₦airaland Forum

Ikoyi Registry in Lagos Nigeria, is the most recognized marriage registry in the country with an average of five thousand marriages monthly. Listed below are 3 secrets you need to know about getting married at Ikoyi registry.

1. Fee Requirements

The regular registration fee is N31,000 with a minimum of two weeks wait period. For couples who may like to speed up the process you would have to pay between N10,000 – N20,000 additional. This varies depending on the official that wants to assist you. Bear in mind that the speed up process is a shortcut �.


2. Restrictions of Professional Photographers

Professional photographers are not allowed. This forces you to make use of the in-house annoying and expensive ones �. Luckily there is a way out, in this age and time of smartphones, have your friends and family take pictures with their mobile devices, we can bet they would come out all cool �. Sharing the pictures among each other has been made easy with https://coshots.com, a private social media app that helps you share photos and videos within a closed group.

3. Avoid Unnecessary Expenses

There is really no point to display flamboyance at a marriage registry if you would still do other wedding celebration. Flower bouquets, pin ups e.t.c will be adverted, with rental fees on the highside.

After your marriage registry it’s time to start planning for the big event, visit[url] https://palmfront.com[/url] to manage a gift registry, create a wedding website and manage a free cloud album.

For more info on getting married at Ikoyi registry, you could read more previous article: Everything you Need To Know About Getting Married At Ikoyi Registry

Source: https://palmfront.com/blog/getting-married-at-ikoyi-registry/

The All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus in the Senate will meet today to salvage the ministerial nomination of the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi, whose nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari has been enmeshed in controversy in the last two weeks.

APC senators, intend to present a united front to ensure that the former governor scales the screening this week, and if need be use their slim majority to outvote senators of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the event of a division in the Senate.

Although it could not be ascertained if the PDP Senate caucus was also going to meet on Amaechi’s nomination, but it is likely that the opposition party’s senators will vote against the former governor who has been engaged in a war of attrition with his successor in Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, also a member of the PDP.

Amaechi’s screening could not take place last week following a petition against his screening and confirmation by a non-governmental organisation in Rivers State, The Integrity Group.

The group had alleged that Amaechi sold four independent power plants belonging to the state for N70 billion and diverted the money into his private account, thereby asserting that the former governor was not fit to occupy a ministerial position.

Amaechi’s case was made more precarious when the white paper issued by the Rivers State Government on the report of Justice George Omereji’s Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which probed his administration was circulated to senators in Abuja.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/ministerial-nomination-apc-senate-caucus-meets-unites-to-save-amaechi/

The issue of hiking electricity tariff in the country has elicited mixed reactions. While power firms say it is necessary for them to recover cost, consumers say the industry must attain a level of stability before tariff hike. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, says Nigerians must be prepared to pay more for electricity. Emefiele who was head, Nigerian delegation to the International Monetary Fund/the World Bank Group meetings in Lima, Peru, says the country is not sliding to into recession. He says Nigeria came out of the meetings with a road map on the way forward, including adopting economic diversification and stricter foreign exchange controls, Group Business Editor, SIMEON EBULU, was there.

How would you describe proceedings at this International Monetary Fund (IMF)/World Bank meetings?

Aside from the World Bank and IMF meetings that we had, we also held several side meetings with some potential foreign investors who have shown tremendous interest in Nigeria; we held meetings with some international banks, who are seeking to develop their relationship with Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as well as the Federal Ministry of Finance. We also held meetings with some rating agencies to provide insight into the economy and what we are doing to support and grow the economy.

Basically, what we can say as the main issue is that the world finance leaders as well as the governors of central banks, came to the conclusion, to the point where the global growth was further revised downward.

When the Spring meetings were held in April, global growth was projected at 3.8 per cent, but at this meeting, the growth was revised downward to 3.1 per cent. For African economies in April when we held the meeting, global growth was projected at over five per cent, but at this meeting, global growth for 2015 has been revised downward at 3.75 per cent, and in fact for next year, growth for Africa has been projected at about 4.25 per cent.

What is the implication of this downward trend?

What this tells us is that the slowdown, as a result of the drop in commodity prices, or the end of the quantitative easing (to the extent that the United States (U.S) is already contemplating raising rates through sale of assets), as well as the geo-political tensions, have affected very many economies to the extent that they are slowing down, and in some cases, some of the economies have also gone into recession.

What is the way forward?

The meetings concentrated on what can be done to reverse the trend and what kind of specific options and solutions that can be provided for the different economies in order to turn their situations around. Basically, for those economies that are really affected by drop in commodities prices, and in this case Nigeria, the basic solutions and suggestions that came up were that first, there is a need for us to diversify our economy away from oil and commodity prices.

We are already doing that, and we use this opportunity to thank Mr. President for the various interventions he has made in support of our various efforts to diversify the economy away from oil, or away from commodities’ prices. That gives credence to what we are doing in our various attempts to catalyse the economy, by making intervention funds available to support agriculture, Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, and other various interventions that we have put in place to support the growth of the economy.

Another solution that came up, was that countries that are affected by commodity prices and other external shocks should adopt country-specific options that they think would help in addressing their problems. That gives credence to the specific options that we have taken regarding our decision, not to continue to adopt an indeterminate depreciation of the naira. So, we will continue to monitor the situation (as I have always said), and to ensure that we refocus our mind, and everything we do, to the extent that we see what we can do to continue to conserve our reserves and achieve some level of stability in the exchange rate.

What are the high points of the African caucus meetings with the IMF/WBG?

There were some specific meetings in the African caucus, which is the Group of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors from Africa, which was held specifically with the Managing Director of the IMF, Mrs. Christine Lagarde and President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Kim.

At that meeting, the African caucus used the opportunity to raise five key issues; one, we discussed how the World Bank and IMF can assist African countries in enhancing financing for sustainable development. These should help the African countries on how they can raise finance and how they can receive support from the IMF and the World Bank to ensure that by 2030, extreme poverty would have been eradicated.

The African governors and the IMF also discussed how the world financial bodies could assist African countries in stemming illicit financial flows so as to reduce, or eliminate the incidence of loss of revenues and taxes from African countries.

The African caucus also discussed how the World Bank and IMF could assist African countries in achieving their economic transformation and diversification project, so as to reduce the adverse impact of the drop in commodity prices on their economy.

The caucus also discussed how the World Bank and IMF, could assist in financing regional transformative infrastructure projects. And indeed even on this, we even held our side meetings with the World Bank Team (which was headed by Nigeria’s Ms. Arunma Oteh). We had very constructive engagements with her, and the IMF have made a commitment that they will assist Nigeria in whatever form, in raising or sourcing finance for some of our infrastructure projects.

Fifth, the governors and finance ministers, also discussed how the IMF will assist African countries in reducing diversity, quotas and other problems that may appear. Here, we’re talking about increased representation of Africans, both in the World Bank and IMF. At the specific meetings that we held with the World Bank, the President, Dr. Jim Kim, specifically mentioned the fact that three notable Africans, one of which included our own Ms. Oteh, were appointed as Executive Vice Presidents, to support the attempt by the World Bank to ensure that Africans have representation in the World Bank. But of course at the IMF, we also canvassed the need for and to press further, that more Africans are represented at the senior and board levels of the IMF, and we received commitment at the IMF that this will be done.

What level of success has been recorded in the nation’s reform efforts so far?
Yes, in Nigeria, we have been adopting reforms and this started about two years ago, or much earlier. The prime issue from the fiscal side, has been the fact that we have tried to expand our tax-base so as to improve on revenue. You will all recall that last year, the Federal Ministry of Finance engaged with McKinsey, and within the period, McKinsey raised almost N75billion as incremental revenue. And this year, they have been given the target to raise it to a minimum of N150 billion, as a way of raising our revenue base so as to begin to see how we can shore up our revenue and rely less on oil.

CBN’s denial of access of foreign exchange to some items has been construed as a ban?
Let me repeat that we did not ban the importation of any item; what we just did was to exclude (them) from accessing foreign exchange. These are items we think can be produced in this country. In fact, in the past, these items have been produced in the country in large quantity, and we think that because of the challenges we have, following the drop in commodity prices and the drop in revenue accruing to the nation, we felt there is a need for us to begin to produce those items in the country. That position still stands.

I must have been quoted out of context if anybody said I am reconsidering that position. What I only said is, the exclusion stands, and I have even mentioned in different fora, list of different items which should even be excluded, which some manufacturing companies think can be produced within the country, but we have said no, that we need to properly digest these 41 items that have been excluded from foreign exchange.

The basic issue is this; there is a slowdown. It is a fact that revenue has dropped as a result of the fall in commodity prices. If that has happened, we need to prioritise, just like Mr. President has said. We need to prioritise to make sure that foreign exchange is made available only to those who are importing essential raw materials and products we know cannot be produced within the country. That is the only way we can conserve our foreign exchange and reduce the demand for foreign exchange for the importation of some of these products we are saying can be produced in the country. And we will continue to plead and crave everybody’s indulgence, give us the support, as we are convinced that these items can be produced here in this country.

I have read and heard from people, saying the Central Bank is preventing people from getting foreign exchange. Let me also say that the Central Bank’s role is to intervene in the foreign exchange market, and we have tried as much as possible the broadening of the foreign exchange base, so that those who earn foreign exchange through export proceeds can also make their funds available in the market for everybody to share.

So, from time to time, we will continue to do our best to provide foreign exchange in the market, to meet the import needs of our people, but what is important, is for us to understand that there are challenges facing practically all the countries in the world. There are only just few countries that we can say are insulated for now, but even at that, they, including the US, know that they have to be careful in whatever contagious action they take, otherwise, it will also affect them.

So, we need everybody’s cooperation to ensure we meet those targets, we need to refocus our minds and think of the best way to diversify our economy, away from excessive reliance on oil.

How true is it that investors are exiting our markets?
It is true that investors are pulling out their investments in the country. And I must tell you that in the third quarter of this year alone, I read in a report that almost $48billion were capital outflows that left Emerging and Frontier markets.

So, what does that mean?
It means that people are pulling funds and are beginning to look at economies, such as the U. S. and other areas where they think there are opportunities, and there are fears that the drop in commodity prices will ultimately affect economies that depend solely on commodity exports. And that is why we are saying, it is time for us to think as nationalistic Nigerians; that we have to carry our cross by ourselves; we have to solve our problems by ourselves; nobody is going to solve our problems for us. That is why we will continue to appeal to all of us, to embrace and support the measures and policies that we are putting in place, because all these are meant to see how we can diversify our economy away from excessive reliance on oil.

Whatever support that is needed, the Central Bank and the Deposit Money Banks, are willing to give those support, and I can assure you that in the course of time, even interest rate will begin to come down, and our people will begin to enjoy the benefits of the actions that we have put in place to diversify our economy.

What is your take on the push for electricity tariff hike?
When you talk about inflation and exchange rate as being the model for pricing tariff and all that, you are very correct. And that is why we are doing our best to see to it that we keep inflation under check, and that is why we have been (I use the word stubborn) in even adjusting the currency further, and you will notice that in the last eight months, we have achieved so relative stability in exchange rate, and that will continue. But I also read in the papers that we are not going to continue to enjoy the tariffs that we have seen so far.

For you to have good electricity supply, you need to pay a little more, and the truth is that, if we compare the cost of generating our own electricity using our generators, with the cost of using the existing distribution companies’ grid, you will find out that what we spend on generators is significantly higher than the cost/kilowatt hour, using the DISCOS. For example, using your generator costs as much as N80/kilowatt hour, and today, using your DISCOs, you are paying less than N20/kilowatt hour in some of the cases.

What we are saying, is, even if you have to pay a little more so that you can throw away your generator, pay a little more so that you can have more electricity, and I think it is worth it. These are some of the policies that the NERC is putting in place to support what is called the Cost Reflective Tariff. But I can assure everybody that whatever that cost reflective tariff turns out to be, it will still be substantially lower than the N80/kilowatt hour spent today on our generators.

To what extent has CBN intervention to DISCOs and GENCOs galvanised the power sector?
We have seen some improvement in power generation and it is also true that the wheeling capacity in the transmission grid, is limited. I am also aware that we’ve been in discussion with government about efforts being made to encourage investment in the transmission grid, so as to improve the capacity of the transmission to be able to absorb more energy that is generated so that more power can get to our people.

We will continue to do so and in the course of time, the actions that are being taken by government to improve the transmission capacity, will be unveiled to all of us and will agree that actions are being taken.

The funds were provided to distribution and generating companies, as well as gas firms, but not all of those funds have been disbursed, because of the issues that we are trying to resolve with the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, as well as the Nigerian Electricity Bulk Commission. Once those issues are resolved, more of those funds will be disbursed and then we can start to talk about the impact. Yes, those DISCOS are supposed to use the money to buy meters, transformers, and so on so as to improve their capacity, while the GENCOS are required to use the funds to acquire equipment, replace some of their obsolete equipment so that they can also improve on their generation capacity.

We’ve started to see the impact of this positively, by the time the remaining funds are disbursed, it will help to improve the distribution and generation capacities, that is why I told you earlier that government, realising that the transmission capacity may be hindered, is already taking steps on how to invest in transmission, so as to improve capacity in that area.

Is Nigeria sliding into recession?
Let me quickly correct that, Nigeria is not sliding into recession. We have had two quarters of slow growth. Like I told you, even the world economy has revised its growth outlook. So, what we are saying is that, because we have seen two successive quarters of slow growth, that we should embrace the policies that we are putting in place both at the monetary and fiscal fronts, so that we can see a reversal and increased growth, not slowing growth, so no one has talked about Nigeria going into a recession. It means we need to work hard to reverse the trend so we can move to positive growth, rather than slowing growth.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/why-electricity-tariff-must-be-increased/

Expectations that the Senate would screen the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi were dashed on Thursday, when the upper chamber of parliament deferred further screening of ministerial nominees to next Tuesday primarily due to a division in the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions on the petition against the ex-governor’s confirmation.

Of the 21 ministerial nominees whose names were submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari on September 30, only those of Amaechi and Adebayo Shittu from Oyo State have not been screened.

The Senate had considered it imperative to exhaust the screening of the first batch of nominees before commencing on the second list.

Amaechi was initially slated for screening on Wednesday but this was deferred to yesterday following the non-submission of the report of its ethics committee on the petition against Amaechi’s confirmation.

The petition submitted by the Integrity Group had alleged fraud and diversion of N70 billion by the former governor.

The Senate did not give a reason for the second deferment but we learnt that the decision might have stemmed from the fact that the committee is divided over Amaechi, resulting in the delay in the submission of its report clearing him for screening.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/senate-ethics-cttee-divided-over-amaechi/

The British Government has formally asked the Nigerian Government to assist it with its investigations into the activities of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke when she held sway over the oil and gas sector between 2010 and 2015 and have requested details of transactions relating to the investigations in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the National Petroleum Development Corporation (NPDC).

The former minister was arrested by the British National Crime Agency (NCA) alongside four other people in London last Friday, but was granted bail after over five hours of questioning on Friday and Monday. It emerged yesterday that most of the investigations so far centre around gifts-in-kind allegedly received by the former minister especially in the payments for rental accommodation in a London Flat in St John’s Wood area of London said to be occupied by the former minister, and several payments said to be for luxury cars while the then minister was in London by a number of oil traders who had contracts with Nigerian petroleum entities under her watch.
NCA said investigations on the former minister were commenced in 2013 by the British authorities under the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) and transferred to it earlier this year.

In furtherance of its investigation, sources close to the UK’s financial crimes bursting units said yesterday that the British authorities had formally requested for legal assistance of the Nigerian government to provide it with information on her bank statements, assets declaration, and other official records based on her activities while she was minister. This will be one of the first files before the next Attorney General expected to be appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari following senate confirmations of his ministerial list.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/uk-formally-asks-nigeria-for-legal-assistance-on-alison-madueke/

The Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has said ex-President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the will power to fight corruption.

The elder statesman, who spoke when he hosted the Think Nigeria First Initiative Group, who visited him at his Asokoro home in Abuja, said President Jonathan meant well for the country but lacked the will power to tackle corrupt politicians.

He said: “Jonathan is a gentleman. He is too gentle. Drivers under his administration are now living in palatial buildings. In advanced countries, when you are living above your means, people query you. This is not so in Nigeria. Former governors and lawmakers are asking for immunity.

“Jonathan meant well for this country, but the will power to fight corruption was not there.

“In an ideal society, when a man who earns N20,000 as salary and all of a sudden, he acquires something that is worth N100,000, he should be questioned. But in Nigeria, immunity has covered those that should be questioned.

“This is not the kind of country we want. Being a gentleman is not enough to govern this country.”

Clark announced his retirement from politics. He said he had quit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and would not join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/edwin-clark-jonathan-lacked-willpower-to-fight-corruption/

The agitation for power shift to the central senatorial district in the 2016 governorship election in Edo State was at the weekend stepped up by the Esan ethnic nationality in the state with a call on all their sons and daughters to come together and speak with one voice towards the realisation of the dream.

The senatorial district, made of five local government areas at a press conference held in Benin City, by the Esan Journalists Forum (EJF) after a meeting with traditional rulers from Esanland, declared that for the area to move forward, all hands must be on deck.

National President of EJF, Mr. Timothy Okojie-Ave, who made the briefing, said the area is conscious and “conversant with the political sophistication and contributions of Esan people, who are hardworking, lovers of peaceful coexistence and very rich in culture and tradition and committed to the development of the country.”

Okojie-Ave pointed out that a planned two-day summit with the theme: ‘The future of Esan Nation, Reasons to be Hopeful,” scheduled to hold before end of this year.

“Our people are indeed worried about various developments we see in Esan and we really do not see much change in the area of development and as a matter of fact we are worried that areas that we see developments in the past, today, we tend to see retrogression and this gives us reason to be really concerned,” he stated.

The body recalled that “it was one of our illustrious fathers, a bona fide son of Esanland, Chief Anthony Enahoro who moved the much celebrated motion for Nigeria’s independence and indeed that motion brought Nigeria out of the shackles of dependence and servitude.”

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/edo-2016-esan-ethnic-group-demands-power-shift/

Security agaents may be looking beyond the Boko Haram sect in their investigation into weekend’s explosions in Kuje and Nyanya in Abuja.

“It may be an opportunistic crime by people with other motives. Boko Haram is not ruled out but nothing is also ruled out. It’s investigation that can determine the true situation and the investigation is in full swing,” a security source said.

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Abayomi Olonishakin, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal and Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari led the government team to the explosion site on Saturday.

Yesterday, security agents were still combing the Kuje site for evidence. The place remained cordoned off. No activities were allowed. Residents and pedestrians were still shocked. No fewer than 20 people died from the explosions. The 41 injured are being treated in hospitals.

Vehicles coming into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were being thoroughly searched. Security operatives at checkpoints within the city especially those along the Airport road

At the Giri junction through to the Airport Express way, there was traffic hold up as a resut of the search.

Vehicles spent close to 45 minutes to pass thorough the military checkpoint.

Churches within the city and the satellite towns yesterday strengthened security.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/probe-of-abuja-explosions-to-extend-beyond-boko-haram/

Former national deputy president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr. Issa Aremu, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to rescind his decision to make himself the Minister of Petroleum.

He said Buhari would be sending a wrong signal that the nation’s economy would still largely depend on oil and gas sector if he goes ahead to be petroleum minister.

Instead, Aremu urged the federal government to revive the rail transportation system, noting that “we can create job through rail transportation more than jobs created from the oil and gas industry.”
The labour leader spoke with journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State on the sideline of the seventh day fidau prayer for the repose of the soul of his late mother, Alhaja Afusatu Aremu.

He added: “I went through the ministerial list that President Buhari wants to be another minister of petroleum resources, he does not need that he should rather be minister of railway or textile.

“What I am saying is that the future of Nigeria lies in the manufacturing. I think he should rather manage the real sector of the economy.

“With the best of efforts oil is exhaustible, Japan, China don’t have oil and gas yet they are producing all the electronics and cars we are using. “For him to assume the ministerial position of the petroleum resources means that we are still oil dependent in our focus. We should not reduce resources to exhaustible oil and gas.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/former-nlc-vice-president-cautions-buhari-against-heading-petroleum-ministry/

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for a radical “change” in national orientation, saying this could only be accomplished if Nigerians change by “being law-abiding citizens”.

In his Independence Day broadcast read this morning on national television, the president also revealed that he had ordered for a complete audit of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), among other revenue-generating agencies of government, for improved service delivery and better management of the country’s resources.

He equally confirmed that the first list of ministerial nominees was sent to the Senate president Wednesday, adding that “subsequent lists will be sent in due course”.

Buhari, in the broadcast, reminded Nigerians that Independence Day is a day for joy and celebrations “irrespective of the circumstances we find ourselves in because it is the day, 55 years ago, we liberated ourselves from the shackles of colonialism and began our long march to nationhood and to greatness”.

“No temporary problems or passing challenges should stop us from honouring this day. Let us remind ourselves of the gifts God has given us. Our Creator has bequeathed to us numbers – Nigeria is the ninth most populated country on the planet. We have in addition: arable land, water, forests, oil and gas, a coastline, and solid minerals,” he said.

The president noted that Nigeria has all the attributes of a great nation, but acknowledged it had not attained its full potential “because the one commodity we have been unable to exploit to the fullest is unity of purpose”.

Unity, he said, would have enabled Nigeria to achieve not only a more orderly political evolution and integration but also continuity and economic progress.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/buhari-calls-for-change-in-national-orientation-in-independence-day-speech/

The House of Representatives on Wednesday directed its Committee on Power, when constituted, to investigate the conception and award of the contract for the $6 billion Mambilla multi-purpose dam and hydro-electric power project which it alleged was awarded without recourse to due process and relevant laws for award of contracts.

It also directed the committee to liaise with the government to ascertain whether the work was commensurate with monies released for the project which is intended to generate 3,050 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

The resolution followed a motion sponsored by Hon. Austin Chukwukere (Imo APC) who noted that the sum of $6,109,729,609 was estimated for the power project out of which the federal government was expected to provide 15 per cent while the remaining funds would be provided by the contractor.

“The project was to be implemented in two phases; while the first phase was strictly for engineering design, the second phase would include construction that would last a period of 60 months.

“That the alleged contract was awarded at the cost of USD 6 billion, apparently without recourse to competitive bidding, which is the hallmark of diligence, transparency and accountability in the award of such huge contracts, thus giving a feeling that the sum may have been inflated,” he added.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/10/house-plans-probe-of-6bn-mambilla-hydro-power-project/

The Senate yesterday received communications from President Muhammadu Buhari requesting confirmation of the appointments of Mr. Babatunde Fowler as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Also, the President sent a request for approval of Alhaji Umaru Danbata as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Similarly, the name of Alhaji Ahmed Kuru was sent to the upper legislative body for confirmation as the Managing Director of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

The names of Kola Ayeye, Eberechukwu Uneze and Aminu Ismail were also forwarded for approval as Executive Directors.

Also yesterday, the President asked the Senate to approve a Development Policy Operation (DPO) loan (budget support) of $200 million to Lagos State from the World Bank.

Buhari, in a letter entitled: “Request for special approval of Lagos State DPO 11 under the Federal Government external borrowing rolling plan 2015 to 2017,” the President requested the Senate to endorse the loan expeditiously.

The letter reads in part: “I refer to the above subject and request approval for Development Policy Operation (DPO) loan (Budget Support) of US$200 million to Lagos State from the World Bank.

“You may wish to know that the World Bank approved a DPO loan for a total sum of US$600 million to Lagos State Government in 2010 to be implemented in three tranches of US$200 million per annum.

“The first tranche was approved by the National Assembly in the 2010-2012 Federal Government External (Rolling) Borrowing Plan and the second tranche was in the 2012-2014 plan.

“The DPO 1has been successfully implemented as adjudged by the World Bank, the Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved the second tranche of the DPO on April 29, 2015.

“The DPO 111 was captured in the Federal Government External (Rolling) Borrowing Plan of 2014-2016 which was discussed with the National Assembly, but was not concluded.

“Pursuant to the above, therefore I seek for your support to facilitate the consideration and approval of the DPO 111 loan of US$200million to enable the state to consolidate on the gains of the second tranche of the DPO 11.

‘It is instructive to note that key programme objectives of the DPO are already beginning to show in terms of increased inflow of private investment to the state, increased private sector employment opportunities and increased internally generated revenues.

Source:http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/buhari-awaits-senates-confirmation-on-new-appointments/

A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, monday revealed that his family paid ransom to his abductors before he was freed last Thursday.

Falae, who was also a presidential candidate on the platform of the defunct All Peoples Party (APP), was kidnapped penultimate Monday from his farm in Ondo State on his 77th birthday, and was released three days later.

He said his abductors only freed him after they received payment, adding that he walked for 15 kilometres before he was picked up by the police in Owo, several kilometres from Akure, the Ondo State capital, reported the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The former minister’s disclosure has put a lie to the claim by the Nigeria police that no ransom was paid before his release.

After spending three days in the kidnappers’ den, Falae who was escorted back home by top police officers, said he slept on the floor during his captivity.

In an interview with pressmen after he accompanied Falae home, the Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase had said that it was important for Falae to be safely back home.

He said no ransom was paid and that nobody had been arrested.

Asked about where the victim was rescued, the IG said it was a security matter and not meant for public consumption.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/i-paid-ransom-to-regain-my-freedom-falae-confesses/

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) is targeting 100 per cent revenue collection when the new tariff is effected in October.

Speaking yesterday, its Chairman, Dr. Sam Amadi said the Distribution Electricity Companies (Discos) which are looking forward to tariff and revenue increase are yet to ramp up their payment.

According to him, the power distribution firms are however paying gradually.

He said: “The Discos are paying and we are expecting revenue increase. We are working on a new tariff . But the Discos are yet to ramp up payment. They are paying gradually.

“We are expecting more improvement in tariff and revenue collection. We expect them to do 100 per cent as we are going when the new tariff becomes effective in October.”

Meanwhile, the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Plc (EKEDP) yesteray said it plans to abolish monthly fixed charges on its consumers.

Its Chief Executive Officer, Mr Oladele Amuda who spoke at a stakeholders forum in Lagos, said the company would present the proposal to NERC for approval.

“The company is proposing to abolish fixed monthly tariff charge from their bills but this has to be approved by NERC.

“I can assure you that if NERC approves the abolition of fixed charge by October, we will start to implement it immediately,” he said.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/new-electricity-tariff-becomes-effective-in-october/

Students of three Nigerian universities have built cars that will feature at the Shell Eco-marathon, Africa (SEMA) in South Africa from October 2 to 4. They are sponsored by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) Joint Venture.

The students of University of Lagos, University of Benin and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, collectively known as Team Nigeria, will join 40 teams from four countries to test the energy efficiency of their cars at the Zwartkops Raceway, near Pretoria. The event will be hosted by the School of Electrical Engineering at the University of Johannesburg. The Shell Eco-marathon competition challenges students in different continents (America, Europe, Asia and Africa) to build and race energy-efficient cars, and rewards those that travel farthest with the least amount of fuel.

“The sponsorship of the students opens an exciting phase in our long-standing support for education in Nigeria,” said Osagie Okunbor, Managing Director SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria.

“In addition to awarding scholarships, building schools and donating science equipment, we’re challenging the leaders of tomorrow to begin to think about, and act on the difficult energy choices facing a rapidly increasing world population.”

In 2014, the SPDC JV provided seed funding for the three universities and sponsored them to the European edition of the competition in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. They also participated in the maiden edition of Shell Eco-Marathon Africa which held in South Africa in 2014, with the University of Benin team winning the Best Designed Car award. SPDC organised a test drive at the Campos Mini stadium in Lagos in March 2015 to test the readiness of the students.

Source:http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/unilag-uniben-abu-students-for-shell-eco-marathon/

Concerned by the seeming shortage of cash in the banking system as well as the fragile macroeconomic environment, the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) on Tuesday reduced the cash reserve requirement (CRR) to 25 per cent, down from 31 per cent in order to ease banking system liquidity.

This is just as the CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, stated that no government agency had been exempted from complying with the treasury single account (TSA).

“The truth is that as far as I am concerned, I have not seen any memo that exempts any institution from the TSA. So, as a result, I will advise those who think that they are exempted to avoid creating confusion. I have not seen any memo on that and for that reason no organisation is exempted.“I will appeal to those affected by the movement of funds to the CBN to please comply,” the CBN governor said while responding to questions from journalists.

However, Emefiele’s position conflicted with the memo from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, which was sent to the CBN last week and was sighted by MONITOR9JA exempting 13 agencies of the federal government from transferring their revenues to the single treasury account.

A senior official of the central bank also acknowledged that the CBN had received the memo, but would not admit it publicly so as not to encourage other federal agencies to seek for exemption from the presidency.

Earlier, Emefiele, who read the communique at the end of the two-day meeting of the MPC in Abuja, said members resolved to retain the monetary policy rate (MPR) at 13 per cent, with the symmetric corridor of 200 basis points around the MPR, and retain the liquidity ratio at 30 per cent.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/cbn-cuts-crr-to-25-holds-benchmark-rate-at-13/

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo monday launched a children story book on peace for the 2015 International Peace Day.
The story book which was written by the ex-president, is titled: ‘Peace Story for Children’ and was presented to the public at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

While launching the 14-paged booklet, Obasanjo illustrated various cartoons displayed in the book.

The book launch was attended by pupils from different secondary schools in the state. The former president said it had become imperative to sow the seeds of peace in the minds of children whose minds were more receptive to ideas.

He added that doing this would ensure the entrenchment of sustainable peace in the country.

Obasanjo who is currently outside the country on peace missions to some other parts of the world was represented by the Director of OOPL Centre for Human Security, Prof. Peter Okebukola, noted that since the youths are the future leaders, imbibing the essence of peace at young age should be vigorously pursued.

The event also witnessed debate with the theme: ‘Whose Responsibility is it to ensure peace? Is it the people or the government?’
Okebukola disclosed that Obasanjo called him overnight to tell Nigerian children to imbibe the culture of peace while still young.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/obasanjo-launches-story-book-on-peace-for-children/

The World Bank is to help Lagos farmers increase agricultural productivity and enhance market access.

The State Project Coordinator, Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP), Mr Kehinde Ogunyinka who spoke yesterday in Lagos before the award of certificates to participants at its women and youth empowerment training, said 55 persons will be sponsored by theWorld Bank to start their businesses in areas such as rice cultivation, poultry farming and others.

He said 55 persons, which include women and youths were chosen from 125 persons who interested in participating in the training programme.

The Bank, according to him, will support the farmers in three value chains to create agro-business ventures that will be better managed as a step toward boosting livelihoods.

According to him, the World Bank through CADP has helped to lay the groundwork for vitalisation, offering technical expertise, bringing international best practices and engaging stakeholders on building a shared vision to renew agro business development.

To achieve this, he said bank and the state government are determined to improve every element of the value chain, from cultivation, harvesting, to packaging and logistics, to marketing.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/world-bank-to-support-lagos-farmers/

Senate President Bukola Saraki’s battle to prevent his appearance before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) collapsed yesterday.

His lawyers, Joseph Daudu (SAN) and Adebayo Adelodun (SAN), argued passionately against his appearance at the CCT where he is charged with alleged false declaration of assets, but the tribunal restated its order that the Inspector General of Police and other security agencies should arrest Saraki and produce him before the tribunal at 10am today.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja before which Adelodun argued an ex-parte application for an order setting aside the warrant of arrest issued on Friday against Saraki refused the application. It ordered Saraki to put the respondents on notice and fixed September 29 for the hearing of his substantive appeal.

At the Federal High Court, Abuja where Adelodun equally argued another motion on behalf of Saraki, for an order restraining the CCT and the Ministry of Justice from proceeding with the Senate President’s trial, Justice Ahmed Mohammed refused to grant the order. He adjourned till September 30 for the hearing of Saraki’s pending substantive suit and the objection filed against it by the respondents.

At the resumption of proceedings yesterday before the tribunal, prosecution lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) on noticing that Saraki was absent, urged the tribunal to inquire from his lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN), why his client was absent despite the undertaking he gave on Friday to produce Saraki in court today.

Jacobs said he prevailed on his client not to execute the bench warrant on account of the undertaking by Daudu. He said he was taken aback that Daudu failed to fulfill his promise.

When asked by the tribunal Chairman Justice Danladi Umar why his client was absent despite his (Daudu’s) promise to produce him, Daudu said he was not sure the tribunal actually expected him to produce his client.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/saraki-surrenders/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday disclosed that it had secured a $1.2 billion multi-year crude oil drilling financing package to enable it drill 36 offshore and onshore oil wells under the NNPC/Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture arrangement.

NNPC, in a statement from its Group General Manager Public Affairs, Ohi Alegbe, in Abuja, described the development as a landmark deal designed to supplement the federal government’s cash call commitment to its various joint venture operations.

It also quoted its Group Managing Director, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, as stating that the new deal would serve as a template for its future financing of upstream oil and gas operations.

According to the statement, the $1.2 billion funding package would be financed by a consortium which includes Nigeria and international lenders.

It equally noted that it was an integral part of the “accelerated upstream financing programme”, which it initiated to address the perennial challenge experienced by the federal government in providing its counterpart funding of joint venture upstream activities.

NNPC stated that it envisaged that the initiative, apart from supplementing its cash call commitments, would also help in the maintenance of current production levels in the short term and replace the country’s depleting reserves.

Providing insight into how the $1.2 billion would be used, it said this would cover the development of 23 onshore and 13 offshore wells located in Oil Mining Leases (OML) 49, 90 and 95 in two stages from 2015 to 2018.
The deal was executed at a signing-ceremony in London over the weekend.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/nnpc-secures-1-2bn-alternative-funding-for-36-jv-oil-wells/

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government unreservedly on Friday condemned Wednesday’s detention of the Interim President, the Prime Minister and other ministers of the transitional government of Burkina Faso in a coup d’etat.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said Buhari and Nigeria aligned with ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations in rejecting the brazen contravention of the constitution and transitional charter of Burkina Faso by elements of the Presidential Guard under the leadership of General Gilbert Diendere.

The statement said: “Buhari and Nigeria urge the Defense and Security Forces of Burkina Faso to keep faith with the agreed transitional programme for the return of the country to full democratic rule after elections, which were due to be held in the country on October 11, in support of which Nigeria has donated 20 pick-up vans to the National Electoral Commission of Burkina Faso.”

The Interim President, Mr. Michel Kafando and Prime Minister, Isaac Zida and other detained ministers have since been released.
The president said Nigeria would give the fullest possible support to ongoing efforts by the ECOWAS mediatory team of President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic to quickly restore Burkina Faso to the path of order, democracy and constitutionalism.

He urged the people of Burkina Faso to remain calm and steadfast in support of the transitional order, elections and democratic governance with the full assurance that Nigeria, ECOWAS and the international community would uphold their right to peace, freedom, democracy and good governance.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/buhari-condemns-burkina-faso-coup-detat/

Nigerian crude oil differentials were stable on Thursday, with traders saying that demand from Europe and the United States has offset weaker demand from Asian buyers.

According to Reuters, traders said purchases of Nigerian oil for October from the US were at significantly higher levels than for earlier months.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had raised its official selling price for Bonny Light to dated Brent plus 60 cents and Qua Iboe to dated Brent plus 94 cents.

Nigerian oil is well suited to meet a gap in the market met by what some analysts see as lower production on shale oil.

Traders were waiting to gauge whether demand for November-loading Angolan cargoes would be any better than that for October.

Differentials for October fell due to a sharp drop in demand from China.
Angola is set to export 55 cargoes, about 1.77 million barrels per day (bpd), of crude oil in November, down from 1.83 million bpd planned in October, a provisional loading schedule showed on Thursday.

source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/us-demand-for-nigerian-crude-rises/

The Rivers State Government has said it would open dialogue with the federal government over its ceded oil well to correct imbalances in its revenue.

The state Governor, Nyesom Wike, said the state would dialogue with the federal government through the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to resolve the issues of oil wells of the state and ensure that the state gets its right revenue.

The governor spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt when he received members of the RMAFC team on review emoluments of public officials in the South-south zone led by Prof. Afolabi Popoola.

“There is the likelihood that the Rivers State Government will battle the RMAFC over the revenue to Rivers State. We will dialogue with the federal government. We shall explore all avenues of dialogue to ensure that we get our due revenue,” he said.

Wike urged the RMAFC to also consider working on the imbalance in the revenue sharing formula between the federal, states and local government areas.

He said there was need to review revenue that accrue to the different tiers of government to enhance the development of the country.
On the review of the emoluments of public officers, Wike said the review was necessary at this time.

He said the fight against corruption should not be superficial, pointing out that it must be fundamental to have the desired impact.
Earlier, leader of the RMAFC team to review emoluments of public officials in the South-south zone, Popoola, said the current emoluments of public officials came into force in 2008.

He said the review was necessary to bring it in line with present day economic realities.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/rivers-seeks-dialogue-with-fg-over-ceded-oil-wells/

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has set up a monitoring mechanism using its branches nationwide to ensure that the N338 billion special intervention fund it disburses to the 27 states of the federation to pay the backlog of workers’ salaries is not diverted by the state governments to other uses.

This is coming on the heels of the central bank’s disbursement of N65.334 billion from the N338 billion to eight more states.

The states which accessed the fund in the last two weeks include Abia – N14.152 billion, Adamawa – N2.378 billion, Bauchi – N8.60 billion, Ebonyi – N4.063 billion, Gombe – N16.459 billion, Kebbi – N0.690 billion, Ondo – N14.686 billion and Niger – N4.306 billion.

With the disbursement to the eight states, this brings to 11 states which have accessed the special intervention fund of the CBN.
Kwara (N4.320 bilion), Osun (N34.988 billion) and Zamfara (N10.020 billion) were the first three states to be paid by the CBN last month.

A top CBN official, who confirmed the disbursement to eight more states, however said the central bank was concerned about the diversion of funds by the state governors to other uses other than the payment of workers’ salary arrears.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/cbn-to-monitor-states-that-received-bailout-funds/

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members under the aegis of Muslim Corpers Association of Nigeria (MCAN) have kicked against the alleged ban on hijab at the NYSC orientation camps across the country.

They said: “Nigeria is a secular country and no one should be hindered from aligning with his or her religion principles.”

The Amir of the North-central zone of MCAN, Mallam Muhammad Yusuf, stated this on Sunday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, when the representatives of the association paid a courtesy visit on the pioneer Grand Khadi of the state, Justice Abdulkadir Orire.

According to him, “members of the association were subjected to humiliation in South-eastern part of the country as many of them are on the verge of being sent out of their accommodation.

“Other challenges facing the association include lack of finance to carry out their programmes, lack of accommodation and forcing of sisters to remove their hijab.”

Justice Orire had earlier told the delegation of how MCAN was formed in 1981 after which a guiding manual was prepared for it by the Islamic Education Trust (IET) in Minna, Niger State.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/mcan-members-kicks-against-ban-of-hijab-at-nysc-camps/

In order to cut the cost of governance and determine which of Nigeria’s 119 foreign missions are really essential to the nation’s trade and foreign interests, President Muhammadu Buhari has said that his administration will undertake a review of the country’s missions abroad.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said Buhari would soon set up a presidential committee to carry out the review.

The president spoke after he was briefed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bulus Lolo, on the activities of the ministry and Nigeria’s missions overseas.

The president said that the review would determine the number of essential missions Nigeria needed to maintain abroad so that appropriate standards and quality could be maintained.

He said that there was no point in Nigeria operating missions all over the world “with dilapidated facilities and demoralised staff” when the need for some of the missions was questionable.

“Let’s keep only what we can manage. We can’t afford much for now. There’s no point in pretending,” Buhari told Lolo and other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also called for the records of former government officials and other persons still using diplomatic and official passports illegally, saying that his administration would take necessary action against them.

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http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/president-considers-cutting-down-119-foreign-missions-to-reduce-govt-expenditure/

The heir to Longleat, the stately home and seat of the Marquess of Bath in Somerset, England, banned his mother from his wedding and put “security on standby” in case she turned up after she allegedly suggested that marrying his half-Nigerian wife would damage the aristocratic family’s bloodline.

Ceawlin Thynn, 41, whose father is the eccentric Marquess of Bath famed for his harem of “wifelets”, has also claimed he stopped his mother – the Marchioness of Bath – from seeing his son Hon. John Alexander Ladi Thynn in case the boy is “contaminated” by her views.

Ceawlin’s wife Emma McQuiston, 29, is the daughter of Nigerian oil tycoon, Chief Oladipo (Ladi) Jadesimi founder and Executive Chairman of Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics (LADOL) company, which partnered with Samsung Heavy Industries of Korea in 2013 to win a multi-million dollar contract for the construction of a Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel for Total Oil’s deep water Egina oil field off Nigeria’s coast.
She will become Britain’s first black marchioness when Ceawlin, who took over running the 10,000-acre estate and safari park in Wiltshire in 2010, inherits his father’s title.

On Sunday, Ceawlin – Viscount Weymouth – alleged that when he told his mother that he planned to marry Emma, she replied: “Are you sure about what you’re doing to 400 years of bloodline?”

He tried to ignore it but when she repeated it he decided he had to tell Emma, who was “devastated”. Ceawlin demanded that his mother, who has lived much of her life with a lover in France, return her wedding invitation and “made it clear that under no circumstances would she be attending”, he said in an interview with the British-based Sunday Times newspaper.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/british-blue-blood-banned-mother-from-wedding-over-nigerian-wife/

Documents submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as showed that the president had less than N30 million in his account as at May 29 when he was sworn in as president.

As at the same date, his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), had N94 million, $900,000 and £19,000 in his accounts.
The duo had promptly filled and submitted their assets declaration forms to the CCB before they were sworn in. But the details were not made known to the public.

The information contained in the documents was yesterday, confirmed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Garba Shehu.

Buhari, a former Head of State, was at different times a governor, minister of petroleum and the head of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).

The documents submitted to the CCB, which officials said were still being vetted and would soon be made public, showed that prior to being sworn in on May 29, Buhari had less than N30 million to his name.

He also had only one bank account with the Union Bank.

Buhari had no foreign account, no factory and no enterprises. He also had no registered company and no oil well.

Osinbajo, who had been a successful lawyer before his foray into politics, declared a balance of about N94 million, US$900,000 and £19,000 in his bank accounts with the foreign currencies kept in local domiciliary accounts.

Read full story
http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/with-less-than-n30-million-in-his-account-as-at-may-29-buhari-declares-asset-public/

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has warned Nigerians interested in joining the Nigeria Police Force, especially with the presidential pronouncement on the recruitment of 10,000 policemen to beware of fraudsters and scammers who will want to take advantage of the pronouncement to dupe unsuspecting would-be applicants.

Chairman of the commission, Mike Okiro, confirmed yesterday in Abuja that the commission had not started the recruitment exercise and that no application form for recruitment has been released.

Okiro said the commission and the Nigeria Police Force are currently working out the details, stressing that when completed; the commission will publicise the commencement of the recruitment exercise in line with the requirements of the law.

He warned that the police would not hesitate to arrest and prosecute anybody caught selling police recruitment forms or collecting money from intending applicants in the pretext of helping them to get employed.

The PSC Chairman noted that the commission will not charge fees for forms when the exercise begins and advised prospective applicants to exercise patience and wait for the formal commencement of the exercise.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/psc-no-police-recruitment-yet/

The Osun State House of Assembly has tasked Governor Rauf Aregbesola to reduce waste of resources associated with governance.
The lawmakers gave this advice in their resolution at the plenary monday, after reviewing the journey of the state after its 24th anniversary of its creation.

The Speaker, Mr. Najeem Salaam, who read the resolution of the assembly, also called for change of orientation and attitude of civil servants, while expressing worry at the level of partisanship of the state’s workforce.

The lawmakers charged the state government to “improve on its internal revenue without unnecessarily increasing the burden on the masses to address the present fiscal imbalance and meet up with its vision.”

The Speaker said, “The waste of government must be reduced to a minimal level, so that we will focus on things that would improve the social benefit for our people.

“Political functionaries and technocrats must be called upon to look into this and be ready to develop the state together. It is a collective responsibility that we must all join hands to achieve.

“Also, the attitude of our workforce and the orientation has to be changed. The rate of partisanship of workers has become a thing of worry.

“The ethic of civil service that they should not be partisan seems to have faded out. Workers now express their feeling on pages of newspapers and radio, just like members of political parties.”

The lawmakers also commended the founding fathers of the state who fought for its creation while tasking the current administration to remain focused on the development of the rural areas just like it was doing in the urban centres.

Source: http://monitor9ja.com/2015/09/osun-assembly-to-aregbesola-prioritise-your-spending/