₦airaland Forum

Eden Hazard has been making sure he will be looking sharp for Chelsea’s League Cup semi-final clash against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night by getting a fresh haircut.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/photos-eden-hazard-shows-off-new.html

Tension has gripped the people of Niger State and security operatives in the state as some youths threaten to blow up the three hydroelectric dams in the state over the persistent decline in electricity supply to consumers.

The security operatives in the state and the government have also been gripped with fear by the threat because similar threat to occupy the Abuja Electricity Development Company (AEDC) offices issued by the youths was carried out and resulted in four-day blackout in Minna and environs last December.

As a result, security has been beefed up around all the electricity installations, including the Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro hydroelectric dams.

The #YouthleadNigeria# had given the AEDC up to January 5 to improve its services by ensuring uninterrupted supply of electricity for 24 hours daily or face the consequences.

Convener of the group, Mohammed Saidu Etsu, told journalists in Minna at the weekend that “AEDC has not met our demands so we will carry out our actions including blowing up of the hydroelectric dams in the state

According to him, “We will begin sit-out at the Shiroro Transmission Station in Minna from Monday (today), and our members throughout the state will occupy all AEDC offices to show that we are serious about our demands.”
He asked the people of the state to “join us in this project,” saying: “For once, we should stand up for our right.”
Flanked by other officials of the group, Etsu declared that “instead of the AEDC to meet our demands, we are retrogressing, resulting in all businesses collapsing; investors refusing to invest in the state, unemployment increasing by the day.
“We learnt that the government has met with the AEDC officials and reach agreement with them; the government has not briefed us, if we have to change our position, the government must be ready to be held accountable, and assure us that AEDC will give 24-hour supply of electricity.”
The #YouthleadNigeria, he said, would also this week institute a N100billion suit against the AEDC to “recover the amount illegally made from our people as a result of estimated billings over the years compensation for families who lost their loved ones and property as a result of power surge around the state and others.”
Etsu categorically denied that the group was being sponsored by some people in the state, insisting that “what we are doing is a just cause.”
All the security agencies in the state were keeping mute on the issue but Akelicious observed that there is increased presence in all AEDC offices in Minna, the state capital.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/tension-as-niger-youths-threaten-to.html

A trader, Miss Chinwe Gbajie of Akpo Street, Achara Layout, Enugu State, has run into trouble after her neighbour, Mrs. Ujunwa Agwu, accused her of interfering in her marital affairs.

Chinwe was reportedly arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Enugu, on the orders of Ujunwa, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission in the state.

Akelicious learnt that Ujunwa and Chinwe had kept each other at arm’s length since the former accused the latter’s family of fuelling disagreements between her and her husband.

It was gathered that Ujunwa’s husband, Raymond Agwu, usually relaxed at Chinwe’s shop located opposite the couple’s residence – an act that reportedly did not go down well with Ujunwa.

On December 31, 2017, our correspondent learnt that Raymond had gone to buy snacks and a drink from Chinwe.

While they were chatting, Chinwe told him that she saw their housemaid putting some items inside the boot of Ajunwa’s car parked outside and asked if they were travelling out of the state for the New Year celebration.

She said a few minutes after Raymond returned home, Ujunwa came to her shop and accused her of being nosy.

She said, “I was reporting a customer who owed me to her husband on that day. Along the line, I told him that their housemaid dropped some items in the car. I asked if they were travelling and he said yes. Some minutes later, the woman came and asked me what I told her husband.

“Without allowing me to respond, she beat me up and pushed me into the gutter. She scattered my shop and destroyed a table and chairs. I didn’t touch her.

“She went to report at the Uwani Police Station and I was arrested. When we got to the station, the Divisional Police Officer asked her why she came to attack me in my shop. The DPO asked us to report at the station on Friday, January 5.”



Chinwe explained that when she got to the station on Friday, she was told that the DPO was not around.

She said a few minutes later, some policemen from the SCIID stormed the station, saying the case had been transferred.

She said the operatives took her to their office and locked her up in a cell.

Chinwe’s younger sister, Rosemary, said all efforts by the family to get her released on bail on Friday proved abortive, adding that Ujunwa also got her husband, Raymond, detained at the SCIID.

She said, “My uncle went to the SCIID with a lawyer and the policeman in charge refused her bail. She was released on Saturday evening after spending over 24 hours. My cousin paid N10,000 for her bail yesterday (Saturday). She was asked to come back on Monday (today) for no reason. The woman is an INEC official in Enugu and she has vowed to deal with my family.”

However, Ujunwa in a telephone interview with PUNCH Metro said Chinwe and her family were nosy and caused the rift between her and her husband.

She said, “I am having a serious problem with my husband. Chinwe and her mother contributed to it. We are neighbours and they used to be my friends. But at a time, I discovered that her mother is a bad woman. I reported my husband to her mother. Instead of her to be shrewd, she took sides.

“On Sunday, December 31, I was preparing to go to church when somebody asked me to give her rice. I put some rice in my car. My husband was sleeping then. Later, I saw him at Chinwe’s shop. When he came back, he asked about the rice. I felt bad.

“What did I do to Chinwe that would make her to tell my husband that I put rice in my car? I went to ask Chinwe why she told my husband and she started abusing me; then we fought.

“After the fight, my husband came out and beat me up in front of everybody on the street. Chinwe has decided that she will be gossiping about me and my children. What did I do to Chinwe and her family?

“I stopped buying things from her because I didn’t want any trouble. I can’t run away from trouble. I know that if any trouble comes my way, I will withstand it.”

She said she took the case to the SCIID because she was not satisfied with how it was being handled at the Uwani Police Station.

“Apart from that, on January 2, my husband chased me with a knife over an issue. That was what made me to transfer the case to the SCIID. I don’t know about Chinwe’s detention,” she added.

The husband, who corroborated Chinwe’s account, said he was released on bail by the police on Sunday after paying N15,000. She denied chasing his wife with a knife, adding that she was troublesome.

He said, “When I asked her where she was taking the rice to, she went to Chinwe’s shop and beat her up. I used a small plastic pipe to hit her. She went to call the police to arrest Chinwe.

“I had to follow Chinwe’s mother to the Uwani division. I was asked to make statement. The DPO oblige us to settle the matter and asked us to come back on Friday. We were at the station when some policemen from the SCIID came to pick Chinwe and me.”

Calls put across to the mobile phone of the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ebere Amaraizu, rang out and he had yet to reply to a text message sent to his phone as of press time.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/police-detain-woman-for-interfering-in.html

The system collapse experienced in the power sector between January 2 and 3, 2018 has cost the Federal Government more than N4.6billion revenue.
Also, a total of 9,162.7 megawatts (MW) of power were not generated as a result of non-supply of gas to power generation companies (Gencos) from January 2 to 4 2018 due to the system collapse.

The Guardian learnt these from analysis of statistics from the Advisory Power Team in the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.


A fire incident that affected the Escravos-Lagos pipeline system close to Okada, Edo State, resulted to the shutdown of the pipeline supplying gas to Egbin power plant that produces 1,320MW; Olorunsogo NIPP, 676MW; Olorunsogo, 338MW; Omotosho NIPP, 450MW; Omotosho, 338 MW; and Paras, 60MW on January 2, 2018.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing had explained that the sudden loss of generation due to interruption in gas supply from these stations caused the national transmission grid to trip off.

A breakdown of the statistics showed that on January 4, 2018, the average power sent out was 3,090MWh/hour, 3133MW was not generated due to unavailability of gas as a result of which the power sector lost an estimated N1,576,000,000.

On January 3, the average power sent out was 2,596MWh/hour, 3354.3MW was not generated and consequently the power sector lost an estimated N1,682,000,000. Also, on January 2, the average power sent out was 3,475MWh/hour. The statistics indicated that gas constraint caused non-production of 2675.4MW, while line constraint caused a shortfall of 58MW and the power sector lost an estimated N1,312,000,000.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Udu Ughamadu, explained that to put out the fire, it required complete shutdown of the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline (ELP).

The task affected gas supply to customers in Ondo, Ogun and Lagos states.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/n46-billion-lost-to-power-sector-system.html

Allegations made by a young engineer who was kidnapped and made to marry at gunpoint are being investigated by police in one of India states, which has a history of forced marriage of men.

Video footage apparently showing Vinod Kumar being forced to go through with a wedding by his bride’s family sparked the probe, police in the eastern state of Bihar said Friday.

‘Pakadua Vivah’ (forced marriage) is a practice specific to Bihar and surrounding areas, and is mainly carried out by poor families who cannot afford a dowry — still a widespread expectation in India.

A video circulated on social media shows the engineer being manhandled and forced to dress for the wedding as he pleads for freedom.

“We are only performing your wedding, not hanging you,” one man is heard to shout as Kumar begs to be released.
Another video shows Kumar sitting beside his bride crying while a woman, apparently an in-law, tries to console him.
Lalan Mohan Prasad, a local officer, told AFP police had contacted Kumar and offered their help but he had not formally complained.
Local media quoted the engineer as saying one of the bride’s relatives had pointed a pistol at him after they met at a mutual friend’s wedding and ordered him to marry her.
Since the incident, he has reportedly escaped and returned to his home in neighbouring Jharkhand state.
Bihar has a long-held reputation for lawlessness and gang violence, with families thought to enlist organised criminals to help them carry out abductions and forced marriages.
Local social scientist Saibal Gupta said such marriages enjoyed widespread acceptance and tended to endure, given the stigma of divorce.
“The frequency of such kidnappings has come down, but certainly not stopped. Poverty is still rampant,” he told AFP.
Official figures show police received nearly 3,000 complaints of groom kidnapping in 2016. None of the marriages were annulled.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/police-probe-case-of-man-kidnapped.html

A new assessment on global electronic waste (e-waste), policies, and statistics has revealed an eight per cent growth in the menace within two years with 20 percent recycled.

This was disclosed by the Global E-Waste Monitor 2017, released by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations specialised agency for information and communication technology – together the United Nations University (UNU), and the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).

The Global E-Waste Monitor represents an important step in identifying solutions for e-waste. Better e-waste data will help evaluate developments over time, set and assesses targets, and contributes to developing national policies.


Also, national e-waste policies will help minimise e-waste production, prevent illegal dumping and improper treatments of e-waste, promotes recycling, and create jobs in the refurbishment and recycling sector.

As such, the agencies seek to increase global awareness and draw attention to the growing world issue of e-waste, said the menace includes discarded products with a battery or plug including mobile phones, laptops, televisions, refrigerators and electrical toys.

The assessment showed that in 2016, 44.7 million metric tonnes of e-waste were generated, up 3.3 million metric tonnes (eight per cent) from 2014. In 2016, only about 20 per cent or 8.9 million metric tonnes (MMT) of all e-waste was recycled. Experts foresee a further 17 per cent increase to 52.2 MMT of e-waste by 2021.

The assessment also highlighted the significant and growing risk to the environment and human health due to increasing levels of e-waste and its improper and unsafe treatment and disposal through burning or in dumpsites.

The ITU report also revealed that there were now a growing number of countries adopting e-waste legislation. Currently 66 per cent of the world population, living in 67 countries, is covered by national e-waste management laws, a significant increase from 44 per cent in 2014.

National e-waste policies and legislation play an important role as they set standards, guidelines and obligations to govern the actions of stakeholders who are associated with e-waste.

ITU Secretary-General, Houlin Zhao, noted that environmental protection is one of the three pillars of sustainable development and that the Union is at the forefront of advocating for the safe disposal of waste generated by information and communication technologies.

“E-waste management is an urgent issue in today’s digitally dependent world, where use of electronic devices is ever increasing – and is included in ITU’s Connect 2020 Agenda targets. The Global E-waste Monitor serves as a valuable resource for governments developing their necessary management strategies, standards and policies to reduce the adverse health and environmental effects of e-waste – and will help ITU members to realize this Connect 2020 target,” he added.

From his perspective, the Director, ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, Brahima Sanou, said: “With 53.6 per cent of global households now having Internet access, information and communications technologies are improving peoples’ lives and empowering them to enhance their social and economic well-being.
The assessment also reports that low recycling rates can have a negative economic impact, as e-waste contains rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, platinum, palladium and other high value recoverable materials. It estimates that the value of recoverable materials contained in e-waste generated during 2016 was $55billion, which is more than the Gross Domestic Product of most countries in the world.

The Vice-Rector, UNU, Jakob Rhyner, observed that the world’s e-waste problem continues to grow.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/global-e-waste-grows-8-in-two-years-20.html

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says at least 16 herdsmen and some indigenes of the state have been arraigned.

The governor, who said three other cattle rustlers also arraigned with the help of the security agencies, was delighted that the anti-open grazing law was already yielding positive results in the state.He revealed on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s News At 10 while reacting to the recent killings of about 33 people by suspected herdsmen in the state

“The implementation of the law since November 1 has been going on well,” he said. “I have the support of the security agencies, we are working fine.”

“As I talk to you, we have arraigned more than 16 herdsmen who were sent to the federal prison, and three indigenes who also attempted to rustle cattle in Benue State,” Ortom added.He further condemned the killings in the state and insisted that there was no going back on the implementation of the anti-open grazing law.

Reacting to threats issued to the state government to reverse the law, Governor Ortom said: “This report was made known to the security agencies of this country that they did promise that they were going to resist the implementation of this law.”

“But I don’t know what else to say because severally, I have challenged Nigerians – I have challenged anyone with a better solution to the crisis between herdsmen and farmers to put it on the table and so far, no one has put this.

“What we have done is global best practice. This is what we have done and there is no way whether you kill everyone in Benue State today, there is no land for herdsmen to come and do open grazing; it is impossible – the land is no longer there,” the governor said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/ortom-says-benue-grazing-law-is-working.html

Expectations that the nation’s bourse would sustain its growth trajectory this year, buoyed transactions on the equity sector of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday, as the All-share index rose marginally by 0.06 per cent.
 At the re-opening of trading for the year, the market capitalisation rose by N8 billion from N13.609trillion recorded as at Friday, December 29, 2017 to N13.617 trillion.

Also, the All-share index, which measures the performance of listed firms appreciated by 0.06 per cent from 38,243.19 to 38,263.79.
Analysts had predicted that the NSE’s index would close at 40,000 points, however, at the close of transactions for 2017, the index closed at 38,000 points.
 After posting an outrageous 26 per cent loss in 2016, the Nigerian equities market gathered strong momentum in 2017, with a year to date increase of N4.5trillion in market capitalisation from N9.158trillion at year opening on January 3, to N13.609trillion on Friday, December 29, 2017.
 Also, the NSE All-Share Index (NSE ASI), rose by 30.4 per cent during the year under review from 26, 616.89 to 38,243.19.



The Managing Director, High cap Securities, David Adonri, explained that investors are currently taking position in equities with expectations that the index would hit 40,000 points before the end of the first quarter (QI).
 He added that most banking stocks that had performed below expectations last year were in full bid yesterday, as investors continued to mop up.
“The market closed in an upward trend. A lot of banking stocks were in full bid. Expectations by investors that those banks will perform well and pay dividend is high. The investors are in full expectations that that the market will push towards 40,000 points before the end of Q1,” he said.


Further analysis of yesterday’s transactions showed that 27 stocks appreciated in price, led by CAP with 1.70 kobo to close at N35.70 per share, while National Salt Company of Nigeria followed with 0.72 kobo to close at N19.22 per share. PZ Cussons added 0.55 kobo to close at N21.15 per share.
 International Breweries gained 0.49 kobo to close at N54.99 per share. Dangote Sugar appreciated by 0.34 kobo to close at N20.36 per share. Zenith Bank garnered 0.29 kobo to close at N25.93 per share.


However, Forte Oil topped the losers’ chart with 1.48 kobo to close at N42.00 per share. Unilever followed with 0.79 kobo to close at N40.21 per share. Ecobank TransNational Corporation lost 0.73 kobo to close at N16.27 per share. Stanbic IBTC shed 0.60 kobo to close at N40.9 per share. Union Bank depreciated by 0.29 kobo to close at N7.51 per share.
 On the activity chart, TransNational Corporation was the investors’ toast with 102 million shares worth N150.7million. Zenith Bank followed with 24 million units valued at N642million. Skye Bank accounted 15.5 million shares worth N7.8million.
 First City Monument Bank exchanged 13 million units valued at N21million. Access Bank also traded 11 million units worth N117million.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nse-index-rises-006-amid-high.html

A 25-year-old, kidnap-for-ransom gang leader, Ibrahim, has told how he killed and drank the blood of his victims.

The suspect, who was paraded by the police alongside 15 members of his gang, boasted that he has killed over 10 of his victims and drank their blood raw. He also confessed that he collected ransom from families of some victims he has already killed but did not disclose his reasons for drinking their blood.

He went further to reveal how he went about hunting and killing soldiers just to get their uniforms and guns to go for operations when he needed to. The suspect said he has been in the business for over two years and made millions of naira before he was eventually nabbed.

He was arrested with three of his gang members in the forest along the Abuja-Kaduna and Abuja-Suleja-Minna highway by men of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad (FSARS) Special Tactical Squad attached to Operation Absolute Sanity.

The father of two, who said he has two wives and popularly known as Oro, by his gang members, told journalists at Sabon Wuse Divisional Office of the Nigeria Police Force, where he was paraded, that he had made fortunes from the atrocities he carried out along the highway for the past two years.
The arms and ammunition recovered from the gang included five AK47 riffles, 1596 7.62 X 39mm, AK47 ammunition, two sword and cutlasses, four pairs of military uniform and mobile phones.
Parading the suspects, Force Public Relations Officer, Mr. Jimoh Moshood, gave the names of other suspects as Mohammadu a.k.a Babawuro 27, Musa 25 and Abdullahi Abubakar, who is 28 years old.
Jimoh, who said the gang is the most vicious and notorious syndicate of kidnap-for-ransom gang arrested by the police in the recent time, noted: “The gang, was defeated and its members were captured after an intense gun battle that lasted more than five hours between the suspects and the police.”
He said the police team busted the gang and arrested Ibrahim and three other suspects including their gang leader, who is a trained armourer and the hit man of the gang.
“The gang leader Ibrahim a.k.a Oro, confessed to have killed personally more than 10 people, including those that he killed and still collected ransom money from their families.
“He also confessed to suck the blood of most of the victims after killing them. He was identified by some of the victims rescued from their captivity by the police in the forest during the gun battle, “Moshood added.
Twelve other suspects were also arrested in the act of laying ambush to kidnap people returning from Christmas and New Year holidays on Kaduna-Abuja road and Minna-Suleja-Abuja road.
The Force PRO said the implementation of elaborate security arrangement directed by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim, for the 2017 Christmas and 2018 New Year festivities was responsible for the breakthrough, adding that the development was equally yielding positive results throughout the country.
He said the other suspects were apprehended in their various criminal hideouts in the forest and other locations along the Abuja-Suleja-Minna highways for kidnapping, armed robbery, murder and multiple rape cases.
“All the suspects arrested confessed to their various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes. The suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation,” he said.
He further added that effort was being intensified to arrest other members of the gang still at large.
“While the ongoing operation is being sustained and extended to other flash points across the country, the IGP deeply appreciates the cooperation of communities, towns and villages on Kaduna-Abuja, Abuja -Suleja-Minna highways and all other Nigerians for these success stories.
“He, therefore, encourages them to continue to support police personnel deployed in their localities,” the police image-maker said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/we-drink-blood-of-victims-who-cant.html

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof Is-haq Oloyede, has said more than 200 million candidates are expected to register for this year Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME).

Oloyede declared that the Board returned N7.8 billion to the Federal Government coffers from the proceeds of examination forms sold in 2017.

He said the fund was sourced from the N12billion income made during the year.

He said JAMB had effected changes in the process and procedure for registration and conduct of examinations for candidates to curb malpractices in the processes.


Oloyede spoke journalists at the weekend in Ilorin, Kwara State.

He dismissed reports that JAMB increased the examination fee, saying the agency only reduced the fee payable for the examination.

He said the Board also significantly reduced the amount paid for examinations by foreign applicants, adding that it was aimed at encouraging huge number of them.

Oloyede said the agency introduced Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) in the bid to address the imbalance observed in the admission process for applicants.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/jamb-to-register-200m-candidates-in-2018.html

The Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has described his administration as people oriented.

In his last New Year address to the people of the state on Monday, the governor said his administration had strived to bring people-centred progressive governance to the state in the last seven years.

In the address entitled: “Homerun with Honour and Dignity,” Aregbesola said “the evidence of this progressive trend in governance are visible in our policies and programmes, including the youth empowerment, care for vulnerable senior citizens and women empowerment, agricultural development, industrialisation, infrastructural development, education, job creation, human development, water resources development, urban renewal and many others.”

The governor said his programmes have transformed Osun and projected it positively beyond what was on ground before he assumed office.


He attributed the success of his administration to the support his government received from all stakeholders, saying the administration has “served maximally and given its best.”

He said Osun State has now become the reference point in prudent management of resources and responsible governance.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/our-administration-is-people-oriented.html

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to recall a whistleblower sacked for exposing corruption in the ministry or face court action.

In an open letter to Onyeama, SERAP requested him to use his “leadership position to ensure and facilitate the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of whistle-blower Ntia Thompson sacked through a post on the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa’s notice Board for exposing an alleged $229,000 fraud in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The group urged Mr Onyeama to “act swiftly to comply with the whistle-blowing policy of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, and international standards, which guarantee full protection and restitution for any whistle-blower against harassment, intimidation, victimisation or any form of retaliation.”

SERAP in the letter dated 10 March 2017 and signed by its deputy director Timothy Adewale said that, “By sacking Mr Thompson, your ministry would seem to shield information on the alleged fraud that the public has a right to know. Therefore, should you fail and/or neglect to act as requested within seven days after the receipt and/or publication of this letter, SERAP will be compelled to pursue appropriate legal action against your ministry to challenge the unfair treatment and victimisation of Mr Thompson.”

The letter copied to Mr Akinwumi Adesina, President of the AfDB, reads in part: “We also urge you to act swiftly to identify those involved in the alleged fraud and hand them over to appropriate anti-corruption agencies for further investigation and prosecution, as well as recover any stolen public funds. Impunity for reprisals against Mr Thompson would send a message to all potential whistle-blowers that your ministry lacks the commitment to their protection.”


“SERAP is seriously concerned that Mr Thompson’s unfair treatment by the leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs simply for disclosing alleged fraud in the ministry is a fundamental violation of his right to freedom of expression, and breach of President Buhari’s whistle-blowing policy, which seeks to protect individuals who make access to such allegations possible.”

“SERAP also believes that the allegations of fraud disclosed by Mr Thompson should never be suppressed or withheld as a matter of public interest, transparency and respect for the rule of law. Harassing, intimidating and punishing whistle-blowers creates disincentives for public disclosure of allegations of fraud and corruption and damages an important tool of transparency and accountability.”

“SERAP believes that protecting whistle-blowers encourages accountability, increases the costs for those who might engage in fraud and corruption, and advances the public’s right to know. The alleged fraud involving officials of the DTCA should not be kept hidden from public view, especially given the government’s whistle-blowing policy and the fact that Nigerians are entitled to a right to information of all kinds.”


“Mr Thompson’s public interest and whistle-blowing activity has made him vulnerable to attack, hostility, punishment, and other forms of retaliation. SERAP argues that Mr Thompson, like any other whistle-blowers, is entitled to the right to impart information, and ought to be offered adequate legal protection because Nigerians have the right to receive information such as on the allegations of fraud involving senior officials of your ministry.”

“The right to receive information advances several principles that underlie human rights, encourage participation in public affairs, and advance the ability of individuals such as Mr Thompson to seek out information of all kinds. Nigerians should enjoy access not only to information about the policies and practices of the government, but also to information about whistle-blowing.”

“SERAP therefore urges you to use your leadership position to promote and ensure within your ministry a culture that values transparency, accountability, and public participation and protection of whistle-blowers by facilitating the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Mr Thompson back to his position as assistant director with the DTCA.”

“SERAP urges you to encourage rather punish the practice of whistle-blowing by establishing within your ministry effective and protective channels for whistle-blowers to motivate remedial action, and effective redress and protection against retaliation. Without protection against retaliation and the possibility of redress, few would disclose allegations of fraud and corruption.”

“SERAP notes that article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantees the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas regardless of frontiers. The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights enshrines the same right in its article 9, which emphasizes that the freedom applies to information and ideas of all kinds. Similarly, the United Nations Convention against Corruption which Nigeria has ratified protects persons who report corruption offences.”

“SERAP has been fully briefed by Ntia Thompson and we are in possession of documents including Mr Thompson’s petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on allegations of fraud and corruption involving some top officials of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa, DTCA.”

“Mr. Ntia, an assistant director with the DTCA in charge of the SERVICOM Unit, was sacked on 7 February 2017 following his petition to the EFCC that $229,000 and N800, 000 were allegedly diverted by top officials of the DTCA. Although the money was withdrawn from the Nigerian Technical Cooperation Fund, NTCF, there was no evidence it was used for the purpose it was meant.”

“The NTCF is a trust fund domiciled with the African Development Bank, AfDB, but jointly managed by the bank and the agency on behalf of the Federal Government. According to our information, officials of the DTCA withdrew the money for the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the NTCF, for which $36,852.00 was allocated. The amount was also meant for the monitoring of various projects executed from the Trust Fund across Africa. N800, 000.00 was allegedly spent for SERVICOM “sensitization seminar” in the Directorate, which the EFCC has asked the officials involved to return.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/229000-fraud-recall-whistleblower-in.html

Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has signed the state’s 2018 appropriation bill as passed by the Edo State House of Assembly, into law.

At the signing ceremony yesterday, Obaseki said the speedy passage of the appropriation bill was remarkable as it shows the harmony between the state’s executive and legislative arms of government.

The 2018 budget estimate, which was pegged at N146 billion by the executive, was increased to N150 billion by the House of Assembly to allow for more infrastructural and agricultural projects.


The governor assured that his administration has set a target of at least 95 per cent performance level for the budget, noting, “The House is totally aligned with us and agrees with the principle of our budget, which is growth.”

Obaseki said that the legislature’s move to allocate N1bn to livestock production and fisheries as well as the decision to retain the about N1bn estimate for job creation in the state showed they appreciate the need to invest in youths and accelerate economic growth.

He noted that the focus on agriculture was to ensure that youths are carried along in our development initiatives. According to him, “The initial budget was N146 billion but we have increased it to about N150 billion taking into cognizance the prevailing realities.”

He said that the parliament identified areas of growth and made minor adjustments in the interest of Edo people, particularly in agriculture and infrastructure.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/obaseki-signs-edos-n150bn-2018-budget.html

The operator of the Otakikpo marginal field in OML 11, Green Energy International Limited has gotten the nod of the Federal Government to establish a Liquefied Natural Gas (LPG) extraction plant at Ikuru town in River state.

The License to Establish (LTE) of the 12mmscfd capacity plant was issued to the company by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as the company moves to fulfill its obligations as a pilot project approved by government for zero gas flares operation in the Niger Delta.

The company, which began production in February this year said it is determined to ensure full utilization of the gas produced from the field for LPG and power generation.

It stated that the approval has made it possible for the company to make Final Investment Decision (FID) by awarding the engineering, procurement, construction and installation of the LPG Extraction Plant to PCC-LAMBDA Consortium, formed between Nigeria Indigenous companies and a Chinese company, Peiyang Chemical Equipment Co. Ltd (PCC), who is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) and will be responsible for manufacturing and design activities associated with this project.
The company’s Director of Legal and Corporate services, Olusegun Ilori explained that the programme involves the use of lean gas to power the 12MW gas generator at Otakikpo field out of which 5MW would be dedicated to the host community while the LPG and propane would be bottled and sold.

Part of the LPG shall be for domestic use within Otakikpo community in order to support small-scale industries.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/green-energy-gets-nod-to-establish-lpg.html

Security remains tight inside and around Cedarcrest Hospital, Abuja, where the First Lady and her injured son, Yusuf are on admission.
A visit by Saturday Sun to the hospital, showed that personnel from different security agencies have been strategically stationed to protect the V.I.P patients.
However, despite our the presence of four vehicles occupied by policemen, two occupied men of the Department of State Security (DSS) and one Toyoya Hilux containing personnel of the Nigeria Civil Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), friends and family of the Buharis have continued to throng the hospital.
Meanwhile, the management of the hospital have maintained sealed lips on the progress of the First Lady and her son.
No statement has been issued on their state of health. This is even as calls made to the line of the Chief Medical Director of Ceda-Crest, Dr. Felix Ogedegbe by Saturday Sun have rang into voice mail.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/yusuf-buharis-crash-latest-security.html

Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has won the Best Player of the Year accolade at the Globe Soccer Awards.

Ronaldo retained the award, making it four wins overall, after helping his club defend the Champions League and win the Liga title.


“It’s a special moment and I am very happy to receive this award.
“I would like to thank the coach, my teammates and Real Madrid. Thanks to the people that voted for me, and do the same next year!” the 32-year-old said after receiving the prize.
Ronaldo, who has scored 42 goals this year, was asked whether he had room for all his trophies and replied: “Don’t worry, I have a lot of space!”
The Portugal captain also won his fifth Ballon d’Or, the UEFA Best Player in Europe and FIFA’s The Best Award this year.

Real were named Club of the Year, with boss Zinedine Zidane collecting the Coach of the Year award.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/ronaldo-wins-globe-soccer-best-player.html

The United States (US) Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, has presented Letters of Offer and Acceptance (LOA), with respect to the purchase of A29 Super Tucano Aircraft, to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
The letters were presented to the air force, in Abuja, yesterday
The LOA represents the official US Government’s offer to sell US defence articles and services to the Nigerian Government.
Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, received the LOA at NAF headquarters in Abuja, while the US ambassador noted that peaceful existence in Nigeria is strategic to the security of West Africa, in particular, and the entire world, at large.
Symington expressed the commitment of the US government to helping Nigeria completely defeat Boko Haram and also, eliminate all forms of terrorism from its territory.
In addition, he conveyed the US government’s belief that the air force’s capacity could greatly be enhanced by the acquisition of the Super Tucano aircraft.
According to him, the US government will continue to support the NAF in its capacity-building efforts, including the timely supply of needed aircraft spares.
The US ambassador also indicated the readiness of relevant US government officials to work with NAF officials, to facilitate early delivery of the aircraft once payment had been made.
In that regard, officials of the US government and the NAF would meet in early January 2018 to jointly study the LOA, prior to subsequent endorsements by both parties.
Abubakar, while receiving the LOA, appreciated the US government’s steady support towards sustaining NAF air operations.
He also praised the personal commitment of the US ambassador to ensuring that the Super Tucano Aircraft deal became a reality.
In a statement by NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Vice Marshal Olatokunbo Adesanya, Abubakar agreed with ambassador Symington that the wellbeing of Nigeria is closely linked to those of other African countries, and indeed, the entire world, as terrorism is a global phenomenon, which has to be confronted by all stakeholders.
He, then, reassured the US ambassador of NAF’s commitment to the stipulated deadlines in the LOA.
Abubakar also assured the US ambassador that the NAF would ensure the readiness of a proposed home base of the Super Tucano Aircraft in Nigeria before the aircraft’s delivery.
He further said the NAF would nominate and prepare all the pilots and maintenance crew to be trained on the Super Tucano Aircraft, ahead of their training in the US.
It is expected that the LOA would have been signed and necessary payments made before February 20, 2018, to ensure commencement of production of the NAF’s Super Tucano Aircraft. It would be recalled that the US State Department had earlier approved sale of 12 x A29 Super Tucano Aircraft to the NAF; to further aid the country’s counter-insurgency campaign.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/us-to-sell-fighter-jet-to-nigeria.html

Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has debunked the insinuation that he renamed Assumpta Maria Avenue, Owerri, as President Muhammadu Buhari Road.In a statement signed by Okorocha’s Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwueomeodo, yesterday, the governor said the statement from the Catholic Church was made manifest in the social media, without founded ground, and backed by the opposition.

‘’The truth is that Muhammadu Buhari Road begins from Government House Roundabout and ends at the popular Orlu Road Roundabout. Maria Assumpta Avenue begins at Control Post Roundabout and stops at Warehouse Roundabout. The indications are all there boldly written for all to see, ” the statement read.

It continued: ‘’And for the avoidance of doubt, if the government has got any reason to change the name of any road in Owerri, it would go ahead to do so without succumbing to blackmail or intimidation…”

Meanwhile, a statement at the weekend signed by the First Trustee of Abuja Grand Commandery, Knight of St. John International (KSJI), Steve Nwokeocha, said: “in as much as the Catholic Church was not opposed to naming all the roads in Owerri after the president, it should not be the Maria Assumpta Avenue…”

The governor had renamed many roads in the city including that of Wethdral after, Sam Mbakwe; that of inland abroad, after the South African President, Jacob Zuma; another, after Liberian President, Sirleaf.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/okorocha-denies-renaming-road-after.html

Sierra Leonean President, Dr. Ernest Bai Koroma made history recently when he unveiled his prospective replacement and the flag-bearer of the governing All Peoples Congress (APC) in Abuja, Nigeria.

President Koroma said that he resolved to unveil the APC candidate to Nigerians in order to demonstrate his unalloyed respect and love, adding that the bilateral relations between the two countries are unprecedented.

The Chairman of the ruling APC declared Samura Kamara as the party’s Presidential candidate for the 2018 elections. His running mate is parliamentarian Mohamed Chernor Bah.
Dr. Samura Mathew Wilson Kamara was born on the 30th of April 1951 in Kamalo, Bombali District. He is a development economist with background in diplomacy, macroeconomics, public finance, central banking and financial sector policy analysis and reforms.
He holds a Masters Degree (1980) and PhD (1986) from the University College of North Wales, Bangor. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone (1972).
Dr Samura worked in the Economic Affairs Department of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, first, as Senior Economics Officer in 1991-1994; and second, as Chief Programme Officer in 1998-2001. He was Financial Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development in 1994-1997, and 2001-2006 respectively.
In 2006-2007, he served as Alternate Executive Director for Africa Group I Constituency in the International Monetary Fund.
In 2008-2009, Dr. Kamara was appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Sierra Leone and then became Sierra Leone’s Minister of Finance and Economic Development in 2009-2012.
But in 2012, he was redeployed from the finance Ministry to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Sierra Leone as Minister – a job he holds till this day.
Dr Kamara played a key role in helping President Koroma to formulate his Agenda for Change in 2008, with the help and support of British Prime Minister – Tony Blair, and went on to become a good friend of Tony Blair.
It is believed that Dr. Samura Kamara will be an enigma to Sierra Leone’s opposition during the electioneering campaign for the March 7, 2018 elections as they will have nothing to fault him with, because after serving three different governments and international institutions and organizations, Dr. Kamara has a record that is as clean as a whistle. He has never been named before nor has he ever been involved in any public misconduct or corruption. In fact, it was under him as Minister of Finance that Sierra Leone became the country with the second highest growing economy in the world.
Koroma came to power in 2007 under the aegis of the All People’s Congress (APC), he won a second term in November 2012. The two main candidates aiming for Bai Koroma’s seat are a minister and former junta leader turned politician.
The ruling APC has subsequently chosen the current Foreign Minister, Dr Samura Camara, as its candidate for the March 2018 polls. Koroma is on record to have said he is the man to win the elections for the APC in March.
Speaking to journalists during his unveiling in Abuja, the standard-bearer of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC), Dr. Samura Kamara expressed confidence that the party would harp on its achievements to win the election.
Although there were some aggrieved members after the party’s convention but It has been disclosed that other presidential aspirants have agreed to cooperate and work for the success of the party’s during campaign and election.
In similar development, President Koroma said that the choice of Kamara was to ensure continuity, stability and progress, urging the party members on the need to support Kamara for successful conclusion and enhancement of the administration’s agenda for change.
The President urged that the interest of APC must be the primary focus, saying, “It is not advisable for the ruling party to let go the growth efforts the country has pursued in the last decade, by allowing the opposition to take over power.”
Insisting that an APC victory is victory for all, President Koroma said the choice of the party’s standard-bearer would take the APC to victory and is also one that is generally accepted, saying Kamara’s choice would ensure a continuation of the legacy of his (Koroma) administration.
Kamara is a respectable figure nationally and globally. He has successfully built a rich pedigree we are today proud of. His rise to becoming flag-bearer for the governing APC comes in with huge expectations but above all, with a promising future, firstly, for growth of the country and secondly, a strengthened party.
Another development that could better the ruling party’s chances of retaining power in 2018 election, the opposition SLPP party, the oldest political entity in the country has recently been embroiled in a nasty battle that has seen some rival supporters killed and some attacked viciously and wounded.
According to media report, it’s not surprising as this is always reminiscent of the SLPP, a party made up mostly of hoodlums and undemocratic officials who believe the only way to assume power is by violence and not by the ballot box.
And it seems the SLPP has not learned its lessons after being thrashed in the 2012 elections by the APC party of the current President Ernest Bai Koroma. The rivalry though has taken a new twist at the helm of the SLPP party as you now have more credible candidates vying for the flagbearership, but the backdrop of violence may potentially deprive them of any chance to clinch power in the coming elections.
Pundits have opined that the fact that the notorious coup plotter and former Junta leader, Julius Maada Bio’s name is once more listed as a potential flagbearer, spells disaster for a party whose name has become synonymous with failure, corruption, and violence.
However, analysts have warned that the SLPP’s lack of cohesiveness should not be taken for granted this time by the ruling APC.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/sierra-leone-2018-why-apc-candidate-was.html

The registered domains in the .ng domain zone of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association has hit 100,973.

According to a report credited to NiRA, managers of the country’s domain names system (DNS), it peaked at November 30, 2017. As such, “hosting domain names locally will curb capital flight and bring greater economic value.”

However, majority of .ng and ‘.com.ng’ websites in Nigeria are hosted in the United States, making Nigeria lose about 72 per cent of the revenue it should be generating through the local hosting of such websites, a new report has shown.

The report on the use of domain names in the national domain of Nigeria, .ng was carried out this December by a web-hosting company, HUB8.

According to the report, out of the 34,000 sites, fewer than 1,000 are located in Nigeria, which is only 2.3 per cent of the total.

The country of origin for the remaining 3 per cent of sites could not be identified so Nigeria’s share is slightly larger, though still not comparable with the amount of sites hosted abroad.

“The dominant countries where site hosting often occurs were determined for the ‘.ng’ and ‘.com.ng’ domains. The overwhelming number of sites are located in the United States (72 per cent),” translating into loss of 72 per cent hosting revenue for Nigeria, according to the report.

The .ng is Nigeria’s country code top level domain (ccTLD), which is the country’s digital imprint on the World Wide Web (www).

The HUB8 report was based on 89,165 domain names in the .ng domain zone, with particular focus on the details of the usage of .ng domains as it relates to website hosting.

The report did not include data on about 2,000 premium domains and some special domains that are technically registered though not used by end users.

The number of zones identified by the study include .com.ng; .ng; .org.ng; .gov.ng and .edu.ng, with number of domains being 61,609 (69.1 per cent); 15,353 (17.2 per cent); 6,077 (6.8 per cent); 1,738 (1.9 per cent and 996 (1.1 per cent) respectively,” the report said.

Other such domain zones include .net.ng; .name.ng; .sch.ng; .i.ng; .mobi.ng and .mil.ng, all which have less than 1 per cent market share.


In terms of active websites, the HUB8 report notes that there are currently 38,864 websites in the .ng domain, not including the sites that fail to open to the connection timeout, redirects and the ones throwing an error (page not found). “The existing sites are hosted only in half of the .com.ng and one-third of the .ng domains,” the report says.


Commenting, director for emerging markets at HUB8, Mr. Dmitry Deniskin, said often used Content Management System (CMS) was detected in the existing websites and most popular CMS is expected to be WordPress, being installed on every one in three sites in the .ng and .com.ng domains.

“WordPress has a 78 per cent share of all used CMS. Blogging is currently very popular in Nigeria: almost 1, 500 domains are affiliated with Blogger.com.

“Specialised CMS utilized for e-commerce; such as Magento, Prestashop, Shopify, WooCommerce, nopCommerce, oSCommerce and X-Cart use about 500 sites in the .com.ng and .ng zones.”

He disclosed that HUB8 intends to help Nigeria reverse the current situation in which 72 per cent of .com.ng and .ng domain names hosting islost to the US.

“HUB8 is a global web hosting company helping brands and individuals to easily set-up a website. Our ultimate goal is to become a Growth Partner for individuals and small enterprises in emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

“We are providing free web hosting in Nigeria because we are aware that people postpone launching a website due to the investments involved”.

On his part, president of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Sunday Folayan, who has continuously rued the poor local content in the county’s DNS ecosystem, told our correspondent that the association would support any initiative and policies aimed at deepening local hosting of .ng domain names.

“Over the years, NIRA has made conscious efforts to populate and to continue to populate the country’s DNS system. It is our belief that increased adoption of .ng domain names by individuals, businesses and government agencies would help the country to reduce the capital flight being recorded with the preponderant use of foreign domain names such as .com, .net, .za, .ua, among others.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/nigeria-ng-domains-hit-100973.html

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) yesterday sealed a filling station in Kubwa, a suburb of Abuja, for allegedly selling petrol above N145 and gave out the product free to motorists.

The Abuja Zonal Operations Controller of the department, Mr Mohammed Abba, said the report about the station, Khalif Civic Oil and Investment Limited, was got from a tip-off.

Also on the team was Dr Maikanti Baru, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC and Mr Aminu Abdullahi, Assistant Commandant-General, Operations, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

”The station had 6,000 litres of petrol. We got the call from a good Samaritan. When we came, we realised the station is illegal because it is not licensesd and it was selling at N250 per litre.


”We instructed that the product should be dispensed free of charge.

”We will give them one month to come and regularise the licence, after that if he does not come we will hand over the station and the people concerned to the civil defence to prosecute,” Abba said.

Baru said ”this collaborative effort of the DPR, Civil Defence and NNPC is to identify stations that are erring in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive for us as agencies to fish out those perpetuating the fuel scarcity.

”This was discovered by the DPR on a tip-off. Government is appreciative and wants Nigerians to come forward with such information on where products are sold above N145”.

The fuel crisis started more than two weeks ago.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/dpr-gives-free-petrol-in-abuja.html

Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, said on Tuesday he prefers to do landmark achievements than sharing the state’s funds with politicians.

He also asked traditional rulers to pray for peace and “attitudinal change in the state.”

The governor spoke in Takum country home while celebrating the Christmas with his cabinet members, House of Assembly members, chairmen of local government councils, party executives, political supporters and traditional rulers.

He noted that his administration was heavily challenged by paucity of funds.

He said: “The challenge is that what we are getting today is a far cry from what those who were with the late former governor, Danbaba Suntai, were getting.

Ishaku said his priority was to develop Taraba and leave behind a good name rather than sharing the little resources available because he wants a second term.

He pleaded with the people of Taraba State to forgive him, if he had erred in the course of steering the affairs of the state within the two and half years,

“I am very sorry, if I went wrong. I do not have two brains, so forgive me,” he said.

He asked the people continue to love one another and sustain the relative peace to enable him achieve more for the state.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/i-cant-share-tarabas-funds-with-anyone.html

The All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, has provided reasons Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State will not be contesting against President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019 presidential election.

Speaking to Daily Trust, the National Chairman of APGA, Dr Victor Oye, said that Obiano was not contesting the 2019 presidential poll because the party was targeting to win the remaining South-east states.


He said that the recent reports linking Obiano to 2019 presidential campaign were fallacious and designed to pitch him against his admirers and scuttle his administration.
He said, “That is ridiculous. The governor holds his colleagues and, indeed, any other person for that matter in high esteem. For the whole period I have known the governor he has never been associated with vainglory, undignified utterances or uncouth words.
“There was no time the governor told anybody, dead or alive, that he would want to run for the presidency.”
He said being the national chairman of the party, he should have known about such an ambition before it would be made public.

He stressed that the party’s support for President Muhammadu Buhari was “because of the urgent need to work collectively to heal the wounds of the nation and build an egalitarian and just society for the present and future generations.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/2019apga-speaks-on-obiano-contesting.html

The Nigerian Senate does get quite a telling from the citizenry, and sometimes they very well deserve it. However, there are also many times when they do make the people proud. So, as we take stock of the year, here are some of those memorable bills through which our senators have demonstrated that their service and fealty do indeed rest on the interests and wishes of the people.

1.Passage of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill

Here we saw a Nigerian Senate that not only listens but also has its fingers on the pulse of the people. By passing the NotTooYoungToRun Bill, which reduces the required ages for seeking political offices, the Senate has ignited greater participation of the youth, not just in politics but also in political leadership. For a country with over 70 percent of its population under 35, this is a wonderful development, little wonder the passage of the bill has received widespread commendation across the country and beyond.

The Senate also went beyond just addressing youth participation in politics to deal with pressing constitutional issues. All together, the Senate passed 33 Bills as part of its Constitutional Review Exercise, 29 of which have now been forwarded to the State House of Assemblies for review. Here is a detailed analysis of the bills:

2.Passage of #OpenNASS

If the Senate’s passage of the NotTooYoungToRun Bill demonstrated ability to listen to the people, its decision to open the Budget of the National Assembly to the general public displayed exemplary commitment to transparency and accountability. This was the first time, since Nigeria’s return to democracy 17 years ago, that anyone could google up and see, in fine print every dime that the Senate did intend to spend and how it planned to spend it.

3.Passage of the North East Development Bill

No single issue has, over the past decade, caused so much economic and social destruction to our country as the extremist insurgency in the North East of the country. So, it’s been a thing of great pride to see how everyone has contributed their best to this painful road of recovery. Here again the Senate has led with commitment and focus, passing the North East Development Commission Bill (signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari), which among other things establishes a commission tasked with the responsibility of rebuilding and rehabilitating the North East whilst ensuring the resettlement of the internally displaced persons into their homes. Surely rebuilding the North east is the most definitive way to defeat the insurgents.

4.Passage of the Ease of Doing Business Bills

While the insurgency in the North East has been one of our biggest challenges, it is not the only one. Sadly we rank very lowly on the global scene when it comes to the ease of doing business, so it was a very welcome development when the Senate tackled the issue head on. Over the course of the year, the Senate Passed two Access to Credit Bills (now signed into law, both of which have significantly boosted Nigeria’s ease of doing business rankings.

The first bill, the Credit Bureau Services Bill Passed in May 2017, helps reduce the risk of lending or engaging in business with individuals or companies with a financial history of not paying back while the second, The Secured Transactions in Moveable Assets, enables ordinary Nigerians use invoices and receipts to access loans and working capital. Together, both laws smoothen the rough edges of doing business in Nigeria by securing lenders from working with people who have questionable financial history and also enabling more Nigerians to borrow towards growing their businesses. This, no doubt, would translate in unlocking more growth potential for our economy.

5.Passage of the Whistleblower Protection Bill

Perhaps, just as important as empowering businesses is to growing our economy, so too is curbing corrupt and improper conduct in the public and private sector. In this regard, it has been great to see the Senate take the lead in this campaign by passing the Whistle-blower Protection Bill.

So many memes have been out of this Bill on social media, and it goes to show just how popularity of the action taken by the Senate. The Bill is also very thoughtful in what it seeks to achieve in that it guarantees protection from all forms of victimisation for Nigerians who speak up when they see something wrong.

6.Passage of The INEC Reform Bill

Understanding that the viability of our whole democracy lies in the integrity of our electoral system, the Senate did well to shore up our voting process through its INEC Reform Bill. Thanks to the bill, there shall now be full biometric accreditation of voters with Smart Card Readers, INEC Officers must now instantly transmit accreditation data and results from Polling Units to various collation centres and INEC is now mandated to keep Electronic registers of voters. INEC is now mandated to publish voters’ registers on its official website(s) for public scrutiny at least 30 days before a general election.

The bill also ensures that people are held responsible for their actions by prescribing jail term for defaulting INEC officers. But the best part of the bill is that it kick-starts, in earnest, the technological evolution of our voting system. INEC now has unfettered powers to conduct elections by electronic voting, is mandated to keep a National Electronic Register of Election Results as a distinct database or repository of polling unit by polling unit results for all elections conducted by INEC. Collation of election result is also now mainly electronic, as transmitted unit results will help to determine final results on real time basis.

7.Passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill

From sanitizing our electoral system to cleaning up the petroleum industry, the Senate made another landmark achievement with its passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill. This Bill aims to introduce new operational and fiscal terms for the management of the revenue that is accrued from the sector. In essence, it’s high time we got more out of our petro-dollar, especially now that oil prices have rallied.

8.Passage of the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) Bill:

If there’s anything we’ve learnt from the anti-corruption cases of the past few years, it’s the importance of financial intelligence. That’s why the Bill, by the Senate, to create a robust, independent Financial Intelligence Unit is very much welcome.

The NFIU Bill also empowers the NFIU to, in line with international best practices, seek and exchange information with partner countries in order to improve international coordination on issues around financial crimes at home and abroad. The passage of the Bill into law would also re-admit and improve Nigeria’s standing within the Group while increasing their levels of cooperation and coordination to ensure that Nigeria achieves membership of FATF.

9.Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill:

Still riding on the need for greater international cooperation to combat crime, the Senate also passed the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill, which would enhance collaboration between the Nigerian government and its foreign counterparts. This would significantly ease the challenges our law enforcements currently have identifying, recovering and confiscating proceeds of crime located abroad. Simply put, with this bills, no one can steal public money and transfer it in foreign banks for safekeeping, such stolen funds, or the properties with which they are acquired, would be easily retrieved or seized.

It’s important to note that as encouraging as these legislative actions are, a bill by itself just unlocks the door to opportunity. Someone still has to reach for the door handle, turn the knob, and walk through the door. It’s up to members of the polity to take advantage of this chance with both hands and drive towards the collective goals we seek for Nigeria in the vehicle provided by the Senate

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/9-things-senate-did-to-make-nigerians.html

Former deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Babangida Nguroje has called on christian faithful to see the season of Christmas as a moment to pray for Nigerian Christians.

According to Nguroje, Christians should see Christmas as a times of great joy and a moment of remembering the past and hoping for the future.

In a Christmas message to Nigerians and other christians across the globe, Nguroje said the joyous celebration which marks the birth of Jesus Christ should also be a unifying factor for all Nigerians.
According to him, the several biblical accounts of the birth of Jesus Christ as saviour and peace maker should be the guiding principle in the celebration of His birth.
He also called on Nigerians to use this occasion to pray for their leaders , pray for everlasting peace, sacrifice and remain committed to only those things that would further promote and unite the country.
” I therefore wish the people of Taraba state and Nigeria in general a happy Christmas and prosperous new year”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/christmas-pray-for-our-leaders-nguroje.html

Primate Elijah Ayodele, founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has advised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to consult God before running for president in 2019.

The Primate warned that if the Waziri of Adamawa fails to consult God, he “may not get it right.”



The warning was contained in Ayodele’s 2018 prophecies, where he called on Nigerians to be prayerful.
He also predicted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s aides will create problems for him.
Ayodele said Buhari will ​have to ​do a lot of alliance to boost his political chances.
In a statement he issued, the cler​ic​ ​l​isted five politicians who are likely to be future president of Nigeria.

He identified Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, ​Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Governor Ibikunle Amosun.
The clergyman also said Nigerians should pray against scarcity of food commodity in the country​.
​
The prophecies read​:​ “Bread ​wil​l be scarce in the country, even garri. Some markets will be shut down, and let’s pray against explosion in some markets.
“We should also pray so that we don’t lose any Iyaloja or Babaloja.
“Iyaloja General should pray against multiple troubles, she should also be watchful of scandals.

“For the presidential election, this is what you should be expecting: Buhari will do a lot of alliance, he will try to settle so many things and try to balance right and left. But Buhari’s aides will create problems for him.
“The only people who can hold Buhari’s government are Fashola and Amaechi.
“2019: Atiku wants to be president; it’s going to be serious. Only if Atiku consults God very well before he takes the right step, otherwise, Atiku may not get it right.
“The presidential candidate of the PDP will be imposed, he will not be democratically elected after their presidential primaries.
“These are the future presidents after 2019, if they are still alive; Tambuwal, Saraki, Fashola, Amaechi, watch these people. Watch Ibikunle Amosun, these are future presidents of Nigeria.
“It is not PDP or APC that can put ​things ​
in order. Those two parties have nothing to offer Nigeria. The House will break because of Buhari 2019.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/primate-ayodele-releases-2018.html

Ogun State government has pledged to ensure zero maternal and child mortality, through qualitative and efficient health care delivery.

Wife of the state governor, Dr. (Mrs.) Olufunsho Amosun, at the flag-off ceremony of the December Round of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW), and induction of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Champions (RMNCAH), held at Sango Primary Health Centre, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council Area of the state, said the state was committed to improving maternal health and reducing child mortality, as no woman should die in the process of giving birth or children die during childbirth.
Amosun noted that the MNCHW campaign was essential to ensuring progress in the realisation of children’s right to good healthcare and best start in life, adding that it aimed at improving the healthcare of the whole family, especially pregnant women and children under five.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/ogun-commits-to-zero-maternal-child.html

Kia Motors Nigeria has recorded increased sales in 2017 with over 200 per cent year-on-year sales from 2016.Besides, the company said it is set to triple its sales in 2018 with a sustained comprehensive business strategy.

According to the company, the increased sales followed the country’s economic recovery from the recession that had hitherto stagnated all the sectors of the economy particularly, car sales in 2016. The business strategy and the extensive customer-based sales and service programs broke the ice and paved way for a record high year-on-year sales.

Chief Executive Officer, Kia Motors Nigeria, Jacky Hathiramani, said: “With our strategic business propositions, we are set to triple sales by expanding our units in operations (UIO) with increased new sales in the in the year 2018,” said.Speaking on the increased sale, Jacky alluded said Kia had always stay ahead of the curve with the top of the segment cars that have low maintenance costs and are affordable to the customers.


It will be recalled that there was an offshoot in the prices of products across all sectors of the economy amidst low buying power; however, Jacky maintained that Kia’s commitment to offering highly competitive pricing on its models played a major role in the record sales.He said the automobile company is poised to sustain the sales growth by introducing new models to the market and offering a highly competitive pricing on all their models.

Jacky said he’s confident that the second half of 2017 (2H17)’s sales momentum can be sustained into the 1H18, and this would help the company achieve better results over last year. “There’s an increased sale in the last six months compared with the same period last year. So, we project increased sales in 2018,”

Meanwhile, among the aggressive sales initiatives undertaken by the company in 2017 was Kia drive your dream and ember surprise promos. The company’s service promos also contributed immensely to the overall revenue for the company. The introduction of Kia double deal promo with over 15 per cent discount on both parts and labour recorded tremendous success and helped increase Kia brand confidence among customers. “These programmes increased our customer retention and loyalty towards the brand,” Jacky said.

He added that the company is set to introduce new models in the year 2018, headlining these models will be the world adjudged best-in-class luxury sedan, Kia Stinger, the B-Segment leader, SC Kia Rio and newly refreshed Kia Cerato amongst others.

On the general low stock level pervading the industry, he said the company was currently facing a high back order for some models, and was looking forward to assembling the cars at its plant in Lagos, Nigeria before the year-end.

It will be recalled that Kia Motors Nigeria began its local production in the wake of the implementation of the auto policy in 2014. The company built an ultra-modern assembly plant in Lagos with a capacity to produce 27,000 units of vehicles per annum.

Locally producing cars to the exact standard of Kia Motors Corporations in Korea, Kia Motors Nigeria currently produces the cars locally and the 2018 Kia Rio in addition to the recently launched Sorento, Sportage and Optima are produced in its plant in Lagos.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/kia-nigeria-records-200-year-on-year.html

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has warned policemen to distant themselves from the proscribed Independent People of Biafra (IPOB).

He also warned them to guide against being infiltrated by those who don’t mean well for the country.

He said this in Abuja on Thursday evening when he met with Commanders of Police Mobile Force (PMF) and Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU).

He said: “I am directing you to keep away from people that do not mean well for this country to avoid putting yourselves in trouble.


“Every police officer must remain loyal to his service, government and citizens of this country. Especially those serving in the Southeast. As much as possible, keep a distance from IPOB and other illegal organisations.

“Don’t allow any of them to penetrate you to work against this country in any way at all.

“I know that in the past, some Police officers were seen taking pictures with him. I believe it is not in the interest of this country to associate yourselves with somebody that came openly to say he wants the country divided.

“These are very serious issues and I want the men to keep a distance from them because they don’t mean well”.

On the essence of the meeting, the police chief said: “I decided to arrange this meeting because I believe that in the coming months, the PMF is going to be tasked with the responsibility to ensure that law and order is maintained all over the country.

“We are now in December and from January next year, it would be a period with highest forms of legal and illegal activities and I believe it is crucial that I summon all of you to ensure that your mind is prepared to provide security for this country.


“There are issues that are bothering this country right now, there are beehives of political activities and this calls for professionalism from all police officers serving in this country.

“With the political activities, people would try to infiltrate you to get your support by indulging yourself in unwholesome activities”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/distance-yourself-from-ipob-igp-tells.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded a stop to alleged harassment and intimidation of its members by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The warning by the PDP came just as the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, said the new executive was poised to rediscover the winning magic of the party and to reignite the fire that once made Nigeria a shining beacon in Africa.


Similarly, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, has said the opposition would field a presidential candidate with popularity that would outmatch any candidate presented by the APC in the 2019 election.

Secondus, who spoke yesterday when members of PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) paid the National Working Committee (NWC) a courtesy call at the party national secretariat, Wadata House, Abuja, said the rate at which leaders of the party were being harassed was getting out of hand.

The national chairman was particularly angry over the alleged hounding of the former Senate President, David Mark, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), adding that, “there is no where in the world where a former Senate President has been harassed like this before.

“APC should stop intimidating our leaders, we will no longer take it, enough is enough! They don’t need to attack us, they should fulfill what they promised us. Enough of this, we are not in a military government. What I am telling them is that God is not sleeping. When the time comes, the people will speak through their votes.”

Speaking at a two-day retreat for the newly elected NWC on the determination of the party to return back to power in 2019, Secondus said efforts will be geared towards repackaging the PDP and to unveil it to the Nigerian electorate so as to regain their confidence.
According to Secondus, PDP will be taking a cue from the International Republican Institute (IRI) which said the party lost the election because of its inability to recognise the power of social media and its failure to harmonise its communication channels.

“We must therefore begin to invest in our party with the aim of repackaging and eventually unveiling a reformed PDP to the Nigerian electorate, so as to regain their confidence. We must redefine who we are in the minds of Nigerians, down to the grass-root level,” he said”
Secondus said the two-day retreat is a self-reawakening; to give everyone a say in the outcome, a chance to fully participate in crafting the key strategies to move the party forward.

In his remarks, Ekwerenmadu said the emergence of Secondus as PDP’s national chairman has struck fear in the minds of the APC leaders who sees him as an experienced political tactician capable of swaying victory to his side
On the party’s presidential ticket, Ekweremadu urged the NWC to provide a level playing ground for all interested and qualified aspirants.
He said: “Of utmost importance in the build up to 2019 election year is our choice of presidential candidate. The fate and political fortunes of the party depend on the party’s presidential candidate.

“The party must therefore identify a candidate with the credentials, reach, charisma, competence and popularity to outmatch any candidate presented by the ruling APC and any other party for that matter.”
The Jostle for the PDP’s presidential ticket seemed to have taken off as one of the presidential hopeful and former Governor Jigwa State, Sule Lamido, yesterday stormed the national secretariat of the PDP with his supporters.

Lamido later met with the new leadership of the party behind closed doors.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the PDP has said the Anambra State Caretaker Committee led by Chukwudi Umeaba would remain in office until a fresh state congress is held.
In a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the Anambra State congress would be held at a later date and time to be determined and announced by the NWC.
“That the Anambra State Caretaker Committee led by Umeaba continues to subsist and pilot the affairs of the party in the state until a state congress is held.

“The NWC of the PDP yesterday, December 19, 2017, reviewed the state of our great party in Anambra State and resolved as follows:

“That the ward congresses as declared by the Appeals Committee are upheld. That the local government congresses as declared by the appeals committee are upheld.
“All members of the party, particularly in Anambra State should be guided by this resolution.”
Meanwhile, in a bid to forestall any relapse to legal tussle in the PDP, the Chairman of the party’s reconciliation committee, Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriaka Dickson, has expressed his preparedness to engage the aggrieved chairmanship aspirants, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja.

Dickson who gave the hint at retreat for the newly elected national executive of the party, said the committee would meet with Adedoja with a view to persuading him to withdraw his suit against the party.

Adedoja, a former Minister of Youth and Sports, said he filed a suit at an Abuja Federal High Court to challenge the outcome the election which saw the emergence of Secondus as the national chairman.
The aspirant claimed that his name was wrongly spelt as “Taoheed Oladoja” thereby misleading delegates and robbing him of victory at the convention.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/12/stop-harassing-our-leaders-pdp-warns.html