The Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Obinna Ogba, made the remark at the National Assembly, Abuja during the verification of loto companies with license to operate in Nigeria.

Ogba (PDP Ebonyi Central) said it was unfortunate that Bet9ja refused to honour the committee’s invitation.

“Clerk, write to Bet9ja again. If they did not honour our invitation, we will ask the National Lottery Commission to seal their offices,” he said.

According to him, the Senate is making efforts aimed at assisting the Lottery Commission to generate money for the Federal Government.

”We want to see bet9ja. They can’t run away,” he said.

The chairman explained that the verification followed series of complaints against the betting companies, adding that ”some don’t even have offices while others have not been making remittances to the government.”

”Some got the licences but they are not operating. The new regulation only give them one year to start operations,” he noted.


Meanwhile, about 20 other betting companies appeared before the committee for the verification exercise.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/senate-threatens-to-shutdown-bet9ja.html

The Nigerian Navy on Tuesday said it arrested nine foreign nationals with two boats containing over 25,000 liters of stolen petrol around Nigeria-Benin border in Lagos State.

The Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, Commodore Ibrahim Shettima, told newsmen in Lagos that the arrests were made between May 10 and 12.

“On May 12 at about 18:00hrs, a naval boat on routine patrol along Nigeria Benin Republic border intercepted 2 boats conveying a total of 85 x 250 Liter drums and another 150 X 25 Liter plastic cans suspected to be containing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“This is believed to have been stolen from NNPC pipeline laid on the Atlas Cove Island.

“As at the time of the intercept, the 2 boats had a total of 9 crew members comprising of one Ghanaian and eight Beninoise.

“Investigation into the matter is ongoing with the view to unraveling their local collaborators and accordingly, the vehicles and exhibits are in own custody and would be handed over to prosecuting agencies,” he said.

According to him, naval men also on May 10 discovered two trucks containing 200 empty jerrycans and five trucks with 70 empty jerrycans at Akaraba and Abule Glass areason Atlas Cove Island, respectively.

“Although, no suspects were found at the scene, it is believed that the empty plastic cans were prepared for usage in storing illegally siphoned PMS from the Nigerian National Petroleum Cooporation (NNPC) pipelines,” he said.

Shettima said the Atlas Cove Island accommodated a NNPC storage facility, which was operated and managed by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC.

“The facility is designed as a transit depot to supply refined product to other NNPC depots at Mosimi, Ore, Ibadan and Shagamu areas.

“Over time, the facility is being threatened by activities of pipeline vandals and in a strive to checkmate this ugly trend, the base heightened patrols on the island and its waterfront,” he said.

He said the act of illegally trading in petroleum product around the Atlas Cove Island was unfortunate, adding that most of the illegalities were perpetuated with the collaboration and assistance of some unpatriotic Nigerians.

“NNS BEECROFT is therefore committed to assisting NNPC deal with the issue of petroleum product theft.

“The navy therefore uses this medium to warn oil thieves and other criminal elements particularly in our maritime environment to desist from these nefarious activities and pursue lawful means of livelihood,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/navy-arrest-9-foreigners-with-25000.html

The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, has said the Federal Government’s interest in developing astronomy and space science was for the nation to aspire for technological development.

Speaking at Nsukka, Enugu State, during the commissioning of Astronomy Observatory Complex of the Centre for Basic Space Science (CBSS), Onu said the Federal Government was poised to make Nigeria a force to reckon with in the global community in terms of astronomy and space science research.

He said oil alone would not sustain the economy, stressing that several opportunities also exist in space science.

“Mobile phones will not be possible without space science. It is also relevant in the field of telemedicine … That is why the Federal Government is poised to take Nigeria to the next level in terms of scientific research, human capital and socio-economic development,” he said.

Director General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA), Prof. Onailo Mohammed, said CBSS had conducted several researchers in the study of the Cosmos, galaxies, the solar system and near earth objects among others adding that it had continued to play key role in the promotion of Astronomy in West African sub region.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/why-government-is-developing-space.html

Liverpool completed one of the greatest comebacks in football history, beating Barcelona 4-0 at Anfield and 4-3 on aggregate to reach the Champions League final.

Looking to become only the third team in the competition's history to come back from three goals down after the first leg of a semi-final, Liverpool took an early lead through Divock Origi's tap in (7) to give Anfield hope, before two goals in two second-half minutes brought them level.

Half-time substitute Georginio Wijnaldum first saw his low drive sneak past Marc-Andre ter Stegen (54), and the Dutchman took the roof off Anfield as his placed header from Xherdan Shaqiri's cross found the corner of Barca's net (56).

And the comeback was complete in bizarre and jaw-dropping fashion as Trent Alexander-Arnold's cheeky corner caught Barcelona off guard, allowing the unmarked Origi to turn home his second (79), having played most of this season as a bit-part player.

The unprecedented and sublime comeback means Liverpool will play in their second successive Champions League final on June 1 in Madrid, facing either Ajax or Tottenham.

Liverpool had a mountain to climb, but the frantic opening worked in their favour as Jordi Alba's poor header allowed Sadio Mane to feed Henderson, who drove into the area and forced a low stop from Ter Stegen, only for Origi to follow up and finish from close range.

Anfield erupted as Barca's defence cracked, but they eventually settled after 15 minutes as Lionel Messi forced a good save from Alisson from 12 yards, and Alisson was again at his best to parry away Philippe Coutinho's placed effort from the left of the box.

Luis Suarez, once a hero at Anfield, was soon being roundly jeered by the home fans for creating mischief among Liverpool's defence, with replays showing he may have kicked out at Andrew Robertson as the two ran beside each other.

Robertson had to be replaced at half-time by Wijnaldum, after Alisson had again kept the score at 1-0 with a fine block from Jordi Alba at close range following Messi's sublime through ball.

The breakneck speed continued after half-time as Ter Stegen showed fine reflexes to block Virgil van Dijk's backheeled volley from a corner, before Alisson made yet another smart save from Suarez's low drive.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/incredible-liverpool-reach-champion.html

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Enugu State has applauded Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s commitment to ensuring safety on all roads in the state.

Mr Ogbonnanya Kalu, the FRSC Sector Commander in the state, gave the commendation during the flag-off of the fifth United Nations (UN) Global Road Safety Week in Enugu on Monday.

Kalu said that the state had been rated among the best in the area of traffic management.

He described the state’s traffic agency as one of the best in the country.

He said that the Enugu sector command of FRSC had worked closely with state’s Ministry of Transport to mark the Global Road Safety Week.

According to him, the sector command through the corps 2019 Corporate Strategic Goals plans to improve visibility through enforcement and rescue services.

Other aims of the command include public education, collaboration with stakeholders, and ensuring road safety observatory (aimed at providing easy access to independent road safety research and information), recovery by reducing road traffic accidents by 20 per cent and fatality by 25 per cent.

According to the sector commander, the theme of the fifth UN Global Road Safety Week is `Leadership for Road Safety’.

“The theme was chosen based on the fact that leadership should be aware of road safety as most leaders in Africa are expected to improve on road safety standard,” he said.

In his keynote address, the state’s Commissioner for Transport, Mr Vitus Okechi, said that the Enugu government was committed to ensuring the safety of lives on all roads through its Traffic Management Agency.

Okechi said that the agency was set-up to address the traffic challenges on Enugu roads in line with best practice.

He explained that the agency had embarked on traffic awareness campaign to educate the public on road traffic rules and regulations.

Mr Ogbonnanya Idike, the Permanent Secretary in the transport ministry, expressed appreciation to the Enugu Sector of FRSC for its good work and commitment toward making the roads in the state safe for everybody.

Idike urged FRSC to sustain the level of its commitment to ensuring that all roads in the state were safer for all road users.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/frsc-applauds-gov-ugwuanyis-commitment.html

The hearing of an appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the September 2018 Osun State governorship election, Senator Ademola Adekele, challenging his disqualification, has again been stalled in Court of Appeal, Abuja.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the appellate court on April 25 adjourned hearing on the appeal on account of improper service.

At the resumed sitting on Thursday, similar situation resurfaced as the complete processes were not before the Justice Abubakar Yayaha led-panel to commence hearing on the appeal.


NAN reports that Yahaya went ahead to adjourn the matter until May 8 in spite of the court’s indulgence in abridging time to admit some interlocutory applications.

Yahaya said the matter could not go on because of a pending Notice of Appeal filed by the PDP on the same matter.

“We are not going to consolidate the appeals, but it is only proper for us to hear all the appeals on similar subject matter on the same day.

“We have seen that most of the processes have been exchanged but the PDP appeal against the judgment challenging the appellant’s qualification to contest the Osun Governorship election must be heard alongside Adeleke’s appeal.

“In the circumstance, hearing on Adeleke’s appeal and the PDP’s appeal marked CA/A/326/2017 is adjourned until May 8.

“The hearing notice should by served on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’’, Yahaya said.

Adeleke had approached the appellate court to challenge the decision of Justice Othman Musa of the FCT High Court in Bwari, Abuja, made on April 2, which invalidated his status as PDP governorship candidate.

NAN reports that Wahab Raheem and Adam Habeeb, both of the Osun Chapter of All Progressive Congress (APC) instituted the suit.


They accused the appellant (Adeleke) of not possessing the requisite educational qualification to contest the election.

The trial court’s findings showed that the appellant was admitted into Ede Muslim High School, Ede, Osun State in 1976, but without a record showing that he graduated.

The court also found that the results appellant attached to INEC’s form CF001 contradicted the one presented to the court by the Principal of Ede Muslim High School where he claimed to have graduated.


Meanwhile, Adeleke has since been returned as duly elected governor of the state by the Osun State Election Tribunal.

The tribunal’s decision is however being challenged by the incumbent governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, APC candidate in that election.

NAN reports that Dr. Paul Ananaba (SAN) represented the appellant and Mr Bankole Akomolafe, was Counsel for Raheem and Habeeb while Mr Emmanuel Eniodem represented the PDP.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/again-incomplete-service-stalls.html

A feeling of de javu in the Nigerian political milieu seems to flow from the Marxian anecdote that “History repeats itself, the first as tragedy and then as farce.” Ahead of constitution of the leadership of the 9th National Assembly in June, this year, this presents a real bugaboo, particularly, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

There is a historical context to the current anxiety within and outside the party. The constitution of the 8th National Assembly leadership in 2015 was a critical point of departure from the culture of suzerainty in which the governing party, with the majority seats in both Chambers, reins in the conflicting aspirations of its members in compliance with its zoning arrangements.

But, unable to contain internal dissonance, the leadership of the APC, in 2015, lost its core role in guiding members who were interested in the positions of presiding officers to exercise their rights within the ambit of party’s decisions. The ramification of that loss of control was the emergence of Bukola Saraki as senate president, contrary to the party’s choice.


The APC caucus in the Senate was irredeemably fractured and effort was dissipated along different directions as a plethora of aspirants pushed for the Senate Presidency. Saraki from the North Central zone was one of them. He was sufficiently prepared to step in the saddle, but lacked APC leadership’s endorsement.

Conversely, Ahmed Lawan from the North East zone, with the support of the leadership, looked good to clinch the position. George Akume from North Central dropped his aspiration to queue behind Lawan for the position of Deputy Senate President (DSP).But Saraki had quickly deployed his political legerdemain in the circumstance to undercut, circumvent and upstage the applecart of the APC high-command to become Senate President.

Clearly piqued that Saraki was victorious against its internal arrangements, the APC took his victory as far less painful than the stratagem he deployed. The astute Saraki worked in cahoots with the PDP caucus to secure the critical simple majority votes – and in the spirit of the deal – trading away the position of DSP to the opposition party. Ike Ekweremadu emerged to retain the position that he had held for eight years in a PDP-controlled Senate.

The emergence of the Saraki-Ekweremadu leadership by subterfuge and sheer conspiratorial alliance has become history. It is a painful history that continues to remind the APC of how it historically mismanaged its majority position in the 8th National Assembly. Even in the House of Representatives, the APC was unable to enforce its choice of Femi Gbajabiamila from the South West zone as Speaker. The forces that upended APC’s arrangements in the Senate reportedly supported Hon. Yakubu Dogara from the North East zone to emerge as Speaker.

The convoluted trajectory by the APC in 2015, which produced a National Assembly leadership perpetually feuding with the Buhari Presidency, presents in much bolder relief the tragic nature and dimensions of the party’s recent inexplicable history of allowing an otherwise simple matter of selection of National Assembly leadership to go awry.

To be sure, the APC leadership, under the national chairmanship of Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, proved unimaginably inept in managing the process in a very utilitarian fashion. Through laissez-faire footing and perverse compromise, the party leadership failed to rein in its members in the National Assembly.

Reflectively, Buhari was complicit in the hypocrisy that damaged the APC. Whereas, Buhari was purported to have preferred the North East zone to produce the Senate President and, specifically, Senator Ahmed Lawan, he did not push the agenda through as an imperative presidential action. He was even reported to have scheduled a meeting with the APC senate caucus on the morning of the inauguration of the 8thNational Assembly to issue the final directive.

The President did not show up for the meeting, which was fixed for the same time the Senate was being inaugurated. Saraki had already been elected unopposed as Senate President before the majority members of the APC caucus got to the chamber. For not effectively pulling whatever strings behind the scene, perhaps, as not to be seen to be teleguiding the constitution of the National Assembly leadership, Buhari and his party paid the price for their imprudence for all of four years under the Saraki/Dogara leadership.

Currently, the 2015 scenario is building up ahead of the inauguration of the 9th National Assembly. Will the APC and President Buhari allow a repeat of history? It will be farcical if, under his nose and in a back-to-back manner, the President allows the 2015 ‘tragedy’ to be re-enacted. Desperation, muted APC leadership and cloaked presidential interest in the leadership of the federal legislature, which are some of the conditions precedent for the repeat of that tragic history, exist in the APC.

Why is there apparent desperation for the position of the Senate President and Speaker? In the North East, three ranking senators -Lawan, Ali Ndume and Danjuma Goje are jostling for the position. Lawan has already elevated his campaign some notches by announcing his interest during a crowded media interactive session in Abuja last weekend.

There are fears that Ndume, who was supplanted by Lawan as Senate Leader in the 8th Senate, sees this as an opportunity to take his pound of flesh. Ndume believes that Lawan colluded with Saraki to effect his removal as Senate Leader without prior notice or complaints. Ndume had stepped out to pray only for him to return to the Chamber to discover that he had been removed and replaced with Lawan. Saraki and his loyalists, according to feelers, are comfortable with Lawan; certainly not with Ndume.


Goje provides the third leg of the North East APC tripod targeting the senate presidency. There are reports that Goje enjoys the support of the Saraki group because he appears more acquiescent to the group in its bid to secure the position of Deputy Senate President, acting in concert with the PDP caucus.Some APC quarters are leery of the party leadership zoning the senate presidency to the North East, which is capable of spawning crisis. The argument in some quarters is that APC should be politically sagacious to turn away from the North East and guide the senate presidency to the North Central zone. The zone has yet to throw up overtly desperate ranking senators. Ranking senators have not unsettled the zone on the altar of vaulting aspirations.

The consensus is that the APC should tread the path of least resistance and acrimony. The North West zone and the South West zone are not the path to tread, having produced the president and vice president respectively. The South-south zone has produced the position of national chairman of the APC. Whereas, the South East zone has two ranking members of the National Assembly, do the APC apparatchiks consider the zone qualified in terms of performance in the 2019 general election and commitment to the party platform to produce the Senate President?

In the House of Representatives, no fewer than 13 members-elect are jostling for the position of Speaker. This is the reason the APC leadership, acting in concert with Buhari, must act proactively to avert the sword of Damocles that the National Assembly leadership contests typify. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Buhari must be on top of the process this time round.Hear Marx again: “Men make their own history, but they do not make it as they please; they do not make it under self-selected circumstances, but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past.” Oshiomhole and Buhari must be appropriately instructed.
•Ojeifo, journalist and public affairs analyst, wrote from Lagos

https://guardian.ng/opinion/nass-leadership-as-apcs-sword-of-damocles/amp

Nigerian Senate committee on power, steel development and metallurgy have recommended a jail term of 10 years without an option of fine for anyone found guilty to have conspired, procured and to hold stolen parts and components of public power equipment in custody.

The committee asked the Senate to consider and pass an amendment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act No. 6,2005 to prohibit theft of electricity, theft and destruction of electricity supply, infrastructure and prescribe appropriate penalties for violations, and for other related matters, 2019(SB.496).

Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) had in November 2018 presented a bill to the Senate, seeking seven years jail term for electricity theft.

The bill is entitled ‘A Bill for an Act to prohibit and prevent electricity theft, power infrastructure vandalisation and power company protection 2017.’

The commission claimed that stealing and sabotage were responsible for between 30 per cent and 35 per cent energy loss in the country.

It frowned on some consumers who it claimed by-passed meters and also vandalise transformers and feeder pillars, among others.

“If we fail to act decisively in correcting the ills of the power sector, including public power leakage, the opportunity for the country to recover could be lost,” the commission warned.


Some of the objectives of the bill include amending Section 94(3) of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act, 2005 to curb and deter illegal and unauthorised use of regulated electricity supply as well as to protect electricity infrastructure.

After appraisal of the bill proposed by NERC, the Senate committee is expected to submit its report during Nigeria Senate Thursday plenary. The report contains recommendations for the punishment of persons guilty of theft in public power equipment.

Some of the recommendations proposed by the committee include N5 million or imprisonment for a term of at least five years or both for any person found guilty of destroying or removing any electricity distribution lines that prevents or obstructs the distribution of electricity.

The Senate committee also proposes a term of seven years imprisonment or a fine of N2 million or both when one connects or disconnects an electric wire to, either the electricity meter or to the public power supply lines.

In the report, the power committee demands that anyone who tampers with, cuts by any means, or causes any other person to disrupt the supply of public electric power, if convicted, shall be sentenced to an imprisonment term of not less than five years or a fine of N500,000, or both.

It said the Senate should approve a five-year jail term or a fine of N500,000 for any person that obstructs, confronts, fights, assaults or causes bodily injury to power company personnel.

The committee also wants a three-year imprisonment term or a fine of N250,000, or both for any person who taps makes or causes to be made any connection with overhead, underground, or underwater lines or cables, or service wires or service facilities.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/senate-committee-proposes-10-year-jail.html

President Mohammadu Buhari has commended the management of the University of Calabar for being the fisrt institution to introduce anti-corruption and anti-terrorism courses.

The President described the initiative as a very patriotic gesture and advised other institutions in the country to take a cue from it.

President Buhari, who made this known while presenting his address at the 32nd Convocation ceremony held at the Abraham Ordia Stadium in the University Saturday, also commended the institution for making effective use of TETFUND allocation.



Represented by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uhuru Usani, the President said: “I have been informed that your university is the first in the country to introduce anti corruption and anti terrorism studies in your General Studies Curriculum.

“I commend you for that patriotic initiative and urge others to emulate your example in order to compliment the efforts of government in the struggle to defeat the twin evil.

“I also commend management for making judicious use of scarce resources allocated to the institution via TETFUND

“The projects that have been commissioned as well as the ongoing ones are a testimony of your prudence. Your choice of solar power project has shown the direction for solving our institutional power needs in Nigeria and I expect other universities to examine your example for their benefit.”

Also speaking, the Pro chancellor and chairman of governing council of the institution, Senator Dr. Nkechi Nwaogu, said the institution’s management remained committed to providing enabling infrastructure and a conducive atmosphere for learning.

She said the institution had graduated men and women who had distinguished themselves as national leaders and world class citizens.

While declaring the 32nd convocation open, the Vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Zana Akpagu, said the institution had undertaken several projects including infrastructural development, ICT development, improvement in ranking and solar power projects, among others, to improve learning.

He enjoined the graduands to be worthy ambassadors of the institution, stressing that they owe the institution a duty to properly represent it where ever they find themselves.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/buhari-commends-unical-for-introducing.html

There is one thing in the system that never changes. And it is the habit of cribbing. People keep on cribbing about the problems that they are facing in the system. But no one wants to take an initiative to start the change. Now at this time when general elections are near, people are busy blaming the political system for all the problems going on in country. Do you also think that our political system is the reason for our backwardness?



Yes



• The first problem that the people have witnessed in last few years is the increase in number of scams. Where do these scams come from? Where does all the money? These and other such question have raised a question on the credibility of the system.



• Political system is a group of different parties who should work together to improve the status of the country. But in the present system all the parties are busy in blaming each other.



• The infrastructure of the country is lacking behind and it needs a lot more money to match the standards. But the money of people is spent on massive election campaigning.



• Whenever something wrong happens in the society parties brings the matter to parliament, blame the ruling government and then the matter is closed. Can someone tell where the solution is?



• It is the political system that continuously gives place to the tainted politicians in the system. How can you always appoint such people who in any case are of no good to the local people?



• If some party tries to give place to new generation then the old people of the parties oppose the decision.



No



• You cannot mix political system and politicians with each other. They are connected with each other but you cannot ignore the good work done by the honest politicians.



• For the benefit of the people, the parties keep on discussing new policies and try everything to make them pass in the parliament.



• People keep on blaming the political system, but actually they are the one who are responsible for all these problems. They refrain themselves from voting and later just keep on complaining about government.



• Lack of education, the attitude towards women and most importantly our social system are the main reasons for backwardness.



• Backwardness is a very relative subject. Our country is a developing country and is doing well on many fronts. So how could you even say that is a backward economy?



• Youth are responsible for the backwardness. No one wants to join politics to develop the country. Everyone wants safe jobs and a happy secured life.



• It is the attitude of the citizens of the country which is to be blamed. If the citizens do not take an initiative and work hard, how can they expect the government to meet all their requirements? A country progresses when its citizens innovate and work hard.



Conclusion


Political system is made by the politicians and is formed by the votes that are casted by local people. All of the elements are responsible for the good as well as bad. Just blaming the political system cannot lead our country to the path of development.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/is-our-political-system-reason-of-our.html

Barely one week after the Upper Iweka Onitsha tanker disaster, another accident has been averted in the area through the timely intervention of the Officers and Men of the Fire Service and Security Agencies.

The incident involved a forty thousand capacity tanker with registration number KA l255 AA coming down from Oghora Delta State when a heavy duty vehicle veered off the road hitting the tanker which led to fuel spillage.

The area had been cordoned off with security personnel controlling both human and vehicular movement while Officers and Men of the fire service were on hand to ensure that the incident did not result to fire outbreak.

Narrating his ordeal the tanker driver Mr liiasu Ago attributed the incident to break failure.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/photos-another-tanker-fire-averted-in.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC), South African Chapter, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that the lives of Nigerians are safe in South Africa.

Mr Sanni David, the National Publicity Secretary of the chapter, also called for tougher sanctions against the Republic of South Africa.

“We expect that President Cyril Ramaphosa would take tougher stands against such acts of criminality and afrophobia against their African neighbours.

“The regime of former President Jacob Zuma paid deaf ears to such incessant attacks and with a new regime, we thought that things would be different.

“The political class has not helped in any way as many leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) have made public statements that are inciteful,’’ David said in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, with all these occurrences, it means that the vision of a borderless Africa and Inter-Africa trade been championed by the AU is a mirage if South Africa cannot tolerate other citizens and protect their lives.

“There is no country that can stand on its own, without some form of bilateral relationship. Diplomatic relationships must be respected and upheld at all times.

“We cannot afford to bury our citizens because of a government which has failed to act and bring to book lawless and lazy youths,’’ he added.

According to him, the Chairman of the chapter, Mr Bola Babarinde, is of the opinion that African leaders show love to their citizens first, in order to engender their citizens’ desire to love others.

David quoted Babarinde as saying, “enough of hatred among Africans.

“Yes most of the attacks are criminal in nature but something always triggers these acts of criminality which occurs mostly during or towards elections.

“We are planning our Victory gala Dinners for April 13, most of our invitees turned down our invitations because of fear of attacks which honestly is a great concern and we respect their decision.

“South Africa is losing billions in tourism investment yet the people that benefit more from government spending are those causing these problems.

“African countries need to spend more money on educating their citizens on why there should not be discrimination among us, we are one family’’.

David said that Babarinde described as unfortunate the reactions of some chieftains of the South African ruling party and the press to the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

“Ramaphosa has not been sensitive enough in their utterances which may be termed otherwise by less informed South African citizens who eventually take laws into their hands.

“Nigerian Government should summon the South Africa Ambassador for an explanation. Elections are fast approaching, politicians should be sensitive enough to know there will be life and relationships after the elections.’’

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/apc-warns-buhari-over-killings-of.html

The German Society for International Cooperation also known as Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) yesterday decried the unemployment rate in Nigeria.

The agency said it would invest over £19.2 million (N9.03 billion) through its Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE) programme to support the promotion of need-based technical vocational education as well as training and youth development in the country.

SKYE Head of Programme, Hans-Ludwig Bruns, who made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ engagement workshop, added that the organisation was targeting 35,000 people for vocational and technical training in six states.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/german-agency-decries-unemployment-to.html

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Dubai, stated that his government has succeeded in rescuing Nigeria from Boko Haram insurgents.

He spoke at a town hall meeting with members of the Nigerian Community in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Buhari, who also pledged more government investments in research, technology as well educational institutions, promised that the prudent economic management, diversification of production and revenue bases of the administration in the last four years will be sustained.

‘‘The Next Level is to consolidate whatever we have done till 2023 and it makes common sense that in order to manage any outfit, whether a nation, state or organisation, you have to secure it.

‘‘We all know how many local governments Boko Haram were occupying. People from the North-east know that they are not holding any local government today.

“They were holding 17 out of the 774 local governments before we came in 2015; they are not holding any now,’’ the President said.

At the interactive session, the Nigerian leader noted that a key objective of his administration which had yielded positive results, in the last four years, was the campaign for the nation to return to agriculture.

‘‘What we did was to encourage agriculture, and fertiliser was made available at half the price.

‘‘We encouraged people to go back to land. The response was excellent. We have virtually achieved food security; we have stopped the importation of rice.

‘‘The money we have saved in foreign exchange is in hundreds of millions of dollars, not even in naira. We are putting that into infrastructure,’’ he noted.

Responding to a question about the pace of anti-corruption war, the President said: ‘‘Whoever calls me Baba-go-slow, I’m very conscious of historical antecedents. You know what happened to me the last time…people [now] have to be proven guilty before they are locked up.’’

Buhari also reflected on the 2019 APC presidential campaign and the outcome of the polls, saying: ‘‘I was very impressed by the turn out of every state to see and hear me. The crowd is more than what you can buy or force to come. Nigerians voluntarily came out.’’

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/we-have-rescued-nigeria-from-boko-haram.html

Over twenty newly-promoted police officers from the Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police Force have been decorated with insignias of their new ranks by the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State, Mr. Mustapha Dandaura at the Force Command, Awka.

Among the newly-promoted police officers were seven Chief Superintendents of Police, CSPs, who were promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioners of Police, ACPs, Deputy Superintendents of Police, DSPs, promoted to the rank of Superintendents of Police, SPs while Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASP, where elevated to the rank of Deputy Superintendents of Police, DSPs.
Also decorated were Police Inspectors who got new insignias of Assistant Superintendents of Police, ASPs.


The decoration is a follow-up to the recent approval for promotion of officers of the force, by the Police Service Commission.

In a brief remark during the decoration ceremony, the Commissioner of police Mr. Dandaura reminded the beneficiaries that their new ranks meant bigger responsibilities on their shoulders, and challenged them to make positive choices and strides in line with professional policing.

Mr. Dandaura also noted that the promotion was a demonstration of the commitment of the present administration of the force to motivate its officers and men, and give them a solid platform for effective performance.


Mr. Ahmodu Garba, who is among those promoted from the rank of CSP to ACP, thanked the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, and the Police Service Commission for availing the officers and men of the Force the privilege of merit, saying that their new ranks will motivate them to work harder.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/photos-anambra-police-command-decorates.html

Between 2008 and 2017, Nigeria lost a total of N205.4 billion worth of petroleum products to vandals who hacked into petroleum products pipelines of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), a report from the state-run oil company has disclosed.
The report – NNPC Annual Statistical Bulletin (ASB) for the period 2017, was obtained by Akelicious.
It showed that the total monetary losses were from the siphoning of about 2,046.62 metric tonnes of petroleum products from the NNPC’s pipelines by the vandals.

Beside the products lost to the vandals, the NNPC also reported that between 2013 and 2017, a period of five years, Nigeria lost crude oil worth N74.073 billion to either oil line vandals or production inefficiencies. It stated that within this period, the number of pipeline vandalism it recorded was 13,486 while ruptures were 242.

According to the NNPC ASB, Nigeria also flared up to 4,624,635,819 cubic feet of gas within 10 years, which was between 2008 and 2017, just as over 295 million barrels (mb) of crude oil were supplied to the corporation’s three refineries in Warri; Port Harcourt and Kaduna for refining.


The ASB which is a reflection of activities of the NNPC within the year under consideration, explained that between 2008 and 2017, Nigeria produced about 7.8 billion barrels of crude oil, with Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) accounting for about 2,973,652,993 barrels of the production volumes.

It added that about 2,923,974,780 barrels of the oil volumes were exported to north American countries, while 2,745,747,041 barrels were sent to Europe; 1,736,403,788 barrels to Asian and far eastern countries; just as 1,050,167,528 barrels were sold to African countries.

Furthermore, the report explained that while a total of 76 wells were drilled in 2017 comprising 66 development wells and 10 exploratory wells, Nigeria however planned to have a 3.180.68 million barrels a day (mbd) production capacity in 2018, which would be expanded to 3.590.34mbd by 2019. This production levels, it said would further be expanded to 4mbd in 2020; 4.4mbd in 2021 and 4.8mbd in 2020.

Turning to the refineries maintained by the NNPC, the report indicated they had an average production efficiency of 18.7 per cent, with the Warri refinery recording an average efficiency level of 25.615 per cent; Kaduna – 17.879 per cent and Port Harcourt – 12.692 per cent.

For petrol importation within the 10-year period, the ASB said the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) of the NNPC imported about 54,839,875 metric tonnes of petrol for distribution. The corporation also recorded about 227 cases of fire outbreaks at its facilities in Warri; Port Harcourt; Kaduna, Gombe and Mosimi.

The NNPC last week said it would deepen its search for oil in the north.
Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru said this. Speaking in an interview with journalists at the 40th Kaduna International Trade Fair, Baru said a deeper search for oil will enable the NNPC make extensive appraisal of the gas reserves discovered in the region in 1999.

He added that the NNPC was working on the Kolmani River ii with hope and expectations, adding that President Muhammadu Buhari had personally urged the corporation to go back to explore the Kolmani River ii.
He said drilling had been going on smoothly, stressing that as at Wednesday morning, the corporation had dug 10,075 ft with a target to reach 14,270 ft.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/n205bn-worth-of-petroleum-products-lost.html

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai has charged commanders of units and formations of the Nigerian Army to collaborate with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to ensure security in their areas of responsibilities.


The Army Chief gave the directive in Bauchi, Bauchi state, after the inauguration of new Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess at the 33 Artillery Brigade.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/insecurity-buratai-charges-commanders.html

Eight people have reportedly died early in the morning after Mgbuodohia community in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor local government area of Rivers state was invaded.

The Nation reports that some gunmen stormed the community in the wee hours of Sunday, April 7, killing eight persons and injuring many others.

Confirming the incident, the chairman of the community, Sunny Odum, said the victims were killed in the attack.

Describing the killings and invasion of the community as strange, Odum urged residents to return to their homes.

He also assured that security operatives in the state were already on top of the matter and will track the attackers in no time.

Other sources in the community also said members of the cult group had invaded the community in search of members of their rival cult members.

The members were said to moved from house to house in search of targets (rival cultists) in the area and in the process fished out and killed eight of them.

It was gathered that the incident caused panic in the area, causing residents to desert the place in fear of reprisal attack.

However, in his reaction to the incident, the spokesperson for the Rivers state police command, Nnamdi Omoni, said three persons were killed in the attack.

Omoni said the police have also made some arrests and that the suspects are helping the police in their investigations.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/residents-flee-as-cult-clash-kills-8-in.html

The race for the presidency of the 9th Senate gathered momentum at the weekend with the main contender and Senate Leader, Senator Ahmed Lawan, intensifying his one on one campaign and meeting with senators-elect, those of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stock in their home states.

Sources close to the camps of former governor of Gombe State, Senator Danjuma Goje, and former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, however, told Akelicious that in spite of the tough talk of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), they would not give up their ambition to become the next Senate president.
Specifically, the Ndume camp said no intimidation from any quarter can force the three-time Borno South senator to abandon his ambition that had received the blessings of APC leaders in his senatorial district and the two other senatorial districts in Borno.
Thisday further gathered that Ndume is still very much in the race with one of the sources close to him saying: “Don’t forget that he was the first aspirant to write the APC leadership of his intention to vie for the position of Senate president.”

It was also learnt that Ndume had since stepped up his consultations with all necessary stakeholders, including senators-elect across party lines and members of APC National Working Committee (NWC) on the need for them to support him.
Ndume’s close associates stated emphatically that no amount of threat from any quarters will stop him from realising his ambition “as he is presently looking up to God in his pursuant of what is right.”
The pro-Ndume group also expressed concern that the adoption of a particular candidate for Senate president does not have the blessing of all NWC members and President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to a ranking APC senator who spoke on condition of anonymity, “I can say authoritatively that the reported adoption of a particular candidate is the agenda of APC National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, and National Leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, while the president and some members of the NWC are not on the same page with the duo on this matter.

“So, what are we saying? They are routing for the candidate because they know he’ll be a stooge and establishment person while Ndume will be independent minded and not be a rubber stamp of the executive. Just let’s just wait and see as events unfold between now and June when the 9th National Assembly will be inaugurated.”
Lawan, on his part, intensified his consultative meetings across the states at the weekend with visits to Kano, Niger and Borno States where he met one on one with some senators-elect.
He met individually with the senators-elect from Kano and Niger states who openly pledged their support for his candidacy for the Senate presidency.
Lawan confirmed to Akelicious in Abuja yesterday that he had commenced consultative meeting with senators-elect over his ambition.

He also said he had engaged his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the matter “and their response has been wonderful.”
On other APC senators eyeing the leadership of the Senate, the Senate leader said he was also engaging them too “while not ruling out the fact that in a democracy they have the right to aspire and at the end of the day whoever emerges, we’ll work together as one Senate.”

Lawan stated that he was going to run an open government if elected and promised to carry his colleagues along in the day to day administration of the National Assembly.”
His words: “Ours will be an open assembly where all will be free to contribute their quota towards ensuring that we make necessary laws for the development of the nation.”
He also allayed the fears that he will be an appendage of the executive if he emerges as Senate president, saying nothing can be far from the truth.
“This is not true. All I know is that we will engage the executive in areas where we need to engage them while not ruling out the need to also collaborate with them when the need arises.”

According to him, his consultative meeting with other senators-elect in other states will resume today at the second batch of the orientation programme being organised by National Assembly management for federal legislators-elect which ends on Friday.
He said: “I will continue the consultative meeting with other senators-elect on Monday all through Friday and I will engage them one on one on why I want to lead the Senate and answer whatever questions they may put before me and then we’ll take it up from there.”

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2019/04/08/lawan-goje-ndume-intensify-bid-for-senate-presidency/?amp

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has arraigned a businessman and his firm before Justice Saliu Saidu of the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly dealing in adulterated engine oil.

The defendants are Cajetan Chike Muonagolu and Richbon Nigeria Ltd. They allegedly committed the offence on December 12 last year at ASPAMDA Trade Fair Complex, Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

SON said they conspired to deal in 15,000 cartons of Prime Plasma, Prime ATF and Stanley brand of engine oil, which are of low quality. The prosecution said the defendants claimed that the products were genuine, contrary to Section 3 (6) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act of 2004.

They also allegedly failed to comply with SON’s Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP) by dealing in engine oil that did not have the requisite MANCAP certificate.

According to the prosecutor, Adeleke Olofindare, the offence is punishable under Section 26 of the SON Act, 2015.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the offence. Justice Saliu Saidu adjourned until Thursday, April 11.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/son-arraigns-businessman-over.html

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has said that it would support ongoing initiative by the Federal Government to diversify the nation’s economy through agriculture by providing the much needed fulcrum for the attainment of a mutually beneficial relationship between agriculture and industries.

Speaking at the NNPC Special Day in the ongoing 40th Kaduna International Trade Fair in Kaduna on Thursday, Group Managing Director of the corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said as the national oil company, the NNPC would continue to provide the enablers for the actualization of Nigeria massive agricultural potentials in line with the aspirations of President Muhammadu Buhari for the sector.

The NNPC GMD, in a presentation entitled: Consolidating the Interface between Industry and Agriculture for Nigeria’s Sustainable Development –the Role of NNPC, listed some of the achievements of the NNPC in this regard.

These achievements, the GMD noted, included the provision of gas to power industries as captured in the 614km Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Pipeline (AKK) Project which process of award began in July 2017 and conceived as an integral part of the Trans Nigeria Gas Project.

He said on completion, the AKK would deliver gas to Abuja, Kaduna and Kano Power Plants to power factories in the North and the National Grid.

He added that in order to bridge the medium term domestic gas supply deficit by 2020, seven Critical Gas Development Projects (7CGDPs) had also been identified, saying that the desired outcome of this initiative would boost domestic gas supply from about 1.5bscf/d to 5bscf/d with a corresponding 500 per cent increase in power generation to buoy capacity utilization of industries.

The NNPC GMD remarked that the 7CGDPs were at different stages of development with Assa North-Ohaji South (ANOH) project ahead of others.

He stated that the Front End Engineering Design (FEED) for facilities and pipelines for ANOH had been completed with the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the project taken in December 2018.

The NNPC helmsman said as supplier of last resort, the corporation would continue to ensure that the Nation is wet with white products to enable local business movements of goods and services.

Baru explained that NNPC had executed Memoranda of Understanding for the development of fuel-ethanol processing plants with several state governments in the Country, among which are Kogi, Yobe and Ondo.

He said some of these projects were expected to yield cane mills and raw and refined sugar plants of various tonnages, even as some among them would generate sizable megawatts of power as well as starch and animal feeds.

According to Baru, the execution of the projects would form part of the milestones of the Government in diversifying the economy and complement Nigeria’s effort to meet the Nation’s growing energy demand, in addition to providing meaningful engagement of farmers across the Country.

Earlier in a welcome address, the President of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), Hajiya Muhibba Dan Kaka, said the theme of this year’s trade fair was deliberately chosen to complement the efforts of Government in promoting economic growth through commerce and industry.

Recalling the glorious days of massive agricultural output with resounding impact on the Nigerian economy, the KADCCIMA President thanked the Federal Government and the NNPC for coming to the aid of the sector which has suffered decline in previous years due to obvious neglect.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/nnpc-reiterates-support-for-agro-allied.html

The outgoing governor of Gombe state, Ibrahim Dankwambo has stated that he remain loyal to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) despite their loss in the concluded Governorship election.

He stated that he stayed in the party even when it was a trend in the North to defect.

Gov. Dankwambo also ascribe the loss of PDP in the governorship election as a result of betrayers from some party members.

Although, there are speculations that he is planning to defect from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He has however, debunked the rumours through his verified Facebook page on Saturday.

He wrote: “Many betrayed our great party in Gombe but time will tell. Their betrayal though painful has made me more dedicated to the PDP. As a loyal party man, even when it was the fashionable thing in the North to abandon the party in 2015, I never did. ‬

“We will be vindicated.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/its-no-longer-fashionable-to-abandon.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has sent warm greetings to Mr Waheed Olagunju, former Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry Limited and Executive Director of Small and Medium Enterprises on his 60th birthday, April 7th, 2019.

The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, celebrated with all family members, friends and associates of Olagunju.

Buhari congratulated him for always making himself available for service to the nation and humanity, which is centrally motivated by his fear of God and sense of patriotism.

President Buhari commended the former Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry for playing a significant role in supporting the vision of diversifying the Nigerian economy through innovative and actionable ideas that translated into growth of more Small and Medium Enterprises across the country.


As Olagunju turns 60, the President prayed that the almighty God will grant him long life, good health and strength to continue serving the country.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/buhari-greets-olagunju-at-60.html

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Saturday morning arrived Doha, Qatar, as leader of the National Assembly’s delegation to the 140th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).


The scheduled meeting was billed to commence on April 5, and to end on April 8.

In a statement by Saraki’s Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu and made available to newsmen in Abuja, said Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuf Lasun Suleimon is the Deputy leader of the delegation.


He added, “Other lawmakers on the trip include Senators Duro Faseyi and Ibrahim Rafiu Adebayo.

“Hon. Ikon Samuel Okon, Hon. Igbokwe Raphael Nnanna, Hon. Fulata Abubakar Hassan, Hon. Goodhead Boma and Hon. Dasuki Abdussammad, are also part of the delegation.

“National Assembly officials on the trip include the Clerk to the Senate, Mr. Nelson Ayewoh, Director, General Duties, Ms. Navati Illiya, Director (H/R), Mr. Atiku Ibrahim, Director, Secretary to the Delegation, Shehu Umar and Clerk, Inter-Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Bernard Okoh, among others”.


Onogu affirmed that Saraki was expected to make a presentation on the topic: “Parliaments as platforms to enhance education for peace, security and rule of law” during the General Assembly of the IPU tomorrow (Sunday).

Part of the statement reads, “Saraki is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with the President of the IPU, Ms Gabriela Cuevas Baron, Speaker of the Qatar Parliament/Chairman of the Consultative Assembly of Qatar, Ahmad Bin Abdullah Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud, United Nations (UN) Undersecretary, Mr. Vladimir Voronkov and the Speaker of the Parliament of Kenya, Mr, Kenneth Lusaka.

“The President of the Senate is expected to take a complimentary tour of Aljazera Headquarters and meet with an executive of the global television outlet, Mr. Naseer Al-Saadi.


“The delegation is expected back in the country on Tuesday.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/saraki-leads-national-assemblys.html

The bearish performance of the Nigerian equities market continued into the fourth consecutive trading session yesterday on the back of losses in Dangote Cement, ETI and Access Bank.

As a result, the All-Share Index (ASI) fell by 0.39 per cent to 29,553.12 points as Year-to-Date loss worsened to -6.0per cent, while market capitalisation fell by N43.4 billion to N11.100 trillion.

At the sound of the closing gong, activity level worsened as volume and value traded dipped by 8.1 per cent and 48.9 per cent to 499.08 million units and N2.89 billion respectively, exchanged in 4,133 deals.

Across sectors, performance was largely bearish as 4 of 5 indices closed in the red. The Insurance Index declined the most, down 2.5 per cent as losses in Regal Insurance (-8.0 per cent) dragged the Index, while the Industrial Goods Index trailed, inching southward by 0.5 per cent following price depreciation in CAP (-9.89 per cent). Similarly, the Consumer Goods and Banking indices fell 0.4 per cent apiece due to sell-offs in Dangote Cement (-3.17 per cent) and Access Bank (-4.27 per cent). On the flip side, the Oil and Gas Index extended its gains into another trading session following sustained buying interest in Forte Oil (+9.9 per cent).

Investors sentiment as measured by market breadth (advance/decline ratio) strengthened to 0.6x from yesterday’s 0.3x as 11 stocks advanced relative to 19 stocks that declined. The top performing stocks were CHAMS (+10.0 per cent), Forte Oil (+9.8 per cent) and Vitafoam (+7.8 per cent) while the least performing stocks for the day were CAP (-9.9 per cent), Unity Bank (-9.3 per cent) and Eterna (-8.0 per cent). Reacting, analysts at Afrinvest said, “We do not expect this negative performance to persist in the final trading session of the week as we anticipate that investors will take advantage of the attractively priced stocks”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/bearish-trading-persist-at-nse-as.html

Following the recent crisis that erupted between the Jukuns in Taraba state and the Tivs in Benue state, which claimed lives with properties worth millions of naira destroyed, the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, has sued for peace and understanding between the waring communities living at the border of both states.

The governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, disclosed that him and his Taraba state counterpart, Darius Ishaku have taken far reaching measures to end the conflict and restore lasting peace to the border communities.

The governor lamented the situation where trivial issues between persons will always lead to full grown crisis that can forced many people to flee from their homes.

He therefore condemned the conflict, which has led to loss of lives and destruction of property, rendering many innocent people homeless.

“Myself and my Taraba State counterpart have taken far reaching measures to end the conflict and restore lasting peace to the border communities,” he said.

Ortom appealed to the people of the affected communities to support the peace initiatives of the government of the two states to prevent further conflicts in the area.

He urges Jukuns and Tivs in particular to emulate the examples set by their sons, the Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Diocese of Jos and Rev. Fr. James Bature whose peace building efforts have immensely contributed in the settling of the age-long rivalry between the two ethnic groups spread across Taraba and Benue states.

“There is no alternative to peace, which was why I promptly directed my Adviser on Security to visit Taraba State shortly after the unfortunate incident where he held meetings with key stakeholders including the Aku Uka of Wukari, as well as Chairmen of Ukum (Benue) and Wukari in (Taraba) local government areas,” he added.

While sympathizing with victims of the crisis, the governor assure them that security agencies have been directed to apprehend perpetrators of the violence for prosecution.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/tivjukun-crisis-ortom-sues-for-peace.html

Immediate past Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has reacted to Nyesom Wike’s re-election for a second term as Governor of Rivers State.


Fayose in a post on his Twitter page described Wike’s victory as a historic one.

Mocking the opposition, Fayose said Wike’s victory showed that Nigerians were capable of defeating ‘tyranny’ threatening democracy.


The former governor wrote: “I congratulate my friend and brother, Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike and the entire people of Rivers state for this sweet and historic victory over those forces of evil who for their own selfish reasons turned the state to a killing field.

“That the people of Rivers State stood by Governor Wike and the PDP even in the face of death is a sign that Nigerians are capable of defeating tyranny and this will just be the beginning of more victories over the forces threatening the survival of democracy in our country.”

The State Returning Officer, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Professor Teddy Addia, declared that Governor Wike polled 886,264 votes to defeat his closest rival Biokpomabo Awara of the AAC who polled one hundred and seventy three thousand, eight hundred and nine votes.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/rivers-election-fayose-mocks-opposition.html

Six months into his administration, the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Tuesday sent the names of 14 commissioners designate to the state House of Assembly for confirmation.

At Tuesday’s plenary, the assembly began the process for the approval and confirmation of the nominees.


Fayemi had last year November appointed the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Kolawole, and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wale Fapohunda.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Adeniran Alagbada, who read the governor’s letter to his colleagues at plenary, listed the commissioner nominees to include Dr Adio Afolayan, Dr (Mrs) Moji Yaya Kolade, Chief (Mrs) Moji Fafure, Mr Emmanuel Foluso Daramola, Mr. Folorunso Olabode, Mr. Dele Faparusi and Mr Gbenga Agbeyo.

Others are Mr Olusoga Davies, Mr Sola Adebayo, Mr Michael Awopetu, Mr Muyiwa Olumilua, Mr Femi Ajayi, Alhaji Ayodele Jinadu and Mr Febisola Adewale.

The speaker also read another letter from the governor on the reconstitution of the board of the local government service commission.

Chief S.A. Abejide will serve as Chairman, while other members are Mrs. Abiola Adeosun, Mr. Dele Oloje, Bisi Dada and Alhaja Mariam Bimbola Ogunlade.

The commissioners designate and local government service commission members will face the lawmakers on Thursday, April 4, 2019 for screening.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/ekiti-gov-sends-14-commissioners.html

The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has accused some National Assembly members of demanding bribe during their oversight of her agency.

She said they also asked the agency for N35 million for Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign; a programme clearly outside their job description, and only meant to save the lives of Nigerian children against drug abuse.


The DG, who stated this during the 25th Anniversary Celebration of NAFDAC held in Lagos last weekend, said her agency’s budget defence has been suspended because she didn’t allow for extortion, adding that it was a shame that some members of the National Assembly were still extorting money from ministries, departments and agencies of government.

She said: “On December 20, just less than a month into my tenure, they (National Assembly members) came for oversight function in NAFDAC, and I showed them that about 70 per cent of our equipment are not working, and that we need over 50 vehicles for our inspections, and that my directors do not have computers. They then asked if they can go into my office, I said fine. We got in, and they said they needed welfare, I said what? Are you kidding me? I told them I don’t spend money that I don’t have, and if I do, I would rather spend it on needs, and that there were models in this country that brought me up that way.

“They then told me they wanted Yuletide. I said what is Yuletide; they said it was five days to Christmas. I told them if they wanted hamper, they said no, that what they want was welfare. They said my body language was telling them I was going to give them money, I told them they got it wrong, that I won’t give them money.

She said before she resumed office, she got a call from a staff that someone from the National Assembly was asking for N35 million to do Drug Abuse Awareness Campaign, adding that she told the staff she was not going to release such money because National Assembly does not do drug abuse campaign.

“I said no, the money is not leaving our purse because it is meant for drug abuse awareness campaign. They pressed hard, but I said we are not releasing that money because it is meant to save our children.

“Somebody like me from the United States came and was talking like this, and in one year you all got him out of the system. I told them this is my country and it belongs to all of us. I have the right to this country and I have the right to make Nigeria proud. We have to start somewhere. We are celebrating NAFDAC now because I didn’t allow what was going on to continue, which is extortion,” she said.

Adeyeye said when she started her career about 30 years ago in the US, she was thought to have her organisation at heart first before her pocket, but that back in Nigeria, the reverse was the case, adding that in NAFDAC, they are now doing brain washing, and that her directors and staff were responding well to the new pattern, as that was part of the reason the agency has been able to clear its debts.

Reeling out some of the achievements of NAFDAC since her resumption, the DG said when she came on board; the organisation was in debt of about N3.2 billion, but that through the blocking of leakages, they have been able to pay N3 billion from the amount.

“I restructured and started blocking holes where money was licking. And in one year we have paid back N3 billion. That is why we are celebrating. I was at a drug approval meeting in February of last year, and I asked how many pending applications do we have, they said 6, 000. I was very surprised. I gave them 60 days ultimatum. We cleared the backlog in two months. That is why we are celebrating.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/nafdac-dg-accuses-n-assembly-of.html

Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige, has called for increased budgetary allocation for the Ministry and separate funding for the Geneva Labour Desk in the Ministry’s 2019 budget.

The Minister, who spoke while defending the Ministry’s 2019 budget at the National Assembly, said that this became necessary as the Geneva Labour Desk lacked adequate personnel, structures and logistics befitting Nigeria’s enhanced status at the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

He informed the lawmakers that “Nigeria is now on the governing board of the International Labour Organisation in Geneva, Switzerland after ten years of exit” and appealed to them “to help return the Geneva Labour Desk as an independent line item in the Ministry’s budget breakdown”.

Ngige also called for an upward review of the budget for the Skill Acquisition Centres for increased training opportunities for the Nigerian youths.


The Minister equally solicited the revival of the Labour Advisory Council, which has been moribund for six years.

“ILO encourages the establishment of the Council by member countries because it serves as an avenue for social dialogue,” Ngige added.

On job creation, the Minister noted that there has been an increase in employment since the inception of the present administration, “as many Government agencies are employing and government is also creating agro-based jobs in the agricultural sector of the economy”.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Employment and Labour, Senator Abu Ibrahim, appealed to the Ministry to promote the generation of more employment opportunities for the citizens, especially the youths.

Also the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Labour and Employment, Honourable Ezenwa Francis Onyewuchi, acknowledged the challenges at the Geneva Labour Desk borne out of inadequate budget allocation.

Ezenwa appreciated the incisiveness of the Minister’s presentation, adding that the Committee would do a proper scrutiny of it.

The Minister was accompanied to the budget defence by the Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Prof. Stephen Ocheni, Permanent Secretary, Mr. William Alo, Directors and other staff of the Ministry.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/sen-chris-ngige-seeks-increased-funding.html

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has said it is taking all necessary legal steps to ensure that no illegal or fraudulent execution is carried out over its court case with Innoson Motors.

Innoson Nigeria Limited had announced that it obtained a writ of Fifa from the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State, against GTBank.


According to the company, the writ is to effect the judgment given by the Federal High Court in Ibadan and upheld by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

The company Secretary of GTBank, Mr. Erhi Obebeduo, in a statement, however, assured the bank’s customers of the safety of their funds.

In its clarification, GTBank said the judgment was applicable to the account of the Nigerian Customs Service Board domiciled with the bank, rather than the bank as an entity.

“The attention of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has been drawn to statements circulating in the news and social media in respect of a purported enforcement of a judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, Oyo State, at one of its branches in Anambra State.

“The bank, as a law-abiding corporate citizen, is taking all necessary legal steps to address this situation and ensure that no illegal or fraudulent execution is carried out.

“It is important to state that the judgment allegedly in issue is in respect of a garnishee proceedings against the account of the Nigerian Customs Service Board domiciled with the bank and not against the bank as an entity.

“The bank remains committed to providing best-in- class customer experience to all its valued customers,” it said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/gtbank-were-taking-legal-steps-on.html