₦airaland Forum

Mehn...this one is hard. Really dicey. Nice arguments y'all are making.
Donald Duke was governor of Crossriver in his late 30 and performed exceptionally well. Bukola Saraki also did his bit for Kwara State then as a youthful governor.
But sincerely the same cannot be said of Yahaya Bello of Kogi State right now.
In any case, me won't vote any 55+ year old laggard for president.

Charts.

Charts

A new poll conducted by NOIPolls in partnership with Business Day Media has revealed that Nigerians would prefer middle-aged candidates for the country’s 2019 presidential elections. Spurred by the recent victory of French President, Mr Emmanuel Macron and increasing discussions in the social space, particularly the
#NotTooYoungToRun Campaign led by the youth advocacy organisation YIAGA, this latest poll sought to glean the perceptions and opinions of Nigerians regarding their age preference for presidential candidates in the 2019 elections.

Interestingly, the poll found that 64 percent of Nigerians say they would prefer to vote for a presidential candidate between the ages of 40 and 50 years; and this was followed in a distance by 15 percent who prefer candidates between 51 and 60 years. Specifically, ages 50 years (33 percent) and 40 years (21 percent) constituted the highest precise age preferences cited by Nigerians. Similarly, almost half of those interviewe (48 percent) expressed their preference for middle-aged presidential candidates, and when probed on why the reasons for their preference, 44 percent say “they combine youthful energy and maturity”, while 23 percent say “they are more mentally alert”. Similarly, 35 percent expressed support for young candidates; and further cited the following reasons for their preference: “they bring new and fresh ideas” and “they are more vibrant than the elderly”.

Furthermore, the poll revealed that 73 percent of Nigerians are willing to support independent candidacy. In order words, even though there currently isn’t the provision for independent candidacy in the country’s Electoral Act, Nigerians say they would be willing to support individuals who may decide to run for elective positions on their personal strength, without being affliated to any political party. In addition, when asked about what would influence their choice of candidates or political parties in the 2019 elections, almost 5 in 10 Nigerians (49 percent) say they would vote for candiates who have “Integrity”. This was followed by 27 percent and 18 percent who stated that their voting decision would be influenced by “Track record and experience” and “Political agenda or manifesto” respectively.

Finally, the poll sought to examine some of the factors militating against young professionals from participating in politics, and top amongst the factors identified include: Financial constraint (40 percent), Godfatherism and political cabal (23 percent), Lack of experience (15 percent) and Lack of political platforms (10 percent). We hope that the results and findings from poll would begin to stimulate conversations and debates, and have implications on electoral reforms, particularly on the issues of age restrictions and independent candidacy; internal political party reforms and the wide youth inclusiveness question, party candidate selection limits and criteria, and strengthen advocacy for the
#NotTooYoungToRun Bill amongst others. These are some of the key findings from the 2019 Presidential Candidate Age Preference Poll. The poll was conducted in the week commencing
May 22 , 2017 .

Brief Background

The use of the catch-phrase: ‘Youths are the leaders of tomorrow ‘ has constantly been called to question in the leaderhip and socio-political discourse of the Nigerian state. The question has always been- when exactly would tomorrow come to allow young people take over the mantle of leadership?

Chief Anthony Enahoro, a man that is arguably one of the most respected supporters of independence and founding fathers of Nigeria was barely 30 when he moved the historic motion for ”self rule” in the Federal House in February 1953. [1] Yet, current evidence shows that a young adult of that age cannot be found among the Senators of the 8 Assembly today because Section 65 (1)(a) of the 1999 constitution sets the age of 35 as the minimum age for election into the Nigerian senate. Barack Obama made history as the first black president of the United States of America, at age 47. Similarly, in 2015, Justin Trudeau surprised the world by becoming the Canadian Prime Minister at age 44. Today, the news revolves around a former investment banker, Emmanuel Macron, who has defied all odds to become the youngest President of France at the youthful age of 39 years.

One wonders if there’s any hope for young Nigerians aspiring for elective leadership positions in the country. Nonetheless, one significant ray of hope for the Nigerian youth today is the bill referred to as the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, seeking to lower the constitutional age requirement for contesting for elections in Nigeria and seeking to usher in independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process, as sponsored by Hon. Tony Nwulu representing Oshodi/Isolo II Federal Constituency of Lagos state. [2] The bill, if passed will provide more political space for Nigerian youths, by according them with eligibility to vie for political offices in Nigeria.
However, there are some critical question that beg for answers: (1) Are Nigerian youths ready (culturally, academically, professionally, psychologically and otherwise) to take the bull by its horn? (2) Is the political landscape conducive to promote young people with fresh ideas venture into politics? Are Nigerians ready and willing to welcome young people to lead the country into the 21 century? In light of the above, NOIPolls recently conducted a public opinion poll in partnership with Business Day Media, seeking to understand the perceptions and opinions of Nigerians regarding their age preference for the 2019 presidential candidate, as well as gauging their views on the knotty subject of Independent Candidacy.

Please note that we have applied loose definition to the words: young, middle-aged (working class) and elderly (retired or about to retire) in this poll, to be guided by the perception of the average Nigerian.

Survey Findings

We started out the poll by seeking respondents age preference for presidential candidates in the 2019 elections. Interestingly, the findings revealed that 48 percent of Nigerians polled indicated that they would prefer middle-aged presidential candidates, particularly in the South-East (67 percent) and North-Central (63 percent) geo-political zones of the country. This was followed by 35 percent of the respondents who expressed their preference to see young persons emerging as candidates in 2019; and as expected, respondents aged between 18 – 35 years accounted for the largest proportion (37 percent) in this category. Curiously, 10 percent of respondents affirmed their preference for elderly presidential candidates.

Subsequently, respondents were further probed for reasons for their preference; and of the 48 percent who desire middle-aged presidential candidates the following reasons were cited: (1) they combine youthful energy and maturity (48 percent); (2) they are more mentally alert (23 percent); they have the capacity to be better leaders (15 percent) and they would be more responsible (14 percent). On the other hand, those who prefer young presidential candidates justify their position by stating that young people bring new and fresh ideas (50 percent) and they are more vibrant than the elderly (30 percent), in addition those who say the elderly ones have failed the country (13 percent).

The poll also sought the opinion of Nigerians regarging a maximun age for prefered presidential candidates for the 2019 election. Interestingly, a significant majority of respondents (64 percent) stated that they would prefer candidates between the ages of 40 and 50 years, categorized as middle-age. This was followed by 15 percent of respondents who said they would prefer presidential candidates between the ages of 51 to 60; while 7 percent said they would prefer young candidates aged between 18 to 39 years.

Further analysis by goe-political zone revealed that the North-Central (75 percent) and South-East (66 percent) geo-political zones had the largest proportion of respondents who prefer presidential candidates aged between 40 – 50 years. In the same vein, respondents aged 18 – 35 years (69 percent) accounted for the highest proportion who prefer presidential candidates aged between 40 – 50 years.
Subsequently, respondents were asked if the current political structure encourages young professionals to contest for public offices; and the findings revealed that at least two-thirds of respondents (64 percent) simply answered “No”, which highlights a negative perception regarding the lack of political space for young professionals in the country. On the contrary, about a third (36 percent) affirmed that the current political structure encourages young professionals to contest for public offices.

Respondents were also asked if they would be willing to support independent candidacy in the 2019 presidential election; and a significant proportion of the respondents (73 percent) expressed their willingness to support independent candidates. In order words, even though there currently isn’t the provision for independent candidacy in the country’s Electoral Act, Nigerians are of the opinion that if such provision is made, they would be willing to support individuals who may decide to run for elective positions on their personal strength, without being affliated to any political party. However, on the contrary, 27 percent say they will not support independent candidacy. Interestingly, across gender, geo-political zones and age groups, majority say they would support independent candidacy.

Upon further probing on factors that would influence the voting decision in the 2019 elections, resuts from the poll revealed that almost half of the respondents nationwide cited “Integrity” as the most important factor that will ultimately influence voting decisiob. This was followed by “track record and experience” (27 percent) and “political agenda/manifesto” (18 percent) to make the top three influencing factors identified by respondents.

Lastly, the poll revealed that although a vast majority of Nigerians say they would support young to middle-aged pesidential candidates in 2019, there are still some key hinderances preventing young professionals from vying for elective public offices. Top amongst the factors mentioned by respondents include: financial constraints (40 percent), godfatherism and political cabal (23 percent), lack of experience (15 percent) and lack of political platforms (10 percent) amongst others.

In conclusion, the poll has revealed that most Nigerians prefer young (35 percent) to middle-aged (48 percent) presidential candidates in the 2019 presidential elections; and 73 percent have expressed their support for independent candidacy. We hope that these results and findings would stimulate conversations and debates in the media and social space; and have deeper implications at least on the following: (1) electoral reforms, particularly on the discussions around age restrictions and independent candidacy; (2) internal political party reforms and the wider subject of youth inclusiveness, candidate selection limits and criteria, and (3) further strenthen advocacy for the
#NotTooYoungToRun Bill amongst others.

Finally, the statistics are clear, young people have the numbers and are becoming more active in the social space. There’s need to translate active social engagement and social media activism into actual political party considerations, which would witness a massive incursion of young people into the political terrain, and taking the bull by the horn, to vie for elective positions come 2019.

Survey Methods

The opinion poll was conducted in the week commencing May 22 , 2017 . It involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample. 1,000 randomly selected phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geo-political zones in the country, were interviewed. With a sample of this size, we can say with 95% confidence that the results obtained are statistically precise - within a range of plus or minus 3%. NOIPolls Limited is the No1 for country specific polling services in West Africa. We conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socio-economic and political issues in Nigeria. For more information visit our website www.noi-polls.com or download our mobile app NOIPolls on your smartphone.

Disclaimer

This press release has been produced by NOIPolls Limited to provide information on all issues which form the subject matter of the document. Kindly note that while we are willing to share results from our polls with the general public, we only request that NOIPolls be acknowledged as author whenever and wherever our poll results are used, cited or published.

NOIPolls hereby certifies that all the views expressed in this document accurately reflect its views of respondents surveyed for the poll, and background information is based on information from various sources that it believes are reliable; however, no representation is made that it is accurate or complete. Whilst reasonable care has been taken in preparing this document, no responsibility or liability is accepted for errors or fact or for any views expressed herein by NOIPolls for actions taken as a result of information provided in this report. Any ratings, forecasts, estimates, opinions or views herein constitute a judgment as at the date of this document. If the date of this document is not current, the views and content may not reflect NOIPolls’ current findings and/or thinking.

http://noi-polls.com/root/index.php?pid=439&parentid=12&ptid=1

Whoever captioned this is a nitwit.

It will not be an issue if they were performing really well. These one listed here try sha.
Former US Secy. of State John Kerry was in the senate 1985-2013 (28 years). Its almost a norm there.
Rep. John Dingell has over 57 years in US Congress and is still counting.

Correct or not, he should put a check on this. People kneeling before him might be used against his cause.

hardbody:
Did the say Calabar in that news? Your dumbness is overwhelming

...and your own brilliance is on Nairaland? I pray God sustain this state of mind for you, so it takes you far.

Why has Calabar stories been featuring on Nairaland lately? ...and for the wrong reasons sef.

bravesoul247:
Why always Calabar? Mayne avenue is the most notorious place in Calabar south sha, I fear that side pass Goldie.

That's a lie. Palm Street, Goldie by Mount Zion, Edibe Edibe, Hawkings, Mbukpa and Yellow Duke are the Dungeons.
Ekpo Abasi still remains the capital.

I think he needs to heed the advice of his fans, else the next prize he'll be getting will be the NEXT HATED award.
#MyOpinion.

THE European Union (EU) Commission on Thursday announced a support package of €143 million to help the early recovery and reconstruction needs in the North East of Nigeria.

The package, announced from Brussels, Belgium is for the provision of basic services including energy, education and health, job creation, strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems as well as public financial management systems.

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma who signed the agreement on behalf of Nigeria said the support shows yet another positive effort in the collaboration between the EU and the Nigerian Government to collectively work towards ameliorating the sufferings of the victims of Boko Haram insurgency.

The minister noted that the Financing Agreement signed on Thursday was for the sum of €20 million from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. “A total sum of €143 million is now secured from the EU under this framework for ameliorating of the sufferings of the affected population estimated at more than 14 million people”, he added.

According to a statement from Mr James Akapandem, Media Adviser to the Minister, Udoma said that since the resurgence of the humanitarian situation in the North East, the Nigerian government has devoted substantial resources to bring the situation under control, meet the humanitarian needs of the victims and restore normalcy to the area.

However, in spite of the efforts, the Minister said there is still a huge funding gap, which is why the Nigerian Government appreciates the support of the EU and the United Nations systems, which have been very useful in leading the other development partners in the support process.

Senator Udoma noted that the process for the selection of implementation partners has reached an advanced stage with the World Bank and some of the components of the project.
“This demonstrates the fact that the EU is committed to timely execution of the project and the bureaucracy that is traditionally associated with the EDF instrument will be minimized in the implementation of this project,” he added.

EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said the support package will assist approximately 1.3 million internally displaced people and affected communities in and around the Borno State.

“Our assistance will not only target the immediate needs of the people but, it will also help to restore basic services, stimulate employment and create livelihood opportunities, particularly for women and young people”.

Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides added: “The European Union is committed to get lifesaving aid to those in need in Nigeria. Emergency aid can help them but to do so aid organisations need safe and full access to do their job.”

He added that EU also needs to think about the long term implications and how to help communities recover. “I have visited the country several times and seen the suffering caused by the victims of terrorism but also the strength and determination of the local people to rebuild their lives. It is this desire to rebuild a better future that the EU will support.”

http://tribuneonlineng.com/eu-announces-e143-million-package-north-east/

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has called on the Federal Government to extend its ‘whistleblowing’ policy to the power sector to curb energy theft.

Fashola made the appeal in Enugu at the 16th Power sector monthly meeting, sponsored by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

He said that available statistics revealed huge energy theft by Nigerians, adding that the problem had become a big challenge for not just the power distribution companies, but consumers as well.
According to him, if nothing is done, those who pay for energy consumption will continue to bear the overall cost.

The minister said that statistics revealed that only six million households consumed energy in the country, adding “if this is correct, it means that some people steal energy in the country, while only a few pay.
“The statistics cannot be correct and it is therefore necessary to extend whistleblowing to the power sector in order to expose those stealing our energy,” he said.

Fashola said that when all households who used energy were not captured, the ones captured were bound to pay more tariffs.

He called on Nigerians to be vigilant and report those who stole energy in their neighbourhood to law enforcement agencies.

He said that government was not pleased with most power distribution companies, whom he said, were far from attaining the mandate given to them since the privatisation of the sector.

The minister direct the distribution companies to call their staff to order, saying “they are giving their customers hard times through indiscriminate disconnections.

He said that efforts to improve power supply across the country were on course, adding that more megawatts of electricity would be added to the national grid before the end of the year.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting ended with a communiqué urging members of the public to discharge their responsibilities of paying for energy costs.

The communiqué also appealed to state government to appoint energy advisers to ensure understanding of the power sector, before formulating policies.
It also reiterated that the Power Sector Recovery Programme was developed to address the importance of unity and common purpose in making significant impact in the sector.

It stated that progress on incremental power was being made, and that the damaged transformers at Afam IV Power Station had been repaired and gas supply would start soon to provide additional 100mw of power.

NAN reports that officials of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Council, representatives of power generating and distribution companies and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, as well as other stakeholders, were in attendance.

http://nigerianpilot.com/fashola-wants-fg-to-extend-whistle-blowing-policy-to-power-sector/

cc: lalasticlala

Una leave oil palm to start banana.
The same oil palm Malaysia came to get seedlings to start the oil palm expedition in their country, and today thrives on export of the produce.
Ben! Ben!!!!! Ben!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Buddy,

over the last couple of weeks, I have been getting kind words from entrepreneurs and investors on how our articles have been expanding their knowledge base about the African Gas Industry using Nigeria as a focus. They are really keen on action steps to take if they want to proceed with investment in the sector. This is what is forming the basis of my article today, to show you how Kiakiagas Limited helps you make sound business decisions and guide you through the hurdles of investing in the Nigerian LPG Industry. 

As you walk across Nigeria today, you will observe a new trend of LPG plants popping up all around in petroleum filling stations, small land spaces, Major Plants, Bulk terminals are coming up, increased number of LPG trucks on the road and many write-ups are littered across the internet about the LPG industry, this is as a result of many individuals that are shifting from kerosene and to using cooking gas. The major challenge for the old and new consumers of gas is the fact that the gas plants are not close enough for them which creates a vacuum which entrepreneurs can take advantage of and create value in the sector by brings gas closer to the consumers.

The LPG industry in Nigeria has a value of NGN152 billion ($500Million) with less than 10% already being harnessed. Nigeria is at that point we were in the 1970's when the populace made a massive switch from firewood to kerosene stoves because it was the most convenient domestic fuel at that time. 

Dear budding Entrepreneur, if there is anywhere to invest in Nigeria for now is the LPG Industry because it is not a seasonal product and it is a constant domestic requirement for homes and industries.

The KiaKiaGas Solution

Kiakiagas.com is an integrated energy solutions company with focus on Gases. We have competence in LPG/LNG/CNG retailing, distribution& logistics, Construction and Installation of Gas Facilities, Market research and Building profitable Gas businesses.

Our integrated support system guarantees that we get a profitable location to set up your business, get trading licenses for you to trade in the business, Construct and safely install your LPG plants for you, train you and your management staff on how to manage and run your plant, offer after sales support to make your business profitable and guarantee quick return on investment. 

 LPG INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE VALUE CHAIN

There is different opportunities across the LPG Industry in Nigeria,

a)   LPG Bulk Terminal Storage: this was extensively discussed in my last article, click this link in-case you missed it http://www.kiakiagas.com/blog/retail-lpg-pricing-nigeria to understand the opportunities that are in this segment of the industry.

b)   LPG Retailing: this was extensively discussed in my last article, click this link in-case you missed it http://www.kiakiagas.com/blog/retail-lpg-pricing-nigeria to understand the opportunities that are in this segment of the Industry

c)   LPG Distribution and Logistics: I have not discussed this, I will just touch it a little. In 2016, Nigeria consumed 500,000Mt (500,000,000kg) of gas. This translates to a monthly average consumption of 41,000Metric tonnes (i.e 41million Kg of gas). The standard used to measure trucking at the loading depot is 20MT truck (1.e20, 000kg), the detailed report is in our logistics business plan.

d)   Production of cylinders and cookers: There is massive opportunity in this area, as there is no functional LPG cylinder manufacturing facility in Nigeria, you can request for the business plan on this opportunity

For this article we would be focusing on the retail end of the value chain

BUSINESS INVESTMENT ACTION STEPS

1.    BUSINESS FEASIBILITY INTELLIGENCE REPORT

our business feasibility report is a must have if you must succeed and make a fortune in this business. The report is a quarterly updated working intelligence document that will be updated to you once you subscribe to help you keep in touch with current realities on ground and help you make decisions that would guide your business to profitability.

The Plan includes:

Business Overview

Marketing Plan

Production Plan

Organizational and Management Plan

Financial Plan

Risk Analysis and SWOT analysis

Quarterly business intelligent update 

For those that do not have the money now to start up, the plan is a must have when seeking for a loan from any bank in Nigeria or attract investors. 

2.    LPG PLANT VARIATIONS

LPG Retail Plant Sizes that Kiakiagas in collaboration with our foreign technical partners can set-up for you

1.      2.5tonnes mini plant

2.      5 tonnes mini plant

3.      10tonnes Mini plant

4.      20-100tons stationary plant

5.      100-500 tons stationary plant

THE PPEs that comes with the Facility:

1. LPG tank

2. LPG fire proof Pumps

3. Filling Heads customized for the Nigerian Market

4. Weighing scales

5. Pressure gauge

6. Return Hose

7. Fire extinguishers

8. Safety Overalls

9. Safety boots

10. Safety gloves

11. Safety goggles

13. Safety caution signage’s

14. Free HSE training on how to manage the plant

15. Free haulage to anywhere in Nigeria

3. BUSINESS LOCATION

We have partnerships with major service stations and realtors across Nigeria which guarantees a space in a profitable location to set up your plant

4. LPG OPERATING AND TRADING LICENSE 

Our extensive network with DPR and other regulatory agencies enables us secure operating licenses for you to trade LPG in the quickest possible time.

5. PROFITABILITY ANALYSIS OF YOUR BUSINESS

We would do a quick analysis using the smallest possible LPG facility 2.5Metric tonnes or a 5,000 litres storage capacity.

The gas supply will be in lots of 5 tons using the small road tankers which will source the product directly from the Depot. With the right location and marketing an entrepreneur will conveniently sell 2.5 tonnes per week, which will amount to the entrepreneur doing 10 tonnes a month.

The pricing

The current price of gas at the depot is NGN4, 500,000 ($14,377) for 20 tons, divide by 8 to get the price of a 2.5MT which is NGN562,500 ($1797).

S/N Item Amount (NGN) Amount(USD)

01 Cost of 2.5tons from the depot 562,500 1797

02 Cost of Logistics (Lagos) 80,000 255.59

03 Nupeng Dues at the Depot 14,500 46.33

04 Total cost to land a 2.5 tons load of gas 657,000 2,099.07

05 Cost per Kg (divide the total cost by 2500kg) 262.8 0.84

06 Landing cost of a standard 12.5kg cylinder 3285 10.50

To get the Margin per Kg is calculated to be:

The prevailing price for gas in lagos is NGN4500 ($14.38) per 12.5kg cylinder size currently that is;

NGN4500/12.5kg = NGN360 ($1.15) per KG

the Margin is NGN360 ($1.15) (selling price) – NGN262.8 ($0.84) (landing cost) = NGN97.2 ($0.31) per KG

Profit Margin Per 12.5kg = NGN97.2 X 12.5 = NGN1215 ($3.88)

With a conservative projection of 2500kg (200 cylinders) sales per week

2.5 tonnes storage fills 200 12.5kg cylinders.

200 x 4weeks= 800 cylinders per month

at a standard filling rate of N4500 ($14.38) per cylinder gives NGN3, 600,000 ($11,501.76) per month. (Lagos Price)

 At the current landing cost of gas from the depot (lagos location) of NGN3285 ($10.50) per cylinder gives a gross margin of NGN2, 628,000 ($8,396.29) per month. (Prices fluctuate at the depot, which also determines the sales cost to the consumers)

This venture can generate NGN972, 000 ($3,105.48) 000 as gross income a month.

NOTE: This is a conservative projection; actually 2.5tons of gas can be sold daily if the location prospecting and marketing is done right

6. WHY THIS IS YOUR BEST INVESTMENT OPTION

• You own your business

• Your plant is branded in your company Name

• Very low operational cost

• Kiakiagas maintains the plant for you

• Safe and Secure

7. OUR INTEGRATED AFTER SALES SUPPORT

• Management tools (OMS, Gas Sales stock Tracker) to successfully track and run business to make it a profitable

• Full in-house sales support

• Routine Maintenance on the plants

• Steady Supply of Gas to the plant at best competitive prices

• Quarterly HSE and Management Training

• All year round business support and free consultancy

9. THE KIAKIAGAS PROMISE

• Turnkey Business Solution

• Dedicated customer service

• Cheerful training staff

• Assurance and quality check.

For more information call/whatsapp our business development team: +2348085269328 OR send us a mail at: gaspreneur@kiakiagas.com

Best regards

Written by

uwandu ifeanyiFounder/C.E.O at kiakiagas.com (Kiakiagas Gas Limited) Frontier & Emerging Markets Clean Energy Business Expert

The Chatham house published a report on Nigeria a few days ago. The country has been raped by thieves. Nigeria has lost over 500 billion dollars since 1960 and 180 billion in the last 8 years. Nigerians aren’t shocked. The brunt of that plunder has lived with them.

The grotesque disparity between our enormous potentials and our unspeakable wretchedness has caused global consternation. Every government comes with vigorous promises to check the rot. But they all leave the people more hopeless than they met them. A few prosecutions will commence. A big politician will be convicted, once in a while. Even such scapegoats always get soft sentences in dubious plea bargains and presidential pardons.

The politicians get all of the little opprobrium. A certain group of persons always escape mention. They do not receive the curses helpless citizens sometimes manage to heap on politicians. No significant theft of public resources can happen without the criminal collusion of banks and their directors. The Nigerian banking sector runs on the ethos of the motor park. Banks are steeped in sharp practices and have made opportunism their own.

Unfortunately public complaints against them have been about trivia. The exploitation of young girls, and enslavement of their workforce by the imposition of inhuman financial targets. Those are petty immoralities. Ok, they once brought the country to near financial ruin in 2008-2009. They kept multiple books. Those are perhaps pardonable. Our banks cannot be immune to the erosion of values that has left our societal moral fabric threadbare. So that they are lazy but greedy is not strange. But even by our uniquely low standards their disdain for ethics is ridiculous.

Unhealthy rivalry leaves them with ravenous appetites. Weak regulatory mechanism complicates a situation of brittle ethical foundation. Those who follow rules rigidly, lose. The life of banks depend on public sector funds. To get them, you have to take off your gloves and deal under the table. Government agencies and government officials are courted at all costs. The banks sell devious schemes to entice and corruptly enrich government officials.

Yet these banks are run by saints. Their chairmen and directors are always at seminars all over the nation mouthing business ethics and global best practices. When they have stolen enough, they leave to become models of entrepreneurship. The legacy of filth and unscrupulousness they have left in the polity are never remembered.

Their partners in crime, the politicians, bestow national honours on them. They return to shed crocodile tears and bemoan the fate of the country. They helped politicians to steal and launder billions of dollars and cripple the country. They will be everywhere flaunting righteousness, engaging in ‘notice me’ philanthropy.

How the banks and their directors have remained unscathed and even irreproachable is baffling. Instances of naked criminal complicity abound. But the banks never get punitively fined and their directors never go to jail. The EFCC once charged Joshua Dariye for corruption and theft of public funds. It was alleged that a bank helped Dariye to pay a cheque boldly written in favour of Plateau State Government into a private account. A small bank official was sacrificed. The bank suffered no losses. The directors of the bank retained their sanctimoniousness. The regulatory agency did not penalize the bank.

In 2011, the petrol subsidy scandal broke. The nation had lost about 1.5 trillion naira to dubious fuel importation. A House of Representative Committee report was published. A Presidential Investigative Committee published another report. Marketers, officials of the DPR and PPRA and external auditors were all indicted. A close look at the fraudulent schemes employed by the marketers showed that the banks colluded with them in many cases. In all cases the banks saw the crimes and looked away. In some cases the banks played even more active criminal roles.

They urged debtor marketers to get into the scheme. They would fund and supervise the import of one cargo. They would let many of their customers use that single cargo and make multiple fictitious deliveries to the government. Then they will receive billions in subsidy payment for these customers. Not a single bank was penalized. Not one got a public rebuke.

The EFCC recently charged some INEC officials for electoral offences. It was alleged that 150 million dollars stolen from the NNPC was paid into an account in a bank. The Managing Director of the bank was instructed by the former petroleum minister to distribute the money as bribes to INEC officials. The suspects are innocent until convicted. However, some of the charged INEC staff have pleaded guilty in court. The bank, effectively, was used to undermine the democratic process. The managing director of the bank is being investigated. But there is nothing being done to deter other banks from engaging in such gross national security breach.

The EFCC alleged that hundreds of millions of naira was flown in cash into Ado-Ekiti in 2014. The money was meant to undermine the 2014 governorship election. Fingers pointed at Governor Fayose. An account belonging to Fayose was frozen. Governor Fayose publicly pleaded innocence. But he said something damaging about a bank. He alleged that the bank sponsored his election.

The bank issued a statement to deny the allegation. But some of its staff were shown on television kneeling before Fayose. Fayose claimed the bank officials tendered quiet apologies. The role played by the bank in the Ekiti 2014 election has not been investigated. Nothing has been done to stop other banks from gross electoral misconduct.

MTN learnt a hard lesson. A huge fine of about half a trillion was imposed on it two years ago. The company failed to comply with regulations for mobile registration. Their willful negligence left the country exposed. Telecommunication companies are now on their toes. The Banks have committed worse atrocities. The banks have fostered corruption and theft of public funds and impoverished the masses. The banks have undermined national security. Only telling fines will stop them. The time to block the conduit pipes is now.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/nigerias-kabukabu-banks-agbero-bankers/

Photos

More photos

Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students protest the non -recognition of their president Mr . Chinoso Obasi , during the second anniversary of the National Assembly in Abuja on Friday.

http://punchng.com/breaking-photos-students-protest-at-national-assembly-over-recognition/

Mr . Ibikunle Idris, the principal of Ikoyi Prison School has revealed that 36 out of 59 inmates who sat for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination scored 180 and above .

Idris , in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday in Lagos , said the performance of the inmates , in spite of their being in incarceration , was impressive .

He mentioned that one of the inmates scored 236 in the examination .

“ The highest score among the inmates we presented for the 2017 UTME is 236 . I am impressed with this year ’ s performance , compared to last year ’ s performance in the same examination in terms of average .
“ The 59 candidates that wrote this year ’ s examination is an improvement over 36 persons that registered in 2016 , ’’ the principal said .

He attributed the success story to “the new penchant for learning ’’ demonstrated by the inmates .

According to him , the efforts put in by various individual volunteer teachers from within and outside the facility also contributed to the performance of the inmates.

He said the prison authorities also improved their facilities , which enhanced qualitative teaching .
The principal also commended JAMB for assisting the school with 60 computers and accessories for the conduct of the UTME .

Idris told NAN that the prison authorities were following up the academic progress of some inmates that were recently released as part of its aftercare service .

“ We are still getting in touch with them.
“ We try to follow them up and offer guidelines on what to do at every given point in time .
“ Recently , three of them, who had left the facility , called to seek assistance on how to further their education . ’’

The principal, however , pleaded with relevant government authorities to assist the facility with a befitting Computer -Based Test centre .

“ With a well- equipped CBT centre in the facility , the inmates can be effectively trained on how to apply the computer during major external examinations .
“ Most external examination now, aside GCE , are CBT based , ’’ he said .

http://punchng.com/36-out-of-59-inmates-scored-180-above-in-utme/

Revelations emerged yesterday on how the Senate Committee report which will soon be adopted by the Upper Chamber, has recommended an increase of the fuel pump price to N150 per litter, under the guise that the additional charge will be used to maintain federal roads.

According to documents obtained by Peoples Daily and which was deliberated at the plenary, Senator Kabiru Gaya led Committee on works has recommended that additional charges of N5 be imposed on all petroleum products imported or manufactured in the country.

The bill is titled “A Bill for an Act to establish the National Roads Fund for the purpose of financing the maintenance and rehabilitation of national roads.
The report of the committee further recommended other charges, including toll fees, load control charges, interstate mass transit user charges, which the senate said should be deductible from the transport fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit vehicles on interstate roads.

According to the report, there shall be
“Fuel levy of N5 chargeable per liter on any volume of Petroleum and diesel products imported into Nigeria and on locally refined Petroleum products”
“Axle load control charges, toll fees (A percentage of not exceeding 10% of any revenue paid as user charge per vehicle on any federal road designated as a toll road”
“International vehicle transit charges
“Inter state mass transit user charge of 0.5% deductible from the fare paid by passengers to commercial mass transit operators on inter-state roads”
“Roads Fund surcharge of 0.5% chargeable on the surcharge on the assessed value of any vehicle imported at any time into Nigeria”
“Lease, License or other feel which shall be 10% of the revenue accruing from lease or license or other fees pertaining to non vehicular road usages along any federal road and collected by the Federal Roads agency. Grant and loans and Gift of land, money or other property”

Those charges which were about 9 items, has 7 items chargeable as a motorist in Nigeria which they said, would enable government to adequately service road infrastructure.

The fund is to operate independently under the Federal Ministry of Finance.

Meanwhile, the report of the committee was not adopted because of unresolved issues of appointment into the agency.

The report recommended that the heads of the agency to be established should be a degree holder, but this was not accepted by some other senators who kicked against the dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma and University Degree holders.

In his reaction, senator Kabiru Marafa ( APC Zamfara) said it is not in line with the tradition of the senate in passing Bill that discriminate against any person on the ground of HND for the post of director of any board.

He decried the situation where the position for director of the board should be for a university degree holder.
“This is a problem that has held us down and the progress of this nation, It has being lingering on. This is not in line with our tradition in passing Bills. We have graduates for both HND and university.”.

http://www.peoplesdailyng.com/senate-moves-to-increase-fuel-price-by-n5/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PeoplesDailyNg+%28Peoples+Daily+Newspaper%2C+Nigeria%29

Most Nigerians can hardly understand that Biafra is not just a location or geographic expression but a phenomenon as far Ndigbo are concerned. The declared intention of then military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, to reintegrate Ndigbo into the fabric of the Nigerian society at the end of the civil war with his 3R’s programme (Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction), ended up just being a mere pipe dream.

How could there be reconciliation, rehabilitation and reconstruction when Ndigbo who fled to safety had their homes in Port Harcourt and its environs classified as ‘abandoned properties’ and seized without any monetary compensation and with active government support? When the government abruptly changed its currency just to impoverish Ndigbo with stacks of pre-war Nigerian currency? When returning Ndigbo were not reinstated in their previous positions even as the government ruled that they should be considered as having ‘resigned’ from their posts?

When every man was given a paltry twenty pounds irrespective of the money he/she had in the bank or the amount of pre-war Nigerian currency and Biafran currency they owned? When the Nigerian government hastily embarked on an indigenization policy even as erstwhile Igbo middle and upper classes were deliberately schemed out through impoverishment? When the entire Southeast lacked infrastructure and no single federal industry was in existence for decades?

When one considers the lot of Ndigbo more than 45 years after the civil war ended, one can readily concede that Nigeria is yet to become an equal-opportunity nation as far as we are concerned. The least number of states in the other five geopolitical zones is six – with the Northwest having as many as seven – but the Southeast has only five. The high opportunity cost of this deliberate attempt to suppress their political development can be seen in the disparity between the number of our elected representatives and that of other zones.

And of the three major tribes in Nigeria that constitute the WAZOBIA tripod, only the Igbo are yet to produce an elected president. The gross injustice that has been meted to – and continues to be meted against – Ndigbo in this nation cries to high heavens. Whatever Ndigbo have achieved individually and collectively is solely based on their industry and can-do spirit.

Despite tremendous odds and hurdles deliberately hurled in our paths by the ‘System,’ Ndigbo remain unbowed and undeterred in our business pursuits. Statistics show that outside the Southeast zone Ndigbo are the second most populous group of persons after the indigenous population in any state of Nigeria. These qualities ought to combine to make the Igbo ethnic nationality a very potent political force in the nation where we have sadly allowed ourselves to be cornered into playing a cameo role as “the beautiful bride” to every other ambitious presidential candidate.

It is only in the area of politics that Ndigbo have transformed into underachievers. We seem to have literally taken Greek mathematician Archimedes’ cry – “Give me where to stand, and I will move the earth” – to mean that we have to beg the rest of Nigeria to gift them political power. Power is taken and hardly given. The problem with Ndigbo seems to be the existence of a crop of leaders solely interested in what they can grab from the system using the rest of us as bargaining chips. It is a shame that Ndigbo elite are yet to fully comprehend that it is due to their inability to provide the right kind of leadership that that has culminated in the emergence of the likes of Nnamdi Kanu.

For crying out loud, in a zone where you have an Alex Ekwueme, a Peter Obi, an Ike Ekweremadu, an Orji Uzor Kalu, a Theophilus Orji, a Sam Egwu and their likes, it is an Nnamdi Kanu, driven by youthful exuberance, that majority of Ndigbo have chosen to respect and kowtow to! I almost puked when my attention was drawn to a speech senate deputy president Ike Ekweremadu reportedly gave at a recent Southeast PDP caucus meeting in Enugu, where he seemed to be more concerned with reaping political capital out of the raging protests threatening to bring the economy of the Southeast to a grinding halt, rather than helping to quell it.

His speech was spiced with ominous references to traders in Alaba International Market and Onitsha Main Market, among others, waking up in six months to discover to their chagrin that they have no wares to sell (presumably due to Buhari’s ‘economic mismanagement’). Ekweremadu’s vacuous remarks are doubtlessly aimed at stoking the embers of the pro-Biafra street protests and gaining maximum leverage from heightened anti-Buhari sentiments at a time the fortunes of the PDP are nosediving in the wake of revolting disclosures of how top members of the party looted the national treasury at will.

My take is that the present tactic of using uncontrollable mass street protests to draw worldwide attention to the plight of Ndigbo in Nigeria is wrong-headed. I worry too that Nigerians may soonest get tired of the ‘melodrama’ and ask Ndigbo to leave the Nigerian federation for our Utopian Biafra. And then what? Everyone – from the masses of unemployed youths thronging the streets who know no better to the elite in the Southeast – comprising politicians, religious leaders, traditional institutions and captains of business and industry – will end up being a sorry loser.

Ndigbo twice voted for PDP and Jonathan – “without regrets and apologies,” as we are wont to brag, but despite such a massive support not even a kilometre of our decrepit infrastructure was rehabilitated in the six years Jonathan held sway as president. But all of a sudden we are up in arms demanding that Buhari must perform a miracle within six months of assuming office! Those hypocritically shouting themselves hoarse over Biafra today had ironically supported a non-Igbo candidate and rejected Dim Chukwemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, a Biafran war hero who ran on the ticket of the Igbo-dominated All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), each of the three times he contested the presidential election.

They are largely the same ones now claiming that PDP should be supported because it is the party of Brother Jona, while APC should be preposterously villified because it is the party of Enemy Mahmoud. The more I consider it, the more it seems to me to be a replay of the Eric Hoffer principle. The American philosopher posited that “We (human beings) probably have a greater love for those we support than those who support us (because) our vanity carries more weight than our self-interest.” The only change I can regrettably make as far as Ndigbo are concerned in the present scheme of things is to replace ‘probably’ with ‘foolhardily’!

http://independent.ng/pro-biafra-protests-hoffer-principle/

It is no longer a matter of debate that the economic conditions in our country today have made travelling out Overseas attractive. Daily, we hear and read in the newspapers and on radio news broadcasts, hundreds of African migrants who have either been arrested in many European countries or reported to have drowned while attempting to reach the Promised Land.

Because of their proximity to North Africa, Italy and Spain have become the most attractive and accessible European country. Therefore, most of our youths have the burning desires to leave this. Most of them, particularly those in America have without doubt, once married and with children. Most of these marriages they were involved in were known as “arrangee marriages.” That, in which the particular lady would agree so that he could marry the lady to enable him obtain resident Visa popularly called, “Green Card.” In fact, most of these “arrangee marriages” sometimes end in a disaster or dire consequences.

Because of this apparent hardship in the country, ladies have become easy preys to returnee suitors. Several men and women of our people are in the United States in particular and in Europe in general, all doing, “Ndogandoga” according to Flavour in one of his releases. There is no part of the world where Nigerians are not treated with incredulous disdain.

Year in year out, young men come to look for suitable ladies to marry. In many instances, most of these men are “young-old-men” who are in all probabilities in their very late forties and mid-fifties often try to play a fast one on American ladies, who of course have had several raw deals in the hands of some of our men.

One of the principal mistakes our men make is that often, they find it difficult to tell the girls that they already have wives even with children at homes. But in fact, in a very neat arrangement, the couple do not live together to avoid unpleasant consequences because, “how can a basket of eggs be left in the custody of a dog?” If the arrangement is properly made with full disclosure, there will be no problem.

But more often than not, a man would move in, live with the lady and “true” love and pregnancy would emerge. In this case, the American lady would seriously believe that she is married in spite of the “original arrangee” status of the marriage. On the other hand, the man involved would have had another wife in Nigeria, perhaps with one or two children. He would be playing hanky-panky on the side of the Nigerian wife.

Another situation is that his parents would be disturbing him to come home and get married to a person of his tribe to be sure that his father’s lineage would not be extinct. He would probably tell the American lady that all is well, “our marriage is intact.” With her permission, he would dash home to get married with a lady already waiting and hoping for a returnee suitor. Once the man comes home, everything will be done fast. Everything about marriage processes and dowry haggling and negotiations would be completed even in two visits including the now very popular “traditional wedding.” The man, fully armed with enough dollars, which when changed at ‘Ama Awusa’ in Owerri, Aba or Onitsha would result in heavy naira cash to spend. With this, he would do everything double to impress the in-laws.
But when the lady can’t join him or follow him immediately, he would remain the husband but slippery and cunning. Poor girl, hoping that soon she would be in the United States to join her husband. Unknown to her, what she has is either second or third “Tokunbo” husband.

First, he would tell her and the parents that he would be going back to US or Europe to prepare her documents. But before he leaves, one thing is certain, the girl would be pregnant. Even if the girl protests, he would say, “why worry? In the next few months, before your pregnancy becomes visible, you will be in America.” With such an assurance, a girl who has been hoping and waiting for a suitor cannot be blamed. She will say to herself, “at least I now have a husband in America or Europe.”

Once the man is gone, it will become marriage “on telephone.” The lady waits in frustration and anguish, her only consolation, “at least, I have a husband.” Following the long waiting, the man would continue to give her dollar support with which she could be comfortable. But such comfort without her husband at hand and around her would be incomplete comfort bereft of happiness.

Meanwhile, the man is back to his original “honey” in the US with whom he is living as a full-fledged wife, although the link between them is the almighty green card.

http://independent.ng/ladies-beware-of-cash-carry-and-dump-2/

nextprince:
Choi. 20bn sticks annually. And a stick is either N5 or N10. Now, let's go for the lower, N5. 20bn× N5= N100bn.
Imagine, N100bn being smoked away by Nigerians on yearly basis, nawao!

Yeah...The government makes huge revenue on taxes here and put a disclaimer- "The Federal Ministry of Health warns that smokers are liable to die young."

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said over 20 billion sticks of cigarettes are consumed in Nigeria annually.

Quoting Nigeria’s 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), he said 4.5 million currently use tobacco products, out of which 4.1 million are men and 0.5 million women.

Prof. Adewole further said that 6.4 million of adults are exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke when visiting restaurants, hotels and other public settings.
The Minister, stated this at a press briefing to commemorate the 2017 World No Tobacco Day, with the theme:“Tobacco a threat to Development”, yesterday in Abuja.

According to the minister, Increasing taxes and levies on tobacco products can reduce its consumption, and secondarily generate revenue which can be used to finance universal health coverage and other developmental health programs.

“This can also help break the cycle of poverty, contribute to ending hunger, promote sustainable agriculture and economic growth, and combat climate change.

“Facts from WHO showed that tobacco use costs national economies immensely, this is through increased health-care costs and decreased productivity. It also worsens health inequalities and exacerbates poverty, as the poorest people spend less on essentials such as food, education and health care.
“Tobacco is the only legal drug that kills many of its users when used exactly as intended by manufacturers.

WHO has estimated that tobacco use is currently responsible for the death of about 7 million people annually across the world, with 80% of these deaths occurring in low and middle-income countries like Nigeria.

“This includes about 600,000 people who are also estimated to die from the effects of second-hand smoke. Many of these deaths occur prematurely. Although often associated with ill-health, disability and death from chronic non-communicable diseases, tobacco use is also associated with an increased risk of death from communicable diseases.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre ( CISLAC), Auwal Ibrahim Musa, called on the federal government to raise its response mechanisms, especially within the framework of the law to ensure that provisions such as graphic health warnings and increased taxation are effectively implemented.

He also called on the ban of sale of cigarettes in single sticks and to minors amongst other commendable provisions.

https://www.blueprint.ng/20bn-sticks-of-cigarette-consumed-in-nigeria-annually-fg/

The Joint Admissions and matriculation Board, JAMB, is set to conduct a supplementary examination for about four thousand candidates who for one reason or the other could not write the just concluded exercise which ended on May 2oth this year.

The Registrar and Chief Executive of the Board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede who made the above disclosure in Abuja yesterday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the exercise said the date and time for the examination will be announced later after extensive consultation with relevant stake holders including chief examination officers.

He also disclosed that the number arose from the extended registration carried out as ordered by the House of Representatives which was carried out even while the examination had already started.

Oloyede further disclosed that majority of those who participated in the extended registration had earlier registered ,participated in the concluded examination with good scores, but that the board will go ahead and allow them to participate where they may not even perform better.

On the total number of result released so far, he disclosed that a total number of 1,606,901 candidates have had their results released within 24 hours leaving a balance of 80,889, out of which 76,923 candidates results were withheld for further investigation because of alleged examination malpractices.

He stated that the board may not release the result within 24 hours during next year’s examination until all pending issues surrounding the examination are cleared and taken care of.

Commenting on the general outcome of this year’s examination the JAMB boss said candidates with Biometric verification challenges were to be subjected to further investigation. He said that about 640 candidates could not do their biometric verification partly due to the activities of fraudsters.

The JAMB boss further blamed the intensity of examination malpractices in this year’s examination on the parents who rather than encourage their wards to study harder collude with private CBT centers to commit fraud and pay as much as two hundred thousand naira to secure high marks for their children.

https://dailytimes.ng/education/2017-utme-jamb-conduct-supplementary-exam-3811-candidates/amp/

Hmmmm...
But they still pay millions to whoever is the landlord of Aso Rock. Go agitate for reduction there first. Corrupt bastards.
N74 million paid as rent for Aso Rock in 2016.
I weak.