Below are the headlines found on The Punch Online Newspaper for today, Thursday, 28 September, 2017.
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
THE ongoing bid by the House of Representatives to regulate activities of Non-Governmental Organisations and Civil Society represents the latest in a series of efforts by overbearing lawmakers to muffle critical voices of opposition and cow the public into submission. The draft bill, which has already passed its Second Reading, depicts a parliament bent on []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja Two former ministers, who served in the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled Federal Government, have declared that it will not be easy for the party to return to power in 2019. The two former ministers are a former Minister of Police Affairs, Mallam Maina Maziri, and a former Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Oladimeji Ramon Marriage registrars from the 57 local government areas and local council development areas of Lagos State on Wednesday stormed the Federal High Court in Lagos for the hearing of a suit challenging the power of the Federal Ministry of Interior to solemnise and register marriages. The 57 marriage registrars appeared before Justice Chuka []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Oladimeji Ramon In May 2015, a Lagos-based lawyer, Toluwani Adebiyi, dragged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to court, seeking an order baring the commission from increasing electricity tariff until every household in the country enjoys at least 18 hours of uninterrupted power supply on a daily basis. The lawyer, in his suit, complained bitterly about []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Oladimeji Ramon The Federal High Court in Lagos has summoned the Chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc, Dr. Ambrose Orjiako, over alleged disobedience of an order of court. Justice Hadiza Shagari on Wednesday ordered that Orjiako must appear before her on October 16 to defend the allegation of contempt of court levelled against him []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday in Abuja said 37 political parties would be presenting candidates for the Anambra governorship election scheduled for November 18, News Agency of Nigeria reports The commission, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, released a list of the candidates, with five women vying for []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
The payment technology sector and the banking industry are increasingly thriving on apps. This is why almost each of the 24 banks in Nigeria has an app for their customers when it comes to mobile or online banking. There is the need for every bank customer to get acquainted with identity theft prevention tips before []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Anna Okon More revelations have continued to trail Great James Oil and Gas Limited, the firm linked with the illegal importation of 1,580 guns into Nigeria. On September 11, the men of the Nigeria Customs Service intercepted a 20-foot container at the Tin Can Island Port with 1,100 pump-action rifles concealed in wash basins. Eight []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Chairman, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, has called on the National Assembly to pass progressive bills that will impact positively on the economy, following Nigeria's exit from recession. Elumelu, who is also the chairman of Heirs Holding Limited, made the call in Abuja shortly after he was conferred []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, on Wednesday announced plans by the Federal Government to build international rail lines that would connect Nigeria with neighbouring countries. Amaechi, who spoke at a seminar in Abuja, also said the poor state of Nigeria's transport sector was mainly due to the absence of a national []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has said the demand for the nation's crude oil outstrips the current supply. Last year, Nigeria saw a resurgence of militant attacks in the Niger Delta that caused the nation's oil production to plummet to a near 30-year low of 1.4 million barrels per day from about 2.2 []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Everest Amaefule, Abuja Nigeria may have to grapple with the payment of $11.62bn in foreign debt in the next 10 years, a projection of the Debt Management Office has shown. The debt service payment over the 10-year period, 2017 to 2026, includes some principals that will fall due for redemption as well as interests that []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Jennifer Abraham Happy times can almost cause vertigo. Nigeria appears to be lightening up with increased power supply, marginal drop in the cost of foodstuff and fuel pump price, and a renewed interest in forward integration, especially in the aspect of agricultural commodities processing by government and emerging entrepreneurs. These times can still get better []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
The future looks bleak for Nigeria's oil exports as its biggest crude oil buyer and three major European customers are poised to do away with petrol and diesel-powered vehicles from 2025, 'FEMI ASU writes India, China, France, Netherlands and the United Kingdom bought a total of 24.4 million barrels of crude oil from Nigeria in []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu The Chairman, Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area, Mr. Bolaji Muse-Ariyo, has said a substation belonging to Ikeja Electric was shut because the company failed to pay the annual rent due to the government. Our correspondent gathered that the substation was reopened on Monday one week after it was shut down, with residents of the []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu Ikeja Electric said it had spent over N150m to carry out major rehabilitation work at Ogudu Injection Substation in a bid to improve power supply in its network, especially at Ojota, Ogudu, Soluyi, Gbagada, Alapere, Oriola and environs. The company said in a statement that the rehabilitation became necessary as a result of []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Stanley Opara The Chief Executive Officer of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, Dr. (Mrs.) Ebere Ekpunobi, has resigned from the company's board. Ekpunobi was said to have resigned from the board due to medical condition from sporting injury, a statement by the drug maker indicated. The company, therefore, announced the appointment of Mr. Chris Mmeje, the []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu The Managing Director of Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, has described the outlook for the deepwater space of the nation's oil industry as promising. Ojulari stated this at the fourth edition of the annual Global Nigeria Forum held in Aberdeen, Scotland with the theme, 'Enabling competitive local content through []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu The Group Chief Executive, Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, has highlighted the importance of strategic partnership to maximise organisation's potential and grow the nation's economy. A statement on Wednesday said Tinubu was in attendance at a private dinner in New York with top United States investors with a keen interest in Nigeria, organised by []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Coca-Cola Company's Nigerian operation will invest $600m by 2020 to boost sales, in line with a global strategy to extend the product range beyond its soft drinks. The unit of the Atlanta-based beverage maker plans to expand its offering of drinks to include flavoured and condensed milk, iced tea and bottled water to meet demand []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Libya's oil output is rising again after disruptions ended at its biggest field, with production reaching about 950,000 barrels per day even as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allied suppliers step up efforts to contain a global glut. Output at the North African nation's Sharara field has recovered to 230,000 bpd, according []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu The Sahara Group, a privately owned power, energy, gas and infrastructure company, has said it is working towards impacting 12 million young people through its foundation. The Manager, Sahara Foundation, Mr. Oluseyi Ojurongbe, stated this during a courtesy visit to The Punch Place, the headquarters of Punch Nigeria Limited in Ogun State, on []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Anna Okon The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents has blamed Customs officials and unregistered port operators for fraudulent activities at the nation's seaports and land borders. It has therefore called on the Federal government to sanitise the port operations in the country. The Zonal Coordinator, Western Zone, ANLCA, Alfred Ofobike, said that Nigeria's ports []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu Lagos-based Geogrid LighTec Limited has struck a partnership with Global Hydro, an energy firm based in Austria, to develop a compact power plant that can harness both hydro and solar sources to produce energy for rural areas. The Chief Executive Officer, Geogrid LightTec, said the technology, known as SmartT system, would provide adequate []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
United States-based terminal operator, Millennium Bulk Terminals has encountered an obstacle in its plans to construct and operate the largest coal export terminal in North America as it was denied a water quality permit for the project. According to www.worldmaritimenews.com, the Washington Department of Ecology denied the permit because the coal export terminal near Longview []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja The Petroleum Equalisation Fund has embarked on massive capacity upgrade for employees of the organisation in order to deliver efficient services once the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill takes full effect in the oil and gas sector. The PEF's Executive Secretary, Mr. Ahmed Bobboi, stated that the agency would further embark on three []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Mudiaga Affe, Calabar The Nigerian Shippers' Council says the Calabar port is still experiencing low activities despite port reforms. The council, in a communiqu issued at the end of a one-day sensitisation seminar in Calabar, Cross River State, among others, called on the Federal Government to formulate shipping policies that would improve the capacity of []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Asu The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Mr. Simbi Wabote, has said a research and development council will be constituted for the nation's oil and gas industry and it will integrate research initiatives of stakeholders and steer them towards achieving tangible and beneficial outcomes. He disclosed this in Lagos at the []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Stanley Opara Indians and Britons have emerged the two dominant sets of players, among other foreign players, in Nigeria's electronic dividend mandate exercise for the capital market. Latest data released by the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc showed that aside from Nigerian investors, Indian and British investors topped the e-dividend register with 156 and 142 []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Nike Popoola The Chief Executive Officer, Eunisell International, Iain Fraser, has said that it is important to develop the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry. He said this during a technical training that was organised by the firm for lubricant additive customers with the theme: 'Advances and trends in automotive, transmission and []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Femi Makinde and Peter Dada Osun State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Biyi Odunlade, has launched an attack on his Ondo State counterpart, Mr. Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, saying the latter is not fit to hold public office. Odunlade, who was reacting to Yusuf-Ogunleye's allegations that Osun United mobilised hoodlums to Ijebu Ode in Ogun State to attack []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
US President Donald Trump has dragged Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt into the ongoing row about athletes protesting during the US national anthem, Independent.ie reports. Trump tweeted a video of the 100m world record holder pausing an interview at the 2012 London Olympics as the US national anthem began to play in the background along with []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Neymar starred as PSG sent out a statement of intent with an impressive 3-0 Champions League victory over Bayern Munich on Wednesday, while Michy Batshuayi grabbed an injury-time winner as Chelsea won 2-1 at Atletico Madrid, AFP reports. It took PSG less than two minutes to break the deadlock in the Group B clash against []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Ex-internationals Nduka Ugbade and Emmanuel Babayaro on Wednesday praised Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr for the calibre of players he invited for the October 7 Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia in Uyo. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria, Tunisia '94 Africa Cup of Nations winner Ugbade and Atlanta '96 Olympic Games []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Nigeria has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2017 FIBA Africa Club Championship zonal elimination by FIBA Africa Zone 3. Nigeria Basketball Federation president Musa Ahmadu-Kida expressed his delight at the development. Kida said after the NBBF's meeting in Lagos the board frowned upon the country's inability to host any major competition had adversely []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Sunshine Stars coach Duke Udi has slammed the fans of his former club Osun United for the violence that marred their second leg Aiteo Cup match at Ijebu Ode on Saturday. No fewer than 20 persons reportedly sustained serious injuries while a number of vehicles were destroyed during the fight between suspected Osun United and []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Gonzalo Higuain got Juventuss Champions League campaign off the mark coming on as a substitute to lift last years finalists to a 2-0 Group D win over Olympiakos on Wednesday. Massimiliano Allegris side needed to reignite their European campaign after falling 3-0 toBarcelonain Spain two weeks ago. And Higuain hit back after being dropped by []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
UEFA Champions League tables after Wednesdays second round of games (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points): Group A Manchester United 2 2 0 0 7 1 6 Basel 2 1 0 1 5 3 3 CSKA Moscow 2 1 0 1 3 5 3 Benfica 2 0 0 2 1 7 0 []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Leading UEFA Champions League scorers after Wednesdays matches: 5: Kane (Tottenham) 4: Ben Yedder (Sevilla), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 3: Cavani (Paris SG), Lukaku (Man Utd) 2: Aboubakar (Porto), Babel (Besiktas), Batshuayi (Chelsea), Messi (Barcelona), Neymar (Paris SG), Oberlin (Basel), Pardo (Olympiakos), Stones (Man City), Talisca (Besiktas)
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Romelu Lukaku and Anthony Martial put CSKA Moscow to the sword as Manchester United took control of Champions League Group A with a ruthless 4-1 win on Wednesday. Lukaku scored twice at Moscows VEB Arena, taking his United tally to 10 goals in nine games, with Martial setting him up twice and netting a penalty []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Edinson Cavani and Neymar both scored as Paris Saint-Germain claimed a convincing 3-0 victory over a disappointing Bayern Munich in their heavyweight Champions League clash in the French capital on Wednesday. PSG got off to a dream start as their other Brazilian summer signing Dani Alves gave them the lead inside 90 seconds at the []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Dear Prof, I feel very privileged to be able to address this letter to you. As one of the leading lights in the teaching and practice of law in Nigeria, the opportunity to speak to you, a teacher of teachers and an accomplished legal luminary, is what someone, a relative non-starter in the area in []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Abimbola Adelakun aadelakun@punchng.com The Christian Association of Nigeria is, for the billionth time, raising sanctimonious alarms against the perceived Islamisation of Nigeria. This time, the charge is that the Federal Government wants to sneak in an 'Islamisation' agenda through floating a Sukuk Islamic bond. CAN, with a righteous indignation, claims that Nigeria is a secular []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Greg Odogwu That a great national event like FESTAC 77 is commemorated this year and no one is talking about it says a lot about who we are as a people. We leave the big things and bicker over the small things. We leave our root and perch on tenuous branches of borrowed cultures, pretending []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Borokini Joshua The complex nature of climate change and its environmental and social manifestations result in diverse risks to human health. Our current, rather skewed knowledge of climate'health relationships has come from epidemiologic studies of health risks in relation to differences in temperature and from quasi-cyclical climatic events. However, most of the health risks arise []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Doyin Odebowale I just read a piece by The PUNCH columnist, Niyi Akinnaso, on the unfortunate occurrence at the zonal programme organised by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, on the raging debate on 'restructuring', in Akure, on Thursday, September 21, 2017. I was utterly disappointed at the writer's barely disguised slant to explain []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Afeez Hanafi The life of a 300-level student of Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Morrison Akinbule, has been allegedly brought to a tragic end in a circumstance invoving his lover, identified simply as Chidinma. Chidinma has been arrested and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, for Akinbule death, which []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
An office assistant, Ifeanyi Anyanwu, who allegedly absconded with his employer's $12,000 (N4.3m), on Wednesday pleaded guilty to the crime in an Igbosere Magistrate's Court, Lagos State. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Anyanwu, 28, whose address was not given, made the plea when he was arraigned on one count of stealing. The prosecutor, []
Thu, 28 Sep 2017
Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna. The Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai on Wednesday betrayed emotion as aid was announced for a five-year-old boy, Sadiq Abubakar, whose eyes were gorged out by suspected ritual killers in Zaria last year. Abubakar, who was then a four-year-old, attended Ango Abdullahi International School, Zaria, at the time of the incident. []
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