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The Oracle Today Wednesday May 23, 2018
NEWS Mile One Market to be ready in December – Wike
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ivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that the MileOne Market in Port Harcourt will be completed by December. Speaking after project inspection, Tuesday , Governor Wike said that the construction of the market is in fulfilment of his pledge to the people. “This is one of our signature projects. We are putting in place a befitting market for traders in the area. Recall that the immediate past administration promised to construct this market, but failed the people. “The contractor said that the market will be completed in September, but we are willing to allow him till December. They are delivering a quality market,” said the governor. Governor Wike visited projects that will be commissioned during the third year anniversary of the administration. He said that the commissioning of projects will begin on May 23, 2018. Projects visited include: National Industrial Court, Rivers State Universal Basic Education Board Headquarters, Woji-Akpajo Bridge and Road, Produce House, Bishop Johnson, Creek Road, Cultural Centre and Doctors Quarters. “We are going round to see how prepared we are for the third year anniversary of our administration. We are quite impressed with what we have seen. Virtually 95 percent of the projects are ready. I am happy with the quality. The contractors are now finishing the key projects ,” he said.
Treat Naira with care, CBN urges Nigerians
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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has once again called on Nigerians to handle the Naira with care, as it was a symbol of the nation’s identity and pride. The Deputy Governor, Corporate Services Directorate, Mr Edward Adamu, reiterated this on Tuesday in Abuja at CBN’s 2018 International Museum Day celebrations. He said the CBN housed the Currency Museum, which explained the evolution of money in Nigeria from the pre-colonial era to the con-
temporary times. He said the CBN hoped that through the activities of the Currency Museum, members of the public would be better educated on how to properly handle the naira and other related matters. “The Naira as a symbol of our national pride should not be sprayed or step on, should not be squeezed, defaced or stained. The naira should not be sold or counterfeited. Be a role model by neatly arranging the Naira in pouches, wallets or enve-
lopes, he said. Also, the Deputy Director, Currency Operations Department, Mr Vincent Wuranti, said the way and manner people handled the Naira affected its life span. He explained that a lot of effort was put into the design and production of the nation’s currency, hence the need to respect it. According to him, the different banknotes feature portraits of Nigerian heroes, agriculture, solid minerals and other things that illustrate
PENGASSAN hails Reps decision on NLNG
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C’ River inaugurates LOCs for Falcons, Flying Eagles’ matches By ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar
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he Cross River State Government has inaugurated a 21 man Local Organizing Committee to take charge of the upcoming international matches which will take place Calabar. The matches which will be played at the U. J. Esueue International Stadium are matches involving the U-20 Men’s National Team, who will take on their counterparts from Guinea Bissau on the 19th of May 2018 as well as the Super Falcons game against the Gambian Female National Team on the 12th of June, 2018. Speaking in Calabar while inaugurating the LOC in his office, the Cross River State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Comrade Asu Okang said the state governor, Ben Ayade will foot the bill of the games hence the matches will be tollfree for soccer-loving fans in the city. “His Excellency, Senator Professor Ben Ayade has directed that the matches will be toll-free for all sports lovers. Everything about security is in place for both the national and the visiting teams. It is expected that the stadium which has 10,000 capacity be filled that day”. He said the city has been very fruitful for national teams in the country emphasizing that this will not be an exception as everything has been done to ensure that the national teams have a successful outing. He commended the governor for his interest in sports development in the state which has lead to marked improvement in the soccer fortunes of the state and also expressed appreciation to the governor for placing 100 members of the supporters club on a monthly salary. Special Adviser to the Governor on Sports, Hon. Effiom Effiwatt who spoke on behalf of members of the committee pledged the determination of his committee to ensure that the games are successful. He urged Cross Riverians to turn out en masse to support the teams irrespective of Ayade’s benevolent nature of declaring the matches toll free.
the Nigerian culture and economy. Section 21 of the CBN Act 2007 states that the abuse of Naira such as squeezing, staining, writing, spraying and illegal sales amongst others are punishable offences. The act states that the offender must pay nothing less than N50, 000 or face a jail term of six months or both. Section 20 (4) of the CBN act 2007 provides penalty of not less than five years in jail for counterfeiting the Naira with no option of fine.
• Jewish worshipers outside the court premises after the arraignment of nine of them arrested during a prayer session at Nnamdi Kanu’s home Sunday in Umuahia.
Navy acquires 173 boats to boost maritime operations – CNS Ibas
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igerian Navy (NN) acquired 173 assorted boats, including Epenal boats, Rigid Hull Inflatable boats and Hydrographic Survey boats in 2017 to boost its operations in the maritime domain, the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, said. The naval chief disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja as part of activities to mark Navy’s 62nd anniversary celebration taking place between May 23 and June 1. Ibas said the theme of the 2018 Navy Week celebration is “Enhancing an Integrated Maritime Strategy for Security in the Gulf of Guinea.” Represented by Rear Adm. Begroy Ibe-Enwo, the Chief of Naval Transformation, Ibas said the boats had enhanced navy’s capacity to police and carry out surveillance of Nigeria’s maritime environment. He said boosting the navy fleet had been a top priority consideration of his leadership. He added that “it is my great pleasure to inform you that NN concomitantly acquired the 173 assorted boats, including Epenal boats, Rigid Hull Inflatable boats, and Hydrographic Survey boats in the last one year. “The navy also acquired ships from some foreign countries and
complemented local construction of ships and boats. In addition, defective NN ships are being refitted at the Naval Dockyard Limited Victoria Island, Lagos and the Naval Shipyard Limited Port Harcourt to ensure availability. “The NN recently acquired six ocean fast patrol boats from France which will be inaugurated soon.” Ibas said the navy had also carried out several notable exercises and operations in 2017. He added that such operations were specifically aimed at checking crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, piracy/sea robbery and illegal fishing, among others. “Operation Tsare Teku and River Sweep are ongoing operations to address illegalities in the Blue and Brown waters respectively.” He noted that the maritime exercise had assisted the NN in reducing the menace of piracy and other criminal activities in the Gulf of Guinea since its inception in 2011. He disclosed that at least 42 vessels had been arrested so far for involving in various illegalities in Nigeria’s maritime domain and were undergoing various stages of investigations for subsequent prosecution. “Furthermore, NN personnel were involved in various internal
security operations in some states of the federation, including Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Plateau states. He noted that the navy had been unrelenting in its operations to protect the nation’s maritime environment against all forms of threats, stressing that “in this regard, NN routinely carries out surveillance and patrol of the maritime area with available surveillance systems, ships and helicopters.” He explained that the navy also upgraded its maritime surveillance equipment, including the Regional Maritime Awareness Capability (RMAC) and the Falcon Eye systems to improve maritime domain awareness. On activities for the 2018 Navy Week celebration, Ibas said the week would commence inauguration of some projects in the commands such as the Nigerian Navy Military School, Ikot Ntuen in Akwa Ibom, to be inaugurated on May 23. He noted that special juma’at prayers for the week activities would be held in Abuja area and the commands would hold theirs on May 25. He said there would be interdenominational Church service in Abuja and same would be held simultaneously in the commands on Sunday, May 27.
etroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) said on Tuesday that the House of Representatives’ decision on Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) was in the right direction. Public Relations Officer of PENGASSAN, Mr Fortune Obi, gave the commendation while fielding questions from newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday. According to Obi, the lawmakers took the right decision by cautioning the Federal Government on the proposed sale of its shares in NLNG. He said the warning was in tandem with PENGASSAN’s position on the need for the government to retain its shares’ ownership in the company. “About 18,000 jobs in the sector will be affected if the proposed plan is carried out. Government should instead, explore other options to fund the economy rather than sell the NLNG. “Its dividends was used to start and finance the economy when Nigeria was in recession,’’ said the PENGASSAN spokesman. He said the NLNG model had been the best option so far and should be replicated in other government failed ventures such as the refineries and others. He cautioned that the losses that would accrue from the sale of the NLNG far outweighed its gains, adding that there were other options the government might/ adopt to resuscitate the economy. “NLNG has bailed out the country when it was in recession as proceeds from its dividends were used to finance the economy. “Those investors who were clamouring for the sales of Federal Government shares in NLNG should find another means of injecting their resources into the economy instead of buying a successful company,’’ Obi said. He advised those who were clamouring for the sale of the gas company to set up their own LNG project. According to him, this will go a long way to help the country in utilising its large gas reserves as well as eradicating gas flaring in the country.