Author: GANUX

Russia downs 77 Ukrainian drones overnight

This handout photograph taken and released by the Ukrainian Emergency Service on August 27, 2024 shows rescuers in action on a site of a heavily damaged hotel following an air attack in Kryvyi Rig. – Ukraine said on August 27, 2024, that its air defence systems had downed five missiles and 60 attack drones in a second night of Russian aerial bombardments that killed four. The overnight attacks came one day after the Kremlin launched one of its largest-ever aerial attacks on Ukraine that battered energy facilities and left several dead. (Photo by Handout / UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / HANDOUT / UKRAINIAN EMERGENCY SERVICE” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS

Russia downed 77 Ukrainian drones overnight, its defence ministry said Thursday, two days after Kyiv carried out its largest direct strike on Moscow during the three-year war.

Thirty drones were intercepted and destroyed over the western Bryansk region bordering Ukraine while 25 more were downed over Kaluga, the ministry said in a statement.

More drones were intercepted over the regions of Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov and Belgorod, it added.

The latest barrage comes after Russia downed more than 90 drones in the capital region on Tuesday. Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called it the “most massive enemy drone attack on Moscow”.

Russia said three people died and several more were injured in Tuesday’s attack, which saw it intercept 337 Ukrainian drones across the country.

Multiple Ukrainian cities were also under attack Thursday morning, with a 42-year-old woman killed in Kherson, according to regional military administration head Roman Mrochko.

Authorities in Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk also reported coming under attack early Thursday.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa arrived at about 2:50 pm.

Governor Fubara in light green T-Shirt and cap at the Rivers State House of Assembly quarters in Port Harcourt on Thursday

By Dennis Naku

An elder statesman and member of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Forum, Anabs Sara-Igbehas, has condemned the action of lawmakers of the Rivers State House of Assembly for denying Governor Siminalayi Fubara access to the State Assembly Complex.

Sara-Igbe, pioneer spokesman for the Pan Niger Forum, described the action of the lawmakers as provocative and an insult to Rivers people.

Speaking in Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Sara-Igbe, who is the National Chairman of South South Elders Forum, said denying the governor access to the Assembly Complex was not an insult to Fubara as a person, but to the people of Rivers State.

He stated, “The governor was elected by millions of Rivers people. As the chief executive officer of the state, he has unhindered access to all the facilities within the state. Blocking him from entering the complex is a direct insult and embarrassment to the people of Rivers state.

“It is now very clear that the governor is ready for peace. But these people are not ready for peace. You can see that by their action. How can you bar a sitting governor from gaining access to a facility that belongs to the state?

“I appeal that he implements all the decisions stipulated by the Supreme Court judgment, even though I did not agree with some of those decisions.

“Let him implement them. Rivers people are watching. The world is watching.”

Sara-Igbe further said that Fubara has always wanted peace; hence on the advice of President Bola Tinubu, he withdrew the case he had against the lawmakers last year even when they refused to withdraw theirs.

On the comment by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, who during a media chat on Wednesday morning said Fubara can be impeached and ‘heaven will not fall’, the elder statesman reminded that pouring insults on the Ijaw people will not help the former Governor and the current political situation in the state.

“He should remember that during the time of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, the production rate of crude dropped drastically from 2.4million barrels per day to a paltry 700,000bpd until the elders of the Ijaw nation and the Niger Delta pleaded with the various militant groups including the Avengers, movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, among others to stay action.

“The nation’s economy today is at a sad point. We don’t want anything to happen to the crude oil production. The minister should be mindful of his utterances. While we plead for all parties in the crisis to follow the path of peace, we all should also mind what we say per time,” he stated.

 

Tinubu, Obasa, Lagos Assembly members meeting in Aso Villa

President Bola Tinubu
A meeting between President Bola Tinubu and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly is currently underway at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa arrived at about 2:50 pm, while his colleagues had earlier arrived in two coaster buses for the closed-door meeting.

Sources say the meeting may not be unconnected with the recent leadership crisis in the state House of Assembly.

Recall that Speaker Obasa was impeached by some of his colleagues but was later reinstated after the intervention of political leaders, especially the Governing Advisory Council (GAC).

Despite the Speaker’s reinstatement, it was gathered that the bad blood resulting from his impeachment is yet to be over.

 

Rivers crisis: I’m ready to re-present budget, says Fubara

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has said he is ready to re-present the 2025 budget to the state House of Assembly whenever the lawmakers are prepared.

Fubara stated this on Wednesday while speaking to residents of Khana Local Government Area during the commissioning of health facilities.

This came shortly after he was denied entry into the Assembly quarters.

The governor who expressed displeasure over the lawmakers’ actions, insisted that he had already informed Speaker Martins Amaewhule about his visit.

He said he had gone to re-present the budget as directed by the Assembly following the Supreme Court’s ruling on February 28, 2025.

“I still believe, maybe, they might be instructed later. If they are instructed, I’m still ready to come any day to get this particular issue sorted out,” Fubara said.

Earlier, Fubara was denied entry into the official quarters of the Rivers State House of Assembly on Aba Road, Port Harcourt, where lawmakers loyal to former Governor Nyesom Wike have been holding their sittings.

He arrived at the complex with top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, and his Chief of Staff, Edison Ehie.

However, they met a locked gate, blocking their access.

Speaking to journalists at the scene, Fubara accused Speaker Martins Amaewhule of deliberately avoiding him, saying that several calls made to the lawmaker were ignored.

Details later…

Police foil kidnap attempt, rescue 30 Katsina residents

The Katsina State Police Command has foiled a kidnapping attempt in the Unguwar Sarkin Fulani Dutsen Dadi community of Faskari Local Government Area and rescued 30 residents abducted by bandits on Wednesday.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abubakar Sadiq, disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday, describing it as a major breakthrough in the fight against kidnapping and banditry under the Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Musa.

According to the statement, “Today, March 12, 2025, at about 01:00 hrs, information was received at the Faskari Divisional Police Headquarters that suspected armed bandits, in large numbers and armed with dangerous weapons, attacked Unguwar Sarkin Fulani Dutsen Dadi via Tafoki village, Faskari LGA, kidnapping 30 residents while rustling two cows, 92 sheep, and goats.

“Upon receiving the report, the Divisional Police Officer of Faskari swiftly mobilised an APC patrol team to the scene.

“The team tactically ambushed the suspected kidnappers and engaged them in a fierce gun duel, forcing them to flee with various degrees of injuries. All 30 kidnapped victims were successfully rescued unhurt, and the rustled animals were recovered.

“Efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects as investigations continue.

“The Commissioner of Police, Katsina State Command, CP Aliyu Abubakar Musa, while commending the officers for their professionalism and bravery during the daring rescue operation, urged the good people of the state to continue cooperating with the command by providing timely and accurate information for prompt and decisive action against criminal elements,” Sadiq added.

 

Dog shoots owner in bed

An American dog owner was shot by his pet after it jumped on his bed and set off a loaded gun, police said Wednesday.

The man, from Memphis, Tennessee, was asleep beside his female partner when he was shot early Monday morning, escaping with a graze to his left thigh that was treated in hospital.

The dog — a year-old pit bull named Oreo — “got his paw stuck in the trigger guard and ended up hitting the trigger,” a police incident report said.

It did not specify the type of weapon fired, and recorded the incident as “accidental injury.”

While gun violence is prolific in the United States, cases of animals shooting humans are rare.

Two years ago, a German shepherd dog shot and killed a 30-year-old man in Kansas after it stepped on a hunting rifle.

In 2018, a 51-year-old man from Iowa was shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.

Local news station Fox 13 Memphis cited the Tennessee victim’s girlfriend, who was not named, as saying she was sleeping when the gun went off.

“The dog is a playful dog, and he likes to jump around and stuff like that and it just went off,” she reportedly said.

Her lesson from the incident, “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”

AFP

Nigeria’s trade surplus rises 209% to N18.86 trn in 2024

•Trade with ECOWAS countries rises 159 %

By Elizabeth Adegbesan  

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, disclosed this in its   Foreign Trade statistics report for the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4’24).

According to the bureau, total merchandise trade stood at N138 trillion in 2024 rising by 55 per cent YoY from N88.8 trillion in 2023.

This consisted of imports valued at N60.6 trillion, up by 96 per cent, YoY from N30.86 trillion in 2023, while exports rose 115 per  cent YoY to   N77.4 trillion from N35.96 trillion in 2023.

  Further analysis of data contained in the report showed that   Nigeria’s trade with the Economic  Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  member states rose by 159.8 per cent year-on-year (YoY)   to N6.08 trillion in 2024 from N2.34 trillion in 2023.

The data showed that exports to ECOWAS rose by 161 per cent YoY to N5.64 trillion in 2024 from N2.17 trillion in 2023.

Similarly, the value of imports   from ECOWAS grew by 160.7 percent YoY to N438.56 billion in 2024   from N168.22 billion in 2023.

Further analysis of quarterly trend showed that the country’s trade with ECOWAS stood at N1.4 trillion in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1’24), rose   by 31.4   per cent to N1.84 trillion in Q2’24 but fell by   12 per cent to N1.62 trillion in Q3’24 and also   by 22.8 per cent to N1.2 trillion in Q4’24.

NBS said: “Exports to ECOWAS member states totaled N1.2 trillion while imports amounted to N77.10 billion.  

“Further analysis of trading patterns in the region   revealed that Nigeria’s main trading export partner in Q4, 2024 was Ivory Coast with N756.37 billion worth of goods, followed by exports to Senegal Republic (N236.87 billion), Togo (N47.97 billion), Ghana (N36.26 billion), and Benin, Republic with N31.56 billion altogether representing 94.33 per  cent of total export to ECOWAS countries.  

“In the same vein, Nigeria’s major trading import partner within ECOWAS was Ivory Coast (N41.40 billion), followed by Ghana (N22.96 billion), Liberia (N4.04 billion), Niger Republic (N2.62 billion) and Togo of (N2.21 billion) representing (90.45 per cent) of total imports from the ECOWAS region.

“Analysis by commodities showed that the main commodities exported to ECOWAS countries in Q4 2024 were Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals worth N911.38 billion or 77.52 per cent of total exports to ECOWAS countries, Electrical energy valued at N75.66 billion or 6.44 per cent, Dredgers valued at N73.99 billion or 6.29 per cent, Cigarettes containing tobacco worth N27.24 billion or   2.32 per cent of total exports to the region and Other Liquefied petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons valued at N10.81 billion or 0.92 percent of total exports to the region.  

“The top five exported products represent 93.49 per cent of the total exports to the ECOWAS region.

“Further analysis of trading patterns in the region   revealed that Nigeria’s main trading export partner in Q4, 2024 was Ivory Coast with N756.37 billion worth of goods, followed by exports to Senegal Republic (N236.87 billion), Togo (N47.97 billion), Ghana (N36.26 billion), and Benin, Republic with N31.56 billion altogether representing 94.33 per  cent of total export to ECOWAS countries.  

“In the same vein, Nigeria’s major trading import partner within ECOWAS was Ivory Coast (N41.40 billion), followed by Ghana (N22.96 billion), Liberia (N4.04 billion), Niger Republic (N2.62 billion) and Togo of (N2.21 billion) representing (90.45 per cent) of total imports from the ECOWAS region.

“Analysis by commodities showed that the main commodities exported to ECOWAS countries in Q4 2024 were Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals worth N911.38 billion or 77.52 per cent of total exports to ECOWAS countries, Electrical energy valued at N75.66 billion or 6.44 per cent, Dredgers valued at N73.99 billion or 6.29 per cent, Cigarettes containing tobacco worth N27.24 billion or   2.32 per cent of total exports to the region and Other Liquefied petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons valued at N10.81 billion or 0.92 percent of total exports to the region.  

“The top five exported products represent 93.49 per cent of the total exports to the ECOWAS region.

Oando selected as preferred bidder of Guaracara Refinery in Trinidad & Tobago

By Udeme Akpan , Energy Editor

Oando PLC, Nigeria’s leading indigenous energy group listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), said its trading subsidiary, Oando Trading, has emerged as the preferred bidder for the lease of the Guaracara Refining Company Limited (GRC)’s refinery assets from Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd (TPHL). 

Oando said this follows the announcement by the Honorable Minister for Energy of Trinidad and Tobago on Thursday February 27, 2025, adding that the award underscores Oando’s track record of reliability, innovation, infrastructure development and aligns with its Corporate Strategic Vision of expanding across the Caribbean region.

The company said the partnership represents a strategic bridge between Africa and the Caribbean as Oando’s involvement in the Refinery will serve as a catalyst for deeper AfroCaribbean collaboration in the energy sector, paving the way for increased trade, investment, and knowledge exchange. 

Chief Compliance Officer & Company Secretary of Oando PLC, Ayotola Jagun, stated in a statement that, “This initiative underscores Africa’s growing influence in the global energy landscape and highlights the role of indigenous African companies in fostering economic transformation across borders.”

Also, commenting on the announcement, Wale Tinubu CON, Group Chief Executive of Oando PLC, said: “We are honored by the confidence the Trinidadian government has placed in us with this award. This strategic investment aligns with our long-term vision of expanding into high-potential regions and growing our operational footprint, leveraging our vast technical expertise and global partnerships to finance projects. 

“We recognize the significance of this opportunity and look forward to working with all stakeholders to deliver maximum value for all parties involved.” 

The Refinery, located in Pointe-à-Pierre, Trinidad and Tobago, is a vital energy asset in the Caribbean. It was established over a century ago and historically has been the cornerstone of Trinidad and Tobago’s oil industry. 

With a capacity of 175,000 barrels per day and a Nelson Complexity Index of 8.0, the refinery is well-suited for processing regional crude oils and supplying both domestic and regional markets with refined products. However, the company said: “The next steps in the process involve detailed discussions with the government and regulatory authorities to finalize the lease agreement and operational framework. As this process progresses, Oando PLC will continue to provide timely updates to stakeholders and the public.”

Seriake Dickson’s brother emerges first PhD holder in family

Former Bayelsa State Governor Senator Seriake Dickson has emphasised the importance of education, saying it remains the best investment for human capital development and empowerment.

Dickson, who spoke in his country home in Toru-Orua, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State while receiving the doctoral degree certificate from his younger brother, Moses Dickson, also said education is the most potent force to fight poverty and improve the lives of citizens.

The Bayelsa West lawmaker noted that as governor for eight years, he was very intentional with his policies on education, which revolutionised the sector.

According to him, because of the saying that “charity begins at home”, he has always encouraged his siblings to acquire quality education and has supported them in various ways which is why he is proud that his family from a humble background now has its first PhD holder.

He said: “Today, I am very excited that my younger brother, who is like my first son, Dr. Moses Oruaze Dickson has officially presented his PhD. degree to me. It is not only historic but very emotional for me.

“Like others, I have always supported and encouraged him to reach for the skies in his educational pursuit. Education is key to human capacity development. It is the driving force of any society desirous of development, and I have never pretended about my love for education even after leaving the office as governor.

“I congratulate you on behalf of our family. While this event may look ordinary to most people, it is significant for two reasons: firstly, he is the first PhD. holder in our family, and secondly, for me, it is fulfilling because he, like a son, has done what his father would have loved to do but could not. So, in a way, he has done it on my behalf,” he added.

Senator Dickson, who is the founder of Hensard University, Toru-Orua, a private university, also urged his younger brother to continue to break more grounds, achieve more feats, assuring him of his support.

“Let me remind you again what I have always told you for years, that you should go to the depth of the sea and fish; you should learn to fish in deep waters and not to be fishing with the crowd in shallow waters looking for small fishes and crayfish. With this PhD, you should go out to the world and conquer the field of academics and legal practice. I expect you to use this as a stepping stone to become a professor in no distant time or a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), both of which you are capable of.”

Responding, the younger Dickson said he completed his PhD programme last year at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom but decided not to make it public until he got the opportunity to present the certificate to his brother.

He explained that he felt it was the right thing to do because as a father figure to him, his brother stood by him right from his first degree in law at the Niger Delta University up to him obtaining three masters degrees and a PhD now.

 

Nigeria, Jamaica to begin direct flight 12th March 2025

Nigeria and Jamaica are set to explore the possibility of a direct flight route as both countries strengthen the Bilateral Air Service Agreement.

This was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, on Wednesday.

Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, welcomed the Jamaican Ambassador to Nigeria, Lincoln Downer, and his Consular, Andre Hibbert, to his office in Abuja for this engagement.

Downer emphasised the potential for mutually beneficial diplomatic engagements between Jamaica and Nigeria.

He highlighted the importance of improving and enhancing bilateral relations, including reviewing the existing Bilateral Air Services Agreement.

“I have been tasked by my country to review and improve on the diplomatic engagements between Jamaica and Nigeria, especially concerning air services,” said Downer.

The Jamaican ambassador also shared the growing interest in Nigerian culture, particularly Afrobeat music and Nollywood films, which are trending in Jamaica.

This cultural exchange, he noted, further reinforces the need for enhanced diplomatic and air connectivity.

“There is no reason why we should not have a direct flight between our countries. Nigerians love Jamaica, and there is a rising demand for Jamaican spices in Nigeria,” Downer added.

Keyamo in his response, welcomed the ambassador’s proposals and expressed his eagerness to take the next steps.

“I am delighted to start the BASA arrangements. To ensure a swift resolution, we will set up a committee to expedite the process,” said Keyamo.

He further committed to visiting Jamaica if necessary, stating that he would be willing to travel to Jamaica to finalize and sign the BASA agreement in person.

It was noted that Downer disclosed that Jamaica currently lacks a national carrier, relying on neighbouring Trinidad and Tobago for air transport.

He proposed the idea of combining the BASA between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago to address the air services gap, underscoring the increasing demand for travel from Nigeria to Jamaica.

Downer expressed his deep appreciation for Nigeria, revealing an intriguing discovery from his four months as the Jamaican envoy to Nigeria.

“I have since discovered that Nigeria might be my ancestral home after all,” said the ambassador

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