₦airaland Forum

Kano State Government says it is planing to convert five forests to grazing reserves for herdsmen in the state.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State announced this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

Ganduje said that his administration had inaugurated a technical committee on farm settlements for herdsmen in the state.

He said further that the proposed settlement would assist in boosting socio-economic ventures in the state.

“We will provide social amenities such as hospital, veterinary clinic, market, security post and schools, so that herdsmen will enjoy facilities just like other Nigerians,” Ganduje said.

According to him, herders settlement should not be a national issue, it should be state issue because they live and flourish in every state.

He said that his administration would redouble efforts to ensure that farmers enjoy more intervention programmes and projects to boost agriculture in the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/kano-to-convert-5-forests-to-herdsmen-settlements-ganduje/

Fortune has smiled on a Port Harcourt-based estate agent, Emeka Cephas, who won N50 million after staking with just N13, 000, sports betting firm, Betway Nigeria, announced yesterday.

In a statement by the Marketing manager, Lere Awokoya, Emeka played a 10-game accumulator to win this sum.

He equally affirmed that this win is the second biggest payout in Nigeria’s sports betting history.

“Nigerians appreciate our love of the game and commitment to prompt payment. Having been operational in the Nigerian market for almost two years, we are here for real. As a measure of our commitment, we will always keep our promise.


“We are a premium International brand, with fully localized operations in Nigeria,” he said.

He disclosed that the Betway WinBoost feature played a major role in Emeka’s fortune, saying, “he actually won N40 million with total odds of 3,077, but the WinBoost fetched him an additional N10m, bringing his total win to N50 million.”

Awokoya disclosed that the cheque presentation would be done today in Lagos.

Emeka joins a Ghanaian, Kwame Fosuhene, who won GHc 990,000 (N66m) from Betway Ghana recently.

https://www.akelicious.net/port-harcourt-based-estate-agent-wins-betways-n50-million/

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday promised to provide operational and logistic supports for the successful hosting of the 2019 Badagry Diaspora Festival.

Sanwo-Olu made the promise when the Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, visited him to solicit for his support as the chief host of the festival.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that the festival is tagged: “Door of Return” slated to hold sometime in October.

The governor said it was heartwarming that there were still people who have passion and believe in the national heritage, adding that the festival would open Badagry corridors for tourism.

Responding to the request of including the festival in Lagos Tourism calendar, Sanwo-Olu said the modality and well detailed plans would be looked into when the Commissioner for Tourism comes on board.

He appreciated the commission for the visit and thanked the Badagry Community as well as stakeholders for being receptive to tourists.

Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa said that the 2019 festival would mark 400 years of the history of slave trade in Africa.

The commission chairman said that they were taken out of Badagry through the point-of-no return.

She said the purpose of the visit was to intimate the governor on the project.

According to her, the festival will enable the commission to build a permanent “Door of Return” platform to further promote tourism in the area and as well in the state.

Dabiri-Erewa said that the festival would showcase Africa to the world in good light and on a positive note.

https://www.akelicious.net/gov-sanwo-olu-promises-successful-hosting-of-badagry-diaspora-festival/

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna Command, said it had arrested four criminal suspects on Aug. 8, in Jere town of Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State.





The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASC Orndiir Terzungwe, made the disclosure in a news briefing on behalf of the Commandant, Mr Babangida Dustima.



He said the four criminal suspects were arrested in connection with conspiracy, vandalism and theft in a Farm Centre on Kaduna-Abuja expressway .



“The four suspects criminally conspired, broke into and vandalised a store container at a Farm Centre, SCC, Jere belonging to Replenish Farm and the incidents were reported by the store keeper and supervisor.



He disclosed that the items carted away by the suspects include: 40 bags of NPK fertilizer, 132 litres of Atrazine chemicals, 108 litres of striker and nine sachets of caterpillar force.



He added that the total net value of the items was N813,300.



The Corps PRO also disclosed that the exhibits recovered from the suspects included Hacksaw, Padlock, three mobile telephones and empty cartons of Atrazine and caterpillar force.



He said that after investigation the suspects would be charged to court for prosecution.



He appealed to Kaduna citizens to continue to cooperate with the security agencies and always give useful information for proactive measure.



Nigeria News Agency reports that the four suspects ages are 25 years, 30 years, 37 years and 40 years, respectively.

https://www.akelicious.net/nscdc-arrest-4-suspected-vandals-in-kaduna/

Actor and former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State, Richard Mofe-Damijo a.k.a. RMD has lamented how he was abused by those who had easy access to him.

Sharing his experience, RMD recounted how he often got requests from people who wanted to have relationship with him in different capacities.

“I never take it lightly, which is why I’m usually not quick to jump in on mentoring or being a father or brother figure, because I have been a victim of relationship abuse where people take their unlimited access to me for granted, forgetting that relationship is a currency.

“Relationships, irrespective of what type, have the power to serve as a capital. There are relationships that give you leverage, some people have gotten ahead in life because of who they married, who they worked with or for. One respected person’s endorsement could do more than financial capital, so it is important not to enter into relationship with the intent of giving nothing in return, there’s no way that would work, you must be willing to service whatever relationship you have,” he said.

RMD added: “Be skillful in relationship building by being selfless, unassuming and not feeling self-entitled. Respect boundaries, don’t be a user, be humble, accountable and have integrity. Have respect, more for yourself than the one you latch on to, because it is self-respect that restrains you from behaving in ways that put you in bad light.”

https://www.akelicious.net/ive-been-a-victim-of-relationship-abuse-rmd/

The take off of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) got a notch better yesterday, when the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, signed a $4.8 million institutional support grant to the African Union (AU) for its implementation.
The grant, earlier approved by the Group’s on April 1, 2019, forms part of a series of interventions by the region’s biggest development lender in its role to accelerate implementation of the free trade agreement, seen as a major force for integrating the 55-nation continent and transforming its economy.

AU’s Commissioner for Trade and Industry, Albert Muchanga and Andoh O. Mensah, who represented the bank’s Director of the Industrial and Trade Development Department (PITD), sealed the deal that signaled the startup of the implementation.African leaders met in Niamey, Niger, on July 7 and launched the implementation phase of the free trade area agreement established in March 2018 after it became operational at the end of May this year.


Currently, 54 states have signed the deal and are set to begin formal trading next July.“The AfCFTA is going to work and we are confident that by July 1, next year, all the 55 countries would have been state parties – meaning, they would have signed and ratified the agreement and intra-African will start,” Muchanga said.

While urging the countries to use the one-year period to complete the parliamentary processes, leading to ratification, he commended the AfDB’s strong and consistent support to ensure smooth implementation of the agreement.He said the grant would be used judiciously for the rollout of various protocols relating to the structure and mandate of the AfCFTA secretariat.

The AU currently has an interim secretariat, tasked to provide the organisational structure for the permanent administrative body, its work programme and related issues, including its budget.The Niamey summit announced the siting of the AfCFTA secretariat in Accra, Ghana.

The Continental Free Trade deal has the potential to create the largest free-trade area in the world– uniting 55 African countries with a combined gross domestic product of more than $2.5 trillion.It is a major force for the continental integration and expansion of intra African trade, currently estimated at around 16 per cent.

The agreement is expected to expand intra-African trade by up to $35 billion per year, ease movement of goods, services and people across the continent’s borders and cut imports by $10 billion, while boosting agriculture and industrial exports by seven per cent and five per cent respectively.

Mensah pointed out that the deal will help to stabilise African countries, allow small and medium sized enterprises to flourish, promote industrialisation and lift millions out of poverty.

“If AfCFTA is complemented by trade facilitation reforms, reduction in non-tariff barriers, improved infrastructure and policy measures to encourage employment and private sector investments, it will stimulate poverty reduction and socio-economic development across Africa,” he said.

He added that the goals of AfCFTA are aligned to the AfDB’s flagship High 5s initiative- light up and power Africa; feed Africa; industrialize Africa; integrate Africa; and improve the quality of life for the people of Africa.


https://www.akelicious.net/afdb-offers-au-5m-grant-for-afcfta-implementation/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Wednesday, arrested 29 men suspected to be involved in internet-related fraud.

The suspects were arrested at Akoto Estate, Elebu area in Ibadan, Oyo State.



They were rounded up during an early morning raid carried out by operatives of the Commission.

Earlier, the team had conducted a series of surveillance, gathered intelligence on the activities of the suspected ‘Yahoo Boys’.


The preliminary investigation was found to be credible, leading to the sting operation.

Among the items recovered from the suspects are eight exotic cars, many costly phones and laptops, as well as documents suspected to be used for their illicit dealings.

They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.

https://www.akelicious.net/efcc-arrests-29-over-internet-fraud-in-ibadan/

Nigeria has been ranked second among countries practising open defecation globally, says the United Nations Children Fund.

Dr Geoffrey Njoku, Communication Specialist, UNICEF made this known at a Two-Day Media Dialogue in Calabar State on Wednesday.

The theme of the dialogue “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” is aimed at creating awareness to end the habit by 2025.



According to him, findings from the 2018 Water sanitation and Hygiene National Outcome Routine Mapping survey reveals that 24 per cent of the population, about 47 million people, practise open defecation.

“This campaign is trying to see what we can do not to be in the number one category of open category.

“There is need to create awareness about Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet campaign and mobilise resources to sustain the national movement.”

Njoku, however, called for behavioural change and policy reform through community dialogue, advocacy and engagement with policymakers.

He added that it was also important to drive cross-sector collaborations, especially with the private sector to improve investment in the sanitation sector.

Meanwhile, the Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, Enugu, Mr Ibrahim Conteh said that by 2030, Nigeria should be able to achieve adequate sanitation hygiene while also paying adequate attention to the needs of women and girls.

Conteh said stakeholders must, however, join forces towards improving adequate sanitation facilities in the country.



” The Federal Government has declared an emergency on the sector in 2018 and have taken steps to achieve this.

” This partnership will yield tremendous result in achieving this goal.”

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Nigeria government in 2018 launched a national campaign to jump-start the country toward becoming Open Defecation Free.

Nigeria is however second to India in open defecation, a situation that needed urgent attention to reverse.

https://www.akelicious.net/nigeria-ranks-second-in-open-defecation-unicef/

An Ifa Priest in Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State, Chief Adebola Adetimehin, has threatened that the Ijebus would go spiritual to curb the invasion of their areas by suspected herdsmen, kidnappers and bandits.

Adetimehin, who is the Oluwo Ifa of Ijebuland, said he and other traditionalists in Ijebuland would no longer fold their arms, adding that the rising cases of killings and kidnapping have become unbearable in the Ijebu axis of Ogun State.

According to Daily Post, the Oluwo Ifa charged all Ijebu indigenes to fortify themselves with charms to prevent being killed like chickens by herdsmen or bandits.

He further said this does not negate any religious belief, adding “God is the creator of leaves and other things used in preparing local charms.”

The Ijebu leader expressed sadness that the entire area had been invaded by “Fulani herdsmen”, who he said have been making the area insecure.

“We are no more secure in Ijebuland. Fulani herdsmen have invaded our land. There are villages where they have totally taken over. Even on our major roads, they put ‘cattle crossing’ symbols. What an insult!

“Look at the way kidnappers and bandits are operating on our highways too. This is becoming unacceptable. Time has come to make use of what we inherited from our forefathers to combat these killer herdsmen and kidnappers. We will make use of charms, Ijebu metaphysical powers,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/ifa-priest-vows-to-attack-killer-herdsmen-bandits-with-charms/

The National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) has advised other state governors in the country to understudy Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade’s industrialisation policy.
The NBC board members, who were in Calabar for their yearly summit, stated this after a tour of factories at the industrial park established by Ayade, saying that with Ayade’s achievements, hope is not lost yet on Nigeria.

A statement from the governor’s office yesterday said the Director-General of the commission, Malam Kawu Modibo, was of the view that the Nigerian Governors’ Forum should institute a peer review mechanism to share ideas, compare notes and learn from each other.He said: “I want to tell Nigerians that what we have seen here is real and a major contribution to the economic development of our dear country. We have seen the rice seedlings factory, the pharmaceutical factory, the Chicken processing plant, the Garment factory and the noodles factory. We have seen that young people are employed in hundreds, especially in the garment factory for the production of clothes.

“It is a fact and not fiction. It is not a conjunction or theoretical issue.”Also, a former Director-General of the commission, Danladi Bako, said he had fair knowledge of Cross River and was happy Ayade was tapping into the agricultural potentials of the state to industrialise it.

“I have had the privilege of seeing the industries at the industrial park, a brain child of Ayade. I am conversant with Cross River’s agricultural and infrastructural potentials having been a board member of the Cross River Basin Authority. I am happy Ayade is tapping the agricultural and infrastructural potentials of the state using his background as an academic, as an environmentalist and as a professor.

“He has shown us that he is also a visionary, one who can drive projects to fruition,” the former NBC DG stated. Bako, who compared factories at the industrial park to what is obtainable in Malaysia, China and Thailand, urged other governors to take a cue from their Cross River State counterpart, adding: “You are a governor in Nigeria and you have not been here, then you should not bother about governance. I encourage other governors to come and see what Ayade is doing. I am not saying they should copy but let them just come and see, and then make up their minds.”

https://guardian.ng/news/nbc-charges-other-governors-to-emulate-ayade-on-industrialisation/amp

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it has no plan to relocate its subsidiary, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) outside the Niger Delta region.

The spokesman of the corporation, Mr Ndu Ughamadu, in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, reassured the host communities and all stakeholders in the region that nothing of sort was in the plan of NNPC.

He described as unfortunate a statement credited to the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege where he reportedly condemned the purported move by NNPC to relocate NGC headquarters from the region.

Ughamadu called on the NGC host communities and other stakeholders to disregard the relocation rumour which it described as absolutely false.

“The corporation maintains that the Deputy President of the Senate might have either been misinformed or was quoted out of context.

“The subject of relocation of NGC was never on the table for deliberation by the NNPC management,’’ he added.

The NNPC spokesman said that the focus of the current management of the corporation under the headship of Mallam Mele Kyari was to ensure harmonious relationship with stakeholders and host communities.

This, he said, would enhance a win-win scenario for all.

https://www.akelicious.net/no-plan-to-relocate-ngc-outside-ndelta-nnpc-assures/

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to address concrete issues of misgovernment and devastation his administration has caused Nigerians. Atiku asked Buhari to stop intimidation and campaign of calumny against the judiciary and opposition elements.



Reiterating his resolve to continue “to stand up and speak for millions of countrymen and women who have become victims of his (Buhari’s) misrule and grand cluelessness”

The former vice president’s comments were in response to allegations by the Presidency on Saturday that he was playing up negative developments in the country and raising harmful sentiments in pursuit of his ulterior motives.

The Presidency had described Atiku’s swift reaction to the allegation of secret burial of 1,000 Nigerian soldiers in hollow graves by Wall Street Journal as a ploy to influence judicial decision in his ongoing challenge of Buhari’s election, “because he’s blinded by unbridled ambition.”

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement titled, “Atiku’s Unrelenting Appeal to Emotion: A Gambit Doomed to Fail,” accused the former vice president of merely appealing to emotion in a bid to whip up sentiment and influence the decision of the judiciary on his petition before the Presidential Appeal Tribunal.

But reacting, in a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said his sustained interventions on the state of the body politic were to provide a voice for millions of victims of Buhari’s misrule. He said Nigerians were reawakened by the United Nations to the brutal reality of how poorly the president had managed the country’s economy with a damning verdict that 98 million Nigerians live in multi-dimensional poverty.

Atiku said, “Like it is typical of General Buhari and his handlers, they didn’t make any comment about the scary statistics coming from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Perhaps, one reason they didn’t want to comment on the report is because it is factual – Nigerians in the past four years indeed live in multi-dimensional poverty.
“Quite regrettably, too, the administration has been groping in the dark since 2015, the reason majority of Nigerians decided not to reward their failures during the February 23 presidential poll, consequently, leading to the heist that characterised the conduct of that poll.

“The other plausible reason they didn’t deem it fit to respond to the report is because Atiku Abubakar has yet to make a remark on the report.”

The statement also said, “If the only reason why the Buhari administration will react to the affliction it has brought on Nigerians is for Atiku to call the nation’s attention to how bad things have gone in the country under the slumber of General Buhari, Atiku will more than always be ready to stand and speak up for the millions of countrymen and women, who have become victims of his (Buhari’s) misrule and grand cluelessness.

“A Commander-in-Chief, who fits the bill, will not act unconstrained about reports from a reputable media organisation on welfare and wellbeing of troops at the frontline of combat. Shamefully, however, up till this moment, the Buhari administration won’t cause even a blinker on the damning report.”

According to Atiku, “Like is the case with other dysfunctional aspects of the system, his (Buhari’s) administration prefers to live in denial, relying on propaganda – the only machine that they know how to operate without a glitch.

“We need to restate that Atiku Abubakar respects the practical purpose of the judiciary as an arm of government saddled with the responsibility of dispensing justice.

“Therefore, for the Buhari administration to call out the judiciary on how they might choose to do their job is not only an emotional blackmail to the bench, it is also very disrespectful to the integrity of the honourable justices of the court of law.”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/08/04/atiku-to-buhari-i-speak-for-millions-victims-of-your-governance/amp/

The Federal Government has said it is working towards amending the Marriage Act.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Georgina Ehuriah, said in Lagos on Thursday that the amendment became necessary in order for the ministry to “adequately meet the needs of citizens in the 21st century.”



Ehuriah said this while delivering the keynote address at a stakeholders’ conference with the theme, “Achieving harmonious compliance in the conduct of statutory marriage in Nigeria,” held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

The Ministry of Interior and local government areas had been locked in legal battle over who has the statutory power to conduct and issue marriage certificates.

Ehuriah said on Thursday that by the provisions of Sections 24, 30(3) and 30 of the Marriage Act, only the Principal Registrar of Marriages was authorised to print and distribute marriage certificate to places of worship throughout Nigeria.

“The implication is that any certificate not printed by and delivered by the Principal Registrar of Marriages is illegal and cannot serve the desired purposes,” she said.

She, however, said the Ministry of Interior was making arrangements to give couples whose marriage certificates were not issued in line with the Marriage Act opportunity to bring them to conformity.

Ehuriah added that the Ministry of Interior was making moves to “appropriately advise the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the legally-acceptable (marriage) certificate for the guidance of foreign embassies in Nigeria and Nigerian missions abroad.”

While disclosing that only 314 out of the 4,725 places of worship licensed by the Ministry of Interior to conduct marriages had renewed their licences, Ehuriah called on places of worship who had not renewed their licences to do so to avoid invalidating marriages conducted by them.

“The implication of this is that marriages conducted in unlicensed places of worship are not in line with the Marriage Act and cannot serve legal purposes when the need arises; and as such, unlicensed places of worship are operating contrary to Section 6(1) of the Marriage Act,” Ehuriah stressed.



The Permanent Secretary also said the Ministry of Interior had secured the necessary approval to establish Ikoyi Marriage Registry Annex “while arrangements are in advanced stages to establish Marriage Registries at Ikeja and Ibadan.”

“These, we hope, will, to a good extent, address some of the challenges being faced at the registry,” Ehuriah said.

https://punchng.com/well-legalise-unlicensed-worship-centres-marriage-certificates-fg/amp/

The Nasarawa State House of Assembly committee investigating non-payment of June salary, said about N60 million was saved from eight of the 13 local government areas of the state.

The chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Alkali (APC-Lafia North) revealed this on Wednesday while briefing newsmen shortly after a meeting with the local government chairmen in Lafia.

He said the meeting was aimed at getting situation reports from the chairmen regarding the screening of staff for June payment.

According to him, the chairmen of the eight local government areas that presented their reports of salary payments are Lafia, Toto, Karu, Kokona, Akwanga, Nasarawa Eggon, Obi and Awe.

He decried the inability of Doma Local Government Area for not screening their staff before the payment of June salary.

The committee chairmen gave Doma council 10 days to conduct the screening and report to the house.

He also urged other remaining local government areas to complete their screening exercise and report to the committee accordingly within the time schedule.

Alkali, however, expressed dismay over sour relationship between some local government chairmen and their overseers, noting that such is not healthy for the system.

The committee chairman called on staff and directors of the various local government areas to be more proactive in discharging their duties.

Alkali also called on staff of local government to be patient with the present situation, adding that the system would be rejuvenated after the exercise.

He emphasised that the committee would ensure that those found culpable face the full wrath of the law at the end of the screening.

The committee chairman further said that the committee would ensure that the challenges facing local government in the state are resolved.

The Nigeria News Agency said that council chairmen took turns to give their situation report from their local government areas.

https://www.akelicious.net/8-lgs-save-n60m-from-staff-screening-in-nasarawa/

A Federal High Court sitting in Maiduguri Borno State has sentenced the Proprietress of Dala Standard Secondary School Josephine Udeh for squandering the West African Examination Council (WAEC) registration fees of 284 students of the school.

“Josephine Udeh being the director of Dala Standard Secondary School, Maiduguri, sometime between 2017 and 2018 at Maiduguri, Borno State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did dishonestly misappropriate the sum of N5,059,000 (Five Million and Fifty-nine Thousand Naira) only being monies meant for 2017/2018 WAEC registration fees for 284 students of the said Dala Standard Secondary School, Maiduguri and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 308 of the Penal Code Law cap 102 Laws of Borno State of Nigeria and punishable under Section 309 of the same Law,” Justice Aisha Kumaliya said in court on Wednesday.


Udeh had initially pleaded not guilty upon her arraignment on Wednesday, April 24, but during the course of the trial, the prosecution presented 10 witnesses and 10 exhibits which pushed her to enter into a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC.

At the resume of the trial on Wednesday, She pleaded guilty to the amended charge in line with the plea bargain agreement she opted for. Following her guilty plea, the prosecution counsel prayed the court to convict her as charged.

The defence counsel, B.G Sanda prayed for leniency and urged the court to temper justice with mercy as the defendant has already repaid the misappropriated sum.

Justice Kumaliya pronounced her guilty as charged with a fine of N150, 000 (One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) and to spend one year in prison custody in default of the payment of the fine.

https://www.akelicious.net/school-owner-jailed-for-squandering-students-waec-fees/

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Eket Field office, Akwa Ibom State said filling stations in the state, which violated seal order must pay a fine of N1 million to the Federal Government Treasury Single Account (TSA).

It added that about 32 filling stations were sanctioned for various offences between July 23 to 26 in the state

The Operations Controller of DPR, Mr Tamunoiminabo Kingsley-Sundaye, who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Eket Local Government Area on Wednesday, said the filling stations were sanctioned for various offences such as under-dispensing, violation of DPR seal, non renewal of DPR licenses, and poor sanitary status.

Kingsley-Sundaye noted that Em-sset and Safetech Nigeria Limited had violated DPR seal order, saying that Safetech was first built without relevant approvals and the station was sealed for operating illegally.

His words, “In Akwa Ibom state, last week, some filling stations were put on seal order for committing one offence or the other.

“those filling stations that violated seal order would pay a fine of N1million to Federal Government Treasury Single Account.”

He said that the department had written to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp (NSCDC) to checkmate those filling stations that violate seal order.

Kingsley-Sundaye said that if those filling stations are operating their normal businesses, NSCDC would arrest and prosecute them according to Nigerian law.

He warned pump attendants to desist from sharp practices that would shortchange members of the public.


https://www.akelicious.net/defaulted-filling-stations-in-akwa-ibom-to-pay-fine-of-n1-million-into-tsa/

The Committee set up by Zamfara Government to find solutions to armed banditry in the state, says it has secured the release of a Korean doctor abducted seven months ago by bandits.

Chairman of the committee and former Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Abubakar (rtd), who made this known at a news conference in Gusau on Wednesday, did not however disclose the name of the Korean doctor.

He said a Nigerian who was also abducted when he went to deliver the ransom placed on the Korean doctor by the kidnappers , was also released.

The Nigeria News Agency reports that the Korean doctor was picked from General Hospital, Tsafe in January.

Abubakar said “after the expatriate was abducted, the bandits asked for ransom and when the person took the ransom to them, they also held him in the bush.

“During our negotiations, we were able to rescue both the Korean doctor and the Nigerian who took the ransom,” he stated.

The former IGP whose committee was combing the bushes of the state and negotiating with bandits for release of all abductees, said a representative from the IGP’s office, DSP Hardo was also on the team.

He said, so far, a total of 250 abductees had been rescued from different bandits camps and the number was increasing in response to the peace accord put in place by the state governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle.

He acommended leaders of the various repentant bandits camps and their members for supporting the peace process which had resulted into the current peace being enjoyed in the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/abducted-korean-doctor-regains-freedom-in-zamfara/

Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned the alleged assault of a Nigerian, Tayo Faniran, by the South African Police on Thursday.

In a statement in Abuja on Friday, the Chairman of NIDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the alleged attack as frightening and uncalled for.

“Their almost physical attack on him is most unprofessional, ” Dabiri-Erewa added in the statement issued by the Head of Media of the commission, Mr Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

“Faniran is, however, not in police net and the commission will reach him for a one-on-one interaction,’’ she said.

Dabiri-Erewa noted that some South African policemen were currently on trial for alleged maltreatment of some Nigerians in South Africa.

She said the call for caution and restraint in such matters would continue.



The alleged harassment of Faniran, a Big brother Africa Star, was seen on an Instagram Live video as South African policemen stopped him for a routine search.

He was allegedly assaulted following his insistence on riding to the police station in his own car and refusal to turn off the Instagram Live recording from his cellular phone.

https://akelicious.net/dabiri-erewa-condemns-attack-on-ex-bba-star-faniran-by-south-african-police/

The police have arrested 53 kidnap and robbery suspects, through a tip-off from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Intelligence Response Team (IRT), while 22 have been charged to Court in Abia state.

According to the Commissioner of Police, Ene Okon, during a press conference held at Police Headquarters in Umuahia, revealed that the introduction of operation Puff Adder launched in the state command is yielding the desired results.

He added that a total of eighty ammunition, firearms and other stolen items have been recovered from the suspects.

The police boss stressed that three suspected kidnappers and their armourer were also arrested.

“The arrest of three notorious kidnappers and recovery of firearms following a tip-off generated from the IGP IRT team. The team arrested three suspected notorious kidnappers, alongside their armourer, a 65-year-old man who hails from Abia state.

“All the suspects confessed to several kidnapping incidents around Aba. The police are not resting; we are hunting for other gang members.

“A total of 80 ammunitions, firearms and other stolen items have been recovered by the Abia State Police Command, and 53 suspects involved arrested while 22 have been charged to Court.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/kidnapping-robbery-police-arrest-53.html

The Unity House Foundation (UHF), a good governance advocacy group, says the open letter recently written by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to President Muhammadu Buhari was not in good taste.

Mr Kingsley Wali, UHF’s Convener, offered the group’s position on Wednesday in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Wali, who noted that the former president had free access to Buhari to express his views, wondered why Obasanjo opted for an open letter.

“As the former President of this country, he has a free access to the President of this country. He should have explored that.

“If it becomes obvious that the President does not want to see him, then he can go public.

“Until then, he should have explored all opportunities of having a conversation with the President and the administration at the highest level of consultation.

“It is motivated by other things to the best of my knowledge. All we need to understand is that he is not speaking for Nigerians, he is speaking for himself,’’ he said.

Wali, who is also a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), also faulted the Obasanjo on his statement in respect of Boko Haram.

He said contrary to Obasanjo’s claims, insurgency in the North-East and parts of North-West have been substantially tackled and reduced to the fringes of Lake Chad.

“Almost everywhere in the North, they are talking about Boko Haram. They stretch their business up to Kano, Kaduna, Abuja and Kogi. People in Abuja lived in the mortal fear of Boko Haram attack.

“Of course, you still remember the UN building, you remember the Nyanya bombing and all of those. Did those things happen under Gen. Buhari? The answer is `no’.

“What is significant is that there is no life that is not important; every life is important,’’ he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/advocacy-group-faults-obasanjos-open.html

The organisers of the Second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2020) expect it to surpass the achievements of the inaugural trade fair held in Cairo in 2018 by attracting 10,000 participants and generating intra-African trade and investment deals worth more than $40 billion, Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has said.

Oramah was speaking recently, at the formal launch of IATF2020, during the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum 2019 held on the sidelines of the 12th Extraordinary Summit of African Union (AU) Heads of State in Niamey. He told guests that the trade fair, scheduled for Kigali, from 1 to 7 September 2020, would attract more than 1,100 exhibitors from over 55 countries.

“Working with our esteemed partners, we will exceed the achievements of 2018,” he said, describing IATF2018 as a resounding success, not in the colourful displays exhibited, but in the showcasing of diversity of tradable goods by about 1,100 exhibitors from 45 countries and in the execution of deals worth about $32 billion.


That trade fair resulted in a Nigerian technology company winning a $100-million contract to provide technology-based solutions to the South Sudanese government; an Egyptian company winning contracts in many African countries to supply and install energy generation and distribution equipment worth close to $1 billion; Egyptian and Tunisian companies signing a $50-million partnership deal to create a joint venture for assembling home appliances; and the signing of a $3-billion energy generation project between an Egyptian company and an African government, the largest-ever intra-African project executed exclusively by African entities, including financial institutions, he noted.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/afreximbank-targets-40bn-deals.html

UEFA has received 19.3 million ticket requests for Euro 2020 matches in the first phase of ticket sales, the European governing body said on Monday.

UEFA said that 1.9 million requests alone were placed for the July 12, 2020, final at London’s Wembley Stadium, 22 times the stadium capacity.

Tickets for the London semi-finals and group matches in Munich and Amsterdam were also in high demand.

The 19.3 million requests by far exceed the 11 million from the same phase at Euro 2016 in France.

UEFA said that requests came from 213 countries.

In all, three million tickets are up for sale for next year’s tournament with 24 teams and 51 games in 12 countries.


UEFA will distribute 1.5 million tickets by lot before the end of the month from the first phase which ended on July 12.

In the next phase in December after the group draw fans can request tickets via the participating national federations.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/euro-2020-19m-tickets-requested-in.html

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the country is yet to attain self-sufficiency in rice production. He was speaking at the 4th National Discourse organized in Lagos by The Companion, an association of Muslim Men in Business and the Professions themed ‘Food Security: Unleashing Nigeria’s Natural Potential for self Sufficiency’.

“We used to import $5 million of rice every day. Although local rice is enhancing the economy, it is still more expensive than imported rice,” he said. Professor Osinbajo said that countries normally place subsidy on their rice to make it less expensive.

His words: “We are still at the point where we can do so much better. Once we are able to mill our rice, then we can compete with imported rice in terms of pricing.”Immediate past governor of Osun State, Rauf Aregbesola, described Nigeria as a very poor nation that needed to stand up against corruption and improve on food security.


At the National Discourse, he stated that high concentration and investment on crude oil was melting the economy without meeting the demands of Nigerians and world markets. Reacting to the country’s downward slope in agricultural development, president of Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE) and pioneer vice-chancellor of the University of Uyo, Professor Fola Lasisi, expressed displeasure over the country’s inability to achieve food security.

Osinbajo also said that a modern nation where there is peace and progress could only be built on righteousness, which could only be achieved when the citizens were ready to pay the price. He made the point as a special guest at the 50th-anniversary Lecture, Award, and Dinner of Shepherdhill Baptist Church, Obanikoro, Lagos.

The vice president noted that one of the reasons systemic corruption had been prevalent in Nigeria was because Nigerians were not ready to fight it. He disclosed that often, relatives of criminals, including religious leaders, had been in the habit of soliciting for them to be released, instead of allowing them to face the consequence of their misdeeds to serve as a deterrent.

Pastor of the Church, Rev. Israel Kristilere, said: “We believe that the Church needs to do more than what she has been doing in building the nation, not just being pessimistic, but optimistic and move into action. “We will continue to stand for the truth which exalts the nation, and the Church should be able to assist the government in carrying out its duties through godly advice.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nigeria-yet-to-attain-self-sufficiency.html

A former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has revealed that many senators are disappointed with their salaries after they got far below what they expected before getting into the Senate.

Kalu, who is the Chief Whip of the Senate, stated this on Saturday in Abuja when he addressed journalists, promising to give details of what senators earn soon.

He said: “Let me address the issue of jumbo pay. I have received my salary for June and it is far below what you people are writing.

“If a minister is travelling to Lagos, would he use his legs? What you call fat salary are monies used to run the constituency because they don’t give us additional funds.

“It is the money we use when we travel to Abia, Lagos, Badagry or Kaduna. Next meeting, I will unveil to you.

“You will now see that you are maligning and criticising the National Assembly for nothing.

“Most of my colleagues said they did not know it was going to be like this and I said we came to serve our country as senators.

“When they were outside, they were also saying that all the money was carried by the National Assembly which is not true.

“The money they have given them is not going to be enough. I have seen them crying already.

“They came to me to complain because I have seen the good and the ugly.

“I think that the media is not fair to the National Assembly. I call on you people to change your minds because there is no jumbo pay; honestly, I have not seen one.

“If I see jumbo pay that does not represent my conscience, I will speak.

“When I was governor, the state was buying my food; the state paid everything, but as a senator, nobody does that.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/many-senators-are-disappointed-with.html

The Nigerian Police yesterday said there is no time limit for reporting cases of rape and other sexual assaults to the security and other appropriate agencies in the country. They insisted that irrespective of how long it takes a rape victim to report the case, the Police and the state owe him or her a responsibility to diligently investigate the complaint and bring offenders to book.

Speaking in an exclusive interview yesterday with The Guardian in Abuja, Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba (a Deputy Commissioner of Police), however, added that although it doesn’t matter how long it takes before the reports are made, the sooner a victim calls the Police, the easier it is for it to collect the evidence needed to prove the charge.

He said: “But I will say without equivocation that when rape cases or other forms of abuses are reported timorously, the proximity in time between when the offence is committed and when they are reported helps the Police in managing investigation better, because the memories are fresher in the mind of the victim, the crime scene is less contaminated, it is easier to pick up traces and pieces of evidence from the crime scene and forensic investigations are easier and better handled.


“My recommendation is that victims of rape cases and other forms of sexual assault should endeavour to report their cases on time, but they must also know that there are no time bars to the investigation of rape cases.

“The offence is not statute-barred and they can decide to report their case any time they chose and the Police is duty-bound to investigate them.”

Mba explained that the Police have adopted a multifaceted approach in tackling the challenges associated with rape and other sexual offences, adding: “One of the things we have done is to create a specialised investigative and response units in almost all the Police stations and particularly at the State Criminal Investigative Department (CID) and Force CID levels. We have specialised sections called the Police Gender Units.

“We also have the Juvenile and Women Centres (JWC), which was specifically created, powered, trained and charged with the responsibility of responding to offences that touch on women and children, and rape is one of them. Rape is the focus of not just the gender unit, but also the juvenile and women centres.

“In some states of the federation, the Police have also been able to develop a functional and collaborative working relationship with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in those states. Our best example is Lagos State, where the state government has a dedicated unit at its teaching hospital charged with the responsibility of providing forensic support to the Police in their investigations of not just rape cases, but other sexual offences.”

Mba lamented that the Police is faced with fundamental challenges in their efforts to bring justices to rape victims and also punish and bring rape suspects and paedophiles to book, one of which is the reluctance on the part of rape victims to report rape incidence to the Police and other law enforcement agencies.


“At other times, they may make the report, but it may come very late. There is a need for us to look into some of the reasons why people are reluctant in reporting cases of rape and see how we can work together as a community and as a people to eliminate those fears.

“I think one of the reasons victims are reluctant to report cases of rape is fear of the stigmatisation that could arise from speaking out.

“The second reason, which I have also found out while relating one-on-one with some of the victims as a Police officer, is their discomfort with some of the investigative procedures.

“A lot of them are also reluctant to report for fear of embarrassment that could be associated with their report arising from media coverage. The fear of negative publicity and embarrassment associated with such publicity is also a factor.

“We have also discovered that some of the rapists leave their victims with ongoing threats of bodily harm and blackmail.”

The Force spokesman, however, explained that the Police has created special units to provide privacy to victims during the processes of investigations and assurance that their fears and concerns would be taken care of, adding: “We are also pursuing witnesses protective programmes that could help to protect the victims and their witnesses so as to give them that assurance of safety and security.”


He said most rape cases are committed by people that are known to the victims, noting: “Of all the reports we have, over 90 per cent of them are committed by acquaintances, the people that know the victims.”

Mba disclosed that the Force has been carrying out massive prosecution of rape suspects across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

Similarly, the Director of Public Enlightenment, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Arinze Orakwe, told The Guardian in an exclusive interview in Abuja, yesterday, that rape victims reserve the right to disclose their experiences anytime they wish, saying there is no national template on the timeframe a rape victim should disclose her harrowing experience.

But he called for the review of the law guiding rape cases in Nigeria to swing in favour of victims, as it would stem the tide of rising cases of paedophile and rape in the country.

He explained that the burden of proof that is placed on victims is aiding rapists and assaulters to go unpunished, adding: “NAPTIP will fully support the review of the rape law. While I am not speaking on behalf of NAPTIP, I as an individual and operator support the review of the law. The law as presently crafted is a burden on victims. Indeed, the law seeks to dampen the morale of families of victims to press charges, because it is almost impossible to prove rape cases successfully in our court of law, because of the evidence that is required.”

Orakwe also noted that NAPTIP would continue to appeal to parents to know that they are the first responders by way of protecting their children, insisting: “Parents must mind whom they leave their children with because the family knows paedophiles. Children normally submit their basic security instincts to uncles, pastors, neighbours or aunties. That is why we emphasise to parents that they must mount the first roadblock, mount the first resistance against these acts.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/no-time-limit-for-reporting-rape-cases.html

In a dramatic twist wednesday, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), Chief Frank Igwebuike, has asked the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal to remove the name of the party from the petition, challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.


But, in a swift reaction, the party’s presidential candidate in the February 23 election, Pastor Aminchi Habu, urged the tribunal to ignore Igwebuike, who according to him, is acting on his own.

In a fresh application brought by his counsel, Morrison Onunu, the national chairman of PDM said the desire to withdraw from the petition was in the interest of the nation, and not for any other consideration.

Habu and the PDM are seeking nullification of the poll that produced President Buhari as winner of the election on grounds that they were excluded from contesting the poll.

The petition with number CA/PEPC/004/2019 filed on March 19, 2019 is asking the tribunal to also conduct a fresh election that would include the petitioners.

However, at the resumed hearing yesterday, shortly after counsels to parties in the matter announced appearances, Onunu stood up to introduced himself as counsel to the 2nd petitioner, the PDM.

He said that he filed a motion on July 9, which he said have been served on all parties.

In the 14-paragraph affidavit, Igwebuike averred that PDM in its own wisdom, re-evaluated the probability of the petition succeeding and decided to withdraw from it.

He argued “that the withdrawal of the 2nd petitioner/applicant as a petitioner in this petition is in the best overall interest of the party and the nation, Nigeria”.

Igwebuike added that PDM as the second petitioner resolved and decided to forgo whatever cause of action that necessitated the filing of the petition, adding that it is no longer needed to agitate the present petition of its presidential candidate.

He further asserted in the affidavit of his motion that PDM did not reach any agreement, political gains or otherwise compromise with any of the defendants in the petition of its presidential candidate or any other person or party before seeking to pull out from the petition.

The applicant further stated that PDM’s withdrawal in the petition of its presidential candidate is voluntary and without any duress of influence; and that no undertaking or agreement has been entered into with any of the respondents in the petition.

However, in a counter affidavit to Igwebuike’s motion, the National Secretary of the party, Abubakar Gwada, dismissed the move to withdraw the PDM from the petition of its presidential candidate.

In the 18-paragraph counter affidavit, he deposed to, Gwada asserted that the national chairman is acting alone in his bid to pull out PDM from the petition.

He claimed that since the petition was filed about four months ago, the National Executive Committee and the National Working Committee of the party had not met to take any decision relating to the withdrawal of the party from the petition.

The deponent categorically stated that Igwebuike’s decision to withdraw the PDM from the petition does not have the authority of the party, adding that the petition is a joint one filed with the consent of the party and financed solely by the presidential candidate, who is complaining of unlawful exclusion from the presidential election.

He further stated that the law firm of Aliu Lemu has been retained to prosecute the petition on behalf of the party and the presidential candidate remains the counsel on record as no decision has been taken to withdraw it from the petition.

The counter affidavit further stated that PDM is still very much interested in the petition, saying a decision for it to withdraw from the petition can only be taken by the NEC and NWC of the party.

Gwada asserted that there are no extreme circumstances for the tribunal to grant the application to remove PDM from the petition, adding that it will not be in the interest of justice to allow the withdrawal of the party’s name from the petition of the presidential candidate.

However, following the request by Onunu for time to respond to the counter affidavit of the 1st petitioner, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Mohammed Garba, adjourned to July 18 for hearing of the application for withdrawal.

Justice Garba, who noted that the tribunal had at its last sitting adjourned to July 10 to present the report of the pre-hearing session, said that the application of the 2nd petitioner has scuttled the day’s proceedings.

It would be recalled that a factional Chairman of the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) had sometime last month approached the tribunal to strike out the name of the party from the petition filed alongside the presidential candidate, Ambrose Oworu, against the election of Buhari.

The tribunal however dismissed the application for lacking merit, stressing that the party cannot withdrew from the petition it jointly filed with its presidential candidate.

Meanwhile, hearing in the petition filed by the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) and its presidential candidate Chief Ambrose albert owuru has also been slated for same July 18, 2019.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/pdm-chairman-begs-tribunal-to-remove.html

Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has urged secular musicians who protested to the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to direct their future protests to the government.

The association made their position known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by its National Director, Legal and Public Affairs, Mr Samuel Vondip.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some protesters, including Charly Boy, Idris Abdulkareem and Baba Fryo on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the RCCG Redemption Camp on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The protesters called on Adeboye to speak up against what they termed the injustice in the country.

”While we appreciate the concern of the protesters over the issues they raised and the call for a better nation, we strongly believe that singling out one of our leaders and members, to say the least, is unfair.

”The entire exercise, in our view, was ill-motivated. The people who staged this insulting protest against a highly revered Servant of God in the person of Pastor Adeboye are totally ignorant of the operations of CAN.

”It needs to be known to all that Adebayo had addressed the press on several occasions, saying that as a ‘man under authority’, he cannot speak on issues that CAN or PFN have spoken about,” Vondip said.

He said that any protest against Adeboye would be viewed by CAN as a systematic insult against church leaders in Nigeria.

”Why should any group of people think that it is their right to protest and demand that Pastor Adeboye must speak on the issues they listed when CAN and PFN had spoken about them?

”On about three occasions, CAN had taken many of the issues raised by the protesters to President Muhammadu Buhari

”CAN had requested the government to do more to get the people in Boko Haram captivity released.

“We specifically mentioned the remaining Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, the Islamic preacher who is still kept in detention against the ruling of the court,” he said.

Vondip said that CAN had also spoken to those in government, especially the Christians among them who were members of the association, to speak for the oppressed in the country.

He added that they had been urged to defend their faith rather than explaining away evils in order to protect their jobs and daily bread.

The CAN national director also added that on some occasions, the association had written the National Assembly for their intervention.

”While we understand the frustration of those who organised the protest, we are against the method they adopted by directing their anger against an innocent man.

”Adeboye will never support oppression and he has been speaking against these evils in the land through CAN and, on several occasions, in his sermons.

”We further urge those who protested to direct their future protests at those in government who should do more to free those who have been in captivity for no sins of theirs.

”They should direct their protest against the people in power to make the nation safer from the attacks of herdsmen, kidnappers, ritual killers, armed robbers, armed bandits and Boko Haram terrorists.

”We have no gun to fight our battles except to speak out as we have been doing and never at the same time give up praying to God who can do all things,” he added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/direct-protests-to-govt-not-adeboye-can.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has set up a committee to investigate the voting pattern of its lawmakers during the 9th National Assembly leadership election in June.

The Party’s National Chairman, Mr Uche Secondus, who inaugurated the committee on Wednesday in Abuja, said that the committee had three weeks to submit its report.


Secondus, represented by the party’s Deputy National Secretary (South), Mr Yomi Akinwonmi, said that the 10-man committee would be chaired by Sen. Adolphus Wabara.

Other members of the committee include Prof. Wale Oladipo, as Secretary, Sen. Ben Obi, Prof. Yohana Iliya, Sen. Ibrahim Mantu, Austin Opara, Sen. Stella Omu, Margret Icheen, Mr Hassan Hyatt and Sen. Abdul Ningi.

Secondus said that the action of the party is a display of internal democracy, saying “this is the advantage PDP has over other political parties in Nigeria.


“This is what brought us to the level we are, respect for internal democracy.

“We resolve issues by dialogue, by discussions, by looking at the two sides of the coin. This you will never find in other political parties in Nigeria.”

The committee terms of reference, according to Secondus is to investigate and find out why some of the PDP members and Senators elect, failed to abide by the decision of the party during the NASS leadership election.


“To investigate and find out whether there is any involvement of the ruling party in the decision taken by the members involved.

“Where there are established reasons for taking the action by the members, the individual members should be identified so that the party creates mutual and political atmosphere for reasonable interaction with honourable members.

“To find out and recommend ways to checkmate such tendencies in the future and ensure that all members work together to defend the interest of the party at all times and circumstances.”

The national chairman advised the committee to look at all the strata of the party including the governors and advise the party appropriately.
“You have done it before and we believe you will do it again,” he said.

Secondus said that the party’s National Executive Committee and National Working Committee had the highest confidence in the committee.

He also expressed optimism that the committee would work for the actualisation of the terms of reference with the intent of defending and moving the party forward.

In his response, Wabara, said that the committee members accepted their nominations to do what he described as “very serious responsibility.”

“I promise on behalf of my colleagues in the committee that we will perform our duties in accordance with the terms of reference diligently.

“We will do it in such a manner that our members at the National Assembly will by the special grace of God remain intact and loyal to the party.’’

Wabara said that as men and women of proven integrity who were once leaders in the NASS, they would “unearth what happened’’ and submit their report even before the three weeks deadline.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nass-leadership-election-pdp-takes.html

Contrary to speculations by most international organisations that Nigeria’s population is 200 million, the National Population Commission (NPC) has said the country’s population is 198 million.

NPC Director General, Dr. Ghaji Ismaila Bello, who spoke at a press conference in Abuja, yesterday, to mark the 2019 World Population Day entitled: ‘25 years of ICPD: Accelerating the Promise, ‘ maintained that the country needs another census to ascertain the country’s actual population.

He said: “As at today, we are about 198 million. Three months ago, UNFPA brought out a figure of 201 million and we were asked to comment on that. For us, the difference between the UNFDP figure and ours is a function of assumptions. In the absence of accurate census, you have to use model and projection in order to arrive at a figure that you are projecting. There is no major fundamental difference per se between 201 and 198 million. Granted that 3 million can be the size of most countries, but when you are talking of very huge figure the margin of zero is small.

“It is imperative that Nigeria should undertake another census in the light of the recommendation of the UN for census to be taken every ten years and bearing in mind that the last census was undertaken in 2006 and we ought to have taken another census in 2016.

But, NPC’s acting National Chairman, Yusuf Anka, noted that the country still lags behind in meeting the ‘Cairo Plan’s, which gives women greater control over their lives, promote economic equality and opportunity, and stressed that the plan should be implemented.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/therere-198m-nigerians-npc.html

Dr Patrcia Auta, an economic expert says Nigeria’s delay to sign the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has cost the country the chance to host headquarters of the AfCFTA.

Ghana was on Sunday selected as the country to host the secretariat of the AfCFTA.

The AU review committee said the West African nation was awarded the right based on regional balance formula.

Ghana beat six other countries which had submitted their bids to host the secretariat. They were: Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar and Senegal.

Auta said that it was sad that a heavyweight like Nigeria remained conspicuously on the sidelines for long at a time of increased momentum toward continental integration.

“This state of affairs contrasts sharply with Nigeria’s prior activist roles on matters African in years gone by.

“In the past, Nigeria has used its political heft, economic power, and diplomatic and intellectual pedigree to seize the mantle of leadership that changed the course of African history.

“The country lost the establishment of the headquarters to Ghana. Imagine the number of employment this would have created.

“If we had signed on time and contested, there is no way we wouldn’t have won,’’ she said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/acfta-headquarters-lost-opportunity-for.html