U.S. President Donald Trump

United States has announced a 10-million-dollar (N3.8 billion) reward for information on foreign interference in its elections.

The Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo, announced the offer in a statement on Wednesday.

The move is targeting foreign government agents seeking to compromise the countrys federal, state or local election elections through cyber attacks.

Allegations of foreign interference, especially by Russia, in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections had been a big political issue in the country.

In 2019, then Special Counsel, Mr Robert Mueller, launched a lengthy investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the elections in favour of President Donald Trump.

Trump strongly denied colluding with the Russians, and dismissed the Muller probe as the product of a fake dossier paid for by the Democratic Party.

In his 448-page report, Mueller said it did not establish that the Trump campaign criminally conspired with Russia to influence the election.

However, the report cited 10 instances where Trump allegedly attempted to impede the investigation, a claim the president also denied.

In July, the Democratic Partys candidate for the Nov. 3 election, Mr Joe Biden, said he received a security briefing on plans by the Russians to interfere again.

Biden vowed a swift retaliation against any nation that attempts to meddle in the American democratic process.

Source: NAN News

Gov. Sheyi Makinde

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has restated his commitment toward reducing infrastructural deficit in the state.

Makinde stated this in Ibadan while flagging off the reconstruction of the 21-kilometre Airport Ajia New Ife express road on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the road project was awarded to an indigenous contractor, Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd, at a cost of N8.5 billion.

NAN also reports that the project is expected to be completed and delivered within 12 months.

The governor called for more funds to tackle the infrastructural deficit in the country.

To boost economic growth, the governor said we must strategise on how to increase our spending on infrastructure.

And this is how economies work; investors will only go where they can be assured of profits.

If we do not develop basic infrastructure like roads, it will affect the cost of production, which in turn means less profit for investors.

So, we cannot be seriously discussing attracting investment into Oyo State when majority of roads and other infrastructure are in a state of disrepair, he said.

He also said his administration was deploying Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) to tackle infrastructural deficit.

APFA is our way of funding some infrastructural projects in the state by having the contractors fund the projects with their own money while the state repays them over a period of time.

What this entails is that the contractor carries the projects risk; at the same time, we get quality delivery and quick completion of projects.

And so for projects under the APFA, because of the nature of spending on the projects, we decided that it will be best to open up the bidding process a little more so that contractors outside of Oyo State can bid as well.

We reached this decision because we are looking for private entities who have the wherewithal to complete the projects on schedule while at the same time passing the test of quality assurance, he said.

Speaking on the criticisms that trailed the cost of the contract, Makinde said:

Some people had asked why the Airport-Ajia road project costs more per kilometre than the Moniya-Iseyin road, let me restate that when we want to make such comparisons, we should ensure that we are comparing apples to apples and not apples to oranges.

One of the roads may appear longer, but when you visit the site, you will find that the Airport-Ajia road has more hydraulic structures, what you will call bridges in lay mans terms.

We will be embarking on the expansion and rehabilitation of these bridges as well.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Mr James Adepoju, said the project was aimed at eliminating congestion, increase travel time and improve the capacity of the road.

Source: NAN News

Nigerian Army says it has concluded plans to boost healthcare delivery in South-East by building a state-of-the-art Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Col. Aliyu Yusuf, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations in 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Enugu.

Yusuf said that the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the hospital would be performed on Aug. 7 at Nkwagu Cantonment, Abakaliki.

This hospital project when completed will be a world class and state-of-the-art hospital that will meet the needs of Nigerian Army personnel and the civil populace in the South-East region of the country.

It will indeed boost the morale of troops and their families as well as contribute to the development of host community, Abakaliki and Ebonyi State in general, he said.

The Army spokesman said that the event would kick-off 10a.m. prompt at Nkwagu Cantonment, Abakaliki.

Source: NAN News

UN-Secretary-General-Antnio-Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General Antnio Guterres has warned of a high risk of nuclear weapons being used intentionally, by accident or through miscalculation.

Guterres gave the warning in a video message at a Peace Memorial Ceremony in Japan on Thursday to mark the 75th anniversary of the nuclear bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

No fewer than 130,000 people, mostly civilians, died after the United States detonated a uranium bomb above Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, during World War II.

Three days later on Aug. 9, the U.S. struck again, hitting Nagasaki with a nuclear weapon that forced Japan to surrender, thus ending the war.

The UN chief stated that the formation of the UN that same year is forever intertwined with the death rained down on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

According to him, the organisation has since birth recognised the need to totally eliminate nuclear weapons, but that goal remains elusive.

Today, a world without nuclear weapons seems to be slipping further from our grasp.

The web of arms control, transparency and confidence-building instruments established during the Cold War and its aftermath is fraying.

Division, distrust and a lack of dialogue threaten to return the world to unrestrained strategic nuclear competition.

States possessing nuclear weapons are modernising their arsenals and developing new and dangerous weapons and delivery systems.

The risk of nuclear weapons being used, intentionally, by accident or through miscalculation, is too high for such trends to continue, Guterres said.

He reiterated his call on countries to return to a common vision and path leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

He specifically reminded them of the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, which has been signed by 40 countries and needs 10 more signatures to go into force.

The UN chief paid tribute to the victims and survivors of the Hiroshima bombing, describing them as epitomes of resilience, reconciliation and hope.

This city and its people have chosen not to be characterised by calamity, but instead by resilience, reconciliation and hope.

As unmatched advocates for nuclear disarmament, the hibakusha (survivors) have turned their tragedy into a rallying voice for the safety and well-being of all humanity, he said.

Source: NAN News

NSE

By Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

The volume of shares traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday improved by 148.13 per cent with an exchange of 383.29 million shares worth N3.89 billion in 3,860 deals.

This was in contrast with a total of 154.47 million shares valued at N1.46 billion transacted in 4,222 deals on Tuesday.

Transactions in the shares of UACN dominated the activity chart with 81.74 million shares valued at N471.54 million.

It was trailed by FBN Holdings with 66.44 million shares worth N334.16 million, while Access Bank sold 59.19 million shares valued at N378.76 million.

Zenith Bank accounted for 30.79 million shares worth N521.19 million, while Presco traded 26.16 million shares valued at N1.26 billion.

Also, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 40.10 points or 0.16 per cent to close at 24,882.04 compared with 24,841.94 recorded on Tuesday.

In the same vein, the market capitalisation appreciated further by N20 billion or 0.16 per cent to close at N12.979 trillion against N12.959 trillion on Tuesday.

The upturn was impacted by gains recorded in large and medium capitalised stocks, amongst which are: Mobil Oil, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, Chemical and Allied Products (CAP), Presco and Guaranty Trust Bank.

Analysts at Afrinvest Limited said, For the rest of the week, we expect market performance to move in tandem with the trend in earnings releases.

Market sentiment remained positive with 18 gainers in contrast with 12 losers.

A breakdown of the price movement chart shows that CAP recorded the highest price gain of 9.74 per cent to close at N16.90 per share.

UACN Property Development Company followed with 9.52 per cent to close at 92k, while GlaxoSmithKline rose by 6.19 per cent to close at N5.15 per share.

Neimeth International grew by 5.42 per cent to close at N1.75, while Transcorp appreciated by 5.08 per cent to close at 62k per share.

Conversely, Eterna led the losers chart in percentage terms, dropping by nine per cent to close at N1.82 per share.

Livestock Feeds came second with a loss of 4.62 per cent to close at 62k, while Mutual Benefits Assurance dipped 4.55 per cent to close at 21k per share.

Lasaco Assurance dipped four per cent to close at 24k, while May and Baker depreciated by 3.33 per cent to close at N2.90 per share. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

INEC

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged voters, political parties, candidates, their supporters and other stakeholders to obey all its new guidelines for conduct of election during COVID-19 pandemic on Saturday.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the call on Wednesday in Nasarawa, during the commissions meeting with stakeholders ahead of the Nasarawa Central State Constituency by-election.

Yakubu advised all voters to use facemasks, saying no facemask no voting. Party branded facemask is not allowed. The commission is not insisting on surgical face mask, any face covering will be allowed.

Social distancing and wearing of facemasks are very important to health of the people which is more important. Measures had been put in place to avoid crowd at the voting point.

The INEC Chairman who said that smart card readers would be used for the election, added that mentholated spirit to disintegrate card readers and hand sanitiser would be provided.

He said that while all the non-sensitive election materials were ready, the sensitive materials had been delivered to the Central Bank in Nasarawa State, adding that card readers configuration had been concluded.

He said that the commission was ready for credible election, assuring that INEC has no vested interest in the election.

Yakubu described the election as an important to INEC because it would be the first election in the COVID-19 pandemic.

We deliberately chose to start with Nasarawa central state bye-election so that we can learn the vital lessons we need to learn ahead of Edo and Ondo State governorship elections as well as 15 outstanding bye-elections, he explained.

Yakubu expressed concern on the reports of violence in Edo ahead of the state governorship election.

We are carefully monitoring what is happening in Edo and also Ondo State.The commission is meeting on Thursday, but given the urgency of what is happening particularly in Edo, we need to call a meeting immediately, not only of the parties and candidates but also of the campaign councils.

Whatever we need to stem violence or threat to it, particularly in Edo, we will do it. We will continue to speak to stakeholders, we will do that, Yakubu said.

Speaking on the security arrangement for the election, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, Mr Fatai Akinyomi, said that more than 500 policemen would be deployed for the bye-election.

Akinyomi said that the police had mustered the number from four other commands.

We do not have any problem and from what is going on, I can say that there will no be problem in the bye-election, Akinyomi said.

He added that if need be, restriction of movement would be enforced in the areas where election would be held on the election day.

The Liaison Officer of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 representative, Dr Hassan Assad, also stressed the need for people to obey guidelines on COVID-19, saying corona virus is not a respecter of individual, political parties or order.

He appealed to political parties and their candidates to sensitise their supporters to taking responsibility on the election day, adding that a team would be deployed to enforce compliance.

It is not just about protecting yourselves. It is not just about your political parties, it is also about your aging and vulnerable people at home, Assad added.

The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustee , Sen. Walid Jubrin, assured INEC that all the political parties would cooperate with the commission for peaceful election.

There will be no panic. We are with you and we support whatever you do. I can assure you that your efforts in Nasarawa will not be wasted, Jubrin said.

He stressed the need for INEC to be the only institution conducting elections in the country, including local government polls.

On his part, Ari Abdulmumuni, member representing Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, who led the All Progessives Congresss (APC) delegation, said that the party since the last two weeks had been sensitising its members on the need to observe social distance and obey all rules.

Abdulmumuni, also the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Youth Development, said that APC would ensure peaceful election, as peace would be their watchword in the election.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

Pipeline vandalism

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says it recorded 43 per cent drop in cases of damage to its oil pipeline infrastructure by suspected oil thieves in May, 2020.

The corporation disclosed this in its Monthly Financial and Operation Report (MFOR), released in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The report indicated that 37 pipeline points were vandalised, representing about 43 per cent decrease from the 65 points recorded in April.

A breakdown showed that Mosimi-Ibadan pipeline axis accounted for 38 per cent of the vandalised points while Atlas Cove -Mosimi axis recorded 19 per cent of the breaks.

It noted that the Suleja-Kaduna area logged 16 per cent of the breaks, while other locations made up for the remaining 27 per cent.

It revealed that the NNPC in collaboration with the local communities and other stakeholders had agreed to continuously strive to bring the malaise under control.

On Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, it said that the corporation had continued to diligently monitor the daily stock of the product to achieve smooth distribution and to ensure zero fuel queues across the nation.

It stated that 950.67million litres of white products was sold and distributed by the corporations downstream subsidiary, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), in May.

This, it said, comprised 950.67million litres of PMS only with no Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), adding that there was no sale of special product in the month.

Total sale of white products for the period May 2019 to May 2020, stood at 19,865.8 million litres and PMS accounted for 19,704.49 million litres or 99.19 per cent, it said.

The report further stated that 92.58 billion was made on the sale of white products by PPMC in the month under review.

Total revenue generated from the sales of white products for the period May 2019 to May 2020, stood at 2,393.88 billion, where PMS contributed about 98.84 per cent of the total sales with a value of 2,366.15 billion, it noted.

In the gas sector, it said that natural gas production in May increased by 2.38 per cent at 226.51billion Cubic Feet (BCF), compared to output in April.

This, it noted, translated to an average daily production of 7,480.36 million Standard Cubic Feet of gas per day (mmscfd).

The daily average natural gas supply to gas power plants increased by 5.87 per cent to 834mmscfd, equivalent to power generation of 3,128MW, the report stated.

The May report revealed that the Groups operating revenue, compared to April, increased by 15.33 per cent or N31.68 billion to stand at N238.33 billion, while expenditure for the month decreased by 0.76 per cent or N1.81 billion, to stand at N235.66 billion.

The report indicated a trading surplus of 2.68 billion compared to the 30.81 billion deficit posted in April when the effect of COVID-19 was at the peak, leading to reduced demand with fluctuating prices.

It said the 109 per cent upturn in revenue in the month under review, was the cumulative result of improved performances by some of the corporations Strategic Business Units.

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), posted a surplus due to substantial growth in the market fundamentals as demand began a slight recovery.

The Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC) recorded 257 per cent increased profit, attributed to improved debt collection.

Similarly, PPMCs surplus rose 250 per cent from investment dividend received and significant drop in average product landing cost, it said.

It further noted that Corporate Headquarters deficit ebbed by 47 per cent in May, compared to April, while NNPC Retail, Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL), NNPC Shipping and Ventures also contributed positively to the months performance.

This, it said, led to the significant NNPC Group surplus position during the period under review. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

NAAPE

By Yunus Yusuf

The National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), has issued a two-week ultimatum to airlines, who have sacked or plan to sack their pilots and engineers under the guise of COVID-19, to reverse the decision.

Its President, Mr Abednego Galadinma, at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos, said pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers had resolved to withdraw their services to all airlines, if colleagues were sacked.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that there had been a spate of terminations of contract of pilots and engineers across various airlines, all linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

About 170 pilots have been sacked from Bristow Helicopters and Air Peace airlines, so far.

Galadinma criticised Bristow helicopters for sacking 100 pilots and engineers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that the company was not saying the truth, since it operated throughout the lockdown period, servicing the oil and gas sector as essential service provider.

He urged the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ( NCAA) to, as a matter of urgency, prevail on the airlines to stop the unilateral dismissal of pilots and engineers.

We demand that Bristow and Air Peace should immediately recall all sacked pilots and aircraft engineers until all labour issues are resolved or be grounded by NCAA because of attendant safety concerns created by their action.

As a result of the known consequences of these illegal actions and our commitment to patriotic fervour, we shall be forced to withdraw our guarantee of industrial peace within the industry if this call is not heeded within two weeks.

Our union will be left with no other option but to withdraw the services of pilots and aircraft maintenance engineers across all the airlines, he said.

Responding to questions, the NAAPE president rejected the Bristow statement which indicated that the sack of 100 pilots and engineers would affect both Nigerians and expatriates, stating that it was just a ploy to get rid of Nigerians.

Galadinma said: To say the 100 pilots and engineers are not only our members is unsubstantiated and we do not know this because the management did not engage us.

Operators, especially Bristow Helicopters, have rendered our members redundant despite assurances by government of support for their businesses in return for operators not laying off staff.

These operators are already running on lean manpower with disproportionate number being expatriates, yet, without regards to our expatriates and local content laws and executive order 5, they have gone ahead to lay off staff under the guise of COVID-19 pandemic.

They cannot be using COVID-19 as an excuse because the cessation of flight operations did not affect essential services like oil and gas supply. Besides, Bristow and Caverton were operating during the lockdown.

In fact, you would recall that our members were held by the Rivers State Government during the lockdown, so how can they be using COVID-19 as an excuse?

It is on record that Bristow Helicopters operated throughout the lockdown, supporting oil and gas operations with governments approval and guarantees service contracts in the same national interest, but they are now using COVID-19 to force redundancy on our members, he fumed.(NAN)

Source: NAN News

IPMAN

By Nana Musa

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members to sell petrol at the old rate of N143 per litre, pending the new directive by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

The National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Alhaji Suleiman Yakubu, said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

Yakubu, who was while reacting to the new ex-depot rate of N138.62 per litre from the previous N132.62 per litre, said that IPMAN would brief its members as soon as it received directive from PPPRA.

NAN reports that NNPC and Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) had fixed the ex-depot price of premium motor spirit (PMS), known as petrol, at N138.62 per litre.

The PPMC Manager, Sales, Mohammed Bello, had disclosed the new price in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.
Bello said that that the new price would come into effect from Aug. 5.

NAN reports that the ex-depot price is the price at which depot owners sell the commodity to retail outlets.
Yakubu advised marketers to sell at the old rate, pending when PPPRA would announce its monthly pricing modulation for the product.

A survey conducted by NAN on Wednesday in Abuja indicated that major marketers at Wuse, Gwarimpa, Maitama and Wuye had not adjusted their pumps to reflect the new price.

NAN recalls that the PPPRA had, in the last four months, adjusted its ex-depot price thrice. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

COVID-19 updates by NCDC

By Abujah Racheal

Nigerias COVID-19 total cases have now reached 44,433 in the country, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

The NCDC made this known via its official twitter handle on Tuesday, announcing 304 new cases and 910 deaths from infections in the country.

Data from the health agency showed that the 304 new cases were spread across 18 states and the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

According to it,as of Aug. 4, 14 deaths were recorded in the country.

Tilldate, 44,433 cases have been confirmed out of which 31,851 cases have been discharged and 910 deaths recorded nationwide.

The NCDC said that the 304 new cases were reported from FCT (90), Lagos (59), Ondo (39), Taraba (18), Rivers (17), Borno (15), Adamawa (12), Oyo (11) and Delta (9).

Others were Edo (6), Bauchi (4), Kwara (4), Ogun (4), Osun (4), Bayelsa (3), Plateau (3), Niger (3), Nasarawa (2) and Kano (1).

Meanwhile, the agency warned that the coronavirus does not care if a personbelieve in use of face masks or not.

You may not believe in the virus, but the virus sure believes in you.

Do not wear masks with valves.

Why? Because a valve acts as an open doorway, allowing your breath to leave the mask and putting those around you at risk of catching COVID-19.

Again, there are many ways to wear a mask incorrectly, but only one way to maximise protection; wear a well-fitted mask with gaps.

Check if your mask fit before going outside, it is really simple.

Step 1, inhale: Your mask should pull on your face.

Step 2, exhale: Your mask should expand.

Step 3, check leaks: There should be no major leaks.

Readjust your mask if there are leaks for best protection, your mask should fit well, it advised.

The NCDC said that Nigerians were still in the middle of a pandemic and need to remain extremely careful to keep the gains of the sacrifices they have all made since March.

Even if you wear protective mask in public, it is important that you also use other preventive measures, stay at least two metres away from other people.

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.

Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands; cover your coughs and sneezes.

It, however, said that coronavirus could not overwhelm Nigerians.

Theres an end; lets just do the needful, it stated.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that since the emergence of COVID-19 in the country, the statistics from NCDC reveals a gradual decline in daily recorded cases from July 27.

The figures have reduced significantly over the past seven days with the lowest figure over this timeline, being 288 recorded on Aug. 3.

Between June and July, new cases had risen to as high as 790 on July 1.

With the recent trend, the case rate is slowing down in the country.

Source: NAN News