Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has pumped its fewest barrels in more than five years in July, aided by a huge production decline in its largest producer, Saudi Arabia, alongside wavering compliance by Iran, Nigeria, Libya, and Venezuela, latest S&P Global Platts survey has shown.

According to the survey, Nigeria remained the biggest outlier in terms of compliance, coming in 240,000 barrels per day (b/d) over its quota at 1.93 million b/d in July.However, the country did manage to cut its output by 40,000 b/d in July, paring the 110,000 b/d increase from May to June.

According to Platts’ data, Nigeria’s production output rose to 1.97mbpd in June, up from the 1.69mbpd quota under the cut agreement, signalling the nation’s highest output since January 2015.Under OPEC’s latest report, Nigeria saw the biggest jump in production, with a 130,000 b/d rise to 1.86 million b/d, according to secondary sources.

OPEC saw output slide to 29.88 million b/d last month, a fall of 210,000 b/d from June, despite output gains by six of its members, an S&P Global Platts survey of industry officials, analysts and shipping data found.Compliance with production quotas rebounded in July, mainly because Saudi Arabia pumped way below its quota, making up for under-compliance by Iraq, the second-largest oil producer in OPEC, and Nigeria.

The conformity rate for the 11 members covered by quotas rose to 117% in July, up from June’s 105%.However, OPEC’s efforts to rebalance the market are moving sluggishly on tepid demand growth amid concerns of a weakening global economy.Crude oil prices have fallen by more than 5% since early-July when OPEC and its 10 non-OPEC allies, led by Russia, extended their 1.2 million b/d production cut agreement through March 2020.

This comes even as OPEC’s production has fallen by a whopping 2.55 million b/d since December, when it agreed to implement the second round of its production cut deal.Saudi Arabia saw its production fall by 150,000 b/d to 9.70 million b/d as exports to almost all its key customers dropped, along with a reduction of the kingdom’s refinery runs.

This is the lowest the kingdom has produced for the month of July in almost a decade. Traditionally, production tends to increase in summer due to arise in direct crude burn amid soaring temperatures.Saudi Oil Minister, Khalid al-Falih, continued to assure the market that the kingdom will keep its production and exports below 10 million b/d and 7 million b/d respectively in August.Iran’s production dropped further as its exports have nosedived in the past year thwarted by stringent U.S. sanctions.

The sanctions-hit country saw its output fall by 50,000 b/d to 2.30 million b/d in July, its lowest level since September 1988. Iran has now resorted to filling a growing flotilla of tankers with its crude and condensate as floating storage.Production in countries that are exempt from the output cuts also fell, pushing OPEC production to its lowest since April 2014, when it pumped 29.72million b/d.

Venezuela’s crude output fell 30,000 b/d to 730,000 b/d as production in the Orinoco belt was affected by problems with the country’s electric power grid. The Latin American oil producer remains afflicted by blackouts, leaving the entire country, including oil installations, without power.

Production levels have stabilized between 720,000 b/d and 760,000 b/d in the past few months. Venezuela has however seen its output halve over the past year, with its spiralling economic crisis exacerbated by US sanctions that began in January. In May, it produced 720,000 b/d, its lowest since a nationwide strike debilitated its oil industry in January 2003.

Libya produced 1.05 million b/d in July, a fall of 40,000 b/d from the previous month. The country’s largest field, Sharara, was closed briefly mid-month due to a valve closure. Sharara was again shut-in on July 30 for similar reasons, showing how much at risk Libyan oil production is amid a deteriorating security environment as the country remains embroiled in a protracted civil war.


https://www.akelicious.net/nigeria-defies-cuts-as-opec-output-slumps-to-five-year-low/

Telecommunications services have gone poorer in the last few days owing to a partial disconnection of telephone lines largely due to increasing and unpaid interconnect debts.

It was learnt that an interconnect debt of over N165 billion among some stakeholders, including the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), clearing houses and Value Added Service (VAS) providers, is currently causing silent but serious frictions in the telecoms sector.

Findings by The Guardian showed that the debt rose from N20 billion in 2013 to N165 billion as at June 2018.

An interconnect debt is the one incurred by an operator for terminating calls on another network. Currently, statistics from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed that as at June, there were 174 million active subscribers, out of which MTN has 65 million; Globacom 46 million; Airtel 45 million; and 9Mobile 15 million.

It was learnt that as a result of the debt, it has become difficult for subscribers to connect Globacom network, especially from MTN and vice versa.

Globacom subscribers, who spoke to The Guardian, said the last four days have been very hectic getting calls through from the network, to especially MTN.

A Globacom subscriber, Oluwaseun Adekoya, said that for about two days, it had been difficult for him to connect to other networks. “What we hear is that ‘you cannot call this MTN line, contact your service provider’, or ‘unfortunately, this call cannot be completed at the moment, contact your service provider’.”

Another subscriber to the network, Chinedu Obaze, said: “When I tried to call an Airtel line, the line was just saying busy, busy, and busy. This happened all through the weekend.” When Obaze contacted Globacom’s customer care department, the officials said: “We are working on the challenges. Services will soon be restored.”

Tunji Oketunbi, an aviation expert, wrote on his Facebook page: “For one week now, I can’t make calls from Globacom to MTN lines. All calls to their Customer Service, three times now, have not effected any change. They don’t get back to you when you lodge any complaint. My colleague is also having the same issue. Telecoms companies appear to be uncontrollable in Nigeria.”

An MTN subscriber, Gbenga Tundun, said he experienced drop calls connecting to the Globacom, but “connecting to Airtel was fair from the same line.”

An insider source at MTN confirmed the development to The Guardian. She said the telecommunications firm had commenced partial disconnection of services on some of the other networks, especially those owing it interconnection debts.

She disclosed: “A particular network owes MTN over N7 billion in interconnection debts. We have written to the said operator, but it has remained unconcerned about the issue. We decided to write the NCC and we got the go ahead to disconnect. So some lines will experience difficulty.”

According to her, “while some Tier 2 operators have approached MTN for negotiation, this particular firm owing us over N7 billion has refused to say anything. We have called them for a meeting, but the operator didn’t bother to show up. The situation now is that they cannot terminate calls on MTN, but we can terminate calls on their networks. We do not owe any interconnect debt. The painful thing is that these monies have been collected ahead, because the telecoms market here is mostly pre-paid.”

It was learnt that some Tier 2 operators, owed Tier 1 service providers as much as N23 billion. Out of this, Globacom is also owed about N5 billion. IHS Nigeria, an infrastructure provider in the telecoms sector is being owed over N15 billion.

Confirming the impasse among the operators, the Director, Public Affairs of NCC, Dr. Henry Nkemadu, in a text message, said: “The NCC is aware of the situation, which is a fallout of interconnection debts owed MTN by Globacom, which have not been resolved.”

A source at Globacom, who did not want to be quoted, said: “We are already talking at the highest level on the matter. It will be resolved soonest.”

It was learnt that Globacom has paid N2.5billion to MTN as part of the interconnect debt owed the company.

The Guardian had reported on December 19, 2018 that in about six months, about 35 million subscribers might be disconnected over N180 billion interconnect debt causing frictions among the mobile network operators.

The story was hinged on an NCC document sighted, where notification letters were sent to affected operators. The NCC had asked MTN, Airtel and IHS to disconnect, on a partial basis, services to Globacom, Ntel (MNOs) and interconnect exchange points, including Breeze, Exchange, Solid, Medallion and Niconnx.

On the rising interconnect debt, the President of the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Olusola Teniola, said the sustainability of any industry was always factored into the amount of debt and leverage that is at risk of not being paid.

“This is especially true when you consider that 98 per cent of telecoms services are prepaid by the consumers, and since services have already been paid for before they are delivered, it makes perfect sense that interconnects and tower rental costs must have already been collected by the operators owing the debt.

“Unfortunately, the industry has recorded a new high level of unpaid debt which has accumulated over the years. In the past, disconnecting operators eventually ended up in the closure of those businesses. The Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) collapse was a case that is very much evident,” Teniola said.

The ATCON boss, who urged the affected subscribers to use the Mobile Number Portability scheme and port to available network, urged NCC to introduce an automated clearing interconnect scheme as suggested by the association this year.

According to him, the current and future debts may have to be written off if those companies disconnected will not eventually go into forced bankruptcy.

In a statement on the lingering crisis among the MNOs, the NCC reassured the over 174 million telecoms subscribers of their protection from any service disruption as a result of the ongoing regulatory intervention towards resolving the rising interconnectivity debts issue.

The commission also urged debtor operators to settle interconnect debts owed their creditor networks without further delay to prevent possible revenue drop and customer flight to competitors.

In the statement, the NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Prof. Umar Danbatta, said, as a consumer-centric telecoms regulatory authority, the commission was keen on ensuring that the consumers continue to enjoy uninterrupted service while efforts are being made to address the issue of indebtedness in the industry.

According to him, the issue of interconnection is being handled delicately within the purview of the regulatory provisions to protect consumers by ensuring that their quality of experience (QoE) is not acutely affected.

Danbatta said that while regulatory approval for disconnection was granted to the creditor networks late last year, as a last resort towards resolving the huge interconnection debts threatening the health and sustainability of the industry, the commission would ensure that no telecoms subscriber is disconnected.

https://www.akelicious.net/telecoms-services-worsen-over-interconnect-debts/

The Federal Government at the weekend urged states to make land available for the controversial RUGA settlement, even as it said N2.258 billion was allocated for the initiative in the 2019 budget.
Disclosing the position of the government when he hosted Akwa Ibom State indigenes from the Law School, Abuja, Ita Enang, Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly Matters to President Muhammadu Buhari, insisted that the word ‘RUGA’ does not derive from Hausa or Fulani but is an acronym for Rural Grazing Area (RUGA), and is not intended to foist any religion or ethnic group on other sections of the country.

Critics of the scheme had accused the Federal Government of covertly trying to Islamise or Fulanise parts of the country.He cited item ERGP 5208 of the 2019 federal budget (for the Ministry of Agricultural and Rural Development) as containing the fiscal provision, saying allocations were equally made of N300 million for water sanitation, N400 million for the development for sweet potatoes, and N350 million for ginger production.

He expressed surprise over the inability of some states governors to comprehend the policy. According to him, one of the first RUGA programmes is the Obudu Cattle Ranch (now Obudu Mountain Resort) in Cross River State and the Yankari Games Reserve in Bauchi State.

According to Enang, the Federal Government has always made yearly allocations for the funding of grazing areas. He further noted that the National Executive Council (NEC) approved another sum for an emergency RUGA implementation. This, he said, did not involve any state in the south-east, south-west and south-south, but only 10 states mainly in the north-central, and a few others in the north-west and north-east.

National Assembly members are not against the scheme because they are already aware of its modus operandi and have been approving funds for its implementation, the presidential aide said, appealing to Nigerians to stop politicising the matter.Responding, the leader of the students’ delegation, Ndifrake Inyang, said he was now in a better position to enlighten people about RUGA “having known the facts.”

He added: “Sincerely speaking, RUGA is something that everybody would want to have because of the economic derivatives. I also want the RUGA settlement in my state, Akwa Ibom, so that there will be employment and our people can benefit from it and also put to an end to the national crisis, so that we will have one peaceful Nigeria.”

But worries about Fulani herdsmen, beneficiaries of RUGA, and their alleged link to violence, are unlikely to disappear soon.Following Thursday’s murder in Enugu of a Catholic priest, Rev. Fr Offu, by suspected herdsmen, aggrieved adherents of the faith yesterday expressed disapproval at the Federal Government’s handling of security.

Thousands of the faithful had gathered at the Holy Ghost Cathedral to pray for the repose of the late Offu’s soul and for peace in the nation. But when the bishop, Most Rev. Callistus Onaga, disclosed that Buhari had condoled with the church, the audience erupted, shouting: “No! No! No! We don’t want his condolence! He should keep his condolence to himself and stop the killings!”A statement titled ‘Enough Is Enough’ released by the church after the Mass, asked the Enugu State government to urgently flush out “bad Fulani from the state.”

The deceased, 49, will be interred August 20.Also, the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti announced it had begun the construction of a perimeter fence to ward off the alleged invasion of its land by suspected herdsmen.At a press conference heralding the institution’s 17th convocation slated for August 12, the Rector, Hephzibah Oladebeye, disclosed that the school last year lost over N10 million worth of farm produce to the activities of herders.

“This has been our problem from time immemorial. Last year, they destroyed the school farm. It was very painful to us. We were agitated and held a meeting with the herders and security agencies.“We are not going to drive them away but we are commencing the perimeter fence so that their movement, in and out, can be regulated. Again, you have to take permission before you can graze here,” the rector said.

But in an appeal to government at the weekend, the Bauchi State chapter of Miyetti Allah, a body of Fulani herdsmen, said: “Additional earth dams and the expansion of grazing reserves will curtail the clashes between farmers and cattle herdsmen and reduce the movement of the Fulani from one place to another in search of water and grazing reserve.”

The chairman, Muhammadu Husseini, told journalists at a press conference: “All the cattle routes have been taken over by modern roads and houses built by government and individuals. This has put herdsmen in a difficult position.”

Similarly, agric-based firm, Food Work Africa Limited, will hold a national conference on RUGA from September 24 to 27 with a view to solving the herders-farmers conflict.

According to the convener, Ihechukwu Dallas Chima, RUGA has always existed but Buhari is facing resistance on the scheme because he is Fulani. He said the conference will highlight the rules of engagement for both parties, stressing there would be no problem if herders and farmers realised they could benefit economically.“If we don’t solve the crisis now, 20 years to come, there might be no food or beef in the country,” Chima warned.

https://www.akelicious.net/provide-land-for-ruga-presidency-urges-states/

In the wake of the recent peace parley organised at the instance of former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, leaders of Ndigbo have asked Nigerians to prevail on the Federal Government to implement resolutions of the 2014 national conference as a way of restoring peace in the country.

Their reason: No sort of peace meeting by any individual or group could usher peace into the country than an implementation of the outcomes of the 2014 confab, which, according to them, was reached by representatives of various ethnic nations and stakeholders that own the country.

The leaders explained that their absence at the peace meeting called on Monday by Abubakar was premised on the perception that lumping ethnic groupings in a meeting with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association was an insult.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo stated that the former head of state was wrong in calling a meeting of ethnic groupings in Nigeria with leaders of the Miyetti Allah, a trade organisation, representing cattle dealers.

The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, Chuks Ibegbu said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo, PANDEF, Afenifere and Middle Belt Forum absented themselves because they were lumped together with Miyetti Allah and killer herdsmen.”

He further said: “We are not against Gen. Abubakar’s move to end the insecurity in Nigeria but things should be done properly. Apex socio-cultural groups in the country should not be expected to be on the same pedestal with an association of Cattle breeders. Miyetti Allah should have a roundtable with fishers, farmers, goat breeders, poultry farmers and artisans who are in same category with them.”

Ibegbu stated that Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other major groups in the country have continued to promote peace, unity and justice, among other ideals that could move the country forward. He explained that various ethnic groups, which presented their positions for a better Nigeria, attended the national confab of 2014.

“Those things have not been implemented and we feel that anyone interested in the peace and security of the country should look at the resolutions reached and pressure the government to implement them.”

In the same vein, former secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nworgu, wondered how the resolutions of the meeting by Gen Abdulsalam could be implemented, when it did not have support of the government.

He stated that the decision taken by ethnic groups to boycott the meeting was the best thing to do, “otherwise, the organisers would have succeeded in telling the world that there was nothing left in the ethnic groups.”

He added: “What can we lose, what locus does the meeting have? How can he (Abdulsalam) call a trade group for cow owners to come and have meeting with Afenifere, PANDEF, Ohanaeze, and the Middle Belt Forum? It is an insult to have even thought of it.

“My advice is that he should re-invite the four groups because these people (Miyetti Allah) are already represented by the Arewa Forum and northern elders forum. Miyetti Allah is a recent invention,” he said.

Nworgu, who was a member of the 2014 national conference, insisted that there was no better way of resolving lingering issues in the country than taking another view at the resolutions of that conference, which he said represented the views of Nigerians.

The President emeritus of Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazuruike, who dismissed the meeting as a further denigration of the ethnic groups in the country, stated that its motive was revealed by the comments attributed to one of the Media aides to President Buhari.

“I do not think that the meeting set out to achieve any peace or security than to further mock the ethnic regions that make up the country. Ndigbo and other Nigerians have always met and resolved issues plaguing the country. The problem is that those at the leadership seem to have resolved to look away from the issues. Ndigbo are interested in peace and development of the nation and will like anything that could foster it. Doing so does not mean that it should stoop so low to accept anything in the name of peace talk,” he said.

For the National President of Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Ibuchukwu Ezike, Abdulsalami, being one of the country’s leaders, need not call a meeting of ethnic nationalities to call the federal government to action over security challenges.

He said that government’s apparent lack of interest in security has now made most regions resolving to oversee security issues by themselves.

https://www.akelicious.net/to-restore-peace-government-must-implement-2014-confab-report-ndigbo/

Delta Government says it has successfully installed Instrument Landing System (ILS) at the Asaba Airport as part of efforts to upgrade it to an international airport.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Asaba.

Aniagwu said that with the successful installation of the ILS, bad weather would no longer affect aircrafts flying into and out of the airport.

He said that as soon as the ongoing installation of the Air Field Lighting systems were completed, the airport would be able to operate at night without hitches in line with the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) standards.

According to him, Asaba airport has the capacity to become a major hub for local and international flight operations in the country.

He called on the relevant regulatory authorities to give the necessary approvals for the operation of Boeing 777 and other bigger airplanes in and out of the airport.

He commended Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for his commitment towards upgrading the airport and making it an aviation hub in the region.(NAN)

https://www.akelicious.net/asaba-airport-now-has-ils-commissioner/

Two months ago according to the leader of cattle breeders in Nigeria. He expressed his shock on how serious the governors of South East has been in their refusal to give them their lands for cattle rearing.

Leader of the group, Alhaji Gidado Siddiki, in a statement issued in Abuja , said the decision was surprising to them considering the cordial relationship that had existed in the zone between the group and the five state government.

He said that, since they are claiming to be stubborn, and had refused to give us their lands in peace, it will be taken by force and entire south east will be raided and taken over by herdsmen.

He said Miyetti Allah had never failed to appreciate the commitment of the host governors in ensuring their safety, even in their rational insistence that their people must not infringe on the rights of indigenous farmers to cultivate and harvest their crops without any hindrance. He also mentioned that it’s an insult that the Igbos do not value anything that has to do with cow only their business and money and yet they eat cow meats.

Siddiki said: “It is evident that our organization’s advocacy for peaceful coexistence among indigenous farmers and herdsmen is increasingly making successes in the South East. “This explains our surprise at the latest stand of the governors, which, if implemented, will not only frustrate our people from carrying out our legitimate livestock rearing business in this part of the country, but might be suggestive of a kind of suspicion that might undermine the mutuality of the claim of brotherhood.

“We are mindful if the various negotiations and consultations still going on in respect of the contentious issues of ranching, colonies and grazing areas across the country, we are hopeful that these issues are considered dispassionately in the interest of Nigeria and the generality of it’s citizens.

https://www.akelicious.net/2-months-after-south-east-have-started-boiling-as-said-by-miyetti-allah/

A Christian group, known as Christian Community Platform, has commenced a one-month marathon intercessional fasting and prayer for Delta to mark the 28th anniversary of the creation of the state.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that Delta was carved out from the defunct Bendel state on August 27, 1991.

The Chairman of the group’s Board of Trustee, Bishop Greatman Nmalagu, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Asaba on Friday.

He said that the event was tagged “pray and seek for the peace and prosperity of Delta”.

Nmalagu said that the creation of Delta out of the old Bendel was by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

He said that the Christian faithful ought to pray and fast for God to bless and heal the state and its people.

Nmalagu underscored the need for the citizenry to pray ceaselessly for the state, to demonstrate their love for Delta and appreciation of Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa’s achievements.

He charged all Christians to be part of the solemn event, irrespective of their denominations.

He said that the event, which began on Aug. 1 at Issele Uku in Aniocha North Local Government Area (LGA) would be concluded on Aug. 30 in Kwale, Ndokwa West LGA.

Nmalagu said: “We are charged in 1Timothy 2:1-2 to be praying for the government and people in authority.

“We should teach and encourage every resident of the state to avoid anything capable of causing violence, destruction of life and property.

“As the state is experiencing massive developments, the executive, judiciary and legislature need God’s guidance to be able to discharge their functions peacefully.

“We should encourage our youths, politicians, non politicians, civil servants, church leaders and members to join in this prayer,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/christian-body-declares-1-month-fasting-prayers-for-delta-at-28/

The humanitarian community in Nigeria on Thursday marked 10 years of Boko Haram crisis in the country with a message on the need to scale up humanitarian interventions.

A statement by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to mark the day read in part, “On this occasion, the humanitarian community emphasized the immense humanitarian needs caused by the crisis and the necessity to continue scaling up life-saving assistance.”



United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon, was quoted to have said, “The crisis that started ten years ago is still far from over. We are here today to remember those who have lost their lives in the conflict, and to remind us of those still struggling to survive and rebuild their lives. Ten years on, it is not the time for us to spare any effort. In this very critical period, we must collectively redouble efforts, with support at all levels – locally, nationally and internationally.”

He recalled that over the last decade, the conflict had claimed the lives of about 27,000 civilians and devastated communities, villages and towns across the three most-affected states.

The President of the Network on Humanitarian Development Initiative, Ms Josephine Habba, was quoted as saying, “We have to pay attention to the needs and rights of people, especially those of women and children, and support local organisations to play a more visible role in the response. The protracted crisis in the North-East is of concern to the entire country. We don’t want this crisis to last another 10 years.”

https://www.akelicious.net/boko-haram-10-years-after-un-seeks-more-intervention/

The Ekiti House of Assembly on Thursday passed the state Board of Internal Revenue Bill.

The passage followed the committal of the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means at Thursday’s plenary in Ado-Ekiti presided over by the Speaker, Mr Funminiyi Afuye.

The Nigeria News Agency, recalls that the report on the bill was presented to the House at Tuesday’s plenary by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation Chairman, Olubunmi Adelugba.

According to the report of the committee on Finance and Appropriation read by its chairman, the bill was aimed at improving the revenue generation base of Ekiti.

NAN reports that the bill, if eventually assented to by Gov. Kayode Fayemi, would improve the internally generated revenue of the state.

The Assembly through unanimous resolutions also identified some other roads that needed government’s attention.

NAN also reports that Gboyega Aribisogan moved the motion entitled,”The deplorable condition of Ikole-Ara-Ekiti-Ijesa-Isu-Ekiti Roads and it was seconded by Mr Yemi Oshatuyi representing Oye II.

The member representing Ekiti South West 1, Yemisi Ayokunle, also moved the motion for the rehabilitation of Ilawe-Ekiti Road.

Afuye, however, said that the governor had promised to embark on massive road construction in October after the rainy season.

NAN also reports that the Assembly had earlier congratulated the emergence of Oba Adebanji Ajibade-Alabi, the Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, as the Chairman of Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers.

The Assembly adjourned plenary to Aug., 6.

http://leadership.ng/2019/08/01/ekiti-assembly-passes-board-of-internal-revenue-bill/

The seven-man committee, set up by Governor Emeka Ihedioha, headed by a former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Jude Njoku, has rejected the newly-established universities during the twilight of the immediate past administration of Rochas Okorocha.

Njoku said: “We cannot afford four new universities at the same time. Can you finance them; universities that are not worth secondary schools. The new universities should be made campuses of the existing universities.

He advised that the Maritime University, Osemoto, Oguta, should be converted to Maritime Institute of Technology in due course.

https://www.akelicious.net/imo-panel-rejects-new-varsities-created-by-okorocha/

Zamfara House of Assembly Committee on Works and Transport has called for the immediate suspension of the N4.9 billion road project linking Mada-Wonaka-RuwanBaure communities in Gusau Local Government Area of the state.

The committee, led by its chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Anka made the call after an unscheduled visit to the project site.

A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Assembly, Malam Mustafa Jafaru-Kaura, made available to newsmen in Gusau on Wednesday, said the visit was part of the committee’s oversight functions.

Nigeria News Agency reports that the project is being executed by Syndicate and Commercials Nigeria Limited and was awarded by the immediate past administration of Alhaji Abdul’aziz Yari.

Anka expressed displeasure with the snail speed at which the project was going for over three months, even though the contractor had collected over N1 billion as mobilisation, which represented 40 per cent of the total cost.

The lawmakers directed the contractor to appear before the committee immediately to explain the delay and alleged poor quality of the job executed.

“The Sixth assembly will not fold its arms and watch public funds being mismanaged or wasted.

“I am using this medium to warn contractors handling different projects in the state to work in line with the contractual agreement and to ensure good and quality jobs,’’ he stressed.

Earlier, the project engineer from the State Ministry of Works, Mr Bashir Galadima lamented over the abandonment of the project by the contractor.

https://www.akelicious.net/zamfara-assembly-calls-for-suspension-of-n4-9-bn-road-project/

The Kano State Fire Service said its officials on Sunday, rescued alive, a teenager and two adults from an open stagnant water in Kano municipality.

The fire service spokesman, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, made the disclosure on Monday in Kano.

He said that the rescue operation took place on Sunday evening at BUK road by Dan’agundi in Kano Municipal.

“We received a distress call from Kwalli Police Station at about 5:48 p.m. that three persons were found in an open water.

“Upon receiving the information, we quickly dispatched firemen and fire engine to the scene at about 5:50 p.m.,’’ he said.

He gave the names of the rescued victims as; Mohammed Hamza, 22, Sadiq Sunusi, 17, and Ibrahim Gambo, 21.



He said the rescued victims had been handed over to the police.

According to him, the cause of the incident is still under investigation.

Mohammed, however, urged members of the public to become more cautious during this raining season and stop taking bath in open water.

https://akelicious.net/firemen-rescue-3-from-open-water-in-kano-official/

Mr Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Rivers and immediate past Minister of Transportation on Saturday says poverty alleviation at all levels of government is panacea to lingering insecurity in the country.

Amaechi who spoke to the Nigeria News Agency in Abuja stressed that only viable and productive economy that creates jobs will surmount the spate of insecurity in the country..

He commended the APC-led federal government for devising templates aimed at revamping the economy.

“This government knows the problems of the country which they inherited.

“That is why President Muhammadu Buhari declares war against poverty as a means to ending insecurity,’’ he said.

Amaechi, who made the President’s new ministerial nominee list, restated the need to revitalize the economy for sustainable development at all levels.

He identified youth empowerment as vital in wealth creation for a stable and secured polity.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari on June 12, democracy day, promised to reduce poverty to minimal level in Nigeria.

The APC-led federal government since inception in 2015 had given bailout funds to states and introduced youth empowerment scheme called N-Power, among other strategies to revamp the economy.

https://akelicious.net/poverty-alleviation-panacea-to-insecurity-amaechi/

Dr Isa Pantami, a ministerial nominee has said that many investors are scared of investing in the country’s IT sector because the nation’s image has been badly portrayed, especially in the media.

The nominee, who is currently the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) said this while responding to questions from lawmakers during his screening at the National Assembly on Friday in Abuja.

Pantami was nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari along other 42 nominees that will constitute the federal cabinet.

The Nigeria News Agency reports Pantami, 46 years old from Gombe state was among the seven nominees screened by the Senate on Friday.

He said the Information Technology(IT) sector if properly promoted and positioned could attract investors who would create hubs, employ Nigerians and reduce the rate of unemployment.

“Our image is worse than the reality,”he said.

Pantami said that the government needed to work on improving the image of the nation to encourage investors.

Speaking on his stewardship at NITDA, Pantami said since 2016 he assumed office, the agency has been repositioned as the IT clearing house of the nation and saved the country over N16 billion..

“We have enforced local content policies which have helped in discouraging procurement of foreign IT products except when we cannot produce such goods in Nigeria.

“We have increased the number of Original Equipment Manufacturers to 265,000 and established IT hubs in 246 institutions across the country,” he said.

On enhancing the services of the Nigerian Communication Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT), Pantami said the agency would perform better if commercialised.

He said that NIGCOMSAT had played a great role in providing data for security intelligence, aiding communication in the country and commercialising it would enhance its performance.

The director general said that privatising the agency would mean surrendering the security of the nation to private institution’s hand.

The ministerial nominee said there was need for the country to embark on digital literacy across the nation which would enhance IT knowledge in all sector.

The nominee added that the literacy should start from the teachers of IT in schools to ensure they could impact the desired knowledge to their students.

He called the creation of multiple IT hubs to aid digital literacy, adding that the agency had created seven in the past and if given the opportunity would increase the number.

Pantami decried the high percentage of out of school children stating that state governments needed to work to ensure the number was reduced.

He also emphasised the need for increased budget for the education sector, free education and laws that would compell parents to send their children to school

According to Pantami, children who are orphans should have special packages that will enable them go to school when their foster parents cannot ensure their education.

He assured the screening committee that if given the opportunity to serve as minister, he would deploy his wealth of experience into changing the sector of his prospective portfolio.

The other nominees screened by the Senate on Friday were, Abubakar Malami, SAN (Kebbi), Sen. Hadi Sirika (Katsina), Dr Osagie Ehanire (Edo), Mrs Pauline Tallen (Plateau) Muhammdu Dingyadi (Sokoto) and Festus Keyamo, SAN (Delta).

NAN reports that the Senate so far, has screened 31 nominees while the remaining 12 are expected to appear before the red carpet on Monday and Tuesday.

https://akelicious.net/our-bad-image-scaring-investors-ministerial-nominee/

MIPATI, an online community platform of on-demand services that connects users to consumers is set for a groundbreaking take-off in Nigeria.

Mipati creates a value, which is significant for professional event vendors; music artist/bands, Photographer, Comedians, MC/Event hosts and Djs giving access to pool of talents, in ensuring time management and tackling unemployment.Using technology as a driver for innovation and disruption in Nigeria to build a sustainable tech economy has become crucial and the revolution, which is Mipati.ng is taking Nigeria by storm.

Valued at $20 billion, the events industry in Nigeria is estimated to be among the most extravagant in the world.

Events have taken the shape of flamboyant weddings, concerts, fashion shows, corporate events and even small private gatherings where the services of music artist/bands, Photographer, MC/Event hosts or Dj’s are employed.Also, disruptive technology such as Mipati, is an effective solution to the challenges faced by the creative industry, along with the online community known to be plagued with insecurity.

https://akelicious.net/mipati-set-for-groundbreaking-take-off-in-nigeria/

The screening of the ministerial nominees entered the third day on Friday as the Senate screened screened Abubakar Malami (Kebbi) and Hadi Sirika.

Malami is the immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) while Sirika is the immediate past Minister of State on Aviation.

Nigeria News Agency reports that the Senate adjourned the exercise by 6:30p.m. on July 25, after screening 14 nominees.

Malami, while fielding questions at the Senate Committee of the Whole, said that the ministry under his watch had facilitated the prosecution of 63 terrorism cases and secured 59 convictions.

He said the Federal Government through the ministry had also increased the recovering of looted public funds in 2015 from N19 billion to N279 billion in 2018.

On why some bills passed by the senate were not signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, Malami said that the issue was purely absence of intense collaborations in the various processes of passing the bills.

He said that there was the need to establish deep rooted collaborations from conception of a bill to convocation of public hearing to seek input of varied opinions for the good of the public.

Malami said that the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) was refused assent because public interest was not factored in the bill.

He said that the PIGB passed provided more priority to the individual more than the public interest.

He also said the federal government had also taken up polices that would ensure the independence on funding of the Judiciary.

Malami, who got commendations for his laudable contributions as AGF was later asked to take a bow; Sirika (Katsina State), a former member of the senate was also asked to take a bow.

However, Sen. Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo (PDP-Bayelsa), raising a point of Order 121, observed that a number of the ministerial nominees did not present their certificate of declaration of asset to senate.

He said that failure of the nominees to present the certificate could result in their non-confirmation.

https://akelicious.net/why-some-bills-passed-by-the-senate-are-not-signed-malami/

Mrs Anthonia Aruya, the Director, Inspection and Monitoring of PCN made the disclosure during a press conference on Friday in Akure.

Aruya said that in line with the National Drug Distribution Guideline of the Federal Government, the council carried out the inspection in the state to ensure sanity in drug related activities.

“At the end of the exercise in Ondo, a total of 339 premises were visited but eight pharmacies and 247 patent medicine shops were sealed for various offences.

“These offences range from poor handling of controlled substances, sale and dispensing of drugs without the supervision of pharmacists, unhygienic environment and poor documentation,” she stated.

She added that seven pharmacies were issued compliance directives.

According to her, the council is not meant to run anybody out of business, but to ensure that stakeholders do the needful within the stipulated pharmaceutical laws.

“PCN is empowered to regulate premises where drugs are manufactured, sold and the warehouses including distribution and we also regulate personnel who are dealing with drugs.

“Our activities are not punitive but corrective in ensuring that things are done well in order to protect the public.

Patients are our target and everything must be done to safeguard their health,” she said.

Aruya said the council had two committees, Pharmaceutical Inspection Committee and Patent and Propriety Medicine Vendor Licence Committee, which were actively and continuously on the field to ensure total compliance.

She however, said that after sealing and giving warning to any premise and the owner felt recalcitrant, the council could prosecute such person.

The director called on all and sundry to join hands with PCN in sanitising drug activities for the safety of the public.

She appreciated the state Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigeria Police and the press for their continuous collaboration with PCN

https://akelicious.net/pcn-seals-255-pharmacy-shops-in-ondo-for-various-offences/

As his personal contribution towards stemming the tide of the pervasive youth unemployment in the country, a member representing Jos South Constituency in the Plateau House of Assembly, Hon Dalyop Fom, has employed 25 youths and will be paying them with his entire monthly salary.

He made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday, adding the he arrived at the decision in order to contribute towards reducing youth unemployment in his constituency.

Fom told NAN that the 25 youths who were from the five districts of his constituency would be working in his constituency office as liaisons with their districts.

“I took this painstaking decision in a bid to contribute my own quota in curbing the worrisome issue of unemployment.

“This implies that rather than using my earnings for my personal needs and benefit, I chose to use it to feed those of my constituents,’’ he said.

Fom said that he would continue to initiate ideas and programmes that would impact on the lives of his constituents, adding that doing so is his little way of giving back to the people who ensured his victory at the polls.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/plateau-assembly-member-donates-monthly.html

In his usual style of drawing the attention of the Presidency and Nigerians to sensitive and critical national issues drowning the country, former President Olusegun Obasanjo on July 15, 2019, yet again, penned an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

Among others, he screamed, “I am very much worried and afraid that we are on the precipice and dangerously reaching a tipping point where it may no longer be possible to hold danger at bay.”

“…The issue I am addressing here is very serious; it is the issue of life and death for all of us and for our dear country, Nigeria.”

His outburst unsettled not a few. Itse Sagay took the first shot. He described Obasanjo’s action as childish and immature. “As far as I’m concerned, Obasanjo’s main motive is publicity, the capacity to embarrass the President, and for adulation,” he said.

The Fulani socio-cultural organization, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, on its part, called for Obasanjo’s arrest when its National Secretary, Alhassan Saleh, in an interview, said: “The earlier they get him (Obasanjo) arrested and dealt with, according to the laws of the land, the better. He doesn’t mean well for the country.”

Similarly, the founding father of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Tanko Yakassai, described Obasanjo’s open letter as selfish and unpatriotic. He said: “The actions of General Olusegun Obasanjo are, indeed, an open invitation for disaster for this country with the kind of hate speeches and messages that are flying all over the country.”

The presidency was not left out in the effort to drown Obasanjo’s voice. While receiving the National Executive of the Buhari Campaign Organisation at the State House, on July 16, 2019, President Buhari said: “those who politicize the isolated incidents of insecurity are not patriotic Nigerians.”

Obasanjo had, earlier in January 2018, written a 13-page open letter to Buhari entitled: “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Nigeria Movement.” The letter dwelt on Buhari’s leadership style and in it Obasanjo urged Buhari not to run for another term in office.

Despite the negative reactions to Obasanjo’s letter, the message has been passed. John Chukwu of Ripples Nigeria examines 5 takeaways from ex-President Obasanjo’s latest ‘love note’ to Buhari.

1. National dialogue, a necessity

Hinged on mutual distrust, suspicion and rising ethnic tension, Obasanjo calls for a national conference where people and groups will open up on their grievances and solutions given to them.

“Whatever may be the grievances of Fulanis, if any, they need to be put out in the open and their grievances, if legitimate, be addressed; and if other ethnic groups have grievances, let them also be brought out in the open and addressed through debate and dialogue,” he wrote.

2. ‘More carrot than stick’ to defeat Boko Haram

Neither degraded nor technically defeated, Obasanjo thinks that the fight against the Boko insurgents demands a fresh strategy.

“For over ten years, for four of which you have been the captain of the ship, Boko Haram has menacingly ravaged the land and in spite of government’s claim of victory over Boko Haram, the potency and the activities of Boko Haram, where they are active, remain undiminished, putting lie to government’s claim,” Obasanjo said.

He recommended that more of the carrot approach than just stick be used to fight the insurgency in the Northeast.

“And Boko Haram will not go away on the basis of sticks alone, carrots must overweigh sticks,” he stated.

3. ‘Hammer’ for herdsmen/farmers’ conflict

For the apparent tardiness that has signpost government’s response to the rising conflict between herders and farmers, the ex-President calls for a more combative and even-handed approach. Said Obasanjo:

“Herdsmen/farmers crises and menace started with government treating the issue with cuddling glove instead of hammer. It has festered and spread. Today, it has developed into banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and killings all over the country.”

4. Revitalize…diminishing sense of belonging

Given observable gaps in the management of the nation’s diversity, Obasanjo insists that one way to rebuild the country’s shredded claim to unity is to revitalize its diminishing sense of belonging among its various peoples through a regime of inclusiveness.

“The main issue if I may dare say is poor management or mismanagement of diversity which, on the other hand, is one of our greatest and most important assets. As a result, very onerous cloud is gathering,” Obasanjo wrote.

He added, “Niger Delta leaders, Southeast leaders, Middle Belt leaders and Northern Elders Forum have not remained quiet. Nigerians home and abroad are calling for different measures to ameliorate the situation.
“All the calls and cries can only continue to be ignored at the expense of Nigerian unity.”

5. Tame fake news, hate speech or risk another war

Concerned about the reign of fake news and its offshoot, hate speech, Obasanjo cautions that this twin evils must be tamed or the country risks a return to the days of genocide and civil war.

Obasanjo fears that one or a combination of four calamities may happen if the Buhari administration loses its grip on proper handling of the nation’s fragile unity.

These are abandoning Nigeria into the hands of criminals suspected rightly or wrongly as Fulanis or Boko Haram terrorists, planned reprisals against the Fulanis which may inadvertently or advertently grow into a pogrom or Rwanda-type of genocide, violent uprising beginning from one section of the country and spreading quickly to other areas and dismember the country.

“If we do not act now, one or all of these scenarios may happen,” Obasanjo noted.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/kill-obasanjo-but-here-are-5-takeaways.html

Go Back To The North ‼️ We'll Show You The Way As Fulani Herdsmen Are Chased Off By Villagers In Oduma, Aninri LGA, Enugu State.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/youths-in-oduma-aninri-enugu-state.html



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2VD2xfzvRY

Gombe State Fire Service on Tuesday said that 12 lives and property worth N636 million were lost to fire between January and June, 2019.

Deputy Operations Officer in the service, Mr Salihu Doho, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Gombe.

Doho said that during the period under review, the service was able to save 491 lives, recorded 46 injuries and received 147 incident calls.

According to him, the personnel of the service have been able to save property worth over N2 billion within the period under review.

Usman said that in most cases Fire Service personnel did not respond early to emergency calls.


https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/gombe-loses-12-lives-property-worth.html

The Presidency has described the death of the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, Mrs Funke Olakunrin along Benin-Sagamu last Friday last by suspected herdsmen, as tragic.

It, however, said it is incumbent on all leaders across the country to consider their language and its potential consequences.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement said times of tragedy is not for politics, saying it was disrespectful for the departed and her family.

The statement read: “The Presidency has noted public concerns on the unfortunate attack leading to the death of daughter of the Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

“The President has already issued a statement expressing his heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Funke Olakunrin and followed up with a telephone call.

“The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has in addition, paid a visit to the grieving family in Akure, Ondo State.

“Her death is a tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. It is incumbent on all leaders across the country to consider their language and its potential consequences.

“Insecurity is an issue that Nigeria must face together as one nation – united.

“Times of tragedy like these are not the time for politics. It reveals only disrespect for the departed and her family. And we hope that those who stand in positions of influence recognise and understand this.”

However, Fulani socio-cultural organisation, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, called for arrest of former president Olusegun Obasanjo.

It also criticised Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, for blaming herdsmen for the insecurity in the country.


Obasanjo had written an open letter to President Buhari on the prevalence of insecurity in the country, calling for a national dialogue where the Fulani and other ethnic groups could be open about their grievances that have led to insecurity which have led to insecurity in the country.

Similarly, Soyinka called for a national conference to address the killings by suspected herdsmen.

But Miyetti Allah’s National Secretary, Alhassan Saleh, advised the Federal Government to take decisive action against all “elements” and their sponsors causing instability in the country, claiming that Obasanjo may want to “destabilise the government.

“The earlier they get him (Obasanjo) arrested and dealt with, according to the laws of the land, the better. He doesn’t mean well for the country. We just elected a new government; we have a National Assembly that was just inaugurated. Nobody needs any conference, except they are pushing for something else.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/lets-watch-our-language-presidency.html

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yayaha Bello, Monday will lay the foundation of a Chapel building in Government House, Lokoja.

National President of the Christain Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kogi State CAN chairman and Bishop Ibenu are expected to be at the event.

“Religion is a matter of faith, of belief, not of evidence, and if we do not have respect for the beliefs of others, it is to our detriment, since a lack of respect diminishes us as human beings,” Bello said in a statement signed by his media aide Onogwu Mohammed.

“So, I am shocked as to why my predecessors never bothered to build a chapel for Christians even when there is a mosque here.”

The kogi governor, a Muslim like his three elected predecessors- Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Idris Wada, is from Kogi Central Senatorial District.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/gov-bello-to-build-chapel-in-kogi.html

After the first six months of the year, Mercedes-Benz continues to be the leader among the premium car brands in a highly competitive environment worldwide, despite ongoing model changes. From January to June, 1,134,729 cars were handed over to customers by Mercedes-Benz (-4.6 percent). Unit sales decreased in the first half of the year primarily due to ongoing model changes for SUVs, the brand’s segment with the largest volume.

In the second quarter, Mercedes-Benz sold a total of 573,856 cars (-3.5 percent). Sales momentum in those three months came primarily from the new compact-car models, including the new A-Class Saloon worldwide, and the new B-Class and new CLA Coupé in Europe.

In June, the Stuttgart-based company with the three-pointed star sold 196,230 vehicles (-3.7 percent). Mercedes-Benz maintained its market leadership in the premium segment in the first half of the year in markets including Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Greece, South Korea, Japan, Australia and Canada.

“After a challenging first half of the year, Mercedes-Benz continues to be at the top of the premium segment. We are particularly pleased with the great popularity of the new compact models. In the third quarter, we anticipate sales momentum from the new SUVs with the star,” stated Britta Seeger, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for Mercedes-Benz Cars Marketing and Sales. “In July, two real customer favourites will be in our showrooms: the new GLC and the GLC Coupé. The GLC, which has been the highest-volume model in our SUV portfolio for several years, comes with the latest intelligent driver assistance systems just like the GLC Coupé and is equipped with MBUX as standard.”

Sales by region, market. In the first half of this year, 457,595 vehicles with the three-pointed star were sold in the Europe region (-4.0 percent). In Germany, the domestic market, 147,351 units were sold in the first six months (-2.7 percent) and 24,033 cars with the star were handed over to customers in June


(-6.2 percent). Unit sales increased last month in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Russia, Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz set new records for unit sales in the first half of a year in France, Spain, Poland and Denmark.

In the Asia-Pacific region, Mercedes-Benz sold 478,254 cars in the first half of the year (-3.1 percent). The Stuttgart-based company with the star increased its sales by 1.3 percent to a total of 344,657 units in China, the region’s core market, in the first six months. Deliveries in June were slightly higher than in the prior-year month, with a total of 57,018 vehicles handed over to customers in China (+0.1 percent). Unit sales in South Korea increased by 2.1 percent last month, and a new record for cars sold in the first half of a year was achieved in Vietnam.

In the NAFTA {North American Free Trade Agreement} region, 30,808 vehicles were delivered last month (-4.1 percent). In the region’s core market, the United States, the prior-year level was reached with sales of 26,196 cars. Unit sales by Mercedes-Benz in the USA in the first half of the year totalled 147,396 vehicles

(-7.2 percent).

Sales by model: Unit sales of the compact cars from Mercedes-Benz increased in the first half of the year, with a total of 313,000 A- and B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and GLA models sold (+4.2 percent). More than 57,000 compact cars sold in June represents growth of 13.7 percent compared with the same month of last year. Demand for the new A-Class was strong worldwide last month (+47.0 percent), while the new CLA Coupé also posted strong double-digit growth in Europe in the second month after its market launch there (+66.6 percent).

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/mercedes-retains-top-spot-in-premium.html

Nigeria is dreaming of a fourth title in the history of the continent’s flagship football competition. The Eagles are in the semifinal of the Egypt 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) billed for today at the Cairo International Stadium. Nigeria’s star, Alex Iwobi spoke to CAFOnline.com on his vision of the current tournament and what he expects for Nigeria.

How do you see the current AFCON and the competing sides till now?

The competition is very good from the technical aspect and we saw many surprises as the premature exit of big guns like Egypt and Morocco. For us we have great confidence in ourselves to go till the very end and I believe we can make a great feat for our country and ourselves.

You said you were surprised seeing Egypt and Morocco crashing out early. Do you see this good for your chances in winning the title?

Actually, it was sad to see big teams leaving, especially hosts, Egypt. It’s disappointing for the supporters and the team that has many talented players. But we are not thinking this way. We have to focus on ourselves and give our best. We are confident we can go far and make Nigeria proud

What’s your ambition with Nigeria in this AFCON and beyond?

For long time now I’ve been dreaming of winning this very important title with my team. I hope we can achieve this year’s edition and even if we didn’t do that this time, we can achieve more in the future because we are a young team that includes many talents, who have a brilliant future. I’m positive we can do something great together in the coming years.

How do you feel being in Egypt, and what do you think of the organisational aspect?

This is not my first time in Egypt. It’s a beautiful country and people are just awesome and very helpful. The organisation is very good and everyone here is treating us in a friendly way. I can tell everyone to come to Egypt and enjoy his stay here. For me the AFCON organisation is amazing. Everything is available and we are very happy here.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/were-confident-to-go-far-and-make.html

A former minister of aviation, Osita Chidoka, has said he was organising a 48 klm run/walk to raise 30, 000 dollars for the families of soldiers who lost their lives in the war against Book Haram.

Chidoka disclosed that the charity walk which will hold in Abuja on July 18 was in celebration of his 48th birthday.

Chidoka wished to use his birthday this year to identify with the families of the slain soldiers who were in pains for the loss of their loved ones.

“I have decided to dedicate my 2019 birthday run/walk to raising money for families of Nigerian military officers and men who lost their lives to the war against Boko Haram in the North East.

“I will cover 48klm, that is 48,000 steps on July 18 for our fallen heroes,” he said in a statement by Ikechukwu Okafor, his Media Assistant.

“I hope to raise 30,000 dollars on my 48th birthday for our brothers and sisters, so let us dip into our collective humanity and show love to those who died that we may live.


“As a man who has been responsible for men under my command, I know the pain and sorrow of the families left behind.”

The former Federal Road Safety Commission Corps Marshall called on friends, associates and people of goodwill to join him in the charity run/walk and contribute generously to the fund.

Chidoka said the fallen soldiers cut across the country, adding that one of the soldiers was from his community, Obosi.

“I appeal to you to donate to this fund, as a start, to help the grieving families.

“One of the dead soldiers is from my village and I know how the family feels,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/chidoka-rallies-30-000-for-victims-of.html

A former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has lamented that the country’s wealth has been in the pocket of an influential few and called for politicians to invest in infrastructure to create jobs and reduce crime.

Amaechi said Nigeria is a country without consequences, as citizens and voters have failed to hold politicians and leaders accountable for their actions and policies.

Speaking during a panel session at the 5th edition of the Nigeria Symposium For Young and Emerging Leaders held in Lagos, yesterday, on the topic, Ineffective Policies And Extreme Poverty, the former Rivers State governor said: “I know politicians who have suddenly become billionaires, and this is the money that should have been used to build roads and provide amenities that could have been used to improve the lives of citizens.

“Our politicians have to be clear about how they intend to lift people out of poverty.”

Commenting on citizen participation, the former presidential candidate of KOWA, Prof. Remi Shonaiya, said: “We have to educate ourselves in order to become more active, and we have to begin to consider the greater good in our decisions.

“Most of us don’t care about what is happening in the House of Assembly, we are much more concerned about ourselves. The focus has to be on the people, not the government.

“But we also have to make sure that we hold our leaders accountable to us. There’s too much personal style in the way we practice politics in the country.”

Themed, ‘Turning the Curve, Aligning Government Policy to our Realities,’ and hosted by media personalities- Sandra Ezekwesili and Hero Daniels- this year’s edition emphasises youth inclusiveness in all spheres of the political economy and encourages realistic and effective policies for global competitiveness.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nigerias-wealth-in-pocket-of.html

The leader of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, on Wednesday night said he had been invited by the Department of State Security for “a meeting with the State Director”.

Chief Uwazuruike confirmed the development to newsmen with a copy message he received from the DSS.

The text message read: “I’m Sampson from DSS office Imo State Headquarters Owerri. You are invited to come to DSS Headquarters Owerri tomorrow (Today) 11/07/2019 for a meeting with the State Director. Time 1200 hours. You can call this number if you need additional information pls.”

It is speculated that the said invitation may have to do with a video message that has gone viral, issued by Chief Uwazuruike, calling on Ndigbo to “come together and resist the planned RUGA Settlement”.

In the video in circulation, Chief Uwazuruike called on Ndigbo across the globe to “unite and stand against the planned RUGA Settlement”.

Uwazuruike, who also doubles as the founder and leader of Biafra Independence Movement, BIM, took exception to the position of the Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, for hastily responding to the threat issued by Coalition of Northern Groups.

He recalled that the group issued a deadline to the President, to go ahead and implement the RUGA project within 30 days or southerners would be thrown out of the northern states.

“Chief Nnia Nwodo, being one of the biggest masquerades in Igboland, ought not be the one to reply to the threat. I am also not very happy with the position of the World Igbo Congress , especially its statement on the RUGA Settlement and the state of the nation”, Uwazuruike said.

While calling on Ndigbo worldwide, to “reject the RUGA Settlement project in its entirety”, Chief Uwazuruike also advised Igbo leaders to call for a meeting of all Igbo people, “to help organize a formidable resistance to the RUGA project in any part of Igboland”.

It is also Chief Uwazuruike’s opinion that “a division and not restructuring, is what Nigeria needs”, even as he revealed how late Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu advised him about his renewed struggle for Biafra, when he started MASSOB in 1999.

“He cautioned me against doing anything that will force the Igboman to another civil war. I have maintained this nonviolent posture till date and I will have no cogent reason to deviate from this”, Uwazuruike said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nigerias-secret-police-quiz-massob.html

Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, Wednesday forwarded the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Bill, 2019 to the state House of Assembly for legislative action, declaring that his decision to set up an anti-graft body was in fulfillment of his campaign promise.

Makinde, who formally presented a copy of the draft bill to his Special Adviser, Legislative Matters, Hon. Samuel Adejumobi, for onward transmission to Oyo State House of Assembly, further restated his resolve to waive his immunity to appear before the anti-corruption agency if he is found wanting in any way.


A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor also charged permanent secretaries in the state to be accountable as the purse-keepers of Oyo State.

He declared that those who would want to politicise his move to set up the anti-corruption agency should think twice because according to him, corruption knows no political party

According to the governor, corruption does not edify a state but promotes stagnation, adding that “and we want Oyo State to be out of stagnation.”

“We are here to sign for transmission to the legislature, the executive bill for anti-corruption in Oyo state. We are transmitting the bill today in fulfillment of a promise that I made during the campaign that during my watch in Oyo state, it will be zero-tolerance for corruption in Oyo State.

“While I was making my inaugural address, I also put a rider on it that as the Governor of Oyo State, I am ready to wave my immunity to appear before the agency if I am found wanting in the course of my duty to the people of Oyo State.

“The Permanent Secretaries are here, you are the purse keeper for the ministries and the ones responsible for all the spending, of course, the commissioners would soon be here but they are not the ones to account for the spending in your various ministries. Of course, they will give instructions and try to help me run the affairs of government to the extent of our promises to the people and also the agenda of our government.

“But we will hold each and every one of you accountable for the ministries that are been administered by you and I also want to be held accountable by anyone here. I am working from the standpoint here that nothing, absolutely nothing is hidden in this whole case.

“If people think they have hidden anything, it is the only thing that they can start and finish by themselves only and I don’t think there is anything like that in this place.

“For whatever that has to be done, there will be one, two or three participants. So, I can’t even start the process and finish it by myself alone. So, there must be accomplices and people who are ready to support me to do something that is not edifying, so if I think such things are hidden, I will be deceiving myself and it is the same for everybody.

“I know people may also try to put political coloration to this, corruption doesn’t know a political party and what corruption does is to stagnate our development and we want Oyo state to be out of that stagnation. We want Oyo state, just like we have always been, a Pacesetter state.

So, I will solicit for your cooperation and nobody has anything to fear. If you do what you are supposed to do, nobody will witch hunt anybody. I also want to say, if you see something, please, by all means, say something and we will deal with the situation.”

The bill was thereafter presented by the governor to his Special Adviser on Legislative Matter, Mr. Samuel Adejumo for onward transmission to the state House of Assembly.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/makinde-why-i-m-setting-up-anti.html

As the August 29 APC Governorship Primary Election for Kogi State draws closer, a group known as APC Mandate Defenders (APCMD) has endorsed the re-election bid of the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

In a statement released to newsmen in Abuja by the group's National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Ifeanyi Emeka, the group noted that Gov. Bello has done well to deserve another term in office following his unprecedented developments in the state.

The group further noted that even before the 'Not Too Young To Run Bill' was drafted and passed in to law, Gov. Bello had already populated his government with young men and women thereby making Kogi the most youth-friendly state in Nigeria.

Similarly, our support for Yahaya Bello is hinged on the fact that Kogi State is among the few states in Nigeria that have not taken any loan for the integrated development of the state which cuts across the three senatorial districts.

Before now, the re-current expenditure of Kogi State budget used to be between 80 - 90 percent because of political god-fatherism, ghost waters, dysfunctional civil service system, diversion and embezzlement of public funds among others, but because of the civil service reform policies and pragmatic leadership skills of Gov. Yahaya Bello, Kogi State capital expenditure is now more than it's recurrent expenditure thereby making funds available for physical developments and human capacity building and development of the state.


Gov. Bello has also boosted the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of state to enviable heights among the states in Nigeria.

The good governance initiative of Yahaya Bello has brought peace and stability to the state thereby making it the only state that is immuned from the crisis and conflicts ravaging the entire North-Central region.

The group therefore expressed confidence in the ability of Gov. Bello to take the state to the next level of good governance.

Because one good turn deserve another, our group 'APC Mandate Defenders' hereby endorse the re-election bid of Gov. Bello.

We also wish to state that our group will no longer fold it's arm and watch political interest groups, propagandists and failed politicians in the state to distract the government from delivering democratic dividends to the people.

Henceforth, no sponsored lie against the state government will go unanswered.

Signed:

Mr. Ifeanyi Emeka,
National Publicity Secretary,
APC Mandate Defenders

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/apc-endorses-yahaya-bello-for-second.html

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Oxfam International, has ranked Nigeria low on poverty eradication and gender equality.

In its 2019 report, Oxfam said 69% percent of Nigerians live below the poverty line.

Oxfam’s Country Director, Constant Tchona, made the disclosure during a media briefing in Abuja yesterday

Although, the international organisation affirms Nigeria’s economic growth in the last six years, it describes the growth as a paradox, saying it does not reflect on the living standards of the citizens.

“The gap between the rich and the poor may be a worldwide problem but in Nigeria, the scale of inequality is staggering. Nigeria is the only oil-producing nation in the league of five countries with the largest highest number of poor people.

“Although the country’s economy has expanded at an average of 6% every year since 2016, the paradox of growth in Nigeria is that as the country gets richer, more than half of its 200million strong population continue to live in abject poverty.

“This index reveals that 69% of Nigerians are living below the poverty line. The report also reveals that Nigeria ranks 125 out of 145 countries on the gender inequality index,” Tchona said.

The organisation also decried the level of inequality in Africa, particularly West Africa.

“Inequality is at crisis levels in West Africa. While a small but growing number of people are becoming fantastically rich, the vast majority are denied the most essential elements of a dignified life, such as quality education, healthcare, and decent jobs, despite remarkable economic growth driven by extractive industries.”

“Five of Nigeria’s richest men have a combined wealth of US$29.9 billion – more than the country’s entire national budget for 2017. However, about 60 percent of its citizens live on less than US$1.25 a day, the threshold for absolute poverty,” he said.


As part of its recommendations, Oxfam urges the Nigerian government to critically re-examine its policies, the culture of governance and make deliberate efforts to break the concentration of wealth in the hands of the elite.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/69-nigerians-still-live-below-poverty.html

Hundreds of members of the Shiite Islamic religious sect on Tuesday stormed the National Assembly and beat the security network at the first gate in a bid to gain entrance into the premises.
Attempts by armed policemen to stop the followers of detained Ibrahim Yaqoub el ZakZaky, the founder of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) to cross the second gate was challenged by the sect members who hauled stones and other dangerous objects at the security personnel at the end of which two policemen sustained serious injuries on their head.
The injured policemen had since been moved to the National Assembly Clinic where they are currently being attended to by medical personnel.
The Shiite sect members have refused to leave the second gate of the National Assembly despite volleys of gun shot into the air by the security men that had since barricaded the entrance to the Assembly.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/shiite-members-storm-national-assembly.html