Encomium
FG CANNOT FUND REFINERIES
Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum, said yesterday that the federal government needed $700 million to upgrade the nation’s refineries to produce maximum capacity. He said the government cannot be able to fund refineries because they do not have enough manpower to achieve it.
He further stated that, advertisers had been signed for investors to come in and not to take over the refineries, he made this statement in an inauguration of the Port Harcourt/Bonny crude supply line at the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Eleme, Rivers state.
REPS TO RETURN THE CORRECTED VERSION OF THE BUDGET THIS WEEK
Following the assurance by the speaker, Yakubu Dogara last Thursday that the national assembly and the executive would fully checkmate and correct the budget, failed. As at yesterday, the house is yet to forward it to the president, hopefully this week.
Dogara pledged his supports that efforts were made to return the corrected version this week. Chairmen of the Senate in a joint press statement on Sunday evening had said, they were ready to put the past behind and quickly move to work on the copy of the budget returned to the National Assembly by the President.
JONATHAN TO BE TRIED OVER $2.1BN ARMS SCAM
The Campaign for Democracy had asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission yesterday, to charge former president, Goodluck Jonathan, over taking part in the alleged $2.1bn meant for the procurement of arms to fight insurgency.
The group urged the EFCC to charge the former president with breach of public trust, criminal diversion of our Commonwealth and be tried for genocide in the international criminal court.
MINISTERS, OTHERS WILLING TO DUMP PDP
Some former ministers, who served under the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled federal government have announced to dump and leave the party, eventually its current national chairman, senator Ali Modu Sherriff, returns to office on May, 21.
The ministers insisted that, if they must remain with the party, Sherriff must leave at the expiration of his tenure in May. Chief Olisa Metuh, the National publicity secretary of the party, yesterday said he did not know when the committee would be sitting again because the meeting was adjourned till further notice.
APC BLAMES FAYOSE ON FUEL SCARCITY
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State had accused governor Ayodele Fayose of hindering the supply of fuel in the state. Adding that, he is part of what is causing the hike in fuel scarcity in the state by diverting fuel to other stations outside the state in order to set the people against the president.
The development arised when people people protested and complained to the real fuel marketers in Ekiti. The APC, however, stressed out the need for security agencies and minister for Petroleum to investigate the governor’s activities at the NNPC and the roles of the NUPENG officials and be brought to book if need be.
FAMILY DEMANDS RELEASE OVER DETAINED JONATHAN’S COUSIN
The family of Mr. Azibaola Robert, a cousin to former president Goodluck Jonathan, had told the EFCC at a news conference in Lagos on Sunday, to charge Robert to court or release him unconditionally. Speaking on behalf of the family, Dr. Faith Robert condemned the continued detention of his elder brother by EFCC after been granted bail by the Abuja High Court on April, 7.
He further pleaded with the EFCC to allow his brother enjoy his fundamental rights, owing to the fact that, the remand order by an Abuja Magistrates’ Court which EFCC relied upon to detain Robert had expired on April, 19.
BEAR WITH ME, CHANGE WILL COME – BUHARI
President Muhammadu Buhari, had last night pleaded with Nigerians to bear with him over the hardship in the land, saying he knew Nigerians were seeing the darkest days before dawn. He further stated that, the change will soon reach everywhere in the country.
He explained that, the difficulty experienced was as a result of the economic meltdown arising from the Boko Haram insurgency, corruption and then lack of planning. He however called on Nigerians for more understanding on the challenges as it would soon be strike out.
EXPLOSION IN KADUNA
A tanker carrying Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) over the weekend at Unguwar Ma’azu, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis exploded at an NNPC Mega II filling station leaving 3 persons dead, 15 injured persons who were rushed to Al – Tattbiq Islamic Hospital and 17 burnt vehicles, which was caused as a result of spilling while been offloaded.
Although, people were cautioned not to switch on their vehicles on the queue waiting to buy fuel, until the fuel dried off but a man in golf 3 vehicle was said to have switched on his car and fire broke out as a result, he got burnt beyond recognition inside his car, before fire service personnel arrived at the scene.
ABDUCTED OFFICIALS IN OSUN RELEASED
Three staff of Osun civil service who were kidnapped last Friday, have however regained their freedom. The state head of service, Sunday Olayinka Owoeye revealed that, Mrs. Bimpe Ogunlumade, permanent secretary, Ministry of finance, Mr. Tajudeen Badejoko, director of State audit and the driver to the auditor-general (state), Mr. Oladapo Ajani Arogunde, were freed by their abductors yesterday evening.
Arrangements are been made to take them to Osogbo without wasting time by the security agents to meet and be reunited with their families and relations again.
MOTORCYCLE ROBBER BURNT TO DEATH IN AKWA IBOM
Angry mob set ablaze a motorcycles thief on Sunday at Obio Ibet Nkanika village in Oruk Anam local government, Awka Ibom State in company of his gang engaged in snatching of motorcycles from the residents.
They were however caught after given a hot chase in Obio Ndot, near Abak when held with the motorcycle while his other gang members with gun escaped. He was beaten to death and set ablaze before the police could intervene. Meanwhile the corpse is yet to be buried.
