₦airaland Forum

Like a father to unruly children, President Muhammadu Buhari told a noisy and heckling minority members of the National Assembly disrupting his budget speech to be decorous.

“Comport yourself. The World is watching us.. We should be above this,” the unflappable president said.

The statement appeared to have jolted the puerile opposition members a bit, into silence, as the president was allowed to read his speech, to bring proceedings to an end.

At the end of the speech, the noisy minority members started again, although for good measure they were overwhelmed, for some time, by the chants of ‘SAI BABA, SAI BUHARI’, being chanted by members of the All Progressives Congress at the joint sitting.

However, their noisy disruptions continued, such that their leader, Speaker Yakubu Dogara could not read his statement.

After waiting for sometime for the conclusion of the rite, President Buhari and his entourage departed.

Contrary to a report, he was not whisked away.

As he meandered through the chambers, members of his All Progressives Congress formed a guard of honour of sorts, with the president exchanging pleasantries with some of them, as he walked assuredly past them.

The president arrived the complex at 12:40 amidst cheers from the lawmakers, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC lawmakers.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was also at the complex.

Osinbajo arrived at about 11: 40 a.m. and was ushered into the chamber in the company of ministers and other government functionaries.

According to President Buhari, the federal budget for 2019 will be N8.83 trillion, N300 billion lower than the N9.1 billion being implemented for the current fiscal year.

According to Buhari, N4.04 trillion or 50.31 per cent is earmarked for recurrent expenditure and N2.03 trillion representing 22.98 per cent earmarked for capital projects.

Other estimates are N492.36 billion for statutory transfers; N2.14 trillion for debt servicing and provision of N120 billion as sinking fund.

He explained that the sinking fund would be used to “retire maturing bonds to local contractors”.

The 2019 budget proposal is based on an oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N305 to a dollar.

Other benchmarks are: real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 3.01 per cent and inflation rate of 9.98 per cent.

The total projected revenue, according to the president, is N6.97 trillion, which is three per cent lower than the 2018 estimate of N7.17 trillion.

Buhari said the expected income consisted of oil revenue projected at N3.73 trillion, and non-oil revenue estimated at N1.39 trillion.

“The estimate from non-oil revenue consists of N799.52 billion from company income tax; N229.34 billion from value added tax, and customs duties of N302.5 billion.

“We have reduced our expectations from independent revenue to N624.58 billion.

“Other revenues expected in 2019 include various recoveries of N203.38 billion; N710 billion as proceeds from the restructuring of government equity in joint ventures, and other sundry incomes of N104.1 billion,” he said.

Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/comport-yourselfthe-world-is-watching.html

Mrs Jennifer Atiku, wife of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged residents of Onitsha to vote massively for the party in the 2019 general elections.


Atiku is the main challenger of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari.

NAN reports that Jennifer, who hails from Onitsha, made the plea when she paid a courtesy visit to Igwe Alfred Achebe, the traditional ruler of Onitsha on Tuesday.


“I am here to inform you, my own people, that your in-law, who is my husband, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, is contesting the presidential election in 2019, so that you support us to win the election.

“I am your daughter and your in-law is my husband. You asked me to marry him and here I am today to seek your support for his presidential ambition.

“Please, do not let us down,” Jennifer, who was accompanied by Mrs Margret Obi, wife of Mr Peter Obi, the Vice Presidential candidate of the party, pleaded.


While saying that her visit was to buttress the saying that “charity begins at home,” Jennifer expressed optimism that a PDP government would guarantee the desired economic and social development of the country.

In his response, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, commended Mrs Jennifer for finding time to visit the palace and Onitsha to canvass for votes for Atiku and PDP.

“It will be good if our in-law becomes the President of Nigeria. You are a good daughter and your husband, our in-law is also a good man.

“Since you deemed it fit to seek my blessing from the throne and support of your people for your husband, Atiku, who is our in-law, what you are praying for will be fulfilled by the grace of God,” the monarch said.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-presidency-why-igbos-should-vote.html

Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, congratulated Dr Bukola Saraki, President of the Senate, on the occasion of his 56th birthday anniversary.

Dogara felicitated with Saraki in a statement made available to News Agency of Nigeria by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, in Abuja.

He commended the Senate president for his constant promotion of the independence of the legislature and his outstanding contributions to the nation building, describing him as “a courageous and patriotic leader.”

“I note with great pleasure that in the last three and half years, you have demonstrated great courage and patriotism while conducting the affairs of the Senate and the National Assembly as a whole.

“Your consistent display of unwavering commitment to the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria and particularly, the independence of the legislature is legendary and worthy of commendation,” he said.

According to Dogara, the Senate under Saraki’s leadership has remained focused and people-oriented owing to his dexterity, capacity and vibrancy”.

“As you mark this auspicious occasion, I wish to join your teeming well-wishers in praying to Almighty God to grant you more wisdom and sound health to continue to serve the nation,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/dogara-congratulates-saraki-on-56th.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2FWqXE7do4

A section of Igbo community in Lagos State, under the aegis of ‘Ndigbo Friends of Sanwo-Olu in Lagos,’ has backed the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-olu.
They also conferred a chieftaincy title ‘Ugo Chi Mere Eze,’ on him, meaning ‘Only God that makes a king.’

Sanwo-Olu received the title at an event in National Stadium, Surulere yesterday, where leader of the group, Dr. Chris Nwachukwu pledged their support for him.


According to him: “We see the quality of good governance and representation in in APC, its governorship candidate and the deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat.

In his reaction, Sanwo-olu assured all none indigene in Lagos that his government, if elected would continue to protect their interest, especially the Igbo and their businesses.

In a related development, Ogun State indigenes in the United States of America, Europe and Canada have endorsed the governorship candidate of African Democratic Congress (ADC) Gboyega Nasir Isiaka, and promised to mobilise support for his election in 2019.

They also expressed appreciation to the Yewa traditional council of Obas, Awori Traditional Council of Obas and Yewa Development Council, the highest socio-cultural organisation in Yewaland for declaring their support for Isiaka.

Chairman of Friends of GNI in the Diaspora, Prince Ademola Adejobi at the weekend, said Ogun State indigenes in the diaspora have decided to be involved in who becomes the governor of the state in 2019.

Ademola who led the group to pay solidarity visit to Isiaka in his Abeokuta residence said Ogun would be better if Isiaka was elected the governor because of his antecedent and widespread support in the state.

Meanwhile, factional governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has promised to ensure even development of the state, if elected governor next year.

He made the promise while playing host to leaders of Community Development Associations (CDAs) in the state who paid him courtesy visit at his campaign office in Ijebu Igbo.

While lauding the efforts of the CDAs to develop their communities, Kashamu said: “We shall not just concentrate on the urban centres, rather we shall ensure that the rural areas are also developed to improve life and living for rural dwellers.”

The CDA leaders pledged their support to Kashamu and prayed for his victory in the March 2, 2019 governorship election.

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/igbo-in-lagos-back-sanwo-olu-kinsmen.html

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday, disagreed with the vice presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, on the usefulness of the ongoing anti-graft war to the socio-economic development of the country.

The duo spoke during the vice presidential debate series organised by the Nigerian Election Debate Group (NEDG) and the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) ahead of next year’s general elections.

Osinbajo reeled out the present administration’s achievements in the areas of agriculture, anti-corruption and infrastructure, among others, while Obi, who lamented that poverty was on the rise, with unemployment worsening, said the major problem of the country is economy, with unsustainable debt, saying his presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s government would harp on private sector- driven economy.


Obi, who expressed support for the need to tackle corrupt practices, believed the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has lost focus on the need to place more emphasis on the numerous problems bedevilling the country.

He said: “Fighting corruption is not an economic policy; it is not that you can’t fight corruption, but you can fight it more aggressively while addressing economic issues.

“For example, in 2015, unemployment and unemployment was 25 per cent. Today, it is 40 per cent. In 2015, we attracted $21billion in foreign direct investment. But we attracted only $17 billion last year. Our GDP was 120 in 2015, our per capita was N2, 500. Today, it is under N1, 900. Our stock market lost over N2trillion in one year. That is not a policy.

“You are not creating jobs, you are not doing the right things and you are just fighting corruption. You can’t shut down your shop and you say you are chasing criminals.”

Osinbajo, who faulted Obi on the issue, maintained that there was no way the country could attain the desired growth if corrupt practices are allowed to remain in the country.

He stated: “Let me say that if you allow criminals to steal all the inventory in the shop, there would be no shop. And what has happened in the last 16 years is what the World Bank told us that the major cause of our poverty is corruption.

“Let me say that there is no way that we can minimise what has happened. We can’t minimise corruption. If we minimise it, we run the risk of completely losing our argument. We can’t do what we are able to do unless we are able to minimise corruption or eradicate it completely.”

On payment of fuel subsidy, Osinbajo maintained that it was aimed at cushioning the effect of high coat of fuel on the citizenry, saying records of the payments were on the balance sheets of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and assured that the practice, which he said is a global trends, would be stopped in due course.

But Obi decried the ugly trend, wondering why the sum of N1trillion was paid annually as subsidy, just to satisfy two million car owners in a population of 180 million Nigerians in dire need of basic health, education and other basic amenities.

He made reference to government yearly budgetary provision of NI34 billion for health and N450 billion for the education sector as against the N1trillion paid for subsidy to buttress his claim.

Meanwhile, pockets of protests greeted the vice presidential debate in Abuja, following the restriction of some candidates from participating in the event.

Some placard-carrying demonstrators marched to Transcorp Hilton Hotel, venue of the debate, to register their grievance over the non-inclusion of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (ACC), Omoyele Sowore, in the debate.

Some of the placards read, ‘No Sowore, no debate,’ ‘Sowore must debate’ and ‘BON/ NEDG, Sowore must debate,’ among others.

The demonstration commenced as soon as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo arrived the Congress Hall to participate in the event.


Leader of the protesters, who gave his name as Jude Eya, wondered why their presidential candidate would be excluded from the debate when he has all it takes to lead the country, accusing the organisers- Nigeria Election Debate Group (NEDG) and Broadcasting Organization Of Nigeria (BON)- of bias.

He said: “We learnt that our candidate was excluded because of character and we ask, what character? Is it federal character or something?”

Eya, who addressed journalists, described the development as the greatest undoing in a democracy, saying the party would seek redress in court.

Others involved were Khadija Abdulahi Iya of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Young Progressive Party’s (YPP) Umma Getso and that of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Ganiyu Galadima.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-presidency-osinbajo-obi-disagree.html

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammed Bello has revealed that only 35% of Abuja’s infrastructure has been developed.

Bello said that the FCT was projected for 3.1 million population when fully built within a projected 25 years period.

He added that Abuja presently Abuja is the 4th largest city in the Country and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with over 2.75 million population squeezed within just two phases of the planned five phases.

Speaking at the 2018 edition of the commemoration of the movement of seat of government from Lagos tp Abuja, he said that it has been 42 years since its creation and 27 years after the movement from Lagos.

The Minister who was represented by Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engineer Umar Gambo Jibrin, urged everyone to see Abuja as a national heritage.

His words “42 years since its creation and 27 years after the movement from Lagos, Abuja indeed, has come of age. It has surpassed Logos as the destination for foreign direct investments. It has become a major aviation and conference hub for West Africa. We have also inaugurated a modern light rail transport system that is the first of its kind in the sub-region and FCT, indeed, has become the melting pot of Nigeria that it was conceived to be.

“However, the city’s demographic expansion has proceeded beyond the protected growth plan when the city was founded. FCT was projected for 3.1 million population when fully built within a projected 25 years period. According to the National Population Commission, Abuja presently is the 4th largest city in the Country and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with over 2.75 million population squeezed within just two phases of the planned five phases. Three more phases are waiting on the wings. Presently only about 35 percent of the infrastructure is developed within the developed two phases.

“On this note I, therefore, urge all of us to see Abuja as our national heritage and join hands to protect it. This is because so much hes been invested in the building of the new capital -infrastructure, public utilities, institutions etc. Today, however, we are confronted with a new set of challenges, namely; vandalism of public utilities like manhole covers, bridge railings, transformers and streetlight poles and components, transformers as well as plain acts of sabotage and disobedience to rules that make for orderly living.”

Executive Head, Editorial Board, The Guardian newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja who was the keynote speaker of the occasion, stated that Abuja has been an orphan of some sort.

His words, “Abuja has been an orphan of some sort perhaps because of near absence of democracy in its governance processes. All the 36 states’ governors are elected but the ‘militicians’ who gave us this constitution made Abuja just a part of the Office of the President, no thanks to Sections 299-302 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Even the original inhabitants who have been agonizing without organizing well about unfulfilled promises since 1976, could not remember Abuja @ 40 and I said so in February 2016.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/only-35-of-infrastructure-developed-in.html

Seventy-One members of the House of Representatives, has sponsored a bill seeking the country’s return to a parliamentary system of government, which was in practice before the incursion of the military into politics in 1966.

The bill, which has Kingsley Chinda as the lead sponsor, was read for the first time at yesterday’s plenary.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, lawmakers canvassing the system of government, who cut across party lines, said a parliamentary system of government will help Nigeria achieve economic growth and development.


They also noted that the country has not fared well under the presidential system of government, which is currently in practice.

Nicholas Ossai, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers, said the bill is a bipartisan initiative by the 71 lawmakers to move the country forward.

Ossai noted that centralisation of government decisions that is prevalent in a presidential system of government obstructs economic development, when compared to the parliamentary or hybrid systems.


The lawmaker explained that decentralisation of power in the parliamentary helps to douse tension, especially in a country like Nigeria, where ethnic, religious differences and ideological divisions are prevalent.

He added that while the presidential system of government is not favourable to consensus building, “which is known to have favourable effects on the economy,” the parliamentary system quickens passage of economic bills as it embodies the fusion of power.

“Studies have shown that countries run by presidential regimes consistently have lower output growth, higher and more volatile inflation and greater income inequality; relative to those under those practising the parliamentary system.


“Presidential regimes consistently produce less favourable macroeconomic outcomes which prevail in a wide range of circumstances for example in Nigeria.

“Due to the excessive powers domiciled to one man under the presidential system, consensus-building that is often required for economic decision is always lacking. The level of liability and volatility of the presidential system makes it difficult to achieve economic objectives,” Ossai added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/71-reps-seek-return-to-parliamentary.html

The Federal Government has said fake news and hate speech constitute the biggest threats to the 2019 general election, and appealed to states to join in the ongoing campaign to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers posed by the twin evils.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said this in Kaduna on Thursday, during the official opening of the 47th National Council on Information (NCI).

”With the 2019 general elections just a little over 60 days away, there is no issue that is more relevant to the election than the issue of fake news and hate speech,” he said.

”This issue transcends political party lines, religion, ethnicity, and even nationality. Left unchecked, fake news and hate speech constitute the biggest threat to the forthcoming elections.”

Alhaji Mohammed said fake news has the capacity to alter the course of elections and create legitimacy problem for the winner, citing as an example a report that said fake news helped to depress Hillary Clinton’s votes during the 2016 US election, in addition to tainting the victory for the winner.

He also said hate speech was a catalyst in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, which left at least 800,000 people dead.

The Minister said while the Federal Government has been unrelenting in calling attention to the dangers posed to the nation’s peace, security and democracy, including through the launch of the National Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2018, it cannot do it alone.

”The campaign against fake news and hate speech is not just a responsibility of the Federal Government. It is for all tiers of government. Therefore, I expect that the Honourable Commissioners who are here, and those who are not, will launch the campaign in their various states.

”The media will bear the brunt, if the people lose confidence in them because of fake news. This is why the media must lead this campaign,” he said

Alhaji Mohammed described as ‘very fitting and most timely’ the theme of the meeting, which is ‘Tackling Fake News and Hate Speech to Enhance Peace and National Unity’.

He urged the participants at the meeting to ‘brain storm and evolve policies’ that would comprehensively address the menace of fake news and hate speech.

Commissioners of Information from about 20 states are among the participants at the three-day meeting, which was declared open by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, represented by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Mr. Muyiwa Adekeye

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/fg-says-hate-speech-fake-news-greatest.html

The immediate past minister of state for environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, on Wednesday, disclosed no amount of schooling could give him the knowledge he had gained under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in the past three years.

He said his experience in the Environment Ministry has changed his perception about the country.

Jibrin on Wednesday tendered his resignation on Wednesday at the Federal Cabinet meeting following his emergence as the Emir of Nasarawa in Nasarawa State last week.


A valedictory session was held in his honour during Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“The last three years has been full of activities and I must thank Almighty God for given us the strength and courage to serve under your wonderful leadership,” he said.

“There is no doubt that I have personally learnt a lot from you, your commitment to the entire nation and the desire to fight corruption. We have learnt a lot from these sterling qualities. No school can give anybody such knowledge,” Jibrin added.

He said no president has signed more instrument of ratification on the environment than Buhari since the establishment of the ministry in 2000.

The newly-crowned Emir said Buhari has signed four instruments of ratification and that two others are in the process.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/my-perception-about-country-is-changed.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State, on Thursday, inaugurated the Independent Campaign Group (ICG) for Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 election, in Lagos Mainland Local Government.

The event saw the inauguration of coordinators of the group across wards to galvanise support for the APC candidate in the 2019 election.

The coordinators and their executive members at both ward and local government levels took Oath of Allegiance.

Mr Adekunle Adebanjo, Coordinator, Babajide Sanwo-Olu Vanguard Independent Campaign Organisation (ICG) for Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, said at the event that the group had the mandate to mobilise massive support for Sanwo-Olu.

Adebanjo said that the ICG would embark on house-to-house and street to street campaign to sell the APC candidate to the people.

He said that the emergence of Sanwo-Olu as next governor of Lagos State remained certain.

“No one will regret voting Sanwo-Olu; Lagosians will definitely reap dividends of democracy in an uncommon way.

“We promise to deliver huge votes for Sanwo-Olu in 2019 from Lagos Mainland as we inaugurate independent ward executives to commence house-to-house and street-to-street campaign,” Adebanjo said.

In his address, Mr Dayo Israel, the Deputy Coordinator, Youths and Students Mobilisation, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu Campaign Organisation (BOSCO), said Sanwo-Olu had robust programmes to take the state to the next level.

Israel, who urged the coordinators and party faithful to increase voters’ mobilisation for Sanwo-Olu, said that he had met with the APC candidate and found out that he meant well for the people.

“I don’t just follow anybody, but I have sat with Sanwo-Olu and he has promised to create 100, 000 jobs for youths annually,” he said.

The deputy coordinator said Sanwo-Olu had promised to increase the budgetary allocation to education in line with the UNESCO recommendation and provide fund to reposition schools and improve the welfare of the teachers.

“He also promised to ensure creation of computer laboratory in each senior secondary school. His goal is to create a secondary school in each area so that schools will not be far from the students,” Israel said.

According to him, the candidate has equally promised to bridge the gap in the issuance of C of O in the state and strengthen the health insurance scheme for residents.

He said that the gubernatorial candidate had promised, not to only increase budget for healthcare, but also to capture at least 1 million people annually in the scheme.

“He has promised us so much. It is now in our hands to talk to our people to ensure that all these plans are actualised by voting for Sanwo-Olu.

“We must tell our people. Sanwo-Olu will pay everyone. Let’s work together to ensure his victory,” Israel said.

Various groups of traders, artisans, religious leaders, traditional leaders, Community Development Committees (CDCs) and scores of other APC members were at the event.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/lagos-2019-no-one-will-regret-voting.html

The newly unveiled 2018 access to financial service in Nigeria survey findings released by EFInA has revealed that there is a significant increase in digital payment from 12 per cent in 2016 to 16 per cent in 2018, adding that the usage is driven by the deepening of financial inclusion.

The survey explained that the main barriers to financial inclusion remain lack of product/services awareness and knowledge, institutional exclusion and affordability.


“Banked population went up by 1.4 per cent. The growth has been driven by transaction products. A number of adults relying on informal mechanism only increase significantly – as more. Adults move into informal employment. Payments are mostly cashed based, driven by the size of the informal sector,” the survey said.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, EFInA, Esaie Diei, noted that though the country is still far from meeting the target of reaching full financial inclusion, EFInA in partnership with the key stakeholders would ensure that by 2020 they would get to the target.

He commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for issuing the payment service bank guideline, stating that the newly released survey would help stakeholders understand the position of activities in the financial services sector and what needs to be done.

Diei expressed hope the regulators would take into consideration the key issues raised by the survey report to improve policies and regulations in order to meet the target, adding that despite the progresses in the survey, the concerted efforts of all stakeholders are required.

According to the survey, “Formal labour market is not absorbing enough Nigerians. Reduction in formal employment lead to reduced disposable income leading to reduced savings. Adults resort to starting small businesses (driven by the agriculture sector) to survive day to day expenses is the most important financial need while planning for unexpected shocks and planning for long term goals are second and third priorities respectively. There as continued measure of financial inclusion and usage aligned with the revised NFIS. There was also continued policy and regulation that responds to market innovation.

“There was increase financial intermediation for small businesses where majority of adults are employed/where they earn money. There was target those adults using informal only – introducing mobile money and agents services to 14.5 million adults that rely exclusively on informal mechanism.”

In her remarks, the Director-General Nigeria, Insurers Association (NIA), Mrs. Yetunde Ilori, lauded EfInA’s for the continued release of credible market information on the Nigerian financial sector;
She also noted that the data from the research done has continued to be the most credible information needed by the industry for market development, product pricing and planning purposes.
Ilori added that the yearly report gives a deeper analysis of our market and throws up potential opportunities that need to be realised.

In her keynote address, with the topic: ‘The Impact of EFInA’s A2F Data in Driving Financial Inclusion in Nigeria,’ the former Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Dr. Sarah Alade, noted that improvement in financial inclusion requires regular indicators to enable formulation, implementation and monitoring of policies.
She also stated that quality data from A2F survey has helped in implementation and also increase effectiveness of policy.
She added that findings of the survey have been used in developing specific strategies and validation of policy stance.

“Policy makers and regulators, the data have been used to identify the underserved adults and areas of the society and help in directing attention to what needs to be done,” Alade said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/efina-digital-payment-increases-from-12.html

2018 has been a great year in the movie sector with majors hits like Black Panther, Avengers Infinity War, Acrimony, Venom, Deadpool 2, King of Boys and Rampage on Google trending movies.

Below is a list of top Google trending movies 2018:

Black Panther

Black Panther
The movie is centred around T’Challa, the heir to the kingdom of Wakanda, who had to lead his people into a new future and confront Erik Killmonger.

Black Panther was released in Nigeria on the 16th of February,2018. The movie was produced by Marvel Studios.

The movie, Black Panther, definitely holds cultural significance.

The cast included Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett and many others

Avengers Infinity War

Avengers Infinity War
The superhero movie is the nineteenth film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Avengers Infinity was released in Nigeria the 27th of April,2018.

The plot of the movie is set around the Infinity Stones, Thanos and the Avengers superheroes. The movie ended at a climax, hence, leaving the Marvel fans wanting more.

The continuation of the Avengers Infinity War is titled Avengers: Endgame which is set to be released on April 26, 2019.


Acrimony

Acrimony
The movie was anchored around a love relationship that turned sour. Acrimony was directed by Tyler Perry.

The psychological thriller, Acrimony, explored various themes which got social media and fans in frenzy.

Acrimony featured Taraji P. Henson, Lyriq Bent, Jazmyn Simon, Crystle Stewart and other stars.

Venom

Venom
The America superhero movie became the fifth highest-grossing film of 2018 with over N310,189,500,000($851 million) worldwide and box office records for the month of October.

Venom was released in Nigeria on the 5th of October,2018.

The movie is anchored around Eddie Brock, an investigative journalist, who got infected by a symbiote and Anne Weying.

Deadpool 2

Deadpool 2
Deadpool 2 is an American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Deadpool.

The cast of Deadpool 2 included Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Brianna Hildebrand, Morena Baccarin, Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, T.J. Miller, Jack Kesy and many others.

The movie plots opened with a mercenary killing his girlfriend- Vanessa- and plays out to thrill fans of the superhero- Deadpool.

King Of Boys
King of boys

The political thriller, King Of Boys, got fans buzzing upon its release on the 26th of October,2018.

The movie was produced Kemi Adetiba, Kene Okwuosa and Remi Adetiba.

King Of Boys was anchored on the character of Alhaja Eniola Salami. The movie featured Sola Sobowale, Jide Kosoko, Adesua Etomi, Illbliss, Toni Tones, Reminisce, Demola Adedoyin and others.

Rampage
Rampage
The movie, Rampage, is a science fiction movie centered around Dwanye Johnson’s and a Western lowland gorilla.

Rampage cast includes Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Jake Lacy, Joe Manganiello, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and many others.

The Presidency has dismissed the recent utterances by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, as a sign of confusion not worthy of attention.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, presidential Spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said that whoever Obasanjo chooses to support at the 2019 elections is irrelevant.

He said the former president had publicly changed his mind on the matter so many times over the past few months alone.


“Former president, Obasanjo denounces one person today and supports that same person the next day.

“When it pleases him, he brings God into the matter and uses that as his excuse for whatever position he has chosen,” he said.

Shehu added that he was not surprised that newspapers reported Obasanjo expressing neutrality at a weekend forum, only for the former president to express a completely different stance after a day or two.


“We have learnt not to take his utterances seriously anymore.

“We know that the slightest wind can make him change his mind again. After all, this is the same man who publicly tore his party registration card barely four years ago, and he now claims to be backing the same party,” Shehu said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/buhari-attacks-obasanjo-says-he-is.html

The Niger State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 53-year-old Vwang David with 335 blocks or 218 kilogrammes of weeds suspected to be marijuana.

David was arrested on Monday by the NDLEA operatives at Mokwa after allegedly making spirited effort to escape the long hands of the law.


The suspect, according to officials of the NDLEA in Minna, had refused to stop when flagged down at Jebba control post resulting in contact being made to the Mokwa station but luck ran out for the fake soldier when his vehicle, a Toyota Camry, crashed.

Men of the NDLEA were reported to have arrived at the scene of the accident where David was rescued from the damaged car.

A search on the vehicle revealed the hard drugs neatly loaded in the booth of the car leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The state Commander of the NDLEA, Mrs Egwunwoke Ekaete, who paraded the suspect before newsmen on Tuesday in Minna said his arrest was as a result of intelligence at the disposal of the operatives.

Mrs Ekaete said Vwang had been passing through the route for sometime, adding that he was always in military uniform when going but dressed in mufti on the return journey, a development that aroused the suspicion of “my men”.

The suspect told newsmen that: “I am not the owner of the car, my friend sent me to deliver the car to his wife in Minna.

“I did not know what was in the booth of the car. I have never seen Indian hemp in my life, this is my first time of seeing it.

“I regret my action, it is my friend that pushed me into this trouble,” Vwang said, pointing out that his friend who was in another car “took off immediately they arrested me”.

Vwang said he took off from Lafenwa in Ogun State and was heading for Minna in Niger State.

Mrs Ekaete said the suspect would be charged to court on the completion of investigation into the case.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/ndlea-arrests-man-with-218kg-of.html

No fewer than 500 political appointees and elected officials under the first and second term of the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Tuesday defected to the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Ado Ekiti.

The defectors, numbering 500 were the serving and former local government elected and appointed political officials of the former governor between 2003 -2007 and 2014-2018.


The defectors were received on behalf of Governor Kayode Fayemi and the leadership of the party by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Adeniran Alagbada.

They promised to work assiduously for the triumph of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential poll as well as working for the successes of other APC candidates for the state and federal legislative elections.

Speaking at the event, Alagbada who decamped to APC prior to the July 14 governorship election, assured that the defectors will be treated with respect in the new party.

He said the APC operates an open door policy, which places equality in ranks and opportunities between the old and new members.

The Speaker added that all their outstanding severance allowances since 2003 will be paid in line with the promise made by Governor Fayemi. He said this was part of the reasons for the defection.

“I have spoken with Governor Fayemi, he had assured me that he will put smile on your faces. You struggled hard under the PDP led government of Governor Fayose but nothing was done.

“But we have a governor Fayemi who is responsive and responsible, he has listened to your plight and he was ready to fight for you. He is ready to pay your allowances in spite of the fact that you are
members of opposition.

“When I met the governor, he told me that whether you defect or not that he would pay and that he had instructed the council bosses to begin the processes that would fasttrack the payment.

“Your defecting to APC only connotes that you believe in what Governor Fayemi has been doing. Within two weeks he assumed office, the governor abrogated the taxes being paid in state public and private primary and secondary schools and declared full free education up to secondary level.

“This is the kind of governor we must be electing in Ekiti. A governor that knows how to empower his people , not the one that would pauperise and enslave them the way Fayose did”, he said.

Speaking for the defectors, Kehinde Aduloju from Ado Local Government , said they were fascinated by Fayemi’s sterling leadership qualities to defect to the ruling party.

He regretted that all their days in the PDP had not really brought any political dividends to them, alleging that all the promises made to them under the immediate past administration were not fulfilled.

Aduloju said the APC would trounce the PDP in the next year’s election in the state, predicating this on the fact that those that matters in PDP have all decamped to the ruling party.

“Today, bigwigs like Senator Raji Rasaki, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, Hon Adeniran Alagbada, Gboyega Aribisogan, Sunday Akinniyi and many others are in APC. To us, PDP had become an empty camp with few relevant politicians to confront APC.

“We have resolved that wherever Governor Fayemi goes we shall follow him. He is one governor that has listening ears, he is receptive to corrections and even criticism .

“We have nothing to fear in APC because the way Prince Adeyeye was given the APC senatorial ticket few days after defection shows that APC remains a good party”, he stated.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/former-appointees-of-fayose-dump-pdp.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has alleged sinister motive in a planned public hearing on the finances of local governments in the state.

The state House of Assembly had issued a public service announcement inviting the general public to hearing on the finances of the local governments in the last one-year.

The hearing is scheduled for today at the Ekiti State House of Assembly Complex in Ado Ekiti.


Chairman of the PDP in the state, Gboyega Oguntuwase, said the House of Assembly had no basis for the public hearing, having not established the grounds for such probe.

He said: “If the essence of their public sitting is holy and not an attempt to subdue and intimidate the council chairmen and work towards an end, they ordinarily should have met the conditions precedent.

“Firstly, they cannot bring unaudited accounts to any public hearing. If the accounts are unaudited, it becomes unacceptable. We are not against accountability, but it must be sought with very clean hands.”

Oguntuwase added that the assembly had earlier said they would visit all the local governments to carry out investigations and verifications, which it has not yet done.

“All these rush-rush attitude shows that they are working towards a premeditated end. We are not saying that people should not be accountable. But, with the totality of the scenarios, with an APC speaker, leader of the House and all the three principal officers, they may sidetrack other members and there would not be justice,” he said.

He further alleged that it was “a systematic attempt to strangulated the local government in Ekiti. In the past few months, no kobo has been remitted to the local governments, thereby making it impossible to run the nearest unit of government to the ordinary man in Ekiti.”

One of the 16 local government chairmen, who pleaded anonymity, said: “They invited us some weeks ago to give account of our stewardship. This account of stewardship is given on a yearly basis. But they said we should give account of nine months.

“We found it amusing and incongruous with the norm. The papers we presented to them are already in the public domain, but in a situation where the accounts were not audited, they didn’t ask the chairmen questions and they did not come to the councils for any form of verification, it’s awkward what the public hearing is based on,” he added.

He expressed concern that the House Committee on Local Government failed to visit the councils to verify the claims made by the chairmen, which they never did.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/ekiti-pdp-alleges-evil-motive-in-probe.html

Cristiano Ronaldo has urged long-time rival Lionel Messi to be more like him and push his limits by challenging himself in another league than Spain.

“I’d like him to come to Italy one day. I hope he accepts the challenge like me, but if he’s happy there then I respect that,” Ronaldo told the Italian press on Monday.

The two strikers have been rivals for the past decade winning five Ballon d’Or trophies each before their domination was broken by World Cup runner-up Luka Modric last week.


Asked if he missed the 31-year-old Argentinian, who has spent his entire senior career at Barcelona, Ronaldo replied: “No, maybe it’s him who misses me …

“I’ve played in England, Spain, Italy, Portugal and for my national team, while he’s still in Spain.

“Maybe he needs me more… For me, life is a challenge, I like it and I like to make people happy.

“He’s a fantastic player and a good guy, but I don’t miss anything here. This is my new life and I’m happy.

“I left my comfort zone and took on this challenge here in Turin, everything has gone well, I’ve proven I’m still an incredible player,” said Ronaldo.

Ronaldo joined Juventus for 100 million euros ($114 million) last summer as the Turin giants bid to lift the Champions League trophy after two runners-up finishes in the past four seasons.

To mark his 150 days in Italy he gave interviews on Monday to three leading sports dailies: La Gazzetta dello Sport, Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport.

“I had different options. I won’t say which but I had them. Juventus is a solid club. It has a long history,” he said of his decision.

“I knew the atmosphere in the stadium. I’d played several times in Italy. I like the city, the people and the club. I knew it could work.

“I couldn’t be 100 percent sure I was joining the best club in the world. After nine years at Real Madrid it was difficult to compare.

“Now I’m 100 percent sure it was the right option.”

‘Not an obsession’
Ronaldo has scored 11 goals this season, bringing his career total to 584.

Finishing second in Ballon d’Or voting to Modric, said Ronaldo, just motivates him even more.

“Of course I’m disappointed, but life goes on and I will continue to work hard,” said the 33-year-old.

“On the pitch I’ve done everything to win the Ballon d’Or, numbers do not lie, but I’m no less happy if I do not win, I have wonderful friends and a family, I play in one of the best clubs.

“Congratulations to Modric, who has earned the award, but next year we will meet again and I will do everything to win the prize again.

“Do you think I’m going home and crying?”

Juventus play Young Boys in their final Champions League group game in Switzerland on Wednesday, having already booked their place in the knockout rounds.

Full report at[url] https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/try-something-new-come-to-italy-ronaldo.html[/url]

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has maintained that its withdrawal of $1.05 billion from the NLNG Dividend Account was legal.The Senate is currently probing the action, which it claimed was done to support fuel consumption.

Though analysts have said the withdrawal to augment, what they alleged obscure subsidy regime, remained a critical challenge to the nation’s economy, NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Isiaka Abdulrazaq, however told reporters that extant laws were resorted to before the consummation of the deal.

According to him, the 2018 Appropriation Act defined revenue from NNPC as net of cost, indicating that the oil agency could defray the cost of its operations from earnings.He also cited the NLNG Act, which explicitly provides that the corporation could defray its cost from the dividends, as one of the legal grounds relied upon for the expenditure without recourse to appropriation by the National Assembly.

Abdulrazaq recalled the case instituted by some state governments in 1999 seeking the interpretation of revenue on account of their contention that all accruals from oil and gas operations amount to revenue and should be swept into the Federation Account.

The ruling by the Supreme Court in 2002, according to him, was in tandem with NNPC’s position that revenue is accruals of net of cost.His words: “We have provided the legal authority on which we rely to use funds from the NLNG Dividend Account to the Senate. We believe they will reason with us. But if need be, we will seek legal opinion.

“NNPC is very open and transparent. We publish our Monthly Financial and Operations reports in the media. No one does monthly reporting, not even the international oil companies or the publicly quoted companies. The best they do is quarterly reports.

“But we do monthly reports of revenue (profit and loss for the entire corporation, including the subsidiaries). We do operations report on how much oil and gas that were produced and sold.”The NNPC official noted that the money in question was channeled to three strategic infrastructure namely the Manbilla Hydro Power, second Niger Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway projects.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/1-billion-withdrawal-from-nlng-dividend.html

Ahead of the 2019 general elections, President Muhammadu Buhari has again given assurance that his government will do all that is necessary to ensure that the outcome of the vote reflects the will of the Nigerian people.
He made the statement yesterday when he welcomed the Ambassador of Finland to Nigeria, Dr Jyrki Juhani Pulkkinen, who had come to present his Letter of Credence to Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja.

This is even as the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday said Nigerians would not be deceived again in the 2019 general elections as was the case in 2015 when they voted for the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress (APC).


In a statement made available to journalists by his special adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, President Buhari said he understands the yearnings of Nigerians and strongly believes in the collective dream for a greater country.

He assured the people that all will be done to ensure that the results of the 2019 elections reflect the will of the electorate.

President Buhari said it was the right of Nigerians to elect leaders at various levels in 2019, and all efforts will be made to safeguard the integrity of the process.

“I respect the people’s feelings. I assure all that we will have free and fair elections next year”, he stated.

The president further congratulated Finland on its 101st independence anniversary, which was yesterday (December 6, 2018) and commended the growing relations with Nigeria, especially in areas of Information Communication Technology (ICT), trade and education.

In his remarks, the ambassador of Finland said the areas of mutual benefit in relations with Nigeria can be extended to electricity, smart technology and crises management initiatives, pointing out that he would work hard to improve the trade figures and other exchanges between the two countries.


“We will like to contribute to Africa rising, and we know that Nigeria is the biggest country on the continent, so we are very interested in the growth of Nigeria,’’ he said.

At the level of the United Nations, Dr Pulkkinen said his country would continue to support the restructuring of the multilateral institution to give greater roles to African countries like Nigeria.


President Buhari, who also received a Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of France, Mr Jerome Pasquier, said French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, and the stopover in Lagos, was really impressive in bolstering both countries’ relations.

The president said he was impressed with relations between France and its former colonies in Africa, noting that France continues to play positive roles in promoting security and economic growth in the countries.

“France is investing so much in Nigeria and we are grateful”, he added.

President Buhari, however, called for more support in the fight against terrorism as the networks keep expanding with fighters moving across borders to support insurgents.


In his response, the French ambassador said President Macron would continue to support Nigeria, especially in the ongoing war against terrorism, with specific interest in the gathering and sharing of intelligence.


He commended the president for Nigeria’s role in resolving the crisis in Togo and Guinea Bissau.

President Buhari equally received the Letter of Credence from the Ambassador of Czech Republic, Mr Marek Skolil, assuring him of improved economic relations in the area solid minerals exploration.

On his part, Mr Skolil said his country will continue to support Nigeria’s military in the fight against terrorism in the North East.


“Nigeria is a very important country for us. We look forward to stronger ties, particularly with the armed forces,’’ he added.

Full report at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-will-reflect-will-of-nigerians.html

Sibonokuhle Msipa from New Magwegwe, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe is reported to have assaulted her husband Mthandazo Msipa in the middle of the night last week, using a pot.

Msipa was angry that Msindo had been starving her s_exual needs after reportedly refusing to be intimate with her for several months. She decided to vent out her anger by giving the delinquent husband a thorough beating.

Speaking to B-Metro, Sibonokuhle said, “It’s been hell, living with a husband who does not want to sleep with me. I have sexual needs and it’s his job to sleep with me. I can’t take it anymore.

“This is not love but torture. Why am I being punished? I will continue to beat him until he does his bedroom duties.”

When reached for comment, Mthandazo did not wish to speak on his private sexual issues. However, he categorically refused the claims that he had received a thorough beating from his wife. Said Mthandazo

“I have never been beaten by a woman, that’s a lie,” he said

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/wife-beats-up-husband-for-denying-him.html

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced plans to set up 201 mobile courts to try traffic offences across the country during the festive period.

Corps Marshal and CEO of FRSC, Boboye Oyeyemi, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Thursday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

He said the decision was in line with the directive of the Federal Executive Council that relevant agencies must ensure smooth movement of persons and goods during the period.

Mr Oyeyemi explained that the corps was putting adequate measures in place and setting machinery in motion to achieve the goal.

He revealed further that they have divided the country into 52 corridors, adding that the corps would deploy 21,000 personnel and 1,000 vehicles on the roads.

The corps marshal disclosed that there would be 40 road camps across the nation when they begin the one month exercise.

The exercise, according to him, will last from December 15 to January 15, 2019.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/yuletide-frsc-to-set-up-201-mobile.html

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has bagged the TCIC International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 22301:2012 certification, in recognition of the bank’s attainment and compliance with the requirements of Business Continuity Management System (BCMS).

The certification followed a comprehensive audit and evaluation exercise conducted by TCIC Global Certification Limited, a Canada-based independent Management System Audit/Assessment and training providers, founded in 2003.
FCMB’s BCMS is in support of critical services, products and processes.

The Managing Director of FCMB, Adam Nuru, described the feat as another milestone in the commitment of the bank to attain excellence in all aspects of its operation and service delivery.


“We are excited to attain the TCIC ISO 22301 certification. It is proof that the successful overhaul and streamlining of our services, products and processes to meet global standards are yielding the desired results and recognition.

“We will continue to improve in all aspects of our business in order to match the needs of our esteemed customers, as a response to market demands and also in recognition of rapidly changing global standards,” he said.

FCMB was in May this year, awarded the prestigious International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 9001:2015 certificate for Quality Management System by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).

The ISO 9001:2015 is the most widely used quality management system globally. It provides a framework that ensures organizations can consistently meet customers’ expectations and other applicable requirements.

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited is a member of FCMB Group Plc, which is one of the leading financial services institutions in Nigeria with subsidiaries that are market leaders in their respective segments.

Having successfully transformed to a retail banking and wealth management led group, FCMB expects to continue to distinguish itself through innovation and the delivery of exceptional services.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/fcmb-wins-iso-22301-certification.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday served President Muhammdu Buhari quit notice at its presidential campaign rally in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Director General of the Atiku/Obi Campaign Organisation and President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki said the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government has failed in all facets of governance.

He asked Nigerians to vote out Buhari and the APC in next year’s general elections, adding that the APC had failed to deliver on all its 2015 campaign promises.


According to Saraki: “APC promised Nigeria a lot of things. They promised us security, at a time we had security problem only in the North East, but now it has extended to North Central, and even the North West. APC has failed because security has worsened.

“People are dying of hunger because the economy has gone terribly bad. They have also failed in fighting corruption. The hunger is serious in the country today. Nigeria is today the world’s poverty capital. We need a president that will fix the economy, create jobs and unite Nigerians.”

Atiku lamented that the nation has gone worse under the APC, hence the need to provide an alternative administration that can make things work in the nation again.

“Today in terms of economy, Nigeria is the poorest in the world. These are facts from international organisations. The security situation has become terribly bad,” he said.

Atiku alleged plans by the APC to buy permanent voters cards from people as a way of perpetrating electoral fraud, but urged Nigerians to guide against the plan so as not to mortgage their future and that of their children.

PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, while appreciating the large turnout of the people for the rally noted that Nigerians have been suffering since APC took over power in 2015.

Meanwhile, National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has vowed that Atiku would be humiliated in the 2019 poll.

Oshiomhole spoke yesterday when he received women leaders of the APC from across the local government councils from his home state, Edo.

He also said Atiku’s main backer, former President Olusegun Obasanjo would be disappointed over the outcome of the poll.

He lambasted Secondus, for calling for the resignation of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-presidency-pdp-leaders-serve.html

Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-rufai, said that he has better things to do with his life than being the governor of Kaduna State.
He promised to concede defeat to whoever wins the 2019 governorship election in the state.

Speaking at the event organized by the Kaduna State Peace Commission in partnership with AID Foundation Development Peace Initiative, United States Institute of Peace, Nigeria Bar Association and the Nigeria Union of Journalists, governor El-Rufai said, “l should spend most of my time with my family which I have not done in the last 10 years.”


While calling on politicians to shun politics of bitterness, he said election was not a war but a competition that at the end of it will have a winner.

His words, “When politicians give weapons and drugs to young people for electoral purposes, then what do you do with them after you win? They become monsters that will be difficult to deal with.

“We have no thugs in the APC, all those that campaign with us, we try to empower and give them employment so that they can be off the streets.


“If you don’t find job for this people, they are the one who become soldiers for Boko-Haram, kidnappers and involved themselves in other criminal activities.

“For us as state government, we must continue to govern and these are very serious issues for us.”

He said politicians should conduct themselves during the campaign and avoid using hate speeches, adding that campaign should be issue-based.

Governor El-rufai reiterated his commitment towards ensuring that whoever was found using the social media to incite the killing of people in Kaduna would be brought to book.

“We are determined and we are doing that vigorously. We do not care about what people said, either you call yourselves Bishop, Imam, Sheikh, Chief or District head, we will bring them to justice.

“We are on the trail of those who have done that, some in Abuja, some in Lagos and we will bring them to Kaduna and charge them for hate speeches and we will not politicise it, because the protection of lives and property should never be politicised,” he explained.

He appealed to politicians to put the people first, saying they should adhere to the tenets of religion, as no religion preaches hatred.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/2019-i-have-better-things-to-do-than.html

President Muhammadu Buhari will on Friday preside over a `Special’ Federal Executive Council meeting to deliberate solely on 2019 draft budget proposal.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, revealed this when he briefed State House correspondents at the end of the Council’s meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FEC meeting was presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

Adesina stated that the Friday’s Special FEC meeting would endorse and approve the 2019 draft budget for onward submission to the National Assembly for its approval.

NAN reports that on Oct. 18, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udoma, at the consultative forum on the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) and fiscal strategy paper (FSP) 2019 to 2021, said the Federal Government plans to submit a leaner 2019 budget to the National Assembly before the end of November.

In spite of the recent oil output drop to about 1.9 million barrels a day, Udoma said government was optimistic the 2.3 million barrels a day target was achievable with production now rising to about 2.15 million barrels a day and new oil productions being put into play.

Although a $50 per barrel oil price benchmark was proposed in the ERGP, he said with a significant rise in the price above $80 per barrel currently, government has proposed a $60 a barrel oil price for the budget.

He said N305 was proposed as exchange rate to the dollar, with government working to keep inflation down after slight increases in the last two months on the heels of 18 months consecutive decline.

The projected target gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate for the budget was put at 3.01 per cent, reduced from 4.5 per cent in the ERGP; 3.6 per cent in 2020 and 3.9 per cent in 2021.

“Growth is expected to increase from 0.8 per cent in 2017 to 2.1 per cent this year and 3.01 per cent in 2019 with the continued implementation of the ERGP in 2019 and improved outlook for oil prices,” he said.

On revenue, Udoma said based on the oil price and oil production assumptions, government expects to generate about N3.6 trillion from oil, up by about N500 billion from last year’s figure.

About N6.9 trillion revenue is projected to be available to the budget in 2019.

With other projections showing government expects to collect less revenue from some independent sources, he said only about N624 billion is expected to be realised, against about N847 billion in the 2018 budget, among others.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/buhari-fixes-special-fec-meeting-friday.html

The Nigerian Army has mobilised a reinforcement of troops to fortify Jakana, a town in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

Troops attached to the Operation Lafiya Dole were seen on Wednesday in large numbers with heavy offensive artillery strategising in Mainok, another town located few miles away from Jakana.

Channels Television gathered that the security ambience around checkpoints in the area has also tightened with travellers undergoing thorough checks.

This may not be unconnected with a report making the rounds since Tuesday of a looming attack on villages around Jakana.

A journalist Ahmed Salkida had tweeted, “Boko Haram or ISWAP elements are currently gathering in the village of Mattari in Konduga LGA.

“The location is a few miles to Jakana or Benishek, there are Nigerian military facilities in both areas. Multiple local sources are reporting this.”

However, the Army has yet to respond to this assertion.

The Jakana-Benisheikh Expressway has been the only road linking Maiduguri, the Borno State capital to other parts of the country.

In the height of the insurgency, several travellers have lost their lives with others captured on the highway when the Boko Haram insurgents held sway.

The recent upsurge of attacks on civilian and military bases has prompted the Federal Government to direct the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to remain in the North East until the security situation there improves.

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, was also ordered to comply with the directive.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/army-sends-reinforcement-to-borno-town.html

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kebbi has inaugurated its campaign committee for the 2019 elections.

The committee is headed by Hon. Umar Isah Mungadi, former speaker of Kebbi State House of Assembly while the secretary of the party, Mohammad Ore Sakaba will also serve as the secretary of the committee.

The committee’s inauguration was presided over by Dr Bello Haliru, former PDP national chairman at the weekend in Birnin Kebbi with the party’s gubernatorial candidate, Senator Isa Galaudu, his running mate Abubakar Malan, PDP state executives and of party members in attendance.


At the occasion, the Kebbi PDP governorship candidate, Senator Isah Galaudu unfolded his campaign manifesto to the state.

The manifesto which contains the areas he intended to focus his attention if elected governor of the state in 2019 indicated social, economic and good governance as key areas.

He promised to transform the state into becoming model of emulation in Nigeria.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/kebbi-pdp-inaugurates-campaign-committee.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that his government will not rest until the remaining Chibok girls kidnapped by Boko Haram terrorists in April 2014 are safely released.


According to a statement by his senior special assistant media, Garba Shehu, President Buhari renewed his commitment Monday in Katowice, Poland, at a bilateral meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset, on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference, COP24.

The President had spent the whole day at the International Conference Centre, Katowice, where he delivered his national address at the opening of the 12-day meeting of COP24, met with several world leaders and visited the impressive Nigerian pavilion at the climate summit.


During his meeting with the Swiss President, the Nigerian leader thanked the Swiss Confederation for its efforts and important role as intermediaries to secure the release of some Chibok girls and assured him that the issue of the remaining kidnapped girls and other abducted persons will remain a ‘’key priority’’ for the Nigerian government.

President Buhari and his Swiss counterpart discussed joint strategies to ensure the safe return of the girls, building on the past successes of securing the release of some of the Chibok girls and other abducted persons in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.
The President also welcomed the Swiss President’s commitment to continue providing humanitarian assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Nigeria and to ensure the safe release of the abducted school girls.

‘’We will continue to make the safe release of the remaining Chibok girls a priority and will welcome any kind of support from any quarters to make this happen, ‘’ the President said.


In separate bilateral meetings with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda and the Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, President Buhari commended the country for a successful outing at the opening of the COP24 meeting in Katowice.


The President told his Polish counterpart that Nigeria was facing serious climate change challenges, particularly the receding Lake Chad, which is a source of livelihood to some 40 million people living in the region.


‘’Nigeria is totally committed to global efforts to mitigate and adapt to effects of climate change,’’ President Buhari told the Polish leader, whose country is the president of COP24.

In his meeting with Prime Minister Morawiecki, the President lauded the plan by the Polish Government to open a Trade Office in Lagos soon, promising that investors who look to Nigeria can be ‘’guaranteed’’ of safe returns on their investments.


‘’We have a vibrant and active young population and our government is doing so much on the Nigerian economy, including diversifying to non-oil sectors.

‘’We welcome increased cooperation with Poland and will encourage investments in other sectors of the economy like solid minerals and information technology, ‘’ the President said.



Morawiecki told President Buhari that traditionally 96 per cent of oil imports to Poland come from Saudi Arabia and Russia, adding ‘’but now we are looking at importing oil from Nigeria.’’

The Prime Minister noted as the fastest growing economy in the European Union, Poland has identified Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa, as three top investment destinations in Africa.


‘’We want the hub of our investment destination to be in Nigeria,’’ the Polish Prime Minister told President Buhari, welcoming the pledge by the Nigerian leader to immediately put in place a framework to encourage more Polish investments in Nigeria.


Meanwhile, the President’s bilateral meeting with his Austrian counterpart, Alexander Van der Bellen, focused on the challenges of Lake Chad and what was required to recharge it.


Noting that the Lake faced the two challenges of technology and financing, President Buhari told the Austrian leader that enormous financial resources and technology were required to transfer water to Lake Chad from the Congo Basin.

Van der Bellen, who indicated his country’s interest to cooperate with Nigeria on recharging the Lake Chad, talked about climate change challenges in Austria including drought, glaciers melting, among others.

President Buhari also met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and both leaders followed up on their past discussions, during their last meeting in The Hague, Netherlands, in July, which centred on trade, investments and partnerships in agriculture.


The President welcomed the proposal by the Dutch Prime Minister to visit Abuja soon and promised that the Nigerian government will continue to provide a conducive business environment for existing and prospective Dutch investors.


On the sidelines of COP24, President Buhari also met with the Prime Minister of Estonia, Jüri Ratas.

The Prime Minister of the Northern European country sought Nigeria’s support on its bid for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

The two leaders also discussed bilateral cooperation and climate change mitigation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/president-muhammadu-buhari-vows-to.html

The Federal High Court, Lagos, has adjourned until Feb.13, 2019, a $69 million suit filed by the Federal Government against Chevron Petroleum Nigeria, seeking to recover oil revenue.

The FG filed the suit against Chevron Nigeria Ltd, and Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd, as first and second defendants respectively.

The case which was adjourned for a report of proceedings at the Court of Appeal, could not proceed on Tuesday, as the court did not sit.

The judge, Justice Mojisola Olatoregun is said to be attending a seminar .

The case, was therefore, further adjourned until Feb. 13, 2019, for a report of proceedings at the Appellate Court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit is one among other suits by the FG, seeking to recover almost 12 billion dollars in missing crude oil revenue from some international oil companies.

During a court processing on March 1, Justice Olatoregun dismissed a preliminary objection by the second defendant (Chevron Petroleum Nigeria Ltd), challenging the jurisdiction of the court, on grounds of service of court processes.

The court awarded a cost of N100,000 against the second defendant.

In its objection, the defendant had urged the court to set aside a purported service of an amended writ of summons and amended statement of claim on the second defendant, for being incompetent.

Defence counsel had argued that the second defendant was not served with the amended processes in accordance with the provisions of the law, and had urged the court to so hold.

In its ruling, the court had dismissed the objection and held that service of originating processes was fundamental to the jurisdiction of the court, adding that such service must be personal except where personal service is not possible.

The court had further held that where a party undertakes to accept service, he cannot deny same, adding that from records, it could be recalled that the processes were served.

Consequently, the court had dismissed the objection, and expressed displeasure, that since 2016 when the case was brought to court, there had been so many applications, which had stalled progress in the suit.

Dissatified with the ruling of the court, the defendant had filed an appeal before the appeallate court, challenging the ruling of the court.

At the last adjourned date, defence counsel had informed the court that the appeal is pending before the appellate court, adding that there was also a motion for stay of proceedings in the suit, pending appeal.

The court had consequently, adjourned the case for a report of proceedings at the court of appeal.

The suit was filed by the Federal Government through its Counsel, Prof Fabian Ajogwu, (SAN) in 2016, against some International Oil Companies (IOCs) to recover lost revenues arising from undeclared and under-declared crude oil shipments from Nigeria to different parts of the world.

The Federal Government had also sued Total E&P Nig. Plc, alleging that the oil company under-declared the volume of crude oil it shipped out of the country between January 2011 and December 2014.

The case against Total is also adjourned until Feb.13.

The Federal Government accused the oil company of short-changing it to the tune of 245 million dollars, by allegedly shipping several barrels of crude oil out of Nigeria, without making due remittance to the government.

The FG also filed similar suits against Agip Oil Company Ltd, Shell Western Supply & Trading Ltd, Agip, among others.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/court-adjourns-hearing-of-fgs-69m-suit.html

The presidency has urged the National Assembly to expedite action on the disability bill before it.


This was disclosed by the secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, in his key note address at the celebration of the international day of persons with disabilities yesterday in Abuja.

He announced that the bill on discrimination against persons with disabilities is presently before the National Assembly and the President is earnestly awaiting the passage and transmission for his assent.


“We urge the National Assembly to expedite action on it. It is hoped that when this Bill is passed into law, people living with disabilities will have their rightful place in the society,” he said.

He lamented that it is a global fact that persons with disabilities face enormous challenges in their day-to-day activities.

According to him, these challenges are often in the form of barriers that many of us take for granted saying less than 10% of published materials are accessible to blind and visually impaired persons around the world.

The SGF recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2017 signed the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled.


He explained that the treaty will make it easier for the print disabled in Nigeria, including blind, visually impaired persons, dyslexics, to access millions of books in Nigeria and from other parts of the world.


In furtherance of this administration’s policy of inclusiveness and equality, he noted that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is already addressing the special needs of persons with disabilities to ensure equal opportunity in their quest for tertiary education.


This again, according to him is an affirmation of government’s commitment to empowerment, inclusiveness and equality for all persons.

“Finally, as we approach the forthcoming general election, I wish to specially appeal to every citizen to eschew bitterness and rancour. In the spirit of inclusion, special attention should be given to persons with disabilities to make the voting process less cumbersome for them.


“Government has restated its unwavering commitment to a free and fair election. It is our duty as Nigerians to ensure that we perform our civic duties by voting under an atmosphere of peace and tranquility,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/12/presidency-urges-nass-to-expedite.html