Nigerian Economists advices FG to evolve economic plan on sulphur cut policy in importer fuels

Economists have urged the federal government to impliment an economic strategy whilest implimenting the proposed cut in permisible sulphur levels of sulphur content in imported petrol and diesel.

Mr Friday Udoh, South-South Coordinator of Institute of Chartered Economists of Nigeria (ICEN) said on Wednesday that although the policy was commendable, its implementation could cause economic problems.

They said that the proposed cut in sulphur limits in fuels when the country was heavily importing refined petroleum products will push up the landing cost and trigger inflation and hurt the recovery of the economy from recession.

He explained that the lower sulphur limits would benefit the country if Nigerian crude was refined locaaly as opposed to importation of refined petroleum products.

Ohaneze youth wing in South-South applauds Nwodo’s stance on restructuring

Ohaneze Youth wing in South-South geopolitical zone on Saturday commended the stance of Dr Nnia Nwodo, President General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, for sensitising Nigerians on benefits of restructuring to the nation.

Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, South-South’s Coordinator of the youth arm of Ohaneze, gave the commendation while speaking in Yenagoa.

He spoke on the sidelines of the rally on restructuring of the country organised by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) in Yenagoa.

Arthur-Ugwa noted that Ohaneze leader has been in the forefront in efforts to enlighten the people on the need to support efforts at reinforcing the unity among the federating units and make the country a prosperous one.

Environmentalists back FG’s proposal to lower sulphur level limits for imported fuels

Two renowned environmentalists Rev Nnimmo Bassey and Alagoa Morris have endorsed plans by the federal government to lower permissible sulphur levels in imported fuels

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had on March 13 announced that starting July it will cut down sulphur levels in imported petrol and diesel.

Mr Anibor O. Kragha, NNPC’s chief operating officer of refineries and petrochemicals announced the development during a presentation to the African Refiners Association (ARA) Conference in South Africa.

The environmentalists who spoke in Yenagoa on Monday noted that the proposed regulation would reduce the emission of sulphur, a toxic element into the environment.

Eket indigenes in USA offer free medical mission to 1978 patients in A/Ibom

SOME OF THE VOLUNTEERS FOR THE EKID MEDICAL MISSION 2018

AN AGED BENEFICIARY OF THE EKID 2018 FREE MEDICAL MISSION PROCEEDING  TO GET HER PRESCRIBED DRUGS AT EKENE OBO HEALTH CENTRE

Eket Development Congress USA, (EDC) on Sunday concluded a free medical outreach to 1978 less privileged beneficiaries in Eket, Esit-Eket and neigbouring settlements in Akwa Ibom.

Dr Umo Ntekim, National President of EDC said at Ekpene Obo venue of the mission that the turn-out was overwhelming and impressive.

She said that EDC, a group of professionals residing in America mobilised a medical team amongst its members and foreign volunteers to bring medical care to indigent patients from their mother land and give back to society.

According to her, the mission christened ‘Ekid Medical Mission 2018’ is the maiden edition conducted by the organisation in collaboration with Eket Development Union and local and foreign donours.

“The medical mission was a success and we enjoyed the support of Akwa Ibom Ministry of Health, community leaders in Eket and many donours and when we return to our base we shall think of how to sustain it.

“We had a lot of Americans in the team who came with us, they volunteered their expertise and worked with Nigerian medical professionals in the community to share experiences and build capacity as well.

“The team has medical experts across the board, from Nurses, Pharmacists, Physicians, Counsellors amongst others who worked tirelessly for a week to assist people who ordinarily could not afford medical service,” Ntekim said.

Ntekim explained that the USA based group collaborated with Akwa Ibom Ministry of Health who provided the community health care centre at Ekpene Obo and support staff to work with the visiting medical team.

According to her, the team also had health enlightenment sessions with the community aimed at equipping the people with knowledge to live a healthier lives and modify their lifestyles to prevent ailments.

Dr Ini Adiakpan, a Community leader in the area who gave the breakdown of the beneficiaries said that 53 surgeries were conducted successfully while the patients are recovering.

She further explained that 1050 out patients were treated of various health challenges while 75 dental cases were treated while 800 patients got attention from the pharmacy.

Adiakpan who applauded the selfless efforts of EDC noted that the mission took several weeks of planning including sensitisation, registration and classification of beneficiaries ahead the arrival of the team.

Margaret Itauma, a Nurse in the visiting medical team said that coming home to render services to her people was a fulfilling experience adding that they had lots of cases they could not handle.

“Coming home to assist less privileged members of our community gives us a lot of satisfaction, it is this community that we grew up so we in EDC came back to give our helping hands.

“We feel the pains of the people and we are burdened that we had to reschedule some cases which we could not handle within the one week the programme lasted.

“We have all pledged to come back next year to continue, gladly the cases were sorted out and the severer issues treated first,” Itauma said.

She applauded the beneficiaries for their orderly conduct as they took turns to receive care from the team despite the large crowd.

PATIENTS  AWAITING MEDICAL FREE ATTENTION AT THE EKID MEDICAL MISSION 2018 BY EKET RESIDENTS IN USA AT EKPENE OBO HEALTH CENTRE, ESIT EKET LGA IN AKWA IBOM 

PATIENTS  AWAITING MEDICAL FREE ATTENTION AT THE EKID MEDICAL MISSION 2018 BY EKET RESIDENTS IN USA AT EKPENE OBO HEALTH CENTRE, ESIT EKET LGA IN AKWA IBOM 

Biseni Rainstorm: Legislator pledges to facilitate relief to victims in Bayelsa

Mr Douye Diri, Member, representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma federal constituency, on the platform of PDP, has pledged to facilitate relief to hundreds of people rendered homeless in a rainstorm on March 5.

Some residents of Kilama, Tein, Tambiri, Egbebiri communities within Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa were affected by the natural disaster.

The whirlwind blew away the roofs of over 70 houses, five churches and three schools.

Ekweremadu, Dogara urge African members of Commonwealth to re-evaluate benefits

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have said that Africa is not getting its fair share from the Commonwealth of Nations, calling on member states to review their benefits for possible reallgnments.

The leaders of upper and lower chambersa Nigerian legislature spoke in Yenagoa on Saturday, during the 74th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Executive Committee meeting.

Governor Seriake Dickson; his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd.); Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Konbowei Benson attended the opening session of the meeting.

The three senators representing Bayelsa at the National Assembly - Ben Murray-Bruce, Foster Ogola and Emmanuel Paulker, among other dignataries and foreign delegates are attending the event.

Ekweremadu said with the exit of Britain from European Union, a new era had dawned in Commonwealth, urging Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Africa Region to prepare for the current realities.

"Britain has left Europe and we are going to look for new friends, we are going to sign new partnership agreements, we are going to look for new partners.

"As we go into this new era of Commonwealth, Africa must be ready to put on a new thinking cap for better negotiations, for better deals. Yes, we must put money for the sustenance of Commonwealth.

“But we must ask ourselves, do we get enough returns for our investment in Commonwealth? Gambia asked themselves this question and left the Commonwealth.

"There used to be Commonwealth scholarship. Do we get enough of those scholarships? I0f we say we have a Commonwealth, is it Commonwealth of Nations or Commonwealth of the people?

" I think what we need is a Commonwealth of people where everybody has a sense of belonging to such a super national organisation, where a Nigerian, a Ghanaian, South African, Kenyan, can go to the UK without having a visa,”

“That is what is Commonwealth. We have different sets of Commonwealth. We have Commonwealth of Canada, Australia, Newzealand, among others but our experiences are not the same.

"So, we must ensure that what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. It is left for Commonwealth to ensure that it is indeed a Commonwealth.

“We must be able to lift one another to ensure that we work for their improvement and development.

"So, we want those countries God has blessed to help bless others, to lift up out of poverty, ignorance and disease. That should be the position of Africa as we go into a new era of Commonwealth." Ekweremadu said

Ekweremadu advised that Africa  must enter into new partnership agreements that deal favourably with those members that are emerging democracies, adding that Africa must send their best brains to negotiate on its behalf. 

"It is time for us to say enough is enough. It is either we are with them or we are outside.  But I think we should be inside, but we want to be inside and be taken care of, let our concerns be attended to.

"As long as we have one superior race against another, as long as we have unjust society, all the fights and struggle for peace will be in vain.

“That is the point we are making  and that until everywhere is peaceful, until we care for ourselves, until we care for our race, until we say that everybody matters, until we deal with everybody with sense of justice.

“irrespective of whether in our nations or international arena, until feel a sense of belonging that government is taking care of the citizens and that their leaders care about them, we are going to  continue to harvest insecurity, problems, fights and people struggling." The Deputy Senate President said.

Dogara, represented by Chairman, House of Reps Committee on Nigerian Content, Samuel Ekong, said legislators must ensure that their task of law making, appropriation and oversight were strengthened to deepen democracy.

"African parliamentarians should wake up to the reality that with the Brexit, the commonwealth will pick up still because the British government will seek new partners. 

"We will remain a struggling economy as long as they continue to leave us with just  raw materials and bring us finished products. 

"But we must in our engagement insist that there must be value addition in our production chain right here in our domains as this will create employment opportunities and ensure that our export receipts increase.

“It would ensure that our revenue inflows are better off.

“Otherwise, we will engage in a situation whereby we continue to pick the crumbs while they bring the finished products and increase our import bills and continue to add pressure to our revenue base." He said.

Violent storm destroys schools, churches and over 70 houses in Biseni community, Bayelsa

Hundreds of residents in Kilama, Tein,Tambiri,Egbebiri communities within Biseni in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa have been rendered homeless following a violent rainstorm.

The whirlwind that accompanied the storm blew away the roofs of over 70 houses, five churches and three schools and destroyed over electric poles, disrupting power supply to the area.

Suspected pirates kill 2 in Bayelsa

Despite bogus claims by Bayelsa  government on Monday during a visit by Chief f Army Staff gunmen suspected to be pirates  sameday invaded Ayama community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa  killing two and injuring three others.

It was gathered that the hoodlums entered the community at about 9pm on Monday, shot sporadically and caused pandemonium in the area.

A member representing Ogbia Constituency II, Mr. Munalayefa Edwin Gibson confirmed the development.

Gibson condemned the attack and lamented that the gunmen shot consistently for over 30 minutes.

Obi says Education, SMEs key to Nigeria, Africa development at SME roundtable in Bayelsa

Former Governor of Anambra State Mr  Peter Obi, on Friday in Yenagoa proffered panacea for Nigeria and Africa to overcome its economic challenges.

Obi made the recommendations while speaking at the ongoing 2018 African SME Round Table Forum holding at the Azaiki Library in Yenagoa..

According to Obi, Nigeria and Africa required huge investment in education and skill acquisition, as well as meaningful support for Small and Medium – scale Enterprises (SMEs).

He said Nigeria must focus on investing in education and skill acquisition in order to turn round its economy, and drastically reduce the levels of youth unemployment.