₦airaland Forum

The Nigerian Army Tuesday claimed that the factional leader of the Boko Haram terrorists, Abubakar Shekau is on the run disguising as a woman in different hijabs.

The Director Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen Sani Usman said in a statement on Tuesday that credible information from surrendered insurgents indicated that the factional leader of the group could not sustain the tempo of the heat of the ongoing counterinsurgency going on in the forest.

Usman added that the troops also rescued civilians that were held hostages by the terrorists and recovered arms, ammunition, Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) factories and making materials as well as other equipment.


The statement reads: “The concerted efforts of troops of Operation LAFIYA DOLE on the ongoing clearance of the Boko Haram terrorists through Operation DEEP PUNCH II has been yielding tremendous results.

“Troops have successfully been clearing Boko Haram camps in Sambisa forest including Camp Zairo. They have also rescued civilians being held hostages by the terrorists, recovered arms, ammunition, Improvised Explosives Devices (IED) factories and making materials as well as other equipment. Consequently, the terrorists are in disarray and scampering for safety while others were surrendering.

“Credible information from arrested and surrendered insurgents indicated that the purported Boko Haram terrorists group factional leader, Abubakar Shekau could not bear the heat anymore as he has abandoned his followers, he is running for his dear life.

“He is desperately trying to escape the theatre disguised as a woman dressed in Hijab. We reliably gathered that to avoid detection Abubakar Shekau alternates between blue and black coloured hijabs. He was last seen in a black hijab.

“We, therefore, call on all those remaining Boko Haram terrorists to know that they are following a coward moving about in hijab disguised as a woman.

“We also request all the remaining Boko Haram members to come out from hiding and lay down their arms and be treated humanely,” the statement noted.

He, therefore, advised residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to be more vigilant, security conscious and be on the look out for the Boko Haram leader and other terrorists that might want to disguise as a woman.

“While concerted efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend the fugitive terrorist leader, we implore also members of the public, especially the residents of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states to be more vigilant, security conscious and be on the lookout of Abubakar Shekau and other terrorists that might disguise as women to escape.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/shekau-on-run-disguised-as-woman.html

Barely five days after the dissolution of his cabinet, Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State, on Tuesday forwarded three names as commissioner nominees to the State House of Assembly for confirmation.

This was contained in a letter read by the Speaker of the House, RT. Hon. Peter Azi, at plenary in Jos.

Lalong said the action was in accordance with section 195 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The nominees are Mr Yakubu Datti, Mr Luka Madaki and Mr Chris Ahmadu.
“Mr Speaker, in accordance with section 195, sub-section 3 of the 1999 constitution as amended, I hereby forward names of three commissioner nominees for your consideration,” he said.
The House unanimously agreed to invite the nominees for screening on February 14, 2018.
It would be recalled that the governor had on February 8, 2018, dissolved his entire cabinet who had been in office for over 25 months.

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Olusegun Obasanjo, former President has launched another attack at President Muhammadu Buhari over his administration’s handling of the fight against corruption.

In his latest attack, the former President maintained that Buhari has corruption on his nose.

In an interview with Germany’s international broadcasting outlet, Deutsche Welle, Obasanjo said the president’s anti-corruption fight has been polluted by people in his inner circles.
Obasanjo said the president could do better on how he goes about the war on curruption.
He said if he was the president, he “I would make sure people in charge of anti-corruption institutions are people of integrity. There is no point in fighting corruption beyond you and you have corruption on your nose.”
On his newly formed movement, Coalition for Nigeria movement, CNM, the former president said the movement will truly help Nigerians to move away from the old order of politics and into a new age where the interests of the citizens are truly represented.

He said, “It (Coalition for Nigeria) is not an old wine in a new bottle, but a new wine in a new bottle. I will not stand in the way of that movement if it decides to become a party. But in that case, I will withdraw.”
Recall that Obasanjo had on January 23, 2018, in a statement titled, “The Way Out: A Clarion Call for Coalition for Nigeria Movement”, lambasted Buhari over his inability to successfully run the affairs of the county.
In the statement, the former President cautioned Buhari against seeking a second term in 2019.

watch video here http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/there-is-corruption-on-your-nose-again.html

The Presidency yesterday said the meeting between President Mohammadu Buhari and service chiefs was aimed at deliberating on how to tackle the security challenges across the country.

The President Special Adviser, Femi Adesina on Media and Publicity, spoke on the outcome of the meeting in a video posted on his official Facebook page, saying the intention is to completely control the clashes between farmers and Fulani Herdsmen.

Adesina, quoting President Buhari “the impression created that I was sitting in an air-conditioned office and home, enjoying myself while these things happened is dishonest” when he was visited by Catholic Bishop said the president is particularly worried about the clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

The meeting, was an enlarged one with heads of Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Prisons Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.


At the meeting was the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali, Minister of Interior Abdulrahman Danbazzau, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama and National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd)

Others are: Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) Lawal Daura, Director of the Nigeria Intelligence Agency (NIA) Ahmed Abubakar and Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris.


The service chiefs at the meeting included Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, Chief of Naval Staff Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas and Chief of Air Staff, Sadique Abubakar.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/how-fg-will-tackle-security-challenges.html

The State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary has called on the Chairman,

Judicial Service Commission to commence immediate reconstitution of members of Customary Courts of Appeal for efficient service delivery.

The Committee made the call when the key functionaries of the Commission appeared before it to defend their 2018 proposed budget.

The Committee which spoke through its chairman, Mr. Chugboo Enwezor observed that non reconstitution of members of Customary Courts since October last year their tenure elapsed has made the customary courts in-effective.

Responding on-behalf of the Commission, Mr. Jude Igwebuike assured that he will deliver the message to the appropriate authority for immediate action.

Meanwhile, the State House of Assembly Committee on Education has applauded the Anambra State Universal Basis Education Board (ASUBEB), for implementing its 2017 budget effectively.

The Committee made the commendation when the Board appeared before it yesterday to defend their 2018 proposed budget.

The Committee which spoke through its Chairman, Mrs Vivian Okadigbo after scrutinizing their 2017 budget and 2018 proposed estimate charged them to redouble their efforts to surpass their achievements last year.

Giving an overview of the Board's programmes last year, the Chairman of ASUBEB, Chief Nzemeka Olisa, explained that they are determined to create conducive climate for teaching and learning, give unfettered access to children of school age as well as recruit more teachers to fill vacancies that exist in the Board.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/anambra-assembly-calls-for.html

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There appears to be fresh trouble for Mr Innocent Chukwuma, alias Innoson, the Chairman of Innoson Motors Nigeria Ltd as an Ikeja Special Offences Court yesterday issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

Justice Mojisola Dada issued the bench warrant following the failure of the defendant to appear in court for the second time for arraignment on criminal charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“A bench warrant is hereby served on Innocent Chukwuma, he will remain in custody till the next adjourned date. The case is adjourned till March 14 for possible arraignment,” Justice Dada said.

Earlier during proceedings, a mild drama ensued in the courtroom, with Justice Dada threatening to charge Prof. J. N Mbadugha, the defence counsel for Innoson and Innoson Motors Ltd, for contempt of court. Charles Chukwuma, a third defendant who was not present in court, had no legal representation.

Justice Dada issued the threat against Mbadugha following his alleged disrespectful conduct and outburst against the court in his opening address.

Mbadugha in his address had shouted: “This proceeding is a clear abuse of court processes, the EFCC is a reckless arbiter.

“My Lord has refused to be bound by the rule of law and doesn’t want to be bound by the doctrine of Stare Decisis; my Lord wants to override the decision of the Supreme Court.”

Justice Dada, in response, said: “Your whole comportment, conduct, countenance smacks of disrespect to the court and rule of law, I will report you to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

“You are insulting the court, this is clear contempt in the face of the court; you will go to prison from here, if you think the court is defenceless and powerless, you’d be surprised.”

Mbadugha, who initially said he was ready to be charged for contempt, later tendered an apology to the court, saying: “I am sorry My Lord, I hope the court gives me a second opportunity. I want to urge the court to temper justice with mercy; to err is human, but to forgive is divine.”

The defence counsel profusely apologised to the court saying he has withdrawn his earlier statements. Addressing the court before the bench warrant was issued, Mr A. B. C Ozioko, the lead prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, claimed that the automobile boss had been evading justice.

He said: “The first and second defendants (Innoson and his company) took the EFCC before the Senate for public hearing and the first defendant who represented his company was physically there.

“The defendants have respect for the National Assembly and no respect for this court. My learned friend (Mbadugha) is a lawyer and he wants to demean the integrity of this court.

“Mr Onwukwe, a defence counsel for the first defendant, was here in court on Jan. 17; this is a criminal charge and proceedings cannot hold until the defendant is present. The first and second defendants are not here because my learned friend advised them not to come to court.

“I want Your Lordship to compel the first and second defendants to come to court, which is germane for a criminal charge. We have gotten across to the third defendant (Charles Chukwuma) and we are ready to change the charge to reflect only the first and second defendant. We shall be applying for a bench warrant for the first and second defendants.”

The defendants are to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses, obtaining property by false pretenses, stealing and forgery. According to the charge sheet, the defendants committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.


The EFCC alleges that defendants with intent to defraud, conspired to obtain by false pretenses containers of motorcycle, spare parts and raw materials property of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) from Mitsui OSK Lines Limited, Apapa, Lagos.


The defendants are alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them via their clearing agents the goods which were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorised by the bank to clear the goods.

The prosecution claims that the defendants, in order to facilitate the fraud, forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K Lines by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

The alleged forgery was in order that the forged documents be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

The offences, according to the EFCC, are in contravention of Sections 1(1)(b), 1(3), and 8(a) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act 2016 and Sections 309(9), 388, 465 and 467(1)(j) of the Criminal Code of Lagos State 2003.

Meanwhile, General Overseer of Mount Zion Faith Global Liberation Ministries Inc (aka by fire by fire), Nnewi, Anambra State, Bishop Abraham Chris Udeh has described the Lagos State High Court order to arrest and detain the CEO of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma for his inability to appear in court as evidence of Igbo marginalization.

He argued that if Chief Chukwuma were to come from another tribe other than the Igbo, he would not be so ordered.

“It is the same marginalization the Igbo cry against. They want to stop his vehicle business because he is an Igbo man. This is how the All Progressives Congress government proscribed the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and tagged them terrorist group whereas the Fulani herdsmen who move around with assault rifles like AK47, killing, maiming and committing all sorts of crime are not seen as terrorists,” Bishop Udeh stated.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/fresh-trouble-for-innoson-as-lagos.html

The Minister of State, for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, thursday said the total debts owed aviation agencies by Nigerian airlines were over N513 billion.

The minister who seemed angry with the airlines for kicking against the Single Africa Air Transport Market (SAATM), said Nigerian airlines have refused to grow, noting that they supported the liberation of African airspace when they felt that it would favour them, but they are opposing it now because they are still fragmented with lack of capacity.


The minister lamented that the airlines want the federal government to renege from its commitment to the Yamoussoukro Declaration, which is the liberation of Africa’s airspace because they know that they cannot compete effectively and urged them to come together.

The minister who spoke to journalists in Lagos at General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos said: “The airlines have refused to grow and the challenges are not caused by government. It is their own making. If I will advise them, let them get their acts together to focus, reorganise, reengineer, take advantage and be futuristic. They should see the bigger future; the bigger pie and organise themselves to take advantage of SAATM; rather than to sit here and whine at a train that is already moving.

“There is an airline that owes one of the agencies N13 billion. One airline owes several agencies and companies up to N500 billion; just one airline. That airline has been taken over. Is that how they will compete? I think it is getting their priorities right and by doing the business model that will get money for them that they will operate well. There is a lot they can do in aviation than just passenger scheduled services when they don’t have the capacity, experience and the business model,” Sirika also said.

On the Dana Air incident when the aircraft’s door fell off on landing at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday, the minister described the incident as traumatising, but noted that with the way the aircraft is designed, the door could not have fallen off while the aircraft is airborne because it is pressurised,
He apologised to the passengers who were in the flight when the incident happened and members of the public, saying investigation was ongoing and would be made public by weekend.

Sirika also disclosed that plans for a new national carrier were already at an advanced stage and its set up would drive the open sky treaty recently signed with 22 African countries.

He said proper roll out and its establishment would take place within the next few months, before the end of this current administration, adding that in the next one or two months maximum, both the outline business case for the transaction and the full business case for the national carrier would be rolled out, after which processes for the carrier’s set up will begin.

“I will say that we are very close to having the national carrier established. Certainly, it will be within the first term of this administration,” he said.

He said the national carrier is crucial to full implementation of bilateral agreements, especially SAATM; otherwise called open sky treaty, noting that the treaty, of which Nigeria signed with 22 African countries, is aimed at growth, development, more jobs, more security, more connectivity and passenger satisfaction at airports.

“Nigeria with 173 million people, the two-third of west Africa, will be one of the biggest beneficiaries. At the time Nigeria was pushing for this treaty, we had the Nigerian Airways to take advantage of it. Now we don’t have it and our airlines are, for one reason or the other, have not grown to that capacity and this is why government felt that we should set in motion a national carrier programme that will take advantage of the liberalisation and agreements for the benefit of the Nigerian people.

“I believe we are on the right course. I believe that this private sector led and driven airline when established will become the dominant carrier in Africa because the market is in Nigeria and it is central. So, Nigeria is at very vantage position to take advantage of this SAATM,” the minister said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/domestic-airlines-owe-aviation-agencies.html

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that over 23 million children are malnourished in Nigeria while more than 10 million are also at the risk of malnourishment due to imminent food insecurity.

UNICEF’s nutrition specialist for Bauchi Field Office, Mrs. Philomena Iremi, stated this, on Thursday, during a workshop organised by the UNICEF in collaboration with Bauchi State Television on Ethical Reporting Training and Media Dialogue for media practitioners.

Iremi stated that of the over 39 million children in Nigeria, over 23 million representing about 60 per cent are malnourished while about 5.5 per cent of these were acutely malnourished.

Iremi said that the situation was not only unacceptable but also intolerable and urged that urgent measures should be taken to address the looming food insecurity in the country to avoid the situation from deteriorating any further.

“Recent researches have shown that over 60% of Nigerian children are malnourished. We are talking about over 23 Million children here, most of them in the rural areas. This makes them vulnerable.

“Looking at recent development in the country that threatens food security, it is important that we step up efforts to protect the children before this intolerable situation further deteriorates”, Iremi said.

In his presentation, Mr. Onche Odeh said that the survival and protection of every child was a collective responsibility and the media must play a leading role in ensuring that child protection takes its rightful place as national priority.

Earlier, Mr. Samuel Kaalu, the UNICEF communication officer for Bauchi Field Office, said that the workshop was aimed at “enhancing the participants knowledge and consciousness on child right issues and to stimulate response that would guarantee the protection of the child in all ramifications”.

The two-day workshop, which draws participants from Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Plateau, Taraba, and Jigawa states, was declared open by the officer in charge of UNICEF Bauchi Field Office, Mr. Drissa Yeo, who urged the participants to take advantage of the training to further hone their reportorial skills and contribute even more meaningfully in reporting issues affecting children and other sectors of the society.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/over-20m-nigerian-children-malnourished.html

No fewer than 4.1 million of about 7.5 million Nigerians with access to electricity across the country are not meterd by the distribution companies, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said.

The NBS, in its ‘Power Sector Report: Energy Generated and Sent Out and Consumed and Load Allocation,’ for the last quarter of 2017, noted that only 46.16 per cent of the total electricity consumers were captured to have been metered, with over half of them remaining unmetered.


According to the report, the Benin disco represented the highest percentage of metered customers with 69 per cent of electricity users in the state.

Eko disco has 60.73 per cent and Ikeja disco with 55.95 per cent came second and third respectively while Yola and Enugu discos posted the least percentage of customers metered with 23.61 per cent and 27.72 per cent respectively.
The NBS’ report shows that the Benin disco had a total number of 535,935 metered customers from 771,226 electricity users, Abuja disco 450,044 metered customers from 862,696 electricity users.

Eko disco had 442,201 electricity users with 268,558 metered customers, Enugu had 224,444 metered customers from 809,829 electricity users, Kano had 162,664 metered customers from a total of 472,453 electricity users, Port Harcourt had 237,188 metered customers from 488,600 electricity users and Yola had 69,282 metered customers from 293,473 electricity users.

According to the NBS, daily energy generation attained, a peak of 105,152mwh on December 8, 2017 with thermal stations generating 84,026mwh while the hydro stations generated 21, 126 megawatts per hour (mwh) and total average of 94,627mwh of energy generated daily by power stations during the period.

The lowest energy generated in the quarter was 73,246mwh as against the previous quarter of 56,486mwh generated daily, s figure which was attained in October 2017.

In the reference period, thermal stations generated 55,941mwh while the hydro stations generated the 17,305mwh.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/nbs-4-million-electricity-users-dont.html

Nigeria plans to redeem N762.5 billion ($2.5 billion) worth of treasury bills from the proceeds of a planned $2.5 billion Eurobond, to lower borrowing costs for the government, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun said on Wednesday.
Government expects to save N64 billion each year after it refinances the local bills with the dollar debt, she told reporters after the Federal Executive Council meeting prresided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in the capital Abuja.
In January, the Director General of the Debt Management Office, Ms. Patience Oniha of the debt office said, the government would consider raising $2.5 billion through Eurobonds in the first quarter to refinance a portion of its domestic treasury bills portfolio at lower cost.
The Federal Government said that the purpose of the bond issue was to help to refinance $3 billion worth of a local treasury bill portfolio of N2.7 trillion. It sold $3 billion in Eurobonds in November, part of which it used to fund its 2017 budget, and then paid off N198 billion in treasury bills in December. The debt pay-off led to a drop in rates by around 300 basis points which translates into savings for the government, Adeosun said.

On Wednesday, bond yields rose 50 basis points to a level last seen five months ago as global risk-off sentiment spread to local assets. The rise hit the actively traded five year bond and benchmark 20-year debt the most.
The minister said the cabinet reappointed the banks that handled the previous eurobond sale – Citigroup, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Standard Chartered Bank – for the new bond sale.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/nigeria-to-redeem-n7625bn-t-bill-with.html

The Presidential Committee on the North-East Initiative (PCNI) has donated medical equipment worth over N400 million to the Adamawa State Government.

Vice Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Tijjani Tumsah, made this known while presenting the equipment, in Yola.

Tumsah said that the development was part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s plan on North East rehabilitation programme.

“Today, we are witnessing another remarkable health care intervention on North East rehabilitation programme,’’ he said.

Tumsah said that the equipment meant for a 50-bed capacity hospital was for the Mubi General Hospital.

The equipment included surgery facilities, x-ray machines, eye clinic, paediatrics, gynaecology and other laboratory equipment.

While receiving the equipment, the Adamawa state Deputy Governor, Engr. Martins Babale, commended the Federal Government for the intervention saying the intervention was timely and would go a long way in adding value to the already declared state of emergency in the health sector by the state government.

He assured initiative that the equipment would be judiciously deployed for the benefit of the people.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/pcni-donates-n400m-medical-equipment-to.html

RMB Nigeria (RMBN) Stockbrokers, in its research, has forecast a positive outlook for the nation’s cement sector and believes 2018 could be the beginning of the next growth cycle for cement consumption in the country.



The stockbrokers forecast Nigeria’s cement consumption to rebound at seven per cent year-on-year in 2018 compared with a 17 per cent decline for 2017, especially as Nigeria exits a challenging economic downturn in 2017.Furthermore, the group also expects stronger consumption growth at 12 per cent CGAR over 2018 through 2023.

The Head of Research at RMBNS, Gbenga Sholotan, said there is supportive cement consumption drivers from the emergence of concrete roads and housing deficit, which could unlock 53 metric tonnes (mt) and 24mt respectively by 2020.Besides, government’s commitment and implementation as well as ongoing public-private partnership infrastructure financing initiatives are positives for cement demand.


However, the key risk for the Nigeria’s cement sector, according to the report, in 2018, is the possibility of a price cut based on RMBNS in-house FCF margin-cement price parity model, as the brokers reasoned cement prices could decline by about 12 per cent in 2018 after almost 60 per cent year-on-year increase in 2017.

“The likelihood of BUA’s 3mt p.a. OBU II plant starting operations in 2018 further supports our view, given that historically, some price cuts have been implemented in the sector when smaller players announce new capacity,” he said.On a stock level, RMBNS recommended that investors Overweight Dangote Cement, setting a 12-month target price of N271 per share and Underweight Lafarge Africa at N49 per share.

RMBNS is of the view that Dangote Cement’s 2018 cement volume could come in higher at 11 per cent year-on-year to 24.5mt, with 2018 FCF growth robust at 55 per cent year-on-year (N296 billion), implying attractive FCF yield of seven per cent on moderate capital expenditure needs. On Lafarge Africa, RMBNS sees limited catalysts, negative excess return estimate of a minus eight per cent, risks of potential operational plant downtime from ageing plants and continued unfavourable market dynamics in South Africa as supportive of its underweight rating.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/rmbn-stockbrokers-sees-growth-in.html

Experts have stressed an urgent need for the Nigerian economy to be diversified, utilising the current relative improvement in the price of oil and foreign reserves, for job creation and inclusive growth.

There is also a need to redefine the role of government, in terms of thinking ahead; and also addressing the perennial problems of policy summersault, reversal and abandonment.


These calls were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a monthly seminar series of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy (ISGPP), titled: ‘From Bust to Boom: Fiscal, Financial and Infrastructure Options’ held at the ISGPP seminar Hall recently.

Key speakers at the event included the Economic Adviser to the President, Amb. Yemi Dipeolu; Member, Board of Economists and CEO, Economic Associates, Dr. Ayo Teriba; Faculty member, Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami; and Members, Board of Economists, Dr Shehu Yahaya, Prof. Olu, Prof. Sylvanus Ikhide, Dr. Obadiah Mailafia, and Prof. Ebere Onwudiwe, among others.

The seminar was chaired by Emeritus Prof. Ademola Oyejide with Prof. Akin Mabogunje as Chief host. The lead presenter, Dr. Teriba, a member of the Board of Economists, addressed some cogent issues including the slide in Nigeria’s National Economy from Boom to Bust, with particular emphasis on windfalls (fat years) to shortfalls (lean years); cyclical consequences of the bust or lean years; and recognition of the major constraints in the area of government revenue, access to finance and infrastructure, among others.
There were three plenary sessions where discussions on specifics were held, namely: Infrastructure Options (moderated by Prof. Ekpo); Financial Deepening options (Dr. Mailafia), and Revenue Mobilisation Options (Prof. Olu Ajakaiye)

Using examples drawn from Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, United Kingdom, and China among others, the seminar resolved on: unlocking revenues from non-financial assets of government; building of foreign reserves through massive privatisation; deepening the financial system; land reform as an imperative to make it possible for the majority of Nigerians, especially farmers to have titles to their land. Land reform is the surest way to diversification and enhancement of financial inclusion as well as financial deepening, they noted.

To the experts, there is an urgent need for Nigerian economy to be diversified, utilising the current relative improvement in the price of oil and foreign reserves, for job creation and inclusive growth.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/isgpp-tasks-govt-on-diversification-of.html

The Chief Ralph Uwazurike led Movement for the Actualisation of Biafra, MASSOB and the Biafran Independent Movement; BIM yesterday said the restoration of full independence for Biafra republic is imminent going by the existential realities on ground.

MASSOB –BIM Zonal Administrator for Anambra North, Chief Vincent Iloh made this declaration yesterday in Onitsha in a press statement congratulating President Donald Trump of the United States of America on his one year in office.

The statement signed on behalf of the zonal administrator by the zonal director of Information, Charles Igbokwe said the likes of President Trump whosome people described as ‘radical’ are needed in this present age and time where people are afraid to confront evil because of the possible reactions of those behind the scene who are the backbone of such evil acts.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/massob-says-biafra-independence-imminent.html

A rights group, Lagoswomen 2030, yesterday staged a protest to the Lagos State Assembly over the killings in the country, just as it rejected the cattle colony policy of the Federal Government.

Led by their coordinator, Kate Duru, the group demanded that government at all levels should confront the growing insecurity in the land through actions that reflect equity and unity.

Despite the ban on street protest, the women came out in large number with placards bearing various inscriptions amid solidarity songs along the major streets of the metropolis.

Duru noted that the rising insurgency, terrorism, armed robbery, kidnappings, corruption and other vices were constituting serious threat to the security of lives and property with their attendant adverse effect on meaningful development. Her words: “Only this January, more than 90 Nigerians were brutally killed in an act of mass atrocities in Benue and other states. Pregnant women and children were not spared the terror of violent death as a result of herdsmen and farmers’ clashes.

“We are saying ‘No’ to Senseless and evil killings. We believe in peace, security and unity. We want the government to come up with policies to end these killings. We do not need colony.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/lagos-women-move-against-cattle-colonies.html

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Hadiza Bala-Usman has assured relevant stakeholders in the maritime sub sector and beyond of the determination of the management of the NPA to providing an enabling environment for investors to do business within the ports across the nation . This she said was to ensure the huge economic potential available in the sector, are fully harnessed for the growth of the nation’s economy.


According to the NPA boss, renewed efforts are being encouraged by way of partnership, collaboration and improved synergy amongst key players in the industry towards ensuring that the management thrusts are realised within the nearest possible time.

Bala-Usman, who was represented by the General Manager (Land and Asset Administration) Adams Jatto made these remarks during on a working visit with the visiting Presidential Team, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (CRC) led by its acting Director General, Chidi Izuwah to the Lagos Free Zone [LFTZ] located in Lekki, Lagos.

The acting DG had informed the gathering that the Presidential Team was in Lekki Deep Sea Port to have a firsthand information and assessment of the state of infrastructural development that has taken place in the project since the Committee’s last visit with a view to providing all necessary technical support for its swift take off.

According to him, the Lekki Port project when completed would facilitate amongst others a platform for the creation of 170,000 jobs for Nigerians, generate an increased revenue base for government and most importantly strengthen the federal government’s drive for the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria as well as creating an enabling environment for the reception of bigger vessels.

The General Manager Projects, Lekki Deep Sea Port, Mr. Steven Heukelom, while conducting the guests on a tour of the facilities within the ports, stated that when completed in 2020, the project would boast a 16.5 meter depth base, thereby facilitating trans-shipment within the sub-Saharan Africa.

On the facility appreciation tour was the Assistant General Manager (PPP) NPA, Yakubu Nana and the Legal Counsel/Relationship Director, Lekki Deep Sea Port, Adesuwa Ladoja.

The management of the NPA is prioritising the execution of a 25-year Port Master plan for the sub-sector in order for activities to thrive along the lines of best practices.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/bala-usman-vows-to-maximise-nigerias.html

The state Ministry of Social Welfare, Children and Women Affairs says there will be raid on destitute and children hawking during school hours in various markets,

shops and streets in the state.
A released signed by the commissioner for social welfare, Children and women Affairs, Dr. Victoria Chikwelu notifies the general public on the said raid.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/anambra-govt-to-commence-enforcement-of.html

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige has described media reports quoting him as saying that the Federal Government has spent about N1 billion on the burial plans of the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, as misleading.

He said controversy generated by the report were needless.

The minister said he didn’t attach any figure to plans being made by the government to ensure that the former vice president gets “a deserving national tribute to one of Nigeria’s foremost statesman.”

In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Nwachukwu Ngige, the minister said he only gave a summary of the number of projects the federal government has undertaken to ensure that a man who was Nigeria’s beacon of democracy was given a decent burial.


The statement said: “Perhaps the Hon. Minister has preempted the rhetorics of cynics and detractors who could have easily run to town to claim the federal government has abandoned Ekwueme in death.

“For the avoidance of doubt, what he did as a member of the Burial Planning Committee was to give the details of the road rehablitation projects from the Awka end of the state and from Abia and Imo State axis , all leading to Ekwueme’s home town of Oko, as well as the medical services, the Mausoleum and others. But at no time did the minister attach a figure of one billion Naira.

“An unedited video and audio tape of the interview as recorded by both broadcast and print reporters is easily within reach.

“The minister is an Igbo man and knows full well that just as a count is not taken of the number of children a parent is blessed with in Igbo tradition, the same tradition holds the burial rites and attendant expenses even more sacred to warrant such display of figures.

“However, it is important to add that such pieces of information in an administration such as ours that is anchored on openness, and bouyed by the Freedom of Information could be at the fingertips of any investigative reporting.”

The statement added that the Burial Planning Committee was satisfied with the progress of the work and looked forward to a very successful event which has already kicked off beautifully and successfully in Lagos, Abuja and Enugu.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/media-reports-on-ekwuemes-burial-plans.html

National leader of the Biafra Nations Youth League, BNYL, Princewill Obuka, has accused the Buhari-led government of looking the other way while the Cameroonian government “abducts” people of Bakassi.

Obuka, who was released a few days ago from police detention after his arrest on January 16, 2018 alongside Linus Essien, youth leader of the displaced people of Bakassi, said this in a chat with newsmen on Monday in Owerri.

He said: “The group is worried that forces from Cameroon crossed into Nigeria and abducted members of Southern Cameroon in Bakassi early this January.
“It is unfortunate that Nigerian government is supporting the action of Cameroon government against the people of the region.
“On 16 January I was arrested by the police alongside Linus Essien, Youth leader of the displaced people of Bakassi and many others on the flimsy excuses that they are supporting the southern Cameroon separatists group”.
He also lamented the neglect of hundreds of refugees from the ceded towns who are being harassed daily by Cameroon gendarmes over taxes.
Obuka said only an independent Biafra would end the suffering of the people and called on the people of former Eastern region to support the Biafra struggle.
The Biafra group leader, however, warned, “Fulani jihadists masquerading as herdsmen in any part of the South east and South south” to leave the region.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/buharis-govt-allowing-cameroon-to.html

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company one of the upstream subsidiaries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation will increase its daily crude oil production to five hundred thousand barrels per day before 2022.

This target was announced by the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, during the inauguration of the board of directors of the company in Abuja.

Addressing the members, Dr Baru who also doubles as Chairman of the board charged them to grow the company’s assets and ensure that the five hundred thousand barrels per day crude oil production target is met by 2022.

He disclosed that the Company is currently supplying fifty per cent of the West African Gas Pipeline system, adding that it is necessary to have more gas assets, while commending the Company for leaving up to expectations.
Dr. Baru directed that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Memorandum of Understanding with host communities should be tied to the availability of the lines saying that as stakeholders, they share in both success and losses as well.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Yusuf Matashi, said from the meteoric growth the Company had witnessed since 2016, the Group Managing Director’s target of five hundred thousand barrels per day is realizable by 2022.
The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company currently produces about two hundred thousand barrels per day and going by its work programme, it will increase to three hundred thousand barrels per day this year.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/npdc-to-increase-daily-oil-production.html

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged the All Progressives Congress, APC, to submit the recommendations of the 2014 national conference report to the National Assembly before 2019, if truly they are serious on restructuring the country.

The main opposition party said the ruling party was taking Nigerians on second false ride after dropping them on a land of fantasy.



The party was reacting to Governor El-Rufai’s claim that President Muhammadu Buhari was ready to implement the APC Committee report on restructuring.
Speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondinyan, the party pointed out that the APC, “Think that they can take Nigerians on a second ride after they dropped them on a land of fantasy. But Nigerians are aware and are awake to their false rides and fantasy and there can never be a repeat of it.
“If El-Rufai is saying that Buhari believes in restructuring, we challenge and the Federal Government to pick up a copy of the 2014 National Conference report and take it to the National Assembly for amendment into the 1999 Constitution as amended. But the unfortunate thing is that in their usual game, they are telling Nigerians what they do not believe.
“They still have between now and February, 2019 to showcase to Nigerians that they believe in restructuring. And the Senate and the House of Representatives members will be sitting tomorrow, Tuesday, January 30, 2018 (today). So we challenge them to take a copy either to a joint committee of the National Assembly or to deliver to each chamber.”

“There is no way making post-election promises of 2019; they should do it now. Now is the time to do it. We have always told the APC Federal Government that deceit, lies and propaganda will help you win election but it cannot sustain them,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/what-apc-must-do-before-2019-pdp.html

Nigeria’s stocks have been among the world’s best-performers in the past four months, and foreign investors are a big reason for that, Bloomberg reported yesterday.

The New York-based financial software, data, and media company, said net foreign inflows to Nigerian equities totalled 337 billion naira ($940 million) last year, the first time flows have been positive since at least 2013.

It said December 2017 was the best month since Bloomberg started compiling data at the beginning of 2014, with net inflows of 140 billion naira, signalling a switch in sentiment toward equities in Africa’s biggest oil producer.

The finance media company said foreign investors were heavy buyers of Nigerian shares last year.


“Nigerian equities have gained in allure for international traders, thanks to the rise in Brent crude prices to around 70 dollars a barrel and an easing of dollar shortages, which are helping Africa’s largest economy recover from its worst slump in 25 years.

“They’re also attracted by what remain among the cheapest valuations on the continent.

“The turnaround has seen investors pile into the New York-based Global X MSCI Nigeria ETF this year, too.

“That’s increased the exchange-traded fund’s market capitalisation to almost $100 million, triple the size of a year ago,” Bloomberg said.

The world-beating rally in Nigerian stocks might not be over yet, it said, noting that the main equity index in Africa’s biggest economy had surged 12 per cent in the first two weeks this year in dollar terms, the most among 96 major bourses tracked by Bloomberg, pushing it to the highest level since 2008.

It said the advance would probably be sustained thanks to rising prices for oil, Nigeria’s main export, and as investors look to increase their holdings of what remained among the cheapest stocks in Africa.


“Still, there are some warning signs. The 120-day correlation between Nigerian stocks and Brent crude is now around the highest in two years. If oil prices reverse their 45 per cent climb since June, Nigerian assets could take a hit.

“That’s one reason HSBC Holdings Plc has a negative outlook on the stocks. The U.K. bank also says Nigeria will have to free its currency further.

“While the Central Bank eased some capital controls last year and opened a trading window for foreign portfolio investors, it continues to operate several exchange rates.”

It warned, however, that Nigeria’s multiple exchange rate system was likely to remain a key drag, keeping long-term investors on the side lines.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/bloomberg-nigerias-stocks-among-worlds.html

Rivers APC Blasts Wike for Hiring Indigenes of Abia, Imo and Akwa Ibom States for 2019 Endorsement

Rivers State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) in a press statement circulated on Thursday in Port Harcourt by Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, the Media Consultant to Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya the State Chairman of Rivers APC to Media Organisations, opinion leaders and the public blasted Governor Nyesom Ezebunwo Wike of Rivers State for spending a whopping sum of one billion Naira (N1b) of Rivers State money to hire two different groups (non indigenes and women groups) last weekend to endorse him for his unmerited second term bid.

The opposition party in Rivers State said that Gov. Wike spent five hundred million Naira (N500M) to hire non indigenes who are not resident in Rivers State from Abia, Imo and Akwa Ibom States to march to the Rivers State Government House in order to endorse him for an unmerited second term in office while he has refused to pay the six months salaries owed to the Rivers State Civil servants and arrears of pension owed to our Pensioners.

The APC in the same vein queries the rationale behind the Governor wasting another whopping sum of five hundred million Naira to hire women from Bayelsa and Delta States, and presented them as Rivers State women to endorse him to continue to exhibit his mediocrity in governance.
The party supporting the above stand quoted the press statement issued by the Hausa community in Rivers State through their leader, Alh. Saidu Musa. The community in the press statement scolded Governor Wike for claiming that the Hausa communities was among the hired non indigenes from outside the State that endorsed him. According to the Hausa Community resident in Rivers State in their press statement titled, "2019... Hausa community disassociates itself from Wike's endorsement" stated, "that the Hausa community in Rivers State has political and administrative structures headed by both traditional institutions and other leaders of thought and that none of the bodies were consulted to mobilise their community to endorse Wike. The statement further explained, "So we have not endorsed Governor Wike for 2019. If there is any need for that the entire leadership of Hausa community will meet and take decision accordingly. We therefore called on the public to disregard such endorsement saying that Hausa community in Rivers State is yet to take decision on who to support in 2019"
In agreement with the Hausa community, the Igbos, the Akwa Ibomites and Cross Riverians, the Igalas, the Tivs, the Ibibios, the Yoruba's and other ethnic nationalities residing in Rivers State have jointly and separately denounced Wike for linking them with his desperate attempt to fool the outside world that his misrule and draconian policies of promoting insecurity in Rivers State is popular and acceptable to the people of Rivers State.

The party recalled that Wike on assumption of office deluded the non indigenes in Rivers State and stopped the Scholarship Scheme initiated by Amaechi for the well-being and greatness of Rivers State because of the non indigenes and wonder how Wike now sought the endorsement of non indigenes for his second term bid after he told the world that he stopped the scholarship scheme because it contains the names of some non indigenes. Wike in demonstration of his deep hatred for the non indigenes in Rivers State terminated the appointment of 13,200 Teachers employed during the Amaechi's administration stating that it some non indigenes were employed during the exercise. This may have occasioned the mass rejection of his second term bid by the indigenes and non indigenes in Rivers State.
The party describes as most unfortunate the claim by Wike that he spent one billion Naira in hiring less than two thousand non indigenes and few hundreds of Women for this unfortunate excerise. This to APC is another tool for Wike to divert and embezzle public funds with impunity.

The party noted with sadness not minding the above that Wike is not relenting in this inglorious act as a whopping sum of five Billion Naira (N5B) have been earmarked to woo some PDP Governors, notable Emirs and Obas to visit Rivers State from February to endorse Wike for his elusive second term bid and we wish to appeal to some of these people already contacted for this evil act that their actions are not for the good of Rivers State and her people as Wike has only succeeded to ruin our economy and plunge Rivers State into ceaseless insecurity and laughing stock among other States of our country and doesn’t merit any other four years as the Governor of Rivers State.



The party sympathised with Wike over his rejection and desperation and explained that Wike may have resorted to hiring non Rivers State people from outside the State after his rejection by the Rivers State people and total acceptance of APC instead as demonstrated during the recent reception in honour of the Lion of Niger Delta Politics, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi the erstwhile Governor of Rivers State and the incumbent Minister of Transportation by the Ikwerre Youths Movement Worldwide (IYM) when millions of Rivers State people trooped to accord honour to their illustrious son.

The party reassured Wike that no matter the amount of Rivers State money that he intends to waste for his elusive second term tenure project that he will not succeed for the following reasons:

1. For aborting the Scholarship Scheme and free education initiated by Amaechi

2. For aborting the free medicals for infants and the aged initiated and executed by Amaechi

3. For turning Ambassador Ine Korubo Model Secondary School described by many as an University to forest

4. For aborting the Greater Port Harcourt City project aimed to decongest Port Harcourt and positioned Rivers State as one of best States in Nigeria

5. For running Rivers State for the past two years plus as a chiefdom without budgetary provisions

6. For turning Rivers State to Rivers of dustbin and blood where security of lives and properties no longer make any meaning.

7. For aborting the Monthly Town Hall meetings where communities make inputs in Governance initiated by the administration of Amaechi

8. For destroying the Agricultural sector of Rivers State through ruining the Songhai farm, the Buguma fish farm etc

9. For killing Local Government system in Rivers State

10. For ensuring that developmental deliberations in the Rivers State House of Assembly no longer exist.

11. For stopping and destroying the future of our youths on scholarship in foreign countries and refusal to pay the Civil servants their salaries when due and numerous other sins Wike has committed against Rivers State and her people.

Source: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,

SSA Media and Public Affairs Consultant to the State Chairman, APC Rivers State

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/rivers-apc-blasts-wike-for-hiring.html

President Muhammadu Buhari will friday leave Nigeria for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to participate in the 30th ordinary session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU).

Buhari’s media adviser, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement, said the highlight of his principal’s engagements during the trip would be predicated on the historic theme for the summit: ‘Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation.’


Meanwhile, strong indications have since emerged that President Buhari might meet with former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is usually prominent figure at the summit.

Akelicious gathered that should the two leaders meet, it would be the first time since Obasanjo last Tuesday wrote an 18-page letter to the president criticising his administration, and advising him not to seek a re-election 2019.

According to Adesina, it is the first time in the 54-year-old history of the AU that anti-corruption would be made a theme of the gathering of the regional leaders.

He recalled that on July 4, 2017 at the 29th Session of the AU, African leaders unanimously endorsed Buhari to champion the fight against corruption on the continent adding that the endorsement was in recognition of his personal commitment and widely acclaimed anti-graft drive at the domestic level.

He also recalled that on July 25, 2017, Buhari in a letter to President Alpha Conde of Guinea, the out-going AU Chairman, formally accepted his nomination to lead members of the AU on this crucial crusade against a veritable socio-economic vice viewed as anti-development.

“Apart from anti-corruption, other issues lined for consideration by African leaders and their delegations include, peace and security (transnational terrorism); institutional reforms of the continental body; free movement of persons; climate change; trade; aviation; education; gender and development.

“President Buhari will also hold bilateral meetings with some of his colleagues on issues of common interests,” Adesina added.

He listed those in the minister’s delegation to include: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, among others. Abdulrahman Danbazau; the Minister of State (Aviation), Hadi Sirika; the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno; and the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/buhari-heads-for-au-summit-may-meet.html

The news report emanating from a national daily and published by some social media outfits insinuating that the Honourable Minister of Interior, retired Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Dambazau has been appointed as the head of Security Committee in the planned visit of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to Kano State on the 30th of this month is a product of outright misinformation, mischief making and irresponsible journalism.

Let it be clearly stated that General Dambazau is a law abiding Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and by the nature of the Oath of Office he took to render unreserved services to the country, he is not permitted to engage in any socio-political activity or engagement outside the purview of the Ministry assigned to him by President Muhammadu Buhari.Where the Executive Governor of Kano State who is also the Chief Security Officer of the state has scheduled January 30th for similar activity in the state, it will amount to unnecessarily overstressing the capacity of the security agencies in the state should another political activity or engagement be fixed on the same date.

Therefore, dropping the name of the Honourable Minister of Interior who is the administrative head of all the internal security agencies in the country in an activity not connected to the established rules of the ministry is unwarranted, outrageous and unacceptable.

The Minister cannot and will never be part of any activity capable of breeding crisis or breaking law and order in any part of the country let alone participating in a crisis-prone activity in Kano State.While members of the public are advised to ignore the story, the editorial members of the newspaper are challenged to redeem their image by apologizing to the Minister and members of the reading public for deliberate misinformation which is contrary to the motor of their newspaper which says 'Trust is a burden.'

Comrade Edwin Uhara writes from Abuja

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/kano-visit-gen-dambazau-heads.html

The State House of Assembly has passed a resolution urging the Federal Government to name one Federal Institution after the late former Vice President Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme.
The resolution followed a motion sponsored by the member representing Orumba North Constituency, Chief Romanus Obi who described the late former Vice President as a true Democrat who made sacrifices for the unity of the country.
He noted that immortalizing late Dr. Ekwueme, will encourage other Nigerians to always render patriotic services to the country.
On her part, the member representing Orumba South Constituency, Princess Nikky Ugochukwu, described Dr Ekwueme as the pride of the old Aguata and Anambra State.
The member representing Onitsha North Constituency One, Mr Chugboo Enwezor noted that the late Dr Ekwueme was instrumental to the six geopolitical zones system of governance the country is enjoying today.
In his contribution, the member representing Aguata Constituency Two, Chief Ikem Uzoezie, also stressed the need for the Federal Government to immortalize Dr Ekwueme as he was a towering figure in the Nation’s polity.
The Speaker, Barrister Rita Maduagwu read the resolution of the House.
Also at plenary, the House renewed the tenure of the Transition Committee Chairmen of the twenty-one local government areas in the State for another three months, following a letter sent to that effect by Governor Willie Obiano.
In a vote of thanks, the Transition Committee Chairman for Oyi Local Government Area, Mr Uchenna Okafor assured that they will continue to work effectively with the House and Governor Obiano for enhanced development of the State.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/anambra-assembly-calls-on-fg-to.html?m=1

…as governor flags off 10km road construction

The Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, Prof. Christian Anieke has described Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State as a Messiah sent by God to wipe away the tears of the University and the people of the host communities through the commencement of the construction of the 10-kilometer Ugwuomu-Nkwubor-Godfrey Okoye University road.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony of the road by Gov. Ugwuanyi, Prof. Anieke expressed gratitude to the governor for coming to the rescue of the university and the people of the area through the intervention on the deplorable road. Godfrey Okoye University is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

The Vice Chancellor regretted that all efforts by the university and the people of the communities to get previous governments to construct the road yielded no result “until the Messiah arrived”.


“Among all the politicians in Enugu, only one person got the heart to do this road and you are the person, Your Excellency. I thank you. You have wiped away the tears of Godfrey Okoye University. You have wiped away the tears of the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu.

“You have wiped away the tears of Reverend Sisters and Fathers, Ugwuomu and Nkwubor communities; Caritas University, Emene community and all the surrounding communities.

“This road will be the greatest blessing of your life. Anything you ask God, you will get it”, the Vice Chancellor, who is also a priest prayed.

He also promised the governor that he will continue to offer prayers for his landslide victory in the forthcoming election.

Flagging off the road, Gov. Ugwuanyi noted that the action of the government was in response to a formal request from the authorities of the university to assist them improve infrastructural development in the school and its environs.

The governor added that it was also in keeping with the rural development policy of his administration, stating that the road, when completed, will help to open up the agrarian communities and stimulate rapid economic development of the area in particular and Enugu East local government area in general.


Gov. Ugwuanyi reiterated his administration’s commitment to “the continuous improvement of the state’s education sector, particularly, through the provision of necessary infrastructure, equipment and logistical support to educational institutions at all levels”.

He, therefore, pledged continued partnership and cooperation with the university and similar institutions in the state, to ensure the realization of the common visions and objectives in the education sector, “for the benefit of our children and the society at large”

Earlier in their remarks, the Executive Chairman of Enugu East L.G.A, Hon. Alex Ugwu; the traditional ruler of the Mgbulu Anyuli kingdom, HRH Igwe Mike Ogbuchi; the University’s Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Prof Bartho Okolo and Chairman of Juhel Pharmaceutical Company, Ifeanyi Okoye, commended Gov. Ugwuanyi for his intervention on the road through partnership with the university authorities.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/gov-ugwuanyi-has-wiped-away-our-tears.html

The Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, Wednesday ordered Fulani herdsmen to vacate the zone forthwith.

The warning is contained in a statement issued after the OYC’s emergency meeting in Umuahia.


In a five-point communique signed by‎ Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, President General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Secretary General and Engr Obinna Adibe the‎ National Publicity secretary, the group said the operation of herdsmen in the zone had been banned.

It read, “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide met and discussed extensively the recent killing by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria and resolved as follows:

“That the activities of Fulani herdsmen and the Benue massacre is unfortunate and can cause another avoidable tension in the country, especially now the 2019 elections is around the corner.

“We condemned vehemently the terrorist attack of the Fulani herdsmen and call for self defense as a measure to halt it.


“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council worldwide has banned and proscribed the outlawed Fulani herdsmen in Igboland especially in the 95 LGs of South East and call on the Youths not to take laws into their hands but want the federal government to declare them a terrorist group.

“We hail the People’s Governor of Abia Dr Okezie Ikpeazu and the heroic stand of Governor of Anambra Willie Obiano for rejecting the cattle colonies in Abia and Anambra states.

“We know other Igbo Governors will follow the footsteps of their colleagues and reject these anti people’s policy.

“We are calling on the federal government to establish piggies colonies in Northern Nigeria to help feed our people over there.“We are calling on our people to be vigilant and report to security agents the activities of any suspected Fulani herdsmen.

“We issue this warning to all the Fulani herdsmen that they should vacate South East immediately or face the wrath of Igbo Youths and any attempt to ignore this warning, they have themselves to blame.

“We restate that all the activities of Fulani herdsmen have been proscribed and banned in South-East with immediate effect.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/vacate-south-east-now-ohanaeze-orders.html

The Nigeria Football Federation on Wednesday signed a two –year contract extension with Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr.
NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, explained that Rohr, initially taken on board in July 2016, deserved the extension after qualifying the Super Eagles for the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, even with a match to spare.
“He has done a very good job and when someone does a good job, he gets a reward. We are proud to have taken Mr. Rohr on board and we are delighted to be signing this contract extension with him.”

Rohr, who played as a defender and has coached Burkina Faso, Niger Republic and Gabon national teams before landing in Nigeria, expressed joy at the extension of the relationship, while insisting that the Super Eagles players and officials must remain level –headed and focused going forward.


FIFA gives NFF clean bill of health on finances

World football –governing body, FIFA, has handed the Nigeria Football Federation clean bill of health on its finances, following diligent application of best practices in its financial management.

NFF 2nd Vice President/Chairman of Strategic Studies Committee, Shehu Dikko announced this in Lagos on Wednesday.

“This further justifies our decision, on coming on board, to have Financial Derivatives as our financial consultants and PriceWaterHouse Coopers as our auditors. They have worked hard to straighten us on the path of best practices and we have also done well to conform to those tenets.

“This makes us very proud. Transparency and accountability have been our watchwords right from inception and we are happy to be, in a sense, certificated on this. Even the money from the sponsorship agreement with Coca-Cola will go Financial Derivatives and its application monitored by our auditors, PWC.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/rohr-signs-two-year-contract-extension.html

Having keenly followed comments that greeted the introduction of the new waste management policy of the Lagos State Government encapsulated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative ( CLI ) and the resurgence of waste on major roads and streets, the question agitating the minds of the people is why the need for the new policy when the previous arrangement appeared to be “working.” Those who genuinely asked the question do so because there was no clear understanding of where the State was coming from as far as waste collection and administration is concerned, and where we should really be to engender a truly clean, hygienic and sustainable environment.

Before the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode decided to implement the new waste management policy, a study was commissioned to comprehensively look into the issue of the environment. The report showed that the Lagos State Waste Management Authority ( LAWMA ) had about 150 rickety compactors and the Private Sector Participation ( PSP ) operators had some compactors many of which were constantly breaking down on the roads causing traffic gridlock and oozing out offensive stench to residents. All the compactors then put together were benchmarked against the volume of waste generated in the State and the report clearly showed that they were grossly inadequate and effective to evacuate about 13,000 tonnes of waste generated daily in the State.

Because the compactors were inadequate, people end up dumping waste in drains, canals and at the end of the day, government spend more public expenditure to clear the drains, spend more money to give free drugs in the hospitals to children, and so on.

Perhaps, the most important aspect of the report was that it revealed the obvious fact which the State had been grappling with and that is the fact that the Olusosun and Igando dump sites were time bomb waiting to explode. Under the previous arrangement, wastes were collected from across the State and dumped at Olusosun and Igando and other dump sites in the State and over the years, the heaps of refuse were mounting on the sites. So, for instance, the first thing you see when coming into Lagos from the major gateway of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is the heap of refuse at Olusosun in a mega city that wants to be globally competitive and moving towards becoming a smart city. Such arrangement, to answer the agitation of the people, cannot be said to be working. It was just a question of shifting the evil day which will definitely come if not reviewed.


So, in order to avert the looming disaster, the Ambode administration, after a comprehensive analysis of the report with a team of experts with impeccable and extensive background on environmental management, decided to implement a major paradigm shift once and for all, and join the league of advanced countries with world class holistic environmental management system which eventually brought about the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

Under the new arrangement, the existing dump sites, which apart from being an eyesore and constitute health risk to the State, would be closed down and clinically treated to free up the land space for other befitting and impactful projects. At the moment, work is at advanced stage on the construction of Engineered Sanitary Landfill in the outskirt of Epe, and the project, which is the first in West Africa, will birth a revolutionary waste management in the State in line with global best practices. The are concessions for additional two of such landfills to be built in the State under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) arrangement.

Credits must also be given to the previous administrations in the State for coming up with the idea of Transfer Loading Stations (TLS)/Material Recovery facilities, but like the mantra of the present administration which is continuity with improvement, the existing of such stations in Agege, Simpson, Oshodi and Mushin are being retrofitted and upgraded to meet up with current realities, while work has already been completed at Tapa Transfer Loading Station and Ogudu Waste Depot by the environmental utility group contracted by the State Government to implement the CLI, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions.

With the previous arrangement, adequate provision was only made for waste collection, without arrangement for other critical infrastructures in the value-chain of waste management such as waste depots, transfer loading stations, material recovery facilities and engineered sanitary landfills, and with the new arrangement, all of which are now being put in place as part of the mandate to provide integrated waste management solutions for the treatment of municipal solid waste and wastewater under the CLI.

For instance, the TLS performs the fundamental role of driving efficiency into waste collection and transportation services and serves as the middleman in the supply-chain between waste collection vehicles and the final disposal facilities. The TLS will feature a central tipping bay, a waste reception bay, administrative buildings and waste processing, while other facilities including the waste depots and engineered sanitary landfills will provide world class sanitation structure that includes mechanized sweeping, sorting and recycling, innovative waste bins, regular waste collection and more.

As part of the deal, about 600 brand new compactors are being provided and deployed for waste collection, while the number of street sweepers have been increased from about 7,000 to 27,500 now to be known as Community Sanitation Workers (CSW) and are to be well-kitted for deployment to all the wards in the State with good remuneration packages including insurance benefits. About 1million electronically tracked bins are also to be deployed across the State, while mechanized sweeping trucks are now to clean the major highways with CSW cleaning the streets.


Before taking the decision to bring in the environmental consortium being led by Visionscape, the State Government reviewed and consolidated all the laws relating to the environment to allow for private sector investment because all the transformation being implemented as highlighted above could not have been done by government alone as it was impossible for government to concentrate all the resources in one sector to the detriment of others.

Another option opened to government was to increase the tax being paid by residents to implement the reforms in waste management but that would have been insensitive considering the fact that there were enough challenges for people to contend with, hence the need to invite the private sector to invest massively as we have seen in the last couple of months.

Again, in another demonstrable evidence of thinking out of the box, the State Government devised the strategy to incorporate those who hitherto had been managing waste in the State better known as PSP operators in the new arrangement, with opportunities to grow their businesses by making same bankable. While the PSP operators were asked to collect the large volume of commercial waste generated in the State, Visionscape, on the other hand, is to collect and manage residential waste. Depending on the types of waste generated across the State, the refuse will then go through either the TLS, waste depots, material recovery facilities and then eventually the landfills where those to be recycled or used for other beneficial purposes like power generation will be so used.

Another unique and people-centered aspect of the CLI is that Visionscape will only be paid based on the tonnage of waste generated, and so it is in their interest to generate more.

Still under the new arrangement, LAWMA has been repositioned to perform supervisory role in the sector, while the former Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) brigade has been rebranded and transformed to a more civil Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and the agency will ensure that the environment is kept clean at all times in line with the mandate of the CLI. Before now, there were genuine complaints from members of the public on the activities of KAI brigade, especially harassment of people. But LAGESC corps have been trained to be civil in their modus operandi. Specifically, the sanitation corps will police the highways to ensure that people do not dump refuse indiscriminately on roads and also clear the pathways and bridges and dislodge people selling on the road.

For residents to pay for evacuation of refuse, the government has introduced an annual Public Utility Levy (PUL) which will be minimal and reasonable. The PUL is a property-based charge applicable to all properties within the State. It will replace all the previous waste management levies, while a unit has been created in the Ministry of the Environment known as the Public Utilities Monitoring and Assurance Unit (PUMAU) to coordinate the generation of PUL bill.

The PUL will be a major contribution to the ongoing efforts by the State Government to address severe challenges that are unique to the State because of the rising urbanization. The money will be held in the Environmental Trust Fund and managed by a Board of trustees to be regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Already, an Executive Secretary has been appointed for the Fund.

The trustees are under strict obligations to the people of Lagos and will be accountable to the people for every naira spent in line with the overall agenda for a cleaner Lagos.

At this stage, the compliance and cooperation of all residents is key as the initial challenges with the transition period will soon be over. All hands are already on deck to evacuate waste from the streets and roads pending the eventual full launch of the new initiative. The good news here is that the initiative is on course and at the last count, Visionscape has just taken delivery of another 100 trucks consisting of a series of waste trucks from various rear-end loaders to operational vehicles, which have been deployed to the nooks and crannies of the State for evacuation of refuse. More are still coming and it can only get better in the quest to revolutionize waste management to bring about clean, hygienic and functional environment in the State.

Opeseitan, a journalist, wrote from Abule Egba, Lagos.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/understanding-need-for-cleaner-lagos.html