GTB To Start Closing 1pm Because Of Fuel Scarcity

The current scarcity of fuel in the nation may have ditched Nigeria in serious mess than we think. Earlier during the weekend, it was the telcos, schools and radio stations but now, it is the Banks, especially Gurantee Trust Bank(GTB).

Below is a copy of the message sent to their customers nationwide.
Dear Customer,

Notice of Early Closure of Branches

The current shortage of petroleum products in the country has limited our ability to supply diesel to all our branches, in order to continue normal branch operations.

Due to this, we unavoidably have to close our branches nationwide at 1pm, from tomorrow Monday, 25th May 2015.

Whilst we have had to take this step to close branch operations early, we would like to seek your understanding at this time, and assure you that we will continue to work hard at finding alternative solutions to this situation and will advise you once the situation has abated.

However, all our alternative channels will be fully functional and available for all your Personal and Business Banking

Fuel Subsidy: Okonjo-Iweala Vows Not To Pay Oil Marketers

•Calls N159bn subsidy payment claim fraudulent

The federal government is spoiling for a fresh showdown with oil importers over subsidy payment.

This is coming as there is no end in sight yet for the current face off between the two sides that has grounded the nation for several days now.

Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday accused them of submitting to government suspicious payment claims to the tune of N159billion in exchange rate differentials.

The payment claims, according to her, reeked of fraud.

She told reporters at a farewell meeting in Abuja that she would not approve payment of the claims unless verified by the relevant authorities.

“Marketers were asking for N159 billion for exchange rate differentials from the outstanding N200 billion. There has been so much fraud and scam so I have refused to sign for that money but have agreed that a committee be set up involving the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to verify marketers’ claims,” she said.

”Marketers just want to make Nigerians suffer,” she added.

The minister also slammed the marketers for allegedly blackmailing Nigerians and asked the people to resist.

Insisting that the current fuel scarcity has nothing to do with paying the marketers, she said: “They are making a lot of money from black market activities, people should rise up against the blackmail of oil marketers.

“I will not pay the N159 billion without verification, Nigerians should not allow themselves to be blackmailed.”

The minister said there was something curious about the supply of and payment for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Her words: “I cannot say that the problem is due to not paying marketers, the process of paying marketers is always a rolling process and there has never been a time government reduced its financial obligation to marketers to zero.

“In a year where so much effort has been made to pay marketers including prioritizing their payment as subsidy claims in favour of other financial obligation like paying contractors, yet fuel scarcity still persists at this particular point in time suggests that something suspicious is happening.”

She responded to the claim by Vice President-elect, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that the Jonathan administration will be leaving a $60 billion debt burden for the in-coming government.

She said that Nigeria’s total debt indeed stands at $63.7 billion but it is the totality of all the debts incurred by successive governments since 1960.

“No $60 billion was accumulated under the Jonathan administration,” she said.

She added: “Current debt stock includes both federal and state governments debts made up of $9.7 billion external debt or 15 per cent of total debt stock and $54 billion or 85 per cent domestic debt stock.

“Nigeria is still repaying the multilateral loans it collected on concessionary terms with as long as 40 years maturity periods.”

The breakdown of the accumulated domestic stock is $18.575 billion outstanding by 2007, $17.3 billion accumulated between 2008 and 2011 and $18 billion accumulated between 2012 and 2015.

“This is so because of something that happened in 2010 because of the salary increment under Yar’Adua administration which increased civil servants salaries by 53 per cent.

“Those bonds have been rolled over and government had to weather the difficulties because resources to fund such increase were not there,” she said.

She described Nigeria’s debt to GDP ratio as one of the lowest in the world.

On the domestic debt stock, she said 20 per cent is owed by state governments with Lagos state having an external debt burden of N1.169 trillion while the balance of 80 per cent belongs to the federal government.

Reviewing her tenure, Okonjo-Iweala said she has no regrets in serving the country and declared that anyone called upon to serve Nigeria should consider it a privilege.

“Some people criticise from afar but some came home in spite of challenges to serve,” she said.

She faulted suggestions that the economy was mismanaged, saying: “The economy is reacting to the forces of demand and supply but there is hope for the country. Only that people will have to make sacrifices.

“The out-going government, she said, achieved a lot but she lamented that “there are very serious attempts to rewrite history.”

Meanwhile, there is still no respite for motorists and commuters across the country as the fuel scarcity persisted yesterday.

Most filling stations remained shut and only a few managed to sell but at exorbitant prices.

On the other hand black markets continue to thrive with operators charging as much as N350 per litre in parts of Lagos.


Source

2015/2016 NNPC/Chevron JV National University Scholarship Awards

OVERVIEW
2015/2016 NNPC/CHEVRON JV NATIONAL UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Chevron Nigeria Limited, in collaboration with its Joint Venture partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), is offering a number of University Scholarship Awards to suitably qualified Nigerian students.

Carefully read the Requirement/Eligibility, How To Apply and Frequently Asked Questions pages for more details

REQUIREMENTS/ELIGIBILITY
E-applications are invited from full-time SECOND YEAR (200 LEVEL) degree students of the under-listed courses, in Nigerian Universities:

1. Accountancy
2. Agricultural Engineering/Agricultural Science
3. Architecture
4. Business Administration/Economics
5. Chemical Engineering
6. Civil Engineering
7. Computer Science/Computer Engineering/System Engineering
8. Electrical/Electronic Engineering
9. Environmental Studies/Surveying
10. Geology/Geophysics
11. Law
12. Mass Communication/Journalism
13. Mechanical/Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
14. Human Medicine/Dentistry/Pharmacy
15. Petroleum Engineering
16. Mining Engineering

Please note that we will accept applications through this web site address only. Hard copies of any document submitted will not be processed. All interested students are advised to click on “How to Apply” tab to proceed.

In line with our e-scholarship administration system, selected students will be invited for computer-administered qualifying tests in selected examination centers nationwide. Short-listed candidates for the qualifying test will be invited by email and SMS text messages. All applicants are therefore advised to ensure that GSM telephone numbers and personal email addresses are properly entered into the e-forms on the web site.

QUALIFICATION PROCESS: Interested applicants should click on the "How To Apply" tab to proceed.

Deadline: Closing date for receipt of e-applications is strictly June 16, 2015.
ONLY SHORTLISTED CANDIDATES WILL BE CONTACTED.
APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER VALID PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS.
MULTIPLE APPLICATION LEADS TO AUTOMATIC DISQUALIFICATION.

HOW TO APPLY
Application is open to full-time SECOND YEAR (200 LEVEL) candidates only.

1. Before you start this application, ensure you have clear scanned copies of the following documents

Passport photograph with white background not more than 3 months old (450px by 450px not more than 200kb)
School ID card
Admission letter
Birth certificate
O' Level result
JAMB Result

2. Ensure the documents are named according to what they represent to avoid mixing up documents during upload
3. Ensure you attach the appropriate documents when asked to upload

‡To apply, follow the steps below:
1. Click on "Apply Now" tab.
2. Click on "Register Now" to create an account.
3. Proceed to your email box to activate your account
4. Click on http://scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards to return to Scholarship site
5. Enter your registered email and password to upload your information.
6. Enter your personal information, National Identification Number (if available), educational information, other information and upload required scanned documents.
7. Ensure the name used in applications matches the names on all documentation in same order. Upload a sworn affidavit or certificate if otherwise.
8. Ensure you view all documents after uploading, to eliminate errors during uploading.
9. When asked to upload photo, upload a pass-port photograph with a white background.
10. Recheck application information to avoid errors
11. Click "Apply Now" to submit information
12. You will receive an email and a sms that confirms your application was successful.
13. Return to www.scholastica.ng, enter your Email and Password to download your profile and proceed to have your Head of Department sign the document.
14. Upload a scanned copy of the signed profile, this would be used for verification.
15. If National Identification Number (NIN) number was not available in step 6, to obtain your National Identification Number (NIN)

Visit http://ninenrol.gov.ng to register and learn more about the National Identity Number
Click "Create Account" and fill in the required fields
Login with Email and Password to complete the form
After completion, schedule a date for photo and finger print capture
Visit any of the 37 capture centres http://www.nimc.gov.ng/?q=nin-registration-centres to complete the registration process and obtain your National Identity Number
You can also do your total registration at the NIMC office

16. Return to http://www.scholastica.ng/schemes/cnlawards and update application with National Identification Number (NIN) to ensure completion

Note: Multiple applications attract a disqualification penalty from the Scholarship board

Contact email: scholastica@dragnet-solutions.com
Phone number: 07088609791, 07011962033

For enquiries and complaints log on to www.scholastica.ng

Fuel Scarcity: MTN May Shut Down Services Across Nigeria

In an official statement released during the weekend by the leading telecommunications company in Nigeria, MTN, it has said the current fuel scarcity been experienced across the nation may lead to their services shutdown.

Below is the Release:
Diesel scarcity jeopardizes MTN operations
The management of MTN states that the current diesel scarcity in most parts of Nigeria is posing a significant threat to quality of service and the ability to optimally operate the network.

According to the Corporate Services Executive Akinwale Goodluck "Most of our base stations and switches are powered round-the-clock by Diesel Generators and the current fuel shortage has drastically reduced the availability of diesel supply to key locations".

MTN's available reserves of diesel are running low and the company must source for a significant quantity of diesel in the very near future to prevent a shut down of services across Nigeria. If diesel supplies are not received within the next 24 hours the network will be seriously degraded and customers will feel the impact.

MTN is working with all stakeholders to ensure services remain. MTN sincerely apologizes for any outages and inconvenience that may occur and seeks the understanding of customers at this time.

Management

Kidnapped OAU Lecturer Regains Freedom

The kidnapped lecturer of Environmental Design & Management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Dr Femi Omisore has been released during the early hours of today.

In a report posted on Punch, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, OAU chapter, Dr Caleb Aborisade confirmed his release.

It will be recalled that Omisore was abducted on his way to a funeral ceremony at Oye Ekiti two Saturday ago.

Earthplus Essay Competition To Mark World Environment Day

Earthplus, a non-profit pro-environment organization established in Nigeria is pleased to announce its first essay competition to mark World Environment Day this year.

Topic
What would you do to preserve the environment?

Organizer
Earthplus

Prizes
First Prize: 10, 000 naira + student gets to be Earthplus environment ambassador for one year
Second Prize: 5,000 naira
Other Consolation Prizes including Earthplus branded materials for three runners-up.

Deadline
2 June2015

Guidelines
The competition is open to Nigerian attending a Nigerian University or higher institution of learning.
The Deadline for submissions is 23:59 GMT+1 on 2nd June2015. Winners will be announced on World Environment Day June 5 2015. No submission would be accepted after the deadline
To enter the competition, first like Earthplus page www.facebook.com/earthplusafrica/
The essay should be between 300- 500 words and must be sent as a word document.
Send your essays as attachments to earthplusafrica@gmail.com with Subject heading ‘Earthplus Essay Competition’ Your name, Address, Phone number and name of your University or Higher institution must be written in the body of the mail and not in the body of the essay. Do not forget to share the competition on your social media handles as well.

The competition will be judged by seasoned environmentalists, writers and journalists. The decision of the judges is final and cannot be appealed.

Inquiries
Send your questions to earthplusafrica@gmail.com


Source

OAU Students Pay Tributes To Slain Colleague, Mary Ibitoye

GRIEF, tears and anger were visible on the faces of scores of students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State as they matched out in long procession during a candle-light procession in honour of one of them, Miss Mary Motunrayo Ibitoye. The late Ibitoye, a Part Two law student was gruesomely sent to her early grave two weeks ago by a careless school bus driver in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State.

We learnt that Ibitolu had gone to a bank in Osogbo on the fateful day to cash some money but was compelled to rush home to take her identity card to facilitate the banking transaction.

On her way home on a commercial motorbike she rode, she was hit and crushed by the bus driver who sought assistance of passers-by to help push the faulty school bus to a start. When the engine of the bus came alive, Ibitolu, who was seated at the back of the motorbike, was unlucky as she was hit by the driver due to alleged mechanical failure. The impact of the accident was so severe that health workers in a nearby hospital Ibitolu was rushed to could not save her.

News of the tragic death of the late law student quickly spread to town like wild harmattan fire.
The late Ibitolu’s death was more painful to members of her immediate family, friends, admirers, colleagues and her church members when her untimely departure was not caused by illness but one of the Nigeria factors which has cut the life of many short in their prime.

The procession comprised OAU undergraduates and students of Our Lady and Saint Francis Catholic College (OSCCO), Osogbo, the alma mater of the deceased. They could not control their emotions as they wept uncontrollably and chanted various dirges to reflect the mood of the moment.

The candlelight procession kicked off at the premises of OSCCO, through the popular Olaiya junction and was terminated at Old Garage area, Osogbo. The Students’ Union of OAU and its Law Students Society (LSS) visited the Osun State Police Command in Osogbo to make enquiries about the driver of the school bus that crushed Ibitolu to death while she was on a motorcycle in front of Osogbo Grammar School on Iwo-Osogbo Road.

Officially announcing the painful departure of their colleague, OAU Student Union president-elect, Kayode Omotayo said in a statement that, “With a swollen heart, a grievous mind and a mourning soul we announce the passing away of one of the shining stars, dynamic and distinguished image of our union, whom we lost to the cold and vicious hands of death, who inadvertently fell the victim of being a Nigerian. The atmosphere that beclouded her untimely death and the event that sent her to her early grave is already in public domain.’’

“The Great Ife union believes that the inept of the government both at the state and federal levels have continued to hunt the innocent Nigerian students. We discovered that late Miss Mary Motunrayo Ibitolu, who was an emblem of beauty and brilliance cum intelligence, upon her accident, was not quickly attended to by medical personnel. The vehicle that hit her did not by any standard meet traffic regulations that could warrant the owner to put such on the road.”

“If the apparatus of the government had been up and doing, the young lady might have been saved or the accident might have been avoided in the first place. However, we have come to the reality that she is no more with us. The Great Ife community continues to mourn Miss Mary Motunrayo Ibitolu who will forever remain in our heart.”

Omotayo challenged the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to rise to the welfare of its students nationwide by mapping out strategies that would put an end to avoidable death among students.

Commenting on the outcome of a meeting with Osun State Police Command, the Vice President-elect of OAU Student Union, Miss Oladunjoye Opeyemi said the union was not satisfied with the response of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mrs Folashade Odoro on the whereabouts of the driver accusing the police authorities of shielding him from justice. She said:

“The police seems to be hiding something from us as regards the school bus driver that killed our colleague because the PPRO refused to tell us in plain terms whether he (driver) was in their custody and when prosecution would begin.”

While maintaining that the union would do everything in its power to ensure that justice is done, Oladunjoye charged the police to come out clean on circumstances surrounding the ugly incident and ensure that the culprit is brought to justice.

Although Oladunjoye said the PPRO said the strike embarked upon by the Osun State judiciary was delaying the arraignment of the suspect, she however commiserated with the bereaved family.

Manwhile, many students paid tributes to Ibitolu during the candle light procession. They described her as a committed, brilliant, hard-working and God-fearing student who contributed immensely to the survival of her indigent friends.

The president of OSCCO alumni in OAU, of which Ibitolu was the Vice president, Mr. Adesiyan Adedolapo said her departure has created a vacuum in the association,adding that she was very humble and accommodating.


Source