King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz dies aged 90

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz  has died aged 90 

The US Ally who sought to modernize the ultraconservative Muslim kingdom with incremental but significant reforms .

The royal had been in the hospital since December, battling pneumonia, and his half-brother Salman, 79, has become king.

His death was confirmed on state television yesterday with channels cutting to Koranic verses - only used following the death of a senior royal.

Abdullah's funeral will be today following Muslim tradition that a burial should take place within 24 hours of death.

THE LATE KING ABDULLAH WITH US PRESIDENT,BARACK OBAMA

President Barack Obama paid tribute to Abdullah, who has been an ally of Washington in its fight against terror.

'As a leader, he was always candid and had the courage of his convictions,' Obama said in a statement. 

'One of those convictions was his steadfast and passionate belief in the importance of the U.S.-Saudi relationship as a force for stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.

A statement released by the new king read: 'His Highness Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and all members of the family and the nation mourn the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, who passed away at exactly 1am this morning.'

Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud

One of his last decisions is thought to have been referring the case of Raif Badawi, the Saudi blogger who has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes, to the High Court last week. 

Abdullah - who fathered 22 children with about a dozen wives - had ruled Saudi Arabia as king since 2005, but had run the country as de facto regent for a decade before that after his predecessor King Fahd suffered a debilitating stroke. 

New King Salman has been crown prince and defense minister since 2012. He was governor of Riyadh province for five decades before that.

NBC TASK BROADCAST MEDIA ON FAIRNESS, DECENCY AND ACCESS AS 2015 GENERAL ELECTIONS DRAWS CLOSER

As the 2015 general elections draws closer, the National Broadcasting Commission has called on all broadcast organisations in Nigeria to uphold the tenants as well as adhere strictly to the Nigerian Broadcasting codes and electoral act in political programming.
The Director General NBC, Mr. Emeka Mba made the request in Abuja at a sensitization meeting on political broadcasting, with Heads of Stations, News and Marketing in the Abuja broadcast zone.

He stressed the need for broadcast media's to be professional and patriotic in discharging  their duties.
Mr. Mba noted that the electioneering period is a great test for media houses, adding that it is the sole responsibility of the broadcast organisations to  ensure that the peace and stability of the country is maintained during this critical time of our nation's history. 

In an opening remarks,  the Director, Broadcast Monitoring, Chris Okoyomoh explained that the forum aims at bringing all stake holders together to rob minds on key issues on political broadcasting.

Similarly, in his key note lecture on 2015 General Elections: Ensuring Fairness, Decency and Access in Broadcast Media, Mr. Mark Ojiah re-echoed the need for broadcast  media to play by roles, adding that the NBC will sanction any infraction. 

Top senior officials of the NBC attended the sensitization meeting.

BUHARI HAS NO HEALTH CHALLENGES -- APC

The All Progressives Congress has condemned the Peoples Democratic Party for an advertorial in one of the national dailies which they claim is distasteful. The APC said the advert which was placed by Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is a violation of the peace accord signed by all 14 presidential aspirants pledging to promote non-violence and libelous statements. Speaking with journalists today in Abuja, Director of Media, Buhari Support Organisation, Dr Chidia Madueke, explained that the issue of life and death is uncalled for stressing that General Muhammadu Buhari has no health challenges. 

The advert on Punch newspaper

He appealed to the media to be mindful of the nature of political adverts carried in order not to overheat the polity.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Staff to General Muhammadu Buhari, Hameed Ali, says APC is working assiduously to ensure that the theme of non-violence in the 2015 general elections is inculcated to every Nigerian. Colonel Ali stated this today in Abuja at a training organised for State Coordinators of Buhari Support Organisations on conducting a violence-free polls. He said the training will afford Nigerians at all levels the opportunity to choose the right approach is averting any election crisis. 

He said the success of the 2015 elections will change the way the world sees Nigeria as it provides the rare opportunity to showcase the desired change.

KANO SETS UP COMMITTEE ON BIRD FLU

The Kano state Commissioner of Agriculture, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna says the state government has established a committee on bird flu to forestall the spread of the outbreak of bird flu in four local government areas of the state.

Dr Gawuna made the announcement while confirming the outbreak in Kano, adding that the affected local government areas included Kumbotso, Tofa, Gwale and Minjibir.

 

Kano state

According to him, a total of 15 farms had been affected in the four local government areas. In one of the affected farms in Kumbotso Local Government Area, over 8,000 birds have been killed by the flu.

Manager of one of the farm, Kawu Bello, told newsmen that he first noticed the infection about three weeks ago when the birds started dying. He added that so far, about 8,000 birds have died as a result of the flu.

FG lowers pump price of fuel to N87/litre

The Federal Government has announced N10 reduction in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as fuel, from N97 to N87 per litre.

The Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Allison-Madueke, made this known to State House correspondents on Sunday in Abuja.  

She said the Petroleum Product Price Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) had already been directed to immediately effect the new change from midnight on Sunday 18.

According to her, the change is in view of recent reduction in the global price of crude oil.

 

Diezani Allison-Madueke

‘‘In line with Section 6 Clause 1 of the Petroleum Act, that it is my responsibility as the Minister of Petroleum to announce that there will be a reduction in the pump price of petroleum by N10,therefore the reduction will be from N97 per litre to N87 per litre, effective as of mid-night Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015.

‘‘In line with this I have directed the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency and the Directorate of Petroleum Resources to ensure there is strict adherence to this new pricing regime as soon as it takes effect from midnight Sunday Jan. 18, 2015.

‘‘I do hope the entire country will benefit immensely from this reduction in the pump price of petroleum,’’ she said.

 The Minister reassured that government would continue to ensure that the volatility in the oil market did not destabilise the reduction in price, saying that ‘‘we think it’s safe to implement it at this time.’’