Nigeria Begins Diesel-Fuel Imports From Niger Republic

Nigeria has begun to import refined diesel fuel from Niger, its northern neighbour, oil market traders and truck drivers said on Monday.

Fuel (gas) stations in the northern city of Katsina on the border with Niger stock diesel imported from Niger’s Soraz refinery in Zinder, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the border with Nigeria.

“We have imported 90 trucks of diesel from Niger in the past four months in three batches of 30 trucks each, Lawal Dahiru Mangal, a fuel market trader in Katsina said.

“We secured import licence from the (Nigerian) government for the importation of diesel from the Soraz refinery in Niger which we supply fuel stations in Katsina and neighbouring towns”, said Mangal of MD Mangal petroleum company.

Nigeria, world’s eighth largest oil producer, relies on fuel imports from some foreign countries to meet domestic demands as its four refineries, with a combined installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day, are underperforming.

They have been grounded for years due largely to corruption and mismanagement.

It produces about 2.2 million barrels of crude per day which it exports and imports refined fuel.

Niger-refined diesel is cheaper than the one Nigeria imports from other countries, Mangal said.

A litre of Niger-imported diesel sells at 160 naira (one dollar) in Katsina compared to 170 naira it sells in other parts of the country.

“We source diesel from Mangal petroleum which imports its consignment from Niger,” Abddullahi Maikaita, a fuel attendant at a filling station in Katsina said.

In 2000 Nigeria removed its subsidy on diesel.

Last November, Niger opened its first refinery in Zinder following the discovery of oil in Agadem, 700 kilometres east of its capital Niamey with a daily production capacity of 20,000 bpd.

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PHOTONEWS: Nigeria's First-Ever Female Chief Justice Sworn In

Nigeria's first-ever female Supreme Court chief justice was sworn in on Monday by President Goodluck Jonathan, who described the event as "historic".

Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, 68, was nominated to the post on July 4.

More photos after the cut: 

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United Nations Help Evacuate 326 ‘Stranded’ Nigerians From Libya

The International Office for Migration (IOM), a United Nations body has helped in repatriating 326 “stranded” Nigerians, including about a dozen children from Libya.

They were brought back home from Libya this weekend, an official statement said on Sunday.

They arrived in Lagos international airport in two batches. Airport officials said that some of them had been tortured or imprisoned by the new government in Tripoli before they were evacuated.

“At the weekend, 326 stranded Nigerians were evacuated to the country from Libya through the effort of International Office for Migration (IOM), a United Nations body,” the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said.

It is unclear if they were deported.

Libyan authorities have in the past years expelled thousands of Nigerian illegal immigrants and those with criminal records.

These Nigerians must have gone through quite an ordeal during the crisis period and power tussle in Libya. During that period, there were calls for help from Nigerians stranded in Libya

‘Airport officials said that some of them had been tortured or imprisoned by the new government in Tripoli before they were evacuated’

It reminds me of this video I watched some time ago of a terrified group of Nigerian men pleading their innocence in front of anti-Gadhafi forces. The sad thing about their story is that they were trapped in Libya in an attempt to get to Italy for a better life. The evident fear written on their faces, seeing grown men cry for their lives was really chilling. As dangerous as the tales are of what Nigerians go through while passing through Libya in search of these ‘greener pastures’, more and more people still take such dangerous routes.

I guess its welcome back home for them and thanks to the International Office for Migration who helped in evacuating them from Libya.

What do you think about think about the risk Nigerians face while trying to get to European countries by road through Libya? Is it really worth it?

News Source: Vanguard

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I Won’t Congratulate Governor Adams Oshiomhole... General Charles Airhiavbere

After several hours of silence, the Edo State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Major General Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) on Sunday said he would not congratulate Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) on his re-election.

Airhiavbere who polled 144,235 votes said Oshiomhole had earlier faulted the electoral process before his declaration by the same body on Sunday.

In a chat with journalists on Sunday night at his Benin residence, Airhiavbere who thanked the people for their support during the election said it could have been easy for him to congratulate Oshiomhole but that Oshiomhole pre-empted the system that brought him.

He said, 

“I won’t fully comment on the election because the acclaimed winner had earlier in the day about 1pm condemned the electoral system. He condemned the chairman of INEC for the process that has not ended".

“That process at the end of the day declared him the winner. I will observe in the next few days before I make my comment.

“The election of yesterday (Saturday) has come and gone. I want to seize this opportunity to thank all the people of Edo State for coming out en masse to make yesterday’s exercise the most peaceful election ever experienced in Edo State. I also want to thank them for keeping faith with me. I want to seize this opportunity to PDP faithful for coming to support me.” Airhiavbere stated

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Syria Conflict Is Now A Full-Blown Civil War... Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross said Sunday it now considers the conflict in Syria to be a full-blown civil war, meaning international humanitarian law applies throughout the country.

Also known as the rules of war, international humanitarian law grants parties to a conflict the right to use appropriate force to achieve their aims, and the Geneva-based group's assessment is an important reference for those parties to determine how much and what type of force they can use. The assessment also can form the basis for war crimes prosecutions, especially if civilians are attacked or detained enemies are abused or killed.

"We are now talking about a non-international armed conflict in the country," ICRC spokesman Hicham Hassan said.

Previously, the ICRC had restricted its assessment of the scope of the conflict to the hotspots of Idlib, Homs and Hama, but Hassan said the organization had determined the violence has spread beyond those areas.

"Hostilities have spread to other areas of the country," Hassan told The Associated Press. "International humanitarian law applies to all areas where hostilities are taking place."

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Nigeria First Lady, Patience Jonathan Responds To Outrage Over Permanent Secretary Appointment

Following the widespread outrage over the appointment of the first lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State, Mrs. Jonathan has said she will be performing her duties as a Permanent Secretary but with no salary earnings.

Speaking through her spokesperson, Ayo Osinlu in an interview with Premium Times, Mrs. Jonathan said she will not be relocating to Bayelsa state to perform the duties of a permanent secretary, in line with her new appointment.

“She is on leave of absence,” Mr. Osinlu said. “She is not going to function in the office of the permanent secretary in Bayelsa state.”

Ms. Jonathan however, is apparently delighted at the appointment as her spokesman argued that she had no cause to publicly accept or decline the appointment.

“It is a civil service position,” Mr Osinlu said. “She is a staff of the Bayelsa state civil service.”

Mrs Jonathan will also not collect any pay for the office, Mr Osinlu said insisting that “It will be illegal for her to draw salary from the office.”

The president’s wife, who left the Bayelsa state civil service 13 years ago after her husband became the deputy governor of the state, was elevated to the position, usually reserved for senior civil servants.

However, Governor Seriake Dickson said he made the appointment in line with the constitutional powers conferred on his office because she was on “leave of absence” and not retired from the state’s civil service.

What do you think about her response?

News Source: Premium Times

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Commercial Sex Worker Lands In Prison For Biting Off Lover’s Tongue

An Abuja Magistrates' Court has ordered that a 23-year-old commercial sex worker, Charity Achibong, be remanded in prison for biting off her lovers tongue.

Achibong of Jabi village, Abuja, appeared in court on a one-count charge of causing hurt contrary to section 245 of the Penal code.

The Police Prosecutor, Insp. Clement Egwu, said that one Mr Ephraim Okoronkwo reported the accused on July 9, at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja.

He said that the complainant and the accused had a misunderstanding and heated argument in his room on the day of the incident.

Egwu said that the accused jumped on the complainant in the midst of the argument and bit off his tongue.

He added that the accused tried to run away but was apprehended by a security man nearby.

The prosecutor said that the bite caused Okoronkwo serious injury, resulting in his being admitted at the Gwarimpa Hospital, where he is still receiving treatment.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge.

The Magistrate, Mrs Jacinta Okeke, asked that the case be suspended and that the accused be remanded in prison, while the condition of the accused was being monitored.

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National Police Council Confirms Abubakar As Inspector-General of Police

The National Police Council on Thursday in Abuja confirmed Mohammed D. Abubakar as susbstantive Inspector-General of Police.

The council comprises President Good luck Jonathan, the 36 Governors and the chairman of the Police Service Commission.

Addressing a press conference after the confirmation, the Inspector General of Police reassured Nigerians that he will put everything humanly possible to ensure the improvement of safety and security management in the country, and that justice and fair play takes place.

Mr Abubakar was appointed Acting Inspector General of Police on 25 January 2012 by the federal goverment following the terminal leave of former IG, Hafiz Ringim.

Born on May 5, 1958, Mr. Abubakar enlisted in the Nigeria Police Force on July 30, 1979. He was the AIG in charge of Zone 12 Headquarters in Bauchi, before he became the Acting IG.

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Femi Falana, Rotimi Jacobs And 23 Others Are Now Senior Advocates Of Nigeria

                       Femi Falana                                                                    Rotimi Jacobs

Nigeria’s human rights activist and lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, alongside 24 others has been elevated to the elite lawyers’ rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, by the Legal Practitioners Privileges committee.

The elevation was endorsed at its meeting held today at the Supreme Court complex in Abuja, in accordance with the provisions of the Legal Practitioners’ Act 2004.

The other new entrants are Professor Yemi Akinseye- George, a lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Professor Dakas Clement James Dakas, Joy Okungbowa Adesina, Chief Mrs. Connie – Jeanne Aremu, Mahmud Abubakar Magaji, Ogwu James Onoja, Garuba Usman Tetengi, Henry Oghogho Ogbodu, Selekeowei Larry, Abenny O. Mohammed and Charles Nwanne Obishai.

Others are Luke Chukwudi Illogu, Francis Chuka Agbo, Paul C. Ananaba, Akinlaja Dayo Moses, Ahmed Raji, Adekunle Theophilus Oyesanya, Rotimi Oluseyi Oguneso, Oluseye Samuel Opasanya, Aderoja Claudius Olumiyiwa, Aliyu Umar, Illo Katune Sanusi, Rotimi Jacobs and Ndukwe A. Nnawuchi.

Their swearing in will be announced later.

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Outrage Over Patience Jonathan’s Appointment As Permanent Secretary In Bayelsa State

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has appointed the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Dame Patience Jonathan, as one of the seventeen new Permanent Secretaries in the state civil service.

Jonathan, according to a statement from the Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Gloria Izonfo, on Wednesday, was appointed alongside 16 senior civil servants. The statement was read on the state radio.

“By the constitutional power conferred on the state governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, in section 203 sub-section 2c, Dame Patience Jonathan and seventeen others have been elevated to the position of Permanent Secretary in the state civil service,” Izonfo said.

However, the appointment has stirred a lot of controversies in the country and an outburst on twitter, see some tweets below:

What Do You Think About the Appointment of Nigeria’s First Lady, Patience Jonathan as a Permanent Secretary in Bayelsa State?

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