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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/west-african-monarch-works-gardener-canada/

The King of Akan, located in the village of Adansi Aboabo in Ghana, Eric Manu, has returned to Canada to resume his job as a gardener in order to raise money to provide health care for his subjects.

Manu became king when his 67-year-old uncle, Dat, passed away in 2016.

After living in Canada for three years with his wife and son, he had moved back to his town in southern Ghana to take up his birthright.

He told CTV News, “It’s a huge experience. You have to embrace it with passion.

“It’s something of my heritage, my culture, and traditions.”

But now, Manu has returned to the North American country to take his old job back.

Moving back to the British Columbia area of Canada, he has returned to landscaping and gardening in the town in a bid to raise cash for his 6,000 people.

Manu said, “Sometimes, we go to the (job) site and they say, ‘You are the chief. I saw you on TV.

“Why are you doing the landscaping?’

“This is humility, you understand? Anytime I’m in Canada, I’m proud to work for my boss.”

When Manu first moved, his boss, Susan Watson, started a foundation called ‘To The Moon and Back’, which sent the young king off with a shipment full of school supplies, clothing, laptops and medical supplies.

Watson, the owner of The Landscape Consultants, travelled to Ghana for the ceremony and said, “They’re beautiful inside and out and they have absolutely nothing.

“And you (Manu) came home here and most of us are miserable and we want something more.”

The money Manu hopes to raise from his several months’ stay in Canada will be invested in improving health care, with the aim of returning with another shipment of equipment.

Miss Watson added, “The whole village was quite poor. The clinic only has a midwife and a few nurses. There was no doctor on site.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/west-african-monarch-works-gardener-canada/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nscdc-redeploys-bayelsa-commandant-amid-accolades/

The authorities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have redeployed the Bayelsa State Commandant, Mr. Desmond Agu, to Makurdi, Benue State.

Agu bowed out of Bayelsa State Command amid accolades by command’s officers and men, service commanders and the state government.

He also received two awards of excellence from the Nigerian Television Authority and a rights group, the Leadership for Human Right Awareness Initiative on Thursday in a send off at the corps’ headquarters in Yenagoa.

The ceremony had in attendance Special Adviser on Security, Dr. Boma Sparo-Jack; the Chief of Staff, Government House, Mr. Talford Ongolo and heads of security agencies such as the police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Prisons Service, Nigeria Customs, Operation Delta Safe and paramilitary agencies.

The new state Commandant, Mr. Godwin Nwachukwu, paid tributes to Agu for transforming the state command of NSCDC and giving it a befitting accommodation.

Nwachukwu said the outgoing commandant had always distinguished himself in all the states he had served including Bayelsa with his exemplary leadership.

He said, “We are talking about his stint in Bayelsa. There is no time for me to reel out all his achievements in this command. Agu is an achiever. Just take a look at our headquarters in Bayelsa.

“From my assessment based on every command I had visited, the Bayelsa command is one of the best. The first day I came here to take over, I couldn’t believe that this edifice is for NSCDC. This is the handiwork of Agu. He gave the NSCDC a citadel.”

Also, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, described Agu as the doyen of the security services and the most experienced security commander in the state.

“I know him as a very frank, bold and productive officer. I know that for the junior officers in the police, the DSS and the NSCDC, I know behind their minds they would say ‘these are the three wise men’

“We synergised together and there was cooperation among us socially and professionally. We will definitely miss Agu. But I thank God that while he was here, he gave his best.”

In his remarks, Talford Ongolo said Agu contributed to the strength and unity of security agencies in the state.

He commended the NTA and the LHRAI for honouring the commandant with awards while appealing to other organisations to reward excellence.

But elated Agu, in his remarks, said he discharged his duties in the state without fear or favour, adding that he neither compromised his position nor was found wanting in the discharge of the corps’ mandate.

He said the awards were a clear testimony to his commitment, adding that for the media to honour him, he felt fulfilled.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nscdc-redeploys-bayelsa-commandant-amid-accolades/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/senate-defers-1bn-bharam-fund-debate-motions-sponsor-absent/

There was a mild drama at the Senate on Thursday when the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, deferred the planned debate on the proposed withdrawal of $1bn from the Excess Crude Account by the Federal Government to fund the war against Boko Haram.

The upper chamber of the National Assembly had, on Wednesday, resolved to debate the controversial plan on Thursday.

Raising a point of order at the plenary on Thursday, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, reminded the chamber that they resolved to entertain a motion by Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) on Thursday.

Ekweremadu said, “Under our rule, the matter was supposed to come up today for our consideration but I have gone through the Order Paper and it is not there. I just want to make this explanation.”

Saraki admitted that the issue should have been raised on Thursday but that Anyanwu did not present the motion, explaining that he sought for more time.

“I agreed with him that we will take it at the next legislative day,” he said.

Saraki’s comment, however, generated a noise in the chamber.

“As you can see, he is not here and unfortunately, we have to put it down (suspend the motion). The next legislative day will be when we resume (in January 2018) and it will be the first item on the Order Paper,” he stated.

The noise however persisted.

“We cannot take it; the person (sponsor) is not here and it is a very important motion that should be delivered very well. It cannot be delegated. We are pushing for the next legislative day,” Saraki said, trying to offer an explanation.

Some senators chorused “no!”

The Senate President stressed, “We will take it. I can assure you that we will take it. I give you the assurance that we will take it.”

The noise continued until Saraki assured the lawmakers that the money would not be spent from the account without legislative approval.

“Our party does not do things like that. We will not spend money that has not followed due process. I am assuring you that the money will not be spent until we come back here and debate it. You have been assured,” he said.

Saraki asked the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to note the commitment he made.

Lawan said, “Mr. President, I have heard you very well and it is a promise we will keep.”

The lawmakers chorused “amen.”

Raising a point of order at the plenary on Wednesday, Anyanwu sought the permission of the chamber to present a motion on the planned controversial withdrawal from the ECA.

He had said, “I will want to bring up this issue as a formal motion. In the last few days, the television, the media have been awash with the issue of $1bn that was (to be) withdrawn from the ECA. It has generated a lot of controversies in this country and some (people) are raising the issue that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum gave their consent to the withdrawal of the money.

“It is very clear in our constitution. Section 80(1)(2)(3) states that any withdrawal from the Consolidated Revenue Account of the Federation or any other account must have the approval of the National Assembly.”

The lawmakers unanimously granted Anyanwu’s request while Saraki asked the senator to bring the motion on the next legislative day, which was Thursday.

The PUNCH had exclusively reported on Sunday that there were strong indications that the Senate might move against the decision by the Federal Government to withdraw $1bn from the ECA.

Meanwhile, the Senate has suspended defence sessions for Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on their 2018 budget proposals to January 9, 2018, while plenary was adjourned to January 16.

After Lawan moved the motion for the adjournment, Saraki said, “Let me clarify what Leader is saying, that we are adjourning till 9th of January to come back for committee work but plenary is suspended till 16th. We will come and resume on the 9th of January so we can finish this budget.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/senate-defers-1bn-bharam-fund-debate-motions-sponsor-absent/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/breaking-news-kano-state-apc-chairman-resigns-read-details/

Abdullahi Abbas, wrapped in the feud between Governor Abdullahi Ganduje and deputy Hafizu Abubakar, tendered his resignation letter on Thursday.

He is yet to give reason for the decision. An aide to the Commissioner of Information, Faizu Alfindiki, confirmed the development to Sources.

Deputy governor Abubakar recently indicated that he would not run on the same ticket with the Gov. Ganduje in 2019.

Abubakar, a Professor of Food and Nutritional Biochemistry at the Bayero University, accused the Kano chapter of the APC of sidelining him in scheme of things.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/breaking-news-kano-state-apc-chairman-resigns-read-details/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/fayose-secondus-kick-group-opens-parallel-pdp-secretariat/

A group made up of about five men on Wednesday ‘opened’ a parallel secretariat for the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, in Abuja.

The five men are Prince Obi Nwosu, Alhaji Hassan Adamu, Chief Olusola Akindele, Chief Godwin Duru and Franklyne Edede.

Only two flags of the party are taped to the burglary of the building to indicate that it is a party office.

The Independent National Electoral Commission recognised the national headquarters of the party is located at Wuse, Zone 5, Abuja.

Nwosu, who is the leader of the five-man faction, said that members of the National Working Committee of his group would be announced in January next year.

According to Nwosu, the “Fresh PDP” is “emerging due to the imposition of a unity list on members on December 9, 2017.”

He said that his group was not happy with the outcome of the national convention which produced the new national officers for the party.

Asked how his group emerged, he said the members were the stakeholders of the party and the defeated candidates at the convention.

He, however, did not explain how he emerged as the leader of the group, but said that he was not elected.

It is being speculated that the group is being sponsored by some defeated candidates at the party convention.

However, one of the defeated chairmanship candidates, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, has disowned the group.

Adeniran, who spoke through the Director of his Campaign Organisation, Mr. Shehu Garban, in Abuja stated that anybody who had genuine grievances was free to express them but cautioned that his principal should not be linked to the group.

Speaking on the presence of a member of his campaign team in the aggrieved group, the former minister said he did not send anyone to the group.

“We do not know them. They don’t represent us and we have nothing to do with them. Whenever is there doesn’t represent us,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Ekiti State and the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors’ Forum and the National Chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondus, have said that those who have identified themselves as Fresh PDP members ought to have been arrested and jailed for disrupting the nation’s peace.

Fayose, while hosting Secondus who had come in company of other members of the party’s National Working Committee for the local government election rally coming up in Ado Ekiti on Thursday (today), said the Fresh PDP members were mere distractors who should be ignored.

According to a press statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said, “In a civilised society those parading themselves as Fresh PDP members should have been clamped into jail. They are simply charlatans. I won’t be surprised and we are doing investigations to know those who are behind them.

“In a society like Nigeria, where we need a virile opposition, we need to continually put the government of the day on its toes for them to know that Nigeria is greater than all of us, some miscreants would just issue press statement and say they are a splinter group or whatever they call themselves.

“I urge Nigerians to ignore them. When I saw them on the Internet, they were faceless people I could not recognise, so they remain a set of jobless people and miscreants.”

Also, the national leadership of the party said that the PDP was not moved by what it called the “comical act of some individuals who make outlandish claims in the media regarding the party.”

According to a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, the party insisted that its house remains intact.

The statement read in part, “We will however not be responsible or respond to any person or groups of individuals who decide to allow themselves to be used by forces from another political party in a laughable and childish attempt to distract us.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/fayose-secondus-kick-group-opens-parallel-pdp-secretariat/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/tricycle-rider-slumps-dies-fight-newspaper/

A tricycle rider, Chidiebere Okafor, is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Lagos, for the death of his colleague, Frank Onah, in the Ifako Gbagada area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Okafor pushed Onah during a disagreement over a sports newspaper on Tuesday on Yetunde Brown Street.

The Enugu State indigene was said to have slumped and was rushed to the General Hospital, Gbagada, where he was confirmed dead.

When our correspondent visited the community on Wednesday, the victim’s friends declined comment.

One of them, who eventually spoke, pleaded that he should not be identified.

He said, “We cannot explain it. Chidi (Okafor) had left a sports newspaper in a friend’s tricycle. Frank (Onah) took it to read.

“Some minutes later, the owner of the paper started looking for it and he sighted Frank reading the paper and challenged him.

“Chidi became angry when Frank refused to release the newspaper to him and they started arguing.

“Frank attacked Chidi with fist blows and Chidi pushed him. He slumped and died.”

Another tricycle operator, who also did not identify himself, said the victim had refused to release the newspaper because he thought it belonged to someone else.

“People had separated them and they were going their separate ways when Frank slumped and died,” he added.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the late Onah was married with two children.

His family members were said to be residing in their hometown in Nsukka, Enugu State.

A resident told our correspondent that he took the corpse to the mortuary.

“If I didn’t do it, the body might have been left to decompose, because everybody just abandoned him,” he added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the suspect had been taken into custody.

He said, “It is a case of suspected murder involving two tricycle riders who had an argument over a newspaper. During the fight that ensued, one of them, Chidiebere Okafor, pushed his colleague, Frank Onah, and the victim died in the process. This was around 2pm on Tuesday.

“Our detectives have visited and photographed the scene. The corpse has also been deposited in a morgue for autopsy.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/tricycle-rider-slumps-dies-fight-newspaper/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/lagos-ibadan-road-fg-approve-n300b-increase-scope-work/

Members of the Federal Executive Council, on Wednesday, embarked on a marathon meeting that saw them approving contracts totalling about N960bn.

The contracts cut across different sectors such as road, aviation, education and transport, among others.

After many hours, the meeting, which started at 11am, was adjourned at about 5.20pm to reconvene on Thursday in order to conclude deliberations.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, told State House correspondents at the end of the meeting that the council approved the variation of the contract for the completion of the Police Service Commission headquarters in Abuja in order for the project to be completed in the next six months.

The project, which had an initial cost of N3.486bn was increased to N3.925bn, with a variation of N439.113m.

Fashola stated that the council also approved additional funding for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Mausoleum in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The project was initiated by the last administration.

“Council approved the additional funding to complete it from N1.49bn N1.953bn,” he added.

Fashola said the council approved road projects, which included the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road at the cost of N155.7bn and Efire-Araromi-Aiyede-Aiyela Road to connect Ondo and Ogun states at a cost of N14.4bn.

He said for the Enugu-Onitsha highway, the Amansia section, council approved the variations of the cost of N38.74bn to enable the contractor to progress with the work.

“Council also approved the awarded part at the Umunya at the cost of N23.4bn. So if you add that N38.74bn, which was the cost of the Amansia section, you will get a total approved cost of N62.06bn.

“This contract was first awarded for N24bn in 2014 but the scale of work done is, to say the least, appalling,” he said.

Fashola said council also approved money for the intervention in education and health care.

FEC, he disclosed, approved the provision of independent power plants to nine universities and one teaching hospital in the first phase of the pilot programme to cover 37 universities at the cost of N38.965bn.

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the council approved the production and distribution of core textbooks for early education classes 1-3 and for primary 4-6 in public schools nationwide.

He said the government felt there was the need to support the funding of education at the cost of N6.9bn.

According to the minister, the council also approved two vessels for the Eastern Port at the cost of N1.2bn.

The council also approved the award of contract for direct procurement, installation and commissioning of Wide Area of multilateration for the Gulf of Guinea at the cost of N3.9bn.

There was also an approval for consultancy services for the construction of a new terminal building at Mallam Aminu Kano Airport, Kano.

The minister said there was a plan to complete the payment with N621m.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello, said the council approved the completion of the Goodluck Jonathan Way with an augmentation of an additional N3.8bn.

Bello said the FEC also approved infrastructure development of Wasa Resettlement Site at the cost of N26bn.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suliaman Adamu, said the council ratified augmentation of funds to complete Adada dam, Igbo-Atiti LGA in Enugu State.

He said, “The project started in 2010. It has been augmented and council approved that the project be completed now at N5.6bn by the end of 2018.

“Council also approved the augmentation of Phase II Galma Dam and irrigation project in Kaduna and Zaria. The purpose of the dam is to provide water to Zaria and environs.

“The Phase I Dam has already been completed while Phase II involves irrigation and some additional structures. So, there was an augmentation to raise the project to N16.5bn.

“Council also approved the review of construction fee for the Uguashi-Uku Dam project in Delta State.

“The project is almost 100 per cent completed but because of the extension of time over the years, we have to ratify the need to pay consultants for staying on site to oversee that project. So council approved the sum of N133.6m,” he stated.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement after the meeting, said the government was considering increasing the scope of work on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to, possibly, N300bn.

“This road project comes at a time when the administration has increased the pace of the completion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and is considering increasing the scope of work on it by, possibly, up to N300bn; the East-West Road, Port Harcourt to Lagos and is pumping money into the realisation of the Second Niger bridge,” the presidential spokesman said.

He quoted Fashola as briefing the council that 63 roads were identified in 34 states for construction, repair and rehabilitation.

He said the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project would be funded from 2017 and 2018 appropriations with additional provisions being made in the subsequent years’ appropriations covering the lifespan of the project.

This notwithstanding, he said the council had directed that the Ministers of Finance and that of Power, Works and Housing to meet and raise the money for its completion within the stated three years to avoid the fate that befell the East-West Road.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/lagos-ibadan-road-fg-approve-n300b-increase-scope-work/

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Source:- www.exclusivepp.com.ng/samklef-shares-all-black-christmas-photos-with-his-wife-and-son/

Popular Nigerian music producer, Samklef has just shared official christmas photos with his wife, Yvonne and son, Jason.

Early in the year, Samklef wrote about how he almost lost his 6-year old marriage but God intervened.

– PhotoCredit

IG – dreysoft_visuals

Source:- www.exclusivepp.com.ng/samklef-shares-all-black-christmas-photos-with-his-wife-and-son/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/peter-okoye-speaks-p-square-getting-back-together/


Peter Okoye who now goes by the stage name Mr P in a new interview with Silvervlbird TV, shut down the hopes. According to him, P-Square returning to the stage as a duo is like chasing the winds and a no go area.

Peter further highlighted that he just had a successful solo tour in the U.S and ahead of his Europe tour beginning March 2018, he is set to put out more materials so his fans can hear something new and fresh following the release earlier of two singles ‘cool it down’ and ‘for my head’. Speaking on P Square comeback, he said;

I don’t think it is happening (on their reunion). Like I said ‘change is constant’. At the moment, we’re all doing our individual stuff. Music is what I do for a living; I’m an entertainer, a singer, a dancer, a performer and I want to keep it that way.

On whether there’s pressure on him to live up to expectation of P Square fame, Peter had this to say;

People think there’s probably pressure, but trust me there’s none. I’ve done a lot of rehearsal, I’ve done my research and all; I’m moving forward. At the moment, it’s the thing (moving forward) now for me.

I just came back from a U.S tour – fantastic tour – and I’m doing Europe in March, April and May (next year). I’m going to miss Nigeria but that’s why I’m trying to put out more materials before the tour so I can be able to promote them when I’m out there.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/peter-okoye-speaks-p-square-getting-back-together/

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Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/update-police-reveals-arrested-singer-praiz-lagos/

We recently brought you reports that singer, Praiz was arrested by Officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lagos. (READ HERE)

The Lagos State Police commend have now explained what transpired. According to the Lagos State Police Command Spokesperson, SP Chike Oti who spoke to sources, Praiz was driving along the Lekki-Epe expressway at top speed and this caused police officers to stop him with the aim of conducting a stop and search.

However, as soon as he stopped and they began questioning him, the police claim he immediately brought out his camera and began filming them while shouting at the top of his voice at them.

Oti said that at this point, police officers asked him to follow them to the station to explain what led to his outburst.

Oti further revealed that it was police officers and not SARS officials who took Praiz to the station. The police spokesperson says the issue has been resolved and Praiz has been released.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/update-police-reveals-arrested-singer-praiz-lagos/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/student-faints-policeman-injured-mapoly-students-protest/

A female student of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, collapsed, while a policeman was injured on Monday as scores of students of the higher institution took to the streets to protest their inability to sit for their second semester examination since September 18.

The students who launched what they tagged ‘black week,’ said the protest was mainly due to inability of the students to commence second semester examination, which was earlier scheduled to commence on September.

It will be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, MAPOLY chapter, had postponed indefinitely the second semester examination scheduled for September 18, based on the state government’s creation of Moshood Abiola University of Science and Technology out of MAPOLY.

The state government also created the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia.

There has been a lingering face-off between the state government and the lecturers over what should be the status and fate of the lecturers in the proposed MAUSTECH and Ogun Poly

The students who wore black T-shirts commenced their protest march at Pansheke, a major terminus to their school, and moved through Oke Ilewo-Kuto-NNPC junction and terminated it at the governor’s office at Oke Mosan, chanting solidarity songs.

Traffic and vehicular activities along these routes were disrupted for many hours.

Some of the students were seen armed with placards with different inscriptions, such as “Bring back our exam,” and “MAPOLY must survive,” among others.

The students said their second semester examination had been slated twice but on the two occasions, it was postponed.

They claimed they had been at home for three months without government doing anything about their plight.

The Higher National Diploma students in their final semester lamented that they ought to have joined others who have already been mobilised for the one-year National Youth Service Corps, but they had yet to sit for their second semester examination.

The students, however, met a detachment of policemen around NNPC junction, which led to a confrontation, as the students were said to have obstructed the vehicle of the policemen.

The policemen allegedly fired teargas canisters at the students to disperse them, and a female student, said to be asthmatic, collapsed.

She was said to have been rushed to the state General Hospital, Ijaiye, for medical attention.

The students later marched to the governor’s office at Oke Mosan, demanding to see him. But the governor was not available.

The Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa; and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Tolu Odebiyi, came out instead, but the students refused to listen to them.

They insisted it was Governor Ibikunle Amosun they wanted to see.

The students got restless and started hurling stones at the policemen, during which one of the policemen, Samuel Daniel, got injured on the head, with the wound dripping blood.

The protest was led by the coalition of the National Association of Nigerian Students, National Association of Polytechnic Students and the National Association of the Ogun State Students.

The chairman, NANS, Ogun State axis, Olawale Balogun, said it was sad that the students had been at home for three months, with both the state government and the lecturers refusing to address the students’ plight.

He said, “We will not stop this protest until the government heed our call. We are appealing to the two parties to resolve their differences.

“Tomorrow, this protest will continue by the grace of God.”

Meanwhile, the state government has expressed disappointment over what it called “uncivil conduct of the students,” noting they had “rebuffed” every attempt by the government’s delegation to address them.

The Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, speaking with journalists after the failed attempt, said though the government frowned upon the confrontation, “it will continue to interface with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that all issues are resolved.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/student-faints-policeman-injured-mapoly-students-protest/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/igbos-forget-2019-presidential-seat/

Former president of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, on Sunday advised Igbo politicians planning to contest the presidency in 2019 to bury the thought.

Ikedife’s advice came a few days after the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye, said APGA was considering the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano,

as its presidential standard bearer in the 2019 general elections.

Ikedife who spoke with our correspondent in his Nnewi home said the odds favoured the northern part of the country for the 2019 presidency.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and others coming from the north had better chances.

“I won’t advise any Igbo to pick a form for the presidential race. It’s a waste to do so.

“APGA can go ahead and field any candidate from Igbo to vie for it. It has such an inalienable right to field anybody as its candidate in the election but I don’t know what makes them think that Obiano would win.”

He argued that it was after a second term in office of Buhari that the South-East could start talking of the presidency.

He said, “The North has produced a president who has just done one term. But it is becoming a convention that any zone that produces a president does two terms.

“I don’t see why the APC should not want to go for two terms. When the North has had two terms following the

convention, the presidency should come to the south, and south east, willy-nilly.”

While advising the Igbo to be patient, Ikedife said what was important for the Igbo was “unity, speaking with one voice on national issues.”

He added that the Igbo should identify and lend their support to any of the presidential candidates from the north who would recognise the economic and infrastructure deficits in the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones.

He noted that the seeming marginalisation of the Igbo would be assuaged, “when you know that your country cares for you. What stops you from being patriotic? If a man treats you as a son, the tendency is to see him as a father.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/igbos-forget-2019-presidential-seat/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/ekiti-apc-fayose-fight-debt-profile/

The All Progressives Congress in Ekiti State and Governor Ayodele Fayose have disagreed over the state’s N56bn debt profile allegedly released by the Debt Management Office.

While the opposition APC said that the latest debt figures confirmed its position that Fayose was deliberately borrowing recklessly, the governor said “there is no recent bulletin from the DMO website concerning debt owed by any state as claimed in the false report.”

In a statement on Monday, the state APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun, accused the governor of spending the borrowed money on white elephant projects awarded to companies belonging to his cronies for personal benefits.

He berated the governor for allegedly always lying to the public, saying the latest revelation had put to rest his “shameless lies in pursuit of fraudulent agenda for personal benefit while workers are unpaid for nine months.”

Olatunbosun added, “How can Fayose commit the state to so much debts, collect over three years allocations and other financial reliefs from the Federal Government, yet he is owing workers and pensioners for months?

“He is taking advantage of every opportunity to criminally exploit the Ekiti people, many of whom are sick; others are dying while the governor and his family members are contractors executing inflated contracts.

“Fayose will surely account and pay back every penny he and his family took from Ekiti coffers through his white elephant projects, and for the first time, he will know that Ekiti people are no fools that he calls them.”

However, the Ekiti State Government condemned the report that the state borrowed N56bn since Fayose assumed office and that a fresh N25bn loan was applied for.

In a press release on Monday, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, said, “There is no recent bulletin from the DMO website concerning debt owed by any state as claimed in the false report. Nigerians, especially Ekiti people, can visit the DMO website for further clarification.

“The only fresh loan taken by the government of Fayose was the N10bn grant from the Excess Crude Account, which was released to all states for capital projects, N2.8bn requested from the Wema Bank to pay the State Universal Basic Education Board counterpart fund out of which N1bn has been accessed and N600m for MDGs counterpart fund, which has been repaid.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/ekiti-apc-fayose-fight-debt-profile/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/paid-dues-nation-building-ekweremadu-tells-buhari-75/

The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his 75th birthday.

In a goodwill message released to newsmen on Sunday, Ekweremadu described President Buhari as an elder statesman, who had continued to pay his dues in service to the nation.

He expressed gratitude to God for restoring the President’s health and urged Nigerians not to relent in their prayers for the President as he continues to pilot the affairs of the nation.

He said: “I believe that power belongs to God and that every leader is called by Him at an appointed time for a purpose.

“On behalf of my family and constituents, therefore, I pray God, who has called you, to continue to support you with length of days, sound health, wisdom, grace, and indeed all that it takes to etch your days and stewardship in gold in the annals of the nation. Happy birthday, Mr. President”.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/paid-dues-nation-building-ekweremadu-tells-buhari-75/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/omg-fayose-borrowed-n56b-three-years-dmo/

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has come out with the debt profile of Ekiti State within the three years of Governor Ayo Fayose in power.

According to DMO, Fayose has borrowed a total sum of N56 billion since coming to power on October 16, 2014.

In its latest bulletin released at the weekend, the DMO disclosed that the Fayose administration still had a fresh application of N25 billion in 2017 awaiting consideration.

The publication did not state how the funds were expended but they were believed to have been channeled to capital projects and payment of arrears of workers’ salaries.

Some of the capital projects being executed by the Fayose government include the Ado-Ekiti overhead bridge, new Governor’s Office, new High Court complex, among others.

The DMO disclosed the sources of fresh debts incurred by the Fayose regime to include summary of new loans, foreign loans and local bank loans.

The publication which is also available on the DMO website gave a breakdown of loan transactions between October 16, 2014 and December 2016.

This excludes the N25 billion request for 2017 which was yet to be granted.

According to the document, the Fayose government renegotiated all outstanding loans as at December 31, 2014 for 20 years (till 2036) on behalf of Ekiti State in 2015.

For 2015 Ekiti State borrowed loans include new loans of N24, 811, 574, 926.00; foreign loans stood at N2,709,786,898.98 while local bank loans was N22,101,788,065.28.

In 2016, the summary of new loans was N31, 688, 638, 962.30 with foreign loans standing at N2, 705, 737, 050. 37 while local bank loans rose to N28, 982, 901, 911.93.

The summary of total loans in two years, that is, between January 2015 and December 2016 is N56, 500, 213, 924.56.

The summary of foreign loans is N5, 415, 523, 947.35 while summary of total bank loans incurred by the Fayose administration is N51, 084, 689, 977.21.

The report did not state when the N25 billion applied for by the government in 2017 would be accessed.

The issue of indebtedness has elicited allegations and counter-allegations between the Fayose administration and the immediate past administration led by former Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Fayose has consistently accused Fayemi of plunging the state into debt that outlives his administration.

The issue of alleged indebtedness by Fayemi was the major reason why Fayose set up a Judicial Panel of Inquiry to probe the former administration with the panel submitting its report last week.

The governor had first put the debt allegedly incurred by Fayose at N45 billion before later coming out with another figure of N85 billion to be exited in 2036.

But the DMO cleared the air in one of its earlier bulletins and put the debt left by Fayemi at N18 billion.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/omg-fayose-borrowed-n56b-three-years-dmo/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/2019-election-reason-atiku-president-nigeria-father-mbaka-reveals/

Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, of the Adoration Ministry, has declared that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar is the new blessing for Nigeria.

He said Abubakar has what it takes to “put smile on Nigerians suffering different marginalization,” if given the opportunity to rule the country in 2019.

Speaking in Enugu, the fiery preacher said the Waziri of Adamawa was advocating a “new order, a new paradigm shift in the government.”

Mbaka said, “Every political relationship is open for negotiations, without pre-set outcomes. Atiku do not fear negotiations, as democrat and businessman that is what reasonable human beings that love his people do. This is even more important if a stubborn resistance against negotiations can lead to unsavoury outcomes, which the present governments have demonstrated!

“For the Nigerian State to have a soul, the constituent parts need to renegotiate and rework the union. It is what will reduce to the barest minimum the feelings of injustice and poverty among Nigerians. It is what will make Nigerians believe that they chose this union willingly, ending effectively the theory of Lugardian contraption.

“It is a perfect antidote for peace. The times call for new ideas For creative solutions, for restructuring, for people to be happy, for people to have means of living, for people to love Nigeria again!

“Atiku is the only person that have contested and is still contesting for Nigerian presidency that love the youths more and have created more jobs for the youths to prove that more than most state government!

“Imagine what he will do when he have the power and resources to do more! Let’s pray that the blessing and protection of God to be with him to put smile in Nigerians suffering different marginalization!”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/2019-election-reason-atiku-president-nigeria-father-mbaka-reveals/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nigerians-still-show-love-teasing-mr-eazi/

Mr Eazi has been the subject of serious criticism for his statements about pioneering the Ghana-Nigeria music fusion and for his claims of having left a lucrative job for a chancy music adventure. These tirade of criticisms seem to have caused the singer to become unpopular amongst Nigerian music lovers.

However, Mr Eazi spoke on the issue in a recent interview with Hip TV. He maintained that he still gets a lot of love from fans while stressing that the incident is not all that serious and that he was only teasing Nigerians.

Watch video via source link below.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nigerians-still-show-love-teasing-mr-eazi/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nestle-close-dr-congo-factory/

Swiss food giant Nestle announced Sunday that it would close its factory in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a potential market of 80 million people but one beset by poverty and political instability.

“We will close our factory and offices by the end of January and continue developing our economic distribution model through third parties,” a spokeswoman for the group told AFP.

The decision affects 120 people and Nestle will offer laid-off employees “a series of compensatory measures more favourable than required by local labour laws,” she said

Nestle has been in the country since 2009 and opened a factory producing Maggi stock cubes, but has posted losses ever since.

The food giant’s investment of 15 million Swiss francs ($15 million) was a boost to DR Congo, which like other central African nations is seeking to grow its industrial base and move away from being merely an exporter of minerals.

In October the Congolese affiliate of Dutch brewing giant Heineken, Bralima, announced its own restructuring plan, with a company official saying that “a complete overhaul is necessary if the economy is going to function”.

Rich in cobalt and coltan — used in electronic products — the country nonetheless suffers from grinding poverty which affects 80 percent of the population.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is also suffering a political crisis. Much-delayed elections to replace President Joseph Kabila have been scheduled for December 2018, but the opposition is demanding that the veteran leader step down sooner.

The vast African country has seen an outbreak of anti-government demonstrations since Kabila refused to step down in December 2016 on the expiry of his second and final term in office.

Kabila took office after his father Laurent was assassinated in 2001.

AFP

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nestle-close-dr-congo-factory/

Source:- www.exclusivepp.com.ng/access-bank-unveils-five-year-growth-strategy/

Growth Strategy

Access Bank Plc has announced its new five-year strategy with an ambitious plan to become Africa’s gateway to the world.

The full service commercial bank with headquarters in Nigeria and operations across sub-Saharan Africa, the United Kingdom, Asia and the Middle East, disclosed this when it visited the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Monday to present the strategy.

The move, the lender said, was the latest in a series of transformative strategies that have resulted in sustained growth.

From 2013 to November 2017, Access Bank said it had increased its total assets at a compound annual growth rate of 18 per cent and delivered shareholder returns of 90 per cent, adding that it had also grown its customer base from 90,000 in 2002 to over eight million in 2017 and opened 351 new branches within the same period.

Speaking at the unveiling, the bank’s Chief Executive Officer/Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe, said, “Five years ago we set the ambitious goal to attain top three positions in our chosen markets. Today, we are a strong, diversified institution with a consolidated top-tier position in our sector.

“We are setting out a new and ambitious five-year strategy which will put Access Bank at the forefront of Africa’s changing financial landscape by creating a universal payments gateway to dominate international trade and inter-African payments.”

The new five-year strategy, according to the bank, will accelerate the growth story to position Access Bank as the number one Nigerian bank by 2022 and create a universal payments gateway to dominate international trade and inter-African payments.

The new strategy has six strategic levers, which are “digitally led; retail banking growth and consolidation in wholesale markets; customer-focused; analytics-driven, with robust risk management; strong global collaboration in key gateway markets; and the creation of a universal payments gateway.”

To deliver the transformation, Access Bank said it would adopt a new organisational structure with the retail bank having a customer segment focus, driven by digital and payments.

It said the corporate bank would build deep sector expertise and deploy global relationship managers, of which the bank’s subsidiaries would be organised around strategic clusters, with strong collaboration between them to secure trade finance and correspondent banking.

It added, “The bank’s transformation programme will be underpinned by robust risk management together with high levels of automation to enhance the compliance and risk functions and drive customer insights.

“In the next phase of its transformation programme, Access Bank will embark on a series of bold initiatives. At home, the goal is to be the number one bank in Nigeria by growing the retail customer base, the Small and Medium-scale Enterprises client base, and by dominating the top 100 Nigerian corporates.

“Internationally, it will develop an integrated global franchise by strategically developing its presence in key African markets, enhancing collaboration in global financial gateways including London and New York, Asia and the Middle East, and strengthening its trade hubs in India, Dubai and China.

“A strengthened presence in key African markets, and the creation of Universal Payments Gateway combined with an integrated global franchise, ideally positions Access Bank to be Africa’s gateway to the world.”

Source:- www.exclusivepp.com.ng/access-bank-unveils-five-year-growth-strategy/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/mob-chases-sars-operatives-shooting-lagos-youth/

There has been uproar on the social media after some operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Lagos State Command, allegedly shot a youth in the Yaba area of the state.

The criticism followed a viral video which showed an angry mob chasing a black bus used by the operatives.

A Twitter user, Charley, had posted about the shooting on his handle @yabakid, but did not indicate the exact location in Yaba or the identity of the victim.

He wrote, “A SARS officer just shot a boy in the head right in front of me WTF! I’m so shocked!

“This happened in Yaba on Thursday right in my hood. They (SARS men) stole the phone of a ‘yahoo boy’ and shot another boy in the arm. The youth in the area mobilised and gave them a chase.”

Many Nigerians had taken to the Internet, expressing their experiences and those of their relations and friends in the hands of SARS across the country.

The protest was hinged on the #EndSARS campaign, an online petition to the National Assembly which had almost reached its 10,000 signatory targets as of 2pm on Sunday.

A poster, with the identification, Ayo FBI @PureMind, said a student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, who was the only son of his parents, was killed by SARS men.

He wrote, “In 2009, my mom’s friend’s son, Biodun, who was a student of OAU was going to Ibadan (Oyo State) from Ile Ife on the June 23 and was killed by SARS because they wanted to take him away and he resisted because he didn’t do anything. He was his mother’s only child. #EndSARS.”

A Twitter user, identified as Negro boss,@pmjovie, lamented that he was unlawfully detained for six months.

“Some years back, a popular artiste was killed by cultists in LASU and SARS packed all of us at a bar. We were released six months later. #EndSARS,” he said.

One Tessyama, @tescool, said he and his friends were robbed by SARS operatives about two years ago in a bar.

“Was it not SARS that robbed me and some friends in a bar two years ago? We thought they were robbers until the bar owner told us it’s SARS men and that’s how they frustrate them there (at the bar). #EndSARS,” he tweeted.

Another Nigerian, Moshood Alli, explained how he coughed up N40,000 for no offence.

He said, “SARS at Lagos VI intercepted my motorcycle, searched me, found nothing but school ID, claimed it was fake, accompanied me to my hotel room, found my phones and received N40,000 in payment via ATM. #EndSARS.”

Ali Haruna Babatunde wrote, “#EndSARS. They came to my neighbourhood, drank and didn’t pay, when the seller threatened to report them, they started shooting into the air.”

A user identified as Cross, @Elcrucifixio, said he was taken for a suspect because he looked good.

“Your civil rights disappear the moment SARS holds you. I am not even a yahoo boy, but I kept begging them when they held me at Ikeja. I was running late for a business pitch, and my offence was ‘dressing too fine, but not be into fraud’. Sigh,” he posted.

A woman, Pets for Sale, @owhreoluwa, also joined in the campaign, saying, “Even as a woman, you are not safe from SARS and their wahala (trouble). I’ve been manhandled by one on the road before because ‘Wetin small girl like you dey carry two phones do.’”

Somto Ronald explained that SARS operatives extorted N40,000 each from him and 23 others over a fight they were not involved in.

He wrote, “Early this year, SARS entered my lodge by 1am, a student lodge, and arrested all the boys (24 boys) just because one guy in my lodge allegedly fought with another guy. None of us was bailed with less than N40,000. #EndSARS.”

@UnitedAyodejiEmpire also posted about the alleged uncivil conduct of some SARS operatives in Abuja.

He wrote, “The SARS officers here in Abuja are actually criminals legally carrying guns. You see them at Area 1, Durumi, Garki Village, smoking weed, sniffing all sorts of dangerous drugs among criminals with guns in their hands. I see them and just shake my head. #EndSARS #EndSARSBrutality.”

Reacting to the shooting of a youth in the Yaba area, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, said the incident had not been reported to the police.

He stated that the authenticity of the video was in doubt.

Oti, however, in a statement on Sunday, said the command was investigating an assault perpetrated by some SARS men in a yet-to-be ascertained location.

He said, “It has come to the knowledge of the acting Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Ag.Cp Edgal Imohimi, that some policemen attached to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, in a yet-to-be ascertained location, brutalised an innocent resident.

“In view of the above, the Acting Commissioner of Police wishes to encourage all residents of Lagos State who have complaints against police action or on any issue, to report to any of the police patrol vehicles which now serve as mini police stations and are parked conspicuously at vantage points across the state or call on the Citizen Complaint Centre established by the present Commissioner of Police through the following cellular phone numbers: 08067945296, 08063025274, 08113615350, 08113683077, 08096283148, 08096283183, 08089781657, 08126404930, 08081426895.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/mob-chases-sars-operatives-shooting-lagos-youth/

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/discos-deploy-meter-bypass-trackers/

Power consumers who bypass their meters may start facing sanctions by paying penalties as soon as electricity distribution companies have commenced the deployment of meter bypass tracking equipment in their various networks.

It was gathered that the move by the power firms was to enforce the recent declaration by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission that consumers who bypass meters would pay fines.

In October, The PUNCH had exclusively reported that electricity consumers who bypassed their meters would be forced to pay up to N450,000 as fine.

According to NERC, financial sanctions ranging from N50,000 to N450,000 for meter bypass by power consumers have been drafted and endorsed by the 11 electricity distribution companies operating in the country.

It was also gathered that NERC’s decision was endorsed by the Federal Government through the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

Officials of NERC told our correspondent on Thursday in Abuja that some power distributors had started deploying meter bypass trackers in order to reveal the culprits and have them punished.

The Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ernest Mupwaya, confirmed the development on the sidelines of an event organised by the firm to inaugurate some its newly acquired technical equipment.

He said, “On the issue of meter bypass, I don’t want to share (this), but we do have a technology to detect it. For example, all our large power customers, for the majority of them, we are monitoring them online using automatic meter reading facilities that we have installed.

“And every day, unfortunately, we are seeing meter bypass live and we are taking punitive interventions in terms of revealing them (defaulters) and surcharging them. So, for large power users, the monitoring is online. Let me just categorically say that they should not even attempt, it, because they will be caught.”

On complaints about meters that read so fast, Mupwaya stated that the Disco had acquired facilities to address the concern in its areas of operation.

He said, “Some customers complain that their meters are running too fast and as a result, we have got portable meters that can be used for testing when hooked up with existing meters. When this is done, within few minutes we can detect whether our meter is faulty or not.

“That equipment can also be used to make corrections where customers believe estimated billing is high. At such instances, we can put a meter there temporarily and it will give us information that will make us adjust the estimated billing. So it is equipment that can be used for various purposes.”

Mupwaya stated that the Disco had taken delivery of infra-red cameras for detecting installations that might develop electrical faults in the future.

“Technologies such as infra-red cameras are used during inspection to foresee areas that are referred to as hot spots. A hot spot is a fault that is trying to manifest. So, if you can see it in advance and take out the line to prevent the fault, then it means you are taking proactive steps to avert prolonged outages,” he added.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/discos-deploy-meter-bypass-trackers/

ABUJA: Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has rejoined the opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP which he helped found some years ago, saying he took the decision after due consultations with party leaders and stakeholders nationwide.

In a live Facebook chat with Nigerians, Atiku said rather than the promise to create three million jobs annually, no fewer than three million Nigerians have instead lost their jobs in the more than two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
“Hello, my name is Atiku Abubakar”, the Wazirin Adamawa had begun.

Going further, he said; “I am speaking to you today on Facebook Live as I want to reach as many of our young people as possible as I have an important announcement to make about the future of Nigeria. As it is you, our youths, who represent the future of our nation.

“I have found in my travels across the country that whenever I get into conversations with young people their number one concern is whether they will be able to get a job for without a job they have no means of sustaining themselves or begin a family. And without the security of a job we cannot have security in our country. So without jobs there is no future for you or for Nigeria.

“And I also know as a parent that the older generation is also concerned about jobs for their children and, too often today, for themselves as well. “Creating jobs is something I know about as I have created over 50,000 direct jobs and 250,000 indirect jobs in my own State of Adamawa. And I also know how the Government can help create the right environment for businesses to create jobs.
When I was Vice President in 1999 I was responsible for liberalising the telecomms sector which enabled us to increase the number of people who could access a phone from less than 1 million then to over 100 million today. “This transformation resulted in the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs from the top-up card vendors you see on every street corner to the many new businesses that fed off the mobile phone revolution”.
Recalling how he was “elected Vice President under the banner of the PDP, which is the political party I had helped to found some ten years before”, Atiku said he had left the PDP based on principle and the excitement created by the APC’s promise of creating three million jobs annually.

“And some of you may also know that I left the PDP four years ago when I believed it was no longer aligned to the principles of equity, democracy and social justice upon which we had founded it.

“I joined the APC as I had hoped it would be the new force that would help improve life for our people and I was excited about the party’s manifesto to create three million new jobs a year.
“The result has not been the change people had been promised or voted for, as in the last two years almost three million Nigerians have lost their jobs. “And today with a record 25% of people aged 18-25 unemployed I can see how difficult it is for our youths to find a job. .PDP has resolved its issues “The key to creating jobs is a strong economy and that is what we are currently lacking. So today I want to let you know that I am returning home to the PDP as the issues that led me to leave it have now been resolved and it is clear that the APC has let the Nigerian people, and especially our young people, down. “But rather than giving a long political speech on this matter I thought it would be more helpful to invite you to ask me questions and share with you my answers”, Atiku ended his speech. .
How I will tackle Challenges facing the Youth Asked about how he would deal with the challenges facing the Nigerian youth as an old man, Atiku said; “I meet young people every day. I have children and grandchildren and most of my employees are youths. The key to knowing what young people want is to listen to them. I’m good at that. Sometimes when I am on the phone with my kids they ask me are you still there, because I just listen to them without interrupting.
Young people are on social media and so I go there. They tell me that their number one challenge is jobs. Terrorism, militancy, kidnapping, and other forms of exuberance they may lead to criminality are a symptom of the disease of joblessness.
Once you can get Nigeria working again and get Nigerians working again, youth restiveness will ease and gradually disappear”. On how he intends to focus on leadership while also managing his vast business concerns, the former APC chieftain said leadership must be separated from management.
“I lead my businesses. I do not manage them. I have qualified managers managing them including some in their early 20s. As a leader, you provide direction and then you bring in skilled people and inspire them to implement your roadmap to getting to the destination of your direction. So in answer to your question, I am more into leadership and this gives me the clarity I need to take in the larger picture”, he said. When he was asked to react to a recent declaration by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed that the PDP will not be returning to power anytime soon, the Wazirin Adamawa said only arrogance makes people say such things. “Nobody knows the future other than God and to dictate what the future will be is not within man’s purview. But it is about Nigeria not about power.
Power for power’s own sake breeds arrogance and arrogance makes men say things like that. All I am saying is that we need a party that speaks to national sentiments not regional ones. We need a party that can make all Nigerians one till we can boldly say that we are all brothers and sisters with only one mother Nigeria”, he stated. .Police IG should end Maltreatment of NIgerian On the #EndSARS movement, a social media advocacy that over the weekend sought the scrap of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police for their human rights violations, Atiku said Nigerians cannot be outraged about the inhuman treatment meted to their people in Libya and then go ahead to now maltreat themselves at home.
He said; “We cannot be outraged that Nigerians and other African migrants are being mistreated in Libya and then we go ahead and mistreat our people back home. I am very abreast with the #EndSARS issue because my young followers on Social Media keep me very much in the loop. Whether it is how SARS treats Nigerians or how we treat each other, we are sending a message to the outside world.
We can’t expect foreigners to treat our people better than we treat them. “We must set the minimum standard required for the treatment of Nigerians worldwide by the way we treat our people domestically. Our charity must begin at home. “On this issue, I call on the Inspector General of Police as a concerned Nigerian to intervene, and I know that the Nigerian Police as a disciplined and well organized force will take action to address this issue. It will go a long way to improving Nigeria’s rating in the global ranking of Police Forces next year because this year, they were wrongfully ranked as the worst.
“Thank you to everyone who asked me a question and I am sorry that time does not permit me to answer each one. I will be travelling the country in the coming months and will be listening to the concerns of our people in every region. “I came from a humble background and thank God for the opportunities that Nigeria has given me to build a network of successful businesses. I am dedicated to a Nigeria where everyone lives in a country of opportunity where there are no limits to what they can become”, he concluded the session.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/atiku-rejoins-pdp-says-3-million-jobs-lost-buhari-2-years/

Tolulope Helen Amusan (Nee Aladesuyi), 28, talks about her jewellery design business and youth empowerment initiative in this interview with Anna Okon

Can you tell readers about your life and business?

I am the Executive Director of a Costume Jewellery and fashion accessory company; Eso-Ara (Body Treasure). The Eso-Ara Company is a social enterprise that empowers women, mid-income, stay-at-home mothers and young women across Nigeria through business development, peer mentoring platform and sales of costume Jewellery and fashion accessories.

The Eso-Ara company also funds the MakeAFuture Initiative, a non-profit initiative I founded four years ago that specialises in a set of capacity building programmes for teenage boys and girls who we believe can positively influence their world.

The MAF initiative reaches out to young people through a unique approach of skill-based learning, girl-child education and experience sharing. Since 2013 when we started, we have trained more than 300 teenagers in Ondo and Lagos states.

Is this the business you always aspired to go into?

I did not set out to set up Eso-Ara as a business from the outset. I stumbled on it as a result of a pressing financial need I had during my university days. I had a mentor who asked me to look within and think deeply about what I could do. I replied, “I can talk.” He advised me to channel my talking ability into sales.

Through the help of another friend in my fellowship back then who sold perfumes and jewellery, I learned how to start my own jewellery business. Prior to that time, from the same challenge of being broke, I had done all sorts of trading, sold Ankara fabrics, sold eggs in the university hostel, sold renew cold water starch on the street of Lagos while on break from school.

I did ushering jobs and cooked for people to make money. However, one remarkable thing is that I made the N15,000 seed capital my mentor gave me to start my business back in four hours 30 minutes of my very first outing.

That was the beginning of a transforming life and that exceptional selling ability is what has stood me out and made the Eso-Ara brand wax stronger by God’s grace through the past five years of running the business.

How challenging was starting the business?

My journey in life has been laced with quite a number of challenges but in all, I am grateful to them because I have not only learned from them but they have made me better. One that is unforgettable is the one I faced in my formative years and which I believe has been a major contribution to shaping my life till date.

My dad, who is the major bread-winner of our family, lost his high-paying job while I was 15; I just graduated from high school and was aspiring to get admitted into college.

We had to move from our two-bedroom apartment to another home, a room and parlour apartment in a suburb of the city with 15 people in the same apartment sharing kitchen, toilet and bathroom.

I decided to take a job at a store where clothing materials were sold which was quite a distance from where we lived. I was paid N3,500/month. I saved my two months’ salary to get myself a pre-degree form after high school.

My parents were so touched by my thoughtfulness that they borrowed more money to pay for the programme, while ensuring I got admission into the degree programme at Federal University of Technology, Akure.

After I got admitted, I continued to sell consumables in the hostel just to ensure that I was not so much of a burden to my parents since they had my other two siblings to take care of.

This was when I sold eggs, cold water starch, perfumes and jewellery and even did other menial jobs during holidays to see myself through school.

I believe my Entrepreneurial inclination is what has brought me thus far despite the challenges and has birthed my growing business enterprise, Eso-Ara.

Being the first of three children, the logical thing for me to do after graduation was to take a job which will yield a constant monthly salary due to the pressure from home, but then, I decided to start my own jewellery business with a starting capital that seemed so small.

What next for the brand?

I am consistently looking for self-driven young women, who, despite their challenges, are committed to making a living for themselves. I want to train them and show them the potential of the costume jewellery niche through the Eso-Ara Authorised reseller programme.

I spend more than 20 hours mentoring women weekly. I am also looking for consistent ways of developing my business models, fellowship programmes in supply chain and fashion manufacturing, developing sales pipelines and opportunities to grow my leadership quotient for relevance in a world that is dominated by men.

What is your advice to young people still looking for jobs?

They should equip themselves with 21st century skills. Employers of labour have said it over and over again that it’s not lack of job that is the issue in Nigeria but the lack of skilled people to take up the available jobs. Skills will make anyone a winner anyday and anytime.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/channel-talking-ability-business-amusan/

Movie lovers must have noticed that Uti Nwachukwu no longer appears in movies, unlike what obtained in the past. The last time he featured in a movie, Mummy Dearest 2, was last July.

While chatting with Sunday Scoop, the winner of Big Brother Africa 5 revealed why he stopped acting for a while now.

He said, “I haven’t been in the country, but I am back now. I took a break from acting because it doesn’t pay much and I am not ready for that kind of life. I don’t want to pretend about it; so, I am only focusing on what brings greater remuneration, which is television presenting and hosting of events.

“Acting would just be a hobby because honestly, producers can’t afford to pay what I want to earn. But I will not stay away from movies totally; I will pick only exceptional movies instead of featuring in all the ones I am invited to partake in. I don’t have so much time for little money. I am not here to pretend all is well. I am in the industry to make money; I am not in the industry to play.”

He dismissed a claim that he did not attend Yomi Casual’s wedding. According to him, he did show up at the ceremony but spent only a short period because he had other things to attend to.

He, however, said despite the fact that his colleagues were getting married, he was not in a rush to do same.

“I will marry at the right time and marriage is not a competition. Once I find the right person, nothing will prevent me from getting married. I am an adult and my parents are educated. Therefore, they can’t force me to get married,” he added.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/acting-no-longer-pays-bills-uti-nwachukwu/

Popular actor, Prince Jide Kosoko, in this interview with OLUSHOLA RICKETTS, speaks on his passion for acting, the death of three wives and the tussle for power in the movie industry

What makes this year different from previous years for you?

The year has been a very good one for me. I have been going from one production to another. As you can see, I am on a movie set as we speak. Once this project is completed, I will travel out of the country. Also, I have not recorded any negative incident this year and I thank God for that.

How do you manage to remain active despite your age?

It is perhaps the grace of God, the will to achieve and the will to continue to prosper in my chosen career. I am in love with my profession and I am always determined to face new challenges. However, I thank God that I am full of experience in my profession and life in general. But the truth is that you must continue to learn and there are certain things where you are still a complete novice.

What profession do you think you would have been practising if you didn’t venture into acting?

I wouldn’t know. I don’t know what would have become of me if I hadn’t taken to acting. What is certain is that I would have been engaged in a profession where I would be able to demonstrate my creativity as well.

I started acting precisely in 1964; I think I was just 10. You know what that means especially at a time when parents didn’t allow their children to venture into acting. I started in primary school and since then, I have been acting professionally. My first performance was Makanjuola, a stage play.

Did you ever think you would attain this level of fame?

I might not have known it would get to this extent, but I wanted to be like my role model, Hubert Ogunde. Then, we both lived in the same vicinity. Whenever he passed, people hailed, adored and respected him. Seeing all that, I said to myself that I would love to be like him. That perhaps must have prepared me for what I am today.

How were you able to cross over to English-speaking movies?

I think an actor should be versatile. If I am given a role in the French language category for instance, all I need is time to master the language and I will deliver. If you talk about English, I think I am learned enough to go with the flow. But acting to me is the same all over the world regardless of the difference in languages.

I find acting in Yoruba and English movies fulfilling and I feel comfortable acting in both. We have people who are in this industry and are desperately trying to make money while others just go with the crowd. However, my passion for the industry goes beyond all of that. As one of its pioneer members, it is my desire to see the industry develop at all times. I will continue to contribute my quota until I die.

Do you have concerns about the movie industry?

When we started, the doors were opened to everyone regardless of your background. Though that made us have an industry today, we are now regretting that we didn’t set standards. Then, we were happy that people were joining us in what we were doing.

Yes, in all sincerity of purpose, the style (welcoming everyone) we started then was one of the reasons we have an industry today. But like any other growing industry, you will see unserious participants and people who could not define the reason they joined an industry.

All the categories of people I mentioned above will soon leave and I am happy that we are now going back to the cinema culture. The cinemas will prepare serious professionals who can produce something good technically and otherwise. Then, people who cannot meet up will have to leave.

In the Yoruba sector where I come from, everyone sees themselves as producers and directors and it cannot continue like that. If you are a producer, produce well. As an actor, act well. So, whatever aspect of the industry you find yourself, try to do it well.

Upgrading is important; people need to train continuously to ensure that their skills don’t become outdated. If at over 60, I still went to study Performing Arts at the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, it goes a long way to tell you that learning is a continuous process.

When was the last time you produced a movie?

I produced a Yoruba movie titled Akanni, last year. It is a comedy movie and I had a good outing.

Was the movie pirated?

There is no movie that doesn’t get pirated in Nigeria, especially a successful movie. Piracy is our common enemy. But I strongly believe that the cinema culture, which we are all embracing now, will curb piracy.

Of course, we’ve asked the government to find a stiffer penalty for pirates because the one in the copyright law is not strong enough. I think it is one of those things encouraging people to pirate other people’s works. So, we have begged the government to give a tougher penalty. If possible, they should leave out the option of fine unless the fine is huge and they make sure that offenders pay.

Was there a time you wanted to quit the industry?

There was no time. Yes, there have been challenges. Even when we started and there was no money in it, we enjoyed it and felt happier doing it than now that there seems to be more money in showbiz. Then, we were doing it for the passion, but when money started coming in, the happiness was divided. My best periods in life are when I am on set working because I love my job so much.

What is responsible for the disunity in the industry?

I don’t think there is disunity. I agree we have multiple associations and there is nothing bad in that. Our industry, as far as I am concerned, is new and various things are expected to happen. Ambition will make people establish other associations and it will make people think they have better ideas than their leaders.

Also, some people feel they can use the leadership of their respective body to make money for themselves. Others believe that their participation in the administration will help get more jobs. And if some people don’t have a cordial relationship with the leadership of an association, they think the best option is to leave.

We established the Association of Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, which is the foremost association. Though I was not part of the formation, I was at its inaugural meeting. I was even elected to be one of the national executive members under Hubert Ogunde. So, looking at that period till date, you will realise that I have contributed in no small way to the development of theatre association and I worked hard to make the association popular. From being the PRO, I rose to the position of the president.

While I believed I had served the association well, it got to a point when some elders in ANTP thought Oga Bello and I were becoming too powerful in the industry. They felt it should not go on like that. They even went ahead to convince Bello to betray me. But in his own wisdom, he knew they were difficult people to understand and he didn’t do that. He came back and designed a way forward for the association. But in a situation where we had an enemy who was determined to hijack the association for selfish reasons, what do you expect us to do? For more than nine years, we were in court and they later claimed he (Victor Ashaolu) won the case.

Since he is not a professional and he is not practising, we see him as someone who has nothing to offer the industry. I fought the situation. But when my colleagues told me that we shouldn’t drag a case with him if we meant well for the association, I left him to do whatever he wanted to do. With the support of some elders, he went on. But few months after we left, they started fighting each other and divided the association into two. Ashaolu now leads one part while Jimoh Aliu leads the other. We were thankful to God for letting us pull out before the split.

Our new association, Theatre Arts and Motion Picture Producers Association of Nigeria is a gathering of focused people with the same interest. You were at our convention; so, you should be able to say what the association looks like. Nobody is fighting anyone and there is no leadership tussle there. Everything is going accordingly.

At my age, should I even be fighting for positions? We have children and younger actors who are experienced enough to take the mantle of leadership. What people like me and Bello should do is to give them the necessary support because I believe that is what we need in the industry. Everyone must work together to move ahead.

But one thing is certain and I want you to put it in mind. All associations will soon collapse as soon as we set up the Motion Picture Council. The council will be a body that will take decisions, regulate the industry and ensure that the rules and regulations of the profession are strictly adhered to. We are waiting for the government because it must pass through the National Assembly.

Don’t you feel some people may work against the new body?

Some persons are already working against it, according to what I heard. But I consider them to be irrelevant people.

Do you plan to go into politics?

At first, I planned to venture into politics. But I must be sincere with you; I am so attached to my profession. My profession doesn’t really want rivalry and politics will give it a good rivalry.

I still belong to a political party, which is the All Progressives Congress, and I’ve contributed my bit. But I have refused to seek public office through an election. If I am given an opportunity to serve in any capacity, I may take it, but I love what I do, which is acting.

We have been able to identify some serious-minded people and we plan to give them support. It is not possible for everyone to be in government. If you think you must be there before things work out, the country will still be in problems. All I can say is for us to give good advice to those who are there. By that, you would have contributed positively to the country in a way.

Did you encourage your children to take after you?

I feel so happy about it because it goes a long way to say that I have been institutionalised. I have passed the baton on to them and they will also pass it to one or two of their children. Once it continues like this, our name will remain indelible. At the moment, I don’t really watch my movies anymore. I prefer to watch the ones my children featured in. Whenever I sight loopholes, I try to call their attention to it. If their argument is superior to mine, I surrender.

How come your daughter, Bidemi, is always in the news for the wrong reasons?

All the people blackmailing my daughter are bastards. If truly she did whatever they’ve said she did (dating a married man), whether she likes it or not, she will be punished. But if they are telling lies and trying to destroy her image, the people involved will not go unpunished.

If you know Bidemi well, she is highly disciplined and she has her own way of doing things. Unlike her sister, Sola, Bidemi is outspoken and principled. I don’t think it is an offence to be principled. So, if she doesn’t take nonsense, so be it.

Everyone cannot be like me. Though it is good to be humble, I can tell you that being humble also attracts unnecessary insults. Since some people don’t like being insulted, they keep to themselves. But people like to attribute it to many things. If you decide to blackmail people unnecessarily, then, you must check yourself. It means something is wrong with you, and there is a problem between you and God.

So you are certain your daughter didn’t have an affair with Bose Alao’s husband?

When I heard the news, the first thing I did was to call her to know what went wrong. I know if she had done that, she would not tell me she did it, but I know my daughter. Apart from seeing her grow, even as an adult, I am very close to my children and I know what they do every minute. If you ask me where Bidemi is as I speak with you, I will tell you. I don’t joke with my female children especially. Their lifestyle is important to me.

For people who are always blackmailing our actresses, they should turn a new leaf. This is part of the disadvantages of the social media, as everyone wants to talk. A friend once told me that some people are mentally disturbed or sick. Since no one checks what they say, they say whatever they like and get away with it.

I am not saying our actresses are completely innocent. We actually have people with funny characters, but the majority of them do not engage in the things they are accused of.

Are you closer to your daughters than your sons?

The female children have challenges mostly. If anyone goes after a lady and she shuns his advances, he may go to social media to insult her.

I always advise journalists to stay away from false stories because the more you get into them, the more trouble you find for yourself. We’ve forgotten some journalists today even though they are still alive. Instead of them to practise the profession diligently, they were busy blackmailing people.

Have you ever been blackmailed?

That is not news anymore. I have been blackmailed many times, but I sailed through. They have called me a ‘ritualist’ before, which means I am a murderer.

What came to mind when certain people claimed you used your wives for rituals?

Initially, as a human being, I felt bad. But my skin is too thick for all that rubbish. Instead of feeling bad, I will go on my knees and pray to God to give His judgment. And I always see these people get their judgment. I don’t want to mention names. I don’t know anything about what is happening to Kemi Olunloyo and I don’t follow her on social media. Apart from her, there are other people who have rubbished my name in the past.

Do you see yourself getting married again?

At my age and with over a dozen children, why should I marry another wife? I still have a wife, but people are mixing things up. I have heard many terrible things about me. There was a time some people said I have moved in with another woman. They have forgotten that my wife, who is still with me, Alhaja Bimbo, was a senior to my late wife, Henrietta. The first child we had together has graduated in America, but they think I just got a new wife. She is the only woman left with me.

What do I need another wife for? Maybe you can tell me. Becoming a polygamist wasn’t my design. With my upbringing, I am not supposed to be a polygamist. Though my father was a polygamist, he didn’t marry the number of women I have married.

My first wife, Sola’s mother, was working with the Nigerian Customs Service. She was not involved in my industry and then I would travel for two months. So, I was tempted to take a second wife. But unfortunately for me, in the circumstances I cannot explain till today, I lost two wives within a year. You can imagine that! So, I decided not to remarry again, though I had girlfriends; I was a ladies’ man.

Two of my girlfriends were very close to the house and my friends too would come with their girlfriends. So, we were almost turning the house into a brothel. Later, my doctor, a lady, visited me and advised me to remarry. She said it was the best for me, insisting that I was too young to be without a woman. I lost my two wives in 1992 and 1993 respectively, and I was not up to 40 then.

I agreed to take a wife in the long run, but I had two women who were intimate with me – Henrietta and Alhaja Bimbo. Since I couldn’t say no to either of them, I married two wives again.

Do you regret marrying many wives?

At a point, when I started having issues, yes, I regretted. I said to myself that if I didn’t have more than a wife, I would not be in the news in a bad light. But am I the only one that has domestic family problems? I don’t think I am the only one. Without being too negative or defensive, we have seen a family where the children, father, and mother died at the same time.

I thank God for all that might have happened to me. But regrets come when there are issues. But all my wives have given me beautiful and responsible children.

How have you been coping without Henrietta?

I cannot say it has been easy because her memory will never leave me. She was in the industry with me for a very long time, for 22 years. We were acting and moving around together. All that has been written about her in the media is enough for me to continue to think about her. She had her own shortcomings and I have mine too, but we endured each other. With all the things she did, I will continue to miss her.

Don’t you think it is unwise to marry in the same industry?

It is perhaps the best because getting married to a woman in your industry means she will understand your trade and she will not have issues with your movement. I salute those who are not in the entertainment industry but are married to people there. No matter how strong they are, they will always question the sincerity of their spouses.

What would you have loved to do differently?

I would have loved to be more educated. In whatever you do in life, education matters. I know there are people who are educated than me but are not doing much as I do. But I have always believed that if I have had more education, I would have done many good things many years ago for the betterment of the industry.

Why didn’t you take education seriously at a time?

I started acting at the age of 10 like I said earlier. But for a former Federal Commissioner for Works and Housing, Alhaji Femi Okunnu, maybe I won’t even go to a higher institution at all. So, proceeding to Yaba College of Technology at a time I did was because he advised me to get a good education. I did business administration at Yabatech.

How do you wish to be remembered?

I want to be remembered for my professionalism, as one of the people who fought for the stability of the movie industry and as one who contributed hugely to the growth of the industry.

If you want to be a successful actor, my advice is to get trained regardless of how talented you think you are. Someone must still take you through the rudiments of the profession. If you are not trained and you find yourself in the industry as a result of your talent, you will still go back to learn certain things or you learn on the job, but learning on the job takes more years.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/wish-educated-jide-kosoko/

The Lagos State Government says the state is targeting being the third largest economy in Africa.

The state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, at a workshop on Thursday, added that the target was the reason his administration embarked on capacity building training for the state public servants.

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Benson Oke, described the workshop organised by the state’s Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions as a strategic move to prepare public servants for the challenges of being one of the most prosperous economies in Africa.

He said, “We are presently the fifth largest economy in Africa; we are determined to move from the fifth to the third largest economy in Africa.

“What this means is that we want to replicate most of the things obtainable in the United Kingdom, Soviet Union and other developed countries of the world in Lagos with little adjustment because of the difference of the social settings.”

Ambode said experience had shown that training increased productivity and helped to maximise the capacities of people in organisations such as the Lagos State Public Service.

He said apart from the benefits that the state stood to gain, he expected the civil servants to also benefit by becoming effective leaders and making better decisions in their works.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/lagosll-soon-third-largest-africas-economy/

The Oyo State Government has commenced the demolition of 200 blocks of dilapidated classrooms, while it has set aside the sum of N5.6bn for the construction of new ones.

The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof Adeniyi Olowofela, who stated this in Ibadan during the demolition of some of the classrooms at the Ibadan Municipal Government Primary School III, Mokola, Ibadan, on Thursday, said the state government had approved N2bn for the construction of blocks of classrooms in 100 schools across the state.

Olowofela said, “The administration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi has decided to leave a lasting legacy. We have equally identified the need to build new structures and renovate those ones that we can renovate. But we have realised that there are some structures, especially those ones that were built in the 1950s with mud bricks, that could no longer stand the test of time because of structural problems. There are many of such structures in our schools.

“It is the directive of the government that such structures should be pulled down and this is why we are pulling this one down. I also need to reiterate that government has set aside N5.6bn to construct new buildings in our various schools in the state, aside from model schools.

“Currently, the sum of N2bn has been awarded for 100 schools in our various secondary schools. We have also set aside N3.5bn for primary schools. The old structures that we inherited, which are no longer useful to anybody and which have become dens of criminals, armed robbers and thieves structures, are being pulled down.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/oyo-marks-200-blocks-classrooms-demolition/

Nigeria Senate has expressed worries over the heightened insecurity in the North East, saying that child suicide bombings in the zone has increased in 2017 compared to previous times.

In a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume representing Borno South Senatorial district, he explained that the level of attacks by insurgents has escalated to a worrisome level.

Giving the figures on 2017 attacks and its casualties, the lawmaker said: “357 civilians were killed during 55 attacks.”

“The deadliest month was in August when the militant group killed 100 people, followed by November with 76 people already killed.”

He also reminded the Senate that 103 Chibok girls, 10 women from Askira/Uba and 3 staff of University of Maiduguri were still being held captive.

Reacting, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu acknowledging the spate of attacks, saying Adamawa and Yobe States were also not left out.

He urged the Senate to allow Committee on National Security handle the matter.

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki referred the motion to Senator Ahmed Lawan led Committee on National Security.

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/child-suicide-bombings-north-east-increased-senate/

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, yesterday declared that Nigerian roads were not as bad as many people were claiming.

He, however, stated that the roads needed to be adequately maintained.

According to the former Lagos State Governor, some of the roads had outlived their design life, some still within their design life, while others were being built.

The Minister said these in his keynote address at the United Nations-sponsored capacity building programme for the Federal Road Safety Corps.

Fashola said, “They were built in the 1970s, and not only have they outlived their design life, they have had to deal with tonnage and capacities well beyond what their design intended. Can such a road be truly expected to stay intact and deliver a pleasant motoring experience?

“Thankfully, these types of roads are now receiving attention under President Buhari, as the Calabar-Itu-Odukpani, Gombe-Biu, Ilorin-Jebba and other roads that fall within this category are being awarded for reconstruction, along with the third class of roads, which are just being built.”

He added, “Members of the public must know that roads are depreciating assets. They do not last forever and require regular maintenance and, with time, replacement, if they are to serve their intended purpose. These factors of abuse and lack of maintenance combine to reduce the quality of our motoring experience on the roads.

“With this background, I will now pose the question: How bad are our roads? Some have repeatedly said, ‘All the roads are bad.’ That is not true. We have good parts and bad parts caused by abuse and lack of maintenance.

“I undertook a tour of our roads earlier this year to see things for myself. We went by road and travelled in two buses, driving for at least 12 hours every day. We left at 8am daily and drove until 8pm at the least. On one occasion, we drove for 18 hours, from 8am to 2am the following day.

“We drove through different sections of roads that had outlived their design life, those that are within their design life with failures in some cases, and those that are currently under construction.”

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/nigerian-roads-not-bad-babatunde-fashola-claims/

Senator Dino Melaye who was awarded the ‘Senator of the Year’ for the second time, few weeks ago in Abuja, has flaunted his exotic cars in style.

Influential Nigerian politician representing Kogi West at the 8th National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye, has taken to his Instagram page to flaunt a collection of his exotic cars.

The stylish lawmaker who took his multi-million Naira cars including a Lamborghini, Aston Martin and a Ferrari to a car wash at the federal capital, Abuja, shared a video on his page and wrote; Wetin you wan Talk again? Oya open ya mouth.

See the video below via source link;

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/senator-dino-melaye-flaunts-exotic-abuja-car-wash-video/

According to the Port-Harcourt based singer, he has in this year, picked and returned £4300K with credit card, iPhone 7, car key, Samsung Tab, including a wrong cash transfer of N71k and 16k airtime that was mistakenly sent to him.

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Sharing a picture of the wrong 4300 airtime that was sent to him, he wrote;

‘I actually don’t know if anyone can explain this to me.. is either someone will mistakenly send money to my account or send airtime to my phone or forget something important that I’ll be the one to pick it up for them…. some people dey pray for this kind awuf sha….??

just in this year I’ve picked 4300pounds with credit card, iPhone 7, car key, Samsung tab, I’ve received 71k from mistaken transfer, 16k airtime and now 4500 airtime and I returned all back to there various owners……’

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/2017-alone-singer-duncan-mighty-picked-returned-4300k-things/

A proposal to ban smoking in French films has been met with splutters of indignation in a land raised on images of puffing, pouting silver-screen stars.

The idea was floated last week by a senator from the opposition Socialist Party, Nadine Grelet-Certenais, during a parliamentary debate on how to help the French quit smoking.

Quoting a study that found 70 percent of new French films show at least one character lighting up, the senator accused filmmakers of painting smoking in a positive light.

“It trivialises and even promotes smoking, particularly among children and teenagers who are the biggest consumers of these films on the internet,” she argued.

Health Minister Agnes Buzyn, a trained doctor who has pushed through a series of price hikes that will take a pack of cigarettes from 7 euros currently to 10 euros, said she was in “total agreement” with the senator.

“I don’t understand the importance of cigarettes in French cinema,” she said, vowing “strong action” to end the “trivialising of smoking on social media and in films.”

Smoking-related diseases are the leading cause of preventable deaths in France and the starring role of cigarettes in French cinema has long drawn blame for the lasting allure of smoking among the country’s youth.

In recent years, however, successive governments have attempted to kick the national habit, first by banning smoking in public places and then introducing neutral cigarette packs.

Those measures met with only mild opposition but the proposal to airbrush smokers from cinema screens had film buffs — and self-declared defenders of all things French — immediately up in arms.

“If no longer showing cigarettes in films stops people smoking, let’s also banish crimes, rapes, theft, drugs and other forms of deviant behaviour and at last we will live in a peaceful world,” the regional daily La Republique des Pyrenees wrote in a sarcastic editorial.

Philosopher and commentator Raphael Enthoven also poured scorn on the idea, saying that “injecting morality in the Seventh Art (cinema) is like pouring Coca-Cola into a Chateau-Lafite“, one of France’s most prestigious wines.

Politician Florian Philippot, a former vice-president of the far-right National Front, also weighed in on the issue, saying the idea of snatching cigarettes from actors’ fingers was proof that French society was “increasingly oppressive”.

Others questioned whether foreign films would also be subject to the ban and whether the government would go so far as to purge cigarettes from film archives.

In a sign of the emotions stirred by the debate, France Info public radio posted excerpts on its website from five iconic French films featuring actors with a cigarette clamped between their lips.

They included Jean-Luc Godard’s black-and-white New Wave classic Breathless, which features a supremely cool, chain-smoking Jean-Paul Belmondo in his breakout role as a roving criminal, and Alain Delon, as an icy ex-con in Le Cercle Rouge.

The home of brands Gauloises and Gitanes is not the first country to consider ways to tackle any aura of glamour still attached to screen smoking.

India, which has the world’s biggest film industry by output, has introduced a system of anti-smoking messages that must be shown every time an actor lights.

In 2013, US director Woody Allen pulled his movie “Blue Jasmine” from India in protest at the warnings. (AFP)

Source:- http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/senator-makes-proposal-ban-smoking-films/

[img]http://www.exclusivepp.com.ng/senator-makes-proposal-ban-smoking-films/[/img]