Paradise News

Tag: General News

  • ‘Heart-Wrenching’ – US President Biden Weeps Over Deaths Of 11 Americans After Hamas Attacks On Israel

    A grieving US President Joe Biden on Monday again condemned Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel which have led to the killings of 11 American citizens.

    It’s also feared that some missing Americans may have been abducted by the terrorists.

    The attacks on Saturday morning by Hamas terrorists from Gaza through land, sea and air have shaken Israel with international condemnation.

    As the war entered day three, over 900 Israelis have been killed with citizens of Thailand, UK, France, Austria among others confirmed killed and abducted by the terrorists, according to several news outlets.

    The EU, Austria, Canada among other countries have immediately frozen aid to Palestine as a mark of support for Israel.

    The US has sent in weapons to prop up Israeli retaliatory attack if needed.

    A visibly shaken Joe Biden in a statement on Monday said the attack was cold and cowardly, and one that’s heart-wrenching.

    “As we continue to account for the horrors of the appalling terrorist assault against Israel this weekend and the hundreds of innocent civilians who were murdered, we are seeing the immense scale and reach of this tragedy,” the US president said.

    “Sadly, we now know that at least 11 American citizens were among those killed – many of whom made a second home in Israel,” Biden has said.

    He declared, “It’s heart-wrenching,” adding that, “These families have been torn apart by inexcusable hatred and violence.

    “We also know that American citizens still remain unaccounted for, and we are working with Israeli officials to obtain more information as to their whereabouts.

    “My heart goes out to every family impacted by the horrible events of the past few days.

    “The pain these families have endured, the enormity of their loss, and the agony of those still awaiting information is unfathomable.

    “The safety of American citizens – whether at home or abroad – is my top priority as president.

    “While we are still working to confirm, we believe it is likely that American citizens may be among those being held by Hamas,” Biden added.

    He assured that, “I have directed my team to work with their Israeli counterparts on every aspect of the hostage crisis, including sharing intelligence and deploying experts from across the United States government to consult with and advise Israeli counterparts on hostage recovery efforts …

    “This is not some distant tragedy. The ties between Israel and the United States run deep.

    “It is personal for so many American families who are feeling the pain of this attack as well as the scars inflicted through millennia of antisemitism and persecution of Jewish people.

    “In cities across the country, police departments have stepped up security around centres of Jewish life, and the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other federal law enforcement partners are closely monitoring for any domestic threats in connection with the horrific terrorist attacks in Israel.

    “In this moment of heartbreak, the American people stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Israelis. We remember the pain of being attacked by terrorists at home, and Americans across the country stand united against these evil acts that have once more claimed innocent American lives.

    “It is an outrage. And we will continue to show the world that the American people are unwavering in our resolve to oppose terrorism in all forms.”

    Source

  • Fact Check: Viral clip shows video game footage, not violence in Israel

    A Facebook post sharing a video that’s drawing thousands of views purports to show footage of recent violence between Hamas and Israel. 

    “Israel and Palestine,” the Oct. 8 Facebook post caption says. “War with the help of helicopter.”

    The clip shows helicopters being shot down from the sky. Some Facebook users were immediately suspicious. 

    “Nice video game,” one person commented.

    “Not a video game,” the account that posted the video replied.

    But look closely at the bottom of the video and see three words that give it away: “Belal the Gamer.”

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    The video already doesn’t look like realistic footage of a war. But it appears this particular clip was poached from another user’s account. Belal the Gamer posts clips from the video game Arma 3, a military simulation. 

    We rate claims that this is authentic footage of recent violence between Israel and Hamas False.

     



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  • Aaron Banks strained shoulder vs. Cowboys

    The final score of 42-10 belied the physicality of the opponent in the 49ers’ blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys.

    But the 49ers these days are all about good news, and that was the case Monday in the aftermath of the club’s fifth 5-0 start in franchise history.

    The 49ers take to the road in Week 6 to face Cleveland (2-2), which is coming off a bye.

    The big concern was initially reported as a right biceps injury for guard Aaron Banks, who along with tackle Trent Williams has comprised one of the formidable left sides in the NFL.

    Upon further review, Banks’ injury wasn’t to his biceps, which could have meant a long absence.

    “Banks ended up being a shoulder, a mild strain, he’ll be day to day,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said in a conference call with local media. “Any time it’s a biceps, you’re obviously nervous about it, and it’s still an injury but not as bad as it could have been.”

    Running back Christian McCaffrey, meanwhile, apparently made it through the Dallas game unscathed. McCaffrey gained 51 yards on 19 carries and paid for every yard he got against a Cowboys defense that had him in its sights. He also caught two passes for 19 yards.

    McCaffrey took two penalties that had a major wince factor — a facemask on his first carry which jerked his head around and a helmet-to-helmet hit while on a pass route.

    “I was talking to him after the game and he was all right and had no reports from the training staff today,” Shanahan said. “But yeah, they were bringing it. They were ready for that game and they hit hard. They didn’t shy away from anything . . . and Christian doesn’t shy away from anything either.”

    Shanahan was willing to absolve Dallas and anyone else of malicious intent regarding McCaffrey through five games simply because he understands what they’re up against in defending him.

    “I don’t think teams are trying to hit him in the helmet or facemask him,” Shanahan said. “I think people are desperate on how to bring him down . . . when you’ve got a really great player such as Christian, who is fearless, guys are doing everything they can to try and stop him and sometimes when they do that they get penalties for it.”

    McCaffrey lost a fumble near the goal line, but also scored on a 2-yard run, his 14th consecutive game with a touchdown counting last season’s playoffs. It wasn’t a statistical night on par with the first four games, but Shanahan had no complaints.

    “I thought Christian ran so hard in that game, and he tried to bring it on them every chance he got and had some real good tough runs,” Shanahan said. “There was one I thought we were going to lose three yards and he got five. There was a third-and-2 I thought was blocked for one and he got two-and-a-half. He did some really hard running.”

    With Jordan Mason gaining 69 yards on 10 carries capped by a 26-yard touchdown run, Deebo Samuel getting 30 on five attempts and Ty Davis-Price getting 21 yards on six carries, the 49ers rushed 41 times for 170 yards.

    McCaffrey still leads the NFL with 510 yards rushing.

    And more good news could be on the way. Elijah Mitchell, who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, is day-to-day and could be available this week. Also available will be newly acquired defensive end Randy Gregory, who arrived by trade from Denver last Friday.

    San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates a touchdown with San Francisco 49ers' Kyle Juszczyk (44) against the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

    Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group

    49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) celebrates his fourth touchdown pass against Dallas on a pass to to Kyle Juszczyk (44).

    Latest on the Brockstar

    It’s not the quality of the throws and decisions quarterback Brock Purdy is  making that amazes Shanahan as much as the frequency of both.

    “He does it all the time, but to just continue to do it at such a high rate has been pretty unbelievable, how many plays he’s made and how many plays he hasn’t made for the other team,” Shanahan said. “The consistency with that is what has been the most impressive.”

    Purdy leads the NFL with a 69.3 completion percentage and a passer rating of 123.1. By point of comparison, Steve Young completed a career best 70.3 percent of his passes and had a career-best passer rating of 112.8 in 1994, and Joe Montana was at 70.2 with a career-best passer rating of 112.4 in 1989. Each won the MVP in those seasons.

    Lenoir continues to excel

    Deommodore Lenoir has proved to be steady presence with playmaking ability playing opposite Charvarius Ward at cornerback.

    Lenoir’s night against Dallas included a deflection that resulted in an interception by Fred Warner.

    The third-year veteran is feeling it too, believing he is playing on the best team in the NFL.

    “When you look at that game, you look at other teams, it’s not even close,” Lenoir said. “I even try to give people the benefit of the doubt but it’s not close.”

    A fifth-round draft pick in 2021 out of Oregon in 2021, Lenoir took over when Emmnauel Moseley tore his ACL last season in Week 5 and has steadily improved ever since.

    “I think Demo’s been huge for us, man,” Shanahan said. “I thought it started that way last year, the way he finished the season. He took that into the offseason and he’s continued that this year. I think last night might have been his best game of the year so far.”

    The 5-0 start

    A look at the four previous times the 49ers had a 5-0 start and how the season played out:

    2019: Won first eight games before a 27-24 overtime home loss to Seattle. Finished 13-3, won NFC Championship, lost Super Bowl LIV 31-20 to Kansas City in Miami.

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  • 2002 Ikeja Bomb Explosion Was Trying Moment For Army — Sanwo-Olu

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has recalled the 2002 Ikeja bomb explosion, describing it as a trying moment for the army, given the magnitude of the damage it caused.

    The explosion, which happened on January 27, 2002, reportedly killed about 1,100 people with over 20,000 displaced.

    Sanwo-Olu, however, noted that the tragic incident did not weaken the commitment of the Nigerian Army in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities.

    The governor spoke on Monday when he received the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, who was on a courtesy visit, at Lagos House, Marina.

    According to Sanwo-Olu, the army has earned the citizens’ confidence and respect as a member of the nation’s armed forces., given its sense of commitment, dedication and patriotism.

    He said: “We are grateful to the Army and its men for their dedication to the country at this difficult time in different parts of the country. You have continued to uphold the Constitution, maintain high integrity and stick to the best rules of engagement to protect the sovereignty of our country. The Army is well respected by the citizens, given the commitment, dedication and sense of patriotism in discharging its statutory roles.

    “The 2002 Ikeja bomb explosion was a trying moment for the Army, given the magnitude of the damage. But the event never weakened the resolve of the military. The Army has continued to live up to their responsibilities provided by the constitution and the sacrifice paid by soldiers to keep the territorial integrity and peace of our country would not go unappreciated. Lagos State Government is committed to ensuring that the Army gets all the necessary support for your security operations.”

    The governor also appealed for cooperation among military personnel in the ongoing enforcement across the state, including Okada ban enforcement, adding that the enforcement was geared towards bringing back sanity to Lagos.

    “We have collective responsibility to keep Lagos safe for commercial activities. It is important to acknowledge the complementary effort of the 9 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in supporting our security architecture in Lagos, with OP Mesa operatives working with the police to ensure our safety. That synergy among all security agencies is all that is required to maintain security,” Sanwo-Olu added.

    Lagbaja who was in Lagos for the clearance of Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) at the 9 Brigade Military Cantonment, Ikeja, informed the governor about the army’s activities to be conducted in the state.

    The COAS noted that ahead of the festive season, the army has put together three security exercises to prevent any form of breaches, which will be launched on Tuesday.

    He said: “The Nigerian Army has put together a ceremony to remove unexploded ordnance at the site of the 2002 Bomb Explosion in Ikeja cantonment. The objective is to make the area safe and securely remove unexploded ordnances to a safe location in Ajilete area of Ogun State.

    “We are ushering in the last three months of the year when citizens travel across the country for festivities. We need to provide safe and secure passage for the people travelling. We have put together three security exercises to prevent any form of breaches and these will be flagged off on Tuesday in Lagos.”

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  • Fact Check: Video of people dressed as dogs is part of a fetish festival, not a ‘trans-species rights’ protest

    Were people howling in the streets of Germany for (non) human rights? 

    A Sept. 24 viral video claimed that “hundreds of people, who identify as dogs, are currently protesting on the streets of Germany in support of ‘trans species rights.’” 

    This Instagram video was shared by conservative influencers and prompted stories making similar claims from outlets such as the New York Post and The Daily Mail. But this story is fabricated.


    (Screenshot of Instagram post) 

    This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    The gathering of people in dog costumes was not a protest for “trans-species rights.” It was an event called a “puppy walk” which was part of Folsom Europe, a days-long fetish festival held annually in Berlin.

    The walk was for those who engage in “puppy play,” a role-playing fetish for people who dress up like dogs, typically in leather costumes. Those people do not identify as animals. 

    The gathering took place Sept. 8 outside of the Potsdamer Platz train station in Berlin, which can be seen in the background of the viral video. The Folsom Europe Facebook page shared a picture of the event that matches several features of the video shared on Instagram, including the flag on the right side and several distinct costumes. 

    Folsom Europe did not respond to a request for comment.

    The term “trans-species” is used in academia including a field of psychology that seeks to show the commonalities between human and animal cognition, and in genetics research with the term “trans-species polymorphism.”

    PolitiFact could find no evidence of an organized “trans-species” movement for the right of people to identify as animals. This is not the first instance where people have tried to conflate transgender identities with animals. In 2022, PolitiFact rated Pants on Fire a viral claim that schools were installing litter boxes for students who identify as furries.

    We rate the claim that this video shows a “trans species rights” protest False.
     



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  • 49ers’ historic scoring ways took shape with Purdy’s elbow recovery

    SANTA CLARA — All eyes were on Brock Purdy’s surgically repaired elbow, and no eyes were on Nick Bosa. It was two months ago at training camp, and the 49ers were preparing to stage their NFL coup.

    Purdy’s elbow was responding remarkably well, albeit with daily interceptions that reporters obsessively tracked. Bosa, meanwhile, was bunkered at home in Florida, waiting to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback.

    How did those two players’ actions pave the way for the 49ers’ scoring spree in their 5-0 start, the latest win coming with Sunday night’s 42-10 rout of the Dallas Cowboys?

    “Honestly the best thing about training camp for us was really that Nick Bosa didn’t play, and so we were actually able to have an offense,” tight end George Kittle said. “(Bosa) didn’t have to disrupt every single play if he wasn’t going against Trent Williams. Nothing against our tackles, that’s just how good Nick Bosa is.

    “We were actually able to have fun drives,” Kittle said. “(Purdy) was able to look downfield and build chemistry with all our skill players.”

    POINT PRODUCTION

    The 49ers have scored 30, 30, 30, 35 and 42 points in their victories. Never before has a 49ers team hit the 30-point threshold in its first five games. It last happened in the NFL with the 2018 Los Angeles Rams (13-3 record; lost in the Super Bowl).

    The 49ers’ 33.4-point average is second to the Miami Dolphins (36.2 ppg.). Detroit (29.6 ppg.) and Philadelphia (28.2 ppg.) rank third and fourth.

    These 49ers are on what Bosa called “a different level” compared to his rookie year, when the 2019 team put up 29.9 points per game in the regular season, before its Super Bowl heartache. That season is when the 49ers sprang to life under coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, who are reaping the rewards of their most complete roster in Year 7.

    “The way John and Kyle have built the team, offensively, they can attack in any way,” Bosa said, rattling off the ways and means of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey and Kittle.

    McCaffrey, by the way, has scored in a franchise-record 14 consecutive games (playoffs included). He can extend that streak Sunday in Cleveland and match the 15-game stretches of O.J. Simpson (Buffalo) and John Riggins (Washington). The record is 17 games record set in 1963 by Baltimore’s Lenny Moore.

    “There’s really no weakness,” added Bosa, who reported to the 49ers in Week 1 with a new contract. “And then Brock is playing as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.”

    THE LAST ‘PICK’

    Indeed, Brock Purdy is the NFL’s leader with a 123.1 passer rating. More impressive, when factoring in last season’s five regular-season starts, his 121.1 rating is the highest ever by an NFL quarterback through 10 starts.

    Purdy’s elbow drew not one mention in Sunday’s postgame press conferences. However, you can still count on a fresh-on-the-scene reporter to ask how this quarterback – “a godsend,” in Lynch’s words last week – ended up as the last pick of last year’s draft.

    The “last pick” has taken on another meaning in that Purdy has not been intercepted in his last 235 passes. The streak began in a New Year’s Day overtime win in Las Vegas, proceeded through the playoffs and continued through 136 attempts this season.

    Purdy could not recall being on a better heater, referencing only “back-to-back-back” stretches at Iowa State, where he won five in a row upon entering at quarterback in 2018, then three straight in 2019, five in a row in 2020, and a three-game run as a senior.

    Now Purdy is on pace to join Steve Young and Jeff Garcia as the 49ers’ only 4,000-yard passers; Garcia’s 4,278 yards in 2000 are the franchise record.

    “It feels like everyone’s just on a mission,” Purdy said, deflecting credit to his teammates. “The mindset is right where it needs to be. Everyone’s so detailed in what they do. The play calls are great. So, it’s like all I have to do is go out there and just play ball.”

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  • Chapel Hill’s Infrastructure Debt Fund Raises N26.8bn After Listing On Stock Exchange

    The newly listed Chapel Hill Denham Nigerian Infrastructure Debt Fund (NIDF) is raising N26.8bn series 9 offer a few days after listing on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd.

    The NIDF said the series 9 offer is for 246,182,408 units (nominal value of N100 each) issued at N108.89 per unit for an aggregating offer value of N26.8 billion.

    In a regulatory filing on Monday, the NIDF said the fundraising is under the N200 billion Issuance Programme and is still open for subscription.

    According to the NIDF, the offer was approved by the Securities & Exchange Commission and opened on September 19, 2023.

    “The issuance represents the Fund’s ninth (9th) capital raise since inception in 2017 and the first since its Listing on NGX.

    “The proceeds from the Offer will be applied towards infrastructure loans approved by the Fund Manager’s investment committee,” the NIDF said.

    On October 5, NIDF’s 853,817,692 units were listed on the Main Board of NGX at N108.39 per share and will remit quarterly dividends to investors by paying out profits from investing in industries like power, transportation, healthcare and education.

    With the listing, Chapel Hill’s NDIF became the first local currency-denominated infrastructure investment trust fund on its platform.

    The NIDF is a N200 billion public infrastructure investment fund managed by Chapel Hill Denham.

    The Chairman of NDIF, Phil Southwell during the fact behind the figures said the fund launched mid-2017 has generated 155 per cent returns.

    “We have been fortunate enough not to have any non-performing loans (NPLs) and so it presents interesting risk returns for investors. In the UK market where I am originally from, 103 of the 350 stocks on the FTSE 350 are investment trusts and I look forward to being able to say the same thing about the NGX,” he said.

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  • Fact Check: Video shows Iranian lawmakers chanting ‘death to America’ in 2020, not 2023

    After Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, old footage of Iranian lawmakers chanting “death to America” in the country’s parliament started to recirculate social media. 

    But multiple posts are describing the footage as if it were recent. It’s not.

    “Iran law makers chant death to America… didn’t Joe Biden just give Iran $6 billion?” reads text flanking the video. “Joe Biden’s 2nd war while in office… god speed Israel!”

    A ticker reading “breaking news” scrolls below the clip. 

    An Oct. 7 Instagram post sharing the video was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)


    (Screengrab from Instagram)

    This video is from January 2020, and captured events after a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.

    The “death to America” chant is also unrelated to $6 billion in funds that were recently unfrozen in a U.S.-Iran prisoner swap.

    We rate claims that this video shows events in 2023 False.

     



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  • It’s fall — say goodbye to fruit desserts and bring on the chocolate – Paradise Post

    Enough with the summer peach pies and juicy plum crumble, the fresh cherry cobbler and the sweet/tart apricot jam! I am glad fall is finally here. I do love apple, pear, persimmon and fig season, but it is time for a short break from fruit — I am really just trying to rationalize my chocolate craving. Perhaps you are, too.

    (Photo by Claudia Alexander)When it comes to desserts, chocolate in any form is usually everyone's favorite.

    Photo by Claudia Alexander

    When it comes to desserts, chocolate in any form is usually everyone’s favorite.

    When it comes to desserts, chocolate in any form is usually most people’s favorite, which I discovered when I put a 2-pound box of See’s candies on the Thanksgiving dessert table a few years ago. The caramel apple pie, the toasted pecan and pumpkin cheesecake, and the lime and cranberry curd tart were hardly touched but that box of chocolates? It was soon empty. What makes chocolate so irresistible above other desserts?

    Well, we know through archeological findings that humans have been consuming chocolate for centuries. Before the discovery of the awesome combination of chocolate and sugar, cocoa beans were ground and fermented into a bitter drink. It was believed to be an aphrodisiac and energy booster by the Mesoamericans. In parts of Mexico, it was used as currency. Many years later when it reached Europe sugar was added making a popular sweet drink available only to the aristocracy. Chocolate was even consumed in Europe before coffee became the popular morning beverage. Finally, in the mid 1800s, the first candy bar was sold in England.

    Still, why do we crave it?

    Some say like our first food, breast milk, chocolate has the same percentage of sugar and fat. Another theory is that it contains stimulants such as caffeine and endorphins. But in my opinion, we love chocolate because of its smell, taste and smooth texture as it melts on our tongue.

    This recipe comes from Aleksandra Crapanzano’s cookbook “Gâteau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes.” A couple of things drew me to this recipe. Separating the egg whites and yolks makes for a light and airy cake. Though it is light on the first day, the addition of fresh juicy raspberries makes for a moist cake that gets denser and fudgier, which makes it  great with a cup of coffee.

    It’s perfect as is but if you serve it with a dollop of crème fraiche, well, let’s just say no one will be disappointed.

    Claudia Alexander, a resident of Marin County, has been happily cooking for family and friends for more than three decades. She has a weekly food blog, sweetbynurture.com. You can contact her at sweetbynurture@gmail.com.

    Chocolate Raspberry Cake

    Serves 8

    Ingredients

    7 ounces dark chocolate, at least 66% cacao

    4 eggs separated at room temperature

    14 ounces unsalted butter softened

    1-2 cups of fresh raspberries

    ¾ cup pastry flour

    ¼ teaspoon salt

    1 cup granulated sugar

    2 tablespoons Chambord (optional)

    Directions

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

    Wash the raspberries gently and place bottom down on a kitchen towel to dry.

    Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and dust the sides with cocoa.

    Combine the chocolate and butter in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a smaller pot with simmering water. Stir until the ingredients have melted into a creamy texture. Pull off the heat to cool slightly. You want it to still be pourable.

    Beat the sugar and the yolks and a large bowl until mixture is light yellow and the consistency of mayonnaise, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the cooled chocolate and the Chambord if using, beat until just combined.

    In another bowl beat the whites with the salt until they hold a soft peak.Stir a third of the whites into the chocolate mixture to lighten it and using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the remaining egg whites. Add the flour and lightly combine.

    Line the bottom of the springform pan with a single layer of raspberries, pour the batter over the top and bake for 28 to 30 minutes. The top should be slightly cracked and just starting to pull away from the edges. Cool for 5 minutes on a rack and then gently unmold.

    Leftovers can be stored covered in the fridge, but I think it is better to send your guests home with the any remaining slices. Better if they find themselves standing in front of the fridge at 3 a.m. eating cake.

    — Adapted from “Gâteau: The Surprising Simplicity of French Cakes”

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  • NMDPRA Meets Oil Marketers To Resolve Petroleum Products Distribution Challenges

    … Assures Nigerians Of Steady Supply Of Petrol At Affordable Price

    The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, on Monday met with representative of oil marketers to resolve the challenges faced in the importation and smooth distribution of petroleum products in the country.

    The meeting was held at the headquarters of the NMDPRA in Abuja.

    It was attended by representatives from the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners among other stakeholders.

    In recent weeks, oil marketers have been battling with various challenges ranging from scarcity of foreign exchange to import petroleum products, deplorable road conditions to distribute petroleum products across the country, non-functional state of the country’s refineries and refusal of banks to provide credit for oil and gas businesses.

    Speaking to journalists shortly after the meeting, the NMDPRA Boss said the meeting was a fruitful one as issues surrounding the seamless distribution of petroleum products were discussed.

    He said from the discussion, the oil marketers have pledged their support to the Federal Government in guaranteeing the availability of petroleum products to Nigerians at affordable prices.

    He said, “We had very robust discussions and they (oil marketers) expressed their concerns and also areas where we can support both the marketers and transporters to ensure that there is flow of petrol products across the country.

    “So, NNPC has assured of supply and also the marketers have expressed their concerns about the availability of foreign exchange in order to also import and sell at the price.

    “We, as regulators can continue to say the market is open for everybody and all those who have applied for license, over 90 marketing companies have gotten. We have given them access to all the required support that they needed in order to ensure there is a constant supply of products in the country.”

    When asked on the assistance being given on the issue of foreign exchange challenges faced by marketers, the NMDPRA boss explained that engagement is ongoing with the Central Bank of Nigeria in that direction.

    Ahmed added, “We have been discussing with the government and if you must have observed that a lot of work going on within the CBN in terms of their internal restructuring which will make available the dollar as soon as everything stabilizes.

    “We are also working towards improvement in crude oil production, which will bring more revenue into the country and then of course, boost our foreign reserves.

    “These are all part of the factors that we are all working on towards stabilizing of the naira.”

    The Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Limited, Mr Dapo Segun assured of the commitment of the national oil company to make petroleum products available for Nigerians.

    He said, “NNPC will continue to shop for supply. And yes, we’ve had discussions with other industry players on the issues affecting the industry.

    “We are looking at ways to resolve these issues. We, at NNPC will continue to make sure that supply is there and we will also support the industry.”

    The Chairman of DAPPMAN, Mrs Winifred Akpani, told journalists that there is adequate supply of the products and there is no need for Nigerians to panic.

    She said, “I think its a good opportunity that this meeting is holding today. We know there’s adequate supply of products. We have sufficient products in the country and we have sufficient products in our depot and most of us we have products in our stations.

    “The government has promised to resolve some of the issues for us, bearing in mind that we just transited from regulated market to deregulated market.

    “We expect some of these issues to come but the most important thing is the willingness of all of us as stakeholders to resolve the problem.

    “We assure the entire country that there is sufficient product and we will do all within our means to make sure that people never suffer for paying a higher price.”

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