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Ukraine will unconditionally surrender and then Russia will void any arrangements BlackRock made with the Zelensky regime – Scott Ritter

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The war will end with Ukraine’s unconditional surrender to Russia or, if NATO intervenes, it will end with the absolute destruction of Ukraine, Scott Ritter said.

Ritter feels it is more likely Ukraine will unconditionally surrender. On this basis, he said, BlackRock will never realise the investment opportunities it is creating in collaboration with the Ukrainian government. “Because Ukraine is going to lose the war, and Russia will make null and void any arrangement that Blackrock has signed.”

According to Ritter, Zelensky is a tool of Western intelligence and of Western governments who used him to manipulate Ukraine into serving as a proxy of NATO in a larger conflict against Russia.

“He is an actor who has been ably reading scripts handed to him by his CIA and MI6 masters. And he had a successful first season, we could say. The show was well written and the product was seen by the viewership as being worthy of continued support,” Ritter said.

“But the second season has not been so successful. The second season, I guess we could have called it the ‘season of the counter-offensive’. And the counter-offensive has failed egregiously, and now the West is stuck with an actor whose script no longer motivates.”

Scott Ritter is a former Marine intelligence officer who served in the former Soviet Union, implementing arms control agreements, and on the staff of General Norman Schwartzkopf during the Gulf War, where he played a critical role in the hunt for Iraqi SCUD missiles. In July he published a two-part documentary titled ‘Agent Zelensky’. You can view Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE.https://bit.ly/48FTYfI

Last week, Ritter joined Global Research News Hour to share his thoughts about the looming demise of the Russia/Ukraine war, the creation of the Ukraine Reconstructive Bank and his trip to Russia earlier this year.

The first half of Global Research News Hour‘s podcast is an interview with Canadian Tamara Lorincz about how Canada’s foreign policy has been shaped by its involvement in NATO. Ritter’s interview begins at timestamp 29:15. You can listen to the podcast HERE and you can read the transcript HERE.https://bit.ly/48FTYfI

Zelensky Has a Bad Trip

As Volodymyr Zelensky left Europe, we saw Poland begin to turn its back on Ukraine. And this is a very problematic issue for Ukraine, Ritter said.

“Poland serves as a conduit, a physical conduit, of munitions being sent to Ukraine. Polish personnel have fought by the tens of thousands in Ukraine on the side of the Ukrainian army as mercenaries. Poland has turned over significant numbers of tanks, artillery pieces, and riding vehicles. And now Poland has said it will no longer participate in that, that they will no longer send military equipment to Ukraine.

“And so, having Poland turned its back on Zelensky and on Ukraine was basically the precursor for what turned out to be a disastrous trip.”

Zelensky’s disastrous trip began at the 78th session of the United Nations (“UN”) General Assembly. The theme of the session was ‘Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all’.

There are five permanent member states on the UN Security Council – but of all their leaders, Joe Biden was the only one to show up. Zelensky also showed up and gave a speech. “I welcome all who stand for common efforts,” he began.

“[Zelensky] spoke … to a largely empty conference room. The people that flocked to hear him in the past no longer care with what he says, because he’s irrelevant,” said Ritter.

Then Zelensky went to Capitol Hill. “When he went to Washington D.C., he got snubbed by Congress,” Ritter said.

Slate reported that House speaker, Kevin McCarthy, not only declined Zelensky’s request to address a joint session of Congress but barred him from the chamber’s private meeting room, directing the few House Republicans who wanted to greet him to do so at the National Archives, nearly a mile away.

“And then, with his tail between his legs, he flew off to Canada. Here, he met with Prime Minister Trudeau in the Canadian Parliament and got some arousing ovations from the Parliament as he delivered his presentation. But near the end of his presentation, the camera panned to an individual in the audience who stood up to receive the applause of Zelensky,” Ritter said.

The person who stood up to receive the applause was Yaroslav Hunka, a member of the criminal Nazi SS Galizien formation.

“This gentleman was singled out, he stood up, and he received a standing ovation from Parliament. Parliament literally applauded a Nazi,” Ritter added.

On 26 September, Poland’s Education Minister Przemysław Czarnek said he had “taken steps” toward extraditing Hunka:

Politico reported that in a letter to Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, a body that researches and investigates past crimes against the Polish nation, Czarnek asked it to “urgently examine” whether Hunka is wanted for crimes against Polish people of Jewish origin, adding that “signs of such crimes are grounds to apply to Canada for his extradition.”

How will the Ukraine/Russia War End?

“This is just going to be unconditional Russian victory,” Ritter told Global Research.

“That’s the only way this war ends unless NATO intervenes and then this war ends with a general nuclear exchange and it terminates all life on the planet as we know it.

“There will be no truce, there will be no ceasefire, there will be no frozen conflict. There will be no forever war. This war is going to end – I can’t give you an exact date and time – but it will end, and it will end with Ukraine’s unconditional surrender to Russia, or it will end with the absolute destruction of Ukraine.”

On 28 July 2022, during a news conference, Senator Lindsay Graham offered up Ukrainian lives in the fight against Russia: “As long as we help Ukraine with the weapons they need and economic support they will fight to the last person.”

Lindsey Graham ‘We Will Fight till the Last Ukrainian’ (1 min)

When Max Blumenthal, founder and editor-in-chief of The Grayzone, addressed the UN Security Council a year later he noted that Ukraine was well on its way to fulfilling Graham’s ghoulish fantasies about the US fighting “this war to the last Ukrainian.”

Ritter agrees that Graham was being serious about his threat. “When US Senator Lindsey Graham said that this conflict will be fought to the last Ukrainian, he was serious,” he said.

“This [war] will not end any other way. Either total Russian victory or general nuclear war … To avoid a general nuclear war, the West is going to have to accept the reality that Russia is going to win, and they’re going to win on Russian terms … This war ends when Russia decides this war ends.

“The reason why Ukraine lost this war is because the West pushed it into this conflict and then continued [supplying] Ukraine full of weapons and money to sustain this war. Russia is not going to end this war without achieving the objectives that it set out to achieve.”

BlackRock’s Interest in Ukraine

In June, BlackRock and JPMorgan Chase partnered with the Ukrainian government to establish a reconstruction bank. However, it seems BlackRock is more actively involved in the scheme than JPMorgan. In the third week of June, it was BlackRock and the Government of Ukraine that conducted meetings with public and private sector investors to provide further details on the Ukraine Development Fund’s (“UDF’s”) progress.

The UDF is designed as a national Development Finance Institution. It aims to attract significant private investment, potentially amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars. In March, the World Bank’s estimates for reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine grew to US $411 billion, 2.6 times greater than the country’s entire GDP for 2022. Ukraine hopes the cost estimate will continue to rise and rise again, US think tank Wilson Centre wrote.

One of the priorities of the UDF is to “support Ukraine’s role in decarbonisation and the green transition and as the gateway to European energy security. This will strengthen Ukraine’s role as a key partner to the global community in decarbonisation, establishing new sources of energy for Ukraine, Europe, and the world.”

The Ukrainian government is well aware, the United Nations stated in April, that achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (“SDGs”) by 2030 requires “ensuring optimal use of its public resources while mobilising and effectively using funding from governments, international organisations, and private businesses.”

With achieving decarbonisation and SDGs high on the list of priorities, we would be forgiven for thinking that the UN, various governments (including Ukraine’s), and BlackRock have forgotten Ukraine is in the middle of a war.

“War is a racket and Blackrock is a racketeer. They’re not there to help Ukraine, they’re there to make money,” Ritter said.

“The good news for Ukraine is that BlackRock will never have an opportunity to do any of this. Because Ukraine is going to lose the war, and Russia will make null and void any arrangement that Blackrock has signed.

“The Zelensky government will no longer exist when this war is done and the Ukrainian government that will replace it will not be inclined to honour any agreement made with Blackrock. So, it’s totally irrelevant.”

MoU Between FG, Labour Over Subsidy Removal

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Read the full memorandum of understanding below:


MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, MOU REACHED BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA AND THE NIGERIA LABOUR CONGRESS (NLC) AND TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF NIGERIA (TUC) AS A RESULT OF DISPUTE ARISING FROM WITHDRAWAL OF SUBSIDY ON THE PRICE OF PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT (PMS) ON MONDAY, THE 2ND DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023

Arising from the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice which had elapsed and they were poised to embark on a strike billed to commence on Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.

Consequently, a meeting was called by the Federal Government to avert the strike and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:

Nationwide Strike: NLC Prepares as Ultimatum Expires

  1. The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning from the month of September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.
  2. A minimum wage committee shall be inaugurated within one month from the date of this agreement.
  3. Federal Government suspends collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) on Diesel for six months beginning from October, 2023.
  4. Federal Government accepts to vote N100 billion for the provision of high capacity CNG buses for mass transit in Nigeria. Provisions are also being made for initial 55,000 CNG conversion kits to kick start an auto gas conversion programme, whilst work is ongoing on state-of-the-art CNG stations nationwide. The rollout aims to commence by November with pilots across 10 campuses nationwide.
  5. The Federal Government plans to implement various tax incentive measures for private sector and the general public.
  6. On the leadership crises rocking the NURTW and the purported proscription of RTEAN, the Federal Government commits to handling Labour matters in line with relevant ILO Conventions and Nigerian Labour Acts. A resolution of the ongoing impasse is expected by or before October 13.
  7. The issue of outstanding Salaries and Wages of Tertiary Education workers in Federal-owned educational institutions is being referred to Ministry of Labour and Employment for further engagement.
  8. The Federal Government commits to pay N25,000 per month for three months starting from October, 2023 to 15 million households, including vulnerable pensioners.
  9. The Federal Government will increase its initiatives on subsidized distribution of fertilizers to farmers across the country.
  10. The Federal Government should urge State Government through the National Economic Council and Governors Forum to implement wage award for their workers. Similar consideration should also be given to local government and private sector workers.

Read also:NLC, TUC suspend strike for 30 days

  1. The Federal Government commits to the provision of funds as announced by the President on the 1st of August broadcast to the Nation for Micro and Small Scale Enterprises. The MSMEs beneficiaries should commit to the principle of decent jobs.
  2. A joint visitation will be made to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.
  3. All parties commit to henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all our future engagements.
  4. The NLC and TUC accept to suspend for 30 days the planned Indefinite Nationwide strike scheduled to begin, Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.
  5. This Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.

Signed:

NLC:

Comrade Joe Ajaero
President NLC

Comrade Emmanuel Ugboaja, mni
General Secretary

TUC:

Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo
President

Comrade Nuhu A. Toro
Secretary General

Federal Government:
H.E. Simon Bako Lalong
Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment

Hon. Dr Nkeiruka Onyejeocha
Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment

Mallam Mohammed Idris
Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation

FG, Organised Labour Reach Agreement To Suspend Strike

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The Nigerian Government and Organised Labour (NLC, TUC) have reached an agreement to prevent the scheduled strike on October 3, 2023.

The Organised Labour announced in a communique issued on the Memorandum of Understanding reached between the Nigerian government, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress over disputes arising from the withdrawal of Subsidy on the price of Premium Motor Spirit.

The parties to the communique also commit to a joint visitation to the refineries to ascertain their rehabilitation status.

They further agreed that all parties will henceforth abide by the dictates of Social dialogue in all future engagements.

Breaking: NLC, TUC declare indefinite strike from October 3

The organized Labour and the Government representatives also approved that the mutually signed Memorandum shall be filed with the relevant Court of competent jurisdiction within one (1) week as consent judgment by the Federal Government.

Following the withdrawal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Federal Government and the resultant increase in the price of the commodity, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) issued a strike notice which had elapsed.

The Unions further affirmed its position to embark on a strike billed to commence on Tuesday, the 3rd of October, 2023.

Consequently, a meeting was called by the Federal Government to avert the strike and after much discussion, the following agreements were reached:

The Federal Government grants a wage award of N35,000 (thirty-five thousand Naira) only to all Federal Government workers beginning in September pending when a new national minimum wage is expected to have been signed into law.

The NLC President, Joe Ajaero, Emmanuel Ugboaja, TUC President Comrade (Engr) Festus Osifo and Nuhu A. Toro Secretary General signed on behalf of the Organised Labour.

While on the Federal Government team the Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha And the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris signed the communique.

Super Eagles Coach, Peseiro Invites 25 Players For Saudi Arabia & Mozambique Friendly In Portugal

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Head Coach Jose Santos Peseiro has recalled defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Bright Osayi-Samuel, as well as midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Terem Moffi to the Super Eagles’ squad for this month’s international friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.

Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, of Hatayaspor FC of Turkey, gets his first-ever invitation, while yet-to-be-capped defender Jordan Torunnarigha is also called.

Wilfred Ndidi, who captained the team against Sao Tome and Principe, as well as Raphael Onyedika and forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho have also been invited.

The Super Eagles take on the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia in the city of Portimão, Portugal on Friday, 13th October 2023, starting at 5pm before a clash with the Mambas of Mozambique in the same city three days later.

Both friendly encounters have been arranged as tune-up games for the Eagles ahead of the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, in which the three-time African champions host Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Uyo on 17th November before travelling away to play Zimbabwe four days later.

The players are all expected to arrive in Faro, Portugal, on Tuesday, 10th October.

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel)

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal)

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayaspor FC, Turkey)

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)

Brder/ess is Changing The Tech Landscape in Nigeria By Offering Scholarships to Nigerian Undergraduates

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Borderless scholarship

B<>rder/ess, tech not-for-profit arm of Crypto Smart, announced its Edtech scholarship to offer scholarships to 500 undergraduates in Nigeria and provide 100 laptops and over 1,000 productivity tools to the students, as goals for its upcoming annual event.

According to Annabel Allison, chief admin officer at b<>rder/ess, “the initiative to offer scholarships was born out of the challenges faced during the just-concluded borderless year.”

B<>rder/ess offers training to newbies on different tech skills, which ranges from UI/UX design, web development, and data analytics to full stack development. 

Though the training is free, students must pay a monthly registration fee of $7. And due to this, some students do not complete their cipher session, which lasts for 3 months.

In response to this challenge, b<>rder/ess decided to provide 500 scholarships to undergraduates and secondary school students while fresh graduates were not exempted. 

B<>rder/ess Scholarship 2023: Everything You Need to Know

The application for the free tech scholarships was open for all eligible candidates from August 21st, 2023 to September 21st, 2023. 

Applicants were asked to do a video introducing themselves and stating the course they were applying for. 

That’s not all; applicants are required to state the reasons why they want to register for their preferred course and whether they will be available for physical training or virtual training, as stated in the announcement post. 

At the end of the application, there were 108 applicants from 28 universities in Nigeria. 

Among the universities that were represented, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka had the highest number of applicants (12) for institutions outside Port Harcourt where b<>rder/ess hub is situated. 

On the top of the list is University of Port Harcourt with 17 applicants followed by Rivers State University of Science and Technology with 13 applicants. 

While reacting to the result of the scholarship, Karla Obakpolor, lead partner at b<>rder/ess hinted that University of Nigeria, Nsukka might be the next recipient of the b<>rder/ess hub. 

Another amazing fact for the scholarship is that all 6 geo-political zones were duly represented. There are applicants from North Central, North East, North West, South West, South South and South East. 

It seems upcoming tech enthusiasts are ready to dive into the core aspect of tech as web design and development had the lowest applicants with 19 applicants while UI/UX design had the highest applicants with 26 applicants. 

All the available courses and the number of applicants is as follows:

The application also had both male and female, although male applicants nearly doubled the number of female applicants. 

What’s next for b<>rder/ess scholarship? 

All successful applicants will start their cipher session by October 4th, 2023 which will end by December 22nd, 2023 while Borderless 2.0 will be on November 4th 2023 at Aztech Arcum event centre, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 

Borderless 2.0 is an annual tech event organized by the B<>rder/ess hub where tech enthusiasts, founders, developers and prospective tech bros and sis come together to learn and discuss the current technological developments across the globe with a view to build African youth who can build usable solutions for Africa. The theme for Borderless 2.0 is Becoming Solutions. 

Where do I come in? 

As a stakeholder in the tech space, you can be a part of the next African revolution in two ways. 

  1.  B<>rder/ess Edtech scholarship

You can sponsor a student to learn a tech skill at B<>rder/ess for just $21. 

Also, you can sponsor a student’s laptop or donate a laptop. 

Read more about the scholarship here

  1. Borderless 2.0 events

You can be a part of the event by attending in person or virtually as the event will be streamed live across Crypto Smart social media platform. 

Borderless 2.0 might also be a good place to pitch your tech solution to over 2,000 people physically. 

Click here to know more about Borderless 2.0 sponsorship.

About Crypto Smart

Crypto Smart is a B2B Crypto Asset Management company founded in January 2021 by Karla Obakpolor, a blockchain business developer and Algorand ambassador in 2020.

The company offers fast and secure services which are based on a well-encrypted system with 24/7 customer support services. It has grown from offering its services to individuals to companies and major enterprises as well as providing crypto education through various crypto courses. 

Crypto Smart upscaled to the Algorand blockchain and offers blockchain products which include SmartChange; a cross-chain P2P marketplace, Bitsave Protocol; a SaveFi protocol that combines savings with DeFi. 

Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Telegram | YouTube | Email | Crypto Education | Discord | Reddit | Medium

Super Falcons Star Michelle Alozie Bags Brace In Houston Dash Win Over Ifeoma Onomunu’s Gotham

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  • Michelle Alozie scored two beautiful goals in Houston Dash’s 2-0 win over Gotham FC
  • The Super Falcons star scored in both halves of the game, as her club secured all three points
  • Alozie’s Houston-based club are now seventh on the NWSL table with 26 points

Super Falcons star Michelle Alozie scored two goals as Houston Dash claimed a 2-0 away win over Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

The 26-year-old has now scored four goals this season for the Houston-based outfit as she is currently having a good campaign.

The Nigerian international scored the first goal of the game in the fifth minute of stoppage time in the first half.

Michelle Alozie scores two goals in Houston Dash’s win over Gotham FC. Photo: Carmen Mandato.

Alozie was put through on goal by Nichelle Prince, and the Super Falcons made no mistake by turning the ball into the net, according to Dynamo FC

The Nigerian added the second twenty-two minutes after the restart, with a wonder goal following a clearance from forward María Sanchez. She found a space between two Gotham FC defenders to put the ball past their goalkeeper, Amanda Haught, who was off her line.

The Super Falcons star has been one of the best payers for the Dash this season, with their win against Gotham FC pushing them to seventh on the NWSL table with 26 points.

Houston Dash still have a chance to finish in the top six, which will guarantee them a place in the Final series play-offs.

They are only two points behind sixth-placed OL Reign but will be monitoring the game between Angel City and Orlando Pride tomorrow.

Diezani Appears In UK Court Over Alleged Bribery, Gets £70K Bail

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Nigeria’s former minister of petroleum resources Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared at the Westminster Magistrates Court in the UK over an alleged £100,000 bribe. 

Diezani, who served between 2010 and 2015, appeared at Westminster Magistrate Court, where she was asked only to give her name, date of birth and address.

She was not asked to formally enter a plea, although her lawyer Mark Bowen told the court she would be pleading not guilty.

Alison-Madueke was arrested in London in 2015, shortly after stepping down as minister, and was charged in August with six bribery offences.

She has spent the past eight years on police bail, living in St John’s Wood, a highbrow area of London.

The charges against her, as read out in court, are all related to events alleged to have taken place in London.

Prosecutor Andy Young said she was alleged to have accepted a wide range of advantages in cash and in-kind from people who wanted to receive or continue to receive the award of oil contracts which he said were worth billions of dollars in total.

The advantages included a delivery of 100,000 pounds ($121,620) in cash, the payment of private school fees for her son, and the use and refurbishment of several luxurious properties in London and in the English countryside.

They also included the use of a Range Rover car, payment of bills for chauffeur-driven cars, furniture, and purchases from the upmarket London department store Harrods and from Vincenzo Caffarella, which sells Italian decorative arts and antiques.

British District Judge Michael Snow granted Alison-Madueke bail but imposed terms including an 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, an electronic tag to be worn at all times and a 70,000-pound surety to be paid before she could leave the court building.

Her next court appearance will be at Southwark Crown Court, which deals with serious criminal cases, on Oct. 30.

London remains a  global money-laundering hub, where public figures like Alison-Madueke, rarely face prosecution for corruption-related offences.

Equity Market Loses N516bn on Waning Investors’ Interests

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Investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited lost N516bn in one week of trading as the volume of trade tumbled by 65.76 per cent.

With the exchange opened for only four days of trading in the past week due to a public holiday, the total turnover of shares was 1.339 billion shares worth N17.916bn which were traded in 27,874 deals. In the previous week, investors on the floor of the exchange traded a total of 3.911 billion shares valued at N30.379bn which exchanged hands in 38,536 deals.

The NGX All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation depreciated by 1.40 per cent to close the week at 66,382.14 and N36.331tn respectively.  Other indices finished lower with the exception of NGX Insurance, NGX Consumer Goods, NGX Lotus ll, and NGX Sovereign Bond which appreciated by 2.77 per cent, 1.59 per cent, 0.20 per cent and 0.98 per cent respectively while the NGX ASeM index closed flat.

Investors At NGX End Week On Bearish Sentiment

Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 940.539 million shares valued at N11.370bn traded in 14,627 deals; thus contributing 70.25 per cent and 63.46 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with 95.954 million shares worth N584.249m in 1,760 deals. The third place was the Oil and Gas Industry, with a turnover of 69.323 million shares worth N782.269m in 1,688 deals.

The top three equities traded include Access Holdings Plc, United Bank for Africa Plc and Transnational Corporation Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 456.454 million shares worth N6.469 billion in 6,579 deals, contributing 34.09 per cent and 36.11 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

At the end of the trading sessions, 25 equities appreciated lower than 48 equities in the previous week. Forty-seven equities depreciated in price higher than 40 in the previous week, while 83 equities remained unchanged, higher than 67 recorded in the previous week.

At the close of the week, Beta Glass, Ikeja Hotel, Computer Warehouse Group, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance and  Cornerstone led the gainers’ chart as their share prices advanced by +30.41 per cent, +30 per cent, +23.57 per cent, +20 per cent and +17.52 per cent respectively while the laggards for the week include Oando, FTN Cocoa processors, Sunu Assurances, Unity Bank and BUA Cement whose share prices nosedived by -33.76 per cent, -19.68 per cent, -14.29 per cent, -13.64 per cent and -11.08 per cent week on week.

On the outlook for the week, analysts are of the view that bearish sentiments will be sustained as the market seeks catalysts and policy pronouncements to trigger bullish trading.

FG Issues First Wholesale Gas Supply Licence

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The Federal Government has issued its first Wholesale Gas Supply Licence for 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day to an indigenous firm to deepen gas utilisation across the country.

It issued the licence to Ohuru Trading Limited, stating that Section 142 of the Petroleum Industry Act provided for the issuance of the licence, which was required to guide commercial activities along the gas value chain.

The Chief Executive OF Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, presented the licence to Ohuru Trading Limited on behalf of the government in Abuja on Saturday.

“Pursuant to the above (PIA), we are pleased to inform you today that the authority is undertaking a significant milestone as stipulated in section 142, which states that the authority may upon approval of an application and payment of prescribed fees, grant and issue a Wholesale Gas Supply Licence to a qualified applicant.

“In line with the above, Ohuru Trading Limited’s application for the Wholesale Gas Supply Licence was approved after due consideration and upon fulfillment of the stipulated requirements.

“The commercial licenses as provided for in the PIA in general and the Wholesale Gas Supply Licence in particular are significant in many respects as they underscore the focus and priority attention placed on commercial activities in the oil and gas space,” Ahmed stated.

He said the company was being presented with a third-party gas supply licence to purchase natural gas directly from any lease or third party.

“This will enable them to sell and deliver wholesale gas to wholesale customers and natural gas distributors at any location in Nigeria.

“We believe that this will encourage prospective applicants to turn in their requests for other commercial licences introduced by the Act and domiciled with the authority,” the NMDPRA boss stated.

Ahmed said the milestone would reinforce the government’s commitment towards attracting Foreign Direct Investments and other forms of capital inflow into the domestic economy, as well as improve the living conditions of Nigerians.

The Chief Commercial Officer of Ohuru Trading Limited, Mariah Lucciano-Gabriel, said the licence would enable the firm to sell gas on a wholesale basis.

TUC Concludes NEC Meeting, to Meet FG Shortly

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The Trade Union Congress a few hours ago concluded its National Executive Council meeting following deliberations on the new wage award for civil servants in the country by President Bola Tinubu, to cushion the effects of subsidy removal on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.

The labour centre is expected to meet with representatives of the government on whether the offer by the government was accepted by the members.

The national deputy president of the TUC, Tommy Etim, made this known in an interview with news correspondent in Abuja on Monday.

Strike: FG, Organised Labour Reach Agreement

When asked, Etim who doubles as the national president of the Association of Senior Civil Servants noted that the labour leaders met earlier and received recommendations from members of its NEC and would go ahead to meet with the representatives of the government later.

He said, “We just concluded our meeting a few hours ago and we received some recommendations from our members which we will convey to the government later today.”

LN247 reports that on Sunday, President Bola Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, noted that the two labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the TUC, had some agreements with the government and may end up suspending their proposed nationwide strike.

According to Gbajabiamila, the Federal Government had agreed to come up with measures that would address the dispute arising from the removal of the fuel subsidy.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, the NLC president promised to meet with members of the union to consider the offers by the FG to suspend the planned strike.

Details later…