₦airaland Forum

Na waooo. APC vs PDP showcasing their skills and fight outside our shores. Issokay

It was further reported that the accident also claimed the lives of the cab driver, a corps member. Reports has it that the driver lost control of the car which led to the ghastly accident.

Nigerian roads have been a major concern over the years due to the number of ghastly motor accidents taking place on the roads daily. It has just been reported that two final year students of the Kwara State Polytechnic died in a ghastly motor accident. The accident reportedly took place on Thursday, March 15, along Unilorin teaching hospital. They were heading home after the day’s examination.

Read more: https://www.naija.ng/1157975-2-final-year-students-corps-member-die-ghastly-car-accident-photos.html#1157975

The National Identification Management Commission (NIMC), has recently released the National ID Card of September 2011 – May 2017, you can check if your ID is ready online by following the simple steps below: Follow the apply link here as stated and fill in the form.


http://the247reporters.com/2017/09/30/nimc-national-id-card-check-id-ready-sept-2011-may-2017-enrollment/

Champions League Whatsapp group

Liverpool (online)

Chelsea (is typing...)

Bayern (online)

PSG (left)

Madrid (online)

Tottenham (left)

Juventus (online)

Man-City (online)

Sevilla (Online)

Man-U (left 10mins ago.)

Barcelona (is typing...)

Arsenal (Last seen December 2016)

�����

Champions League Whatsapp group

Liverpool (online)

Chelsea (is typing...)

Bayern (online)

PSG (left)

Madrid (online)

Tottenham (left)

Juventus (online)

Man-City (online)

Man-U (left 10mins ago.)

Barcelona (is typing...)

Arsenal (Last seen December 2016)

�����

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board has again fired warning to about 1.6 million candidates who are expected to write the examination in 602 centres across the country from Friday.

A document obtained by PREMIUM Times and signed by the JAMB registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, warned its candidates of ahead of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which will begin on Friday, March 9 to March 17.

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) has again warned candidates against bringing in prohibited items into the examination halls, adding that the prohibited items were banned in order to secure the sanctity and integrity of the board’s examination.

He said: “Kindly note that the examination officials are allowed to scrutinise eye glass or similar devices and when convinced that such item may compromise the sanctity of the examination, the examination official should confiscate it.”

The registrar said that entry into the examination venue by unauthorised person will be sanctioned. “Where examination official (Board staff or Adhoc staff) or any authorised person is found with any of these prohibited items in the examination hall, such compromising action would be treated as a deliberate act of examination sabotage and necessary sanction will be applied”, the registrar said.

About 1.6 million candidates are expected to write the examination in 602 centres across the country.

Here are the list of prohibited items:

1) Watches

2) Pen/Biros

3) Mobile phones or similar electronic devices

4) Spy reading glasses which should be scrutinised

5) Calculators or similar electronic devices

6) USB, CD, hard disks and or similar storage devices

7) Books or any reading/writing material.

Cameras

9) Recorders

10) Microphones

11) Ear pieces

12) Ink/pen readers

13) Smart lenses

14) Smart rings/ jewellery

15) Smart buttons

16) Bluetooth devices.

http://naijaparrot.com/jamb-lists-16-prohibited-items-for-candidates-as-utme-kicks-off-on-friday-full-list/

The Defence Space Administration (DSA) has taken steps to tackle the growing unemployment in Nigeria

The agency now seeks to recruit qualified Nigerian civilians of various discipline into the DSA. Such disciplines include: 1. Mechanical Engineer 2. Electronic and Electric Engineer 3. Civil Engineer 4. Aeronautical Engineer 5. Aerospace Engineer 6. Software Engineer 7. Geographic Information System Engineer 8. Space Researchers 9. Space Scientists 10. Space Technicians 11. Network Administrators 12. Data Analyst 13. Geographic Intelligence Officer 14. Geospatial Analyst 15. Imagery Researcher 16. Satellite System Engineer 17. Radio Frequency Engineer 18. Navigation Engineer 19. Computer Hardware Engineer 20. Earth Observation Engineer 21. System Security Engineer 22. Incident Investigator 23. Forensic Expert 24. Cryptographer 25. Cyber Incident Responder 26. Cyber Vulnerability Accessor 27. Software Developer 28. Account and Budget Officer 29. Computer Analyst 30. Cyber Security Auditor 31. Position Navigation and Timing Engineer

To apply; interested candidate have been requested to visit www.dsa.mil.ng for requirements and completion of the enclosed application form. The application closes March 10, 2018. Read more: https://www.naija.ng

There has been an outpouring of rage in the social media after a neurosurgeon at Kenya’s largest hospital performed brain surgery on the wrong patient.

 

The Kenyatta National Hospital, which admitted the horrific error has suspended the doctor, as well as two nurses and an anaesthetist, according to a statement on Friday.

 

Sicily Kariuki, Health Minister, also suspended the Chief operating officer of the hospital, Lily Koros, over the blunder. Lily Koros had suspended the four medics.

 

It was the latest scandal to hit the hospital in recent weeks, after allegations of staff sexually assaulting patients, and the theft of a baby.

 

An investigation by the Daily Nation newspaper revealed that two men had been taken to the hospital last Sunday.

 

The two men were wheeled into the hospital unconscious. One needed head surgery to remove a blood clot in his brain, while the other only required nursing and medication to heal a trauma swelling in his head, medically known as closed head injury.

 

Hours into the surgery doctors discovered there was no blood clot in the brain of their patient, and that they were in fact operating on the wrong man, the newspaper reported.

 

The hospital’s chief operating officer, Lily Koros, issued a statement announcing the suspension of four medics who were at work on that night. The hospital also expressed regret over the incident.

 

“The hospital deeply regrets this event and has done all it can to ensure the safety and well being of the patient in question,” read the statement from the hospital, adding the patient was “in recovery and progressing well,” Koros said.

 

Kenyatta National Hospital is Kenya’s oldest and largest hospital, and also serves as a teaching hospital.




http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/horror-as-doctor-performs-brain-surgery-on-wrong-person/

CAN A WILL BE CONTESTED?
A will can be contested for any number of other reasons, but they all revolve around the validity of the Will, for instance if it wasn’t properly witnessed;  or the individual wasn’t competent when the Will was signed; or it’s the result of coercion or fraud.

 

NEXT STEPS
Are you considering making a Will? We advise that you should seek the services of a lawyer who will be able to assist you in drafting your Will. If you need assistance in contacting a lawyer, you may complete the form below and we would be glad to match you with a lawyer who meets your requirements.

WHO IS AN EXECUTOR AND WHAT ROLE DOES HE/SHE PERFORM?
An executor is an individual appointed under a valid Will with the responsibility of making sure a person’s wishes under the Will are carried out. The executor of a Will is responsible for making sure that any debts and creditors that the deceased had are paid off, and that any remaining money or property is distributed according to their wishes.

The executor is expected to fulfil their duties with the utmost honest and diligence, and is under what is known as a fiduciary duty which is a duty to act in good faith.

An individual can name their spouse, an adult child, or another trusted friend or relative as an executor. If the affairs are complicated, it is more prudent to name a lawyer or someone with legal and financial expertise as an executor. Executors are generally named as joint executors, this is in case one of the executor is unable or unwilling to act as an executor.

 

WHERE SHOULD I KEEP MY WILL?
For an executor to obtain probate, the courts will require an original copy of the Will, and therefore it is imperative that the document is kept sage. This can be done by keeping a copy with the courts, or with a lawyer, or in a bank safety deposit box, or a waterproof and fireproof safe in your house. Wherever an individual decides to keep his/her Will, please note that it should be somewhere that the executor knows where it is and can easily access it upon the death of the individual

WHAT HAPPENS IF A PERSON DIES WITHOUT A WILL?
If an individual should die without leaving a valid Will, he/she has died intestate. That usually means that the individual’s estate will be settled based on the Administration of Estate Laws of the state of domicile of the individual. These Laws determine who inherits what.

When an individual dies and has left a Will, the process to administer the deceased estate is known as obtaining probate. By this probate, the court grants the executor(s) who have been appointed under the Will, the right to administer the estate of the deceased. In the case of a death without a Will, since there is no executor named, a judge appoints an administrator to serve in that capacity. An administrator also will be named if a Will is deemed to be invalid. The administrator will exercise the powers over the estate in accordance with the Administration of Estate Law of the State.

 

WHAT MAKES A WILL VALID?
Generally, a Will is not valid unless it fulfils the following requirements.

The Will must be in writing
The individual making the Will must be of legal age i.e. he/she must be at least 18 years old.
The individual must have what is known as testamentary capacity i.e. they have a sound mind, meaning the testator must know that he or she is making a Will and its effect; understand the nature and extent of the estate; and understand that he or she is disposing of property and assets.
The Will must be signed by the testator and must be attested (witnessed) and signed by the witnesses.
The Will must also have been made by a person who knew and approved of its contents and who was acting of their own free will
Please note however that there are some exemptions for people who are members of the Armed Forces or sailors at sea, specifically they do not have to be 18 years of age, and the Will in certain circumstances does not have to be in writing.

Also note that witnesses cannot be beneficiaries under the Will, and nor can the spouse or partner of a witness.

WHAT IS COVERED IN A WILL?
Some types of property, including certain insurance policies and retirement accounts, generally aren’t covered by Wills. This is because when an individual takes out these insurance policies or opened the accounts, part of the process is to list the beneficiaries of the account. The most important things to provide for in your will are who will be your executors, who will be the beneficiaries of your assets, and in cases where there are minors – who the guardian(s) of the minors will be.

 

CAN A WILL BE AMENDED AFTER IT IS MADE?
Yes, this can be done by either making a new Will or by adding a “codicil” (an amendment) to the Will.

https://lawpadi.com/everything-need-know-making-will-nigeria/


MAKING A WILL IN NIGERIA
Ask the average Nigerian if they have made a Will, and they will most likely get upset and accuse you of having negative thoughts towards them. This is the case in a lot of societies where thinking of making a Will forces people to think about their own mortality and the inevitability of death.

This should not be the case. Making a Will is not only about planning for your death, it is also about ensuring that your loved ones are adequately protected. It is in fact one of the most critical things that you can do for your loved ones. Putting your wishes in the form of a Will helps your heirs avoid unnecessary hassles, and you gain the peace of mind knowing that a life’s worth of possessions will end up in the right hands.

 

WHAT IS A WILL?
A Will is simply a legal document in which an individual known as the testator, declares how he/she would like his assets to be distributed when he/she dies. The individuals designated to receive any of the property of a testator is called a “beneficiary.”

Apart from deciding who gets your assets, a Will can also serve to declare who you wish to become the guardian for any minor children or dependents,

Crystal palace donkeys Fc

Some 20 million Nigerians who are subscribers of 9mobile (formerly Etisalat) may be cut off in 2022 as a result of the complications arising from the $1.2 billion loan default by the telco to a consortium of banks.

.

Also, over 4,000 staff of the company risk being laid off.

 

Senate investigation said that all these can only be averted if a new buyer emerges, takes over the company and pays off the debt before the 15 years’ operational licence given to the company expires in 2022.

 

This was revealed on Thursday during the investigative hearing by the Senate Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions, which is currently investigating the loan default threatening the existence of the 9mobile.

 

Speaking during the hearing, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), represented by Yetunde Akinoye, director of Legal Services, said that in 2007 9mobile was given a 15-year licence to operate in Nigeria, which according to her, will expire in 2022.

 

She said given the financial crisis facing 9mobile, the hope is that a new investor would emerge to take over the company, pay back the consortium of backs the loans which the original owners of the telecom company collected, and also pay for the renewal of the licence to retain the services and subscribers.

 

She said that if this is not possible, the banks, in alliance with their security trustees, may push to enforce the loan conditions, which she explained might involve stripping the telecoms company to recover their investment.

 

Recalling what happened, Akinoye said that NCC, which she said was not privy to the loan agreements, got a letter on the June 21, 2017 from the Security Trustee of 9mobile, notifying the regulatory agency that there is a loan default and that the lenders (banks) want to enforce the legal implication.

 

She said the banks, which had already taken over the telecoms company, wanted the board of 9mobile to be dissolved and a neutral person brought in, preferably the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN).

 

To this end, she said the CBN Governor, who did not want the apex bank to become involved, however dissolved the old board and constituted a new board chaired by the CBN Deputy Governor, to ensure that the 20 million subscribers and 4,000 staff of 9mobile are not left high and dry.

 

On why NCC cannot allow the banks to take full ownership of the company, Akinoye said: “The transfer of licence is not allowed by NCC except under certain conditions but they can transfer the shares. The banks are only interested in getting their money but not to run the company.”

 

She also said that NCC, unlike CBN in the case of banks, does not have powers by the Act establishing it, to take over telecoms companies that are collapsing. Akinoye noted that given the way Mubadala and the associate paid $250 million to get the Etisalat licence, NCC never suspected that anything would go wrong, adding that NCC is already doing a forensic investigation of 9mobile.

 

On her part, Oluseyi Osusador, director of Corporate Affairs of 9mobile, who represented the telecoms company, told the Senate that $82 million and $100 million loans were collected for expansion of their services nationwide. She disclosed that they also collected $1.2 billion loan from a consortium of 13 banks for network expansion across the country in 2015.

 

She added that in the 2016, they paid their obligations as required until the negotiations broke down due to their inability to meet up, adding that efforts to secure a new agreement failed until the investors left, hence they are now looking for a new investor throughout Barclays Bank.

 

Responding to the accusation by senators that it did not follow the due diligence to monitor the loan and prevent the original investor from cashing out rapidly, Dr. Okwu Joseph Nnanna, CBN Director, Financial System Stability, who represented the apex bank at the hearing, said that CBN started intervening in the deal between 9mobile and the 13 banks before the loan started having issues of default.

 

He explained that contrary to comments, CBN did not take over Etisalat but the consortium of banks did based on their rights and legal conditions of the loan which allow them to take over the company at default.

 

Speaking on behalf of the affected banks, Guarantee Trust Bank, represented by Haruna Musa, a Director in the bank, said the banks are the facility agent, pointing out that their role is administrative in nature.

 

Haruna said that until 2015, the facility was performing optimally, adding that in some years, Etisalat paid more than expected, but paid 17% of what was expected in 2017, resulting in the commencement of the default.

 

In its submission, United Capital Trustees Limited, which served as the Security Trustee agent to the loan deal, represented by Tadeni Balogun, said it has other plans on how to deal with the situation but refused to give details.

 

While lamenting the default, Chairman of the Senate Committee, Rafiu Ibrahim, regretted that the loan became problematic three years into the commencement of the payment.

 

He asked the Security Trustee Company to explain how the founding Managing Director of Etisalat left the company, adding that the Senate needed to know if he was forced to leave or left voluntarily.

 

Senator Ibrahim expressed concern that shortly after the investors wrote to NCC, they left immediately and easily.

 

He said these information is necessary because the Senate may have to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take over the investigation because the committee cannot understand why the investors hurriedly left and NCC and CBN are not doing anything to get the money back, perhaps by engaging the Nigerian President to engage the President of the host country of Etisalat to pay the debt.

 

To this end, he vowed that the Senate will not relent to save the banks and the industry, and the subscribers.


http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/1-2bn-debt-20m-9mobile-subscribers-may-be-cut-off/

Mr Boye Onasanya, chief executive officer of 9Mobile, has confirmed that Teleology Holding is the preferred buyer of the telecommunication company.

 

This came as Barclays Africa, the financial adviser handling the sale of 9mobile, also transmitted an official letter to Teleology Holdings Limited, confirming it as the preferred bidder in the sale of 9mobile.

 

According to Olusanya, Teleology Holdings emerged the best bidder in the sale process, while Smile Telecoms Holdings is considered as reserved bidder if Teleology reneges on its bid for the multimillion-dollar company.

 

In a communication with members of staff, Olusanya said its lenders, presumably Barclays Africa, will now engage Teleology to finalise negotiations on the sale of the company.

 

“In line with my previous communications on the bid process, discussions and negotiations have put the board in a position to name Teleology Holdings as the preferred bidder for our company,” Olusanya said in the memo.

 

“The lenders will now engage Teleology Holdings to conclude other aspects of the negotiation and I will continue to provide updates as and when the milestone occur.”

 

The letter also directed Teleology Holdings to make a non-refundable cash deposit of $50 million within 21 days from the date of the letter, dated February 21, 2018, or lose the bid to the reserve bidder, Smile Holdings Limited.

 

Also yesterday, THISDAY, citing a source at Barclays Africa, said Teleology Holdings Limited has got a letter that served as the official document for the conclusion of the sale of 9mobile.

 

Although it has been reported that Teleology had been selected as the preferred bidder, but such reports were based on speculations, as Teleology had not earlier received any official document from both Barclays and 9mobile, and not even from the telecommunications industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

 

NCC had on February 1, 2018, clarified that it was yet to receive any information from Barclays Africa and 9mobile concerning the sale of 9mobile, and dismissed as speculations and reports making the rounds then, that Teleology had emerged as the preferred bidder.

 

The official letter signed by Barclays and transmitted to Teleology Wednesday, has, therefore, finally confirmed Teleology as the preferred bidder.


http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/confirmed-teleology-is-new-owner-of-9mobile/

WhatsApp has introduced payments to its messaging app in India, making it the latest service to let users transfer money to one another with a text.

 

After the pilot in India, this peer-to-peer payments, would be available in Nigeria and other African countries and it will have profound effect on banks already hemorrhaging from revenue losses.



With the new service, users can now link their bank account to their WhatsApp account via Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and begin making payments straight to another user’s bank account through a WhatsApp chat.

 

According to Ndubisi Ekewe, who is familiar with the development, banks have everything to worry about the risks to banks are clear.

 

“The telcos have hated the global messaging app; now the banks join the fray. The risk to banks is clear: if WhatsApp becomes very successful in payments, it may become a small bank of itself. In other words, if people decide to be leaving money in their wallets without moving them to their bank accounts, most banks would struggle [liquidity issues]” Ekewe added.

 

In Nigeria, the rise and popularity of over-the-top (OTT) services has taken a huge toll on the bottom line of telcos across the globe. The OTT services include instant messaging, voice/ video calls and others.

 

Association of Licensed Telecommunication Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), the industry body of all licensed telecoms operators and infrastructure providers, by the consumers, the regulator and the policy makers, has lamented the impact of OTT on the bottom line of carriers.

 

Gbenga Adebayo, chairman, said OTT utilise traditional Mobile Network Operator (MNO) infrastructure to offer social networks, voice and instant messaging services to retain users’ loyalty and drive stickiness with a view creating large on-line communities and eventually attract huge advertisement revenues.

 

The MNOs have neither rights nor control over the OTT services, as customers have the discretion to use the internet as they like.

 

The case maybe worse for Nigerian banks because as Ekewe pointed out, most Nigerian banks are enjoying growing transaction-based fees with ATM charges and all kinds of charges including stamp duty on digital transfer.

 

“WhatsApp could help Nigerians to handle their financial transactions without hitting any bank server, and in the process avoid most of those fees. The excessive fees would push many people to adopt WhatsApp. Just load your WhatsApp wallet, and from there handle basic things of your life. Provided the money is leaving the wallet, banks would not access the stamp duty, SMS fees, etc.

 

And this would explain why bank apps may not add much value in coming years: they would be totally disintermediated. Who needs to leave WhatsApp to launch a bank app before he or she can send money to a friend chatting on WhatsApp? None, if WhatsApp supports payment and transfer. As that happens, watch out for Western Union, MoneyGram and other global remittance entities to begin to struggle as they experience a new level of competition in the market” he added.


http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/concerns-for-banks-as-whatsapp-adds-payment/

Academic activities in the Benue State University have been paralyzed by students of the institution.

The students are currently protesting against the school management’s refusal to allow those who are yet to pay their fees partake in the ongoing examination.


Most of the victims, who are final year students, could have a spill over if not allowed to take part in the examination.

The protesting students, who were seen displaying various placards, locked the two major gates leading to the school premises, chanting solidarity songs.

They called on the management to allow them sit for the exams.


http://dailypost.ng/2018/02/16/students-shutdown-benue-state-university-photos/

*Cyril Ramaphosa to Be �Sworn In as �President of ��S-Africa*

Cyril Ramaphosa is to be elected president of South Africa by a parliamentary vote less than 16 hours after the resignation of his rival Jacob Zuma, following days of defiant refusal to leave office. Ramaphosa – who, as deputy president, became interim leader immediately after Zuma’s late-night resignation on Wednesday – will be sworn in as head of state on Thursday by South Africa’s chief justice in Cape Town.

The ruling African National Congress has a substantial majority in parliament and the vote is effectively a formality. Though deeply divided, the ANC has already closed ranks after the crisis of recent days and is expected to rally around Ramaphosa, 65, who was pictured jogging and posing with local residents on the Cape Town seafront at 7 am on Thursday morning.

A former anti-apartheid activist turned successful businessman, Ramaphosa is the standard bearer for the moderate, reformist faction of the ANC. Zuma, 75, represented the party’s more populist, nationalist elements, commentators say.

To read full article �- http://v.duta.us/pZ9TOAAA

terrypartners:
FBN INSURANCE - INSURANCE POLICIES CREATE WEALTH, EXPANDING FINANCIAL INCLUSION IN NIGERIAN.
@opendo89 I totally emphatize with you. Without discrediting your claims.
1. The fact is that you took an insurance policy, you claimed to have policy document which does say it an account opening document.
2. The EasySave policy, is a one year policy (I.e 12 months) it is saving plan embedded with a life insurance plan.
3. It requires a monthly contribution just like you do ajo or esusu savings, with a condition you say a specific amount monthly, for example NGN10,000 x 12 months to meet your financial goals like pay for your rents e.t.c
4. If you must terminate your plan, contary to your earlier claim FBN Insurance charges 20% for surrender charges on the policy, it is 10% that is written on the policy form.
5. I vehemently feel compelled to disagree with you, that a staff, representative or agent of the company will compel you to recite the terms of your policy and physically push you out of our office. It is not to say you are a lier, it is totally unbelievale for an employed staff to act in such manner.
6. First Bank as a brand just like anyother enterprise has challenges and constantly takes measures to improve, every customer big or small is very important.
7. FBN Insurance is an FBN holdings company, www.fbninsurance.com is the official website.
8. @drkay please be reassured your investments are safe, there are thousands of policyholders like you whom have benefitted from several FBN Insurance policy, claims paid at maturity or termination to a lot clients who in most cases get their payments/alerts without visiting the office, by the click of your PC/laptop we send you a form to file your liquidation and you will receive any an instant and pleasant response.
9. @opendo89 FirstBank does pay claims or interact with client on insurance issue rather FBN Insurance Ltd. Is responsible for resolving all insurance related matters.
10. It is important to note that the brand image of First Bank of Nigeria cannot be divorced from FBN Insuance or any FBN holding companies, integrity is at the heart of all its dealings. Describing the company as a scam totally negates everything FBN Insurance stands for.
11. Terminations of policy before maturity are paid at a stipulated 14 days period, however, it could be sooner, evidence of swift response to paying clients/policholder are abundant.
12. If you you think this article was helpful and intend taking a policy with FBN Insurance call Terry 07084886926 a 24/7 trusted financial advisor of FBN INSURANCE.

Hi, ur post is quite educative and I'm interested in the interest rate... learnt it's 5% but I need to know the duration for the interests, is it monthly or annually?

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate(PTAD) has commenced the first and second phases of verification for pensioners of the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited (NiTEL) and its mobile subsidiary, MTEL, for the North Central Zone in Abuja.

 

The exercise which takes place on Monday at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church’s event Centre, Maitama, Abuja, would have over 4000 pensioners verified.

 

Sharon Ikeazor, executive secretary of PTAD, said that the number of pensioners for the exercise is about 600 persons everyday.

 

However, she noted, “but today, we have over 700 and we can only treat a minimum of 500 and 600 highest.

 

“We now ask them to come back the next day that is the exercise is opened for a week and when the whole exercise closes, they are free to walk into Lagos office or our Abuja office to get verified.”

 

According to Ikeazor, the exercise also took place in centres across Lagos, Enugu, Port Harcourt, Kano, Gombe and Abuja.

 

The directorate stated that the verification would attend to retirees and next of kin of deceased pensioners.

 

Earlier in his remarks, Brig. Gen. Adekunle Adesope , director of Military Pension Board who led a team of from the military pension board to observe how PTAD conducts its pensions verification exercise, said that the arrangement is commendable.

 

Adesope noted that, “the way the pensioners are coordinated and being treated in various segments is good, particularly you have a section that is dedicated to sick pensioners. On what the military pension board is taking away from the PTAD verification exercise, the Director said, it’s just the arrangement.

Naspers owned OLX, one of Africa’s leading e-commerce  platforms has winded up operations in Nigeria and Kenya.

 

Business Insider Sub Saharan Africa (BI SSA) confirmed from several internal sources within both territories, the closure of its operations in two of Africa’s strongest e-commerce markets.

 

OLX, founded  as an alternative to Craigslist and fully acquired by South Africa media giant Naspers in 2010 has been struggling to make its businesses in Kenya and Nigeria viable since it entered those markets in 2012.

 

Business Insider SSA understands that staff of the company in Nigeria and Kenya were formally informed of the decision on Tuesday with a notice of termination to staff beginning in March, followed by management team in April.

 

The shutdown and an almost non-existent on ground operation in Ghana means that the country will now fully focus on its strongest market on the African continent  in South Africa.

 

It will be interesting to see what next steps OLX takes in Africa. Will the business in the market run remotely?

 

It is not clear the number of staff that has been affected by the decision but in Kenya a lot of livestock and agro based clients of the platform will be disappointed with the platform being one of the main mediums of selling farm products as well as a large car selling base.

 

OLX joins a long list of e-commerce businesses who have wrapped up business in west and east Africa over the past two years after failing to break even.In 2015,Nigeria based Efritin.com closed down with then CEO   Nils Hammer, citing high cost of data, poor internet penetration and adoption as well as economic woes of the country as the prevalent factors responsible for their exit from the Nigerian e-commerce market.

 

Jumia has also had to consolidate all its assets into single units to reduce overhead costs. In Ghana, the initial success of Tonaton has given way to a difficult few years.

 

Business Insider SSA has reached out to management of OLX for comment on the development.

http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/olx-shuts-down-its-nigeria-kenya-operations/

http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/abubakars-appointment-as-nia-boss-dangerous-nia-staff/


Some directors of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) have written to the House of Representatives Committee on Security and National Intelligence to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to drop Ahmed Rufai Abubakar as the new director-general of the agency.

 

Writing for and on behalf of Concerned Directors of the National Intelligence Agency, they used pseudo names such as E. O. Olanrewaju, Nelson Obiakor and Ahmed Sarki to protect their real identities.

 

The directors, in an advertisement published in THISDAY Thursday, described Abubakar as a misfit and unqualified for the post of DG of the NIA.

 

Since his appointment a few weeks ago by the president, various allegations have come to light over Abubakar’s nationality and competence to head the NIA.

 

Although the presidency came out stoutly at the weekend to defend the new NIA boss, the directors, in their letter to the House committee, said Abubakar failed to merit elevation to the rank of director and had retired from the service (NIA), but has now been appointed to come and preside over people who are not only his seniors in rank, but who fit into the order of precedence.

 

They said since the inception of the agency 32 years ago, nobody below the rank of director had been appointed as head of the NIA.

 

They warned that Abubakar’s appointment as DG would certainly set a dangerous precedent, with equally dangerous implications.

 

They threatened that should Abubakar go ahead with his plans to sack all the directors of the agency, the country should expect massive leaks of intelligence to hostile countries.

 

They told the lawmakers that the Clandestine Operations Unit of the NIA had been ordered to manufacture and clone documents that could be used to defend Abubakar, who from all indications was facing a legitimacy crisis.

 

They urged the committee to, in the interest of national unity, the federal character principle as enshrined in the constitution, fairness, justice, or even for common sense, prevail on the president to drop Abubakar as the DG of the NIA in the face of the obvious odds against his appointment.

 

“Coupled with this fact, it is an aberration to thrust the headship of Nigeria’s most sensitive security and intelligence organisation in the hands of people from the same ethnic stock, state and even town.

 

“In a country of over 200 million people, we feel it was not only highly contemptuous but dangerous,” they added.

 

Quoting Professor Itsey Sagay (SAN), the directors said they were indeed uncomfortable with Abubakar’s appointment.

 

They said: “Already, the nation is in a precarious security condition, and further penetration by hostile intelligence services could portend an even greater danger.

 

“It is very unlikely that we will be insulated from penetration if we are treated as renegades after putting in our best for the country.”

 

The directors noted that they were aware that part of the new DG’s agenda was to retire those of them who were once his seniors, because he was unlikely to want to work with them.

 

“It is evident that he will pursue a vendetta mission, which he has already indicated in his very first address to us.

 

“While we wish to state that he is at liberty to go ahead with what we know he intends to do, we wish to point out the underlying dangers in a massive purge of senior officers of the agency, to the effect that, not only will the millions of dollars spent on training and retraining us be lost, we are also custodians of the country’s intelligence dossiers and may decide to use same for mischief,” they warned.

 

The directors also alerted the nation to what they described as “an imminent threat to the cohesion for which the NIA has been known, as this is the first time a director-general was picked from the rank below that of a director”.

 

They warned that the nation’s security would likely become precarious under Abubakar whose link to Chad was investigated by the intelligence agency.

 

“In the event that Ahmed Rufai Abubakar finds it difficult to work with those of us who are still in service and who have better credentials, the choice left to the authorities is to revert to the status quo and allow a serving director who understands the dynamics to continue.

 

“Having failed promotion examinations to the directorship rank, which we can attest to, we make bold to state that it amounts to administrative suicide to allow a practical misfit take over the agency and later mortgage same to his paymasters, who have ulterior motives,” they stated.

 

The directors maintained that since the federal government itself had admitted that Abubakar was born and bred in Chad, “while on the other hand he claimed to have been born in Nigeria; at least going by his records and his CV, suffice it to point out that there is an obvious contradiction”.

 

They therefore called on the House to thoroughly look into this seeming discrepancy.

“As insiders, we are in a position to state that the process of vetting in respect of the new NIA DG negates conventional practice, as nobody has visited Chad where he claims to have grown up and schooled to probe into his differential associates, or even his likely espionage roles,” they added.

 

They explained that the rule requires that anybody being considered for such a strategic position must be vetted from the cradle.

“It is an incontrovertible fact that Rufai Abubakar’s links with Chad, a country with likely rival interest with Nigeria, makes Rufai suspect and not fit to head the country’s elite intelligence agency.

 

“It is necessary for us to alert that the issue of likely doubtful loyalty, is a serious issue in intelligence corridors. Where a person’s nationality or that of his spouse becomes unclear, thorough vetting from the cradle becomes even more demanding.

“In this case, it is very dangerous that the vetting process has been compromised, which is an ominous danger to the nation’s security,” they said.

 

The directors also said that it had become necessary to investigate the activities of the presidential panel under the leadership of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and the current DG, noting that the panel was in the first place a contemptuous affront on the Office of the Vice-President.

 

According to them, “It is unheard of for an officer with a lower rank being appointed to review the work of a higher officer; more so the vice-president of the country.

 

“It is very curious that paragraph 4(1) of the recommendations of the Kingibe panel prescribes that a serving director should be picked as the director-general, only for the same characters that sat in judgment over the need to reorganise the NIA, turning around to violate its own recommendations, by picking one of them to contemptuously assume duty as head of the NIA.

 

“It is very clear from the onset that the Presidential Review Panel (PRP) led by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe was inaugurated purposely to defend Ambassador Ayo Oke, who had often threatened to spill the beans when the chips were down, as he will not sink alone.

“Oke had severally threatened to expose the beneficiaries of his largesse if they allowed him to be disgraced.

 

“The other obvious motive was to ensure that the remaining $44 million of the NIA intervention fund is kept within the reach of the cabal. The refusal of the immediate past acting DG, Muhammed Dauda, to allow them access to the money may be the under pinning reason for his removal.”

 

They asked the House committee to demand from the Kingibe-led panel a copy of its report and that of the vice-president, and probe if there was any substantial divergence.

 

“As the conscience of our democratic quest, we request you to look passionately into the issues raised and observations from other quarters where you can see that merit, fairness, justice, equity and competence have been sacrificed (on a platter of selfish personal quest) by Ambassador Babagana Kingibe and his associates,” they said.

http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/17-year-old-kills-mum-over-phone-memory-card/


Emmanuel Gyan, 17-year-old Junior High School pupil, is in police custody for allegedly killing his own mother over his missing mobile phone memory card.

 

The incident happened in Sefwi-Wiawso District in Western region of Ghana.

 

Gyan is said to have hit Faustina Agyeiwaa, his 52-year-old mother, several times in the head with a pestle until she fell down, and thereafter he followed up with naked flames in attempts to burn her.

 

Sources said Gyan was arrested and brought to the station by his own father, Isaac Somuah, aged 58, assisted by one Stephen Amponsah.

 

Somuah and Amponsah told the police that Gyan had accused his mother of taking his memory card, which the mother denied.

 

They said Emmanuel became furious and started attacking the mother with a pestle by hitting her on the head several times until she died on the spot.

 

Her body has since been deposited at the Bibiani government hospital mortuary, awaiting an autopsy.

Teleology Holdings, a special purpose vehicle promoted by Adrian Wood, a former chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria, has been selected as the preferred bidder of 9mobile, according to New Telegraph.

Adrian Wood

Teleology, a private equity firm with an investment portfolio of $11bn, offered more than $500 million to acquire the mobile network while Smile offered about $300 million.

 

This development may have brought to an end the acquisition process supervised by Barclays Africa.

 

Smile Telecoms Holdings, a telco operating in Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Congo DR and South Africa, is the reserve bidder.

 

It was, however, gathered both companies will be given 30 days to prove that they have the financial resources to take over the troubled telco, just as an official announcement is expected to be made, latest, next Monday.

 

While over 10 bidders had indicated interest in acquiring the mobile network, only five were shortlisted before the number was further reduced to three.

 

Globacom and Helios had failed to back their technical bids with concrete financial bids, while Airtel pulled out of the process last week, leaving just Teleology and Smile Communications in the acquisition quest.

 

Airtel pulled out completely, complaining about “too many hidden things” in the health of the company.

 

Analysts project that if either Globacom or Airtel had taken over the company formerly known as Etisalat, they would have overtaken MTN as the biggest operator in Nigeria by a number of subscribers.

 

MTN currently has about 52 million active subscribers while Globacom and Airtel have 37 million and 36 million respective.

 

9mobile, formerly known as Etisalat, has over 17 million subscribers, which if added to either of Globacom’s or Airtel’s,  would have been higher than what MTN currently has.

 

Wood was a CEO of MTN Nigeria around 2002 was credited with building a very good business model.

 

The Australian has remained in the Nigerian business environment since November 2004 when he left MTN.

 

In July 2017, 9mobile was taken over by banks following a N541 billion debt overhang.

Mubadala Group, the major investor from the United Arab Emirates, pulled out of Nigeria’s fourth largest mobile operator as a result of the debt owed to a consortium of 13 banks.

 

The telco was then put on sale, with Barclays Africa acting as transaction advisers.

The telecom regulator, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), is expected to have the final say after decision of the interim board — because of licensing laws.

 

The NCC on January 11 had said “Barclays is expected to review the bids received by the deadline and to make recommendations to the 9Mobile Interim Board thereafter.”

After these processes, the interim board of 9mobile will then notify CBN and NCC of the winning bid.

 

“The NCC and CBN will be duly notified once the 9Mobile Interim Board accepts Barclays’ recommendations and a winning bid is determined in accordance with the terms of the exercise.

 

“The winner will now apply to NCC in order to commence the processes for securing the regulatory approvals from the Board of the NCC necessary to give full effect to the transfer.”

 http://nigeriacommunicationsweek.com.ng/adrian-woods-teleology-buys-9mobile-in-500m-deal/

Meanwhile, the ongoing sale of 9mobile has continued despite a Friday, January 12, 2018, court ruling expected to have put the ongoing sale process in shambles.

 

In the judgment, Justice Ibrahim Buba of a Federal High Court in Lagos nullified the appointment of an interim board for Emerging Markets Telecommunications Service (EMTS), owners of 9mobile, the country’s fourth-largest telecommunications service operator in Nigeria.

 

The judge gave the verdict in a ruling on an application by a firm, Spectrum Wireless Communication Ltd, which claimed it invested $35 million in EMTS/Etisalat in 2009.

 

United Capital, which is the umbrella body of all the 13 banks being owed $1.2 billion by 9mobile, had since appealed the court’s verdict.

segzy3:
Its trending on ptad official Facebook page now where some agrieved nitel pensioners are saying the ptad boss lied to them concerning the payment duration.about 5 different people testified that she said the payment will be effected 3days following verification during a meeting held in abuja last year and that was y PTAD was chosen over pencom.it was stated that both PTAD and PENCOM bosses were there present and tried to convince the pensioners on which to choose but nitel pensioners opted for PTAD cos pencom payment was installment.

I doubt if PTAD pays in bulk...

� *NS1*: *Ross Barkley transfer referred to police by Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson*

The mayor of Liverpool has asked police to investigate whether any "fraud" has taken place surrounding Ross Barkley's transfer from Everton to Chelsea.

Joe Anderson has written to the heads of the Football Association (FA) and Premier League following the 24-year-old England midfielder's £15m move.

The "circumstance" of the deal "warrants serious investigation", said lifelong Everton fan Mr Anderson.

Merseyside Police said Mr Anderson's letter "is currently being considered".

In the letter, on his official headed notepaper, Mr Anderson expressed concern about the size of the transfer fee paid by Chelsea for Barkley.

The Premier League champions had reportedly agreed to pay £35m in the summer, only for Barkley to pull out of the move to Stamford Bridge at the last minute.

He claimed: "At best, this represents a very poor deal for Everton Football Club.

"At worst, it could be seen as a deliberate attempt to drive down a player's value in the transfer market so as to benefit the player, his agent and the buying club," Mr Anderson said.

In the letter, Mr Anderson tells FA chairman Greg Clarke and Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore that he feels "it is right that the public receive an assurance on this matter".

Read more: http://v.duta.us/TE-HgAAA

On a lighter mood

Please see the sun, daily trust, punch and thisday newspapers of 11 Jan for more details