WEST AFRICAN FISHERIES EXPERTS MEET IN COTONOU

WEST AFRICAN FISHERIES EXPERTS MEET IN COTONOU

West African fisheries experts will begin a meet in Cotonou, Benin Republic on Thursday 27th February 2014 to finalize a governance document for the sustainable management of the region’s dwindling fisheries resources, a key source of revenue for economic and social development.

More than 600,000 West Africans depend on fishing and fishery related industries, a sector that generates about 400 million US dollars annually and remains a critical source of livelihood, food security and biodiversity for the region’s teeming population.

Although West Africa accounts for one per cent of the global fish export with an annual catch of some 500,000 tons, the region is at risk of reaching exploitation limits necessitating the development of a regional mechanism for good governance and best management practices for sustainability.

The three-day meeting of the Regional Fisheries Committee will finalize the Terms of Reference for operationalizing the work of the region’s sub-committees for the governance, aquaculture and trade in the sector as well as the framework for intra-regional cooperation among the various bodies active in the sector.

The meeting, which will also be attended by directors of fisheries of Member States, partners and other stakeholders will also finalize the mechanism for the effective implementation of the regional text on trade in fisheries and avail the participants of information for accessing regional funds for agriculture.

Other participants will include representatives of the Fisheries Commission for West and Central Africa, NEPAD, FAO, the National Agricultural Investment Programmes of Member States and other stakeholders.

NFF to unveil Super Eagles' 2014 World Cup jersey in Abuja

NFF to unveil Super Eagles' 2014 World Cup jersey

The Nigeria Football Federation will on Thursday unveil the new jersey
of Nigeria's National Football Teams, which will also serve as the
Official Jersey of the Super Eagles at the 20th FIFA World Cup finals
taking place in Brazil this summer. The new and refreshing design is
produced by Adidas, the official kit supplier of Nigeria National
Teams and the leading kit manufacturers in the world.

Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Alhaji
Bolaji Abdullahi will be special guest of honour at the event slated
for the front area of the Dankaro Football House, Package B of
the National Stadium Complex.

Also invited are Director General of the National Sports Commission,
Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports,
Senator Adamu Gumba, Chairman of the House of Reps' Committee on
Sports, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya, Chairman of the League Management Company,
Hon. Nduka Irabor, President-General of Nigeria Football Supporters
Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo and a number of prominent football figures.

NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari will have the compliment of
Members of his Executive Committee, as well as NFF Management led by
General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu. The Assistant Coach of Super
Eagles, Daniel Amokachi, will represent Head Coach Stephen Keshi, who
is already in the United States preparatory to its
friendly against Mexico in Atlanta.

"There is a uniqueness about the new jersey that Nigerians will love.
The design is a top-of-the-range thing specially for the FIFA World
Cup Brazil 2014," Amadu said.

Super Eagles' players, goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim, midfielder Abdullahi
Shehu and striker Ejike Uzoenyi will showcase the new wears at the
occasion.

NFF's Director of Marketing, Mr. Adama Idris, will explain the concept
of the new design, which will be worn for the first time by the Super
Eagles at next week's international friendly against Mexico in
Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

BREAKING NEWS:NNPC CONFIRMS FUEL PRICE HIKE RUMOURS

Berne Declaration Report Baseless - NNPC

 

….Says Corporation Adhered to Global Best Practices in Crude Transactions

 …..Reassures of Ample Fuel Supply

 

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has dismissed the Berne Declaration which linked it to several crude oil infractions describing the report as baseless and faulty.

Making a presentation before the House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Justice on the investigative hearing of alleged connivance of NNPC with Swiss oil dealers to rob Nigeria of billions of dollars, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, said the pricing strategy of crude sales by the NNPC is aligned to international best practices.

He argued that the NNPC prices are indexed to international North Sea grade dated Brent, which prices are published industry magazines, Price Reports, Platts, Petroleum Argus and London Oil Reports (LOR) which can be subscribed to by any interested persons or groups.

 

On the Berne Declaration Report’s allegation of sale of 36% of total federation crude oil to Vitol and Trafigura, Engr. Yakubu said the NNPC records show that  Vitol and Trafigura account for 30.7 million barrels out of the total 341.07 million barrels disposed by the Corporation in 2013 lifting.

“The lifting of Trafigura and Vitol in 2013 represents 9% of the total lifting as against 36% reported by the Berne Declaration. Additionally, Nigerian traders collectively account for 98.2 million barrels or about 29% during the same period,” the NNPC GMD averred.

He opined that contrary to the report, selection of buyers of Nigerian crude are done on a transparent and competitive basis that seeks to establish financial and technical capabilities, promotion of Nigerian Content and general quality and safety assurance.

According to him, the selection of traders has standard criteria which evaluate buyers’ facilities, volume of transactions, turn over and financial health of the companies which is applicable to all, including Vitol and Trafigura.

He explained that the 2012/2013 Term Contracts have a preponderance of Nigerian trading companies with 23 out of the 40 regular buyers.

On the allegation of sale of un-utilised crude oil at knock down prices to Swiss companies through the crude oil product exchange, Engr. Yakubu stated that the NNPC Act mandates the Corporation to supply petroleum products to the federation as supplier of last resort, stressing that to meet this obligation, 445,000 barrels of crude oil is assigned to the Corporation at international price for domestic refining.

“The ‘Swap Arrangement’ referred to by the Bernes Declaration is a known practice in the industry where equivalent value of product is exchanged for crude oil offtake. This is a typical procurement strategy for supply constraint but resource dependent nations to hedge for supply security challenges. There is no value loss to the federation,” Engr. Yakubu submitted.

The NNPC helmsman observed that contrary to the claim by the report that NNPC does not sell directly to the International market, Duke Oil and other NNPC affiliated trading companies participate in the disposal of Nigerian crude oil and account for 24% of the total disposals.

 

In his opening remarks, the Joint Committee Chairman and Chairman of House of Representatives Petroleum Committee Upstream, Hon. Muraina Ajibola, said the Committee would undertake the investigative hearing assignment with every sense of responsibility.

The Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC and Duke Oil, an affiliate company of NNPC also made presentations to the Committee.

 

It would be recalled that the Berne Declaration, a Swiss non-governmental organization in its 2013 report alleged that NNPC was conniving with Swiss Companies to short-change Nigeria of several billions of dollars.

 

In a related development, the NNPC has reassured Nigerians of ample fuel supply dismissing rumours of possible increase of pump price of premium motor spirit otherwise called petrol by the Federal Government.

 

The NNPC said to the best of its knowledge there were no plans by the Federal Government to hike price of fuel urging motorists not to indulge in panic buying as there was enough product to last the country for several weeks.  

 

The Corporation observed that the re-emergence of long queues were as result of hoarding by filling station owners in vain anticipation of fuel price hike. The NNPC Spokesman, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim implored filling station owners to refrain from hoarding in order to help lessen long queues.

The NNPC cautioned marketers who have being loading petrol from their various depots not to hoard the product as erring marketers will be sanctioned for such sharp practices.

 

 

 

 

NFF to conduct FIFA Player's Agents exam

NFF to conduct FIFA Player's Agents exam April 3

Following a circular from world football -governing body, the Nigeria
Football Federation is set to conduct this year's FIFA Players' Agents
examination .Incidentally, it will be the
last such examination, as the current licensing system will be
abandoned as from this year summer.

The circular, dated 31s January, 2014 and signed by Markus Kattner,
FIFA Deputy General Secretary, explained that the world body will send
to each National Association a total of 15 questions that relate to
the international regulations, while the National Association (in this
case, Nigeria Football Federation), will be required to set five
questions on national subjects, and such questions shall be set as
multiple choice test.

"In order to avoid potential irregularities, the examination will be
scheduled for one day only.

"FIFA has the sole authority to set questions relating to
international subjects. All associations are therefore strictly
forbidden from setting their own questions relating to international
subjects. In the event of any violation in this regard, FIFA will not
recognise the examination results from the association(s) concerned,
therefore rendering invalid all players' agents licenses that are
awarded as a result of the respective examinations."

The circular also went ahead to remind all National Associations that
each correct answer to any question shall be awarded one point only,
and a minimum of 60 minutes and maximum of 90 minutes will be allowed
candidates for the examination.

"We kindly remind you that, following the endorsement by the FIFA
Congress on 31 May, 2013 in Mauritius of the new approach on Players'
Agents Regulations, the current licensing system will be abandoned as
from summer 2014," the circular further stated.

NFF's Chief Legal Officer, Barrister Okey Obi said that the
NFF has always abided by all conditions and stipulations set by FIFA
for the Players' Agents examinations and will do likewise this year.

"We are comfortable with all the regulations and have never had any
problem with any of the conditions. We are prepared as ever to conduct
a hitch-free and credible examination on Thursday, April 3, 2014,
starting from 10am."

Breaking News:Atiku weeps over massacre of school pupils in Yobe!!!

Atiku weeps over massacre of school pupils in Yobe

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday broke down in tears when informed of the killings of dozens of pupils of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Gujiba Local Government Area of Yobe State.

The former Vice President who is also Grand Patron of Federal Government College Okigwe Old Students Association said in a strongly-worded statement by his media office in Abuja that all the Federal Government had been doing about addressing the security situation in the North-east region of the country amounts to mere chasing of shadows if school walls cannot be protected from armed attacks.

The former Vice President particularly frowned at the impression given by President Goodluck Jonathan at his Presidential Media Chat on Monday that the government has been successful at pushing armed attacks to the fringes of the country.

"My heartfelt condolences go to families of the slain school pupils. It is unfortunate that innocent school children, will become victims of armed attacks.

"This will not be the first time in recent times that school children are being attacked, and it is particularly disheartening that the Federal Government is yet to devise a strategy of keeping our schools safe from terror attacks. If our counter-insurgency strategies are not strong enough to keep our children safe inside their schools, then one must wonder if such a strategy isn't mere chasing shadows," Atiku said.

According to him "it is important that the Federal Government ups its counter-insurgency strategy and desist from taking credits in pushing armed attacks to the fringes, as the president would like to put it. No Nigerian's life is less in value to another."

He said it is imperative for government to ensure security in schools, in particular the Federal Government Colleges because of their unique role in forging national unity among pupils from diverse backgrounds in the country

ECOWAS, BENIN REPUBLIC PROMOTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION WITH CARAVAN

ECOWAS, BENIN REPUBLIC PROMOTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION WITH CARAVAN

The ECOWAS Commission and the Government of Benin Republic will use the 9th Benin National Caravan which has opened as a collaborative platform to sensitize the citizens on the ECOWAS-led regional integration process.

The week-long event, kicking off in the country’s coastal city of Ouidah will, among others, feature sporting activities, theatre performances, as well as television appearances highlighting the role of the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in promoting regional integration.

The Benin Ministry of Economy and Finance introduced the National Week of Integration in 2004 as part of its efforts to promote ownership of the regional integration process by community citizens, which is in line with the regional economic bloc’s vision of an ECOWAS of people.

The ECOWAS Commission will be represented at the event by officials from its External Relations, Free Movement and Communication Directorates among others.

NFF sympathizes with footballer whose father was murdered

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday commiserated with the former
international defender Chikelue Iloanusi, whose father was murdered by
kidnappers.

Pa James Iloanusi, 83, was kidnapped about three months ago and his
decomposed body was discovered by the police on Friday.

"This is a very sad incident. We commiserate with Mr. Iloanusi over
this unfortunate incident. We feel for him at this period because he
served the nation well in his playing days, and it must be quite tough
for him to lose his dear father in such a cruel manner," said
Barrister Musa Amadu, NFF General Secretary.

Amadu also, on behalf of the NFF and the Nigeria football family,
empathised with players and officials of Sunshine Stars FC of Akure,
who were involved in an auto accident on their way to Akure after a
two-month, pre-season training in Ijebu-Ode.

"We thank God that no life was lost in the incident, but even at that,
this is a difficult period for a club that has represented this
country courageously and purposefully in the past.

"Our prayer goes out to the injured players to get well soon."

NFF congratulates Channels TV, The SUN,

NFF congratulates Salihu, Omole, Channels TV, The SUN, others

The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated a number of persons
and institutions who have shone brightly in the past few weeks, either
through receiving important appointments or as a result of being
honoured for excellence, or rewarding excellence.

Those prominent persons include Mr. Ladan Salihu, who was appointed
the Director General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria
(FRCN), Mr. Sola Omole, appointed Director General of the Nigeria
Television Authority and Mr. Ima Niboro, who assumed office recently
as Director General of the News Agency of Nigeria.

Speaking in Abuja on Monday, NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa
Amadu, also congratulated former international midfielder Garba Lawal,
who has been appointed General Manager of Nigeria Premier League club,
Kaduna United. Lawal, who played at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cup
for Nigeria and won Olympic football gold in 1996, is also a member of
the NFF Technical and Development Committee.

"We also congratulate Channels Television for winning the TV Station
of The Year, award and also our own President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari,
for his being honoured recently with Award of Excellence by Bauchi
State Television.

"We cannot forget THE SUN Publishing Company for organising a very
colourful Annual Awards in Lagos on Saturday, at which the Head Coach
of Super Eagles, Mr. Stephen Keshi, was honoured as Sportsman of The
Year."

No Plan to Drop the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister

No Plan to Drop the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister

The Hon. Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed and the FCT Administration have been taken aback by a front page story published by an Abuja based newspaper purporting that the FCT Minister has concluded plans to drop his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mohammed Ya’au Gital. The report further claimed that the Chief of Staff has been penciled down for replacement on account of old age and frailty.

We wish to state categorically that the said report is totally false and a figment of imagination of the author.  For the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan to relief the Chief of Staff to the Hon. Minister of his job.

In fact, the Chief of Staff is doing his job diligently and has never been found wanting since his appointment to his present position in 2012 and for this reason, the Hon. Minister is happy and satisfied with his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mohammed Ya’au Gital.

Our findings have revealed that the false report could be nothing other than a ploy by mischief makers to create disaffection within the FCT Administration family and distract the Hon. Minister in his untiring efforts to deliver democratic dividends to the good people of FCT.

Furthermore, the Administration wishes to state without equivocation that the Chief of Staff to the Hon. Minister is neither frail nor too old as alleged in the fallacious report. He is alert, focused, hale and hearty while he carries out his daily duties and assignments with utmost commitment and dedication.

The Hon. Minister and the FCT Administration therefore call on the general public to totally discountenance the malicious report as mere tissue of lies and the handiwork of evil forces.

BURKINA’S PRIME MINISTER HOSTS ERERA DELEGATION

BURKINA’S PRIME MINISTER HOSTS ERERA DELEGATION
The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso, His Excellency Luc Adolphe Tiao, has added his voice to
the call for an effective regulation of the electricity sector in West Africa.
Prime Minister Tiao made the call while receiving a five-member delegation of the ECOWAS
Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA), led by its Chairman, El Hadj Ibrahima
Thiam, on Tuesday, 18th February 2014 in Ouagadougou.
The delegation was on a two-day working visit to the country to formalize the agreement
between ERERA and the l'Autorité de Régulation du Secteur de l’Electricité du Burkina Faso
(ARSE) - the Burkinabe electricity regulator, to host the fifth ERERA Forum on 13th and 14th
November 2014 in Ouagadougou.
This year’s forum, which is expected to bring together some 300 participants, will serve as a
platform for the exchange of ideas aimed at ministries in charge of Energy, regulators,
operators, investors, donors, researchers and all stakeholders in the electricity sector in West
Africa. It will also help promote cooperation and exchange of information amongst the
regulatory bodies of ECOWAS Member States and between ERERA and other associations of
regulators and power pools from other African regions and around the world
While expressing delight over the granting of hosting rights to Burkina Faso, the Prime Minister
pledged his commitment to ensuring the success of the event, as part of concerted efforts
to the development of a competitive electricity market that is beneficial to citizens of the
ECOWAS Community.
Similar sentiments were also expressed by the President of the Ouagadougou-based
Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA), Cheick Aguibou
Soumare, when the delegation paid him a courtesy visit later in the day. He lauded the
initiative of the forum and expressed the interest of the UEMOA Commission to contribute to
addressing the energy challenge in the region.

ECOWAS, FAO AND PARTNERS MEET ON ZERO HUNGER INITIATIVE FOR WEST AFRICA

ECOWAS, FAO AND PARTNERS MEET ON ZERO HUNGER INITIATIVE FOR WEST AFRICA

 ECOWAS in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and other partners, will launch the West Africa Zero Hunger Initiative, which targets the eradication of hunger in the region and adopts a new approach to the governance of agricultural, food and nutrition issues in West Africa during an inception workshop scheduled for Accra.

The Workshop to be held from 24 to 26 February 2014,   will enable the stakeholders to forge a common understanding of the nature of the Initiative, a country-focused and results-oriented set of actions that reinforces and strengthens existing strategies and programmes for eliminating food insecurity and malnutrition in ECOWAS Member States.

Governments in West Africa, at regional and country level, have expressed political commitment to eradicate hunger, through the various regional and national agriculture investment plans, among others.

Participants will discuss how the Zero Hunger Initiative can add value to regional and county level Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) efforts and how the initiative relates to efforts with similar objective, and the definition of involvement of actors.

The West African Zero Hunger initiative subscribes to the UN Secretary-General’s vision for a future where no person is hungry, where every woman, child and man enjoys their right to food; women are empowered; priority is given to family farming; and food systems everywhere are made sustainable and resilient.

Despite the rapid population growth rate in the region between 1990 and 2013, the level of undernourishment dropped from 45 million between 1990 and 92 to approximately 34.5 million between 2011 and 2013, the most striking being the drop from 24 per cent to 11 per cent  between 1991 and 2012. 

This implies that as a region, West Africa has achieved the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people suffering from hunger by 2015, with six States - Benin, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo already attaining this objective. 

The initial strategy for the Initiative was prepared after consultations between ECOWAS and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), which forms the basis of discussion at the Accra Inception workshop.

Presentations at the workshop will include Situation analysis and mapping of key initiatives in the region to food security and nutrition; rationale for establishing a zero hunger initiative; ECOWAS Programming in health, agriculture and social protection and the expected achievements of the initiative in the short- and long-term.

ECOWAS and FAO believe that moving towards a zero hunger West Africa is a bold political commitment that needs to be maintained for one to three decades.

It is expected that the political commitment would be translated into increased budgetary allocations for activities related to food and nutrition security and increased private investment reflecting the core principles of the Initiativewhich are strong political commitment, country focus, results-oriented, inter-country learning and exchange, broad stakeholder involvement, complementarity and subsidiarity.

https://www.facebook.com/chimsky.nwankwo

https://www.facebook.com/chimsky.nwankwo

Bala Nkiyu picks 25 for Flamingoes’ Training Tour in Portugal

Bala Nkiyu picks 25 for Flamingoes’ Training Tour in Portugal

Head Coach of the Nigeria U17 Women team Bala Nkiyu has picked 25 players for the training tour billed for Faro, Portugal in the final phase of their preparation for the 2014 FIFA U-17 women World Cup in Costa Rica.
A 33-man delegation of the Nigeria U17 national team made up 25 players and 8 officials departed the country’s capital, Abuja by 11pm on Friday, for a training tour of Faro, Portugal aboard on a Lufthansa Airline flight.

Expectedly on board were familiar faces like Captain Biawo Tessy Kesiena, Chinwendu Ihezuo who both starred at the last U17women World Cup in Azerbaijan.

On the list also are Uchenna Kanu, Esther Elijah, Ugochi Emenayo, Aminat Yakubu, Cynthia Aku, Mary Ologbosere, Joy Duru, Joy Bokiri as goalkeeper Onyinyechi Okeke, Ginika Ikeh and Onyebuchi Goodness were not left out by Coach Bala Nkiyu.

The Flamingoes will be involved in an international friendly match with Belgium U17 women team in Brussels on 4th March and other tune-up games with some clubs in Portugal during a 19-day training camp at the Browns Sport and Leisure Club in Faro, Portugal.

The Nigeria U17 women will return to Faro from Brussels and then fly from Madrid, Spain to San Jose, capital of Costa Rica, on 12th March, with their first match of the tournament against China on 16th March.

Nigeria will trade tackle with China, Mexico and Colombia in Group D at the tournament that will be played across four stadiums, three in San Jose and another in Liberia.

The 25-man list is expected at the end of the training tour to be trimmed to 21 for the 4th FIFA U17 Women Finals in Costa Rica, taking place through 15th March - 5th April this year.