Below are the headlines found on The Punch Online Newspaper for today, Thursday, 29 June, 2017.

Apapa gridlock: NIWA says no plans for water transportation
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Anna Okon As cargo owners continue to groan under the yoke of the Apapa gridlock, it appears there will be no quick respite while the construction of the road by the Federal Government and other stakeholders lasts, as the use of the inland waterways as an alternative is not been considered. The Minister of Power []
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NPA MD tasks MDAs on transparency, efficiency
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Usman, has advised heads of government parastatals to imbibe the culture of transparency in the conduct of their business and in dealing with members of the public. Usman stated this during the 38th edition of the Centre for Values in Leadership's 'Leader Without Title' tribute and colloquium that []
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Nigeria can become Africa's solar capital'Vortman
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
The Chief Executive Officer/Co-founder, Lumos Global, Mr. Davidi Vortman, speaks to TOBI AWORINDE about the electricity challenge facing Nigeria on the sidelines of the 2017 African Development Bank Annual Meetings Can you highlight the challenges relating to power in Africa and why it is important for your company to come on board to try and []
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CSR-in-Action, NEITI, others to examine extractive industries
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Femi Asu CSR-in-Action and the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, in partnership with the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, and other stakeholders are set to discuss critical issues in the nation's extractive industries. The other stakeholders include the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Miners Association of Nigeria, and the Petroleum []
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C'River to build 26MW power plant in Tinapa
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Femi Asu The Cross River State government has expressed its readiness to commence the construction of another power plant in addition to an ongoing 21 megawatts plant in the state. Funded by the Export-Import Bank of India and the Cross River State Government, the 26MW gas-powered plant in Tinapa is expected to be completed in []
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Japan outlaws restrictions on resale of LNG cargoes
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Japan has outlawed restrictions stopping customers from reselling cargoes of liquefied natural gas, in its latest move to liberalise a market where Japanese utilities have long been the biggest buyers. The Japan Fair Trade Commission, concluding an investigation into the sector, said it was banning clauses limiting resale of LNG and called on companies to []
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Equities rebound, banking stocks lead N185bn gain
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Stanley Opara The Nigerian equities market appreciated by N185bn at the close of trading on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Wednesday. The NSE banking index recorded the highest gain, as it appreciated by 3.16 per cent. This was followed by the NSE industrial, food/beverage and oil/gas indices, which gained 1.08 per cent, []
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ASEA, CFA Institute sign agreement on standards
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
The African Securities Exchanges Association has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with CFA Institute to increase access to the professional education programmes and standards of professionalism within the ASEA community's jurisdictions. The CFA Institute has extended its suite of educational offerings to ASEA member Exchanges, regulators, brokerage firms and any other capital market stakeholder []
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Investing in ceramic glaze materials' production
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Ceramic glaze material is the finishing glassy coat in a typical ceramic production. They are hard, smooth and impervious to liquids, steam, weak acids, alkalis, and are insoluble in water. Glazes are applied to ceramic products to give them strength and a smooth surface; enhance aesthetic appearance, provide a protective cover against abrasion and chemical []
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Naira closes at 367/dollar, CBN sells $195m
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Oyetunji Abioye The naira recorded a marginal gain on Wednesday, closing at 367 per United States dollar, up from 368 on Tuesday. The local currency has been hovering between 363/dollar and 370/dollar as the Central Bank of Nigeria continues to supply foreign exchange into the market. Analysts expect the local currency to trade within this []
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Standard Chartered advises firms on budget
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria has held a customer engagement forum for its select clients to provide insight on aspects of the budget and its impact on companies in the country. The lender, in a statement on Wednesday, said the development followed the signing of the 2017 budget proposal by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, The session []
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FCMB boosts youth banking initiative
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
The First City Monument Bank Limited has opened a Flexx Hub at the University of Benin in Edo State. The hub is a mini branch where basic banking transactions can be carried out, while also serving as an exclusive banking arena for the FCMB's customers who hold its youth account, known as Flexx. The lender, []


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No concession approval for refineries, says Kachikwu
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, on Monday stated that the country's three refineries were embroiled in confusion, but added that there was no approval to sell the plants or give them out to private investors as concessions. He also announced that the Federal Executive Council had approved the []
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NIPOST begins restructuring without reform bill passage
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Everest Amaefule, Abuja The Nigerian Postal System will on Monday begin the implementation of its four-year reform programme without the passage of the Nigerian Postal Service Reform Bill, which is currently in the National Assembly. In a document titled: 'NIPOST Vision 2020 ' Embracing the Future Today', obtained by our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, []
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Ransomware: NITDA warns of attacks on computers, phones
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Everest Amaefule, Abuja The Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency has raised the alarm over possible virus attacks on computer and mobile phones across the country. In a statement made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, the Director-General, NITDA, Dr. Isa Ibrahim, said the virus attack had already been recorded in Ukraine, Denmark, Russia, []
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US oil export gains more momentum, threatens Nigeria's
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Femi Asu The United States' monthly crude oil exports have hit the one million barrels per day mark, further penetrating some of Nigeria's major export destinations. Since last year, Nigeria has lost some of its market share in Europe, its biggest regional market, as crude oil export from the US continued to increase. The US []
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Terminal upgrade cause of leaking roof at MMIA
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has attributed the reports of a leaking roof at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to the ongoing works at the terminal. FAAN said in a statement signed by its acting General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, on Wednesday that the upgrade was coming on the []
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EU prolongs energy sanctions against Russia to 2018
Thu, 29 Jun 2017


The EU has again prolonged energy, financial and other economic sanctions against Russia for its role in the conflict in Ukraine, this time to January 31, 2018, the EU Council said Wednesday. The EU imposed energy sanctions in July 2014 when it limited Russia's access to European technology and services for developing Arctic, deepwater and []
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Nigeria lags behind 16 African countries in oil governance
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Femi Asu Although Nigeria is Africa's top oil producer and exporter, the country falls short when it comes to the governance of its oil and gas industry, a new global report has shown. The 2017 Resource Governance Index, which was unveiled on Wednesday by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, ranked Nigeria 55th among 89 assessments, []
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Abolish difficult visa procedures, Dangote urges African leaders
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Akinpelu Dada For the African continent to attract the required investment into key sectors and achieve economic integration, the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has urged leaders to review their visa procedures and tariff regimes. The review, according to him, will remove unnecessary barriers to intra-African trade and guarantee real growth and foreign []
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Why Nigeria could not achieve MDGs ' Udoma
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba, Abuja The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, on Wednesday explained why Nigeria and other African countries could not achieve the targets set in the Millennium Development Goals, blaming the development on the continent's over reliance on foreign aids. Udoma stated this in Abuja at the high level policy dialogue []
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NLC attacks Umahi over N56,000 new minimum wage
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Ifeanyi Onuba and Olaleye Aluko The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has faulted the demand by the Nigeria Labour Congress for an increase in the minimum wage from the current N18,000 to N56,000 monthly. Umahi faulted the NLC demand in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja on the sidelines of a meeting with []
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Yam export won't affect availability locally ' FG
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja The commencement of yam export from Nigeria will not result in the depletion of the commodity domestically, the Federal Government has said. Last week, the government announced that a consignment of 72 metric tonnes of yam would leave Nigeria for Europe and the United States of America on Thursday, June 29, 2017. []
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Four power plants to add 524MW this year
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Okechukwu Nnodim, Abuja At least 524 megawatts of electricity will be added to the quantum being generated in the country before the end of this year, the Federal Government has said. It stated that four power plants would produce the 524MW, adding that more electricity would be generated by two other plants in the first []
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CBN supports Naira with $195m
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Wednesday, intervened in various segments of the inter-bank market to the tune of 195million dollar to support the Naira. In a statement issued in Abuja, it said the move was continued effort to ensure the stability of the currency. A breakdown of Wednesday's intervention indicates that authorised dealers []
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250 golfers set for Ilorin championship
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
No fewer than 250 golfers are to converge on Ilorin for a six-day golf tournament, according to the News Agency of Nigeria reports. The Captain of the Ilorin Golf Club, Layi Maliki, said at a news conference in Ilorin on Wednesday the Kwara State Government, in conjunction with the Ilorin Golf Club, was organising the []
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Confederation Cup: Mexico wary of youthful Germany
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio warned against underestimating a youthful Germany in Thursday's Confederations Cup semi-final because of the wealth of experience many of them had already gained, AFP reports. Of the eight teams at the tournament the Germans brought the youngest squad to Russia's Confed Cup with an average age of just over 24. []
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Wimbledon: Murray named top seed ahead of Federer, Nadal
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Britain's defending champion Andy Murray has been named top seed as the 'big four' in men's tennis head the rankings for Wimbledon, BBC Sport reports. Novak Djokovic is second, Roger Federer third and Rafael Nadal fourth seed. It is the first time since Wimbledon 2014 that the four players have been named top seeds for []
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Oshaniwa quits Hearts
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Nigeria left-back Juwon Oshaniwa has left Hearts by mutual consent a year before his contract was due to expire, BBC Sport reports. Oshaniwa, 26, joined the Tynecastle club on a three-year deal in 2015 but made only 25 appearances and none in season 2016-17. He has been capped 17 times and Hearts said on their []
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Ex-police chiefs face criminal charges over Hillsborough disaster
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Prosecutors on Wednesday announced criminal charges against six people including ex-police chiefs over the 1989 Hillsborough soccer stadium crush in which 96 fans died, Britain's worst sporting disaster, Reuters reports. The victims, all Liverpool supporters, died in an overcrowded, fenced-in enclosure at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, northern England, during an FA Cup semi-final between []
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Players praise Tiger for getting help, await return
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Tiger Woodswont be hosting this weeks PGA National tournament as he continues treatment to manage medications following an impaired driving arrest, and players on Wednesday praised his commitment to getting better. Its really cool to see what hes doing in terms of hes handling what hes dealing with and hes taking it seriously, said 12th-ranked []
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Bravo is Chile's hero in Confed Cup shoot-out win
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Claudio Bravo was Chiles hero on Wednesday as they beat Portugal 3-0 in a penalty shoot-out in the Confederations Cup semi-finals. The Manchester City goalkeeper saved all three penalties from Portugals Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani, while Arturo Vidal, Charles Aranguiz and Alexis Sanchez nailed their spot-kicks for the South Americans. We are satisfied []
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Chile edge Ronaldo's Portugal for final
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Chile are through to the finals of the Confederations Cup, edging out Cristiano Ronaldo-led Portugal in the first semi-final in Kazan Russia. The South Americans won in a shootout in which the Chilean keeper was the hero, stopping three of the kicks. The Chileans, however, had no problem beating the Portugal keeper. It was a []
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The littered and flooded streets of Aba
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
When the World Health Organisation, last year, released the report which included three Nigerian cities among world's 20 most polluted cities, Aba featured as the world's sixth most polluted. For those who have visited Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, it might have come as a surprise that the WHO report did not place []
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Restructure, lest Nigeria become the devil's playground
Thu, 29 Jun 2017
Ayo Baje 'After all, no one is stupid enough to prefer war to peace; in peace sons bury their fathers. But in war fathers bury their sons.' ' Herodotus Those beating the drums of war, with their tactless tongues and others stoking the flames of disunity with their treasonable songs, in our dear nation []
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