₦airaland Forum

fergie001:
Archbishop of Kaduna Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Mathew Manoso Ndagoso has said that the current administration has shown that it cannot lead Nigerians out of hunger and insecurity.

He noted that issues of hunger and insecurity were becoming worse by the day.

The Bishop stated this when he fielded questions from journalists at the ongoing Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association taking place at the Catholic Social Centre, Kaduna.

The cleric said since his ordination into priesthood 33 years ago, he had yet to know any regime as bad as the President Buhari led All Progressives Congress, APC, government.

He said since the present government came to power, people from all walks of life had been trouping into his office to beg for money and food to feed their families.

According to him, “You see, in governance or democratic government, if you know you don’t have the capacity to even rule a local government, don’t put yourself forward.

“The very fact that you put yourself forward you are telling the people that you have the capacity and the know-how.

“Even if you don’t have the know-how I think in leadership, you don’t need to have the know-how.

“I think you should have the intelligence to get people who know to be able to do the job. Nobody, no matter how intelligent you are, you cannot do it alone.

“Now talking about the present government, I think the simple question that every Nigerian should ask is – my life today and my life before this government came in, what is the difference?

“Go on the streets and ask Nigerians, four years on, how is your life compared to before?

“I can tell you I am 33 years in priesthood, I have never seen Nigerians come to my office in tears looking for ordinary food.

“You see them dressed up in Agbada, but if they tell you what they are going through – that they are not able to feed their families. It has never been this bad in our country.”


https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/18/dont-capacity-govern-catholic-bishop-tells-buhari/

Zammzammm:
Please nairalanders i need information about this snake. The snake is very common in eti osa area of Lagos.

This is the second one that I have killed this year in my compound . There are undeveloped plot of land around my compound, I suspect that they come from there I need to know the specie, and if they are venomous and poisonous.

Thanks for anticipated assistance

Sanromeo:
To the residents of Ikare Akoko, Oke-Alabojuto represented a long tale of myth which could not be fathomed and to travellers on the Owo/Ikare/Kabba road, it was a death trap which sent fear down their spine.

There used to be a myth around Oke-Alabojuto, the hilly portion of Ikare-Akoko township road. No native believed the famished and destructive rocky hill could be leveled.

But the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu led government has shattered the myth. The hill could be leveled, after all. Oke-Alabojuto has now become Isale-Alabojuto.

Before it was leveled, the hilly road had consumed several lives and destroyed uncountable valuable properties through auto-crashes, making residents to live in fear for decades.

The age-long nightmare has now ended for the people of Ikare and motorists plying the road.

It is now the dawn of singing a new song in Ikare Akoko. Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has changed the dreadful story about the notorious and slippery road. The woes have been thrown into the realms of history.

The Oke Alabojuto sad scenes have been changed to joyful and memorable ones. The once fearful hill is fast becoming a tourist centre as residents throng to the place to snap pictures for social media and memoirs.

When the governor told the people that the hill will be brought down to pave way for the dualization of the town, they never believed him.

Most of them said he had come to tell the old story again. It is one tall ambition of building a castle in the air. To them, the idea remained a project in the pipeline and will never see the light of the day.

There have been tales of mysteries surrounding the dreaded hill.

Most indigenes believed there are spirits that made the hill their habitat and would harm anyone that dared to level it. In another manner, some said witches and wizards were not ready to be appeased and as such, whoever attempted to level the hill would be severely dealt with by the Queens of the dark.

As a matter of fact, a chief in the town once said that he was flogged in his sleep when he appealed to market women to leave the roadside for their businesses when one of the past administrations attempted to start work on the project.

Another myth said the hill was having a big sea of water underneath and any attempt to level it would lead to a disastrous flood which will eventually wash Ikare away.

In their quest to find a solution to the problem, the people resulted to spiritual warfare. Traditionalists, Imams, Alfas, Pastors were called to seek the face of God but at the end, their prayers were answered when Governor Akeredolu said he was going to make Oke Alabojuto a valley.

Buy today, all these have continued to remain fable stories. They can be likened to some of the fairy tales in ‘Alice In The Wonderland. The doubting Thomases have continued to throng the site of the once notorious hills to see what determination can achieve.

Aketi has changed the narratives. The people are now happy. At least they can now sleep with their two eyes closed. There are no more fear of waking to mourn, no more fear of articulated lorries killing scores of market women. There are no more stories of vehicles falling and rolling on the hill. Those that are used to Ikare now know the difference.

Vehicles are being parked at both sides of the dual carriage way with a free flow of traffic, while residents of Ikare are now happy.

The Olukare of Ikare Akoko, Oba Akadiri Saliu Momoh IV, said he is happy this is coming at his own time.

His words: “I received the news with joy. Everybody in the town was very happy about the new development, because they knew the project was going to put a stop to the recurring needless accidents on the road.

“The construction of the Oke Alabojuto road is a wonderful thing to happen to the people of Akokoland and Nigeria in general, because the road links Ondo State to other parts of the country.

“We do appreciate the governor’s determination to permanently arrest our fears about this road. Our major concern, before the construction of the road by Akeredolu, was how to put a stop to the countless deaths on the road.

“Most vehicles, especially trucks and other big lorries would lose control and crash while ascending or descending the road due to break failure or other mechanical faults. And these resorted to loss of lives and properties.”

Also, the Olokeruwa of Okeruwa, Ikare-Akoko, Chief Dele Akerele, said casualties on the road reached a scary height when about five crashes, all resulting in fatalities, occurred within one week.

He said: “The days of wailing and gnashing of teeth over auto crashes and deaths on Oke Alabojuto are finally over.

“I feel very delighted that something good is coming to my town. Before the current state government started the constructing of this road, there had been series of fatal accidents. In fact, there was a week in which five fatal accidents were recorded on this hilly portion of the road.

“Our people are also delighted to see this road being constructed. It is a miracle, because it appeared that we have lost hope on the possibility of the community attracting the attention of the state government to put an end to the perpetual fear of losing lives to avoidable crashes on the road.”

Chief Dele Akerele was full of praises while speaking on the road. He said deaths on the road reached a dangerous height when accidents was becoming a daily affair.

He is now happy that the days of wailing and gnashing of teeth over auto crashes and deaths on Oke Alabojuto are finally over.

Other residents of the town have also commended the state government on the road, saying it has put an end to the countless deaths resulting from incessant accidents. They described the construction of the Alabojuto hill by the Akeredolu government as a blessing to the people of Ikare-Akoko, its environs, motorists and commuters alike.

A trader at the popular Oja Oba Market in Ikare, Mrs Khadijat Mohammed, said the construction of the road has brought smiles on the faces of traders as their worries are gone.

Mrs Khadijat said, “Before now, we used to worry about our safety anytime we came to this place to sell. It was only after we returned to our homes at the end of the day that we knew the cup had passed over us. We thank God the hill has been brought down by the governor”.

Victoria Kolade, another trader, said market women at the market were always the victims of the accidents occasioned by the dangerous nature of the road before it was reconstructed. Victoria posited that the construction of the Okealabojuto hill has brought great relief to the traders. She stated that the fear of being the next victim of accident on the hilly section of the Ikare Township road prevented most traders from coming to do business in the market before the construction of the road.

A community leader in Akoko, Alhaji Ibrahim Kilani said with the construction of the road, Ikare has become a good place to live in.

Alhaji Kilani stated that the fear of getting caught in accidents has now becoming a thing of the past.

The veteran journalist said whether the people like it or not, Akeredolu”s name will forever remain indelible in the sound of history of the Sunshine State.

According to him, the prevalence of accidents resulting in deaths of many innocent souls in Ikare has been thrown into the dustbin of history.

“Oke Alabojuto is now safe. Ikare will no longer witness deaths due to accidents resulting from the hilly nature of the Alabojuto Hill”.

https://citadelng.com/breaking-oke-alabojuto-myth/

starbuck:
Honestly, I did rather stay indoors and safe guard my life because Nigeria has now become a death trap

kidap:
Veteran Nollywood actor, Fasasi Olabanke, popularly known as Dagunro is dead.

The Osogbo born actor who known for his traditional roles in several epic Yoruba movies died this morning.

Confirming news of his demise, popular actor Adekola Tijani wrote

Source: https://gidifeed.com/veteran-yoruba-actor-fasasi-olabanke-dagunro-is-dead/

Rockandroll:
I thought that what the government needed to do was to enhance the capacity of the other ports in Nigeria, which would deepen economic growth and development in the country. Its very clear they do not have any plan for PH, Delta,Calabar and other inland ports.

rusher14:
No be she be Shina Peters babe those days?

LifestyleTonite:
A Nigerian man has vouched for traditional bone setters whom he says saved his limbs to after a western medical personnel recommended amputation.

This was after a Twitter user wanted against patronizing traditional bone setters due to a damage one allegedly did to a patient.

The Twitter user wrote:



In response, the man wrote:



https://lailasnews.com/man-traditional-bone-setters-saved-amputation/

LifestyleTonite:
Deeper Life Church in Bayelsa have suspended a couple's wedding for eating from the same plate a week to their official wedding.

The suspension notification came while their traditional marriage was going on.

The post was shared by a Twitter user who wrote:



https://lailasnews.com/deeper-life-church-suspends-couples-wedding-eating-plate/

hisexcellency34:
Cruel from the bleaching senator. He is probably reffering to Dino Melaye. and him that read all the books couldn't secure a return to Senate

stephenduru:
Imo State Governor Emeka Ihedioha has won the mind of many social media users because of his phone.The phone looks like Nokia despite his level in the society.According to report,some of the photos were taken before he won election.


Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2019/06/check-out-phone-imo-governor-emeka.html

Ayodele70:
Pastor Ifeanyi Adefarasin, wife of House On The Rock pastor, Paul Adefarasin, has called out ladies who dress indecently to church.

In a recent church service, Mrs Adefarasin, took time out to advise ladies on how to dress to church properly.

In a video shared on social media, Ifeanyi stated that she feels amazed every time she sees ladies dressed indecently in church on a Sunday morning, but dress properly to job interviews.

She also made them realize that dressing that way and walking about during church service will not given them husbands.

Watch the interesting video here; http://www.amagitesblog.com/2019/06/pastor-paul-adefarasins-wife-calls-out-ladies-who-dress-indecently-to-church-video.html

igbodefender:
Even in the US you have cases of senators and reps serving for 30 years. What matters is service delivery in terms of laws made.

Make good laws to improve life in the country. You are a law maker for crying out loud!

Donte101:
Our next president in the making

Islie:
https://www.independent.ng/airtel-glo-9mobile-to-list-on-nse-soon-ncc/

TheMoniker:

The real gboy with connection.

fergie001:
Lagos State is number one among the highly indebted states in Nigeria in both external and domestic debts with N1.043 trillion in 2018, the latest report by the Economic Confidential has shown.

While the external debt stock of Lagos amounts to N513.514 billion, the local debt stock settled at N530.243 billion.

In the publication’s Annual High Indebted States (AHIS) report on 2018 External and Domestic Debts, the amount owed by Lagos represents about 20 percent of the total debts owed by the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which is N5.376 trillion in 2018.

Other highly indebted states for the external debt stock included Edo, Kaduna, Cross River and Bauchi with $276.25m (N99.45bn), $227.25m (N81.81bn), $188.77m (N67.95bn) and $133.93m (N48.21bn) respectively.

Among the first five highly indebted states in the local debt stock, Lagos emerges tops with N530.243 billion, followed by Delta with N228.805 billion, Rivers with N225.592 billion, Akwa Ibom with N198.663 billion and Cross Rivers with N167.955 billion.
The report further shows that outside Lagos, other highly indebted states for foreign debt are Rivers with N253.772 billion, Delta with N251.589 billion, Cross River with N235.914 billion and Akwa Ibom with N215.099 billion.

The five states on the list of least indebted states in the external debt stock are Taraba $21.611m (N7.780bn), Borno $21.618m (N7.782bn), and Yobe $27.486m (N9.895bn).

Others were Plateau and Kogi with $28.874m (N10.394bn) and $31.584m (N11.370bn), respectively.

Five states account for the lowest in both domestic and external debts.

Yobe state has a total of N37.667 billion, Jigawa N46.586 billion, Sokoto N52.723 billion, while Katsina and Niger states have N53.220 billion and N63.915 billion respectively.

Though, the FCT as a state, its external debt profile for 2018 is $31.848 million (N11.465bn) while the domestic debt is N164.245bn bringing a total of its external and domestic debts to N175.710bn.

It is generally known that most of the states’ internally generated revenue barely cover projects and most rely heavily on monthly federal allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC).

In May, Economic Confidential released its Annual States Viability Index (ASVI) report.

It showed that 17 states are insolvent as their Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) in 2018 were far below 10% of their receipts from the Federation Account Allocations (FAA) in the same year.

The IGR were generated by states through Pay-As-You-Earn Tax (PAYE), Direct Assessment, Road Taxes and revenues from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The IGR of the 36 states of the federation totalled N1.1 trillion in 2018 as compared to N931 billion in 2018, an increase of N172 billion.

The index declared that without the monthly disbursement from the FAAC, many states remain unviable, and cannot survive without the federally collected revenue, mostly from the oil sector.

https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/02/lagos-debt-hits-n1trn-economic-confidential-releases-list-high-low-indebted-nigerian-states/

chisomdoris:
The Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, has decried the failure of his immediate predecessor, Rochas Okorocha to handover documents containing the financial stance of the state to him.

Ihedioha lamented that he has no documents showing the financial status of the state, hence the difficulty of his administration to hit the ground running.

Against this backdrop, the governor said he asked all financial institution to stop transacting with his predecessor.


The governor also decried the condition of the state’s Government House, saying he can’t work from office.

He maintained that the Government House was an eye sore.

Vanguard quoted Ihedioha as saying yesterday: “We have difficulties operating from Imo Government House now. But I told Imo people that we will start work and give no excuses.


“We will give dividends of democracy irrespective of the state of facilities I inherited from the outgone administration.

“The government that ended was not prepared to handover or ready to receive us. I thank Imo people for receiving us and we shall serve the state with the fear of God.
“All financial institutions that have a relationship with Imo State Government should not honour any withdrawal instruction by cheques, transfers or in any form.

“No financial mandates, ISPOs or any form of financial instruction should be treated. All outstanding financial instructions already with banks and financial institutions should be put on hold.

“This directive covers all the accounts of ministries, departments, parastatals, local government councils, quasi-government agencies and all revenue generating organs of government.

“Banks and non-bank financial institutions are to take note and ensure compliance, as the state government will not be responsible for any disbursement, effected contrary to this directive.”

https://thickmatch.com/imo-im-finding-difficult-work-gov-ihedioha-cries/

Jerryfrush1:
He should inform his mum nd probably let his sis nd mum accompany him to go see the VC/Senate/any top officials in d sch nd let Dem make an appeal for them to grant him an extra year to repeat his accademic session.
Expulsion is way too hard o,Dem jus wan kee d poor boy.
I certainly believe u all can fight this nd get good results.
Tho i ought to b in my finals now but was suspended for a session cos I was caught with an extra material while writing exam last year.
I did inform my mum nd my big bro,
Pls his mum ought to b aware.

Elchicolo:
Six people, including an elderly woman, were killed in a fresh attacks by suspected militia in Tsondi Wukari local government area of Taraba State. Daily Trust’s findings revealed that the attackers invaded the village at dawn and shot several people.

It was gathered that six persons were killed during the attack while several others got injured after being hit by bullets. The attackers, it was learnt, had crossed from neighbouring Benue villages and rained bullets into the Jukun village.

Many houses were also set ablaze and residents fled to Wukari town and other villages for safety. Kente axis, where Tsondi village is located, had suffered series of attacks by suspected militia in the past one month, resulting in kidnapping of dozens of people and sacking of about 10 communities.

The attackers, Daily Trust gathered, were using guerrilla warfare tactics by striking and running into the bush, mostly during the night and early morning. Five persons were admitted at general hospital, Wukari for treatment of gun shots.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Taraba State command, DSP David Misal said he was not informed about the incident.

Read more: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/just-in-6-killed-4-wounded-in-fresh-attack-in-jukun-village.html

MasterRahl:
A student at the Department of Hospitality Management Technology, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ezekiel Mayowa, has killed himself after he was reportedly dumped by his girlfriend.

The corpse of the 34-year-old part-time student was discovered in his residence at Eyita, Ikorodu, around 5am on Friday. He was said to have taken a poisonous substance suspected to be Sniper.

Moments before he committed suicide, Mayowa posted a video on Facebook, explaining why he took the decision.

In the three-minute-18-second video, Mayowa bemoaned how his lover, one Bolaji Temmy, whom he had dated for nine years, ended the relationship after she commenced her National Youth Service Corps programme.

Amid sobs, Mayowa, who identified himself as the president of his department’s students’ association, lamented that he had made several efforts to reconcile with his estranged lover, but to no avail.

He said in the video, “I will advise the Federal Government to scrap NYSC because that is where I lost my joy; my love. I am not a bad boy; I am not wicked. Since my woman got into that (NYSC) camp, everything changed. Since last year, we’ve not been able to resolve anything. My woman is now taking an advantage of the mistake I made three years ago to leave me.

“I am going, I need to go, Bolaji Temmy is the woman I’m talking about. I need to go. To all the boys out there, please try to make money before you date any woman. I’ve tried my best. I’ve tried all I could. We’ve been dating for nine years and now she is leaving. I hurt her in the past, but I’ve appealed to her. But she insisted on leaving me.”

He appealed to his mother and colleagues to take heart, noting that he had chosen his own path.

I will miss my mum. Mummy, please don’t cry. I have chosen my own path…I will miss you all. Your president is going…I am going. I am going now. I am empty. Bye,” he concluded.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, said the Shagamu Road Police Station, Ikorodu, received a distress call on the suicide around 5.30am.

He said when interrogated by the police, the girlfriend said Mayowa was fond of beating her and that they were together shortly before he took the poison.

Elkana said, “The police received information that a 34-year-old part-time student at Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, drank a poisonous chemical identified as Sniper, following a misunderstanding between him and his girlfriend, Olokodana Bolaji, 24, who was also a graduate of the same institution.

“He was rushed to hospital by his neighbors following an alarm raised by his girlfriend, but eventually died. In the statement of his girlfriend, she told police investigators that she and the deceased dated for nine years and that the deceased was fond of beating her.

“She said while she was with the deceased in his room, they had a quarrel and he, as usual, resorted to physical violence. She said she ran to the restroom and upon her return, she found him gasping for breath with an empty bottle of Sniper beside him.”

The PPRO stated that detectives from the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Yaba, visited the scene of the incident, adding that the corpse had been deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary for autopsy.

“Investigation is ongoing to determine whether it was actually a suicide case or murder,” Elkana added.

Source: https://punchng.com/laspotech-student-jilted-by-girlfriend-commits-suicide/amp/

BeijinDossier:
Everywhere is looted and messed up. Okorocha should be arrested

AutoReportNG:
While some governors are yet to resume for duty in their respective states, some are still basking in the euphoria of being in power but in Lagos, the man in charge has resumed work and he is not joking all...

We may likely be seeing an action governor at work if what feelers in the political terrain of Lagos are to be taken seriously by the way. It's no news that Lagos state has a new governor but what still remains news is the way the governor has demonstrated and take charge of situations within the last 24 hours.

Rounding off his inspection at Mile 2-Apapa road yesterday, the governor decided to pass through Eko Bridge where there was massive traffic on the other side but trust our dear danfos to always be in hurry, one was unfortunate that he passed the one-way when the governor's convoy was passing by. Mr. Sanwo-Olu stopped the convoy and order for the arrest of the man and his bus. According to him, his administration will not tolerate any sort of indiscipline and breaking of traffic laws across the state.

We at AutoReportNG wish Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his team well as they assume the leadership of the city of aquatic splendor.

These are some of the images AutoReportNG have for you...

[img]https://1.bp..com/-tEjd74Fnh4I/XPEOr8oUWdI/AAAAAAAAcD8/cg6_nQQz4fsGDQJC0oAQKGeQWXcuQz2xACLcBGAs/s1600/D74xq6KXkAEVVbo.jpg[/img]

[img]https://1.bp..com/-ORwW0jjDRmQ/XPEOq3J9ThI/AAAAAAAAcDw/0dw8EvaMPzkCLReXme2oDY09mO0koUNAQCLcBGAs/s1600/D74xq5_XsAEtT3I.jpg[/img]

[img]https://1.bp..com/-BP6BFzHCGM4/XPEOrLnA4mI/AAAAAAAAcD0/AhtBcKD-gL090zkRswmNl7uT6a4tK1cJQCLcBGAs/s1600/D74xq6AWwAIEQu-.jpg[/img]

[img]https://1.bp..com/-MnBbVp-skQw/XPEOqxdexNI/AAAAAAAAcD4/NOt83vUVJ-s7UQVTrmRyYD0GDL9xb1wFACLcBGAs/s1600/D74xq6BWwAAdaDk.jpg[/img]


Source:
https://www.autoreportng.com/2019/05/sanwo-olu-arrests-danfo-driver-driving.html

musictori:
After handing over of Power to Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, the former Governor of Gombe State, Hassan Ibrahim Dakwambo went online to Tweet this claiming that even when he was in power he never lived in the Government house.

See what he wrote...

"As governor of Gombe for 8 years, I never lived in the government house neither did I use the government lodge in Abuja. I stayed in my personal house knowing perfectly well that government house is not my house. Tonight, I am sleeping in my home as usual."

Source: https://www.musictori.com/2019/05/as-governor-of-gombe-for-8-years-i.html

akinblog:
Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and 392 other passengers, on Wednesday, escaped a plane crash in Lagos due to bad weather.

It was gathered that the aircraft, ET-901, departed the Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa, this morning, but found it difficult to land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

A NAN correspondent who was among the passengers, said rather than landing on the first touchline of the runway, the pilot overshot it, due to rain and heavy wind, landing on the third touchline. .

On realising this, the pilot quickly manoeuvred the plane back air, flying out of the Lagos airport. After hovering around between Lagos and areas suspected to be in Ogun, causing panic in passengers and crew members, the plane landed in Lagos airport, some 20 minutes after the initial false landing. Trade and Strengthening Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) which ended on Tuesday in Addis Ababa.

https://www.nairalink.fun/2019/05/former-president-obasanjo-escapes-plane-crash-in-lagos.html

sod09:
What manner of fvckery is this...all these money miss road sef

ijustdey:
GOVERNMENT IS SICK









https://m.guardian.ng/news/10-things-buhari-will-have-to-deal-with-in-second-term/

ijustdey:
“Mark it, I will be president of Nigeria. I said this on this altar so that the kingdom of God will rise against those fighting to stop me. “Also, those who think they will put me in prison will go to prison before me.





http://saharareporters.com/2019/05/26/mark-my-words-i-will-become-president-nigeria-okorocha-vows

fergie001:
The Nigerian Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has accused the International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF, of ‘blackmail’ after the body gave Nigeria an ultimatum to refund the money it was paid in error.

The federation said Nigeria was overpaid by $130,000 in 2017 but the country’s officials have rebuffed all efforts to get the money back.

Nigeria must now pay back within days or be sanctioned, the IAAF said.

In a letter sent to the president of the AFN, Ibrahim Gusau, and signed by the IAAF Senior Manager, Governance, Jee Isram, the body said the AFN was contacted immediately the anomaly was noticed on March 18, 2017, to refund the sum of $130,000 that was wrongly credited.

“Failure to receive the funds back within that period, we will have no alternative than to apply appropriate sanctions against your Federation,” it said.

Analysts have expressed outrage at the delayed refund, and have accused the sports ministry of denting the nation’s image.

Instead of repaying the money and ending the embarrassment, officials have been trading blames and refusing to speak on the matter.

A former member of the board of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria told PREMIUM TIMES that the sports minister, Mr Dalung, authorised the disbursement of the money.

Speaking at the 2019 Okpekpe Road Race held on Saturday in Edo State, Mr Dalung questioned the claims made by IAAF, claiming that Nigeria did nothing wrong.

“I think Nigeria has been unfairly treated because the issue has been painted and promoted as if there was any wrongdoing on the part of Nigeria,” Mr Dalung said.

“Certainly not, grants were released to Nigeria on the 17th of May 2017. IAAF on the 19th confirmed the transaction; those from IAAF after two months turned round and cried foul that it was a mistake.

“I smell rat in the whole thing and I believe that the whole thing has been orchestrated in an attempt to blackmail Nigeria,” the minister told journalists at Saturday’s race.

He continued: “Even when we went into it, we were not even convinced what the mistake was, is it a mistake of Nigeria or that of IAAF?

“When did they realise they made a mistake when the transaction was confirmed? I made a mistake in transferring money… I realised within 10 minutes and I called my bank and I retrieved the money. Why did it take IAAF two months to realise a mistake? An international organization, highly reputable?

"I think it is not about money erroneously credited to Nigeria, but there is a calculated attempt just to diminish and destroy Nigerian athletics, otherwise, I don’t see why they call it a mistake. We didn’t apply for a grant.”

When asked what the country will do at least to save it from possible ban as threatened by the IAAF, Mr. Dalung stated:

"Ban us for what? What has Nigeria done? What is the crime? Did we steal money from them? Did we ask them to transfer money to us?

"They transferred money to us, they confirmed the transaction to us, then after two months, they woke up from slumber.

“Is IAAF telling us they are as much disorganised as that? Where Nigeria is wrong, Nigeria will own up but you cannot wake up and just realise that they have something to hold on to. We are not even convinced that there is any mistake, the money was sent for the golden relays and it was done. Are they saying there was no golden relays.

“I think those promoting this are trying to cry blue murder; I think they are just enemies of this country and we should ask questions,” the minister concluded.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/331650-nigeria-sports-minister-dares-iaaf-gives-no-commitment-to-repay-missing-130000.html

J
Did you document it