No fewer than 38 persons, including children and women, have been reportedly killed by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in Takalafiya, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

A local who recalled the horrors of the attack said trouble began two weeks ago when a farmer in Gwanja, a community close to Takalafiya, challenged a herder who allowed his cattle to eat the newly planted crops.

“As the farmer was talking to the herder to send his herds out of his farm, a fierce disagreement ensued.

“We heard that the herder brought out a cutlass but the farmer snatched the cutlass and fought him back and unfortunately the herder died instantly,” the local said.

Our correspondent learnt that the authority of Karu Local Government Area intervened and the matter was settled.

But on Thursday, gunmen launched an attack on Gwanja and killed four persons.

“When the gunmen discovered that some residents of Gwanja community fled to Takalafiya, they launched an attack on the community on Friday and killed people.

“In the early hours of Friday, at exactly 4am the people of the the community were panicking when they discovered a very strange dog roaming the streets of Takalafiya, with huge charms around its neck, they mobilised and killed the dog.

“After they succeeded in killing the dog, as they clustered around it wondering where it came from, the herdsmen started shooting guns sporadically into the air around the community and that was how many residents were killed,” another local told our correspondent.

Our correspondent gathered that on Friday seven bodies brought in from Takalafiya and other communities were deposited at the mortuary of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Keffi, with many locals still missing.

Our correspondent reports that on Saturday a mass burial was held for 38 persons, including women and children, killed by the gunmen in the two communities.

Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Emmanuel Akabe, who led a government delegation to the mass burial, condemned the wanton killings and destruction of property.

Akabe who expressed dismay over the killings, vowed that government would unravel the perpetrators and prosecute them to serve as a deterrent.

He assured that the state government would provide relief materials to those displaced, and urged the affected communities to give credible information to the relevant authorities.

Our correspondent further reports that the neighbouring communities, including Gwanja, Angwan Bege, Angwan Madaki and Gidan Allah, occupied predominantly by Gwandara, Mada and Yeskwa tribes, were also attacked by the gunmen.

Meanwhile, Nasarawa State Police Command said it has recovered no fewer than 14 bodies.

The PPRO, Rahman Nansel, disclosed this in a statement in Lafia.

Daily Trust

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Here are the Zelensky ‘treason’ quotes the Washington Post deleted

The Washington Post has deleted a large tract of an interview with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in which he lashed out at alleged “traitors” in his ranks. RT is publishing the entire section that the US newspaper would rather keep hidden.

The following section appeared in an interview with the Ukrainian president published on Saturday. By Sunday it had been removed with no explanation. After discussing a trove of recently leaked Pentagon documents, which revealed – among other things – that the US monitors Zelensky’s communications, the newspaper presented him with a fresh allegation that has not yet been reported in the US media.

Note that Evgeny Prigozhin is the founder and head of the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company currently fighting in the Donetsk People’s Republic.

WaPo: The documents indicate that GUR, your intelligence directorate, has back-channel contact with Evgeny Prigozhin that you were aware of, including meeting with Evgeny Prigozhin and GUR officers. Is that true?

Zelensky: This is a matter of [military] intelligence. Do you want me to be convicted of state treason? And so, it’s very interesting, if someone is saying that you have documents, or if someone from our government is speaking about the activities of our intelligence, I would also like to ask you a question: With which sources from Ukraine do you have contact? Who is talking about the activities of our intelligence? Because this is the most severe felony in our country. Which Ukrainians are you talking to?

WaPo: I talked to officials in government, but these documents are not from Ukraine, they are from…

Zelensky: It doesn’t matter where the documents are from. The question is with which Ukrainian official did you talk? Because if they say something about our intelligence, that’s treason. If they say something about a specific offensive plan of one general or another, this is also treason. That’s why I asked you, which Ukrainians are you talking to?

WaPo: About these specific documents? You are the first person I am talking to about them.

Zelensky: Okay.

WaPo: And I can read you what information exactly there is about Prigozhin and the GUR. On February 13, Kirill Budanov, chief of Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, informed you about a Russian plan to destabilize Moldova with two former Wagner associates. Budanov informed you that he viewed the Russian scheme as a way to incriminate Prigozhin because “we have dealings” with him. You instructed Budanov to inform Moldovan President Maia Sandu, and Budanov told you that the GUR had informed Prigozhin that he would be labeled a traitor who has been working with Ukraine. The document also says that Budanov expected the Russians to use details of Prigozhin’s secret talks with the GUR and meetings with GUR officers in Africa…

Zelensky: Listen, to be honest, well, you just read something, you say something. I just don’t understand where you get it, whom you talk to and so on. You talk about how I met with Budanov. This suggests that you – how do you put it? It looks like you have people who have some records or you have some evidence or you have something, because that’s what it looks like. You are again doing, I apologize, what you were doing before. You are releasing some sort of information that does not help our state to attack and does not help us to defend our state. So, I don’t quite understand what you are talking about. I don’t quite understand your goal. Is your goal to help Russia? I mean, that means we have different goals. If I’m not sitting at the same table with them, I don’t quite understand what we’re talking about. Each of these inquiries simply demotivates Ukraine, demotivates certain partners to help Ukraine. Well, one way or another, I just don’t understand your goal.

WaPo: Our goal is not to help Russia.

Zelensky: Well, it looks different.

WaPo: No one gave us this information personally. These were in the leaked documents, which do indicate, as I said earlier, that the United States is listening in on you.

Zelensky: And if you have classified documents, it means someone gave them to you. If you have access to documents, someone gave them to you. Today, in the world of modern technology, when you have access, it’s not necessarily someone gave it to you. You have access. You are now quoting some documents as originals, without understanding the responsibility for this, you are just talking about some information. For me, this is incomprehensible information, but in this, in our dialogue, I want to understand why you are doing this. I told you at the beginning of our conversation that I believe that the TV show that was launched, launched in the information field, helps – I don’t know who, but it helps Russia, it definitely doesn’t help Ukraine. You are engaged in continuing this story. And so, I ask you if it’s your choice and if you think that the Russian Federation needs to be helped in a variety of spheres – that they were expecting a Ukrainian counteroffensive in whichever direction, so that they know when we are coming, so that they know our powerful forces and what we are planning, what our intelligence is doing? Well, if that’s the case, then...

WaPo: I would say that these documents were leaked, not by us, and they were on the internet in a chatroom for weeks.

Zelensky: They were not on the internet, they were a part of something. We, the normal society, couldn’t access all of this. We couldn’t. And then, I think, information began to come out that we would partially publish everything else. I think it’s yours – or your editorial board, or whoever. I don’t want to offend anyone, I don’t know. That’s why you are releasing this information one by one today. You publish information about a counteroffensive in Ukraine, about this or that. I told you that I believe that this is, how to put it? – someone heard something somewhere, someone published something somewhere, but the information is compiled, and it is different, and it definitely does not work in Ukraine’s favor. That’s all. And now you want to take the bull by the horns. You need to substantiate or not substantiate this information, and then there will be a certain weight to your information, because the president of Ukraine reacts to it. Do you understand? And this is what you do. You are right now playing with, I think, things that aren’t good for our people. This is not the first time I’ve told you this. I think it’s wrong, but nevertheless, you say, “Just a little bit more, it’s not over yet.” Well, yes, it is. There are still a few people left in Ukraine. I am not interested in seeing this number of people decrease. That’s why we are fighting. [In English] I am so sorry, I was not so quick, I was too long about these documents. I don’t know about this…

WaPo: We came to talk to you about this. It is clearly sensitive for you and your country.

Zelensky: [In English] It is not sensitive. If I answer you that it’s sensitive, it means that these are real documents. Please, stop playing games with me. I am the president of a war country, a country in war. I said about my reaction to these documents, I said that it’s not good for our people. You know, I am not playing Counter-Strike. We are preparing a counteroffensive. You know, these are different things – that’s why I said all of the details from me you will hear. And of course, we are thankful for your work, your help when you support Ukraine in this war. You did a big job. And now I am saying about these documents…I don’t recognize it as documents. I didn’t see that. That is the first thing. I don’t know how you’ve got it and my question was to you: “Why are you continue doing that?” Okay. You are free. I mean, you will do what you want, but I don’t want to speak about it with details. Because I don’t know about what I am speaking. It’s something with some information. And I said that I didn’t have any contact with the White House about these documents. Or not documents. About these papers. Or not papers. About this platform. Or a fake platform…I didn’t have before, now, and, I don’t know, maybe in the future. I just say the same message very publicly and very open. I said it to you, with some journalist and to a lot of leaders. When they asked me about this, I said it’s not good for us. What can I say? It’s not good. I don’t know if it was fake or what a percent – I don’t know what it is. And I don’t know who needs it and what is the game. I don’t know what for. That’s it. For me, it’s not serious. It sounds like somebody said, somebody heard something…

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

France to send armoured vehicles, light tanks to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday Kyiv and its Western supporters could make a Russian defeat in the war in Ukraine "irreversible" as early as this year and thanked Germany for being a "true friend" during a visit to Berlin.

France said it will send dozens of armoured vehicles and light tanks, including the AMX-10RCs fighting vehicles, to Ukraine in the coming weeks. It made the announcement after a working dinner between French President Emmanuel Macron and Zelenskiy in Paris. On Saturday, Zelenskiy met Italian leaders, and Pope Francis, in Rome.

Leaders of the Group of Seven nations plan to tighten sanctions on Russia at their summit in Japan this week, with steps aimed at energy and exports aiding Moscow's war effort, said officials with direct knowledge of the discussions.

FIGHTING

* Russia's Defence Ministry said on Sunday that two of its military commanderswere killed in eastern Ukraine, as Kyiv's forces renewed efforts to break through Russian defences in the embattled city of Bakhmut.

* Ukrainian troops are advancing in two directions in Bakhmut, but the situation in the city centre is more complicated, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said on Saturday.

* Reuters could not verify the battlefield reports.

DIPLOMACY, ECONOMY

* The Group of Seven (G7) industrial powers and the EU will ban Russian gas imports on routes where Moscow has cut supplies, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

* Germany announced 2.7 billion euro ($3.0 billion) of military aid to Ukraine on Saturday, its biggest such package since Russia's invasion, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.

* The EU must speed up the supply of ammunition to Ukraine as the country's forces need 1,000 artillery shells every day in the Bakhmut area alone, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Saturday.

This writing was first published on 6 July 2020. With changes of leadership soon at the federal and state levels, I see it as relevant. The first part in particular. However, do we forget the lessons in the second part?

The world is changed by your example not by your opinion – Paulo Coelho, Brazilian Lyricist and author of The Alchemist.

Allah (SWT) said in the Qur’an that He does not change the condition of a people until they change what is in their hearts. It is a verse widely quoted out of context by people wanting to give their idols in power excuses. There was never a time in any history when people just woke up and all of them at the same time said to themselves: “We must change”. Even revolutions and mass uprisings have guides. Someone had to mobilise them, sensitise them, and lead the way. And that person is called a leader. Therefore, those who are fond of quoting this verse as an excuse to shield their principals are either loose-brained or plain mischievous. Most likely, they won’t refer to the verse if the icon does not appeal to their sentiments.

Because God raises the living out of the dead and brings forth light out of the dark, He raises from among a people their type who leads them from deprivation to well-being. Out of the palace of the Pharaoh, He raised Moses (AS). Out of the family and society of idolaters, He brought forth Abraham (AS), and out of the heathendom of Arabia, He revealed Muhammad (SAW).

Chaka the Zulu founded the Zulu Empire and for twelve years before his assassination on September 22, 1828, he molded his people into a dominating fighting force never seen before in southern Africa. Mao Zedong, known as Chairman Mao, was the founding father of The People’s Republic of China and laid the foundation of what China now is. You can go on and count leaders who changed their people and their countries’ fortunes by leading by example. Cuba’s Fidel Castro was one; we also had Muammar Gaddafi from Libya, Martin Luther King who raised the consciousness of Blacks, Muhammad Mahathir of Malaysia and Mahatma Gandhi of India.

These leaders raised the consciousness level of their people and changed them to better human beings, by being what they wanted their people to be. They did not look at their people in the face condescendingly and patronisingly, point a finger at them, and sing “change” while they indulged in the vices of yore. Mao viewed such leaders as “swollen in head, weak in legs, sharp in tongue but empty in belly.”

In Nigeria, they promised us “change” and we fought to bring in its champions. Some lost their capital, others their health, while some paid the supreme price, but we all heaved a sigh of relief and proclaimed, “It has come!” We wanted change, and we thought fairness and justice would take the place of selfishness and impunity; that transparency and accountability would replace corruption but, above all, that our lives and property would be secure.

We have seen how our leaders of old discarded our homemade cars, foods, clothes, hospitals and schools and embraced those of foreigners for themselves and their families. We were witnesses to our leaders collecting stupendous salaries and allowances, while our most vulnerable slept on empty stomachs. We thought the change would bring leaders who would put everything for the wealth of the land to cascade to the least of us.

Usman Dan Fodio had two lamps, one bought by the state and the other from his salary. After finishing state work with a state lamp in the night, he blew it out and lit the personal one for his private work.

So, what has changed? Anyone who tells me I must first change before my nation changes is not fair to me. He is just mocking me. People are just a crowd. They need a leader to become a nation. I just need to be led out of the woods and that was why I voted. A crowd cannot change anything, except to cause chaos and anarchy, but a leader can.

We can attest to this even from simple clothing. Many of us wear our watches on the right because we grew up watching Yakubu Gowon do so. Before the coming of Shehu Shagari as president, many typical northerner’s gowns (Babbar Riga) had a “just there” embroidery, but Shagari came with the Shagari style – full embroidery covering the chest down to the stomach. Now, you may be called a clown if you wore a gown with small embroidery. Nigerian men, especially those from the north, used four yards for their jumpers and trousers. Then Sani Abacha, like a bolt from the sky, came with his tazarce and redefined how we dress. Wear a four-yard jumper now and risk being viewed as “half-naked”. President Muhammadu Buhari too has brought back a hitherto dead mode of dressing – wearing a collar-neck shirt under a caftan.

At the state level, a state I know very well is Yobe. When Bukar Abba Ibrahim was the governor, his followers took to wearing his type of red dara cap. This mimicking of leaders is seen in the way many admirers of the current governor, Mai Mala Buni, are adopting his idiosyncrasies and a certain cap he has popularized.

Did we not see how Olusegun Obasanjo’s Operation Feed the Nation turned civil servants into farmers? Our parents were, as civil servants, proud and happy to engage in farming. Muhammadu Buhari’s War Against Indiscipline, though not out of inspiration (perhaps why it did not outlive the regime) as out-of-state coercion, made people toe the path of discipline and decorum. The recent change in APC’s direction and possibly fortune is enough testimony that it takes a leader to change the course of events.

Honourable Minister, The School Kids Are Hungry

One grows weary sometimes of continuing to write when nothing seems to change, and there is the temptation to just give it up. But there are many things one cannot just ignore.

I want to write about Buratai relocating to Katsina until “banditry is crushed”. Yes, the same Buratai who went to Sambisa over two months ago with the promise to never return until he has finally strangled that dying horse so that we can rest from its last kicks.

I want to write about the hungry kids because they don’t get meals any more. I also want to write about the school children's “feeder” wanting to build 10,000 houses for Borno IDPs. I want to write and bring to her notice that if beneficiaries of N72 billion worth of palliatives refuse to be identified because they do not want to be regarded as poor, what makes her think the proud Borno people will accept houses as alms? Please, she should use the billions instead to continue feeding the kids, for they are hungry.

I want to write about N-Power. 500,000 beneficiaries who are still crying over their unpaid allowances are being sent out of jobs they have got experience in for 400,000 other fresh-eyed hopefuls. They said N-Power is an acronym for Need for Power. Well, they have been thrown into Need for Job now. I want to write about Nigeria’s alarming unemployment rate. When the N-Power portal opened, 100 applications were registered per second and by 7.38 pm that day, 1,001,045 applicants had registered.

I want to write about the prophecy of doom by the Presidential Task Force ( PTF) three weeks ago – that by this time next week, Nigerians will start dying in 100s because Nigeria will enter the “second wave of Covid-19”. I want to write and ask, then why are you asking our children to return to school?

I also want to write about their claim now that Nigerians did not die because the virus-infected only citizens that are between 20 and 30 years old and “being an active group”, the virus died in them – just like that!

I want to write about this 20 – 30-year-old group "attractive" to the virus. I want to write and ask, why didn’t they infect anyone? Are they living on an island in this country? Don’t some of them have siblings, spouses, children, parents, and grandparents? Don’t they mix with other “age groups” in the country?

I want to write and ask, despite these alarms, true or false, what are our governments doing to improve our health care system, especially as we are still not allowed to run to Europe?

I want to write and ask…

** Hassan Gimba is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Neptune Prime.

The AI revolution has the potential to impact various sectors of the Nigerian economy, bringing both opportunities and challenges. Here are some sectors that may experience significant effects:

1. Manufacturing and Industrial Automation: AI technologies such as robotics and machine learning can enhance productivity and efficiency in manufacturing processes. Nigerian industries can leverage AI to automate repetitive tasks, optimize supply chains, and improve quality control. This could lead to increased production capacity, reduced costs, and improved competitiveness.
2. Agriculture: Agriculture is a crucial sector in Nigeria, and AI can play a significant role in its advancement. AI-powered systems can help farmers optimize crop yield through precision farming techniques, monitor soil health, predict weather patterns, and manage irrigation systems more effectively. Additionally, AI can assist in pest detection and control, disease diagnosis, and crop management, thereby increasing productivity and reducing post-harvest losses.
3. Healthcare: AI has the potential to revolutionize healthcare in Nigeria by improving diagnostics, treatment, and patient care. Machine learning algorithms can analyze medical data, aid in disease detection, and provide personalized treatment recommendations. Telemedicine, enabled by AI, can bridge the gap between patients and healthcare professionals, especially in remote areas, and facilitate remote monitoring of patients' health conditions.
4. Financial Services: The financial sector can benefit from AI-powered solutions in several ways. AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of financial data, identify patterns, and make accurate predictions for risk assessment, fraud detection, and algorithmic trading. Chatbots and virtual assistants can enhance customer service and streamline banking operations. Additionally, AI can contribute to the development of personalized financial planning and investment recommendations.
5. Transportation and Logistics: AI technologies are transforming the transportation and logistics sector globally, and Nigeria can leverage these advancements. Route optimization algorithms, and intelligent traffic management systems can improve transportation efficiency, reduce congestion, and enhance road safety. AI can also streamline logistics operations, from inventory management to last-mile delivery, leading to cost savings and improved customer satisfaction.
6. Education and Skill Development: AI has the potential to reshape the education sector in Nigeria. Intelligent tutoring systems can provide personalized learning experiences, adapt to individual student needs, and enhance educational outcomes. AI-powered tools can automate administrative tasks, facilitate content creation, and support remote learning initiatives. However, it's important to ensure equitable access to AI-driven educational resources to bridge the digital divide.
7. Energy and Natural Resources: AI can optimize energy production, distribution, and consumption in Nigeria. Smart grid technologies, AI-driven predictive maintenance for power infrastructure, and energy demand forecasting can improve energy efficiency and reduce wastage. AI can also assist in optimizing the exploration and extraction processes in the oil and gas industry, enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

While the AI revolution presents numerous opportunities, it's crucial to address potential challenges, including data privacy, ethical considerations, and ensuring equitable access to AI-driven technologies. Moreover, investing in research and development, promoting AI education and skills training, and fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government will be vital for Nigeria to fully harness the benefits of the AI revolution.

Corruption is a major problem in Nigeria, and it can make it difficult for small businesses to thrive.

Here are some facts and figures about corruption in Nigeria:

• According to Transparency International, Nigeria ranks 146 out of 180 countries on the Corruption Perceptions Index.
• The World Bank estimates that corruption costs Nigeria $150 billion each year.
• Over 10,000 people have been convicted of corruption-related offenses since 2015.
• The Nigerian government has passed a number of anti-corruption laws, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act.

However, there are a number of things that entrepreneurs can do to overcome these challenges and succeed in a corrupt society.

One of the most important things is to be aware of the risks of corruption. Entrepreneurs need to know what types of corruption are common in their industry, and how to avoid them. They also need to be aware of the signs of corruption, such as requests for bribes or other favors.

Another important step is to build relationships with people in positions of power. This can help entrepreneurs to get things done more easily, and to avoid being targeted by corrupt officials. However, it is important to build these relationships in a legitimate way, and to avoid any activities that could be seen as bribery.

Finally, entrepreneurs need to be prepared to fight corruption. This may mean reporting corrupt officials to the authorities, or taking legal action against them. It is also important to speak out against corruption, and to educate others about the dangers it poses.

By taking these steps, entrepreneurs can increase their chances of success in a corrupt society. They can also help to make a difference by fighting corruption and promoting a more transparent and accountable government.

Here are some additional tips for small scale business entrepreneurs in Nigeria:

• Focus on your core competencies. Don't try to do everything yourself. Outsource tasks that you're not good at or don't have time for.
• Be organized and efficient. Wasted time and resources can be costly in a corrupt environment.
• Be persistent. Don't give up easily. Corruption can be frustrating, but it's important to keep fighting.
• Build a strong network of support. Having people in your corner can make a big difference when you're dealing with corruption.
• Don't be afraid to speak out. Corruption thrives in silence. If you see something wrong, speak up.

By following these tips, business entrepreneurs can increase their chances of success in Nigeria.

The lingering subsidy regime of the Federal Government on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, has stalled investments in the development of Nigeria’s gas sector, major and independent oil marketers stated on Friday.

About two years ago, the Federal Government declared 2021 to 2030 as the ‘Decade of Gas’, and called for gas investments to deepen domestic gas usage.

Nigeria has a proven gas reserve base of 208.62 trillion standard cubic feet (as at January 1, 2022), and is working to increase its reserves volumes to 220TCF in 10 years, according to data obtained from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

However, industry operators told our correspondent that the massive gas reserves across the country were not being explored by investors, because it made no business sense investing in gas when the government was subsidising petrol.

They explained that gas should be cheaper than petrol, but since the Federal Government was subsidising petrol, this had made PMS lower in cost than gas, and as such halted investments in gas despite its abundance nationwide.

“We (Nigeria) have declared this period a ‘Decade of Gas’, and under normal circumstances gas should be cheaper than petrol,” Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, told our correspondent.

He added, “If you are going to invest in gas, whether you are talking about gas infrastructure, processing, retailing, etc., which is what should take this country out of poverty, that investment can only be so if the investor believes that he will recover his investment and make a decent profit.

“But when you make your investments in gas and the government continues to subsidise petrol, then it does not work for you. This is because, first of all, you can no longer trust the government, and most importantly you lose your money.”

According to him, under normal circumstances that the government should be selling gas cheaper than petrol, but it is subsidising petrol.

“So, petrol is selling cheaper than your gas and then it blocks your investment. No normal civil person will invest in those things knowing that government policy can make you lose your investments,” he added.

Isong stated that the Petroleum Industry Act had been in place since August 2021, stressing that the law stated that subsidies should be stopped, but wondered why fuel subsidy had remained an issue to date.

“So everybody that you expect to bring in money to invest in petrochemicals, plastics, gas and everything along the supply chain, will no longer bring in their money because the government is not obeying its own law.

“Investments that should have come in, those investments that will take two to five years to mature for Nigeria to begin to enjoy, have all been put back. The investment decisions have been postponed until we become a serious country,” the MOMAN executive stated.

Also speaking on the issue, President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, told our correspondent that the government had yet to make a concrete statement on fuel subsidy removal.

This, he said, was affecting investment decisions among oil sector operators, stressing that the subsidy regime should be discontinued by the incoming administration.

“If the government is still somersaulting on its stand about subsidy removal in June, then basically it means that we are not even sure about where we are with that and this is affecting investment decisions in oil and gas badly.

“But let us assume that the subsidy on fuel is going to be removed. Now, if that is the case, what we have advocated is that there should be some infrastructural development that we should see, such as the refining of crude locally by our refineries and ensuring that there are adequate petroleum products in the system,” he stated.

On his part, the Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja, Mohammed Shuaibu, alluded to the fact that it was vital to stop fuel subsidy, but stressed that the incoming government must urgently fix Nigeria’s refineries.

“When they said they would stop subsidising fuel by June, we kept asking how realistic it would be. It is a good thing and we’ve been asking the government to remove it because it is stalling investments,” he stated.

Punch

Peoples Democratic Party National Chapel has declared a one-week fasting and prayer for its presidential candidate at the just-concluded election, Atiku Abubakar, to come out victorious at the Presidential Election Tribunal which began days ago.

The prayers are to begin on Thursday, May 18 and end on Wednesday, May 24.

An ‘overcomer’s open-air thanksgiving service’ was also scheduled for May 25.

The events are to hold at the party’s national chapel, PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, and time is slated at 12 pm daily.

The Presidential Election Petition Court had adjourned Atiku’s case to May 18 for the continuation of the pre-hearing of the petition by the PDP and Atiku against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, of the All Progressives Congress.

In the petition marked CA/PEPC/05/2023, the PDP and Atiku are challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the president-elect by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

INEC, Tinubu and the APC were listed as first to third respondents in the petition.

The pre-hearing of the petition was taken first on Thursday morning after counsel for Atiku and PDP, Chris Uche, indicated an interest in the matter.

The seven-day fast, announced by the Chairman of the PDP Christian Religious Body, Presidential Campaign Council, Boni Haruna, was tagged, ‘At the Supreme Court of Heaven with Chief Justice of Universe’.

The announcer noted that the prayer was to “denounce the Independent National Electoral Commission’s president-select and rescue and recover PDP for Nigeria”.

“The text will be taken from Romans 8: 33, Psalms 84: 10-11, Proverbs 24: 25-26; 9: 7–8.

Punch

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Zelensky dismisses Pope’s peacemaking efforts

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has rejected Pope Francis’ offer to help negotiate an end to the conflict in his country. Zelensky previously banned all contact between his government and Moscow, and has since rejected all offers of foreign mediation.

“With all due respect to His Holiness, we don’t need mediators, we need a just peace,” Zelensky told Italian talk show host Bruno Vespa on Saturday, after a meeting with the pontiff in the Vatican.

"It was an honor for me to meet His Holiness, but he knows my position: the war is in Ukraine and the [peace] plan must be Ukrainian,” Zelensky continued. “You can’t mediate with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”

While the Vatican has called on Russia to unilaterally cease its military operation in Ukraine, Pope Francis has offered on multiple occasions to help Kiev and Moscow reach a “consensual” end to the conflict, while praising mediation efforts by Türkiye last year.

The Turkish-brokered talks collapsed last April when the Ukrainian delegation pulled out after a surprise visit to Kiev by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who urged Zelensky to keep fighting. Officials in Moscow and Ankara have both stated that the US and its allies didn’t want Ukraine to sign any peace deal with Russia.

Zelensky has since issued a decree banning any contact between his officials and the Kremlin, while Kiev, Washington, and Brussels have all rejected a broad peace plan published by China earlier this year. 

With the US and EU pledging to supply him with weapons for “as long as it takes,”Zelensky insists that the only peace plan Ukraine will abide by is its own – a ten-point document demanding that Russia pay reparations, surrender its officials to face war crimes tribunals, and forfeit all of its territory claimed by Kiev, including Crimea.

Russia understands that any peace talks will not be held “with Zelensky, who is a puppet in the hands of the West, but directly with his masters,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier this month.

** Ukraine lying about taking down hypersonic missile – Izvestia

Kiev’s claims that it intercepted a Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missile with a US-made Patriot air defense system are not true, several sources within the Russian military and defense industry told the newspaper Izvestia on Saturday. Ukrainian forces have failed to hit a single such missile to date, the sources added.

Most Kinzhal launches are not even detected by either Ukrainian or NATO radar surveillance systems, the Russian media outlet claimed, citing the same anonymous sources.

Izvestia also reported that the remnants of what was claimed to be a Kinzhal displayed by Kiev on May 10 might have belonged to another Russian missile – the 9M723 – launched by the ground-based short-range ballistic missile system Iskander-M. Some elements of the two missiles’ construction are similar, although the Iskander-M has been used much more frequently by Russian forces during the ongoing campaign in Ukraine, a military expert told reporters.

Kiev showed on May 10 the remnants of what it said were several missiles, one of which it claimed was a Kinzhal. However, Izvestia’s sources said that, judging by the looks of what was displayed, all of the missiles had fulfilled their aims rather than being intercepted.

On Thursday, another source within the Russian military also called the reports about an interception of the Russian Kinzhal missile by the Patriot system “an attempt to substitute a wish for reality.” The hypersonic missile has a speed exceeding the maximum interception capabilities of any air-defense systems used by Ukraine, including the Patriot, the source told TASS. The Kinzhal also executes a special maneuver to avoid interception and makes an almost vertical approach to the target, the source added.

Kiev reportedly inflates the number of Russian missiles its forces intercept to justify such heavy use of ammunition for the air-defense systems supplied by the West. “The number of interceptions is two-three times higher than the number [of missiles] we really launch,” the source said, adding that sometimes Kiev reports intercepting missiles that Russia did not even launch.

Last week, Ukraine’s Air Force commander, Lieutenant General Nikolay Oleshuk, claimed on his Telegram channel that Kiev's forces had intercepted a hypersonic Kinzhal missile. On May 9, the Pentagon press secretary, Brigadier General Patrick Ryder, told journalists that the US Defense Department “can confirm that the Ukrainians took down this Russian missile with a Patriot missile defense system.”He said, though, that he would not “get into the specifics” or try to “characterize”the missile supposedly intercepted by Kiev.

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine says its troops are advancing in two directions in Bakhmut suburbs

Ukrainian troops are advancing in two directions in the eastern city of Bakhmut but the situation in the city centre is more complicated, deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar said on Saturday.

Ukrainian and Russian officials both say pro-Kyiv forces have started to push back in and around Bakhmut after blunting a months-long offensive by troops loyal to Moscow that left much of the city in ruins.

Russia acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Bakhmut ahead of a long-promised counter offensive by Ukraine to retake more territory it lost after the start of the war last year.

"Our troops are gradually advancing in two directions in the suburbs of Bakhmut ... however, the situation in the city itself is more complicated," Malyar wrote on Telegram.

"Thanks to the competent planning of the command and the courage of our fighters, the enemy is not able to take the city under its control."

Much of the fighting in Bakhmut is being led by the Wagner group of mercenaries. In a Telegram post, founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said his men had advanced up to 550 metres (1,800 feet) in some directions on Saturday and said Ukrainian forces controlled less than 1.78 sq km (0.7 sq miles) of the centre.

Prigozhin is embroiled in a public relations war with the defence ministry in Moscow over what he says is its refusal to provide enough ammunition.

A Wagner employee tried to deliver a personal letter from Prigozhin to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu on Saturday, but did not succeed, the Wagner press service said in a separate Telegram post. The letter dealt with what Prigozhin says is the poor performance by regular troops on Wagner's flanks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Rome for an official visit, did not respond directly when asked when the counter offensive would start.

"I can't answer this question but you will see the results and Russia will feel them," he told Italian television.

** Ukraine's Zelenskiy lands in Germany in bid to shore up support

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has landed in Berlin, according to a post on his Twitter feed, as the leader seeks to shore up support from key allies against Russia's invasion.

"Already in Berlin," Zelenskiy tweeted shortly after midnight on Sunday, arriving from Italy where he met with Italian officials and Pope Francis on Saturday.

The Ukrainian leader last visited Germany for the Munich Security Council in February last year just before the war broke out.

Germany, which is Europe's largest economy, faced criticism at the start of the war for what some called a hesitant response, but it has become one of Ukraine's biggest providers of financial and military assistance, ahead of other European powers like France.

Germany on Saturday announced 2.7 billion euro ($3.0 billion) of military aid to Ukraine, its biggest such package since the Russian invasion, and pledged further support for Kyiv for as long as necessary.

The country has also taken in around a million Ukrainian refugees.

Zelenskiy will likely want to know directly from Chancellor Olaf Scholz how he sees the war ending, said Christian Moelling, deputy director at the German Council on Foreign Relations.

"Does Germany want a Ukrainian victory or is it enough for the war to end?" he said. "It will be important for Zelenskiy to hear directly from the chancellor how he thinks."

Ukraine is also likely aware of the need to shore up support from the allies supporting it financially as they deal with a cost of living crisis at home, said Moelling.

"Ukraine needs financial assistance to pay its debt so it doesn't go bankrupt and Germany plays a big role there," he said. "And Ukraine is seeing that in Germany other topics are beginning to move into the foreground."

An Ipsos survey in January showed the share of Germans who believed the country could not afford to lend financial support to Ukraine due to the current economic crisis had risen 9 percentage points to 56%.

That survey also showed a drop in German support for accepting new refugees from Ukraine and providing military assistance.

RT/Reuters

Sudan talks to resume in Saudi Arabia amid heavy fighting

Khartoum residents described fierce battles on Saturday with fighters roving the streets and little sign Sudan's warring sides were respecting an agreement to protect civilians ahead of ceasefire talks due to resume in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

Fighting has rocked Khartoum and adjoining areas as well as Geneina in the Darfur region since the warring army and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary force agreed a "declaration of principles" on Thursday.

"It was much worse this morning compared to the past two days. You could clearly hear the tanks and the RSF were patrolling the streets more than usual," said Hani Ahmed, 28.

The conflict that broke out a month ago has killed hundreds of people, sent more than 200,000 into neighbouring states, displaced another 700,000 inside the country, and risks drawing in outside powers and destabilising the region.

Medical charity Medicins Sans Frontieres said displaced people living in a large camp in north Darfur were cutting down to a single meal a day because food aid programmes had been halted by fighting. It said the condition of already malnourished children would likely deteriorate.

Airspace will stay closed except for aid flights until May 31, authorities said on Saturday.

The two sides have battled through previous truces and have shown no sign of being willing to compromise. Although the RSF promised to uphold Thursday's agreement, the army has not yet commented on it.

Neither side seems able to secure a quick victory, with the army able to call on air power but the RSF dug into residential districts throughout the capital.

"We only see the army in the sky but in terms of face-to-face contact we only see the RSF. They're the ones on the ground," Ahmed said.

For civilians the conflict has unleashed a nightmare of bombardment, random gunfire, home invasions and looting, amid flickering electricity supply, shortages of water and food, and little chance of medical help with injuries.

"Our neighbourhood is now completely under RSF control, They loot and harass people and wander around, always armed, taking shelter wherever they want," said Duaa Tariq, 30, an art curator in Khartoum.

Tariq said she hoped the talks in Jeddah could lead to a ceasefire, but was doubtful, adding: "We can't really trust either side because they don't have control of their soldiers on the ground".

ARAB LEAGUE

Fighting is unabated since the two sides agreed the declaration of principles to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access.

Residents say RSF fighters continue to occupy properties, which the force has denied doing, and the army carries out air strikes that residents say hit civilian targets.

Hashim Mohamed, 35, said he had found bread in a local shop for the first time in a week. "It's not that bread isn't available, but it's a longer walk which means more brushes with danger," he said.

Out shopping on Saturday, he had to duck down as gunfire rattled nearby and RSF fighters cruised the neighbourhood in civilian cars.

The resumed talks in Jeddah will start by discussing ways to implement the existing agreement, then move on to a lasting ceasefire that could pave the way for a civilian government, officials say.

Saudi Arabia has invited army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to the Arab League summit in Jeddah, a senior Saudi diplomat said, but he is not expected to leave Sudan for security reasons, two other diplomats in the Gulf said.

Burhan was invited because he is head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, in which his rival, RSF chief Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, is deputy.

Saudi Arabia has had close ties to both men since the army and the RSF sent troops to help the Saudi-led coalition in its war against Houthi forces in Yemen.

Some of the worst fighting has taken place in Darfur, where a war has simmered since 2003, killing 300,000 people and displacing 2.5 million.

The Darfur Bar Association, a local rights group, said at least 77 people were killed in Geneina, where fighting flared on Friday after a two-week lull.

"Armed groups on motorcycles and RSF vehicles attacked on Friday and are continuing to commit acts of killing, looting, arson and terror," the group said.

The RSF has denied moving from its positions in Darfur and blamed the strife there on the army and on loyalists of former president Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019, saying they had armed civilians.

Residents said on Friday the army did not intervene in the Geneina strife.

Reuters