CAPITAL OIL PAYS NNPC N2BN FOR DIVERTED PRODUCTS
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/capital-oil-pays-nnpc-n2bn-for-diverted.html

The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Wednesday revealed that the Chairman of Capital Oil, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah under investigation for diversion of N11billion worth of petroleum products belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has paid back N2 billion out of the N11billion to the NNPC.
The chief operating officer, downstream-NNPC, Mr. Henry Nkem Obi disclosed in his presentation at a two-day investigative hearing organized by the House Committee on Petroleum (Downstream) on the disappearance of petroleum products and the spate of kerosene explosions in the country.
Nkem Obi told the committee that prior to the diversion of the petroleum products by Chief Ubah, NNPC had an agreement with Capital Oil that no party is to tamper with any petroleum products consignment in its custody without the knowledge of the other party.
He said that upon discovering that Capital Oil had diverted the petroleum products in its custody, the corporation reached out to relevant and sister agencies to help in the recovery of the diverted products.
“We’ve since engaged in the process of negotiations for defaulting party to return products to storage or pay the cash equivalent. Capital Oil has paid N2 billion and negotiations to get the full payment are on-going,” the COO said.
This revelation is coming on the heels of the ultimatum given to Chief Ubah and Capital Oil by the House to appear before the committee unfailingly today to speak on the disappearance of petroleum products worth N11 billion belonging to the NNPC.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Akinlaja Joseph, while issuing the ultimatum, accused Ubah and Capital Oil of evading the invitation from the committee summoning him to appear and testify. Also expected to appear before the House committee today is the managing director of the NNPC retail.
Earlier, Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, said that the disappearance of the N11billion worth of petroleum products belonging to the NNPC from the Capital Oil tank farm in Lagos, was capable of jeopardizing the nation’s economy by reducing government’s revenue and hampering efforts to exit from economic recession.

STATE GOVERNMENT DENIES RUMOURS OF LAGOS STATE MODEL COLLEGES’ SHUTDOWN
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/state-government-denies-rumours-of.html

Eyes Of Lagos gathered, Contrary to the rumours making rounds that the state government instructed all model colleges in the state to shut down over alleged threat by an unnamed kidnap gang, the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Ministry of Education on Tuesday, July 11 2017 dispelled rumours circulating of an alleged emergency instruction by the government to the effect that models schools in the state should hurriedly wind up for the term due to security threats.
Unconfirmed rumours were rife that the state government had instructed all model colleges in the state to shut down over alleged threat by an unnamed kidnap gang to unleash terror on students and staff of model colleges.
Reacting to it, the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Ministry of Education, Segun Ogundeji said there was no such threat or panic withdrawal of students from schools. He described the alleged threat as mischievous, urged the parents and guardians not to panic as school term would end soon.
You will be recall that a similar rumour of two letters of the same content to the Lagos State Model College, Kankon, Badagry by kidnappers who threatened to abduct pupils and staff members of the school.

MAN SURVIVES AUTO ACCIDENT AT OBANIKORO
source ; http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/man-survives-auto-accident-at-obanikoro.html

Report has it that a journalist with Enradio, Mr. Orunsolu Mutiin, yesterday, Tuesday, July 11, 2017, luckily escaped an auto accident unhurt when an articulated vehicle crushed into his vehicle at Obanikoro bus stop on the popular Ikorodu Road, Lagos.
According to (NAN), Mutiin was alone in his company’s Nissan Primera car with registration number LND 352 DS when the accident occurred during the early morning rush hour as workers headed to their places of work.
The accident held up traffic on the highway for almost two hours until traffic officials were able to move the vehicles off the road.
Mutiin, in shock spoke with NAN at the scene, saying the accident occurred at 7.30 a.m as he was on the Lagos Island-bound side of the highway.
“As I was approaching Obanikoro Bus Stop, there was a slight traffic. Suddenly, I felt an impact on my car and I saw the articulated truck behind me crushing my car.In the process, my car hit the two vehicles in front and I was pushed toward the culvert. I thank God that I am alive, even though my car was badly damaged,” he said.
The two other vehicles involved in the accident were a KIA saloon car and a smaller truck.
Commenting on the accident, Incident Commander, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Rescue Unit (LRU), Commander Philips Okoro, who was at the scene, alleged that the accident was due to the articulated vehicle driver’s recklessness.
“He claimed that it was brake failure. We checked the brake and discovered that it was intact. The driver has been arrested and detained at Ilupeju Police Station,” he said.
The rescue commander said that the KIA car had been towed to the Police station while the driver of the other vehicle left the scene when he noticed his vehicle was not damaged.
Okoro however advised drivers to be attentive and safety conscious while driving on the highway.

NIGERIAN MAN SHOWS-OFF HIS DISGUSTING MEAL OF EBA AND OKRO SOUP WITH CAT HEAD (PHOTOS)
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/nigerian-man-shows-off-his-disgusting.html

A Nigerian young man has taken to social media to show-off his disgusting meal of Eba and Okro soup which was prepared with cat meat.
The man who was seen all smiles after he enjoyed the meal, displayed the head of the cat after he has done justice to the eye sockets.
The identity of the guy or the part of the country where the meal was prepared and eaten were not ascertained by Tori News as at the time of filing this report.
See more photos below;

PHOTOS OF NIGERIAN MAN WHO STRANGLED HIS EIGHT MONTHS PREGNANT WIFE
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/photos-of-nigerian-man-who-strangled.html

The Plateau State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old man, identified as Victor Dashit for allegedly strangling his eight-month pregnant wife, Irene.

According to reports, he strangled her on their farm in Jos, Plateau state on June 2nd, after she confronted him for impregnating their maid.
According to Family sources, the accused who is a staff of the National Industrial Court, Jos and his 33 year old wife who is a teacher, have been having issues after she found out he was having sex with their maid, Nora.

“GIVE TO CAESAR WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR”- HILARIOUS CAMPAIGN POSTER SPOTTED IN BENUE STATE
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/give-to-caesar-what-belongs-to-caesar.html

The political campaign poster of a man who wants to return to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, was recently spotted somewhere in Gboko, Benue state.
As Nigerians consciously and conscientiously start preparing for the 2019 elections, aspiring candidates have started circulating their campaign posters.
It was spotted somewhere in Gboko, Benue state, where one Hon Emmanuel Yisa Orker Jev, wants to “give to Ceaser what Belongs to Ceaser”.
On closer observations, the “Ceasers” and “Belongs”, were written in capital letter, possibly depicting the party abbreviations (CBC).
Could that be the name of the party he represents?

POLICE ARREST 2 SUSPECTS OVER HAMBURGER’S DEATH
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/police-arrest-2-suspects-over.html

Operatives of the Lagos state police command have arrested two persons over the alleged murder of the Lagos State Motorcycle Operators Association, Mr Rasaq Bello, popularly known as Hamburger.
According to information gathered by Eyes Of Lagos, The suspects, identified as Samson and Tunde were reportedly taken to the state Criminal Investigation Department, SCIID, Panti, Yaba.
Meanwhile, the wife of the late Hamburger, Alhaja Abolore Bello, has appealed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni and other top officials to ensure that culprits responsible for her late husband’s death are brought to justice.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous-Cole, confirmed the arrests, adding that the suspects are still undergoing interrogation.
Recall that Mr Rasaq Bello aka Hamburger, the Chairman of the Lagos State Motorcycle Operators Association was shot dead during the councillorship primaries of All Progressives Congress, APC, at Shogunle area of Lagos, two months ago.

WHY WE DISOWNED KANU, IPOB – OHANEZE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/why-we-disowned-kanu-ipob-ohaneze.html

The apex Igbo socio-political group in the country, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday opened up on why it disowned the indigenous people of biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
According to the group, Igbo people have invested heavily in different parts of the country, even as these investments outside Igbo land is so huge that leaving the country is not a reasonable option at this time.
It also maintained that, while it denounced the IPOB, biafra and agents of secession, it is fully in support of restructuring.
President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, who spoke on behalf of the Igbo people said they will always stand against total break up of Nigeria despite agitation of some youth from the region.
Speaking during a session with Igbo leaders in Abuja, Nwodo added that no ethnic group has more stake in the country than the Igbos.
The Ndigbo leaders were in Abuja to meet with critical stakeholders and have their understanding on the present happening.
“Ohanaeze understands and appreciates the circumstances that prompted the youth agitations under the MASSOB and IPOB platform. We do not believe that leaving the country is a reasonable option at this time”, Nwodo told the Igbo leaders.
Nwodo said that his group, governors, National Assembly members, traditional and religious leaders, after deliberating on the situation in Enugu, came to the conclusion that the restructuring option is the reasonable way to go and not secession.
He explained that restructuring will bring Nigeria to a level where every person of which ever tribe, religion or class would have a sense of belonging and in return give in their best for the development of the country.
Ethnic Agitations Are Becoming Dangerous – Udenta ,Meanwhile, a public affairs analyst, Dr. Udenta Udenta, has warned that ethnic agitations across sections of the country are becoming dangerous.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eyes Of Lagos , Udenta said that there is need to apply restraint in the manner these agitations are made or else the nation will suffer the negative effect.
He said, “The colonial mode of constructing the Nigerian state privileged ethnicity and regions over other nation formation categories and that ethnicity, ethnic consciousness, ethnic rivalry and charges and counter charges of hegemony overreached by different factions of the ruling elite were implicated in the decomposition of the structural and institutional facets of the post-colony in the early and mid 1960s.
“Closer to us in time frame, one can even aver that 39 years after Professor Okwudiba Nnoli published his groundbreaking Marxist classic, ‘Ethnic Politics in Nigeria’, in which he
interrogated the configuration of national identity and the production of political and economic power on ideological imperatives worked out by the confluence of the national political elite attired in various ethnic garbs, there is still something troubling incestuous about the upsurge in ethnic self live.
“The unbridled and unrestrained embrace of ethnic nationalism is not only as an antithetical and ideological narrative but also as the unwholesome coming of souls and bodies from the same extended ancestral bloodline, “ Dr Udenta espoused.
He, however, called on all and sundry to ensure that all hands are on deck to ensure collective peace in the polity.

FOREX: CENTRAL BANK ANNOUNCES BIDS FOR RETAIL AUCTION
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/forex-central-bank-announces-bids-for.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Wednesday announced bids for retail auction by authorized dealers in the inter-bank foreign exchange market.
This incoming on the heels of the Bank’s intervention in other segments of the market on Monday to the tune of $195 million.
Making the disclosure in Abuja, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications at the Bank, Isaac Okorafor, said banks are expected to submit requests made by their customers to the CBN, adding that the results of the bids for retail auction will be released in the coming days.
It will be recalled that the CBN, in its last mediation in the market, injected the sum of $195 million into various segments of the inter-bank foreign exchange market, noting that the move was in continuation of its drive to ensure liquidity and stability in the foreign exchange market.
At the Bank’s intervention on Monday, authorized dealers in the wholesale window were offered the sum of $100 million.
The Bank also allocated the sum of $50 million to the Small and Medium Enterprises window, while it allocated the sum of $45 million for invisibles such as Basic Travel Allowance, tuition and medical bills.
Okorafor had disclosed on Monday that the objective of the Bank’s intervention was to strengthen the international value of the Naira, while also ensuring accessibility to forex by customers requiring it for genuine purposes.

32 SHIPS LADEN WITH PETROLEUM PRODUCTS, FOOD ITEMS, TO ARRIVE LAGOS PORTS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/32-ships-laden-with-petroleum-products.html

Thirty two ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos from July 5 to July 18.
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) made this known in its publication, `Shipping Position’, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
NPA said that the ships contained bulk wheat, fertiliser, corn, sugar, frozen fish, lubrication oil, general cargo, steel products, petrol and containers laden with goods.
NAN reports that six ships had arrived the ports, waiting to berth with bulk wheat, fertilizer, ethanol, and petrol.
NAN reports that 22 other ships are at the ports discharging bulk wheat, corn, fertiliser, gas, charcoal, Brazilian cane, diesel, frozen fish, general cargo, and containers. (NAN)

CUSTOMS, NDLEA DEMAND BRIBES AT PORTS – UK MAGAZINE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/07/customs-ndlea-demand-bribes-at-ports-uk.html

A United Kingdom-based publication, Guide to Port Entry, has accused government officials of allegedly seeking bribes and gratifications before clearing vessels for berthing at Lagos seaports. The publication is the most accurate and comprehensive port information resource which assists crew in planning port calls to over 11,400 global commercial ports and terminals.
The report features more than 3,300 pages of port information and over 5,600 port plans and mooring diagrams. Over 9,000 ports, terminals and places are detailed and over 2,000 shipmaster’s reports of conditions experienced and1,800 terminals are featured.
The government agencies that are expected to board and clear vessels on berthing include Port Health Agency (PHA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Department of State Security (DSS) Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA); Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Pollution Control.
However, shipmasters have reported that officers of these government agencies and pilotage officers seek “presents” before performing their duties. The publication in its report on Lagos ports read, “The process of clearing takes 4-5hours as you may have to deal with many officials demanding various documents. Allow your agent to do the talking to avoid problems with the authorities.
“Masters should have the following ‘presents’ for officials. Beer, 12 cases; soft drinks, 20 cases; whisky, 10 bottles; Cigarette, 20 cartons; Fish, 10 bags (Prepared in advance). Others are Chicken, (whole) five packets; Longlife milk, three litres; Apples 10packets; Orange juice, four litres and sardine five packets.”
On pilotage, the publication also accused pilots of seeking gratuities before berthing vessel. “Pilotage is compulsory, entry during daylight only. Vessels should arrive at the fairway buoy where the pilot arrives by tug two pilots (senior and apprentice) board vessels requesting “presents” prior to berthing the vessel.
However, the lead speaker at the celebration of the 2017 Day of the Seafarers (DotS), Capt. Fola Ojutalayo expressed dismay at Nigerian officials seeking gratuities before discharging their responsibility. Ojutalayo said what is reported about Nigeria by the Guide to Port Entry is economically and diplomatically damaging to our national image.

LAGOS REMAINS HOME TO ALL TRIBES, NATIONALITIES – AMBODE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/lagos-remains-home-to-all-tribes.html

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode says he would not divulge efforts being made to rescue the kidnapped Lagos Model College students and end kidnapping in the state.
He believes the efforts would yield positive results.
Governor Ambode, who spoke in Ikeja when he received members of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs led by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu.
Ambode also hailed the measures the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has taken to quell tensions generated by agitation from some ethnic nationalities seeking secession.
Oba Akiolu on his part stated the State were solidly in support of the peaceful co-existence of people in the country.

AMBODE EXPLAINS WHY FORTHCOMING EID FITRI CELEBRATION WILL NOT HOLD AT STATE HOUSE ALAUSA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/ambode-explains-why-forthcoming-eid.html


The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has explained the decision of his administration to host Muslims for the forthcoming Eid Fitri celebration in twenty centres across the State as opposed to the usual tradition of hosting at the State House.
He said the decision was part of the strategy to bring about bonding among the people and enhance community participation in governance.
Speaking at Lagos House during a courtesy visit by members of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Governor Ambode said it had been over time that people travel from far and near to celebrate with the first family in the State during festivities, and that the decision to host Muslims in various centres across the State was basically to address such trend on one hand, and also to give greater number of people the sense of participation in governance on the other hand.
“Instead of somebody coming from Badagry, the Local Government, the Community Development Associations (CDAs), the traditional rulers, the Chief Imams and every other person will celebrate the Ramadan and recital of Quran in their communities and so there is a sense of belonging and so instead of 2,000 people coming to Ikeja, I am likely to have one million people across the State doing the same thing at the same time and in doing that, they will get the sense of involvement. So, we must practice community governance using our different platforms to celebrate ourselves,” Governor Ambode explained.
He said the same strategy was adopted during the Lagos at 50 Community Day Celebration held in May which turned out a success, adding that with the initiative, government would evolve community participation in governance and enhance the bonding among the people.
The Governor also promised to make appearance in some of the centres to celebrate Eid Fitri with the people, and urged the traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders among others to also join in the celebration.

AREWA YOUTH MUST BE ARRESTED – EL-RUFAI
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/arewa-youth-must-be-arrested-el-rufai.html

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, has vowed that the group behind the quit notice given to the Igbo would be arrested.


According to the reports gathered by Eyes Of Lagos, The governor made the declaration when he received Igbo Delegate Assembly and Northern Igbo Chiefs at government house, Kaduna, on Tuesday.


He said the state which had been affected by different crises would not tolerate sensitive comments that could incite and cause disaffection among the people.


“We are going to arrest the Arewa Youth and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes. Since the press conference was done in Kaduna,” he said.
“If they had done it in any other place, we would have just condemned them but since it’s in Kaduna, we are going to arrest them.”

GE’S $250M CALABAR MANUFACTURING PLANT READY IN Q3 – ANGBAZO
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/ges-250m-calabar-manufacturing-plant.html

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to inaugurate General Electric’s (GE) $250 million manufacturing plant in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, which is billed to be ready in the third quarter of this year.
This aligns with Nigeria’s infrastructure needs and will contribute to economic development, especially in the oil & gas, power and transportation sectors.
The most visible sign of GE’s commitment in Nigeria resides in Calabar.
In February 2013, GE broke ground on an ambitious $1 billion investment in Calabar, the first of its kind in Africa.
The initiative includes a capital investment of $250 million, and about $800 million set aside for goods, labour, staff welfare and training over a period of five years.
President and chief executive officer of GE Nigeria, Dr. Lazarus Angbazo, said “We intend to have Mr. President inaugurate our Calabar manufacturing plant in the third quarter of this year. The consequences of that investment is that we are going to have a step change in terms of job creation directly and enabling jobs through supply chain, partners, and sub-contractors. Our contractors, Julius Berger has already created over 1,000 jobs on that project.
“Our jobs are some of the best jobs in Nigeria and our staff is 95 per cent Nigerians. There is no other country on the continent in the GE footprint that comes close in terms of the fact that Nigerians are at the helm. We have cascaded the Country-to-Country Agreement to specific projects with specific targets particularly rail, which is now the most topical.
“I appreciate the vision and the tenacity of the President and his team, especially, the Minister of Transport and the team at Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), as well as some of the leaders in the agencies that have been working on this concession. The amount of preparatory work that needs to happen for this concessioning to be successful is humongous. This is a sector that has never really been invested in”.
According to the information gathered by EYES OF LAGOS, Angbazo said looking at the different assets of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, whether it is the Apapa site, the Zaria workshop or Enugu or Onitsha, it is clear that an amazing amount of work is underway.
He said, “We are far from finishing. But I want to say that unlike that history of that sector, I have seen a tremendous amount of tenacity and commitment in getting to a solution where we can see a marked improvement of the relevancy of that sector to the economy.
“So, the launch, the concession process, and a Request for Proposal (RFP) to this stage, where we have submitted and very surprisingly, based upon reporting – I have no personal knowledge of this – it appears that GE and its consortium, was the only entity that submitted a proposal”.
He said there is the need for Nigerians to understand what needs to happen for Nigeria to have a good rail system.
“This is important because our country is going nowhere without power and transportation. All Nigerians should be committed to making sure that we have leadership and focused momentum. When we see people trying to do things right, let us encourage them”, the GE CEO said.
In order to align with Nigeria’s goal for growth through its vision 2020, GE signed a historic Country to Company agreement aimed at fostering partnerships and driving critical infrastructure projects across the country.
GE’s agreement with the federal government cuts across power, transportation and healthcare sectors. Today, GE’s operation is creating a lot of economic activities.

I’M NOW A HAPPY MAN AFTER MY SECOND MARRIAGE – MUSA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/im-now-happy-man-after-my-second.html

Super Eagles and Leicester City winger Ahmed Musa says he has found happiness once again after marrying a second wife.
Musa, 24, divorced his wife of four years and mother of his two kids, Jamila, before marrying a new wife in Juliet Adeh last month.
Musa said that he is once again happy as a married man.


“Marriage is not new to me but I believe it was a right move to make when I did,” Musa told Completesportsnigeria.com.
“The past remains in the past.
“I’m happy now and I think well and I can focus on my game which suffered a bit.”
Musa struggled in his first season in the Premier League, scoring four goals in 32 appearances Leicester in all competitions.

FOUR STUDENTS INJURED AS BUS RAMS INTO A TRUCK IN IGANDO
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/four-students-injured-as-bus-rams-into.html

An auto crash which occurred along Lasu- Igando road has left four students of Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCED) critically injured,
It was gathered that the bus conveying the students rammed into a stationary waste disposal truck due to over speeding.
Four students were rescued from the vehicle unconscious, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
Officials of the rescue agencies, Lagos State Ambulance Services (Lasambus) and Lagos state Emergency Management Agency,( LASEMA) were on ground to attend the victims before they were taken to the hospital.

VIDEO OF TWO MEN CAUGHT WITH SACK OF HUMAN HEAD IN IKORODU
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/video-of-two-men-caught-with-sack-of.html

Watch the video


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo_CH2R08pc

GADDAFI’S SON SAIF AL ISLAM FREED FROM PRISON IN ZINTAN
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/gaddafis-son-saif-al-islam-freed-from.html

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, has been released from prison, according to fighters who control the facility.
A statement from the Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Battalion, a militia which controls Zintan, a mountainous region southwest of the capital Tripoli, said Saif al-Islam was released late on Saturday.
The most prominent of Gaddafi’s sons, Saif al-Islam, 44, was captured in Zintan in November 2011 as he was fleeing to neighbouring Niger after opposition fighters seized Tripoli.
Saif al-Islam, the most prominent of Gaddafi’s eight children, was sentenced to death in July 2015 by a court in Tripoli in a mass trial of former Gaddafi government officials.

He is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Since the Gaddafi’s four-decade rule ended in 2011, Libya has struggled to establish basic institutions and rule of law, with militias and former fighters challenging the authority of the weak central government.

PIPELINE SABOTAGE INCREASES TO 94 IN MARCH – NNPC
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/pipeline-sabotage-increases-to-94-in.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said pipeline sabotage in the country increased from 49 downstream pipelines vandalised points in February 2017 to 94 in March 2017.
In its March 2017 edition of the monthly Financial and Operations Report released in Abuja on Saturday, it said this represented over 91 per cent increase relative to the previous months despite Federal Government’s and the NNPC’s continuous engagement with the stakeholders.
“Nevertheless, there is a noticeable improvement compared to corresponding period of March 2016 which posted 259 cases,’’ it said.
It added that in the downstream sector, NNPC had in stock, a robust inland supply of over 1.2billion litres of petrol sufficient for more than 34 days forward consumption.
On Automotive Gas Oil, AGO, and Aviation Turbine Kerosene, ATK, NNPC continued to import to supplement AGO local refining and the Central Bank has released foreign exchange to marketers to import AGO and ATK.
The report notes that the inaugurated 497.2 km System 2B petroleum pipeline network which was achieved within the period under review had helped the NNPC to sustain the gale of uninterrupted supply and distribution of products throughout the country.

It recalled that recently the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, noted that the Corporation’s re-commissioned Mosimi and Kano depots had impacted positively on highways across the Country.
Dr. Baru had stated that the two depots had relieved the impacts of long haulage of petroleum products on the roads, saving the nation of serious environmental consequences of bridging to motorists, settlements along highways and the general ecosystem in the country.
The Report Further noted that the efforts by the Federal Government to boost electric power generation in the country may soon yield the required dividend following the sustained increase in gas supply for power generation by the NNPC.
It noted that said the average national daily gas production for the period stood at an impressive 226.918 billion cubic feet, bcf, which translates to over 7.319 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, mmscfd.
However, the daily average national gas supply to gas power plants increased to 689mmscfd or the equivalent to power generation of 3056 mw.
It added that the March 2017 figure is an improvement on the previous month’s record which stood at 582 mmscfd.
“ The supply is also over 29 per cent higher than the corresponding supply record for March 2016.
The March 2017 NNPC monthly Financial and Operations Report is the 20th edition.

BIAFRA: NORTHERN GROUP INSISTS IGBOS MUST LEAVE, CHIDES EL-RUFAI, SHETTIMA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/biafra-northern-group-insists-igbos.html


A Coalition of Northern groups, tagged ‘Kaduna Declaration’ has insisted that the Federal Government of Nigeria should as a matter of urgency, initiate the process for a peaceful referendum to allow the Igbos go their way.
The groups had on Tuesday came up with a position paper presented as the Kaduna Declaration, calling on the authorities and the international community to step in to formalize the actualization of the dream of a people who have said they are Biafrans not Nigerians.

In a joint press statement on Thursday issued through its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, the coalition said, “We are today compelled to make this further statement to clarify our stands after our meeting to review the fallout of the Tuesday’s declaration. Our groups have arrived that some elements have for reasons best known to them, mischievously distorted the intent of our original script by alluding such words as ‘violence, ‘ ‘threat, ‘ ‘war’ and ‘mass action’ to it.
“We find this mischievous because as cultured Thoroughbred Northerners, we have never anywhere and at anytime, under whatever circumstances, called anybody to violence as a means of conflict resolution.
“In strict observance of that tradition, we never employed violence as a means of pursuing our interest and at every opportunity, we opt for peaceful engagements and implore people to eschew violence in all its ramifications.
“This informs why, a majority of discerning Nigerians, not necessarily northerners alone, understood and identified with our express call for the Biafrans to be allowed to actualize their long-held secessionist aspiration.
“We wholeheartedly endorse the moves made variously by our leaders to allay those fears and urge people to be peaceful and law-abiding while at the same time resolutely insisting on having the right thing done by allowing the Igbos to have and move to their dream country in accordance with the universal fundamental right to self-determination.
“We restate our determination and commitment to ensuring that the North will never partake in any contrived arrangement that would still have the Biafran Igbo as a component.
“We reiterate our call on Nigerian authorities and recognized international bodies such as the ECOWAS, AU and UN to hasten the initiation of the process for the final actualization of the Biafran nation out of the present federation.”
The groups noted that despite the minor distortions that caused some measure of anxiety, “We make bold to say that the cheerful responses to our position which flowed through the internet and by way of personal telephone and conversations nationally and universally has resonated that peace-loving Nigerians who have been tormented and menaced by the irredentist proclivities of the Igbos are overwhelmingly desirous to put an end to it.
“As we acknowledge this outpouring of patriotic support across the nation, we implore people, particularly our cultured northerners to remain restraint in the face of any provocation from any quarter and to debate intelligently.
“We assure them that we shall be firm and resolute in honestly and painstakingly pursuing what we all know is a noble and just cause without hurting anyone.
“We have taken time to analyze the reactions that trailed our Declaration, and were nauseated by the comments of some disgruntled northern political power mongers.
“We are particularly disappointed by the treacherous positions assumed by Nasir Ahmed El-rufai and Kashim Shettima who in pursuit of their blind ambition for the vice presidency, chose to side with the secessionist Igbos against the interest of peace-loving Nigerians.
“El-rufai and Shettima are openly known to be waiting in the wings for Mr. President Muhammadu Buhari to die so they can further their plots to seek the presidency.
“It appears that characters like El-Rufai have no limit on how low they can fall in their inordinate desire to achieve their long held dream of power grab at the expense of the peace, well being and stability of our country.
“We would like to assure El-Rufai and his ilks that we shall continue to expose their recalcitrant treachery and opportunistic proclivities.
“We also assure them that the drive for a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria in which the Igbos are not partners, will continue unabated.
“Similarly, we are irked by the hordes of lies and misleading innuendos issued by Kashim Shettima, ostensibly on behalf of 19 Northern governors in which he refered to us as faceless and violent.
“By our antecedents and track record, no politician or leader of honorable pedigree and impeccable character will associate us with such fabrications and this goes to prove that Shettima has disconnected from reality as he gets intoxicated by immoral wealth and property acquisition at the expense of people of the state suffering the devastation of Boko Haram,” the groups explained.

MAKING PEOPLE HAPPY WITH MY MUSIC, MY GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT —WIZKID
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/making-people-happy-with-my-music-my.html

Multiple award-winning pop star, Wizkid has said that making people happy with his music remains one of his greatest accomplishments in life. Wizkid Starboy made this assertion when he stormed MTV International studios to talk about his mixtape and how he deals with his fame among other things.


He said he was not doing music because of fame, but “for the love he has for music.” Asked how he manages his fame, Wizkid said, he does it for the love of the music.

“I don’t do music for the fame, I don’t see that. So, I don’t let that get into my head, I’m really more into the music,” Wizkid enthused, adding that when the fans show him love, he does appreciates it. “There is a bigger vision of where we are trying to take this to. So we have to just stay working, humble and relaxed,” Wizkid added.

On his greatest accomplishment, Wizkid simply replied, “It’s the feeling I get whenever a fan comes up to me and expresses how my music makes them feel.

My greatest accomplishment is just making people happy with my music.” About his summer mixtape “Sounds From The Other Side,” Wizkid says, it’s for the fans and hopefully wants to be dropping it every two years. Explaining the concept of the tape more clearly, Wizkid said, it’s about his local producers and international producers working together as well as he working with international artists and merging it all to make good music. He noted, however, that an album would follow the mixtape.

EXECUTIVE ORDER: NPA BEGINS IMPLEMENTATION, SACKS SON, NAFDAC FROM SEAPORTS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/executive-order-npa-begins.html

Managing director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Ms Hadiza Bala-Usman yesterday named the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health as the approved agencies to operate at the nation’s seaports.
Eyes Of Lagos Investigations revealed that, This was even as the MD ordered other agencies not mentioned and approved to operate at the seaports to leave with immediate effect. The agencies not mentioned and supposedly ejected out of the seaports include:”Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Port Quarantine Services, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
She said: “I want to recognise seven approved agencies of government that operate at the port. In 2011, an approval was granted to streamline activities of government agencies at the port.
For ease of referencing, the approved agencies are Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA); Nigerian Customs Service (NCS); Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA); Nigeria Police Force; Department of State Security (DSS); Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and Port Health.
According to her, any other agency of government operating at the port apart from these seven are not required and should know they have to vacate whatever location they are occupying within the port because the current order stipulates they must not operate within the port.
She specifically stated that the agencies ejected from the ports are to come in when their services are required. “The NDLEA is required to come in and provide function as at when required. All agencies that are not mentioned are to vacate the port or anywhere they are operating,’’ she said.
Also speaking, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col . Hameed Ali said the meeting is very important to the operations of the service. According to him, the order, when implemented will reduce clearing time and cost of doing business at the ports. “I want to say we have embarked on a change process that we have never had this before and there is tendency to say it is one of those things.
“It’s going to stay because we believe all of us should be committed to this. The ease of doing business is to reduce time and processes and cost and bring here this afternoon is to underside the seriousness. “I will enjoin all of you to join hands with all of us and to ensure that we implement this to the latter.

GOOD NEWS AS AMBODE SHARES PLANS FOR LAGOS AIRPORT ROAD
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/good-news-as-ambode-shares-plans-for.html

There is good news for Mainlanders and other residents to ply the usually busy International Airport road from Oshodi.
This is following the recent announcement by the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who made a disclosure of his plans for the reconstruction of the road.
The news is coming few days after the Nigeria’s acting president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo granted the Lagos State Government permission to embark on a total reconstruction of International Airport Road from Oshodi.
Ambode who is in ecstatic mood ahead of the commencement of the project has shared the plans of the State Government.
In a message shared via his official Twitter handle, Ambode said: “10 lanes, sidewalk, pedestrian bridge, interchange, and flyover. We believe this will be more befitting for an important gateway into Nigeria.”
The news has since generated various reactions from Mainlanders and other stakeholders who are eager for the government to commence the project.

55 GOVT OFFICIALS, BUSINESSMEN DIVERTED N1.35 TRILLION FROM 2006-2013 – SAGAY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/55-govt-officials-businessmen-diverted.html



The Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Itse Sagay, has revealed that a study has shown that 55 top Nigeria government officials and private businessmen illicitly diverted a total of N1.35 trillion between 2006 and 2013.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that, Sagay, who spoke at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja, during the Conference on Promoting International Co-operation in Combating Illicit Financial Flow and Enhancing Asset Recovery to Foster Sustainable Development, revealed that at least one trillion naira was lost to fuel subsidy scam in the country and millions of dollars stolen by an ex-minister from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) coffers to bribe election officials in 2015.
According to him, one-third of the stolen money could have been devoted to several relevant projects in the country insisting that because of the looting, Nigeria has the largest number of abandoned projects in the world.
“A study revealed that between 2006 and 2013, 55 top government officials and private businessmen illicitly diverted a total of N1.35 trillion roughly at that time $7.5 billion to themselves at the expense of ordinary Nigerian citizens. This was what was revealed. What was not revealed turned out to be far more mind boggling,” he declared.
“These included trillions of naira squandered in fuel subsidy scam, billions of naira in Dasukigate and hundreds of millions of dollars taken from the NNPC by a former minister to bribe election officials in 2015. The list goes on.
“In the press release of January 2016 on the negative impact of looting, government provided the following insight: One third of stolen funds could have provided 600.18 kilometres of road and 36 ultramodern hospitals per state. The funds would have provided education for children from primary to tertiary level at the rate of N5.34 billion per child and 20,062 units of two-bedroom houses. The amount stolen would have done all these.
“As I was putting my thought to paper on Thursday, June 1, a newspaper headline kept screaming at me: N423 billion Niger Delta projects misappropriated by the Ministry of Niger Delta.
“So you can see that the corruption onslaught is devastating and unrelenting thus driving us further and further from our sustainable development goals.
“I have always said it and you know Nigerians don’t like the truth, but this is the truth, give our elites an opportunity to do a project, vote money for that project, the first thing they do is divide that money amongst themselves.
“Nigeria has largest number of uncompleted projects in this world. Many people just take the money and walk away in collusion with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that awarded the contracts.
“Let me draw the connect between unrestrained looting and illicit financial flows. Most of the financial assets stolen in Nigeria are taken out of the country as part of the illicit financial flow. The immediate impact is that Nigeria is deprived of the capacity to realize its sustainable development goals of the UN officially known as transforming our world.
“These include no poverty (eradication of poverty), zero hunger (eradication of hunger), good health, quality education, clean water and sanitation and affordable clean energy etc.
“It is hard for any country to achieve that when it has looted 90 per cent of its resources and this hemorrhage is leaving our shores of under-developed world to the developed world, developing them more while we are retarding.
“The annual flow of criminal activities is estimated at between $1 and $1.6 trillion and half of this comes from developing countries like ours.
“It is therefore vital that we increase our capacity of understanding the illicit financial flows, the haemorrhage if we are to meet our sustainable goals or if we are ever to transform something better. We have to acquire the capacity to stop the haemorrhage.”

FORMER ABIA GOVERNOR, KALU REVEALS WHEN BUHARI WILL RETURN TO NIGERIA

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari will return to the country before June 11.

Kalu said Buhari’s health had improved when he visited him in the UK last week and urged Nigerians to stop spreading messages of hate and division about the President’s health.

Speaking in an interview with reporters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, he said: “I went to Washington to visit some business partners and from there stopped at London to see Mr President, who is recovering very fast.

“I am excited over the state of health of President Buhari despite the hate messages people were spreading about him. I am disappointed with the statement coming from some Nigerians about the health of Mr President.

“The messages some Nigerians have been spreading in the social media is unhealthy. I am calling on Nigerians to have a change of heart. Being a President, does not mean, you cannot be sick, the hate messages are becoming too much. There must be good sense of tolerance among the ethic groups, we are all one.”
Buhari left Nigeria for London May 7 for further medical check-ups.

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/former-abia-governor-kalu-reveals-when.html

PDP CHIEFTAINS, 25,000 OTHERS DECAMP TO APC IN KEBBI
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/pdp-chieftains-25000-others-decamp-to.html

The former Kebbi State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Bello Doya, and 25,000 other members of the party including key party stalwarts decamped to the APC on Sunday.
Gov Atiku Bagudu, APC executives, and hundreds of supporters from the 21 local government areas of the state were on hand to receive the decampees, among whom were Alhaji Isah Muhammad Argungu, the former director general of the campaign organisation of former Gov Saidu Dakingari and the 2015 PDP gubernatorial candidate, Gen. Bello Sarkin-Yaki (Rtd).
Others are three current PDP State House of Assembly members led by Alhaji Muhammad Ismail, ten former local government council chairmen, as well as former local government party and ward chairmen.
No fewer than 160 former PDP councillors, businessmen and contractors, as well as women and youth groups decamped.
The State APC chairman, Alhaji Attahiru Maccido, said the decampees joined the party willingly.
In his remarks, Bagudu promised to give equal opportunities to both the new and old members of the APC.
”APC is a blessing to Nigeria, it has become the party of all, in APC everybody is equal, all will be treated equally and fairly,” he said.
Spokesman of the decampees, Argungu said their decision to decamp was informed by the achievement of the APC administration at both the state and federal levels.

UNSOLICITED MESSAGES ON MTN NETWORK VIOLATION OF SUBSCRIBER’S RIGHT – COURT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/unsolicited-messages-on-mtn-network.html

Granting unknown persons and organisations access to a subscriber’s telephone line by MTN for the purpose of sending unsolicited messages to the line is a violation of the subscriber’s right to privacy, the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has ruled.
A three-man bench of the Court of Appeal led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson, unanimously held in its judgment that the said MTN’s act was a violation of the subscriber’s right to privacy guaranteed under section 37 of the 1999 Constitution.
Justice Emmanuel Agim, who prepared the lead judgment of the Court of Appeal, held that the innumerable text messages sent without the consent of the subscriber was a violation of the subscriber’s fundamental right to privacy of his telephone conversations, correspondence, his person, telephone line and telephone message inbox.
Justice Agim held, “By giving those unknown persons and organisations access to the respondent’s MTN GSM phone number, to send text messages into it, the appellant violated the respondent’s fundamental right to privacy guaranteed by section 37 of the Constitution which includes the right to the privacy of a person’s telephone line.\
“The said section 37 of the 1999 Constitution provides that, ‘The privacy of citizens, their homes, correspondence, telephone conversations and telegraphic conversations is hereby guaranteed and protected’.
“The innumerable text messages without his consent at all times is a violation of his fundamental right to the privacy of his telephone conversations, correspondence and his person and telephone line and telephone message inbox.”
Justice Agim also held that MTN’s act violated Rule 14(1)(b), (2) and (3) of the General Consumer Code of Practice Rules and the Consumer Code of Practice Regulations 2007, both of which were regulations made on the strength of section 70 of the Communications Act.
The two regulations, according to Justice Agim, “require the appellant (MTN) to maintain a directory enquiry facility containing information of all its subscribers in Nigeria and allow access to same by third parties but subject to the prior notification of the subscriber”.
Justice Akomolafe-Wilson who head the court’s three man-panel and the another member, Justice Olabisi Ige, agreed with the lead judgment delivered by Justice Agim.
The Court of Appeal in Abuja delivered the judgment on May 12, 2017, but its copy was made available to our correspondent on Sunday.

THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE HANDBAG: AN HERMÈS BIRKIN BAG SELLS FOR #138MILLION NAIRA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/the-worlds-most-expensive-handbag.html

Would you rather have a house or a handbag? If you have to choose, you can't afford the Hermès white Himalaya crocodile diamond Birkin bag that Christie's just unloaded for $379,261, making it the most expensive handbag ever sold at auction.
The exclusive white Himalaya Birkin, handmade from Niloticus crocodile with more than 240 diamonds on its 18-karat-gold hardware, is routinely in the top spot for most expensive bag — this year's titleholder (sold in Hong Kong) knocked the crown off another white Himalaya Birkin that sold for a little over $300,000 in 2016.
Hermès matte white Himalaya Niloticus crocodile diamond Birkin sold for more than $379,000 at Christie's in Hong Kong
Courtesy of Christie's
Hermès matte white Himalaya Niloticus crocodile diamond Birkin sold for more than $379,000 at Christie's in Hong Kong
Celebrities, of course, love the bag. David Beckham, who is worth $350 million, bought his clothing designer wife, Victoria, an albino Nilo crocodile Himalayan Birkin in 2008 for a reported £80,000 (or about $100,000). Kim Kardashian has also been spotted with the Himalayan.
David and Victoria Beckham
Getty Images | Anthony Harvey
David and Victoria Beckham
The Himalayan is so-named because the coloring resembles the famous mountain range, and it's "possibly the rarest and most desirable handbag in the world," according to Hermès expert Jane Finds.

"Hermès only very rarely—and very thoughtfully—creates unique pieces of this caliber," says Finds. Christie's estimates only one or two of the bags are handmade per year.
The bag is so rare and expensive in part because white or albino crocodiles are hard to come by and the dying process for the bag is painstaking.
Even the simplest of Birkin bags start at about $10,000 and are famous for their often months- or years-long waiting lists to purchase.
But Birkins aren't just fashion statements or folly — these bags only appreciate in value with time.
Just ask Victoria Beckham. She reportedly has 100 Birkins in a collection that's estimated to be worth $2 million.

LASG INTRODUCES NEW GRADUATE INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME TO TACKLE YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/lasg-introduces-new-graduate-internship.html

In a bid to reduce the high rate of youth unemployment, the Lagos State Government has launched an internship programme aimed at empowering young graduates to increase their employability skills and create more opportunities for them.
Speaking at the induction programme of the internship scheme on Thursday, June 1, 2017 the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, disclosed that about 250 young graduates were selected for the first batch of the programme.
Eyes Of Lagos gathered that “About 250 beneficiaries have been taken up for internship by our up-takers, who are our partners. They were picked out of the 2,000 we have in the first set,” he said.
The Commissioner added that “we introduced this scheme because we need something to stimulate them to redesign that ecosystem, and that is why we decided as a government to invest in a transparent and inclusive process, and also let them know that this is very competitive.”
During the event, three beneficiaries of the scheme who were particularly outstanding received special preference in job placement and N100, 000 each.
In his remarks, Durosinmi-Etti stated his observation on how employers were usually skeptical about the low employability skills of graduates, hence the decision of the government to introduce the scheme in order to invest in the youths through a very competitive and transparent process.
The commissioner maintained that the programme would be a continuous one, stressing that the partners working with the Ministry are from different sectors with the mandate to accommodate the beneficiaries in order to give them the opportunities to be trained and benefit the organisations.
He noted that this would open opportunities for the interns to either work in those organisations when they complete the three-month internship programme or, acquire skills that could make them entrepreneurs.
“To qualify for the internship programme, beneficiaries must have a first degree or a Higher National Diploma, and must have completed their youth corps service,” Durosinmi-Etti disclosed.

UK VISA: NIGERIANS, OTHERS TO PAY FOR EMAIL ENQUIRIES FROM JUNE 1
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/06/uk-visa-nigerians-others-to-pay-for.html

British High Commission has announced that email enquiries by visa customers applying from outside the UK would attract a fee as from June 1.
The high commission made this known in a brief report on changes to UK Visas & Immigration customer care operations made available by the Media Officer, Mr Joseph Abuku, in Abuja on Monday.
According to the reports Eyes Of Lagos gathered, the changes would help the government reduce costs and ensure those who benefit directly from the UK immigration system make an appropriate contribution.
“Effective today (June 1), email enquiries by visa customers from overseas will attract a fee.
“How you contact UK Visas and Immigration is changing.
“From 1 June, all customer enquiries will be handled by a new commercial partner Sitel UK. The new contract will see a number of changes for customers.”
The high commission stated that changes were made in all phone numbers and opening hours.
Other changes made were a reduction in the number of languages offered to 8 including English and a fee of £5.48 for customers who contacted the UK Visas and Immigration by email.
“You will need to pay using a credit or debit card for contacting us by email.
“The charge includes the first email enquiry you send and any follow-up emails to and from the contact centre relating to the same enquiry.
“The way you pay to use the telephone service will remain the same using a credit or debit card.
“If you do not have access to a credit or debit card, you may choose to use a trusted 3rd party such as an agent or sponsor.”
The UK mission, however, stated that there were no changes to services for customers contacting from inside the UK.