Nigerian army averts triple suicide bombing

Nigeria's army said it thwarted a suicide bombing on Monday when soldiers killed two female suspects before they were able to attack displaced people, while a third died when her explosives detonated prematurely.

Army spokesperson Colonel Sani Usman said the trio tried to attack internally displaced people (IDPs) collecting water at a well on the outskirts of Monguno, in Borno state, at about 06:15 (05:15 GMT).

Two of the three women, who he described as "Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers" were shot and killed, causing their explosives to detonate, injuring two civilians.

The third suspect's explosives went off about an hour later at a nearby location, Usman said.

The attempted attack came just before the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is marked in Nigeria with two days' public holiday – Tuesday and Wednesday.

It also follows a similar attempted suicide bombing at a mosque in the Borno state capital, Maiduguri, on June 27, which saw two men try to target Ramadan night prayers at a city mosque.

Both incidents underlined the threat posed by Boko Haram, which has used suicide bombers against civilian "soft targets" as part of its seven-year insurgency to create a hard-line Islamic state.

A military counter-offensive waged since January last year has pushed out the militants into remote border areas around Lake Chad. The rate of attacks has declined in recent months.

Borno governor Kashim Shettima meanwhile announced there would be no restriction on movement in or out of the state during the celebrations to mark the end of a month of fasting and prayer.

It is the first time in six years that restrictions will be lifted.

But Shettima said "stringent security measures" will be in place at prayer grounds, where large crowds were expected.

News24

Video - Renowned Nigerian author Elechi Amadi dies aged 82

Nigeria is remembering the life and literary contribution of author Elechi Amadi who died age 82, after a long illness earlier this week.

Leicester to sign Nigerian football star Ahmed Musa

Premier League champions Leicester City are to sign Nigerian international attacking midfielder Ahmed Musa from Russian champions CSKA Moscow for $21 million (18.8 million euros). Separately, Leicester announced earlier Sunday they had signed former France Under-21 midfielder Nampalys Mendy from Nice on a four-year deal, as they bolster their squad for a tilt at the Champions League.

The 23-year-old Musa, who scored a brace for Nigeria in a 3-2 defeat against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup finals, is to sign a five-year deal. “He’ll be leaving Tuesday,” CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky told Russian media of the player, who joined CSKA in 2012 and has scored 53 goals in 161 games. “And if you look at the way things are done over there you’ll see he is a player just made for English football,” Slutsky said. Leicester’s first signing since winning the English Premier League was Sporting Gijon defender Luis Hernandez on a free transfer.

Vanguard

Manchester City to block Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho from playing at Olympics

Manchester City are set to prevent Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho from playing for his country at this summer's Olympics in Rio, Brazil.

New City boss Pep Guardiola wants the 19-year-old to stay with the English Premier League side for pre-season.

Nigeria included Iheanacho in their provisional squad, despite having received a letter from City to say the player would not be available.

"I don't know if my team and my country have decided," Iheanacho said.

"If your country wants you to play for them you surely have to do so, but it's not up for me to decide. I don't know if it has been concluded or not."

Iheanacho, who joined City from the Taye Academy in his native Nigeria in January 2014, broke into the club's senior side last season and scored 14 goals in 35 appearances in all competitions.

His displays have seen him move above Wilfried Bony, the experienced Ivory Coast international, in the pecking order.

If he went to Brazil for the Olympics for the football tournament, which takes place between 3-20 August, he would missing the opening weeks of the Premier League season.

City believe that the Iheanacho would benefit more from spending a full pre-season working with Guardiola as the player seeks to establish himself as a first-team regular.

Versatile
Speaking at a fan event at City's Academy Stadium, Iheanacho said: "Everyone knows Pep and what he can do. I think he is a great manager and I think he will bring many things to this team.

"I can play number 9, 10, 7 and 11 as well so I can play in different positions. Anywhere I can fit in, I will play.

"I am happy with what I did last season and now I have to work really hard this season to get something for the team and work for the team as well."

Iheanacho faces fierce competition to win a regular place in City's line-up, with new signing Nolito able to play in attack, as well as Bony and first-choice forward Sergio Aguero.

But the teenager believes that he can persuade Guardiola to give him a chance as City seek to improve on last season's fourth-place finish.

He said: "Everyone wants to start games and work hard. I need to work extra hard and I will get a chance," he added.

"It will be a big season for me, and for every player."

BBC

Video - Niger Delta Avengers claim five attacks

The Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group that has been carrying out attacks on Nigerian oil facilities in the past few months, claimed responsibility on Sunday for five new attacks in the southern energy hub since Friday.

The group had previously not laid claim to any attacks in the Niger Delta - the source of most of the OPEC member's oil - since June 16.

Petroleum Ministry sources said in late June that a month-long truce had been agreed with militants. But the Avengers said they did not "remember" agreeing to a ceasefire.

Attacks in the Niger Delta have pushed Nigerian crude production to 30-year lows, although the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said last week that output was rising because of repairs and a fall-off in attacks.

In messages posted on Twitter in the early hours of Sunday, the Avengers said they had attacked a pipeline connected to the Warri refinery operated by NNPC on Friday night.

They added that they blew up two lines on Saturday night close to Batan flow station in Delta state run by NPDC, a subsidiary of NNPC.

The militants also said two Chevron facilities close to Abiteye flow station, in Delta state, came under attack early on Sunday.

Residents in some of those areas reported hearing blasts.

"All five operations" were carried out by an Avengers "strike team", the group said.

Garba Deen Muhammad, a spokesman for state oil company NNPC, whose managing director is the oil minister, confirmed that the crude facilities identified by the Avengers had been attacked.

"Government will not be deterred in its efforts to find a lasting solution to these attacks," he said.

Chevron spokeswoman Isabel Ordonez said that "as a matter of long-standing policy," the company did not comment on "the safety and security" of its personnel and operations.

The militants say they want a greater share of Nigeria's oil wealth, which accounts for around 70 percent of national income, to be passed on to communities in the impoverished region and for areas blighted by oil spills to be cleaned up.

On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari hosted a group of community leaders from the Delta and urged them to pacify people in the restive region where anger is widespread.

Eric Omare, of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), which represents the Delta's biggest ethnic group, said the "resumption" of attacks was "worrisome", adding that the government had failed to build on goodwill generated by the oil minister's visit to the region in June.

"The federal government has not taken any practical step toward resolving the issues," said Omare, adding that the IYC urged the Avengers not to carry out further attacks in order to "give room for constructive dialogue".

Reuters

Nigeria to draw up shortlist for the Super Eagles coaching job by Friday

Nigeria have started the process of finding a new manager of the national team, according to the country's football federation.

The Super Eagles have been without a permanent coach since Sunday Oliseh quit the post in February.

The Nigerian Football Federation is hoping to be able to draw up a shortlist of candidates by Friday.

"We encourage applications from all highly-qualified persons, whether they be Nigerians or expatriates," it said.

"Applications are welcome until Wednesday, and the Technical and Development Committee will meet on Friday to look through all applications and release a shortlist."

Caretaker manager Salisu Yusuf guided Nigeria to victories over Mali and Luxembourg in two friendly matches in May, but the NFF president Amaju Pinnick has publicly declared his intention to appoint a foreign manager for the country instead.

Nigeria were rocked by Oliseh's exit, brought about by a dispute over contract violations, and they had to play two crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Egypt in March under the temporary charge of Under-23 coach Samson Siasia.

The three-time African champions were eliminated from the competition and will not feature at next year's finals in Gabon.

Opinions are sharply divided about what direction the NFF should follow after the country's failure to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 Nations Cup tournaments under local managers.

Nigeria have been drawn in the same African 2018 World Cup qualifying group B as former champions Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.

The group includes three of the five African countries who went to the last World Cup in Brazil and they will be battling for a single place at the tournament in Russia.

Algeria and Nigeria both got past the group phase in 2014 and were eliminated in the round of 16 while Cameroon, hampered before arriving in Brazil by a player strike over money, lost all three games and conceded nine goals.

BBC

USA to block Nigeria's looted funds from banks

James Entwistle, the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, has expressed his country’s readiness to stand hand in hand with Nigeria and provide any assitance needed to jointly combat corruption. He also assured that no looted funds are laundered through the American banking system. According to the diplomat, the Obama administration has already offered technical assistance to local anti-graft agencies for the training of investigators and prosecutors.

Mr Entwistle made the announcement during the 240th United States Independence Anniversary celebration cocktail party in Abuja on Saturday. He said: “Not just the political freedom you exercised last year, but freedom from fear, freedom from want, freedom from sickness, and freedom from corruption. The last election was tremendous democratic success, not only for Nigeria, but the growth of democracy across Africa. As you fight Boko Haram and secure and rebuild the Northeast, and you strive for harmony in the Niger Delta and across the land, we will continue to help in every appropriate way.

Indeed, let us redouble our efforts on the humanitarian front in the Northeast. Nigerians are dying of starvation in Nigeria. The United States stands with every Nigerian who believes that Nigeria can be healthier, safer, and more prosperous.” On economy and investments The ambassador also commended Nigeria’s economy direction, stressing the importance of fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange rate control. Besides, he urged the government to keep developing investment-friendy environment to attract more foreign companies thus boosting economy.

“As you continue privatization of the power grid, through President Obama’s Power Africa initiative, we stand ready to, among other things, help companies invest in building more electricity infrastructure, especially environmentally-friendly power generation. As you increase your commitment to healthcare and education, we support those efforts too,” he assured Mr. Entwistle, who has worked 35 and a half years at the U.S. Foreign Service, is planning to retire and leave his post of the ambassador to Nigeria by the end of this month. He has described his stay in Nigeria as a fascinating time and expressed optimism and hope for the better future for Nigeria. However, he refused to comment on his letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, over sexual allegations against three Nigerian lawmakers while on official trip to the U.S. months ago.

NAIJ

Video - Plan to raise over $90bln to stabilize Nigeria

Stabilizing oil prices should help Nigeria's engineer an economic recovery, but Africa's largest economy also needs a lot more funding to develop -- that's why a Nigerian business delegation is in China this week. Is that a hard sell? Cheng Lei spoke to Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Nigeria's state minister for petroleum resources, to find out how the fundraising is going.

Nigeria strengthens airport security after Turkey terrorist attack

Nigerian authorities have reacted swiftly to the terror attack in Turkey by beefing up security at all major airports across the country.

Following the twin explosions and gunfire that rocked the Turkish international airport of Ataturk in Istanbul, killing 36 and leaving more than 40 people injured, Nigerian authorities have reacted to possible terrorist threats.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, said yesterday that technological devices such as metal detectors and 3D screening machines had been installed to counter any possible security breach.

FAAN advised all airport passengers to be security conscious at all times and weary of any threats or suspicious packages.

The Presidency meanwhile reacted to the terrorist attacks in Turkey, calling it very sad and wishing that all the victims to rest in peace.

News24 reported that two explosive devices were set off in the Ataturk International airport with video footage captured by CCTV cameras showing the exact moment a suicide bomber detonated the device.

News24

Lagos shutting down churches and mosques to reduce noise pollution

Authorities in Nigeria's Lagos State have shut 70 churches and 20 mosques in an attempt to reduce high noise levels.

About 10 hotels, pubs and club houses were also closed, officials said.

Some estimates put Lagos' population at around 20 million, creating a constant background of noise - from the blaring of car horns, to the Muslim call to prayer and loud singing in churches.

The state government has vowed to make the city, the biggest in Africa, noise-free by 2020.

In August, the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LEPA) closed 22 premises after residents complained about noise emanating from them.

Following the latest crackdown, its general manager Bola Shabi said the agency would no longer allow people to pray in makeshift buildings and tents.

Mr Shabi said noise levels had been reduced by about 35%, but this was not a "pass mark yet".

"Enforcement is a continuous exercise and we have set a target for ourselves. We want to ensure that Lagos is noise-free by the year 2020," he said.

Mr Shabi said mosques complied with their instructions more than churches because when they are ordered to shut down, they "instantly bring down their speakers or reduce the noise they make''.

Nigerians are extremely religious, with a large number of evangelical churches operating in Lagos.

Christians form the majority in the city.

In 2014, 116 people died when a building owned by popular televangelist TB Joshua collapsed in Lagos.

BBC

President Buhari appeals for patience as government 'rebuilds' Nigeria

The Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, has appealed to the citizenry to exercise patience as his administration works assiduously to rebuild Africa’s most populous nation.

The president’s appeal was contained in a press release after he had met with a delegation of Niger Delta Dialogue and Contact Group at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him beyond building Nigeria to become a nation that generations to come would be proud to inherit, under his watch Nigeria will also witness judicious utilization of resources.

“We intend to rebuild this country; so that our children and grand-children will have a good place they can call their own. A lot of damage has been done, so I want you to tell the people to be patient. We will utilize the resources of Nigeria with integrity and rebuild the country,” he assured.

He further disclosed that the Niger Delta Amnesty programme signed by the late president Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration was been studied with a view to determining what had been fulfilled, promising that whatever is left would equally be addressed.

He tasked local leaders like His Royal Highness, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass, Bayelsa State, who led the group that met him to talk to groups in the region to maintain peace and calm as government works to address their plights.

He also sympathized with business people whose capital investment in the Niger Delta region was being badly affected due to insecurity. The traditional authority on his part reiterated that the group was made of peace builders, dedicated to peace and stability in the region.

AfricaNews

China spends $80 billion on oil and gas in Nigeria

Chinese businesses have pledged to invest US$80 billion on oil and gas infrastructure projects in Nigeria, the country’s state oil company said.

The announcement of the Memorandum of Understanding follows a roadshow in China by Nigeria’s Oil Minister and chief of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu. The deals, NNPC said in a statement, involve everything from pipelines to refineries to power generation.

The West African country, which has traditionally been ranked as the sixth-largest oil producer globally, has recently run into serious trouble, and its oil and gas infrastructure are in need of a serious update, with none of its four refineries reaching peak production due to poor maintenance.

"Memorandum of understandings (MoUs) worth over $80 billion to be spent on investments in oil and gas infrastructure, pipelines, refineries, power, facility refurbishments and upstream have been signed with Chinese companies," said NNPC in a statement.

On top of the sharp oil price decline of the past two years, Nigeria has had to deal with a huge fraud scandal concerning the NNPC’s alleged failure to pay US$16 billion to the government.

The latest blow to the industry that contributes the most to GDP was the flurry of militant attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta by an organization calling itself the Niger Delta Avengers, which vowed to bring the country’s oil production to zero through bombings of production and transportation facilities, in defense of the interests of communities living in the Niger Delta.

This zero production status has not been reached yet, but the organization has managed to cut output by 600,000 barrels per day, and is now calling for a referendum aiming to overhaul Nigeria’s political system. Meanwhile, the attacks prompted a temporary rally in international crude prices, highlighting Nigeria’s importance in benchmark price-setting.

By Irina Slav, Oilprice.com

Chelsea celebrates John Mikel Obi's 10 years at the club

English football giants, Chelsea Football Club have celebrated the 10-years stay of Nigeria’s Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi with the club. The club posted a video on its official website to celebrate the 29-year old.

Mikel joined the Stamford Bridge outfit from Lyn Oslo of Norway in the Summer of 2006 after a controversial transfer saga with Manchester United also claiming to have signed him ahead of Chelsea.

The then 19-year-old Mikel made his debut for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League on 12 September 2006, against Bulgarian club Levski Sofia. Mikel received many positive comments for his performance in the match.

The Nigerian joined during the Mourinho era when Chelsea boasted an African contingent that included Ivorians Didier Drogba and Solomon Kalou and former Ghana international Michael Essien.

Even though he started out as an attacking midfielder, the Portuguese manager was quick to reshape Mikel into a holding midfielder cast in the mould of Chelsea great Claude Makalele. 10 years on, Mikel has served Chelsea in the holding midfield role.

The club’s website on Mikel’s summary page wrote thus, ‘‘Despite the presence in our squad of arguably the greatest holding midfielder of all time, Claude Makelele, Mikel still made over 40 appearances in his first season at Stamford Bridge, and he has maintained a high level of consistency throughout his Chelsea career.’‘

Sometime during the ‘second coming’ of José Mourinho, there were strong reservations about his lifestyle outside of Stamford Bridge, and the club were reportedly considering offloading the player. Deals were announced but never materialized.

In his ten years stay with Chelsea he has won all available domestic club trophies including the Europa League and the prestigious UEFA Champions League. The only continental club trophies to have eluded him are the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA club World Cup.

He has worked with a handful of managers since joining, he played twice under Jose Mourinho, twice under Guus Hiddink as caretaker, Israeli Avram Grant (also as caretaker after Mourinho’s first exit).

He also served under Roberto De Matteo (as cartaker and substantive manager), he was around during Andre Villas Boas’ tenure, during Luis Felipe Scolari and Italian Carlo Anchelloti.

At the national team level, Mikel has played 75 games for the Super Eagles and currently is captain of the team, he has four goals to his credit and was part of the triumphant team that won the AFCON 2004 in South Africa under the late Stephen Keshi.

African News

Kachikwu warns China against fraudulent oil deals in Nigeria

The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, says the era of discretionary sale of crude oil by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is now a thing of history.

Dr Kachikwu warned Chinese businessmen seeking clarifications at the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing about offers for sale of crude oil from Nigeria, that such offers are scam.

The Minister spoke at a reception organized by officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Beijing.

The forum provided an opportunity for officials of the embassy to seek clarification about the sale of crude oil in Nigeria following enquiries from Chinese businessmen who got fraudulent offers from Nigeria

He explained that only 11 companies were approved to lift crude oil from Nigeria following an open bid process and that the next bids will hold in April 2017.

He said that the use of discretion in the sale of crude oil by previous administrations led to corruption in country’s oil industry.

The Minister said that Nigeria is also investigating reported discovery of Nigeria’s stolen oil in China and appealed to Chinese businessmen who buy stolen oil to stop the practice because it encourages vandalism and militancy in Nigeria.

The meeting was one of the activities on the NNPC roadshow in China to seek investment for the repair and expansion of infrastructure in the nation’s oil industry.

Over 50 billion dollars memorandum of understanding for investment in the oil industry has been signed. One of the agreements is with China’s leading oil company, Sinopec

The Minister and his officials also signed an agreement with China’s largest securities and assets management company, Cinda Group

The company specializes in providing financial lifelines for big companies in the country

The roadshow for investment in the oil sector is also scheduled for India and gulf countries.

ChannelsTV

Former Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Madueke passes away at age 71

Nigeria’s former Foreign Minister, Ojo Maduekwe is dead. Until his death, he was the Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT).

Born on May 6, 1945, Madueke also served as Minister of Culture and Tourism and Minister of Transportation under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The Chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Walid Jubrin confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Jubrin said he was shocked to learn about the death of Maduekwe.

He said that the former Nigerian Ambassador to Canada passed on at a critical time when the party needed him most.

Jubrin said that he was waiting for Maduekwe come back from U.S., where he travelled to, so that they could put heads together to address the party’s leadership problem .

“I learnt with sadness and great shock about the death of this very devoted member of the party, a very dependable member and a very useful member with whom we have worked very closely together.

We have been trying our best to find a solution to this problem and it is so sad that Maduekwe died at a very critical moment.

It is sad that at this critical moment, Maduekwe had to go and we are definitely going to miss him and his ideas.

He meant very well for this party, he meant very well for the BoT.

He had very fantastic ideas on the way out for our party crisis.

Maduekwe has been national secretary of the PDP, he has been a Nigerian ambassador and so, we were utilizing his knowhow in BoT.

He did very well for the few months he was in BoT. I will never forget him.

I have lost a great partner,” Jubrin said.

He prayed to God to give members of the deceased family as well as PDP faithful the fortitude to bear this great loss.

NAN

MTN Nigeria winner of the 2.6GHz spectrum auction

After a transparent and competitive auction process, the Nigerian telecoms regulatory authority, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) , Wednesday formally declared MTN Nigeria as the winner of the 2.6GHz spectrum auction. 

Accordingly, the auction process had afforded both local and foreign operators the opportunity to enjoy equal and unfettered rights of participation in line with the NCC’s desire for transparency and ensuring a level playing field for all. 

It would be recalled that NCC had earlier confirmed that ‎MTN’s bid was in full compliance with the relevant provisions of the Information Memorandum (IM) for the exercise in which MTN emerged as sole approved bidder. 

The NCC has described this spectrum as a significant trigger for a broadband revolution that will unlock benefits such as greater coverage, access, affordability and innovation, with the customer at the centre of these gains. 

Speaking on the new development, MTN Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Ferdi Moolman said that, “After complying with all the requirements for the 2.6GHz auction and making the licence payment of N18.96 billion to the NCC, MTN has been issued a letter of award. 

With the 2.6 GHz band, we expect to roll out and provide the full range of LTE services to Nigerians, empowering Nigeria with the latest mobile broadband technology.” According to him, “We are very pleased with this development at this time, which is a further step in the right direction for Nigeria. 

Indeed, MTN is fully aligned and supports the NCC’s objective to deliver broadband services to present and future generations of subscribers, in line with the National Broadband Plan of 2013.” The 2.6GHz acquisition, he said has set the stage for the roll-out of 4G LTE broadband internet services across the country, starting in the major cities of Lagos and Abuja. 

He added “This license acquisition further demonstrates MTN’s abiding faith in the future of Nigeria and the resilience of the Nigerian economy. MTN continues to believe in Nigeria and we have expressed this belief in the level of our investment, which currently stands at approximately USD 15 billion and counting. 

We strongly believe that there is need for significant levels of investment in broadband infrastructure and services to truly launch Nigeria into the information age. We are honoured to be the arrowhead. “In addition, we are also delighted that the matter of the fine imposed by the NCC was amicably settled in the interest of all parties. 

I am pleased to announce that the first payment of N30 billion in the terms of settlement has already been disbursed to the NCC. In addition to the earlier payment of N50 billion which we paid in good faith and without prejudice on February 24, this means we have now paid a total of N80 billion. “Our subscribers, especially those in clustered areas such as the major cities, can expect distinct improvements in browsing speed, quality and experience. 

This means that they will have fast access to high definition video streaming, as well as conferencing and calling, lag-free music streaming, and improved data uploads and downloads”. 

As such, MTN’s success in this auction is a big boost to its plan to deliver global mobile broadband and LTE 4G services to over 60 million customers in Nigeria. MTN also plans to use FDD networks in addition to its existing WIMAX over TDD networks, as this provides for greater consistency with existing 2G and 3G deployments. 

Although Nigeria is one of 28 African countries that currently offer 4G/LTE services, the rate of penetration is restricted to a few major cities. Meanwhile, studies by McKinsey have shown that a 10% increase in broadband penetration is associated with a 1.4% increase in GDP growth in developing markets.

Vanguard

Nigerian government introduces scheme to end violence between farmers and herders

A community project in Kano, northeast Nigeria, is under way in a bid to end violence between cattle herders and farmers.

Video - Authorities try to verify if insurgents are among those rescued

Where the authorities in Nigeria are set to question thousands of people the military claims to have freed from Boko Haram. The military is trying to find out how many of them are insurgents. Nigeria's military claims it rescued five thousand captives from Boko Haram this past weekend.

Former ministers in Nigeria charged with laundering 4.9 billion naira

Two former Nigerian ministers have been charged with theft of over 4.9 billion naira (£13 million) of government funds and money laundering, the financial crimes agency said on Tuesday.

Nenadi Usman and Femi Fani-Kayode served as finance and aviation ministers in the People's Democratic Party (PDP) administration led by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, whose tenure ended in 2007.

The defendants, who appeared before a federal high court in the commercial capital, Lagos, pleaded not guilty.

The PDP was in power for 16 years prior to President Muhammadu Buhari taking office last year. Buhari won an election mainly on his vow to crackdown on corruption.

Usman was in charge of the PDP's finances during the election campaign and Kayode was the party's head of publicity.

The EFCC said the pair, along with a company, faced a "17-count charge" in which they were accused of conspiracy, stealing and corruption.

"The accused were alleged to have stolen and illegally disbursed about 4.9 billion naira belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria for political and personal uses," said EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren.

An EFCC source said the defendants were accused of using defence money, that would have been used in the fight against militant group Boko Haram, to help fund the election campaign of the then president Goodluck Jonathan.

The source, who did not want to be named, also said they were accused of diverting a large part of the money into personal bank accounts.

The offences were allegedly carried out in January last year, two months before the election.

A number of former government officials have faced criminal charges, which they have all denied. The PDP has previously accused Buhari, a 73-year-old former military ruler, of mounting a witch-hunt against its members.

Usman and Fani-Kayode were remanded in custody and the case was adjourned until Friday.

Reuters

Video - Nigerian air force makes progress against insurgents

Nigeria's air force has been playing a major role in the fight against Boko Haram. A key part of its contribution is tracking targets on the ground. CCTV's Deji Badmus has secured rare access to that mission and filed this report.

Nigerian pastor jailed for 9 years in UK over fraud

A Nigerian, who works as a school accountant in the United Kingdom, was on Friday given a 9-year jail term by a Woolwich Court after he was convicted of stealing about Ј4.1 million of school funds.

Dailymail reports that the vast sum of money was missing from the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Federation Trust in South London.

Identified as Sam Kayode, the 59-year old was also said to be a part-time pastor.

Kayode was said to have spent the money on his late wife, Grace, a “second wife”, Olubunmi Halima, 33, and two other female “partners”, names given as Toyin Lawal, 50 years old and Yetunde Turtak.

The court sentenced Kayode, who gets Ј57,000 a year wage, after he was found guilty of obtaining Ј150,000 by theft and Ј3.95 million by fraud.

He constantly looted the school account for 7 years until he was apprehended in 2012, after a school cleaner came across his paper work and made an anonymous call to the Chief Financial Officer.

He claimed to have moved the money to Nigeria where he has a Ј1 million empire with Halima but the Trust could not recover any asset from Nigeria.

They were, however, able to recover only Ј800,000 from the total money he stole.

Apart from spending money on his real wife Grace’s private health care until her death in 2013, he also signed documents showing he was making investments with Halima, and renting flats in Kent for ‘partners’, Toyin and Yetunde.

During trial, Kayode tried to blame the theft on his late wife Grace and an office junior, saying that they conspired to smear him by transferring the money to his joint account in revenge for his adultery.

He denied having affairs with the other women, and said that he lied about marrying Halima.

However, Toyin also denied they were lovers, saying that as her pastor, he paid for her rent for one month when she was short of cash.

Daily Post

Senate leader Bukola Saraki denies forgery charges

The leader of Nigeria's senate, Bukola Saraki, and his deputy have pleaded not guilty to forgery and criminal conspiracy charges.

Mr Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu are accused of trying to forge the senate rules in order to help them secure their positions.

If found guilty they face up to 14 years in prison.

President Muhammadu Buhari has been at loggerheads with Mr Saraki as his party did not want him as senate leader.

Mr Buhari's preferred candidate was not present when the senate elected its president last year.

Mr Saraki's opponents say that that election was not valid and was conducted under rules which they allege were forged.

The case could have widespread political ramifications, correspondents say.

The accused arrived at court in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, in bus accompanied by senate colleagues, the BBC's Chris Ewokor reports.

Mr Saraki is also involved in another court case in which he is accused of false asset declaration, a charge he denies.

BBC

Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote aiming for 50% of Nigeria's crude refined internally by 2021

“Our target is that in the next five years or so from now, we hope and we believe that half of Nigeria’s crude will be refined and exported rather than just exporting crude to go and create jobs elsewhere.”

The words of Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote during a press briefing after touring the construction site of his refinery expected to begin operations in 2019.

He was accompanied on the tour by Nigeria’s vice president Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State, where the refinery is being built and a number of key federal level ministers.

Governor Ambode, said that the Dangote Lekki Refinery, Petrochemical Projects will boost Nigeria’s economy, because it would be a major strategic asset not for Lagos alone but for Nigeria’s wobbly power supply system.

Africa’s richest man disclosed in an interview with Reuters News Agency on Friday (June 24) plans to open Nigeria’s first private oil refinery estimated at a cost of $12 million dollars with the funds to be pooled from multiple sources.

The refinery, which would be complemented by petrochemical, gas & fertilizer projects by Aliko Dangote at Lekki Free Zone (LFZ) in Lagos is expected to be completed in 2018 but start operations the next year.

The Governor of Nigeria’s commercial hub said “Firstly, there is a refinery project that is ongoing, second there is a petrochemical project that is also ongoing. There is pipeline transfer project that brings gas from Bonny down to Olokonla and down to Lekki and then the fourth one is the fertilizer project all in one location.”

The Petrochemical project that is coming on stream by December 2017, whiles the refinery comes on stream by the first quarter of 2019, in between both the Gas project will come on stream by 2018.

The Vice President refinery’s on his part said the Gas Project upon completion has the capacity to produce about three billion cubic feet of gas daily, which would permanently address the two billion cubic feet daily gas required to power the country.

Some of the ministers that were on the trip included Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun; Minister for Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi; Power, Works and Housing minister, Babatunde Fashola and Industry, Trade and Investment minister Okechukwu Enelamah.

Africa News

Related story: Video - Aliko Dangote building world's largest oil refinery in Nigeria

Niger Delta Avengers want Brexit style referendum for Nigeria

Oil militants who have slashed Nigeria's petroleum production with attacks on pipelines called Sunday for a referendum on breaking up the Nigerian federation.

The Niger Delta Avengers group posted a map on social media suggesting that the West African power house could divide into five countries.

Analysts had predicted that the stunning result of the British referendum to leave the EU would encourage separatists in Nigeria. "Separatist groups will feel emboldened," Nigeria's SBM Intelligence warned in an analysis of the fallout from the British vote.

"President (Muhammadu) Buhari should call for a referendum to enable every Nigerian to vote if they want to stay as Nigerians or not, just like what David Cameron of Great Britain did," the Avengers posted on Twitter.

Based in the southern Niger Delta, the Avengers have allied themselves with separatist groups from the southeastern Igbo people, and said they, too, might demand a separate state. Igbo separatist groups have had a resurgence in the past year. Nigeria suffered a civil war from 1965 to 1970 that killed a million people after the Igbo declared an independent state of Biafra. Former colonial power Britain sided with the federal government while France supported the secessionists.

All Nigeria's oil production is in the Niger Delta and offshore of the southern region. Oil militants and non-violent activists have been demanding a greater share of the wealth from oil, an industry that has massively polluted their lands and destroyed the livelihoods of communities that rely on fishing and agriculture.

Oil provides 70 percent of the federal government's revenue. Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said the Avenger's attacks — on facilities of U.S.-based Chevron, Dutch-British Shell and Italian Agip — cost the government nearly $60 million in May. The attacks have stopped production at two of Nigeria's five oil refineries, disrupted supplies from two export terminals and made buyers cautious of Nigerian oil.

Nigeria also confronts an Islamic extremist uprising in the northeast by a group allied with the Islamic State that has killed more than 20,000 people and an upsurge in deadly confrontations in the Middle Belt between Muslim nomadic cattle herders and Christian farmers.

ABC

Related story: Video - Niger Delta Avengers set tough conditions for negotiation with Nigerian government

Video - Foreign nationals kidnapped in Nigeria released

The Commissioner of Police in Cross River, Jimoh Ozi-Obeh, on Sunday confirmed the release of five workers of Macmahon Construction Company abducted on June 22.

Two Australians, one South African and two Nigerians were seized by gunmen at Edundun Bridge in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River.

The police said their driver was killed during the attack.

Ozi-Obeh told newsmen in Calabar that no ransom was paid to release the workers.

He said the success recorded during the rescue was the result of the combined efforts of the security operatives with the support of the state government.

The Cross River Security Adviser, Jude Ngaji, also confirmed the release of the workers.

"I can confirm that they have been released. I was with them a short while ago.

"It is only the two Nigerians that had injuries while one or two others had some scars," he said.

Ngaji said the workers had been treated and that they had spoken with their family members.

News24

AMCON seizes assets from Nigerian politicians and business men

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria is doubling its efforts to recover 14 billion dollars owed by 4-hundred defaulters. Today, the AMCON seized properties owned by Silverbird Group, one of Nigeria's largest multi-media companies. It says the group -- owned by serving senator Ben Murray Bruce -- owes about 38 million dollars. AMCON was set up in 2008 to purchase toxic loans from banks during a crisis in the sector. The corporation also has court orders to repossess assets belonging to wealthy and popular Nigerian businessman, Jimoh Ibrahim. Last month President Buhari approved the establishment of an inter-agency committee to aid AMCON, especially in its dealings with politically connected and business heavyweights.

Nigeria to end fuel importation by 2019 - Kachikwu

Minister of State for Petreleum Resources Dr Ibe Kachikwu yesterday said Nigeria would end fuel importation by 2019.

He said it requires $50billion dollars to fill the infrastructural gap in the industry and get it functioning optimally.

He said by 2019, Nigeria expects to become a net exporter of refined products, adding that an investment drive is ongoing to meet the infrastructure requirement.

Kachukwu was a guest speaker at the 10th Annual Business Law Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law (NBA-SBL) in Abuja, with the theme: Law reform and economic development.

Speaking on the sub-theme: Future prospects for the oil and gas industry, the minister said the refineries are currently working at about 40-50 per cent capacity.

He said the aim is to get them working at 90 per cent capacity or more and build the needed infrastructure as investors come in.

On why refineries are working at low capacity, he said: “How does a refineries work if the pipelines supplying them are out most of the year and so they can’t supply crude? You can’t refine an empty space.

“How does it work when you don’t do your turnaround maintenance or if when monies are budgeted for them they are diverted? How does it work if your contracting process is so long that you never meet the turnaround days you’re supposed to? How does it work when you send the wrong set of people with the wrong set of skills to what should have been very important portfolios in the establishment?” he said.

The minister said engagements with militants in the Niger Delta has been successful, resulting in a ceaseful and rise in crude production.

He said he visited the creeks and met with the local chiefs with a view to finding a short, medium and long term solution to the crisis.

Kachukwu praised President Muhammadu Buhari for not employing force in solving the problem, adding that when he visited the creeks, the militants “never fired a gun” while he was there.

The minister said oil production has picked up as the Niger Delta crisis is being resolved.

According to him, 1.89million barrels was produced as at Wednesday. He said he expects it to hit 2.3million barrels by next month.

The Nation

Nigerian Army to investigate coup rumours

The Nigeria Army has said it will investigate and track down those behind the recent speculation that some of its officers had approached the Niger Delta militants for support to carry out a coup against the government. This came as Defence Headquarters yesterday announced that a new commander, Rear Admiral Joseph Okojie, had been appointed for the new joint security outfit for the Niger Delta, following the scrapping of ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ by the Federal Government, which had now been renamed, ‘Operation Delta Safe.’

Denying that it was plotting to topple the democratic government, the Army said it will leave no stone unturned until persons linked to such “dangerous” speculation were fished out and brought to book. Spokesman for the army, Sani Usman, said in a statement yesterday that the Nigerian Army, as a product of democracy, would never contemplate such “anti-democratic misadventure.” 

He said under the command of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai,, the Army would rather remain focused as a professional institution that would have nothing to do with such “abomination and heinous crime.” He said the army would always remain loyal to the office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, while defending the constitution and territorial integrity of the country. 

He said the coup speculation was a calculated attempt to distract the army from its ongoing war against terror in the country. The Army’s statement read in part: “The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to another campaign of calumny and distraction by faceless criminal gang of economic saboteurs that hide under the aegis of Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, JNDLF, alleging that some officers of the Nigerian Army approached them for support to overthrow our duly elected present democratic government. 

“This is baseless and most unfortunate allegation that existed in the warped minds of the originators of such weighty allegation. The Nigerian Army wishes to state that this is not true and, hereby, distance itself from this weighty allegation.” 

“We also see this speculation as a dangerous distraction to our effort in fighting insurgency and other criminal elements in the country. “The Nigerian Army would like to send a strong and an unequivocal warning to those speculating a coup by the Nigerian Army (NA) against the government to desist forthwith. 

We would like to state in clear terms that we are a product of democracy and a focused professional institution and would have nothing to do with such abomination and heinous crime. “We wish to state further that the NA is the greatest beneficiary of democracy and, therefore, cannot ever contemplate any anti-democratic misadventure, certainly not under the command of the present Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai. Rather, we see this type of dangerous speculation as a declaration of war to destabilize  the present government by these unscrupulous elements. 

“The Nigerian Army is investigating those behind the dangerous insinuation in order to unravel the real motive behind it. “We would like to reiterate our unalloyed loyalty to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and defence of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

We would also like to reaffirm our unconditional support and obedience to civil authority. “We wish to further assure Nigerians and, indeed, all peace loving people that the Nigerian Army and, indeed, its personnel will never be involved in such terrible misadventure. 

“We wish to further add that no matter how long it takes, we would track and find out those behind these insinuations and bring them to justice”. Since it became politically independent some 56 years ago, Nigeria has witnessed nine coups and attempted coups. 

Meanwhile, following the scrapping of ‘Operation Pulo Shield’ by the federal government and launching of ‘Operation Delta Safe’, a new Commander has been appointed for the new joint security outfit for the Niger Delta. He is Rear Admiral Joseph Osa Okojie who until his appointment was the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Training Command, Lagos.    His appointment is with immediate effect. This was contained in a statement by Defence spokesman, Brigadier General Rabe Abubakar.

Vanguard

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Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos is now introducing the Mandarin language into its primary and secondary schools. Nigeria is seeking stronger trade ties with China and has witnessed a surge in Chinese investments over the last couple of years.

200 refugees die of starvation in Nigeria

Nearly 200 refugees, who fled Boko Haram attacks, have died of starvation and dehydration in the northeastern Nigerian city of Bama in the past month, Doctors Without Borders said on Wednesday.

The refugees "speak of children dying of hunger and digging new graves every day," according to a statement from the global medical charity group, also known by its French acronym MSF.

"A catastrophic humanitarian emergency" is unfolding at a makeshift camp on a hospital compound where 24,000 people have taken refuge, it said.

The doctors referred 16 emaciated children at risk of dying to their special feeding centre in Maiduguri. One in five of the 15,000 children are suffering severe acute malnutrition, the group found.

"We see the trauma on the faces of our patients who have witnessed and survived many horrors," said Ghada Hatim, head of the Doctors Without Borders mission in Nigeria.

Her team reached Bama on Tuesday following a military convoy from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital that is the headquarters of Nigeria's military campaign.

Though Bama is just 70km southeast of Maiduguri, ongoing clashes between the rebels and government troops make travel unsafe and farmers have not planted crops for 18 months, Dr Christopher Mampula of MSF explained by telephone from Paris.

Boko Haram fighters routinely burn down homes and destroy wells, leaving few water sources in an area where temperatures often soar above 40 degrees.

The armed group seized Bama in September 2014 and Nigerian troops recaptured it in March 2015.

Nigeria's military has greatly curtailed the seven-year-old armed rebellion that has killed some 20,000 people, but fighters still attack villages and deploy suicide bombers.

Boko Haram has also staged attacks across Nigeria's borders in Chad, Niger and Cameroon.

The refugees in Bama are among 1.8 million Nigerians forced from their homes and living inside the country, with another 155,000 in neighbouring countries, according to the UN.

Aljazeera

Australians kidnapped in Nigeria

Gunmen in southern Nigeria have killed a local driver and kidnapped two Nigerians, three Australians, a New Zealander and a South African working for an Australian mining company, officials said.

The abduction happened in the Akpabuyo district near the capital of Cross River state, Calabar, at about 7am on Wednesday, Nigerian police said on Thursday.

Those taken were believed to be workers with Australian mining and engineering giant Macmahon, which was contracted to cement company LafargeHolcim in the state, police commissioner Jimoh Ozi-Obeh told reporters.

The police is currently working with the Nigerian Navy to ensure that the victims are released unharmed," he added.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said they are working with Nigerian authorities to free their citizens.

"We are working with the authorities, local authorities, at the highest levels," Turnbull told reporters in Geelong, Australia.

"We don't know at this stage the identity of the kidnappers and families in Australia are notified, of course.

"It is a very serious kidnapping, a very serious criminal assault, one person was killed and seven people have been kidnapped."

Irene Ugbo, a spokeswoman for Cross River state police, said no ransom demand had been received.

One witness to the abduction, who asked not to be identified, said the kidnappers took the men to a waiting boat.

LafargeHolcim spokeswoman Viola Graham-Douglas said the company was informed of the incident by Macmahon, which was "working with the security agencies to resolve the situation".

Macmahon has an $18m a year contract with the United Cement Company of Nigeria Ltd (UniCem) for quarrying operations at UniCem's cement manufacturing plant at Mfamosing, near Calabar.

UniCem is a joint venture between Franco-Swiss conglomerate LafargeHolcim and Flour Mills of Nigeria, according to the Australian firm's website.

Kidnapping for ransom has been a long-standing problem in southern Nigeria, particularly in the oil-producing delta region, where criminal gangs target wealthy Nigerians and expatriate workers.

Most are usually released after the payment of a ransom.

Aljazeera

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