Hajj pilgrims ‘stone the devil’ as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha
Pilgrims performed on Sunday the last major ritual of the hajj, the “stoning of the devil”, in western Saudi Arabia, as Muslims the world over celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday. Beginning at dawn, the 1.8 million Muslims undertaking the pilgrimage this year threw seven stones at each of three concrete walls symbolising the devil in the Mina valley, located outside Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. On Saturday, temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius (114.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in Arafat, where pilgrims performed hours of outdoor prayers. This year’s hajj and Eid al-Adha holiday have been clouded by the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In a message to hajj pilgrims on Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “The ironclad resistance of Palestine and the patient, oppressed people of Gaza… must be fully supported in every way”.
Source:Punch
June 16, 2024 21:36 UTC
Marketers distribute 25 million litres Dangote diesel
Independent marketers have lifted and distributed over 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in less than three months after the plant started releasing AGO to the market. “I can also confirm that independent marketers have loaded over 25 million litres of diesel since the refinery started the domestic sale of diesel to downstream oil sector operators in Nigeria,” Ukadike stated. On April 2, 2024, oil marketers revealed that the Dangote refinery had commenced the sale of diesel to the domestic market. “The price of diesel is going to fall because of the release of products from Dangote Refinery. This is because since Dangote diesel came into the market the price of diesel has not crossed the N1,200/litre mark.
Source:Punch
June 16, 2024 16:34 UTC
Lawmaker Urges Tinubu to Secure Release of Nigerian professors in Cameroonian Jails
Abdul Oroh has once again urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to use diplomatic and political channels to secure the release of Nigerian professors and other professionals detained in Cameroon. This non-appearance has significantly stalled efforts to secure the release of the professors and other detained individuals. The detained professors and professionals were arrested at Nera Hotel in Abuja on January 5, 2018, by Nigerian security agents. He appealed to President Tinubu, noting his background as a human rights advocate and former refugee, to intervene with Cameroonian authorities to secure their release. The lawyers continue to push for the implementation of international and domestic legal rulings to ensure the detainees’ release and uphold justice.
Source:The Guardian
June 16, 2024 14:48 UTC
Iniodu
Iniodu claims Nigerians are among biggest importers of used cars in AfricaAn auto firm has claimed that Nigeria is the biggest importer of used cars in Africa with an average of N845,000 ($650) being spent annually on vehicle maintenance. The Chief of Staff, Cardio Autotec, Hephzibah Iniodu, who revealed this at the launch of its Car maintenance phone application, stressed that given the state of the economy, used cars will continue to be a staple in Nigeria’s automotive landscape. He maintained that with the market for vehicle maintenance growing at a rapid pace annually, the need for efficient vehicle maintenance solutions is important now more than ever. While stressing the need for reliable vehicle maintenance services in the country, Iniodu maintained that the industry is faced with challenges ranging from the absence of organized automobile care services to opaque pricing structures, and heavy reliance on roadside mechanics. Iniodu said the Cardio App is available for download on the Google Play Store and the App Store.
Source:The Guardian
June 16, 2024 09:19 UTC
Doctor warns Nigerians against eating rotten tomatoes, pepper
A medical doctor, identified simply as Wales, has warned Nigerians to stay away from rotten tomatoes and pepper, known as ‘eesa’ or ‘baaje’ tomatoes. Displaying rotten tomatoes on a plate, the doctor stressed that the tough economic situation should not be a reason for people to eat ‘poison’. But please, if you see this thing, (rotten tomatoes and peppers) in the market, run away. Rotten tomatoes, however, aren’t fresh in any way but are soft pieces of piled tomatoes sold at cheaper prices to people who cannot afford the fresher options. “And, because they are broken, this type of tomatoes are easily accessible to flies, which deposit germs and eggs inside them.
Source:Punch
June 15, 2024 13:07 UTC
Putin demands Ukrainian troop withdrawal in exchange for peace
Russian President, Vladimir Putin on Friday said the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the territories annexed by his country is a prerequisite for any settlement of the ongoing war. Putin said this during a visit to the Foreign Ministry in Moscow ahead of the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland at the weekend. The affiliation of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson to Russia is no longer in question, Putin said. Russia currently occupies around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including the Crimean peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014. Ukraine has so far adhered to its stated goal of retaking the occupied territory, including Crimea.
Source:Punch
June 15, 2024 02:54 UTC
LG funds: S’Court reserves judgment as states battle AGF
In the suit filed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the Federal Government accused the state governments of stifling local governments and withholding their funds. But the 36 states, through their AGs, vehemently opposed the suit and urged the Supreme Court to dismiss it. All 36 states in their response opposed the FG’s suit and appealed to the court to throw out the suit. The FG, in the originating summons, prayed the Supreme Court to make an order expressly stating that funds standing to the credit of local governments from the Federation Account should be paid directly to the local governments rather than through the state governments. “By the provisions of the Constitution, there must be a democratically elected local government system and the Constitution has not made provisions for any other systems of governance at the local government level other than a democratically elected local government system.
Source:Punch
June 14, 2024 18:00 UTC
Dangote refinery plans 5.3bn litres fuel storage
The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, says it is expanding the storage capacity of his refinery by 600 million litres. The Dangote Petrochemical Refinery refinery currently has 4.78 billion litres of storage capacity for refined petroleum products. The billionaire alleged that international oil companies refused to sell crude oil to his refinery because they did not want him to succeed. When fully operational, Dangote disclosed that the refinery would supply cheaper fuel to the Caribbean, saying the price of fuel in that area is expensive. On May 18, 2024, The PUNCH reported that Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, stated that following the laid-down plans of the Dangote refinery, Nigeria would no longer need to import petrol starting June this year.
Source:Punch
June 14, 2024 17:13 UTC
Practice tenets of democracy in interest of people, don tells African leaders
A professor of Public Administration, Steve Iyayi has called on political leaders in Nigeria and other African countries to practice all principles and tenets of democracy towards the greater good of the people in the society. “ Democratic governance has therefore not really addressed the needs of the society and the people in this region of the world. “ Starting from the choice of leaders and representatives in elections, the people are not allowed to have their way. “Good leadership is one irreducible element required by any state to optimize its capacity for growth and development. It is selfless and is the energizing and harnessing tool of the state’s resources both human and material for achieving the state goals.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 14, 2024 16:28 UTC
ANALYSIS: Governors’ Interventions for Women in Nigeria
In this report, Women Radio 91.7 tracked female-centric interventions of elected governors who have made efforts to bridge the economic gap of women at the state level. According to Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State, 2,451 women, including women with disabilities, have been trained in rice production, food processing and entrepreneurship. An anti-gender-based violence centre was said to have been established to support women and children facing gender-related issues for protection and access to justice. Also, 450 women with disabilities received grants while 500 women farmers and petty traders received financial support. Making governors accountable for the next 365 daysThe interventions of some governors reveal a level of progress in women’s economic empowerment between 29 May 2023 and 29 May 2024.
Source:The Guardian
June 14, 2024 12:02 UTC
Tata Punch EV secures 5-star rating in BNCAP crash test
The Tata Punch EV has secured a five-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP crash tests. Tata’s added yet another feather to its hat with the latest 5-star rated vehicle, the Punch EV. The Tata Punch EV scored 31.46 points out of 32 for adult protection and 45 points out of 49 for child protection. In the frontal offset deformable barrier test, the Punch EV scored 15.71 points out of 16 and 15.74 points out of 16 in the side movable deformable barrier test. The Tata Punch EV range starts at Rs 10.99 lakh, ex-showroom.
Source:Punch
June 14, 2024 09:52 UTC
Asset management affirmed firm ‘A’ rating, stable outlook
Global Credit Rating Co (GCR) has affirmed SFS Capital’s long-term credit rating ‘A’ with a stable outlook. It equally affirmed the asset management company, short-term credit rating ‘A2’, having both ratings show a stable outlook, reaffirming strength and stability. On the ungeared balance sheet, it stated that the firm’s balance sheet remained unleveraged, providing a stable financial foundation and supporting its robust liquidity profile. It stated that its expertise in REIT management, also made the firm recognised for its proficiency in managing REITs, significantly contributing to its competitive position in the asset management sector. We are focused on enhancing our market position through innovative products and services that meet the evolving needs of our clients and investors.
Source:The Guardian
June 14, 2024 09:27 UTC
Police arrest gang selling registered SIM to criminals
Addressing journalists while parading the suspects, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igwe, said the suspects sold the SIM cards to criminals between N3,000 and N5000. He noted that a total of 1,100 registered SIM cards; three registration machines; two fingerprint machines and a mobile phone were recovered from the suspects. According to him, as a result, these criminals use street SIM card vendors to obtain the details of unsuspecting residents who buy and register SIM cards simultaneously. Igwe explained that the suspects use street SIM card vendors to obtain the details of innocent residents, including their National Identity Numbers, from those who patronize them. “Over one thousand, one hundred already registered sim cards, three registration machines, and other gadgets were recovered from the suspects.
Source:Punch
June 13, 2024 21:55 UTC
N90 billion pilgrimage subsidy is wasteful, unacceptable
The most controversial twist is the adoption of Sharia Law by several Northern states without any legal consequences. Against this backdrop, non-secular theorists submit that state sponsorship of religious pilgrimages raises no constitutional or legal red flags because Nigeria is a multi-religious country. However, the Constitution also established Customary Courts of Appeal for the FCT and any state that so desires. There is also a similar requirement for the Court of Appeal to consist of at least three judges knowledgeable in Customary Law. Accordingly, the adoption of Islamic law by some states is unconstitutional.
Source:The Guardian
June 13, 2024 18:08 UTC
African countries urged to take advantage of free trade agreement
Africans have been urged to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) protocols to boost their economies and leapfrog food security in the sub-Saharan region. The Summit resolved that African Nations must quickly embrace the African Continental Free Trade Agreement ( AfCFTA) protocols and quickly dismantle all obstacles to the full consummation of the agreement. The Summit therefore called on the African Union ( AU) to set a target of at least 30% of intra-African trade by 2030. Beyond dealing with enhanced food security, African nations need to adopt new schemes that resolve the trinity of challenges that currently beset agriculture.”It added, “Explore innovative funding. “Deliberately promote gender equity and inclusiveness in African Political leadership with focus on the younger generation and an ethically engineered Leadership development.
Source:Nigerian Tribune
June 13, 2024 16:29 UTC