₦airaland Forum

Buhari agenda is for better Nigeria and to fight Corruption.
Those Crying that his government is not good are CORRUPT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS and CORRUPT citizens.

Both political parties and two major opposition party APGA and PDP.


QED

Enweludo Christian Chidiebere writes from Anambra state.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/buhari-agenda-is-for-better-nigeria-and.html?m=1

The federal and the other tiers of government on Tuesday shared a total of N655.177 billion as revenue that accrued to the Federation Account and proceeds of the Value Added Tax in December, last year.

The money was shared at Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting in Abuja yesterday. Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said that N540.446 billion.

The federal government got N252.543 billion, states, N128.093 billion, local governments got N98.755 billion while N47.738 billion was shelled out as 13 per cent derivation to oil producing states.


Also another N80.604 billion was from proceeds of Value Added Tax (VAT), with the federal government receiving N13.091 billion, state governments, N40.302 billion and local governments N28.211 billion.

The statutory allocation of N540.446 billion, excluding VAT, received for the month was lower than the N549.533 billion received in the previous month by N9.087 billion.

The minister, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), explained that the decrease in crude oil exports by 0.59 million barrels resulted in decreased revenues from export sales of $11.65 million.

Adeosun disclosed that the accruals into the Excess Crude Account (ECA) still stood at $2.317 billion.
In his remarks after the meeting, the chairman of Finance Commissioners’ Forum, Alhaji Mahmoud Yunusa, said states were cutting costs in line with economic realities.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/fg-states-lgs-share-n655bn.html

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The Senate yesterday mandated the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) to carry out immediate forensic audit for money of the controversial $16.3 billion Egina oil project.

The upper chamber also asked the NNPC to furnish it with all the documents, including agreements entered into between it and the Total Upstream Nigeria Limited Egina Project.

The Senate ad-hoc committee on Local Content gave the directive at the continuation of the investigative hearing of the $16.3 billion Egina oil project.

The project being undertaken by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, which started in 2013 and is almost 90% completed has not been audited in any form since the commencement of the project estimated to produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day



Chairman of the committee, Senator Solomon Adeola in his opening remarks, said that the cost of the project was said to have been raised from $6 billion to $16.3 billion.

Adeola noted that though nobody is on trial, the Senate wanted to ensure that the country was not short changed in the process of the project.

The Lagos West lawmaker stated that there is need for a value for money audit both for technical and financial audit adding that the investigation will be greatly assisted by the values for money audit of the project as well as reveal adherence to local content law and other applicable laws in the industry.

The panel chairman said that necessary information that would guide future transactions was also needed by the Senate.

He insisted that NNPC should, without further delay, initiate value for money audit of the Egina oil projects which must be concluded in record time.

He noted that until the value for money audit was conducted and successfully concluded, the Senate will not be in a position to support any such project.



Adeola warned that the auditors must not be part of Total Upstream to ensure that the exercise was credible.

NNPC Chief Operating Officer (Upstream) Bello Rabiu, in his testimony, told the committee that the contract sum for the Egina oil project remained $16.3 billion and not $6 billion.

Out of the $16.3 billion, Rabiu said that they have already approved $10 billion for the project.

On the source of the $16.3 billion, he said that the money belongs to Total Upstream Nigeria Limited.

Rabiu said, “Total has the money and the technology and they are to produce oil as agreed.”

The NNPC official noted that even if the money was borrowed, it is seen as Total money.

According to him, from conception, the agreement was for Total to provide money and technology “how they provide the money is Total business and not the business of NNPC.”

Rabiu added that any money spent on the project must be approved by the NNPC “and we have so far approved $10 billion for the project.”

The committee was alarmed that the NNPC was in the dark about the interest rate attached to the money provided by Total.

It was also worried that a whopping $3 billion was built into the contract sum as miscellaneous expenses.

On the ownership of the Egina oil block, Rabiu said that it longs to the NNPC since it had never been allocated to anybody.

Asked if the NNPC has conducted value for money audit since the project started in 2013, Rabiu said no such audit had been carried out.

The committee wondered why no value for money audit had been carried out on a project of the magnitude of $16.3 billion.

Nicolas Terraz, Managing Director of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, (TUPNI) led the company’s delegation to honour your invitation to the investigative hearing on the motion of the Senate on Local Content Elements and Cost variations relating to the Egina oil field.

Terraz said, “I consider it a topmost priority to appear in person along with the Deputy Managing Director and other related officials of Total Upstream Nigeria Limited, TUPNI, at today’s hearing, not only to demonstrate our respect for the distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also to provide some insights as a form of overview on the subject of the investigation. My team and I are grateful for this opportunity.

“The Egina project, located on OML 130, is the largest oil and gas development currently on-going in Nigeria. The field is being developed by Total Upstream Nigeria Limited (TUPNI) in partnership with NNPC, CNOOC, SAPETRO and PETROBRAS. Operated by Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd, the project was launched in 2013 and is expected to start producing in the 4th quarter of 2018. It will add 200,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s oil production, or approximately 10% of the country’s total oil production.

“Being the first major deepwater development project launched after the enactment of the Nigeria Oil & Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, the Egina project has the highest level of local content of any such project so far.

“As operator of the Egina project, Total Upstream Nigeria Ltd fully identifies with the Government aspirations for Nigerian Content and has been working closely with the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) to maximize Nigerian Content on the project.

“In response to the Committee letter of December 15, 2017, TUPNI has provided a detailed submission to the ad-hoc committee on January 8, 2018. To summarize our submission, below are a few local content highlights of the project, all of which were achieved in close collaboration with and under the supervision of the NCDMB.

“Employment: the project represents a workload of 24 million man-hours worked in Nigeria, or 77% of total project workload, equivalent to a workforce of 3,000 persons on average during 5 years ;

“ Fabrication : 60,000 tons of equipment is being fabricated in Nigeria for the project ;

“Infrastructure: several large-scale industrial facilities were developed in Nigeria for the project, including Africa’s first FPSO integration quay, and several existing fabrication yards were upgraded for the project;

“Capacity development: over 560,000 man-hours of human capacity development training is being performed across Egina contracts.

“The detailed breakdown of employment, local fabrication and capacity development across the Egina packages is included in the submission made to the Committee on January 8.

“The Egina project includes pioneering Nigerian Content achievements:

“The Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading unit (FPSO) of Egina, a 330-meter long vessel designed to process oil and gas from the Egina field, will be berthed at the quayside in Nigeria for integration of locally fabricated modules – a first for Nigeria;

“ Egina has the highest number of FPSO topside modules (six) to ever be fully fabricated and integrated in Nigeria;

“The assembly of the Integrated Control and Safety System of the FPSO was fully performed in Nigeria;

“ Egina includes the fabrication of the largest subsea equipment (manifolds, risers) ever completed in Nigeria.

“Engineering

“ Basic Engineering for the Egina Project was performed in Lagos by three Nigerian Companies – NETCO/BATELITWIN, CRESTECH and DOVER – representing 94% of the total man-hours spent.

“Total’s Egina Project Management team (PMT) and all the main contractors’ PMT offices are based in Nigeria – a first for a Nigerian FPSO project. Locating these teams in Lagos to carry out project management, engineering and procurement activities has resulted in the generation of significant employment opportunities for Nigerians at various skill levels, ranging from top level engineers and managers to office administrative staff.

“Detailed Engineering for the Egina FPSO Topsides was executed in Nigeria by Samsung with a consortium of Nigerian engineering companies (NETCO, DeltaAfrik and IESL), all based in Lagos, which at the peak employed about 250 Nigerian engineers.

“To date, around 2.5 million engineering man-hours have been expended in Nigeria out of a total of 3.0 million man-hours (84%).

“Fabrication

“The unprecedented record level of Nigerian Content on all the packages of the Egina project has translated into increased work scopes for several fabrication yards at various locations in Nigeria, in some cases calling for significant facility development and capacity expansion investments by the project.

“Specifically, the following yards were either built or upgraded to support fabrication and integration works of the various components of Egina project:

“SHI-MCI Yard in Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base (LADOL), Lagos: a new fabrication and integration yard, including a new purpose-built 500-meter long integration quay, has been constructed under the FPSO package contract.

“Aveon Yard, Port Harcourt: Upgrade of the yard and construction of new facilities was completed for the Subsea Production Systems (SPS).

“FMC Base, Onne: Upgrade of the facility under the SPS package contract.

“Saipem Yard in Port Harcourt (SCNL): first Quad-Joint plant in Nigeria enabling to weld 4 pipe joints together in order to gain efficiency and productivity during the offshore installation phase.

“ Gil Automation Facility, Lagos: Upgrade of facility for the Integrated Control & Safety Systems (ICSS) Panel assembly under the ICSS Package contract.

“In addition, coating of the 75 kilometres of oil production, water injection and gas line pipes for the Egina project has been fully executed within Nigeria by Pipe Coaters Nigeria Limited (PCNL).

“I am pleased to inform the ad-hoc committee that the Egina FPSO will be arriving in SHI-MCI yard in Lagos tomorrow, January 24. This is a key milestone for the projet, and will be the first time ever that an FPSO is berthed at quay side in Nigeria for the lifting and integration of locally fabricated modules. I would therefore like to invite this distinguished committee to view this exceptional facility and the magnitude of the works performed in Nigeria.

“Regarding the project cost, there has been no upward review of the budgeted costs for the Egina Project since the Final Investment Decision was made in 2013, but rather concerted efforts to deliver the project within the budget and even below it.

“Specifically, as we have earlier stated, the initial budget established in 2013 for the Egina Project was $16,354 million and after extensive cost optimization by TUPNI and the project partners, this figure was revised downwards to $15,751 million in May 2013 and the Final Investment Decision was made on the basis of this reduced budget figure.

“In this respect, please be assured that it is the highest priority for TUPNI as Operator to control the cost of the project during the execution phase and to deliver the project within budget.

“Distinguished Senators please permit me to conclude by highlighting the following:

“With the arrival of the Egina FPSO within the week, the Egina project is very much on course. TUPNI and her partners are committed to the delivery of the project on schedule with first oil expected by December this year. In doing so, we will be adding 200,000 barrels of oil to Nigeria’s oil production.

“Egina project has recorded many “firsts” in the area of Nigerian content development being the first project of its magnitude since the enactment of the NOGICD Act.

“There has been no upward review of the budgeted costs of the Egina Project, but rather concerted efforts have been made to deliver the project within and even below the budget.

“We urge the distinguished senators to kindly take note that the Egina project was embarked upon at a time of immense uncertainties in the operating, fiscal and regulatory environment. Egina therefore is a symbol of confidence, commitment and faith in Nigeria by TUPNI and her partners.”

The Total Upstream Nigeria Limited Egina Project with capacity for 200,000 barrels per day, located about 20km from Akpo field lies within the oil mining lease (OML) 130 and covers an area of around 500 square miles.

Contract for the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO), unit is said to be strategic to the successful delivery of the entire Egina Project.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nigeria-senate-seeks-forensic-audit-of.html

Former President, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to honourably resign his office, go home and rest.

Obasanjo asked the President to disregard advice from his advisers who may not be wishing him well and “dismount the horse.”



The former President said this in a long statement he personally signed and sent to the President on Tuesday, where he noted that its not compulsory that Buhari listens to his advice.
Obasanjo said, “President Buhari’s illness called for the sympathy, understanding, prayer and patience from every sane Nigerian. It is part of our culture. Most Nigerians prayed for him while he was away, sick in London for over hundred days and he gave his Deputy sufficient leeway to carry on in his absence.
“We all thanked God for President Buhari for coming back reasonably hale and hearty and progressing well in his recovery.
“But whatever may be the state of President Buhari’s health today, he should neither over-push his luck nor over-tax the patience and tolerance of Nigerians for him, no matter what his self-serving, so-called advisers, who would claim that they love him more than God loves him and that without him, there would be no Nigeria say.

“President Buhari needs a dignified and honourable dismount from the horse. He needs to have time to reflect, refurbish physically and recoup and after appropriate rest, once again, join the stock of Nigerian leaders whose experience, influence, wisdom and outreach can be deployed on the side line for the good of the country.
“His place in history is already assured. Without impaired health and strain of age, running the affairs of Nigeria is a 25/7 affair, not 24/7.
“I only appeal to brother Buhari to consider a deserved rest at this point in time and at this age. I continue to wish him robust health to enjoy his retirement from active public service. President Buhari does not necessarily need to heed my advice. But whether or not he heeds it, Nigeria needs to move on and move forward.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/just-inresign-go-home-and-rest-obasanjo.html

The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies ( SSASCGOC ) has accused the management of Nigeria Communications Satellite ( NIGCOMSAT ) of victimizing workers in the company and warned that unless the victimization and issues of promotion is addressed, it will have no option than to disrupt official activities of the agency.

In a letter to the Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, the union said it may be forced to embark on a three day warning strike unless the issues of promotion and victimization, of its members in the company is addressed.

The letter, dated January 10, Reference SSASCGOC/LAB/17/2018/9941​​​​​ and signed by the President, Mohammad Yunusa and the General Secretary, Comrade Ayo Olorunfemi alleged that one of its members is being victimized by the management for refusing to take part in corruption related activities.

The letter entitled: “Re: Operational Modalities in NIGCOMSAT-Our Demands,” the letter read: “Under the directive of the Central Working Committee (CWC) of the Association we refer to our letter No SSASCGOC/HM/FMCT/1/2017/ of 9th Oct 2017 on the above subject matter and observe with dismay the non-response to any of the issues raised.


“We are most concerned about issues that bother on the rights of our members; particularly the issue of promotion. As we speak, one of our members is being victimized for refusing to participate in activities that promotes corruption in the workplace.

“We shall be left with no other choice than to embark on a ​3 day warning strike to drive home our points, if nothing is done to address all the issues raised in our letter under reference within 21 days from the date of receipt of this letter.”

Speaking with newsmen, Comrade Olorunfemi, condemned the promotion exercise done by NIGCOMSAT management after a long pressure from the union, adding that the promotion was lopsided as important issue of seniority was lost due to earlier embargo and delayed in the process.

He said the union would not accept a situation whereby some senior officers have to forfeit one year due to no fault of theirs but just because the management decided to place embargo on promotion.

“The essence of promotion is to motivate, but when promotion is becoming a de-motivational factor, there will be reduction in productivity and the union would not accept that.”

On the victimization of its member, he explained that an officer, who is the head of account refused a directive from an executive director to pay a money which was not approved and was being victimized.


Comrade Olorunfemi said the present government came into power on the mantra of corruption, saying that the minister should conduct an investigation into this case and ensure that workers who stand up against corruption are not punished.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/workers-threaten-to-shut-down-nigcomsat.html

The Katsina State Government says it will recruit no fewer than 5,000 teachers into the state-owned primary schools to enhance the manpower in the education sector.

Gov. Aminu Masari disclosed this at the swearing-in of the new Commissioner for Education, Dr Badamasi Lawal, on Monday in Katsina.

Masari said that the teachers would be recruited within the first quarter of 2018.He revealed that teachers’ welfare would also be enhanced to boost their morale for effective service delivery.


The governor said that his administration had provided infrastructure in schools to enhance teaching.

He urged the new commissioner to address the idleness of staff at the state Ministry of Education.

“The Ministry of Education has about 290 directors idling instead of rationing their time for class work and administrative duties.

“Tax payers’ money must be justified through service and sacrifice by all. Teachers will be repositioned to provide quality service for the development of education.


“Nations were built by leaders with vision and sacrifice, efforts must be made to change the culture of being an idle staff member,’’ he said.

The governor stressed the need for strong involvement of ward and district heads as well as emirs in running the affairs of primary school education in the state to achieve the desired goals.

Masari, who assured the new commissioner of all the necessary support, expressed optimism that the appointee would bring his wealth of experience to develop the sector in the state.

NAN reports that Lawal’s appointment followed the removal of the former commissioner, Prof. Halimatu Idris in December, 2017.

Until his new appointment, Lawal was the Special Adviser to the Governor on Higher Education.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/katsina-to-recruit-5000-teachers-for.html

The United Nations Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) has provided uniforms, bags and sandals to primary school pupils in seven local government areas affected by insurgency in Adamawa.


The Director, Social Mobilization, Adamawa State Universal Education Board, Hajiya Fadimatu Alfa, made the disclosure in an interview on Monday in Yola.

Alfa said the gesture was part of support from the fund to enhance school enrolment particularly that of the girl-child in the affected areas.

Alfa said over 8,000 girls in over 40 selected primary schools would receive the items.“There was an earlier supply of uniforms to over 4,000 pupils in all girls schools in the state who are not part of the latest supply,” Alfa said.

She said those to benefit from the latest supply were pupils in nursery and those in primary one to three.

The director said that UNICEF also provided desks for the schools alongside the rehabilitation of some classrooms.

“The interventions by UNICEF, was done through School-Based Management Committees of the affected schools who are provided with funds to do the job,” Alfa said.

She lauded UNICEF for its support to education and other programmes in the state, and reiterated the commitment of the board to collaborate with the fund to achieve maximum result.


http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/unicef-provides-uniform-bags-to-12-000.html

A suspect, Ridwan Omole, has denied allegations of robbery against him by the police, saying he is only a cult member.

The suspect, however, said he always shared loot with a robbery gang each time they had a successful operation.



The 21-year-old spoke in a statement he made to operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.

According to the police, a three-man robbery gang consisting of one Taiwo Lawal (23), Kabiru Ajiboye (24) and Seyi Ayetoba (27), had been arrested on Thursday during a botched operation in the Somolu area of Lagos State.

The men were about attacking a motorcycle rider and his passenger in the area when their intending victims raised the alarm.

They were reportedly chased and apprehended by some residents who handed them over to a patrol team of the RRS.

The suspects were said to have confessed to the police that the gun with them belonged to Omole.

He was then arrested in his parents’ house in the Ajah area.

Omole, who allegedly confessed to be a member of the Aiye Confraternity, said he bought the gun from a former schoolmate for self-defence.

He said, “I bought the gun from a former schoolmate for N9,000. I bought it in September 2017. I got the gun because of rival cult members who were disturbing me in my street. They knew I belonged to Aiye Confraternity and wanted me to join their camp.



“Because my friend, Ayetoba, knew that I had a gun at home, he usually came to borrow it. He later requested that I follow him for a job. I asked him the nature of the business and he said robbery and okada snatching. I told him that I couldn’t do such a thing.

“However, whenever he borrowed the gun and went out for an operation, he returned to give me money. On three occasions, he had given me money. First, he gave me N10,000; the second time was N10,000 and an Android phone; and the third was N2,000. He said that operation wasn’t smooth.”

Ayetoba, who was the leader of the gang, said he was initiated into robbery by one Tunde, whom he met in the Mushin area of Lagos.

“Tunde was the leader of my previous gang. Whatever we stole, we sold in Mushin. It was Tunde who taught me all the tricks I used during operations. He was arrested sometime last year. I didn’t go out with him that day.

“I formed my own gang with Taiwo (Lawal) and Kabiru (Ajiboye) and took the gun from Ridwan (Omole). Each time we went on an operation, I paid him for hiring the gun from him. We live on the same street and belong to the same confraternity.

“The areas where we have operated included Ajah, Costain, Onipanu, Yaba, and the National Stadium. We sold stolen motorcycles for between N30,000 N60,000,” he said.

The RRS said it recovered from the gang a locally-made pistol with a 9mm live cartridge and a jackknife.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the suspects were cooperating with the police, adding that the state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, lauded the participation of members of the community in the arrest.

“The case has been transferred to the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad for further investigation,” he added.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/punchng.com/i-bought-my-gun-for-cultism-not-robbery-suspect/amp/

A man is in critical condition after accidentally blowing himself up while allegedly trying to rob an ATM machine.

The incident happened on Thursday night outside a row of shops on Glasgow Road, Clydebank.

CCTV footage showed a man flying backwards from the force of the blast and then collapsing on the ground.



Another man could be seen standing over the man, checking to see if he was okay, before fleeing the scene.

Debris from the cash point was said to be scattered as far as 25 yards away from the blast, while nearby shop windows also suffered damage.

A 51-year-old man was found at the scene and taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Police believe the men may have been attempting to steal the ATM at the time.

Speaking after the explosion, detective inspector Fiona Macarthur said: “Inquiries are at a very early stage to establish the full circumstances and officers are currently examining CCTV as well as speaking to local businesses and residents.

“One line of enquiry is that two men were attempting to steal the ATM and one of them has been injured in the process.

“I would appeal to anyone who was in the area late last night and saw or heard anything suspicious to please get in touch.”

Police say a 48-year-old man has been arrested and is being held in police custody in connection with the incident, which happened at an ATM outside Premier Stores.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/man-blows-himself-up-while-trying-to.html

Telecommunications operators that are expected to deploy telecom infrastructure for the realization of government broadband penetration target of 30% by the end of this year have described the target as a mere wish.


They explained that the operating environment and policies of government in relation to deployment and protection of telecommunications infrastructure does not encourage investment.

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), expressed concern over issues of interference by state government agencies and their consultants in shutting down base stations of operators as well as lack of strong will on the part of federal government in driving stakeholders to bring about stability in the industry.

“How can you achieve 30 percent broadband penetration when efforts that are supposed to be channel to network optimization are used in repairing shut down towers by state government agencies. As I’m talking with you now (on Wednesday) our men are in Jalingo, Taraba state discussing with the state government over a state law on multiple taxation that has led to base stations of our members being shut down.


“We are facing the same situation in Kogi, Ogun, Edo and Ebony states. The issue surrounds environmental Impact assessment (EIA) for the state, this same EIA has been done through National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) an agency of the federal government by our members, why is state demanding same and shutting down cell sites if not for revenue generation. These elements and impediments to network optimization are scaring away investors and make deployment of telecommunications infrastructure for broadband penetration difficult,” he noted.

Engr. Olusola Teniola, president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said that the recessionary impact in 2017 led to uncertainty amongst their members and the industry at large, in particular the FOREX regime which was very unfavourable to operators.


“The mechanism in place to allow our members access to FOREX at the I&E rate was not well communicated by CBN and government disregarded our calls for a more enabling environment to prevail that would give our members encouragement and confidence that investments made will result in a viable Return-on-Investments (ROI) over a medium term period.

“If you dig into the numbers behind the 21 percent broadband penetration that NCC quotes, that was attained in Q4 2016, you will notice that it was on the back of 4G LTE and initial 4G LTE- deployments that were made in that year, however, there has been no further significant deployment and expansion of these ‘high speed internet networks’ alongside MNO(s) 3G networks. Our members, did not see and still do not see any viability in further bringing in hard earned money into an environment that appears hostile to them. Until Government seriously addresses the multiple taxation issue, multiple regulation and the harmonization of taxes and removal of exorbitant Right of Way charges applied to our members then there wasn’t and there still isn’t any logical or business reason for further investments to be made by them.”

“Just to emphasis the point, the INFRACO licenses were created to address the neutrality in accessibility, affordability and availability of undersea fiber into the hinterland that was the missing piece to ensure ubiquitous broadband infrastructure can be made available to the masses. What we witnessed and the records are there for all to see, is the numerous delays and slowing down of government to assist in the realization of the implementation – without government’s full buy-in there were mixed signals sent to the investment community as to exactly how this was going to be realized. So in Jan 2018 we are still yet to witness any rollout of any fiber by the two INFRACO operators that were licensed in 2015-16 and as yet the remaining five INFRACO licences are still pending – with less than 12 months to go, it’ll take a miracle to move the 21% to 30% by any measure,” he added.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/operators-doubt-30-broadband.html

Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has vowed to produce his successor in 2019 from among members of his Rescue Mission in order to sustain the philosophy and legacies of the rescue mission.

This was just as he reiterated that the issue of zoning of the office of the governor is dead in the state.

Okorocha stated this while addressing stakeholders and leaders of the party from the 27 council areas of the state, who paid him a New Year visit at his country home in Ogboko, yesterday. He said whoever is taking over from him in 2019, will be member of the rescue mission political family and not an outsider.

“The issue of who takes over the mantle of governor of the state in 2019 must come from the Rescue Mission political family and not an outsider. This is because the person already knows the driving philosophy and would sustain the legacies of this government.”

Okorocha further stressed that the era of zoning political offices has gone for good in the state, saying the zoning of political offices in the past did not encourage the much needed growth and development.

“As a politician, I can authoritatively tell you that any politician that gets into any political office based on zoning will be a clannish leader, because he or she will channel all his energy in doing things that would satisfy his people. But when a politician is elected on popular demand, devoid of zoning, he or she will see the entire state as his own and treat every zone equally in the scheme of things,” he noted.

He pointed out that his Rescue Mission, in the last six and half years has not done anything based on zone or where he comes from, as the developmental projects, including political appointments, have been distributed evenly across the state.

Okorocha, who stated that his greatest desire is to see that all his political sons and daughters in the Rescue Mission administration grow more than him politically, vowed to ensure that Imo State will not be made a political battle ground in 2019 by overzealous politicians, who are desperate to be governor at all costs.


The governor, who maintained that his support and endorsement for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari will make an Igbo president possible in 2023, added that he is fully in charge, as all the names, from the state, who made the recently released Federal Board members, including the name of Senator Osita Izunaso, was his own list.


Meanwhile, justice of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, Ita Mbaba, has berated counsels to Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, over their continued bid to defend what he called an act of impunity and flagrant lawlessness by their employers.

This was even as the judge admonished the Attorney-General and other state counsels to stop ridiculing themselves by accepting cases they cannot defend.

The court is apparently not happy with the appeal brought by Governor Okorocha against the judgment of the Federal High Court, Owerri, which ordered him to pay Eze Cletus Ilomuanya N10 million as damages, for unlawfully directing thugs to invade the monarch’s residence in Owerri, in August 2011.

In dismissing Okorocha’s appeal on Wednesday, in a unanimous judgement by the three judges, read by Justice Ita Mbaba, it described the act as “exhibition of raw government might, lawlessness and condemnable.” The appellate court further ordered Okorocha and his men to pay Eze Ilomuanya N10 million and an additional N.1 million as cost, for bringing the unmeritorious appeal against him.

The court admonished the Imo State Attorney General and other state counsels not to be intimidated by anybody into accepting cases that ridicule them. “In the alternative, resign and go elsewhere to carry on your legal practice,” the court advised.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/2019ill-produce-my-successor-okorocha.html

It was miracle for Kwara United players as they survived a ghastly motor accident on Lagos Ibadan Expressway Wednesday morning. The team bus was badly damaged but no life was lost. Kwara United were heading home after participating in the super four in Lagos. The Ilorin based side are scheduled to face Niger Tornadoes in their first match of the new Premier league season on Sunday.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/photo-kwara-united-players-survive.html

The World Bank forecasts that Nigeria’s economic growth will edge up to at least 2.5 per cent this year, as the country benefits from improved commodity prices, investments and trade.

According to the World Bank’s January 2018 Global Economic Prospect report launched yesterday in Washington DC, Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 2.8 per cent in 2019 and 2020.

The World Bank forecast that global economic growth will go up to 3.1 per cent in the year 2018.

According to the bank, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected to continue to rise to 3.2 per cent in 2018 and to 3.5 per cent in 2019, on the back of firming commodity prices and gradually strengthening domestic demand.


However, the report showed that growth would remain below pre-crisis averages, partly reflecting a struggle in larger economies to boost private investment.

“South Africa is forecast to tick up to 1.1 per cent growth in 2018 from 0.8 per cent in 2017. The recovery is expected to solidify, as improving business sentiment supports a modest rise in investment.

“However, policy uncertainty was likely to remain and could slow needed structural reforms.

“Nigeria is anticipated to accelerate to a 2.5 per cent rate this year from one per cent growth in the year just ended. An upward revision to Nigeria’s forecast is based on expectation that oil production will continue to recover and that reforms will lift non-oil sector growth.

“Growth in Angola is expected to increase to 1.6 per cent in 2018, as a successful political transition improves the possibility of reforms that ameliorate the business environment,” it stated.

According to the report, Côte d’Ivoire is forecast to expand by 7.2 per cent in 2018, Senegal by 6.9 per cent; Ethiopia by 8.2 per cent, Tanzania by 6.8 per cent, and Kenya by 5.5 per cent as inflation eases.


The World Bank said that the regional outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa was subject to external and domestic risks. It showed that any unexpected activity in the United States and Euro Zone could have a negative impact on the region.

Also, an abrupt slowdown in China could generate adverse spillovers to the region through lower-than-expected commodity prices.

“On the domestic front, excessive external borrowing without forward-looking budget management could worsen debt dynamics and hurt growth in many countries.

“A steeper-than-anticipated tightening of global financing conditions could also lead to a reversal in capital flows to the region. Protracted political and policy uncertainty could further hurt confidence and deter investment in some countries.

“Rising government debt levels highlight the importance of fiscal adjustment to contain fiscal deficits and maintain financial stability.

“Structural policies including education, health, labour market, governance, and business climate reforms could help bolster potential growth,’’ it stated.

The World Bank called on policy makers around the world to focus on human investments to increase their countries’ productivity, and move closer to the goals of ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/world-bank-predicts-25-growth-for.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4rfYRZPaZM

The Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Muhammed Babandede, on Tuesday disclosed that a total of 16,387 Nigerians were deported to the country from Libya, Saudi Arabia, Italy and from other countries across the globe in 2017.

Babandede who made the disclosure at a media briefing by members of the federal government delegation on a rescue mission of trapped Nigerians in Libya, however warned that the figure could be higher in 2018.
Meanwhile, Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mr. Mustapha Mahaja, has disclosed that another set of 545 returnees from Libya would be arriving the country yesterday as parts of efforts at evacuating Nigerians held in various slave camps across Libya.

Also, Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, who led the delegation to Libya assured of the protection of Nigerians in Libya as well as the safe return for any Nigerian who is desirous of returning home.
The immigration boss in a breakdown of the figure of deportees in the last year, noted that 5,908 were from Libya, 3,836 were from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while about 6,643 were deported from South Africa, Italy, Austria and from other countries across the globe.” I want to state that in 2017 alone we have received in our country from Libya, we have received 5,908 deportees till last year, so if you add the one for yesterday, we received 485 from Libya. The total will now be 6,393 deportees received from Libya.

“Surprisingly from Saudi Arabia, we have 3,836 deportees, 395 male, 2,331 females and 1,110 children in 2017 alone.
“From other countries, the highest number comes from South Africa, Italy and Austria the total number we have from other countries is greater than the one in Libya 6,643.
“So grand total of persons deported to Nigeria in 2017 is 16,387. We are afraid this might continue or even be higher in 2018.

Babandede, who further distinguished between returnees who were trafficked and those smuggled, however stressed that not all Nigerians in Libya are being held or sold into slavery as been reported, adding that a sizeable number of Nigerians are living and doing legitimate businesses in that country.
He disclosed that the service has already sent a team to facilitate the renewal of passports for those who migrated legally as well as any other challenge confronting them.

“We have also sent a team to Libya to renew the passport of those who needed to be renewed”, he said.
While harping on the need for effective border patrol to check irregular migration, the immigration boss however, called for collaboration with other countries in guiding the nation’s border noting that the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of person allow Nigerians with genuine documents go on hindered as far as Niger Republic.
Onyeama who described the delegation’s mission to Libya as highly successful, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for making available resources for the evacuation of stranded Nigerians in Libya.

He disclosed the team during the visit met with a high powered delegation from government of Libya, international Organisation on Migration and others in order to secure the release of Nigerians from some of the camps visited.
Onyeama also disclosed that in one of the female camps visited, the delegation insisted that only female guards should be in charge of the girls.

Another member of the delegation, Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Julie Okah-Donli, who disclosed that the agency has so far convicted over 369 human traffickers, said justice for victims of trafficking is the prosecution and sentencing of traffickers.

She disclosed that the agency’s counseling unit have already commenced rehabilitation of returnees to help them adjust to society and find meaning to life.
The government delegation had on January 5 left Nigeria on a fact finding mission to secure the release of Nigerian migrants stranded in Libya.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/16387-nigerians-deported-in-2017-says.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo’s achievement is enough to instil confidence in the people that he can rule the country in 2019.

Reacting to the raging controversy surrounding the New Year predictions of a Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka, the deputy national chairman of the party, Sen. Babayo Gamawa told reporters in Gombe on Sunday that though only God knows the future, the PDP would be glad to have Dankwambo as its flag bearer come 2019.


Gamawa said, “The issue of future is only known by God, but there are people from different faith, who were making predictions which sometimes become real sometimes it doesn’t. If his prediction becomes reality, PDP will definitely be glad to have someone like him as the party’s flag bearer.
“Considering how he transformed Gombe State from what it was to its present stage, going by his record, having excelled through his professional carrier to the rank of Accountant General and Governor of Gombe State, he has the prerequisites qualification and curriculum vitae to preside or to be the flag bearer of our party comes 2019.”
Recall that Rev Fr. Mbaka in his new year message warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to contemplate seeking for a second tenure in 2019.
The prophecy read in part, “If Mr. President, Buhari will not continue, if you go to Gombe, it was a rural state, the present Governor there, Ibrahim Hassan, has turned that place into almost an ultra modern city and that man was a former Accountant General of the country. If you go to Gombe, you won’t know Gombe again; why can’t such a person come out; I don’t know the party he is in; and he is still a young man; in his early 50s, whether in PDP or APC, I don’t know but whoever is doing that kind of magic in Gombe can handle Nigeria. A man who did PhD in Accountancy, chartered in marketing, chartered in Accountancy, a lot of things, a guru, we need somebody with such aura.

“And the Gombe people will tell you, he does not discriminate between Muslims and Christians, he is shielding even Christians there. Some pastors he gave them land, gave land for churches. I am not campaigning for him, but I am talking about somebody who can lead us forward, somebody with vision, with agenda, to change Nigeria is not difficult; wherever such a person is, let his party make him available for Nigerians to see it.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/2019-pdp-backs-fr-mbakas-prophecy-on.html

A ninety-one-year-old elder statesman, in Yakasai town of Kano State, Tanko Yakasai, has declared that men with two wives or more live longer than those with only one woman in their lives.

Yakasai, who have many wives and children, believes its even monopoly that reduces life expectancy.



Asked what he does differently in an interview with Punch, the 91-year-old statesman, who had lived his life as a journalist, said,
“Those who believe that polygamy reduces life expectancy are wrong! They are not speaking from experience .
“Many factors influence life expectancy . In some countries like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, etc, there is the problem of poverty and illiteracy.”
Yakasai, who served jail terms during the Abacha and Babangida regimes, added, “Because of that, people are not able to take care of their children well.
“I read an article on WhatsApp written by an expert . The article notes that those who practise polygamy live longer than those who practise monogamy . I agree.

Asked how he manages the rivalry among his numerous wives, he continued, “This is our culture.
“It depends on who they are . Sometimes, they manage to live together peacefully but sometimes , they quarrel among themselves . From my experience, what often leads to such a quarrel is the inability or refusal of the younger ones to submit to the leadership of the older ones.
“But in some cases, they live peacefully with one another, such that you would not believe that they are married to the same husband.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/men-with-many-wives-live-longer-than.html

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, has said President Muhammadu Buhari is desirous to give Nigerian workers an enhanced pay package this year.

He said the thinking of the Federal Government was to approve a minimum wage that would be acceptable to all stakeholders.



Ngige stated this in a chat with journalists at Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday.

He said a National Tripartite Committee set up by President Buhari on minimum wage had commenced work and would likely conclude the exercise in the third quarter of this year.

Ngige said the committee was very dear to Buhari, who had given close supervision.

He said, “We had our inaugural meeting on December 14 and we did a framework for our work. We will finish our job before the third quarter of this year, but we may finish earlier.

“Minimum wage is a national matter and only the Federal Government can legislate on it. Labour matters and the issue of national minimum wage are in the exclusive list.

“President Buhari is monitoring it strictly, and I am monitoring it too. I wear a double cap as minister of labour, who is the regulator and also as the deputy chairman of the committee.”

Ngige said the committee would work to come out with an acceptable minimum wage, saying that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, representatives of the Nigerian workers, and the Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly made up the committee.

“We have state governors; one from each geopolitical zone, five ministers and the Head of Service in the committee. States will key into the new minimum wage when we are done because they are part of it.



“We will fix a minimum wage, but states can pay more than that. I give you an example, today minimum wage is N18,500, but Adams Oshiomhole was paying N25,000 before he left office.

“Minimum wage is just to set the baseline, but states can pay more.”

On what Nigerians should expect as the minimum wage, Ngige said he would not reveal that , but that he would rather table it before the committee and back it up “with productivity indices.”

He said one of the cardinal principle of negotiating wages as stipulated by the International Labour Organisation was ability to pay.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/new-minimum-wage-ready-this-year-says_8.html

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has awarded N3.9 billion contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of projects in 19 schools in Abuja.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the territory’s Secretary for Education, Senator Isa Maina mentioned the projects to include the construction of an administrative block at GSCT Bwari; expansion of stores at FCT College of Education, Zuba; procurement of a 30-KVA generating set; building of a generator house for the Department of Higher Education in Asokoro as well as the construction of classrooms, library and perimetre fence in secondary schools within the federal capital city, among others.

The document, signed by the Public Relations Officer to the FCT official, Anthony Ogunleye, further disclosed that the FCTA also paid N2.9 billion outstanding debts for the building of classrooms for some of the primary and secondary schools within the territory.

Maina said that the provision of physical infrastructure was consistent with the vision of the secretariat in realisation that such was the backbone of the school system.

On upward review of school feeding, he noted: ‘’Owing to rising inflation and high cost of food items, the FCT Minister had approved the increase from N200 to N300 per student daily. This has greatly improved the quality and quantity of food of students in the boarding schools.”

According to him, the minister had also approved the recertification of 20 schools and upgraded their principals to Grade Level 17 officers.

Maina stressed that the efforts were geared towards effective management of some of the bigger schools in the territory.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/fcta-awards-n39b-contracts-upgrades.html

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ha launched the auto-flow mechanism in its trading engine. This allows companies to send their corporate earnings’ reports and other information directly to the trading engine on a real time basis.

The auto-flow function, an existing function of the issuers’ portal had been partially disabled in order to allow a first level, non-substantive review of filings by the NSE before they are circulated to the market and the general public. Since inception in 2013, the Exchange has seldom permitted information to auto-flow to the market.

With the launch of the full auto-flow mechanism, all corporate information shall flow from the companies to the stock market, a move that will reduce possibility of interference and distortion of the price discovery mechanism.

A circular obtained by The Nation at the weekend indicated that the full auto-flow mechanism began on the first trading session in 2018.


The auto-flow mechanism is one of the functionalities of the X-Issuer platform of the Exchange. It allows information filed by companies and other issuers through the issuers’ portal to flow directly to the market on a real time basis without any human intervention.

According to the Exchange, the time is ripe for all information submitted via the issuers’ portal to auto-flow directly to the market without any intervention of the Exchange.

The NSE had noted that operationalising the complete auto-flow function on the issuers’ portal will eliminate the current practice of reviewing financials before the financials flow to the market and the Exchange’s website, thus ensuring a real time flow of information directly from the issuer to the market.

In order to ensure a seamless transition from previous system to a complete auto-flow system, the Exchange had adopted a four-phase approach that included regulatory and statutory disclosures training, assessment of issuers’ compliance with disclosure requirements, pilot test of auto flow and full launch of complete auto flow.

Under the phase one, which was held between November and December 2016, the Exchange had organised trainings for company secretaries, compliance officers, chief finance officers and other issuers’ representatives charged with the responsibility of making disclosures to the Exchange.

In the second phase, the Exchange conducted a comprehensive review of issuers’ filings using interim returns for the last quarter of 2016 and the December 2016 audited accounts of listed companies with December year ends. Deficiencies identified at this phase were highlighted and communicated to companies for correction in subsequent filings.


Under the third phase, the Exchange conducted a pilot test of the auto-flow mechanism using September 2017 interim returns and September audited accounts of companies with September year ends. Any report with regulatory and statutory deficiencies was withdrawn and corrected immediately. There was no sanction imposed for any report with deficiencies at this stage.

Under the current final phase, the Exchange has commenced full operationalisation of the auto-flow mechanism in X-Issuer using December 2017 audited accounts.

The circular indicated that with the full launch of auto-flow, the Exchange will apply regulatory sanctions on companies whose filings flow to the market with any form of deficiency.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nse-begins-direct-flow-of-information.html

Activities on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday sustained the positive slide with the market capitalisation appreciating further by N88 billion, amid gains by blue chips.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation which opened at N13.763 trillion rose by N88 billion or 0.64 per cent to close at N13.851 trillion.

Also, the All-Share Index inched 247.14 points or 0.64 per cent to close at 38,923.26 compared with 38,676.12 achieved on Thursday.


NAN reports that major blue chips posted price appreciation with Nigerian Breweries leading the gainers’ table with a gain N2.10 to close at N138.10 per share.

Unilever followed with a gain of N1.99 to close at N41.85, while Forte Oil N1.90 to close at N46 per share.

Guinness appreciated by N1.60 to close at N95.60, while Flour Mills added N1.43 kobo to close at N31.88 per share.

On the other hand, National Salt led the laggards’ table with a loss of 61k to close at N20.18 per share.

PZ Industries followed with a gain of 40k to close at N20, while United Bank for Africa dropped by 24k to close at N11 per share.

FBN Holdings was down by 23k to close at N9.28, while Dangote Sugar depreciated by N1.43 to close at N31.88 per share.

NAN reports that a total of 753.31 million shares worth N11.02 billion were exchanged in 7,253 deals.

This was against the 825.13 million shares valued at N3.89 billion traded in 6,220 deals on Thursday.

Transcorp emerged the most traded equity, accounting for 171. 69 million shares worth N314.80 million.

Diamond Bank traded 89.668 million shares valued at N179.590 million, while
FCMB Group sold 86.504 million shares worth N172 million.

Zenith International Bank exchanged N47.381 million shares valued at N1.32 billion, while Fidelity Bank sold 43.64 million shares valued at N129.04 million.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nse-market-capitalisation-up-n88bn.html

Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, has denied news reports that the Federal Government was planning to jack up the pump price of petrol, at present fixed at N145 per litre.

Idang Alibi, the Director of Press in the ministry in a statement on Thursday night, clarified the minister’s submission made to the joint committee of the National Assembly on Petroleum Downstream.

“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources would like to categorically state that the Honourable Minister never mentioned nor insinuated the need or plans by the Federal Government to increase the current pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS)”, Alibi said.

Alibi restated what Kachikwu told the hearing, shown live on NTA that the Presidency has set up a special committee to identify the immediate and remote causes of the fuel scarcity with a view to finding both immediate and long lasting solutions to the challenge.


“The Committee has been in rounds of deliberations in the past few days and these discussions are still ongoing. The final decisions and recommendations from the Committee would be passed on to the President and Commander-In-Chief for approval”, said Alibi.

Alibi urged the public and indeed stakeholders in the Oil and Gas sector to disregard any such report of a price increase.

Kachikwu told the public hearing at the National Assembly on Thursday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC had incurred a cumulative loss of N85.5 billion in importing petrol and selling at the current retail price of N145 per litre, since October 2017.

Kachikwu said the price was fixed in the first quarter of 2016, when crude oil was selling for $49 and expressed fears that with crude price rising to $67 a barrel, the pump price, may no longer be sustainable.

According to him, the landing cost of PMS which was N133.28 per litre in 2016, is now N171 per litre and this has resulted into stoppage of importation of the product by independent marketers.

This, he said had made the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) to be the 100 per cent importer of the product.


The minister disclosed further that as a result of the N26 difference per litre between the current landing cost of the product ( N171) and pump price of N145, NNPC which had been singularly importing the product at the volume of 25million litres per day since October last year, has been incurring a daily loss of about N800-N900million, cumulatively reaching N85.5billion today, in just three months.

According to him, government has mandated him and a committee set up, to find ways out of the problem until the local refineries become functional in 18 months time.

He said three solutions are being considered.

” One , is for the Central bank of Nigeria ( CBN) to allow the marketers access forex at the rate of N204 to a dollar as against the official rate of N305 to keep the pump price of fuel per litre at N145.

” Two , to give room for modulated deregulation where NNPC would be allowed to continue selling at N145 per litre in all its mega stations across the country while the independent marketers should be allowed to sell at whatever price is profitable to them in all their outlets.

” Three, to look at the direction of blanket subsidy for all the importers in bridging the gap which would be like going back to a problem that had earlier been solved “, he said .

He, however, stressed that the final solution to the problem was for the nation to put her refineries in good shape in a way that 80 per cent of local consumption of the product should be provided for locally.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/fuel-price-stays-at-n145-says-kachikwu.html

Contrary to reports that the sale of 9Mobile had been extended from December 31, 2017 to February 16, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said January 16 remained sacrosanct.

An online news platform had reported that February 16 had been fixed to complete the process, but the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management at the (NCC), Sunday Dare, denied the claim, saying that January 16 was the final date.

The Guardian learnt that submissions from bidders must be received by January 16, after which the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), NCC and the lending banks, led by GTBank Plc would decide on a preferred and reserve bidders.


Financial Advisors of the deal, Barclays Africa, had shortlisted five firms, one of which would emerge the preferred bidder for the telecommunications firm.

The competing firms are Airtel, Globacom, Smile Communications, Teleology Holdings Limited and Helios Investment Partners.

Teleology Holdings Limited is being promoted by pioneer Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria, Adrian Wood; Smile Telecoms Holdings, an operator in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa; and Helios Investment Partners LLP, an investment company.

Others are Bharti Airtel, promoters of Airtel Nigeria and Mike Adenuga’s Globacom. Airtel and Globacom are the only Nigerian operators on the list.

Although, some stakeholders are canvassing for individual bidding as opposed to alliance or consolidation, so as to allow room for injection of fresh funds and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the NCC, however, said the process was open for consolidation.

Dare told TheCable that the NCC favours “consolidation” in the telecom industry.

“Consolidation is in the best interest of the industry, he said, and disclosed that this will play a key role in determining who finally gets to buy the nation’s fourth largest telecommunications operator.

“Nigeria can learn a lot from the Indian telecoms experience of consolidation and market competition in the development of the telecoms market. The consumer in India now enjoys lots of benefits and cheap data,” he added.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/ncc-insists-on-january-16-for-emergence.html

Nigeria’s crude export to the United States rose to 13.67 million barrels in October 2017, and that’s the highest level since February 2013.


Data from U.S. energy information administration shows that the country imported 8.76 million barrels of Nigerian crude in September, down from 12.29 million Barrels in August.

Meanwhile, the price of Nigeria’s Bonny light crude oil reached 67 dollars 10 cents per barrel on Tuesday to emerge the highest priced product among members of the organisation of the petroleum exporting countries.

Other oil grades such as Brass River and Qua Iboe also appreciated in value to sell at 65 dollars 32 cents and 61 dollars 22 cents per barrel each yesterday at the international market.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nigerias-crude-export-to-us-rises-above.html

The price of Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude oil reached $67.10 per barrel to emerge the highest priced product among members of Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).Apart from Bonny Light crudes, other Nigeria’s oil grades such as Brass River and Qua Iboe also appreciated in value to sell at $65.32 and $61.22 per barrel respectively yesterday at the international market.

United Arab Emirate’s Murban; Algeria’s Saharan Blend and Qatar Marine also recorded impressive performance to settle at $66.83, $67.05 and $66.83 per barrel respectively.The Bonny Light is in high demand specifically by American and European refineries. It is therefore a major source of income for the oil-rich nation.

The very low sulfur content of Bonny Light crude makes it a highly desired grade for its low corrosiveness to refinery infrastructure and the lower environment impact of its byproducts in refinery effluent. At a broader level, at the New York Mercantile Exchange, United State West Texas Intermediate (WTI), crude futures traded at $60.45 a barrel during the trading hours of yesterday, recording its highest since June 2015.


Brent crude futures recorded a one per cent decrease in price at $66.81 a barrel yesterday, after hitting $67.29 a barrel few days ago.West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent, two major crude oil benchmarks, account for 70 per cent of the weighting in the Standard and Poor’s (S&P) Goldman Sachs Commodity Index (GSCI) energy index.

As a result, the energy index tends to follow major price movements in the crude oil market. The weights associated with individual commodities within the S&P GSCI index are updated every year in response to changes in global commodity production quantities and futures contract trading volumes.

Although still lower than in 2011 through 2014, crude oil prices rose for the second straight year after a crude oil production-cut agreement was executed among the OPEC)and some non-OPEC countries, which partially constrained global crude oil production.

The agreement came into effect in January 2017 and will continue through the end of 2018. In addition to supply-side factors, strong economic growth in both developed and emerging markets has led to higher oil demand.


OPEC Secretary General, Mohammad Sanusi Barkindo, during the association’s yearly general assembly, attributed the improvement in prices of crude oil to the declaration of cooperation by OPEC and non-OPEC members.

Barkindo stated: “Together with our non-OPEC partners, we have co-authored a new chapter in the history of this industry, one that is about cooperation, stability and sustainability. Our work together over the past year has forged new relationships between OPEC and non-OPEC countries, which never existed in the past. This has led to new friendships, new opportunities and laid the groundwork for ongoing future cooperation. We can be very proud of what we have achieved working together.

“The decisions we made were historic and mark the first time in the history of the industry that 24 OPEC and non-OPEC producers have joined forces to help contribute to improving oil market stability. I am happy to say that we can now firmly put to rest any suggestions that this process we have started and the Declaration of Cooperation could not be successful.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nigerias-bonny-light-crude-oil-hits.html

An aggrieved group in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that goes by the name Concerned Candidates and Stakeholders on Tuesday said they would inaugurate their own National Working Committee (NWC) on January 22.

The members who stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said they would no longer recognise the PDP Governors’ Forum, which they declared is oppressive and retrogressive to the party.

Meanwhile, the Prince Uche Secondus-led PDP national leadership had warned the group against using PDP’s logo, slogan, flag or any insignia of the party as part of its activities.


Also, the national publicity secretary of PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, had threatened that persons who use their party identity to create a faction risk being arrested.
The spokesman said the reconciliation committee led by the Governor of Bayesla State, Hon. Serieka Dickson would be meeting the rest of the aggrieved stakeholders by second week of January in order to iron out all outstanding issues relating to the December 9 national convention.

However, speaking on behalf of the group, Director General of the forum, Emmanuel Obi-Nwosu, said “finally, the inauguration of the authentic National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party will take place on January 22, 2018.
Obi-Nwosu who denied that they are working against the ongoing peace process within the party, said what they are doing is one of the major means of resolving internal dispute.
“What happened in eagle square does not require reconciliation but restitution. What we are doing is to ensure that what was done wrong is done right. What we need in PDP now is thorough internal party democracy.”

On whether they will head to court, Obi-Nwosu, said: “the Board of Trustees (BoT) has been vested with powers to arbitrate on the matter.” He however said those who feel aggrieved can go to court.
While refuting BoT’s charge that they are trying to cause distability in the party, he said the BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin, “called me personally and said he has gone for medical checks and when he returned we will have a meeting.”

He added: “What we are doing is part of internal mechanism to ensure that PDP does not go down. We are asking for restitution. You reconcile two people when there is a misunderstanding, you don’t reconcile people when a man kills another person’s son. What you do is restitution. There has to be punishment. The only thing BoT will do is to do the right thing.”
On why they choose to operate from another secretariat, he said rather than taking laws into their hands, they have decided to open their own secretariat, stressing that factionalisation is allowed in every democracy.

“There fundamental right as contained in the constitution. We have a right of freedom of association.”.
On the issue of their party membership, he said: “We are all card carrying members of PDP, most of us served in the recent national convention. Letters written to us in recognition of our contribution to the party. You don’t appoint non party members into the party.

“It is exercise in futility to paint members of this party in bad light by saying that we are not party members. We can’t sell our party. Most of the people causing the problem just joined the PDP. They just chanced into power and they believe they can subdue everybody.”
On his part, former Deputy Director of the Prof. Tunde Adeniran Campaign Organisation, Chief Akindele, said his former national chairman aspirant is not behind their movement.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/defiant-pdp-group-plans-to-set-up-own.html

Approximately 20,210 babies were born in Nigeria, on January 1, 2018, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said.

This represents the third largest population of newborns in the world on New Year day.

UNICEF also said nearly 386,000 babies were born worldwide, same day on New Year day.

The agency reported that Kiribati’s Christmas Island, in the Pacific, welcomes 2018’s first baby while the United States of America, its last.

Globally, over half of these births are estimated to take place in nine countries, according to UNICEF.

These are: India, 69,070; China, 44,760; Nigeria, 20,210; Pakistan, 14,910; Indonesia, 13,370; United States, 11,280; Democratic Republic of Congo, 9,400; Ethiopia, 9,020 and Bangladesh, 8,370.

While many babies would survive, some would not make it past their first day, UNICEF also said.

UNICEF’s Chief of Health, Stefan Peterson, said on Monday that the agency is challenging nations around the world to make sure more newborns survive their first days of life.

“This new year, UNICEF’s resolution is to help give every child more than an hour, more than a day, more than a month – more than survival,” Peterson said.

The UN agency said in 2016, an estimated 2,600 children died within the first 24 hours every day of the year.

UNICEF added that for almost two million newborns, their first week was also their last.

In all, 2.6 million children died before the end of their first month, the global children’s agency disclosed.

The agency also said more than 80 per cent of the children died from preventable and treatable causes such as premature birth, complications during delivery and infections like sepsis and pneumonia.


“We call on governments and partners to join the fight to save millions of children’s lives by providing proven, low-cost solutions.”


Over the past two decades, the world has seen unprecedented progress in child survival, halving the number of children worldwide who die before their fifth birthday to 5.6 million, in 2016.

In spite of these advances, there has been slower progress for newborns, UNICEF noted and added babies dying in the first month account for 46 per cent of all deaths among children under five.

In February 2018, UNICEF would launch ‘Every Child Alive,’ a global campaign to demand and deliver affordable, quality healthcare solutions for every mother and newborn.

These include a steady supply of clean water and electricity at health facilities, the presence of a skilled health attendant during birth, disinfecting the umbilical cord, breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, and skin-to-skin contact between the mother and child.

“We are now entering the era when all the world’s newborns should have the opportunity to see the 22nd century,” Peterson added.

Unfortunately, nearly half of the children born this year likely will not, the UNICEF official regretted.

“A child born in Sweden in January 2018 is most likely to live to 2100, while a child from Somalia would be unlikely to live beyond 2075,” he lamented.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/20210-babies-born-in-nigeria-on-jan-1.html

Fiery Enugu priest, the Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka has warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to contemplate seeking for a second tenure in 2019.

Mbaka, the spiritual director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Nigeria, said Buhari would be totally disgraced if he takes a shot at the presidency after his current tenure.


He spoke before thousands of worshippers in a New Year Message he delivered early Monday morning.

At the same pulpit three years ago, he had prophesied that then President Goodluck Jonathan would be defeated in the 2015 election.

The full transcript of the message as obtained by Akelicious reads:

I had wanted to pray for you and go because I don’t want anybody to attack me; I don’t want the Bishop to invite me; I don’t want politicians to attack me anywhere. But God forced me, you must say it. Listen to me. 2017 became one of the most horrible years in this country and that is the message.


The Lord says, Nigerians, he says, captive Nigerians, you will be speedily rescued; Nigerians, things are very very difficult, hard and tough nowadays; the hardship is not from God, they are man made; the wicked cabals and satanic agents in this country have wickedly kidnapped the goodwill and good intentions of Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari; his good intentions have been kidnapped; President Buhari must wake up and sit up immediately or…heaven demands him, heaven demands Buhari, our President to change all those who are holding and caging him in captivity; if he will not change them, he will be changed; Mr. President wake up; sit up; God said you are toying with the privilege given to you; there is no time; Nigerians are dying in your hand; people are not happy with your system. Change or you will be changed; God said that Buhari is in trouble; Buhari is hypnotized; Buhair is in a horrible bondage; Buhari’s mantra has been canibalized. Unless President Buhari quickly and strategically, positions the right people and changes the former ones he inaugurated by him, the wind of change that he himself inaugurated will blow him away shamefully. The wind will be too strong that Mr. President and the cabal will be blown out of office shamefully. The wind will be irresistible for it will come like a hurricane. Buhari can handle this problem but number one, his office, if he is not careful, another will take.

Number 2, if he is doesn’t want to move Nigeria forward, God says He himself will plan a strategy of moving Nigeria forward. His pattern of embattling corruption is not just archaic, barbaric but is witch-hunting, terribly selective. Mr. Buhari as the President, why should you be picking and choosing those that you and your so-called EFCC man would want to arrest, so that your party becomes a hideout for criminals, so that any person who does not want to be arrested will become an APC person? Is that corruption on itself?

Change or you will be changed, after all you are the one who introduced change as your mantra. Nigerian economy is in shambles and Nigerians are in sorrow. NIgeria is not just passing through an economic depression but also it is a time of economic repression and compression. Very soon, Nigerians will know that the country is in terrible mess. The cabals have messed up the President and confused him. So, Mr. President, you are to be blamed, not your cabals. You have your brooms, but the cabals have their bags; either you sweep them away or they throw you into the bag. Heaven cried that your methodology is not just archaic but too sluggish., very slow. The situation in Nigeria needs speed but you are too dull.

Your change mantra is questionable; you are to change your change or you will be disgraced out of office. Your agriculture scheme has an anti-agenda that is cancerous. Why should be talking about agriculture and you leave the Fulani herdsmen? Farmers don’t have hope; don’t you hear what is happening in the country? Can’t you use your presidential mandate and help the less privileged? The spirit of God says that Mr. President is just president in the mouth; he is not the real president per say; he is a pseudo president, people are running the government the way they like and giving him to articles to sign; Mr. President doesn’t know what is happening in his government, what a pity. But no matter what is happening, God assured us that Nigerians and Nigeria are not just in His hands but in his heart and his eyes.


Mr president tried his best to war against insurgency, he tried to stop excessive spending, living in opulence, he is an expert in stopping opulent life, swindling of government property but the way he is going after it, he is too slow. God loves him and gave him the mandate, he wanted to fight corruption but corruption is fighting him back, so that anyone who wants to perform corruption in a very smart way, will run into APC. Mr President wake up, save destiny and save your integrity. God said that the sitting President is not the one Nigerians trusted, wake up. There are areas the President started doing well before he became sick; anybody can become sick, don’t rejoice because Mr. President is sick; we prayed and God granted him healing but you know that age is not on his side. Even if you are healthy but you are not strong, there will be problem.

So, Mr. President, as I was waiting on the Lord, I’m asked to advise you, don’t come out for 2nd tenure, after this, retire, peacefully. Mr. President you are the cause of your own problem. God gave you an adviser, a wonderful mentor, a visionist, a matriarch, in the person of your wife, Aisha, but you don’t want to listen to her, that woman is heartbroken, because she understood that you are not yourself. Come back to yourself or you will cry by the time you will be sent out of office. So, those who are encouraging you to come out and run again, they want to disgrace you shamefully and publicly.

We keep on praying for your quick recovery but you know when the President is sick and age is not on his side, the message came, that is why the government schools are sick, the government hospitals are sick, the government roads are sick; power, electricity, sick, the economy is sick; unemployment becomes the order of the day, our graduates, our youths are living in abject poverty and hopelessness, the countrymen are sick, hunger is ravaging ravaging the people of God; investors have no more confidence in Nigeria. The agro-vision has become a mere illusion; even to take loan for farm has become the favour of the rich, so that as you keep on fighting corruption, many who are around you are incubating and manuring corruption. Business men are confused; because they don’t know to do as a result of the unstable economy.

Some of us may begin to ask, but why did God choose Buhari at all? God has His reasons; when he chose Saul, He had His reasons, but at a time he rejected Saul, that is God for you. Jesus chose Judas, in His divinity he chose Judas as an Apostle, the same Judas betrayed Him and Judas office another took; you can see the message is not sweet. The same God chose Jonathan, Goodluck, during the oil boom, had Jonathan invested well, then Nigerians won’t be suffering what we are suffering now; even in his hometown Otuoke, go to Niger Delta, there was no impact of governance, nothing. That’s why God pushed him out. Mr. President, if you don’t want to be pushed out, you have to wake up. So, God who chose Buhari, it is for a purpose. At a particular time in the life of Jonah, the whale swallowed him; at time Jonah could not prophesy, he could not do his prophetic duty again; that is how Buhari’s vision was swallowed.

And then what shall be done. God doesn’t make mistake. When God said Buhari will become the President, he became the president; when God decided to put Adam and Eve in paradise, he loved them, but at a time, the same God chased them out. So, the cabal thing, Mr. President Nigerians are getting disappointed in you; I was thinking of the kind of prayer we are going to share, because this year is a year of primary for all the parties. Some will start this year, I am not talking about PDP or APC, I’m praying God to give us a man after His heart. Now, it is the turn of the Northerners, the Northerners will complete their eight years. If mr president, Buhari will not continue, if you go to Gombe, go to Gombe, it was a rural state, the present Governor there, Ibrahim Hassan, has turned that place into almost an ultra modern city and that man was a former accountant general of the country. If you go to Gombe, you won’t know Gombe again; why can’t such a person come out; I don’t know the party he is in; and he is still a young man; in his early 50s, whether in PDP or APC I don’t know but whoever is doing that kind of magic in Gombe can handle Nigeria. A man who did Phd in accountancy, chartered in marketing, chartered in accountancy, a lot of things, a guru, we need somebody with such aura. And the Gombe people will tell you, he does not discriminate between Muslims and Christians, he is shielding even Christians there. Some pastors he gave them land, gave land for churches. I am not campaigning for him, but I am talking about somebody who can lead us forward, somebody with vision, with agenda, to change Nigeria is not difficult; wherever such a person is, let his party make him available for Nigerians to see it.

Before it will be the turn of the Igbos, it is not yet our turn, it will soon be our turn, when it is our turn, all of us will talk about it.

Therefore my people, we are talking about value chain economy; healthy economy; security in the country, employment, educational system that is working, then God disclosed a time when most of our run-away Nigerians started coming home. A time is coming when Nigerian is going to be a country that is worthy for investment, investors will come from the North, South and East, from foreign countries to invest in Nigeria; at that time, the people can see that the government of Nigeria and the pattern of governance is our problem. God has given Nigerians everything and He says, ‘Nigerians be patient with me.’ It will not take time I will begin to deal wickedly to those who are dealing wickedly to you people. Those who are punishing you, I will punish.

In Nigeria today, there is the hidden tribal religious and interdenominational wars that are looming. God is promising that He will send a credible President that will handle the unity of the country not by shooting anybody but by preventing the occurrence; even if the person is in a no party; whether the person is in PDP, PDP is not bad; it is the same people that go to APC: drop their umbrella and pick broom, but instead of using the broom to sweep away corruption, they are using it to sweep money into their pockets. So, those who love Mr. President don’t be angry; from the same pulpit where his dynasty was prophesied, the wind is blowing again. When God says, ‘His office let another take, then Nigeria will move forward, and corruption will be adequately embattled in the proper sense, then he economy will improve and Nigerians will rejoice.

Many families will be visited by the spirit of death, so the people of God are encouraged to soak themselves in the blood of Jesus Christ. The secret of victory over this spirit of death is continuous indwelling in the blood of the lamb.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/2019-contest-and-be-disgraced-fr-mbaka.html

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced a major shake up in its hierachy of leadership with the redeployment of 41 Senior Officers, mostly of the ranks of Air Commodores and Air Vice Marshals.

The shake up affected 19 Air Vice Marshals, 14 Air Commodores, four Group Captains, two Wing Commanders, and two Squadron Leaders.

According to the Director of Public Relations and Information of the NAF, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, the redeployment is with effect from January 2, 2018.

In a statement issued in Abuja, AVM Adesanya described the redeployment as routine and in line with the recent promotions in the Service.

He said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, had also directed that newly appointed Commanders of NAF field units and other commanders should attend a workshop slated for Abuja on January 3, 2018 as their new postings go with lots of responbilities

AVM Adesanya said: “The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has released the postings and redeployment of a total of 41 senior officers comprising 19 Air Vice Marshals (AVMs), 14 Air Commodores (Air Cdre), 4 Group Captains (Gp Capt), 2 Wing Commanders (Wg Cdr) and 2 Squadron Leaders (Sqn Ldr). The postings and redeployment came as a result of the recent promotion of senior NAF officers to the next higher ranks. Though a routine exercise, the posting exercise is aimed at ensuring that the NAF is effectively manned for operational efficiency and effectiveness.

“Prominent among those affected by the new postings are: AVM Lawal Alao who is now the Commandant of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji and AVM Olusoji Awomodu, who has been appointed as the Director Manning & Establishments at the Defence Headquarters. In addition, AVM Bello Garba has been redeployed as the Chief of Logistics at Headquarters NAF (HQ NAF) and AVM Mahmoud Ahmed has taken over as Chief of Administration, also at HQ NAF.

“Other appointments include those of AVM Mohammed Suleiman as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at Headquarters Tactical Air Command, Makurdi, AVM Samuel Babalola as the Director of Personnel Management at HQ NAF, AVM Tunde Awoyoola as Deputy Chief of Defence Space Agency and AVM Haruna Mohammed as Commandant Air Traffic Services Training Centre, Likewise, AVM Sambo Usman has been appointed as Group Managing Director of NAF Holding Company, AVM Remigus Ekeh appointed as the Director of Evaluation at HQ NAF while AVM Paul Dimfwina becomes the Coordinator Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee at HQ NAF. Furthermore, AVM Ibukun Ojeyemi is now the SASO at Headquarters Air Training Command, Kaduna while AVM Frank Oparah has been appointed as Director of Research at Defence Headquarters.

“​Also appointed are AVM Peter Uzezi as Director Earth Observation at Defence Space Agency, AVM Olusegun Philips as Director of Museum and Archives at HQ NAF, AVM Chinwendu Onyike as Director of Technical Services at Defence Intelligence Agency and AVM Emmanuel Wonah as SASO, Headquarters Logistics Command, Ikeja. Similarly, AVM Abubakar Liman has been appointed as SASO, Headquarters Special Operations Command, Bauchi, AVM Mahmud Madi as Director of Launch Services and Space Operations at Defence Space Agency and Air Cdre Noah Oyibo as SASO, Headquarters Ground Training Command, Enugu. Meanwhile, Air Cdre Cosmas Ozouggwu is to take over as Director of Production at HQ NAF while Air Cdre David Aluku becomes the Director of Civil Military Relations also at HQ NAF.

“​The new posting also brought about changes at the Unit level. Some of the new Commanders and Commandants are Air Cdre Edward Adedokun, who is appointed as Commandant NAF Institute of Safety, Kaduna and Air Cdre Paul Masiyer, appointed as Commandant Military Training Centre, Kaduna. In addition, Air Cdre Moses Onilede is to take over as Commander 631 Aircraft Maintenance Depot, Ikeja while Air Cdre Elijah Ebiowe is appointed as Commander 115 Special Operations Group, Port Harcourt.

“​The newly posted and redeployed senior officers are expected to take over their new offices not later than 2 January 2018. Furthermore, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has directed the newly appointed commanders of NAF field units to attend a workshop being organized at HQ NAF Abuja on 3 January 2018 for commanders. Command appointments in the NAF come with a lot of responsibilities, including the management of human and material resources. The workshop is therefore aimed at equipping/reminding commanders of their responsibilities and HQ NAF expectations in the conduct of their activities”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/41-officers-redeployed-in-air-force.html

A new date of January 16, 2018, has been fixed as deadline for the handover of 9mobile to the preferred bidders.

This is coming shortly after the expiration of December 31, 2017 deadline which Prof. Umar Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Communication (NCC), and Mr. Godwin Emefiele, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, had earlier said was sacrosanct.

The reason for the new date was still vague as at the time of going to press.
However, Akelicious gathered that the change may have been informed by a letter to Godwin Emefiele, by the NCC, in which Danbatta acknowledged the risk posed by the year-end deadline for submission of bidding offers by prospective bidders for the purchase of 9mobile.
Part of the letter by Danbatta reads: “The commission is in receipt of a letter dated 29th November, 2017, by which the Board of Directors of Emerging Markets Telecoms Services Ltd (9Mobile) requested for an extension of the deadline for the submission of bidding offers by prospective bidders from 31st December 2017 to 16th of January 2018.

“Having carefully considered the reasons given for the proposed extension in the letter under reference, the commission confirms that it has no objection to the request and that the extension can be communicated to the company.”
CBN and NCC had in a letter dated November 4, 2017 made it clear that the sale process of 9mobile must be “transparent and fair, with the financial and technical capabilities of the final bidders without question.”
The duo expressed serious concerns over the sale process since the appointment of Barclays Africa as financial advisers.
According to the letter by CBN and NCC, “They have repeatedly exhibited signs of opacity in the sale process for 9mobile.
“Given the overriding public interest in the company and the need for transparency, we advised that Barclays advertise the call for ‘expression of interest’.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/9mobile-bid-winner-emerges-january-16.html

Ahead of the new year celebration, Nigerian Government on Friday listed its achievements called ’17 Highlights from 2017.’

It listed Nigeria’s exit from worst recession, naira stabilising against dollar, bumper harvest, especially in rice, payment of pension among others.


Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, released the “achievements” in a statement on Friday.

Adesina wrote, “Nigeria exited its worst recession in decades.

“After five quarters of negative growth, the economy bounced back into positive territory. Agriculture was one of the stars of 2017, posting consistent growth levels even throughout the recession.

“Also, Inflation fell for ten consecutive months during 2017 (February to November). The Naira stabilised against the dollar, after the Central Bank introduced a new forex window for Investors and Exporters.


“The stability has attracted billions of dollars in portfolio investments since April 2017. On the back of a stable Naira and increased investment inflows, Nigeria’s stock market emerged one of the best-performing in the world, delivering returns in excess of 40 percent.

“Nigeria saw bumper food harvests, especially in rice, whose local production continues to rise significantly (States like Ebonyi, Kebbi, Kano leading the pack, with Ogun joining at the end of 2017).

“The price of a 50kg bag of rice – a staple in the country – has fallen by about 30 percent since the beginning of 2017, as local production has gone up.

“The Federal Government launched a 701 billion Naira Intervention Fund (‘Payment Assurance Programme’) aimed at supporting power generation companies to meet their payment obligations to gas and equipment suppliers, banks and other partners.


“The impact is being felt, the amount of power being distributed is now currently steady at around 4,000MW – higher than previously recorded.

“The Federal Government began paying pensions to police officers who were granted Presidential pardon in 2000 after serving in the former Biafran Police during the Nigerian Civil War.

“These officers, and their next of kin, have waited for their pensions for 17 years since the Presidential pardon. Nigeria rose 24 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, and earned a place on the List of Top 10 Reformers in the world.

“Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves grew by $12 billion, reaching the highest level since 2014. Nigeria also added, this year, an additional $250m to its Sovereign Wealth Fund. Also, Nigeria’s trade balance crossed over into surplus territory, from a deficit in 2016.

“Nigeria successfully issued two Eurobonds (US$4.5bn), a Sukuk Bond (100 billion Naira), a Diaspora Bond (US$300m), and the first Sovereign Climate Bond in Africa, raising billions of dollars for infrastructure spending.

“The Federal Government launched a Tax Amnesty scheme expected to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenues when it closes in March 2018.

“The Federal Government successfully commenced implementation of a Whistleblowing Programme that has so far seen recoveries of tens of millions of dollars.

“The Social Investment Programme – Nigeria’s most ambitious social welfare programme ever – rolled out across dozens of states.

“(Currently, 5.2 million primary school children in 28,249 schools in 19 states are being fed daily; 200,000 unemployed graduated enlisted into the Npower Job Scheme, and a quarter of a million loans already distributed to artisans, traders, and farmers).

“The number of Nigerians facing food insecurity in the northeast dropped by half, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The Nigeria Customs Service recorded its highest-ever revenue collection, crossing the One Trillion Naira (N1,000,000,000) mark.

“[The target for 2017 was 770 billion Naira (N770,573,730,490); 2016 Collection was just under 900 billion (N898,673,857,431.07)] The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB), under the new management appointed by President Buhari in 2016, remitted 7.8 billion Naira to the coffers of the Federal Government.

“The total amount remitted by JAMB between 2010 and 2016 was 51 million Naira. 2017 was also the Year of Nigeria’s Agriculture Revolution, embodied by the successes of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) and the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

“More than a dozen moribund fertilizer blending plants were revived under the PFI this year. Finally, 2017 will be the Year that laid the foundation for a 2018 that will be Nigeria’s Year of Infrastructure. A number of important infrastructure projects, in power, rail and road, are scheduled to come on-stream or inch close to completion next year.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/nigerian-government-lists-2017.html