Weak naira, fraud shoot up diesel price

                                                                   Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Farouk Ahmed

The continued fall in value of the naira against the United States dollar and alleged racketeering by some petroleum product marketers are responsible for the high cost of diesel despite the global drop in crude oil prices, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency has said.

This indication emerged on Friday as industry experts accused some marketers of forming a cartel that had kept the price of the product high since June last year when the free fall in oil prices started.

According to the PPPRA, the depot price of diesel as of February 11, 2015 was N99.51, while its pump price was N108.85.

The Executive Secretary, PPPRA, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, however, told our correspondent on Friday that the product was not sold at N108.85 in any of the retail outlets across the country because diesel dealers were paying more to get the US dollar at the interbank market.

Eaglets’ Nwakali, Osimhen confident against Niger

                                                                           Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali

Golden Eaglets captain, Kelechi Nwakali, says his side are not under pressure ahead of their opening game against hosts Niger at the 2015 African U-17 Championship.

Coach Emmanuel Amuneke’s side open their campaign at the 30,000-capacity Stade Général Seyni Kountché Stadium in Niamey on Sunday (today).

World champions Eaglets defeated Niger 4-1 at the same venue in one of the qualifiers for the last edition in Morocco.

“We are not under pressure playing against the hosts. The coaching crew told us this is the most important match because if we win, it would boost our confidence for the other matches,” Nwakali, younger brother of Chidiebere Nwakali, a member of the 2013 World Cup-winning team, said.

How Agbonavbare died with 13-year unfulfilled wish

                                                             Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare

Former Nigeria goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare, died in January unable to realise a 13-year wish, reports ’TANA AIYEJINA

Former Super Eagles striker, Henry Makinwa’s house in Madrid is just 10 minutes’ walk away from that of fallen ex-Eagles and Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper, Wilfred Agbonavbare.

Agbonavbare lost his battle against cancer on January 27 and was buried in Spain— three years after he lost his wife to breast cancer.

But Makinwa first met Agbonavbare in 1997 as a fresh-faced 20-year-old, who had happily moved from Udoji United to begin his football sojourn abroad with Rayo. It was a sojourn that would see him become football’s journeyman, playing in 10 countries and three continents.

Poll shift: Averting a repeat of history

                                                                                                        CHIEF MKO

As Nigeria counts down to the rescheduled 2015 general elections, BAYO AKINLOYE examines how the prevailing political situation re-enacts the events of 1964 and 1993

On Saturday, February 7, the Independent National Electoral Commission Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, announced the postponement of the much-anticipated February elections.

Many were, however, not surprised because speculations had been rife that the elections would be postponed by six weeks.

To some, the poll postponement to March 28 and April 11 is a welcome relief from the palpable tension that had gripped the nation and an opportunity for voters to get their Permanent Voter Cards. But to others, the current political atmosphere in Nigeria brings back to mind the nostalgia of the tumultuous past and the apocalyptic predictions of the year 2015 for the country.

Politicians must be careful to prevent military rule — Jemibewon

A former Minister of Police Affairs, Major-Gen. David Jemibewon (retd), in this interview with SUCCESS NWOGU, urges politicians to avoid acts capable of encouraging the military to take over power from civilians

Some weeks ago, you expressed the view that the February 14 and 28 general elections should not be postponed. How do you feel now that the elections have been postponed?

I spoke on this matter about two weeks ago. My view, as of that time, was that the conditions under which there could be postponement of the elections were firstly, if there was war; secondly, if there was disaster and thirdly if there was an emergency.