1. Crude oil prices sank to new four-year lows on Thursday on the back of the announcement that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has decided to maintain its oil output ceiling at 30 million barrels, preferring, as a strategy, to wait for the market to stabilise instead of cutting production quotas. OPEC’s decision sent world oil prices tumbling,
with London’s Brent Light crude for January deliveries falling to $74.36 a barrel while New York’s West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January slumped to $70.87, triggering the likelihood of a price war among Saudi Arabia, Russia and the United States of America as they battle to maintain market share.
2.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N9 billion for the distribution of 750,000 clean cooking stoves and 18,000 wonder bags for refuse disposal. Briefing State House Correspondents after the council meeting, presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the Supervising Minister of Information, Dr Nurudeen Mohammed and that of aid the approval is in a bid to reduce pressure on forest resources caused by indiscriminate felling of trees which has led to deforestation and desertification.
3.
As the All Progressives Congress (APC) holds its governorship primary next week, the former Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General in Lagos State, Olasupo Sasore, has advised party delegates to consider competence above other considerations. Sasore gave the advice in an interactive session with journalists on Thursday.
4. Lazio midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has been faulted as part of the reason Nigeria failed to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. A Super Eagles player told SL10.ng on the condition of anonymity, that the Lazio man ignored instructions to shield the defence in search of personal glory.
“A lot have been said about why we failed to qualify, but most are far from the truth. For instance why was it that we struggle less when Hope Akpan plays in front of the defence?” said the source.
5.
The Lagos State Government has cancelled the November environmental sanitation exercise tomorrow (Saturday) in the state.
State Commissioner for Environment, Tunji Bello, who disclosed this in his office, said this is to enable residents fully participate in the ongoing collection of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) and registration exercise in nine local government areas of the state.
He explained that the decision to cancel the exercise was to assist officials of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in their logistics, as they would be required to move men and materials to different parts of the state.
“This cancellation is also to allow Lagos residents, who have either not collected their Permanent Voter Cards to do so, as well as allow those who have not registered to do likewise.
6.
There were strong indications, yesterday, that the on-going reconstruction of railway lines linking Port-Harcourt and Makurdi, may have suffered serious set-back, following reports that workers engaged by the construction firm had absconded.
It was learned that the firm was making frantic efforts to replace the over one hundred workers said to have “absconded from their duty posts”, in order to beat the deadline, in line with contract terms.
7. Four lawyers in the Delta State Ministry of Justice have become Chartered Mediators and Conciliators. It is seen as a means of promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanism as a platform for dialogue to resolve disputes and enhance peace and social harmony.
The four legal officers sponsored by the Ministry of Justice for the Chartered Mediation Course are Toritseju Megbuluba, Chikaodili Rosemary Iwobi, Olajumoke Daniels and Ejiro Agbagbara, all from the Department of Peoples’ Rights.
8.
Stephen Keshi will be given a new contract by the Nigeria Football Federation despite failing to qualify Nigeria for next year’s African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea, an official has said. There have been calls for Keshi to be replaced as Super Eagles coach, just as Samson Siasia was three years ago when he failed to lead the team to the 2012 AFCON. However, Keshi is now to be given a new contract, according to NFF executive committee member, Emeka Inyama.
9. Nigeria has promised to increase the volume of gas supplied to Ghana under the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP) project.
The Group Executive Director for Gas and Power at the Nigeria Petroleum Corporation, Dr David Ige, made the pledge when he addressed an emergency meeting of ministers of Energy in Accra yesterday. Ghana has, in recent times, complained about the fluctuating nature of gas supply from Nigeria through the WAGP to meet the country’s needs.
10.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced an adjustment in the dates for the distribution of the permanent voter cards (PVCs) and the conduct of the continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise in the phase. According to the commission’s daily bulletin, the distribution of PVCs in Kaduna and Katsina states will take place from Saturday, December 6 to Monday, December 8, 2014. The CVR exercise in the two states would hold from Wednesday, December 10, to Monday, December 15, 2014. The commission also approved that the distribution of PVCs in Niger and Borno states would take place from Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 14, 2014, with the CVR exercise, from Wednesday, December 17 to Monday, December 22, 2014.
