DANGOTE TO CONSTRUCT REFINERY AND PETROCHEMICAL COMPLEX IN OGUN AND ONDO

The Dangote Group has said it will sign $5.55bn loan deals with financiers on September 4 for the building of a $9bn refinery and petrochemical complex to be located at the Olokola Free Trade Zone, Ondo State. The group told Reuters on Tuesday it would borrow $3.3bn for the 400,000 barrels a day refinery expected to double the country's refining capacity by late 2016. The conglomerate, with business interests in cement, food processing and oil and gas, also said it was seeking another $2.25bn from development funds for the refinery. When put together, about $5.55bn will be sourced externally from financiers and the group said the loan deals would be signed with the financiers on September 4. The Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who recently emerged as Africa's richest man, said he would put $3.5bn down as his own equity. Dangote had in April said he would put down $4bn of his personal fortune to build the refinery, while international financial institutions would raise the balance. The Dangote Group spokesman, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, who spoke with Reuters, said, "We are not resting on our oars. The complex, including petrochemical and fertiliser plants, could be the single largest contribution to this government's economic transformation agenda." The 400,000-barrel capacity, experts have said, would almost double Nigeria's current refining strength. "This will really help not only Nigeria but sub-Saharan Africa. There has not been a new refinery for a long time in sub-Saharan Africa," Dangote had told Reuters in a telephone interview. Nigeria currently has the capacity to produce some 445,000 barrels per day from four refineries, which operate well below that owing to decades of mismanagement and corruption. The country relies on subsidised imports for 80 per cent of its fuel needs. Dangote said the country's ability to import fuel would soon be challenged. "In five years, when our population is over 200 million, we won't have the infrastructure to receive the amount of fuel we use. It has to be done," he said. Past efforts to build refineries have often been delayed or cancelled, but analysts have said Dangote should be able to build a profitable Nigerian refinery, owing to his past successes in industry and his strong government connections. Analysts have said previous attempts to get the refineries going were held back by vested interests such as fuel importers profiting from the status quo. "The people who were supposed to invest in refineries, who understand the market, are benefiting from there being no refineries because of the fuel import business. Some are going to try to interfere," Dangote said. He said making a new refinery run at a profit would work even if the government failed to scrap the subsidised fuel price that has deterred others from investing.

US URGES FG TO WORK WITH ASUU TO END THE STRIKE

The United States of America (USA), on Wednesday urged the Government of Nigeria, to work out a lasting solution to the lingering Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) strike even as it decried the activities of touts who deceive Nigerian students intending to study in the US, labelling them as criminals. US Embassy Cultural Affairs Officer, Bill Strassberger, who spoke to journalists in Abuja noted that though the US is not involved in the ASUU negotiation, said: “It is a fear, it is a worry for us.” “That is something for the Nigerian government. It is up to work it out with the striking administration. “We are not involved in that negotiation but we can encourage it. It is a fear, it is a worry for us because that would make it hard for the students to come. “It may be difficult, but there is no magic wand to resolve the strike,” Strassberger said. Also, the Head, Education USA, Jennifer Onyukwu, equally stated that the US has been concerned about the ongoing strike in so many ways. For instance, she noted that Nigerians who are seeking admission into US schools, require their transcripts which they cannot get because of the strike. “There is that concern because generally, the world has become a global village, people want stronger applicants in their campuses; so they want stronger senders,” she stressed. On patronising touts to study in the US, Strassberger enjoined admission seekers to access free information which is available at all time. “Those are the touts, those are the people that I will even call criminals because they are stealing opportunities by selling only documents by giving bad information and creating a disappointment when the person comes in with that information or with only document. And that is the result of not getting accurate information,” he said. On her part, Contr Onyukwu said the ‘EducationUSA is here to demystify the process, explain how to take the standardised tests, how to search for schools, and how to find the best undergraduate school that is the best fit for the intending US student, including the masters programme that would not only educate the student, but may also provide scholarship or financial aid to study while in the US.’ Onyukwu said Nigeria has been US’s largest sender of African students from sub-saharan Africa to the US. “In the past six years, the US has spent over $40 million on scholarships and financial aid for undergraduate and graduate students, the US is expecting to do more in the coming year,” she assured.

FRENCH TO BE PART OF UTME AS FROM 2014 -- MINISTER OF EDUCATION

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’I, said on Thursday in Abuja that French would be part of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as from 2014 for interested candidates. Rufa’I said this at farewell reception held in honour of the French Language Project Manager, Mr Jean-Phillipe Roy. She said that being multi-lingual in the 21st Century was essential as it helps individuals to operate more effectively in the international community. “For Nigeria, the study of French language is quite key, considering the fact that our neighbouring countries are French-speaking. “Apart from the English Language, French Language is one of the major international languages, ‘’she said. She said Roy came to Nigeria in 2009 under the 2nd Bilateral Agreement between Nigeria and French. The minister noted that he had worked hard to ensure that various components of the project received due attention. Rufa’I lauded his contributions to the reform of the UTME for 2014 in addition to the scholarships awarded to 16 teachers of French Language to study in France for one month. She said the project manager’s contributions, included supply of books to schools, award of Masters Degree in French as a Foreign Language and supply of DVD and CD player to the project office, among others. The minister lauded the support of the French Government to the Nigerian French Language Village, Badagry, Lagos, the Regional Network of French Language centres in Africa. She also commended the Association of French Language Teachers, and noted s the proposed handing over of the project vehicle to the ministry for the monitoring of the teaching and learning of the Lanaguage. “Nigeria and France have come a long way in their relationship. It is a relationship built on mutual respect, cooperation and interest. “I wish to assure you that the ministry will continue to be committed to the teaching and learning of French Language in Nigeria and sustenance of the cordial relationship,’’ she said. She called on the French Government to introduce similar programmes to complement, sustain and consolidate the achievements made so far. Responding, Roy lauded the collaboration between the Federal Government and the French Government. “Since I have been here, you have shown a lot of interest in what we have been trying to do in terms of decision-making in critical issues and, with your help, we have been able to keep the project on the right track. He said that French Government had so far organised 160 training sessions in various parts of the country, adding that 4,290 people participated in the programme. Roy called for continued collaboration between the Nigerian Government and the French Government. In his remarks, the Counsellor of French Cultural Affairs, Mr Patrick Perez, stressed the need to sustain good relationship between the two countries. “We will like to thank you for all your efforts to promote French Language in Nigeria and we hope that this collaboration will continue to grow from strength to strength, ‘’he said. (NAN)

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DRAW 2013

Group A: Manchester United, Shakhtar Donetsk, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Real Sociedad Group B: Real Madrid, Juventus, Galatasaray AŞ, FC København Group C: Benfica, PSG, Olympiacos FC, Anderlecht Group D: Bayern Munich, CSKA Moscow, Manchester City, Viktoria Plzeň Group E: Chelsea, Schalke 04, Basel, Steaua Bucureşti Group F: Arsenal, Olympique Marseille, Borussia Dortmund, Napoli Group G: Porto, Atletico Madrid, FC Zenit, Austria Wien Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, Ajax, Celtic

LIST OF POOREST AND RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD 2013

List Of Poorest And Richest Country In The World 2013!!! - 

1 Qatar $106,283.96 2 Luxembourg $79,649.49 3 Singapore $61,046.96 4 Norway $54,479.06 5 Hong Kong SAR $50,716.14 6 Brunei Darussalam $50,440.03 7 United States $49,601.41 8 United Arab Emirates $48,434.60 9 Switzerland $44,015.97 10 Kuwait $43,773.88 11 Austria $42,589.72 12 Netherlands $42,319.57 13 Australia $41,467.65 14 Canada $41,335.06 15 Sweden $41,129.94 16 Ireland $40,443.26 17 Taiwan Province of China $39,217.78 18 Iceland $39,082.93 19 Germany $38,695.94 20 Belgium $37,995.23 21 Denmark $37,713.42 22 Finland $36,736.33 23 United Kingdom $36,605.02 24 Japan $36,040.14 25 France $35,613.45 26 Korea $33,171.53 27 The Bahamas $31,784.15 28 Israel $31,514.88 29 Spain $30,315.48 30 Italy $30,132.59 31 Slovenia $28,704.93 32 Cyprus $28,645.62 33 New Zealand $28,372.27 34 Bahrain $27,907.52 35 Czech Republic $27,380.56 36 Oman $27,349.80 37 Malta $25,874.89 38 Saudi Arabia $25,465.98 39 Seychelles $25,439.92 40 Greece $25,343.24 41 Slovak Republic $24,144.78 42 Barbados $23,870.46 43 Portugal $22,853.38 44 Poland $21,310.29 45 Estonia $21,059.80 46 Trinidad and Tobago $20,573.45 47 Hungary $19,891.57 48 Equatorial Guinea $19,818.11 49 Lithuania $19,600.89 50 Antigua and Barbuda $18,398.82 51 Croatia $18,331.02 52 Argentina $18,318.72 53 Chile $17,974.20 54 Russia $17,691.07 55 Gabon $17,053.47 56 Botswana $16,578.59 57 Latvia $16,235.03 58 Malaysia $16,186.01 59 Lebanon $15,985.50 60 Uruguay $15,785.94 61 Belarus $15,755.83 62 St. Kitts and Nevis $15,616.80 63 Mauritius $15,595.27 64 Mexico $15,177.51 65 Panama $15,082.00 66 Turkey $14,852.98 67 Grenada $14,238.18 68 Dominica $14,202.63 69 Bulgaria $14,020.60 70 Kazakhstan $13,926.37 71 Islamic Republic of Iran $13,071.63 72 Venezuela $13,070.44 73 St. Lucia $12,927.29 74 Romania $12,843.14 75 Costa Rica $12,424.65 76 Brazil $12,181.34 77 St. Vincent and the Grenadines $11,863.63 78 Montenegro $11,677.49 79 South Africa $11,273.08 80 Serbia $10,810.97 81 Colombia $10,742.40 82 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia $10,692.14 83 Peru $10,588.68 84 Azerbaijan $10,568.38 85 Libya $10,129.61 86 Thailand $9,979.23 87 Suriname $9,953.92 88 Tunisia $9,706.59 89 Dominican Republic $9,654.67 90 Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste $9,467.76 91 Jamaica $9,199.01 92 China $9,142.67 93 Maldives $9,077.88 94 Ecuador $8,854.00 95 Belize $8,412.08 96 Turkmenistan $8,366.94 97 Bosnia and Herzegovina $8,250.62 98 Albania $7,840.62 99 Guyana $7,829.75 100 El Salvador $7,745.98 101 Namibia $7,694.44 102 Ukraine $7,584.06 103 Algeria $7,541.85 104 Tonga $7,510.45 105 Bhutan $6,615.54 106 Egypt $6,594.00 107 Angola $6,356.02 108 Sri Lanka $6,135.47 109 Samoa $6,104.76 110 Jordan $6,001.76 111 Georgia $5,929.33 112 Kiribati $5,846.24 113 Armenia $5,604.75 114 Mongolia $5,548.33 115 Paraguay $5,293.94 116 Morocco $5,251.65 117 Swaziland $5,247.87 118 Guatemala $5,164.71 119 Vanuatu $5,064.60 120 Bolivia $4,995.97 121 Indonesia $4,943.57 122 Fiji $4,728.06 123 Republic of Congo $4,656.67 124 Honduras $4,461.21 125 Iraq $4,271.60 126 Philippines $4,214.39 127 Cape Verde $4,112.26 128 India $3,944.30 129 Vietnam $3,549.95 130 Moldova $3,539.87 131 Uzbekistan $3,536.09 132 Solomon Islands $3,348.13 133 Nicaragua $3,325.13 134 Ghana $3,312.71 135 Lao People's Democratic Republic $2,865.74 136 Pakistan $2,859.87 137 Djibouti $2,734.77 138 Nigeria $2,722.25 139 Papua New Guinea $2,694.05 140 Kyrgyz Republic $2,497.67 141 Sudan $2,495.90 142 Cambodia $2,360.69 143 S„o TomÈ and PrÌncipe $2,359.13 144 Cameroon $2,321.73 145 Mauritania $2,268.69 146 Republic of Yemen $2,248.62 147 Tajikistan $2,173.02 148 Lesotho $2,072.87 149 Chad $1,969.91 150 Senegal $1,921.50 151 The Gambia $1,883.85 152 Kenya $1,807.53 153 Bangladesh $1,790.27 154 Zambia $1,714.61 155 CÙte d'Ivoire $1,690.40 156 Tanzania $1,600.72 157 Burkina Faso $1,524.06 158 Benin $1,510.26 159 Rwanda $1,430.85 160 Myanmar $1,393.89 161 Nepal $1,388.38 162 Uganda $1,341.40 163 Haiti $1,328.41 164 Comoros $1,251.73 165 Guinea-Bissau $1,184.24 166 Mali $1,173.64 167 Mozambique $1,149.96 168 Sierra Leone $1,138.46 169 Ethiopia $1,135.16 170 Guinea $1,119.53 171 Islamic Republic of Afghanistan $1,007.95 172 Madagascar $948.86 173 Togo $926.67 174 Malawi $882.67 175 Niger $863.46 176 Central African Republic $789.21 177 Eritrea $776.98 178 Burundi $639.51 179 Zimbabwe $516.47 180 Liberia $490.41 181 Democratic Republic of Congo $364.48

STRANDED BOKOHARAM MEMBERS TURN CANNIBALS

Dozens of suspected Boko Haram militants in Magumeri forest, Borno, have turned to human eaters after being stranded for days without food or water.
Magumeri forest is about 150 kilometres from Maiduguri, the state capital.
Mallam Momodu Bukar, a suspected militant, told newsmen on Saturday in Maiduguri that he fled the camp at the forest on Thursday when it became obvious that he was going to be eaten.
“I thank God that I escaped because I would have been slaughtered by now to provide meal for my colleagues at the camp,” Bukar said.
The suspected militant was captured by a Youth Vigilante Group, popularly known as the civilian JTF at Baga Road motor park, Maiduguri, on Friday..
He said the militants had been in the forest since May, when they were dislodged from Marte, Marte Local Government Area, by the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) after the declaration of the State of Emergency.

“Our group, consisting of about 300 well armed combatants, headed for Magumeri on the orders of the sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, shortly before the military took over Marte Camp.

“We have been wandering in the forest. We have exhausted our food and water supply, and so, everybody became hungry,” Bukar said.

He also said that they lost contact with Shekau due to the closure of GSM services by the Defence Headquarters.
“It all started last Monday when three of the combatants in camp died of acute hunger, and it became obvious that all of us will die if action was not taken.

“The leader of the group, Abu Omar, directed that a non combatant member be slaughtered to provide meal for the rest.
“The meat provided meal for the combatant for just two days and another person was killed in the same manner on Wednesday.

“So, it became certain that I might be the next person since I am also a non combatant member.”

PROPHET CHRISTOPHER TO FASHOLA -----RE OPEN YABA RAILWAY MARKET OR LOSE YOUR CHILDREN

                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

A man who claims to be a "Prophet Dr" by the name,Christopher U D Ukpala has given the governor of Lagos State,Babatunde Raji Fashola a two week ultimatum to re-open the Yaba Railway Market,failure to do so will lead to the sacrifice of the two children of the governor.This much was contained on posters placed at Yaba today signed by the man who also goes by the title:Spiritual Doctor.

MAYHEM IN IBADAN.....AS YORUBA AND HAUSA TRADERS ENGAGE IN VIOLENT FIGHT

THERE was pandemonium at the Bodija market in Ibadan on Friday as Yoruba and Hausa traders clashed, resulting in the destruction of goods worth millions of naira. No one could say categorically what triggered the clash, except what many of the traders regarded it as a built-up anger over the downturn in their economy since the killing of 14 Yoruba traders in Borno State on May 4 and June 28 this year, where they had gone to buy beans. Since the killing of their colleagues (the second incident) on June 28, Yoruba traders have stopped travelling to the north-eastern state, where the specie of beans (Oloyin) loved by people in the South-West is usually found at cheaper price. However, Hausa traders in Bodija market were said to have been receiving regular supply of the commodity from their kinsmen and had been selling same at exorbitant prices to traders willing to buy and re-sell. This had resulted in a hike in the price of beans, which has risen to N550 per measure, against N280 for which it was sold before the Borno killing of the traders. Pent up anger, however, boiled over on Friday afternoon while Muslim faithful were observing Jumaat in mosques, leading to the disruption of the peace of the entire market. Different weapons like sticks, stones and iron rods were freely used, with the Yoruba traders chanting that they would no longer keep quiet over the agenda of the Hausa to take over commerce in the market. One of the traders, Saidi Baoku, who spoke with Saturday Tribune, alleged that the Hausa traders in the market were trying to take food off their tables by killing their business. He further insinuated that the killing of the traders in the market was masterminded by the Hausa traders to pave way for their control of the market, as the Yoruba traders would no longer be able to go to the North to buy foodstuffs. He said that the over N40 million lost by the slain traders was not as painful as their lives that were brutally terminated. “We have tried to be patient but we have seen that if we don’t fight for ourselves, these Hausa will continue to cheat us in our own land. After all, the driver of the vehicle in which the 10 traders were was not killed. We want everybody and government to come to our aid and help so that we don’t die of hunger,” he stated. Baoku also said that no one could say what triggered yesterday’s fight but said that the Yoruba traders just decided to join in the fight because it was for their cause. While speaking on the development, the Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Idris Lapade, told Saturday Tribune that the market had been shut, saying that prompt intervention of men and officers of the Nigeria Police, officials of the Directorate of State Security and Operation Burst, led by the Area Commander in charge of Agodi Area Command, prevented the crisis from escalating beyond manageable level. “We are trying to evacuate the Yoruba before asking the Hausa to leave, because they might be attacked if they move out at the same time. The market belongs to the local government; it is not anyone’s property. All we are trying to ensure is peace,” Lapade said. He revealed that there was a security meeting two days before the incident where it was decided that the two parties should be invited, adding that leaders of the traders also held a meeting with the Commissioner of Police a few hours before the crisis, and were yet to get back to the market when the mayhem broke out. He opined that the fight must have resulted from built-up tension. The Public Relations Officer of the Bodija arm of the Ibadan Foodstuff Sellers Association, Mr Hakeem Emiola, also corroborated the chairman’s statement that no one knew how the Friday crisis started, saying that it was only God that had been helping the executive to contain the anger of the traders. He noted that the anger was based on the fact since the Yoruba stopped going to the North to buy beans, the Hausa over there had been sending the foodstuff to their kinsmen in Bodija market. He said this was what led to the meeting with the police commissioner where it was agreed that the foodstuff coming in should be shared equally between the two groups – which was readily agreed to by the Hausa. Speaking on the disruption of peace at the market, the Police Public Relations Officer, Olabisi-Okuwobi, said that the Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa, called for a meeting due to an intelligence report at his disposal that there might likely be crisis in the market. “Both parties agreed to toe the path of peace, but it seems that the youth in the market heard about the outcome and were not happy with it. They started destroying beans, pepper and other goods in the market. However, the police commissioner quickly drafted several teams of patrolmen, led by the Area Commander, ACP Peter Okoh, as well as an Armoured Personnel Carrier, to quell the protest,” she stated further. Commenting on the development and the possibility of a spillover of such violence to Osogbo, the Osun State capital, a top security official said “Osun cannot witness tribal clash or hostility in any form.” The official, who pleaded anonymity, said “Northerners in this state have been coexisting peacefully with their host communities here, and few days ago, we held a meeting with Hausa and Fulani traders.” He stressed that “adequate and effective security measures have been put in place to sustain the reigning peace and harmony in all the nooks and crannies of Osun.”

MAN BORN WITH HEART IN HIS ABDOMEN

A man who has lived his entirelife with a heart protruding from his abdomen is finally able to walk upright without getting out of breath or turning blue. Huang Rongming, from Henan province in China, underwent life-changing surgery to correct heart a defect and move the organ away from hisabdomen and into his ribcage. He had lived with the rare condition for 24 years until a doctor told him his condition was rapidly deteriorating and that he required urgent surgery. Congenital heart displacement isincredibly rare and occurs in just five babies out of every million born. Most patients die soon after birth. Mr Rongming could not afford the procedure that would place his heart in his chest as it should be, but media coverage of his condition enabled him to undergo to life-changing operation. 'It's a dream come true. I'm going to lead a normal life like everyone else,' he told ChinaDaily. Before surgery, Mr Rongming's heart could clearly be seen pumping underneath a thin layer of skin and bulging out from his upper belly. When Mr Rongming was born, doctors did not think he would survive, as his protruding heart had defects and was vulnerable to injury. His parents admitted they were anxious when he was a boy and said that he was not allowed to play with other children for fear that he would die. The condition made the young Mr Rongming vulnerable to breathlessness and turning blueif he stood up as well as suddendeath if his heart was knocked. Earlier this year he sought treatment at Wuhan Union Hospital. His doctor, Dong Nianguo, a cardiac surgeon at the hospital, was astonished that he was still alive. Tests showed Huang's condition was deteriorating rapidly, and he needed immediate surgery, which could cost about 200,000yuan. Huang's story attracted considerable media coverage and within six days of his story being reported, he received all the money he needed from kindreaders. The surgery lasted more than 10 hours and was entirely successful. His abdomen is now flat and his heart defect fixed. Mr Rongming said: 'I am now normal, thanks to the many kindsouls'.

ASUU WITHDRAWS FROM NEGOTIAITIONS WITH FG

The Academic Staff Union of Universities on Thursday announced its disengagement from further negotiations with the Federal Government, over what it describes as the latter’s perceived insincerity in the 2009 agreement as well as the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) both parties signed in January last year.

The union National President, Dr. Nassir Faggae Isa, said at a press briefing held at the University of Lagos on Thursday that the 2009 agreement and the MoU must first be honoured, even if ASUU feels the need to consider renegotiation with the government.

The union had embarked on a total strike on July 2 over government‘s failure to honour the 2009 agreement.

Faggae said, “Consequently, our members are left with no other choice than to prosecute this strike to its logical conclusion. ASUU members nationwide are saying this striker will not be suspended until and unless the government respects the 2009 agreement and makes concrete efforts to implement it in the best interest of the country.”

According to him, during a meeting held between ASUU and the government representative on Monday, government declared that it neither had any motive to revitalize public universities through committed funding, nor was it ready to pay in full the accumulated Earned Academic Allowances between 2009 and 2013.