19 filling stations sealed for alleged malpractice

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) claims to have sealed filling stations in Sokoto and Kebbi states respectively for allegedly selling petrol at the rates of N 148 and N 150 which is above the pump price of N 145.

The Sokoto operations Controller of the Department, Mr Mohammed Makera, disclosed this to newsmen in Sokoto today Tuesday 6th December, 2016 where he said that eleven (11) of the axed stations were in Sokoto State while eight were in Kebbi. He further disclosed that eighteen (18) of the filling stations were owned by independent marketers and described  one as belonging to a major oil company.

Makera added that they were each fined N 100,000 per pump as well as placed on a two-week suspension. He also assured the public that officials of the department would ensure that the unsuspecting motorists were not cheated by the marketers.

The controller also assured that there were adequate supplies of petroleum products and urged motorists to desist from panic buying.

Minister of Agriculture denies claims of famine by 2017.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said the Federal Government has already mapped out plans to support dry-season farming that would discourage the presumed food shortage.

He stated that about 10 dams would be constructed in States to support farm irrigation system. He also stated that Nigeria has 33 silo sites with capacity to store about 2 million tons of grains.

In his words “The threat of famine, I think that is a bit of an exaggeration. No danger of famine now. We are doing far better than we did a decade ago. Our neighbours in the West, North and Central Africa are buying, they have always bought, people are buying and storing and this is a challenge I am happy about as it says to the farmer, there is a market for your produce."

"We are not going to face famine, the Government will make sure it doesn’t happen. The GES scheme is working.”

African Development Bank (AfDB) invests $800 million in agriculture.

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President African Development Bank (AfDB), made this statement on Monday,  5th of December 2016 in Abuja during the opening of the African Economic Conference (ACE) organised by the bank in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

He stated that the support is based on the platform of the AfDB’s initiative 'Technology for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT)' as part of the efforts to design and encourage technological innovation within the sector.

Highlights of his statement include

- the scheme is targeted at 40 million farmers in ten years.

- $24 billion would be used to support Nigeria’s agric sector to fight hunger and post-harvest loses within a 20 year frame.

- the initiative would also reduce post-harvest losses.

He did however identify poor infrastructure and access to finance as major challenges, stressing that it has became imperative to develop the Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZ) to which he urged African nations to invest in the SCPZ in order to create jobs and support private agro-allied firms through incentives and infrastructure.

Liberian President visits Nigeria

President Muhammadu Buhari welcomes Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf To Nigeria.

On his twitter post, he described Liberia as a valued partner.

Young Lady Surrenders Packs of Condoms by Nancy Chukumezie

Ninsiima Allen, a 25 years prostitute from Wakaliga in Uganda, surrendered packs of condoms  in her possession to a church after been convicted by the Holy Ghost.  

According to Robert Kayanja facebook page she gave her life to Christ after attending one of the church crusades, she was also reported to have gone back to the brothel, encouraging her former colleagues to receive salvation.

On urging from the church, she was encouraged to undertake an HIV test to which was found negative.

Chidinma Ekile's new Portfolio by TY Bello

Chidinma Ekile also known as Miss Kedike who some weeks ago made a daring move on her social media page by deleting all photos except those featuring fellow artiste, Flavour N’abania.

She looks absolutely breathtaking in the newly released photos taken by TY Bello  the singer and photographer responsible for Olajumoke, the bread seller turned model.

 

Price of Rice crashes to N8,000 in Ebonyi State

The cheering news was reported by spokesman of Central Bank of Nigeria, Isaac Okoroafor, Acting Director, Corporate Communication, CBN in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state on Tuesday at a sensitization workshop for the CBN Anchor programme for farmers.

“We should eat Nigerian rice provided for by the CBN Anchor Programme;   50 Kg of local rice is now N8, 000 in Ebonyi. Already, the Abia Government has ordered rice from Ebonyi for Christmas,”.

According to him, farmers in Kebbi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Cross River states, among others, have already keyed into the programme, resulting in massive rice cultivation, he also said that the Anchor Borrowers Programme   for the promotion of Agriculture will make the country  begin exportation of rice by 2017. The development is encouraging and by the end of 2017, we will not only meet our national demand which is between six and seven million tons but have surplus to export.

“We must rid ourselves of eating foreign rice that has been stored for over nine years in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Nigerian rice is fresh and healthier. He further said: “What we have done with this programme so far is to create jobs through farming, especially for the unemployed youths. “Nigerian youths must wake up, dust themselves up and join this worthy campaign."

Okorafor stated that Kebbi State had already harvested one million tons of rice, adding that Ebonyi’s harvest had outstripped the  production target for the year.

WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT NEURITIS MENDES, MISS AFRICA 2016

It is no longer news that Angolan beauty Neurite Mendes,  emerged winner of the maiden edition of Miss Africa 2016, taking home a cash reward of $25,000 and a new Ford Escape car, nor that she has become the first Miss Africa Climate Change Ambassador.

Dr. Linda Ayade, Wife of the Cross River State Governor, crowning winner of the maiden Miss Africa beauty pageant, Angola’s Neurite Mendes

Mendes is no stranger to the spotlight as she has for some time now, been a presenter at VIP access every Wednesday at 18:30 (Luanda) 19:30 (Maputo), Miss Angola South Africa 2013

A model and International Relations student, she stated in past interviews that her passion has always been for the fashion world and the interconnection between Africa and the rest of the world.

The event made box office record with over 365 million people watching it on television however, despite the pomp and finesse, we must not loose sight of the reason behind the pageant; the need for Africans to go beyond culture and tourism by deepening their knowledge of science and technology.

His words: “This Africa beauty pageant is a journey to climate change which today is a big challenge globally. That is why Cross River State people knowing full well that we hold 58 percent of the entire forest map of Nigeria and by extension Africa, made the choice of the theme which is, “Green economy, a tool for sustainable development” for the world to know that Africa generates less emissions yet bears the brunt of industrialization.”

Congratulations Neurite, you deserve it.

FINAL YEAR STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA COMMITS SUICIDE OVER DEBT

Tobechukwu Okeke’s body was found on Sunday morning dangling from a rope in his room at Odenigwe, a community in Nsukka, Enugu State.

A neighbour said the deceased left a note behind where he apologised to his family. The neighbour, who did not want to be named, quoted the note as stating: 

“Mother, Father, brother, I’m sorry. Ify, may your children never suffer. Uncle Mathias, you gave me all. I am sorry. Death calls. Linguistic department, I am sorry. Okeke Tobechukwu S. 2012/185649.”

One of the deceased’s colleagues, who also did not want to be named, said he was given an electrical wiring job to do at the Department of Linguistics in the university, because of his expertise in electrical works.

“I saw him this (Sunday) morning, he seemed to have a problem which he needed money to solve,” the colleague added.

Mrs. Uju Umo, the university’s Dean of Student Affairs, confirmed the incident. She said  “I travelled for a burial last weekend and yesterday I got a text message saying a student had committed suicide, I was told he left a suicide note apologising to his fellow gamblers.”

Chukwu Emmanuel, the university’s Student Union President, also confirmed the incident, and said the matter was being investigated. “There’s no concrete details for now,” he added.

However, the general concesus from people close to the deceased is that he committed suicide because "he was owing too much money!”

This humble reporters summation is, are you sure Nwachuku Daniel Ikechuku is truely Tobechukwu Okeke’s  friend? I'm yet to understand how he could find a loved one dangling on a rope and his first port of call is not how to bring him down and try to resuscitate him but to post his lifeless body on facebook.

Just my 2cents.

Sources: Premium Times, Linda Ikeji's blog

AGRICULTURE AS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR BOOSTING NIGERIA’S ECONOMY

At the recently concluded KITs Essay Competition in Abuja where I was privileged to judge, one of the contestants stood out.
A thirteen year old with a depth of understanding.
Please enjoy.

NAME: SAMUEL OKWUCHI AKINOLA

AGE: 13 YEARS

School: Command Secondary School Zuma Barracks Kaduna Road Suleja Niger state

It is no longer surprising that at thirteen, children such as myself are fully aware of the poor economic situation in the country. The television which mom insists that I watch in order to listen to the news every day inundates us with

news on the fall of oil price and how Nigeria’s economy is negatively affected by this fall. In my home we have come up with different types of sauces to counter the lack of tomatoes. We have also resorted to pasta to deal with high cost of rice. This is what my teacher would call improvisation! That is, providing alternatives, like when my teacher would say that one could use green leaves as a substitute for green colour, charcoal for pencil, smooth rock for sharpener and so on, this is what thinking out of the box is all about, which is what Nigeria really needs at this time. Necessity they say, is the mother of inventions.

I have often wondered what Nigeria would be like if every one were to plant a tree or any other sort of plant. I am told that there are over 190 million people in Nigeria, imagine if all of us, each planted something! The trees would serve as protection from erosion, flood, provide shade, and when cut will provide endless job opportunities in factories and industries where furniture is produced. The sap from trees could be used for many purposes, the wine from the palm tree can be processed for export as a drink, and the oil from the palm kernel can equally serve as a cash crop. Wouldn’t it look wonderful if there were flowers planted all around? If flowers and trees were planted in some certain sites in Nigeria these could serve as beautiful tourist attraction that people from all over the world would come to see and this would boost

Nigeria’s economy.

My grandma used to tell us about the groundnut pyramids in the north which I once saw on the television, a magnificent sight to behold! Can you imagine if most of us planted groundnuts, how many pyramids we could have?

This will not only serve as tourist attraction but also provide an enormous boost to the Nigerian economy through groundnut oil. If we could all have a tiny fish pond and garden in our back yards every child would learn how to nurture and grow something, I could go on and on and on but my conviction and conclusion is that with the exploitation of agriculture Nigeria’s economy would continue to boom!