₦airaland Forum

“I am an active practitioner of restructuring, and I have gone to the Supreme Court 12 times to test restructuring,” Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said and doubt the sincerity of those the clamouring for it now.

Osinbajo said that some of those clamouring for it were those who opposed the efforts on restructuring years back when they were in government.

He said at the 9th Public Lecture with the theme, “‘Developing the Nation Through Youth Empowerment’’ delivered at the
Sigma Club at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

“Let me explain my position clearly. I am not just an advocate of restructuring. There is no other government in Nigeria that has actively pursued restructuring such as we did when I was Attorney General in Lagos State.

“People talking about restructuring, if you ask them what they meant by restructuring? They won’t even know what it means and that is the problem we have to face,” he said.

The vice president narrated how he pursued issues of restructuring to the Supreme Court when he was the Attorney General in Lagos State.

“We started with fiscal restructuring, which is more of resource control. Should states control their own resources? We went to the Supreme Court. They argued that each state should control its own resources.”

“The states that argued in favour of autonomy for states to control their resources were the oil producing states in the country and Lagos State, while some others argued on the other side because they want to share oil money.

“We lost at the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court said no, that you cannot control your resources. If you are an oil producing state, take 13 per cent extra, which is derivation.”

He said that Lagos State further argued that it had ports and the ports served the entire nation, so the state should also take 13 per cent derivation which the Supreme Court objected.

Osinbajo said that further argument led to the introduction of onshore and offshore law, which enabled the state to share from onshore resources.

“All this time, this was 2000, some of those people, including the presidential candidate of PDP, who is talking about restructuring, was the vice president then.

“They opposed every step we took. Of course, we were taking the Federal Government to court then. They opposed every step.

“The next thing we did was that the states should be able to create their own local governments, which is autonomy of states.

“So, we created 37 new local governments in Lagos. The president then, Chief Obasanjo, seized our local government funds and said we could not create new local governments,” he said.

He also narrated how they challenged the seizure at the Supreme Court and the court ruled in their favour.

“If you ask those people now talking about restructuring, none of them has done anything compared to what we have done. So, I am not a latter day convert to restructuring.

“I am an active practitioner of restructuring, and I have gone to the Supreme Court 12 times to test restructuring,” Osinbajo added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/osinbajo-active-practitioner-of.html

National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has decried the riding number of incidences where Nigerians have lost money and data through vulnerabilities arising from lack of knowledge on how to manage their online presence and personal details.

To this end, the agency has begun sensitization events to equip citizens with foundational knowledge as well as share best practices on staying safe in cyberspace.

Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, director general/CEO, NITDA said that “The cybercriminals use social engineering, phishing mails, and probably specific to Nigeria, the use of text messages pretending to be sent from banks, requesting for PIN or revalidation of BVN numbers.

“To the unaware, such are the sources where vital information needed for making unauthorized withdrawals from victims’ bank accounts occur.“A more worrisome and recent trend is the SIM Swap cases, where the victim’s SIM card is swapped; an operation that makes the victim’s phone inaccessible while funds are transferred”.

The DG further stated that everyone that uses ICT devices is vulnerable; these workshops target executives of registered associations and groups, with the ultimate aim to reach their members.“We have also deployed effective conventional channels and social media in conveying the stay-safe message.

“The workshops use presentations and interactive demonstration of trending concepts like SMS, SIM swap, malware, phishing, social engineering and its manifestations, to disseminate the stay-safe tips.The first of the series of Workshops was held in Katsina, Katsina State for the North West Zone on Thursday 29th March, 2018, followed by that of Bayelsa State on the 19th April, 2018.

The event for the North East held at Gombe in Gombe State on the 16th July, 2018 wile another was held on October 23, at Lokoja, Kogi State, for the North Central Zone.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nitda-raises-alarm-over-cybercrimes.html

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has said present trend in air transport suggests that passenger numbers could double to 8.2 billion in 2037.

It noted that over the next two decades, the forecast anticipates a 3.5 per cent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), leading to a doubling in passenger numbers from today’s levels.


The forecast also observed that the world passenger traffic was moving to the east, which now forms the gravity of the industry, adding that China would displace the US as the biggest aviation market.

The association warned, however, that growth prospects for air transport, and the economic benefits driven by aviation, could be curtailed if protectionist measures are implemented by governments.

“Aviation is growing, and that is generating huge benefits for the world. A doubling of air passengers in the next 20 years could support 100 million jobs globally.

“There are two important things that stand out about this year’s forecast. Firstly, we are seeing a geographical reshuffling of world air traffic to the East. And secondly, we foresee a significant negative impact on the growth and benefits of aviation if tough and restrictive protectionist measures are implemented,” said IATA’s Director General and CEO, Alexandre de Juniac,

IATA said the Asia-Pacific region would drive the biggest growth with more than half the total number of new passengers over the next 20 years coming from these markets. Growth in this market is being driven by a combination of continued robust economic growth, improvements in household incomes and favorable population and demographic profiles.

The study noted that China would displace the United States as the world’s largest aviation market (defined as traffic to, from and within the country) in the mid-2020s, noting that the rebalancing of China’s economy towards consumption would support strong passenger demand over the long term.

IATA also disclosed that India would take third place after the US, surpassing the UK around 2024.
Indonesia is projected to be a standout performer—climbing from the world’s 10th largest aviation market in 2017 to the 4th largest by 2030 and Thailand is expected to enter the top 10 markets in 2030, replacing Italy which drops out of the ranking.

It noted that policy shifts were likely over time, remarking that should protectionism continue to expand in a “reverse globalisation” scenario, aviation would continue to grow, but at a slower pace and deliver fewer economic and social benefits.

It also observed that under a liberalised environment connectivity would generate significantly more jobs and GDP growth.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/iata-projects-82bn-air-travellers-by.html

Arik Air has announced the resumption of flight operations to Osubi Airport, Warri with effect from Oct. 26, following the reopening of the airport by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

The airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Capt. Roy Ilegbodu said in a statement on Thursday that Arik would operate two flights daily from Lagos to Warri and one from Abuja to Warri.

“Arik Air is pleased to welcome passengers back on the Lagos-Warri and Abuja-Warri routes with a promise of on-time departures and great customer experience,” he said.

He said that Arik Air recently launched Mobile App – Google Play store and IOS App Store – would boost the customer’s experience.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NAMA had on Sept. 3 closed Warri airport due to a dispute with the operators over high navigational charges by the agency.

The move irked stakeholders, including the Aviation Round Table and Safety Initiative, a group of aviation professionals, due to the loss of revenue suffered by airlines using the airport.

The group had said that operators and NAMA should have agreed on tariffs before the deployment of air traffic services.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/arik-air-resumes-flights-to-warri.html

Stakeholders from across the foods and beverage sector in both public and private sectors, including Coca-Cola Nigeria have agreed on the need for increased level of collaborations on Research and Development for sustainable economic development of the Nation.

Speaking during the panel discussion session sponsored by Coca-Cola Nigeria at the 42nd annual conference organised by Nigerian Institute of Food, Science and Technology (NIFST) held in Abeokuta recently, stakeholders agreed that there was the need for relevant agencies of government, the academia as well as industries in the food and beverage sector to work together by investing heavily on research to pave way for economic growth in Nigeria.

The guest speaker, Professor Babatunde Oguntona, a food and nutrition consultant who spoke on the topic titled ‘Research Collaboration and Industry Linkages: A Sustained Partnership’ averred that there was little or no chance for innovation except industry stakeholders collaborate noting that doing so was capable of enhancing Nigeria’s global market competitiveness providing we harness the benefit of collaborations.


Oguntona, while commending some big industries most especially Coca-Cola Nigeria for its level of commitment to research tasked other corporate organisations, universities as well as relevant government agencies to place much premium on research and development to enable Nigeria fulfil its potential economically.

He reckoned that Nigeria was falling behind owing to the lip service being paid to research as current global statistics on investment in that regard had shown that countries with highest level of commitment enjoy commensurate development economically.

The Director, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Fred Chiazor, opined that the industry as a whole was willing and ready to go into partnership with other industry stakeholders in research with a view to engender economic development for the country.

He said” Coca-Cola Nigeria believes in the power of partnership for sustainable economic growth of the food value chain in Nigeria. This linkage amongst University, Regulatory Industry remains critical for stimulating sustainable economic growth through the evolution of food value chain and innovation.

“The collaboration amongst these cardinal sectors promotes shared insights on global best practices and standards which ultimately drives inclusive growth across the spectrum of food value chain.

“Industry is willing to commit more to the growth of research in Nigeria and its outcome, where this linkage is established and within an enabling regulatory environment”.

Similarly, a senior lecturer and food consultant, Professor Ogugua Aworh equally canvassed the need for improved spending on research to bring about increased productivity noting that funding for the purpose of research should not be driven by outcome alone but also by the knowledge generated in the course of research.

While expressing concern on the declining fortunes of research in Nigeria, Aworh explained that all hands must be on deck by all the stakeholders to reverse the trend if Nigeria was determined and committed to becoming a part of the comity of productive nations that are not only respected in name but doing greatly economic wise.

He stated that such collaboration should not be limited to funding alone but contributions in the area of knowledge transfer and input particularly from industries to academia.

He said: “Without research, there cannot be generation of new knowledge, without new knowledge, there cannot be what to teach. Of course, I can say that research is going on everywhere but the society is not impacted because government is not providing the necessary funding.

“I think with industry; we can build trust but we must demonstrate that we have capacity to deliver. I must say that we must not give up on the industries and government. I believe the industries are willing provided universities are ready to be active partners”

On his part, Director of Food Safety and Nutrition, NAFDAC, Mr. Sheriff Olagunju urged other stakeholders in the sector to always bear in mind the regulatory requirements before embarking on any research as this would go a long way to facilitate quick outcomes and better relationship between the agency and the parties involved.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/coca-cola-others-advocate-for.html

Barely three months to the 2019 general election, the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it lacks confidence in the preparedness of the Independent National Commission (INEC) to organise a credible poll.

Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, made this known when he received a delegation of the European Union (EU) of election exploration mission to Nigeria led by Niclay Paus, yesterday.


Secondus said every intelligence available to the party showed that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) had concluded arrangement with the electoral umpire to manipulate the voting process.

The party chairman said what happened during the governorship election in Osun State underscored the party’s fears that INEC is not ready to be neutral.

Secondus added that though Amina Zakari, who he described as the “main agent of the APC” in the commission has been redeployed from operations department, she is still capable of influencing others within the electoral body.

“When we eschewed violence after the electoral theft in Osun State and decided to exercise our right to peaceful protest, the Inspector General of Police (Idris Abubakar) directed his personnel to tear gas us notwithstanding the personalities involved in the protest – the senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, five governors and national chairman and members of the National Working Committee and other critical leaders of the party.


“Our fear is strong that the APC and the administration are not disposing themselves for a peaceful 2019 general election and we base our position on the multiplicity of induced crisis across the country

“With all the unprecedented bloodletting in the country, the president is not engaging the people and a select group operating- ing as cabals have hijacked the system,” he claimed.

He urged international partners of Nigeria, especially the EU and America, to bring their influence to bear on INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections.

He also wants them to show more than passing interests in the activities of security agencies, particularly the police.

However, the APC dismissed the accusation by the opposition party that it was conniving with INEC as unfounded.

Spokesman of the ruling party, Lanre Issa-Onilu, told Daily Sun that overwhelming evidences have shown that INEC is clearly favouring the PDP.

He cited instance of the electoral body writing to the APC over the primary election in Zamfara State without sending similar correspondence to the PDP that committed the same offence in Kano State.

The APC mouthpiece further noted that instead of preparing for next year’s general elections, the PDP should rather apologise to Nigerians for all the damage it did to the country during its 16 years in the saddle between 1999 and 2015.


“I have said that I won’t join issues with the PDP, but the opposition party lacks the rectitude to talk about having trust in the INEC. The PDP is rather the one conniving with INEC. For example, the opposition party did not conduct primaries in Kano State yet INEC did not write to them as it did to the APC over Zamfara State and I am sure they have submitted the nomination list to the INEC.

“Ordinarily, the PDP should not even be talking of participating in next year’s elections because
of what they did to the people of this country. It is not about the APC but the electorate they cheated in the past,” he said.


Similarly, INEC dismissed the PDP’s claim as trivialities, which it said it had no time to talk about, because they were capable of distracting the Commission from its focus of preparing to deliver a free, fair and credible pull next year.

Rotimi Lawrence Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to the INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, told Daily Sun that the commission won’t join issues with the opposition party that does not know what it takes to organise election.

“We have just 114 days to the 2019 general elections and you will agree with me that the Commission is very, very busy at the moment, tidying up preparations for the election.


“This is not the time to pay any attention to careless comments by individuals or groups who have absolutely no idea about what it takes to organise a credible general election in a country like Nigeria,” he noted.

It is the second time PDP would be accusing APC and INEC of plot to compromise the forthcoming poll.

During a meeting with EU delegation in September, Secondus had described the APC and INEC as threats to credible polls in 2019.

Addressing the three-man delegation which paid him a visit at the National Secretariat of the party, had Secondus said Nigeria was sitting on the keg of gunpowder under the APC-led government.”


“The nephew to Mr. President, Amina Zakari is in charge of INEC operations, so how can they be fair?


Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-weve-no-confidence-in-inec-pdp.html

The South East Renewal Group (SERG) has described the victory by Enugu
Rangers International Football Club as the winner of the 2018 Aiteo
Cup as “one of the many proofs that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu
State is God-sent to the people of the state.”

In a statement signed by the Convener and National Coordinator of the
SERG, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the group said added that “fighting from a
3-0 defeat by Kano Pillars, up to early second half, to equalize and
eventually win the cup 4-2 on penalties symbolizes the kind of victory
awaiting the Governor in 2019.

“No matter how the opponents fight, there is second term victory next
year for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as an achiever who has again added
another feather to his cap as the man of the people through his
result-oriented administration.

“This can only happen during the tenure of goal getter like the
God-sent Governor Ugwuanyi. And we congratulate the Governor, Enugu
Rangers, the good people of Enugu State and the entire South East on
the hard earned victory”, the statement read.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/rangers-aitoe-cup-victory-again-proves.html

Nigeria’s current proven gas reserve has gone up to 202 trillion cubic feet (tcf) from the initial figure of 199tcf, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has disclosed.

The corporation also stated that the country’s unproven gas reserves is now about 600tcf.
It explained that based on these numbers, Nigeria had almost 10 times the gas reserves base of Trinidad and Tobago, and could be in the same league as Iran, Qatar, and Russia.

Providing an update on Nigeria’s gas credentials, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, equally revealed that on the average, Nigeria’s current gas production is in the region of 8.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd).


He noted that of this volume about 3.7bscfd, representing 43 per cent of total gas production was exported, while 2.7bscfd – 32 per cent of total gas production is used upstream for gas re-injection and gas-lift, 1.5bscfd – 18 per cent of total gas production is used domestically for power generation and industries, while the balance of 0.6bscfd representing seven per cent of total gas production is currently being flared at fields in the Niger Delta.
Baru, said the country had significantly increased domestic gas supply and reformed the commercial framework for gas by reviewing the domestic gas price to export parity as well as developed standard gas supply agreements.

According to him, the NNPC has equally developed a clear cut strategy for growing gas supply to meet the unprecedented growth in domestic gas demand by completing its short term gas supply projects and increasing supply from its subsidiary – the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Oredo, Utorogu and Odidi re-entry projects.

Speaking at the just concluded 11th edition of the Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) international conference and exhibition in Abuja, he also said upon completion, the projects would deliver about 240 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd) to the domestic market by the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2018.

Baru, indicated the NNPC had made massive investment in the promotion of the usage of cooking gas with the revamp of the eight liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) butanisation plants in Apapa; Ibadan; Oshogbo; Enugu; Ilorin; Gombe; Makurdi and Kano.

“Our plan is to connect all the stations through pipelines to bring LPG closer to consumers,” Baru said, while calling on members of NGA to join forces with the NNPC and other stakeholders to ensure Nigeria’s gas sector is developed.

He stated the NNPC had executed a novel contract with a private firm for the activation of virtual gas pipeline network for power generation.
The project, he noted would be facilitated with the installation of mini liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants designed to supply, in the first instance, about 84mmscfd of gas from production fields using customised cryogenic tankers to areas that are not easily accessible through pipelines.

Baru, said the supply technique would develop Nigeria’s energy sector and consequently help revitalise the manufacturing, textile and housing sectors with the provision of affordable electricity.
In his remarks, the immediate past president of NGA, Mr. Dada Thomas, highlighted the need for Nigeria to achieve optimisation of its enormous gas resources through constructive engagements with stakeholders across value chain.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nnpc-nigerias-gas-reserves-now-202trn.html

High profile Nigerian artist Patoranking will, on Wednesday, lead other notable musicians to perform during the finals of the 2018 AITEO football tournament holding at Stephen Kesh Stadium, Asaba, Delta State.

Enugu Rangers will be slugging it out with Kano Pillars at the finals billed to kick off at 4:30pm, according to the vice chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Patrick Ukah.

Ukah who is the state Commissioner for Information said in a statement on Monday that there will be a curtain raiser between Comprehensive Secondary School, Ogwashi Uku, and West End Mixed Secondary School, Asaba by 2.30pm and entertainment/musical performance before the kick-off.


He said that there will be another performance at half time, while medals will be presented to the winners after the encounter.

To round off the activities of the day, there will be fireworks and a grand musical performance.

Ukah assured that accommodation arrangements have been concluded for football officials who will be in Asaba for the match.

The officials are Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executives, including past Executives, State Football Association (FA) Chairmen, State FA Secretaries and NFF Secretaries.

He said tickets for the encounter were being sold at various outlets at N2,000.00 for VIP and N1,000.00 popular side, and urged fans to enter the stadium through the appropriate gates as indicated in their tickets.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/patoranking-others-to-perform-at-2018.html

Suspected Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday night attacked Mairari and Femari communities in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.



The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the insurgents attacked the communities at about 8:30 pm; killed one person, set houses ablaze and carted away food items.



The attack came barely 12 hours after the insurgents killed more than 10 farmers and abducted others at Kuwa-Yangeya village on Maiduguri-Damboa Road on Saturday.



An eyewitness, Goni Umar, said the insurgents attacked the communities on gun trucks and motorcycles.

Umar said the insurgents carted away food items from shops and houses before setting them ablaze.

He added that the villagers fled into the bush while some others ran to Maiduguri, adding that: “one person was killed by a stray bullet while trying to escape”.

“On our way to Maiduguri, we saw troops and police heading to the villages”.

Brig.-Gen. Bulama Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC), 7 Division, confirmed the attack.

In a Short Service Message (SMS) to NAN, Biu said that troops had successfully repelled the attack, adding that the insurgents fled into the bush.

“Troops have been deployed since 8:45 pm and they are still combing the area in order to apprehend the culprits,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/boko-haram-sacks-two-communities-in.html

More than a year after the Federal Government announced a Financing Support Fund of N5bn for artisanal and small-scale miners in the country, the African Centre for Leadership Strategy and Development has raised concern that no miner in the country has been able to access the fund.

It attributed the development to stringent conditions by the Bank of Industry (BoI) for miners to access the fund. One of the conditions is that miners must have a Certificate of Occupancy, a surety that would stand for them.

The centre’s Acting Executive Director, Monday Osasa, while speaking at the National Mining Summit organised by his organisation, yesterday, in Abuja, called on BoI to relax conditions for accessing funds, such that it would be a win-win situation for both the bank and miners.

The National President of Miners Association of Nigeria Alhaji Sani Shehu, said their major challenge was funding to enable them buy equipment, acquire mining technology and overcome some of their infrastructural challenges.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/1-year-on-miners-yet-to-access-n5bn-fg.html

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has included 9,125 ex-workers of Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NITEL), and its mobile subsidiary, MTEL, to its monthly pension payroll.

A statement by management of PTAD in Abuja on Saturday disclosed that the addition of the pensioners to the payroll was coming after 12 years of uncertainty post privatisation of NITEL/MTEL.

PTAD said the inclusion of the ex-workers was in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment in ensuring that all pensioners get their entitlements.
PTAD also announced that payments to 1,385 Next of Kins of deceased pensioners would follow shortly as soon as the Directorate concludes the computation of the deceased pensioners’ benefits.
The directorate also noted that it has so far verified and recently pay-rolled Delta Steel Company (DSC), Nigeria Reinsurance and NICON Insurance pensioners.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that PTAD Executive Secretary, Ms Sharon Ikeazor, had in August, assured the ex-workers that they would be put on the monthly payroll for onward payment of their pensions for life.
Ikeazor had said that the greatest injustice was not to pay workers their wages after meritorious service to their father land.
She had assured pensioners that payment of their pension arrears would be made as soon as funds are allocated and released to the directorate.
PTAD had between Jan. 15 to Jan. 26 carried out the verification of pensioners of NITEL and MTEL under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
The exercise was conducted across the six geo-political zones of the country.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/pension-nitelmtel-ex-workers-now-in.html

Recently, a delegation of Nigerian traders in Ghana, led by the president of the Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG), Chukwuemeka Nnaji, were in Abuja to appeal to President Buhari, through his Senior Special Adviser on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri- Erewa, to intervene in the ongoing face-off between Nigerian traders in Ghana, the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) and the task force, among others, regarding the implementation of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) laws, which has led to the indefinite closure of their shops.

Some of them recounted their ordeal and why urgent action should be taken to restore law and order in the affected markets in the Ashante Region to prevent escalation of the conflict.

Section 27, Subsection 1 of the GIPC law says a person who is not a citizen or an enterprise, which is not wholly owned by citizens, shall not invest or participate in the sale of goods or provision of services in a market, petty trading or hawking or selling of goods in a stall at any place; operate a taxi or car hire service in an enterprise that has a fleet of less than 25 vehicles; operation a beauty salon or barber shop, print recharge cards for the use of subscribers of telecommunication services, produce exercise books and other basic stationary, retail finished pharmaceutical products or produce, supply and retail sachet water and all aspects of pool-betting business and lotteries, except football pool.


It added that the Minister, in consultation with the Board, might, by legislative instrument, amend the list of enterprises reserved for citizens and enterprises wholly owned by citizens.

Section 28 of the GIPC law says,
(1) A person who is not a citizen may participate in an enterprise specified in Section 27 if that person (a) in the case of a joint enterprise with a partner who is a citizen, invests a foreign capital of not less than $200,000 in cash or capital goods relevant to the investment or a combination of both by way of equity participation, and the partner, who is a citizen, does not have less than 10 per cent equity participation in the joint enterprise; or (b) where the enterprise is wholly owned by that person, invests a foreign capital of not less than $500,000 in cash or capital goods relevant to the investment or a combination of both by way of equity capital in the enterprise.

(2) A person who is not a citizen may engage in a trading enterprise if that person invests in the enterprise, not less than $1million in cash or goods and services relevant to the investments.

It was based on issues emanating from the aforementioned sections that is the bone of contention between Nigerian traders, whose country is a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and GUTA/member of the task force, who locked up Nigerian’s shops, particularly in the Ashante Region.

Chapter 1 of ECOWAS Treaty said the right of establishment means the right granted to a citizens who is a national of the member state settled or establish in another member state other than his state of origin and to have access to economic activities, to carry out these activities, as well as set up and manage enterprises and particular companies, under the same conditions as defined by the legislation of the host member state for its own nationals.

Nnaji said, “So much money has been paid to Ghanaian authorities in the last two months. We came to Abuja last time with all kinds of receipts, of people paying as much as $1,600 as tax. Those who ought to pay $2,000 per month, they raised it to $5,000, which is unbearable. This is just a shop where you sell your goods. Our losses run into millions of dollars, as about 400 shops affected are under lock and key, while those whose shops are not locked are losing a lot to competitors. Our people are walking with fear on the streets of Accra right now. This is not exaggeration.”

He disclosed that the Act is simply targeting foreigners. “When they say Nigerians should comply with the GIPC law, what they are just saying is that Nigerians should go to Ghana Embassy to obtain a visa before traveling to Ghana, which shouldn’t be so.”

He insisted that Nigerian traders are not contravening any law and it is actually the ECOWAS that is not doing its work by allowing the breach of its protocol on the right of establishment by Ghana.

He recalled that when the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) in Ghana came to his office, he asked what they came to do and they said that they came to find out those who had registered their businesses. “Did we contravene any law? We have all registered our businesses. If there is anybody who did not register, they should follow up on that.”

He said it is very expensive to register a company in Ghana as a Nigerian, as it costs at least $5,000; hence he has advised his members to join hands to register their companies with the appropriate authorities.

On the issue of adulterated drugs, he said Nigerians in the whole of West Africa have the highest control when it comes to drugs, “It is not a country thing; it is an individual. If there is anybody that is found selling adulterated drugs, let the authorities in charge deal with the person according to the law.”

He dismissed allegations that Nigerians were bringing substandard products into Ghana, stressing that when the authorities went to the shops of Ghanaians, they did not find any difference in quality of goods in the shops of Ghanaians and of Nigerians traders. He disclosed that the shops that were locked in Suame were spare parts shops and those who locked those shops were their rivals.

Vice President, NUTAG, Ikechukwu Obiora, regretted that the government was finding it difficult to restore law and order in the affected areas and urged the Nigerian government to come to their aid, as GUTA had given Nigerian traders three months to pack out from the market. “The very few shops that are opened, they coerced them to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that they would leave their market in Kumasi after three months, if not, they will come and lock their shops.”

Secretary General of NUTAG, Evaristus Nwankwo, said what is happening in Ghana is a complete rejection of what ECOWAS stands for, alleging that Ghanaians are using the GIPC law to take Nigerians off trading in Ghana. “They are demanding so many things. Even those who have those things they say they will not trade because their shops are located in areas exclusively meant for Ghanaians. Even in the Ashanti Region where they said the shops have been reopened is untrue. “The Police came and opened some Nigerian’s traders shops, but immediately they left, GUTA thugs came there and broke one of the traders’ head. They used welding machine to break those shops. Our members reported to the Police and the Police didn’t do anything.”

“In spite of all these provocations, we have been telling our members to maintain civility and their maturity is very commendable.”

National Secretary of GUTA and 2nd National Organiser of the Ghana Task Force, Jeff Kwame Gyasi, told The Guardian that Ghana has several laws governing and regulating the retail trade which have been grossly abused by foreigners across board; hence the need to sanitise the system. “For the last 30 years, trading associations have had to fight successive governments over negligence of its own laws. The core mandate of the task force was to educate, guide and help foreigners be compliant to all the laws governing trading. We are not treating anybody different from the others. The ECOWAS citizens have advantage over the non-Africans because of the sub-regional integration and the ECOWAS protocols. We only want them to abide, follow and obey whatever we the citizens do. Moreover, we expect them not to do what they cannot, will not and shall not do in their various countries.”


He emphasised that not only Nigerians are affected, just that they are in the greater number in Ghana, saying, “There are around five million Nigerians in Ghana. The second largest numbers of foreigners are the Chinese, who are engaged in galamsey (illegal mining) and most of them have been deported back to China.” He added that shops of those who have been compliant are opened, even from 60 per cent tax compliant have been opened.

Meanwhile, Dabiri- Erewa disclosed that she had met with the officials of NUTAG and was going to present their petitions to the President, saying, “Everything has to be done to resolve this issue as they are ECOWAS citizens. It is a different thing if they committed a crime but these are just traders who have lost so much since July. I learnt a woman even committed suicide because of this issue.” She appealed to the Nigerian traders not to take the laws into their hands.

“I feel sorry for them. If Ghana doesn’t want them, just tell them you don’t want them, rather saying you will do this today and you don’t do it. Our President spoke with the Ghanaian President and the latter assured that the shops would be reopened. In fact, on September 27, instructions were given that the shops be reopened.” She regretted that the instruction wasn’t obeyed, saying, “There is a bit of political undertone, but I believe Ghana’s president will do the right thing.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nigerian-traders-in-ghana-kick-against.html

Director of Media of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo, SAN, has recalled what former Military Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida told former President, Olusegun Obasanjo about the sufferings of Nigerians in 2002.

Keyamo said that Obasanjo and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, were trying to deceive young Nigerians by telling them that there was no suffering during their tenure.

Keyamo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, posted a front page of a national newspaper dated 2002 where Babaginda was quoted to have cautioned Obasanjo that “Nigerians are suffering” on his Twitter handle to drive home his point.


Keyomo tweeted, “Because they are targeting the younger voters who don’t know their record, they say there was no suffering at all during their tenure.
“This publication was in 2002, which was exactly 3 years into their first term.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-presidency-what-babaginda-told.html

A new projection for power generation nationwide was yesterday put at 9000 Mega Watts (MW) effective first quarter of 2020.

Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, shared this optimism at the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce meeting in Lagos, saying power generation had steadily rose by 1000MW average per year, since 2015 till date.

Fashola, who was addressing businessmen, politicians and technocrats, scored the sector high in the last three years against the backdrop of current 7000MW with more prospects of additions to the grid ahead of the 2020 projection.


He said though the challenges are still enormous, the task of achieving stable power supply nationwide is achievable with more hard work and support from stakeholders, especially the private sector.
With the privilege of travelling nationwide to visit all the power plants in the country, the minister said progress of the power sector is best measured between where Nigeria was in 2015 and the current power generation, transmission and distribution indices.
Today, according to Fashola, power generation has increased from 4000MW in 2015 to 7000MW and “that power is available as we are averaging 1000MW per year in incremental worth”.
Transmission has also improved from 5000 to 7000MW, while distribution has peaked from 3000MW in 2015 to 5222MW as at January this year “and that is the highest amount of energy this country has distributed ever”.
On the prospects for the future, Fashola said before the end of the year, another 945MW would be added to the grid.
Currently, almost half of that (459MW) is ready from Azura. Afam IV also has 240MW ready, Kaduna 215MW and Kashimila in Taraba 40MW are all ready.

He said further that by quarter one of 2020, Zungaru Hydo Power Plant would be able to add 700MW and Opai II will add 450MW, which is already 1150MW average increase per year.
“This does not include the 700MW of installed but inoperative power plants due to inadequate gas or incomplete transmission lines.
This also does not include nine Independent Power Projects (IPPs) in nine Federal Universities, which we planned to scale to 37.
“We have done audit of the 37 but constrained by budget and decided to start with nine universities to show that it is possible. It also does not include 15 IPPs targeting major markets to power no fewer than 85000 shops.
“They are in various stages and by the end of this month, the one at Sura market in Lagos should start to work. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will finish the one in Ariaria market in Aba and ditto for Sabon Gari market.
“By this numbers alone, we have moved the needle forward. So I see promise. Like I told those who asked me, if I ever thought that this power problem couldn’t be solved, I would have left it. It can be solved but not be proclamation, but by hard work.
So, this is the essence of my promise in 2015, that with collective experience, it will get better.
“How far we can go depends on all of us that will decide who forms the next government. In making that choice, now I speak well-meaning and right thinking people, you will have to compare the records of three years that I put before you and those of 16 years,” he said.
In an interactive session Fashola clarified that the Power Ministry does not issue license, but plays the role of supervision and policy implementation.

The National Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) according to him plays a key role in the licensing process of the power sector.
Chairman, Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce, Foluso Phillips, said though the projection and 1000MW average increment rate are good, but the system could do better, especially with right and clear economic policies of the government.
Phillips said things are not really where they should be currently, with the mishmash of economic policies and politics confusing the business community.
“We really need to focus on the economy more but I think a lot of that is not being done. It has been very discouraging for a lot of people. Sometimes the policies are very aggressive.
We know that we have lost revenue from oil and the government needs to make amend. But a lot still bothers on the business environment than just Ease of Doing business would help.
The attitude and body language and what the private sector perceive, taxation system are very important to attract private investors into critical sectors like power,” Phillips said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/power-to-hit-9000-megawatts-in-2020.html

Bob Marley is one of Jamaica’s favourite sons, but it is the late musician’s daughter who is revelling in the nation’s latest sporting success.

Jamaica has become the first Caribbean team to qualify for a women’s football World Cup and it’s Cedella Marley – the first-born daughter of Bob – who the Reggae Girlz have to thank.

In 2010, their team ceased to exist, only for Marley to come on board four years later as an ambassador and sponsor with the Bob Marley Foundation and help turn their fortunes around.


That turnaround was completed in Texas on Wednesday evening, when Jamaica defeated Panama on penalties in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship third-place play-off – a feat that has been described in the Jamaican press as “almost super-human”.

Twice Jamaica took the lead over Panama and twice the Central Americans equalised, before Dominique Bond-Flasza scored the winning spot-kick to send the ‘Reggae Girlz’ to next year’s World Cup in France.

“Big up to Cedella Marley for putting her neck on the line for us,” head coach Hue Menzie said after the game.

However, it was far from easy watching the drama unfold Marley told BBC World Service: “There were a couple of moments when I had to leave the room (watching the match) because I was going light-headed.

“I went outside and started to meditate. By the time the last penalty went in we were all on the floor. Daddy would probably not be surprised, when I put my foot into something stuff happens. He’d be like, ‘that’s my girl’.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/bob-marleys-daughter-inspires-reggae.html

Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Abubakar Bwari, has said that private investment into mining projects is estimated at $2.32 billion in the country.

Bwari, who disclosed this during the three-day 3rd yearly Nigeria Mining Week organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers and Spintelligent in Abuja, also added that the investment was made possible due to government’s friendly mining climate such as gold mining and refining, lead/zinc exploration and production.

He said: “Mining in Nigeria is private sector driven with the Federal Government restricted to regulatory and facilitation roles. There is no better time to invest in the sector than now.”


In another development, the Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) yesterday suspended the $400 surcharge imposed by some shipping companies on Apapa and Tin Can Island Ports.

The NSC Executive Secretary, Mr. Hassan Bello, who disclosed this to journalists in Abuja, said the charge was suspended after a meeting with shipping companies that introduced it in Lagos.

“They cannot just charge arbitrarily. The shippers’ council opposed the charges, especially because of the economy. Secondly, the procedure is wrong, you can’t slam charges without telling us.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/private-investment-in-mining-sector.html

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote says the planned 7 billion dollar Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited Train 7 plant will be done in-country by mostly Nigerian companies.

Wabote disclosed this at a public workshop to discuss opportunities for the Nigerian content aspect of the NLNG Train 7 plant, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

He said the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) work must be in-country as part of effort to ensure local content drive in the country.

The workshop was organised by the NLNG.

He said the era of building such big projects in modules abroad and then shipped to Nigeria to be coupled, was over.

He explained the government would now assess such new projects with what had been achieved with the Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) oil platform built by Total.

“I know how we insist on some of these local content requirements (from the international oil companies (IOCs). If you leave them alone, they will build this Train 7 in modules and then ship them from England or Netherlands and then take them straight to Bonny and couple them.

“ That is not going to happen. We are going to build the Train 7 in-country because we have the capacity.” He said

He further explained that the NCDMB was confident the NLNG Train 7 plant would come through, unlike some other oil and gas projects that have been in the pipeline for many years.

The NLNG, has been adjudged as one of Nigeria’s most successful corporate organisations.

“ It is a private limited liability company owned by the federal government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with 49 per cent stake; Shell – 25.6 per cent; Total – 15 per cent and Eni – 10.4 per cent,’

Earlier, the NLNG’s Managing Director, Mr. Tony Attah, said that the company’s planned Train 7 project, which would increase production output of its plant by 35 per cent from 22 Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA, will improve Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Nigeria.

He said 2019 would mark the company’s 30th year in existence and 20th year of operation as a global company.

Giving an overview of the Train 7 project, he said opportunities exist for in-country fabrication of pressure vessels, pipes, flare stack among others.

In the area of procurement of equipment and materials, the company said in-country opportunities exist for Nigerian companies to supply cement, fuel, lubricants and vehicles including earth moving equipment.

In construction, he said that opportunities exist in consulting services, installation, commissioning and inspection, testing and certification.

Attah said Nigerian companies could take advantage of opportunities to supply logistics including marine and air transport for thousands of workers than would be engaged when construction of the new train begins.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nlng-train-7-fg-insists-on-local-content.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State said 6, 609, 115 residents were eligible to vote in the 2019 General Elections in the state.

Mr. Sam Olumekun, the Resident Electoral Commissioner disclosed this at a workshop on Lagos State Election Security Strategic Plan for 2019 Elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop was organised by Nigeria Policing Programme (NPP) in collaboration with INEC in Lagos State.
Prince Adelani Asade, the Administrative Secretary of the commission delivered Olumekun’s speech at the workshop.
Lagos state has 245 Registration Areas (Wards), 8,462 polling units, and 3669 voting points across the 20 Local Governments of the state and Olumekun agreed that security is key to holding a successful election.
“6, 609, 115 eligible Nigerians registered to vote during the 2019 general elections in the state.
” I am profoundly grateful to NPP for organising this very important and timely workshop on elections security considering the role of good security structure in the conducting a peaceful and successful general elections in 2019.
” It is crucial to say that with 91 political parties and about 74 million voters geared to take informed decision and action at the general elections in 2019, the security of election officials, materials, and the electorate is of utmost importance to the commission.
“Indeed, security is key to the conduct of credible elections. INEC in Lagos is truly proud of partnering with NPP at this most auspicious time in the electoral cycle, ” Olumekun said.
The INEC commissioner commended the NPP and hoped that the workshop would give the commission the opportunity to review, reflect, brainstorm, and re-engineer its security structure and strategy.
He added that the commission’s proactiveness on security, had informed regular meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election security where matters concerning security before, during and after elections were discussed.
Olumekun said INEC would improve on the conduct of elections in 2019.
In his goodwill message, the representative of NPP, Mr Emeka Ukaotu said that INEC would need to develop its election security management plan.
According to him, some factors needed to be considered by INEC in developing the plan. These include relevant intelligence and information about locations and assessment of vulnerability.
He urged INEC to also consider previous history of electoral offences or allegations associated with the geographical area.
Ukaotu said the commission should also consider the potential for offences to be committed as a result of lack of policing, ill-prepared local authority, complacency and political culture.
NAN reports that some of the topics at the three-day workshop included: “Importance of Security Threat Analysis in Strategic Planning” and “Identification and Mapping of Peculiar Election Security Threats Across Lagos”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/6609115-lagosians-eligible-to-vote-in.html

The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, has declared that Nigeria still has sufficient room to borrow more whenever the need arises.


He explained that the country was not running any debt risk, adding that it had one of the lowest debt levels among its African peers.

“Nigeria has a sustainable debt profile with ample room to borrow more whenever we may require doing so. Nigeria runs no debt risk and the Debt Management Office carries out an annual Debt Sustainability Analysis to ensure that we stay that way,” Udoma was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Akpandem James.


Udoma stated this in Bali, Indonesia, at the just concluded annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, adding that the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan 2017-2020 was moving Nigeria’s economy in a positive direction.

The minister recalled that following the collapse of crude oil prices in 2014, which culminated in the country’s economy sliding into recession in 2016, the government developed the ERGP in early 2017.

The minister said the positive trends recorded in the country’s economic indicators since the launch of the ERGP had shown that the plan was working.


He stated, “We have been able to bring down inflation from 18.7 per cent in January last year to 11.2 per cent by August this year. Our aim is to bring inflation down to a single digit by the end of the plan period in 2020.

“The exchange rate market has been stabilised through the introduction of the investors and importers’ foreign exchange window. We have also been able to build up our external reserves from $27bn in 2016 to $43.9bn by early this month.

“Our current account, as a ratio of Gross Domestic Product, has moved from a deficit of 3.2 per cent in 2015 to a surplus of 2.8 per cent by end of last year. And this is built on export growth, including significant growth in non-oil exports that has resulted in the country recording a consistently positive trade balance since the fourth quarter of 2016.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nigeria-has-room-to-borrow-more-buharis.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, says maintaining stable exchange rate to avoid depreciation of the Naira is better than building foreign reserve buffers.

Emefiele told newsmen on Sunday that this was part of the outcome of the Nigerian delegation’s meetings with investors and institutions at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank Group (WBG) Annual Meetings in Bali. He said that all frontiers and developing markets have suffered not just depreciation, but had also lost reserves. “We are very conscious of the need to build buffers but unfortunately I must say that we are in the period where it will be difficult to talk about building reserve buffers. “We can only build reserve buffers if we want to hold on to the reserve and then allow the currency to go, and wherever it goes is something else. Dollar pares losses as equity sell-off eases “So it is a choice we have to make and at this time the choice for Nigeria is to maintain a stable exchange rate so that businesses can plan and we do not create problems in the banking system assets.” According to him, like other emerging markets nations, Nigeria has also lost reserves but only marginally because it had managed to sustain stability in its foreign exchange market. The CBN governor said that the IMF and the World Bank advised that nations should build country specific policies and fiscal and structural reforms that would boost economic growth. Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, said the World Bank’s Human Capital Development Index (HCI) ranking, which placed Nigeria low at 44 per cent on stunting, was disheartening and depressing. She, however, said that the Federal Government saw the rating as a wake-up call. “We admit that this pervasive action was due to long years of under-investment in human capital, which we have before now realised and for which we have been addressing. “Apart from major policy actions, some decisive actions are being taken to address the situation.” According to her, the delegation held meetings with the two rating agencies-Fitch and Moody’s and presented to them the summary and synopsis of the recent economic and financial developments in Nigeria. She added that it was an opportunity for the rating agencies to be able to objectively evaluate Nigeria’s credit. Ahmed said she also met the IMF Managing Director, Ms Christine Lagarde and discussed Nigeria’s economy in view of the 2019 general elections. She assured Lagarde that the election year would not pose any threat to the nation’s economic prospects. Mr Udoma Udo Udoma, Minister of Budget and National Planning, said that to improve HCI, the nation had improved budgetary allocation to health and education. He said that allocation to education moved from N22.5 billion in 2015 to N102.9 billion in 2018. He added that allocation to health was reviewed from N26.6 billion in 2015 to N86.49 billion in 2018. He said also that N55.19 billion had been added to the health budget in 2018 through the National Health Act. Newsmen report that the 2018 Annual Meetings of the IMF/WBG which began on Oct. 8 ended on Oct. 14.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/stable-exchange-rate-best-choice-for.html

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has said that “The order banning 50 alleged high-profile corrupt Nigerians from travelling abroad without any legal basis and a judicial authorisation is clearly arbitrary, repressive and illegal, as it breaches constitutional rights and the country’s international obligations, which protect the rights to freedom of movement, to leave one’s country, to privacy, and to due process of law.”

The organization said: “A travel ban by its nature is an interference with the right to leave one’s country. It is neither necessary nor proportionate to prevent dissipation of stolen assets or stop politically exposed persons (PEPs) from tampering with any such assets. The ban should be immediately lifted and the order rescinded.” Presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu yesterday announced the placement of 50 high-profile Nigerians on travel ban, citing the measure as part of the implementation of Presidential Executive Order Number 6. The unnamed individuals will be banned from travelling outside the country pending the determination of their corruption cases in order to ensure that all assets within a minimum value of N50 million or equivalent, are not dissipated or tampered with. But SERAP in a statement today signed by its deputy director Timothy Adewale said: “Rather than performing its declared objective of preventing dissipation of stolen assets, the travel ban would seriously undermine the government’s expressed commitment to combat grand corruption and violate the country’s international human rights obligations. The travel ban will play right into the hands of high-profile corrupt officials by feeding into the narrative that the fight against corruption is targeted only at political opponents.” The statement read in part: “The travel ban and mass surveillance will distract the authorities from taking legitimate action to recover stolen assets, effectively punish high-ranking corrupt officials and portray the government as unwilling to embrace the rule of law in its fight against corruption, thereby making it difficult to obtain the necessary support and cooperation of countries keeping stolen assets.” “The travel ban will also strain the government’s relationships with partner countries, on whom it will inevitably rely for vital asset recovery cooperation, undermining the effort to bring them closer. By alienating these partners, the government could lose access to important information and mutual legal assistance necessary to effectively recover stolen assets and bring corrupt officials to justice.” “Judicial affirmation of the legality of the Executive Order 6 doesn’t grant the government arbitrary powers to impose travel ban on anyone without following due process of law. Rather than imposing a travel ban, the authorities should take advantage of the provisions of the UN Convention against Corruption to seek mutual legal assistance with countries where investigations and litigation are ongoing by requesting them to apply preventive measures regarding assets covered by the travel ban.” “The authorities should also widely publish the names of the 50 Nigerians suspected to be involved, and submit those names to the countries/embassies of countries where the stolen assets are stashed. The authorities should issue a risk alert on alleged corrupt assets that are likely to be dissipated or tampered with by the high-profile Nigerians, seeking the cooperation of countries keeping the assets, and reminding them of their international obligations to prevent these Nigerians from tampering with stolen assets that are subject of ongoing investigations and litigation.” “We are concerned with the threats grand corruption and money laundering posed to the effective enjoyment of human rights of Nigerians, and agree with the authorities that grand corruption and impunity of perpetrators must be vigorously combated. But we believe that the fight against corruption will only succeed if it is based on due process of law and respect for human rights.” “If the objective the government seeks to achieve is to ensure stolen assets are not dissipated or that politically exposed persons do not interfere with ongoing investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, the appropriate legal response is for the authorities to pursue orders of temporary forfeiture and mutual legal assistance, and not a travel ban that would achieve nothing but violate citizens’ human rights.” “Nigeria is a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which in article 12 guarantees the right of everyone to leave any country, including their own. The government cannot impose restrictions on this right unless any such restrictions are provided by law, are necessary to protect public order, or the rights of others. The travel restrictions on the alleged 50 corrupt Nigerians clearly do not meet these conditions.” “All restrictions on the right to leave must be narrowly interpreted. In General Comment No. 27, the Human Rights Committee stated that any restrictions must not impair the essence of the right and that the relationship of the norm to the exception must not be reversed.” “The travel ban cannot achieve the objective of depriving the 50 Nigerians suspected of corruption of their ill-gotten gains. It is absolutely important that the government is guided by the provisions of Article 31 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party, and which authorises states parties to take preliminary measures to seize, freeze or otherwise immobilise property for the purposes of confiscation/pending investigation and litigation.” “It is always important that the definition and interpretation of the law should be as certain as possible, and this is of particular importance in cases of corruption where citizens’ human rights may be at stake. We do not consider that such reasonable certainty can exist where the executive assumes patently judicial functions.” “The right to leave one’s country includes a positive duty on states such as Nigeria to issue documents – as well as a passive one – to refrain from placing obstacles in the way of an individual seeking to leave.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/travel-ban-on-50-high-profile-nigerians.html

In apparent move to discourage building collapse in the state and engender the spirit of quality and solid buildings, the Anambra State Government has threatened to confiscate any building that collapses in the state along with the site.

The threat was coming on the heels of incessant building collapse in the state with the most recent one, a four-storey building that killed two people happening adjacent to the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government of the State.

Speaking on the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Okaula , said the police had launched a manhunt for the owner of the building. He said, “We learnt that the owner of the building lives abroad. We are making efforts to get him and the site engineer.


“Two persons have been confirmed dead and we learnt that the collapse was caused by use of substandard materials.

Investigation is ongoing. It will be recalled that in 2016, two incidents of building collapse were recorded in Oko and in each of the buildings people died.

An eyewitness account has it that the building, located close to Federal Polytechnic, Oko was owned by an indigene of the community based in Europe.

The building, according to one Mrs. Angela collapsed at about 2: 00am following a heavy downpour. She said the victims were construction workers at the site who were fast asleep when the structure collapsed on them.

She said, one of the survivors one Samuel, a student of the Polytechnic, sustained fracture injury in the hand.

She also said, “Part of the building, which was near completion, had caved in on Monday after heavy rain and eventually collapsed on Tuesday.

That was enough sign for the workers to quit the building, but they didn’t. After a part of the building cracked, one of the workers, Musa suggested to his colleagues that they should vacate the building, but they didn’t listen to his advice.

It was not up to two hours that he gave the advice that the entire structure came down on all of them.
Confirming the incident, the state Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross, Prof . Peter Katchy, said the building was under construction.

He said the incident happened at Okoani village, Oko, in the Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.

The uncompleted building was meant to be a hostel for students of Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Three persons died they were identified as labourers from the northern part of the country”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/anambra-state-threatens-to-confiscate.html

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has expressed gratitude to the Igbo community in the state for the trust and confidence reposed in him that prompted his endorsement for the second term in office.

Speaking at the occasion of the Igbo Cultural Day Celebration organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Delta Central and South Senatorial District, at the Warri Township Stadium, penultimate Friday, the governor commended the Igbo for their zeal and commitment in boosting the business environment of the state.

He described the Ndigbo as peace loving people who placed so much value on peaceful coexistence with their neighbours wherever they chose to reside and carry out their entrepreneurship skills in whatever trade they have passion and interest in doing to earn a living.

According to him; “I give thanks to Almighty God that you are gathered here to celebrate 2018 cultural day in peace and unity; I am very much aware of the importance of Ndigbo to Delta State and the country as a whole, if you are talking about commerce, industry, you must talk about the Igbo.

“If there is any community that has no Ndigbo, that community is not growing, you are industrious and contribute to the economic development of any place you reside because you see and consider such community as home.

“We are happy that we have united leadership of Ndigbo in Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts and it is good that we are celebrating peace, never again shall we be divided.”

While observing that Ndigbo in Delta State have contributed to the development of the state, Governor Okowa urged the youths among them to emulate their parents and be good citizens of the state.

President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts, Hon. Chief Michael Ezeh (JP), thanked Governor Okowa for the prevailing peace in the state which had made their businesses to thrive, assuring that Ndigbo in the state would vote massively for him in 2019.

“Be assured that the Ndigbo would put all our votes together for you (Governor Okowa) to reciprocate your kind gesture to us,”

This assurance was received with an acceptance voice vote by over 2,000 Igbos who attended the event as they all reassured of their commitment to the re-election of Governor Okowa in 2019.

Hon. Ezeh maintained that Governor Okowa’s administration has performed creditably well to the admiration of the indigenes and non indigenes alike resident in the state, adding that the testimonies are there for people to see.

On the significance of the day, he stated, “We are gathered here as one indivisible family to celebrate the 2018 Igbo Cultural Day and in remembrance of our fallen heroes, the reflection of a true Igbo identity should be seen; every average Igbo man is seen and known to be hard-working and peace loving.”

There were different cultural displays at the ceremony with most of the people singing solidarity songs in honour of Governor Okowa.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-delta-igbo-communitys-endorsement.html

Adeniji Ayokunnunmi, a retired Deputy Director, Banking Supervision Division of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has told the Federal High Court In Ikoyi, Lagos that the defunct Bank PHB had in troubled waters long before his team carried out a special examination on the bank.

Ayokunnunmi, who stood as a witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), said this on Thursday during the criminal trial of Francis Atuche, Managing Director of defunct Bank PHB Plc, now Keystone Bank Plc.

Atuche is standing trial with Charles Ojo, a former Managing Director of the defunct Spring Bank Plc.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the duo for alleged fraud of N125 billion. They were accused of conspiracy, reckless granting and approval of loans and money laundering between September 1, 2006 and 2009, to which they pleaded not guilty.

When asked by Atuche’s counsel how Ayokunnunmi got to know that Bank PHB was experiencing challenges, he said: “There were clear signs that Bank PHB was on its knees before we went on the special examination".

He added that the accounting records of the bank showed non-performing credits, including that of directors; the IT system was in bad shape, while shareholders' funds had also been affected. Ayokunnumi said he got to know all this information through the records provided by the bank.

"The bank also gave us records when we got there and it is from the records that we saw the distress signs,” he said.

According to the EFCC, Atuche and Ojo contravened Section 14(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act and Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The offence of reckless granting of loans contravenes Section 7(1)(b) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offences Act and punishable under Section 7(2)(b) of the Advanced Fee Fraud Act, 2004, and Sections 15(1) of the Failed Banks (Recovery of debts) and Financial Malpractices in Banks Act, 2004,

Further hearing on the matter continues on Friday, October 12.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/bank-phb-was-in-distress-before-cbn.html

Local airlines yesterday recorded losses in excess of N400 million over the closure of Murtala Muhammed Airport II (MMA2) and disruption of flight activities on Wednesday.



The picketing by aviation workers, which enters day three this morning, has heightened fears that over a billion naira would have been lost by the end of today, further putting the airlines in dire straits.Apparently hard hit by the losses, Dana Air has threatened to downsize its workforce, should the losses continue.

Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders and workers in the terminal yesterday staged a counter-protest condemning alleged plans by the unions to invade and destroy MMA2 facilities.The Guardian yesterday observed that all five airlines – Aero Contractors, Dana Air, Azman, Med-View and Overland – had temporarily moved operations to the near-by General Aviation Terminal (GAT). The move was, however, faced with new challenge of congestion and delays in facilitation of passengers at GAT.

Outside at the MMA2 section, members of the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) and National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) continued to barricade the gates, though had been joined by heavy duty trucks, bouncers and attack dogs.

The unions on Wednesday jointly shut the busy terminal in protest against alleged anti-labour activities and sack of 20 members by management of the facility.Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) that owns and operates MMA2 said that most of the affected workers had reached retirement age while others were dismissed for negligence of duty.

Dana Air, in a statement signed by its Corporate Communications Manager, Kingsley Ezenwa, disclosed that while they currently operate from GAT, “our worse fear is processing passengers, with over eight airlines having to operate at the same time.”Dana, however, appealed to the parties to re-consider the affected passengers and save the industry from collapse.

“Without the passengers, there won’t be any airline, regulator or industry, and we believe that they shouldn’t suffer for what they did not contribute to,” Dana stated.Secretary-general of NUATE, Olayinka Abioye, yesterday reaffirmed that the closure would continue until BASL deems it fit to recall the sacked workers.

Abioye said that contrary to the claim that the unions defied a court order, “none of our unions have been served any court paper up till now. “BASL, who badly needed external intervention, was the one who brought dogs, bouncers and low loader trailers to block its own terminal, technically assisting the unions picket the terminal further.

“The Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Lagos Airport Command (Aminchi Baraja) has called for a meeting with all parties towards resolving the matter. However, the only solution is the recall of the sacked staff and unionisation of willing workers. There shall be no retreat or surrender,” Abioye said.But, the concessionaires, their workers and other business owners at the terminal, who trooped out in their hundreds to protest the unions’ plan, accused the unions of deliberately planning to sabotage the terminal, if their demands were not meant.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/airlines-lose-over-n400-million-to-mma2.html

The Ekiti State House of Assembly has impeached its Speaker, Kola Oluwawole.

Ebenezer Alagbada was said to have been elected to take his place.

Oluwole was impeached alongside his deputy on Thursday afternoon.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/breaking-ekiti-house-of-assembly.html

Nigeria’s economy faces significant risks in the days ahead, as the country is currently having difficulties getting buyers for its crude oil in the international market.

Reuters yesterday confirmed that 25 cargoes in the October and November schedules had barely attracted buyers over the last week.

It also revealed that higher offers emerged for the county’s grades but given the abundance of unsold cargoes, no buyers stepped forward, leaving differentials broadly unchanged.



According to the report, the nation’s cargoes have been slow to sell over the past few weeks, but this did not deter sellers from raising their offer prices for both Qua Iboe and Bonny Light.
Both were offered around $1.70 per barrel above dated Brent price, compared with recent indications of $1.55, with no buyers.
The world’s biggest trading houses said they foresee oil prices not falling below $65 per barrel and possibly breaking above $100 next year as U.S. sanctions on Iran reduce crude exports from the Islamic republic.
India’s Chennai Petroleum Corp Limited has shut a 74,000 barrel per day (bpd) crude at its 210,000 bpd Manali refinery in southern part of the country from October 6 for about one month for planned maintenance.
Also, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is building an oil storage facility under the mountains of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, industry sources disclosed.
The underground Mandous facility would have the capacity to store about 40 million barrels of oil and is to be completed by 2020, it was learnt.
The Guardian had on Tuesday reported that traders were shunning Nigerian crude but showing interest in specifications from Angola
The report identified that differentials for Nigerian crude remained unchanged as a lack of bids met an overhang of unsold cargoes, while demand for Angolan remained robust, evidenced by a flurry of fixtures that has pushed shipping rates to near two-year peak.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/anxiety-as-nigerias-fresh-25-oil.html

As part of its commitment to accelerate the growth of the agriculture sector through increased support to farmers’ Farmcrowdy has expressed its preparedness to assist more farmers’ grows their income by over 80 per cent in its bid to scale up its operations.

Speaking recently during the visit to a poultry farm by Farmcrowdy team and farm sponsors in Abeokuta, the Chief Executive Officer, Farmcrowdy, Onyeka Akuma disclosed this.


Akuma explained that the farmcrowdy model was designed to ensure that the farmer is present when the buyer is buying.

“Transparency which is among some of the issues farmers suffers from, people just come and buy and pay them whatever they want to pay them,” he noted.

Akuma, further noted that in their transaction with the farmers, they ensure they are involved in the process.
He added that this was aimed at ensuring that farmers see the profit before the money gets into the account.
He remarked that the model allows them to provide farmers with technical know-how, and market access. Akuma said farmcrowdy would scale up its operations, find means to reach more farmers to grow their income by over 80 percent “annually that is our goal.”

In his remarks, one of the farm sponsors, Mr. Ajibola Oyekunle, said farmcrowding gives an investor return in time and full and the return is attractive.

He also stated that farmers were able to scale up from 2,500 to 20,000 chickens in less than a year. Oyekunle, also stated that in developing agriculture, government should help with enabling policies.

He added that it was not about government owning farms, but understanding what farmers need and providing policies to drive such.

Continuing, Akuma added: “People come to our website and they sponsor these farms, they are getting updates from the farmers. We decided that we want to show these people the farms, so we did these two weeks ago and we do it consistently. But the most recent one is two weeks ago, where we took sponsors to Kwara State to see our rice farms 2000 acres and meet the farmers, about eight hundred farmers.

“Here, we decided to do it again this week to show them the poultry farms and in showing them the poultry farm, all we have done is, you sponsor the farms on farmcrowdy, you come and see the farm hear from the farmers, see the work going on the farm and understand that beyond money you are making impacts in people lives.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/we-want-farmers-income-to-increase-by-80.html

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has announced the availability of the Nokia 6.1 Plus in Nigeria, a stunning, contemporary smartphone with an immersive, all-screen design.

With smart storytelling features and a display that’s perfect for watching videos, messaging friends and catching up on your social feeds, the Nokia 6.1 Plus will help users to stand out and be more efficient.



The Nokia 6.1 Plus joins the Android One family of Nokia smartphones.




Head of Marketing, HMD Global, Olumide Balogun, said: “Early this year, we introduced some devices and our fans around the world made it very clear that they wanted to see more of the same from us.



This excitement for cutting-edge smartphones with contemporary designs prompted us to introduce a device using the same formula.

We are launching the Nokia 6.1 Plus because you asked for it and we’re excited to continue delivering the first-class experiences and quality expected from a Nokia smartphone.”

The phone is built with the reassuring quality users expect of a Nokia smartphone, the Nokia 6.1 Plus gives a bigger screen experience without a bigger smartphone design thanks to its notched 19:9 screen ratio.

Its 5.8-inch Full HD+ 19:9 screen ratios with 96 per cent colour gamut allows for a vivid viewing experience, making the smartphone a perfect device for enjoying immersive content experiences.

Beautifully crafted to the exacting standards expected from a Nokia phone, the 6.1 Plus is encased in Corning Gorilla Glass on the front of the phone’s luxuriously curved surface for the ultimate feel in your hand.

See more photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/nokia-61-with-new-screen-design-enters.html

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, met behind closed doors with Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa State.

The meeting might not be unconnected with matters arising from All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in Adamawa State.

Bindow on Oct. 7 emerged winner of the APC governorship primary election in the state with 193,656 votes to defeat two other candidates.

However, the other two APC governorship aspirants in the state, Mahmood Halilu Ahmed and Nuhu Ribadu, rejected the outcome of the primaries and called for its cancellation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/adamawa-apc-crisis-osinbajo-bindow-in.html