President Muhammadu Buhari has written to the Nigerian Senate, seeking confirmation of Folashodun Shonubi as the deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Mr Buhari had in June nominated Mr Shonubi for the same position.

The letter was read by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, after a one-hour closed door session upon its resumption on Tuesday.

The letter reads,

“Dear distinguished Senate President, in accordance to the provisions of section 81 (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) establishment Act 2007, I have the pleasure to present Mr. Folashodun Adebisi Shonubi for confirmation as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“Find attached a copy of his Curriculum Vitae.

“While looking forward for your usual expeditious consideration, please accept, Mr Senate President, the assurances of my highest regards.

“Yours sincerely, Muhammadu Buhari.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/buhari-writes-senate-seeks-confirmation.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to the country after attending the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) in Mauritania.

The President, who travelled to Mauritania on Saturday, departed Nouakchott on Monday and arrived in Abuja hours later.In the course of his three-day trip, President Buhari addressed the summit on the theme: ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption, A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation’.

He called on nations where looted assets have been stashed to release them without the usual long technicalities involved in the process of repatriation.

“We must all collectively work to place high on the agenda the need for open and participatory government, as well as the repatriation of stolen assets without procedural technicalities and legal obstacles,” President Buhari had informed country leaders at the meeting.

He had also revealed that three different regional consultative workshops were organised, in line with his campaign programme to sensitise Africans on the evil effects of corruption on the society.

“The scourge of illicit financial flows continues to bite, eating back the gains and militating against the attainment of our aspirations under Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda,” the President had added.

On the sidelines of the summit, President Buhari met with French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mrs Amina Mohammed, among others.

He was accompanied on the trip by the Nasarawa and Edo state governors, Tanko Al-Makura and Godwin Obaseki, as well as ministers and heads of government agencies.

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The $3.3 billion Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) unit for the 200,000 barrels per day capacity Egina Deepwater oilfield, which arrived in Lagos in January this year from South Korea, will finally depart to the Egina oilfield in the coming weeks, Akelicious has learnt.

This is coming as oil prices fell Monday as supplies from Saudi Arabia and Russia rose, while economic growth stumbled in Asia amid an escalating trade dispute with the United States.

The Deputy Managing Director in charge of Deep Water at Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, Mr. Ahmadu-Kida Musa, said Monday in Abuja at the 2018 edition of the Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition (NOG) that the Egina field would account for 10 per cent of Nigeria’s crude oil production.

Musa explained that the FPSO, which had the detailed engineering of its topsides executed in-country after it arrived from South Korea, by Samsung with a consortium of Nigerian engineering companies, will sail away to Egina field, located in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 130, approximately 150 kilometres offshore, Port Harcourt.

According to him, the field is expected to begin producing 200,000 bpd of oil from the field.

“Egina is the latest of Total’s deepwater developments and the third project of its kind developed by Total in Nigeria, after Akpo and Usan. These projects have brought progressive increase in levels of Nigerian Content and this is well illustrated by the percentage of total project workload performed in Nigeria: from 44 per cent for Usan, Total recorded 60 per cent for Akpo and now 77 per cent will be achieved for Egina, just before the FPSO sails away from the SHI-MCI Yard in LADOL Island, Lagos where it is currently moored for topsides integration works,” said Musa.

“In the coming weeks, the FPSO will sail away to Egina field, which is located in OML 130, approximately 150 kilometres offshore Port Harcourt,” he explained.

He added: “It is the deepest offshore development carried out so far in Nigeria, in water depths of over 1,500 metres and the project is designed to produce 200,000 barrels per day of oil at plateau.

“In addition to the oil, the Egina field will produce gas. Associated gas will be partly re-injected into the reservoir to maintain reservoir pressure, and partly channelled to supply the domestic gas market.”

He explained that Nigeria was proud Egina has advanced its local content policy to new levels in many domains, adding that it, amongst others, led to the development of a new fabrication and integration yard which is reportedly Africa’s first FPSO integration quay.

“It was, constructed under the FPSO package contract by SHI-MCI, within Lagos deep offshore logistics base on LADOL Island. Today, the Egina project is proudly the first to record the fabrication and integration of FPSO topsides in Nigeria. Six of the 18 topside modules were fabricated and integrated at the SHI-MCI facility at LADOL. The Egina FPSO arrived from Korea in the last week of January for the integration of the locally fabricated modules and this integration was successfully completed in May, without incident,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote, has said that the board would take measures to ensure that operators who participate in its $200 million local content fund do not end up abusing the process and subsequently deflating the fund.

Wabote, in his presentation at the conference, also said the board has concluded to hand over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) any operator who failed to remit what was due to it as requested by the local content law.

He noted that the board was undertaking a forensic audit of the remittances and had engaged the country’s judicial sector on how the local content law works with regards to such remittances to it.

“We were told by the agencies responsible for financial crimes that not remitting government fund in itself is a financial crime as it is contained in their acts, and as such, when we carry out this forensic audits, if we discover any breach of the processes, of course, we will hand over such to the agencies responsible to go after companies that want to sabotage the economy. The EFCC and ICPC will be responsible to go after such people who decides that they will not remit what is due government in terms of law,” he said.

However, oil prices fell Monday as supplies from Saudi Arabia and Russia rose while economic growth stumbled in Asia amid an escalating trade dispute with the United States.

The global benchmark, Brent crude oil fell $1.24 per barrel to a low of $77.99 before recovering to $78.53, while the US light crude was down at $73.95 per barrel.

Oil prices rose strongly last week, with the US crude contract hitting its highest in three and a half years at $74.46.

But Reuters reported that a flurry of US announcements over the weekend unsettled oil markets.

President Donald Trump tweeted on Saturday that Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had agreed to pump more oil, “maybe up to 2,000,000 barrels”.

The White House later walked back on the comments.

Saudi Arabia’s output is up by 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) from May, a Reuters survey showed, and close to its 10.72 million bpd record from November 2016.

Russian output rose to 11.06 million bpd in June from 10.97 million bpd in May, the Energy Ministry said Monday.

US production has soared 30 per cent in the past two years, to 10.9 million bpd, meaning the world’s three biggest oil producers now churn out almost 11 million bpd each, meeting a third of global oil demand.

Also weighing on oil demand are trade disputes between the United States and other major economies, including China, the European Union, India and Canada.

China, Japan and South Korea all reported slowdowns in export orders in June amid escalating trade disputes with the United States.

“Recurring salvos in the trade war and falling asset prices raise the question of how much tariffs could damage the global economy,” US bank, JPMorgan said.

The bank added that a “medium-intensity (trade) conflict would likely reduce global economic growth by at least 0.5 per cent, “before accounting for tighter financial conditions and sentiment shocks”.

Despite the relief from Saudi Arabia and Russia, oil markets remain tense because of unplanned outages from Canada to Venezuela and Libya.

Looming US sanctions against Iran further contribute to expected tightness.

Trump threatened in an interview that aired on Sunday to put sanctions on European companies that do business with Iran.

“The Trump administration’s plan for Iran sanctions is now abundantly clear. They seek to push Iranian exports of crude, condensate, and oil products to zero,” energy consultancy FGE said in a note.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/33bn-totals-egina-fpso-departs-to.html

The Federal Government in collaboration with UNFPA and other development partners say they are working to boost nationwide access to reproductive health commodities and services to harness demographic dividends in the country.



The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the Annual Memorial Lecture in honour of Late Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin, former Executive Director, UNFPA.

The lecture, organised by UNFPA and Youth Hub Africa, was titled “Implication of the Population of 190 million on economic development and health/wellbeing of future generations of Nigerians’’.The minister said universal access to Family Planning (FP) is a human right, central to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and a key factor in reducing poverty and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Adewole added that universal access to FP commodities, essential medicines and services has been identified as a key intervention that would help in addressing inequities in the post 2015 development agenda.He said the ministry launched the document on Business Case for investment case of FP in Nigeria in 2017.

He explained that the document was designed to trigger a sustainability path for the FP programme through evidence-based interventions.He added that the document would also provide a framework for investment in FP to support Nigeria to reach the health and economic developmental goals.

According to him, the business case estimates the costs, impacts and financing scenarios to achieve the modern contraceptive prevalence goals and impact on development.The minister said government in collaboration with its partners and private sector pledged to achieve a modern contraceptive rate of 27 per cent among all categories of women by 2020.He renewed government’s commitment to increasing its annual allocation for contraceptives to $4 million from $3 million from 2018 to 2020, in compliance with the commitment of Nigeria at the 2017 FP Summit in London.

Earlier, the wife of late Osotimehin, Mrs Olufunke Osotimehin, appealed to the stakeholders to ensure that they look at the world through the lenses of her husband.She noted that many young people, women and children were marginalised due to their gender, culture, religion and poor attitude of some men to them.

She therefore appealed to government and other key stakeholders to ensure that more women are empowered, pregnant women deliver safely and girls were encouraged to go to school.Similarly, the UN Resident Coordinator, Mr Edward Kallon, described Late Osotimehin as a global leader who fought for the right of young people and work to ensure that no woman die while giving life.

Kallon, represented by Dr Eugene Kongnyuy, Acting Country Representative of UNFPA, appealed to government and partners to make strategic investments that would support the young people to harness their potentials.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Late Babatunde Osotimehin was a former Minister of Health and former Director-General of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA).

Until his death on June 4, 2017, Osotimehin was the executive director of UNFPA.He was also known for his interest in youths and gender issues as well as advocacy in reproductive health and rights.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission Monday said there is no possibility of cloned voter cards being used to cast a ballot in the next general.

The clarification came after a picture of a model of Nigeria’s permanent voter card was used in an advert by an ID card company on a Chinese e-commerce platform Alibaba.com. The advert has since been taken down.

The commission also said it has no relationship or any agreement with the company.

“We wish to assure the public that the commission had anticipated these and proactively taken measures to preserve and further secure our electoral materials,” said INEC’s director of voter education and publicity, Oluwole Osaze Uzzi.

He assured the public of protection of electoral materials, saying “secret features and secret codes are contained in the smart card Readers which will enable them read-only PVCs duly issued by the Commission.”

Uzzi noted that the Commission was taking the report seriously with the engagement of security operatives to investigate the root of the false reports and advertisements.

He disclosed that the commission will commence systematic hardware and software upgrade and the inclusion of other features to ensure security for the PVCs from “malicious access” nationwide.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/why-fake-voter-cards-wont-work-inec.html

The Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association has warned the Federal Government against acquiring land to build cattle ranches for Fulani herdsmen.

The President of the YYSA, Mr. Olalekan Hammed, said in an interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday that acquiring land for building ranches for herdsmen would cause a serious crisis in the future.


He said the Fulani would later want to claim ownership of such land thereby causing a serious crisis with the people of their host communities.

In order to forestall such future crisis, the youths advised the FG to treat livestock business like other privately-owned businesses so that people from other ethnic groups would not see the government action as trying to favour the Fulani people at the expense of others.

He said, “The Federal Government should not go ahead to acquire land for Fulani people because this will cause a serious crisis in the future. The Chairman of Miyetti Allah has already said that land in the entire country belongs to the Fulani.

“The Federal Government should not acquire land for them in Yorubaland. If Fulani herdsmen want to buy land for their livestock business, they should contact state governments. If there is available land in any state, such state will give them and they will make agreements on the land.

“Livestock business is private business of individuals and the Federal Government should not use the nation’s resources to create ranches for the Fulani. The statement that all land in Nigeria belongs to Fulani shows that they have a hidden agenda to dominate everywhere and this can never be possible.

“So, in order to avoid a crisis which the proposed ranches by the Federal Government would cause in the future, we are advising them against it now. Nobody will cede an inch of Yorubaland to anybody for ranches.”

The YYSA president warned that the Federal Government should not create a bigger problem while trying to solve a problem, saying that would not be seen as patriotism.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/punchng.com/fg-shouldnt-cause-crisis-with-ranches-yoruba-youths/amp/

The Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday, came down hard on incessant killing of citizens in different parts of the country, especially the recent wanton destruction of lives in Plateau State.

Saraki said the unfortunate incidents require drastic action from both the National
Assembly and the Presidency, adding that the National Assembly under his leadership would not shy
away from its responsibilities.

Saraki said this in Ilorin, after
an assessment tour of some ecological prone areas in the metropolis.He declared: “Many months ago, the National Assembly saw the danger. We called for
a summit to address the issue of security architecture. We saw the need for us to review security structure and invited
service chiefs on the matter. You are all aware that some service
chiefs decided in their wisdom that there was no need for them to
work with the NASS to address these issues.

“We are beginning to see the wisdom in some of the things we were
saying. We have always stood for what we believe is good for this
country, but we always politicise everything.”
He explained that the active collaboration of all agencies and arms of government is required to achieve positive result, adding that the NASS will not get frustrated.

“As we resume, we will continue on our part to ensure that
those who have the responsibility of protecting lives and property are
accountable to the people. It cannot continue. This is not something to
be politicised. If somebody is not capable, he should give
way for others that are competent. We have heard that security
personnel are working at cross-purposes,” he said.The Senate President maintained, “We all sit down, both the Presidency and legislature, to
thrash out the issues. Something needs to
be done. Something is wrong.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/ceaseless-killings-require-drastic.html

A group in Plateau State, Women for Women and He for She, has urged the Federal Government to mobilise all retired security personnel that abound in the state and the nation, and whose experience can be harnessed to come up with a template to mitigate and nip future attacks in the bud.

The women group also called for total overhaul of the country’s security architecture, since according to it reports from various quarters indicate that the security apparatus has been compromised.

Addressing journalists, yesterday in Jos, state coordinator of the group, Dr. Jophia N. Gupar, said the nation deserves security officers that are trustworthy, while urging proper equipping of state-owned security outfit, Operation Rainbow, for effective presence in all the 17 local government councils of the state.

She said traditional rulers, community leaders, ward heads and women representatives should be integrated into the security architecture at all levels of governance, even as they called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the violence and purveyors of hate speeches that have further aggravated the problems.

Also addressing journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Jos, the National President of Plateau Initiative for Development and Advancement of the Natives (PIDAN), Dr. Aboi JK Madaki, said though corpses were still coming in, the record so far showed that 219 bodies had been recovered in recent attacks in the state.

Madaki said 52 villages were sacked altogether, while 133,000 people were displaced in all the places attacked by suspected herdsmen, adding that the casualty figure given was based on estimation, because more corpses were still being recovered.While noting that the systematic attacks and killings of innocent citizens have been on for a long time, but it became more intense in the months of May and June this year.He condemned attacks on defenceless persons, saying such dastardly acts are callous, barbaric and inhuman.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/plateau-219-corpses-recovered-133000.html

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday in Jos, Plateau State, warned Nigerian security chiefs to rise up to the responsibilities of protecting Nigerians or lose their jobs, noting that if the widespread killings across the nation persist, they would have no option than to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to replace them.

On the same day dominated by fear of an attack in Jos, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, assured the nation that the Army was on top of all security challenges, while urging Nigerians not to celebrate insecurity.


The NGF was in Jos on a condolence visit to the government and people of Plateau State over the recent attack that claimed over 200 lives in the state.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, the Chairman, Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State disclosed that the last meeting of the Forum centred on issues of insecurity in states.

Accompanied by the governors of Delta, Imo, Nasarawa, Sokoto, Benue, Bauchi and Deputy Governors of Akwa Ibom, Edo, Oyo and Ondo, Yari noted that when he said he should not be addressed as the Chief Security Officer of his state, “it was because my hands were tied; when people were being killed by the marauders, security did not rise to the occasion as expected to defend them.”

Yari continued: “We condemn what happened in Plateau State and other states; we are looking at how to fight on a common front to defeat the challenges seeking to undermine the Nigeria state.

“Between March and June in my state, we had 115 incidents and 435 people lost their lives, our people are suffering. Within two hours, 235 people were killed, 80 found in one place. In Plateau State since 2012, this is the largest. These people must be brought to book because people have taken things for granted for too long because no one was brought to book, this must change.

“I have done my best, so have my colleagues, the unfortunate thing is that security agents are not there until the deed has been done. We must do something as leaders; else the next target would be us, because people may turn against us. We will have a day interface with the security chiefs to make them understand our plights and sit up or we will have no option but to ask the President to drop them.”

Also speaking, Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal warned that until governments at both state and federal levels take a decisive action against the attackers to serve as deterrent, they will continue in their criminality.

Before the Forum’s visit, Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State and his state’s Council of Chiefs visited to condole with Governor Lalong and donated N10 million in support of the displaced persons.

The NGF, which presented an undisclosed sum of money to the state government to assist the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), lamented the violence across states in the country, saying it is determined to overcome insecurity across the nation, so that people would not rise up against the governors.

Buratai: Army on Top of Security Challenges

Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has said the Army was on top of all security challenges in the country.

The COAS, who spoke yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, at a press conference to mark the commencement of 2018 Nigerian Army Day Celebration, NADCEL, which has as theme: “The Nigerian Army and National Security: A Panacea for Nigeria’s Economic Development”, said it was wrong to start a blame game with insecurity threatening the existence of the nation, noting that: “If we celebrate insecurity, we will continue to live with insecurity.”

He urged Nigerians to see the current insecurity in parts of the country as a challenge that everyone must see to an end.

Buratai, who emphatically stated that Boko Haram had been degraded, expressed optimism that peace would be restored to the troubled Jos soon, as the military has moved in to sanitise the situation and return normalcy back to the area.

The Army boss also advised all Nigerians to see security as a task for all and come out to play a role in the battle to bring peace back to the country.

He enjoined journalists not to give publicity to Boko Haram and other groups and individuals that have interest in destabilising the nation, noting that insecurity would be history.

“If we celebrate insecurity, we will continue to live with insecurity, it is better to look critically at issues and find solutions to them as a nation”, he mentored.

According to him, the Nigerian Army Day Celebration was a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by troops who laid down their lives to ensure Nigeria remained united as a nation.

This, he said, was in addition to projecting the Nigerian Army as an instrument of national unity, integration and development. This year, the Nigerian Army will be marking 155 years of its existence, dating back to its inception in 1863. process.

He added: “The unfortunate 30-months long Nigerian Civil War was announced by a shot that was fired on the 6th of July 1967 at Garkem, which is in present day Cross River State.

“We are aware of the many security challenges that have bedeviled this country in the last decade or so. However I am pleased to state that the Nigerian Army has made giant strides in this regard particularly in the last one year.

“Our security architecture as a country is one with a very positive outlook. We have not only consolidated on the gains established in the fight against insurgency in the North East but have progressed to the post stabilisation phase where all efforts are geared towards ensuring displaced persons return to their biological homes which are now safe.

“That is why I directed that an operation codenamed Operation LAST HOLD be conducted in the fringes of the Lake Chad waters and Northern Borno.

“This operation is a humanitarian one in which we seek to return the Internally Displaced Persons and also provide the much needed security and guarantee for them to return back to their economic lives of farming, fishing and trading. With the defeat of the insurgents, it is time to encourage our people to return to their ancestral home.

“We therefore use the occasion of this celebration to solicit for the cooperation, prayers and goodwill of all. Let us join hands to collectively build and take this nation forward.

“I therefore urge us all to desist from acts that are capable of truncating the peace. We must be tolerant of one another and learn to give peace a chance. Let us also remember that no nation can develop or be economically vibrant without security and peace.

“We assure all Nigerians that the Nigerian Army is for you and will continue to work for the common good of the country while professionally carrying out its constitutional responsibilities”, Buratai added.

Military Task Force assures of safety as tension envelopes Jos

As fears heightened over alleged plot to extend attacks to Jos township by armed herdsmen, the military Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in the state has as sured residents of their safely.

This is as Plateau APC Youths Online Forum has expressed shock that since the recent killings of over 200 persons which threw the state into confusion, Plateau Elders and military Generals had kept mum, describing the development as sickening.

Speaking yesterday after the show-of-force exercise around Jos and Bukuru metropolis, Spokesman of the STF, Major Adam Umar said the exercise had boosted the people’s confidence and enhanced their feeling of safety.

Umar advised the people to desist from peddling false rumours of further violence, saying that the force had been reinforced in terms of material and personnel to tackle any challenge, and that he was assured that they were capable of tackling any ugly situation that might arise.

On the rumour that there would be violent protest by the Muslim community, he said it should be treated as mere rumour.

He warned that anyone desirous of finding out facts should call the authorities rather than joining in spreading rumours. “We have not got that information, and besides, we have enough security apparatus to tackle such situation should it occur.

“We recently received material and personnel support from the defence headquarters in Abuja. We received some special operation force unit, which has a broad and good training on security management and challenges, and we have already deployed them to the field.

“In the same vein, the Nigerian Air force has deployed some helicopters to assist us in carrying out air surveillance. It is also good to know that the Inspector General of Police has deployed special operation personnel to strengthen our forces and apparatus on ground. So with all these, I believe that the peace we desire will surely return to the state,” he said.

He said contrary to the notion that Plateau residents were apprehensive, the look on the people’s faces inspired confidence and show that the people had reassurance of their safety; adding that during the show of force, many people called him to express their joy and to let him know that their presence had actually calmed their tensed nerves.

According to him, the town was secure and the people were peacefully going about their businesses without fear of intimidation or any kind of fright.

In a related development, Plateau youths yesterday expressed surprise that their elders had remained silent, leaving the security business to Governor Lalong alone.

Chairman of the Forum, Pius Tongmaan said, “It is bad that all the elders of Plateau are divided and scattered along political lines.”

The youths called for the immediate arrest and questioning of the North Central Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Danladi Ciroma “who has given a lead about the perpetrators of the attack by referring to it as retaliatory, where he justified the killing on the basis over 300 cows allegedly rustled by some natives of Barkin Ladi.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/governors-to-security-chiefs-brace-up.html

Air travellers expecting marginal review of fares following the recent removal of mandatory five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on transportation may have to wait longer.

Airlines operators, who though lauded the gesture, saw the development as more of compensation to the airlines that are over burdened by multiple charges, than gains to the passengers that have “usually been flying low-cost”.

A cross-check of the airlines’ booking platforms yesterday, about a week after the VAT suspension policy went public, showed that the airlines largely retained same rates as of a week before.


Except Arik Air that has lately introduced a super and smart saver promo, other airlines retained an average fare of between N24, 000 to N28, 000 Economy Class ticket for Lagos-Abuja flight of 24 hours away.

Arik Air, last Friday, introduced the ‘Now everyone can fly promo’ to all destinations, with tickets of N16, 000 and N18, 500 for seven and four days advanced booking, in that order.

Spokesperson of the airline, Banji Ola, confirmed the special offer, but with a condition that the tickets are available at the time of booking.

Dana Air Media and Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, told The Guardian that the airline would be more than happy to plough back the gains of VAT cancellation to the business and ticket fares subsidy, but may not happen soon.

Ezenwa noted that the expected gains are subject to actual implementation of the policy and the review of other multiple charges in the aviation industry.
He said: “Let us not forget that the reason some airlines charge so exorbitantly is the multiple charges that include VAT, high cost of aviation fuel and so on. Once these come down, the sector will surely be the better for it.
“We at Dana Air have a policy of low fares for our customers, though very difficult to operate. So, reductions in charges are opportunities to reinevest in our operations and further push the gains to our customers. We may not see these in the immediate but surely in the long-run,” Ezenwa said.

Apparently in agreement, Secretary General of the Aviation Safety Round-table Initiative (ASRTI), Group Captain John Ojikutu (rtd), said it is difficult to see the rationale for cheaper fares just yet.

Ojikutu raises some questions: “Does it make sense to reduce ticket fares by about N4,000 because of just N1,000 VAT grace from government? I think these airlines can never get commercial aviation right.

“What sense is there in still selling tickets to Abuja at N25K ($70) or N18K ($50) when fuel and dollar prices have increased by 30 per cent and 100 per cent respectively? The truth is hiding somewhere between them and the government officials.

“Government says, the VAT is charged on passengers not on airlines, that makes sense if passengers tickets would still be charged five per cent; but would the airlines be faithful in collecting the TSC for government? What assurances are there that airlines would render the correct figures of passengers traffic and tickets earnings on the BSP platform?”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/airlines-retain-ticket-rates-amid-end.html

For Nigeria to recalibrate its economy, it must grow the non-oil sector by 15percent for 10 consecutive years, Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State, has said.

Duke, said the need to recalibrate the economy became necessary because in another 10 years Nigeria’s population will be 230 million.

“Our GDP today is under 500 billion dollars; we need to be a 2.5 trillion-dollar economy to sustain the growing population,” he said.

The former governor, who recently declared his intention to contest the 2019 presidential election, on a yet-to-be-disclosed platform, also noted that the restiveness in some parts of the country and feeling of discontent in Nigeria have some correlation with the current biting economic realities in the country.

“A lot of the discontent in Nigeria is triggered by economic dislocation; people have no stake in this country. So, you need to get people to see themselves as stakeholders in this country,” Duke said.

According to him, “Whether it is Boko Haram, herdsmen crisis, militancy – it is purely economic.”

He also pointed out that part of the reasons for the restiveness in the North East was the death of textile companies in those areas.

“The North East used to be one of the world’s largest cotton belts. States such as Adamawa, Taraba and Borno competed with Mississippi. We had textile companies in those areas, but as long as we allowed cheap imports from emerging China and South East Asia and India to come in, our local factories could not compete; and as long as they could not compete, they shut down, when they shut down cotton growing ebbed in Adamawa.

“That was the genesis of all these Boko Haram crises. So, agriculture and industries are related. One must be there to drive the other. You cannot develop industries because of the high interest we are having. Some of the companies that claim they produce locally import and repackage. They cannot compete if they manufacture in-country,” he said.

He emphasised job creation as solution to youth-related crimes, citing his experience while as governor of Cross River.

“We did something in Cross River when we wanted to build the water scheme. They were going to use mechanical diggers to put the pipelines all over; I called the contractor and said to him, you are not going to spend all this money and people won’t feel it; so, we are going to get people to dig the trenches for you to pass the pipelines; he said no; it would take too long; but I insisted and say I am the client, it is either you do what I want or… So, he agreed. I tell you, for the 12 months that the programme was going on there was no reported crime in Calabar,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nigeria-must-grow-non-oil-sector-by-15.html

Dell EMC, a global technology solution provider has advised chief executive officers (CEOs) of large enterprise companies as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to align their operational processes with digital transformation, while ensuring that technology drives their entire business activities.

Country Manager, Dell EMC Nigeria, Mr. Travers Nicholas, who gave the advice during an interview with Akelicious in Lagos, warned that unless organisations align their businesses with current digital transformation, they would find it extremely difficult to remain in business in today’s digital era where competition drives businesses.

“My candid advice to all CEOs, business owners, small or large, is that digital transformation is the next frontier. Technology is no longer focused only on Information Technology (IT) department as cost centre, because technology itself is now the cost centre and data is no longer something that organisations need to worry about because data is the new currency.


“Today, technology is driving businesses to new heights to open up new channels and can engage people in diverse ways, and that is why technology is the new business. Organisations that have embraced digital transformation, have used technology to transform their businesses and they are using technology solutions to deliver products to people’s home, thus changing the business modules of old,” Nicholas said.

He added: “So, with basic technology solutions, organisations are able to provide basic services that the customer needs.

“Uber for example, has used basic technology apps to transform the transport business, and this is the type of digital transformation that Dell Technology is driving among large enterprise and SME businesses to enhance competition, business growth and profitability,” Nicholas added.

Therefore, he urged CEOs to understand that technology is now the business model, saying they need to look into their own business pattern to see how they can use technology to cause positive disruption.

“CEOs need to disrupt themselves. Every company needs to disrupt itself with technology before they are disrupted by others and Dell has a long history of disrupting self in many years,” he further said.

Speaking on the roles of Financial Technology (FinTech) players in the entire digital transformation process, Nicholas said: “FinTech players are key to digital transformation, because they develop solutions that drive automation processes that speed up business activities.

“FinTech has done a lot in the financial industry and they have caused a lot of distortions in that sector. Today we talk of successful online transactions because the FinTechs were able to develop solutions that drive it.
“Today many banks have become online banks and we operate mobile banking using the mobile phones.

“So, the evolution of banking has been ongoing and the FinTechs are instrumental to the evolution that has revolutionised the baking sector, he further stressed.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/smes-urged-to-embrace-digital.html

Queen Elizabeth Tuesday night presented three Nigerians, Hauwa Ojeifo, Isaac Ezirim and Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph from Nigeria with a Queen’s Young Leaders Award at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace, London.

The awards were in honour of the work they are doing to transform lives in their communities.

The Queen was joined at the Award ceremony by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in recognising their success.The Queen’s Young Leaders Awards programme, now in its fourth and final year, celebrates the achievements of some of the most exciting young change-makers from across the Commonwealth. This year’s cohort from 38 Commonwealth countries are finding solutions to global issues such as climate change, food scarcity, gender-based violence, mental health, and access to education.Guests including David Beckham OBE, Sir Lenny Henry CBE, Nicola Adams OBE, Neelam Gill, Caspar Lee, Tina Daheley, Ore Oduba and Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, Sir John Major, joined Award winners at Buckingham Palace to congratulate them on their remarkable achievements.

The Duke of Sussex, who was recently named a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador said: “In this rapidly changing world, it is heartening to meet so many inspiring young people gathered here today, who have already stepped up as leaders and improved the lives of so many people across the Commonwealth. You are the hope and optimism the world needs and we will all do whatever we can to support you in it.”

David Beckham OBE said: “I’m so proud to be here with the Queen’s Young Leaders tonight. It’s really inspiring to meet these hardworking young people, who continue to dedicate their time and energy to helping other people live a better life. Hearing their stories and the sacrifices they’ve made is a real honour and I feel very privileged to celebrate with them today.”

Isaac received his Award for the work he is doing to teach coding to teenagers in low-income areas, founding Teens Can Code which is currently training 200 teenagers how to build web and mobile applications using the same tools that are used by professionals in the tech industry.

Hauwa received her award for the work she is doing to tackle the stigma around mental health, running a women’s support group called She Writes Women, which focuses on mental health support and outreach among some of the most vulnerable people in the community.

Kennedy received his Award for the work he is doing to promote women’s rights in Nigeria, founding the Calabar Youth Council for Women’s Rights (CYCWR), which supports the rights of women in the areas of female genital mutilation (FGM), domestic abuse, forced child marriage and access to education for girls

Isaac Ezirim, 28, said: “I am extremely honoured and thankful to Her Majesty The Queen for this prestigious Award in recognition of the work I am doing in Nigeria. These are moments of utmost happiness for me and the communities I serve. It’s been such an amazing experience being here in the UK and meeting all of the other Award winners. Being part of the Queen’s Young Leaders family is exciting and I can’t wait to take this to the next level.”

Hauwa Ojeifo, 26, said: “It is a rare privilege to receive an Award from Her Majesty The Queen for the work I am doing in mental health in Nigeria. It has been a completely transformative experience being here in the UK getting mentored by world leaders, trained and engaging in top level meetings with some of the most powerful and influential change makers of our time. Perhaps the most humbling part is being part of a network of fellow young leaders across the Commonwealth whose knowledge and resource base is far reaching. I can’t wait to see what we do with these valuable connections in the future.”

Kennedy Ekezie-Joseph, 20, said: “I am honoured to be a recipient of the final ever Queen’s Young Leaders Award from Her Majesty The Queen. As a budding global leader, this Award is a huge responsibility for me moving forward to continue to live up to this Award and leverage all the opportunities it presents to develop my society. I have been able to meet other Award winners and learn about the incredible work they are doing across the Commonwealth. I have learned so much from the Residential Programme in the UK and I am sure that it is only just the beginning.”

As a Queen’s Young Leader, Hauwa, Isaac and Kennedy have gained access to bespoke mentoring and training through the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Continuing Education, designed to develop their leadership skills further and ensure they are best placed to lead the way in the future to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues.

Sir John Major, Chairman of The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust said:

“I extend my warmest congratulations to all the 2018 Queen’s Young Leaders. Together with our Award Winners from the last three years, they complete a unique, 240-strong cohort of Young Leaders from all across the Commonwealth. This is such an invaluable resource for the Commonwealth that The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust will be launching a legacy fund, to ensure that our support and encouragement to our Young Leaders will continue beyond the lifetime of the Trust.

“Each and every one of our 240 Young Leaders is a remarkable and exceptional young person, who I have no doubt will play an important role in shaping our future world. It has been an absolute privilege and delight to get to know them.”

The now complete Queen’s Young Leaders network forms a unique, dedicated and powerful group of young people from 53 Commonwealth countries who will connect, collaborate and change lives together for years to come. To further support them in their future endeavours, a £200,000 Legacy Fund has been created. It will be open to all 240 Queen’s Young Leaders and 282 highly commended runners-up to apply for grants that will help elevate their work and enable them to work together to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing the Commonwealth.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/photos-3-young-nigerians-get-queen.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in collaboration with the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) yesterday disclosed that plans to commence the financial education curriculum (FEC) next session for Basic and Senior Secondary Education levels across Nigeria have gotten to advanced stage.

The Acting Director of Consumer Protection Department, CBN, Mr. Yinka Ahmed said this at a workshop for the implementation of the FEC in Lagos.


He said the initiative, which commenced two years ago, was aimed at creating awareness on the issue of financial management; develop entrepreneurial skills among the teeming youth of Nigeria as well the importance of managing resources.

Ahmed said: “I am aware that in other climes it takes years to develop a financial education curriculum, some running into double digits. The project only commenced in 2016 and today we are already commencing the pilot phase and hope to launch during the next academic calendar.”

Ahmed, who was represented by Mr. Oludamola Atanda of the Consumer Education Division, Consumer Protection Department, CBN, said he was confident that the financial education curriculum would be a reference point for many others to learn from.

“I am also optimistic that the depth of knowledge and skills required by consumers to understand financial concept and manage their personal financial matters to enhance their economic wellbeing and also engender trust among them in the financial system which has bedevilled our country over the years would be addressed through the implementation of this curriculum.

“It is indeed interesting and gratifying to know that these issues are even being addressed by the FEC in advance as it is catching them young as we did not enjoy this during our childhood, our children are going to enjoy.

“I am confident that the completion of this project and implementation of the FEC would prepare Nigerian youths for the challenges of contributing towards sustainable economic development of Nigeria,” he explained.

On his part, the Executive Secretary, NERDC Prof. Ismail Junaidu said: “Financial Literacy is the set of skills and knowledge that allows an individual to make informed and effective decisions in matters that relate to finance and financial resources.

“It has to do with the ability to manage money, invest and understand how money works. The intervention of the federal government in the reconstruction of positive values in financial management through education, led to the conception of the FEC.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/cbn-nerdc-set-to-commence-financial.html

Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, will join other global leaders to speak at the 27th World Gas Conference (WGC), taking place from 25th to 29th June 2018 in Washington, United States.

During the five-day global gas showpiece, Baru is expected to market Nigeria’s tremendous gas potentials as a key driver in the nation’s socio-economic development, power generation as well as industrialization.

As part of the key activities at the conference, Baru will speak on the “Role of Gas in Power Generation” where he is expected to highlight the various gas-to-power initiatives of the Federal Government as championed by the NNPC.

Speaking on the conference, President, Nigerian Gas Association, Dada Thomas, said with over 192tcf in gas reserves, Nigeria was well-positioned to ensure stable long-term infrastructure development and revenue generation.

The WGC is the most important global gas industry gathering of influential leaders, policy-makers, buyers, sellers and experts on gas.

This year’s event will, for the first time, include participation from professionals working in finance, trading, law, sustainability, renewable as well as policy and government sectors.

Organised since 1931 by the International Gas Union (IGU), the triennial event aims to raise the profile of natural gas while offering timely updates on strategic, commercial and technical issues facing the entire gas value-chain.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/baru-speaks-at-world-gas-conference-in.html

The General Superintendent, Christ Apostolic Church, Worldwide, Pastor Samuel Oladele, has advised religious leaders and politicians to shun hate speech, as Nigeria prepares for 2019 general elections.

Oladele gave the advice in an interview with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja, at the inauguration of Christ Apostolic Church, Mediayese Region, and the induction of Pastor Chukwuemeka Osuigbo as the Pioneer Regional Superintendent

He urged Christians to shine the light of the gospel by living a Christlike life, saying hate speech has no place in Christianity.

“When Christ was on earth over 2,000 years ago, it was never heard of Him that He made any hate speech.

“All that came out of His mouth were words of grace and blessings. So hate speech has no place whatsoever in Christianity. ”

Oladele advised religious organisations to pray for the peace of the country as Nigerians prepares for 2019 general elections.

“The bible says: we should raise up holy hands so that there will be peace in the nation. So the church has a role to play by praying and preaching to church members and none members to ensure peace and love.

In his sermon titled, “The Mighty men of David,” the general superintendent, urged the congregation to seek to be man after God’s own heart at all time.

Oladele said that the best any man can become was to be the man after the heart of God.

“One thing is to be ordained and be given series of titles, the best is to be called mighty man of God.

“If there is anything you want to be known for, it is to be a mighty man after God’s own heart.”

He urged the ministers of God and Christians to always wait for God and their own time.

Oladele speaking on the restructuring of CAC, said such action became necessary following the growth and expansion of the Church.

“Today, we have over 10,000 pastors. In those days the number was not that high.

“It become necessary that we delegate some authority to some senior officials of the church to take care of some certain geographical areas of the Church here in Nigeria and overseas.”

The inductee and Pioneer Superintendent of the region, Pastor Osuigbo expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon enjoy peace because there were people interceding for the country.

“We are praying for the peace of the country and we believe God will surely intervene, either some people like it or not .

Osuigbo, however, urged leaders of the country to be God fearing and as well seek for the good and welfare of the masses.

He urged members of CAC under his region to trust God, pray together and allow God’s intervention in the region.

Pastor Ezikel Mapur, General Secretary, CAC Worldwide, who said that Christians played critical role in nation building, urged them to guide their congregation on the right path.

Mapur stressed the need for church leaders to focus on moral preaching and sensitisation of their members on their civic rights as citizens of the nation and that of heaven.

He said that Mediayese region has six states including; Nasarawa, Benue, Niger, Plateau , Bauchi, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory.

He said that CAC would continue to contribute its quota towards the development of the nation and spiritual development of citizens.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/cac-gs-urges-religious-leaders.html

Nigerian pop star Davido won Best International Act on Sunday in Los Angeles, United States at the BET Awards 2018 while American Beyonce won best femaleR&B/Pop Artist award.

Davido emerged the winner among nominees that included female Nigerian singer, Tiwa Savage. There were other nominees such as Booba (FRANCE), Cassper Nyovest (SA), Dadju (FRANCE), Distruction Boyz (SA), Fally Ipupa (DR CONGO), J Hus (UK), NISKA (FRANCE), Stefflon Don (UK) and Stormzy (UK).

Beyonce also beat SZA, H.E.R., Rihanna, Kehlani to emerge winner.

Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Rihanna, Bruno Mars were all winners in the night.

The BET Awards, established by Black Entertainment Television to recognise the best in African American culture, maintains an international category for black music from outside the United States.

Davido, 25, in his acceptance speech called for collaboration between African Americans and Africa.

“I’m telling you guys — come to Africa, eat the food, wear the clothes,” he told the audience full of African American A-list celebrities.

“Let’s collaborate, everybody. Let’s collaborate, man,” he said.

Complete list of Winners

Best Female R&B/Pop Artist Award
Beyoncé *WINNER
SZA
H.E.R.
Rihanna
Kehlani


Best Male R&B/Pop Artist Award
Bruno Mars *WINNER
Chris Brown
The Weeknd
Khalid
Daniel Caesar

Best Group Award
Migos *WINNER
A Tribe Called Quest
N*E*R*D
Rae Sremmurd
Chloe x Halle

Best Collaboration Award
Bruno Mars /Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
DJ Khalid /Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts” *WINNER
DJ Khalid /Jay-Z, Future & Beyoncé – “Top Off”
Cardi B /21 Savage – “Bartier Cardi”
French Montana f/Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
Kendrick Lamar f/Rihanna – “Loyalty”

Best Male Hip Hop Artist Award
Drake
Kendrick Lamar *WINNER
DJ Khaled
Jay-Z
J.Cole

Best Female Hip Hop Artist Award
Cardi B *WINNER
Nicki Minaj
Remy Ma
Dej Loaf
Rapsody

Video of the Year Award
Drake – “God’s Plan” *WINNER
Cardi B – “Bodak Yello”
Bruno Mars /Cardi B – “Finesse (Remix)”
DJ Khaled /Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble” Migos /Drake “Walk It Talk It”

Video Director of the Year Award
Benny Boom
Director X
Ava DuVernay *WINNER
Chris Brown
Dave Meyers

Best New Artist Award
SZA *WINNER
H.E.R.
Daniel Caesar
Gold
LinkA
Boogie Wit Da Hoodie
Dr. Bobby Jones


Best Gospel/Inspirational Award
Lecrae / Tory Kelly – “I’ll Find You” *WINNER
Snoop Dogg / B Slade – “Words Are Few”
Ledisi and Kirk Franklin – “If You Don’t Mind”
Marvin Sapp – “Close”
Tasha Cobbs Leonard f/ Nicki Minaj – “I’m Getting Ready”

Best Actress Award
Tiffany Haddish *WINNER
Lupita Nyong’o
Issa Rae
Angela Bassett
Letitia Wright
Taraji P. Henson

Best Actor Award
Chadwick Boseman *WINNER
Michael B. Jordan
Donald Glover
Sterling K. Brown
Denzel Washington
Daniel Kaluuya

Young Stars Award
Yara Shahidi *WINNER
Ashton Tyler
Caleb McLaughlin
Lonnie Chavis
Marsai Martin
Miles Brown

Best Movie Award
“Black Panther” *WINNER
“Girls Trip”
“A Wrinkle in Time”
“Detroit”
“Mudbound”

Sportswoman of the Year Award
Serena Williams *WINNER
Venus Williams
Skylar Diggins-Smith
Candace Parker
Elana Meyers Taylor

Sportsman of the Year Award
Stephen Curry
LeBron James *WINNER
Kevin Durant
Dwyane Wade
Odell Beckham Jr.

Album of the Year Award
Kendrick Lamar – “Damn” *WINNER
SZA – “Ctrl”
Jay-Z – “4:44”
Migos – “Culture II”
Kendrick Lamar and Various Artists – “Black Panther: The Album”
DJ Khaled – “Grateful”

BET Her Award
Janelle Monáe – “Django Jane”
Lizzo – “Water Me”
Mary J. Blige – “Strength of a Woman” *WINNER
Remy Ma f/ Chris Brown – “Melanin Magic (Pretty Brown)”
Chloe x Halle – “The Kids Are Alright”
Leikeli47 – “2nd Fiddle”

Coca-Cola Viewers’ Choice Award
SZA / Travis Scott – “Love Galore”
Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow” *WINNER
Kendrick Lamar – “Humble”
Drake – “God’s Plan”
Migos / Nicki Minaj and Cardi B – “MotorSport”
DJ Khaled f/ Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”

The Best International Act Award
Booba (FRANCE)
Cassper Nyovest (SA)
Dadju (FRANCE)
Davido (NIGERIA) *WINNER
Distruction Boyz (SA)
Fally Ipupa (DR CONGO)
J Hus (UK)
NISKA (FRANCE)
Tiwa Savage (NIGERIA)
Stefflon Don (UK)
Stormzy (UK)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/beyonce-davido-drake-winners-at-bet.html

Cholera outbreak at Tsangaya Islamic school, Madaki, in Gombe, has led to the death of three pupils while 27 others were hospitalised.

Dr Kennedy Ishaya, Gombe state Commissioner of Health confirmed the outbreak to newsmen in Gombe on Sunday during an inspection visit to Madaki Primary Health Care facility where the victims are hospitalized.

He said within three days, 30 children from Tsangaya Islamic school had contracted the disease out of which three had died.

Ishaya said 15 were treated and discharged while 12 were still receiving treatment at the facility.


According to him, government has stocked all health facilities in Gombe with sufficient drugs and advised people not to hesitate to report any suspected case to the nearest facility.

The commissioner also appealed to the health personnel working in the health facilities to take all necessary steps to avoid the risk of infection.

“Make sure you observe Nightingale principles; no chewing of kola or chewing gum during working hours.

“Come to the hospital with two pairs of clothing. When going home, drop the one you worked with and wear another one ,’’ he said.

He also appealed to Muslim faithful performing ablution to make sure they used water from good source to avoid contamination.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/cholera-claims-3-in-gombe-27.html

Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) hails President Buhari led Nigeria government in his move to establish herdsmen ranching colonies in some states of Nigeria including Ebonyi stats of Biafra land. We view this as a true reflection of a real fundamentalist who upholds and promote his tribal and religious interest as paramount. The sudden takeover and running affairs of Nigeria government by the Fulani tribe irrespective of their primitiveness is a good reflection of Nigeria presidency. President Mohammed Buhari has proved to be the best president, Nigeria ever produced since the politically arranged independence from Britain. He ultimately and eloquently enthroned his Fulani kinsmen in all the strategic positions, coordinations and control of Nigeria governance against the reflection of true federal character and uncircumcised constitution. This is the first time a president and all his kitchen cabinet, security chiefs and paramilitary controllers including the heads of economy, health, educational, infrastructural and petroleum affairs of the Nigeria nation are in the hands of Islamic Fulani caliphate.

Buhari in his inner sense of reasoning believe that with his kinsmen occupying the positions military of service chiefs including all the most senior military High rank offices/ positions, he will easily crush Biafra, maybe with his intimidating tendencies over Igbo Governors, National Assembly members, Religious/ opinion/ political leaders.

As every revolutionary struggle has its own methodology, the current Biafran struggle for actualization & restoration will continue to unfold confusing methods to president Buhari. The involvement of many indescribable dimensions & other Niger Delta freedom fighters in Biafra struggle will continue to hunt President Mohammed Buhari and his Hausa Fulani people, Nigeria days of existence are numbered.

Buhari's military civilian administration is the worst government Nigeria ever experienced, his leadership style of enforcing & imposing Islamic Hausa Fulani agenda on the rest of Nigeria people is tremendously assisting and justifying our struggle for Biafra actualization, Buhari's stubbornness and Islamic fundamentalism against the Christian Southern, Eastern & Middle Beltan regions have reawakened the consciousness & thought of future survival of the people of this regions.

We want Nigerian President Buhari to continue to take similar steps of this kind which always expresses his frustrations. Any king who thinks like Pharaoh of Egypt against the Jews will certainly experience the doom of Pharaoh. No man born of a woman can crush Biafra because God, History and Humanities are on our side, Biafra revolution is in destructive.

MASSOB wishes to inform President Buhari that arresting/detention of all pro Biafra Agitators. Killings, persecutions, mesmerizations, suppressions and oppressions of Biafrans including clampdown on non-violent and armless agitators because of our agitation for self rule only worsens the problem and underscores Nigeria as a creeping and repressive colonial state.

Colonialism as we must know, does not necessarily bear a white face as most think. Any group that confines another to second class citizenship, and or denies another their full rights and autonomy to political, cultural and economic development is just as guilty of colonialism as the traditional White colonialists we are all familiar with, and herein lies Nigeria's dilemma.

Arresting, detaining, killings, dehumanizing and torturing of Biafra Agitators including the constant clampdown of Biafra agitators by Nigeria Federal security forces might seem for some, a solution to a problem, but as US President, Barack Obama said in his 2015 United Nations General Assembly speech "a government that suppresses peaceful dissent is not showing strength; it is showing weakness and it is showing fear."

Biafra agitating groups like MASSOB and others are not the problem, the Nigerian state as constituted is. Biafra agitation is only a reaction to the many injustices, exclusion, second class citizenship, born to rule philosophy, marginalization and other forms of inequality that characterise the Nigerian state.

Nigeria is a state where some are first class citizens while others are second class; a state where some are born to rule while others are perpetual outcasts, a state where state policy deliberately denies Biafra land critical developmental infrastructure while accorded others same, a state where prejudice, tribalism, exclusion and hate are elevated while nation building is ignored, a state where it seems the only logic for unity is to share oil resources and not on the basis of consent, mutual respect, fraternity and shared brotherhood.

For these reasons, true nationhood has remained stillborn, peace has remained elusive and Nigeria has remained in perpetual strife and ever increasing crisis since her founding. These undeniable realities are the reason the Nigerian state is afraid of Biafra and her agitators because we speak of a truth they cannot legitimately counter. We speak of a truth they know they are guilty of, so out of weakness and fear, they resort to repression, persecution and detention.

But as history teaches us, arresting, killings and detention of Biafra Agitators will not take away the problem; neither will it stop the struggle insofar as the conditions that birthed the agitation remain. You cannot beat a child and ask the child not to cry. Arresting Nelson Mandela did not stop the Apartheid struggle; neither did arresting Kwame Nkrumah stop the independence struggle in Ghana. Such examples are evident all through history.

Detention of pro Biafra Agitators and others have moved beyond being an individual ideology, it has become a cry for justice that detention or even death cannot stop.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/massob-reaction-to-establishment-of.html

Some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo on Saturday defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The defectors were received by the PDP Chairman in Edo, Chief Dan Orbih, at a rally in Fugar, Etsako Central Local Government Area.

Some of the defectors said they left the APC because of the absence of internal democracy.

Retired Capt. Patrick Isede, a former Local Government Secretary and leader of the defectors, said they decided to join the PDP because the party symbolises peace.

He also expressed optimism that the PDP would ameliorate the present hardship in the country if victorious in the forthcoming general elections.
Also speaking, Mr Benjamin Enakpene, a former Executive Secretary of Etsako Local Government Council, said he and his supporters left the APC because they could no longer endure the lack of internal democracy in the party.
He alleged that the APC machinery in the area had remained under the control of two individuals.
Mr Okauso Felix, another defector and former councillor, said he dumped his former party because the party lacked good leaders.
He said he and his supporters had waited for nine years for a change which had yet to come, adding that the PDP was more organised and democratic.
Earlier, Orbih had said that the defection was a signal of the party’s victory in the 2019 general elections.
He expressed happiness that the defectors were joining the party based on their personal convictions.
Orbih urged the people to ensure that they were registered, saying a vote for the party would be a vote for democracy.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/apc-loses-members-to-pdp-in-edo.html

The Bayelsa State Government has accused some financial institutions operating in the state of colluding with unscrupulous civil servants to defraud the state government by promoting the ghost worker syndome and other unethical practices.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Daniel Iworiso-Markson stated this during a townhall meeting at the Unity Secretariat, Nembe in Nembe Local Government Area of the state.

Mr Iworiso-Markson, who lamented that the present administration inherited a huge gratuity obligation running into billions of Naira, condemned the ugly practice, which he noted, robbed the state government of huge amounts of money over the years.

While reassuring pensioners of government’s commitment to their welfare, he said the present administration is addressing the unwholesome act through the ongoing reforms.


Meanwhile stakeholders of Nembe Local Government Area have urged the Governor Seriake Dickson-led Restoration Government to revert to the former system of supervisory payment of salaries to curb fraud in the state public service.

This was the consensus of opinion during an interactive meeting where notable personalities from the area gave thumb up to the governor for summoning courage to embark on the public sector reforms.

Some of the stakeholders who endorsed the reforms were Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, Chief George Fente, Caretaker Committee Chairman of Nembe Local Government Council, Chief Beifie Fibereseimo, lawmakers and political appointees from the area including the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite.

They identified the current bank alert system of salary payment as a major cause of absenteeism, multiple employment, ghost worker syndrome and other anomalies bedevilling the state public service.


While acknowledging the successes recorded so far especially in the area of reduction of wagebills both at state and local government levels, Senator Amange encouraged Governor Dickson to downsize the state workforce from its current 34,000 to10,000.

In her submission, Mrs. Dauerigha Opuene, a retired School Principal, expressed great joy over the reforms but appealed to the present administration to look inwards as most of the fraudulent acts are perpetrated through a well orchestrated collusion between few public servants and top government officials.

Earlier in his address, the Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chief Beifie Fibereseimo enumerated the benefits of the reforms to include a monthly saving of N25million.

According to the Chairman, the wage bill covering both council and primary school staff as at October last year stood at N127million but has been reduced to N102million.


Responding to issues raised by the local chapters of NULGE, MHWUN and Nigeria Union of Teachers, the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite noted that Bayelsa ranks among the few states with large workforce in the education sector.

Hon. Obuebite who put primary school staff at 9,315 with a monthly wagebill of N581million, said the state government was paying N611million to 6, 078 secondary school workers.

The Commissioner who decried the high rate of absenteeism in schools, pointed out that about 60% of workers in both primary and secondary schools are non academic staff.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/banks-aiding-pay-roll-fraud-in-civil.html

A 30-year-old woman, Ebere Okechukwu, on Thursday, appeared before an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly biting her neighbour’s eye.

Okechukwu, a resident of No 3, Alhaji Taliatu Lawal Gbasemo St., Aga Ikorodu, is facing a three-count charge of breach of peace, threat to kill, and causing grievous harm.

She, however, pleaded not guilty.

The Police Prosecutor, Sgt. John Iberedem, told the court that the accused committed the offence on June 15 at her residence.

Iberedem said that the accused and the complainant, one Perpetual Theophilus, had been at loggerheads on an undisclosed matter over the years.

He said that some neighbours had tried to settle the rift between them, but to no avail.

“On June 15, the accused went to the complainant’s shop to beat her and in the course of the fight, bit her eye.

“The complainant was rushed to a hospital while the matter was reported to the police

The offence contravenes Section 168(d), 56(1) and 245 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State Laws, 2015.

In her ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs F. A. Azeez, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

She said the sureties should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

The case was adjourned until July 12 for mention.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/woman-bites-neighbours-eye-during-fight.html

Reno Omokri, a former new media aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has criticised one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s aides, Lauretta Onochie over her statement abusing the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).


Akelicious reports that CAN on Tuesday called on Buhari to restrain his aide, Lauretta Onochie from alleged use of vulgar and unprintable words against others.

The Christian body condemned Onochie’s description of CAN as “CAN of worms” in a Twitter post.


Onochie had tweeted, “Prime Minister Theresa May, a Christian, is in a mosque doing what humans go to do in a place of worship. She knows that her God is the same one also called Allah. Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN of worms, here’s a great lesson in love and godliness, not hatred & anger!”.

Reacting, Omokri, on his Twitter page, said Onochie’s tweet against CAN depicts Buhari’s alleged hatred for Christians.

His tweet reads, “Dear President Buhari, How can you hire a spokesperson who calls the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) a “CAN of worms”?

” Is it that you do not fear God? Is that how much you hate Christianity and Christians. What exactly is your grouse with Christians! What did we do?”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/omokri-reacts-to-buharis-aide-onochies.html

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has issued one million dollar grant to the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) to restructure and strengthen its capacity in responding to emerging challenges.

Kabiru Adamu, CEO, Bank of Agriculture, who disclosed this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, said the bank is working to recover the N60 billion owed it by farmers.

He said that the life line would re-engineer the bank to be more efficient and carry out its mandate for the benefit of farmers and the nation.

The CEO said the intervention by AfDB was timely as the new BOA executives had inherited a lot of liabilities due largely to the failure of farmers to repay loans granted them.

“My team inherited a lot of liability from the previous management of BOA, a lot was done to clean their books and recover so many loans and the loan recovery exercise is still ongoing.

“Most of the beneficiaries are not willing to pay back the loan because they are seeing it as a national cake, but the bank will make all efforts to recover all the money disbursed as loan to farmers.

“The team has just finalised the 2016 outstanding accounts and work has commenced on the 2017 accounts, even at this a lot still need to be done to ensure a clean book,’’ he said

Adamu said the bank has strengthened its risk framework in a way that farmers won’t just access loans freely as before due to adequate monitoring and constant evaluation.

“BOA officials are always with the farmers now unlike before to avoid diversion of funds and this will make farming a profitable venture for the farmers and they will repay the loan.

“BOA is concerned in developing the new agenda that will ensure food security, job creation, replace the ageing farmers and make agriculture more attractive,” he said.

Adamu stressed that reinvigorating the bank would boost the nation’s economy as it would facilitate provision of raw materials needed by the manufacturing sector.

“This will conserve foreign exchange on importation, reduce unemployment and create more lucrative jobs and curb the effect of rural-urban migration.

“Considering the nations teaming population and unemployment, under the agriculture revolution more land will be cultivated as Nigeria has over 80 per cent arable land but unfortunately less than 40 per cent of the land is cultivated,’’ he said.

The CEO said BOA is into strategic collaborations with major stakeholders in the industry aimed at creating more jobs for the teaming youths and equip farmers for sustainable agricultural development.

He said the partnership included that with the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending to reinvigorate MSMEs, adding that it involves risk-sharing arrangements.

The CEO added that the bank had also partnered the Development Bank of Nigeria to secure more funding for MSMEs to stimulate necessary growth in the Agricultural sector.

Adamu added that the BOA had signed an e-banking agreement with the SunTrust Bank using its existing 140 branches in the country to reach its farmer customers.

“The bank will also provide Mobile Money Service, Merchant and Settlement Accounts for e-transaction, deploy its innovative banking services and other complimentary e-banking services to simplify BOA services to its over one million farmers.”

He said that the latest of such partnerships was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with 30 business executives and officials from Germany on Tuesday.

On support to farmers this cropping season, Adamu said adequate funds and other facilities would be granted to over 2.5 million farmers.

He said already, data capturing and farm inspection for the participating farmers had been completed and the loan disbursement would commence soon.

Adamu added that input suppliers have since commenced the supply of inputs and certified seeds to farmers.

BOA, Nigeria’s foremost agricultural and rural development finance institution, was incorporated in 1972 as Nigerian Agricultural Bank before it transformed into the Bank of Agriculture Limited in October 2010.

It is wholly owned by the Federal Government of Nigeria with 40 per cent of its shares held by Central Bank of Nigeria and 60 per cent by the Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/afdb-issues-1m-grant-to-bank-of.html

The federal government spent N643.6 billion on servicing the nation’s domestic debt for January to March, says the Debt Management Office (DMO). In its Quarterly Debt Data for Quarter one (Q1), obtained from its websiteon Wednesday in Abuja, it said the figure was the total actual domestic debt service for the three months. It said N239.8 billion was spent on domestic debt servicing in January, N144 billion in February and N259.7 billion in March. Giving a breakdown, it said N223.4 billion was interest on Nigeria Treasury Bills/Bonds (NTBs), while N411.7 billion was interest on Federal Government Bonds. It also said the interest on the Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bond stood at N241.8 million and that of Federal Government Sukuk was N8.167 billion. It noted that N279.6 billion of NTBs were redeemed in the first quarter. According to the data, Nigeria’s public debt stock as at March 31, stood at N22.7 trillion with external debt of the Federal Government, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at N6.746 trillion. Domestic debt of the federal government stood at N12.5 trillion, while domestic debt of states and the FCT stood at N3.38 trillion. Giving a breakdown of the federal government domestic debt stock by instruments, it said federal government bonds was N8.96 trillion (71.32 per cent). It added that the Nigerian Treasury Bills amounted to N3.3 trillion (26.34 per cent), while Nigerian Treasury Bonds stood at N175.9 billion (1.40 per cent). Others are the Federal Government of Nigeria Savings Bond of N7.780 billion (0.06 per cent), Federal Government of Nigeria Sukuk N100 billion (0.80 per cent) and Green Bond which stood at N10.690 billion (0.08 per cent). The DMO’s primary responsibility is to manage public debt, this it does by introducing initiatives and products to support the development of the domestic market. Nigeria issues sovereign bonds monthly to support the local bond market, create a benchmark for corporate issuance and fund its budget deficit.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nigeria-spends-n644bn-on-domestic-debt.html

Truecaller, a global company that offers unique services like spam detection, messaging and more, has acquired Chillr, a payment company in India, just as it eyes the sub-Sahara Africa’s mobile payment space for more acquisition.

Last year in March, Truecaller had announced its foray into the digital payments segment in India. The company has now announced a strategic investment into the payment space by acquiring Chillr, India’s first multi-bank payments app that was launched in 2014 to further boost growth.

According to Truecaller Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, Nami Zarringhalam, “since launching Truecaller Pay in India in 2017, we have seen an increasing number of use cases to make the lives of our users in India easier. We see a lot of synergies and growth patterns in Sub-Sahara Africa, therefore we think it make sense to explore the digital payment space more seriously.”



With the launch of Truecaller Pay 2.0, the company has brought banking and payments features to the forefront of its app, and in the coming months Truecaller is planning on rolling out credit and other financial services to the masses in a mobile-first way in India. The company is now looking at ways to enter the payment space in sub-Sahara Africa.

Earlier this year, Truecaller opened up its first office in Nairobi to expand in sub-Sahara Africa and recruited Zakaria Hersi as Director of Partnerships for Africa. In his position, Zakaria has been spearheading Truecaller’s expansion in the region and forging partnerships with various eco-system players.

Truecaller started as a caller ID and spam blocking app for smartphones. But over the years, it has transformed to a full fledge communication app and has become one of the fastest growing consumer apps in Africa and has consistently been topping the App Store Charts across the continent.

People use Truecaller to stay ahead. It helps them know who is getting in touch, filter out unwanted calls and SMS, and focus on what really matters. The company provides a suite of unique services such as a dialer that offers caller ID, spam detection, messaging and more. Truecaller’s mission is to build trust everywhere by making communication safe and efficient.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/truecaller-acquires-indian-payment.html

In line with the Multilateral Competent Authority Agreement (MCAA) on the common reporting standards (CRS) that was signed by the federal government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said it will set up technology to ensure its implementation.

Implementing the CRS will allow the federal government to automatically receive information on the bank accounts held in other countries by Nigerian tax payers.


Speaking at the KPMG Tax breakfast meeting in Lagos yesterday, the Head, International Tax Department, FIRS, Mr. Mathew Gbonjubola, said the plan would entail using technology to beat multinationals who try to avoid or reduce their taxes.

Gbonjubola said: “On automatic exchange of information, Nigeria signed the bilateral convention on the CRS and the regulations that would drive that is already in draft.

“The guidelines are also in draft and we are already putting together the ICT structure that would help us to administer the automated exchange of information.

“Because the automated exchange of information is unlike the information on request, it is driven by technology.”

He added: “We are advancing on this development and very soon, we should be coming out with regulations and then we should certify to start to exchange information automatically.

“We are now for the first time also going to be drafting and implementing a tax treaty policy. This is going to drive our tax treaty network; who we are going to negotiate treaty with and who we are going to discontinue treaty with.”

Also, the Partner and Head Transfer Pricing and Consumer and Industrial Markets Tax, Mr. Tayo Ogungbenro said the transfer pricing (TP) environment was constantly changing in terms of both risk and opportunities.

He said:“Given the increasing call for more transparency, multinationals are left facing more complexity than ever before.”

“Multinationals need to ensure that they stay up-to-date with the latest TP developments and best practices. In doing so, they can optimise the opportunities, global effective tax rates and ensure they remain compliant with changing guidelines and regulations, while at the same time minimising the risks associated with TP audits.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/fg-to-deploy-technology-to-enforce.html

A former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Ahmed Makarfi has thanked the All Progressives Congress, APC, for campaigning for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, through bad governance.


Markafi also stated that members of the New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, have no other place to go than to return to the PDP.

He said the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and others cannot stay any longer in the APC, where according to him, they were not needed.


The former lawmaker further stated that he “will stay and support any aspirant that gets the party’s nomination.”

Makarfi said this during his declaration to run in the 2019 presidential election on Sunday in Kaduna.

He said, “We must also thank the APC for working for us because they have been working for us.


“They have refused to govern well, they have been fighting each other.


In reference to the nPDP members in APC, the former PDP Caretaker Committee Chairman added, “The question before them is where will they go to? The overwhelming majority of them no longer have room in that party. If you stay, what are they staying for?”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/2019-makarfi-thanks-apc-advises-saraki.html

The Association of Bureaux De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), at the weekend, urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to diversify its foreign exchange (forex) disbursements in the thrice-weekly intervention to them.

In the new call for the expansion of the currency dealers’ reach in the official forex market includes the just brokered $2.5 billion currency swap agreement between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the People’s Bank of China (PBoC).

The call came on the heels of the group’s success in negotiating a downward review of their buy/sale rates at the official window from N360/N362 per dollar to N357/N360 per dollar, an indication of a strong bargaining strength at the nation’s forex market.


ABCON President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, who made the call said the diversification of the forex disbursement would also help to meet the critical needs of their numerous clients travelling to China for personal and business purposes.

He explained that if implemented, such move will further deepen the interest in purchasing Yuan and reduce dollar demand, which appear to have monopolized the activities at the market.

Gwadabe noted that the currency swap deal was part of the CBN’s plan to keep the naira stable and protect the foreign reserves domiciled in dollars.

According to him, the deal will provide adequate local currency liquidity for Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and reduce difficulties they face in searching for the greenback before transactions can be consummated.

The ABCON chief said that the naira will benefit hugely from the deal, given the rising influence of Chinese Yuan in the international market.

He explained that the admittance of Yuan into the basket of International Monetary Fund (IMF) currencies and the Naira/Yuan swap deal will actualize the dream of naira sovereignty in Africa.

“The naira has remained stable at both the official and parallel markets, as the CBN continues its weekly dollar interventions. The naira, which in February 2017 was exchanging at N520/$ in the parallel market now exchanges at N361/$ while rate at the official market remains N305.9/$.

“The Yuan has equally made significant progress this year, appreciating 1.8 per cent against the dollar, to become the world’s second-strongest Asian currency.

“BDCs will equally benefit from the swap deal, given that a stable and strong naira is good for the economy and operators, while increased use of Yuan in trade deals will also open a new business opportunity for BDC operators,” he said.

Justifying the assertions, he said that China has remained Nigeria’s largest import partners over the last five years, with figures standing at over 20 per cent of Nigeria’s total imports.

He however, advised that to achieve the full gains of the deal, Nigeria has to take steps to boost its trade balance with China by raising the quality of local products to make them more attractive and acceptable to the Chinese people.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/abcon-asks-central-bank-to-diversify.html

The Executive chairman of Egbema and Gbaramatu Communities Development Foundation, EGCDF, Comrade Jude Ebitimi Ukori, has advised the Senate Committee on Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Development Bill to adopt the Chevron Nigeria Limited GMoU governance model in their draft in order to carry along the community and government in the running of the affairs of the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Trust Fund.

Ukori who made this known during the public hearing of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Development Bill at the National Assembly, appealed to the committee to include in the draft, provision of 5% of crude oil and gas production of settlor equivalent in cash or 5% of gross revenue of settlor for the accounting period of the preceding year to fund the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Trust and allocate 10% equivalent from the endowment fund for general administration of the Trust Fund.

He added that the committee should also include in the draft the appointment/selection of Board of Trustees members, executives as well as management committee members/executive should be an exclusive right of the communities/traditional institutions to be exercised in consultation with settlor in drawing up processes and criteria for selection.

He frowned at the current content of the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Development Bill which proposed its funding through an annual contribution of an amount equal 2.5% of the actual operating expenditure, lack of participatory approach between settlor and host/impacted communities, the decision for settlor to select non-indigenes as executive members of the management committee and lack of inclusion of administrative costs.

Ukori advised the Senate Committee on Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Development Bill to include in the bill, interface function between settlor and Host/Impacted Communities to promote peace and mutual benefit among them.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/pib-ukori-advises-national-assembly-to.html

Snapchat messaging service on Thursday set out to spread its reach, and panache, to other smartphone apps with a software kit that promised to share little data about users.

Parent company Snap said people will be able to use Snapchat credentials to sign into apps the way they might do using Facebook or Google credentials, while strictly limiting access to personal data or activity tracking.

The software kit will also allow free Snapchat features such as filters, stories or “Bitmojis” to appear in other applications, according to the California-based firm.


The kit, aimed at making Snapchat more ubiquitous in the world of smartphone apps, was built with privacy as a priority, Snap vice president of product Jacob Andreou told AFP.

“We did not want to lower privacy expectations,” Andreou said.

The move comes as Facebook deals with aftershocks of a data privacy scandal that rocked the leading online social network.

Facebook admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by British consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica.

The firm, which was working for US President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, has since declared bankruptcy.

Snap committed to making the kit well before the scandal involving Cambridge Analytica getting data about users from a psychological research app.

Facebook has since been hammered with criticism for not guarding more carefully user data collected by apps synched to the social network.

‘Snappening’ lessons
Snapchat sign-ins to other apps will use nicknames and “Bitmoji” avatars instead of personal data from profiles, according to the company. Snap also vowed to carefully scrutinize what applications do with the new software tools.

Snap deputy general counsel Katherine Tassi said that the service learned from an incident nearly four years ago when a huge trove of evidently intercepted Snapchat images and videos were exposed online.

In what was referred to in late 2014 as “The Snappening,” people who used a third-party program instead of the official Snapchat application had copies of supposedly transient missives squirreled away by hackers who then posted them online.

Snap wanted to “make sure that we build security and privacy into the design” when creating the kit for outside developers, according to Tassi.

Snap has been modifying the app, sometimes to the chagrin of users, in the name of broadening the appeal of the youth-oriented service.

“We are now focused on optimizing the redesign based on our ongoing experimentation and learning,” Snap co-founder and chief executive Evan Spiegel said last month during an earnings call with analysts.

Users had complained about an abrupt overhaul of the service late last year.

Snapchat rocketed to popularity, especially among teens, after the initial app was released in September 2011. Created by then Stanford University students, the app allows the sending of messages that disappear shortly after being viewed.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/snapchat-aims-to-spread-reach-to-other.html