Friday 8 May 2015

Angola Ends Petrol Subsidy Sept

As a result of the fall in the price of crude oil in the global market, Angola is set to end petrol subsidies and increase the price of other fuels, the country’s finance ministry said on Thursday.
A statement from the ministry said the drop in oil prices has adversely affected the finances of Africa’s second largest crude exporter.
The statement added that the changes would come into effect on September 30.
In February, Angola slashed spending in the 2015 budget, widened its fiscal deficit projections and said it would increase borrowing.
The country imports most of its fuel due to insufficient refining capacity and it spent almost four per cent of its 2013 budget on fuel subsidies, according to the Angola Control Risks.
“Gasoline now joins the free price system, ending the burden on the state of the cost of subsidies.
“The ongoing effort to adopt realistic prices will help strengthen social programmes and reduce inequality, since subsidies benefit the most favoured groups and encourage fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries,” the statement said.
Angola has increased fuel prices in recent months and has saved 110 billion kwanza ($1 billion) from reduced subsidies since October last year, the statement added.
State-run oil company, Sonangol, will now determine the price of petrol, the finance ministry said.www.stornews.blogspot.com

28-year-old lady escapes from ritual killers

The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered another suspected ritual killers’ den in Unity and Peace Estate along Itele-Lafenwa Road, Ota in the Ado Odo-Ota Local Government Area.
The latest discovery was made possible by the escape of a 28-year-old lady, who had been kept in an uncompleted building in the estate, bound hands and feet.
The lady was said to have been abducted, blindfolded, gagged and dumped in the den. She was reportedly told by her captors that they would come for her in the night on Wednesday.
ADVERTISEMENT
But she was said to have struggled to free herself and rolled towards the entrance of the building.
It was learnt that some passersby in the area saw her and came to her rescue.
Policemen from the Itele Police Station, who were later invited to the scene, were said to have cordoned off the area.
When the policemen combed the surroundings of the uncompleted building, decomposing bodies of two female victims were said to have been found.
Suspected bones of other victims also littered the place.
The lady told PUNCH Metro that she had met one of her captors two weeks before the incident, and they started a relationship.
She explained that the man called her on Monday that he had secured a contract of N1.5m for her at a site in the estate. She added that the man told her that she would supply bags of cement worth that amount.
The victim said on getting to the site, the lover, was joined by another person, who abducted her.
She said, “I met one of the ritual killers about two weeks ago and we started a relationship. The guy told me that he was a contractor and promised to link me up with people who would give me juicy contracts.
“The man called me two days ago and told me about a contract worth about N1.5m, but I could not meet him because I was sick. The man later came to my residence in Lagos and still persuaded me to come for the deal.
“On getting to the Unity and Peace Estate, we headed for an uncompleted building. One other person joined us. When we got to the building, I saw that the house had been plastered and the floor had been cemented.
“But both of them pounced on me, beat me up and attempted to rape me. I was having my monthly flow and that dissuaded them.
“They then tied my hands and legs, blindfolded and gagged me. They promised to come back at night to complete their assignment. It was a miracle that passers-by rescued me.”
Some residents of the community, who spoke with journalists, said they were startled at the discovery.
Some of them claimed that they always smelt some unpleasant odour from the area, but believed it emanated from a poultry farm nearby.
It was gathered that the policemen had arrested the owner of the building, while the suspected ritual killers had fled.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident.
He said two decomposing bodies and some human skeletons were recovered from the scene.
He said, “The command has taken over the building and our men will take some samples from the scene for forensic analysis to assist in investigation.”

2015 polls major milestone of our democracy’

The Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has said the recent general elections where President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was defeated by opposition candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC), was a significant landmark in the country’s democratic experiment.
Ndoma-Egba, representing Cross River Central Senatorial District in the outgoing National Assembly, made the remark in an interview in Abuja.
According to the three-term Senator, the incoming government of Buhari must put in its best to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian people who effected the change as seen in the just concluded elections.
“I think it is the major milestone of our democracy because our current democracy is the longest in our post-colonial history. It has been the longest unbroken episode of our democracy. And I believe that with the last election our democracy has come to stay because we have moved from one President getting a second term to one President handing over to another President but within the same political party, and then from a Vice President assuming the functions of the President while the President was incapacitated. And from that acting President becoming President; and now a President from one party handing over to an incoming President from another party. This actually is the defining moment of our democracy. It means that our democracy has survived every stress point and is now on the roll. But that doesn’t mean we should take things for granted because democracy is a culture. It is a state of mind. It is an endless journey. There is no destination that you call the democratic destination. It is a continuous journey. But the yardsticks have been defined now. And so, we expect to see minimum level of political behaviours in subsequent elections.”
On whether the poor performance of the PDP in the last 16 years necessitated the demand for change by the people, he said: “The electorate is entitled to demand a change for whatever reason. It could be for want of meeting their expectations. It could be for no reason at all other than we just want a change. The important thing is the will of people that we listen when they speak. So, if they have spoken, so be it, for whatever reason. But again, like I said it is good for our democracy, because if it is for want of meeting their expectations, then, it puts the incoming government on notice; that the day you will fall short of meeting the people’s expectations; they also reserve the same right that they have exercised in bringing you in to send you out.

2 chairmen emerge in Ebonyi APC

ABAKALIKI—EBONYI State chapter of  All Progressives Congress, APC, has split into two, leading to the emergence of factional chairmen of the party, Ben Nwaobashi and Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze.
Members of the new faction of the party, including four purportedly suspended officers, Engr. Ngaji Nwodoh, Ephraim Eze, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu and Prof. Francis Ibiam, had in their resolutions passed vote of no confidence on Nwaobasi-led executives.
They elected the deputy chairman, Pastor Eze Nwachukwu Eze, as the new chairman and relieved Nwaobasi of his duty, accusing him of financial misconduct, incompetence, negligence of duty, dictatorship and wrongful substitutions of the party’s candidates during the last general elections.

Buhari: Change Will Also Come To INECNigeria - President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to overhaul Nigeria's electoral management body as well as reposition the electoral process to make elections more credible in Nigeria, Leadership reports. buhari3 According to him, Nigeria had made gains in its democratic growth this year, adding that further progress would be made in the coming years. "I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what multi-party democracy is. But we thank God for technology, for the PVC and the card reader. If not this luck we had with technology and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they were used (we would not have won).In two political zones where they were subverted, the people wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote. "They continued with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms: write the results, go to radio house and television house and announce the result and say whoever does not want the result should go to court. How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the next day's meal? Where will they get the millions to give to those Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). "We have made a big stride this year and I assure you, God willing, if we survive the next four years, Nigerians will be in a position to confidently raise their head and elect their own representatives and leaders. They will choose those they want as their representatives at the local governments, states and the centre. "I will fight for free, fair and credible election because that is why I remained in politics," he said.Nigeria - President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to overhaul Nigeria's electoral management body as well as reposition the electoral process to make elections more credible in Nigeria, Leadership reports. buhari3 According to him, Nigeria had made gains in its democratic growth this year, adding that further progress would be made in the coming years. "I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what multi-party democracy is. But we thank God for technology, for the PVC and the card reader. If not this luck we had with technology and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they were used (we would not have won).In two political zones where they were subverted, the people wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote. "They continued with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms: write the results, go to radio house and television house and announce the result and say whoever does not want the result should go to court. How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the next day's meal? Where will they get the millions to give to those Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). "We have made a big stride this year and I assure you, God willing, if we survive the next four years, Nigerians will be in a position to confidently raise their head and elect their own representatives and leaders. They will choose those they want as their representatives at the local governments, states and the centre. "I will fight for free, fair and credible election because that is why I remained in politics," he said.According to him, Nigeria had made gains in its democratic growth this year, adding that further progress would be made in the coming years. "I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what multi-party democracy is. But we thank God for technology, for the PVC and the card reader. If not this luck we had with technology and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they were used (we would not have won).In two political zones where they were subverted, the people wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote. "They continued with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms: write the results, go to radio house and television house and announce the result and say whoever does not want the result should go to court. How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the next day's meal? Where will they get the millions to give to those Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs). "We have made a big stride this year and I assure you, God willing, i

According to him, Nigeria had made gains in its democratic growth this year, adding that further progress would be made in the coming years.

"I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what multi-party democracy is. But we thank God for technology, for the PVC and the card reader. If not this luck we had with technology and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they were used (we would not have won).In two political zones where they were subverted, the people wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote.

"They continued with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms: write the results, go to radio house and television house and announce the result and say whoever does not want the result should go to court. How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the next day's meal? Where will they get the millions to give to those Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs).

"We have made a big stride this year and I assure you, God willing, if we survive the next four years, Nigerians will be in a position to confidently raise their head and elect their own representatives and leaders. They will choose those they want as their representatives at the local governments, states and the centre.

"I will fight for free, fair and credible election because that is why I remained in politics," he said.

Wednesday 6 May 2015

President doubts Buhari’s victory

President Goodluck Jonathan has cast doubt on the victory of President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential elections.
Jonathan stated that election results from some areas showed scores that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) couldn’t possibly have gotten.
The outgoing President stated this on Thursday, April 30, 2015, after receiving a report of the elections from the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
“The problem is not whether we lost the elections, that is history, but how do we consolidate our party and move forward? If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will bounce back,” Jonathan said.
“The PDP is still the dominant party. If you look at the results, the difference is just 2.5 million votes and if you look at the areas where it is perceived that the PDP scored so low, the PDP couldn’t have got those kinds of scores but the elections are over, so the country first. It is not as if Jonathan alone made the sacrifice, it is all of us. I made the pronouncement but some of us are paying the price,” he added.
“The key thing is that we must continue to unite, as a party; we must continue to work hard so that as we go into subsequent elections in 2019, 2023 and so on and so forth, the PDP will continue to come up strong. Even in the interest of the nation, we need the PDP,” Jonathan said.
Jonathan also said that he conceded defeat to Buhari in the interest of and on behalf of the PDP.

Transport fares double as situation worsens

In usual fashion, Nigerian commuters have begun groaning under the weight of exorbitant transport fares due to the fuel scarcity currently plaguing the country.
Fares in Lagos are said to have doubled as a trip from Ajah to Obalende, which buses usually charge N200 for, now costs between N400-N500.
Motorcycles (Okada) and tricycle riders are not left out either as they now charge N200 for rides which usually cost between N70-N100.
“I’ve spent my transport fare for three days to get to work today,” one commuter, who lives in Ajah and works in Lekki, told Pulse.
“Traffic is also very bad because cars queuing for fuel have blocked half of the road,” he added.
Many car owners have abandoned their vehicles at petrol stations while yet others are waiting on queues despite the unavailability of the product.
Fuel marketers had earlier warned the Federal Government that petrol would become scarce if the N256.2bn subsidy debt owed them was not paid.
Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has however assured Nigerians that the situation would ease soon as the government had concluded plans to pay N156bn out of the debt to the marketers on Thursday, April 30, 2015.

www.stornews.blogspot.com

Party accuses Jonathan’s government of hindering transition

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration of hindering a smooth transition of power between Jonathan and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari.
The APC also stated that the Jonathan administration had no plans of cooperating with the incoming government despite its public posturing.
The party made the comments on Thursday, April 30, 2015, via a statement released by National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.
“We are sick and tired of being blackmailed by the Jonathanians. Gen. Buhari won the 28 March Presidential Elections fair and square, having satisfied both constitutional and other statutory requirements.”
“We have no apology for our victory, and the concession of defeat – while it may have increased the political stock of President Jonathan – has by no means diminished the historic and emphatic victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress.”
“It is either the outgoing Federal Executive Council has something to hide or is bent on sabotaging the incoming government. There can be no other reasons for the misplaced aggression that was exhibited in that ill-intentioned, unprovoked and vitriolic statement from the Jonathan government.”
”Are they now saying that because the President conceded defeat, the incoming administration can no longer ask legitimate questions or seek clarifications that may arise from the handover notes. We will not surrender to any blackmail, subtle or otherwise.”
“We shall ask questions and ask for explanations and clarifications whenever and wherever we deem such necessary. We cannot run a transparently honest government or fight corruption if we are prevented from asking legitimate questions and seeking clarifications from the outgoing government during the transition process. Let the Jonathan Administration not tie our hands behind our back just because he conceded defeat after losing an election.”
The Federal Government had earlier warned Buhari to stop acting like he was already in power and not to mistake Jonathan's magnanimity for cowardice.

Nigeria Borrows Money to Pay Government Salaries

Africa's richest economy is borrowing money to pay salaries as it struggles through a "difficult cash crunch" brought on by halved oil prices, Nigeria's finance minister revealed.
The news comes as Nigeria prepares to welcome a new government at the end of this month and the country's naira currency remains in a slump, hovering between 180 and 220 to the US dollar. It was trading at 160 a few months ago.
Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala tried to be upbeat in a speech on Tuesday after lawmakers approved the 2015 budget - revised three times because of slashed oil prices that provide 80 percent of revenue for the government of Africa's biggest petroleum producer.
She said "revenue challenges" had prohibited the release of any funds for capital expenditure this year but that food prices and single-digit inflation remained quite stable. And she said the economy still was on course to grow 4.8 percent this year.
"We have front-loaded the borrowing program to manage the cash crunch," Okonjo-Iweala told lawmakers.
www.stornews.blogspot.com

Nepal Earthquake Appeal

On Saturday 25 April a massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal. It severely shook the lives of at least 8m people and left many homeless.  Nepal’s major cities, including the capital Kathmandu, have been badly damaged and rural areas near the epicentre have been completely cut off by avalanches.
 
Already over 5000 people have been confirmed dead and the figure is likely to rise significantly in the coming days. Even those whose homes are still standing are sleeping in the streets because they are terrified by regular aftershocks.
 
DEC member agencies and their partners are working urgently to provide emergency shelter, food, clean water and blankets.  Once immediate, life-saving needs are met they will work with individuals, families and communities to support them to rebuild their lives.  You can help by making a donation now.    
www.stornews.blogspot.com