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Monday, 28 April 2014

Jay Z and Beyonce announce joint summer tour - On The Run

Monday, April 28, 2014

Jay Z and Beyonce announce joint summer tour - On The Run

Jay Z and Beyonce are planning the joint summer tour to end all tours. The power couple announced today that the 16 date tour will kick off June 25 in Miami and will end August 5th in San Francisco.

According to the announcement, pre-sale tickets will be made available for Beyonce fan club members and Chase credit card holders on 4/29/14 at Ticketmaster.

$1 from each ticket sold and a portion of the proceeds from the Chase VIP Ticket Package will be donated to the Shawn Carter Foundation. Tickets for the general public will go on sale May 2 on LiveNation.

Dear LIB readers; my dad murdered our 6month old baby to save us

Sounds like a scene from the holocaust movie, The Pianist. But just in case it's real, please read and advice.

I am 19years old. My parents and I were based in the north but recently we just moved to our village in Owerri due to the destruction of our house and properties in Yobe state.

In 2013, there was an attack in our area by BokoHharam. So many people were killed so we had to hide somewhere for our safety and we were 3 kids, my parents and our last child who was 6month old. While hiding, the Boko Haram gun men were aproaching us. Hearing the sound of their guns, our 6month old baby started crying and the men were not far from us.

So, my dad needed to save us and he strangled the baby to death. Now the five of us are alive and healthy but staying in the village. My mum is yet to get over the fact that our baby was killed to save us all, she keeps blaming my dad for killing her child. Now, she wants a divorce. Please I will like to know, did my dad do anything wrong by killing the baby to save us?

Saturday, 26 April 2014

Columbus Short fired from Scandal after domestic violence incident

Oyibo people take domestic violence seriously. So should we. For allegedly attacking his wife and threatening to kill her and then himself, actor Columbus short has been fired from hit series, Scandal.

Columbus confirmed via a statement released to the media yesterday that he won't be returning to the blockbuster series

"At this time I must confirm my exit from a show I've called home for 3 years, with what is the most talented ensemble on television today. I would like to first thank Shonda Rhimes for the opportunity to work with such an amazing cast. Thank you Gladiators, who have supported me throughout my entire career and of course to ABC and Shondaland for allowing me to play such a pivotal role in the Scandal series. I have enjoyed every single minute of it. Everything must come to an end and unfortunately the time has come for Harrison Wright to exit the canvas. I wish nothing but the best for Shonda, Kerry and the rest of the cast, who have become like a second family to me in such a short amount of time. For this, I will forever be grateful."

Ex-BBA housemate Vimbai in Lagos to shoot TV soap

Zimbabwean TV personality, Vimbai, can't seem to get enough of Nigeria. The StarGist presenter and ex-Big Brother Africa Housemate was in Lagos last weekend on the set of a new soap being shot in Lagos, along with OC Ukeje, Gideon Okeke and others. Good news for her career. Bikini pic of Vimbai wth Nigerian actress, Meg Otanwa, above

Tiwa Savage shows off her amazing bikini body in Dubai

The soon-to-be Mrs Balogun pictured having fun with friends in Dubai in her sexy black bikini. I see all the hours at the gym worked. Check out that body! See more photos after the cut...

Police recover 2-yr-old boy’s severed head in Ibadan

The Ogun state Police command has recovered the head of the 2 year old boy that was killed on April 16 by suspected ritualist, Mamodu Bashir Ibrahim. Mamodu had raped the little boy's mother at uncompleted building at Ofada town in Obafemi/Owode local government area of Ogun State before killing and beheading the boy. The man was later arrested by men of the Criminal Investigation Department on April 22, he took the police team to where he hid the little boy's severed head.

According to the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Muyiwa Adejobi, who spoke with Vanguard, the head was found inside a bag in Mokola area of Ibadan of Oyo state.

"He has confessed to the crime, but still keeping some information to himself regarding those that sent him to get the commodity. The suspect took the investigation team to Mokola area of Ibadan where the head was recovered from a bag in the bush. The Commissioner of Police in Ogun state, has however directed the detectives to intensify efforts to uncover the buyers and others who engage in such dirty deals" he said

Meanwhile officials of the National Security & Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, in Ogun State, yesterday arrested 32-year-old man, Olusegun Kehinde (pictured above), for allegedly kidnapping a nine-month-old boy, Malik Ogundeyi on Wednesday April 23 at No 1 Elegbede House Ore-meji street, Ijeun-Titun area of Abeokuta.

In a statement released by the Public Relations Officer of the NSCDC in the state, Olanrewaju Kareem, said he was arrested following an alarm raised by the boys mother

"Men of the corps on patrol of PHCN facilities within Abeokuta arrested the suspect as a result of alarm raised by the child’s mother, Mrs Olanike Ogundeyi, when she saw her nine month-old baby, Malik Ogundeyi, with the suspect. According to Mrs Olanike Ogundeyi, the child was kidnapped when he strayed away while the mother was busy washing. She explained further that she left the baby in the passage while she left to pour used water at the backyard. The suspect claimed he lives at Okanlawon’s compound, Oke-Ijeun, Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State during interrogation.” he said

OMG!! Check out Tiwa Savage's wedding dress (Photos)

Saturday, April 26, 2014

OMG!! Check out Tiwa Savage's wedding dress (Photos)

Oh my! I have died and gone to heaven. This is one of the most exquisite wedding dresses I have ever seen. It's breathtaking. What a beautiful, stunning bride. See a pic of the groom after the cut...

Friday, 25 April 2014

Naval officer allegedly kills bus conductor in Oshodi over bribe

Pic: Naval officer allegedly kills bus conductor in Oshodi over bribe

Saw the pic and report on this guy's Facebook page. Why is this happening? One policeman was beat up yesterday for shooting a driver and now this... ?

Virgin Australia plane forced to land in Bali over fears of a hijack

Friday, April 25, 2014

Virgin Australia plane forced to land in Bali over fears of a hijack

A Virgin Australia plane (pictured above after it landed in Bali) was forced to land on the island of Bali over fears of a possible hijack. Initially reports said the plane, which was flying from Australia and carrying 150 passengers, was being hijacked, but it was later found to be an aggressive drunk passenger who was trying to force his way into the cockpit.

The pilot sent a distress signal to airport authorities and the plane was cleared to land in Bali so the situation could be dealt with. BBC reports that immediately the plane landed, the drunk passenger, who had been overpowered by the crew and handcuffed him, was arrested at the airport.

Virgin Australia told ABC News that there has been a medical emergency aboard the plane but everything had been settled though the aircraft still remains on the tarmac at Bali’s Denpasar airport.

OOU Student wins N1.115m in Goldenbet.com stakes

admin at Thundergist Entertainment

A student of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, Whetode James, has emerged the first millionaire in the WinnerGoldenbet.com stakes. The 25-year-old won N1,115,780.70. The company’s Chairman Idowu Obasa presented a cheque with the amount to Whetode on Wednesday. Speaking with The Nation, Whetode said he staked N800Read More The post OOU Student wins N1.115m in Goldenbet.com stakes appeared first on Campuswaka.com.

Thursday, 24 April 2014

Pres. Jonathan holds security meeting with Govs, spiritual leaders, heads of security agencies

President Jonathan this afternoon (meeting may still be going on as you read this) held a closed door meeting with some state governors, heads of security agencies, ministers and spiritual leaders in the country with a view of finding lasting solution to the security problems the nation is currently facing.

The meeting which started around 12.10 this afternoon has in attendance Willie Obiano (Anambra), Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Martins Elechi (Ebonyi), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto), Ramalan Yero (Kaduna ), Garba Umar (Taraba), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Tanko Al-Makura (Nasarawa), Seidu Dakingari (Kebbi), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Lyel Imoke (Cross River), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe) and Isa Yuguda (Bauchi).

Spiritual leaders, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor (President of CAN), the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III as well as Ministers of Interior, Defence, Police Affairs, Foreign, Agriculture, FCT and the Attorney-General of the Federation are all in attendance. Continue...

National Security Adviser Col. Sambo Dsuki (rtd) led heads of the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Nigeria Customs Service, NSCDC and Immigration Service to the meeting

Deputy Governors of Edo, Jigawa, Kano, Ogun, Plateau, Imo, Rivers and Oyo state represented their various State Governors.

Photos: Policeman beaten & tied up by mob after allegedly shooting driver

This incident happened this afternoon along Patigi Road in Kwara State. According to eye-witnesses, the policeman tied above and a few of his colleagues stopped a driver delivering telecoms equipment to a site at Patigi and allegedly demanded for money. When the driver refused to part with money, an argument ensued and he was shot in the arm. (You will find the graphic pic after the cut). After the shooting, a mob descended on the policemen but were only able to catch one as the others ran away.

The one caught was beaten and tied up by a mob. See more pics after the cut...

The driver that was shot.

Ife Exhibition: A Celebration Of Rich Cultural Heritage

Chika Okeke

— April 6, 2014

With the overwhelming emphasis on making tourism the mainstay of Nigeria’s economy apart from oil, there is a need for the federal government to pay adequate attention to the maintenance of heritage sites by providing enough financial resources and manpower to manage the sites. CHIKA OKEKE writes
It was a moment of reflection when the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) recently commissioned the National Museum, Ile-Ife exhibition. The exhibition titled, “Ife Archaeology and Material Culture in Retrospect,” was designed to replace the 1954 old exhibition targeted at showcasing the rich material culture of Ile-Ife through the archaeological discovery in four media of terracotta, Bronzes, Stones and beads.
It was also aimed at appreciating the great works of Ife artists like Olokun, Ooni Luwo, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin who were famous for originating the idea of bronze casting in the ancient city.
The exhibition also provided the opportunity to launch another comprehensive work titled, ‘The Sacred and Historical Landscapes of Ile-Ife” that were produced by museum professionals in heritage management and cultural managers from Obafemi Awolowo University who were commissioned by NCMM in 2010 to collate and document heritage as well as historical sites in Ile-Ife.
You may recall that NCMM Ile-Ife museum was opened in 1954 by the defunct department of antiquities in collaboration with the then Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Sir Adesoji Aderemi as a result of early discovery of four media in large quantity by a German Ethnologist, Leo Frobenius whose unscientific excavation at Olokun grove yielded the famous Ori-Olokun and other Ife master pieces. With this, the museum was established at Enuwa beside the Ooni palace.
Nigeria As Preferred Cultural Destination
In his address, the minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, High Chief Edem Duke, said the the policy trust of federal government was to place Nigeria as preferred cultural destination worldwide saying that culture must be seen as a vector of development.
“The policy thrust of the federal government is to place Nigeria as a preferred cultural destination not only in Africa, but also all over the world and to achieve these objectives, the transformation outlines that there should be effective community involvement as the basis of tourism and cultural growth even as culture will serve as a vector of development.
He further disclosed that henceforth, the annual Osun/ Oshogbo festival would receive federal government budgetary allocation for hosting the event saying that apart from oil and gas, culture and tourism were viable areas of diversification from Nigeria`s over-dependence on oil and gas.
“My director-general and I have worked closely to ensure that Osun/ Oshogbo festival will begin to receive federal government every year that is from 2014, it will be inculcated into the budget as Osun-Oshogbo festival.
He regretted that the level of immorality in the society is not unconnected to loss of family values which would be traceable to unchecked influx of foreign cultures maintaining that cultural values must be urgently restored.
International Best Practices
The deputy governor of Osun State, Otunba Titilayo Tomori called on the management of NCMM to work in accordance with international best practices and educate the residents on the importance of preserving their cultural heritage and monument sites.
She appreciated the efforts of the federal government for inculcating Osun/Oshogbo festival in the National budget as well as the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse for facilitating the promotion of Ife culture in London.
Tomori said, “Ife is a wonderful city created by God over 13,000 years and God has given us the privilege to be part of the Ife cultural heritage. The state government identifies with the giant stride taken by NCMM to project Ile-Ife as the cultural progenitor of Yoruba race.
…Open New Vista
Responding, the director-general of NCMM, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman said the exhibition would open new vista in the understanding of Ife as the source and one of the famous centres of world civilisation likewise to stimulate the interest of youths in understanding their cultural heritage.
He said, “The exhibition will open new vista in the understanding of Ife as the source and one of the famous centres of world civilisation likewise to stimulate the interest of youths in our cultural heritage through deeper understanding of her glorious past.
“Its also intended to bring to focus the journey of Ife clay, stone and bronze technology beginning from the abstract form of artwork which historians put at about 800 AD to the naturalistic masterpieces of 12th to 15th centuries.
Usman noted that the position of Ife as the cradle of Yoruba and one of the centres of world civilisation is never in doubt considering the quality, uniqueness and outstanding collections of Ife masterpieces of art objects within and around the world.
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Education Has Improved In Ekiti – Fayemi

Alo Abiola

— April 23, 2014

Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi yesterday said that the state’s educational sector has witnessed a tremendous transformation in the last three years of his administration.
He said the improvement in the level of students’ performances in external examinations and the welfare of the teachers are unprecedented since he came on board as the helmsman of the state.
Fayemi stated these on Tuesday in Okeoro Ekiti in Ijero local government while reacting to an allegation by the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Mr Ayodele Fayose that the rating of the state in public examinations is at its lowest ebb since October 16, 2010 when Fayemi assumed office.
The governor who challenged Fayose to a debate on the level of development of education in the state said, “Go to West African Examinations Council and check the trajectory. Go and see the records we have achieved in the last three years. Ekiti has produced good results consistently. I don’t deal with opinions; I deal with facts because facts are sacred; opinions are free; anybody can say what they like”.
Fayose had on Monday in Ikere Ekiti said the state was ranked 8th in WAEC before he left in 2006, expressing regret that the standard had witnessed a downward trend to as low as 35th among the 36 states of the federation under Fayemi’s regime.
He maintained that the value he attached to education earnedhim his doctorate degree.
the governor added , “I challenged my good brother, Mr Ayo Fayose to a debate on the academic records when he was the Governor and what obtains now that I am Governor. You can check out the entire parameters , teachers when he was governor were earning N7,500 minimum wage.
“Then, There was no rural teachers’ Allowance. No core subjects allowance. No capacity building programme. There was nothing teachers could write home about. Though, Fayose might be distributing N500 and Ankara as tangible and concrete tools in an enduring manner.
“You can go beyond that and go to the tertiary institutions then. It was Fayose that cancelled the College of Medicine in Ekiti State University , go there now and compare the quality of education in the State University.
“Aside this, we have moved from the position of 217 on Webometric ranking to 17 in the entire country.
The governor who also visited Epe and Ara Ekiti in the local government in continuation of his councils campaign promised to expedite action on the construction of Ara-Ijero-Araromi road and Okeoro—Ilukun-Ipoti road to bring development to the communities.

LASU Elects New Deputy VC

Taiwo Ogunmola Omilani

— April 24, 2014

The Lagos State University Senate has elected Prof Fidelis Njokanma as the new deputy vice chancellor of the institution.
A statement signed by the public relations officer, Mr Kayode Sutton yesterday, said Njokanma, a Professor of Paediatrics, polled a total number of 33 votes while his co-contestant, Prof Olatunji Abanikannda of the Faculty of Science had 30 votes.
Njokanma, a former head of Department of Pediatrics, Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), was a two-term deputy provost, LASUCOM, Ikeja between 2008-2010 and 2010-2012 respectively.
He has also served as dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences from 2012 to February 2014. Out of the 139 members of the Senate, 83 signed the attendance register, while 77 members took part in the election.
The post of the deputy vice chancellor (Administration) became vacant after the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past deputy vice chancellor, Administration, Prof Omolara A. Bamgboye on Saturday, December 7, 2013.
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Pray For Abducted Girls, Nigerian Mothers Urged

Kuni Tyessi

— April 24, 2014

As the security operatives are still battling to free the 273 students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok who were abducted a week ago by the Boko Haram fanatics, the National Coordinator of ‘Nigeria Mothers Pray’, Pastor Esther Okorie has called on Nigerian mothers to rise up and pray for the safety of the girls and the peace of the country.
In an open letter made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday in Abuja, Pastor Okorie regretted that “the nation, the only one we call our own, the only nation in which we all have equal stake, the one in which you are either a mother or about to be; is in serious danger of being destroyed.
“Which woman will fold her arms and watch her child at the brink of destruction and not do all in her power to salvage that child, not even the mad one. But it seems that most of us have become too busy to hear the cry of our child of destiny – Nigeria!
“Please dear women of Nigeria, let us put away religious, ethnic, political sentiments and status in life and unite together in prayer and positive action to salvage our country before it becomes too late for all of us”.
Continuing, Okorie asked: “Which nation can take us (170 million people) as refugees should we allow another civil war in the country? Women remember we are worst hit in any unrest – you may lose husband or children; you may suffer rape or your daughters; your life is not also spared. Arise Nigerian women and hear the cry of your child (NIGERIA)”.
While calling on women to become agents of change, she maintained that every woman could make a difference in her very corner. She also lamented the recent bomb blast at Nyanya, Abuja, which claimed the lives of many Nigerians and urged Nigerians not to forget in a hurry the Rwanda experience which happened just 20 years ago.
“If we have forgotten the Nigerian civil war which started in 1966, we should not forget the Rwanda genocide of 1994.Rwanda is planning and holding many activities for the 20th anniversary of the genocide of almost a million Rwandans. The Rwandan genocide was 100 days plus of killings of fellow citizens. It started in April 1994 and did not end until sometime in July 1994, Nigerian women should not allow the experience of Rwanda to repeat in Nigeria.
“I am writing this letter to you my fellow Nigerian women to warn us! We cannot afford to find ourselves in the situation Rwandan women found themselves 20 years ago! We just can’t afford it!
“The truth of the matter (regardless of which ethnic group you may come from) is that women and children always end up being the worst affected victims of genocides and wars. We end up paying a high price for these conflicts that we did not cause! We end up being offered as the sacrifice for the fighting amongst our people. We end up becoming collateral damage in the hostilities.”
“I am really upset with my fellow Nigerian women. I can see that our country Nigeria seems to be heading in the same direction Rwanda was 20 years ago. We just cannot afford to allow that to happen!
“We just cannot afford to let our country continue to slide down that slippery slope of disaster. Please let us do whatever we can to stop the downhill ride to tragedy, ruin and catastrophe! We must do something now to stop it! And do it with a great sense of urgency!
“We Nigerian women must read the handwriting on the wall. For how long are we going to continue to watch while our children are massacred? Not long ago, about 59 of our children were murdered in their sleep in their hostels. Our children and husbands are slaughtered on the altar of politics and wanton killings. We have to stop the madness now! We have time to stop the madness going on in our country. Now is the time to stop it!
“All mothers should rise up in prayers, Queen Esther prayed in the Bible and the fate of her people was changed, we are the Esthers of our time. And the time to pray is now”she added.
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Fuel Import: FG Approves Early Release Of Q2 Allocation

Juliet Alohan

— April 21, 2014

As part of measures to ensure steady supply of fuel across the country and avoid scarcity of the product, the federal government has approved the early release of the second quarter (Q2) 2014 fuel import allocation.
The approval which was given by the minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, also included supplementary Q1 fuel import allocations.
In a statement made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) while commending the minister for the early approval , urged marketers to continue bringing in their products and assured of prompt processing of documents.
“The management of PPPRA commends the honourable minister and charged marketers to take advantage of both the Q1 supplementary PMS allocation, as well as the early release of the Q2 allocation, to bring in their products, promising to ensure prompt processing of documents for all imported products,” the statement signed by Lanre Oladele said.
The development which caught most stakeholders by surprise, according to a PPPRA source, is intended to further assist in providing additional imports to supplement the current level of importation into the system with the aim of improving the national PMS supply situation and stock build-up.
This is the first time such an approval would be done way-ahead of any anticipated quarterly allocation. It is expected that the gesture would enable all importers ample time to conclude their purchases and also bring same into the Nigerian market.
Given the challenges of products supply witnessed in the country in recent times, the source described the development as a good omen for the industry.
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Nigeria Electricity Generation To Hit 12,000mw By 2016

NAN

— April 21, 2014

Dr Sam Amadi, Chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), said electricity generation nationwide would hit 12,000 mega watts before the end of 2016,
He disclosed this on Monday in Minna at a town hall meeting.
Amadi said that this would be made possible as the commission had issued licence to private power plant operators for generation of over 20,000 megawatts of power within the next three years.
“Life has thought us that nothing is impossible, we can make 30,000 mega watts within the next one year if we want.
“Already we have issued licence to investors to generate over 20,000 mega watts before 2016.
“I am sure that with all the efforts put in place, our power generation will surely surpass our target by 2016,” he said.
Amadi said that the huge foreign investment on the sector in recent time was a product of the reforms and regulations put in place by the government.
He said the power sector had been without framework without any cost related terms and inconsistency in policy that had been the order of the sector, but it was now being regulated.
“This has built confidence in investors, which in turn will boost the sector and our national generation level,” he said.
Amadi said the sector had suffered decades of neglect and appealed for understanding.
He said that the commission had directed consumers not to pay any service charge to the distribution companies any time power was not supplied for two weeks. (NAN)

Marginal Field Bid Round Failure Raises Concern Among Investors

Chika Izuora

— April 24, 2014

There is uneasy calm in Nigeria’s oil industry following inexplicable reasons trailing the federal government’s lack of political will to conduct marginal field bid round since the last quarter of 2013.
The industry regulator, the department of petroleum resources (DPR), has also failed to disclose the identities of 31 onshore and off-shore fields for sale.
The federal government had indicated that it would conduct the exercise in March, 2014.
The minister of petroleum resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, had announced on November 28, last year that the bid round would be completed by March, 2014, but the failure to meet the deadline has further fuelled speculation that government has a sinister motive to auction the field to its political allies controlling major indigenous oil firms.
Also, the failure of the DPR to release the lists of oil fields that are available for sale is putting prospective buyers in the dark and eroding transparency in the process.
Industry sources have accused the regulator of deliberately flouting the guidelines ostensibly to use the exercise as a platform to raise money for politicians toward the 2015 general elections.
At an energy forum in Lagos recently, some investors accused the DPR of not implementing the guidelines for the fields, saying the agency is being used by the federal government to woo politicians with oil blocks ahead of the 2015 polls.
For the first time in 12 years, the federal government kick-started the process for the second marginal field licencing round, offering 31 onshore and off-shore fields. Some operators have expressed fears that their technical partners may become apprehensive and withdraw their funds. Already, some insist that some oil mining leases in which politicians in the opposition and the ruling party have larger stakes but which cannot be verified by Leadership are now in circulation among oil companies.
Among the lists obtained by Leadership from some operators include the Uzuaku field on Oil Mining Lease (OML) 11 in Ogoni land, the Egbolom field on OML 23 that was previously operated by Shell in Rivers State, three offshore fields on OML 100 (Usoro, Ikong, Ibiom) and two on OML 67 (Amaniba and Ekpat).
Spokesperson for the DPR, Paul Osu, had earlier confirmed his agency’s failure to make the list available as promised but explained that the delay was caused by some reasons which he declined to mention. According to him, the list will be uploaded on the agency’s website when it is ready but said it was not made available in January as promised by the director, DPR, for some inexplainable reasons. Osu, however, denied knowledge of the list in circulation.
The executive vice chairman, Terra Energy Services Nigeria Limited, Akin Adetunji, however, said that the DPR should explain why the list has not been published.
Another player in the industry, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “There is much confusion with the constant shift in date by the minister and I want to tell you that there are companies which won the bid in the last exercise but could not deliver.
“They realised they had no financial ability to manage the assets and are waiting for the fresh bid round to identify those that could engage them in farm-in-farm-out arrangement, but government is playing hide and seek game.”
Meanwhile, a report obtained by LEADERSHIP on the marginal field operations showed that 17 oil blocks are currently redundant 11 years after they were awarded. The 17 marginal fields were awarded in 2003 but were not productive.
The fields were awarded by the DPR but the regulator is now threatening to withdraw them, a decision that led to scheming by the owners of the oil blocks.
The report showed that owners of the redundant oil blocks from 2003 bid round are afraid that the DPR might withdraw their ownership of the blocks for the new bid round, which was expected to take place this year. The operators have besieged the presidency to avert the withdrawal of their licences.
The marginal fields in Nigeria evolved from the Petroleum Amendment Act 1996, which introduced paragraph 16A into the First Schedule to the Petroleum Act. This amendment provided that the holder of an OML can farm out any marginal field which lies within the OML.
Also under the amendment, the president may cause the farmout of a marginal field, which has been left unattended for a period of not less than 10 years from the date of the first discovery of the marginal field.
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Power Supply Hits 4,000mw

Juliet Alohan

— April 24, 2014

Improvements in service delivery and reduction in system collapses have resulted in power supply hitting 4,000mw the federal government has said.
Power generation, which recently dropped to about 3,000mw due to vandalism of critical infrastructure, increased to 4105.90mw as at Tuesday, a statement by Kande Daniel the special assistant, media, to the minister of power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said yesterday.
“Nigeria’s power generation is coming up again with the current generated megawatts (mw) hitting over 4,000 as at Tuesday,” the statement said.‎
“This situation has been attributed to reduction in system collapses, as well as improvement in services delivery, among other things,” it added.
The release further reveals a breakdown of how generated capacity was shared, with the industrial nerve-centre Lagos and environs getting the highest, a maximum load totaling 985.0mw, while the maximum load allocated to Abuja through Katampe and Gwagwalada power line was 410.80mw.
According to Daniel, the latest grid information has dismissed insinuations in some sections of the media that power generation dropped to less than 2,000mw.
She added that since mid-last week, many households now enjoy enhanced power supply unlike what was obtainable in the recent past when vandals tampered with several power installations in parts of the country.
She further reaffirmed Government’s resolve to consolidate efforts at removing all bottlenecks to sufficiency in power supply, while conveying an appeal from the minster of power to Nigerians for more patience and understanding.
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