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Showing posts from August, 2019

Nigerian assets at risk worldwide in $9 billion arbitration case

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The company was awarded $6.6 billion in an arbitration decision over the failed 2010 project to build a gas-processing plant in the southern Nigerian city of Calabar. With interest, the sum now tops $9 billion - 20% of Nigeria’s foreign reserves. Nigerian officials vowed not to surrender any assets. WHAT IS AT STAKE? P&ID can target real estate, bank accounts or any kind of moveable wealth, but it has to prove that the property is unrelated to Nigeria’s operations as a sovereign state. “The onus will be on the claimant to prove that the property is exclusively in use for commercial purposes,” Simon Sloane of law firm Fieldfisher said. “It’s quite a difficult hurdle to overcome.” State assets that have any diplomatic function - such as a commercial property that is also used to issue visas - cannot be seized. But state asset seizures “happen all the time”, said James Langley, a partner with international law firm Dentons and an expert in arbitration. In a 2008

Govt declares Monday work free

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Kano State Government has declared Monday, Sept. 2, as work free, to mark the new Islamic year 1441 After Hijra (AH). This is contained in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Information, Sani Abba Yola, on Friday in Kano. The statement said Sunday, Sept. 1, was equivalent to first day of Muharram 1441 AH. In the statement, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje, urged public officers and civil servants in the state to use the occasion to pray for peace, stability and progress of the state and the country. It also said the governor wished all Muslims in the state, happy Islamic New Year and enjoined them to continue living with one another peacefully in accordance with the teachings of Islam.‎

Gas pipeline in Nigeria's Delta state shut following breach

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YENAGOA (Reuters) - A gas pipeline in Nigeria’s Delta state was shut down on Friday following a breach, according to state oil company NNPC and local authorities. Locals in Otu-Jeremi in Ughelli South area of Delta state reported an explosion on the pipeline, though NNPC said the pipeline was shut down following a leak. Police said they were investigating the situation. Two local residents said there was an explosion. “NPDC are saying that it was a rupture and not fire, but my men have gone there to find out,” said Adeyinka Adeleke, a senior police officer in Delta state. NNPC spokesman Ndu Ughamadu said the company had ordered the pipeline closed following a leak and that repair works would commence soon. The pipeline flows from Oil Mining License 34, which is owned by Nigeria Petroleum Development Co, a subsidiary of NNPC, and Nigerian company ND Western. OML 34 produces an average of 390 million standard cubic feet per day of gas, and 17,000 barrels per day

Navy detains 57 sailors over crude oil smuggling, refining

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No fewer than 57 sailors have been arrested in Rivers by the Nigerian Navy for allegedly smuggling crude oil and illegally refining diesel. The all-male sailors, including a Ukrainian, a Mexican and 55 Nigerians, were arrested between Aug. 11 and Aug. 25 onboard four vessels, two wooden boats and a barge. Capt. Adegoke Ebo, Executive Officer, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, spoke in Onne, Rivers, while handing over the suspects and items to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday. “The suspects were intercepted by the NNS Pathfinder patrol team around Onne Anchorage and Okochiri creek in Okirika Local Government Area of Rivers. “The four vessels, MV Western Orient, MV Temile, AHT Ajemisan and Jascon 23 as well as two large wooden boats and a barge, Ana Marine, all had 57 crew members onboard. “They comprised of 55 Nigerians, one Mexican and one Ukraine nationals. The crews did not have clearance to transport petroleum products in the

Flamboyant Barcelona Escola Winger Training With Nigeria U17s

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Allnigeriasoccer.com  can exclusively report that FC Barcelona Escola Varsovia Football Academy starlet Kelechukwu Ebenezer has received a call-up to the Golden Eaglets squad ahead of their trip to Turkey for an invitational tournament. Ebenezer, who has been in camp since Monday, first trained with the Nigeria U17s before the 2019 U17 AFCON and the coaches led by Manu Garba are taking another look at him again, with a view to including him on the World Cup roster.  The 17-year-old delighted fans with his skills while training with the Golden Eaglets earlier this year and was likened to PSG legend Austin Okocha by the spectators.  He is a two-footed winger, who has confidence on the ball, excellent dribbling skills, pacy and has an eye for a pass.  In the new season, Ebenezer started and went the distance in the first two matches played by Barcelona Escola Varsovia in the Youth League before he flew to Abuja to link up with the Golden Eaglets.  It remains to be see

Nigeria soldiers killed in ISWAP ambush near Monguno

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Eight Nigerian soldiers were killed in an insurgent ambush in the Lake Chad area of Nigeria’s Borno state on Friday, August 30, two military sources told AFP. Heavily-armed fighters believed to be from Islamic State West Africa Province opened fire on a military convoy, 35 km (22 miles) west of  Monguno , where the soldiers were based. Daily Trust  reported  a security source as saying the troops were ambushed in the  Gasarwa area, between Monguno and Gajiram. The patrol was heading to the state capital Maiduguri when they came under “heavy fire from the terrorists who used RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] and heavy guns,” a military officer told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The terrorists killed eight troops in the ambush which happened around midday,” said a second officer, also speaking on condition of anonymity. “Five more soldiers are still unaccounted for,” he said. The militants destroyed two trucks and a pick-up fitted with a machine gun, before seizing

Police, PSC clash halts recruitment of 10,000 constables

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The Police Service Commission is locked in a battle with the Nigeria Police Force over who has the authority to recruit   10,000 constables approved by President Muhammadu Buhari. It was learnt that the development had forced the PSC to suspend the exercise indefinitely. Spokesman for the commission, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement on Friday confirmed the recruitment had been put on hold to finalise the remaining stage of the exercise. The commission directed candidates to wait for further directives, warning them to ignore any list or information on the exercise not from them. Ani said the commission would resist “any attempt to ambush the ongoing recruitment exercise or dilute its content,” adding that this would be an affront to the Constitution and a waste of national resources. He said, “It is the constitutional responsibility of the commission to recruit Nigerians into the Force, whether as constables, cadet inspectors or cadet ASPs, and the commission is not ready to