₦airaland Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that the long-awaited rejig of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) will be in no distant time from now.

Buhari, who spoke during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said the measure was aimed at injecting “news ideas” into the governance of the country.

He further stated that the measure was aimed at calming frayed nerves among supporters of the party who felt excluded from the scheme of things in the country.

The President, who lamented the delay in reconstituting boards of federal parastatals, said he was aware of the eagerness by the supporters of the party to get the appointments as soon as possible.
According to him: “I am keenly aware that our supporters are very eager for these appointments to be announced. By the grace of God, these appointments will be announced soon especially now that the economy is improving. We will have the resources to cater for the appointees.”
Buhari, who applauded the Chief John Odigie-Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, also expressed gratitude to the chieftains of the party who prayed fervently for his recovery while he was on health vacation in the United Kingdom (UK).
Meanwhile, a section of the APC governors maintained that President Buhari was in good stead to run on the platform of the party in the 2019 poll.
Some of the governors, who spoke separately with newsmen in an interview yesterday at the APC national secretariat before the party’s NEC meeting, made reference to President Buhari’s integrity, couple with his performance since 2015 to justify their position.
Also, members of NEC of the APC yesterday at the parley, which lasted for over two and half hours, passed a vote of confidence on President Buhari.
Spokesperson of the party, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, who briefed reporters on the outcome of the parley held behind closed-doors, further said that a vote of confidence was also passed on the National Chairman of the party, Odigie-Oyegun.
Abdullahi said that the motion to pass a vote of confidence on President Buhari was unanimously endorsed after the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, briefed the NEC on the achievements of his ministry.
In another development, the newly-appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Gida Mustapha, has said that all appointees of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration must key into the government’s vision to deliver the dividend of democracy to Nigerians.
Mustapha, who is expected to be officially sworn in as the new SGF before the commencement of the Federal Executive meeting today, told State House Correspondents yesterday after a closed-door meeting with Buhari in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the administration which came under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) sought the mandate of Nigerians during the campaigns in 2015 and it therefore behoves the appointees not to disappoint the people.
He said: “The President has cast the vision, all of us that are appointees of government have the singular responsibility to ensure that we run with that vision. We are supposed to run with that vision to ensure that at the end of the day, the dividends of democracy are delivered to the people of Nigeria.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/president-assures-of-cabinet-rejig-soon.html

The Gombe State House of Assembly Committee on Health has vowed to vigorously mount pressure on the state’s executive arm for the timely release of funds in the execution of health programmes in the state come 2018.

Chairman of the committee, Dr. Usman Bature Gwani, stated this Tuesday when a Maternal Neo-natal Child Health (MNCH) advocacy team called on the committee to press for its commitment for adequate resource allocation and timely release of allocated funds to capital health projects in the health sector of the state in 2018.


The team led by its Chairman Alhassan Yahaya also wants the retention of health workers in rural areas and wants influential persons and politicians to stop interfering with postings in the state’s health system.

However, some members of the committee present at the visit, who acknowledged the problem of securing the release of budgeted funds, stressed that budgeting had never been the problem in the state but that of release.

The MNCH team had earlier noted that one of the major areas that has received negligible attention over the years is the inadequacy of budgetary provisions and regular release of budgeted funds for the health sector which has led to poor performance of the health sector.

Topmost among its demands were for government to ensure that at least there are two functional blood banks in each of the three senatorial zones of the state, and ensure increase in budgetary allocation for health from the current 8.5 per cent to 15 per cent, according to Abuja declaration of April 2001. There are currently only two functional blood banks in the state.

Other demands included ensuring the release of at least 70 per cent of capital budget to the state Ministry of Health and the state Primary Health Care Development Agency as well as the adoption and full implementation of the task shifting policy and the adoption and implementation of SPHCDA establishment law promoted in the state.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/gombe-assembly-to-mount-pressure-on.html

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar was conspicuously absent at the All Progressives Congress’ caucus meeting which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the new Banquet Hall, Aso Rock, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), however, gathered that the Turakin Adamawa might have travelled out of the country.

NAN reports that the meeting which started at about 8.45p.m. was being attended by the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.

NAN also observed that some participants at the meeting were seen “struggling’’ for photo opportunity with the new SGF.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/atiku-abubakar-absent-at-apc-caucus.html

The police in Adamawa State have arrested 200 cows for invading a farmland at Yolde-Pate in Yola South Local Government Area.
Adamawa police spokesman, Othman Abubakar, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the incident occurred on Saturday.

“In collaboration with the district and village heads in the area and timely intervention of police and other vigilante members, the situation is now under control,” Abubakar said.

He applauded the affected farmers for exhibiting maturity by not taking the law into their own hands.
He also commended the herdsmen for accepting responsibility for the destruction by their cattle and their commitment to pay for the damages.


He said that all the aggrieved farmers were shortlisted for possible compensation while the arrested cattle were handed over to the District Head of Yolde Pate for safe keeping.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/police-arrest-200-cows-in-yola.html

The federal government has been accused by a civil society organisation (CSO), the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) of withholding gas flare penalty amounting to over N1 trillion, which it said was meant for communities in the Niger Delta.

The National Coordinator of CEPEJ, Mr. Sherriff Mulade, also told journalists during a press briefing yesterday in Abuja that the three per cent statutory levy paid by oil companies to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), over the years, had not been utilised for the benefit of the region but had been diverted by politicians in most cases.

“In the gas flare penalties paid to the federal government amounting to about N1 trillion, we are shocked that up till this moment, none of this money has been released to the communities, and I believe this is mainly because none of these communities have the capacity to agitate for this fund,“ said Mulade.


He, however, stated that CEPEJ was aware of the challenges of the communities as regards accessing the gas flare penalty funds, and explained that it was putting in place machineries to challenge the government on this and ensure that the funds were released to the communities directly, and not through a commission.
According to him: “This is because most of the commissions set up are politically-inclined and are used by politicians to compensate their friends.”

Mulade, also said a conference with the theme, ‘sustainable security and environment in the Niger Delta: a key to Nigeria development,’ was being planned by CEPEJ in Edo state in November, and that it would deliberate on the refusal of the government to release the gas flare penalty money and other issues that affect the Niger Delta region.
Also speaking on the gas flare penalty, Director of Mobilisation,Independent Service Delivery Monitoring Group (ISDMG), Mrs. Faith Nwadishi, accused international oil companies (IOCs) of failing to pay their penalty for gas flaring.
Nwadishi, said the amount owed by the IOCs as penalties for gas flare had risen to over N2.3 trillion.

She further stated that the country is losing huge sums of money over its refusal to implement its laws on gas flaring.
“We keep talking about the money that has been paid, we are not talking about the over N2.3 trillion that is yet to be paid by the oil companies. Reports have it that we are losing a lot of money. Nigeria is not implementing its laws on gas flaring. Companies are not paying what they are supposed to pay. That is also because we are charging peanuts. Nigeria is charging N10 per 1,000 standard cubic feet of gas.

“At the end of the day, we as a country, we are not sincere with our gas flaring policy. Over the years, we have been shifting the goal post for the deadline to end gas flaring. There is a new date, 2020, because there is a World Bank policy which said countries should reduce gas flaring by 2030. Nigerian government has keyed into that initiative, forgetting that every year we change our goal post,” said Nwadishi.

She further said: “Again, there was a verdict in Nigeria that gave judgment to a community, declaring that gas flaring was illegal. As I talk to you, gas flaring is supposed to be illegal, because the court in Benin had already said it is so. Meanwhile, despite the judgment, we still continue to flare gas. We have over N2.3 trillion that is yet to be paid.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/just-incso-accuses-fg-of-withholding.html

Apparently determined to ensure that the state remains the safest and most secured city for business and leisure in the country, especially during the yuletide, Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has presented another set of 50 operational vans to security operatives in the state.

This is coming after the governor made similar presentations of 150 pickup vans to different security operatives early this year, and the deployment of additional 50 fully equipped operational vehicles to the state’s own non arm bearing Homeland Security for surveillance services.

Speaking during the presentation of the vehicles to the various service commanders including some paramilitary organisations in Calabar, Governor Ayade noted that “the state will not rest on its oars in ensuring adequate protection of lives and property of its citizenry at all times, hence our regular support to the operatives.”


While assuring the officers and men of the state’s continuous improvement on their welfare issues, Ayade explained that “the effort is to ensure that construction work at the proposed 275 kilometers superhighway and the Bakassi deep seaport is carried out without any hitches or breach of peace.”

“Since the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroun, Cross River has become vulnerable to all forms of criminality, particularly militancy who took advantage of the porous sea entrance to the state,” Ayade said.
He said that apart from the patrol boats, which the state was deploying soon, all land boarders must be fully fortified and made safe for investors.

“My major rescue plan is to find an alternative means of income and you know we’re a coastline state and we have taken advantage of that to develop the deep seaport as well as an evacuation corridor that will bring the Atlantic Ocean closer to our brothers in the North, thus making it easier for those in Maiduguri and Kano who want to use the road to port for exportation of their abundance solid minerals that abound in the area can do so without hitches, ”Ayade said.

While extolling their pragmatic efforts at ensuring a safer state so far, Ayade hinted: “We know that you are gallant officers and all we believe is that with your presence and full commitment, we shall have our deep seaport and superhighway constructed devoid of any miltancy attack.”

Responding on behalf of the other service commanders, the Commanding Officer Nigerian Navy Victory Command, Commodore S.D Jubril, who thanked the governor for always supporting them in discharging their constitutional duties, promised to do their best at ensuring that all project sites are protected, secured and work completed without any security issues.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/ayade-presents-50-vehicles-for-security.html

The 38-year-old woman who gave birth to quadruplets last Wednesday at Malumfashi General hospital has died.


Hajiya Gaje Zubairu from Gora village died yesterday, four days after undergoing a caesarian section at the hospital where she was delivered of the baby.


The Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Dr Abdulhamid Abdullahi told newsmen on phone that the woman died at 11 am. One of her four children had died two days after delivery.


Since the news of the birth of the quadruplets, people had been thronging the hospital to catch a glimpse of them and to make donations.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/mother-of-quadruplets-dies.html

The Nigerian Army at the weekend rounded off its Crocodile Smile II Operation in the Niger Delta with the rehabilitation of the abandoned Oloibiri Oil Well 1 in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, where crude oil was first discovered in the country in 1956.

Shell Darcy, now Shell Petroleum Development Company, (SPDC), had started the drilling of 5,000 barrels per day at the oilfield, but was abandoned after it stopped flowing about two decades ago.


The event which was conducted by 16 Brigade, Yenagoa, led by Brig. Gen Kevin Aligbe, had earlier witnessed the cleaning of major streets in the state capital and donation of hospital equipment to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa.

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Commander, 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj Gen. Enobong Udoh, said the operation was part of the efforts at making sure that the army was ready and fit to respond to any threat, whether economic or criminal.

“The Nigerian army in consonance with the vision of the current Chief of Army staff to have a professionally responsive army in the discharge of its constitutional role continues to conduct these operations and training exercises in order to position itself to be able to respond to the threats that we have across the country.

“There are so many of them: Cattle rustling, kidnapping, cultism, militancy, pipeline vandalism, oil theft and the rest. We had Operation Harbin Kunama in the North West, Egwu eke ( python dance) in the South-east and we have been running operation crocodile smile 11.

“All these operations are conducted to position the Nigerian army so that we can have a conducive environment for business activities and for law-abiding citizens to go around without let or hindrance,” the military chief said.

He said the operations also afford the army the opportunity to move closer to the people and carry out community relations exercise, including the environment where the oil well is located so as to make it viable for tourism and to “keep the bad boys away.”

In his comments , Brig Gen Aligbe, said the job of the military in the region remains to protect critical oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta, ending illegal oil bunkering, sea piracy and sundry crimes.

He said: “We sought permission to touch base in a symbolic manner in Oloibiri Oil Well 1, being the first commercial oil well in this country. What we are doing today will add tourist value to this iconic monument and encourage tourism enthusiasts in the country and outside and make here a destination of first choice.”

Governor Seriake Dickson, who was represented by his deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd), noted that the military will continue to soar despite all the distractions and praised them for their resilience under very difficult terrains where they work.

“Tourism is one area that can generate funds. This is an area we are very interested in because it can generate funds. The army has taken the initiative.”

While defending the military on the rumoured deadly injection, he added: “Let me use this time to dispel rumours of (a deadly) vaccination. The Nigerian army as constituted now can never, because I will always speak for them, can never indulge in such a thing. This is not the first time the army is carrying out its medical outreach.

“Let’s not allow some disgruntled elements in our society to tarnish the image of those that are fighting so hard trying to keep the country together and making sure there is peace for businesses to prosper.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/army-ends-operation-in-ndelta-refits.html

The Enugu State Police Command said it arrested a suspect involved in impersonation of bank customers and beneficiaries of transfers from abroad.

The Command’s Spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said in a statement on Sunday, that the 23 year-old suspect was an undergraduate from Amaigbo in Nwangele Local Government Area of Imo.

According to him, the suspect went to a new generation bank located at Okpara Avenue in Enugu metropolis to cash the sum of 800 U.S. dollars purported to have been sent to him from someone abroad.

“When he was asked by the bank staff to provide proof of identification, he presented an identity card bearing the name of One Eleng Okpara Peter likely to be the authorised beneficiary.
“ He smartly superimposed his passport photograph on that of the likely beneficiary and presented himself to be Eleng Okpara Peter.
“When he could no longer establish his innocence, it was obvious that he was trying to withdraw money sent to another person by impersonating the beneficiary,’’ he said.
According to him, the suspect earlier claimed that the money was sent to him as a gift by a female Facebook friend.
Investigation further showed that the account number he presented as his belonged to someone else.
The command advised members of the public to be security conscious and not disclose their bank details and vital personal information to the public.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/police-nab-undergraduate-for.html

The recent appearance by the APC [All Progressive Congress] gubernatorial candidate, Tony Nwoye on Channels Television seem to have offended and/or angered the many campaign organizing committees within the national APC who saw the appearance as a bit too revealing and loose fitted.

Information available and obtained through sources knowledgeable of the goings within the APC revealed that Nwoye’s Channels TV appearance caught the planning committees ‘off-guard’.
According to our source, he spoke without masking the secret plans discussed behind closed doors on how the electioneering with be handled on Election Day.
“He went on national television to tell Nigerians that the then President Jonathan did not help him in 2013 when he contested under the PDP. But now, President Buhari will help him win as an APC candidate” lamented our source who explained that the planning committee had to call an immediate emergency meeting for 6pm on Thursday October 26, 2017 to discuss the way forward – whether they are to coil away from the original plans of rigging the election through the help of the presidency or to adopt a new plan.
“They called for emergency meeting today because of Nwoye’s interview at channels. All the plans APC made is like its being exposed by Tony himself. You cannot come out on television and boast that President wants to help you. Nobody in the party is happy with Tony right now.” This is as the source called Nwoye’s Channels TV Appearance “a mistake”.
The source went on to add that the rigging plans had already been finalized by the APC bigwigs within the planning committees – of which the Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasiru El Rufai is part of. The REC [Resident Electoral Commissioner] in Anambra, Nkwachukwu Orji has been penciled for replacement by the APC bigwigs – and has been tabled to the President for his approval. Our source, however indicates that the replacement of the REC met obstacles – as the 1st Lady frowned at the planned replacement.
The choice REC whom the APC planning committees intend on replacing the present REC with, is said to be presently stationed at one of the northern states – likely in Kaduna State. The REC is said to have an understanding with the APC governors how to execute the plans packaged for November 18, 2017 election day.
In addition, Nwoye’s Channels TV appearance showed the Anambra gubernatorial candidate lamenting that the APC governors were not as cooperative towards his candidacy as they were to the gubernatorial races of Ondo and Edo State.
He complained on Channels TV that his campaign has become cash trapped – and that he expected for all the APC governor’s to contribute N50million each as they did for the Ondo and Edo state gubernatorial elections. Our source adds that the APC planning committees were displeased hearing their Anambra gubernatorial candidate speak in such fashion on national television.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/apc-upset-with-nwoyes-channels-tv.html

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has advised Nigerian students and graduates to desist from kidnapping, robbery and other social vices that portray the academic community in bad light.

Jonathan spoke at the 4th convocation of Baze University in Abuja.



He said, “It is important to note that the negative activities of some of our youths are portraying the academic environment in bad light.
“I urge the graduating and other students of this university to realise that those people are out of line, and it is not cool, whenever they involve themselves in such abhorrent social vices as cultism, thuggery, armed robbery and kidnapping.
“They should know that they let the nation down, each time they engage in acts that debase human dignity and hurt our values as a nation of great people.”
Jonathan further encouraged academic staff to instill moral values into students in order to elevate education sector in Nigeria.

“I would, however, clarify that our kind of education must be the type that will have a soul. That is why I always challenge the staff, especially the academic staff, to develop curricula that will produce respectable and patriotic citizens and graduates, in tune with our peculiar social and economic environment.
“We must aspire to restore those glory days when a graduate’s value was weighed equally in character and in learning”, he added.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/jonathan-reveals-what-nigerian-students.html

Kano State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kabir Getso has confirmed that there is a suspected case of Monkey Pox disease in the state, which is being investigated.

The Commissioner, in a press briefing at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kano on Saturday, said a suspected case was reported in the Bebeji Health Facility of the State and the patient demonstrated symptoms similar to that of monkey pox, which is also close to symptoms usually demonstrated by patients suffering from Smallpox disease.


“The case is being referred for investigation as the blood sample of the victim has been collected and sent to Abuja for onward transmission to Dakar, Senegal for analysis and authenticity.”

Getso said the result is being expected between two to three weeks. He said expert dermatologists have been invited and observations made, which they say the presentation is close to that of smallpox.

“The patient has no history of travels but had contacts with sixty other persons in his area who are now placed under observation.”

He said it is not confirmed whether it is monkey pox or not as such people should remain calm and dispel dangerous rumors that could trigger panic among the residence of the state.

He noted that the state government under the leadership of Governor Umar Ganduje has taken adequate precautionary measures to forestall possible spread of the suspected case in the state.

According to him, those measures include: activation of the Yar Gaya Isolation Centre, aggressive media campaign on radio using local languages, and update media briefing.

He urged people to engage in personal hygiene through the washing of hands, proper cooking of slaughtered animals, quarantine of suspected animals. He also urged the public not to panic nor create unnecessary tension as the situation is under control.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/kano-confirms-case-of-suspected-monkey_29.html

The Forum of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors on TUesday expressed disappointment over what it called series of scandals and allegations rocking the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

This came as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee (NCC), of the party, Ahmed Makarfi, disclosed that the party has only endorsed the zoning of presidency and national chairman to the North and South respectively.


The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, berated the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration led by President Buhari over series of alleged cases of impunity and corruption.

Fayose urged PDP to continue to expose alleged excesses of the APC, declaring that “if we don’t expose them, nobody will do so.”
Fayose likened the administration’s anti-graft war to the scenario where armed robbers engage perceived thieves in fierce battle.

“The opposition (APC) is now in many scandals, we have to keep our voices up to expose them. Armed robbers calling people thieves, who are the armed robbers now?
“Buhari’s anti-corruption fight is like Satan calling Judas Iscariot a sinner.” Fayose said.

The Ekiti State governor charged party members to ensure that the December 2017 elective convention succeeds, pointing out that “the last convention was applauded; I want to believe that this one will be the same. In this convention, there will be winner and loser, but in all, the party must win. The fact that you did not win should not make you to destroy the party.“

Meanwhile, while reacting to insinuations that the leadership was behind the move to alter the micro zoning arrangement which ceded the national, chairmanship seat to the South west, Makarfi said there was no truth in such insinuation”
He also cautioned against pushing the leadership of the party to assume powers that might make it act in an arbitrary manner and which the party would later regret.

Makarfi who spoke at the 76th National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party, said the NCC has no power ascribed to warrant its interference in the choice of chairman of the party.
“I want to make one thing categorically clear that it is very unfair insinuation. Some people think that I as the chairman of the caretaker committee should assume the power that we don’t have.

“We have no power beyond the convention, and I want to remind all of us that, the only thing convention did was to zone two positions, and as chairman or caretaker committee, you cannot go beyond that.
“But to assume that the chairman of the caretaker committee to exercise power that he doesn’t have, and start dishing out orders, that will be undemocratic and will have no basis or foundation in our constitution,” he said.

On the outcome of the meeting with aspirants, he said they sought and obtained from the aspirants that they would all approach the contest with decorum.
He told the meeting that the caretaker committee has been able to restore order and sanity in troubled states.

Makarfi also said the party has also meted out disciplinary actions on some erring members in Anambra State while cases of others have been referred to the disciplinary committee.
Among the aspirants that met with the caretaker committee included Chief Bode George, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Prince Uche Secondus, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, Alhaji Rasheed Ladoja, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and Mr. Jimi Agbaje.

While addressing the NEC meeting, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibril, said success of the party’s convention would depend on the unity and love for the party as the outcome is going to determine the success or the death of the party as every Nigerian is waiting for PDP to come back and rule Nigeria again.

He stated that members of the party should not begin to adopt people without seriously adhering to rules and regulations of the party.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, urged the Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee to ensure that the forthcoming national convention is conducted in a very transparent manner to serve as a lasting legacy for the party.
Meanwhile, the NEC of the party has formally ratified December 9 as date for its national convention.
While choosing the date for the national convention, the NEC also said the venue of the event would be at Eagle Square in Abuja.

However, yesterday’s NEC meeting witnessed a drama when the senator representing Ekiti South senatorial district, Senator Abiodun Olujimi, brought a petition against the Ekiti state governor, Fayose over his alleged interference in the selection process for the party’s governorship candidate in the state.
Fayose was said to have unilaterally declared that his deputy, Prof. Olusola Eleka, would run as the PDP governorship candidate in the next year’s election.

Addressing journalists late evening after the meeting the party’s spokesman, Dayo Adeyeye, said Olujimi brought a complain of alleged acts of impunity by the leadership of the state chapter.
When asked about the NEC’s response to the petition, Adeyeye said the matter was referred to the chairman of the caretaker committee, who told members that an action was already being taken to resolve the issues in order to avoid a catastrophic outcome of its convention.

He said the NEC approved a general weaver for every one coming into the PDP in Oyo and Anambra States.
He also said the meeting approved guidelines for the conduct of congresses and national convention.
In addition, Adeyeye disclosed that the caretaker committee submitted the budget for the convention to the NEC for its approval.

On the controversy over the eligibility of the governorship candidate of the party in Anambra State, Henry Obaze, the PDP’s spokesman said that the candidate was given weaver before he contested for the primaries in the same way Senator Ademola Adeleke was granted weaver before emerging victorious as a senator.
“Most significantly the meeting looked at the various proposals for constitutional amendments,” he said.

Explaining why the meeting took so long, Adeyeye said it looked several touchy issues that warranted extensive deliberations.
According to Adeyeye, the meeting was painstaking in considering amendments to the constitution in order to avoid mistakes which could drag the party into problems like the one that led to the prolonged crisis that besieged the party.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/pdp-governors-slam-buhari-over.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAbR6bBOBrE

A pro-Biafra group, the Biafra Zionists Federation, (BZF), on Tuesday appointed a former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as Ambassador to the United States of America.

The group also appointed Dr. Dozie Ikedife as the Chairman of National Committee for Biafra’s independence and Hon. Kanu Agabi as Attorney General of the Federation.
BZF berated Igbo leaders over their recent meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa, Abuja, describing the visit as futile and self-serving.

It accused Igbo leaders of going to Aso Rock to share war bounties, while the agitators were dying in the struggle for the restoration of Biafra.
The leader of the group, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, who issued a “stern warning” to the leaders in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu, accused the Igbo leaders of working against the interest of the common man in the street.


Re-call that at the meeting attended by select South-east leaders and the governors from the zone, President Buhari dismissed insinuations that he was marginalising Ndigbo.
He also announced a change of his name to Onwuka Nsiegbe, vowing that with the support of the US, he would before this year’s Christmas re-declare Biafra at Lokoja in Kogi State.

According to him, “We are hopeful that Biafra is going to be approved in December by the US because this problem of Biafra is not about IPOB or Nnamdi Kanu, it is about America’s support. We are now waiting for President Donald Trump’s endorsement before Christmas; whatever we are doing is based on America’s diplomatic engagement.

“Therefore, the Republic of Biafra will be announced in Lokoja; Lokoja is an Igbo land; as at 1914 when the amalgamation took place, Lokoja was part of Igbo land; Igbo land extends up to Plateau State; it used to be called Arochukwu kingdom; so, Biafra is going to reclaim her sovereignty from Lokoja.

“Biafra issue is a diplomatic matter; if America does not support us, it will not work; so, IPOB or Kanu cannot get Biafra; what the IPOB is doing is a waste of time. We are hopeful that our diplomatic approach will make it come true.

“We want to restate our ministerial appointments. They include Foreign Minister, Patrick Utomi; Finance, Arunma Oteh; Governor of the Central Bank of Biafra, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo; Information, Amarachi Ubani, currently at Channels Television, Lagos; Trade and Industry, May Okafor, currently at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Transportation, Prof. Jerry Gana; Aviation, Labaran Maku; Secretary to the Government of the Republic, Beny Lar; Education, Gabriel Oluwole Osagie; Energy, Prof. Barth Nnaji; United Nations, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the current chairman of Ohanaeze; Defence, internal affairs, agriculture, police, air force, prison service, customs, would all be Israelis.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/pro-biafra-group-names-okonjo-iweala-us_18.html?m=1

A victim of monkey pox receiving treatment at the Niger Delta University Hospital (UNDTH), Okolobiri, Bayelsa State, has committed suicide.

It was gathered that the victim, whose name was not disclosed, hung himself early yesterday.

The state government confirmed the development at a joint press conference by commissioners for Information and Orientation, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson and Health, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu, with the Chief Medical Director, NDUTH, Prof. Dimie Ogoina and other senior health officials.


Etebu said that the deceased was among the 21 suspected cases of “monkey pox” being managed at the NDUTH.

He regretted that the patient took his own life despite speedily recovering from the disease.

Etebu said the patient’s medical history did not suggest any mental illness or depression.

He maintained that the patient did not die of monkey pox.

Etebu said the police and his family had been contacted and all due diligence was being followed for his funeral.

He sympathised with the family and said that a committee would evaluate his past and recent clinical and social history.


The examination will determine “if there were undisclosed mental illness or personal family problem that could have justified the suicide”.

Iworiso-Markson urged residents to continue to use preventive measures, such as avoiding bushmeats and other causes of the disease.

The Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Police Command, Mr. Asinim Butswat, said the death had been reported.

He, however, said the police were not suspecting any foul play, noting that there were no visible marks of violence other than the rope the patient tied around his neck.

Three cases of monkey pox have been confirmed after laboratory analysis.

The cases are all in Bayelsa State where the outbreak was first reported in September.

Briefing reporters yesterday in Abuja on the outcome of the tests from the World Health Organisation (WHO) reference laboratory in Senegal, Health Minister Prof. Isaac Adewole said only three of the 21 were confirmed positive; 12 were negative.

Results of two others were being awaited.

On the suspected outbreak in Lagos, the minister said the four cases turned out negative.

The minister also noted that further investigations would be carried out on the cases that came out negative to confirm what the ailment is.

He said: “As at 13th of October 2017, there were 17 suspected cases reported from Yenagoa Local Government in Bayelsa State. We have received laboratory confirmation for monkey pox virus from three of these cases from the WHO Regional Laboratory in Dakar, Senegal. Samples from 12 other cases from Bayelsa were negative.

“With these results, three suspected monkey pox cases in Yenagoa have been confirmed with laboratory evidence. The most likely source of infection is a primary zoonotic transmission, from an animal, with secondary person-to-person transmission.

“Since our initial announcement, a total of 43 other suspected cases have been reported from eight other states (Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Ekiti, Lagos, Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, and FCT).

“Of these, four cases from Lagos have also been tested and confirmed to be negative for the monkey pox virus.”

The minister also posited that other cases from other parts of the country might not be caused by monkey pox.

Adewole said: “We expect that many of these cases being reported from other states in Nigeria are not caused by the Monkey pox virus, but we will continue to investigate all those cases that fit the case definition.”

He added: “Further laboratory tests using whole genome sequencing are being carried out by the Africa Centre for Genomics and Infectious Diseases in Redeemers University, Ede, Osun State.”

Adewole also reassured Nigerians that there was no reason to panic as the West African strain of the monkey pox virus is milder, compared to that of East Africa.

This, he said, explained why there has not been any casualty.

The minister stressed: “Monkey pox is largely a self-limiting disease, from which all suspected patients that have been reported to date are doing well clinically. Even before this confirmation, all the necessary public health measures have been put in place and will continue to be implemented.”

On the symptoms, Adewole said: “The monkey pox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, and exhaustion. Monkey pox causes lymph nodes to swell (lymphadenopathy) and the incubation period (time from infection to symptoms) for monkey pox is usually 7-14 days but can range from 5-21 days.

“Specifically, it begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, exhaustion

Within one-three days (sometimes longer) after the appearance of fever, the patient develops a rash, often begin on the face, then spread to other parts of the body.”

The minister urged Nigerians “to remain calm and supportive of public health authorities, avoid self-medication and report to the nearest health facility if feeling unwell or notice any of the above symptoms in anyone around you. It is important to note that there has been no confirmation of monkey pox in any other part of the country, and it is likely that many of the other cases being reported are not caused by the monkey pox virus. Nigerians should continue to be vigilant at all times.

“Health care workers are strongly advised to always practise universal precautions while handling patients and/or body fluids at all times. They are also urged to be alert, be familiar with the symptoms of monkey pox and maintain a high index of suspicion. All suspected cases should be immediately reported to the local government area or state Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/breakingmonkey-pox-patient-commits.html?m=1

Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has said the Federal Government would soon start collecting luxury taxes.

Addressing newsmen at the annual meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington DC on Sunday, Mrs Adeosun said people with higher income must bear a greater part of the tax burden.


“The luxury tax planned by the Federal Government is being finalised now because it cuts across the ECOWAS. There is a legal process you must go through, including the customs union, to actually vary the specific taxes.

“The problem we have in the country is not just that the system needs to be overhauled, it is also that people are not complying and this is because there is no consequence. We have just started with Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) as a measure to tackle that and the response is impressive.


“In any tax system, the burden must be borne by anybody whose income allows to bear it, so those with higher income should by definition, bear a greater part of the burden,”she said.

The minister disclosed that some rich people had approached her to speak to their governors about taxes payable to state governments.


“In fact, people have started declaring and I have had a number of approaches from high networth people asking me to speak on their behalf, to state governors, to allow them time to comply because their personal taxes are payable to state governments.

“I have encouraged every governor that everyone who comes to declare should be given enough time to pay up. This is because the amount of tax that they would have to pay is big.

“Whether taxing the rich will increase public revenue or not, it is all about public revenue to which they are obligated for public services.

“The problem currently is that those at the lower level are the ones paying. If the man in the traffic control, with little income will pay at source, why should we not pursue the billionaire or the trillionaire to pay out of the income? We need to change the mindset in the country with regard to tax system,”she explained.

In August, Adeosun announced that the Federal Government had signed a policy to tax first class and business class air tickets alongside other luxury goods.

Christine Lagarde, IMF managing director, had earlier said that making the rich pay more taxes will not solve the problem of inequality in the world and advised countries to reduce the gender gap between men and women.


However, Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said women have not been approaching the bank to access the funds set aside for small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

“Of course, I am a man, but, I need to say there is a need to support women. In our Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) funds of N220 billion, 60 per cent is reserved for women, but we are not even seeing the women coming,” he said

Adeosun also called for the creation of more opportunities for women saying “investing in women is the best investment any country can make”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/rich-nigerians-must-pay-more-tax-says.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJok8R878p0





http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/see-what-happen-to-this-lady-after.html

Former Kaduna Bureau Chief of Vanguard Newspapers, Luka Binniyat who is standing trial before Justice Bashir Sukola of Kaduna High Court on alleged false publication in Vanguard Newspapers on the killings of five students of College of Education, Gidan-Waya, has regained his freedom after spending over 90 days in prison.

Justice Bashir Sukola had while granting Luka Binniyat bail on the 20th July, 2017 announced that two sureties were to bring their international passports to be deposited in the Court with N10m each and a bank bond.

Before relaxing the conditions, Sukola had earlier taken a 15 minute break where he advised both prosecution counsel, led by Abdulhakeem Mustapha, SAN, and defence counsel, Elisha Yakubu Kurah, SAN, to go and privately debate the bail condition and report back to the court.
It was then decided that bail be granted the accused with three sureties upon presentation of bank statement of not less than ten million Naira credit each.
In addition, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna State Council is also expected to stand as a surety for the accused..
The Kaduna State government had dragged Luka Binniyat to court on two count charges over publication in Vanguard Newspapers on the alleged killings of five students of College of Education, Gidan-Waya published on 22nd January, 2017.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/kaduna-journalist-luka-binniyat-regains.html

The Ministry of Education has denied reports that it had directed universities to cancel the already scheduled Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The report had claimed that the statement was issued by a former Deputy Director of Press in the ministry, Ben Goong.
It said the report was false and as such, the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu, therefore, urged universities to go ahead with their Post-UTME arrangements as earlier planned.

Goong, to whom the statement was attributed, left the ministry since November 2016. “However, the ministry’s attention has also been drawn to some of the institutions that are charging more than the stipulated N2000,” the ministry said.
It added that charging more than the stipulated fee was an act of insubordination and redirected that every institution that violates the directive will be penalised.
He, therefore, asked such institutions to refund such surcharges to the students immediately, adding that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has been directed to compile a list of violators for appropriate sanctions.
The ministry also urged the media to always cross check the facts with the relevant officials of the ministry before going to the press, particularly when sensitive issues of national importance were involved.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/education-ministry-denies-scrapping-of.html

New research from the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland, has demonstrated for the first time how oil spills are increasing mortality rates among newborns in the Niger Delta of the country.

The new study by Prof. Roland Hodler and Research Assistant, Anna Breuderle, from the School of Economics and Political Science at the University of St. Gallen, found that of the 16,000 infants killed within the first month of their life in 2012, 70 per cent – that is around 11,000 infants – would have survived their first year in the absence of oil spills.

The study titled “The Effect of Oil Spills on Infant Mortality: Evidence from Nigeria” was published September 14, 2017, in Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute (CESifo) Working Paper Series No. 6653 and available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com.

According to the study, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency recorded more than 6,600 oil spills from 2005 to 2015. Nearby oil spills increase neonatal mortality rate by 38 per cent per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal relates to the newborn and especially the human infant during the first month after birth. The researchers said shockingly, this corresponds to an increase by 100 per cent on the sample mean and these oil spills are the cause of an alarming human tragedy and the research calls for more attention to the issue from both the research community and the international public.
Earlier studies have associated oil spills in Nigeria to rise in cancer cases and low sperm count especially among local communities in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.
The researchers noted: “In a recent study, we provide first-time evidence on the effects of onshore oil spills on neonatal and infant mortality as well as child health. The study combines two geo-coded data sets: First, the Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor provides information on date and location of oil spills registered by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency. Second, the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) 2013 provides the complete birth histories and information on the survival of children for 23,364 Nigerian mothers, along with geo-codes of their place of residence. It also provides height and weight measurements for children under five years of age.
“Our study analyses mortality within different phases over the first year of life. We thereby focus on children born to mothers whose reported place of residence is within 10 km from an oil spill, which has occurred between 2005 and 2014. For identification of causal effects, the study compares siblings conceived before and after nearby oil spills.”
The study found that oil spills, which occurred within 10 km prior to a child’s conception, strongly increase the risk of mortality during the first month of life. “Specifically, nearby oil spills increase the neonatal mortality rate by 38 deaths per 1,000 live births, which corresponds to an increase by 100 per cent on the sample mean. The effect of oil spills on infant mortality is also relatively large, but not statistically significant. The effect on neonatal mortality is higher for oil spills that occurred in closer proximity, and it is highly persistent over time: nearby oil spills which occurred up to five years in the past still affect the survival chances of children born today,” the researchers noted.
Also, they said that the effect of oil spills on neonatal mortality is independent of the family’s socio-economic status or the location.
The study also found some evidence that oil spills impair the health of surviving children. “In particular, oil spills prior to conception increase the incidence of low weight-for-height, notably in the first year of life.”
The researchers concluded: “A calculation based on these findings suggests that oil spills, prior to conception, killed around 16,000 infants within the first month of their life in 2012. Of these, 70 per cent (around 11,000 infants) would have survived their first year in the absence of oil spills. While there are good reasons to believe that the exact figure may be different from this estimate (example, the true effect may have been underestimated due to the incomplete oil spill records), the findings point out that onshore oil spills in Nigeria are the cause of an alarming ongoing human tragedy. More attention to the problem by both the research community and the international public is warranted.”

Roland Hodler is a professor of economics at the School of Economics and Political Science, University of St. Gallen. Holder said: “The oil companies are one culprit. They are directly responsible for oil spills that result from the lack of maintenance of pipelines and other oil infrastructure. In addition, their indifference towards the local population is one reason for some acts of sabotage. The Nigerian government is another culprit. It fails to properly regulate and control the oil companies as well as to prevent oil theft and sabotage. The only way to stop this ongoing human tragedy is that both the oil companies and the Nigerian government start caring about the environment and the local population particular rather than just about profits and personal enrichment.”
Epidemiological and clinical studies suggest that exposure to hydrocarbons in the environment and to particulate matter in the air can have severe adverse effects on human health, whereby unborn and newborn children are particularly vulnerable. So far, no causal evidence exists on the effects of onshore oil spills on human health.


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/how-oil-spills-increase-infant-deaths.html

Top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the northern part of the country yesterday declared that there is no going back on the approved zoning arrangement for 2019 election which cedes the presidency to the North and party chairman to South.

The northern stakeholders frowned at the action of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who recently declared interest in the presidential race under the platform of the party, in disregard of the zoning formula of the party.

The party leaders who rose from a meeting in Abuja, warned him and others who might want to toe his line to desist from playing spoilers game, adding that the zoning of the presidential ticket to the North by the 2015 national convention is sacrosanct.


The outrage by the northern PDP stakeholders came just as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, clarified the position of the party on the issue of micro-zoning of other national executive offices, saying it is not binding on members.

While some of the leaders advocated sanctions against the governor for disobeying the party’s zoning arrangement, others argued that in as much as zoning of the two key offices has been endorsed, those who wish to try their luck would be allowed to do so.

Governor Fayose, who hails from Ekiti State in the South-west, had jolted the party leadership when he formally declared his presidential ambition in Abuja a fortnight ago.
But speaking at the meeting, Makarfi maintained that the zoning arrangement as approved by the national convention still stands.
He maintained that while the North will produce the president, the southern zone is to produce the chairman of the party.
Makarfi stated that while micro zoning is not binding on the party, he stressed the need for constructive engagement over the choice of who emerges.

He explained that the Supreme Court in its judgment last July affirmed the supremacy of the party’s national convention and decision taken therein.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we asked the National Publicity Secretary to issue a statement affirming that the zoning approved by the Port Harcourt convention remains valid and binding.

“I want to also expatiate that the Supreme Court affirmed the supremacy of the the convention. The Supreme Court, in affirming the authenticity of the caretaker committee, has also affirmed the decisions of the convention.
“One of the decision taken at the convention is the setting up of the National Caretaker Committee and the zoning of the presidency and party chairmanship,” Makarfi recalled.

He however, called for caution so that the intentions of the Supreme Court might not be misinterpreted.
He noted that while zoning arrangement between the North and the South is recognised by the party, micro-zoning is not binding on anybody, adding that the PDP would not deny anybody the right to seek any political office to void litigations.
“If a position is zoned to the North and you are from the North and you come to buy form, we will sell to you,” he said, adding: “People will not get tired of taking the PDP to court.

“That is why I am saying that consultation and consensus remain the best option.
Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who was one of the conveners of the meeting, dismissed Fayose’s presidential ambition as he said that PDP had already zoned the presidency to the north.
“Whatever the Fayoses of this world may be doing, the party has resolved that the presidential candidate will come from one of the three zones in the north,” said Gana added.

He, however, advised the northern region to go for the best in selecting the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019.
“Let us therefore give to the party, men and women of impeccable integrity,” he added.
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, advised all zones in the North to come together and look inward with a view to agreeing on who to push forward for the exalted position.
“We must be able to take a decision that will be acceptable to the North and the country,” he added.
A former acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bello Haliru, outrightly called for sanctions against those going against the zoning arrangement of the party.

He said: “Zoning and rotation are part of the PDP Constitution. We must adhere to them if we are to keep this party alive.
“There are people who are bent on contesting whether the office is zone to their place or not. We must discuss with the South, so that anybody who goes against zoning can be punished. We cannot afford to have people come to the convention and make a fool of themselves and ridicule the party,” he said.
Also, a former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, said the PDP must put an end to impunity and dictatorship as preparations for the convention intensify.

“The PDP is a party that was formed to fight dictatorship; it’s an anti-dictatorship party. Let’s stop imposing candidates and allow them to emerge through electoral democracy or through consensus.
“We have representation in all the 774 local government s in the country. If we mobilise them, we will return to power,” Ayu said.

Chairman of the Former Ministers Forum, Mr. Tanimu Turaki, maintained that all PDP members must obey the party’s zoning formula.
“We believe that our party haven taking the position on zoning, every legitimate party member must respect it. Zoning is legal. It is legitimate and it is what has given us peace over the year.
“At the end of this meeting we must come up with a decision that the north is capable of producing legitimate president for the country by 2019.

“Therefore we must come up with person with credible character that can win the votes of Nigerians.”
Present at the meeting were former Governors Ibrahim Idris, Idris Wada (Kogi), Ramalan Hero (Kaduna), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Ibrahim Schema (Katsina), and erstwhile Ministers, Abba Moro( Internal Affairs),
Others are Adamu Maina Waziri (Police Affairs), Kabiru Turaki (Special Duties) and Zainab Maina (Women Affairs), former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, former National Woman Leader, Ina Ciroma.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/northern-pdp-leaders-slam-fayose-insist.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that the resolve of his administration to combat corruption, entrench transparency and accountability was irreversible.

He said in battling corruption and enhancing transparency, it was public knowledge that government’s resolve has come to stay, adding that to strengthen the fight against corruption, the Whistle Blower Policy evolved with the sponsoring of a Whistle Blower Protection Bill 2016 to the National Assembly in order to encourage and protect Nigerians for supporting the fight.

Buhari, who spoke in Abuja yesterday at the annual conference of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), said it was interesting to note that part of the stolen funds recovered was being used by the government to finance the 2017 Budget.


Represented at the occasion by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr. Ahmed Idris, Buhari commended the association on their 22nd annual conference, expressing delight at this year’s theme: ‘sustainable economic management in a recession.’
He recalled that over the past decades, Nigeria had witnessed periods of boom and prosperity, regretting that these were not harnessed for collective economic development.

He said: “You will recall when Nigeria was producing an average of 2.1 million barrels of crude oil per day selling at an average of $100 per barrel which today is not the case. By 2016, Nigeria was in real recession for the first time in about three decades.

“We firmly believe that if our numerous resources were appropriately managed, corruption duly checked, patriotism deeply imbibed in everything we do, the spirit of rule of law was observed and the citizen’s political freedom was ensured, Nigeria could not have been in recession.

“You are all witnesses to our government’s promises majoring on diversifying the economic base of Nigeria, confronting the security challenges and dealing decisively with corruption in all aspects of government businesses.
“In all these spheres of concerns, the roles of the accountants cannot be over-emphasised. Permit me at this juncture to remind you that as accountants you can be described as the first set of gatekeepers to ensure that all transactions are conducted prudently. This I believe is a challenge to you as accountants.

“In diversifying the economy, my administration has practically done much in delivering on its core focus of diversifying the economy. Part of our government’s efforts to fulfill this promise is exemplified in the launching of the Agricultural Anchor Borrowers’ Programme in November 2015, barely five months after we assumed office,” he said.

Buahri noted that this has been carefully designed and prudently implemented since inception, adding that so far, over 200,000 small holder farmers, cultivating some 233,000 hectares of farmland, and 29 states had benefited from the programme.

He also applauded the professionalism and heroic acts of the armed forces “from whom we have seen physical bravery by crushing the Boko Haram, turning them into mere pockets of cowards attacking only soft and vulnerable targets.”
Buhari added: “Today, there exists Naval Force presence in the Lake Chad Basin. We commend the wonderful support from our neighbouring countries in our war against terrorism. “

The President and Chairman of council (ANAN), Alhaji Shehu Usman Ladan, while addressing the participants, said this year’s conference would examine the decline in the Nigerian economy brought about by the crash in international oil prices, with its attendant negative impact on the economy and the citizenry.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/our-resolve-to-combat-corruption-is.html

Mr George Tolofari, a former Commissioner for Transport in Rivers, on Tuesday urged the Rivers Government to partner the Federal Government in initiating development projects in the state.

He spoke against the backdrop of the alleged refusal of the state government to use Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Finima, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers, for the flag off of the Bonny-Bomu Road project on Thursday.Tolofari told the Newsmen in Port Harcourt that the refusal was “ unfortunate and unpatriotic.’’

He said the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing and Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), however, had decided to use Shell Gate in Bonny where the road would terminate as venue for the inauguration.

“No development conscious state government will play politics with development of its citizens, especially when it has to do with construction of an important economic road.

“I expect the Rivers government to partner with the Federal Government in ensuring that every developmental project proposed for the state is carried out without hindrance.

“The politics of talking about seeking approval from the Ministry of Education to use the slated venue for the flag-off is quite unfortunate and unpatriotic,” he said.

According to Tolofari, the planned flag off of the construction of the Bonny-Bomu road by the Federal Government will fast-track development in the area.

“This decision has opened the gateway for economic growth and diversification of the economy of Bonny and its environs.

“With this laudable commitment President Muhammadu Buhari has made, there will be a drastic reduction in boat mishaps which have taken the lives of countless people, old and young.

“People have refused to come here to engage in meaningful businesses for the benefit of those in the region and Nigeria at large.

“This is for the fear of losing their lives and properties to pirates or boat mishaps,” added.

Tolofari, an indigene of Bonny, said the opening up of the area coupled with uninterrupted power supply would boost the economy of the area.

“I’m very sure that the improvement in the economy of our homeland will know no bounds,” he added.

The former commissioner and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress commended Buhari for keeping to the party’s campaign promise to construct the road.

He also pleaded with the president to give attention to the NLNG Train 7 project aimed at boosting the economy.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/why-rivers-govt-should-partner-fg-on.html?m=1

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu’s future was hanging in the balance yesterday.

President Muhammadu Buhari is said to be weighing options on Dr Kachikwu’s fate, following his allegations against Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru.

Specifically, Kachikwu alleged that Baru
awarded $25b contracts unilaterally;
ran a bravado management; and
made appointments without consultations.

It was learnt that having found Baru not guilty of corrupt practices, the Presidency gave the GMD the clearance to release a fact-sheet in the matter to the public.


Kachikwu is said to be consulting his associates, stakeholders and colleagues on his next move. He has been cautioned against any act capable of being seen as confrontational, according to a source, who pleaded not to be named because of “the sensitivity of the matter”.

Kachikwu’s associates, it was learnt, cited the travails of ex-Minister of Petroleum Resources Prof. Tam David-West’s rough deals with the military administration of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida.

One of the alternatives being suggested by his friends is the possibility of voluntary exit from the cabinet “to preserve his integrity”. It was not clear last night the step Kachikwu would take after it was clear that the Presidency might have backed Baru.

The GMD of NNPC described the $25billion contract figure raised by Kachikwu as “humongous” because “no money was lost and no process has been breached.”

The President, The Nation learnt, felt scandalised by “unfounded allegations of corruption bordering on phantom $25billion contracts”.

The allegations allegedly attracted concerns from other nations and some oil producing countries.


President Buhari, who is said to have felt hurt, by the development, “refused to act on the spur of the moment because his image and the reputation of his administration were involved”.

A top government source said: “The Presidency directed the GMD of NNPC to provide facts and figures, which it got from Baru.

“Thereafter, the NNPC Act, the NNPC Handbook and Public Procurement Act were consulted on the responses of Baru to find out if infractions were committed by the corporation.

“Having been convinced that there were no infractions, the Presidency then directed NNPC to lay the cards on the table for Nigerians to see and judge.

“What was uppermost in the responses of the GMD was the fact that ‘there was no evidence of sharp practices, bribery, looting of funds and diversion of transaction cash’.

“The allegations of Kachikwu were rated as ‘wild, intentional and political in nature’ against the administration he is serving.”

It was learnt that the President met with Kachikwu last Friday to “be fair to the Minister and for record purposes”.

A Presidency source, who spoke in confidence with our correspondent, said: “The President has not spoken on the next action. No one knows his mindset.”

Yesterday’s statement by the NNPC, which was described as an “assault” on Kachikwu by some of his associates, fuelled minister’s thoughts on his Option B which he did not state.

Some of Kachikwu’s confidants have, however, cautioned against any “hasty” decision, given the travails of a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Prof. Tam David-West, during the military regime of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida.

A highly-placed stakeholder said: “I am aware that the minister has been holding consultations and telling some vital players in the oil sector what transpired.

“Of importance to him is the allegation of alleged plot to sabotage the government of President Buhari with the leakage of the August 20 memo. He has maintained his innocence that he did not leak the letter.

“But it is tragic that no one believes Kachikwu’s story anymore in the Presidency.”

The GMD yesterday dismissed the allegations of award of contracts without regard to due process as “unfounded” and “unfortunate”.

He described the $25billion

full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/presidency-backs-baru.html?m=1

The ongoing tension between the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, and the head of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, may have been caused by the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari.

A memo leaked last week of Mr. Kachikwu reporting to Mr. Buhari about Mr. Baru’s insufferable conducts, which ranged from unilateral award of contracts to insubordination.

In the August 30 memo which was leaked last Tuesday, Mr. Kachikwu said the contracts were up to $25 billion, or N9 trillion, and that they were allegedly awarded by Mr. Baru without recourse tothe NNPC Board which he, Mr. Kachikwu, was appointed to head by Mr. Buhari.

On Monday, Mr. Baru fired back, dismissing Mr. Kachikwu as having no authority over the affairs of NNPC with regards to contracting regulations.

Mr. Baru also denied approving all the contracts Mr. Kachikwu listed in his memo, as well as any form of sharp practices.

A look at the details already provided by the warring sides showed that Mr. Buhari might have caused the problem to begin with.

The crisis started in July 2016 when Mr. Buhari removed Mr. Kachikwu as the GMD of NNPC and replaced him with Mr. Baru. Mr. Kachikwu was first appointed as GMD of NNPC in August 2015.

In November 2015, Mr. Buhari appointed Mr. Kachikwu as Minister of State for Petroleum. He served as NNPC GMD and minister until Mr. Buhari relieved him of the NNPC job.

When Mr. Buhari named Mr. Baru the GMD, he made Mr. Kachikwu the chairman of the NNPC board.

WHAT THE LAW SAYS

The NNPC Act designates the board to oversee the affairs of the state-owned oil giant. The Act states that the Minister of Petroleum must be the chairman of the NNPC board. Mr. Buhari is the substantive Minister of Petroleum. But he is allowed by the NNPC law to delegate powers, including chairmanship of the board.

However, the law also allows Mr. Buhari to act concurrently as the chairman of NNPC board even while the appointment of the person he delegated powers to is still valid.

‘’The affairs of the Corporation shall, subject to Part II of this Act, be conducted by a Board of Directors of the Corporation which shall consist of a Chairman…


‘’The Chairman shall be a Minister in the Government of 1979 No. 44 the Federation to be known and styled as the Minister of Petroleum Resources….


‘’There may be appointed by the President an Alternate Chairman who may, pursuant to any general or special delegation given in that behalf by the Minister exercise the powers conferred upon the Minister or Chairman under this Act: Provided that nothing in the foregoing shall be construed as preventing the exercise by the Minister himself of any power so delegated.’’

In other words, even when the minister of petroleum (Mr. Buhari) delegates his power as board chairman to someone else (Mr. Kachikwu), the former can still continue to play his role as board chairman.

This appears to be the root of the ongoing crisis.

Based on the statements by Messrs. Kachikwu and Baru, as well as inside information obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Buhari was dealing with Mr. Baru without regards for Mr. Kachikwu, the person he had delegated powers to.

This was confirmed by Mr. Baru in his statement on Monday. The NNPC chief said he received approval from the president, and Mr. Kachikwu had no role to play in NNPC’s affairs.

In his memo to Mr. Buhari, Mr. Kachikwu stated that when Mr. Buhari was unwell in London for several months between May and August, Mr. Baru tried to get direct approval from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo — who was acting president at the time — for some personnel changes at the NNPC.

But Mr. Osinbajo asked Mr. Baru to go back to Mr. Kachikwu and get his input and approval first before making the changes. Mr. Baru refused to consult Mr. Kachikwu on that.

For weeks, the changes were not made, until Mr. Buhari returned on August 19. By August 29, Mr. Baru announced the changes. This prompted Mr. Kachikwu’s letter to the president on August 30, complaining that he learnt of the development in the media.

Sources at the presidency corroborated Mr. Kachikwu’s claim that Mr. Osinbajo rebuffed Mr. Baru’s attempts to get presidential approval behind Mr. Kachikwu.

Neither the vice president’s office nor Mr. Baru also denied that claim by Mr. Kachikwu. In other words, while the vice president, a law professor, saw the need for the NNPC board and its chairman to be consulted before such crucial decisions are made, the president did not.

Mr. Buhari’s role in the crisis was also highlighted by Daily Trust newspaper in its editorial on Sunday. The paper raised several questions about the clash between Messrs. Kachikwu and Baru and observed that the president is responsible for the crisis.

“The question that must be answered is, did the president approve either the staff changes or the contract awards or both knowing full well that the board did not see them, or was he misled on the issue? If he approved them, was he advised on the correct procedure, assuming what Kachikwu said is correct?


“After all, Buhari himself constituted the NNPC board so there is no reason why he should sideline it or usurp its powers. On the other hand, if it is found that Kachikwu’s allegations against the GMD or the president’s aides are not true, then he has no business continuing to be in the cabinet. Baru too became NNPC’s GMD with a reputation for ability, experience and uprightness so no one should rush to judgement until the full facts are in.


“We believe that this unbelievable level of bad blood, rivalry and blatant non-cooperation between the top heads of the oil industry was partly due to the clumsy leadership arrangement instituted by the Buhari administration in the last two years,” the national daily said.

The paper advised the president to relinquish his position as the substantive Minister of Petroleum; a view also shared by the human rights lawyer, Femi Falana.

“Back in 2015 we urged Buhari not to make himself Minister of Petroleum.


“Even though it is his prerogative to do so, he needs not hold on to a post that he held nearly 40 years ago. If he had found a capable and trustworthy person and entrusted him or her with the full powers, the minister might have been able to exercise full supervision over NNPC. Kachikwu, who was brought in from the private sector, was initially touted as that magic player. If he is not, it is not too late to find the right person,” the paper said.

Yet the NNPC is not isolated in matters of insubordination that Mr. Buhari has so far failed to address.
In July, Usman Yusuf, the suspended executive secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme engaged the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, in a tussle over supremacy.

A few days before then, Attorney-General Abubakar Malami had an open dispute with the acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu, with Mr. Malami accusing Mr. Magu of failing to report to him as required by extant EFCC regulations.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/how-president-buhari-caused-nnpc-scandal.html

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, yesterday said Lagos has an infrastructure deficit of $50 billion. The figure, he clarified, excluded the Housing and Education sectors infrastructure deficit.

He made the disclosure at the Lagos Infrastructure Roundtable, pointing out that the present infrastructure deficit of the state could only be imagined.
He added that the situation was worsened by the increasing population of Lagos State, estimated at 24 million people and still counting, he said, was equal to the population of some 30 African countries put together.

“By 2050, Lagos is on track to be a city of 36 million people or the sixth largest city in the world after Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Kinshasa and Kolkata and ahead of Tokyo, Karachi, New York and Mexico City.
“We have a migration rate of 86 people moving into Lagos every hour, higher than New York, London or Mumbai. We have a population density of 6,939 persons per Kilometre and an average of five persons per household,” he explained.
Ambode said these come with challenges and pressures on the physical and social infrastructure of the city, adding, “Lagos requires one million housing units every year for the next five-10 years to fix the housing deficit
“As at 2015, the state had 16,000km network of roads but with a daily human traffic of over 7.5 million people and 2.8 million cars. Its power needs is over 10,000 MW but we receive less than 2,000MW.
Meanwhile, the Acting Chief Judge of the state, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has said that judicial officers would soon be mandated to take oaths of office, allegiance and secrecy.
She disclosed this yesterday at the new legal year service held at the Anglican Church of Nigeria in Lagos, and cautioned that it would no longer be business as usual.
“We presently supply 210.5 million gallons of water per day (mgpd) as against a demand of 750 mgpd. Our State generates 13,000 tons of solid waste per day.”
Ambode noted that the state was at a point in its history where it must carefully assess the situation and take careful and deliberate actions to handle the challenges facing the state.
He further said that to tackle the challenges would require private sector collaboration, especially because revenue is dropping and the state government does not want to increase tax to burden the citizens.
She charged members of the bar to stop requesting for unnecessary adjournments, noting that any lawyer caught in such practice would risk losing their license.
Oke also said that all supporting staff of judges would henceforth swear the oath of allegiance and secrecy. “It would no longer be business as usual because it is a new dawn for the judiciary. All members of the judiciary would, henceforth, be accountable for their actions and attitude.
“We at the Lagos State Judiciary are ready to work and we appeal to members of the bar to help us. We say no to unnecessary adjournments. This practice is not accepted in Europe. We need to build the judiciary of our dreams,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/gov-ambode-puts-lagos-infrastructure.html

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo Monday said he had no plan to contest the 2019 presidential election.
According to Reuters, Osinbajo said this when he was asked at the Financial Times Africa Summit in London if he had considered running for the presidency.

“None of that is on the cards,” the vice-president reportedly said.
Osinbajo had earlier disowned a group known as Osinbajo Volunteers, which is campaigning for his election as president in 2019.


His media aide, Mr. Laolu Akande, had asked Nigerians to disregard the group, adding that he had nothing to do with them.
The group had said Nigeria now has a “leader who has a clue what to do and (how to) turn Nigeria the beloved to the land of our dreams”.

Osinbajo, who regretted that Nigeria had lost as much as 1 million barrels per day of oil production last year following militant attacks on oil installations, said that all that had ceased as Nigeria now pumps about 1.85 million barrels per day and climbing towards 2 million, which is closer to its targeted production of around 2.2 million barrels per day.

He added that the federal government was making concerted efforts to diversify its oil-dependent economy because “we don’t have all the time in the world with oil. We have to use oil while it makes sense to do so”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/i-have-no-plan-to-contest-for.html

Hundreds of policemen on Monday staged a peaceful protest over non-payment of two months salaries in Kaduna, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

NAN learnt that over 700 of the policemen have not been paid their August and September salaries, while more than 5, 000 are being underpaid.

The policemen, cutting across all ranks, gathered in front of the Salaries Office inside the State Police Command Headquarters, said it was not easy operating without salary.

They appealed to the police authority to immediately rectify the problem, to save them from further hardship.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr Agyole Abeh, who addressed the protesting policemen, absolved the police authority of blame, attributing the delay in payment to the Federal Ministry of Finance IPPS office.
He appealed for restraint and advised those affected to channel their grievances through the right channel.
“We are not happy with the situation, but what government is doing is to check ghost workers and bring sanity in the financial system,” Abeh said.
http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/policemen-protest-over-non-payment-of.html

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has said it has no power to discipline the Inspector-General of Police (IG).

A statement by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Media, Press and Public Relations Officer of PSC, said the commission would not compromise its constitutional mandate to appoint, promote and discipline officers of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

“The commission also wishes to state that its powers to do this does not cover the office of the IG.


“The powers of the commission are stated in paragraph 30, Part 1 of the third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

Ani said the constitution which gave the commission the powers to appoint, promote and discipline also did not extend the powers to discipline an IG. “The commission under the leadership of Mike Okiro, is not a mere rubber stamp agency.

“It carries out its duties diligently and in accordance with set out guidelines.

“It also in the discharge of this duties, takes the IG into consideration as the operational head of the NPF.

“The 1999 Constitution, part 111, (supplemental) (b), 215 (2) states; The NPF shall be under the command of the IG,” he said.

He said on postings of command commissioners of police, the commission naturally allows the IG who works with these officers and who knows their operational capabilities to recommend to it.

Ani, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the commission had given the IG guidelines that should be followed on special promotions.

“Meanwhile, all recommendations to the commission on this issue has been put on hold until he complies with these guidelines.

“The commission however can do more with a constitutional provision that allows it protect its decisions.

“It is also common knowledge that most times its decisions are not implemented by the IG since constitutionally the commission can not discipline him,” he said.

He advised that in the current move to sanitise the NPF, efforts should not be wasted in unnecessary witchhunt.

“The current commission will continue to work with Mr President to give the nation the police force that will be the envy of every Nigerian.

“Appointments, promotions and disciplinary matters will continue to be guided by laid down rules and regulations,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/psc-we-have-no-powers-to-discipline-ig.html