police Allege

Two months after the country home of the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was bombed, the police in Enugu State on Thursday paraded two persons suspected to have taken part in the attack. 

The police also paraded nine other person's for alleged involvement in other criminal activities.

Parading the suspects at the state police headquarters on Thursday, the state Police Commissioner, Danmallam Mohammed, disclosed that the bomb attack on Nwodo's house on  April 29, 2018, were carried out by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He said that the two suspects one Ekene Okechukwu who hails from Ubahu Ekwusigo local government area of Anambra State and Alagba Gabriel from Mgbo in Ohaukwu Council Area of Ebonyi Sate were arrested through intelligence information in connection with the bomb attack. They were said to have after the bomb attack send threat messages to the Nwodo's mobile phone.

Danmallam said that the Ekene was arrested on 6th of June at New Haven axis of Enugu while Alagba was arrested on 14th of June at Okokomaiko, Lagos.

The police commissioner also paraded a Deputy Superintendent of Prisons, DSP Collins Ugwu, a serving Prison officer at the Headquarters of Nigerian Prison Service, Abuja, alongside with his gang members; one Ifeanyi Ozor and Osetu Smart for alleged conspiracy, armed robbery and stealing.

The commissioner stated that DSP Ugwu was the leader of the gang that specialises on monitoring bank customers that make withdrawals and trail them to a point where they smartly force the door or smash the windscreen and steal the money. "The gang also buys goods from traders and generate fake payment alert to the owner of the goods."

The commissioner also paraded one Michael Anthony from Amachara Mpu in Aninri council area for alleged rape and murder.

He said the suspect was on May 13, 2018 raped an 18 -year- old, one Miss Ifunanya Ugwu, an SS-2 student, and strangled her to death to cover his crime. "The suspect however, abandoned the lifeless body of the victim inside the bush and escaped before he was arrested by operatives of the Aninri police division," he said.

One Nzube Owunna from Abia state, Eze Ikechukwu and Amagi Elijah from Ebonyi state were paraded for conspiracy, burglary/stealing and armed robbery. The commissioner said they were arrested on 26th of June, 2018.

Other suspected criminals CP Danmallam paraded before the press incude, Okechukwu Solomon and Umoke Chukwuemeka. They were arrested for the vandalization of Radio Nigeria Enugu Transformer armoured cables at the transmission station in Ngwo Miliken Hill Enugu on 25th of June, 2018.

Danmallam said that the suspects would be charged to court after investinvestigations have been concluded.

Meanwhile, while other suspects confessed to have committed various offences they were alleged to have committed, the two suspected IPOB members denied any involvement in the alleged bombing of Nwodo's house at Ukehe. Alagba Gabriel stated that he only send threat messages to Chief Nwodo while Ekene Okechukwu denied any involvement in the alleged offence stressing that a phone he lost about three months earlier was allegedly used to send threat messages to Nwodo. 

Petrol Tanker Explosion in Lagos as Nine Die, 54 Vehicles Burnt on Otedola Bridge

Eight years after a massive tanker explosion at Otedola Bridge area of Ojodu-Berger, Lagos State, which claimed 15 lives, a similar explosion at the same area on Thursday killed no fewer than nine persons and burnt 54 vehicles, including a tricycle.

The August 2010 tanker explosion that claimed 15 persons, including an infant, had also inflicted 18 others with varying degree of injuries and 20 cars burnt beyond repairs.

At the scene of on Thursday explosion, pandemonium was the order of the day after the tanker, which was fully laden with petrol, exploded and engulfed virtually all the vehicles around it as well as some of their occupants.

While nine bodies were recovered as at press time, several others with various degrees of injury were also rescued and taken to the Accident and Emergency Centre for treatment.

Some of the injured persons, who experienced third degree burns, were given first aid treatment before they were rushed to the accident centre in the state.

It was further gathered that the casualty figure was high because of the huge vehicular traffic on the bridge before the explosion occured.

According to an eyewitness account, the tanker fell while maneuvering the bridge, thus spilling its content on the road.

Although some motorists who were near the fallen tanker succeeded in fleeing before the explosion occurred, some others were not fortunate.

Samson Ojo told reporters that "I was driving inwards Lagos from Berger and was approaching the Otedola Bridge when the explosion occured.

"My first emotion was sheer panic as the entire area shook as ball of flame erupted into the sky somewhere down the road. Like other motorists, I parked and came out to observed what happened.

"When some of us bravely made our way down, we saw people fleeing from their cars as the fire was escalating. The screams of those in pain is not something I will forget in a hurry.

"We tried to do the little we could do to help put out the flames but nothing worked until the fire service trucks came and started dousing the flames from one vehicle to another."

Another eyewitness, Kehinde Osamor, said the casualty figure was less because people abandoned their vehicles and escaped the inferno.

He said: "We were all trying to navigate the bridge when this same tanker driver tried to climb it. We don't know what happened but he suddenly started rolling back.

"Our immediate thought was to ensure he didn't roll over any of us and surprisingly, the tanker fell sideways and its content started spilling on the road.

"Some of us immediately left our cars and ran. Some people stayed put. The next thing we heard was an explosion and some vehicles caught fire. It was a race of the fittest."

Once the news filtered into town, emergency agencies, including the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA),  Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Lagos Fire Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other secondary responders immediately arrived at the scene.

While the emergency responders set out to rescue as many as they could, they literally picked up some of the dead bodies of the deceased persons, who had attempted to flee, on the  ground. 

According to the emergency workers, one of the major challenges they had was the issue of crowd control, “as the teeming crowd made rescue work extremely difficult.

“The rescue team had swung into action immediately but the curious crowd surged in too with their cameras, turning into citizen journalists.”

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one of the emergency workers said: "So instead of carrying out rescue operations and saving lives, we were forced to try to disperse the crowd first.

"Although some of them genuinely wanted to help, others were more concerned about taking pictures, while there were yet those who came to scavenge among the dead.

"It took the combined effort of the police from the division and the RRS to get a semblance of sanity before we swung into proper rescue work."

Meanwhile, the effect of the accident was not the just the lives lost but the spill over traffic in virtually all parts of the state, especially on roads leading to the bridge. 

Traffic spilt over from the bridge down to the Third Mainland Bridge; Oshodi expressway and even major parts of Ikeja and Airport Road.

When contacted, the RRS Commander, ACP Olatunji Disu, confirmed the incident, adding that preliminary investigation revealed that the tanker had difficulty in driving up the bridge.

Although he declined to give statistics on the casualty figure, he said several persons were injured and others dead.

Also, the General Manager of LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, said the tanker was exiting Lagos when the driver lost control and fell on the bridge.

According to him, "The content spilled and it exploded. All the vehicles behind it caught fire and exacerbated the explosion.

"We got the distress call at our command centre and quickly deployed to the scene. In collaboration with other emergency workers, we succeeded in rescuing four injured persons.

"While two out of the four were critically injured, the other two who were also injured received first aid treatment from LASAMBUS before they were rushed to the Accident and Emergency Centre along that axis to stabilise them."

While the injured were given first aid treatment before they were rushed to the hospital, the bodies of the deceased persons were taken to the morgue.

Kano Govt Signs Friendship Pact with Hunan Province of China

Kano State Government and Hunan Province of China have signed a ‘Friendship Agreement’ that will cover several areas of bilateral cooperation.

The Director-General of Foreign Affairs, Office of Hunan Provincial Government, Mr. Xu Zhengxian, and the Kano State Attorney General, Ibrahim Mukhtar, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments.

During the ceremony Thursday, the state acting Governor, Professor Hafiz Abubakar, said Kano has carved a niche for itself “as a famous commercial centre, with easy access to multiple markets and millions of people not only in Northern Nigeria but also in Niger, Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Sudan in the state.”

He described Kano as an ideal investment destination because it serves as one of West Africa’s largest markets.

The acting governor stated that the entrepreneurial skills in Kano and warm hospitality of its people coupled with vast natural resources is also an added advantage that would encourage prospective investors.

“We therefore welcome this bilateral agreement with you because I can see that you intend to invest in agriculture, construction, leather, textile and other areas,” he told the Hunan delegation.

Abubakar was confident that the friendship would continue to grow from strength to strength, expressing appreciation to Lee Group, a Chinese conglomerate, for its investments in Kano, which he said has created thousands of jobs and added value to the local and national economy.

Earlier, the Governor of Hunan Province, Mr. Xu Da She, who spoke through an interpreter, explained that the Friendship Agreement is aimed to deepen Nigeria-China relations.

According to him, “We have experience in social and economic development and we are willing to share it with the people of Nigeria. We are willing to deepen cooperation with Kano in agriculture because we have expertise in agriculture, agricultural equipment and technology, processing of products as well as infrastructure development.”

Highlighting that his province is the home of Mao Zedong, he described it as an important and essential part of China with over 73 million inhabitants and a total GDP of about $ 500 million.

Da She expressed optimism that relationship between the two states would yield positive results with multiplier effect on both countries, stressing that the states have huge potential that could be harnessed for mutual benefit.

Ebonyi Assembly Gives Anambra Govt Seven Day Ultimatum to Restore Abakaliki Street

Ebonyi State House of Assembly has given the Anambra State Government seven-day ultimatum to restore the renamed Abakaliki street, failure of which the assembly will mandate the government of Ebonyi State to rename all structures named after Anambra people and towns with immediate effect.

Speaking with journalists yesterday in Abakaliki over the resolution of the state assembly, the Chairman, Assembly Committee on Information and Member representing Ikwo South state constituency, Hon. Chike Ogiji, said the decision became important because the action was not only embarrassing but a threat to the unity of Igbo nation.

This was the resolution of the assembly after its last Wednesday plenary, where they also resolved that Anambra State Government must also apologise to the people of Ebonyi State.

A street hitherto known as 'Abakaliki street' in Awka, was recently renamed 'Club street' by Anambra State Government, but the people of Ebonyi State were not happy with the development.

Though, Chairman of Awka South Local Government Area, Mr. Leo Nwuba, had while reacting to the condemnation trailing the matter, noted that contrary to the recent uproar in the media over the renaming of the street, a new street had long been designated to be named Abakaliki Street within the capital city.

 He added that the renaming of the street as ‘Club Road’ was part of the on-going efforts to interpret the Awka City Master Plan.

But during last Wednesday plenary, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly expressed displeasure over the action of Anambra State Government and insisted that the street must be restored back to Abakaliki Street if the existing cordial relationship between the two states was still important to Anambra State Government.

He said it was worrisome that government of Anambra State could rename a street named after Abakaliki which had existed for many years; an indication that it had no regard for the cordial relationship that had existed between the two states.

Ogiji who is also the sponsor of the motion said aside the fact that every successive government in Ebonyi State had always accommodated Anambra sons and daughters in governance of the state, many streets, town and halls within the capital city were also named after Anambra people and towns not minding that they have prominent sons and daughters to name after the structures.

According to him,  "The matter in question was sponsored by me. It became important that the sanctity and the relationship that has existed over the years among the people of Anambra and Ebonyi States is sustained in any account. 

“No government that has not featured prominently either a son or daughter of Anambra State in the government of Ebonyi State.

"It will also be interesting to note that most of the major streets and towns either named after Anambra men's name or towns to the extent of having Aniocha, Awka, Onitcha streets, all of these are prominently in the heart of Abakaliki city.

"It is not only that it is embarrassing to the people of Ebonyi, it is also a pointer to the fact that it is a threat to the unity of Igbo nation. And I feel that people of Igbo land should rise up against it; just as the Ebonyi State House of Assembly resolved that if after July 3, 2018, and that same street is not restored back to Abakaliki, the government and the people of Ebonyi State have been mandated by the House to change every city, street, town and hall that bears Anambra man or town's name.”

Soyinka To Buhari: Nigeria Is Dying, Take Immediate Action Against Murderous Herdsmen

Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse a situation where one human being is killed for every missing, stolen, or maimed cattle.

In a statement on Wednesday, Professor Soyinka said it is not enough for the President to distance himself from killer herdsmen as what is required is for the country’s leader to make the killer herdsmen pay for their crimes, match words with action and stop the killing spree by “murderous herdsmen”.

The Nobel Laureate’s statement comes a day after President Buhari paid a condolence visit to Plateau State where suspected herdsmen attacked several villages over the weekend killing at least 100 people.

While commiserating with the people of Plateau, the President told them that “there is some injustice” in the criticism he has received concerning his reaction to the killings across the country.

“The Farmer knows that the Nigerian cattle herder that he knows doesn’t carry nothing more than a stick,” President Buhari said, adding that occasionally, the herder carries “something to cut grass to feed his cattle.”

“But the present herder, I am told, carries AK47 and people are even blaming me for not talking to them because maybe (they say) I look like one of them. There is some injustice in these aspersions.”

However, Professor Soyinka, in the statement entitled “ON DEMAND: A Language of Non-Capitulation, Non-Appeasement,” believes that the President’s focus should be on how grave the situation is.

“Buhari had yet to speak in the language that these murdering herdsmen understand – simply, that forceful seizure of land will not be tolerated in any part of a federation under his governance.

“That the temporary acquisition of weapons of mass elimination by any bunch of psychopaths and anachronistic feudal mentality will not translate into subjugation of a people and a savaging of their communities.

“That any such gains are illusory and temporary and will be reversed. The plaint of ‘injustice’ is a misjudgment of the injustice done directly to the victims, and vicariously to the rest of us who turn to the news with dread every day, wondering what new stomach-churning accounts of the gory agenda on their humanity will replace the normal concourse of humanity.

“Certain unconscionable events have taken place, and cannot be ignored. Entire communities have been erased from the national landscape. Thousands of family units are in mourning, survivors scarred and traumatized beyond measure.

“Famine looms in many areas, even in those lodged in acknowledged breadbaskets of the nation. Impunity, gleeful and prideful impunity substitutes for decent self-distancing from once unthinkable crimes – let us not even speak of expressions of remorse and human empathy.

“The instigators, increasingly fingered as directors of human carnage are strutting around, defiant, justifying the unspeakable, daring a nation – there is no other word for it – daring governments and nation to attempt to reverse their categorization of communities as culpable, sentenced and deserving of some of the most revolting, onslaughts of ethnic cleansing that this nation has ever undergone.

“Mr. President, do you know what I strongly believe? This recent planned massacre had a numerical target. The latest killing spree is the formal annunciation of a new law. From now on, for every missing, maimed, even legally seized cow – perhaps for trespassing and damage – one human being shall die, and commensurate land shall be forfeited.

“Make no mistake, that is the message! Berom or Ondo, Tiv or Efik. Egba or Igalla – it makes no difference – this is the language, and if your government does not understand it yet, we, whose field is language, both spoken and symbolic, must decode it for you.

“It is a time of far-reaching, yet immediate decisions. The nation is dying. The time for false pride is over. If this nation lacks the necessary technical resources, then there remains only one blameless, overdue recourse: Get Help, Mr. President!.”

Michael Jackson Father, Joe Dies of Pancreatic Cancer at 89 as Family Pays Tribute

Michael Jackson father, Joe, the music manager and father of 11, died early Wednesday morning, TMZ reports. He was 89.

The Jackson family patriarch had been battling terminal pancreatic cancer and was “not doing well” as of late, a source previously told PEOPLE.

Grandsons Randy Jackson Jr. and Taj Jackson confirmed the news in tweets Wednesday afternoon, writing, “RIP to the king that made everything possible! I love you grandpa” and “Joe was loved by the entire family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve.”

Prince Michael Jackson, grandson of Joe and son of Michael, captioned a photo on Instagram. “This man is and always will be an example or sheer willpower and dedication. He didn’t choose the path that was the easiest but he choose the path that was best for his family,” he wrote.

“You taught me to take pride in the Jackson name and what it really means, you taught me dedication in the face of adversity and most of all you showed me strength and fearlessness. There is and never will be someone like you. Fly free and until we meet again The Hawk.”

Daughter LaToya added, “I will always love you! You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world. I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared. #RIP Joe Jackson”

11 Plc (Mobil Oil Nig) Rewards Loyal Customers, Promises to Expand Scheme

 Sunday Okobi

Customers of 11 PLC, formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria PLC, from the Southwest region who participated in the ongoing ‘Mobil Peel and Win promo and raffle draws for Mobil Super 1000 4 litre range of lubricants’, had a field day on Tuesday as they carted away various gift items in the first draw held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The raffle draw witnessed by senior officials of the company and the Ibadan Zone of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), saw over 50 customers going home with gift items ranging from engineering tools, gas cookers, generating sets, motorcycle, Tricycle, popular called Keke NAPEP, as well as cash prices.

The event which is the first series of Mobil Peel and Win promo and raffle draw is designed to reward lubricants consumers who are loyal to the Mobil brand of lubricant.

In his welcome address, Manager, Lubricant Sales and Marketing of 11 Plc, Steve Ezendiokwere, said the promo is part of the company's efforts to appreciate their loyal customers as well as an opportunity to interface with them.

He promised that the company will not only continue to engage in marketing promotions of this nature, but assured them that the draws of the promo would be held in all the six geopolitical zone of the country.

Expatiating the rationale behind the promo, he said: "The Mobil ‘Peel and Win’ promotion was conceived as our little way of rewarding those end-users with enduring faith in the Mobil brand; such end-users who have truly demonstrated their loyalty to the brand despite the lure of some cheap and low quality lubricants in our market.

“These categories of end-users include the car owners, motorcycle and tricycle owners/riders, generator operators/owners and most importantly auto-repairers and mechanics who constitute the membership of Nigeria Automobile and Technicians Association (NATA). We are indeed grateful for their unwavering patronage and loyalty to our premium engine oil, the Mobil Super 1000 x1 20W-50.

Speaking on the implications of the promo in the phase of recent developments in the company, he said the move is a clear testimony that things are beginning to change for better.

"This development is coming following the recent management restructuring that gave birth to a more business inclined, refocused and reenergized organization, by name 11Plc; formerly known as, Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc," he said.

Obasanjo Visits Plateau, Tasks FG on Killings …Youth CAN, plateau youths, women protest killings …Military parades suspects

 

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday separately visited Jos, the Plateau State capital, to commiserate with the governor and people over the recent killings.

In Jos, Obasanjo urged the federal and state governments to identity the root cause(s) of insecurity and deal with them so that people would get reprieve from the incessant violence plaguing the land.

He admitted that there were problems during his time in government but “not in this magnitude” and believed solutions can be found to address the challenges.

According to him, “I'm here to express my condolences. What happened is very sad that in this day and age, this type of barbaric act is taking place in our country. I have suggested and I will say it again that we should find out the root cause of this problem and deal with it.

“There must be remote and immediate cause, and if we deal with it, we are not going to be multiplying condolence visits. I believe that any human problem has human solution; I do hope and plead with the government at the federal level; those of you in states and even local government level to join hands even at the community level to find the causes and deal with them permanently.

“We offer our condolences to the bereaved families. All we can say is that God knows the best. Even in my time, we had problems but not in this magnitude; we thought we were dealing with them as at that time but the earlier we deal with it, the better. I believe we can find solution, and we must find solution.”

 

Saraki also conveyed the condolences of the National Assembly to the people, assuring them that they would be there for the state in whatever way the state would need the National Assembly's assistance.

He called on the people to work together with the state governor to overcome the challenges, as he tasked security agencies to fish out the perpetrators of the heinous crime, urging  the governor to be fair and just in handling the situation.

Responding to Obasanjo, Lalong appreciated his coming but noted that a phone call would have sufficed.

He added: “Insecurity is not new to me; we thought we could handle it. When we came in, we quickly put up a team including, Berom and Fulani. They came out with a roadmap to proffer solutions, we adopted the recommendations and have implemented some and was in the process of implementing the remaining ones. We have done our best, we have learnt our lessons, and we will be very firm.”

Thanking Saraki and the National Assembly for identifying with the state, Lalong stressed that he was taken aback by the development especially coming from the very people who gave the government a roadmap to peace.

Meanwhile, a peaceful protest embarked upon by the youths and women wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) against the wanton killings was hijacked by hoodlums as it turned violent and protesters threw stones, damaging cars parked at the parking lots at the new Government House in Jos as well as some office complexes.

  The protesters had converged at the Old Airport junction and marched to the Government House but were initially prevented from gaining entry into the premises but some climbed the fence, forcing security at the gate to eventually open it.    

At the time of the protest, the governor, was visiting the victims of the attacks who are currently receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH.      

Meanwhile, Military Special Task Force in charge of security in the state on Wednesday paraded 17 suspects allegedly connected with the multiple attacks on villages in Barkin Ladi.

Parading the suspects at the OPSH headquarters in Jos, Media Officer of the command, Major Adam Umar, said: “These suspects we are parading here are suspects arrested in connection to the last Saturday attack in Barkin Ladi. The suspects are in two categories: three of the suspects Yahuza, Friday and Ahmed were in connection to the attack in Barkin Ladi, and the other 14 suspects are those arrested from the scene of protest and blockage of federal highways to protest against the attack in Barkin Ladi.

“We want to appeal to Nigerians to be patient and cooperative with us in our efforts to get the perpetrators of these killings, people should ignore rumours being circulated on the social media. We encourage the media to reach out to us and verify any story before publishing.”

Obasanjo Canvasses for Robust Africa, China Bond to Curb Poverty

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said a robust bond between Africa and China would limit the plague of poverty in Africa.

He stated this at a forum organised by the Embassy of China titled: ‘A new era for China-Africa Cooperation, Partnership for Peace, Security and Development’ in Abuja on Wednesday.

Obasanjo added that a new era of such stronger tie would be advantageous to Africa and the world at large, saying Africa had a lot to gain from China, urging Africa and China to enter a strategic partnership in the areas of grants, long and short term loan such that it would help in providing skills acquisition, trade and infrastructure.

The former president said if Africa is ready to move with China, Africa must be ready to get on  regular and periodic reform.

He added that poverty alleviation in Nigeria with active collaboration with China was also imperative, and that the effect of poverty was telling on Africa, therefore, it must seek a lasting solution.

Saying that China was a good example of how a country should fight poverty, Obasanjo said within a space of one generation, China had lifted about 500 million people out of poverty and the method has been hugely successful.

The former president tasked China to teach other Africa countries willing to learn how to fight poverty, adding that China had consistently created 13 million jobs in urban areas.

He said from 2012 to 2017, China lifted about 68 million out of poverty because the government served the expectation of the people, stressing that poverty reduction should be the main focus of Africa’s relationship with China, which would deliver on governance.

Obasanjo stated further that generations of leaders in China had not deviated from the vision of its founding fathers, stressing that Africa needed China and Asia at large for its economic development, as he explained that China can import the knowledge in the areas of housing, agriculture, rural road development, and Nigeria corps members can be deployed to learn in such areas.

Obasanjo therefore called on African leaders to lead the way in leadership, stressing that once the desire to do the right things were seen by the citizenry, they would fall in line.

Lagos Police Rescue Kidnapped Toddler in Ogun, Arrest Suspect

 

...I took her because my child got missing at Redeemed Camp, says suspect

Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command on Wednesday arrested Jumoke Adesida, 35, for allegedly kidnapping two years old Rokibat Raji in Jerry Farm area of Ikorodu, Lagos and took her to Ogun State.

Police report revealed that on June 22, 2018, Adesida allegedly kidnapped the toddler after the mother, Mrs. Aminat Abidoye, left her in the care of her neighbours in her shop located at 12 Kazeem Adeboye street, Odogunyan at Ikorodu to buy some eggs. But upon her return, she realised that her daughter had disappeared.

Abidoye narrated that: “I rushed to buy some eggs from the market to sell. So I left my daughter in the shop with my neighbours. When I returned, I noticed she was not around. My neighbours and I searched everywhere but all our efforts were futile. So, I reported to the police station at Shagamu road, Ikorodu.”

Parading the suspect at the state Police Command in Ikeja, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said based on the information Abidoye gave, “I directed the officer-in-charge of anti-kidnapping squad to call for the case file and deploy all his assets to unravel the mystery behind the disappearance.”

He added: “Immediately, the squad swung into action, tapping into the robust community policing structure in search of the victim. Their efforts paid off as the missing child was traced to one Jumoke Adesida in Odo-kekere in Ogun State.”

According to the suspect, Adesida, she saw the child playing with animals. “I did not steal the child. I was walking when I noticed the child was following me. So, I carried her to my house in Ogun State.”

She expressed further that she took the child because her child went missing when she went to the Redeemed Christian Church of God Camp (RCCG) on Lagos-Ibadan expressway. I wasn’t feeling too well so I didn’t know who took my child from me.”

Continuing, Adesida claimed she did not change the child’s name. “I took care of her, fed her properly when she was with me.”