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Mr Andy Omoluabi, Director of Programmes, WaterAid Nigeria, says 61 per cent of Plateau residents are in need of potable water.

Omoluabi made the disclosure in Jos, at the inauguration of the project tagged “European Union (EU) Technical Assistance to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to Implement Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Programme Phase III.”

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project being implemented by WaterAid Nigeria is aimed at building the capacity of CSOs to advocate for better governance in the water and sanitation sector in Plateau.

The director also disclosed that 29 per cent of the population in the state also lacked access to decent toilet facilities and 54 per cent defecated in the open.

This development, the organisation said had exposed the to all kinds of diseases, such as cholera, dysentery Lassa fever and host of others.
“About 61 per cent of the household in the state currently lives without clean water, 29 per cent without access to a decent toilet and 54 per cent defecate in the open,” he said.
Omoluabi said poor access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene had devastating effects on the state developmental strides, adding that meeting its goals might be difficult.
“Without sufficient access to clean water and sanitation, it will be difficult for the state to meet the development goals it set for itself.
This is because maternal and infant mortality and rate of school dropouts, particularly among girls, will also increase,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Jaafaru Wuyep, the Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, said that the state government was committed to providing potable water for its populace.
The commissioner said one cardinal objective of the administration was provision of infrastructure development; hence, making potable water available in all parts of the state was imperative.
“Immediately we assumed office, we promised to among others things to embark on massive infrastructure development and the most important aspect of that is the provision of potable water.
This because water as we all knows is life.
“Though, we have been faced with paucity of funds since we assumed office, but as a government, we will do everything we can to see that potable water is provided to our people.
“We have been thinking outside the box, which is why we are partnering with various donor agencies to ensure that our people at both rural and urban areas have clean water,” he said.
Wuyep added that as part of its commitment, the state government had recently released N550 million as counterpart funds for the EU-UNICEF water project to address shortage of water supply at rural and urban areas.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/61-plateau-residents-lack-potable-water.html

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Thursday in Enugu declared that Nigeria is at crossroads and very divided.

Saraki, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential aspirant, spoke while addressing delegates at the party’s secretariat, expressing sadness

over the level of youth unemployment in the country.
The Senate president assured that his decision to contest for the President was not a personnel ambition, adding that Nigeria needed a president that will be
youth-friendly.

He declared that if he becomes the president of the country, he would make many Asian Tigers, particularity in Enugu State.
He expressed happiness that despite what he and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu had been passing through in their efforts to ensure that the right thing was
done, the present Senate had continued to work for the interest of the nation.
Saraki further told the PDP delegates that Nigeria needed a
president that when he speaks, the people will be proud and a president that will see the whole Nigeria as as his constituency.

“You cannot give what you do not have, what you don’t have, you cannot give. Nigeria is at a crossroad, it is very divided,” he stated.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/nigeria-at-crossroads-very-divided.html

Amazon.com Inc. has followed Apple Inc. to become the second U.S. company to reach $1 trillion in market value, reflecting the online retailer’s striking transformation from a profitless bookseller into a disruptive force of commerce.

Shares of Amazon climbed 1.9% in midday trading on Tuesday, topping the $2,050.27 needed to push the company’s value above $1 trillion. The stock has surged 75% in 2018 and added more than $435 billion to the company’s market capitalization—roughly the size of Walmart Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp. COST +0.34% and Target Corp. TGT 0.82% combined.

Investors have rewarded the Seattle-based company as it demonstrated better financial discipline in recent quarters, reporting record profits because of lucrative businesses such as cloud computing despite aggressively spending on industries from health care to grocery delivery.


“They’ve proven they can make it work,” said Michael Lippert, who manages the Baron Capital BCAP -98.00% Opportunity Fund that counts Amazon as its largest holding. “They’re spending a lot on all these things to build and enforce their competitive advantages.”

Amazon and Apple, which hit the trillion-dollar milestone on Aug. 2, symbolize the growing influence of tech companies on markets and the economy. The industry is amassing wealth and power, creating a new order in business where the most valuable resource is no longer oil, but data.

Not far behind in market value are Google owner Alphabet Inc. and Microsoft Corp. , both approaching $900 billion, while Facebook Inc. which crossed $500 billion in July 2017, a day after Amazon—has stalled at those levels amid a data-privacy scandal and growth concerns.

The companies’ increasing clout has prompted lawmakers to scrutinize the tech sector more closely. Amazon, which captures nearly half of all U.S. dollars spent online, is simultaneously drawing the ire of President Trump over its effect on traditional retail and its use of the U.S. Postal Service. Sen. Bernie Sanders has also criticized the company for the way it pays and treats its warehouse workers, something Amazon has said is an inaccurate portrayal.

Investors also worry about the tech companies’ outsize impact on the stock market. Amazon, Apple and Microsoft have accounted for more than 35% of the S&P 500’s total return this year, according to S&P Dow Jones Indices data through Aug. 28.

One of the biggest beneficiaries of Amazon’s growth is its 54-year-old leader, Jeff Bezos, who has surpassed Bill Gates to become the richest man in the world, according to multiple indices that track the world’s wealthiest people. Mr. Bezos owned roughly 16% of Amazon, as of an August regulatory filing, and is worth about $166 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Amazon has expanded rapidly since its humble founding as an online bookstore in Mr. Bezos’s garage in 1994. The internet then was just becoming a viable platform, and the most valuable companies at the time included industrial conglomerate General Electric Co. , oil giant Exxon Inc. and telecommunications power AT&T Inc.Amazon was valued at less than $500 million when it went public in 1997. A $1,000 investment in the IPO would be worth roughly $1.4 million today, adjusted for stock splits.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/like-apple-amazon-hits-1-trillion.html

As part of efforts towards ensuring transparency in the foreign exchange market, Travelex Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Travelex UK, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to engage the Bureau De Change (BDCs) on international best practices. In a national seminar on best practices in the BDC segment of the foreign exchange market in Nigeria, schedule for tomorrow in Lagos, a major cooperation between Travelex, the CBN, and key financial services regulatory authorities in the country will be discussed. Key presenters at the seminar are the CBN Deputy Governor on Financial System Stability Directorate of CBN, the Chairman Economic & Financial Crimes Commission, DG Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), Managing Director/CEO Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) as well as the President of ABCON alongside experts and technical personnel from Travelex UK. According to a statement signed by Anthony Enwereji, General Manager, Travelex Nigeria, some of the topics to be discussed include: BDCs and anti-money laundering laws and regulations; detection and prevention of illicit financial flows in election year; international best practice in BDCs operations: How BDCs work in order climes; standard reporting guidelines on BDC returns; application of IT in facilitating BDC operations’, and ‘Practical effects of CBN policies on BDC operations’.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/travelex-cbn-efcc-partner-on-best.html

Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, on Tuesday threatened to revive militants activities in the Niger Delta if Operation Python Dance 3 was allowed in the South East.


Following the disclosure by the Nigerian Army that it will soon commence its Operation Python Dance 3 in the South East, BNYL, had said it “won’t take it”.

However, raising its latest resistance, BNYL warned against the action.

In a statement sent to Akelicious, the Biafra group also warned security operatives against, “Shooting unarmed Pro-Biafra supporters on 14th September, IPOB Sit-at-home.”
In the statement jointly signed by its Deputy Leader, Ebuta Ogar Takon and Chief of Staff, Linus Essien, BNYL said it, “has what it takes to revive Militia activities in the creeks of Bakassi and Niger Delta if Python Dance 3 is allowed in the South East.”
BNYL also faulted the statement by the police to deal with members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

The group berated police for allegedly, “Labelling the agitators as illegal,” insisting that “Biafra activities are not illegal and every non-violent group is legal.”
BNYL cautioned the Federal Government on the “need to focus on the 2019 general elections than creating troubles where there is none.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/biafra-group-tells-army-to-call-off.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has insisted that MTN Nigeria and the four sanctioned over illegal banks repatriation of funds will be punished, Daily Trust learnt in Abuja yesterday.

MTN, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Citi Bank and Diamond Bank were asked to refund $ 8.1billion last Wednesday by the CBN for allegedly involved in repatriation of funds without due process. This is in addition of N5.87bn fines slammed on the four banks.

However, there were reports yesterday that the telecom company and the four banks might have got a soft landing or may soon get a soft landing from the apex bank.

But some top officials of the bank confided in our reporters in separate chats yesterday that the regulator has not shifted its ground on the issue.

One of the officials said the CBN wouldn’t have gone public with the issue if it would not carry out the punishment.

“All I can tell you is that we have not shifted a bit, at least for now’’, an official, who pleaded anonymity because he has not been cleared to speak to the media, said.

Another top official said it would take a directive from the presidency for the apex bank to shift ground or reduce the fine.

“Well that may come tomorrow, but as of today, I personally have not seen the memo or heard about it’’, he told one of our reporters.

Another CBN source said: “MTN was not fined, if they bring in the funds, they will simply get a refund, this should be clear.

“But we suspect that they would explore diplomatic channels to resolve this one, as we saw the last time from another government agency. I am not preview to how much has happened since that letter.”

Meanwhile CBN documents seen by one of our reporters showed that the apex bank met with all the parties involved in the deal and established culpability before it slammed on them the fines.

MTN and the banks have since strongly refuted the allegations.

Stanbic IBTC has issued a notice denying any form of wrongdoing, in a letter describing the CBN conclusions as based on factually incorrect premises.

Stanbic IBTC stated that at no time did the bank use irregular Certificates of Capital Importation (CCIs) to make remittances on behalf of MTN Nigeria Communications Limited (MTNN) as alleged.

It argued that on the contrary, all remittances were done with the knowledge and approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and in accordance with the Foreign Exchange (Monitoring and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1995 and other extant Regulations.

But the CBN governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele in the letter to the affected banks and MTN said upon the conclusion of investigation, the Committee of Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria met with the management teams of the banks and representatives of MTN in Lagos on May 25, 2018.

This was to give all parties a fair hearing towards taking an informed decision on the matter, the CBN document said.

The CBN letter said a review of MTN’s financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 revealed that $399,594,146.00 was recorded/invested as shareholders’ loan and $2,996,117.00 as equity investment, in accordance with the shareholder’s agreement but contrary to the CCIs issued by the banks.

It said following a request by MTN through Standard Chartered Bank for CBN’s approval to convert the shareholder’s loan to preference shares, an approval-in-principle was granted vide our letter dated November 13, 2007; with the grant of final approval made subject to the fulfillment of the conditions by your organization.

The conditions are implementation of the decision in item 5B of your board resolution dated November 08, 2007 and submission of documentary evidence to that effect to the Director, Trade and Exchange Department of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and provision of an undertaking that no remittance for either interest or principal repayment would be made to the shareholders from the date of the loan to the date they were converted to preference shares.

But in spite of the non-fulfilment of the conditions and consequently, the non-issuance of a final approval by the CBN, ‘’your organization converted the shareholders’ loan to preference shares with Standard Charted Bank issuing new CCIs in respect of the illegal conversion.’’

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/mtn-4-banks-will-be-punished-cbn-insists.html

Despite the danger the illegal sale of pre-registered Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards portends to the nation’s security, the practice has continued. The Guardian found that virtually all the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are involved in the illegality.

Agents clad in the aprons of the service providers have been spotted in the Lagos areas of Island, Ikeja, Airport Road, Ikotun, Ojuelegba, Yaba and Oshodi, and in Mararaba Nyanyan, Berger and Wuse in Abuja.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) views the sale or use of pre-registered SIM cards as an offence attracting a fine or jail term or both. An indicted telecom company risks a N200,000 fine for every pre-registered card.


MTN was fined about $5.2 billion in October 2015, after it was discovered that some 5.2 million lines on its network were not properly registered. Other operators including Globacom, Airtel and Etisalat (now 9Mobile) were also fined about N100 million four years back.

Investigations showed that competition among the operators is a major factor fuelling the menace. But also, some Nigerians, ignorant of the dangers they are courting, prefer to simply buy pre-registered cards, rather than spend a few minutes inputting their details into a computer.

According to an Abuja-based security expert, Chukwuma Alozie, the purchase of such cards would appeal to criminal elements. He urged relevant authorities to monitor the service providers closely. He regretted that ignorance and the high rate of joblessness in the country were causing many unsuspecting youths to be lured into attaching their biometric details to multiple SIM cards.

“Hardly do they know that very soon they would be held for high crimes committed by those who bought the cards. They are not even aware that when many criminals use these cards, it confers the status of ‘hardened criminal’ on the unsuspecting registrants. They risk spending their lives in jail or dying at the gallows for crimes they did not commit,” said Alozie.

At a recent workshop in Gombe, organised by the NCC for law enforcement agencies on telecommunications matters, Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris described the sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards as a grave threat to security and governance.

According to him, “Criminal activities, including the use of pre-registered SIM cards, should be of concern to all of us. As a law enforcement officer, it is my belief that in addressing these challenges, we must re-strategise on our noble programme of community policing across communities and give our communities greater stake in securing national assets.”

The June subscriber statistics from the NCC showed that the operators have connected 243.9 million telephone lines with 162.8 million active. On this, MTN controls 40.9 per cent, amounting to 66.5 million customers; Globacom has 40.1 million subscribers and enjoys 24.7 per cent market share. Airtel with 39.9 million subscribers earns 24.6 per cent market control, while 9Mobile with 9.7 per cent market share services 9.7 million customers. The country has a teledencity of 116 per cent.

The problem is a recurring embarrassment to the industry, said Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, president of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers of Nigeria (NATCOMS), urging the NCC to take drastic action.

He said some operators, who give permission to agents to start registering their (operators’) SIMs are to blame. “Because these agents want to register more and make some money, they just register anyhow, put a face on the profile and that is it,” he said.

According to him, the sharp practice is fuelled by competition among the operators. “They are the ones that should ensure due diligence is done. Perhaps, they should stop registration or start registering one person or two and keep a tab on them in the rural areas. But in the cities, they have enough customer care centres. Rather than them giving authority to some small boys, who would put them into trouble, they can get educated agents and ensure they supervise them regularly.”

The NATCOMS president also stressed the need for the enforcement arm of the NCC to step up its work.

The chairman, Association of Licensed Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, in an email response to The Guardian enquiry on the matter, said: “We need to continue to ensure compliance and sanctions on established willful infractions.”

Responding to The Guardian inquiry on what his office is doing to curb the menace, the Minister of Communications Adebayo Shittu said handling the problem was the responsibility of the NCC, “while the ministry handles the formulation of broad policy issues.”

The executive vice chairman, NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta, on his part, maintained that selling pre-registered SIM cards is an act of illegality that undermines national security.

Danbatta, who did not rule out sanctions for any operator found culpable, urged Nigerians that rather than patronise criminals who peddle pre-registered cards, “the public should report them to law enforcement agencies, as part of their responsibility, not only as subscribers but also as good citizens.”

Describing the menace as grievous, he noted: “Our Compliances Monitoring and Enforcement Department is currently going round the country with a view to fishing out the perpetrators.”

Late last year, farmers in northern Nigeria urged wireless operators to block SIM cards that had not been formally registered, saying they aided the operations of Boko Haram.

An online news platform had quoted the head of the region’s association of small-holder farmers, Mohammed Sani, saying: “We will stage a protest against MTN and take necessary legal action, if it fails to comply with this directive.”

But MTN Nigeria’s General Manager, Corporate Affairs, Omasan Ogisi, in an email, said the telecommunications firm condemns any illegality including the sale and distribution of pre-registered SIM cards.

For her, the firm always takes punitive actions against agents found engaging in the illicit activity. The measures include blacklisting and withdrawal of SIM registration devices used for such an illegality.

“SIM registration kits/devices have been tagged to specific agents. And as such, we are able to tell which kit and agent is responsible for registering a SIM card and hand over such to law enforcement authorities for prosecution,” she said.

According to her, MTN has established partnerships with law enforcement authorities in places where such activities are prevalent. “By virtue of such partnerships, we are able to point them in the direction of such locations, so that they can apprehend the culprits and let the law take its natural course,” she said.

For her, the firm engages in periodic/continuous public awareness campaigns, highlighting the need for subscribers to desist from purchasing such SIM cards and ensures that they personally register the SIM cards they intend to use.

Also, 9Mobile’s acting director, Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Seyi Osunsedo, said the firm strictly enforces rules that limit the ability of its trade agents to pre-register SIM cards.


She said: “We have since implemented the NCC’s rule mandating telcos to block any registered SIM card, which is not used within 48 hours after registration. This helps ensure that even if a line is pre-registered, the agent is unable to keep it on sale for more than 48 hours.

“In addition, our registration systems are designed to ensure that only validly registered lines are activated and if a line is not validly registered; such is unlikely to be activated even if purchased.”

Noting that pre-registered lines are typically listed using false details, she said: “9mobile continuously explores ways to further strengthen existing checks, to help prevent the pre-registration of lines. 9mobile also conducts spot checks, which have led to the arrest and prosecution of individuals found to be selling pre-registered 9mobile lines.

“9mobile also continuously educates its subscribers on the risks associated with purchasing pre-registered lines and the need to ensure that their lines are registered in their names and with their details.”

Airtel and Globacom were yet to respond as at press time.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/mobile-operators-defy-government-deepen.html

A former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, on Monday gave reasons Nigerians should believe that President Muhammadu Buhari doesn’t care about their lives.


Omokri said that while Boko Haram killed 48 soldiers, Buhari was “taking photos on the Presidential jet with his wife and daughter.”

Recall that about 30 soldiers were alleged to have been killed by Boko Haram insurgents at Zari village in Guzamala Local Government Area of Borno State.


However, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations, had stressed that the report was a “figment of the imagination.’’

But Omokri also recalled that while about 78 people killed by herdsmen were been buried in Benue State, Buhari was hosting governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Daura, Katsina State.

In a tweet, he wrote: “When Boko Haram killed 48 soldiers, Buhari was taking photos on the Presidential jet with his wife and daughter.


“When Benue was burying the 78 people killed by herdsmen, Buhari was hosting APC Governors in Daura. I ask you, does this fellow care about Nigerian lives? #RenosDarts.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/omokri-gives-reasons-buhari-does-not.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has on Monday charged members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to maximize its efforts and commitments for economic transformation.

Buhari who disclosed this at the opening ceremony of the ‘High-Level Dialogue Between Chinese and African Leaders and Business Representatives in Beijing, China’, averred that members should not be dependent on China’s help and urged them to use every resources to make their economy viable and buoyant.

His words, “On behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), I wish to express our appreciation to the Government and people of the People’s Republic of China for the warm hospitality extended to our delegations since our arrival in China.

“The participation of so many Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS at this High-Level Dialogue between Chinese and African Leaders and Business Representatives is a demonstration of the excellent relations between China and ECOWAS.

“We are happy to welcome to the FOCAC family, two Member States of ECOWAS; the Republics of The Gambia and Burkina Faso as well as São Tomé and Principe.

“It is therefore worthy of note that for the first time, all ECOWAS Member States are participating in a FOCAC Summit.

“The ECOWAS region accounts for some 30% of Africa’s population and GDP.

“ECOWAS Member States are presently embarking on policies and strategies to stabilise and strengthen internal growth. Our Member States are making efforts at diversifying their economies and developing specific policies targeting the most vulnerable groups, in order to ensure more inclusive growth. In this regard, Member States will continue to encourage Chinese State-owned companies and entrepreneurs to invest in our sub-region.

“I take this opportunity to convey the appreciation of ECOWAS Member States for China’s increasing investment in our sub-region with the aim of building a prosperous and shared future. China is today, the largest investor in the sub-region in both private and public sectors covering areas such as infrastructure, energy, agriculture, mining, healthcare. China also provides significant assistance in emergency humanitarian aid and response to climate change.

“Various construction projects are now ongoing in the sub-region, including the construction of railway projects, power infrastructure, airports and numerous roads through Chinese financing.


“While it is pertinent to mention that Member States of ECOWAS are at different stages of development, President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to our sub-region has highlighted the need for even closer collaboration to enable more Chinese investment to support the cause of regional integration and development.

“We should also realise that while China’s help is vital, the main push to transform our economies must come from our own efforts and commitment.

“ECOWAS also welcomes more Chinese tourists to visit West Africa. This will enhance people-to-people exchanges, especially now that Member States are getting involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Our sub-region is endowed with enormous tourism potentials. With China’s support, tourism related infrastructure should be developed to empower our citizens, create more employment opportunities among the teeming population and eliminate poverty.

“We would also request visa facilitation for our businessmen and women, and students who seek to visit China.

“ECOWAS Member States will continue to pay emphasis on encouraging more foreign direct investment in the sub-region. To this end, Member States are looking at the opportunities that the China International Import-Export initiative will offer our exporters to gain market access for their goods and services in China. Such an opportunity will help in diversifying the economy of our sub-region from over reliance on primary agricultural and mineral products and subsequently correct the huge trade imbalance between China and the ECOWAS sub-region on a win-win basis for both parties.

“Excellencies, while expressing our appreciation for the strong engagement of China with the ECOWAS sub-region, I also wish to thank President Xi Jinping for the pledge to build a befitting Secretariat for the Commission.

“Let me reiterate the commitment of ECOWAS Member States to deepening and strengthening institutions in the sub-region, through good governance, the fight against corruption, combating terrorism, violent extremism and organised crime. These are necessary actions if the right conditions for sustainable economic growth in West Africa are to be achieved.

“Finally, on behalf of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, I wish the High-Level Dialogue and Conference successful deliberations and a fruitful outcome.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/buhari-urges-ecowas-states-to-maximize.html

The World Igbo Congress has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government to immediately stop what they termed the unwarranted and unnecessary killings of Igbo youths, under the guise of operations python dance.

Public Relations Officer of the group, Hon. Basil Onwukwe, who stated this at the ongoing 24th Convention of the group, at the Embassy Suite in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, said the operation must stop now, especially the militarisation of the Eastern Nigeria with various checkpoints.

While noting that the major issue under consideration include; self preservation, actualisation and determination of Ndigbo in their homelands, he said they have agreed to forge a common front with world Igbo Congress to address the economic and political paradigm change in the country.

In attendance are movers and shakers among Ndigbo in USA, including organisation’s leaders; Chairman of Alaigbo Development Foundation, Prof Uzodinma Nwala, and Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze,Onwukwe disclosed that the final communiqué of the conference would be made available at the end of the conference today.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/ndigbo-warns-fg-on-unnecessary-killings.html

As the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ended yesterday, after an earlier extension to enable more eligible voters partake in the exercise, the electoral body has insisted that there would be no further shift in the deadline of the process.

The Commission, however, said the exercise would continue after next year’s general elections.

According to Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, this is due to the time required to, among other things, undertake all the backend activities needed to produce the PVCs.


He said those who were unable to register during the period and even despite the extension, would have to wait until after next year’s general elections when the CVR would resume, adding that the Commission has registered 13.6 million new voters since April last year, when the process started.
“It was in the Commission’s bid to enable as many Nigerians as possible obtain their PVCs that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise was launched on April 27, 2017.
“It was the first time in the history of the Commission that the CVR would be implemented on a truly continuous basis, as envisaged under the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended). Before now, INEC carried out voter registration only at particular periods,” he told The Guardian.
On allegations that some prospective registrants had to tip INEC staff to get registered at all or fast-track the process, Oyekanmi said: “The CVR is free of charge and Nigerians are not required to tip INEC staff members. Anytime we receive reports of this nature, we investigate. If any staff member is found culpable, sanctions will be applied.
“I must say that in some of the cases that we investigated, it turned out that those collecting money were not INEC workers, but touts who cashed in on the situation to make quick money for themselves. Some of them have been arrested and handed over to the Police.
“However, I want Nigerians to also know that INEC has very hardworking workers who are putting in a lot of efforts to ensure that the Commission achieves its objectives. They are often unsung, but without them, the Commission cannot achieve anything.”
There was a further upsurge of eligible voters seeking registration during the last week in many centres across the country.
In virtually all the centres, the crowd was unprecedented, with many looking forlorn, as it dawned on them that they might not be registered and hence not be able to vote in the coming elections. Some of them vented their frustrations on INEC officials, who they blamed for their inability to get registered.
But Oyekanmi attributed the recent upsurge in the number of people turning up at the registration centres to the rush to beat the August 31 deadline for the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
On collection of PVCs, he said that is not a problem at all our centres, compared to those seeking to register, adding: “If you go to the right centre, your PVC will be waiting for you. But if you go to the wrong centre, you will not be able to get your PVC.”
Although, the collection of PVCs continues until one week to next year’s general elections, he, however, urged registered voters yet to collect their PVCs not to wait until the deadline draws close, as experienced during the CVR, before they do so, saying the earlier, the better.
He disclosed that the Commission was intensifying efforts to sensitise Nigerians on the need for those who have registered, but yet to collect their PVCs to do so, working in partnership with major stakeholders, including civil society organisations, religious bodies and leaders and the traditional rulers, just as he said all registration centres were also making PVCs available for collection.
He added: “Nigerians can also check their status on our website via http://voterreg.inecnigeria.org and follow the instructions.
Alternatively, they can check by sending an SMS in the following format- State, Last Name and Voter Identification Number (VIN) to 0817 164 6879. They will receive a response within 20 minutes.

More at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/voter-registration-there-will-be-no.html

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) yesterday shared N714.8b among the three tiers of governments for the month of July.

A break down of the figures shows that the amount comprised statutory revenue of N598b; Value Added Tax (VAT) of N79.8b; foreign exchange (Forex) equalisation of N25.9b and additional withheld funds by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of N12b.

Minister of Finance and Chairman of FAAC, Kemi Adeosun, who addressed journalists at the end of the meeting in Abuja, said the revenue was distributed among the three tiers of government as follows: Federal Government (N298.288b); states (N183.773b) and local councils (N138.964b).
Oil producing states receivedN49.7b, while revenue generating agencies and statutory transfers got N44.007b.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/faac-shares-n715b-revenue-for-july.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is collaborating with the Financial Control Authority, a United Kingdom agency to develop framework for the regulation of financial technology (fintech) companies in Nigeria.

CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, dropped this hint while speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting between UK Prime Minister, Theresa May and Nigeria’s business leaders and some regulators in Lagos, during the prime minister’s visit to Nigeria on Wednesday.


May was accompanied to Nigeria by a delegation of UK fintech specialists.

Emefiele said there are plans to develop regulations for fintechs that would not be as stringent as what is available for the banks.

Responding to a question about the outcome of the meeting, Emefiele said, “From our side, we spoke extensively with the Financial Control Authority, which is one of the agencies in UK that has regulations on fintech businesses.

“Nigeria being a country that has a lot of opportunities particularly because of our large population of young people who are interested in fintech businesses, we had opportunity to hold discussions with them and we have agreed that we would meet some other time to think on how to set up acceptable regulation for fintechs, regulations not as stringent as what the banks would be, but one way or the other, the fintechs have to be regulated.”

He added, “Basically it was a meeting where the Prime Minister met with leaders of businesses and financial services in Nigeria and we also had the opportunity of networking with some of the business leaders she came with from the UK.

“It was a good meeting and she had some one-on-one with some very important Nigerian business, all with a view to see how the Nigerian businesses can work, partner and collaborate with businesses from UK. Its a very successful one.”

On his part, a former CBN Deputy Governor, who is now the Chairman of the Federal Emergency Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), who was also at the meeting said it was apparently to boost business relationship and bilateral relationship between Nigeria and UK.

“The prime minister did say in South Africa that post Brexit, Britain intends to ratchet up investment in Africa. And this visit was to reconfirm that to the Nigeria. It was an opportunity to cross fertilise ideas,” Lemo added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/cbn-parleys-uk-agency-on-regulatory.html

A Nigerian man has vowed to kill himself if President Muhammadu Buhari does not win the 2019 presidential election. Akelicious regional reporter, Kingsley okezie, reports that the man caused a scene in a community in Abuja when he stormed the streets to make a startling statement. The unidentified man was seen standing by a junction in Abuja holding a big banner on which "If Muhammad Buhari does not win election in 2019, I will kill myself", was written.

Meanwhile, Akelicious had previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari said that the string of victory recorded by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in bye-elections held in Bauchi, Katsina and Kogi states is sufficient proof that 2019 elections will be won by the party. This was contained in a statement by the president's senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, on Friday, August 24.

Akelicious reported that the president received representatives of the 34 chairmen of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Katsina state.

Buhari said: “Coming against the backdrop of the victory in Ekiti governorship election, the string of victory by our party, the APC, is a clear indication of the way things will go in 2019. ‘‘For those who are discerning; those who have ears and eyes they will see, hear and understand. Those who don’t understand are entitled to their mistaken assumptions.”

More photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/i-will-kill-myself-if-buhari-loses-2019.html

The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has remitted more than $6.5 billion in taxes to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) since 2009.

Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director of NLNG, said at the investigative hearing into the proposed sale of the company held by the House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources, in Abuja.

The hearing was on the need to investigate contract for modification of Escravos Gas Project (EGP) 3B production platform, following the joint ventures agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It is also on the investigation into the contract for the upgrade of OML 58 Upgrade 1 and the building of Obote/Ubeta/Rumuji pipeline.

According to him, since the N LNG became a tax-paying company its contributions are helping to build a better Nigeria even though it does more than financial contribution.

“As a result of Nigeria LNG being in existence, we have helped to reduce gas flaring by more than 65 per cent and will continue to work with our upstream suppliers to mop-up more.

“This is because we produce the opportunity as the biggest gas sink for whatever gas is provided in the country. We have the capacity to receive that gas but I think by far the biggest opportunity is in Nigeria’s brand and reputation.

“Before NLNG, Nigeria was actually No. 2 on the undesired league of gas flaring nations in the world.

“But today, we are No. 7 ahead of other countries such as United States, I mean, United States is flaring more than Nigeria,” Attah said.

He added that the company was spending about $120 million on the construction of Bonny-Bono Road which will connect Bonny to Port Harcourt, slated for completion within 40 months.

On the development plans of the company, Attah unveiled the company’s plan to embark on 6 billion US dollars capacity development project for the Train 7, which had potential of creating 12,000 new jobs in the Niger Delta region.

“The big deal for us in Nigeria LNG is growing capacity. Currently we have six Trains with 22 million tonnes per annum capacity which is 7 per cent of global market share of LNG.

“We want to grow back to the 10 per cent which was what it was before. So we want to grow by about 35 per cent capacity before Australia.

“We want to grow by about 355 capacity, that will come via Train 7 project for which we have commenced the engineering design and we are looking forward to take a final investment decision not too long.’’

He also said NLNG had remitted more than 100 billion US dollars’ as revenue to the coffers of Federal Government and other equity holders in the company.

According to Attah, Federal Government through Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which owned 49 per cent equity got more than $15 billion dividends.

He said that this positioned the company as the singular highest tax paying company in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

Attah added that other shareholders such as Shell Gass BV owned 25.6 per cent US dollars, Total owned 15 per cent while ENI International owned 10.4 per cent.

On the company’s efforts towards reducing gas flaring in the country, Attah said that a lot of its contributions to the country is monetary, adding that more than $100 billion revenue and about $15 billion dividends had gone to the Federal Government directly.

Contributing, Rep, Randoff Brown (PDP-Rivers) noted that NLNG was the most significant arrow-head of the Federal Government’s quest to eliminate gas flaring and derives value from the country’s 187 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves.

“NLNG has covered about 119 Bcm (million standard cubic metres) or 4.2tcf (trillion cubic feet) of associated gas to export as LNG and natural gas liquids thus helping to reduce gas flaring by upstream companies from over 60 per cent to less than 25 per cent.

“NLNG mops up gas that would otherwise be flared, thus making significant contributions to the nation’s income, delivering in the last 13 years over 13 billion dollars on gas purchases from oil producing companies, of which the Federal Government of Nigeria owns 55 per cent – 60 per cent CIT and other taxes,” he said.

Also speaking, Rep. Diri Douye (PDP-Bayelsa), who sponsored the motion on the need to investigate the contract for the modification of the EGP 3B Production platform following the joint venture agreement between Federal Government, NNPC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, frowned at the delay in the completion of the project.

According to him, modification work on all the seven platforms was meant to have been completed by April 31, 2013 at the rate of 64,179,198 US dollars but it was eventually concluded in 2016 at a reviewed cost of 192.7 million dollars.

“The implication being that, whereas, it was awarded the contract on the basis of being the lowest bid it eventually became the highest bid.

“It is also alleged that Prime Source Limited (PSL) was poorly resourced in manpower, logistics, equipment and funding to undertake a job of such description.

“It is also instructive to note that PSL bid for the contract alongside a consortium, i.e Prime Source-Hensteel SOMECO, however, the contract was solely awarded in the name of PSL,’’he said.

While ruling,chairman, House Committee on Gas Resources, Rep. Frederick Agbedi, tasked the company on the need to replicate its model for the country to take its rightful position in the global market and the implementation of developmental projects.

“We join the elders of the Niger Delta, and we are not in support of any contemplation to sell off NLNG.

“The shares held by NNPC on behalf of the country, the people of Nigeria have vested interests in the company, so they are not shares that any government can take in whatever guise.

“You don’t play politics with such investment even if that is the only revenue we can rely on as a nation.

“On that note, the committee will step down the motion for the committee’s consideration. On the other two motions, we are frustrated by the position of the NNPC,” Agbedi said.

Agbedi then expressed concern over the absence of Mr Maikanti Baru, the NNPC Group Managing Director at the hearing.

The committee, however, resolved to adjourn sine die, till the NNPC helmsman appears in person to respond to queries on the 114.580 million US dollars variation on the modification of the EGP 3B Production platform. (NAN)

The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has remitted more than $6.5 billion in taxes to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) since 2009.

Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director of NLNG, said at the investigative hearing into the proposed sale of the company held by the House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources, in Abuja.

The hearing was on the need to investigate contract for modification of Escravos Gas Project (EGP) 3B production platform, following the joint ventures agreement between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and Chevron Nigeria Limited.

It is also on the investigation into the contract for the upgrade of OML 58 Upgrade 1 and the building of Obote/Ubeta/Rumuji pipeline.

According to him, since the N LNG became a tax-paying company its contributions are helping to build a better Nigeria even though it does more than financial contribution.

“As a result of Nigeria LNG being in existence, we have helped to reduce gas flaring by more than 65 per cent and will continue to work with our upstream suppliers to mop-up more.

“This is because we produce the opportunity as the biggest gas sink for whatever gas is provided in the country. We have the capacity to receive that gas but I think by far the biggest opportunity is in Nigeria’s brand and reputation.

“Before NLNG, Nigeria was actually No. 2 on the undesired league of gas flaring nations in the world.

“But today, we are No. 7 ahead of other countries such as United States, I mean, United States is flaring more than Nigeria,” Attah said.

He added that the company was spending about $120 million on the construction of Bonny-Bono Road which will connect Bonny to Port Harcourt, slated for completion within 40 months.

On the development plans of the company, Attah unveiled the company’s plan to embark on 6 billion US dollars capacity development project for the Train 7, which had potential of creating 12,000 new jobs in the Niger Delta region.

“The big deal for us in Nigeria LNG is growing capacity. Currently we have six Trains with 22 million tonnes per annum capacity which is 7 per cent of global market share of LNG.

“We want to grow back to the 10 per cent which was what it was before. So we want to grow by about 35 per cent capacity before Australia.

“We want to grow by about 355 capacity, that will come via Train 7 project for which we have commenced the engineering design and we are looking forward to take a final investment decision not too long.’’

He also said NLNG had remitted more than 100 billion US dollars’ as revenue to the coffers of Federal Government and other equity holders in the company.

According to Attah, Federal Government through Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which owned 49 per cent equity got more than $15 billion dividends.

He said that this positioned the company as the singular highest tax paying company in Nigeria and indeed Africa.

Attah added that other shareholders such as Shell Gass BV owned 25.6 per cent US dollars, Total owned 15 per cent while ENI International owned 10.4 per cent.

On the company’s efforts towards reducing gas flaring in the country, Attah said that a lot of its contributions to the country is monetary, adding that more than $100 billion revenue and about $15 billion dividends had gone to the Federal Government directly.

Contributing, Rep, Randoff Brown (PDP-Rivers) noted that NLNG was the most significant arrow-head of the Federal Government’s quest to eliminate gas flaring and derives value from the country’s 187 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves.

“NLNG has covered about 119 Bcm (million standard cubic metres) or 4.2tcf (trillion cubic feet) of associated gas to export as LNG and natural gas liquids thus helping to reduce gas flaring by upstream companies from over 60 per cent to less than 25 per cent.

“NLNG mops up gas that would otherwise be flared, thus making significant contributions to the nation’s income, delivering in the last 13 years over 13 billion dollars on gas purchases from oil producing companies, of which the Federal Government of Nigeria owns 55 per cent – 60 per cent CIT and other taxes,” he said.

Also speaking, Rep. Diri Douye (PDP-Bayelsa), who sponsored the motion on the need to investigate the contract for the modification of the EGP 3B Production platform following the joint venture agreement between Federal Government, NNPC and Chevron Nigeria Limited, frowned at the delay in the completion of the project.

According to him, modification work on all the seven platforms was meant to have been completed by April 31, 2013 at the rate of 64,179,198 US dollars but it was eventually concluded in 2016 at a reviewed cost of 192.7 million dollars.

“The implication being that, whereas, it was awarded the contract on the basis of being the lowest bid it eventually became the highest bid.

“It is also alleged that Prime Source Limited (PSL) was poorly resourced in manpower, logistics, equipment and funding to undertake a job of such description.

“It is also instructive to note that PSL bid for the contract alongside a consortium, i.e Prime Source-Hensteel SOMECO, however, the contract was solely awarded in the name of PSL,’’he said.

While ruling,chairman, House Committee on Gas Resources, Rep. Frederick Agbedi, tasked the company on the need to replicate its model for the country to take its rightful position in the global market and the implementation of developmental projects.

“We join the elders of the Niger Delta, and we are not in support of any contemplation to sell off NLNG.

“The shares held by NNPC on behalf of the country, the people of Nigeria have vested interests in the company, so they are not shares that any government can take in whatever guise.

“You don’t play politics with such investment even if that is the only revenue we can rely on as a nation.

“On that note, the committee will step down the motion for the committee’s consideration. On the other two motions, we are frustrated by the position of the NNPC,” Agbedi said.

Agbedi then expressed concern over the absence of Mr Maikanti Baru, the NNPC Group Managing Director at the hearing.

The committee, however, resolved to adjourn sine die, till the NNPC helmsman appears in person to respond to queries on the 114.580 million US dollars variation on the modification of the EGP 3B Production platform. (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nlng-remits-65b-as-tax-to-firs.html

Flood occasioned by a four-hour downpour killed no fewer than 8000 birds at a poultry at Igiede Street, off Erediauwa Street, in the Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo on Wednesday morning.

The rain which started at about 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, did not stop until about noon.

To save some money, the owner of the poultry resorted to selling the dead birds for N500 each.

Residents of the area who also protested the submerging of over 50 houses, rushed to purchase the dead birds.

Four elderly persons who almost got drowned inside their rooms were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital.

The protesting Erediauwa Street residents blocked the road and turned motorists back.

Erediauwa Street is a link road between Upper Sokponba and Sapele road in the Edo state capital.

The road has been in bad shape until its recent reconstruction, which the residents now attributed as the main reason for their woes.

A retired soldier, Sgt. Solomon Erhabor, who wept profusely, told NAN that the house he just lost to the flood was his only benefit from the Nigerian Army.

Erhabor said the construction of the road and the poor side drains caused the flood to enter the adjoining streets.

He said the contractor was supposed to channel the flood to a nearby moat but refused to do so, to avoid payment of compensation.

Another victim, Mrs. Margaret Imade, said casualties would have been recorded if the rain had fallen at night.

Imade said she was preparing the morning meal when flood water entered their house.

According to her, “Government should come to our aid. We have been living in our house for over 40 years and flood has not entered before. We were lucky that we were able to run outside.’’

A resident, Mrs. Elizabeth Imadamwonyi, called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to send relief materials to them as they are now going to be living like refugees with other neighbours.

Other parts of the state affected by the flood, included the Federal High Court and premises of the state headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission both located at Ikpoba-hill as well as parts of the Government Reservation Area.

When contacted for comments, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Mr. Abraham Amielomen, said he would send a team to ascertain the level of damage.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/8000-birds-lost-to-flood-in-benin.html

Dr Patrick ifeanyi ubah inspecting the ongoing cathedral with the Catholic bishop of nnewi.

More photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/ifeayi-ubah-inspecting-ongoing.html

The Kano state police command has arrested two men caught in the act of homosexuality in a graveyard in Kano city.

It was gathered that the suspects were caught on Monday, red-handed committing gay sex at the cemetery in Gwale local government council of the city by youths in the area.

The residents, who were obviously angered by the desecration of the cemetery manhandled the suspects and nearly lynched them before they were rescued by the police.


The spokesman for the state police command, SP Magaji Musa Majia, said the suspected homosexuals are currently in the custody of the command.

The act of homosexuality in both Girls and young Men is becoming rampant in Kano with the authority doing it possibly best to curve the menace.

It was gathered that homosexuality among youth was as a result of excessive drug addiction’s which is said to have amplified sexual libidos.

Young girls are said to have in the highest number of those in the acts of gay because of their number in redundancy.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/two-men-caught-in-homosexuality-act-at.html

A total of 1,185 pilgrims have so far been transported back home from Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Tuesday in Makka.

The commission said that the pilgrims from FCT and Sokoto State were transported in five flights.

NAHCON said that the fourth flight with 253 Sokoto pilgrims departed at 10:20 am while the fifth flight conveying 226 FCT pilgrims aboard Flynas airline departed Jeddah for Abuja at 10:50 am.

Over 50,000 pilgrims from Nigeria performed this year’s Hajj.


Alhaji Muhammad Bakari, NAHCON Coordinator at King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the pilgrims so far.

“So far, the pilgrims have abide by the instructions of a single eight kilograms handbag, unlike in previous years when the pilgrims arrived the airport with multiple travelling bags.”

Bakari expressed optimism that with the cooperation, understanding and cordial working relationship exhibited by all stakeholders, the return journey would be faster and more successful.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nahcon-1185-pilgrims-return-home.html

Director of the Dangote Group, Hajiya Halima Aliko-Dangote has urged millennials in Nigeria and across Africa to diversify from service-oriented enterprises to manufacturing and agriculture in a bid to fast-track the development of the continent.

Halima Dangote said that economic realities around the world had shown that the way to go is agriculture, and that the youths must take the lead more as most African countries are still grappling with low economic growth. Addressing the 58th Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in Abuja, yesterday, Hajiya Halima Dangote said African countries have groped in the dark for too long and it is high time the millennials stood up to be counted as the future of the continent. In her paper titled: “Roles of Millennials in Transition and Institution Building,” the Dangote Group director explained that the youths have the potentials to turn around the fortunes of the African continent. She stated that “Millennials are young ones born between 1980 and the mid-2000s, who account for 27 per cent of the global population (about two billion people) and Sub-Saharan Africa alone is home to 13 per cent of the entire millennial population, ranking second to Asia. According to her, “available statistics have also revealed that by 2025, 75 per cent of the global workforce will be millennials, large enough to influence consumer spending patterns; change consumer business models and impact the global economy. Most members of this generation are at the beginning of their careers and so will be an important engine for economic growth in the decades to come.” Amid intermittent applause from the lawyers, Hajiya Halima Dangote stated that the theme of the conference which is “Transition, Transformation, and Sustainable Institutions” could not have come at a better time than now and therefore lauded the NBA for coming up with a subject that Nigeria and Africa needed to discuss. She congratulated the outgoing President of the NBA, Mr. A. B. Mahmoud OON, the incoming President, Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, and “all my learned friends here for successfully continuing with the vision handed down by the fathers and founders of the Association.” The Executive Director also urged millennials and other relevant stakeholders to exercise restraint in the face of desperation for wealth by their contemporaries adding that, “success in entrepreneurship takes time, dedication and hard work. There is a need to disabuse our mind from the concept of overnight success. Industrialisation requires patience and perseverance.” She also spoke extensively on the successes recorded by the Dangote Group, founded by her father Aliko Dangote, in creating numerous jobs and establishing value-adding industries and contemporary businesses through importation, manufacturing and backward integration to generate and highlight local content for overall development. While noting that the achievement by the group did not come easy, Hajiya Halima Dangote said “the Millennials should see these opportunities and diversify from service-oriented enterprises to manufacturing enterprises. Manufacturing has the capacity to create numerous jobs, develop an economy, sustain jobs and open other linkages.” “The Nigerian and African Millennials in this context although largely preoccupied with start-ups, business activities and professional success are also intensely politically and socially active through the social media”, Hajiya Halima Dangote added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/manufacturing-key-to-economic-growth.html

The Lagos State Police Command on Monday said it had arrested 57 persons suspected to be involved in homosexual activities in the Egbeda area of the state.

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Edgal Imohimi, confirmed the arrest to newsmen during a news conference.

He said that the suspects were picked up on Sunday at 2 a.m. while they were performing gay-initiation for newly recruited members.

“Intelligence gathered revealed that some youths will be initiated into a Gay/Homosexual Club between 1 a.m and 2 a.m., at Kelly Ann Hotel/Event Centre, located at No. 3-7, Adenrele St., Egbeda, an action contrary to Section 1 (1) of Same Sex Marriage, Act 2014.

“Consequent upon this, some operatives from the Shasha and Idimu Police Stations stormed the venue and met no less than 80 young men.

“They were taking different types of drinks including banned substances like Tramadol, Shisha laced with substances suspected to be Marijuana.

“As soon as they sighted the police, they ran into different directions but the team arrested 57 of them,” he said.

The CP said that investigation into the case was ongoing and the suspects would be charged to court soon.

However, some of the suspects who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the press conference, denied the allegations.

They said that they were at the hotel to attend a wedding and a birthday party.

One of the suspects, James Obialu, said that he was a dancer and had come to the party to perform before he was arrested.

“I am not a gay, I am a dancer and I was there to perform before I was arrested. I am a responsible citizen and I work at the Alimosho General Hospital as a counsellor for those living with HIV,” he said.

Another suspect, Samuel Olarotimi, 22, and also a graduate of Mass Communication from the Yaba College of Technology, said that there were other females in the hotel who were not arrested.

“I was there for a birthday party which started late. About eight ladies were at the bar with us while some other ladies were dressing up in their rooms.

“I don’t know why the police refused to arrest the other females, but brought us here as alleged homosexuals,“ he said.

One of them, Bob China, said that he accompanied his friend, a caterer, to deliver food at the party but was arrested while waiting outside the hotel.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/controversies-trail-police-arrest-of-57.html

Normally, boxing matches end in one of three ways: a knockout, a technical knockout or a judges’ decision. On Friday night, one heavyweight boxer decided to end the match before it ever really began.

Heavyweight boxer, Curtis Harper was scheduled to fight Efe Ajagba in Minnesota. But before anybody threw a punch, Harper climbed through the ropes and back to his locker room. The boxer did not return to the ring, and Ajagba was awarded a victory due to disqualification.

According to PBC commentator, Jordan Hardy, who spoke to Harper after the bout, the boxer walked out in protest because he believed he was not getting paid enough for the fight.“He’s not getting paid enough and he wants respect,” said Hardy.

In an interview with BBC Sport, Leon Margules, the promoter for the fight, said Harper made no money at all as a result of the disqualification.“He signed a contract and agreed to the fight,” Margules told the BBC. “First time we heard about money issues was after he left the ring. He weighed in and showed up on time and even touched gloves before the bell. It is strange.”

The Minnesota Combative Sports Commission has yet to release a statement about the walkout so there has been no determination on whether Harper will face fines or a suspension for his actions. Ajagba’s promoter, Richard Schaefer, saw it differently though and feels Harper simply feared the Olympian.

“We waited a long time to have another heavyweight who instills fear in his opponents by just being in the ring and looking at them,” Richard Schaefer said. “The last time a fighter instilled that kind of fear in an opponent was Mike Tyson. The heavyweight division has a new star, and his name is Efe. No doubt that he is the biggest puncher in the sport. “He defined what the most feared man in boxing means — no punch necessary. A look and the opponent runs, runs out of the ring.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/efe-ajagba-wins-first-heavyweight-bout.html

There seems to be no end to the insurance sector’s losses, as an estimated N20 billion yearly expected premium from mobile insurance may have been taken over by network operators, which now sell insurance products and also receive claims through mobile phone across the country.This,The Guardian learnt, was a consequence of non-concrete agreement between the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM).

The development, which has not allowed a compromise to be reached on licencing of players between the telecommunications operators and insurance sectors, is now challenging the use of mobile phones to deploy insurance products and services to the public to generate more income for both agencies.According to findings, it is limiting the capacity of insurance companies to effectively deploy micro insurance products through mobile technologies, thereby, leading to low insurance penetration and calculable losses to the tune of N20 billion yearly.

The two regulators had last year, met to reinstate the sales of insurance through platforms of telecommunications companies, but the inability to finalise the agreement is currently taking its toll on the profitability of the insurance industry.While NAICOM intends to licence any telecommunications operator intending to operate in the insurance space, NCC wants to do the same to insurance companies willing to use telecommunications platforms to sell their products.

According to the Director of Public Affairs of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Tony Ojobo, who spoke with The Guardian on the development over the weekend, said there is no problem between NCC and NAICOM, because for Nigeria to buy insurance products through mobile phone, this is as good as someone opening an account with any bank via mobile phone.

He said it is also as good as making a hotel reservation through the same means, which is all about value added services, adding that NCC is not insurance regulator, but if NAICOM has a particular issue about that it should register its complaints with the NCC.

For stakeholders in the sector, until there is a concrete agreement between the two regulators, insurers cannot go ahead to sell micro insurance products through mobile phones, although, few underwriting companies have now resorted to using USSD to do so. They however, said the industry will continue to lose more billions on yearly basis, until the issues between the two regulators are amicably resolved and if finally, the embargo placed on mobile insurance in 2016, by NAICOM, is finally lifted, it would enable NAICOM-licenced telecommunications operators to ensure effective distribution channel for the sale of insurance products.

The commission had placed such embargo after observing that insurers were surcharged in the earlier agreement and demanded to licence any telecommunications outfit intending to sell insurance on its platform.NCC, on the other hand, demanded same from insurers willing to use network operators as a platform to sell insurance products, a development the brewed disagreement and the need to come up with a joint guideline to regulate mobile insurance business in the country.

Before the embargo was placed in 2016, at least 150,000 people subscribed to mobile insurance on a monthly basis, while several millions of naira of premiums were generated monthly, even though, only few underwriters were into it then.

The likes of FBNInsurance, Cornerstone Insurance, among others, were performing well in the market space, until the embargo, which meant they had to forfeit the earnings opportunities. The Group Managing Director, Cornerstone Insurance Plc, Ganiyu Musa, said the first phase of its mobile insurance product tagged “Airtel Insurance”, operated for 18 months, attracted about 4.7 million people who tried to register for the product, with 2.7 million subscribers succeeding, while about 1.8 million covers were purchased in the process.
“During that period, we paid about 329 claims on hospitalisation, and I think we paid about three claims on death,” he pointed out.Through mobile insurance, he believes millions of people would be persuaded to buy insurance products, thereby generating billions of premium.

The Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, advised NAICOM to collaborate with NCC to increase insurance penetration through mobile phone technology.He said insurers have to intensify efforts in deploying micro-insurance products through mobile phones, noting that the sector could contribute up to 12.5 per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025, with the deployment of micro-insurance through digital technology.He also urged operators to migrate from traditional ways of offering insurance, to embracing new methods of insurance, citing the innovative example of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, which achieved 1.5 million policies in 12 months using mobile phone technology.

Ovia, who is also the Chairman of Zenith General Insurance Limited, disclosed that Prudential Zenith Nigeria, together with other insurance companies, are now ready to deploy micro insurance products through the use of mobile phone technology as soon as both the NCC and NAICOM collaborate and approve the strategy.The Commissioner for insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, however, added that mobile insurance will not only deepen penetration to the mass of uninsured populace in Nigeria, but will reduce operational cost of insurance companies and make them more profitable.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/sector-sustains-losing-streak-with-n20b.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on troops currently stationed in Katsina State, not to spare any cattle rustler or armed robber, but to deal ruthlessly with them.

Buhari stated this, yesterday, while addressing the troops at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International airport.

The troops are presently fighting insurgency and related crimes in the forests of Zamfara, Kaduna and Katsina.

The president, who commended the troops for their gallantry, said their effort was a sacrifice that was keeping insecurity at bay, and that Nigerians deserved to live in peace.


He reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to tackling insecurity, corruption and improving the economy.

He said more than 60 per cent of Nigerians are under 30 years, and that a lot of them didn’t get the opportunity to be educated in order to secure jobs.

He said the expectation of such category of people was very high, but that government was doing what was possible to improve their lot and that of other Nigerians.

He said: “I do not want you to spare any cattle rustler, any armed robber or any stupid person that thinks he is above the law. I want you to be as ruthless as is humanly possible.”

Buhari, who was in the state to celebrate Eid-l-Kabir, came to the airport in a helicopter from his Daura hometown at 10:53a.m.

While in Daura, he hosted several prominent Nigerians, some of whom he had closed door meetings with.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/dont-spare-rustlers-armed-robbers.html

There was commotion on Friday morning in Iwo, Osun State, as hundreds of youths took to the streets to protest the alleged killing a youth, Tunde Nofiu, by men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in the state.

The deceased was reportedly shot dead on Thursday night at Odo-Ori market in the town while boarding a bike to Ile-Ogbo.

The enraged youths have dislodged the police, pulled down the fence of the Police area command office and set the offices within the premises ablaze.

They also brought out the generators and other office equipment and set them ablaze.

Attempts by Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu 1 and Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Habeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, to appeal to the irate youths proved futile.

Full report at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/photos-osun-youths-protest-killing-of.html

The Ilaje Ese Odo Progressive Union has asked the Federal Government to halt payment of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund to Ondo State until the account of the Ondo State Oil Producing and Development Commission was audited.

The National President of the union, Samuel Ebiesuwa, stated that the contract award process of OSOPADEC should be investigated, noting that no contract had been awarded or executed by the agency in a long time.


Ebiesuwa in a statement in Abuja on Thursday appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to halt the payment of the 13 per cent oil derivation fund to the state government “in order to allow proper audit of projects purportedly executed by past administrations in the state under the cover of OSOPADEC.”

He said, “OSOPADEC has served as a means of siphoning oil derivation funds to private pockets by politicians in the state in the past.

“Construction of model school on pile foundation in Ikorigho; construction of model school on raft foundation in Ugbonla; construction of health centre on pile foundation in Ayetoro; construction of mother and child hospital in Ugbonla, and others are not on the ground,” Ebiesuwa stated.

The union threatened to sue the projects contractors if they failed to resume work at the sites immediately.

It demanded the relocation of OSOPADEC headquarters from Akure to Ilaje oil producing communities in order to accelerate the development of the area.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/halt-13-derivation-fund-payment-to-ondo.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said members of the opposition cannot fault the efforts his administration has made in its three major areas of focus, namely security, economy and the fight against corruption.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President spoke on Thursday in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, while hosting some state governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, some federal and state lawmakers and state commissioners to a lunch.


Buhari said he would continue to do what he was expected to do in the leadership position God had given him.

He said, “We are always encouraged when all our constituents are happy with the work we are doing and our genuine efforts to make sure that what we campaigned for in 2015 is still very much in our minds and we have not lost focus.

“In terms of security, economy and the fight against corruption, we have maintained focus. Even the opposition with all their resources cannot fault our identification of Nigeria’s priorities and the efforts being made to better them.

“We will continue to do what we ought to do in the leadership position God has placed us and we thank the constituents for the support.”

On the defections within the major political parties, the President reiterated his earlier position that he wished them well.

“For those who have decided to change camp for whatever reason, we wish them good luck,” he said.

The President said the combined efforts of defectors and their backers in the opposition would not distract his administration from the good work it was doing for the benefit and development of Nigeria.

He stressed that the ruling party had the full understanding of Nigeria’s challenges and was encouraged by the support of Nigerians in addressing them.


In his remarks, the leader of the delegation and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum, Rochas Okorocha, commended the President on his efforts at keeping the nation together.

The feat, the Imo State Governor said, had been achieved through Buhari’s visionary leadership.

He noted that the President had remained focused and unshaken by situations and circumstances.

“This shows that your administration is approved by God.

“We are here to encourage you to keep doing what you are doing as Nigerians are very pleased with you.

“We also want to inform you that we had wonderful and peaceful Sallah celebration across the country because of security of lives and property you have guaranteed in our nation,” Okorocha told the President.

Okorocha was accompanied by the governors of Katsina, Kebbi, Kano and Niger states.

You’re surrounded by corrupt people, PDP replies President

Contrary to the claim by Buhari that he was fighting corruption, the Peoples Democratic Party has alleged that the President is surrounding himself with people who have corruption cases.

It therefore said that the claim of integrity by the President was questionable.

It further described the claim by the President that opposition could see that he was trying as an admittance of failure.

The main opposition party insisted that the President had failed in the three cardinal promises he made to Nigerians when he was campaigning in 2015.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, who spoke with one of our correspondents in an interview in Abuja, also debunked the claim by the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, that the performance of Buhari’s government was satisfactory to God.

He said, “Here is a President who is surrounded by corrupt people, people who have corruption cases hanging on their necks. Where then is the much-touted integrity of the man?

“If you claim not to be a thief, but you are surrounded by thieves, you eat with them, open your doors for them and play with them? Are you not supposed to be worried?

“Where then is the integrity? Every suspected corrupt person is becoming your friend. Everyone being tried for stealing and corruption is wining and dining with you. Then you say you have integrity. President Muhammadu Buhari has shown Nigerians his friends and we now know the kind of person he is.”

Ologbondiyan said the President could not have sincerely claimed to have succeeded in the fight against insurgency and revamp of the economy as well.

In the area of insurgency, he said the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan was able to restore normalcy to the North-East, adding that this was responsible for the ability of the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct elections in the zone in 2015.

He said, “The President has indeed failed in the three areas he promised Nigerians. The indices before Nigerians testify to this.

“He has not solved any problem at all. He made the promise that he would fight insurgency, fight corruption and also revamp the economy.

“The PDP government has fought insurgency to the extent that elections were held and results declared in all the local government areas in North-East by the Independent National Electoral Commission. The outcome of the elections made the commission to declare President Buhari as the winner. Today, some areas in the zone have been taken over by insurgents.”

On the economy, he said Nigerians were worse off.

“Interest rates have gone up. Banks no longer have the capacity to grant loans. The lending facilities handed over to this government by the PDP government are all wiped off.

“Today, there is no middle class. So, where is the said performance? When he is rejected by Nigerians next year, he will go to his village, regretting that he has disappointed the people who elected him to serve them.”

Your govt has increased poverty, unemployment – ADC

Disagreeing with Buhari’s claim, the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Chief Okey Nwosu, said it was unfortunate that Buhari had converted the exalted office of the President to a “lie manufacturing plant.”

Nwosu, whose party has been endorsed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said statistics from every credible organisation and even agencies of government showed that poverty and unemployment had worsened.

He further stated that the crisis in the Middle Belt had reached unprecedented levels under the Buhari administration and it was therefore deceptive of Buhari to claim that he had effectively tackled insecurity.

The ADC chairman said Transparency International had exposed Buhari’s anti-graft war for the sham that it was and subsequently urged the President to focus on improving the lives of Nigerians rather than propaganda.

Nwosu said, “Buhari has turned the Presidency into a lie manufacturing plant. He has no right to evaluate himself. It is Nigerians that are supposed to assess his performance. However, the facts speak for themselves. Under Buhari, poverty and unemployment have worsened.

“He claims to have effectively tackled insecurity but every day new IDP camps are springing up. I recently returned from Borno State where I saw IDP camps all over the place.

“Even the agricultural revolution he boasts of is also false. The Middle Belt which is the food basket of the nation is in crisis, no thanks to herdsmen. So, how can he say life is better under his watch?”

Full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/opposition-cant-fault-my-efforts-at.html

The Senate President Bukola Saraki Wednesday predicted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the 2019 presidential elections and produce a new president for Nigeria.

Saraki, who defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP recently, also said he was confident that his new party would emerge victorious at all levels in Kwara State.



The Senate president spoke in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, at a meeting with PDP members from all the wards in the 16 local government areas of the state and said the future of PDP was better and brighter than the past, promising to ensure cohesion between the old and new party members so as to ensure its electoral victory at all levels in the country.

He said the victory of PDP at both federal and state levels would be beneficial to all the members in the state, explaining that it would wipe off the challenges they had faced under the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

According to him, “If we emerge victorious at the federal level, all of us will be the beneficiaries. With your support we will win the state.

“All of you here are the key players in Kwara politics. With unity of purpose no party can contest with you.

“We are here to unite all of us under the party we belong to today. I am assuring all members that there will be equity, internal democracy and justice. It is not going to be winner takes all. As far as I am concerned everybody here today belongs to our political structure.

“There is nothing like old or new PDP. We have all become one PDP. There is nobody here that will not say one way or the other we have not been together before. I am very sure that the future is bigger and brighter than the past. I want all of us to be united for the progress and development of Kwara State.

“Regarding the politics of the state, nobody can wrest power from us if we are united. By the grace of God, in the forthcoming elections, we will emerge victorious both at the federal and state levels.”

Saraki added: “We will ensure that we work as one party, because we have always worked together before. We will see that all the wards and local governments popular candidates emerge based on their popularity and acceptability.

“I want to emphasis it that I don’t have any anointed candidate at all levels. I don’t have candidates for state assembly, it is the person you want in your constituency that I will okay. Don’t allow anybody to deceive you that I have endorsed any candidate.”

He stressed: “I implore party leaders and elders not to drop my name to impose unpopular candidates. I don’t have candidate for the National Assembly. All of us will collectively choose the next governor.

“We will ensure that there is no faction but one PDP. We will ensure that meetings in the local government areas take place in one venue. And we will all work together for the interest of the party.”

He said: “Please go back home to start the work. I am sure many more will come back and join us especially those that left under the wrong assumption that it will be different from what it used to be.

“They were misled that those coming are out to move them away. Nobody is moving you away because this place belongs to you too. Let us go back and start work closely together and by the grace of God we will all be victorious.

“I urge both the old and new members of the party to ensure peace and harmony in your wards and local government areas.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/in-show-of-confidence-saraki-predicts.html

Efforts by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), to woo multinational companies in the telecoms, and oil and gas sectors to list on the nation’s bourse may continue to ‘hit a brick wall’, unless government withdrew completely from private business.

More so, regulators must interface with government to create appropriate regulation, tackle liquidity problem, and review other stringent listing rules.

Capital market stakeholders, who spoke on the dearth of Initial Public Offering (IPO) in the stock market, argued that aside withdrawing from business, government must introduce fiscal and monetary policies that would stimulate private sector investment.

According to them, a deliberate policy on incentive would attract more multinational firms’ in the telecoms, and oil and gas to float IPOs, which would ultimately resuscitate the primary market segment, improve the current illiquidity position, and deepen the market.


An IPO is the first time that the stock of a private company is offered to the public. Smaller, younger companies seeking capital to expand often issue IPOs, but this can also be done by large privately owned companies looking to become publicly traded.

Commenting, the Managing Director, Seplat Petroleum Development Plc, Austine Avuru, in an interview with The Guardian explained there is need for government to come up with fiscal incentives in the areas of taxation, custom tariff structure, and robust credit facilities.
Seplat Petroleum is one of two companies that have made public offerings in the last six years.

Avuru said: “All that government needs to do is to stimulate the growth of the private sector, and they can only do so by withdrawing themselves completely from private business, and come up with both fiscal and monetary policies that will stimulate the private sector.

“For instance, what kind of customs tariff structure do you have and how much protection does it offer without offending WTO rules? Again, you look at the banking sector, how much credit is available to private sector to expand, and at what cost?

“Borrowing at 22-28 per cent cannot grow the private sector, whereas competing countries are borrowing at single digit interest rate. These are key issues; once these are tackled, you start seeing major growth in the private sector, and then you’ll see entry into the capital market.”

Although some listed firms have approached the market for rights issues to existing shareholders, but only Seplat Petroleum, and Transcorp Hotels Plc, have offered IPOs since 2013. While Seplat’s, which was a global IPO, was 100 per cent successful, that of Transcorp Hotels recorded 50 per cent subscription.

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has formally unveiled plans to raise about N153billion ($500million) from the sale of shares in its Nigerian business this year despite the challenges trailing the decision.

Analysts are optimistic that the IPO would be the biggest in the history of the Nigerian capital market. But with the way and manner MTN was handling the issue; operators are doubtful the MTN IPO and subsequent listing on the NSE would happen this year.

An economist, Johnson Chukwu, in a telephone interview, said the current ownership structure of International Oil Companies (IOCs) would not allow them to list on the Exchange.

According to him, a framework that would enable IOCs to operate as a fully incorporated business with operational assets in Nigeria must be established.

Chukwu, who is also the Chief Executive Officer, Cowry Asset Management Limited, explained that government must create appropriate policies to encourage multinationals, which may not have compelling need to raise capital within the local environment to list on the bourse.

“The IOCs are not operating in Nigeria, but under incorporated joint venture arrangement. They do not own assets in Nigeria. We need to have IOCs operate their assets in Nigeria under a framework that makes for incorporation and fully incorporated businesses.

“Multinationals that have good financial position can access fund outside the country, they may not have compelling need to so in Nigeria. Therefore, Government can woo them with appropriate regulation in terms of tax incentive such as discriminatory withholding tax law that will impose lower withholding tax on dividend paid by listed firms.”

The Publicity Secretary, Independence Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Moses Igbrude, argued that there is no incentive in the market presently that would attract these multinationals to list in the market.

“Listing on the capital market means losing ownership, to allow investors to be members of the company; and such decision will be based on the perceived benefits that will accrue to the initial owners.

“The question is, are there intrinsic benefits that companies listed on the exchange are enjoying that limited companies are not enjoying? There is nothing attracting them to the market presently.

“For these companies to list on the Exchange depend on how the management of NSE is able to make clear those intrinsic benefits or advantages they will enjoy when they come to the market.

“Because listing of their shares will deepen the market, the Exchange need to do more to convince, encourage, and persuade these IOCs and multinationals to list their shares on the local bourse.”

An independent Investor, Amaechi Egbo, stressed the need for regulators to interface with other Exchanges to tackle liquidity problem and stringent listing requirements.

He argued that listing rules would continue to deter multinationals and IOCs from listing on the nation’s bourse if the current listing and post listing requirements are not further reviewed.

He noted that for the NSE to become a world class Exchange, it must continue to develop the market in such a way that it would enable companies to embark on cross boarder listing.

“We should develop our market in such that even foreign companies would have the need to be listed in our local market,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/why-multinationals-iocs-defy-listing-on.html

The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Ogun has confirmed that two persons died on Tuesday when a commercial bus somersaulted on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

The FRSC Sector Commander, Mr Clement Oladele, said in Abeokuta on Wednesday that the accident occurred at about 5 pm at Lamona Park on the expressway.

Oladele said the Volkswagen commercial bus marked LSR 971 XG had 28 passengers, including 16 females and 12 males as well as three children, on board.

He said the accident was caused by a tyre burst which resulted in the vehicle somersaulting.

“Two people died in the accident and their corpses have been deposited at Isara mortuary while the injured were taken to Isara Hospital, Ogere,’’ he said.

He advised motorists to obey traffic regulations and follow instructions from FRSC patrol teams and other sister traffic agencies.

Oladele also urged motorists driving into construction areas to obey the maximum speed limit of 50km per hour stipulated on road signs along the corridors and avoid overtaking.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/two-die-as-commercial-bus-somersaulted.html

Public officers expecting to start enjoying enhanced minimum wage soon may have to wait longer as the federal government committee on the issue and the state governors were yet to arrive at acceptable figures.
Minister of labour and employment, Senator Chris Ngige told reporters in Awka that although the committee was expected to conclude work on the new minimum wage by the end of this month, the date was no longer feasible because the final document had not been fine-tuned. He said: “I am the deputy chairman of the committee and I drive it. We have a timetable and we are expected to finish everything about it by the end of this August, but it is not attainable anymore because even in the committee, we have not agreed on any figure. “We could not agree on a figure because of two reasons. One is that the state governors have not come up with a figure and the state governors are a critical constituent of this discussion. They have six governors in the committee, one from each geo-political zone. “The Governors Forum said they are still working on it and that was the last submission they made to us and the federal government team. We are working with the Economic Management Team and since the team dictates the economy of the country, they will take whatever the governors come up with and fine-tune it with that of the federal government committee. That is where we are. “Therefore, the national minimum wage tripartite committee is still at work and it is until that body brings out its figures and recommendations pertaining to national minimum wage, that a bill can be sent to the National Assembly to process and send to Mr. President for it to become a National Minimum Wage Act. If that can happen in 2018, it becomes Act 2018.” He also spoke on the allowances for members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, explaining that the committee had not concluded it because no recommendation had come to the Federal Executive Council. Ngige said further: “As a matter of fact, some ministries, such as Youth and Sports, my ministry, Women Affairs and Budget and Planning, have been asked to make our input. However, the important thing to note is that whatever increase that would be made on the allowances of NYSC members would be hinged on the envisaged new minimum wage. “The allowances of the NYSC persons will be on the same sliding scale with the national minimum wage, except that it is a top up,. That is why today the national minimum wage is N18, 000, and the top up for NYSC members is about N1, 500, making it N19, 500. “This is the allowance the Federal government will give to them. Areas or persons and bodies or agencies where they do their primary assignments can also give them what they call special allowances and that is irrespective of this monthly stipend from federal government. “Their employers in their places of primary assignment can give them another top-up so that in some establishments you see them paying extra N10, 000 to the NYSC persons some are as generous as even giving N20, 000, which is about the same thing that they earn.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/minimum-wage-committee-govs-yet-to.html