₦airaland Forum

Afrobeat legend Femi Kuti has denied that he insulted Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari and former vice-president Abubakar Atiku on the account of their age and ambition.

Buhari, 75, is seeking re-election while Atiku, 71, looks to unseat his former political ally.

Kuti, 56, a vocal critic of the Nigerian government, much like his father and founder of Afrobeat Fela Kuti, denied insulting the two men.

He also denied endorsing the presidential push of African Action Congress (AAC) Omoyele Sowore’s presidential push.

He said; “Where did u hear me abuse. Saying I don’t support is abusing? Endorsement? I said I wish him the best. Again I said young people should start to take up their destiny,” Femi Kuti said in a reply to a follower on Twitter.

Kuti, however, said both said both Atiku and Buhari should have retired and given chance to younger persons to lead the country.

“Buhari should have retired. Atiku should have retired. Only a young man can know how we are feeling.”

Femi stated that he was only going to declare his support for a “young decent presidential” candidate in the 2019 general election.


Although he did not mention any candidate as one of his, when asked if he would support any of the candidates vying for political offices in the country, he said, “I would do the same for any decent young aspirant.”

Femi urged other young persons to be bold in seeking political elective positions in government.

“Yes, I am of the opinion that young people should take up their destiny.”

“Mr Sowore came to the Shrine he’s one of the main speakers at this year Felabration symposium. I like his courage, we spoke I gave him my views even told him no matter what he should not be discouraged.”

“Now don’t get me wrong, I support the fact Sowore is running for President and I will also encourage him. But that does not mean I’ve endorsed him..

He, however, said “people like me” would play an advisory role to young persons nursing ambition for elective offices when he is “totally convinced of his political manifesto.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/femi-kuti-denies-abusing-buhari-atiku.html

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Ifeatu Obi-Okoye says the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA will win more positions in the 2019 general election. Chief Obi-Okoye who stated this while exchanging views with newsmen at the Government House, Awka, said APGA will remain the dominant political party in the state for a long time to come.

He explained that APGA has over the years given good governance to Ndi Anambra, and has remained strongly rooted.

The Governor’s Political Adviser recalled that certain politicians from the state in some political parties are linked to the socioeconomic and political crises and instability which bedevilled Anambra state between 1999 and 2006, pointing out that this explains why APGA is loved by most people, especially in the Southeast geopolitical zone.

Chief Obi-Okoye who is the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of APGA enthused that the party victory in future election would be anchored on its people oriented manifesto and impressive delivery of democracy dividends in Anambra state in the past twelve years and six months.

The Special Adviser on Political Matters equally observed that the fielding of a presidential candidate by APGA in the person of retired Major General John Gbor from Northern Nigeria would go a long way to enhance the electoral fortunes of the party in the forthcoming general polls in the country.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-apga-targets-more-political.html

The federal government has given out over four million naira as start-up seed fund to 17 young innovators under the Social Investment Programme at the South-South Innovation Hub in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Speaking at the event, the state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said that with the start-up seed fund, the federal and state governments have demonstrated their faith in the programme.


Represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, Obaseki said the hub is a creative and productive center set up to encourage young innovators in the South-South region to come up with innovative ideas and solutions to the problems confronting the country and hindering her development

“Working in partnership with the federal government, we have demonstrated the capacity to support talented youth by encouraging them to express themselves, get creative and proffer solutions to the nation’s problems. Those that have put in extra effort are those that have benefitted from the start-up fund today,” the governor said.

He assured that his administration will continue to provide the enabling environment for youth in the state to advance their ideas and utilise opportunities created by the federal and state governments to contribute to the development of the nation.



The Managing Director of South-South Innovation Hub Tobi Gege, said “4,300 applications were received for the programme but the number was reduced to 87, out of which 17 performed well and today we have given them start-up seed fund.



“The effort of the 17 young innovators have enabled them get N250,000 each from the federal government. We will set targets for them and those that meet the targets will move to the next stage where they will get N1million. After that they will move to the N5 million and N10million stages.”



The focal person of National Social Investment Programme, Edo State, Miss Osayuwamen Aladeselu, said an opportunity has been created for 17 young innovators in the South-South region to become employers of labour and called on them to make the best of the start-up seed fund given to them.

She assured that the event will encourage other young innovators and entrepreneurs to nurture their ideas and dreams as the government will continue to support those ideas to become solutions to problems.

“I want to thank President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Governor Godwin Obaseki for the initiative and commitment to the growth and development of the youth and for providing the enabling environment to ensure the youth harness their potential and contribute their quota to the development of the nation.”

One of the beneficiaries, Chinedu Ikemefuna, founder of Sports Revamp, an outfit dedicated to enhancing the performance of children using sports as a tool, said “the fund will help me become an employer of labour.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/fg-gives-over-n4m-as-start-up-fund-to.html

Outgoing member of the House of Representatives for Aniocha/Oshimili constituency of Delta State, Mrs. Amaechi Mrakpor, has accused the winner of Wednesday's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary for the Aniocha/Oshimili constituency, Ndudi Elumelu, of disobeying Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's earlier directive not to give delegates more than N100,000 each during the primary.

The primary, which was conducted amidst heavy sporadic shooting midway into the counting of votes, followed by disruption of the exercise by the federal lawmaker, as well as the slapping of an electoral officer by the state PDP chairman, Mr. Kingsley Esiso, saw Ndidi Elumelu emerge winner with 266 votes.

He was declared winner by the Returning Officer, Uzor Nwadu, with Mrakpor scoring 226 votes.

Speaking with journalists in Asaba, the Delta State capital on the outcome of the primary, wife of the Delta State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs. Mrakpor, alleged that her closest rival induced more than 500 delegates with $1,500 each, noting that the action was a violation of Okowa’s earlier directive that no aspirant should give more than N100,000 to each delegate for logistics.

Mrakpor said: “On the night of October 1, some delegates from my local government informed me that Elumelu was giving delegates $1,500. I didn’t quite believe it because, before then, the governor had announced that no aspirant should give any delegate more than N100,000 for their accommodation, transport and feeding.

“That was the briefing we got and I got ready with N100,000 each. But by the night of October 1, I received a phone call that Elumelu was giving out $1,500 or N550,000 and I confirmed it."

Mrakpor, said to be Okowa's 'anointed' candidate, alleged that after Elumelu voted, "he came back and started campaigning to the delegates while voting was going on. After that he brought out a Ghana-must-go bag and started sharing jollof rice and chicken and nobody cautioned him.

"I was trying to be obedient. He shared about $800,000, and just yesterday morning, he went out again to share another 'dollars for breakfast' to the delegates. Nobody stopped him.” Mrakpor said.

In a swift reaction, Elumelu refuted all the allegations levelled against him by Mrakpor, and urged her to accept defeat and work with him.

It was reliably gathered that Okowa was not happy that his preferred candidate, lost the ticket, and that the governor has not forgiven Elumelu for refusing to step down for him during the PDP governorship primary in 2014. He is said to have ordered that the primary be conducted again so as to favour the incumbent federal lawmaker.

Meanwhile, in following the governor's directives for a repeat of the primary, Mrakpor mobilised delegates loyal to her on Friday to the cenotaph, venue of the rerun primary, where they waited all day for PDP and INEC officials, who did not show up until Mrakpor and her delegates left the venue disappointed at about 5:30pm.

Sources in the PDP confided in our correspondent that Tony Elumelu, elder brother to winner of the primary, who is chairman of United Bank for Africa, has contacted Governor Okowa over the development, warning him to desist from the arrangement for a repeat of the primary.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/elumelu-gave-delegates-1500-each.html

Rap star, Onome Onokohwomo better known by his stage name Yung6ix,has sealed a brand ambassadorial deal with leading E-commerce brand, myPatricia.com Yung6ix leads the league of Patricia’s brand ambassador as the first artiste to ever be signed by the fast-growing E-commerce company.

“I’m impressed with the growth, vibrancy and youthfulness of the organization, it’s a break from the norm, Patricia is a place of big dreams, I can’t think of a better combination big dreams and billionaire ambitions”, he told The Guardian. “Whenever I come into Patricia I get a different vibe, when I see Patricia, I see a Facebook, a Google, a global contender, I am excited to be associated with them”, the rapper added.

MyPatricia.com, first of its kind in Nigeria is involved in the trading and exchange of gift cards, bitcoins, perfect money and sending of gifts within Nigeria and largely in Europe, America and Asia.Aside from being a top rated E-commerce brand, the company is also in association with fashion and men’s luxury brand called Rooom19.

“We strive to be the best. We do our best to create the best customer experience for our teeming customers. We are setting the pace for others to follow”, said Patricia founder, Fejiro Hanu Agbodje at the unveiling in Lagos.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/rapper-yung6ix-lands-new-deal-as.html

Popular Lagos-based Computer Village market is set to launch in the online space.

This was disclosed by the newly elected chairman of Plaza heads in the Computer Village, Mr. Chuks Ekekwe, in Lagos.

According to Ekekwe, online stores for the biggest technological hub in West Africa was necessary to get connected to the world and reach out to more customers.


He said as a technological hub, it was necessary to go with the trends of digitalisation and embracing online stores.

”We are creating a platform that will be bigger than Jumia, Computer village is losing customers due to online stores.

”We are looking at a way to create a platform that everybody will key into instead of going to Jumia and Konga for product and services we can offer. ”We want to reach out to as many people as possible by being connected as this is the importance of online presence,” he said

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/computer-village-to-launch-online-store.html

The management of Airtel Nigeria has assured Nigerians of its commitment to create more entrepreneurs and “connect more people with their dreams’’ in the country.



Mr. Segun Ogunsanya, chief executive officer and managing director of Airtel Nigeria, gave the assurance at the flag-off Airtel’s 4G LTE in Port Harcourt, Rivers state adding that, Airtel which rolled out the product in February 2018 is also determined to maintain its position as “the largest and the fastest of the 4G network in Nigeria’’.

Ogunsanya, who also described his organisation as the most modern communication network in Nigeria, said he was proud that the network “works all the time’’.


He also noted that the deployment of 4G in Port Harcourt was a testimony of the telecommunication company’s commitment to partner and empower the good people of Rivers.

“4G comes with tons of benefits: it will accelerate economic and commercial activities; it will boost personal and professional productivity; it will help in creating more entrepreneurs.

“It will offer the youth a big leverage to express their creativity and talent; it will improve the overall quality of life and connect more people to their dreams.

“With 4G, Airtel will also power people, businesses and aid governance through Technology,” he said.

The event was attended by King Dandeson Douglas Jaja, Treaty King Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Opobo Kingdom and King Leslie Eke, Eze Gbakagbaka of Evo Kingdom among others.

Ogunsanya had earlier during a visit to the Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers, said Airtel had rolled out its 4G technology in major cities across Nigeria to make the organisation the largest 4G network.

“We bring our 4G Network to you and the people of Rivers State! I make bold to say we have the best and largest 4G Network in Nigeria.

“It is a sign of our regard for and commitment to the government and people of Rivers State that we have chosen this state and indeed this city, as one of the early and biggest beneficiaries of this innovative system of mobile telecommunications.

“We are not resting on our laurels as we are still connecting more cities and towns in Nigeria to our 4G network,’’ he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/airtel-pledges-to-create-more.html

Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Support Group, a support group for Sokoto State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Hon. Aminu Waziri has urged all the party’s delegates for tomorrow’s presidential primaries to vote for Governor Tambuwal as PDP flag bearer in 2019 presidential elections.

This is coming as the spokesman of the Tambuwal Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Okey Ikechukwu, has said that Nigeria’s best chance of a president that can unite Nigeria, restore a sense of community and give the nation 21st Century leadership is the Sokoto governor.


The group in an open letter to PDP delegates on the presidential primaries, which was made available to journalists yesterday, said the opposition need a candidate like Tambuwal, who has constitutional immunity, adding that PDP cannot afford to have “a candidate that can be thoroughly harassed and blackmailed to succumb by the desperate Buhari administration.”

The group stated that in Tambuwal, the party has the opportunity to give President Muhammadu Buhari a befitting retirement and there urged all the party delegates to cast their votes for the Sokoto State governor during the PDP presidential primaries.

“Every passing day reminds us that we have a country to save. Throughout the length and breadth of our country, our people are being killed in their thousands and we have lost count. Our economy is depressed and our youth are despondent. Our country is divided in ways that it has never been. Nigeria desires leadership now than ever- a new leadership that has eluded them for the past three years and one that can take them into the future. A Gallup survey revealed that Nigerians want a new type of politician and a younger candidate in 2019. Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal best fits this profile,” the group said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of the Tambuwal Presidential Campaign Organisation, Dr Okey ikechukwu, has said that Nigeria’s best chance of a president that can unite Nigeria, restore a sense of community and give the nation 21st Century leadership is Tambuwal.

On what he would consider some of the strong points of his man vis a vis other aspirants within and outside the PDP and what makes him think that Tambuwal would make a good president for Nigeria at a time like this, Ikechukwu replied: “First he has learnt the ropes over the years, at the highest levels of national leadership and also as a professional. Second, he is very well known as a master of consensus and political bridge building, which makes him the type o person we need now. Third, he has no issues with the law. Fourth, he one candidate in this contest who takes pains to be in mentioning pecific, practical and implementable policy ideas, actions and proposals with which he inends to tackle our national problems once elected”.

Asked to explain Tambuwal’s views on restructuring he said: “His Excellency has taken pains to point out that the way forward for us to first realise thatsome parts of the country see it as confederation, while others see it as regionalism, resource control and so on and that the entire thing boils down to the demand for equity, for greater autonomy of Nigeria’s federating units and for the full expression of our national character in everything we do. He insists that our diversity must be maintained trained if we are also to have a polity that gives everyone a sense of belonging”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/tambuwal-has-capacity-to-defeat-buhari.html

Six soldiers were killed Thursday and several others seriously injured when their vehicle hit an improvised explosive device (IED) in eastern Burkina Faso in the latest attack in the jihadist-hit country, security sources said.

“On Thursday morning, a military vehicle hit a homemade explosive device between Gayeri and Foutouri. Six soldiers were killed and several others were seriously injured,” a source said.

Another source said three people were in a “critical condition” and were being evacuated to Ouagadougou, the Burkina capital.

“A cleaning up operation is under way,” the source said.


The attack came a day after a gendarme was killed and another injured in the country’s north, where three people, including an Indian and a South African national, had been kidnapped at the end of last month.

In 2015, Burkina Faso, one of the world’s poorest countries, joined a string of countries in the Sahel region to come under pressure from jihadists.

Rebels began staging cross-border raids in the north of the country from neighbouring Mali.

Using classic guerrilla tactics, the rebels aim at police and the military with gun attacks and roadside bombs, target buildings and personnel perceived to represent the state, and abduct individuals.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/breaking-6-soldiers-killed-in-burkina.html

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in Ogun State and a close associate of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr. Femi Majekodunmi, on Thursday resigned his membership from the party with immediate effect.


Majekodunmi in a release he personally signed and made available to DAILY POST, said he was leaving ADC to return back to his former political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He also disclosed that he has withdrawn from the Ogun Central senatorial race under the platform of the ADC.


Majekodunmi added that as a mark of respect to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, he is fully back to the APC from his ward in Abeokuta South Local Government.

He said, “My loyalty is now fully with APC. I hereby confirm that there is no more divided loyalty and will henceforth fully resume my activities in APC, starting from my Ward 1, Abeokuta South. ”

According to him, he took the decision to return back to the APC after due consultations with his family members, relations and political associates within Ogun State and all over the country, stating that he has no regrets serving as a member of the ADC.


Majekodunmi who served as Caretaker Chairman of ADC in Oyo State, maintained that his return back to the APC was the best decision he could take at the present time and not for selfish interest, noting that the party is more poised to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Ogun State.

He said, “After due consultations with my immediate family, political leaders and teeming supporters across the length and breadth of Ogun State and all over the country, I have decided to resign my membership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and return back to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“This decision is the best I could take at the moment given the political situation in our dear state, Ogun State. Indeed, it was in the best interest of the people of the state as I believe that for now it is the APC that is in better position to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

He, however, said that leaving the ADC does not mean its members are his enemies, stating that as a politician that has served the state in different capacities, he will continue to make himself available to serve the people irrespective of his return back to the APC.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/obasanjos-ally-femi-majekodunmi-dumps.html

The World Bank has once more reduced its growth projection on Nigeria in 2018 to 1.9 per cent, down from the 2.1 per cent it had estimated for the country in April.

The Bank hinged its decision on the contraction in the agricultural sectoras a result of the farmers and herders’ crisis recorded by the country most part of this year.
It explained: “In Nigeria, declining oil production and contraction in the agriculture sector partially offset a rebound in the services sector and dampened non-oil growth, all of which affected economic recovery.”

“Nigeria’s recovery faltered in the first half of the year. Oil production fell, partly due to pipeline closures.
“The agriculture sector contracted, as conflict over land between farmers and herders disrupted crop production, partially offsetting a rebound in the services sector and dampening non-oil growth.”


This is coming as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday allayed worries over the fluctuation in Nigeria’s external reserves, assuring that with its current level at over $44 billion, there is no cause for alarm.
The multilateral institution stated this in its October 2018 ‘Africa Pulse,’ a bi-annual analysis of the state of African economies released yesterday.

In April, the World Bank had predicted growth of 3.1 per cent, up from 2.3 per cent last year.
But it anticipated that growth in the region would increase from 2.7 per cent in 2018, to 3.3 per cent in 2019, rising to an average of 3.6 per cent between 2020 and 2021.

“The slower pace of the recovery in sub-Saharan Africa (0.4 percentage points lower than the April forecast) is explained by the sluggish expansion in the region’s three largest economies, Nigeria, Angola, and South Africa.
“In Nigeria, declining oil production and contraction in the agriculture sector partially offset a rebound in the services sector and dampened non-oil growth, all of which affected economic recovery.

“A decline in oil production, due to underinvestment and key fields reaching maturity, weighed on growth in Angola. South Africa’s economy slipped into a technical recession following two consecutive quarters of contracting economic activity, with agriculture, mining, and construction acting as major drags on growth,” it added.

The World Bank noted that several oil exporters in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) saw an uptick in growth. With higher oil prices and an increase in oil production, both Chad and the Republic of Congo were expected to climb out of recession.

According to the Washington-based institution, growth in non-resource-rich countries remained solid, supported by agricultural production and services on the production side, and household consumption and public investment on the demand side.

“With fiscal deficits narrowing, government debt levels appear to have stabilised, but vulnerabilities remain. Compared to 2012 to 2013, the median public debt level remains high, especially in oil-exporting countries. Debt rose in about two-fifths of the countries in 2017 and was above 60 per cent of GDP in one-third of the countries.
“The external environment facing Sub-Saharan Africa is more challenging for several reasons. These include moderating economic growth among its main trading partners, the stronger US dollar, heightened trade policy uncertainty, and tightening global financial conditions.

“While the tightness of oil supply suggests that oil prices are likely to remain elevated through the rest of 2018 and into 2019, metals prices have been softer than previously forecast and may remain subdued in 2019 and 2020 amid muted demand, particularly in China.

“Against this backdrop, the economic recovery in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to continue at a gradual pace, supported by a rebound in oil production in Nigeria and Angola, the easing of drought conditions that had depressed agricultural output, and a rise in domestic demand in some countries,” it stated.

“Growth in the region is projected to increase from 2.7 per cent in 2018 to 3.3 per cent in 2019, rising to an average of 3.6 per cent in 2020–21. However, per capita income growth would remain below its long-term average in many countries, highlighting the need for comprehensive policy measures to raise potential output.
“The inefficiencies in the way the region combines its factors of production has become increasingly relevant in explaining Sub-Saharan Africa’s lower aggregate productivity compared to industrialised countries.”

CBN Allays Concerns over Declining Reserves
In a related development, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday allayed worries over the fluctuation in external reserves, assuring that with its current levels at over $44 billion, there’s no cause for alarm.
The apex bank further assured that it will continue to ensure that finance is provided for all Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) which may require support to be able to produce and grow the economy.

CBN acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said not only does the apex bank have the reserves to defend the naira, it is also sufficient to encourage small businesses to produce to boost the economy.

He further explained that the current instance of reversal of capital flows was not peculiar to the country as some other economies are also affected following the recent hike in interest rate by the United States’ Federal Reserve.
Speaking at the CBN special day at the ongoing 13th Abuja International Trade Fair, the apex bank’s spokesman added that the country’s current reserves level could support between 17 to 20 months of import compared to the international standard, which stipulated for at least three months of import to remain at a comfortable level.


“And I also want to make it clear: it’s also on social media that our reserves dropped by $1.45 billion in one month…We are not politicians- of course, I want you to understand that the reserves level is a moving figure; at times, it rises and other times, it comes down. And as we speak, it’s a little over $44. Giving reasons for the fluctuation in external reserves, Okoroafor said,”You’ll recall that there was a time we survived on even $23.2 billion; the economy was running. “Now, we are over $44 billion and the reason why it is going down gently is because there’s a global squeeze on emerging markets: the Central Bank of the USA which is the FED had been raising interest rate and you know international capital goes to where it earns better returns.

“So, those who came into our economy to take advantage of the returns here seems to have found better returns in the US- and it’s not just in Nigeria- it’s happening to South Africa, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Argentina, Brazil, Turkey even China.”

According to him:”China has lost over 1.3 per cent of its currency, Argentina lost 134 per cent; Iran, India, some of them lost 18 percent, 17 percent- but here in Nigeria, our currency has gained 6 percent in the last one year.
“You can see that the reversal of capital flows which is eating most economies and bringing about depreciation in their currency is not affecting us for two reasons- we’ve built enough buffers of reserves to be able to tackle situations like these.

“Secondly, we are using the reserves to defend the value of our currency- so that also accounts for why it’s dropping.
“Investors who brought in dollars- of course, we’ve a capital importation policy- if you bring your dollars, when you’re leaving, we give it to you. And so they brought their dollars and they want to leave to the US, we give them because our word is our bond and so that has tended to make the reserves drop a little.”

He, however, assured that, “At $44 billion, we still have between 17 and 18 months of import cover, meanwhile, the international standard is three months of import cover.
“We are very comfortable- we have the reserves to defend the value of the naira, and we have the local support to also encourage our SMEs to go into production.”

The CBN director also seized the opportunity to counsel the trade fair participants on how best they could access the various interventions by the bank.
He said,”Unfortunately, we cannot do it (the financial interventions) directly, we’ve to do it through banks.
“And that’s why we say again, people who engage in business should open an account with a bank, run that account and demonstrate that you are in business.

“Once you keep your record and you show evidence that you are in business, banks will always give you loans.
“But in a situation where people do not keep records, and there’s no difference between the money in their pocket ad their working capital, it’ll be difficult for banks to be able to do an examination and given you loan.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/world-bank-cuts-nigerias-growth.html

Despite recent political provocation and disenfranchisement, Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, the founder of famous AfaIgboEfuna group and Anambra South Senator hopeful, on Wednesday, this evening, empowered officials of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) with one hundred and nineteen motorcycles. Dr. Ubah who handed the brand new 119 motorcycles to the party’s secretaries of the one hundred and nineteen wards in the Senatorial District at his country home, Umuanuka in Otolo Nnewi, said the donation was borne out of his desire to assist the beneficiaries in the discharge of their duties.

More photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/photos-ifeanyi-ubah-gives-out-119.html

Following governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s loss at the Lagos state governorship primary elections of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, some civil servants have said they were relieved he will not be getting another term.

The governor lost the party’s ticket to the former commissioner of commerce and industry Babajide Sanwo-Olu after polling 72, 901 while his contender polled 970,851 to emerge the party’s candidate going to the 2019 general elections.

Ambode, who conceded defeat on Wednesday afternoon, promised to work with members of the party to ensure victory for Sanwo-Olu in the governorship election scheduled to hold February 2019.


However, some reactions trailed his loss of the party ticket and a potential hold to his second term ambition as governor of Lagos state.

A civil servant who spoke anonymously to The Guardian accused the governor of being “vindictive” and a non-listening leader.

While counting some of the undoings of the governor, he said all is not expected to be well with a politically elected officer of a government who has sacked 39 permanent secretaries since elected in 2015 for no good reasons.

The source also alleged that Ambode has slow down the government machinery of the state, as mandatory annual projects were being rescheduled and sometimes annulled for no substantive reason.

“Sometimes activities meant for June can be slowed down and rescheduled for October,” the civil servant said.

“Nobody talks to him, because he is never willing to listen. Even to those around him because he is vindictive and none of his officials can tell him.”

Another civil servant in the education sector said there had been little or no development in education and welfare for staff since he became governor.

“We have hope, someone else is coming in. Some are pitying him and d others are doing him ntoor,” the source said.

Several others who spoke to The Guardian insisted that they were happy Ambode lost.

“A lot of us are happy,” one person said, before adding that “But a lot of people will be cautious to express their happiness about his loss.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/civil-servants-relieved-after.html

Lady Monica Ada Chidinma Eze the Founder and President of David Umahi Nweze Akubaraoha Ebonyi Transformation Agenda (DUNAETA) a vibrant, virile grassroots NGO based in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State which is at the fore front of the re-election bid of Governor Dave Nweze Umahi in 2019 has expressed appreciation to the leaders and members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for yielding to the yearnings of the good people of Ebonyi State by affirming Apostle David Nweze Umahi as the Flag -Bearer of PDP in Ebonyi State for the 2019 general elections.

Monica Eze is convinced that the joint Team of Governor Umahi with Dr Kelechi Igwe the current Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State to excute the 2019 gubernatorial election it will be futile for the opposition political parties in the State because they can't produce a better matching Team. Result of the PDP gubernatorial election in Ebonyi shows that Governor Umahi pulled 1988 votes out of the total 1990 number of delegates. The exercise recorded two voided votes.

Lady Eze who also doubles as Technical Assistant (TA) on Media to His Excellency, Engr. David N. Umahi counselled opposition political parties particularly the APC to understand that the reelection of Gov. Umahi in 2019 is settled and sealed project as it is a pure waste of resources and time to actually think of unseating the divinely anointed Governor whose credible records and feats are acknowledged by both Local, national and world leaders.

She described the infrastructural revolution in Ebonyi State under the watch of Governor Umahi as unprecedented in the annals of politics in the State and a sterling example by most of his contemporaries in Nigeria.

"The roads, bridges, flyovers, water schemes, health facilities, street lights, youths empowerment and numerous other feats puts Governor Umahi as one of the best revelations in governance of our country today. These feats make the plots of most of the opposition politicians in Ebonyi State to unseat him as an exercise in futility and waste of their lean resources" lady Eze observed.

The proud Ada Ebonyi as she is fondly called rejoiced with the Governor and the entire people of Ebonyi state on her 22nd anniversary of the creation of Ebonyi State.

She recalled that Ebonyi State that was created on 1st October 1996 was merely a geographical expression carved out from the most criminally neglected parts of Enugu and Abia States that lacked content in the form of indices of development as was obtainable in other states. There were no roads, no public utilities and even the basic facilities like hospitals, schools, portable water etc was nothing to write home about but today based on the feats of the golden Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr Umahi every right thinking Nigerian is happy to identify with the State.

The DUNAETA President described Governor Umahi as the peoples Governor who is ever disturbed on how to improve, emancipate and develop the State.

She expressed happiness that the Governor have created a platform for the people of the state to use to express their views and present whatever maybe their challenges and grievances for the attention of the government.

Lady Eze reiterated that the media platform through which the Governor uses to interact with the people of the State where success of the programmes/plans/and strategies initiated by his administration is used to boost the economic growth and development were extensivly discussed.

This includes his feats in Agriculture, Education, solid minerals in the state, water regulation and availability, workers 13th month salary payment, youth empowerment, sports development, and many other programs under his administration.

This act by the governor gave room to the people to communicate directly with him and voice out their issues and problems. The Governor in his magminity and love took time to listen to all the issues tabled before him and gave a response to each and every one of them.

Governor Umahi, assured the people that he would continue to be at the forefront to ensure that all that is needed for Ebonyi State to stand tall is never thwarted because much more are going to be done so as to reach the desired goal and destination to become one of the states mentioned as the gold rock equalled to the standards of developed countries like Dubai.

There was a celebration in the air as victory was attained. Solidarity Groups and staunch supports set the stadium ablaze with dancing and jubilation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/ebonyi-2019-monica-appreciates-pdp-for.html

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo accorded warm reception by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, amid excitement, as he arrives Enugu for the state's edition of the National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinic being organised by the Federal Government in collaboration with the Enugu State Government.

The theme of the event, which is holding at the popular Michael Okpara Square is "Unleashing the Potential of the Private Sector and Entrepreneurship in Enugu State using Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises".

See more photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/photos-gov-ugwuanyi-leads-residents-to.html

A Civil Society Organisation, OurMumuDonDo Movement, has taken a swipe at President Muhammadu Buhari over the non-fulfilment of the campaign promises he made to Nigerians prior to being elected in 2015.

The group made their position known at a press conference tagged 'State of The Nation', to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th independence anniversary, on Monday, in Abuja.

Convener of the group, Charles Oputa popularly known as 'Charly Boy' said the president made 81 different promises to Nigerians, which he pledged to fulfill if elected into office but has failed to fulfill the promises.

He said: "During the presidential campaign that preceded the presidential elections in 2015, General Muhammadu Buhari conveniently made 81 different promises to Nigerians, which he pledged to fulfill if elected into office. General Muhammadu Buhari has not only failed to fulfill his promises to the good people of Nigeria, he has also proven to us that his words are lighter than an empty barrel and that he bears absolutely no respect for the good people of this country.

"Firstly, among the numerous failures of General Buhari's administration thus far, the obstinate refusal to disclose to the good people of Nigeria, the exact ailment beleaguering the president, and also the total amount of money that has so far been spent on this unknown ailment which has compelled him to sojourn in the United Kingdom for a total of 173 days since he resumed office, remains unfathomable and disappointing. More disappointing is the fact that transparency and accountability was one of the core promises of General Buhari during his campaign for the office of the president. But as has become characteristic of his administration, General Buhari does not concern himself with such things as accountability or transparency.

"Secondly, before he was elected, General Buhari promised to increase electricity generation, transmission, and distribution to at least 20,000MW in four years, but Nigeria is currently struggling to maintain between 5,000MW to 7,000MW of electricity. He also promised to create three million jobs annually, but we have only heard of con jobs out of the twilight zone."

He explained that the despite the promise to record unprecedented economic development, Nigeria is now the "extreme poverty capital of the world" and also ranked 157 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index of the United Nations Development.

The group bemoaned the prices of staple foods, noting that the common man has continued to suffer untold hardship ever since.

"Under his administration, Nigeria's unemployment rate has ramped up to 18.80 per cent, while youth unemployment rate has ramped up to 33.10 per cent. These and other awful facts reflect the current reality of our economy — widely apart from what General Buhari promised before he was elected, and far from an indication of a country on a path to economic buoyancy," he added.

The human rights activist pointed out that several intimidating records of human rights abuses are rife under the present administration.

His words: "In contradiction to General Buhari's promise to drastically combat insecurity in Nigeria, the frightening reverse is the endless killings of Nigerians across the country by Fulani militia, killer herdsmen, the Boko Haram sect, and political thugs coupled with frenetic kidnappings across the country. Under General Buhari's watch, at least 19,890 Nigerians have been viciously killed since June 2015. Another report shows that about 1,061 Nigerians were killed brutally by Fulani militia in the first quarter of 2018 as a result of 106 well-planned consistent attacks on several communities in North-Central Nigeria.

"[This is] apart from the obvious fact that General Buhari has severely battered the dignity of Nigeria's judicial system, by not only invading the homes of judges in the middle of the night, but also saying recently that he believes rule of law must be subject to a vague 'national interest'.

"We make bold to say that: in health, Buhari has failed; in education, Buhari has failed; in fighting corruption, Buhari has failed; in solving the insecurity crises of Nigeria, Buhari has failed; in economy, Buhari has failed; in preserving our unity, Buhari has failed; in not agreeing to restructure Nigeria, Buhari has failed."

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/buhari-has-failed-says-charly-boys.html

Mobile policemen deployed to Benue State have lamented the non-payment of their allowances for seven months, since they were deployed from different parts of the country to stem the herdsmen-farmers clashes in the state.

Multiple sources, who spoke to SaharaReporters, decried the deplorable state the operatives are subjected to despite promises from the state and federal governments to pay them their dues promptly.

According to one of the sources, the Benue State Government promised to pay each policeman N1,000 per day as feeding allowance to complement the N30,000 allowance from the Federal Government. However, the state has reneged on its promise, while the Federal Government is said to have only paid once.

One of the mobile police officers, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity, said the 17 units of mobile policemen were last paid their allowances in February.

Another officer, who preferred not to be named, for fear of victimisation said many of his colleagues carry out their duties on empty stomachs.

He said: “We die fighting for this country on empty stomachs, while some of us rely on local farmers for food and water.

"In Benue State right now, we have so far lost 22 mobile policemen within two months and two are still missing in action (MIA) after the clash with herdsmen. In March this year, 13 men from MOPOL 33 Ado Ekiti, were brutally massacred by herdsmen in Anyibe, Logo Local Government Area. Two weeks later, nine men from MOPOL 20 Lagos were also slaughtered by the same barbaric herdsmen near Yogbo in Guma LGA.”

He further stated that the dead officers had not been paid, neither had their families received any compensation for their losses.

However, the Public Relations Officer of Benue State Police Command, DSP Jeol Moses Yamu, denied the claim that the Federal Government owes the officers seven months allowances, stating instead that they are owed two months.

“That is not true. I am aware that they have not been paid for the past two months,” he said, adding that arrangements are ongoing to pay them their outstanding allowances.

“IGP Ibrahim Idris has assured the men through the CP Benue State of his administration’s concern for the welfare of the men,” he added.

He, however, declined to comment on the state allowance accruable to the officers, stating that “I am not a state government official, hence I cannot comment on that".

When our correspondent contacted the Special Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom on Media and ICT, Tahav Agerzua, he also declined to comment on the issue. Efforts to reach the Special Adviser on Security were unsuccessful.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/we-die-fighting-for-nigeria-on-empty.html

The organised labour in Nigeria yesterday suspended its industrial action, paving the way for the conclusion of negotiations on a new minimum wage on Thursday

Labour wants N65,000 as national minimum wage, up from the current N18,000.

The Guardian in an exclusive story on Saturday had reported that the strike would terminate yesterday.


Speaking on behalf of the movement in Abuja yesterday, the president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, said: “We have received a firm and formal invitation to a reconvened meeting of the tripartite committee scheduled for October 4 and 5, 2018.

We demand that this shall be the final session of the committee and that a final report will be submitted to Mr. President immediately.

“In order to avail the committee the necessary environment to hold this crucial meeting and conclude its work, organised labour has, after obtaining the mandate of their necessary organs, decided to suspend the strike action with effect from today, Sunday, September 30, 2018.”

On his part, Issa Aremu, a member of the NLC National Executive Council (NEC) and Labour Party gubernatorial candidate in Kwara State, lamented the negative impact of the devaluation of the naira on salaries.

“When we agreed on the present minimum wage in 2011, it was around $110.

Today, with massive devaluation of the naira, N18,000 minimum wage is about $50.

There is no way Nigeria can get out of serious economic crisis with this miserably pay package,” he said.


He added: “In this economy, we all know what legislators cart away, even as we try to borrow to finance the economy.

I think that despite the crisis we have in this country, there is enough to service the need of the majority of our people but certainly not the greed of a very few.

“In the United Kingdom, which started its minimum wage in 1988 - that is clear seven years after Nigeria began hers in 1981 - there is a procedure for review without any noise made about it, because there are parameters that are put in place to review it periodically, unlike the struggle we embark upon here whenever negotiation is due.”

This was as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) called on Buhari to boost the recovery of stolen money to finance the new minimum wage.

In a statement yesterday, SERAP’s deputy director, Timothy Adewale, said: “Buhari, only last week in the U.S., described the working poor and ordinary Nigerians as his constituency.

He now has to provide bold leadership to improve conditions for this marginalised sector of the population by publicly supporting a just remuneration for Nigerian workers to allow them lead a decent life.


His government can make this a reality by pushing to recover stolen assets and other illicit wealth by public officials and institutions since the return of democracy in 1999.”

But an independent development consultant with a UK-funded programme in Nigeria, Dr. Mike Uzoigwe, urged government to approach the subject of wage increase cautiously.

“This is not a good time to increase wage,” he said, because “it looks like the Federal Government might succumb at the end of the day or make promises to assuage labour.”

He cautioned against increasing salaries when the country is borrowing to finance its budget.

He said: “We have to address the problem of infrastructure and how we have depended on earnings from our natural resources to run the affairs of this country. We have not done it in the right way.

Countries that are blessed as we are used their oil resources to build other aspects of their economy.

This has not allowed them to be tied to the vagaries of oil prices at the international market.”

He regretted that the oil and gas sector has given Nigeria a false sense of financial security for many years.

“That is what has happened to us and we are right now in the middle of it.

It might take us another 50 years to get things right if we do not do the right thing at this time,” he said.

Uzoigwe regretted that the non-signing of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill into law by Buhari is keeping the country from growing its economy sustainably.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/labour-suspends-strike-wage-panel-meets.html

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have adopted Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the candidate they will support in the coming governorship primaries of the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).


Their declaration confirms that they won’t be supporting Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ahead of the primary election on Sunday.

The development was contained in a statement made available to Akelicious on Saturday.

The statement was signed by Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Honourable (Princess) Adefunmilayo Tejuoso.
It explained the decision was taken at a parliamentary meeting of the lawmakers which took place at Lateef Jakande auditorium of the House on Saturday, 29 September, 2019, a day before the governorship primaries of the party.
The meeting was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. Out of the 40 members of the House, 36 were present at the meeting and all of them endorsed the decision and duly signed the statement announcing the decision.

The lawmakers stated that they were in agreement with the leadership of the party and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) which had earlier endorsed Sanwo-olu for the governorship ticket.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/lagos-apc-lawmakers-dump-ambode-declare.html

Nollywood is set to witness an avalanche of pure entertainment as we await the new movie from Dayo Amusa to be premiered in the cinemas. After a dazzling performance and box office sales with her previous movies, ‘Pathetic’ and ‘Unforgivable,’ the talented actress and producer is set to return to the cinemas from October 5, 2018, with a smashing blockbuster, ‘That Which Binds Us.’ The movie tells the story of a family’s tale of love, betrayal, human weakness, individual deficiencies and sacrifice. It aims at bringing disputed broken families together and help family see through the importance of staying together amidst challenges. The Amzadol Productions produced movie was directed by actor and politician, Desmond Elliot and features Uche Jombo, Desmond Elliot, Dayo Amusa, Mercy Aigbe, Chinyere Wilfred, Alausa Toyin and more talented actors. Dayo Amusa has made it known that ‘That Which Binds Us’ will be more than just entertainment. “If you have seen my last two works, you will need no convincing that I do not just want to entertain but engage people consciously as well. People need to know that there are consequences for each of their actions. People need to see a movie that reflect their lifestyle, their mistakes or the mistake they are about to make. Our dream is that this movie will be a reflection of people’s lives and hopefully help them avoid a costly mistake in life,” she said. Insider report reveals that the movie, will be one of the movies shaping the narrative of culture in 2018.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/dayo-amusa-returns-to-cinemas-with-that.html

The Federal Government has put up 52 hospitals belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for commercial use in a new template to curtail loss to medical tourism in the country.

The NNPC, which confirmed this yesterday, added that the move was part of a major national healthcare intervention project, designed to halt medical tourism to foreign destinations through the provision of state-of-the-art hospitals and diagnostic centres across the country.

The corporation, in a medical venture plans, has set a five-year gestation period for the project to achieve substantial impact in Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.

The healthcare project is in three parts. The first is Occupational Health designed to specifically service NNPC staff, their dependents and retirees. All current NNPC clinics fall under this scheme and are presently being upgraded to reflect the new realities.

The second scheme involves some key NNPC hospitals like the erstwhile Abuja International Diagnostic Centre (AIDC) and the Benoni Hospital in Benin City, which are being equipped to service both NNPC staff and outsiders because of their projected excess capacity.

The third leg of the medical project, which has been designated as ‘new business’, involves locations where state-of-the-art hospitals and diagnostic centres will be constructed on NNPC’s unutilized lands in Kaduna, Mosimi and Port Harcourt for commercial purposes.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said he was delighted by the development being spearheaded by the NNPC Medicals, saying the project would impact on the bottom line of the corporation in the long run.

Baru affirmed that apart from the financial benefits the project promises, it also underlined the progress being made in the transformation efforts to reposition NNPC as a fully integrated company of the future.

The state-owned oil firm further informed that the icing on the cake is the erstwhile Abuja International Diagnostic Centre, which is being reconfigured to assume the status of a national flagship medical mall.

Upon completion, the centre will warehouse top class health care providers in cardiovascular, oncology, renal dialysis, radiology and lab services.

The dream is essentially to make AIDC a hub for other clinics through telemedicine.

This process allows the remote delivery of healthcare services, such as health assessments or consultations with the support of telecommunications and information technology infrastructure. It will enable the healthcare providers to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients without the need for an in-person visit.

Dr. Babatunde Adeniran, Chief Operating Officer, NNPC Ventures, said the new-found medical vision was modelled as well as inspired in part by successes recorded in other jurisdictions like Saudi Arabia, where the state oil company, Saudi Aramco, partners John Hopkins to provide best medical care for its staff and residents of other Middle East countries.

“NNPC has 52 clinics/hospitals, the largest network of healthcare facilities in Nigeria which is enough capacity for us to build on, upgrade the facilities and achieve our commercialization dream. The aim is to reduce to zero, medical tourism and the accompanied capital flight with a view to retaining the money in Nigeria while also improving NNPC’s revenue,” he said.

Musa Shaibu, veteran Occupational Health Physician and Managing Director of NNPC Medical Services Limited (NMSL), said that the corporation was harnessing its strong brand name and market place identity to achieve remarkable results in the pursuit of medical excellence.

“The NNPC name is huge, it is a golden name and as we are going into healthcare delivery in the name of NNPC, it is going to be a huge advantage. Don’t forget that, over the years, because we have been in the practice, we have interfaced with the best in healthcare delivery across the world. We know what to do and how to achieve result,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/fg-puts-up-52-nnpc-hospitals-for.html

Imo State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old-man, Victor Onumajuru, and his 25-year-old accomplice, Chibyke Chikere for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl.

Parading the suspects, the state Commissioner of Police, Dasuki Galadanchi, revealed that the suspects abducted and raped their victim on August 29 at their hideout.


The police boss disclosed that on receipt of intelligence, the operatives of the command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit swung into action and arrested the suspects.

The CP said, “On August 29, a gang of five men kidnapped the victim and took her to their hideout.

“The operatives of the Command’s Anti-kidnapping Unit acted on a credible intelligence, rescued the victim and subsequently arrested the suspects in possession of the victim’s GSM handset.

“The suspects unlawfully had carnal knowledge of the victim while in captivity. They have made useful statements and they are helping the police in the investigation process.

“It is a case of kidnap, armed robbery and rape. The suspects are Victor Onumajuru, 20, of Amauzari in the Isiala Mbano LGA and Chibyke Chikere, 25, of Anara in the Isiala Mbano LGA.

“The victim is a 19-year-old girl from Mbieri in the Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State. One handset belonging to the victim was recovered from the suspects as an exhibit.

“It is very unfortunate that children who ought to give their lives good meaning by either going to school or learning a trade are engaging in this kind of crime. My command will not spare any lawbreaker. I want to assure Imo people that we will continue to close in on the bad elements.”

Galadanchi, however, promised to prosecute the suspects to serve as deterrent to others.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/police-arrest-20-year-old-one-other-for.html

Nigeria’s telecommunication sector is said to be losing $3 billion yearly to sharp practices.

This was disclosed by the Executive Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta at the 85th edition of the Telecom Consumer Parliament (TCP) currently ongoing in Lagos.

Dabatta lamented that the menace has become quite worrisome and is a challenge to not only the telecoms industry but also a security threat to the entire country. Some of the sharp practices mentioned include call masking, SIM boxing and call refilling.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/nigerias-telecoms-sector-loses-3b-to.html

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has announced that no fewer than 19,323 flights were delayed within the country’s airspace in the first half of 2018.

Within the same period, another 348 flights were also cancelled among local and international airlines operating within and into the country.


This was made known by the Director-General of NCAA, Captain Muhtar Usman during presentation at the All Aviation Industry Information Managers’ Conference held at the agency’s annex office at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.

Usman explained that out of the 19,323 flights delayed, domestic airlines had 16,880 while the remaining 2,443 was among the 33 foreign airlines operating into the country.

He also said that within the same period, domestic airline operators cancelled 253 flights while their foreign counterparts had 95 flights cancelled.

Usman further stated that within the first half of the year, 17,893 delayed and missing baggage were recorded among the international airlines while the domestic operators had 25 delayed and missing luggage.

The director general however, said the authority had warned airlines against unwarranted flight delays and cancellations, stressing that NCAA would not tolerate infringement on air travellers’ rights.

It would be recalled that flight delays and cancellations had been rampant in recent times with NCAA cautioning airlines against consistent violation of passengers’ rights.

Airlines had severally attributed inadequate infrastructure at most of the country’s airports, stressing that until the infrastructure were improved upon, the delays and cancellation would continue.

However, statistics indicate that Middle East, Qatar Air, Royal Air Maroc, Rwandair, Saudi Airline, Sudan Air, South African Airways, Turkish Airlines, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways were guilty of flight delays among the international carriers while Delta Air Lines too cancelled some flights within the period.

At the yesterday’s meeting, Usman also said within the period, 20 aircraft were registered for commercial air transport while the other 10 were registered for General Aviation (GA).

He added: “Between January and June 2018, 10 aircraft were also deregistered by NCAA while another 12 were re-registered by the authority. We also issued 30 certificates of airworthiness and another 85 certificates of airworthiness were renewed by us.

“However, in an industry like us, there is need to improve on information dissemination among information managers in the system. Also, we require integrated communication among all information managers in the system particularly during incidences and near mishaps. This is necessary for NCAA to sustain robust regulation in the Nigerian aviation industry.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/ncaa-records-19-323-delays-348.html

The Bayelsa State Government has solicited the partnership and services of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) to ensure smooth operational take-off of the state International Cargo Airport, located along Amassoma Road in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

The Director General of the Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA), Ms Patience Abah, made the appeal while conducting officers of the NCS on a facility tour of the airport facilities in Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, on Tuesday.

Abah, who described the services of NCS as critical in a cargo airport, also disclosed that the state government was also collaborating with the NCS in the Agge Deep Seaport project.

She said: "We are forming the right partnership with key stakeholders to assist us in providing support services to investors and business persons, and among the key stakeholders is the NCS. We are commissioning our cargo airport very soon and we cannot operate cargo services without the involvement of NCS because there will be export and import services, so their role is very critical to making sure that these operations run smoothly.

"We also have the Agge Seaport project that we are working on as well, and we intend to set up a terminal for movement of critical goods and provision of services and again the NCS will play a vital role in making sure that those services are in a way it is actualised."

The Comptroller of the Rivers/Bayelsa Command of the NCS, who was represented by Assistant Superintendent Dyako Tyavkase, in his remarks, said the role of of custom officers in an airport was critical, particularly in the area of revenue generation, and assured the state government of the readiness of NCS to partner them when the airport begins operations.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/bayelsa-partners-customs-on-cargo.html

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele yesterday said he was optimistic that the alleged illegal $8.134 billion repatriation dispute involving MTN and its lenders would be resolved amicably.

The regulator had last month ordered the South African telecommunications firm and the affected banks in the deal to return the money to Nigeria, alleging that the company breached extant foreign exchange regulations.

“I am very optimistic we will resolve the matter and I believe that everybody will be happy. MTN will be happy, the banks will be happy. CBN and government would be happy,” Emefiele told reporters in Abuja.However, the apex bank may have opted for stability ahead of growth, as it yesterday retained all monetary policy rates for the 13th consecutive time.

The move appears as a cautious approach against any outcome of the United States’ rates meetings holding today.With the new development, the possibility of issuing emergency financial instruments by the monetary authorities next week is now high, as the rate decision shows the need to stem capital flight and attract more foreign investments amid falling external reserves.

With poor outlook on inflation, political tension, looming rate hike in U.S. and falling foreign exchange inflows, causing the reserves to fall below $45 billion, the nearest potent tool would be high yielding financial instruments to stem capital flight.

Experts have already described the CBN’s move as opting for stability, which is urgently needed before any consideration of economic growth, as sliding foreign investments are renewing pressure on the external reserves.

Emefiele, while reading the communiqué of the meetings, said: “There is need to maintain the current monetary policy stance and wait a clearer understanding of the quantum and timing of liquidity injections into the economy before deciding on possible adjustments.”Renowned economist, Bismarck Rewane, said the decision was in order, especially when the pressure on the external reserves had returned.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/cbn-upbeat-on-resolution-of-mtns-81b.html

Omoyele Sowore, presidential aspirant contesting on the platform of the African Action Congress (AAC), has expressed his determination to see to the end of cabals muddling in the affairs of the country and inhibiting meaningful development for the people.

He stated this at a meeting with renowned singer and activist, African China, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos on Monday.

Sowore has emerged as one of Nigeria’s most striking and unusual personalities to challenge the status quo, which he said has “kept millions of Nigerians trampled and exhausted for decades”.

He said: “Cabal is a generic word for self-defeat. When people give out themselves, they are afraid to fight; they are afraid to look people in the eyes and call them thieves. With this, they use it to hijack our democracy. It is just like in Italy when you talk about mafia, they use that to scare people away. Another word for mafia in Nigeria is cabal.

“All my entire life, I have been fighting cabals. I just want to tell you that the same blood that is running in our body is the same blood in theirs. They have bones and flesh. They have created a kind of environment for themselves that will make people afraid of them, but the moment you confront these people, they will become powerless.Sowore, known to have led millions of students in protest against the Nigerian government in the 1990s, cited some cabals that have existed in the past, which he confronted.

He continued: “In 30 years, I have confronted cabals such as ‘Babangida cabal’. We fought them and people were saying ‘how can you dare face the military?’ I was expelled from the university twice. Then Obasanjo set up his cabal, and people like Andy Uba and all those guys were there; they are the ones that planned to package the third term using money, criminality, and people and even planned outright killings when necessary.

“When that cabal fell apart, the Yar'Adua cabal emerged. They used cabal during and after the death of late President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua. Their agenda was simple: To hold onto power at all costs and not hand over to the then Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan. They held the ailing president incommunicado in a hospital in Saudi Arabia, then supervised and took part in the pilfering of the nation's wealth.

“There was the Jonathan cabal and then the Buhari cabal led by Abba Kyari, former DSS man, who was just removed.”

Speaking further, he said: “Cabals do not exist only among politicians, but among Imams and powerful pastors who use churches to scare people and sometimes slap people within the congregation and say ‘touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm’. Even Jesus never did that. There are also the economic cabals, which are made up of bankers, stock marketers, and manipulators.

“We also have powerful traditional rulers who are protecting the existing political structures. This is the way the country is operating to suppress the energy of people so as to not let them realise their potentials in the world.”

Highlighting the attitude of Nigerians to work outside the countries, he said: “If you see a Nigerian abroad that passes you by, you have to look back and check because you will see a driving force. Most employers employ Nigerians because they believe we have the zeal and passion to work and we unleash this by the time we go out of the country.

“This is because the energy that they are supposed to use in their country has been suppressed by these cabals. The only place that is not working for Nigerians is Nigeria itself. The angriest Nigerians sometimes are people living outside Nigeria because they believe that if the country is working they would not have left.”

The young and visionary leader, whose position on national issues has sparked intense debates across the country, also spoke on the agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He said: “Biafra is the cry for justice in a country that I just explained to you. They are people who are naturally republicans. Even if you look at the traditional structures of the Igbo, they don’t have kings because they cannot wait for them to determine their destinies. They realise that the potential of their lives doesn’t revolve around the kings.

“It is not Biafrans alone that have mentally seceded from this country; a lot of Nigerians have left the country in their brains, just that they are still trapped here. Nigeria’s space, if we can get justice within it, is even big enough for Biafrans to operate.

“I want to inform our Igbo brothers and sisters that you cannot realise Biafra if you keep on voting for the guys who fought during the war. These people have war mentality. I was born after the war and I don’t have the killing mentality, because we are representing people. You cannot get Biafrans to love Nigeria when Nigeria is not loving them back.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/nigerians-must-confront-cabals-and.html

The President of Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Mr Thomas Etuh has narrated how he rebuffed an invitation by President Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the advancement of fertiliser value chain in Nigeria.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Etuh narrated the funny conversation that ensued between him and the Chief of Staff to the President, Alhaji Abba Kyari who had called him to come for a meeting.

Etuh said that when the call came from Kyari inviting him, he thought it was fraudsters, and he vehemently told him off.

He explained that he rebuffed the call many times and advised the caller to go and get a job, not knowing that the call was genuine and was going to change the lot of farmers and fertiliser producers as well as suppliers.

“One weekend, I got a call from the chief of staff to the president, Alhaji Abba Kyari that they wanted to see me. I thought it was a joke. So, I said I wasn’t interested in looking for any appointment and I dropped the phone.

“A couple of minutes later, he called back and asked if I was Thomas Etuh, I said “Yes, I am”.

“We’ll like to see you”, he said. I said “Please! I have told you I am not looking for any appointment and I can hear your voice sounding like a very elderly person. So I think you should go and get a job to do and stop this 419”, then, I banged the phone.

“So while sitting with friends, we put the number on truecaller, and behold his name came up but I never bothered.

“About an hour or two later, he put a call through again; I picked it and naturally, I apologized. He kept laughing on the phone and saying that he understands and if I can come because they want to have a meeting with me.

“Eventually, I made the appointment for the meeting and the presidency was concerned about the price of fertiliser going up and what we can do to reduce the price.

“And that discussion translated into the President setting up this committee of Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI), which FEPSAN which I lead as a body was tasked to come back with a proposal and all hands were on deck,” he said.

He said that government had been a very dominant player in the fertiliser market and everybody was selling to the government.

Etuh explained that upon taking over about 10 years ago, he worked hard to create his own market away from government and sell to farmers directly.

“When this government came in, you all heard the problem of fertiliser all over the country and that was why I was called in for the meeting.

“Because this programme was in the heart of President Buhari, he domiciled it in his office which was coordinated by the chief of staff himself.

“We had the Governor of Jigawa as Chairman of the committee, we had the NNPC MD, we had the central bank Governor, we have the NSA himself, we had the Sovereign Wealth Fund in that committee and we had FEPSAN all serving in the committee which we work to coordinate this programme.

“Now what did we do in FEPSAN. We spoke to our members and said this is a win-win thing. Reduce your profit margin and work on volume. Whatever you are losing here, you gain it from the volume.

“The CBN governor brought a cost saving in terms of low cost of funds in single digits. Instead of us getting money at double digits, here we have money at single digits.

“That cost reduction in finance was also transferred to the farmer. So because our cost of running is low, the farmer also benefits in that. So everybody plays their own role.

“So what did we achieve with that? We had 6 plants working at 10 per cent capacity. Now with this initiative, in the first phase we had 11 plants. And today, there are 18 plants out of the 32 that are in this programme,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/how-i-rebuffed-buharis-invitation.html

Police personnel from the Kano State command on Monday dispersed members of the caretaker committee of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
They stormed the secretariat while the officials were holding a meeting at Sokoto Road in Kano metropolis.


The police acted on a subsisting court order against the formation of the caretaker committeeby the National Working Committee, NWC.

Justice NS Umar of Kano High Court in an interim order dated August 28, ordered both the applicants and the respondents to maintain the status quo ante, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.


Umar Mai Goro Rano and four others dragged the national and Kano state leadership of the PDP before Justice Umar, challenging the plans to restructure the party’s executive committee.

The court ordered the respondents and any other person or persons to restrain from interfering or tampering with the tenure of the existing leadership of PDP in Kano state.

“This honourable court restrains any other person or persons from disturbing and or intimidating the administration of the State, Local Government areas or ward officers from doing anything or taking any steps that are likely to interfere with or disturb the officers tenure which are protected under section 47 (1) and section 223(1) (a) of the 1999 constitution”, Justice Umar ruled.


Justice Umar adjourned the case till November 5, for hearing of motion on notice.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/police-effect-court-order-chase-away.html

Donald Duke, a presidential aspirant of the Social Democratic Party, DP, has condemned the zoning of public offices in the country.


The former Cross River State governor said zoning of public has only put mediocres in power.

Duke, while addressing the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum in Abuja on Monday stated Nigeria’s ’economy was not out of recession as claimed by the Federal Government.


“The economy is not growing because by virtue of our population growth, the economy should be growing at 4 per cent, we must exceed our population growth and Nigeria should by now have a trillion dollar economy.

“I am running for the President because Nigerian deserves as many options as possible. Things are too dire for zoning and zoning, I know, has only produced mediocres in our midst.

“The minorities should be canvassing for zoning of political offices, but I find it strange that it is the major ethnic groups that are demanding for zoning,” the presidential aspirant said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/zoning-of-public-offices-has-placed.html

Buhari seeks collaborative efforts among nations to fight human trafficking, smuggling

President Muhammadu Buhari has called for collaborative efforts among nations to fight human trafficking and smuggling of persons. Buhari made the call at the 16th INTERPOL Conference on Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling on Monday in Abuja.

He was represented by Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, General Service Office, office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“Human trafficking requires our collective efforts to eradicate which destroying the future of our youths,” he said.

The President said that Nigeria was among the first set of countries to domesticate United Nations relevant protocols on trafficking in persons and smuggling of persons.Buhari said that the protocols were at various times domesticated, resulting in the country’s enactment of the trafficking in persons prohibition law enforcement Act and eradication Act 2003 and the 1963 Immigration Act.
He said that the Immigration act empowered the service to combat the smuggling of migrants.
The president said that the country had recorded a landmark in the fight against trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
He said that the collaborative efforts of the country’s security agencies had resulted in several interceptions, arrest and prosecution and conviction of 359 traffickers and smugglers.
He urged the INTERPOL and relevant agencies to deepen already established collaboration in order to combat this modern day slavery to a stand still.
Buhari said that collaborative efforts across the international borders would go a long way to identify, arrest and prosecute traffickers and smugglers in their countries of origin.
He called on the INTERPOL to consider Abuja, Nigeria for the location of the proposed Strategic Service Centre.
“Nigeria is ready to play host to the centre and we will avail you with all the necessary assistance within the provisions of the law,” he said.
The president said that unless the country fight corruption, the little resources budgeted for development would be stolen by few elites, exposing the youths to poverty and becoming vulnerable to trafficking and smuggling.
In a remark, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, said that the force was at the forefront in the fight against the ugly trend.
Idris, who was represented by DIG Agboola Oshodi-Glover, said that trafficking and smuggling in persons posed a threat to both the victims and the countries of the world.
He said that recently the force upgraded the anti-human trafficking section with the appointment of a Commissioner of police.
Mr Jurgen Stock, Secretary General of INTERPOL said that trafficking in human beings and smuggling remained a prominent cahhlnge for law enforcement.
He noted that the trend had opened the door for the exploitation of those simply seeking improved well-being and opportunities.
Stock urged other participating countries at the conference to prioritise the fight against human trafficking and smuggling in persons.
He said that INTERPOL had launched a platform consisting of 110 countries and 150 specialists from immigration, customs and investigative units to exchange information.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that 500 participants from 70 countries are attending the conference.
NAN also reports that more than 500 specialists from security agencies, non governmental and international organisations, public and private sectors are also participating.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/buhari-seeks-collaborative-efforts.html