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All I Want For Christmas is You, first released in 1994, tops the Billboard Hot 100 Chart at last.

As the world seeks cleaner alternatives to fossil fuel with the aim of halting climate change in its tracks, Nigeria's contemplation flickers, torn between giving up the stupendous fortunes of the liquid gold and charting a new path for a sustainable future. 

This dilemma is thickened by the fear of the unknown. Crude oil accounts for over 95 per cent of Nigeria's export earnings and about 40 per cent of government revenues, according to the International Monetary Fund. Despite attempts at diversifying the economy to areas such as agriculture and entertainment, the country still depends on it's oil wells for sustenance.

Will Nigeria lose it's coveted revenue source by phasing out the production and use of fossil fuel?

Nigeria's oil according to BudgIt is set to run out in 45 years. Based on proven oil reserves of 37 billion barrels and daily oil production of 2 million barrels, Nigeria's oil will run out. 

This coming apocalypse presents the country of 200 million people with the opportunity to create what climate activist, Peter Thorley, describes as "a model 360 turnaround" which can serve as a template for transition from fossil fuel to cleaner and climate friendly alternatives.  

"Nigeria is a unique situation because it has a young population in tune with the times, the geography is friendly for creating sustainable alternatives and my projection is that Nigeria can make N11trn from solar energy and wind farms alone," says Thorley. 

He adds that Nigeria, "Has a large population and economy run on generators which pollutes the environment with carbon monoxide and noise. 

"Imagine what people will pay for a cleaner and more quite alternative. And this does not even include mini grids which locals can use to sell power to neighbouring countries like Benin Republic or Cameroon."

For Ummi Dadi, who owns a solar business, expected revenue from greener sources peaks at N14trn.

"I say Nigeria will make nothing less than N14trn yearly from renewables. 

"All we need is the political will to start exploring this fallow Eldorado," he said. 

The numbers are high, compared to the N9.4trn Nigeria made in 2018 from crude oil sales. 

Beyond the numbers, projected revenue and possibilities for Nigeria, the country's fingers still drips in unsustainable use and sale of oil. In order to tap into the possibilities, Nigeria must show real commitment in planning a sustainable yet profitable future for its 200 million citizens.

This article was written with the support of Climatetracker.org as part of the 2019 Climate Tracker Data Journalism Fellowship

 

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At least three people thought they were shot - but police said broken tear gas canisters were to blame.

 

The Coalition For Good Governance will be embarking on a nationwide protest to demand for good governance in Nigeria.

The protest tagged “5 million March For Good Governance”, would be holding at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja, on Monday, January 20, 2020.

According to organisers of the protest, the march will be to demand a fundamental overhaul of Nigeria's constitution and restructuring of the country.

Other demands that will be pushed by the protest include “Respect for the right to free speech and respect for the rule of law and separation of powers in Nigeria.

“Cut down the cost of governance, bogus allowance and luxurious car purchases for politicians.

“Absolute independence of the judiciary and absolute independence of INEC whose Chairman should be appointed by the National Assembly”. 

The organisers urged all Nigerians to come out to join in the demand for an improved and better Nigeria.

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The Catholic priest kidnapped in Delta State, Samuel Agwameseh, has regained his freedom barely 24 hours after his abductors demanded for a N20m ransom.

Agwameseh was kidnapped over the weekend by some unknown gunmen, who seized him while returning from a function on Saturday.

Abductors of the priest had established contact with his family and demanded N20m as ransom to free him.

Director of Social Communication, Catholic Diocese of Issele-Uku, Delta State, Charles Uganwa, confirmed to our correspondent this evening that the kidnapped priest had been freed by his abductors.

 

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Top Russian official Valentin Yumashev tells the BBC how the former KGB officer was selected.

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A section of the Nigerian criminal code forbids witchcraft, and it is punishable by a jail term.

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Some politicians are facing anger from their constituents over the impeachment of Trump.

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Far-right interior minister Mart Helme described Finland's PM Sanna Marin as "a sales girl".

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A system of floodgates for Italy's lagoon city has been delayed for years and mired in corruption.

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The cast discuss women and the Golden Globe nominees as well as the new film.

Eight members of a local music group in Kebbi State have been physically assaulted on the orders of an aide to the state governor, Atiku Bagudu.

Governor Bagudu's Personal Assistant, Faruku Musa Yaro widely known as Enabo, is alleged to have ordered and supervised the assault of the musicians at his residence.

The victims are Kabiru Arzila (KB show), Ayuba Ibrahim, Musa Alle, Bello Aljannare, Shamsu Attahiru Otono and three others.

The musicians were said to have incurred the wrath of the governor's aide after using satirical songs to criticise the administration of Bagudu.

Recounting the experience, Arzila said four of them were picked up at Abacha Hotel around 3:30am on Monday by persons numbering 10.

He said, "It is true that we have criticised the government; as musicians of Kebbi State origin, we owe our people a duty to criticise bad governance and that's exactly what we did in one of our songs.

"We couldn't keep quiet while Governor Bagudu continues to ruin our state through bad governance. 

"But we never believed they could resort to violence.

"We were at Abacha Hotel when some hoodlums came and broke the door and took us to the residence of Faruku Musa.

"In his living room, he ordered some hefty men to beat us until we disclosed who sponsored us to criticise the governor with our songs.

"In fact, he pulled out an AK47 rifle threatening to kill Bello Aljanare. 

"Thereafter, he warned us never to malign either the governor or any official of the Kebbi State Government before we were released."

Director-General of Kebbi Concern Citizens, a civil society organisation, Ibrahim Mohammed, confirmed visiting the victims in hospital.

Yaro however, declined to respond to the allegation when contacted by SaharaReporters. 

 

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Nigerian lawmakers have set aside a whooping N37bn to renovate the National Assembly.

This is contained in the N2.5trn budgeted for capital projects by the Federal Capital Development Authority in the 2020 budget.

The legislative arm had also voted N100bn for constituency projects in the budget, while earmarking N1bn for the amendment of the 1999 constitution by lawmakers in 2020.

Defending the huge sum, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said some facilities in the National Assembly complex were old and needed to be replaced.

He said, “The phase one renovation will commence – the chambers and committee rooms in the white house.

“N37bn was sourced and was given. It was put under the FCT, not National Assembly. All we require is to have the complex renovated."

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Rawlings Agada, National Assembly Director of Information, hinted that the money might not be enough for the required renovation.

He said, “The National Assembly needs a lot of work. 

"I don’t think even that amount of money can take care of all those things because even the dome has been leaking and there is fear that if the repairs are not done, we might suffer greater problem in future.”

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Nigerian lawmakers have set aside a whooping N37bn to renovate the National Assembly.

This is contained in the N2.5trn budgeted for capital projects by the Federal Capital Development Authority in the 2020 budget.

The legislative arm had also voted N100bn for constituency projects in the budget, while earmarking N1bn for the amendment of the 1999 constitution by lawmakers in 2020.

Defending the huge sum, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said some facilities in the National Assembly complex were old and needed to be replaced.

He said, “The phase one renovation will commence – the chambers and committee rooms in the white house.

“N37bn was sourced and was given. It was put under the FCT, not National Assembly. All we require is to have the complex renovated."

 

Meanwhile, Dr. Rawlings Agada, National Assembly Director of Information, hinted that the money might not be enough for the required renovation.

He said, “The National Assembly needs a lot of work. 

"I don’t think even that amount of money can take care of all those things because even the dome has been leaking and there is fear that if the repairs are not done, we might suffer greater problem in future.”

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Few days after ordering the Department of State Services to transfer the case file of Omoyele Sowore to his office, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said he can’t order the DSS to release Sowore.

Malami, who is also the Minister of Justice, said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu. 

Sowore's lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), had written a letter to Malami, requesting him to order the release of Sowore.

Falana said that his client was being illegally detained as there was no court order to that effect.

He said that two lawyers in the team visited the DSS headquarters in Abuja to demand Sowore’s release but were advised to direct their request to Malami.

Responding to Falana, Malami said he can’t order Sowore's release before hearing from the court as he could not take a unilateral decision. 

He said, “When parties submit their issues for determination to a court of law, they lack exclusivity of decision over such issues without recourse to the court.

“We remain guided by the established tradition and will not take unilateral decision without recourse to the rule of law.”

Sowore was rearrested on December 6 by the DSS barely 24-hours after he was released on bail. 

He is yet to be told the reason for his rearrest. 

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Few days after ordering the Department of State Services to transfer the case file of Omoyele Sowore to his office, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said he can’t order the DSS to release Sowore.

Malami, who is also the Minister of Justice, said this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations, Dr Umar Gwandu. 

Sowore's lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), had written a letter to Malami, requesting him to order the release of Sowore.

Falana said that his client was being illegally detained as there was no court order to that effect.

He said that two lawyers in the team visited the DSS headquarters in Abuja to demand Sowore’s release but were advised to direct their request to Malami.

Responding to Falana, Malami said he can’t order Sowore's release before hearing from the court as he could not take a unilateral decision. 

He said, “When parties submit their issues for determination to a court of law, they lack exclusivity of decision over such issues without recourse to the court.

“We remain guided by the established tradition and will not take unilateral decision without recourse to the rule of law.”

Sowore was rearrested on December 6 by the DSS barely 24-hours after he was released on bail. 

He is yet to be told the reason for his rearrest. 

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The University of Abuja has sacked two professors and also demoted two lecturers over various acts of misconduct.

The professors sacked were identified as Adeniji Abiodun and Agaptus Buzo-Chibuzo Orji.

While Abiodun was dismissed for indulging in an inappropriate relationship with a female student, falsification of academic records and aiding and abetting of examination malpractice, Orji was dismissed for indulging in corruption and dishonesty as well as falsifying academic records and aiding and abetting of examination malpractice.

Their dismissal was approved by the Governing Council of the university.

Similarly, Dr Robert Dajal was demoted from being an Associate Professor to Senior Lecturer and Mr Gana Defian from Lecturer 1 to Assistant Lecturer after being found guilty of “various acts of misconduct inimical to the good image of the university”. 

The university, in a statement by Head, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, reads, “The University of Abuja wishes to restate its commitment to high moral standards and determination to take appropriate disciplinary measures against any act of misconduct perpetrated by staff and/or students in the interest of justice and educational development.”

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Following reports of Federal High Court sitting in Kano dismissing the bribery suit against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for lack of evidence, Nigerians have condemned the court’s decision, describing it as covering corruption.

Ganduje was filmed receiving kickback from a contractor and hiding it under his cloth.

A Kano-based lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, had asked the court to mandate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Ganduje after months of silence by the anti-graft agency.

President Muhammadu Buhari had said he does not know the technology used in creating the video, dismissing it as not genuine and also exonerating Ganduje.

However, Nigerians on social media condemned the ruling by the judge, branding the judiciary as the biggest problem of the country.

Emma O. Akpasubi in a post on Twitter said, “Nigeria's judiciary is the enemy of its own independence. Ethnic and other biases still influence court cases and judgments. 

"Until the judiciary purge itself of a situation where ethnic and other considerations in the name of technicalities give out strong cases, hopelessness is it.”

Airmecca wrote, “It is not for lack of evidence or not that the case was dismissed. We know the truth: the judge has just done what he was instructed to deliver. The judiciary has been reduced to bunch of actors.”

Benson tweeted, “Why Kano, why not Abuja but if the case is for South-West governors or anyone from the region, someone like (Omoyele Sowore) it will be transferred to Abuja right?"

JAM wrote, “Under Buhari, corruption is by far worse. Just sing Buhari's praise and then go ahead to steal as you want, they will declare you a saint."

Jossy wrote, “Why are you surprised when they don't obey court orders anymore because the judiciary is now part of the presidency.”

Olaoye Abayomi Samuel wrote, “That's not a verdict for Nigerians, its a verdict simply to promote and favour Northern agenda. Shame on judiciary.”

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Following reports of Federal High Court sitting in Kano dismissing the bribery suit against Governor Abdullahi Ganduje for lack of evidence, Nigerians have condemned the court’s decision, describing it as covering corruption.

Ganduje was filmed receiving kickback from a contractor and hiding it under his cloth.

A Kano-based lawyer, Bulama Bukarti, had asked the court to mandate the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate Ganduje after months of silence by the anti-graft agency.

President Muhammadu Buhari had said he does not know the technology used in creating the video, dismissing it as not genuine and also exonerating Ganduje.

However, Nigerians on social media condemned the ruling by the judge, branding the judiciary as the biggest problem of the country.

Emma O. Akpasubi in a post on Twitter said, “Nigeria's judiciary is the enemy of its own independence. Ethnic and other biases still influence court cases and judgments. 

"Until the judiciary purge itself of a situation where ethnic and other considerations in the name of technicalities give out strong cases, hopelessness is it.”

Airmecca wrote, “It is not for lack of evidence or not that the case was dismissed. We know the truth: the judge has just done what he was instructed to deliver. The judiciary has been reduced to bunch of actors.”

Benson tweeted, “Why Kano, why not Abuja but if the case is for South-West governors or anyone from the region, someone like (Omoyele Sowore) it will be transferred to Abuja right?"

JAM wrote, “Under Buhari, corruption is by far worse. Just sing Buhari's praise and then go ahead to steal as you want, they will declare you a saint."

Jossy wrote, “Why are you surprised when they don't obey court orders anymore because the judiciary is now part of the presidency.”

Olaoye Abayomi Samuel wrote, “That's not a verdict for Nigerians, its a verdict simply to promote and favour Northern agenda. Shame on judiciary.”

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Ballerina Misty Copeland criticises a "racially insensitive" Russian production of La Bayadère.

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China invites Arsenal's Mesut Ozil to visit the country, saying his criticism of the treatment of Uighur Muslims there was "influenced by untruthful remarks".

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One of those killed was a decorated female officer whose body was later found dismembered.

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The call from the minority leader in the US Senate comes days before a vote to impeach Donald Trump.

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It is not clear who opened the SS officer's unmarked grave - police say no remains were taken.

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The bat the baseball legend used in 1929 for his 500th home run was hidden in a friend's cupboard.

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The ex-president said most of the world's problems came from old people, mostly men, holding onto power.