Former U.S. President, Donald Trump has warned that under the Biden administration, the country’s dependence on foreign oil may increase and energy prices could rise.

Trump made the observation while speaking at the 2021 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando.

“Under the radical Democrat policies the price of gasoline has already surged 30 per cent since the election and will go to $5, $6, $7 and even higher, so enjoy that when you go to the pump,’’ he said.

Trump also slammed the Biden administration’s decision to return to the Paris climate deal, saying the move ruined his efforts to turn the U.S. into an energy independent country.

The 2015 Paris Climate Accord is the biggest international effort to curb climate change, per which 196 signatory countries collectively pledged to limit global warming below 2 degrees Celsius.

“We will now be relying on Russia and the Middle East for oil. The Biden policies are a massive win for other oil-producing countries and a massive loss for the United States,’’ he said.

Additionally, the ex-U.S. president argued that the Democrats could cause an “energy disaster” for America.

To illustrate this, he pointed to the recent blackouts in California and “windmill calamity” in Texas that rode roughshod over the states amid bad weather conditions.

Trump said that wind and solar power are far more expensive than natural gas, not necessarily environmentally friendly, and lack the capacity to adequately fuel U.S. factories.

During the October 2020 election debate, Biden, in response to a question from Trump about whether he would close down the oil sector of the U.S. economy, said that he is planning to “transition from the oil industry” and eventually lead the nation towards renewable energy.

“It is a big statement because the oil industry pollutes significantly. It has to be replaced by renewable energy over time. I’d stop giving to the oil industry, I’d stop giving them federal subsidies’’, the then-U.S. presidential hopeful said at the time.

Trump was quick to respond by claiming that the Democratic nominee said “he is going to destroy the U.S. oil industry’’.

By Abujah Racheal

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 240 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 155,657.

The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Sunday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 240 infections were lower than 341 registered on Saturday, Feb. 27 in the country.

It sadly recorded two COVID-19-related deaths, raising the total fatalities in the country to 1,907 in the last 24 hours.

The Nigeria public health agency said that the 240 new cases were reported from 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The NCDC said that Anambra led with 85 new cases; Lagos the epicentre of the disease in the country came second with 82 new infections, followed by Osun with 17 and Ogun with 10 infections.

The other states with new infections were Kwara-nine, FCT-eight, Kano-seven, Abia-six, Borno-four, Edo-two, Bayelsa-tw, Kaduna-two and Rivers-one.

The agency said that the rise in COVID-19 recoveries had resulted in a consistent decline in theNigeria’s active caseload, which presently stood  at 19,909.

The NCDC said that the number of people who had recuperated from coronavirus moved up to 133,768, with 512 new discharges in the last 24 hours.

“Our discharges today include 170 community recoveries in Lagos State, managed in line with guidelines,” it noted.

The agency said that a multi-sectoral national Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), activated at Level 3, had continued to coordinate the national response activities in the country.

NAN recalls that the country has tested 1,489,103 people since the first confirmed case relating to the COVID-19 pandemic was announced on Feb. 27, 2020.

By Bosede Olufunmi

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of nine persons in a motor accident at Kunar Dumawa in Dambatta Local Government, Kano.

Confirming the accident in a statement on Sunday, the FRSC Sector Commander, Zubairu Mato, said 41 others were injured in the Sunday evening accident.

“We received a call at about 4:10p.m. on Sunday, so we quickly dispatched our personnel and vehicle to the scene for the rescue of victims at about 4:17p.m. as well as clearing the obstructions,” Mato said.

He said the crash occurred as a result of loss of control due to brake failure.

According to him, the accident involved three vehicles – a truck with registration number XA 111 SNN, a Volkswagen Golf 3 with registration number DAL 515 ZX and a Mercedes Benz without a registration number.

“The victims who lost their lives are three males, six females, while the remaining 41 victims sustained serious injures,” he said.

The road safety boss said the victims were evacuated to Dambatta General Hospital where the doctor on duty confirmed nine dead.

By Chimezie Anaso

Sen. Uche Ekwunife, representing Anambra Central in the National Assembly on Sunday donated gas cylinder stoves to 650 women across the state.

She said that the donation was her own way of empowering the women in the 326 political wards and to also encourage cleaner environment in the state.

Ekwunife, an aspirant for the Nov. 6 governorship election in Anambra on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said the items would serve as source of domestic fuel for the women and also help them engage in small businesses.

She said that empowering women should be a priority to all because it was the shortest route to pulling the society out of poverty.

“We want to have a generation of working house wives who would take care of their families in the kitchen and also help build the family through businesses.

“With these cylinders, our women can now go into baking, confectioneries and other profitable ventures, I shall continue to support them with empowerments that address their needs,” she said.

The senator said she was ready for the election and was sure of victory.

Ekwunife  said she was not relying on ‘gender pity’ for victory but on her capacity as a politicians who had done well for herself.

The Senator called on women to believe in themselves and be courageous enough to go for elective positions rather than waiting for the society hand positions over to them.

By Lizzy Okoji

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on his efforts in providing security, good governance, and infrastructure building in the state.

The Chief Press Secretary to Kogi governor, Mr Mohammed Onogwu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Onogwu, who quoted Obasanjo as making the commendation when he met with the governor on Sunday in Abuja, added that the former president urged him to sustain the efforts.

He stated that the meeting between Bello and the former president ended with fruitful discussion.

Obasanjo while commending Bello for successfully tackling insecurity in the state, said Kogi was central to the nation’s development.

He urged the governor to sustain his efforts in providing security for his state, noting that Kogi was central to the nation’s peace and development.

The former president noted that the fight against insecurity should have everybody on board, stressing that governors should involve everyone to ensure insecurity is curtailed in Nigeria.

Obasanjo appreciated the governor for his developmental efforts in the state especially in the areas of youth and women inclusion in politics and governance, infrastructure, health and education.

He further urged the governor to continue to be an advocate for youth involvement in governance.

Responding, Bello thanked the former president for his statesman’s role, fatherly disposition and wealth of wisdom which the young leaders are privileged to tap from.

The governor noted that though his state was surrounded by 10 other states and the FCT making it the nexus between the South and North, West and East of Nigeria, Kogi, one of the 19 Northern States, stands in stoic defence against criminal elements.

This, he said, had made Kogi one of the safest states in the country.

Bello assured Obasanjo that he would not relent in the fight to ensure total safety for his people and will continue to do his best to ensure his electoral promises are fulfilled.

The governor prayed that God would continue to protect the statesman and grant him good health and long life.