NLNG Logo

By Solomon Asowata

The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited says it will increase its allocation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to the domestic market from 350, 000MT to 450, 000MT by 2021.

The NLNG said the move was aimed at supporting the Federal Governments plan to deepen LPG (cooking gas) penetration in Nigeria.

Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director, NLNG, made the announcement on Thursday during a webinar organised by the Oil and Gas Group of the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), with the theme: Oil and Gas Downstream and Midstream Sectors: The Way Forward.

Attah said with Nigeria being a gas country with a proven reserve of 203TCF, it was time to use the product to drive the nations human capacity development and economic growth.

He said the declaration of the year 2020 as the Year of Gas by the Federal Government was not sufficient, stressing that a decade should be dedicated to utilisation of gas to transform the country.

According to him, the desire of the NLNG to deepen LPG penetration in Nigeria is aimed at creating a healthy life for Nigerians by giving them access to clean source of energy for cooking.

In 2007, total consumption of LPG in Nigeria was about 50, 000MT. Today, it is about one million metric tonnes and NLNGs contribution is 350, 000MT.

We have approached our board to get a mandate to increase NLNGs contribution to 450, 000MT from next year. That is a very positive contribution from NLNG, Attah said.

He noted that apart from the domestic usage, about 60 per cent of gas was being supplied to power generation plants across the country for electricity purposes.

Attah said this would help create jobs for Nigerians and help to reposition the nations economy following the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said the world was moving toward cleaner energy sources, adding that gas would afford Nigeria the opportunity to become a key player in the energy transition mix. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Dana Air Plane

By Yunus Yusuf

The management of Dana Air says it will commence daily flights from Lagos to Enugu and Abuja from Nov. 17, with additional flights between Abuja and Owerri.

The Chief Operating Officer of Dana Air, Mr Obi Mbanuzuo made the disclosure in a statement issued in Lagos on Thursday.

Mbanuzuo said that Dana Air would operate daily flights from Lagos to Enugu and Abuja, while additional flights had been introduced between Abuja and Owerri.

The re-introduction of Enugu is part of our gradual and strategic route expansion drive and the frequent requests by our guests for us to return to Enugu and increase frequency between Abuja and Owerri, to serve our teeming guests.

The hospitable people of Enugu require an airline that can take them from point A to B conveniently, on schedule, with seamless value added services at very pocket-friendly fares.

These are some of the options we are bringing to the good people of Enugu.

Our guests are advised to visit our website www.flydanaair.com, download our mobile app on Google play store or Applestore or better still chat with us on WhatsApp or safe and ease of reservation or booking, he said.

Mbanuzuo said Dana Air was one of Nigerias leading airlines with a mix fleet of nine aircraft and over 27 daily flights to Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Owerri and Enugu.

The airline is reputed for its innovative online products and services, unrivalled on-time departures and arrival and world-class in-flight service. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Mutual Benefits

By Itohan Abara-Laserian

Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc on Wednesday said it was planning to increase its authorised share capital to N10.05 billion by the creation of 100 million additional ordinary shares of 50k each.

Mr Jide Ibitayo, Company Secretary of the firm, made this known in a notice of Extra-Ordinary General Meeting scheduled for Dec. 3 which was posted on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The notice added that shareholders would be required at the meeting to authorise the directors to raise additional capital via the issue of debt or equity or a combination of both, including redeemable convertible bonds, loan stock, bonds with options, whether by way of private placement.

The company, according to the notice, was also seeking to raise additional capital of 4.80 billion by way of private placement.

Subject to obtaining the regulatory approvals, the private placement shall be by way of sale of 8,888,888,889 ordinary shares of 50k each of the company at the rate of 54k per share, it said.

The company disclosed that the private placement would be sold to Charles Enterprises LLC and Arubiewe Farms Ltd.

It said that a total of 5,331,044,445 units at 2,878,764,000.24 would be sold to Charles Enterprises LLC, while 3,557,844,444 units at 1,921,235.999.76 would be sold to Arubiewe Farms Ltd.

The company said that the additional capital would enable it to meet the new minimum share capital prescribed by the regulator.

Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on world economies and the negative investors sentiments in the stock market, the company has decided to raise the additional capital required by way of Private Placement of its shares to some existing substantial investors.

The investors are those who have indicated their readiness to commit further investment into the company to meet the new minimum regulatory capital, it said.

The National Insurance Commission had on May 20, 2019 raised the minimum Paid-Up Share Capital of insurance companies providing general insurance to N10 billion.

The company seeks to raise additional capital to meet the new minimum share capital prescribed by the regulator. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

SEC may withdraw registration certificate of 157 capital market operators

By Ginika Okoye

The Securities and Exchange Commission may soon withdraw the registration certificates of about 157 inactive Capital Market Operators (CMOs).

The Commission issued a pre-notice for the cancellation or withdrawal of the certificates and posted same on itswebsite.

It said the decision followed the failure of the operators to render their statutory returns to the Commission and added that they either had their capital eroded or were affected by policy changes.

The notice requested affected CMOs to make presentations to the Commission on or before Nov. 13, giving reasons why their registration should not be cancelled.

It urged the CMOs to forward hard copies of their presentations to its head office while electronic copies should be sent to: also to:

Prominent among CMOs listed are NICON Trustee Ltd., Leadway Assurance Co. Ltd., LASACO Assurance Plc. and Platinum Capital Ltd.

Others are Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., UAC Registrars Ltd., Unic Insurance Plc., Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc. and Wema Assets Management Plc. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Kaduna inland Port

By Moses Kolo

The Kaduna Inland Dry Port says it is strategisingahead of 2021 to render better services to its clientsand to woo more partners in delivering improved services.

The Port Manager, Mr Rotimi Hassan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Wednesday that we want to put the setbacks caused by COVID-19 pandemic behind us and strategise to ensure economic activities pick up beginning from next year.

We want to create the necessary awareness and publicity on our services so that people can use this place as their final port for exports from the northern part of the country

In the northern part of the country, there are so many exporting activities like the export of ginger, tiger nuts, sesame seeds, many other cash crops and solid minerals, he said.

The port has 4,000 square meters capacity warehouse for storage of imported or ready-to-be-exported goods.

Hassan said it was a thing of joy that the Minister of Transportation, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, already directed the expansion of the narrow rail gauge at the port to a standard gauge as this would enable it to receive and dispatch more containers.

The essence of establishing the dry port is to decongest the major ports and to bring shipping services closer to regional areas of the country.

The port manager also urged the Federal Government to intensify the rehabilitation of existing rail lines across the country and expand them so as to reduce the pressure on road transportation. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

People running to safety following communal clash in South Sudan

Bona Panek Biar, governor of Warrap on Wednesday said 16 civilians were killed and scores wounded in South Sudans northern Warrap region following clashes over cattle.

Biar disclosed that the civilians were killed during clashes over cattle that erupted from Sunday until Tuesday between the Jalwau and Luanyjang clans of the Dinka community in Tonj East area.

According to Biar, criminals from Jalwau clan first raided cattle from Luanyjang clan which caused Luanyjang to retaliate by also raiding cattle from Jalwau.

He said that was what led to clashes between the two communities, leaving 16 people killed on both sides and 47 others wounded.

Biar said that the fighting has ended following intervention by government troops and the two communities are seeking dialogue to settle the conflict.

I am not quite sure about the number of cattle stolen but authorities are working now to collect the raided cattle from both sides.

In August alone, 148 people were killed in Tonj East in clashes between government forces and armed civilians during a disarmament exercise which the civilians resisted.

In addition, similar clashes over cattle and grazing pasture occurred in July this year pitting Dinka, Neur communities from Jonglei region against Murle community in the neighboring Pibor administrative area bordering Ethiopia.

Biar said violence prevents development in the (Warrap) area and causes insecurity among the communities, you cannot get roads, health care, network, and education when there is fighting.

You get those things only when there is peace. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19: Corps members observe NCDC protocols

By Franca Ofili

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in the FCT, has put in place all necessary measures to observe the COVID 19 protocols following the camping of 2020 Batch B Corps members.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government has mobilised 66,000 eligible graduates for the 2020 Batch B service year, out of which about 800 have been deployed to the territory.

A correspondent of NAN who visited the camp in Kubwa on Wednesday reports that wash hand basins, bottles of sanitizer and soaps were placed in strategic points in the camp.

The corps members were seen observing the protocols of hand washing, social distancing, sanitising their hands, use of nose masks, covering of mouth when coughing and sneezing, among others.

At the hostel, the beds had been spaced to take only ten persons, unlike before the COVID-19 pandemic, when it used to be 40 corps members in a hostel.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had said that all corps members must be tested for COVID-19, adding that it was free.

At the NCDC point at the camp, corps members were seen carrying out COVID -19 tests.

Mrs Lona Williams, FCT surveillance Support Officer, said that 200 corps members would be tested daily.

As at yesterday, we tested 180 corps members and 150 camp officials. We were meant to test 2,000 corps members but a lot of them came very late so we decided to continue today.

Today, the process is still ongoing, so far we have tested more than 100 corps members and we still have over two hundred to go, Williams said
She said that the test results would take 15 minutes to be ready. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

UN rights chief, Bachelet, condemns Tanzania election violence

The people of Tanzania should be allowed to express grievances without fear of reprisals after nationwide elections, UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said on Tuesday.

In a statement, the High Commissioner for Human Rights said that she had been disturbed by reports of continued intimidation and harassment against leaders and members of the opposition.

She also called for the immediate release of those detained for exercising their human rights, a UN statement said.

The tense situation in the country will not be defused by silencing those who challenge the outcome of the elections, but rather through a participatory dialogue, Ms. Bachelet said, before urging the Tanzanian authorities to respect and facilitate exercise of the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly.

Ms. Bachelet highlighted reports that following vote-casting in the east African nation last month, at least 150 opposition leaders and members had been arrested in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

While most have been subsequently released, at least 18 reportedly remain in custody, the UN rights chief said.

Her comments come after the countrys main opposition parties called for peaceful demonstrations and fresh elections, after President John Magufuli was returned to office last month with more than 80 per cent of ballots cast.

According to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the authorities said that those arrested had been planning violent protests.

Ms. Bachelet also noted that ahead of the arrests, police officials announced that they would not allow protests to go ahead. They cited allegation of plans to cause chaos, the High Commissioner said, adding that they threatened to use force and detain anyone taking part in demonstrations.

Under international law, there is a presumption in favour of considering assemblies to be peaceful, the High Commissioner stressed.

She called on the Government of Tanzania to ensure that security forces and law enforcement officials act according to the rule of law and human rights norms and standards.

The developments follow reported pre-election intimidation and harassment of civil society organisations and journalists, as well as allegations of police brutality against opposition members and their supporters on the day of the election.

Ms. Bachelet also called for prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigations into all allegations of human rights violations before, during and after the polls.

In particular, she urged action to investigate the killing of at least 10 people and the injuries sustained by more than 50 others in Zanzibar on 26 October two days before the vote.

The High Commissioner also expressed concern at internet restrictions including the blocking of social media and messaging platforms and the censoring of election-related content.

Free flow of information is critical to any democratic society, and especially so in an electoral context, the High Commissioner said, adding that any restrictions on information and communication technology must be in line with international human rights laws and standards.

Source: NAN News

Husband and wife Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci are the couple behind the Covid-19 vaccine that could change the world

Physicians Ugur Sahin and Oezlem Tuereci, who bonded over their love of medical research, are the married couple behind the Covid-19 vaccine that could change the world.

Mr Sahin came from humble roots to build two billion-dollar companies but still rides to work on his mountain bike.

Now the modest 55-year-old physician turned chief executive of a German biotech firm and his wife Oezlem Tuereci, 53, a fellow board member of BioNTech, are being hailed as the dream team behind the worlds hopes for a Covid vaccine.

Pfizer, the US pharmaceutical giant behind Viagra, published preliminary data showing the vaccine was 90 per cent effective at preventing Covid-19 infection.

The breakthrough was the first real ray of hope in the pandemic and could spell an end to the perpetual locking down and opening up cycle that Britain has been trapped in since March.

Born in Turkey, Sahin was raised in Germany, where his parents worked in a Ford factory.

Trained as a doctor, Mr Sahin became a professor and researcher focused on immunotherapy.

He worked at teaching hospitals in Cologne and the south western city of Homburg, where he met immunologist Miss Tuereci during his early academic career.

Medical research and oncology became a shared passion among them.

Tuereci, the daughter of a Turkish physician who had migrated to Germany, once said in an interview that even on the day of their wedding, both made time for lab work.

Together they honed in on the immune system as a potential ally in the fight against cancer and tried to address the unique genetic makeup of each tumour.

Life as entrepreneurs started in 2001 when they set up Ganymed Pharmaceuticals to develop cancer-fighting antibodies.

Sahin by then a professor at Mainz university never gave up academic research and teaching. Ganynmed was sold to Japans Astellas in 2016 for 1.4 billion dollars.

Sahin and Tuereci co-founded BioNTech in 2008, with the aim of pursuing a much broader range of cancer immunotherapy tools.

The Bill

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano state.

By Abbas Bamalli

Alhaji Abubakar Zakari, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Scholarship Board, has said that 60,000 student would benefit from the 2020 scholarship in the state.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Kano that over 50,000 students have applied so far.

According to him, the board had initially provided over 40,000 forms for the students to apply online which commenced on Sept. 1, adding that it was then increased to 60,000.

He added that the State Government also increased the allowance for the students studying at various Nigerian higher institutions.

Zakari said that the State government had earmarked over N1.8 billion for the payment of the students studying in various public higher institutions in the country.

He explained that another N700 million was proposed for the payment of Scholarship in various private institutions across the country.

Zakari revealed that over N247 million was set aside for the payment of Scholarship for Kano indigent studying at School of laws in Nigeria.

In 2021, we also proposed N1.7 billion for the payment of Scholarship for our students studying outside Nigeria., he said.

Source: NAN News