Brass Gas Project: Police Probe Withdrawal Of US$3.2bn Cash

CURTESY CALL: Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State (L), and the Managing Director, Brass LNG, Mr. Vincenzo di Lorenzo, during a meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa

The police have begun investigations into the depletion of a US$3.7bn account of the Brass/Liquefied Natural Gas Company.

African Giants Etoile, Mazembe In Cup Showdown

Roger Assale (R) is among a number of foreigners in a 19-man Mazembe squad chosen by coach Hubert Velud to take on Etoile Sahel in a CAF Confederation Cup semi-final ©Kazuhiro Nogi (AFP)

An African club football classic is on the cards this weekend when Etoile Sahel of Tunisia host TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a CAF Confederation Cup semi-final.

Namibia Wins First Ever Paralympic Gold

Getty Images

Namibian sprinter Ananias Shikongo has bagged his country's first-ever Paralympic gold medal by winning the 200m race in the T13 category, for people with a visual impairment, in Rio.

Why The US Is A Major Roadblock For Oil Output Freeze

Oil facility in the Khark Island, Golf Shore

The price of oil has been caught in one of its most volatile couple of weeks in months after OPEC and rival Russia hinted they may discuss a possible output freeze, as demand slows and a global surplus becomes more entrenched.

‘We Robbed Onazi’s Father To Enjoy Eid-el-Kabir’

The suspects paraded by the police…yesterday

The five-man gang, who raided and robbed the Jos, Plateau State home of Ogenyi Onazi, defensive midfielder for the Super Eagles, yesterday told newsmen that their quest for an enjoyable Sallah celebration pushed them into the criminal act.

300 Houses Affected By Kaduna Tremors — NEMA

Multiple earth tremors were recorded in three locations in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State over the weekend.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said on Thursday that over 300 houses were affected by the earth tremor that hit Kwoi in Kaduna State last week.

Guinea's World-Famous Dance Troupe Fades Into Uncertain Future

Once the pride of Africa's dance scene, Guinea's Les Ballets Africains is now left with ageing acrobats and singers to train a new generation facing an uncertain future ©Cellou Binani (AFP)

For years, Guinea's main dance company brought glory to the west African state, touring the globe for sell-out performances. Today, ageing and forgotten, it struggles to train a new generation of dancers facing a very uncertain future.

Once lauded on Broadway the National Ballet of Guinea has no dedicated performance space, no financing and has not worked outside of the country in years ©Cellou Binani (AFP)

Wing Flap Found In Tanzania Confirmed To Be Part Of MH370

The wing flap was found in Pemba in June AFP

A wing flap that washed ashore on an island off Tanzania has been identified as belonging to missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, Australian officials said Thursday.

UN To Establish Aviation Security Training Institutes In Nigeria

Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon

The United Nation has unveiled plans to set up two aviation security training schools in Nigeria as part of measures aimed at supporting the nation’s over-all counter-terrorism.

Kukah To Buhari: Stop Blaming Jonathan, Solve Current Problems

Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stop agonizing about the past administration but to tackle the challenges facing the country.

Kenyan Jailed For 100 Years For Abusing Girls In Church

Kinyua is said to have locked the girls inside the church as they were returning chairs that had been borrowed to be used in a funeral/FILE

A 20-year-old man has been sentenced to 100 years in jail for sexually abusing three girls in a church in the village of Kangaru in central Kenya.

Buhari, Ministers Hold Emergency Retreat Over Economy

Retreat with cabinet members discussing the state of the nation’s economy and strategies to get the country out of recession include Minister of Science & Technology Barr. Adebayo Shittu and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami, Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, Minister of State Budget & National Planning Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Women Affairs Aisha Alhassan, Minister of State Environment Ibrahim Ismail Jibril, FCT Minister Muhammadu Bello, Minister of Budget & National Planning Udoma Udo Udoma.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are currently in a retreat with cabinet members discussing the state of the nation’s economy and strategies to get the country out of recession.

Fuel ‘Too Dirty For Europe’ Sold To Africa Instead

BP shipped high-sulphur diesel to Ghana, according to data shared with the Guardian by Public Eye. Photograph: Melanie Stetson Freeman/Getty Images

A new report by Swiss-based non-governmental organization, Public Eye has criticized commodity-trading firms in Switzerland for their links to the trade of fuel to African countries, which has toxin levels that would be illegal in Europe.

Legal sulphur levels differ greatly between African countries as shown by the map above: Somalia, Congo-Brazzaville, Tunisia and Egypt (all in red) have the highest legal sulphur levels Image source: UNEP

Orji Breaks New Records To Win Nigeria’s 8th Gold Medal

Reuters

Josephine Orji won a gold medal in women power-lifting’s +86 kg category for Nigeria’s 8th gold medal at the Rio Paralympics Games on Wednesday.

11 Oil Blocks To Expire This Year As PIB Delays Licensing Round

FPSO moored in Nigerian waters

• Govt fails to hold bid rounds for 31 marginal fields two years after

Hopes that the Federal Government would hold any licensing round for oil blocks this year is dim due to the delay in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

FOR THE RECORD: Obama Lifts Economic Sanctions From Côte d'Ivoire, Citing Progress

U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday lifted economic sanctions that were placed on Côte d'Ivoire more than 10 years ago during a civil war, citing a successful presidential election last year and progress on fighting illegal trafficking of natural resources.

FOR THE RECORD: Buhari To South East, Niger Delta Corps Members: Tell Your Kinsmen To Forget Biafra

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday urged Nigerian youth to remain focused in life, pursue their dreams and reject those fanning embers of discord and disintegration of Nigeria.

NCC Discovers 41 Illegal ISPs

Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has discovered 41 fake and unlicensed service providers.

ExxonMobil Resumes Export Three Months After Force Majeure

Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, a unit of ExxonMobil, will resume shipment of Qua Iboe crude, Nigeria’s largest grade of crude oil in October, three months after the company had declared force majeure on the exports of the grade.

Arik Air To Resume Flights After Shutdown

Arik Air is one of the largest carriers in West Africa. Boeing handout

Nigeria's largest airline carrier Arik Air is to resume flights this morning after operations were suspended yesterday because of problems with its insurance policy.