₦airaland Forum

Governor Samuel Ortom, has stated that protracted attacks on Benue communities by suspected herdsmen was causing humanitarian and food crises.

The governor warned that if the development is not checked, it could result to famine across the land.



He stated this on Thursday when he visited Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in Abagena, Daudu and Gbajimba camps.

According to Ortom, the continued displacement of the people could affect the next planting season, which will lead to food shortage in the state and the country at large.
Governor Ortom appealed to those in position of authority and capable of putting an end to the crisis to do so, saying the displaced children forced out of school could be those of anyone.
While assuring that he would do everything lawfully possible to ensure the return of the displaced to their homes, the Governor expressed optimism that God would rise and wage a war against the invaders.

He promised to sustain the supply of food and other relief materials to the displaced persons, stressing that medical attention would never cease in the camps.
The governor said the visit was to reassure the displaced persons that they were not abandoned in their predicament and that everything was being done to ensure that they return to their homes as soon as possible.
Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Emmanuel Shior, in an address, appreciated the commitment of the Governor in catering for the IDPs, even as he called on the Federal Government to step up support in that regard.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/herdsmen-attacks-ortom-cries-out-over.html

Joy among the residents of Umudioka Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra knew no bound on that day when a widow, Mrs Rose Anene, alleged to have suffered a slight mental disorder, suddenly located her home and was re-united with her family.

Some residents of the community recall that her daughter, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzozie, in her mid-40s presently, was barely seven years old when medical personnel discovered that Rose suffered from post child-birth complications that resulted in her condition.

Following the complications, her husband, Anene, who is now late, took her to a healthcare provider for treatment after which she was treated and discharged.

Having recuperated for a while, Rose a native of Ilorin, Kwara, took excuse from her husband to visit Ilorin and see her parents, a community member said, pleading anonymity.

She noted that Rose stayed for a while in Ilorin and the last information passed to her husband was that Rose claimed to have left Ilorin for Umudioka Awka, her husband’s home town.

According to the informant, since then, Rose has disappeared, leaving the community members to insinuate that her mental balance might have waned.

Her daughter, Mrs Ifeyinwa Uzozie, said that she had never enjoyed motherly care, except by her father who died some years ago.

“My other siblings and I believe that our mother is not dead and in our prayers, we always pray that God shall make her to return.

“It was like a dream when I received a telephone call from my younger brother recently that our mother was brought back to my father’s house by the officials of Caring Family Enhancement Initiative,’’ she said.

Mr Chukwudi Anene, the first son of Rose, appreciated Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, the wife of Anambra governor and the founder of the Caring Family Enhancement Initiative that treated and rehabilitated her mother.

“The tears rolling from my eyes are not of anger, but that of joy. How I wish my father who died some years ago could be alive to witness this,’’ he said.

Telling how Rose was discovered, Dr Victoria Chikelu, the Anambra State Ministry of Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs, said that records of she showed that she was brought from Lagos to Anambra in 2004.

“Since I was appointed Commissioner for Women Affairs in 2014, Rose had been speaking only Yoruba language and had refused to say where she came from.

“But some days ago, she eventually spoke Igbo language and told us that she came from Umdioka Awka.

“We traversed the length and breadth of Umudioka Awka, following the description of her house she gave, before we finally located her family and she was reunited,’’ she said.

Sharing the community members’ happiness, Mr Leo Iwoba, Chairman, Awka South Local Government Area Transition Committee, said that the treatment and rehabilitation of Rose were not only a gesture to the family of Anene and Umudioka community, but a relief to the people in the area.

“I assure the residents that my council will make sure we support the family of Anene through visitation to ensure that Rose fully recovers from her challenge’’, he said.

The re-union of Rose and 10 other inmates of Mental Rehabilitation Centre, Nteje, was the highpoint of the 2018 International Women Day in Anambra, co-organised by Mrs Obiano and the state Ministry of Women Affairs recently.

Addressing guests at the event, Mrs Obiano said that she was delighted that the 2018 International Women’s Day was marked with the recovery of 11 inmates of the centre.

“I am delighted that some of our brothers and sisters who were once seen as incapable of meeting their obligations, due to various degrees of mental challenges, are today stronger.

“I must not forget the special case of our sister, Rose, who was once assumed lost but now found and physically fit to rejoin her children and other family members,’’, she said.

According to Mrs Obiano’s, more than 62 inmates out of which 47 have been treated and rehabilitated have passed through the centre since its inauguration in 2014.

She noted that some inmates of the centre were drawn from different states, including Abia, Ebonyi, Edo, Oyo State and Anambra, and were picked up from the streets for treatment and rehabilitation.

The governor’s wife explained that the inmates were sponsored to a corrective surgery as well as treatment of injuries sustained at the peak of their mental illness.

“The surgery funded by my centre is usually carried out at Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka; and we are happy to state that most of our inmates who go for the surgeries come out successfully’’, she said.

The governor’s wife also mentioned other achievements of the centre to include building of houses for indigent widows, toilets to promote hygiene in rural markets, training and empowerment of women, among others.

Mrs Obiano called on the public not to stigmatise the treated and discharged inmates of the centre, but to rather support them in taking their medication and other meaningfully engagement.

“I am using this opportunity to call for both financial, food items and other equipment to support and sustain the treatment and welfare of these inmates’’, she said.

She said that the International Women’s Day usually observed on every March 8 is a global day to make a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

“I am using this opportunity to call for the acceleration of the drive for gender parity as means of harnessing the strengths of women who are actively involved in ventures for societal progress’’, she said.

Participants who witnessed the re-union of eleven inmates at Nteje note that if other state governments across the country will replicate the development in Anambra, cases of mentally ill persons will reduce.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/mentally-ill-widow-re-unites-with.html

The accused , Tajudeen Olukoya, was on Thursday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly collecting N550, 000 from the complainant, Alhaji Umar on the pretext of leasing a space to the man for a“Suya” spot at D’Place Night Club ,lekki, Lagos. Suya is a spicy meat skewer which is a popular food item in Nigeria and West Africa; it is traditionally prepared in the Northern part of Nigeria. Olukoya, who claimed to be an estate agent, resides at Lekki area of Lagos Island and he is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining under false pretences. The accused, according to the Police Prosecutor, Insp. Benson Emuerhi, committed the offences with others now at large sometime in September 2017 at Lekki, Lagos. “The accused collected the money and failed to lease out the space as promised and converted the money to personal use.’’ The offences contravened Sections 77, 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 314 stipulates 15 years imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences. The accused, however, denied the charge. In her short ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs O. Sule Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case until May 21.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/estate-agent-bolts-with-suya-mans.html

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the “2018 World Water Day, the UN Children’s Fund has called on Nigerian Government to make access to safe water a priority. This call was made in a statement by its Communication Specialist, Ms Eva Hinds in Abuja and made available to newsmen on Thursday.

According to the statement, safe water is a right, not a privilege for every child. “It is a matter for regret that no fewer than 69 million Nigerians lack access to safe water. “Access to safe drinking water remained a challenge to majority of Nigerians, especially those in the rural areas, where 19 million people walk long distances to collect unsafe water from lakes, streams and rivers.” Hinds quoted the recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), conducted by the Government of Nigeria in 2016/17, which indicates that about 40 per cent of households do not have access to clean water sources. “Children without access to safe water are more likely to die in infancy and throughout childhood from waterborne diseases. “Diarrhea remains the leading cause of death among children under five years of age in Nigeria. Waterborne diseases one of the major contribution to stunting,” she said. She said that lack of safe water and sanitation also makes children vulnerable to other threats beyond health. According to Hinds, a stunted child is shorter than she or he could have been and will never be able to reach her or his full cognitive potential. She also quoted Mr Zaid Jurji, Chief of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, UNICEF Nigeria, as saying that for Nigeria to achieve the global goal of providing access to safe water for every citizen by 2030, it needs to make water, together with sanitation and hygiene, a national priority. Jurji said the goal was closely linked with three key results for the country – good health, environment sustainability and economic prosperity. “Many children in rural areas spend hours daily collecting water, missing out on the opportunity to go to school. “Improving water and sanitation services, as well as basic hygiene practices in Nigeria, calls for a strong commitment from all partners; the government, the civil society, the private sector and communities. “UNICEF, in collaboration with the Federal, State and Local Governments, has provided safe water during the past five years to over eight million Nigerians living in rural areas.’’ Newsmen report that World Water Day is celebrated on March 22 yearly to focus attention on the importance of water. The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’; exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/give-priority-to-access-to-safe-water.html

The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Wednesday, for three days running, extended losses, dropping by 0.46 per cent, amid profit taking. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All-Share Index dropped further by 190.93 points or 0.46 per cent to close at 41,495.43 against 41,686.36 recorded on Tuesday. Also, the market capitalisation, which opened at N14.912 trillion, dipped N68 billion or 0.46 per cent to close at N14.844 trillion. NAN reports that the market failed to react positively to the audited results being released in the market, which analysts attributed to unstable economic environment. Some blue chips posted price loses and this was led by Nestle with a loss of N30 to close N1.50 per share. Lafarge Africa trailed with N3.30 to close at N47.05, while Stanbic IBTC declined by N2.15 to close at N46 per share. Cadbury shed N1.35 to close at N12.65, while Nigerian Breweries was down by N1.20 to close at N126 per share. Conversely, Guinness led the gainers’ table for the day, gaining N4.80 to close at N105 per share. GlaxosmithKline followed with a gain of N1.05 to close at N22.05, while Dangote Flour appreciated by 75k to close at N15.75 per share. The Cement Company of Northern Nigeria added 50k to close at N18.75, while NASCON Allied also gained 50k to close at N20.50 per share. The volume of shares traded closed higher with a total of 488.97 million shares worth N5.64 million transacted in 5,524 deals. This was against the 409.21 million shares valued at N3.92 billion shares sold in 4,996 deals on Tuesday. Africa Insurance remained the most traded, accounting for 82.77 million shares worth N20.37 million. Japaul Oil and Maritime followed with 75.55 million shares valued at N42.28 million, while Fidelity Bank sold 63.88 million shares worth N151.42 million. Zenith Bank exchanged 29.59 million shares valued at N837.67 million, while FBN Holdings traded 28.78 million shares worth N344 .34 million. (NAN)

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/nse-market-indices-on-wednesday-extend.html

The abducted Dapchi schoolgirls released by Boko Haram early Wednesday morning are on their way to Abuja to meet President Muhammadu Buhari.The Secretary of the Parent’s Forum for the missing girls, Mr Katchalla, said on Wednesday afternoon that the girls have been taken to Maiduguri Airport where they will be flown to Abuja to meet with Buhari.Mr Katchalla who is a father to Aisha, one of the freed students, said though he has met with his daughter, all the girls are on their way to Abuja to meet with the President before they finally settle down with their families.

President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier sent four ministers to Dapchi town to get more information about the release of the girls. It is expected that the ministers will lead the girls to meet with the President.

More details shortly

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/photos-dapchi-girls-on-way-to-abuja-to.html

The directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted 19 Feb. 2018, has yielded fruits, with the confirmed release of 76 of the 110 abducted students in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the 76 are those who have been documented so far, adding that the release of the abducted students is ongoing.

NEWSFG Reacts To Dapchi Girls Release, Says 76 Students Released In Ongoing ProcessPublished 1 min ago on March 21, 2018 By Andrew Essien PRESS RELEASE The directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to all security agencies to do everything possible to secure the release of the Dapchi schoolgirls, who were abducted 19 Feb. 2018, has yielded fruits, with the confirmed release of 76 of the 110 abducted students in the early hours of Wednesday. In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the 76 are those who have been documented so far, adding that the release of the abducted students is ongoing. He said the girls were released around 3 a.m. through back-channel efforts and with the help of some friends of the country, and that it was unconditional. ”For the release to work, the government had a clear understanding that violence and confrontation would not be the way out as it could endanger the lives of the girls, hence a non-violent approach was the preferred option.

”Within the period when the girls were being brought back, operational pause was observed in certain areas to ensure free passage and also that lives were not lost,” Alhaji Mohammed said. He said the number of the freed girls would be updated after the remaining ones have been documented, especially because the girls were not handed over to anyone but dropped off in Dapchi.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/fg-reacts-to-dapchi-girls-release-says.html

The truck pusher in Enugu State endorse Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for second term. Place his campaign poster in front of their truck

more photos at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/photos-truck-pusher-in-enugu-state.html

Fatima Usman, a 26 years old final year student of the Department of Nursing at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), is battling for her life after acid was poured on her by two unknown tricycle operators in Borno State.

Ibrahim Yusuf, her relative who confirmed the incident to PRNigeria, said Ms. Usman was kidnapped on Friday, when she entered a tricycle in front of First Bank where she had gone to deposit some cash.

“She boarded a commercial tricycle popularly called Keke NAPEP to Baga Road, but unknown to her, one of the men in the tricycle brought out a white handkerchief and pretended as though he was having cough.

“As soon as he touched her face with the handkerchief, she passed out, only to find herself dumped at the Railway Bayan Quarters area, bathed with a substance suspected to be acid around 1 p.m.


“It’s sad that an innocent young lady like Fatima, who is already in her final year at the university and looked forward to a brighter future could be subjected to such cruel and inhumane treatment by criminal-minded Keke NAPEP operators in the state,” Mr. Yusuf said.

The UMTH Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Bashir Tahir, said Ms. Usman is recuperating.

Mr. Tahir said medical teams were still conducting relevant examinations on her to determine whether she would undergo surgical operations.

In his response, the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Damien Chukwu, who confirmed the incident, said investigation was currently ongoing to unravel the culprits behind the attack.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/tricycle-operator-pours-acid-on.html

More than four months after its owner has died, a dog still refuses to leave the entrance of a hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The dog’s owner, a homeless man, was stabbed in a local park and rushed to Santa Casa de Novo Horizonte medical centre where he died from his injuries, according to local media reports.

Following the fatal incident, the dog chased the ambulance carrying his owner and has waited at the doors of the medical centre ever since.

A Hospital staff who have provided food and water for the loyal companion said the dog, whose name is unknown, has never tried to enter the building.

It sits quietly outside waiting for the master.

Local resident Cristine Sardella shared two images of the dog on her Facebook page on February 27, telling the story of his then-four-month wait, with her post going viral.

“We have lots to learn from the animals,” her post read. “He waits for him in vain, but the love he has for his owner is eternal.”

She first noticed the dog when visiting for an appointment.

“He would get up to let people pass by, very politely, and then lay right back down again,” Ms. Sardella, a lawyer, said.

Ms. Sardella said she arranged for the dog to be picked up by a rescue organisation. But it escaped within days and made his way back across the city, walking over three kilometres to get back to the hospital.

The hospital’s director, Osvaldo Sobrinho, said they were arranging for the dog to be seen by a veterinarian and vaccinated, and a staff member was waiting to adopt him if and when it decides to leave its vigil.

It is not the first story of a dog showing unwavering loyalty to its owner.

A Japanese pooch named Hachiko famously waited almost 10 years at a train station for its owner who died after leaving it on the platform in the 1920s.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/loyal-dog-waits-outside-hospital-four.html

A 28-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly beating his mother who he said refused to buy him a new mobile phone.

He added that the poor woman also did not cook his favourite delicacy for him.

The Kenyan man, Alphonce Onyango, facing charges of assault in Umoja Estate, was also said to have demanded to be served managu (African nightshade) and beef by his elderly mother, Josphine Okoth, who is now the complainant.

According to police records, the mother to the accused was cooking for her family when the accused arrived while drunk and started to demand to be served his favourite dish, ‘managu,’ with beef and ugali.

Reportedly, his mother told him that they had not prepared what he wanted. In a fit of rage, the man began throwing a tantrum, threatening to blow his nose in the cooking pot to mess whatever she was preparing for super.

Further, the accused was said to have complained that his younger brother has been favoured by the mother and even gifted with a new phone, yet he was the eldest and deserved some respect.

The prosecution states that the mother brushed him off that he was already grown up, a statement that irritated him in front of other siblings.

For this reason, he began roughing up his mother and threatened to clobber her.

Luckily, his sickly father arrived in time and attempted to cool him down. But he turned against his father and beat him up before vanishing.

The parents reported the matter to police who pursued and arrested the culprit.

He, however, denied the charges leveled against him, pleading for leniency.

He was set free on Sh10,000 cash bail. The matter is set for hearing on June 11, 2018.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/man-28-beats-up-mum-for-not-cooking-his.html

Team Nigeria athletes for the XXI Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, are expected to depart for the games on March 24, an official of the Federal Ministry of Sports, Yemi Usikaye, said on Monday.

Usikaye, the Deputy Director, Para-Sports and coaching department in the ministry, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 56 athletes and 22 coaches would depart from Abuja ahead of the games.

“This first batch of athletes and coaches will come from Athletics, Basketball, Boxing, Gymnastics, Para Athletics, Para Power lifting, Para Table Tennis, Table Tennis and Weightlifting.


“The second batch which will consist of athletes and coaches from Wrestling and Athletics Federations will leave on April 2,’’ the official said.

An advance team of officials from the ministry departed Nigeria on March 18 to attend the Delegates’ Registration Meeting due to hold on March 22.

Athletes competing in the Games would round-off their training and proceed to Brisbane on March 24.

The athletics federation would depart with 25 home-based athletes and five coaches.

The Games Village will officially open on March 25 while team officials are allowed to check their athletes’ rooms five days before the commencement of the event.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games will hold from April 4 to April 15.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/commonwealth-games-team-nigeria-to.html

Dame Julie Okah-Donli, Director-General, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said no fewer than 13,000 trafficked persons have been rescued by the agency.

Okah-Donli disclosed this in an interview with the Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in New York at the premiere of a movie about human trafficking in Nigeria.

The movie, ‘Mrs Adams’, which premiered at the Nigeria House, came at a time Nigerians and Africans were taking the perilous Mediterranean Sea route to Europe, and was produced by QueenBlessing Itua.

“So far, we’ve rescued over 13,000 victims, we’ve prosecuted about 339 traffickers and we’ve rehabilitated about 8,000 victims as well,” she said.

According to her, the prostitution trade, which draws its recruits mainly from human trafficking, is estimated at roughly 150 billion dollars business.

She, however, cautioned Nigerians against referring to trafficked persons as prostitutes, saying they are victims, not criminals adding “a prostitute works for herself and cuts the shots”.

“But somebody who is sexually exploited does not work for herself, she work for someone else; she does not even have the freedom or access to the money”.

She said many victims were scared to talk because most traffickers were known to them – family friends, boyfriends, brothers, fear of reprisals or death because of sworn oath.

“Some of them came back with all sorts of conditions – some treatable, some untreatable, some with hepatitis, HIV, some with full-blown AIDS,” she said, adding many of the victims has psychological problems.

“A lot of them come back mentally sick and so we have to refer them to the mental hospitals because they were traumatised, they’ve been beaten, raped and used.”

Okah-Donli regretted that while NAPTIP tried to arrest the perpetrators, they sometimes connived with some law enforcement officers, who were supposed to protect the victims, and allowed them to escape.

According to her, NAPTIP is making a case to ensure that NAPTIP officials are at the airports and borders to check such abuses.


She said human trafficking involved recruitment, transporting and harbouring of human beings to exploit them sexually, for forced labour or for the purpose of organ harvesting through force, deceit, abduction, or fraud.

She accused destination countries of irregular migrants of corruption at the detention centres, saying that is where people go to buy them for organ harvesting, sexual exploitation and forced labour.

The NAPTIP chief, in an emotion-laden narrative, decried the rampant cases of organ harvesting, whereby people waiting for transplant went to the ‘black markets’ to buy the organs.

“People buy men, women, boys and girls, and use them for sexual purposes or for taking their organs off them and using them for whatever purpose or sell them outrightly.”

She said the Federal Government was responding to trafficking in persons through the domestication of the UN Convention on Transnational Organised Crimes and establishment of NAPTIP, among others.

Okah-Donli added that trafficked persons, when rescued by NAPTIP, were counselled, treated, some went back to school while some were trained in skills acquisition programmes.

“For us, ‘prevention is better than cure’. We try to prevent by sensitising everyone and of course we are trying to change the mindset of our youth who think that anything outside Nigeria is the best.

“They think when they go abroad, there’s work waiting for them, there’s money everywhere. So we’re trying to make them believe, first of all, in their country and in themselves.”

The NAPTIP chief said the Federal Government was signing bilateral agreements with the various countries of destination adding, it planned to sign mutual legal assistance with all the endemic countries.

Another book, authored by Itua, ‘We are the Blessings of Africa’, which stressed the urgent need to change the perception about Africa adding, was also launched at the event.

It was attended by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Bande, his Deputy, Amb. Samson Itegboje, and Senior Special Assistant to the Wife of the President, Dr Hajo Sani.

Others were Nigeria’s Consul-General in New York, Tanko Suleiman, representative of the Minister of Women Affairs, governors’ wives, commissioners for women affairs, and the civil society organisations.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/naptip-we-have-rescued-13000-and.html

As part of activities to mark this year’s Global Money Week and Financial Literacy Day (FLD) based on the theme ‘Money Matters Matter’, Union Bank said it has tutored over 3000 students from 30 secondary schools across the Country as part of activities. The chief executive officer of the Bank, Emeka Emuwa accompanied by the executive director, Commercial Banking, Adekunle Sonola led the team to African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta where they tutored the students on the basics of money, savings, gaining employment and becoming entrepreneurs. The Bank’s Head, Corporate Strategy and Innovation, Lola Cardoso and the Head of Corporate Affairs/ Corporate Communications, Ogochukwu Ekezie- Ekaidem were also part of the team to the school in Abeokuta. Senior employees of the Bank visited 29 other schools across the country including St. John’s School, Jos; Kabe College, Awka; Al-Birr College, Damaturu and Yewa College, Ilaro where they held similar classes for the students. During his remarks, Mr. Emuwa noted that one of the best approaches to driving financial inclusion is by engaging children and youths on the rudiments of savings in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) financial literacy initiative. While tutoring the students at African Church Grammar School, he stressed the need for the students to imbibe the savings culture at a young age. He further encouraged them to learn to prioritize their needs over their wants in order to cultivate the very useful habit of saving. Financial Literacy Day is a day set aside by the CBN during the Global Money Week (GMW) to focus on increasing the level of awareness of the youth on the importance of earning, managing and saving money in order to have a secure future. Union Bank aligns with this initiative that is targeted at getting more young people to participate in the formal banking system in order to create financially savvy citizens who trust and can navigate within the Nigerian financial system and its various institutions.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/union-bank-takes-on-3000-students-on.html

Despite the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) effort to promote financial inclusion, Nigerian banks lost over two million customers between 2016 and 2017, with several customers abandoning their accounts due to the introduction of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) which would have linked them to illicit funds flows/transfers tied to corruption.

According to statistics from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), the number of active bank accounts also reduced by 1.5 million, dropping from 65 million to 63.5 million.

The statistics obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) from the NIBSS website yesterday, showed that the total number of bank customers dropped from 61 million in 2016 to 59 million in 2017.


According to NIBSS, the banking sector, however, made great strides in linking customers’ account using the BVN.

The report showed that linked BVN accounts grew from 26 million in 2016, to 41.3 million in 2017.

According to a banking industry source, the reduction in banking customers was not unconnected to the federal government’s fight against corruption.

“When Buhari assumed office, many people abandoned their accounts, especially civil servants because of fear of investigation.

“While some totally closed down their accounts, others opted for gradual withdrawal so as not to raise alarm,’’ the source said.

The source, who works at one of the top five banks in the country, blamed the BVN for the low patronage of banking products, especially in the rural areas, where awareness was already very low.

A bank customer, Mr. Olaitan Alagbe, said she closed some of her accounts due to unnecessary and illegal charges by banks.

“First of all, the interest rate is next to nothing, so there is little reason to keep your money at the bank when you can turn it over doing other businesses,” she said.

Another customer, who preferred to remain anonymous, said he opened several accounts during the Ponzi scheme boom in the country, but was forced to abandon them after the schemes crashed in late 2016 and early 2017.

However, a source at the CBN said that the reduction in the number of banking customers was caused mainly by the introduction of BVN.

“The reduction may not necessarily be a bad thing. For example, many people opened accounts using different variations of their names.

“A person bearing Musa Salisu Mohammed, may have other accounts as Salisu Mohammed or Musa Salisu.

“So with the introduction of BVN, such customers were forced to regularise their names, however, some opted to close down their accounts, which resulted in the reduction of active bank accounts and customers,’’ the source said.

The CBN source was, however, optimistic that the financial inclusion strategy of the bank would succeed in bringing in more people into the formal banking system.

The financial inclusion strategy aims to ensure that major bulk of the money in the economy remains within the banking sector.

A major challenge in the financial inclusion process is how to ensure that the poor rural dwellers are carried along considering the lack of financial sophistication among this segment.

The CBN, money deposit banks, micro-finance banks and other stakeholders are currently implementing different policies designed to enhance financial inclusion in the country.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/03/nibss-nigerian-lenders-lost-2-million.html

The Plateau Government has expressed its readiness to join the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) towards improving healthcare services to the people.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Kuden Deyin, confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Jos that the state government would adopt the scheme to make health delivery accessible to residents.
Deyin lamented that the state workers and other citizens in the informal sector were incurring “out of pocket expenditure” whenever they want to access healthcare services.

According to him, a bill towards the introduction of health insurance scheme would soon be sent to the state House of Assembly to enable residents to access healthcare services by paying a small percentage of the service charge.
The commissioner said the ministry would also be repositioning the Primary Health Care Development Board to ensure that healthcare was brought under one management.

“This will bring about efficiency in the primary health sector and will also boost public confidence in the sector,’’ Deyin said.
He further disclosed that the ministry would send a bill to the state legislature to give the state specialist hospital a legal backing and consolidate its service delivery.

Besides, he said the designated trauma General Hospital in Riyom, which is 80 per cent completed, was strategically placed and has a specialised unit for handling accident and emergency cases.

“This hospital is strategically placed, it is on-route to Abuja and other states; most accident victims are taken to Jos metropolis for medical attention and this delay would result to the death of victims.

“However, once this hospital commences operation, it would reduce the number of deaths to the barest,” Deyin said.
NAN reports that the Riyom trauma centre has an X-ray unit, a theatre, a mortuary and staff quarters.
http://akelicious..com/2018/03/nhis-plateau-govt-expresses-readiness.html

Nigerian Government has been enjoined to reactivate the Nigerian Press Council and review its Code of Conduct so as to enable it discharge its duties effectively as enshrined in the Constitution.

Chairman of Savannah Centre, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, made the call while delivering the Inaugural PSN Confab lecture on the topic “Towards 2019 Elections: Hate Speech and Implications For Ethnic Relations” in Abuja on Monday.

The Confab themed, “Hate Speech Vs Free Speech” was organised by the Peace and Security Network, PSN, in collaboration with the Centre for Information Technology and Development, CITAD.

Prof Gambari, a former Nigeria’s permanent representative to the United Nations, who was represented said Savanna Centre attaches great importance to the issue of Hate Speech, which he insisted is not Free Speech.

The Guest Speaker lamented that the level of hate and inflammatory speeches seen in recent times were the worst since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

According to him, “Freedom of Speech cannot be absolute, freedom of speech as its limit,” adding that there was an urgent need for National Law to “redress hate speech now not later.”

On the road to 2019 general elections, Savannah Centre enjoined media managers to demonstrate absolute patriotism by not promoting any individual or group above the nation.

While stressing the important roles that the media and civil society organisations must play in curbing hate speech, Prof Gambari, warned that “a major dislocation of Nigeria is a dislocation of the African continent.”

He therefore, called on the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission and the Nigerian Press Council to work together to deal with hate speech ahead of 2019 elections while CSOs must redouble their advocacy.

Contributing, President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mrs Funke Egbemode, who was a panelist, expressed concern about promulgating new law to deal with hate speech when there are existing laws that have not been enforced.

Mrs Egbemode posited that rather than making new law, government should be more interested in getting to the root cause of hate speech so as to guide against it.


She said many people are unhappy and would always find a way of expressing their feelings, insisting that “the laws won’t fix it.”

Another panelist, President of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, said making new laws to regulate the social media gives the impression that the federal government “is out to gag the media.”

Mr Oladipo, noted that enlightened and well-informed people are not that active on the social media especially on Twitter.

He therefore, enjoined media managers in Ministries, Agencies and Departments, MDAs, to be more proactive by ensuring timely release of genuine information to the public via the Twitter.

Also speaking, the President of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Mr Waheed Odusile, said the issue of hate speech must be looked at holistically.

He said politicians must be mindful of their utterances ahead of elections, adding that media has a responsibility not to report hate speech.

Prof Bolade Eyinla, who represented the INEC chairman, said the citizens must recognise the importance of respecting the rights of others.

According to him, social media platforms have become instruments for propagating hate speech, saying that all conscious citizens must condemn inciting the population through hate speech.

The Executive Director CITAD, Mr Y.Z Yau, also lamented that hate speech is increasing as we approach 2019 elections, calling on all hands to be on deck.

According to him, there should be clear understanding about what is hate speech and free speech, steesing “it is important that we amplify that.”

Earlier, the Manager of Peace and Security Network Nigeria, PSN, Mr. Adeolu Adewumi, said the Network was established in 2013, to support better coordination of conflict prevention, response and resolution in Nigeria.

He said the PSN Confab series gathers policy makers, government officials, community leaders, experts and development partners for the purpose of discussing and reinforcing a common narrative around mitigating Hate Speeches towards 2019 and ensuring the continued presence of peace and stability.

http://akelicious..com/2018/03/hate-speech-federal-govt-urged-to.html

The latest Lassa fever outbreak in country has claimed four more lives, caused 12 confirmed new cases and 265 fresh suspected infections in one week.

An update released yesterday by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), showed that between March 5-11, 2018, 12 new confirmed cases were recorded from seven states: Edo (three), Ondo (two), Bauchi (two), Ebonyi (one), Plateau (one), Taraba (one), Ekiti (one) and Kaduna (one) with four new deaths, three in confirmed cases from Plateau, Edo and Kaduna and one probable death in Ondo.

According to the NCDC, from January 1 to March 11, 2018, a total of 1,386 suspected cases: of these, 365 are confirmed positive, nine are probable, 988 are negative (not a case) and 24 are awaiting laboratory results (pending)

The NCDC in the latest update signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/National Coordinator, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said since the onset of the 2018 outbreak, there have been 114 deaths; 81 in positive-confirmed cases, nine in probable cases and 24 in negative cases. However, Case Fatality Rate (CFR) in confirmed and probable cases increased from 23.9 to 24 per cent.

According to the report, 19 states have recorded at least one confirmed case across 55 Local council areas (Edo, Ondo, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Ebonyi, Anambra, Benue, Kogi, Imo, Plateau, Lagos, Taraba, Delta, Osun, Rivers, FCT, Gombe, Ekiti and Kaduna).

The NCDC said Kaduna State reported one new confirmed case for the first time in this outbreak as seven states have exited the active phase of the outbreak with 12 states still active.

http://akelicious..com/2018/03/lassa-fever-death-toll-hits-114-with.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCXR6_zPPDs

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola said that the Federal was making efforts to ensure steady power supply in the country. Fashola said this at the 25th Monthly Power Sector meeting on Monday in Uyo. He said that the power sector recovery programme put in place by the ministry and other stakeholders in the power sector was beginning to yield results. The minister said that the Federal Government had secured the World Bank approval for 486 million dollars Transmission Company of Nigeria transmission expansion funding. “Progress is being made with the same bank for the Rural Electrification and Distribution Expansion Funding. “Clearly, our implemental power initiative is well underway, some jobs are manifesting and the promise of steady power is real. “If we persevere, I am certain that we will witness uninterrupted power, which is the final destination of our journey.’’ The minister said that the Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP), policies, actions and programmes in the sector were meant to solve the power sector problems. He said that the policies, programmes and actions were delivering results. “One of the results is the regulation that will democratise access to meters for power sector customers. “We have reached a 7,000 Megawatts (MW) Generation Capacity and have a 5,000 MW Distribution Capacity, what is newsworthy is that in the last month, we have met with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), DisCos, and GenCos. “On how to implement the Eligible Customer Policy and increase connectivity to the 2,000 MW that is available. “In many parts of the country connected to the grid, citizens’ feedback is positive, even though all the problems are not solved. “Citizens acknowledge more power in dry weather, reduced hours of running their generators and reduction in fuel (diesel and petrol) purchase to power generators,” Fashola said. He, however, described solar energy as cleaner and more efficient source of power, emphasising that in many states, solar power is being accepted and used. The minister said consumers were already embracing the solar power generation plan, an initiative of the government to boost electricity. Fashola said that the country was moving away from theorising power to actual provision of efficient power to support trade and business, especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The minister also inaugurated the Meter Asset Provider Regulation 2018, and presented a copy of the regulation to Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom. In his remarks, Emmanuel said his administration was working toward the provision of digitalised meters in the state, adding that by 2019, every household in the state would be using a digitalised meter. Emmanuel said the metering company in the state would solve the four million meters need of the country. The governor, however, called on the Federal Government to take advantage of the metering company existing in the state. He warned against vandalism of power installations, adding that the state government would wage a war on vandals to protect the infrastructure in the sector. “The major cardinal point when we did our five-point agenda that anchored on industrialisation is also the drive that we are doing on electricity generation and distribution.’’ The governor commended Fashola for his drive and efforts in solving the power problem in the country. “If the effort is sustained, the country is close to solving its power problems,’’ he said. (NAN)

http://akelicious..com/2018/03/fashola-reassures-nigerians-of-steady.html

The Rivers State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a
statement signed by its State Chairman, Chief (Dr.) Davies Ibiamu
Ikanya and circulated by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze his Media
Consultant on Friday to Media Organisations stated that the leadership
of Rivers State APC has counselled itself not to react to most of the
unfortunate and misguided innuendos usually credited to Governor
Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike of Rivers State as the party is not so sure of
the soundness of his mind but attacking and using uncouth words on
President Muhammadu Buhari, the President and Commander in Chief of
the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is not a comment
the party can sweep under the carpet.


Governor Wike in the said statement attempts to incite the Rivers
State people against their President by insinuating that the President
abandoned the State since he assumed office. The exact words of Gov
Wike: "Since the administration has abandoned Rivers State for three
years, this visit may be a blessing in disguise". To us this statement
is inciting, provoking, uncouth and unacceptable and should be
withdrawn as a matter of urgency as we will not for any reason risk
the life of our dear President in the hands of Gov Wike and his
misguided cohorts.


The party warned Wike that the President's visit is not the same as
the visit of some Northern Governors that visited Port Harcourt in
2014 to sympathise with their colleague the then Governor of Rivers
State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi over the wicked humiliation he
suffered in the hands of Wike and his collaborators. The party
recalled with nostalgia how Wike then State Minister of Education of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria ordered his militia group the
Grassroot Development Initiative (GDI) to attack these Governors in
2014. The party warns that incase Wike is nursing similar thought
against President Buhari during his visit he should bury it before it
germinates as the scenario is no longer thesame as that of 2014.


The party states that, “Our fear is not misplaced as we all know the
type of politics associated with Wike - politics of violence but we
wish to reiterate that no harm should be visited either on our
President or any member of his delegates for any reason whatsoever
during the said visit”.


The party further stated that the visit of Mr. President is to
commiserate with the people of Omoku in ONELGA for the sad and
unfortunate killings of their loved ones during the New Year massacre
by some associates of Governor Wike and not to come and commission
Motor Parks and markets as projects allegedly claimed to have been
constructed by Governor Wike.
On the false allegation that President Buhari abandoned Rivers State
since he assumed office, the party reiterated that the present Federal
Government under the watchful eyes of President Buhari has not and
will not abandon Rivers State knowing very well the risks that most of
us took to get him elected even at the risk of our lives in the hands
of Gov Wike and his collaborators.


The party affirmed this by stating that President Buhari has visited
Rivers State on four remarkable occasions through Vice President Yemi
Osibanjo to either establish a peace pact in Niger Delta region,
commission or flag off key projects in Rivers State and for Gov Wike
because of politics to turn around to accuse President Buhari of
abandoning Rivers State is to us unacceptable, wicked, evil, divisive
and exhibition of ingratitude to a man who have done much to develop
Rivers State and the Niger Delta region.


For avoidance of doubt, the party recalled that Prof Yemi Osibanjo
with the express approval of President Buhari visited Rivers State to
kick-start the Ogoni cleanup exercise abandoned by the PDP government
with the connivance of Governor Wike; visited Rivers State to kick
start the Bonny-Bodo Road and was in Rivers State in another occasion
to inaugurate the world-class fertilizer plant built by Indorama Eleme
Fertilizer and Chemicals Limited, in Port Harcourt among other visits
by the Presidency.


Gov. Wike forgot so soon that Dr. Jonathan a son of the region in his
six years as the President of Nigeria acknowledged that he failed
Rivers State and the Niger Delta region by not embarking on any
meaningful project in the region apart from imposing him Chief Nyesom
Wike as the Governor of Rivers State to promote insecurity in the
State and the region.


The party further stated that the APC led FG under President Buhari
has proved within less than three years that APC has the best interest
of the State and region at heart by the various interventions the
Federal Government has embarked upon in the region within the last
three years:

1. The party recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari Administration
released a whopping sum of N900 billion owed the Niger Delta
Development Corporation (NDDC) by previous federal administrations
including the administration of Dr. Jonathan to assist the body
complete most of her projects in Rivers State and other States in the
Niger Delta region.

2. Rivers State will benefit from the unprecedented allocation of over
one Hundred and twenty five billion Naira (N125b) out of the N8.612
trillion appropriation bill presented by President Muhammadu Buhari on
Tuesday, November 7, 2017 to the National Assembly to fund capital
projects in 2018 in the Niger Delta region.

3. Rivers State will surely benefit from the N53.89 billion earmarked
for Niger Delta Ministry and N71.2 billion for Niger Delta Development
Commission for capital projects, also to benefit from the budgetary
allocation for the Niger Delta amnesty programme retained at N65
billion with the budgetary allocation of N17.32 billion earmarked for
the completion of the East-West Road.

4. Rivers State will benefit from the Maritime University located at
Okerenkoko in Delta State with N5bn budgeted in the 2018 budget for
its formal take off. This is a university aimed at to assist in the
development and emancipation of the Niger Delta region

5. To demonstrate the seriousness over the full implementation of the
Ogoni clean-up exercise and the execution of the Multi-Billion Naira
Bomu-Bonny road project budgetary provisions were all made in the 2018
budget which when completed would open up the economic potentials of
the Niger Delta Region beyond the shores of Nigeria all in Rivers
State.

6. The APC-led Federal Government apart from above named projects,
embarked upon the following projects - the Calabar – Lagos Rail Line
that cuts across the State, the renovation/reconstruction of both
Enugu – Port Harcourt and the West-East Road, the renovation of the
Afam Power plant in Rivers State, resumption of work on the Port
Harcourt International Airport, renovation and reconstruction of the
Enugu – Port Harcourt Rail Line, among other projects all these
projects that were abandoned by the PDP governments.

The Rivers State people should call Wike to order and ask him to
explain how President Buhari has abandoned the State while embarking
upon all these named projects.

Gov Wike in his misguided statement titled, "BUHARI'S VISIT TO RIVERS
WILL NOT REVIVE DEAD APC IN THE STATE." further stated and we quote,
"Maybe the President is coming to make sure that he will improve the
fortunes of the APC that is dead in Rivers State. Apart from Jesus
Christ, we don't know of anyone who has risen a dead thing. APC is a
dead party in Rivers State. No matter how you fast and pray, it will
never wake up".
The party described Wike’s statement as laughable because a party with
two Senators (Senator Abe and Senator Uchendu) to Wike's dying party
(PDP) one sleeping Senator can't be said to be a dead party in Rivers
state unless he was misquoted. The party expresses joy that Wike by
today is the Chief Campaign Officer of APC for the 2019 general
elections based on his wicked policies against the youths, students,
civil servants, pensioners and foreign investors in the State; “though
we are sad over Wike’s lack of good policies to improve the lots of
our people but we will ensure that he is voted out come 2019
unfailingly to enable us enthrone a government that will be ready to
work for the people of Rivers State.

In the said statement credited to Wike, he stated further, "Let nobody
bother him or herself that the President is coming for security
reasons. We don't have security challenges in the state" If that is
the case, we will like to ask Governor Wike alias Mr. Disaster, “why
is he budgeting a whopping sum of twenty Billion Naira (N22b) to
establish a private Army Unit named Neighbourhood Watch or is he
saying that he intends to divert this fund to his private businesses.
Wike should educate us on what his actual motive is if we don't have
any security challenges in the State.

Finally, the party commends and congratulates President Buhari not
only for this initiative to visit the State at this period but to wish
him a happy stay as a true son of the State based on his love and
commitment towards the development of the State.
http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/wikes-statement-on-visit-of-president.html

Disturbed by the number of unclaimed Permanent Voters Card (PVCs), numbering over 370,000 in various 27 Local Councils in Imo State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in the state, Prof. Francis Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, has directed the various Electoral Officers in charge of the commission in the various councils to send the list of owners of the PVCs to the monarchs of the about 644 autonomous communities in the state with the view of sorting the owners and appealing to them to collect them.

Ezeonu gave the directive yesterday during his visit at the Ohaji/Egbema Local Council headquarters, Mmahu, and some councils at a pre-electoral sensitization programme by the commission.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, Kingsley Uju, monarchs, community heads and leaders amongst others were at the event. According to Ezeonu, he was disturbed that there were over 19,139 unclaimed PVCs in the council, regretting that only 119 cards were claimed. He promised that the commission would organise credible polls in the 305 electoral wards in the state, warning against double registration. Ezeonu, said he has put in motion mechanisms to register registrable prospective voters, warning that only those with their cards would be allowed to cast their votes.


The electoral chief disclosed that corps members who will work at various communities for the commission would sleep a night before elections in their communities of assigned duty, urging the monarchs and their hosts to protect them.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/imo-inec-rec-asks-eos-to-send-unclaimed.html

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has stated that attack on the Food Basket state by Fulani herdsmen has posed a threat to food security. He stated this in Makurdi during a courtesy call on him by the Presidential Committee on Rehabilitation of Communities affected by farmers and herdsmen crisis. He stated that renewed attacks on Benue communities came at a time farmers were harvesting their produce, stressing that crops seeds were being used as feeds for cattle after invading and displacing the farmers. The governor expressed worry that people were still in IDPs camps when agricultural activities such as preparation of land for the next cropping season were approaching, saying it was a sign of famine. While tasking the committee on amplification of the Benue voice for the need to embrace ranching as global best method of animal husbandry, the governor said what was happening in the state was an invasion for occupation and not grazing as being alleged in some quarters. He wondered which hate speech could be worse than issuing threats of attacks and executing same. Governor Ortom called for the reconstruction of ravaged communities and provision of public amenities, including portable drinking water, provision of agricultural inputs and credit facilities, adding that the attacks had caused social, emotional and psychological damage to Benue people. Earlier, leader of the delegation and Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of the National Emergency Management Agency, Mr Kayode Fagbemi said they were in the state to carry out an assessment of damages caused to communities with a view to rebuilding them. He sympathised with the government and people of the state over the massacre of Benue people by Fulani herdsmen.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/benue-killings-threat-to-food-security.html

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has donated the sum of N3.6 million to the police officers who exhibited outstanding performance in the cause of their duty in Jigawa State. The 13 valiant police officers, who received the reward of selfless commitment, including those who lost their lives as a result of gun shots or accidents while on duty. Speaking while presenting the checks to the beneficiaries, the IG, who was represented by the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bala Zama Senchi, said the gesture was aimed at boosting the moral of other serving officers to discharge their duties diligently. He said, the police commission has always accorded priority to safety and welfare of its officers as well as supporting them and their children to have a good life. “I am today presenting these checks (donation) to families of seven officers of this command who gallantly lost their lives on duty, not as conpensation but it is in recognition of their sacrifice, also to other five who survived the wounds and are still with police command.” ‎However, five other officers, who demonstrated professionalism while on their duty post, were given commendation letters for excellent performance. CP Zama stressed that, the IG donation to the gallant officers is an evidence of high level of concern the police authority has on its personnel while alive and after death. He then reiterated the commitment of the police authority to take care of the entitlements and welfare of its men, and also urge the officers to uphold the concept of professionalism and nationalism while discharging their duties at all time.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/ig-donates-n36m-to-gallant-officers-in.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on his 61st birthday.

Buhari described Osinbajo as a loyal and dependable partner in their “journey” of governing Nigeria.


In a tweet via his official Twitter handle, the president wished his deputy many more years of service to “God, to Nigeria and humanity.”
Buhari wrote: “Happy 61st Birthday, @ProfOsinbajo. Thank you for being a loyal and dependable partner on this journey. I join millions of your friends and well-wishers around the world to wish you many more years of service to God, to Nigeria, and to humanity.”
Recall that the Speaker of the House of Representatives,Yakubu Dogara, national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu alongside other eminent Nigerians have continued to congratulate Osinbajo on his 61st Birthday.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/osinbajo-at-61-buhari-speaks-on-vps.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Yakubu Gowon Airport, Jos for a two-day working visit to Plateau State.
The President, however, arrived the state at 11:54am in a Nigerian Air Force aircaft 5N-FGW.

He was received by Governor Simon Lalong, Senator Jonah Jang and Senator Joshua Dariye.

Other dignities include National Assembly members across different political parties in the middlebelt state.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/photos-crowd-welcomes-president-buhari.html

Boko Haram Commander Freed In Chibok Girls Swap Deal Resurfaces, Issues Fresh Threat Against Nigeria

Shuibu Moni, a Boko Haram commander who was freed in exchange for some 82 kidnapped Chibok girls in a deal facilitated by the Swedish government last May has issued fresh threats against the Nigerian state. A video exclusively obtained by Saharareporters shows Moni and some members of his team displaying firepower in Sambisa forest. Moni, who spoke in Hausa and Arabic stated that contrary to claims by the Nigerian government that Boko Haram fighters have been chased out of Sambisa forest in Borno state, they (Boko Haram terrorists) remain firmly on ground.

He subsequently threatened to unleash further violence on Nigeria in coming days. Moni made no mention of the recently kidnapped Dapchi school girls. the girls are believed to be in the custody of another faction controlled by Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the splinter group recognized by ISIS.

Source: http://saharareporters.com/2018/03/07/boko-haram-commander-freed-chibok-girls-swap-deal-resurfaces-issues-fresh-threat-against

The decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to end the persistent scarcity of the lower denomination banknotes in the country is a right step in the right direction. It is also understood to be part of its resolve to increase the circulation of the denomination in the country so as to ensure that effective trade and commerce are carried out seamlessly at market levels where such denominations are required. To activate that resolve, the apex bank has commenced direct disbursement of these currency denominations. Prior to this, the scarcity of the notes, especially N5, N20, N50 and N100, had posed a serious challenge to market men and women who need those in their transactions. Without doubt, the measure by the CBN will bring some measure of relief to many Nigerians, especially the men and women who operate in the streets and need these currency denominations as an indispensable companion. Before now, they have been groaning under the inflationary effect of the scarcity of the notes mostly used for economic transactions among the masses. To ensure that this policy thrust achieved the desired effect, the apex bank embarked on a sensitisation campaign during which its officials told the traders that the CBN is determined to make the policy a success. To this effect, it will ensure that the lower denominations are made available to Nigerians who need them in their business transactions. Before this policy was rolled out, there was a growing concern regarding the economic implications of the scarcity of the lower denomination naira notes in the country. The Senate on February 13 noted that this development portends severe threat to the nation’s economy, which is just recovering from recession. The lawmakers said that traders had taken advantage of the scarcity of lower denomination notes to raise the prices of goods. And not only traders, service providers like bus drivers, for instance, have used the excuse of the scarcity of the denominations to hike their fares. This apprehension was worsened with the commercial banks’ reluctance to continue dispensing the lower naira denominations to customers claiming that they hardly receive enough of them from the CBN. Now that the CBN has said it will increase the circulation of the naira notes, we hope there will be no arguments against the relevance of the denominations in the economic activities of the nation. Another factor blamed for the scarcity of the naira notes is the printing and procurement of the smaller denomination currencies abroad with the attendant economic and security implications. Even with this consideration, the federal government, through the apex bank, must have taken cognisance of those before the policy intervention. Without doubt, it is a commendable monetary policy that is well intentioned. But we urge the CBN to step up its monitoring mechanisms to check the inanities of some unscrupulous people who are likely to see it as an opportunity to make brisk business by hoarding the currencies and after hawk them at public places like motor parks, social events venues, and sometimes, in the banks’ premises. It is a fact that such people will not let go of the illegal and high yielding business. In our opinion, the apex bank should put in place stern punishment for anyone caught in the business of hoarding and hawking the currencies so as to serve as a deterrent. In our view, this move by the apex bank to increase the circulation of the smaller banknotes will help lower inflation because it is a fact that when the petty businesses cannot get these small denominations to transact business, it shows that inflation is catching up on them resulting in increase in prices of goods and services. On a positive note, the scarcity of these denominations enhanced the average Nigerian’s banking habit. It necessitated the penetration of e-banking. With the introduction of facilities like Point of Sale (POS) facility and the Automated Teller Machine (ATM), financial activities among that segment of the population became keen as no one was interested in losing money, it doesn’t matter how much, just because there is no change. A electronic bank transfer will make everyone happy. A recent data from the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) for four major electronic payment channels showed that the total value of transactions rose by 35 per cent to N69.7 trillion in 2017, from N51.6 trillion in 2016. Even with this positive indicator, there is no denying the fact that the lower banknotes are very much needed in the economic space.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/cbn-markets-and-lower-naira.html

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government will partner private healthcare service provider, Cedarcrest Hospital, in driving the state’s Primary Healthcare reforms.

Governor Obaseki said this when he received the Medical Director, Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Felix Ogedegbe, at the Government House, Benin City.

The governor said the state government is driving reforms to improve the standard of healthcare delivery in the state, with a grand-plan to re-vamp the healthcare system and attract investors.

He said, “The aim of our reforms is to improve the healthcare system and provide access to quality healthcare to Edo people. A wing of the specialist hospital was built with the objective to partner with private healthcare providers, who have the experience and resources to collaborate with government to provide better medical care. This is expected to end medical tourism.”

Obaseki commended Dr. Ogedegbe for establishing a medical hospital of international standard in Abuja, noting, “Similar investment can be replicated here in Edo through collaboration with the state government. Edo State prides itself as a state with capable human resources. We are proud to identify with Dr. Ogedegbe to deliver excellent healthcare.”

On his part, Dr. Ogedegbe applauded Governor Obaseki for providing leadership capable of transforming the state, adding “Cedarcrest Hospital is ready to partner with the state government to provide complex, surgical and medical procedures. We have the resources to save the country’s foreign exchange and end medical tourism.”

He added, “Cedarcrest is reputed for providing quality healthcare services to prominent Nigerians and we are open to replicating similar services here in Edo State and to review how we can provide quality and affordable healthcare services in the state.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/photos-edo-govt-partners-cedarcrest.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Monday said its cost of producing a barrel of crude oil from Nigeria’s oil fields has further dropped to $20, adding that it was targeting to lower it further to $15 per barrel soon.

It also said it would ensure that all the pipes to be used in the construction of the 683-kilometre Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) are sourced from pipe mills in Nigeria, in adherence with the Nigerian Content Law.


Speaking at the ongoing technology and innovation expo organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who was represented by NNPC’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Gas and Power, Mr. Seidu Mohammed, explained that the corporation had been innovative in its operations, hence the drop in the production cost per barrel of oil.

“What NNPC will like Nigerians to know is the drive we are making to bring down costs. The more we bring down the production cost of oil and gas, the more money that comes eventually to the federal government and the pockets of the states and local governments. That is the kind of thing we are trying to do.

“We have been innovative in our work to bring down the cost. Many Nigerians don’t even know that we have started the local content drive. We have brought down the cost of producing a barrel of oil today to the neighbourhood of $20 and our target is to make sure we are at $15 and we continue to match forward.”
The NNPC had in August 2017, disclosed that it had driven down the cost of oil production from $78 per barrel to $23 per barrel, representing a 70.5 per cent drop in production cost.

Baru equally explained at the expo that the corporation would continue to work with agencies like the Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) to ensure that the cost of production in the country’s oil and gas sector is competitive.
He said: “Engineering and technology are the bedrock of oil and gas, without that we may not have been where we are today. But then, what have we been doing at the NNPC? We have been trying to make sure that all the activities are domiciled in Nigeria.
“There was a time when even tender documents had to go to London for evaluation, but today, we have fully domesticated the engineering aspect of it.

“We have, in collaboration with the Nigerian Content Development Management Board, gone ahead to get Nigerians who are innovative and willing to invest in fabrication.
“In other words, what we want to do is to also domesticate the big chunk of where we spend the money, that is procurement, and we have gone far.

“Today, there are fabrications going on in areas of line pipes and valves. What we are doing in NNPC is to support all forms of innovations in the upstream, midstream and downstream.”
On the AKK pipeline and how NNPC plans to use locally-sourced pipes to build it, Baru stated: “I said engineering is part of it, so when you come to the procurement of the project, The main input in that project is the line pipes.
“And what we have done to drive the Nigerian content agenda is to make sure that until we fill the capacity of existing mills in Nigeria, we cannot import pipes.

“So, those who are coming in to build this pipeline will bear it in mind that at the end of the day, they may have to come in with their mills to manufacture the line pipes here.
“As for the other areas of services, Nigerians are there, and mostly Nigerians will construct the lines and do all the pre-commissioning and commissioning processes.”
He added that the rehabilitation programme for the NNPC refineries would also take into cognisance the requirement for local content in executing it.

According to the NNPC boss, “Upfront, we have already started training Nigerians that will eventually manage the place. But the whole process of revamping the refineries involves all the facets and Nigerians have to be there.
“Services will be provided by Nigerians and after revamping we expect a lot has to be done to ensure that the inputs to make it work will be provided by Nigerians.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/oil-production-cost-per-barrel-down-to.html

Finally, motorists plying the Hadejia-Nguru road may heave a sigh of relief as the Federal Government has assured of its readiness to eventually complete the abandoned 70 kilometre road construction that was awarded since September 2010 at the cost of N7.5 billion.

Director Highways in charge of the North-west, Engr. Olalokan Busari, said there was a presidential directive to complete all the ongoing road projects within the zone before the end of this year‎.

The Director who stated this, on Sunday, while inspecting ongoing road projects on Hadejia‎, Birniwa and Nguru in Yobe State, told reporters that President Muhammadu Buhari has released enough funds and directs for the immediate completion of all the ongoing Federal Government roads across the nation.

According to him, “Because of the importance of these road to the people within the zone, the Federal Government has released enough funds for the completion of these projects”.

“The phase one of this road has been completed, out of the 70 km, about 32 km was completed while the remaining from Birniwa to Nguru will soon be completed.”

“The road project which was awarded since 2010 has suffered neglect due to poor funding and the recession that characterised the beginning of this administration”, he noted.

He also said “Now that the Federal Government has released enough funds for the completion of the road I can assure you that with the pace with which the contractor is working the road may be commissioned at the end of 2018″.

Adding that, “This road if completed will be of immense ‎benefit to both motorists and communities residing along the road which would definitely improve the economic development and wellbeing of the people in the area.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/fg-to-complete-neglected-8-yr-old-70km.html

The Lagos State government has uncovered an alleged illegal baby factory in Lekki area of the state and arrested a Togolese woman who allegedly runs the home and rescued three children.

Also arrested was a pregnant woman and seven others who were brought to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development on Friday evening.

Officials of the ministry, escorted by 20 policemen from the Ajah Police Station and Area ‘J’ police Command stormed the area at Baboon Village, Ajele area of Ajah and arrested the suspects.

Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Agboola Dabiri said it received a report of a woman who allegedly harbors pregnant ladies, kept them until they delivered and sold the babies under the guise of being a traditional birth attendant.

“Surveillance was carried out at the location, a shanty area off Mobil Road, Ajah area of Lekki. The assistance of the Area ‘J’ Police Command and the Ajah Police Station was sought and they deployed 20 police officers to assist with the mission.

“Adults (including the suspected perpetrator) were apprehended along with three babies, two of who were extremely sick,” he said.

Dabiri said the government had recently issued two weeks ultimatum to people running illegal homes to close them or have them registered or face the wrath of the law, adding that the raid on the illegal home was after the expiration of the ultimatum.

The prime suspect, Mrs. Regina Bankole, who said she hailed from Togo but married to a Nigeria, denied that she runs a baby factory, but admitted that she is a traditional birth attendant which she had been doing for the about 30 years.

She said she did not sell babies and that she was well known in the area as a traditional birth attendant who conducted delivery for pregnant women in the traditional way.

Bankole also said she registered with the Eti-Osa Local Government as a traditional birth attendant and that she was about preparing to take a course in traditional birth attendant.

She said one of the three babies recovered from her place was her child and that the other two belonged to someone else kept in her custody.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/03/lagos-state-government-uncovers-baby.html