IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

The Minister of Communication and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said that the Federal Government cannot, at the moment, remove subsidies on the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol.

Mohammed, who spoke during an exclusive interview to Reuters in London, said many other nations were introducing measures to help citizens cope with high oil energy prices, hence Africa’s most populous country could not be an exception. Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil exporter but still has to import almost all its fuel needs due to a lack of refining capacity. The Federal Government shelved plans to abolish fuel subsidies earlier this year, a move that raised concerns with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

“When you consider the chaos, the social disharmony and … instability such an action (abolishing subsidies) would facilitate, is it worth it? I don’t think so,” the Minister said. The Minister believes that a new industry law that allocates money to oil-producing communities would stop attacks and blamed the European Union’s climate change policies for stifling investment in the sector.

He added, “We believe that climate change is real and important for emission control, but there is a bit of double standard in the EU policy regarding climate change,” he said.

Arsenal have signed Brazil forward Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City for £45m on a long-term deal. The 25-year-old is manager Mikel Arteta's fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of midfielder Fabio Vieira, goalkeeper Matt Turner and Brazilian striker Marquinhos.

Arteta said he was "very excited" by Jesus' arrival. "The club has done a tremendous job to recruit a player of this stature," he said. Arteta, who worked with Jesus when an assistant coach at City, has been trying to boost Arsenal's attacking options following the departures of forwards Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on free transfers. "I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here," the Gunners manager said.

"This is a position that's been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted, so I'm really happy." Jesus, who will wear the number nine shirt for the Gunners, leaves City after five-and-a-half years. He made 236 appearances and scored 95 goals for them, winning four Premier League titles, three League Cups and the FA Cup.

"It's been a pleasure to play for Manchester City," Jesus said.

Manchester City have signed Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips for £45m. The 26-year-old England international has signed a six-year deal with the Premier League champions.

He becomes Pep Guardiola's third summer signing after the arrivals of Erling Haaland and Stefan Ortega Moreno. "I am absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City. City have again proved to be the best team in the country," Phillips said.

Phillips, who made 235 appearances over eight seasons at Elland Road, still had two years left on his Leeds deal. He said City have "an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world".

He added: "To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about."

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately recall the former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Ambassador to Benin Republic, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), to face investigations and clear his name over alleged connection with the N1.8bn recovered in a property in Abuja by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to a communique by its spokesman, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, the PDP said its demand for the recall and investigation of Gen. Buratai is predicated on the earlier assertion by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Monguno, after the exit of Gen. Buratai as COAS that the $1bn drawn from the national coffers under the APC administration for the purchase of arms to fight terrorism in our country could not be traced.

“That assertion by the NSA heightened suspicion on allegations of barefaced looting of money meant to equip our security forces. Such corruption under the APC administration has led to the upsurge in unhindered terrorism attacks, mass killing of citizens and loss of many of our gallant fighters in the front in the last seven years. “It is therefore of serious interest to Nigerians when reports that the ICPC discovered the sum of N1.8 billion in various currencies, expensive cars and jewelries secreted in a property in Abuja allegedly linked to the former COAS broke out.

“There are already apprehensions that the discovered money is part of the security fund that was criminally diverted. This is especially against the backdrop of the frenzy and spirited efforts by certain quarters linked to the APC to suppress investigation and free flow of information, politicize the matter and sweep it under the carpet. “Nigerians will recall that our Party has on several occasions alerted that the looting of our treasury is officially sanctioned and enabled by the APC administration with its refusal to prosecute those who were alleged and found to have been involved in massive corruption.

Tottenham Hotspur's summer signing Richarlison will miss the first Premier League game of the season after receiving a one-match ban due to a flare incident in May. The 25-year-old forward threw a flare during former club Everton's crucial 1-0 win over Chelsea at Goodison Park.

As well as the ban, Richarlison has been fined £25,000 by an independent regulatory commission. The Brazilian admitted his behaviour was improper. It was a breach of Rule E3, which covers improper conduct. Pyrotechnics are banned from football stadiums in England.

Richarlison threw the flare as a celebration for scoring the winner over Thomas Tuchel's side, which aided the club in staying in the top flight. Frank Lampard's team came close to relegation last season, staying up in part because of Richarlison's 10 goals and five assists in what proved to be his final campaign at Goodison.

It was announced earlier in July the forward has signed for Tottenham on a five-year deal.

We Applaud Gov. Hope Uzodimma for finding our highly revered Traditional Ruler, HRM Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanweh of Ihim autonomous community in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of the Imo as the Chairman Governing council of Distinguished senator Ben Uwajiumogu College of Education, Ihite Uboma, Imo state.

We wish to make the following resolutions. 

1. We wish to express our heartfelt joy over the appointment of HRM Eze Dr. Oliver Ohanweh as the chairman of Governing council of Distinguished senator Ben Uwajiumogu College of Education Ihite Uboma, Imo state.

2. We also applaud the Governor of the state for looking in the direction of the traditional Ruler from Mbano extraction for this laudable appointment.

3. We thank the Governor Hope Uzodimma for appointing HRM Eze Dr Oliver Ohanweh who has distinguished himself in all areas of human endeavors.

4. We strongly believe that Eze Dr Oliver Ohanweh will bring his wealth of experience to bear in the discharge of his duties.

5. We are fully aware of the antecedents of Eze Dr Oliver Ohanweh hence we say that he is a round peg in a round hole.

6. We equally thank Governor Hope Uzodimma for the love he has shown to Mbano nation hence, we declare our unalloyed support for him.

7. We intend to use this opportunity to plege our total support to our highly revered Traditional Ruler, HRM Eze Dr Oliver Ohanweh and assured him of our continuous prayers.

8. We however want to thank High Chief Tony Chukwu for his overall contributions to the success and development of Mbano nation.

8. We place the interest of Mbano nation above our own interest and this is why we shall support activities and programmes aimed at bettering the lots of our people.

We therefore, want to use this medium to reassure the Governor Hope Uzodimma of our total support for him and the government of Imo state.

Signed:

Comrade Kelechi Uzomah, Chairman

Comrade Ifeanyi Ndukwe, Secretary.