Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 21st March 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 21/03/22
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African Activists Vow To Fight Israeli Apartheid At Historic Dakar Meeting
Civil society activists from 21 countries across Africa have pledged to intensify the fight against Israel’s apartheid practices against the Palestinian people. They also vowed to isolate Israel in the same way that apartheid South Africa was sanctioned; and will work to have Israel’s accreditation to the African Union revoked.
This comes after the first in-person meeting and conference of the Pan-African Palestine Solidarity Network (PAPSN) in the Senegalese capital, Dakar, on March 10-12.Delegates represented civil society organisations and groupings from Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.The three-day event was hosted by the _Plateforme de Solidarieté Sénégal-palestine_ (Senegalese Palestine Solidarity Platform) and the Senegalese branch of Amnesty International with the theme “From Africa to Palestine: United against Apartheid.”Hosting the conference in Dakar was of great symbolic and strategic importance.“It was a duty for us to host this conference here in Senegal,” said Dialo Diop of Plateforme de Solidarieté Sénégal-Palestine. “We know we have a special responsibility, not only because we are currently chairing the African Union, but because Senegal has chaired the UN Special Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP) since its inception in 1975. This pan-African gathering has strengthened our determination to ensure that our government will indeed uphold solidarity with the Palestinian people at national and international level.”For Amnesty International Senegal, the conference came just a month after an Amnesty International report confirmed that Israel was guilty of practising apartheid against the Palestinian people.“This was the first time that Palestine solidarity activists held a gathering of this nature in Africa. The wide representation of groups from across the continent is unprecedented in terms of Palestine solidarity,” says PAPSN spokesperson and coordinator of the South African Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Coalition, Roshan Dadoo.Delegates discussed how Israel had undermined Africa’s long-standing support of the Palestinian liberation struggle by supplying weapons, military hardware and surveillance technologies to repressive African governments. In doing so, Israel has helped to undermine democracy and human rights in Africa, and fuel repression, coups and wars on the continent.The disturbing influence of Christian Zionism, and the support for Israel from various Christian communities and church structures that seek to provide a theological justification for Israel’s crime of apartheid, was also examined. Delegates committed themselves to combating the abuse of Christianity to justify Israel’s apartheid and colonialism.The conference also addressed how Israel attempts to “greenwash” its apartheid crimes through the sale of irrigation, water and agricultural technology to African countries. These projects are unsustainable and damaging to local communities and PAPSN members are determined to expose Israel’s destructive impact on Africa.Holding Israel to accountDelegates resolved to strengthen pan-African solidarity for Palestine by mobilising all sectors of African society to build an effective BDS campaign against Israel that is modelled along the social justice movement that isolated and helped defeat apartheid in South Africa. Africa must become an apartheid-free zone.PAPSN demands that African governments, Regional Economic Communities, and the African Union revoke Israel’s accreditation to the AU; investigate Israel for perpetrating the crime of apartheid and hold it accountable; and lobby for the reactivation of the UN’s anti-apartheid mechanisms against Israel.In addition, PAPSN is calling on African governments to end purchases of agri-business, water projects and Israeli military and surveillance technology with Israeli companies. PAPSN members are also calling for the termination of Africa’s diplomatic relations with Israel. “This will ensure that Israel is held to account, just as it was done to apartheid South Africa,” said Dadoo.Jamal Juma – a founding member of the Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC), which leads the global BDS movement – was inspired by what he saw in Dakar. “The determination of PAPSN to strengthen pan-African solidarity with Palestine is the ray of hope we Palestinians need in our struggle against Israel’s ever-intensifying apartheid regime. The unbreakable bond of peoples that share a common struggle against colonialism and foreign occupation was palpable during the entire encounter,” Juma noted.The legacies of African liberation icons, Nelson Mandela and Julius Nyerere, were upheld and given new impetus in Dakar.Nkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela and member of the South African parliament, noted that this year marks 60 years since his grandfather visited Dakar, as part of a 16-country African tour to mobilise support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle. “This bold initiative bodes well and sends a strong message to the people of occupied Palestine that you are not alone and that the people of Africa stand with you in your struggle just as you stood by us during our struggles for liberation across the continent,” said Mandela.Representing the Pan-African Women’s Organisation, Emma Nyerere said she was happy that PAPSN was continuing the solidarity work – begun by African leaders like her grandfather, Julius Nyerere – and was confident that solidarity with Palestine in Africa would defeat apartheid Israel’s propaganda. “The influence of the ideas that were planted in Julius Nyerere’s era that favour solidarity with the struggle for self-determination of the Palestinian people is strong.”PAPSN reaffirmed that Africans will never enjoy the fruits of our liberation until the Palestinian people are also free from Israel’s racism, apartheid and colonial occupation. “We have ended institutionalised apartheid in South Africa, together we can end it in Palestine,” said Roshan Dadoo.
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Abducted APC Party Woman Leader Killed In Kwara As Vigilantes, Kidnappers Exchange Gunfire
The woman leader of Koro ward of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Mrs Olomi Sunday, was killed during a rescue effort by local vigilantes, on Sunday.The deceased was among the three ward women leaders who were kidnapped while returning from the inauguration of the state executive of the APC held at the Kwara State Banquet Hall last week.
It was gathered that three other men were also abducted from another bus on their way from Ekiti State.However, the abductors insisted on a ransom of N20 million to release the six victims.Although efforts to speak with the Police Public Relations Officer, Ajayi Okasanmi, was not successful as calls and messages were neither answered nor replied to, the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Ekiti Local Government, Kayode Bayode, and the lawmaker representing the council at the State House of Assembly, Gabriel Afolarin, confirmed the incident in separate interviews with Daily Trust on Sunday.According to the TIC chairman, who gave the name of the other two ward women leaders as Mrs Reachel Alasi (Obbo Ayegunle ward) and Mrs Yemisi Oloke Oni (Eruku ward), the deceased was killed during an exchange of gunfire with the abductors.“The (N20m) ransom had been prepared but our vigilantes insisted that they wanted to go and rescue the victims. Unfortunately, we lost Mrs Olomi Sunday during the gun battle. The men also sustained injuries and one of them is in a serious condition from the gunshots suffered in the process. I’m at the hospital now in the council where they were taken for treatment,” he said.Also speaking, Ganiyu Gabriel Afolarin told our reporter, “Yes, we lost the woman leader of Eruku ward (Mrs Olomi Sunday) during an exchange of gunfire between the abductors and our local vigilantes. I am part of the delegation to pay the deceased family condolence visit. However, the other five victims were rescued and no ransom was paid at the end of the day,” he added.
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Audit Query: National Assembly Summons Heads Of 17 Nigerian National Petroleum Company Subsidiaries
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The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has summoned the heads of 17 Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to appear before it over audit queries by the office of the Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF).The audit queries were issued over the operations and finances of the NNPC subsidiaries between 2014 and 2019.
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The summons was contained in a letter signed by the Chairman of the Committee, Wole Oke (Peoples Democratic Party, Osun) dated 16th March 2022, Daily Trust reports.The letter titled “Consideration of the Auditor General of Federation’s Annual report on Federations account 2014-2019 financial year and non-rendition of the audited account by NNPC subsidiaries covering the period 2014-2019 to the Auditor General’s Office,” was addressed to the Group Managing Director, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari.It reads “Pursuant to section 85, 88 and 89 of the 1999 constitution as amended and Order XX Rule 6 of the House of Representatives Standing Order, I again request you to provide all the Managing Directors of the following 17 NNPC subsidiaries with their Accounting Officers to appear before the Committee and answer all issues raised against them in the above subject matter.”The subsidiaries whose heads have been summoned include Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Limited, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited, Pipeline and Products Marketing Company Limited, Duke Oil Company Inc, West Africa Gas Limited, and Nidas Marine Limited.They are to appear on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.Other subsidiaries which include Hyson (Nigeria) Limited, Nigeria Gas Company, National Engineering and Technical Company, National Petroleum Exchange, NNPC Pensions Limited, and Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company, are to appear on Thursday, March 24, 2022.Port Harcourt Refining Company, NNPC Retail Limited, Integrated Data Service Limited, National Petroleum Investment & Management Services (NAPIMS) and Petroleum Product Pricing Regulator Agency (PPPRA) are expected to appear on Friday, March 25.According to the letter, the Companies, are expected to provide copies of their Audited Accounts for 2015 -2021 in compliance with financial regulation No, 3210(v), Evidence of Submission of copies to the Auditor General Office for the Federation.The Committee had after the appearance of the NNPC Ltd’s Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya who represented the Group Managing Director (GMD), Kyari, during its last sitting directed that the heads of the NNPC subsidiaries must be produced by the GMD.The clerk of the Committee was also directed to write letters to the affected NNPC subsidiaries to appear before the committee.
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E2%80%93-buhari-reacts-gunmen%E2%80%99s-attacks-imo-police-division-others ‘They Are Senseless Terrorists’ – Buhari Reacts To Gunmen’s Attacks On Imo Police Division, Others
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the recent attacks by gunmen on a police station and other places in Imo State which left at least four policemen dead.Gunmen on Friday set ablaze the Umuguman police divisional headquarters in the Owerri West Local Government Area of the state.
The house of George Obiozor, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, was also set ablaze by the yet-to-be-identified gunmen.The President, in a statement signed by Garba Shehu, his media aide, described the attacks as “deeply distressing.”“President Muhammadu Buhari, Sunday strongly condemned as ‘deeply distressing’ the destruction in Imo State, of buildings and assets of the Police and the home of Professor George Obiozor, the President General of the Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, and a leading voice of moderation in the affairs of the country,” the statement reads.“The President, who strongly condemned the violence in the sub-region urged everyone to maintain peace, adding that the law and order capabilities in the South-East are being strengthened.“While this is being done, President Buhari called on the people of Imo State in particular and the sub-region, in general, to maintain peace as the police and other agencies are working to ensure that normalcy is restored at the earliest.“The President extends sympathies to the police authorities over the losses of men and materials, and to Professor Obiozor who he urged to maintain his commitment to the peace and oneness of the Federation against these senseless terrorists.”
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Civic Group, CARE Condemns Rising Electricity Tariffs, Knocks Labour Leaders For Betraying Nigerian Masses
A civic group, the Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) has condemned the incessant electricity tariff hikes in the country, saying the policy will allow the power companies to rip Nigerians off.CARE in a release obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday stated that the unending tariff hike was the handiwork of the “bourgeois ruling class and their private collaborators” who always clamour for higher rates and prices to guarantee super profit.
In the release signed by Chinedu Bosah and Shoyombo Monsuru as National Coordinator and National Secretary respectively, the group said, “The Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed disclosed on Thursday, March 10, 2022, that the federal government had quietly removed subsidy on electricity tariff. This policy implies that working people and the poor masses will be forced to pay higher tariffs twice every year. Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) condemns the policy that will allow the power companies to hike tariffs incessantly and periodically.“Besides, the government claimed that it was subsidizing the power sector to the tune of N1.7 billion daily but in reality, the government was only bailing out the corruption, expensive lifestyle of the directors and top managers and unsustainable debts incurred by the power companies. “For instance, N6 billion released by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) was subjected to insiders’ abuse and sharp practices in 2017 wherein IBEDC gave a loan of about N6 billion to its parent company (Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing Group), this is one example of how privileged private companies mismanage so-called subsidy and bailout funds.“In a profit-first system, there will always be unjust hikes in petrol and electricity prices just like other essential commodities. The bourgeois ruling class and their private collaborators always clamour for higher rates and prices to guarantee super profit. The power companies have shown obvious incapacity to develop the sector, they are only interested in higher tariffs and outrageous estimated billing while power infrastructure and facilities are in decrepit conditions triggering incessant system collapse and leaving communities mostly in darkness.”In fact, hike in tariff is a reward for failure and inefficiency. In the last 15 years, the government has spent over $15 billion on power and nothing to show for it fundamentally except darkness. Since the power sector was privatized in November 2013, the electricity tariff has been steadily hiked from about N12.50 to about N48 representing a whopping 280% increment.“The most worrisome is the fact that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, the President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Quadri Olaleye and other key labour leaders have kept quiet only for the government to quietly remove the so-called subsidy that practically implies that power companies can go-ahead to increase tariff so often and unjustifiably. Labour leaders threatened to embark on strike on September 28, 2020, over increment in the prices of electricity and petrol only to back down and resort to talks with the government. “As a matter of fact, it was the botched strike action and the refusal of NLC and TUC to lead a mass struggle that led to the ENDSARS mass movement that protested police brutality and rising poverty. Talks with the government led to the setting up of a Technical Committee comprising 6 representatives of government/DISCOS and 3 representatives of NLC and TUC. The only thing labour leaders got from the talks was a delay in the implementation of the then tariff hike for a month and government acceptance to have labour represented in NERC. Given the labour strategic alliance with the self-serving ruling elite, it appears the natural course of action or inaction of labour leaders is to allow anti-people policies unchallenged and unchecked. “Put simply, labour leaders have agreed with the government to have electricity tariff increased so often despite growing poverty and cost of living. Labour leaders went into talks with the government but never reported back to Nigerian workers on what was agreed upon as they have chosen to remain quiet. It is the same manner NLC and TUC bark for a struggle but refuse to bite and undemocratically call off strikes. In October 2020, labour unfortunately and openly endorsed privatization and deregulation and so, it is not shocking to endorse tariff hikes, though quietly.”
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Bandits Occupy 12 Of 25 Local Government Areas In Niger State, Governor Laments
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello
Bandits have taken over 12 local government areas in Niger State. The state governor, Abubakar Sani-Bello said this during his visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Central Primary School, Gwada.
Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello
He also said no fewer than seven communities had been submerged by flooding in the Shiroro LGA due to the ongoing construction of the Zungeru hydro-electric power station in the state.Sympathising with the displaced persons, Sani-Bello said, “We have almost 4,000 IDPs displaced by banditry and the construction of Zungeru dam.”According to him, “some communities have been flooded and are underwater and have left, while they have not been paid compensation.”Concerned about “the influx of bandits and Boko Haram elements in and out of Shiroro Local Government Area,” the governor said, “They have continued to detonate improvised explosive devices in Galadima-kogo.”According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the governor noted that about 12 local government areas in the state were being occupied by bandits, adding that security agencies were using new tactics and strategies to neutralise them.He said the bandits are taking advantage of the size of the state and few security officers on the ground.On the flooding, Mr Sani-Bello said the federal government had made provisions for the affected communities to move to higher grounds.He said he would liaise with the federal ministry of works and housing to hasten the release of funds to relocate and compensate those affected. The governor also visited Mararaban Dan-danu in Munya LGA, where he interacted with vigilantes and hunters, promising them more sophisticated weapons to combat banditry.
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Leaked Video Of Former Anambra Governor, Obiano In Detention Facility Of Anti-corruption Agency, EFCC, Surfaces Online
A short video of former Anambra Governor Willie Obiano in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s detention facility has surfaced online.In the 12-second video, Obiano was seen drinking water from a bottle and discussing with an unidentified person seated beside him.
The EFCC said Obiano is being quizzed over the alleged misappropriation of N42 billion belonging to the state.The agency had last year placed the former governor on its watch list and also asked the Nigerian Immigration Service to stop him from leaving the country in a letter to the Comptroller-General of Immigration, dated November 15, 2021.Obiano was arrested by the EFCC on Thursday night, hours after handing over to the new Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, later said, “Obiano has been flown to Abuja (on Friday). He is currently at our Abuja office.“Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5bn Sure-P and N37bn security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state.”Meanwhile, the All Progressives Grand Alliance has condemned Obiano’s arrest. The party described the arrest of the former governor as a “politically-motivated witch-hunt”, saying the EFCC had resorted to the use of fifth columnists.Addressing journalists in Awka, on Saturday, the National Coordinator, APGA Media Warriors Forum, Chinedu Obigwe, said the allegation that the former governor misappropriated N42bn, out of which N37bn was used to fund political activities was baseless. Obigwe said efforts by the EFCC to dent the reputation of Obiano would not succeed, insisting that he is innocent until proven guilty by a competent court of law.He said Nigerians don’t have confidence in the anti-graft agency anymore, saying “when they (EFCC) see the real corrupt politicians joining APC, they would turn to toothless bulldogs.”
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Ondo State Football Club Mourns As Goalkeeper Dies Hours After Training
Sunshine Queens FC of Akure has lost its goalkeeper, Elizabeth Johnson.A statement by its Media Officer, Femi Atolagbe, described the incident as “shocking” as the deceased had trained with the rest of the squad on Saturday at the Ondo State Sports Complex, Akure.
“It is heartbreaking; Sunshine Queens lost one of its goalkeepers, Elizabeth Johnson, moments ago.“She was hale and healthy and trained with the team yesterday at the Ondo State Sports complex, Akure.“She earlier in the day said she was feeling feverish and dizzy.”She was being taken to the hospital when she gave up the ghost.”Players, officials and management are still in shock,” the statement said.Elizabeth sat out the 1-3 home loss to Delta Queens on Match day 11, on Wednesday.The deceased was a former goalkeeper of Super Falcons and Bayelsa Queens.
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E2%80%98hunger-driven%E2%80%99-ex-super-eagles-players-over-subtle-endorsement-tinubu Sowore Lambasts ‘Hunger-Driven’ Ex-Super Eagles Players Over Subtle Endorsement Of Tinubu
Presidential aspirant, Omoyele Sowore, has berated a group of former Nigerian internationals for paying a visit to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu.On Saturday, the ex-Super Eagles players, which included Jay-Jay Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, Peter Rufai, Tijani Babangida, Mutiu Adepoju, and Taribo West, met with Tinubu at his Lagos home ahead of the novelty football match scheduled for Sunday at Onikan Stadium.
The ex-Super Eagles players will take part in a novelty match to mark Tinubu’s 70th birthday.Sowore said, “Hunger is a bastard! JJ Okocha, Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Taribo West, and other ex-Super Eagles players paid Tinubu a visit today to endorse him. “I used to think Victor Ikpeba was a smart person! Shame on these ex-soccer Super Eagles players! Imagine sending them to play for Nigeria as a team in the World Cup after they’ve expired?” on Saturday, former Super Eagles Defender, Pastor Taribo West, was seen in a video praying “fervently” at an event in honour of Tinubu.West also prayed for the restoration of Nigeria to its rightful place through Tinubu, which made the APC chieftain pay particular attention to him.Tinubu turns 70 later this month and has declared his bid for the presidency ahead of the 2023 elections.West, a UEFA cup champion with Inter Milan became a pastor after his footballing days.
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E2%80%99ll-deduct-n243-billion-fuel-subsidy-federal-allocation-march-%E2%80%93-nigerian-petroleum We’ll Deduct N243 Billion Fuel Subsidy From Federal Allocation For March – Nigerian Petroleum Company, NNPC
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is to deduct N242.53 billion as subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, from the Federation Account this month.Although it described the proposed subsidy deduction as a value shortfall, the oil firm stated that the fund would be recovered from February 2022 proceeds due for sharing in the March 2022 Federation Account Allocation Committee meeting.
The NNPC disclosed this in its latest presentation to the FAAC meeting, which was obtained in Abuja on Friday.It said, “The December 2021 value shortfall recovery on the importation of PMS amounted to N210.38 billion.“The recovery consists of December 2021 value shortfall of N176.48 billion plus the outstanding value shortfall recovery of N33.9 billion accrued over the 2021 year. The November 2021 spot arrears of N98.81 billion is also outstanding.“The estimated value shortfall of N242.53 billion (consisting of N143.72 billion for January 2022 recovery plus November spot arrears of N98.81 billion) is to be recovered from February 2022 proceed due for sharing at the March 2022 FAAC meeting.”In February, the NNPC remitted no money to FAAC due to its huge fuel subsidy spending and subsequent deduction from the Federation AcOn March 3, 2022, state governors lambasted the NNPC for not remitting any funds at last month’s FAAC meeting.The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, had also wondered how the oil firm was bold enough to declare profit when it had not been meeting its FAAC obligations.Fayemi had disclosed this alongside other governors during the Nigerian Governors’ Forum session on natural resources at the Nigeria International Energy Summit 2022 in Abuja.He specifically pointed out that in the last Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting in February, the NNPC made zero remittance to the federation.“We’ve just had the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee meeting a couple of days ago and the NNPC contributed zero to the Federation Accounts this month,” the governor had stated.Various industry operators told Punch that unless the fuel subsidy regime was halted, the deductions might continue, as NNPC had been the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria for more than four years running.” The oil firm had also been shouldering the cost of subsidy on petrol all these years. The actual cost of the commodity is far higher than the approved N162-N165/litre pump price.The President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, explained that the actual cost of petrol without subsidy was usually a little higher than that of diesel.He stated that if not for the subsidy, PMS would be selling around N550 to N600/litre going by the rise in crude price.The approved subsidised pump price of PMS in Nigeria is between N162 to N165/litre, but oil marketers stated that the actual cost should be a little higher or about the same price of diesel had it been PMS was deregulated.
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