₦airaland Forum

Oil marketers in Nigeria are still reluctant to resume the importation of Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK), after abandoning the venture for over two years on the grounds of unprofitability.

The marketers complained that access to foreign exchange (forex) for the importation of DPK is marred by irregularities.

Two years after the Federal Government removed subsidy on the product, marketers discontinued their participation in the product’s importation amid prevailing demand from households, and largely the aviation sector.

Kerosene is being imported and sourced from local refineries by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) solely, and sold to marketers at a deregulated ex-depot price of about N190 per litre. But the supply of the product has continued to be epileptic, and characterised by price differentials.

Given the rising demand for the product as aviation fuel, some households that depend on the product, pay as high as N350 per litre to get it for domestic use.
Responding to queries from The Guardian on the position of marketers, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), disclosed that marketers are facing challenges in the importation other petroleum products, and not just DPK.
MOMAN said: “In the current environment, marketers are facing challenges with respect to importation of all products whether deregulated or not, because of challenges in accessing foreign exchange at competitive rates.
“NNPC sells Dual Purpose Kerosene (DPK) to marketers at an ex-depot price of N190 per litre. If marketers were to import the product using their (marketers) importation template, the landing cost would be N225 per litre due to the rate at which we access foreign exchange.
“The full benefits of competitive importation and full price deregulation can only be felt in an environment where all importers have equal access to foreign exchange at the same competitive rates.”
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPMAN), and other marketers, said they stayed away from kerosene importation because of outstanding subsidy arrears being owed by the Government.
According to the World Bank, over 51 per cent of Nigerians reside in the rural area, and depend on kerosene to cook or light their homes or opt for firewood due to the high cost of the product. While the figure of people cooking with firewood or charcoal rises, the World Health Organisation (WHO), reported that over 470,000 Nigerians have died in the past five years from firewood induced sicknesses.
A report published by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Power for All, noted that over 66 per cent of households in Nigeria use kerosene for lighting and cooking, while the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), put the proportional use of kerosene by Nigerian households at 22.8 per cent for cooking, and 57.8 per cent for lighting, mostly by the rural and peri-urban poor.
Taofeek Lawal, the spokesperson for Nipco Plc, the marketing and distribution joint venture company of IPMAN, in a telephone interview, said although the DPK market is perceived to be deregulated, but realities have shown that it is partially deregulated.
Citing the Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) market, which is fully deregulated, he noted if the DPK market was equally deregulated fully, the behaviour of both markets would be similar.
On account of deregulation, the DPK market had seen some level of volatility in price and supply templates at the retail end.
Some marketers that still receive kerosene stock from NNPC, say compared to Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and AGO, turnover for DPK had remained the worst, while margins on the product has been discouraging.
One marketer that spoke in confidence, said: “After AGO was deregulated, no marketer waits for NNPC for supply despite the fact that NNPC also imports AGO. Marketers go on to import and sell at prices they deem fit. But for DPK, marketers still wait for NNPC’s stock after years of perceived deregulation. That means something is actually wrong with DPK deregulation in Nigeria.”
The National Operations Controller, IPMAN, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, said currently, members of the Association are not importing DPK, but insisted that the DPK market was fully deregulated.
According to him, any IPMAN member can bring in DPK after getting the necessary approvals from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), and the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).
Osatuyi said, “We will start importing DPK when the coast is clear. By this, I mean when we are through with our internal reorganisation. But I must say the demand for the product is dropping, as people are switching over to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
“Because we believe the market is fully deregulated, I don’t think we will have any issue with foreign exchange when it is time to import.”
When contacted, the Executive Secretary, DAPPMA, Mr. Femi Adewole, declined to comment. But The Guardian gathered from a member of the Association that forex constraint is a major constraint to kerosene importation.
The source said members who currently deal on the product, concentrate on the supplying to the aviation sector, adding that the margin from selling the product to households is not attractive, and as such not leveraged by marketers.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/forex-irregularities-scare-marketers.html

An intimidating resume, a litany of national and international recognition, a creative oeuvre bursting at the seams and, when you throw in a humble disposition in spite of age and achievements into the mix, what you get is Tunde Kelani, or TK, a cinematographer whose work has become a benchmark for filmmakers in Nigeria.

The 70-year-old who was recently awarded the Industry Merit Award at the Africa Magic Viewers Choice Awards (AMVCA) held on the 1st of September 2018 at Eko Hotels and Suites told the Guardian Life that his journey in the creative industry was ignited by his early contact with Yoruba culture, which in itself began when he was uprooted from his cosmopolitan environment in Lagos to a mere rustic surrounding in Abeokuta.“Growing up, I witnessed a lot, read a lot, heard a lot. So I had a lot of stories to tell,” he says. “I needed a medium to share my cultural experience and I settled for films as a medium of expression.”

But filmmaking was not TK’s first love. He had picked up photography during his last year in primary school in Abeokuta, where he was staying with his grandparents in a large communal compound. By the time he was in secondary school, he had invested a lot in cameras, including a Halina 35x, a single lens reflex camera. The trajectory into filmmaking started when he trained as a cameraman with the Western Nigerian Television (WNTV), the first Nigerian TV station, in 1970 in Ibadan.

Sans the two years he spent at the London Film School, where he got a diploma in the art and technique of filmmaking, TK has not taken his eyes off filmmaking. That single-mindedness is reflected in more than a dozen seminal films he has produced, most of which are steeped in Yoruba culture.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/2018amvca-merit-awardee-tunde-kelani.html

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has tasked the new Acting Chief Judge, Justice Muhammadu Lawal Bello, to recruit judicial officers as the government has already granted approval to hire 40 magistrates.

In a statement issued by el-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said the governor stated this during the swearing in ceremony of as Acting Chief Judge at the weekend.

The statement explained that, the recruitment of the judicial officers should follow due process, adding that they will reduce the work-load of judges in the state.

According to statement, government has so far “recruited 70 new lawyers into the Ministry of Justice. The government has granted approval to hire 40 new magistrates. We urge the acting Chief Judge to expedite this recruitment, in compliance with due process and in concert with the Judicial Service Commission.”

The governor further said that his administration has: “received recognition for timely resolution of commercial disputes and enforcement of contracts in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking. ”


El-Rufai however pointed out that Kaduna state will benefit “if we can also fast track the conclusion of criminal cases.”

“the administration is aware that there are no enough judges in the judiciary and this results in the ones we have being over worked. ”

He promised to work with the judiciary towards remedying the situation.

El-Rufai revealed that his government has proposed a legislation to expand the jurisdiction of magistrates to determine matters involving monetary claims of up to N5 million, adding that “our magistrates are currently restricted to cases not above N500,000.”

He argued that the “expanded remit of the magistrates should eventually reduce the high number of cases that begin at the high court. The Landlord and Tenant Law has also vested in magistrates, matters which were previously handled by rent tribunals.”

The governor also stated that Kaduna State House of Assembly has enacted a legislation for a new Penal Code and to domesticate the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

See full list at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/kaduna-new-chief-judge-to-hire-40.html

An NGO, Advocacy for Better Welfare of Nigeria Police, on Sunday canvassed a minimum wage of at least N100, 000 for the least officer in the Nigeria Police to ensure quality service delivery.

Mr Solomon Bankole, the President of the group, who made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that it had become imperative to sanitise and rebrand Nigeria Police through improved welfare.

According to him, the time has come to improve the condition of service of police officers to get the best out of them.


“It has become imperative to update and upwardly review the monthly salary of all officers, rank and file with a minimum of N100,000 for the least officer.
“We must advocate for improved policies and continuous review of such policies to hold the police accountable for better services and respect for human rights,” Bankole said.
The president, who called for proper discipline for all officers to serve with integrity, urged the Federal Government to prioritise regular provision of kits and motivations for the police.
He said the annual budgetary allocation expected to take care of the welfare of officers and rank and file of the Nigeria Police should be disbursed for its purposes as expected.
“For Nigerians to have a better society, there is a need for better police. Policing is a special duty and that is the reason for our campaign for better welfare package for police officers.
“There won’t be a change in the image of Nigeria Police and public perception with poor remuneration, lack of kits and other equipment designed to make the work efficient.
“With good pay, necessary kits and other equipment and motivation, most of the police misconducts and abuses will be reduced,” Bankole said.
According to him, the group will not relent on its calls for strict discipline, adherence to rule of law, human rights protection and quest for international best practices in policing.
He urged the government to be committed to removing hatred, disrepute, public hostility and loss of confidence in the police through improved welfare package.
“We are advocating for respect of rule of law and human rights of all Nigerians and foreign nationals in Nigeria.
“We are also advocating for improved policies and continuous review of such policies to hold the police accountable for better services and respect for human rights.
“Our group have strong belief in the sacrificial journey to sanitise and rebrand the image of Nigeria Police,” the president said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/ngo-advocates-n100-000-minimum-wage-for.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement to German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, that Nigerians caught up in their attempt to illegally enter the Europe are on their own.

The party said Buhari’s comments further exposed him as an insensitive leader, who doesn’t care about the plight of his compatriots.The PDP, in a statement released by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said while it does not, in any way, support illegal migrations, it does not warrant incendiary statement against citizens by no less a person than the President, who should be seeking ways to solve the problem.

The party noted that such statements by the President fuel violent attacks and inhuman treatment being meted out to Nigerians abroad, including those with legitimate documents and who engage in lawful activities.
The party said President Buhari has shown he is not bothered that no fewer than 10,000 Nigerians died in the deserts between January and May 2017 alone, while trying to escape the economic hardship and escalated insecurity occasioned by his misrule.“Is it not disturbing to Mr. President that reports by Nigerian Immigration Services showed that more Nigerians have been trapped in detention and slave camps in various parts of the world?
“Is it not also an act of gross leadership failure that, in his outburst against Nigerians, President Buhari admitted that they left in search of “greener pastures”, yet he could not articulate any solution to mitigate the suffering his administration has unleashed on our nation in the last three years,” the party queried
The PDP said it is the President’s duty, as elected leader of government, to pursue the fundamental human rights of his citizens, as well as find solution to the problems pushing Nigerians to adopt illegal migration, irrespective of the huge risks, as option for survival.
The party lamented that in another exhibition of incompetence; President Buhari could not articulate a strong response to the economic proposals brought by the German leader, thereby squandering the nation’s opportunity to benefit from her visit.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/pdp-berates-buhari-over-comments-on.html

The Chief Executive Officer of Sahara Group has stepped down from the management of the indigenous oil firm, planning to contest the Rivers State governorship election in 2019.

Cole’s resignation was announced by the board and management of the oil firm in a statement Akelicious obtained last night.


In a two-page statement, the company restated its apolitical stand, stressing that in line with the group’s corporate governance policy, it neither “sponsors nor backs any political party or actor in all of the markets it operates including Nigeria.

The statement came on the heels of media reports that Cole had already been endorsed as the preferred candidate of the ruling All Progressives Party, (APC) in Rivers State in the 2019 governorship election.

The statement said: “The Sahara Group wishes to state for the record that as a non-political and non-partisan group, it is not affiliated to any political party in any country we operate in and does not engage in Nigerian politics. Cole’s decision to participate in active politics is his individual preference and choice to which he is entitled.

“In accordance to Sahara Group’s Corporate Governance Charter and International best practice which prohibits any of our key Management or Board members from partaking in active politics, promoting or supporting any particular political organization or ideology, Cole has resigned all his board appointments and day to day responsibilities for the Sahara Group companies and its affiliates with immediate effect.

“We take the opportunity to further re-iterate that the Sahara Group of Companies is a non-political organization and has never had any political ties or affiliations to any political party, group or personalities whatsoever in Nigeria or in any of the jurisdictions in which we have business activities.

“We are a business focused on delivering value and quality services to our customers, stakeholders and the economy through innovation, efficiency and global best practices,” the statement said.

The Sahara Group of companies also involved in initiatives, alliances and activities aimed at strengthening its corporate governance and compliance systems.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/tonye-cole-resigns-from-sahara-group.html

The Muslims Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on Nigerians particularly the Muslims to cast their votes for a credible personality with good integrity in the quest to deliver the nation from the bondage of corruption, insecurity and economic woes.

The director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, in a statement made available to The Guardian said the year 2019 which is for the general elections would prove to be another opportunity for Nigerians to change the country for better.

“We remind Nigerians that the Muslim Rights Concern is concerned because we have seen acute poverty, widespread illiteracy and disease among Nigerian Muslims in particular and the Nigerian people in general.

We call on the citizens to make 2019 the date of freedom.
We appeal to civil society and the press to double their efforts in creating awareness for voters in this regard,” he said.
Akintola said: “The jackals are gathering. Political demagogues are using rhetoric to deceive Nigerians.
Most of the messages being passed across suffer from poverty of ideals and desertification of principles.
Apart from anti-corruption, all other messages lack ideological identity. Nigerians are being hoodwinked.
“In like manner, we charge Nigerians to reject politicians who propose stomach infrastructure. They are political parasites bent on defrauding the hoi polloi.
Avoid stinkingly rich politicians whose source of wealth cannot be ascertained. Ritual killing is in their character and they will not hesitate to sell Nigeria to their herbalists and marabouts.

Beware of legislators who are in the habit of delaying the budget, demanding bribe before confirming appointees and retarding Nigeria’s progress generally.
Their eyes are on super-jumbo salaries from 2019-2023 and the resultant impoverisation of the proletariat for another four years.”
He continued: “To be or not to be, that is the question: or whether we will summon the courage to declare a general caveat emptor against corrupt politicians to permanently pitch our camp with integrity, anti-corruption and the rebuilding of Nigeria’s infrastructure.
It is all about whether Nigeria should remain corrupt or not.
It is about whether leaders should have integrity or not. It is about whether or not the poor masses should remain slaves permanently,”
Meanwhile, MURIC enjoined the Lagos office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to call its officials to order and ensure that Muslim women are not further discriminated in the process of registering for the elections.
Akintola said, “There has been telephone communication between INEC officials and MURIC leadership since our last statement and we had the impression that INEC understood our fears.

We even sent out a message on social media appealing to Muslims that INEC was taking corrective measures.
We had rested the case but today’s statement has become necessary in order to redeem our image since INEC came out to deny that some Muslim women were victimized.
Nothing was said about whether or not our complaint was investigated.
“The least we expect the electoral body to do is to tell Nigerians that it will investigate the report.
We also expect INEC to issue a warning to its adhoc staff. Grandstanding cannot help in this case.
Neither should INEC engage whistle-blowers and complainants in a media war.
This will arouse negative sentiment. We simply reported cases of denial of Allah-given fundamental human right to register for the election.
Corrective measures should have been taken instead of engaging us in media tete-a-tete.

There are records of such positive interventions which have benefited all stakeholders.
“MURIC’s complaints are always based on credible information from Muslims out there in the field.
Apart from social media platforms operated by our state branches, MURIC headquarters alone has 16 different whatshap groups, facebook and other social media platforms where members file in their reports.
These reports are collated and screened by the various administrators in charge and forwarded to MURIC’s directorate for action. Our claims are easily verifiable.
“MURIC as a critical stakeholder will not attack INEC.
We are aware that the electoral body parades a lot of credible and well-trained professionals and seasoned administrators and we respect these noble people.

But that does not mean there are no black sheep in the system. There is a Judas in every twelve.
He however, assured INEC that their mission is to contribute positively to its success.
“We are aware of some of the challenges facing the electoral body.
Our efforts at bringing certain inadequacies to the attention of INEC officials should not be misconstrued as exposing the parastatal’s weaknesses.
Such complaints should be taken in good faith, investigated and necessary action taken if found to be credible.
INEC is doing its best as far as we know but overzealous staffers need to be cautioned.
Public confidence in INEC may be grossly eroded if the electoral body refuses to warn its bad eggs” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nigerians-should-make-2019-date-of.html

The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has embarked on the construction of the $120 million Bonny-Bono road.

The road which will connect Bonny to Port Harcourt is slated for completion within 40 months.

The company also plan to embark on $6 billion capacity development project for the Train 7, which had potential of creating 12,000 new jobs in the Niger Delta region.

Mr Tony Attah, Managing Director of NLNG, unveiled the company’s project at the investigative hearing into the company’s activities held by the House of Representatives Committee on Gas Resources, in Abuja.

“The big deal for us in Nigeria LNG is growing capacity. Currently we have six Trains with 22 million tonnes per annum capacity which is 7 per cent of global market share of LNG.

“We want to grow back to the 10 per cent which was what it was before. So we want to grow by about 35 per cent capacity before Australia.

“We want to grow by about 355 capacity, that will come via Train 7 project for which we have commenced the engineering design and we are looking forward to take a final investment decision not too long.’’

He also said NLNG had remitted more than 100 billion US dollars’ as revenue to the coffers of Federal Government and other equity holders in the company.

According to Attah, Federal Government through Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which owned 49 per cent equity got more than $15 billion dividends.

The company has remitted more than $6.5 billion in taxes to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) since 2009.

According to him, since the N LNG became a tax-paying company its contributions are helping to build a better Nigeria even though it does more than financial contribution.

“As a result of Nigeria LNG being in existence, we have helped to reduce gas flaring by more than 65 per cent and will continue to work with our upstream suppliers to mop-up more.

“This is because we produce the opportunity as the biggest gas sink for whatever gas is provided in the country. We have the capacity to receive that gas but I think by far the biggest opportunity is in Nigeria’s brand and reputation.

“Before NLNG, Nigeria was actually No. 2 on the undesired league of gas flaring nations in the world.

“But today, we are No. 7 ahead of other countries such as United States, I mean, United States is flaring more than Nigeria,” Attah said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nlng-embarks-on-120m-road-project.html

The Policemen at the Onipanu Station of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Felix Irobuta Idehen, 54, for allegedly defiling 11 years old girl (names withheld) from 2016 to August 24 in Shomolu area of the state.

Idehen, who resides at 8, Imagbon street Fadeyi, has been arrested by policemen of Onipanu division for defiling the primary school pupil. He was a transporter known as ‘Alaye.’


According to Child Protection Network (CPN) Coordinator of Shomolu, Toyin Okanlawon, the survivor told us that the suspect forcefully removed her under wears then had carnal knowledge of her, adding: “Human Development Initiative (HDI) at Iwaya, Yaba informed me of the case.”

Okanlawon told Akelicious that the defilement started two years ago. “The suspect has been serially having sex with the minor. He even turned her to a intimacy gadget. When we asked the little girl, she said the last time Idehen had sex with her was on August 19 and 23 multiple times,” he further said.

The CPN coordinator stated that the survivor told the rescuer that the serial rapist told her not to inform her mother about what they always did. “The minor claimed that the suspect always handle her breasts and abused her when no one was around,” he added.

The rescuer continued: “The survivor was given a medical paper for further investigation at Mirabel Centre at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

“Initially, upon interrogated, the suspect denied the allegations upon his arrest on August 24. But the IPO in charge of the case told us that the suspect has confessed to committing the evil act.”

Anambra Senator Sponsors 50 Anambra Youths to China for Skills Acquisition
David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka

50 youths from Anambra State will leave Nigeria for China to learn various skills that will aid their craft, and turn them to professionals, Chairman and CEO of Capital Oil and Gas, Chief Ifeanyi Ubah, has announced.

Ubah made the announcement when he appeared as a guest and mentor at a mentorship programme for youths of the state in Awka yesterday.
The programme, code named Digiprenuer, was organised by the Senior Special Assistant to the state governor on Youth Empowerment and Digital Entrepreneurship, Chief Ifeanyi Aniagoh for the mentorship of young people.

Aniagoh said the programme was meant to awaken the minds of Nigerian youths and help them aspire greatness in today’s digitalised world.

Ubah, who commended 10 of the youths who emerged winners for the first batch of the empowerment programme in China, said he was at the event to teach young people how to catch fish, rather than following politicians for fish. He said the youths would go in batches of 10 until completed.

He advised against negative use of the social media and waste of precious time that could be used for meaningful ventures.

Ubah noted that Nigeria was losing so much from a situation where large number of youths spent most of the productive part of the day on the social media either discussing people or spreading falsehood.

The business mogul said there were a lot of ways to make money online, and charged youths to explore them by making the best use of opportunity provided by the ‘Digiprenueur’ empowerment scheme.

He said today’s youths pursue formal education for the fun of it, leaving the entrepreneurship component of their training lacking, hence their inability to be innovative.

“Education is necessary but not sufficient to be successful, unfortunately most people go to school these days for the fun of it, just to express themselves, but the application component is lacking.

“In China there are programmes that make youths to be compulsorily productive, but here, phone is causing problem for our youths;they spend their time chatting away because that is what the society permits now.

“I think the narrative should change, the orientation of time management should change, there should be time for eating, time to work, time to rest and time to play with your phones,” he said.

The organiser of the programme,

Aniagoh, said for the youths to rule the political space in Nigeria, they have to be rooted in the business sector, agriculture sectors, information sector among others, and that the programme was meant to empower them to rule in the political sector.

CUPPs’ Candidate ‘II Defeat Buhari , Boasts PPN ChieftainVictor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The National Chairman of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Hon. Rasaq Eyiwuawi, has promised that the Coalition for United Political Parties(CUPPs) will present a presidential candidate with unblemished
records that will defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections.

The PPN leader said Nigerians were witnessing their worst of experiences in terms of high level of poverty under Buhari, saying the coalition, comprising 46 political parties will give Nigerians a presidential candidate that can pass integrity test in the election

Eyiwuawi urged Nigerians to resist the cankerworm of vote-buying that just crept into the country’s electoral system, saying the scenarios that played out in Ekiti, Ondo , Anambra and Edo States had ridiculed the country’s elections.

The PPN leader spoke in Ado Ekiti yesterday after inaugurating the 30-man State Executive Council of the party that was elected to take charge of the party in the State.

In the election, Mr. Dare Adekolu polled a total of 99 votes to emerge the state chairman of the party among other officials elected by delegates.

He said the party decided to join the coalition having become disenchanted with the lack-lustre performance under the Buhari-led regime.

“We will be happy if President Buhari is presented by APC as presidential candidate, because he will be easy to defeat.

“The candidate that will be presented by CUPPs will be someone with unblemished records. In fact, Nigerians will be surprised by the time the candidate will emerge.

“He will be a man that will be difficult to fault. A person that will make it an easy ride for us if President Buhari is presented, that is our focus and that we shall realise”, he said.

Eyiwuawi described the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State as a sham, saying they only bought the victory with alleged intention to impose unpopular candidate on the people .
“They decided to bring vote-buying into our electoral process owing to high poverty and with intention to perpetually enslave our people.

“But in 2019, we are going to sensitise the people on the need to collect their ill-gotten wealth and still go ahead to elect the right candidate, because it was the money they stole from our treasury. The CUPPs is determined to move round the country and talk to the
electorate .

“How can one sell his future for mere N4,000 or N5,000? The road from Abuja to Ekiti should be between four and five hours, but today it will take like eight hours owing to bad governance. So, we are going to work against vote- buying in 2019 and it is a task we must achieve”,
he stated.

See Photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/lagos-police-arrest-54-years-old-for.html

A Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has described Nigeria’s economy, politics and social life under President Muhammadu Buhari as ‘scary’.

“Anybody in my age who has seen this nation getting to this level under President Buhari will be scared about happening now,” Lamido declared in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital in an interview with newsmen shortly after meeting PDP delegates in the state ahead of his party presidential primaries.

The former Jigawa State governor said the nation’s core value was lost under the Buhari government. He said people no longer took human life seriously as killing of innocent persons spread across the country.

Lamido also said he is seeking the presidency of the nation to restore confidence and give youths hope, noting that the youths should be reoriented and equipped economically.

He continued, “The youths have been reduced to political thugs and touts. I am disturbed about comments i read on the social media by our youths.”


He said his major vision for the nation if given his party ticket and elected as the country president, was to give all Nigerians sense of belonging devoid of religious or tribal sentiments.

Lamido, who was foreign affairs minister during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure (1999-2007), alleged that the Federal Government has been harassing and intimidating opposition, using anti-corruption crusade as a tool.

Earlier while addressing PDP delegates, Lamido said the country needed an experienced political leader like him. He said he was part of the founding fathers of PDP in 1998.

He said those who founded the party came from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, urging the delegates to eschew religion or ethnicity in the choice of their presidential candidate and other elective positions.

“We all came from diverse ethnic groups. Religion was not an issue because our goal was to have one Nigeria. Today, the story is different. We are more religiously and ethnically divided under the APC government,” he claimed.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nigerias-situation-under-president.html

The volatile pattern of the market, occasioned by the ongoing anxiety in Nigeria’s political environment has continued to drive cautious trading by investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), as the All-share index depreciates by 0.3% yesterday.

Last week Thursday, the NSE’s All-share index had opened on a sharp gap down in the morning session, which was sustained until afternoon, as high cap stocks that had suffered losses appreciated in price, before retracing up.

Also, at the end of transactions on Friday, the gains recorded on the previous session were enough to push the indices further.


However, at the end of yesterday’s transactions, the previous trading day’s positive trend was reversed, as the gains were not enough to push the indices further.

Specifically, All Share Index (NSE-ASI) shed 114.81 absolute points, representing a decline of 0.32 per cent to close at 35,311.36 points.

Also, the market capitalisation declined by N42 billion to close at N12.891 trillion.

The negative performance was driven by profit taking in Dangote Cement, Unilever Nigeria, UAC of Nigeria, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria and Ikeja Hotel.

Analysts at Codros Capital Limited said: “Our outlook for equities in the near to medium term remain conservative, in the absence of a near term one-off positive catalyst; and more so, amidst brewing political concerns.

However, stable macroeconomic fundamentals remain supportive of recovery in the long term.”


Market breadth closed positive, with 26 gainers versus 14 losers.

Diamond Bank and Niger Insurance recorded the highest price gain of 10 per cent each, to close at N1.21 and 44 kobo per share, respectively, while Flourmill Nigeria followed with a gain of 9.77 per cent to close at N23.60 per cent.

Linkage Assurance appreciated by 9.46 per cent to close at 81 kobo, while Jaiz Bank rose 8.33 per cent to close at 52 kobo per share.

On the other hand, First Aluminium led the losers’ chart by 10 per cent, to close at 36 kobo per share.

Ikeja Hotel shed 9.68 per cent to close at N2.52, while Universal Insurance depreciated by 9.09 per cent to close at 40 kobo per share.

Japaul Oil declined by 7.69 per cent to close at 24 kobo and Secure Electronic Technology shed 4.76 per cent to close at 20 kobo per share.

The total volume traded depreciated by 66.12 per cent to 178.81 million shares, worth N2.02 billion, and traded in 2,981 deals.

Transactions in the shares of Nigerian Aviation Handling Company topped the activity chart with 19.23 million shares valued at N73.05 million.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/bears-emerge-as-index-drops-by-03-amid.html

resident Muhammadu Buhari has commended the Kingdom of Denmark for entering into partnership with the Kaduna State Government to establish Dairy Farm in the State.

President Buhari said the initiative would go a long way in curbing clashes between cattle herders and farmers in the country.

Receiving the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Denmark, His Excellency, Mr Torben Gettermann, in a farewell audience at State House, Abuja, the President noted that establishment of dairy farms, as being promoted by the Kingdom of Denmark, “will save the country from the almost perennial problem of clashes between herders and farmers, made worse by population explosion.”

President Buhari observed that when the dairy farms are “economically viable, the cattle herders will see the need to stay in one place, as they will realize that productive considerations, rather than the number of heads of cattle, are more important.”


Explaining the concept of dairy farming further, Ambassador Gettermann, said the plan was to have 1,000 families of herdsmen with 12,000 heads of cattle in a location, where they will have veterinary attention, schools for their children, and generally live as a small community. A Danish company, Arla, will then buy the milk off the cattle farmers.

According to Chief Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, the Danish government will bring investors through its Agriculture Counsellor in the country, while the Kaduna State government will provide initial infrastructure and funding.

The statement noted that, “Dairy farming is not exactly the same thing as ranching. It will yield better meat, and the Danish company will buy the milk from the farmers. A pilot project will start in Kaduna, and then move to other locations, as it becomes commercially viable.”

After 40 years in the service of his country, Ambassador Gettermann is proceeding on retirement.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/president-buhari-commends-denmark-for.html

The Lagos State Government has reassured residents and motorists of seamless traffic movement during the three-day closure of Third Mainland Bridge for investigative maintenance test, which commenced Thursday and expected to end midnight tomorrow, Sunday, August 26th.

The state government also disclosed that following persistent indiscriminate parking of articulated trucks, particularly on Eko and Carter Bridges, plans were on to subject both bridges and others to integrity test, specifically to ascertain their durability in years to come. The state Government stressed that the test would be conducted on the facilities after the articulated trucks that have converted them to parking lot would have been evacuated in few weeks. State’s Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Ladi Lawanson, made the remarks, yesterday, at a press briefing on the update of the closure of Third Mainland Bridge, in Alausa, Ikeja.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/third-mainland-bridge-day-1-we-feel.html

The life of an 18-year-old secondary school-leaver, Amadu Atajan, has come to a tragic end after he was allegedly tortured by some soldiers attached to the Special Task Force, Sector 7, Sha District, in the Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Atajan, who gave up the ghost on Wednesday, reportedly died from internal injuries he sustained in the hands of the soldiers.


Akelicious learnt that the victim was assaulted on the account of his friend who reported a case of a stolen phone to the men sometime last week.

It was gathered that Atajan had attended the friend’s secondary school graduation in July during which he collected his Android phone to take pictures.

While the fun went on, another friend of the host was said to have collected the phone from Atajan under false pretences of using it to take pictures.

The friend allegedly left the event surreptitiously with the phone while efforts to locate him proved abortive.

Our correspondent learnt that Atajan pleaded with his friend to give him time so he could raise funds to buy another phone.

A native of the community, John Akans, who spoke to Akelicious on the telephone on Thursday, said Atajan’s friend agreed to the plea, but made a U-turn last week and reported the case to the soldiers.

He stated that the soldiers took the 18-year-old to their base and beat him up until he went into a coma.

Akans, who posted the picture of the victim on Facebook while he was on a stretcher, said he was rushed to the general hospital in the neighbourhood.


He said, “About one month ago, his (Atajan’s) close friend invited him to his secondary school graduation. The friend gave him an Android phone which they used to take pictures. Somebody came and begged him to give him the phone so he could use it to snap. He innocently gave him the phone, but the boy disappeared with the phone. They looked for him within the school premises but could not locate him.

“The victim begged his friend that he gave the phone to the boy innocently. He begged the friend that his father would deal with him if he knew about the phone. He asked the friend to give him time to pay for the phone. They agreed on that arrangement.

“All of a sudden last week, the friend reported him to some soldiers at Sector 7 of the Special Task Force, who invited him. He told them that he never knew the boy would flee with the phone and that he had pleaded with his friend to give him time.”

Akans told our correspondent that Atajan’s explanation fell on deaf ears as the soldiers reportedly tied him up and beat him with iron rods.

“Before he died, he narrated how he was tortured. He said, the soldiers hanged him upside down and tied his hands to his back. They beat him with iron rods and sticks.

“He collapsed and was rushed to Bokkos General Hospital. He was revived at the hospital but after three days, his condition worsened. It was discovered that he had internal bleeding as a result of the torture. Unfortunately, he passed on on Wednesday. He was 18-year-old; he just finished secondary school.

“This matter must be treated seriously and urgently. Nigerians must not be killed by security agents who are supposed to protect them,” Akans, who is based in Jos, the state capital, added.

The deceased’s parents, who live in the remote community, could not be reached on the telephone for comments as of press time.

When contacted on the incident, the Director, Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu, said he was on an official assignment in Borno State and directed our correspondent to the acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Gen. John Agim.

A text message sent to Agim had yet to be responded to as of press time.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/soldiers-torture-18-year-old-to-death.html

The Nigerian Army said it had successfully neutralised three insurgents during an ambush in Mayanti Village in Bama Local Government Area of Borno State on Friday.

Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, the Director, Army Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement released in Maiduguri on Friday.


He said the terrorists were neutrialised by troops of 151 battalion.

Chukwu said that weapons which include three AK 47 rifle, 3 Magazines, 32 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one motorcycle and two android phones were recovered from them.

He said that effort were made to get the other fleeing members of the Boko Haram terrorists.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nigerian-army-neutralises-3-boko-haram.html

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has signed into law the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Bill 2018 which outlaws illegal collections and forceful entry by touts into development sites.

Okowa also on Friday in Asaba, assented to the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC) Amendment Bill 2018.

The governor after signing the bills said that harassment of property developers by touts in the name of “deve” had chased away a lot of developers from the state.

He, however, expressed confidence that with the signing into law of the bill prohibiting illegal and forceful entry into development sites, the state would witness speedy development.

“We will collaborate with the State House of Assembly to ensure that laws are passed to impact positively on the lives of our people.

“I am glad that this bill to prohibit the forcefully entry into public and private properties has been signed into law.


“It will stop youths from trespassing into property development sites in the state and make investment to thrive.

“This prohibition will impact on the lives of our people and bring investment sanity into the state,” Okowa said.

The governor said that the amendment of the DESOPADEC law was meant to ensure that no vacuum was created in the leadership of the commission.

He added that government could now extend the tenure of the board under given circumstances.

He commended the state legislature for its cordial relationship with the executive in bringing development to the people.

Earlier, the Speaker of the House, Sheriff Oborevwori, while presenting the bills to the governor, said that the bills passed through all the processes required for them to be passed.

He also added that they were meant to impact positively on the people of the state by ensuring peace, boosting the economy and bringing development to the state.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/gov-okowa-assents-to-bill-prohibiting.html

The African Democratic Congress (ADC, has countered President Muhamadu Buhari’s claim of good governance in the last three years.

President Buhari had said that members of the opposition cannot fault the efforts his administration had made in its three major areas of focus, namely security, economy and the fight against corruption.

Buhari stated this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu on Thursday in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State, while hosting some state governors elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, some federal and state lawmakers and state commissioners to a lunch.

Buhari said he would continue to do what he was expected to do in the leadership position God had given him.
Disagreeing with Buhari’s claim, the Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Chief Okey Nwosu, said it was unfortunate that Buhari had converted the exalted office of the President to a “lie manufacturing plant.”
Nwosu, whose party has been endorsed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, said statistics from every credible organisation and even agencies of government showed that poverty and unemployment had worsened.

He further stated that the crisis in the Middle Belt had reached unprecedented levels under the Buhari administration and it was therefore deceptive of Buhari to claim that he had effectively tackled insecurity.
The ADC chairman said “Transparency International had exposed Buhari’s anti-graft war for the sham that it was and subsequently urged the President to focus on improving the lives of Nigerians rather than propaganda.
“Buhari has turned the Presidency into a lie manufacturing plant. He has no right to evaluate himself. It is Nigerians that are supposed to assess his performance. However, the facts speak for themselves. Under Buhari, poverty and unemployment have worsened.
“He claims to have effectively tackled insecurity but every day new IDP camps are springing up. I recently returned from Borno State where I saw IDP camps all over the place.”

Full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/buhari-govt-full-of-lies-says-adc.html

The Ogun State Police Command says it has arrested a priest, Lekan Olukolu, for the death of a 25-year-old woman, Idowu Ogunkoya, who allegedly died in his shrine.

The police added that the suspect was arrested on Sunday, August 19, 2018.


The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the suspect was arrested following a complaint lodged by one Lucky Oghenetega.

He said Oghenetega reported at the Ago Iwoye Police Division that the deceased, who was his fiancé, was taken to the shrine of the priest by her parents for spiritual cleansing because they suspected her of witchcraft.

Oyeyemi said Oghenetega further told the police that when the woman got to the shrine, the priest shaved her head and gave her a liquid substance to drink in order to deliver her.

Oghenetega was quoted to have said that the deceased slumped and died immediately after taking the liquid substance.

Oyeyemi said, “On the strength of the report, the Divisional Police Officer, Ago Iwoye division, Adeola Adedoyin, led detectives to the shrine situated at the Ojuolota area of Ijesha Road in Ago Iwoye, where the priest was promptly arrested.”

He was said to have been arrested alongside the father of the deceased one Temitayo Ogunkoya.

The state police spokesman stated that the state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, had ordered the transfer of the suspects to Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department in Abeokuta for further investigation.

“The CP also warned members of the public to desist from primitive and barbaric ways of dealing with matters, especially issues that have to do with human life,” Oyeyemi said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/priest-nabbed-for-death-of-woman.html

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned of the dire consequence that will befall academic progress in Nigeria if authorities continue to starve the nations’ universities of funds.

The Zonal Co-ordinator, ASUU Owerri Zone, Uzo Unyebinama, who stated this while addressing members of the union in Awka, Anambra State, yesterday, blamed the situation termed, ‘abysmal condition of universities in Nigeria,’ largely on the absence of funding by the proprietors/management of universities.

In another development, Osun and Oyo state governments have been accused by ASUU of unparalleled insensitivity over the crisis rocking the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).

The union said the inability of both state governments to fund LAUTECH and pay the emoluments of members of staff of the university jointly owned by them is indicative of gross incompetence.

Onyebinama, who spoke at a press conference held at the University of Port Harcourt yesterday, said the union would resist any attempt by the two state governments to deliberately shift the burden of funding of LAUTECH to indigent students through outrageous regime of tuition fees. He said the attempt to impose another charges as means to shore of revenue for the university would be seen as a calculated attempt to deny poor access to university education.

“LAUTECH has continued to have problems of very poor funding since 2013 due to failure by owner-state governments of Oyo and Osun to take over responsibility of funding the university. They owed members of staff 10 months salaries arrears, 2013 – 2017 promotion arrears and 2009-2017 Earned Academic Allowance (EAA).

“There is no evidence of interest development at LAUTECH since inception of the present Oyo/Osun governments. In view of this ugly situation, members of staff, students, as well as their parents and sponsors, have been subjected to untold hardship,” he lamented.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/ASUU-decries-lack-of-funds-in-varsities.html

There are indications that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria’s highest crude oil producer with over 600, 000 barrels per day, has so far suspended the production of 800 million barrels worth $560 million as its Trans Ramos Pipeline (TRP), remains shut. The TRP that has capacity to deliver about 100 barrels per day, bpd to Trans Forcados Pipeline was shut in May 2018, because of leakage at different points.
Investigations showed that the pipeline has not been re-opened, barely over three months of shutdown. At the current price of $70 per barrel in the international market, the suspended output amounted to $560 million. Meanwhile, the company has embarked on clean up targeted at recovering the spilled oil from the environment. A statement sent to Vanguard over the weekend read: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), has recovered over 95 per cent of spilled oil from the recent spill incidents on sections of the Trans Ramos Pipeline (TRP) in Aghoro community, Bayelsa State, and in Odimodi community in Delta State. “The pipeline, which has remained shut-in since the incidents, supplies crude to the SPDC Joint Venture-owned Forcados Oil Terminal in western Niger Delta for export.” It stated: “A spokesperson for SPDC acknowledged the spills as very regrettable, adding that in line with the standard operating procedures of SPDC, the TRP was shut down immediately the incidents were reported and the Oil Spill Response and the Emergency Response teams were activated to manage the incidents and prevent further spillage. “As soon as clean-up and site assessment are completed, we are committed to starting the immediate remediation of the impacted areas in Aghoro and Odimodi.” It added: “Details of the cause and impact of the spills will be captured in the Joint Investigation Visits (JIV) reports, which will be released after sign-off by all parties. “The JIV is a multi-party exercise involving the regulators, the community, representatives of the state government, security agencies, and representatives of SPDC. The outcome is then signed off by the stakeholders to authenticate the findings.” The company also stated in its latest report that: “The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), as operator of SPDC Joint Venture (SPDC-JV) facilities is committed to operating SPDC-JV facilities in a responsible manner with due regard for the environment. When spills occur from SPDC-JV facilities in the Niger Delta we respond as quickly as possible, no matter what their cause. “Oil spills due to crude oil theft and sabotage of facilities, as well as illegal refining cause the most environmental damage from oil and gas operations in the Niger Delta. Irrespective of cause, the SPDC JV cleans up and remediates areas affected by spills originating from its facilities. “A key priority for Shell is to achieve the goal of no spills from its operations. No spill is acceptable and we work hard to prevent them. Regrettably, in addition to spills caused by criminal activity there were nine operational spills of more than 100 kg in volume from Shell companies in Nigeria facilities during 2017. This number is one more than the eight spills in 2016. “SPDC has publicly reported oil spill statistics annually since 1995 in the Shell sustainability report and this website further enhances transparency on spills in Nigeria from SPDC-JV facilities. It tracks the progress of our spill response from when we learn about the leak to when clean-up is completed and certified by regulators.” It added: “When a leak is identified, production is suspended and efforts made to contain any spilled oil. We regularly test our emergency spill response procedures and capability to ensure staff and contractors can respond rapidly to an incident. In line with government regulations, a JIV team visits the spill site to establish the cause and volume of oil spilled. The team comprises representatives of SPDC, regulators, government security agencies, state governments and communities sometimes with local NGOs as observers. “The SPDC-JV cleans and remediates the area impacted by spills from its facilities, irrespective of cause. In the case of operational spills, it also pays compensation to people and communities impacted by the spill. Once clean-up and remediation are completed, the work is inspected, and if satisfactory, approved and certified by Federal Government of Nigeria regulator National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/shell-suspends-8m-barrels-worth-560m-as.html

On the orders of the Abia State High Court, Umuahia, the premises of two hospitals based in Umuahia and a hotel based in Aba were have been sealed and their business activities suspended.

The sealed premises were those of Life Essential Hospital and Marantha Hospital both in Umuahia and Lakeshore Hotels and Suite Ltd in Aba.They were said to have failed to remit the sum of N13, 174,663.92, N13, 174,663.93 and N9, 841,914 respectively to the Abia State Revenue Service as PAYEE agents.made the orders in the suits brought against the defendants individually by the state board of internal revenue.Justice Wogu ruled that the trio failed to remit on demand when the said sums of money became due to the State Revenue Service within the time limited by the demand as PAYEE tax Agents.

“And that it has been proved on oath that the PAYEE Tax audit report and demand notice have been duly served on the defendants aforesaid in accordance with the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Law No 7 of 2008 and the remittance was not made,” the judge held.

About twenty such sealing of premises of banks, factories, commercial houses, hotels, Electricity Distribution Companies, Education and Research Institutions etc had been effected in the past.

Chairman of the state BIR Mr Ugochukwu Ogbonna warned tax defaulters to fulfill their statutory obligations with respect to paying legitimate taxes and levies or risk being prosecuted and having their business premises sealed if the court so orders.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/court-seals-hospitals-hotel-over-tax.html

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Nigeria Police and other stakeholders on Monday set up a system to empower Nigerians to expose corrupt officials.



Mr Kolawole Banwo, Programme Manager, (CISLAC), said this at a one-day Stakeholders Consultation towards Establishment of Steering Committee for the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC) in Abuja.



He said: “CISLAC set up the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre as a platform for citizens to report cases of corruption so that relevant institutions would address them.



“The role it will play is that it will empower citizens to speak up against corrupt practices, sometimes one of the ways to deter corruption is for the people to actually speak up against it.



“So ALAC educates people on their rights especially rights to social services and rights not to be exploited.



“This is because once they know those rights, they will be able to challenge it when somebody is doing it and then they will have a platform to report to.



“CISLAC will then escalate the cases by revealing them to the relevant institutions mandated to address such cases,” he said.



Banwo said that the stakeholders meeting was organised to discuss about the committee that would be set up for the effectiveness of the ALAC.



Also speaking, representative of the Nigeria Police, ACP Abayomi Shogunle, Head of Public Complaints Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU )said that the unit was established to effectively attend to Nigerians.



Shogunle said that the major aim was also to fight corruption in the Nigerian police force.



“When we say we are fighting corruption in the Nigeria police force, people doesn’t take us serious.



“The truth is we have the figures out there posted on the internet of cases of police officers that have been dismissed as a result of unacceptable corrupt practices.



“We have the data posted on our platform which shows that in the first two years we were able to recover N11.1 million bribe collected by police officers from members of the public,” he said.



Shogunle said that the money was returned to the rightful owners.



According to him, bail is free but due to ignorance on the part of the public and cases of some police officers abusing their office people pay.



He added that recently, the force had dismissed up to six police officers for collecting money for bail and urged Nigerians to report fraudulent officers.



He said the numbers are: 08057000001 08057000002, twitter handle is @PCRRU adding that “we need Nigerians to reach us so we can serve them better”.



Ms Bathsheba Tagwai, Legal Adviser, CISLAC, said that other stakeholders were “National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Human Rights Ommittion (NHRC) and Female lawyers.

Tagwai said others also include the EFCC ,the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, and legal aid council among others.

She said that a committee would be set up to help create synergy between ALAC and the relevant institutions to ease communication and make it more effective to help provide an improved feedback mechanism.

She said this would also help to improve resolutions of cases reported by using their good office to ensure that cases were effectively handled.

This, she said would give voice to the voiceless and also reduce corruption.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/cislac-police-in-new-partnership-to.html

I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudice as facts for public consumption.


I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation. No genuine leader of the legislature will be comfortable that the Presidency will simply write a terse letter to the National Assembly on key issues which the federal legislature is expected to later deliberate upon and give its approval. The Buhari administration consistently treats the legislature with contempt and acts as if the lawmaking body should be an appendage of the Executive. To me, this is unacceptable.


In the same way, I find it very objectionable that many stakeholders who worked strenuously to get the administration into office have now been excluded in the government and not consulted on key decisions as necessary and expected. In fact, some of them are treated as pariahs. A party that ignores justice, equity and inclusion as basic pre-conditions for peace, unity and stability cannot sustain its membership and leadership.

Let me redirect the attention of the former Governor of Lagos State to the aspect of my July 31, 2018, statement announcing my exit from APC in which I emphasized that the decision "has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist"

In that statement, I further noted that those APC elements "have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion. The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere".


Tinubu himself will recall that during the various meetings he had with me at the time he was pursuing reconciliation within the APC, I raised all the above issues. I can also vividly recall that he himself always expressed his displeasure with the style of the government and also mentioned that he had equally suffered disrespect from the same government which we all worked to put in office. I also made the point that whatever travails I have gone through in the last three years belong to the past and will not shape my decisions now and in the future.

However, during those meetings, the point of disagreement between Tinubu and I is that while I expressed my worries that there is nothing on ground to assure me that the administrative style and attitude would change in the next four years in a manner that will enable us to deliver the positive changes we promised to our people, he (Tinubu) expressed a strong opinion that he would rather 'support a Buhari on the hospital stretcher' to get a second term because in 2023, power will shift to the South-west. This viewpoint of Tinubu’s was not only expressed to me but to several of my colleagues. So much for acting in national interest.


It is clear that while my own decision is based on protecting the collective national interest, Tinubu will rather live with the identified inadequacies of the government for the sake of fulfilling and preserving his presidential ambition in 2023. This new position of Tinubu has only demonstrated inconsistency — particularly when one reviews his antecedents over the years.

Again, let me reiterate my position that my uncertain and complex relationship with Tinubu has been continually defined by the event of 2014 when myself and other leaders of the APC opposed the Muslim-Muslim ticket arrangement about to be foisted on the APC for the 2015 polls. It should be noted that he has not forgotten the fact that I took the bull by the horns and told him that in the interest of the country, he should accept the need for the party to present a balanced ticket for the 2015 General Elections in terms of religion and geo-political zones. Since that time he has been very active; plotting at every point to undermine me, both within and outside the National Assembly.

It is a surprise to me that Asiwaju Tinubu is still peddling the falsehood about the fact that my defection is about automatic ticket and sharing of resources. Members of the public will recall that when the issue of my decision to quit APC came to the fore and many APC leaders were holding meetings with me, a newspaper owned by the same Tinubu published a false report about the promise of automatic tickets, oil blocks and other benefits. I immediately rebutted their claims and categorically stated that I never discussed any such personal and pecuniary benefits with anybody. My challenge that anybody who has contrary facts should come forward with them still remains open.

It should be known that Democracy is a system that allows people to freely make their choices. It is my choice that I have decided to join others to present a viable alternative platform for Nigerians in the coming elections. Tinubu and leaders of the APC had better respect this decision or lawfully deal with it. As for me, Allah gives power to whom He wishes. Human beings can only aspire and strive to fulfill their aspirations.


Signed:

Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, CON


President of the Senate

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/the-tinubu-rhetoric-my-response-by-dr.html

MTN Nigeria has announced the appointment of Mr, Mazen Mroue as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective Monday, August 6, 2018.

With over 22 years’ experience in the telecoms and ICT industry, drawn from various MTN operations across Africa and the Middle East, Mroue joins MTN Nigeria from MTN Irancell, where he had also served as COO since July 2014.

Before then he was at different times CEO of MTN Uganda and MTN Liberia in addition to which he served as a non-Executive Director of MTN Cyprus and held different leadership roles at MTN Ghana.


In his new role, Mazen is expected to provide leadership and direction to the commercial and technical functions of MTN Nigeria.

Commenting on the appointment, MTN Nigeria’s CEO, Ferdi Moolman said,“Mazenbrings a track record of achievements and a wealth of experience to the team, drawn from telecoms markets across Africa and the Middle East.

“He has proven to be a true asset to our ecosystem, and we are thrilled to have him with us now in Nigeria.”

Mroue who had since resumed work in MTN Nigeria said, “I am excited to join the Y’ellofamily in Nigeria at this exciting time where new technologies are able to shape customers experience and where digital innovations will be key for national development.”

Mazen holds a Master’s degree in Engineering, Intellectual Systems and Networks, and is a graduate of the Harvard University Executive Programme in Leadership Development and Executive Finance from INSEAD.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/mtn-nigeria-appoints-mroue-chief.html

Following the passage into law of a recent amendment to the 2012 Law setting up the Technical University, Ibadan by the Oyo State House of Assembly, the university has now been renamed the first Technical University, Ibadan (Tech-U).

The amendment however does not in any way affect the current status of the institution as a wholly public-owned university.

The Spokesperson of the institution, Mr. Femi Babatunde in a statement said being Nigeria’s pioneer technical university, the addition of the word ‘first’ to the former rendering of the university’s name is deemed necessary to reassert its unique leadership position in the nation’s tertiary education space and beyond.


The statement reads in part; “ the recent amendment provides legal authority for Tech-U to receive grants and to enter into partnerships with public or private sources, other than the Oyo State government.

“Consequently, Tech-U may now solicit and invite private partners to invest in the university, its programmes and objectives.”

The management of the institution reassures the public that the name-change willl not compromise its avowed commitment to running a unique university committed to producing relevant researches and nurturing graduates equipped with adequate technical skills for societal transformation.

“Prospective investors are therefore free to approach the university management wherever they are willing to come in..”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/tech-u-emerges-first-technical-varsity.html

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara yesterday said accountability and prudent management of resources remained critical to making progress as well as meeting the various demands for improved infrastructure in the maritime sector of the economy.

He expressed dismay that the sector was yet to attain the desired and expected status of becoming the hub for international freight and trade in West Africa.

Speaking at the opening of a three-day investigative public hearing by the House Committee on Ports, Harbours and Waterways, chaired by Hon. Patrick Asadu (PDP, Enugu), he regretted that the maritime industry has failed to attract the required local and foreign investment in-flow which is proportionate to its contribution to both the Nigerian and West African economy, despite its great potential and enormous investment opportunities.


Quoting statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in March 2018, Dogara pointed out that Nigeria’s Ports dropped down the global ratings basically due to bad infrastructure.

He noted that major competitors in the region, including Port of Lome in Togo, Port of Dakar in Senegal, and the Port of Cotonou in Benin Republic, all delivered better efficient services than the Nigerian Ports.
“This is really not acceptable,” he said.

He identified some of the problems hindering the performance of the country’s ports to include bad infrastructure, high cost of doing business and low draught at a lot of our major waterways.
He reiterated the need to dredge the nation’s port channels to increase traffic to the various ports and invariably increase economic productivity.

Dogara said:”If we have cargoes going up north to places such as Kaduna, Kano and Maiduguri, such cargoes would not need to go through Lagos, which is already so congested.

“But for this to happen, the channels of other ports need to be dredged. Reports have it that the Lagos water channel is about 14.5 meters deep, while the Port Harcourt and Calabar channels are less than 10 meters deep, which limits their capacity to receive big cargo ships. This explains why there is so much congestion at the Lagos Port.


Full details at[url] http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/dogara-seeks-accountability-prudence-in.html[/url]

Top Nigerian lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, in strategic partnership with the Bank of Industry (BoI), has launched the Aba Finished Leather Goods Cluster Financing Programme, as part of continuous efforts to promote Made-in-Nigeria goods capable of meeting global standards for export and local consumption.

About N400million in financing provided by BoI will be made available on a quarterly basis to over 300 members of the Leather Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEPMAAS). The funds will be disbursed through the Fidelity Bank, while the Ford Foundation would provide technical support to the artisans.

Speaking at the formal launch of the initiative in Aba last week, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Nnamdi Okonkwo, said the partnership with BoI further underlines the Bank’s staunch commitment to addressing the financing challenges confronting Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria.


Noting that the financing scheme will further boost import substitution, Okonkwo, who was represented by the Bank’s Head, Corporate Bank, Obaro Odeghe, pointed out that the loans will enable them procure requisite materials and equipment for production and expansion.Under this scheme, he said the Bank will provide short-term loans with maximum obligor limits of N300,000 to N500,000 to qualified members of LEPMAAS.

According to him, the partnership with BoI is in furtherance of the financial institution’s commitment towards building the next generation of international entrepreneurs in the art of leather products manufacturing in the cluster.

Okonkwo said: “Our long-running support for the growth and development of MSMEs stems from the utmost recognition of their strategic importance, as critical agents of economic development and transformation in Nigeria.

“Under the scheme, we will also provide tailored capacity building support to members of LEPMAAS.”To enhance its Executive governance activities, and support BoI’s planned monitoring of loans under the programme, Fidelity Bank donated an ultra-modern and fully equipped secretariat to LEPMAAS.

The Bank urged beneficiaries of the financing scheme to ensure that loans are repaid to drive sustainability of the financing programme. Also speaking, Managing Director of BoI, Olukayode Pitan, said the programme is designed to provide a tailored bundle of financial and non-financial services including capacity building to qualified members of LEPMAAS.

Pitan explained that finished leather products to which LEPMAAS is a major contributor, accounts for over 80 per cent of the textile apparel and footwear component of the manufacturing sector. According to him, informal computations put yearly revenue from the cluster at over N10billion despite the competing volumes of similar goods being imported.

He said: “By providing low interest, non-collaterised loans, the Bank has provided flexibility for qualified members of LEPMAAS recommended by their line and zonal chairmen to access up to N300,000 towards the procurement of materials to expand and improve their production activities.“The programme is being implemented alongside Ford Foundation and Fidelity Bank Plc. The Foundation will be providing a grant that specifically focuses on strengthening the capacities of the leaders and beneficiaries even as monitoring structures to ensure loan repayments are instituted. Fidelity Bank will provide account management services to the loan beneficiaries.”
Ford Foundation Regional Director, Innocent Chukwuma, said the partnership with BoI is part of efforts to fulfil its commitment to leather manufacturers to encourage local production and increase campaign for adoption of made-in-Aba. To this end, Chukwuma said the Foundation would be staking a grant of $150,000 in the programme to drive social impact and enhance productivity.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/fidelity-bank-boi-unveil-scheme-to.html

The Management of the Abuja Centenary City Plc has said that the project when completed would save the country over $8billion in capital flight.


The Managing-Director of the Centenary Economic City Free Zone, Dr. Ikechukwu Odenigwu, at press conference in Abuja, said the project will accommodate most of the businesses Nigerians seek overseas.


Odenigwe said that the project will provide a 400-bed ultra-modern hospital with latest equipment adding that the design cater for tourist centres and ultra-modern sports facilities, specially meant to rake in foreign exchange from sports tourists all over the world.


The Foreign Investor and the Executive Director, Front Range, Jaimal Shergill noted that his group was replicating the infrastructural wonders they had achieved in Dubai in Nigeria.


Shergill explained that the project has 260 luxury villas, 139 office buildings, 313,697 spaces for hotel suites and service apartments and many others.


The value of the entire contract stood at $18.5 billion with N10 billion already gone in the project as part payment.


The Managing-Director, Nigeria Export Processing Authority, (NEPZA) Barrister Emmanuel Jime, said that the project came at a time the country is diversifying its economy, saying it is a sure berth for economic buoyancy.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/fg-saves-80b-in-capital-flight-on-abuja.html

Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have met to review the outcome of the report of the joint committee set up early in January on electronic transmission and collation of results.

Prof. Umar Danbatta , Executive Vice-Chairman, NCC, after the meeting with the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, on Thursday, described the forum “as a huge step toward entrenching free, fair and credible elections in the country’’.

He said the joint committee set up seven months ago by the two agencies had worked hard to produce a document on the basis of which elections could be conducted in a manner conducive, credible and transparent.

“This can only be done by leveraging the power of Information Communications Technology.
“So this is to bring to bear global best practices in the way and manner elections are being conducted all over the world,” he said.
Speaking, INEC chairman expressed delight with the way NCC picked up the gauntlet thrown by the INEC and the joint committee.

“When we started we were clear in our minds that we must challenge every national institution to contribute towards free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
“We are happy that the NCC has risen to this challenge and we look forward to implementing these recommendations.
“If there are other areas we need your collaborations we hope you will remain open to us to do so.
“But we are very happy that one major national institution has been challenged and has risen to the challenge,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/inec-ncc-finalize-pact-on-election.html

Pensioners, under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Pensioners/Federal Contributory Pension Retirees (NUP/FECOPER), on Wednesday, marched to the NUP House in Onireke, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital to the protest non-payment of their retirement benefits.

The pensioners, who carried various placards with inscriptions such as: “Pensioners are suffering’’ and “Save our Souls”, urged the Federal Government to address challenges inherent in the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Spokesman of the pensioners, Mr. Samuel Kojusola, said the Pension Reform Act 2014 as amended directed that retirement benefits should be paid not later than three months after retirement.

He expressed displeasure that many members have not been paid their retirement benefits since June 2017, and appealed to the Pension Commission to facilitate the payment without delay.
Kojusola said, “It has also come to the notice of the union that some of our members who retired between July and December 2007 have had their pension terminated since October 2017.
“Does this mean pensioners are to receive pension for only 10 years, despite an assurance that Contributory Pension retirees, especially those on programmed withdrawal, will draw pension for life? We need clarifications on these issues.”

Kojusola also called for an implementation of 15 and 33 per cent increase in pension, payment of accrued interest on bonded entitlements since 2004, as well as full payment of salaries as pension to qualified professors.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/photos-pensioners-protest-non-payment.html

Ahead of the September 22 governorship poll in Osun State, one of the gubernatorial aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Adeolu Durotoye has dumped his party.


He has been picked as running mate of the standard bearer of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Chief Moshood Adeoti.

Adeoti, a former Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG) made this disclosure in Osogbo, through his media aide, Mr Kayode Agbaje.

Speaking on his defection, Durotoye, a professor of political science in Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), said, “it is true absolutely that I have left the PDP and have been picked as running mate to the governorship candidate of the ADP”.
While explaining his rationale for dumping the PDP, he stated that “you should know when to jump out of a sinking ship and you saw what has been happening and you can see the trend that that ADP has emerged as the only credible alternative to misrule and lack of focus and agenda in Osun State”.
Durotoye further stressed that “if you have been following the trend of defection lately in Osun, only yesterday about 6,000 people defected from the APC to ADP. Today, a special adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola defected to our party, ADP. Many more defections are coming. Political party is made by the quality of the people in the party.”

“This isn’t a question of newness, people are yearning for a positive change and not a negative change or any kind of change. They know that APC is the only party now that can deliver that positive change”, he asserted.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/osun-2018-durotoye-dumps-pdp.html