₦airaland Forum

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says no fewer than 59 million children in Africa are stunted while another 10 million are overweight.

The UN health agency also warned that Africa’s attempts to achieve health for all by 2030 could be threatened unless the continent address the twin challenges of under-nutrition and obesity.

Under-nutrition occurs when people do not get enough to eat, resulting in conditions such as wasting, which is when a child becomes dangerously thin.

On the other hand, people who are obese have body fat levels that may impair their health.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa called these two issues “the double burden of malnutrition”.

Together with diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, they are leading to “catastrophic costs” for citizens, communities and national healthcare systems across the continent.
The health experts at a WHO meeting in Nairobi, therefore, pressed for action to address the ‘double burden’ of malnutrition in Africa.
“A 2016 study showed an estimated 59 million children in Africa were stunted, which is when a child is too short for their height: another condition caused by under-nutrition.
“Additionally, 14 million children suffered from wasting, which the WHO Office said is a strong predictor of mortality among children under five.
“Meanwhile, 10 million Africans were overweight, which is nearly double the number from 2000,” WHO said.
The UN agency noted the rising cases of malnutrition problem, compared to a 2014 report, which estimated that five per cent of men and 15 per cent of women over 18-years-old were obese.
Dr Felicitas Zawaira, Director of the Family and Reproductive Health Cluster at the WHO Regional Office, stressed the need for healthy diets among African children.
“Improving nutrition sustainably requires consideration of how to produce, deliver, and ensure access to healthy diets and essential nutrients, not just greater quantities of food,” Zawaira said.
In 2015, Heads of State adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which seek to bring about a more just and equitable world for all people and the planet by 2030.
SDG 3, which focuses on good health and well-being, calls for achieving universal health coverage by this deadline, among other targets.
“Tackling all forms of malnutrition for the achievement of universal health coverage and the health-related SDGs requires remedial actions from multiple sectors and on many fronts,” Zawaira stated.
Such measures include implementing policies and action to control the marketing and consumption of unhealthy foods, or to promote consumption of healthy foods through taxation and subsidies.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/59m-children-stunted-10m-overweight-in.html

Some groups in Kaduna on Friday resolved to organise a two-million-man-match to the convince former Sokoto State governor, Attahiru Bafarawa to join the 2019 presidential race.

Abdullahi Mu’azu, the Coordinator of the groups under the platform of Bafarawa Initiative for Peace, Unity and Progress, made this known to newsmen after a meeting in Kaduna.

He also expressed their readiness to obtain nomination form for Bafarawa when the time comes.

“Bafarawa is a respected and peaceful personality and a more focused Nigerian full of ideas and respect for the youths than most of those indicating interest in the race so far,“ Mu’azu said.
According to him, Bafarawa as a politician and former governor is hardworking and disciplined politician who has transformed Sokoto state better than any other governor in the history of the state.
“He is a politician with nationwide outreach and can be trusted. The Northwest has more formidable and qualified politicians who can deliver great things in terms of development.
“The current federal government has failed Nigerian youths with insecurity, economic crisis and high rate of unemployment,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, spokesman of the former governor, Malam Yusuf Dingyadi, said Bafarawa would study the groups’ demand and look at the political scenario of the country before taking a decision.
Dingyadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview that the PDP chieftain would soon respond to the demands of the groups.
“He will do that in the best interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. Bafarawa’s mind is certainly preoccupied with how to contribute his quota to make Nigeria better with best of ideas.
“For over two years now some Nigerians have been persuading Bafarawa to declares intention to contest the office of the president, but he is still studying the situation and praying for divine intervention over the matter,’’ Dingyadi said.
NAN reports that Bafarawa is facing alleged corruption charges before a Sokoto High Court on his activities when he served as governor between 2003 and 2007.
He also has another case over arms funds allegedly diverted by former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki.
The two cases were filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/groups-urge-bafarawa-to-join-2019.html

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has asked herdsmen to embrace ranching as a lasting solution to continued rancour between and farmers nationwide.During a crusade organised by Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement (WCCRM) in Enugu, he said the herders should key into the ranching arrangement to mitigate attacks and avoid the needless loss of lives.



Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, Rev’d Chinedu Nwoye, the governor said it hurts to address all herdsmen as Fulani.His words: “It hurts some of us when people talk about herdsmen and use the word Fulani. This is because it is not all Fulani that are herdsmen. We have some of them who are Christians and pastors. Many people have forgotten that former President Umaru Yar’Adua, an indigene of Katsina State, was a Fulani man. He was a good man and did two remarkable things while in office.



“The first was the rule of law. The second was that he went to the Niger Delta region and told the militants to stop fighting and also granted them amnesty because Nigeria is 90 per cent dependent on oil.”



He urged spiritual leaders to pray for public office holders, adding that the crusade was not a coincidence since the vision was given to the movement’s General Superintendent, Pastor Aloysious Ohanebo, 20 years ago.



The governor observed that the programme was first in the life of his administration.“It is therefore a challenge to the church and spiritual leaders this time to begin to pray for the people in authority. Many overseers, because of the fear of being misunderstood, do not want to associate or pray for people in authority.
When we have God at the helm of affairs in Enugu, every other thing will be working well.”Ugwuanyi expressed satisfaction that the movement was preaching righteousness, old time messages and the totality of the gospel.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/governor-ifeanyi-ugwuanyi-tasks-nomads.html

With the declining United States crude oil inventories, the price of oil thursday hit $74 per barrel, its highest in nearly four years as Saudi Arabia moved to push for a price rise of $80 -$100 per barrel.

Reuters reported that Brent crude futures reached $74.74 per barrel yesterday, the highest since November 27, 2014 while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 53 cents at $69.00. WTI had earlier hit $69.56, its highest since November 28, 2014.


It was exactly on November 27, 2013 that the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) decided to pump as much as it could to defend market share, an action that sent the price of oil to a low of $27 per barrel in February 2016.

With the drop in oil price to an all-time low, OPEC and other major producers including Russia started to withhold output in 2017 to rein in oversupply that had depressed prices since 2014.

The production-cutting pact between the OPEC, Russia and other producers has given strong tailwind to oil prices.
OPEC’s main objective for the cuts is to eliminate a global surplus in oil stocks and rebalance the market.

OPEC, together with Russia and a group of other producers, last November extended an output-cutting deal to cover all of 2018.
The current deal, under which OPEC and non-OPEC producers are cutting supply by about 1.8 million barrels per day, expires in March 2018.

OPEC and its partners will meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on April 20, 2018. The cartel will then meet on June 22, 2018 to review its oil production policy.

Reuters reported on Wednesday that top oil exporter Saudi Arabia would be happy for crude to reach $80 or even $100 a barrel, which was viewed as a sign that Riyadh will not seek changes to the supply pact.

Since the start of the supply cuts, crude inventories have declined gradually from record highs towards long-term average levels.
In the U.S., the Energy Information Administration (EIA) said on Wednesday that commercial crude stocks fell close to the five-year average of about 420 million barrels.

Also supporting prices is the possibility that the U.S might re-impose sanctions on Iran, OPEC’s third-largest producer, which could result in further supply reductions from the Middle East.

But some analysts saw limits to the bull market. After falling from an all-time high of $147 per barrel in July 2008, Brent crude price had hit a peak of $115 per barrel in June 2014 before the excess inventory in the oil market forced the price down to $27 per barrel in February 2016.

WTI also reached a peak of $105 per barrel in June 2014 before the sharp drop in oil prices.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/crude-oil-price-rises-to-74-highest-in.html

The Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Professor Eyitope Ogunbodele on Wednesday declared that the only solution to the frequent clashes between crop and livestock farmers across the country is for the Federal Government to legislate against free range of domestic animals.

Ogunbodede made this known in his address at the opening of 2018 annual in-house review exercise of the Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Moore Plantation, Ibadan, with the theme, “Agricultural Research and Sustainable Food and Raw Materials Promotion: The Challenges of Climate Change”.

The OAU VC who lamented that domestic animals like cattle often wilfully destroyed farms and caused clashes between crop and livestock farmers, also advised the government to discourage all activities that led to deforestation and promote afforestation.

He also advised that efforts must be put in place to reduce effects of climate change by supporting activities that were capable of militating against climate change for food security, industrial growth and survival of the nation’s economy.

Ogunbodede, while speaking further, said Nigeria will be food and nutritionally secured if government could guarantee market to farmers by removing the activities of middlemen in marketing of agro-materials and food crops.
He said “Federal Government should legislate against free range of domestic animals that often wilfully destroy farms and causing clashes between crop and livestock farmers (cattle herdsmen).
“Government should discourage all activities that lead to deforestation and promote afforestation. We cannot flog the issue of inadequacy in animals budgetary allocation to agriculture which has never enjoyed the 10% international recommendation. Government should provide more funds to National Research institutes.”
He added that “Nigeria will be food and nutritionally secured if government will promote a guaranteed market to farmers and the activities of middlemen be removed from marketing of agro-materials and food crops.”
Ogunbodede further stated that “education on the effect of climate change should form an integral part of school curriculum to be taught at all levels of agricultural science.
“Subsidy on agriculture by governments should target farming activities that can stem the effect of global warming and climate change. This subsidy should focus more on those farming activities that can address water, energy and chemical changes of production.
“We should all go extra mile to support activities and programmes that are capable of mitigating climate change for enhanced food security desirable industrial growth and survival of the national economy”.
Executive Director of IAR&T, Professor James Adediran while highlighting feats recorded by the institute in the last one year, however, urged state governments to revive the agricultural development programmes, which he said served as bridge between the research institutes and local farmers.
Adediran disclosed that the institute had trained no fewer than 700 unemployed youths from various parts of the county in livestock production.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/herdsmen-killings-legislate-against.html

Kayode Agbeyangi, the Secretary of the National Union of the Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in Ondo State has been released, Sahara Reporters learnt.

Mr. Agbeyangi was kidnapped during the weekend by four armed men suspected to be kidnappers on Ilesha/Ibadan road.

The NURTW Secretary was abducted on the express road while transiting his way Lagos State for a private affair.The abductors later demanded the sum of N5 million as ransom from his family before his release from their den.
Adebo Jacob, the Ondo State Chairman of the NURTW confirmed the release of Mr. Agbeyangi to journalists in Akure. Mr. Jacob best known as "Idajo" said the NURTW scribe was released few hours ago to the members of the union.
"Yes, Kayode has been set free and we thank God. In fact, the union members are expecting his arrival at our office on the Ado road.
"We want to thank the military men on that road and our boys (members) in the Ilesha route for their understanding and for giving us information on daily basis. Concerning the amount that was paid, i don't want to disclose that for now but you can come over to see me" he said.
Sahara Reporters learnt from a member of the NURTW in the state that a ransom was paid before Mr. Agbeyangi was set free by the kidnappers.
He explained that there were series of negotiations between the families, union and the kidnappers before the NURTW scribe was released from captivity.
"After series of negotiation, we paid the boys (kidnappers) the sum of N2 million and for your information, they asked us to pay N7 million not N5 million as some newspaper reported" the source hinted.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/kidnapped-ondo-nurtw-scribe-set-free.html

The senator representing Lagos West, Sen Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has urged the federal government to sack all the service chiefs and heads of security in the country, noting that President Muhammadu Buhari needs fresh ideas from fresh minds to stop incessant killings in the country.

He said this in respite to an order 42 cited by Sen Suleiman Asonya Adokwe, representing Nasarawa south constituency. Sen Adokwe who drew the attention of the Senate to the crisis in the Southern district of Nasarawa State by armed militia, said that the armed militia are occupying 4 out of 5 LGA’s in the above stated district. “Several dead bodies and wounded individuals were found as a result of the crisis”, he said. Reacting on the order presented by Adokwe, senators said,“This act is barbaric. This is disheartening, seeing people killed. Some people have been identified as the killers, We cannot fold our hands and do nothing about it. We should urge the Federal Government to face up to these people.”- Senator Philip Gyunka. “I am disturbed that month after month, we are still talking about security infrastructure. If people keep dying, who are we reviving the economy for? We want to see a working security programme.” – Senator @dino_melaye . “Even if the herdsmen are the ones killing fellow Hausas, we should give them the names they deserve and not identify them by religion or tribe as this causes division. Let the Federal Government stand up to these people.” – Senator @SenMarafaKabir “People are dying in their numbers, judgement is waiting for everybody if we don’t take this matter seriously.” – Senator Emmanuel Bwacha “There is a complete failure in leadership. Some bandits use weapons from the army, navy to attack civilians. I am worried about the security of our nation and our people.” – Senator @benmurraybruce “With the way we are conducting ourselves, it is guaranteed that democracy will not survive. Pay attention to Nigeria” – Senator @benmurraybruce “We are getting tired of rising up to observe a minute silence for lost lives. These killings have to end, we need to end these crises.” -Senator James Manager More “The Chamber passes resolutions; these resolutions were passed to agencies and yet no response. A criminal is a criminal and should be treated as such, irrespective of religion.” – Senator Yusuf Yusuf. “The Government has failed. Measures have to be taken to protect the common man.” Senator Sam Anyanwu. “So many AK47’s have been used to kill Nigerians. Why don’t we withdraw these guns from whoever has them in their possession. The Security Chiefs should apply the same measures irrespective of religion.” – Senator Victor Umeh “The issues of the country are not about parties, government, tribe or religion. Let us refer back to the security summit we had months back and see how we can move forward from there.” Senator @oluremitinubu “I commiserate with all those who have lost their loved ones. All service chiefs and heads of security should be sacked and let new people be brought in. The President needs fresh ideas, from fresh minds.” – Senator @YAYIAdeola “Send our condolence to Sen. Adokwe, his people & all others who lost their loved ones in the killings. We should not be ashamed to ask for help from other countries. We should resolve the security issue in the country, we are representatives of the people.” – DSP, @iamekweremadu “The prime purpose of Government is to protect lives and property of its citizens. We will never be tired of speaking on this until it stops. We are united in condemning the killings after all the contributions made.” DSP, @iamekweremadu Senate resolves to: Observe a minute silence in honour of 32 lives lost so far; Urge Mr. President to direct the armed forces and other security operatives to come to the aid of the citizens and restore normalcy all over the country; and III. Mandate the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on the review of the security infrastructure in the country to investigate the matter.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/breaking-sack-all-service-chiefs-heads.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1KAON4k2ZK0


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojLOKpp-LIA

Four armed men were killed by soldiers in troubled Benue State on Monday, the army has said.

The army said 16 other armed men escaped during the Monday encounter.

Scores of people, mainly residents of rural communities, have been killed by armed persons in 2018 across Benue and neighbouring states.

The violence has continued despite deployment of soldiers to the state and a visit by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Mr Buhari last week blamed the violence on mercenaries allegedly harmed by late Libyan dictator, Muammar Gadaffi.

In a statement on Tuesday, the army said the encounter with the armed men occurred at Teguma village in Guma Local Government Area of Benue on during patrol.
Texas Chukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, said items recovered from the militia were four AK 47 rifles; five 7.62mm rounds of ammunition and 28 rounds of 7.62 police special ammunition.
Mr Chukwu restated that the Nigerian army was determined to rid the country of criminal elements.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/benue-violence-soldiers-kill-4.html

Ademola Adeleke, senator representing Osun west senatorial district, has declared his interest to contest the September 22 governorship election.

Adeleke, according to The Cable, made this known in a letter he addressed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Aleleke, who has spent barely a year in the Senate, replaced Isiaka, his elder brother, who died in April 2017.

A few days to the election, Adeleke defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP and still won.


In his letter to the leadership of the PDP, he said the decision to contest the gubernatorial election is born out of a conviction that he possesses “all it takes to unite leaders and members of our party as well as galvanise the general electorate towards ensuring a resounding victory for the PDP in the forthcoming poll.

“In accordance with the directive of the leadership of our great party, I wish to respectfully express my intent to vie for the ticket of the party as its candidate in the Osun State governorship election holding on the September 22, 2018,” Adeleke wrote.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/photo-senator-adeleke-declares.html

Immediate past President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark has warned Nigerians against allowing their tribal and sectarian considerations to becloud their sense of nationalism.Mark, who is representing Benue South said it is important Nigerians change their attitude to one another otherwise the country would never progress.

Mark, while marking his 70 years birthday in Abuja over the weekend, said a Nigeria where every one is free to live and pursue their legitimate ambition in any part of the country without fear of intimidation or molestation is possible “if we see ourselves as brothers and sisters.”

Taking a cursory estimation of the state of the nation compared with what it was in the past, the former President of the Senate said, “When I was growing up, I made friends across board devoid of ethnicity, tribe or religion. And we saw ourselves as brothers and sisters with a common destiny. But what we see today is a celebration of ethnic or religious champions in our national life.”

The former Military Administrator of Niger State and one-time Minister of Communication lamented that this is not the Nigeria of our dream, saying it is important to re-orientate our people in order to reverse the trend for good. According to him, “We must see ourselves as one people with a common destiny and purpose.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/mark-urges-nigerians-to-eschew.html

The National Industrial Court, Abuja, on Monday dismissed the preliminary objection raised by the Nigerian Army, in a suit filed by retired Col. Danladi Hassan, seeking N1 billion as damages and to void his compulsory retirement.

Hassan who instituted the suit is seeking to void his alleged compulsory retirement, reinstatement and payment of compensatory and exemplary damages to the tune of N1 billion.

The defendant counsel, Simon Onoja, in a preliminary objection, urged the court to strike out the suit for being incompetent due to non-fulfillment of condition precedent to instituting an action, and for lack of jurisdiction.

Onoja raised the objection, as he claimed that the claimant did not compile with Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act.
The Act stipulates that an officer should exhaust all administrative remedies available to him before embarking on any action to seek redress in the court of law, the counsel said.
The Judge, Justice Sanusi Kado, in his ruling, dismissed the preliminary objections raised by Onoja.
“The disagreement between the parties is whether the letter written to the President, Commander-in-Chief, amount to fulfillment of condition precedent provided for in Section 178 of the Armed Forces Act.
“Based on the letter of appeal written to the President, the claimant has complied with the condition precedent before instituting his action as stipulated by the Armed Forces Act.
“The court has also found that the pleading of the claimant has disclosed a cause of action capable of being enforced,” the judge said.
The case was adjourned until April 19 for continuation of hearing.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/n1bn-claim-court-dismisses-nigerian.html

A renowned human rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN) has hit hard on the banks and churches as being nests of corruption, more than government institutions.

Falana made the remark at the 2018 edition of the Vanguard Economic Discourse, themed: “Economy in Recession: Pitfalls, Trajectories and Resetting”.

Watch the video obtained by PoliticsNGR below;

https://politicsngr.com/nigerian-churches-banks-corrupt-government-falanavideo/


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

There are strong indications that the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the National Assembly is currently divided over the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sunday Sun reliably gathered that a lot of the APC lawmakers are not favourably disposed to the idea of President Buhari seeking a second term in office in the 2019 general election.
A reliable source disclosed that this was as a result of the less than cordial relationship that has existed between the executive arm of government and the legislature.
President Buhari declared his intention to run for a second term in next year’s general election last Monday at a meeting of the ruling party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
An APC member of the House of Representatives, from one of the Northern states, who pleaded anonymity, told Sunday Sun that there ii division in the APC caucus on account of the President’s 2019 re-election project.
According to the lawmaker, most members of the ruling party in the National Assembly are not happy by the decision of the president to contest next year’s presidential election.
He said they had expected him to bow out after the completion of his tenure in 2019.
“We are not together it ( Buhari’s re-election bid). We are divided. Most of us think he should have done the honourable thing and not seek re-election because of the fact that the party under his watch has not been united.
“Even in terms of the ways the government has been run, there have been too much rancour between the executive and the legislature and these have affected a lot of things. Again, because of his health, a lot of things are done by his cronies and he is even not aware of a lot of decisions he has taken,” the lawmaker said.
He added that members of the APC caucus opposed to President Buhari’s re-election cut across the country, noting that most of those in support are majorly from the North-West geo-political zones.
“If you look at it across the country, there is a higher number against; even in the North. Most of his support is from the North-West. But even in the North-West, they are divided. In the other zones, he has no support practically,” he stated.
However, the Senate Committee Chairman on Police Affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim, said that President Buhari’s Monday declaration of his second term bid saved the APC from disintegration.
The Katsina South lawmaker said that there was no doubt that the President Buhari’s announcement would go a long way to douse what could have created an unmanageable crisis of confidence in the APC.
Ibrahim spoke to reporters in Abuja in reaction to President Buhari’s announcement of his intention to seek re-election during the 2019 elections.
Ibrahim said that he was “joyous, elated and delighted” at the decision of President Buhari to seek re-election.
“I think that it (seeking re-election) is also the right thing for him to do,” he said, adding that if Buhari decided not to contest, “it would likely have led to the disintegration of the APC.
“If Buhari decided not to contest, the NEC meeting would have ended up in combative situation. The meeting would have turned into explosive uncontrollable situation. Who will emerge as APC flag bearer: is it from the North or the South. It would have led to a serious situation that would have been difficult to manage and control.
“If Buhari decided not to contest, it would have created confusion. That declaration saved us that confusion. I am joyous.
“There is no doubt that we are on the path of recovery in Nigeria. We are on the path of rebirth in Nigeria. If this gentleman continues for the next four years, Nigeria will be much better.”
He noted that if Buhari decided not contest, it would have been difficult for the APC to get somebody as widely accepted as the president as the party’s flag bearer.
The lawmaker also acknowledged that “there are pockets of problems here and there,” noting that Buhari had, to a large extent, dealt with Boko Haram insurgency.
On his blueprint for Buhari if he is re-elected, Ibrahim said that he would still put more emphasis on security, especially internal security.
“Internal security is important. It means that the police must be rebuilt, given more funds and made viable to perform better. I will also put emphasis on the economy and infrastructure and investment.”
To those criticizing President Buhari, he said: “They should continue their criticism while we will continue to give them answers. That is the beauty of democracy.”
A member of the House of Representatives from Kaduna State, Hon Bala Yusuf told Sunday Sun that it was wrong for anyone to say there was division within the APC caucus in the National Assembly over Buhari’s re-election bid.
He, however, admitted that there might be some APC lawmakers, who have misgivings on the decision of the president to seek a second term in next year’s general election.
When asked the percentage of APC lawmakers supporting the president 2019 project, Yusuf said, “all I know is that we are strongly behind Mr President. There are many of us who are behind the president. I cannot give you the ratio.
“The truth is that I am not aware of any division in the APC caucus. If some people think they are not comfortable with the president’s decision, they can do anything. Everyone is entitled to his opinion. But for those of us from the North-West, we are 100 per cent in support of the re-electon bid. That is why we formed a forum, North-West Parliamentarians in Support of Buhari/Osinbajo 2019.”
On the other hand, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Hon. Mark Gbillah confirmed that the relationship between the executive and the legislature has not been very cordial.
Gbillah said for most of the lawmakers, their support for the president’s second term project would be contingent on an improved relationship between the two arms of government.
“For those of us who are in his party, we are disappointed that we have not been carried along by the executive. And we are wondering how he is going to do it when those of us, who should have been helping him at the grassroots are not been carried along.
“I am the deputy chairman of the Petroleum Committee(Upstream). I cannot even call the NNPC GMD, which I supervise, to meet with him. The SGF is unreachable.
“Members of his executives, who we oversight have not developed any relationship with us. They are unreachable. They don’t show us any respect or regard. That is a ministry where he is the minister.
“They seem to forget that we are the ones who campaign for them at the grassroots. Buhari will not come there. At most he will come to the state. These are the internal issues that have not been resolved. If he wants our support, he needs to address these issues.
“Our support for him will be contingent on how these issues are addressed. Every politics is local. We are the ones who hold the key in our constituency. He can do whatever he wants at the federal. He can even come to the state. But at the end of the day, we are the people who go to the wards, to the villages to campaign. And so far we have not been carried along.”
However, the lawmaker said it is not too late for President Buhari to improve on the relationship between the executive and the legislature, if he sincerely wants the support of members of the parliament.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/2019-apc-senators-reps-divided-over.html

The Presidency is not taking kindly to a recent invitation by the House of Representatives to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to appear before an ad hoc committee.

The Ali Isa-led committee wants Osinbajo to appear before it on why six directors of NEMA, who were implicated in a N2.5billion fraud, were suspended.

The Presidency, The Nation gathered last night, considers the invitation an affront to its anti-corruption campaign and a plot to frame up Osinbajo ahead of the 2019 polls.

Sources hinted that Osinbajo may not appear before the House Ad Hoc Committee.


The VP statutorily heads the Governing Board of NEMA which, about a week ago, suspended six directors of the agency following a report from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The affected directors are the Director of Finance and Accounts, Akinbola Hakeem Gbolahan; Ag. Director, Special Duties, Mr. Umesi Emenike; Director, Risk Reduction, Mallam Alhassan Nuhu; Pilot in-charge Air Ambulance and Aviation Unit, Mr. Mamman Ali Ibrahim; the Chief Maintenance Officer, Mr. Ganiyu Yunusa Deji; and the Director of Welfare, Mr. Kanar Mohammed.

An investigation by The Nation revealed that the Presidency was shocked by the decision of the committee to summon the Vice President over the suspension of the directors.

It suspects that the move could be a smokescreen to frame him up ahead of next year’s polls.

“The Presidency felt slighted by the attitude of the Ad Hoc committee to the Vice President when it is obvious that the suspension of the directors was based on an investigation conducted by the EFCC,” a well placed source said.

“It is more irritating to the government that the suspended employees went to report their employer (the Board of NEMA) to the Ad Hoc Committee of the House.

“The Presidency sees the directors’ action as an attempt to use the House to cover up their tracks. This is a case of corruption fighting back.

“This is the same VP that has been in the vanguard of smothering the fragile relationship between the Executive and the Legislature.

“Ordinarily, the VP enjoys constitutional immunity and if there was no more to the issue, the Ad Hoc Committee should not have summoned Osinbajo.”

The government source said the VP might not appear before the Ad Hoc Committee because a pre-determined agenda is being suspected by the presidency.

“There is a strong suspicion that some forces are hell bent to rubbish the Vice President ahead of 2019 polls,” the source said.

“The VP personally felt slighted from the security reports available to him.”

The EFCC had submitted a March 1, 2018 report on alleged fraud in NEMA to the Vice President.

According to the EFCC, the investigation bordered on “alleged case of conspiracy, abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds reported to the office of the Vice-President, Federal Republic of Nigeria against the former Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and others forwarded to the commission for discreet investigation.”

Some of the alleged sharp practices uncovered by the EFCC are:
Whereabouts of N166m out of N285m realized from the commercialization of NEMA’s air ambulance;
Alleged short-change of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with N354, 900, 105. 24
N238million NEMA cash placed in Fixed Deposit by a director
Interest on Fixed Deposit diverted single-handedly by a director
Some directors have about 5 to 20 accounts
NEMA funds moved into personal accounts of directors
Frivolous emoluments claims that were wrongly processed by Directors and some officials of the agency.
About N66m out of N280m meant for displaced traditional rulers in the Northeast still unaccounted for
Curious deposit of suspicious funds into domiciliary accounts of top directors

The report says in part: “From the investigation carried out so far, officials could not account for funds transferred from NEMA account to their personal accounts.

“Moreover, the funds were being withdrawn in cash and in some cases transferred to family members. Also, it was discovered that some of these funds were placed in fixed deposit; while both the principal and interest were withdrawn in cash by the depositor.

“Furthermore, the issue of companies incorporated by the officials of NEMA who are Public Servants is against the Public Service Rules. This is more so as the companies are active and still receiving funds in some cases from NEMA.

“There were frivolous emoluments claims that were wrongly processed by Directors and some officials of the agency.

“Against this background, EFCC is of the opinion that placing the officials involved under suspension will assist the successful completion of our investigation. “ This is the only way the commission can have unfettered access to all the necessary documents that will aid our investigation. It is therefore recommended that the Officials who are already indicted in the case be placed on suspension pending the conclusion of the investigation.

“”The aspect of fake IDP camps and relief materials are still being investigated. Investigation is still on-going and further developments will be communicated.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/osinbajo-house-at-war-over-n25b-fraud.html

Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director, GMD, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has cautioned Nigerians against buying petrol above government approved price of N145 from filling stations.

Speaking on the sidelines of a function in Lagos on Thursday, Maikanti said there was no shortage of petroleum products, as such, people should buy at the right price.

The NNPC boss said the Corporation has sanitised the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

“We have brought back sanity in the fuel supply system. We have over 2.1 billion litres of petrol in-tank at the moment and people should be calm and be sure that the right quantity is given to them at the filling station at N145 per litre that the government has approved to be the sale price of PMS,” he said.
Maikanti’s call was coming at a time when the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), had sealed a petrol station affiliated to the downstream petroleum sector retail arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for selling fuel at N181 per litre.
The affected fuel station, which is located along the Kashim Ibrahim Way in Wuse 2 District of Abuja, had reportedly been under dispensing petrol to its customers.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/nnpc-boss-maikanti-speaks-on-nigerians.html

About 10,500 business transactions are carried out daily at the Computer Village in Lagos.

Mr Ahmed Ojikutu, the President of Computer and Allied Product Dealers Association of Nigeria (CAPDAN), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday.

Ojikutu said that these transactions were carried out by about 25,000 traders in 3,500 shops.

“These business transactions are carried out by middle men, big dealers and even small retailers.

“Computer Village generates about N1.5 billion on a daily basis from both offline and online business transactions.


“It is a tremendous job keeping businessmen and women under one umbrella, especially because the larger percentage of the people are educated and wealthy,’’ Ojikutu said.

According to him, activities at the Computer Village go beyond selling mobile devices.

“Going by the kind of transactions and money that change hands at the Computer Village, it can be described as a hub of technology-based activities from the level of repairs, refurbishment and software-related activities,’’ the CAPDAN president said.

He said that the association was now collaborating more with government agencies and ministries than before to get their support.

Ojikutu said that the association was also working with the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC), Ministry of Communication and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

“The Lagos State Government has given us a lot of support, but we need the government to do more because real time technology would be the only driving force that can take Nigeria to the next level of development.’’

He said that the state government’s plan to relocate the Computer Village would materialise very soon, adding that the proposed site would be a well-planned ICT park.

Ojikutu said that that there would be free WiFi and a general generator for power supply at the new site.

He said that the association was making efforts to ensure that phone hand sets were produced in Nigeria, adding that the association’s partnership with the NCC was to create an avenue where young Nigerians would be trained to become technical experts.

“What is hindering the production of phones in Nigeria is knowledge.

“We need to move from knowing how to use a mobile phone to building a panel.

“The moment we start training the younger ones on how to place a micro-chip on a board and how to write a programme to adding a screen and led, automatically we have started developing ways to build a phone.

“As we intensify efforts towards training our younger ones on ways to build phones, we hope to develop quality hardware gurus,’’ Ojikutu said.

He said that the market for new phones in Nigeria was bustling as 95 per cent of Nigerians, who needed phones, went for new ones.

“New phones are what people buy majorly, except for some Nigerians who, due to desire for phones that are in vogue and has all the features, will buy used ones at a lesser price,’’ the CAPDAN president said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/over-10500-business-transactions.html

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kogi chapter, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure total independence for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Its Cairman, Mr Oladele Nihi, told newsmen on Wednesday in Lokoja, that as the umpire for the 2019 polls, scope of INEC’s independence would determine its efficiency and effectiveness in conducting the exercise.

Nihi commended Buhari for the successes his administration had achieved so far in providing security, anti-corruption fight, economic development and social welfare.

“We are using this medium to call on our President to append his signature to the all important Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill as soon as the bill is transmitted to him,” he said.
He also appealed to the President to reconsider his decision on the Peace Corps Bill, and see what could be done in order for the bill to get his assent.
“The Peace Corps Bill is one which, when signed into law, possesses the capacity to accommodate thousands of the unemployed youths in the country.

“The Bill will also complement the efforts of other security agencies in the fight against crime and insecurity which the Buhari government is very serious about.
“We appeal that the President and other stakeholders should sit and iron out the grey areas in the Peace Corps Bill to the benefit of all stakeholders especially the youths,” Nihi said.
He also commended Buhari for his recent declaration of intent to seek re-election in 2019, saying that it was a welcomed development.
“What is left now is for all interested parties to return to the drawing board to strategize for the way forward and let the people decide what they want.

“Although we are optimistic about free, fair and credible elections in 2019, youths must remain steadfast and avoid being used as tools to propagate disunity among ourselves”, he added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/what-buhari-should-do-on-inec-peace.html

Nigerian Breweries Plc says that 100 per cent of its packaging materials are sourced locally to boost the nation’s growth and development.

Mr Jordi Borrut Bel, the company’s Managing Director, said this at its pre-Annual General Meeting (AGM) media conference in Lagos on Wednesday.

Bel said that some of the company’s packaging materials sourced locally were bottles, cans, corks and labels, among others.
He said that 47 per cent of agricultural raw materials such as sorghum, cassava were now sourced within Nigeria.
The managing director said that the company was committed to the 60 per cent direct target of locally sourced raw materials by 2020.
On the stable growth of the company in spite of economic headwinds, Bel
said that its ability to cut down on operational cost made the company to remain afloat.
He said the company deployed cost leadership to fuel the fight for market leadership as well as used it to drive scale for cost leadership.
According to him, the sustenance will enable the company to emerge the best cost performing breweries in Africa.
Reviewing the beverage industry in 2017 financial year, he said the industry had changed significantly over the last three years.
Bel said that with signs of improvements in the economy, 2017 bear market was relatively stable.
He said that the company invested about 710,000 Euros in social projects across the country in 2017 financial year.
The managing director, however, said that operating environment would remain challenging in 2018, noting that the brewer was well placed with its leadership brands as well as people to weather the storm.
Bel said that the company for the financial year ended Dec. 31, 2017 recommended a dividend of N33 billion for its shareholders for the 2017 financial year, a 100 per cent pay-out ratio.He said that the company had given out 100 per cent dividend payout as part of its dividend policy which was consistent with the firm’s robust balance sheet.
“It is a sign of confidence for the future and strong balance sheet which indicates our ability to cash year-on-year.’’
The recommendation, which amounts to a total dividend of N4.13 per share for the 2017 operating year, was highest in the history of the company.
The recommended dividend is inclusive of interim dividend of N8 billion, which is one Naira per share earlier paid by the company in Nov. 2017.
The company recorded a N33 billion profit after tax (PAT) for 2017, on a revenue of N344 billion.
This represents a 16 per cent increase in profit after tax from N28.4 billion in 2016, and a 10 per cent growth in turnover from N313 billion in the corresponding period.
“Whilst the foreign exchange situation improved in the course of the year, double digit inflation continued to impact both businesses and consumers.
Nevertheless, the company was able to end the year with improved results through continuous focus and execution of the twin agenda of cost leadership and market leadership supported by innovation”, Bel said.
Bel maintained that while there were some early signs of improvement in the macro-economic condition, “this is yet to be reflected in consumer confidence’’.
He said the company remained confident that “it has a clear strategy to deliver good return on investment to shareholders as part of its commitment to winning with Nigeria’’.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/100-of-packaging-materials-sourced-in.html

Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has condemned in strong terms the recent killings in the Ijebu Igbo area of the state, during a political rally organised by a top member of an opposing political party.

The governor while addressing market women and community leaders, yesterday when he visited Ijebu Igbo, said “killing each other is a thing of the past in the state and I am going to ensure that we get to the root of this matter.

“This is not acceptable, those behind this act will be made to face the full wrath of the law, as nobody will be allowed to mess the state up,” the governor added.
The governor warned criminals and cult groups to steer clear of the state, noting that such acts are detrimental to progress and development.
Amosun, however, urged politicians to live in peace and desist from acts of violence, reiterating his administration’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the state.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Illiyasu, noted that the Police made about 35 arrests and recovered several ammunitions in connection with the clash.

Iliyasu added that those involved in the violence will be charged under the appropriate section of the law, stating that the state is not and will never be allowed to be a safe haven to criminals.
Six persons, including a bricklayer whose name is yet to be verified, were said to have been gunned down and several others injured in a renewed gun war that erupted between suspected members of rival cult groups in Ijebu Igbo, Ogun State.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/amosun-breaks-silence-on-ijebu-igbo.html

In a bid to strengthen health coverage in Nigeria, Mrs Toyin Saraki on Monday met with WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti.

The meeting is part of the meeting of the Global Policy Group (GPG), the highest level of internal governance and policy making within WHO.

Mrs Saraki who is a Special Adviser to the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) of the WHO Region Office for Africa (AFRO)
Top on the agenda for discussion was Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria and other issues of strategic importance to the WHO.Mrs Saraki, who is also the Global Goodwill Ambassador for the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM), commended the introduction of WHO AFRO’s focused curriculum for the professional qualification education of Midwives and Nurses in Africa.
She said that such huge investment in the technical workforce, especially in the nursing and midwifery workforce, was an imperative for achieving UHC.
She commended Dr. Moeti, as the first woman to hold the post of WHO Regional Director and also hailed Dr. Tedros who is the first African to become WHO Director-General.
She commended the duo for breaking new grounds for Africa, saying: “We must push ahead and achieve healthcare for everyone, everywhere.
“As the Founder-Director of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), I work closely with our midwives on the frontline, as part of the global Every Woman Every Child Strategy to end all preventable maternal, newborn and child deaths, including stillbirths, by 2030.
“UNICEF’s recent report “Every Child Alive” reminds us that although there has been tangible progress on maternal and infant mortality rates, there is still much more to be done.
“Five newborn babies die every minute across the world – 2.6 million tragedies every year. Of the ten highest-risk countries, eight are in sub-Saharan Africa. 80% of these deaths are easily preventable – which demonstrates the urgency with which Governments should treat their health systems,” she said.
Mrs Saraki who is the wife of the President of the Nigerian Senate insisted that UHC was a “once-in-a-generation opportunity and effort to change the continent’s future.
She said that all stakeholders must work towards strengthened global health and economic security and achieving the goals of a new era of sustainable development.
”I welcome the leadership shown by the WHO on UHC and I echo their call on all Governments to honour the commitments made to provide healthcare for everyone, everywhere.”
In her remark, the African Region Director of WHO, Dr. Moeti said that the WHO Africa Region is elated to be in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa.
“We are particularly interested in strengthening midwifery education in Nigeria, as well as working with the WBFA to galvanize efforts across Nigeria to push this amazing country towards the goal of Universal Health Coverage,” she said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/photos-toyin-saraki-who-directors-meet.html

President Muhammadu Buhari last night arrived in London, the United Kingdom capital, where he is billed to hold discussions with Prime Minister Theresa May on Nigerian – British relations.

The president who departed the shores of Nigeria from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 4p.m. yesterday, arrived in London at about 10p.m. later in the night.

His arrival in London last night was coming a week ahead of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings (CHOGOM) scheduled for April18 to 20, where he is billed to present a speech. He will meet with May ahead of the meeting.


The president will also meet the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Plc, Mr. Ben van Beurden, in connection with Shell and other partners’ plan to invest $15billion in Nigeria’s oil industry.
These investment ventures, according to presidency, will lay the foundation for the next 20 years production and domestic gas supply that will bring with it all the attendant benefits both to the economy and the wider society.

Buhari will also renew discussions with the Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, described by the presidency as a good friend of the president, on inter-religious harmony in Nigeria and world-wide.
He will also meet some prominent British and Nigerians residing in Britain.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/photo-president-muhammadu-buhari.html

President Muhammadu Buhari thanked the members of the Senate on the support they had for members of the North Katsina district, after the death of the deputy chairman, Senator Mustapha Bukar. The National Press Secretary, Malam Garba Shehu, expressed the gratitude of President Garba Shehu when he received a delegation from Senator Abdullahi Adamu and arrived in Daura for consolation on Saturday. President Buhari thanked the Senate on how they wanted to express their concern to Katsina State, the Daura Empire and the families of the deceased. The president, begged Allah to forgive the late Madakin Dauran, and gave his family a great deal of responsibility. According to the statement, Senators Obie Omo-Agege, Ali Ndume, Babajide Omoworare, Adamu Abubakar, Yusuf Yusuf, Hassan Adamu, Abu Ibrahim and Umar Kurfi. On Friday, President Buhari was accompanied by King Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk, and other members of the state for a third prayer to Senator Mustapha Bukar, representing the Katsina National Assembly. The president, who had arrived in Daura on Friday, left the house of the deceased, where the Emir of Daura, his cabinet members, and the families of the deceased gathered him.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/buhari-ya-yaba-wa-sanatoci-da-irin.html

As preparations for 2019 general elections gathers momentum, the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria (MUSWEN), yesterday warned religious leaders against making utterances capable of causing unrest in the country. Addressing newsmen after its National Executive Council meeting in Ibadan, the Islamic organisation noted that several issues have dominated public discourse across the nation, saying it appreciates the quality of some of the debates and condemns others. It expressed worries by the undue politicization of many of the issues by certain Christian religious, ethnic and political leaders. In a statement signed by MUSWEN’s Executive Secretary, Professor Dawud Noibi; President-General, League of Imams &Alfas South West, Edo and Delta States, Shayk Jamiu Kewulere Bello; Chairman, Board of Trustees; Prince (Judge) Abdul Jabbaar Bola Ajibola and President, Deputy President-General, NSCIA, Dr. Sakariyau Babalola, noted that the general elections was less than a year, calling on Nigerians, Muslims and non-Muslims alike to bear in mind the need to continue to live together in peace and harmony. According to MUSWEN, contest for political positions should not be a do-or-die affair, adding that it should rather be a contest of ideas about building a better future for Nigeria and Nigerians. The Islamic organisation expressed worries that some elders were pursuing a destructive agenda. The group which expressed concern by the continued clashes between herdsmen and farmers in different parts of the country and the ethnic and religious bigotry that had attended the development, “rather than see the crisis which has claimed many lives as a national emergency, some opinion leaders have, in an inexplicable manner, feasted on the chance that this affords them the opportunity to spew in the public space their deep-seated primordial sentiments.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/dont-set-nigeria-on-fire-muswen-warns.html

Zamfara State has not recorded any case of wild polio virus for six years running, the state commissioner for Health, Lawal M-Liman, has said. M-Liman on Saturday in Kaura-Namoda at the flag off of the 2018 National Polio Immunisation Plus Days Campaign, said it was a great achievement. “Since 2012 when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the state polio free, we have not recorded any polio virus case in this state.”He attributed the success to sustained collaboration with stakeholders including WHO, UNICEF, Rotary International, traditional and religious leaders as well as the media. “I want to use this opportunity to remind us that polio is a dangerous disease that cripples or even kills children, it is an infectious disease which is spread by infected children or who have not received required doses of polio vaccine. “Once a child is paralyzed there is no cure, he or she will be for life, therefore protecting our children from polio virus is necessary and paramount. I want enjoin all of us to participate by bringing our children for immunisation, I am calling on mothers to bring out their children for immunisation”, he said. In his remark, the emir of Kaura-Namoda, Alhaji Muhammad Ahmad-Asha pledged continuous support to all efforts at ending polio. He added that the emirate council had mobilised its district and ward heads to enlighten their subjects on the importance of polio immunisation. “We always call for stakeholders meeting in this emirate whenever there is polio immunisation campaign, to discuss and arrange on how to succeed in the exercise. Parents from this area have been complying with the polio immunisation exercise; in Kaura-Namoda we don’t have issue of non-compliance, most of those issues of noncompliance cases were due to ignorance. “With the collaborative efforts from our wards and district heads in enlightening our people, we no longer have such cases here anymore”, the emir said. In his remark, Executive Secretary, state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Yusuf Mafara commended the support giving to polio immunasation and other health related programmes in the state by traditional and religious leaders. “The state government acknowledges the contributions of our royal fathers and our Ulama in enlightening the public on polio immunisation in the state”. Earlier, Chairman of Kaura-Namoda Local Council, Lawal Abdullahi thanked the Ministry of Health and primary healthcare agency for selecting Kaura-Namoda to flag off the campaign. “In Kaura-Namoda local government council, we have been supporting polio immunisation exercise; we are giving you assurance of our continued support and cooperation to all health programmes in order to ensure health care delivery to our people,” he said. In their key note addresses, the representatives of UNICEF and WHO commended the state government for providing enabling environment for them to support health care delivery in the state

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/zamfara-now-6-years-polio-free.html

The Nigerian stocks market, at the end of the first quarter of 2018, experienced relatively impressive Return on Investment (RoI) as investors recorded gains. Meanwhile, despite its slide in recent weeks, the composite NSE All Share Index for the first quarter of the year still gained 3,261.32 points or 8.53 per cent to close at 41,504.51 points from the opening level of 38,243.19 points in December 29, 2017. Investors traded a huge volume of 42.87 billion shares from previous quarter’s 23.26 billion shares traded. Within the period however, the market index touched a high of 45,321.82 basis points and a 37,646.88 low to reveal the high level of volatility within the period. Similarly, market capitalisation for the period was up by N1.384 trillion to close higher at N14.993 trillion, from an opening value of N13.609 trillion. Market capitalisation for the period was supported by the listing of additional shares of some companies at the end of their recent concluded right issues. The new listings made the effects of the price adjustments for dividend declared recently on the market capitalisation to pale into insignificance. The better-than-expected corporate earnings released, especially towards the end of the quarter did not impact equity prices and market fundamentals, as there seemed more negative sentiment than positive reactions to the companies reported impressive numbers that had supported higher yields before now despite the relative high valuations in the market. It is however, good to mention that the continued intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in the interbank segment of the foreign exchange market has supported the naira’s stability against major currencies and driving national output. This has closed the gap between the interbank and black-market rates, stabilizing prices and controlling imported inflation, just as consumer price index fell for the 13th consecutive months to 14.33 per cent in February, to reflect the impact of monetary authority in its bid to ensure price stability and drive economic growth and development. Sectoral analysis showed that most investors in Nigerian equities ended Q1 with positive returns. Investors in industrial goods and banking stocks were ahead of other investors. The NSE Industrial Goods Index recorded the highest quarter-on-quarter return of 10.96 per cent. The NSE Banking Index followed with a return of 9.49 per cent. The NSE Insurance Index rallied average gain of 8.41 per cent. The NSE Oil and Gas Index appreciated by 4.90 per cent while the NSE Consumer Goods Index posted a modest return of 0.21 per cent. The NSE 30 Index, which tracks the 30 most capitalised companies at the stock market, posted a three-month return of 7.30 per cent. Stocks market analysts attributed the market performance to the stellar performance by the industrial goods and banking sectors, saying that both sectors rode on the back of regulatory protection by the government and their primary regulators to deliver the performance. They noted that the market would have done better given a clear cut policy in certain areas of the economy, saying that the overall performance of the market was impressive. They averred that the inability of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members to sit due to non-constitution of the committee slowed activity in the market. The chief operating officer of InvestData Limited, Mr. Ambrose Omordion said that the nation’s equity market on quarterly basis had continued to look up despite the recent technical correction that had shakeout many investors and traders out of position to slow down market momentum. Omordion added that as the quarter under review was up, but on a mixed sentiments, resulting from the positive macro-economic data, stronger corporate earnings and growing consumer confidence in the midst socio-political instability, rising debt profile of the nation and unclear economic reforms of the government. Chief operating officer and stockbroker with Foresight Securities and Investment Management, Mr. Charles Fakrogha also adjudged the market performance for the quarter good, saying that the fact that the MPC did not meet during the quarter did not have any material impact on the market. He said, “in January, we saw a lot of activities in the market; we saw so much returns. Of course, at a point, the Nigerian equities market was adjudged one of the best performing in the world and that tempo was due to the positive ratings by some international rating agencies and that tempo continued for quite some time. It was also sustained as a result of the earning reports of the companies that hit the market. “Overall, I will say the first quarter has done well, activity has been very good. The market does not operate in isolation, it reflects the larger economy. What you see in the market is basically a reflection of happening in the Nigeria economy. However, towards the end of February and March, we saw a reverse of the situation.” Stocks market performance for April, Omordion said in the Nigerian stocks market, the month of April is the peak period of quarterly earnings season which suggests that traders should be in the market before the quarterly numbers start rolling in. According to him, more quarterly and few full year earnings would be released. Earnings from blue-chip companies may strengthen market fundamentals, if positive. He also said the first MPC meeting in 2018 will give direction expected to boost the recovery so far as the market and analysts are expecting rate cut as inflation is heading to one digit number and make cost of borrowing cheaper, saying that the market will see more volatility as selling down may continue if the political environment start becoming tens. He noted that “we will see a more vibrant market as a result of market players positioning for second quarter, even as we expect liquidity to improve.” Stocks market analysts noted that from the foregoing, the current bullish trend of the Nigerian equities market will depend on many global, domestic, regulatory and industrial factors. “On the global scene, possibility of low oil prices due to renewed investments in shale oil exploration and production and stronger dollar may result in capital reversal from Nigeria and other emerging market economies. This will affect the Nigerian capital market negatively. “In the domestic front, favourable macroeconomic conditions, timely implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and judicious execution of the 2018 budget would help accelerate growth and restore confidence in the economy. The sustenance of the current foreign exchange intervention regime, relatively stable oil prices and restoration of security in the Niger Delta region will be critical in ensuring the equities market maintains the current momentum. “Regulatory efforts of developing the capital market and protecting investors by the NSE and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) coupled with a favourable business environment that yield higher corporate results are equally key for the growth of the market.”


http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/nigerian-stocks-market-on-positive.html

Umu Obiligbo brothers Prince Okpuozor Obiligbo and Prince Akunwafor Obiligbo perform at flavour free concert in Enugu State
more photos at
http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/photos-umu-obiligbo-perform-at-flavour.html?m=1

As part of its plans to boost water transportation and tourism in the state, Lagos State government have again reiterates its commitment at making the waterways cleaner and safer.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, made the pledge during the 2018 edition of the annual Lagos Boat Regatta held at the Lagoon Waterfront in Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi.

According to Ambode, his administration will not waver in making the right investment in the coastline asset of the state, especially in making it cleaner and safer to boost water transportation and tourism.


He explained that though there had been significant investment in waterways, the state government nonetheless would continue to make further investments and partnerships in the channelisation of the water routes, as well as provision of more standard jetties and ferries.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule, the governor recalled the last time a boat regatta was organised; it was held simultaneously in four locations across the state as part of activities to mark the Lagos at 50 celebration last year.

He stated that the success of the event again brought the treasure of the waterways in the state to the fore, and the need to invest more in the sector.

“We have expanded the scope of this wonderful fanfare last year when we held the boat Regatta parade simultaneously at four different venues to celebrate the golden jubilee anniversary of the creation of our state.

The success of that experience reassured us of the treasure that our waterways represent and why we must nurture this God-given asset as a major tourist attraction. We have made a modest investment in a few luxury boats that are meant to target tourism promotion.

“The Lagos lagoon boasts of perhaps the busiest water route in West Africa. There is a vibrant boat club with members’ boat collection that is astonishing; there is a growing interest in surfing and our waterways are acknowledged as one of the best for scuba diving in the world.

This is why our determination will not waver in making our waterways cleaner and safer with further investments and partnerships in the channelisation of the water routes, in the provision of more standard jetties and ferries,” Governor Ambode said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/no-going-back-on-making-lagos-waterways.html

A leading airline, Air Peace, has been nominated for the Airline of the Year Award in the forthcoming 6th Nigeria Transport Awards and Lecture scheduled for April 26 in Lagos.

Also nominated is front line aviation handling company, Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO Aviance), which has been selected for the Aviation handling company of the year award. In the same vein, the Managing Directors of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NAHCO and Aero Contractors have also been pencilled down for recognitions in the Aviation sector. Other companies and notable personalities have also been nominated in the Road, Maritime and Rail sectors.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) Mr. Ahmed Kuru would do a comprehensive review of the corporation’s intervention in the nation’s transport sector in the forthcoming event.


He is expected to speak on the topic-‘AMCON’s Intervention in Transport and Allied Sector, the Achievements, Challenges, Prospects’.

It would be recalled that AMCON had intervened and taken over some companies in the transport and allied sector like Arik Airline, Aero Contractors and PAN Nigeria Limited among others.

The AMCON MD is also expected to react to questions and suggestions from industry stakeholders in both the public and private sectors covering all modes of transportation.

Head of Corporate Communications of AMCON, Mr. Jude Nwauzor stated that the annual Lecture will offer the corporation a platform to review its achievements and challenges in the transport sector as well as interact with industry stakeholders.

Editor of transport day newspapers (organisers of the annual Lecture), Mr. Frank Kintum, added that “we delighted to have the MD of AMCON, who is a seasoned banker, deliver this year’s lecture as industry players are already looking forward to a very interactive session”.

It would be recalled that last year’s lecture (5th edition) was delivered by the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside. Aside the lecture, some companies and individuals are also recognised.

The Nigeria Transport Awards and Lecture is organised by Transport Day Newspaper, a monthly hard copy and on line publication (www.transportday.com.ng) and supported by the Nigerian Television Authority, Nigeria Transport Roundtable and other relevant transport stakeholders.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/nahco-air-peace-nominated-for-nigeria.html

Dr Sanusi Jimah, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo, has assured that the management will not compromise the institution’s reputed high education standard.

Jimah said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Benin.

“As you may be aware, Auchi Polytechnic is among the very few institutions where management considers quality education and high moral values as necessary prerequisite for both staff and students to remain on campus.

“And that is why since assumption of office, the policy of cleansing the institution is still on,’’ he said.

According to him, these basic qualities impacted by us have helped to shape the lives and careers of products of the institution, who continue to excel in their different fields of endeavour.

“Only a few days ago, 1993 graduates from Department of Mass Communication, were here just to say thank you to their former lecturers and management for impacting these basic qualities in them.
“The former students, many of them now management staff in their different media establishments, recalled the discipline and rigorous teaching and learning methodologies employed then, which today many want to circumvent.
“But we will not allow the shortcut syndrome anymore. And that is why we are saying there is no hiding place for those not ready to embrace the new order of positive change.
“ And to demonstrate our resolve in this direction, five members of staff are presently facing disciplinary process for extortion.
“One staff was redeployed for unethical practices regarding students’ project, four staff had to be compelled to refund money collected from students.’’
On examination malpractice, the polytechnic in the 2016/2017 session sanctioned 92 students, adding that out and of the figure, 18 were expelled, 62 rusticated, while eight had carried over courses..
“Students who present forged or fake credentials to gain admission will not be comfortable here. All the credentials presented during the registration process will be verified.
“If the credentials are found to be faked, the penalty is expulsion from the Polytechnic,’’ he said.
The rector said that the present management strongly believed in continuous reviews and updates of the school’s curriculum to meet present national and global challenges.
“That was why majority of the programmes being run in the institution, due for accreditation were presented to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in November were recently accredited by the regulatory body.
“This thinking is to enrich the curriculum and re-orientate students to be self-employed and create jobs on graduation. Entrepreneurial courses have been introduced in all programmes offered in the institution.’’
According to him, parents and students should therefore be confident that whatever programme they are reading enjoys accreditation of NBTE.
“Management is also working to ensure that the block of six class rooms in the School of Art and Design will be completed and put to use in the next two months.
“Also, landscaping of the School of Engineering is in progress, and expected to be completed in another two months.
“Within the same period, the School of Environmental Studies is expected to move fully into its new offices,’’ he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/auchi-poly-rector-vows-not-to.html

Ohaneze Ndigbo has called on Nigerians to disregard statements by one Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Okwu Nnabuike claiming to be president and secretary of the youth wing of the association.

The special adviser to the President-General of Ohaneze, Chief Emeka Attamah, in a release in Enugu dismissed a claim by the two that they were officials of Ohaneze youth wing.

Attamah said the group would not join issues with the two men but needed to clear some misrepresentations that they made.

He said the men, in search of cheap popularity, cast aspersions on the person of the President- General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo.
Attamah said that the youth wing of Ohaneze Ndigbo was dissolved in 2016 by Ime-Obi led National Executive Council, while the tenure of the women wing expired in 2017.
He said the so-called Ohaneze youth wing executive did not exist as the new executives for both the youth and women wings would soon be elected.
He said the National Executive of Ohaneze Ndigbo existed at the instance of the General Assembly, which had demonstrated confidence on the executive committee led by Nwodo.
Attamah added that Nwodo had continued to enjoy the confidence of the National Executive Council of Ohaneze Ndigbo.
He said the president-general was the only member among the executive prohibited by the constitution from participating in party politics.
He said it was preposterous to imagine that Nwodo could romance with any political aspirant, let alone determine his choice of a running mate.
Attamah said that associating Nwodo with politics could only be the handiwork of some politicians.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/04/ohanaeze-youth-wing-non-existent-attamah.html