Buhari to ensure speedy completion of Mambilla power project

A statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu affirmed President Muhammadu Buhari's determination to speed up the completion of the Mambilla power project.

Buhari had on Wednesday in Beijing said that his government would honour all agreements entered into by Nigeria and China under previous administrations.

President Buhari made the pledge during a meeting with the Premier of the State Council of the Peoples Republic of China, Mr Li Keqiang.

Buhari said that Nigeria would honour the agreements in order to ensure speedy completion of outstanding joint ventures, including the 4,000 megawatts Mambilla Hydro-Electric Power Project.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that Buhari told the Chinese Premier that his administration was "committed to the completion, in the shortest possible time, of all joint power, rail, road and aviation projects that would directly and quickly improve the lives of Nigerians."

NAN

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China offers Nigeria $6b loan for infrastructure

Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama has told reporters on President Muhammadu Buhari’s entourage that China has made an offer of $6b loan to support infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

“It is a credit that is on the table as soon as we identify the projects.

“It won’t need an agreement to be signed; it is just to identify the projects and we access it,” he said.

In another development, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd, ICBC , the world’s biggest lender, and the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN signed an agreement on yuan transactions on Tuesday, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry official.
“It means that the renminbi (yuan) is free to flow among different banks in Nigeria and the renminbi has been included in the foreign exchange reserves of Nigeria,” said Lin Songtian, Director General l of the Foreign Ministry's African Affairs Department.

The agreement was the outcome of a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

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Three killed in clash over farmland in Nasarawa State

The police in Nasarawa State on  Wednesday confirmed that three people were killed while one person was injured in a land dispute between Angwan Mamman and Dadere villages in Obi Local Government Area.

The Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Lawal Shehu-Batsari told newsmen on Wednesday at
Tudun-Adabu near Dadere  after inspecting the crisis areas,  that the fight between farmers from warring areas started around 8 a.m.

“We got information that there was a fight over farmland between Sule Musawa of Dadere and the Akun’s family of Agwan-Mamman,” he said.

The Herald reports that "fracas erupted when family members of Musawa went to the farm and were attacked by members of Akun family in the early hours of Wednesday."

Sources said that the Akun family had leased the land from the Musawa family.

The Police Commissioner told newsmen that a second fight broke out at midday.

“But we were very proactive. We deployed our men to the crisis area to restore peace and order immediately and that is why everywhere is very calm now,” he said.

He appealed to residents of the area to remain calm as the situation had been brought under control.

“We are on top of the situation.
We observed that some people were packing from their houses and if this continues, it would send a wrong signal outside.

“That was why I personally led a team of security operatives to this area and I am impressed that the situation is calm.”

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DSS nabs notorious Boko Haram Commander

Barely a week after the Department of State Services announced the arrest of Khalid Al-Barnawi, the leader of  Ansaru, the breakaway faction of Boko Haram, the service has  arrested a notorious Boko Haram Commander in the person of Bello Danhajiya

Reports indicate that Danhajiya is a Fulani of Zamfara origin and a strategic accomplice of Al-Barnawi .

Preliminary investigations revealed that he is involved in gun-running, cattle rustling and other  criminal activities principally on the directives of  Al-Barnawi.

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Army commissions first fuel station in Minna

The Nigerian Army on Friday commissioned its first fuel station in Minna, Niger State.

The oil and gas business which is branded Nigeria Army Property Limited, NAPL is an 8 pump oil and gas station situated along Bakungu bye pass Minna.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, said at the commissioning that the newly commissioned mega fuel service station was a pacesetter in the current drive to reposition the Nigerian Army for contemporary realities.

The fuel station has six pumps for petrol and one each for Diesel and Kerosene including a Supermarket and a Mechanic Workshop.

It will operate a 24-hour service  and the Management of NAPL said the Minna Oil and Gas station is the first amongst the many NAPL Mega Stations the Army intends to establish across the 36 states of Nigeria and a super mega station of 56 pumps in Abuja, the Federal capital.

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Brain behind Taraba killings arrested

The police in Taraba State have announced the arrest of the mastermind of Monday's killings at Garbabi ward of Gashaka Local Government Area of Taraba State.

Parading the suspect whose name was given as Ardo Ayuba, at the police command headquarters in Jalingo on Tuesday, Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Shaba Arkali disclosed that the killings were planned at the home of the suspect.

Arkali said that 15 persons were killed in the attacks by the gunmen even as the state governor, Darius Ishaku has put the figure at 44.

According to Gov Ishaku, five persons were injured, with six others unaccounted for and one hundred people displaced.

A press statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Isahaku on Media and Publicity, Sylvanus Giwa, said the attacks started on Sunday with a rape attempt by some armed bandits.

The statement said that the bandits later unleashed mayhem  on the entire villages of Gashaka and some part of Bali Local Government Area.

Other communities where casualties were recorded included Maisuma, where nine people were killed; and Fali with seven persons killed.

While the displaced persons were taking refuge at Mayo-Selbe, Kungana and Garbabi villages in Gashaka Local Government Area, about sixty crack mobile police officers have been deployed from Yola to contain the volatile situation.

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Army raises the alarm as Boko Haram fighters flee Sambisa forest

The Nigerian Army has alerted the public of Boko Haram terrorists fleeing Sambisa forest in their attempt to mingle with the public.

See the statement issued by Army spokesman Col Sani Usman.

"This is to inform the public that due to aerial bombardment and concerted efforts of the ground troops, and facing imminent annihilation, Boko Haram terrorists have been deserting Sambisa forest in droves trying to disperse to various parts of the country.

"The cowards are running away from their well noted enclave in Sambisa forest for their lives.

"Consequently it becomes necessary to inform the public, especially well meaning Nigerians, to be more vigilant and security conscious.

"The public are please requested to be observant and report any suspicious persons or group of persons to the military or any of the security agencies to enable timely detection and apprehension of the fleeing insurgents before they mingle with the society and commit havoc.

"We would like to reassure the public of the confidentiality of the information provided and reiterate our commitment to the clearance of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists.

"You are kindly requested to disseminate this information to the public through your medium.

"Thank you for your kind cooperation.

"Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman
Acting Director Army Public Relations

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