₦airaland Forum

Nigeria loses over $5 billion annually in the aviation industry which includes about $2 billion repatriated per annum by foreign airlines and unserviced Bilateral Air Service Agreement (BASA).

This unfortunate incident occurs because the country does not have major airlines to reciprocate flight services to countries whose airlines operate in Nigeria.


The Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Captain Muhtar Usman, who disclosed this, told Akelicious in an exclusive interview on Tuesday, that such huge amount of loss was because Nigeria does not have major airlines to take advantage of the huge opportunities in the aviation market.

The market has a very high potential and is expected to double in the next 10 years.

Usman said the key take advantage of the market was to establish a national carrier and also grow two or more major airlines to benefit from the market, which the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said contributes $8.2 billion to the economy of the country and supports over 650, 800 jobs including tourism-related employment.

The Director General noted that a national carrier would enable the country reclaim its position in a market it had lost to foreign airlines, adding that with government support to other airlines in the country; Nigeria would multiply its earnings from the aviation sector.

“Let me say clearly that the potential that is existing in the aviation industry and the market share in Nigeria, as far as aviation is concerned is huge. It is enormous. That is why we have a lot of foreign carriers requesting to come and operate in the country; not only from one point but from several points because of the potential that is available.

“We have not been able to meet the need of the market. We have lost a lot and we have been losing a lot by not taking advantage of those bilateral air service agreements because we don’t have strong, viable carriers that will be able to effectively compete with foreign airlines,” Usman said.

The Director General stressed that Nigeria loses a lot of foreign exchange in the aviation sector through capital flight by foreign carriers that remit their earnings from sales overseas.

“We also lose, not just the foreign exchange that would have been flowing in; we are losing the little that we have through capital flight. Having a national carrier and several major flag carriers would have provided jobs in the sector and solved the growing unemployment problem in the industry.

“Government has been encouraging the private sector to come in and there shouldn’t be any fear at all from the operators. This is because the market is big. It is big enough for all the players,” Usman added.

Travel expert and the organiser of Akwaaba African Travel Market, Ikechi Uko told Akelicious that for a population of over 190 million people and the number of travellers in the country, Nigeria needs at least two strong carriers on international routes for the nation’s economy to continue to grow.

He noted that international flight is denominated in dollars, so these airlines would be bringing in foreign exchange, which would be retained in Nigeria, adding that these airlines must not be government owned or designated as national carrier.

“If we want to dominate the air transport market we have to grow strong airlines. They don’t have to be government owned but private players but government must given everyone equal opportunity and when it does any favour to the national carrier, it should also do same to the other airlines. In that we can have two very strong airlines to represent us.

“We can have a national carrier and strengthened private players and whatever the national carrier gets should also be given to private sector driven airlines. This will enable the money earned from the air travel market to be retained in Nigeria.” Uko said

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nigeria-loses-5bn-annually-to-lopsided.html

Benue State Police Command has said that about 44 suspects have been arrested in connection with the land dispute between Mbazerem and Mbayem/Mbaikyu kindreds of Iwarnyam District of Konshisha Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni who disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Makurdi on Thursday said the police are currently looking for a former LGA of the council, Vitalis Ayormaar, who is on the run.

He said there may be a connection between the former council boss with the land dispute.

Full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/benue-land-dispute-former-lg-boss-on.html

About N1.32 trillion values of transactions were carried through cheque truncation in the first three months of the year.

Cheque truncation is the conversion of a physical cheque into a substitute electronic form for transmission to the paying bank. Cheque truncation reduces or eliminates the physical movement of cheques and reduces the time and cost of processing the cheque clearance system.

E-payment facts sheet from the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) showed that the N1.32 trillion values were processed from 2.48 million volumes of transactions.

The statistics also revealed that on a daily basis, within the three months, there were 27,512 volumes of cheques with a mean value of N531, 838. The total volume of corporate cheques processed was put at 1.4 million with a value of N0.85 Trillion, while volume of individual cheques processed was 0.55 million with a N0.21 Trillion value.


Meanwhile, through the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Nigerian banks have been able to link 45.1 million unique account owners. There are however, 65 million active bank customers.

The total number of bank accounts in the country was put at 108.3 million, out of which 70 million are active. The statistics put the total number of current accounts at 24.2 million; saving accounts 81.1 million. There are 7.4 million corporate accounts and 99.3 million individual accounts.

In terms of web payment, there were 9.63 million volume of transactions valued at N60.74 billion from January to March.

Meanwhile, total number of mobile money customers in Nigeria as at March 2018 stood at 1.50 million with 5,304 enrolled agents. Volume of transaction within this period was put at 15.25 million valued at N329.12 billion. There are 21licensed mobile money operators in the country and they are integrated to NIBSS for interoperability.

Unfortunately, after about five years of operation in Nigeria, mobile money has only been able to attract just one per cent penetration.

Unlike in Ghana and Kenya where penetrations have reached 40 per cent and 60 per cent respectively, only about two million of Nigeria’s estimated 198 million populations.

The implication of this is that despite the innovation that comes with it, Nigerians are yet to tap from the huge benefit it carries.


Martket watchers have argued that the model operated in Nigeria, which is bank-led, has not been able to impact the initiative in the country adequately. The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Danbatta, at an interaction with journalists in Lagos, recently, lamented that mobile money is crawling at one per cent penetration in the country because it is bank-led.

According to him, other region, where the scheme is thriving has been because it was telco-led, “as such we need to re-direct our focus and ensure that appropriate model is adopted adequately.”

Danbatta said there should be effective cooperation among all the various stakeholders in the value chain that is the telecommunications operators, agents, CBN and the services providers too.

The NCC EVC revealed that discussions are on-going in the industry on how to get telcos to become super agents in the scheme of things.

“With the population we have in the country, Nigeria should play big in the mobile money ecosystem in Africa. Only about one per cent that is about two million Nigerians is currently on the scheme. That is rather too poor. All hands must be on deck to revive that sub-sector of the economy.”

“If we are to improve on Nigeria’s digital landscape, we must revive the mobile ecosystem, which includes the mobile money scheme,” he stated.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/transactions-via-cheque-hit-n132.html

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) rose from its weekly meeting in the State House Abuja Wednesday with cheery news of the forthcoming repatriation of $500 million loot from United Kingdom, United States and France to Nigeria.

The money was part of the huge sums stolen by the former despotic leader, Gen. Sani Abacha.


Making the disclosure while briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami, said the move was the fallout of negotiations between the federal government and the three countries.

According to him, the expected sum is coming barely a few months after the repatriation of $322 million Abacha loot to Nigeria from Switzerland following an agreement signed by Nigeria and Switzerland.

Malami, who said the processes leading to the repatriation and the aftermath were reported to the council Wednesday, also disclosed that the council approved the payment of N500 million as legal fee to lawyers engaged in the litigation between the federal government and MTN over the N1 trillion fine imposed on the latter by the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC).

“The council approved the payment of professional fees to lawyers engaged by the federal government relating to the MTN case instituted against the federal government in pursuance of penalty of over N1 trillion imposed by the government on MTN.

“MTN, as you will recall, instituted a case seeking to retrain the federal government from recovering the over N1 trillion imposed on it. The federal government engaged the services of lawyers to put up defence on its behalf. As a result, the case was eventually settled by the parties amicably and arising from that settlement the lawyers were entitled to their fees.

“The federal government has now sanctioned the payment of N500 million for the N330 billion agreed upon for the alleged certain breaches in their operations. This amount is less than one per cent of the fee instead of the internationally recognised fee which is pegged at five per cent.

“Finally was a report on the global forum on assets recovery. You will recall that in December 2017, the federal government participated in global forum on asset recovery in Washington DC and during that forum, Nigeria and Switzerland signed agreement that paved the way for the repatriation of $322 million relating to looted assets and on the account of that the amount was eventually repatriated back to Nigeria.

“What transpired was only reported back to the council today. The report today was not only about the signing of the agreement but the report of the eventual repatriation of the amount of money that was signed and agreed to be repatriated during the forum.

“Nigeria has also engaged other countries including the UK, US, France and others in further negotiations relating to repatriation and I am happy to report that we are almost concluding the processes relating to the repatriation of additional $500 million,” Malami said.

Malami also responded to questions on the legality and legitimacy of the declaration of June 12 as a public holiday, as well as the conferment of posthumous awards on the late Chief MKO Abiola and Chief Gani Fawehinmi as well as Ambassador Baba Gana Kingibe.

The president had on June 6, proclaimed June 12 as the new Democracy Day, replacing the hitherto May 29 Democracy in acknowledgement of June 12, 1993 presidential election described as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history and won by the late business magnate, Chief MKO Abiola, but unjustly annulled by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida.

Consequently, the president conferred the highest honour of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Abiola on Tuesday.

He also conferred the award of the Grand Commander of the Order of Nigeria (GCON) on Abiola’s running mate, Kingibe, and Chief Gani Fawehinmi posthumously in recognition of his gallant fight for the actualisation of June 12 mandate.

But the moves had been criticised by some Nigerians who argued that the president lacked the power to proclaim June 12 as public holiday without amending Public Holidays Act to pave the way for the replacement of May 29 with June 12 as the new Democracy Day.

The president was also criticised for unilaterally conferring the national honours on the recipients without consulting the National Council of State.

But Malami in his defence, said the president was only duty bound to consult the Governing Board in relation to the conferment of the National Merit Award, insisting that there is no law compelling the president to make any consultation before conferring national honours on anyone.

Malami also stated that it was not the first time that a posthumous national honours award was conferred on anyone, pointing out that former Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed, had once been posthumously honoured.

However, he admitted that Public Holidays Act needed to be amended before June 12 Democracy Day can come into effect as a public holiday. Consequently, he said the process of amending the Act had already been put in place and the declaration would not be effective until the amendment is concluded.

“National Merit Award Act and the Nigerian National Honours Act are two distinct and different applicable laws as far as National honours awards are concerned. You have the National Merit Award on the strength of which we have the law of the governing board come into effect and then as it relates to the National Honours Act, the board does not have any relevance in terms of processing of the honours.

“Above all, we equally have in existence, a precedent as it relates to the award of posthumous honours. I can recall that a former Head of State, General Muhammed was equally honoured posthumously, among others.

“As it relates to public holidays, there is truly a Public Holidays Act, but it is about the process of amendment. At any rate, the Act can be amended and the process of amendment has been put in place.

“So, when the Act has been fully amended, the declaration of the President will come into effect. It is a declaration of intention, a declaration of desire and that will eventually be given effect with the act of amendment of the existing law,” he said.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/06/14/nigeria-to-receive-another-500-million-abacha-loot/amp/

Nigerian Army say it neutralised 23 Boko Haram and recovered weapons during its clearance operation in villages in the Lake Chad region.

Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, who disclosed this in a statement in Maiduguri on Tuesday, said many terrorists escaped with gunshot injuries during the encounter with troops on Monday.

He stated that the operation was conducted by troops of 153 Task Force Battalion in conjunction with the support of its Cameroonian Defence Forces counterpart.


He listed items recovered during the operation to include six AK 47 rifles, two FN rifles, eight AK 47 rifle magazines, 33 rounds of 7.62 mm NATO ammunition, one link of 7.62mm NATO and two motorcycles.

He added that the troops had earlier cleared numerous villages in the Lake Chad region, including Bulakeisa, Tumbuma Babba, Abbaganaram and Dan Baure, among others, NAN reports.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/nigerian-cameroonian-troops-kill-23.html

Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Bayo Onanuga, is scheduled to deliver a goodwill message, on behalf of the Press, at the Special National Investiture ceremony to honour the June 12 pro-democracy heroes.

Onanuga, a veteran journalist, was among many media practitioners who suffered persecution during the military era in the country.

In August 1996, Amnesty International reported that Onanuga, then Editor-in-chief of The News and PM news was thought to be held by the State Security Service at their Lagos headquarters, and may have been ill-treated in custody.

According to the programme of the investiture ceremony to be performed by President Muhammadu Buhari, sighted by NAN, Onanuga is listed as the second speaker in the section of goodwill messages after Ayo Obe (Civil Society).

Other goodwill messages to be delivered at the event and their speakers are: Chief Frank Kokori (Labour), Femi Falana , SAN (Lawyers/activists), Prof Wole Soyinka, Fidelis Tapgun (Representing SDP Governors from the North), Chief Olusegun Osoba (SDP Governors from the South) and Senator Jonathan Zwingina (Representing Hope ’93 MKO Abiola campaign organisation.

Other speakers include Asiwaji Bola Tinubu, former Speaker, House of Representatives, Agunwa Anekwe, former Senate Presidents, Iyorchia Ayu and Ameh Ebute, respectively.

NAN reports that President Buhari will confer posthumous national honours on Chief M.K.O. Abiola as Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) and Chief Gani Fawehinmi as the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON).

The President will also decorate Ambassador Babagana Kingibe with GCON at the special investiture ceremony. (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/june-12-nan-md-to-deliver-goodwill.html

Former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, has said Nigeria has continued to lag behind in growth and development due to lack of sincerity of purpose and determination to confront emerging challenges.

According to Duke, his decision to contest the 2019 presidency is informed by the need to lead the path in the restoration and survival of the country, stressing that Nigeria would do better with the right vision.

Duke made the remarks, yesterday, in Enugu, as a guest to the Law Students’ Association (LAWSA) 2018 dinner of the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. He said: “We all agree that we can do better than we are doing currently. The ideas are not lacking. What is lacking is the sincerity of purpose and the determination to get it right. The three things I believe we require are the vision, the will and the attitude.

“The essential element is the will. Agriculture cannot go beyond processing level if you don’t have good policies tied to it; if you don’t have the requisite infrastructure tied to it. For our education, from 1990, we have not updated our curriculum to match the realities of the world. Our healthcare methods are still the way they were in the 60s.

“Our infrastructure is deplorable. Our financing system is wrong. We cannot grow an economy, where in my estimation seven out of 10 persons are unemployed, underemployed, with interest rate regime in the upper twenties.”He lamented that while a lot of young folks would like to start businesses, the system will not allow them do that, stressing, “We need a leadership that is determined to solve these problems.”

He tasked the students: “The country is getting more and more competitive and if you don’t put your best foot forward, you will miss it. Nobody will step aside and say young people should take over. You must work for it. It will be more competitive in the next 30 years.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/why-i-want-to-be-nigerias-next.html

No fewer than 15 shops and about 10 vehicles were burnt to ashes at the Mechanic Village, Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, in the early hours of Wednesday.

The cause of the inferno which started at about started 5:00a.m. was yet to be unravelled but allegations were rife that the cause might not be unconnected to the leadership crisis rocking the market.

Last Friday, there was pandemonium in the artisans’ market when some suspected thugs invaded the business premises to disrupt commercial activities over the botched election by the artisans.


The hoodlums, suspected to be hired, also set up bonfires as they rampaged. Save for the timely intervention of a crack team of policemen, the situation might have gone bloody.

Mr. Christian Enwerem is one of the victims. He lamented that his shop which was razed had some equipment including calibrating machine worth N3 million, motor parts, properties belonging to his clients among others which were all burnt to ashes.

“I was in my house around 7am this morning when somebody called and told me to come to shop immediately that everywhere was on fire and that our workshop has been burnt to ashes.

“When I came in, I discovered that my workshop has been burnt down by fire. We don’t electricity here, I have generating set to energize my workshop here


and I always off it whenever I am through with it. My injector calibrator machine, motor components spare parts inside the shop were gutted by fire”, he narrated.

Caretaker Chairman of Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) in the market, Mr. Chidiebere Uzo, while speaking to newsmen expressed sadness over the disaster. He however alleged that it was masterminded by enemies of the Mechanic Village.

“I was in my house this morning when I received a call from one of the security men that there was fire in the mechanic village. I engaged many security men to be guarding the mechanic village but the crisis we had here last Friday stopped them from coming here again. So, some of them called at 5:30 am that this place was on fire.

“I had to drive to the mechanic village. I rushed to fire service office and alerted them and we followed together and came to the mechanic village. Before we could get to the scene, vehicles have been burnt to ashes, shops have also been burnt. The fire wanted to enter other shops but the fire service men quenched it.


“But I must tell you that the fire is suspicious. There are four burnt tires in four different locations where the fire emanated from. It is not an ordinary fire. It is a planned deal and I wonder what the person who did it will benefit from it. Soon, they would be fished out because they cannot succeed no matter the way they planned it”, Uzo assured.

Police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah, confirmed the incident but dismissed the allegation by some artisans that the fire was masterminded. She said that preliminary investigations showed that the fire might have been caused by phone batteries connected to the electricity in one of the shops.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/15-shops-10-vehicles-razed-in-ebonyi.html

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State says that the state’s Open Grazing Prohibition law that came into effect on 24th January has come to stay and no pronouncements can upturn it.

Governor Ishaku was reacting to the announcement, on Tuesday, by the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali that the Federal Government was considering the suspension of the open grazing prohibition law in the three states of Ekiti, Taraba and Benue.

Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, in a statement signed by Col. Tukur Gusau, at the end of the meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari, suggested the “need to employ other channels with the affected states to reduce tension by suspending the implementation of the Anti-Open Grazing Law while also negotiating safe routes for the herders.


In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the Senior Special Assistant, media to the governor Mr. Bala Dan Abu, said that the minister is acting without proper understanding of the issues as the law came about as a solution to the problem of herdsmen killings and not the cause of the problem.

“I must say that the minister is I’ll informed. He does not seem to understand the issues at hand properly and that explains their inability to resolve them. Herdsmen attacks predates this law. These herdsmen have been killing people for the past seven years or thereabouts. This is what necessitated this administration’s decision to come up with this law.

“The law as it is now is meant to stop the killings. If herdsmen no longer wander into people’s farms to graze of their crops, the crisis would be reduced greatly. The instances of cattle rustling would also reduce as it would become easier to secure the cows.

“So if the government is blaming the wanton killings on the law, what about the areas, the states that do not have the law and yet there is just as much attacks and killings? Is it the law that is causing the killings in Zamfara, Plateau, Kogi, and all the other states across the country where open grazing is not prohibited?

“I would not want to say that the Federal Government has ulterior motives but I think they lack a proper understanding of the issues here and that explains their inability to tackle these issues.


“In any case, this law was duly passed by the state Assemblies of the respective states and so it is only through the instrumentality of the States Houses of Assembly that the law can be repealed, and Taraba state is not ready to do that as the reasons for law still remain valid”, Governor Ishaku concluded.

In a swift reaction, however, the state chairman of Miyetialah Alhaji Sahabi Tukur described the decision by the federal government as long overdue.

Tukur alleged that the law was actually providing a shield for people to commit crimes and blame it on the Fulanis.

“This decision is not coming to us as a surprise. This is what we had expected even the state government to do long before now. It is unfortunate that all our efforts to make the state governor see reasons did not work.


“It is true that the law was duly passed by the state Assembly but the federal government can not sit back and allow these killings and crisis to continue. They have to do something.

“I have always said that the crisis in Taraba is political and ethno religious and not about farmers and herdsmen. And so to end the crisis, the state government must sit down with the key stakeholders to address the issue. The problem now is that, people hide under the law to attack others and then blame it on the Fulanis”, Tukur said

Tukur called on the Federal government to empower the traditional rulers and institutions to checkmate inflow and outflow of people within their chiefdoms and in doing so, control the security situations there.

In his reaction, former Nigerian Envoy to the republic of Cameroon Ambassador Emmanuel Njiwa said that the call by the federal government was not only unnecessary but malicious, and said that the states have taken position steps towards developing livestock production and to check the killings and no one should try to stop them.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/taraba-gov-others-kick-as-fg-moves-to.html

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Tuesday said tourism sector accounted for 34 per cent of GDP and about 20 per cent of the nation’s employment creation in 2017.

Dr Yemi Kale, Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer, NBS, made the disclosure at the 61st United Nations World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa (UNWTO-CAF), Conference, in Abuja.

The theme of the conference is” Tourism Statistics: A Catalyst for Development.”

Kale said that tourism activities in Nigeria had immense potential and indeed, the sector encompasses and affects several sub-sectors across the nation’s key output sectors.

He said Nigeria was an inspirational destination for visitors, adding that international visitors come to the country to immerse themselves in its landscapes, indigenous culture and experiences and do business.

“ This is our competitive advantage and we need to work together to make the most of it, “ he said.

The statistician also said that tourism activities reinforced cultural pride, the preservation of the nation’s unique heritage and traditions, as well as the conservation of their environment.

According to him, it is because of it far reaching impact on all groups of society, that tourism is mentioned specifically within both the Sustainable Development Goals and the wider Agenda 2030.

“ With respect to the direct impact of tourism on GDP, there are some economic activities that make up what we may call the tourism characteristics sectors.

“ The art, entertainment and recreation, trade, transport, accommodation and food services, administrative, support and other services account for 34 per cent of GDP in 2017 and about 20 per cent of employment.

“ Even though as you know not all of that 34 per cent and 20 per cent GDP and employment contribution will be related directly to tourism activities.

“Nevertheless, this shows you the immense potential of tourism activities in Nigeria, a 500 billion dollars economy with about 70 per cent of that household consumption expenditure,“ he said.

Kale said that tourism had also proved to be a much-needed source of additional income for households particularly within rural regions.

He said that the theme of the conference was very central to the role of tourism statistics in promoting inclusive economic growth and development.

“ It is a testament to the work of the Commission for Africa, and all its members here, that data is rightly recognised as pivotal to the process of building a sustainable tourism sector.

“ For us in Nigeria and at the NBS, we also understand that the direct economic benefits of tourism which reflects the direct internal spending within the country from both residents and non-residents on tourism related activities.

“ Tourism also has indirect and induced effects ranging from job creation, to increased revenue through taxes and foreign exchange, to improved local infrastructure, are far reaching.“

Kale, therefore, said that tourism statistics was more imperative as a tool in tracking development goals, measuring progress, and improving the efficacy of policy interventions.

According to him, tourism statistics is critical in providing the sector with the best foundation to base its decisions on.

He said that the challenges of producing tourism statistics in Nigeria were clear and present.

He added that one such challenge was the high level of informality of the tourism characteristics activities with about 60 per cent of them informal in nature.

He said the poor attitude towards record keeping, inadequate funding and weak coordination among tourism statistics related agencies and business also compounded the problems.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/tourism-accounts-for-34-of-nigerias-gdp.html

African trade ministers have deliberated on the protocols to the agreement establishing African free trade area (AfCFTA), and the modalities for tariff liberalisation.

The 6th African Union Ministers of Trade (AMOT) meeting is holding in Dakar, Senegal.

According to a press release issued Monday by South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry, “the conclusion of the annexes to the Protocol on Trade in Goods and the annexes to the Protocol on Dispute Settlement is a significant achievement”.


“The conclusion of this work enables South Africa to rapidly commence domestic processes for signature of the AfCFTA,” the release quoted deputy trade minister Bulelani Magwanishe, who attended the AMOT meeting, as saying.

“We must ensure that the disciplines on modalities for tariff liberalization support the creation of commercially meaningful value-chains in Africa, such that we attract investment in job creating productive sectors,” he added.

The AMOT meeting was preceded by the 11th Meeting of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Negotiations Forum, and the 6th Meeting of the AfCFTA Committee of Senior Officials of Trade.

The outcomes of the 6th AMOT meeting in Dakar will be submitted and considered by the African Union summit to be held in Mauritania in July 2018.

On March 21, 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, an extraordinary summit of AU leaders resulted in the signing of the AfCFTA Agreement by 44 countries and the signing of the Declaration establishing the AfCFTA by 43 countries.

The AfCFTA offers an opportunity to create larger economies of scale, a bigger market and improve the prospects of the African continent to attract investment.

“South Africa is, therefore, committed to a coordinated strategy to boost intra-Africa trade, and to build an integrated market in Africa that will see a market of over 1 billion people with a GDP of approximately US$3.3 trillion. Beyond the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), the AfCFTA will provide new export opportunities for South African products in West Africa and North Africa.

“The AfCFTA is being pursued under the development integration approach that combines market integration with industrial and infrastructure development to ensure that we address Africa’s productive capacity and supply side constraints, promote the diversification of Africa’s export base from dependence on raw materials to value added products, as well as alleviate the infrastructure deficit in Africa.” (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/african-ministers-meet-on-free-trade.html

An Igando Customary Court in Lagos on Monday saved a four-year-old marriage between Mrs Musilimotu Olashuyi and her husband, Gbenga, who conspired with a cleric to sleep with her.

Musilimotu, had earlier approached the court, seeking to end her marriage, claiming that an Alfa made love to her with her husband’s approval.

“Actually, my husband got to know the Alfa through me because I always go to his mosque to pray.

“When he told me that my husband business is not moving fine, I brought him home to meet my husband.

“Before I know what was happening, my husband conspired with him to use me for money ritual.

“It was with my husband’s consent that the Alfa had sexual intercourse with me for three days.

“After the incident, I started getting sick and getting emaciating and I told people around me what happened which led to the arrest of the cleric and my husband ran away.

“My husband resurfaced at the station after the cleric brought a remedy to cure me.”

The 48-year-old trader said that her husband had refused to pay back the loan she collected on his behalf in which she stood as a guarantor.

The petitioner told the court that her husband also threw her belongings out of their matrimonial home in her absence during which over N800, 000 she kept in her boxes were stolen.

She begged the court to dissolve the marriage as she was no longer in love with her husband.

Rebutting the allegations, Olashuyi, told the court that his wife and her concubine, the cleric, persuaded him to buy a coffin for money ritual.

“My wife brought the Alfa home, he told me that God revealed to him that my business was collapsing, that he will make some rites, I agreed because truly my business was not moving well.

“Since that day my wife has been coming home with the cleric with different objects and concoction for me to drink and bath with which I used.

“Later the cleric asked me to bring N800, 000 to buy some items for another rite.

“He also told me to buy a casket for him to make ritual money for me that I will put it in a separate room where nobody will enter except me.

“My wife begged me to comply with the Alfa’s request which I decline.”

The 55-year-old businessman accused his wife of infidelity, claiming that the cleric always come to make love to her on their matrimonial bed.

“I got to know that the cleric was sleeping with my wife in our room when Musilimotu brought the police to arrest him for using charm on her to rape her.

“The cleric told the police that he never hypnotised my wife to rape, claiming it was with her consent he made love to her on those three occasions.”

The respondent said that he packed his wife belonging out of his house when he wanted to sell it after given her three months notice but she refused to pack out.

He consented to the dissolution of marriage that only produced a child, saying he was no longer interested and does not love her anymore.

However, following the intervention of the court, presided over by Mr Akin Akinniyi, and the couple’s families they were reconciled.

The wife also wrote a withdrawal letter to the court and told them that they would work to resolve their differences and reconcile themselves.

Akinniyi, while striking out the case, admonished the couple to maintain peace and to continue to live in love and harmony.

“Since the court was able to reconcile the couple through thorough counselling, I urged both of you to go home and live in peace and love,” Akinniyi said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/man-in-court-for-permitting-cleric.html

A couple was lucky to escape death on the Lagos-Abeokuta on Sunday as the husband lost control of the wheel while the car was on motion.

The husband, who drove the car, was said to have lost control of the car as he approached the interchange between Abeokuta and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Sunday evening.

The couple, according to one of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps, stated that the car somersaulted and lost two of its tyres while the driver was trying to gain control of the car.

“We sighted the car from our post. It flipped and slid with its side for few metres. In an attempt to control the car, two tyres burst and the car veered to the other side of the road,” the traffic corps official said.He further confirmed that the couple is alive but suffered varying degrees of injury.

"Both the husband and wife are alive but the wife had fracture and blood was gushing out of her hand," he said. "They were treated at Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta and were transferred to Lantoro hospital for further treatment.”

Presidential hopeful, Omoyele Sowore, who was at the scene of the accident, noted that traffic corps needed to have ambulance attached to them in case accident occurs. He added that the ambulance would help in knowing the extent of damage incurred by the victims.

More photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/photoscouple-escape-death-in-fatal.html

The Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers has assured its teeming customers that their pension funds are in safe hands and they have nothing to fear.

It has also sensitised over 1,500 customers on pre-retirement arrangement, to ensure that they do not have a painful and regrettable life after their active service.

This was noted by the Executive Director, Investments , Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Dele Sotubo, when he spoke, at the weekend, during a sensitisation pre-retirement programme in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.


According to Sotubo, “Everything about pension is based on trust. And, when you talk about trust, you look at the pedigree of the people you are dealing with. Stanbic IBTC Pensions belongs to the Standard Bank family and has existed for 155 years. So, we have a good heritage behind us.

“It is also that the commission that is in charge of pension administration in Nigeria, has put in place very clear and strict guidelines, as to how pension funds should be managed. So, it is clearly stated what you can invest in, how you should invest.

“As it is today, if anybody mismanages pension fund that we have today, under the CPS (Contributory Pension Scheme) scheme, that director is liable to go to jail and to forfeit everything that he has. The fund is being managed under strict guidelines.

“Under the CPS scheme, there is no kobo that has gotten lost and that would get lost. We are bold to say it is not just a case of what PENCOM is doing. For us as Stanbic IBTC, we have a good heritage; and we have everything working good for us”, he assured.


According to him, employers should realise they stand to benefit when they play they make their on contribution in the scheme.

Sotubo stated: “The benefit for an employer is the fact that, every contribution towards pension is tax free. It is a form of tax savings for an employer.

“At the event today, we have at least 1,500 of our customers that attended the forum. Why we put this event together is because we have realized that Nigerians, when asked to do something, would wait for the last minute before they start planning.

“This has affected many people negatively because it is the date after their retirement that they would come to ask for their money. The question to ask is, before retirement, have you done what you should do about your pension scheme?

“That is why we said for interest of people working in public sector, there are things they need to do, to ensure that their records are up to date. Your date of birth is current; everything you should have in your records are.


“The people we have in hall today are close to retirement. They are aged. They are people that have about two years to retire. So, they should start working to ensure that their records are in order. They must make sure the information they have in their pension account is same as the information their employers have, and the same information PENCOM has. If that does not correlates, it causes delay on processing the pension.

“That is why we decided to sensitize our customers that, it is not only about how they get their pension, but, also about their health. You would agree with me that when people retire, within a short time, their health changes. This is because they failed to prepare and know to live after retirement”, Sotubo noted.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/stanbic-ibtc-bank-assures-customers.html

A South African lady, Yolanda Khosi Magagula, had alleged that Ugochukwu Chimerenze Lucky, her Nigerian boyfriend, stole two cars, jewelries and other property from her home.

Yolanda, a beauty therapist, lives in Hartebeestpoort North – West, South Africa.

She alleged that Chimerenze whom she dated for a year and 10 months and was staying in her house, two days ago dropped her off at her shop in town and went back home.


But the beauty therapist said when she got back home later in the day, she discovered that all her properties were gone.

She alleged that Chimerenze looted two cars, jewelries, money and everything in her home.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach Chimerenze have not been sucessful.

She listed the items taken by the Nigerian to include one Chevrolet and one Audi car.

She alleged that Chimarenze has already sold the Chevrolet.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/my-nigerian-boyfriend-stole-my-two-cars.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that it is poised to record zero violence in 2019 general elections.

The INEC’s Administrative Secretary in Delta, Mrs Rose Orianran-Anthony, said this in Asaba when she played host to a delegation of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) from the state.

Orianran-Anthony said that the commission would like to improve on the achievements it recorded in 2015.

She said that these could be achieved through adequate and positive publicity from the media.
The administrative secretary said that no matter the amount of money spent on any election without enough publicity, it would be a waste.
She, therefore, appealed to NAWOJ to partner the commission in the area of sensitization, enlightenment and education of the public on its activities.
Orianran-Anthony also said that NAWOJ members should use their various media organisations to promote Delta as a peaceful state.
She said that people needed to be well informed that Delta was a peaceful state and not a violent one.
The association should also advise the public to be abreast of the commission’s electoral guidelines for them to understand the electoral process, she said.
She said that if they did not understand the electoral guidelines, it might create a problem.
The INEC’s administrative secretary also called on youths and women to come out and participate in 2019 general elections.
She said that the citizens should not stop at registering for the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), collect them and use them to vote on election days.
She advised mothers against sacrificing the future of their children on the altar of monetary gains and yards of fabric.
Earlier, Mrs Pat. Gbemudu, NAWOJ Chairman, said that the association was always touched with the damage, destruction, loss of lives and properties that go with election in the nation.
Gbemudu said that NAWOJ thought it could collaborate with the commission through the various advocacy programmes to redress some of the challenges confronting the conduct of elections.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/delta-inec-targets-zero-violence-in.html

The Shehu of Borno, Umar Ibn Garbai, on Friday agreed to lead UNICEF’s cholera prevention campaign in the state to prevent an outbreak of the endemic and seasonal disease.

Speaking during an advocacy visit by Geoffrey Ijumba, UNICEF Chief Field Officer in Borno on Friday, the Shehu said that the emirate would collaborate with the fund towards eradicating this menace.

The United Nations has allocated US$2 million to support the response to a deadly cholera outbreak in Yobe State, North-east Nigeria, which is a neighbouring state to Borno.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, which was officially declared in four local government areas of Yobe in March, a total of 404 cases and 15 deaths have been reported, representing a 3.7 per cent case fatality rate.
“The issues you raised regarding healthcare, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, including education are very critical in a land facing humanitarian challenges.
“I would personally work hard to record improvement to alleviate the suffering of our vulnerable people.
“This is a task we must achieve in favour of children and for the future.
“Traditional leaders in Borno would work hard to ensure that our people are aware of the dangers of cholera and how to prevent it,” he said.
The royal father commended UNICEF for providing humanitarian and developmental assistance to children.
“We always appreciate the good work UNICEF is doing over several years in Nigeria and the northeast in particular, especially during the conflict which posses a huge challenge to people particularly children and women,” he added.
The Shehu regretted that children had lost a good part of their lives out of school due to the insurgency.
Earlier, Ijumba, commended the emirate for prioritising its support for women and children in all areas of UNICEF’s activities in the state.
Ijumba said that his team was in the Shehu’s palace to seek for support in the campaign against Cholera outbreak, promote safe hygiene and school enrolment.
“The specific issues that I would like to bring to your attention is that we are going into the rainy season.
And right now there has been instances of Cholera outbreak in some part of Borno.
“We would like you, with the help of other traditional rulers, to sensitise the good people of the state to promote cleanliness, hygiene and good sanitation.
“On our part, we will deploy a team of community mobilisers to conduct house to house sensitisation in every community to promote hygiene in preparation for the raining season.
“We want to also make sure that water for drinking in Borno is properly stored and safe for drinking,” he said.
He expressed his disappointment over the refusal of the people in the state to accept “water chlorination”.
“We hope this time around, you will take a very strong message to them on the importance of water chlorination.
“We will work together with the government, RUWASA and other partners to make sure that this is done,” Ijumba said.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that water chlorination is the process of adding chlorine or hypochlorite to water.
The method is used to kill certain bacteria and other microbes in tap water as chlorine is highly toxic. (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/06/cholera-unicef-gets-royal-endorsement.html

Ugandan users of Whatsapp, Facebook, Skype and other social media will from July have to pay a daily tax, according to a new law which rights activists said Thursday was a bid to stifle free speech.

Uganda’s parliament passed a law late Wednesday imposing a tax of tax of 200 shillings ($0.05, 0.04 euro) a day on users of so-called “over the top” services which publish content bypassing traditional distributors.

The new law does not spell out how the tax would be applied and collected in practice.

Finance Minister David Bahati said the aim of the legislation was only to raise revenue for public services.

However, President Yoweri Museveni wrote to the finance ministry in March urging the introduction of the tax as a way to deal with the consequences of online “gossip”.

Journalist and activist Lydia Namubiru said that Museveni sees online communication as a threat to his 32-year rule.

“The president… said it was to stop young people from gossiping but what’s ironic about that statement is that it comes after Bobi Wine became a member of parliament through an online campaign,” Namubiru told AFP, referring to a musician turned opposition politician who has proved wildly popular with Uganda’s frustrated youth.

“It’s actually political speech and online organising which has real life implications for him and his power. The overarching intention is to stifle free speech, especially now there is evidence that online organisation works.”

Despite the small daily levy, Namubiru said he thinks it will be effective in curtailing social media use, as most Ugandans buy data in small bundles of 500-1,000 shillings.

In April, Uganda’s communications regulator instructed internet service providers to suspend unlicensed online news websites, and during the 2016 presidential elections access to social media was shut down.

The new law also imposes a new tax of one percent on mobile money transactions. With little access to formal banking services, many Ugandans rely on mobile telephone companies to store and transfer money electronically.

“Only five million Ugandans countrywide can access the banking sector leaving the rest to mobile money services,” said Winnie Kiiza, the opposition leader in parliament as she opposed the move.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/social-media-users-to-pay-daily-tax-in.html

The Institute for Public Policy Analysis and Management (IPPAM) on Thursday said that, by 2020, Nigeria stands to lose 11 percent of GDP to climate change if an aggressive climate policy is not put in place to sustain the social and economic development in the country.

Speaking at a one-day public policy roundtable series with the theme: “Climate Change, Livelihoods and Public Policy Responses in Nigeria”, Vice Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi, Prof. Chinedum Nwajuiba, said the country’s Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) in some instances is inconsistent with Nigeria’s National Determined Contribution (NDC), which should be the pillar of sustainable development in the country.


According to him, “If the NDC is supposed to be the central pillar of Nigeria’s development policy as envisaged in the draft implementation plan, it seems to have a missing link between the ERGP and the NDC.

“The ambitions laid down in the ERGP cannot be met without due considerations of the impacts of climate change and its potential to retard or even stop any development effort in Nigeria.

“We don’t have a real policy in Nigeria, and I don’t know if we have a nominal or real policy, because policy has to be a real policy not nominal, which means you truly believe you have a document to guide you.

“Countries have policies which means there is a document somewhere that supposedly is a policy to guide, but practitioners don’t even remember that such a guide exists, nobody would still call that a policy.”


“Nigeria does not have one example of a policy document developed with rigour as regards to climate change,” Nwajuiba said.

Also speaking, Consultant of Clean Energy, Ishaku Mshelia, said one a recurring problem of most African countries, especially Nigeria, is policy inconsistency and an inability to put in practice and implement purpose-driven policies.

“If you look back into our rural communities, we would see that a building in the rural area is being taken over by erosion and you would see how they are managing. The developed world is not complaining about climate change, but only the developing countries because we have failed in this part of the world to rise.

“Developed countries are not bothered about agriculture because the agriculture is based on irrigation and if we have irrigation facilities scattered all over the country, we won’t be talking about drought in the north or flood.


“We have to come up with a strategy that is hinged on moving from the inferior stage we are to the superior stage we should be. Climate change impact is highly huge in terms of destruction of economic activities on the people. There is social dislocation – look at the IDPs, only God knows what they might be facing because of this economic dislocation,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/nigeria-stands-to-lose-11-gdp-to.html

The Senate is currently holding an executive session with the National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno.

Mr Monguno appeared in the upper chamber at about 12:40 p.m. in company of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang, following the Senate’s summon three weeks ago.

They were to appear before the Senate last Wednesday alongside other service chiefs but apologised and rescheduled.

Mr Monguno is to brief the Senate on the proliferation of firearms, spate of killings by terrorists as well as kidnappings by hoodlums across the country.

The Senate had on May 8 summoned all service chiefs; the Director General of the State Security Service, Lawan Daura; the Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali; and Mr Monguno over the illegal possession of firearms by non-state actors.

The invitation was sequel to deliberations on a motion titled “proliferation of dangerous firearms in Nigeria” sponsored by Suleiman Hunkuyi (APC, Kaduna North).

Mr Humkuyi had called for the invitation of the service chiefs while lamenting the incessant killings in several parts of the country with reference to the most recent killings in Kaduna State on Saturday.

Overtime, Birnin-Gwari in Kaduna State and some villages in Maru Local Government of Zamfara State have been terrorised daily.

Armed bandits have not only killed and kidnapped residents of the villages but destroyed properties too.

On Thursday, after reading out the next order of the day which was the security briefing by the NSA, the Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, moved that the Senate dissolves into committee of the whole and the invitees were called in.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, thereafter, announced his presence and said that the briefing be held in a closed-door session.

Full report at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/senate-in-closed-door-session-with-nsa.html

Chief Ademola Odunade, the President of a Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan, on Thursday dissolved an 11 year-old marriage between one Nurudeen Akinpelu and Folake over sexual starvation and promiscuity.

Odunade granted custody of the two children produced by the union to the husband, Nurudeen and urged Folake to avoid further problems with the plaintiff.

“If Folake is interested in seeing any of the children, she should approach the court at anytime,” Odunade said.

The plaintiff, an Arabic teacher said that his spouse had cultivated the habit of starving him of sex.

“My lord, I am completely frustrated with this horrible experiences Folake had made me undergo over the past 11 years of our union.

“I discovered that after we had our two children, she started exhibiting strange behaviors such as regularly starving me of sex.

“Whenever I ask her for this conjugal rite, Folake pushes me away, telling me to look elsewhere to satisfy my sexual urge.

“I kept my calm until one day, when I saw a sheet of paper in her bag she just got from a medical centre stating when the family planning she did will be expire.

“I decided to keep watching until not too long after I came across another sheet of paper reminding her of the date to commence another family planning method.

“My lord, I became mad and wanted to do something dangerous to her.

“How can a housewife who has not been having sexual intercourse be doing family planning on regular basis.

“She stole my children one day and it took me one and a half years to locate them.

“I had to report her at the nearest police station where the children were handed back to me,’’ Nurudeen explained.

However, the respondent who agreed to the divorce, could not deny most of the allegations leveled against her.

Folake told the court that she was only visiting miracle centres on mountains.

“Nurudeen has not been taking good care of me and the children.

“He is fond of beating me whenever there is any misunderstanding between us,” Folake stated.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/woman-loses-marriage-for-starving.html

The Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, has said that the man that was electrocuted while trying to fix power problems caused by road reconstruction in Isawo Owutu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos, is not an employee of thier’s.

According to a statement signed by Felix Ofulue, Head, Corporate Communications, Ikeja Electric PLC while commiserating with the family of the deceased, said the man electrocuted in the unfortunate incident was a contractor with Gosslink Engineering Limited.

According to the preliminary investigations the deceased was a linesman with Gosslink Engineering Limited, a company engaged by the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to restore and replace electrical infrastructure that may be affected by the ongoing construction of Isawo Road.

Also further investigation revealed that the victim did not wear the recommended safety Protective Outfit; no 11KV rated gloves, nor coveralls

More so Ikeja Electric PLC said that the contractor team moved to work on Asolo 11kV feeder without collecting daily permits in line with the safety policy of Ikeja Electric which ensures that the areas of operation are de-energized during work, to ensure the safety of the personnel on duty.

The statement reads thus, “Our attention has been drawn to the fallacious publications and media reports published in Vanguard Newspaper and some other online media today, Thursday May 31, 2018, about the unfortunate electrocution of an electrical contractor on Tuesday May 29, 2018 while carrying out his duties on electrical infrastructure in Isawo Owutu Road, Ikorodu, Lagos.

“We want to emphatically state that the deceased is not an employee of Ikeja Electric Plc as misrepresented, misconstrued and carelessly circulated by the report.

“According to the preliminary investigations relating to the incidence, Ikeja Electric wishes to clarify that the deceased was a linesman with Gosslink Engineering Limited, a company engaged by the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to restore/replace electrical infrastructure that may be affected by the ongoing construction of Isawo Road.

“Gosslink Engineering Limited commenced the project and following procedure, collects daily permits in line with the safety policy of Ikeja Electric. This ensures that the areas of operation are de-energized during work, to ensure the safety of the personnel on duty.


“On the 29th of May, 2018, the Contractor Team moved to the site to work on Asolo 11kV feeder without permit. The deceased then proceeded to climb and transfer the lines on the old pole to the newly erected pole. It was during this operation that the victim was electrocuted.

“Further investigation also revealed that the victim did not wear the recommended safety Protective Outfit; no 11KV rated gloves, nor coveralls.

“While Ikeja Electric Plc commiserates with the family of the deceased, we remain committed to the highest standards of safety at all times, in line with our 2018 HSE campaign tagged ‘Target Zero’ which continuously trains and retrains employees, especially those in high risk areas to ensure nothing is left to chance..

“We urge media houses to make deliberate efforts to verify reports before disseminating such sensitive inform that is capable of creating chaos, to the general public.

“Oure initial reports said yesterday, a male employee of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, IKEDC, was electrocuted while trying to fix power problems caused by road reconstruction in the area.

“The victim was confirmed dead on the spot at the scene of the incident at Olainukan Bus Stop.

“It was learned that due to the ongoing road construction in the area, some electricity poles were re-positioned, leading to power outage.

“Due to complaints by residents, some employees of the distribution company were sent to fix the problems.

“How carelessness at power station caused electrocution

“On arrival, one of them was said to have mounted the pole, while his colleagues were on ground to render support.

“The work was reportedly moving on smoothly until a colleague at the power station mistakenly reconnected power supply to the area, leading to the tragedy.

“It was learned that the victim had been working on the pole for some minutes and was about to descend the ladder when the incident occurred.

“It was learnt that the area was immediately thrown into mourning, as residents gathered, while the victim’s colleagues rallied round to rescue him, but there was nothing they could do as he was confirmed dead on the spot.

“Effort to reach the Electricity Company’s PRO, Ayeni Akinola, proved abortive as he did not pick calls to his line.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/05/man-electrocuted-in-ikorodu-not-ikeja.html