Okowa Condemns Crude Oil Theft, Tasks Navy On Control

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Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, has criticised the activities of persons involved in crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism in Nigeria.

Speaking at the 2015 Nigerian Navy retreat in Asaba, the Delta State’s capital, Governor Okowa said their actions indicated a grave danger for the nation’s economy.

He said the activities of crude oil thieves also posed serious threats to the ecology of the Niger-Delta region and the family economy of those who depended on fisheries for their livelihood and sustenance.

The former lawmaker decried that Delta State had continued to lose huge revenues to oil thieves and pipeline vandals with severe consequences on the depleted resources of the state.

In his speech, the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin, urged senior officers and ratings of the Navy to be alive to their responsibility at all times.

Although, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas, admitted the challenges being faced by the Navy, he expressed optimism that his men would surmount the challenges as they arise.

The Chief of Policy and Plans of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Johnson Olutoyin, also said the two day retreat would among other areas, examine the emerging maritime security challenges and the Navy’s approach to solving them, attitudinal change and discipline of personnel as well as the inter-agency cooperation among the nation’s security forces.

FG Promises To Implement Niger Delta Master Plan

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Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the Niger Delta Master Plan to drive the development of the region.

Professor Osinbajo gave the assurance on Monday at the inaugural meeting of Partners for Sustainable Development Forum.

A Priority

At the meeting organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission, in Port Harcourt, the Vice President said that President Muhammadu Buhari had also expressed concern with current degradation of the environment with a view to addressing challenges faced by the region.

“Niger Delta remains a priority of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government with a view to attending to current devastation and environmental degradation in the region.

“The Federal Government will give NDDC all necessary assistance and support to achieve its mandate of ensuring rapid and sustainable development of the region.

“For meaningful and sustainable development to take place in the region, citizens and stakeholders must be peaceful while curbing militancy and eliminating terrorism,” the Punch quoted the Vice President as saying.

Professor Osinbajo was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Presidency, Mr Adeola Ipaye.

Over-Dependence On Crude

He stressed that the Niger Delta, which is the world’s third largest wetland, had immense potential to become an agriculture hub.

A large amount of Nigeria’s revenue from crude oil comes from the region, which has also seen several oil spills that had affected farm lands and the region’s fishing business.

However, the Nigerian government is looking to shift the economic mainstay away from crude oil sales to agriculture which the nation depended on before the discovery of crude.

Professor Osinbajo’s representative told the gathering that the nation’s over-dependence on crude oil was partly responsible for “redundant human resource base and high level of corruption”.

Inauguration Of New Ooni Begins

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An inter-religious service has held at the Ile Oodua in Ile Ife, Osun State to usher in the commencement of the inauguration of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II (The second) as the 51st Ooni Of Ife.

Christians, Muslims as well as traditional believers all gathered in front of the palace to offer prayers for the successful reign ‎of the Ooni and for the peace and progress of the Yoruba race.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola, at the inter-religious programme, said that the seat of the Ooni holds a very significant position in the history of the Yoruba ethnic group, as such it must play the role of unifying all.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Moshood ‎ Adeoti, stated that the Yoruba people were expectant that the new Ooni would promote peace, unity, development and oneness of the Yoruba people across the world.

The Governor and all the clerics urged all Nigerians to pray for traditional rulers as they are the custodians of culture and peace.

Buhari Commits To 20% Emissions Cut At Conference Of Parties 21

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President Muhammadu Buhari has announced Nigeria’s Intended National Determined Contributions, committing to emissions cut of 20 per cent. 

At the ongoing Conference of Parties 21 on Climate Change in Paris, President Buhari on Monday explained that Nigeria would meet this goal by making more use of natural gas and climate smart agriculture.

“There will also be more focus on energy efficiency measures and investment in renewable energy,” the Nigerian leader told the conference.

Providing Climate Finance

He asked developed countries to honour their promises in relation to providing climate finance to help developing countries including Nigeria adapt to and mitigate climate change.

President Buhari insisted that there must be constant review and monitor of The Paris Agreement, which he stressed must be legally binding and result orientated.

The Nigerian President is one of the 150 world leaders at the Conference of Parties 21 (COP21) on climate change.

President  Buhari is expected to also later in the day participate in the launching of the International Solar Alliance, an initiative of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

The alliance, which is code-named the International Agency for Solar Policy and Application (INSPA), comprises all African nations located within the tropic of Cancer and tropic of Capricorn.

President Buhari will on Tuesday, also participate in the summit of the heads of state and government of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic which would dwell on Boko Haram and other issues on security.

He will also attend another event of the African Union, AU, tilted “Conference on Climate Change and African Solutions”.

Meanwhile, French authorities have elevated security level in the cities ahead of the meeting to prevent any eventuality.

The measure follows the recent devastating terror attacks in the capital city.

Kogi Election: APC Adopts Yahaya Bello As Substitute For Abubakar Audu

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has adopted Yahaya Bello as its candidate in the December 5 supplementary election in Kogi State

Mr Bello replaces Abubakar Audu who died before the governorship election in Kogi State was concluded on November 21.

Bello was the first runner up in the primary election in which the late Audu emerged as candidate

The running mate to the late Audu, James Faleke, disagreed with the choice of the APC and threatened court action.

Mr Faleke had vowed to reclaim the mandate of the people of the state given freely to the APC during the election, insisting that he should take over as the governorship candidate of the party. 

He had earlier on Monday chosen the son of late Audu, Mohammed Audu as his running mate, before the APC chose Mr Bello.

In Abuja, supporters of James Faleke and Yahaya Bello clashed at the party’s secretariat hours after Mr Faleke chose Audu’s son as his running mate.

The party’s National Working Committee members, reporters and visitors at the secretariat were held hostage by feuding youths.

EFCC Arrests Former Minister Of State For Finance Yuguda

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The former Minister of State for Finance under former President Goodluck Jonathan, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, has been arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He was picked up on Monday evening in Abuja at about 4:00pm local time.

According to a source in the EFCC,  Ambassador Yuguda was questioned by a team of the EFCC operatives for allegedly receiving suspicious payments from the office of the former National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, who is being investigated over a two billion dollars arms deal.

Some of the monies allegedly traced to Ambassador Bashir include 1.2 billion Naira paid to him by the office of the NSA through a company and for unclear reasons.

The former minister also allegedly received 775 million Naira from the office of the Accountant General of the Federation for unclear reasons.

He is also alleged to have received another 1.275 billion Naira from a conglomerate, Stallion Group, during the last presidential election campaign.

All these funds were allegedly transferred to him between December 2014 and May 2015.

Suspected Militants Chase Jonathan’s Convoy

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Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on Monday narrowly escaped what could have resulted in a horrific situation in Bayelsa State, after some suspected militants drove into his convoy in the state capital, Yenagoa.

The suspected militants reportedly drove into the motorcade and chased it to the entrance of the private house of the former President in Yenagoa.

They were eventually overpowered and arrested by a combined team of security operatives attached to Dr. Jonathan.

It is not clear whether the incident was connected to the former President’s endorsement of Mr Seriake Dickson, as the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the December 5 Bayelsa Governorship Election.

The spokesman for the police in the state, DSP Asinim Buswat, told Channels Television’s correspondent in Bayelsa State that the suspects were currently being interrogated at the command.

He added that from preliminary investigation by the police, the suspects may have joined the convoy by mistake, thinking the motocade belonged to that of their principal, who was not dislcosed by the police.