₦airaland Forum

The Igbo socio-political group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has dissociated itself from the agitation for secession and stead opts for the restructuring of the country.

The group, a representation of elders of South East, flayed the campaign launched by Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) to secede from Nigeria.
The elders insisted that the restructuring of Nigeria was the solution to the political and economic problems of the country.
The attempt by the region to secede led to the three years civil war from 1967 to 1970 in which over two million people were killed.
Kanu, is currently facing treason trial, but released recently following intervention by the elders.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the Ohanaeze, Mr. Chuks Ibegbu, said in Abuja on Monday that the group believes more in a restructured Nigeria.
They want a Nigeria that has a level playing field for all sections of the country; “a Nigeria that gives each part of the country a sense of belonging’’.
“For example, in a country of 36 states, the South-East has five states and 95 local governments; while Kano State alone has 44 local governments.
“The other time, we saw the statistics of recruitment in the Department of State Services with Katsina State alone having 51 allocations.
“Yet, we have the Federal Character Commission.
“We want the FCC to investigate the recent recruitment in the DSS. Abia State got only six allocations; Enugu State, six; Katsina, the home state of President Muhammadu Buhari, got 51 slots.’’
He said that there was no level playing ground in Nigeria, stressing that Abia State alone produces more graduates than 10 states in the North combined, “yet you gave them only seven opportunities and gave Katsina 51’’.
“We are not saying Nigeria should be divided, but the issues these young men are talking about should be addressed. Instead, it seems they want people like Nnamdi Kanu to shut up without addressing the issues, judging by the bail conditions (they gave him).”
He said that the issue of secession should be forgone, adding that what Nigeria needs now is restructuring.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/ohaneze-ndigbo-dissociates-self-from.html

Almost every third person worldwide is overweight or obese, and rates are rising among children, according to research published Monday.

The prevalence of obesity has doubled since 1980 in more than 70 countries and risen in most other countries, according to the study in the New England Journal of Medicine which covered 195 countries from 1980 to 2015.
In 2015, excess weight affected 2.2 billion children and adults. Roughly 700 million of that number, including almost 108 million children, were obese.
“Excess body weight is one of the most challenging public health problems of our time, affecting nearly one in every three people,” said lead author, Ashkan Afshin, of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) in Seattle, US.
Among the world’s 20 most populous countries, the United States had the highest level of obesity among children and young adults at nearly 13 per cent; while Egypt topped the adult obesity list at about 35 per cent.
The global obesity average was 5 per cent among children and 12 per cent among adults.
Bangladesh and Vietnam had the lowest portion at roughly 1 per cent in each respective category.
Another finding was that 4 million people died in 2015 due to illnesses linked to excess weight or obesity. Cardiovascular disease accounted for two thirds, followed by diabetes, kidney disease and cancer.
Obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) exceeding 30. The index is based on individuals’ height and weight. “Overweight” was a BMI between 25 and 30.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/almost-1-in-3-people-worldwide.html

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Western Turkey on Monday, the country’s disaster and emergency authority said, rattling the Aegean coast and Greece.

The disaster and emergency authority said the quake hit at 1228 GMT.
Tremors were felt in the coastal city of Izmir, some 330 kms away in Istanbul as well as in the provinces of Canakkale and Bursa.
The U.S. Geological Survey said it took place at a depth of five kms and hit about 31 km south-west of Mytilini on the Greek island of Lesbos.
Broadcaster CNN Turk said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/magnitude-62-earthquake-strikes-off.html

A Social group, Imo Billie Initiative for Social Justice, has urged Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, to properly utilise the over N14b second tranche of Paris Club refund, disbursed by the Federal Government.

In a statement signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Aku Obidinma, and General Secretary, Dr. Uzochukwu Chukwuebuka, made available to The Guardian, yesterday, the body said it knows that while workers and retirees in others states would be happy over the released fund, Imo’s case would be different, as there could likely be a diversion into irrelevant projects.


The statement read: “We are convinced that Imo government’s refusal to fully pay pensioners and workers cannot be attributed to lack of funds, but rather lack of will to do so. With the current release of fund, we, therefore, call on Governor Rochas Okorocha to immediately clear the arrears owed Imo State workers and pensioners.”
The statement also urged Imo House of Assembly to sit up and execute its oversight function by ensuring that the funds were used to pay affected persons, as advised by the Federal Government.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/paris-club-refund-group-urges-okorocha.html

Death toll from Wednesday’s Maiduguri multiple bomb blasts and Jiddari Polo Boko Haram attacks have risen from 18 to 23, after emergency rescue teams evacuated 86 victims to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) and State’s Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

Medical Director of the state Specialist Hospital, Dr. Laraba Bello, disclosed this when she took the Executive Director of Victims Support Fund (VSF), Prof. Sunday Ochoche, round to injured victims admitted in hospital.

She said out of the 32 patients evacuated from the blast scenes, two died on Friday, adding that 23 were discharged, while 29 are responding to treatment for injuries ranging from multiple fractures, trauma and loss of blood from explosives shrapnel.

Dr. Bello said that VSF has assisted and contributed a lot for the procurement of drugs and hospital consumables to treat Boko Haram victims from various parts of the state.
Earlier, Chief Medical Director of UMTH, Dr. Abdulrahaman Tahir, told Prof.Ochoche that VSF donated N30m to the hospital for the treatment of over 900 victims of insurgency in the last two years.
“We have no problem accessing the funds donated by VSF for the treatment of Boko Haram victims. We have been utilizing the money judiciously since 2015 and we have received a total of N30m Dr. Tahir said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/maiduguri-multiple-blasts-death-toll.html

Wearing a Barcelona shirt in Saudi Arabia now risks a €135,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.

The change in law follows the cutting of diplomatic relations and borders with Qatar, who the Saudi Kingdom this week accused of supporting ISIS.
Saudi Arabia have moved to punish Barcelona’s shirt sponsors of four years, Qatar Airways, whose company logo adorns the Spanish club’s kit and other promotional material.

According to Sky Italy, those caught wearing shirts with the Qatar Airways wording now face a €135,000 euro fine and up to 15 years in prison.
A ban could now follow in countries that sided with Saudi Arabia in the international row including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain.
Barcelona are, however, switching shirt sponsors to Japanese online retailer Rakuten from the 2017/18 season for four years.
Paris Saint-Germain were also affected this week as the Ligue 1 club’s Qatari owners have a shirt sponsorship deal with Emirates, but the UAE’s national carrier have stopped flights between the two countries.
But the French club, who have two more seasons with Emirates, told Le Parisien: “It will have no effect on the club, there is no worry.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/saudi-arabia-bans-barcelona-jerseys.html

This inappropriate photo was shared on Amber's page some minutes ago, with the caption #amberroseslutwalk. The photo of the mother of one wasn't censored, but we had to censor it.
more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/see-what-amber-rose-shared-that-set.html

The Senate has resolved to take steps to curtail all threats to the continued existence of Nigeria as a united and peaceful country. The resolution came at a time of numerous agitations in the country.

On Thursday, in Kaduna, the northern youth groups that gave an ultimatum to Igbos to leave their region by October 1, this year reaffirmed their Wednesday stand, asking the Federal Government to hold a referendum for the actualisation of Biafra Republic.

At a special mid-term session that attracted former presiding officers of the Senate and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, senators noted that it has become very important to take decisive actions to halt factors against Nigeria’s unity.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, who presided over the session that lasted two hours, said the Senate must stand for a non-negotiable and united Nigeria. Saraki noted that unity and peace were key issues that must be guaranteed for any meaningful development to take place.
“We must stand clearly and act clearly to defend this country. The unity of this country is not negotiable” Saraki said. Many lawmakers who spoke also stressed the urgent need to pay attention to songs of disunity currently emerging in many parts of the country.
Former senate minority leader, George Akume (APC, Benue North West), particularly charged the Senate to stand firmly against the “drums and songs of war” being heard in parts of the country and make a strong statement against persons or groups beating drums of ethnic and religious hatred among the citizenry.
In his own remark, Shehu Sani, (APC, Kaduna Central) asked the senate to address the question of injustice, which he said was the singular issue capable of tearing the country apart.
Sani noted that the country was facing threats of secession because of issues relating to injustice and unfairness, adding that most of the problems bedevilling the country had their roots from injustice.
Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, noted that the stability of the senate arose from the support and cooperation given by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators, who he said were not there to undertake destructive criticisms.
Akpabio said the minority caucus was fully aware that the failure of the APC-led government could affect the entire country, irrespective of party affiliation.
George Sekibo (PDP,Rivers East) believed the senate was being distracted from carrying out its responsibilities, saying cases of harassment of lawmakers by security agencies in the name of fighting corruption would not augur well for smooth legislative atmosphere.
Pointing to Oyegun, Sekibo declared that the APC must call the agencies to order, so that things could work well. But Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West) condemned what he called selective application of laws by the executive arm of government.
Citing Ibrahim Maguís continued stay in office as acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Melaye noted that the Presidency had shown serious disrespect for the National Assembly by keeping him in that position.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/nigerias-unity-is-not-negotiable-says.html

Former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Olisa Metuh has lost his bid to stop his N400 million fraud trial, as the Supreme Court, on June 9, 2017 dismissed his application seeking for a stay of proceedings.

Metuh is standing trial along with Destra Investment Limited for alleged fraud. He is facing a 7-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Metuh through his lawyer, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN had filed the application seeking for a stay of proceedings at the High Court.
With this, Metuh’s trial is therefore expected to continue on June 19, 2017 before Justice Abang.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/supreme-court-rejects-olisa-metuhs.html

International dance choreographer, Hollywood, is currently in the country for the Lagos edition of The Dance Workshop 2017. The professional dancer arrived Muritala Mohammed International Airport in the early hours of yesterday to join the workshop, which continues today at the Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The theoretical and practical workshop is a project created by Kaffy to educate dancers on the ethics and business aspect of dance. The workshop will cover important topics such as Attitude & Talent, Finance in Dance Business, Branding and the best use of Social media, Importance of technique and skill acquisition. The project has successfully held in Accra, Abuja and Ibadan, reorienting dancers on vital issues and ensuring a positive impact on their career.
Hollywood is a well-recognized dance choreographer, who has worked with various recording artistes such as Chris Brown, Ciara, and Rihanna. Most recently, he choreographed Beyonce’s On the Run Tour’, Nicki Minaj’s Billboard Music Award performance, as well as Jennifer Lopez’s American Music Award.

Facilitators will range from entertainment professionals, celebrities, representatives from financial institutions and media relations experts. The list of celebrity facilitators includes, P Square, Kate Henshaw, Alibaba, Omawunmi, Daddy Showkey and Lamboginny.
To be hosted by Dotun of Cool FM, the business professionals will also include finance/smart money experts such as Nimi Akinkugbe and Arese Ugwu, Bukky Karibi-Whyte (CEO Bobby Taylor Company) and others.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/hollywood-in-lagos-for-dance-workshop.html

No fewer than 100 countries have condoled Nigeria over the passing away of the late Executive Director of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), Prof. Babatunde Osotimehin.

Osotimehin died on Sunday night in New York at the age of 68.
Nigeria’s Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the condolences had come in from the majority of the 193 UN Member States.
According to him, he has been receiving condolences from Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Missions since the sad demise of Osotimehin.
The Nigerian envoy commended the outpouring of the messages, saying it was a supportive gesture to Nigeria as the country mourned the outstanding legacy of the late UNFPA chief.
Muhammad-Bande also said that the gesture by was a testimony to the distinguished service of the late UN Under-Secretary-General to humanity.
Osotimehin was appointed on Nov. 19, 2010, as the Executive Director of UNFPA for a four-year term and assumed the position on Jan. 1, 2011.
He was reappointed to the position on Aug. 21, 2014, to become the organisation’s fourth executive director.
The deceased, until his death, held the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Osotimehin served previously as Nigeria’s minister of health between Dec. 17, 2008, and March 10, 2010.
Muhammad-Bande expressed the condolences of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, to the family.
He described the late Osotimehin as an accomplished and distinguished professional who made Nigeria proud during the period he served at the UN.
According to him, Osotimehin’s death is an irreparable loss not only to Nigeria but to the UN and the entire global community.
The Nigerian ambassador later signed the Condolence Register opened at the residence of the late UNFPA chief.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/100-countries-send-condolences-over.html

Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the global cover star of FIFA 18, marking the first time Real Madrid star will be featured.

The four-time Ballon d’Or winner led Los Blancos to their third Champions League title in four years with a 4-1 defeat of Serie A champions Juventus on Saturday.

Ronaldo, 32, scored two goals in a man-of-the-match performance in the triumph and on Monday was announced as the face of the latest edition of EA Sports’ popular video game franchise.

“It is a real pleasure to be on the cover of FIFA 18,” Ronaldo said. “It’s a great feeling and I am grateful to have been chosen.”

Ronaldo ran his career goals tally to 600 for both club and country in the Champions League final, and became the only player alongside Alfredo Di Stefano to score in three different European Cup/Champions League finals.
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The strikes also marked his 105th in the competition, putting him well clear of Lionel Messi at the top of the all-time scoring list. Messi has featured on four FIFA covers.

“The world’s best player has helped fuel the biggest leap forward on the pitch that we’ve ever delivered,” said Senior Producer for EA SPORTS FIFA Aaron McHardy.

“We are extremely excited to partner with Cristiano — working with him we learned a lot about his unique play style and what makes him so special. His passion, energy and global fanbase make him the perfect ambassador for FIFA 18.”

Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus featured on the cover last year’s edition after winning a fan vote.

The 27-year-old beat out Real’s James Rodriguez, Manchester United’s Anthony Martial and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard as receiving the most of over 3.1 million votes cast on EA’s website.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/cristiano-ronaldo-named-global-cover.html

The Federal Government has deployed 44 career ambassadors-designate to their respective countries of accreditation.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olusola Enikaolaye, however, added that the envoys were yet to resume in their countries of assignment because of the delay in the memorandum from one country to another agreeing to the appointment of an ambassador.

The Permanent Secretary explained yesterday, in Abuja, that the ambassadors-designate would resume when agreements have been obtained from the prospective countries.

He said: “There are three categories of ambassadors that President Muhammadu Buhari has already approved. The first set was announced publicly and those are the ones going to International organisations in New York, Geneva, and the Africa Union in Addis Ababa.

“The New Permanent Representative in New York, Prof. Mohammed Tijani, has already assumed duty. Ambassador A.A Kadir, an ambassador and Permanent Representative in Geneva has submitted his letter of credence and assumed duty.

“The third one is Bankole Adeoye, ambassador to the African Union at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Adeoye is awaiting his agreement to proceed to Addis Ababa,” Enikaolaye explained.

According to him, the second category is the career ambassadors who have all been deployed in their respective countries of accreditation.

“However, they cannot proceed until we receive agreements for all of them; they are about 44 in this category,” he clarified and noted that agreements were trickling in.

The permanent secretary also disclosed that non-career ambassadors had yet to be deployed because they have not been assigned to countries.

“That work is in progress; as soon as that is completed, the countries to which they have been deployed will be the first to know.


“And once the agreement is received for each of them, we will make the announcement, but we will not make an announcement until the countries have given consent, which is agreement,” he stated, noting that this would be completed in a few weeks.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/fg-deploys-44-ambassadors.html

The Federal Government on Monday offered for subscription two-year savings bond at 13.18 per cent and three-year savings bond at 14.18 per cent, the Debt Management Office (DMO) has said.
According to the offer circular obtained from the DMO website, the two-year bond will be due in June 2019, while the three-year bond will be due in June 2020.

It, however, did not state how much was offered, but added that the maximum subscription was N50 million at N1,000 per unit, subject to minimum subscription of N5,000 and in multiples of N1,000.
According to DMO, the bond is fully backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government, with quarterly coupon payments to bondholders.

The savings bond issuance is expected to help finance the nation’s budget deficit.

It is to also part of the Federal Government’s programme targeted at the lower income earners to encourage savings and also earn more income (interest), compared to what was accrued on their bank savings.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/fg-offers-savings-bonds-at-131-141-for.html

Following the arrest of one of the notable Nigerian singers, Dammy Krane in Miami over alleged Grand Theft , 3rd Degree Armed and Conspiracy , Credit Card Forgery, Intent to Defraud among others his aunt who is based in the US has come out to speak in his defense.

The aunt who spoke under anonymity said that Dammy was only a victim of circumstances that it was the guy , Chukwuebuka who booked him for a show that paid for the private jet.
In her words, “We don’t stay in the same state over here but Dammy came to visit me just last week. I got the news of his detention on the Internet just like everybody else.
” After making some calls, I was able to confirm that he was indeed arrested. He has been in the US for some time now and he has regularly been booked for shows all across America.

” The guy he was arrested with had actually booked him for a show this weekend in Miami. And he (Chukwuebuka) was the one that paid for the jet and made hotel reservations with the stolen card details.”
Speaking further, she said:
“You know it is a usual thing for show promoters to book flight tickets for artistes, so one cannot blame Dammy in this situation. A lawyer has already been contacted but unfortunately, Dammy would have to stay in jail till Monday when they would be able to go to court to
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/dammy-kranes-aunt-speaks-about-his.html

The Federal Government has been urged to provide a conducive environment that will stimulate private sector driven economy.

When Speaking to t ABS a University teacher, Dr Osita Madubugwu, regretted that eighteen years after uninterrupted democratic governance, Nigeria is still grappling with series of economic challenges.
Dr Maduagwu noted that a strong private sector driven economy will help tackle the problem of unemployment and build virile sustainable economy.
He called on government to formulate good industrialization policy that would focus on developing industrial clusters and estates and put in place framework that would give industrialists and investors easy access to loan facilities.
In his reaction, a legal practitioner, Mr John Okoli-Akirika said there should be conscious efforts to reposition and improve the Nation’s electoral process, promote respect for judicial proceedings and general conduct of law and due process.
Mr Okoli Akirika, said that the card reader should be a permanent component of the electoral process without recourse to manual accreditation to solve the problem of electoral manipulation.
He reminded the Federal Government of the need to obey Court judgments as according to him practical implementation and adherence to law are paramount in nurturing and promoting democratic ideals, stressing that over bearing tendency of the Executive on the Judiciary would defeat the principles and goals of democracy.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/fg-tasked-to-evolve-private-sector.html

On Wednesday, May 3, 2017, Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, played host to the committee on Diaspora Festival, Badagry 2017, led by the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. It was the first time a governor of the state would demonstrate overt commitment and interest in a festival whose content, context and concept have shown so much potentials to open up the state to outbound tourists via the ancient city of Badagry, close to two decades now.

Earlier, Dabiri-Erewa and this author (founder of African Renaissance Organisation and organiser of Diaspora Festival, Badagry) had made presentations on the need for the state to blaze the trail in harnessing the benefits associated with Diaspora engagement and reintegration into the state’s socio-economic make-up and how international tourism would flourish with the festival. The governor had declared that Lagos remains the capital of the black states in the world and that the festival would do well to position the state for diaspora reconnection and eventual return. Ambode further declared the festival an elongated programme of the 50th anniversary of Lagos State, which he stated, shall continue until the end of the year and that Diaspora Festival, Badagry 2017, would form a cardinal part of the events commemorating the creation of Lagos State. The governor unequivocally expressed government’s commitment to recreating and developing potentials in Badagry and advised that a framework for its sustainability on an annual basis be put in place. Ambode then concluded by saying, “We’ll support everything that is Badagry!”


One cannot but applaud the governor’s uncanny ability and insight to decipher potentials and opportunities for growth and development where it seems unclear to others. Diaspora festival is a peculiar kind of festival that is a common phenomenon that has become a force in driving international tourism along the coastal states of West Africa. In Ghana, it is referred to as Pan-African Festival (PANAFEST); in Gambia, it is called Homecoming Roots Festival; in Senegal, it is Goree Diaspora Festival, and in Republic of Benin, it is referred to as Voodoo Pilgrimage Festival, to mention just few.
These festivals have been designed to attract the historic African diaspora back to their cultural and ancestral roots. The importance attached to the festivals by these countries is reflected in the fact that their respective Presidencies are involved in their organisation. This is premised on the history of enormous socio-economic opportunities and potentials the diaspora has come to symbolise for many countries across the globe. Many of these West African countries have created Ministries of Diaspora and Tourism for the purposes of diaspora engagement and building their economies through cultural connections.
The concept of diaspora is about ‘not being at home’ or ‘to scatter’, ‘to disperse’ and ‘to take root elsewhere.’ The formation of the diaspora is generally premised on dispersals of people into spaces, which could either be voluntary or forceful. In mapping the history of African Diaspora, three historical dimensions can simply be configured: the people of African descents that had migrated from Africa in the pre-historical period about 6 – 7 mya (millions) ago to populate other parts of the world (based on the proven hypothesis that Africa is the birthplace of humanity); second are those who were the consequence of forceful dispersals as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, starting from the 15th century; the third group are those Africans who found their ways in foreign lands as a result of failure of socio-economic and political order in their respective countries and the economic pull of the global North. As a fall-out of these historical trajectories, people of African descents are to be found today in all continents of the world.
It is, however, to be noted that these groups of African ‘emigrants’ have evolved and developed into both economic, technological, intellectual and social capital in their countries of residence. But inherent in the complexion of the diaspora is the fundamental issue of vestigial discrimination culminating in constant nostalgia to link up with the primordial or ancestral homeland as the ideal final home of return. Hence, there is always the element of personal or vicarious relations to the homeland development in an ethno-communal consciousness, though not all Diaspora share this ideology.

Therefore, beyond sending remittances and other indirect investment through stocks, bonds, and deposit accounts and the growth of specific sectors such as tourism or information technology through means other than direct investment, which have been very instrumental to economic recovery and development of many countries all over the world, the Diaspora can also promote trade and foreign direct investment, create businesses and spur entrepreneurship, and transfer of new knowledge and skills. In contemporary African socio-economic world that labours under lack of investment and international business acumen, lack of professional and technical skills, isolation from global networks of knowledge, and exclusion from global supply chains, proper and coherent Diaspora engagement policy can fill this vacuum and reposition Africa for global reckoning. The reason, therefore, is not far-fetched why the African Union in 2005 declared African Diaspora as the ‘sixth region’ of the continent. But much still needs to be done in this respect for Diaspora’s full integration.
The Diaspora Festival is, in itself, a global tourism product, which is sometimes described as ‘nostalgic tourism.’ It celebrates the identity, culture, history, heritage and tradition of a given people in a given destination, usually in the primordial homeland at a given period. In other words, Diaspora festival aggregates both the tangible and intangible cultural resources as expressed in the history, artifacts, monuments, places of memory, religion, topographical attraction and the rustic environmental ambiance of the homeland as instigator for homeland nostalgia or pull factors for the Diaspora temporal or permanent return. The festival is usually weaved around the tragic history of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, as occasion to celebrate African history, freedom and achievement of the black race. Diaspora festivals all over the world are greatly influenced by the classical theory of the so-called ‘Solar System Model,’ which depicts Diasporic communities all over the world as ‘satellites’ or ‘a periphery’ that maintains an unswerving, positive attraction to the symbolic Centre (the Homeland), which is often perceived as the Cradle of their innermost being throughout history. In the contemporary African milieu, culture provides the strongest link between Africa and its Diaspora and this has become a veritable means to building their economies through cultural connections and reconnections.
The adoption of Diaspora Festival by Governor Ambode, with the symbolic Door-of-Return ceremony, as against Point-of-No-Return, a vestige of the infamous slave trade history in Badagry, is awesomely historic. The state will go down in history as the first in Africa to symbolically open its door to Diaspora return and engagement. In developing tourism, the state needs such a mega event as Diaspora festival or Diaspora tourism to drive and achieve its tourism development target as contained in the Lagos State Development Plan 2012 – 2015 of attracting 150 million annual tourists arrival and for tourism revenue to contribute 10 per cent to the state’s GDP. The state remains the most endowed in terms of tourism resources and, if fully harnessed and developed, will catapult it from its present 5th position to 1st economy in Africa in no distant future.

There are various tourism typologies with which the state is endowed, which could all be developed as products to make the state a major destination in Africa. There are potentials for aquatic tourism, nostalgic tourism, Diaspora tourism, mangrove tourism, cultural tourism, eco-tourism, coastal tourism, urban tourism, business tourism, etc, which can all be developed into tourism products that will be both attractive to domestic and outbound tourists.
DIASPORA festival, as a nostalgic form of tourism, has the potentials to turn around the history of tourism in Lagos State. California is a state in the United States of America, whose economy is dependent virtually on tourism. Today, California is the 6th largest economy in the world. As a matter of fact, the economy of the global North is hinged 70 per cent on tourism. Tourism has become an integral part of the global economy that cannot be ignored. According to the 2016 World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) Annual Tourism Reports, tourism contributed 10 per cent to global GDP, created 1/11 global jobs, and international arrivals rose to 1.2 billion. Only 50 million arrivals were recorded for North Africa and part of Sub-Saharan Africa, probably Ghana, Gambia and Senegal; Nigeria was not listed. Tourist exports globally generated $1.5 trillion, about 70 per cent of the world’s export, while tourism receipts at destinations all over the world hit a record of $1, 260 billion.
Lagos is well positioned for fantastic tourism development and a huge potential to become a major tourists destination in Africa with its socio-economic performance indicators of being host to over 2,000 industrial establishments, 10,000 commercial ventures, 22 industrial estates, responsible for 30 per cent of the nation’s GDP, and accounts for 80 per cent of national aviation traffic, 70 per cent of national maritime cargo freight, and 50 per cent of national energy consumption. What is more, with a population that hit 20 million in 2015, according to the UN, making it the third largest city in the world, and the socio-economic indices and demographic details enumerated above and the monumental efforts of the present administration towards infrastructural development, reclamation of marinas, security and the erection of world class statues in strategic centres in the state are steps consciously taken by Ambode to prepare the ground for a thriving tourism business in Lagos State.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/see-how-lagos-can-leverage-smart-city.html

The delay in getting the 2017 budget ready for implementation may drag beyond expectations. This is because there are grey areas in the document, which the Presidency and the National Assembly leadership are yet to resolve.

It was learnt yesterday, that the meeting convened last week, at Aso Villa for the two parties to review the fiscal plan failed to hold and was rescheduled for this week.
The budget as passed by the National Assembly, it was learnt contains serious discrepancies when compared to what was submitted to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, on December 14, 2016.

The Presidency has, however, confirmed that it would engage the leadership of the National Assembly in some discussions to sort out whatever grey areas exist, even though it denied any plot to reject the document.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Solomon Ita Enang, in a statement yesterday evening said that: “The Presidency is working within the constitutional time-frame required to process details of the 2017 budget passed by the National Assembly. There is no such plan by it to reject the 2017 budget passed by the National Assembly as alleged in some reports. The Presidency can only assent to the budget or withhold assent as the case may be”
Enang made it clear that, “However, should there be areas needing input, the Presidency would engage the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.”
According to him, “Right now, the Presidency is subjecting every detail of the budget, using the available systems at its disposal to ensure the figures appropriated to MDAs are consistent with the realities on ground, while also engaging in consultations.
“When the budget was presented to both chambers of the National Assembly for consideration last year by President Muhammadu Buhari, both chambers subjected the document to legislative processes using internal systems at their disposal. This, exactly, is what the Presidency is actually doing at the moment to ensure that what would be eventually assented to sufficiently addresses the nation’s present realities, as not doing so could expose government to a backlash from Nigerians,” Enang stated.
On his part, Presidential Liaison Officer to the National Assembly (House of Representatives), Alhaji Kawu Abdulrahman Sumaila, equally confirmed that assent to the budget is delayed due to the existence of some grey areas in the document.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/2017-budget-delayed-due-to-grey-areas.html

Hundreds of Juventus fans watching the Champions League final in one of Turin’s main squares were injured when loud bangs created a panic and mayhem.

About 400 people were being treated for slight injuries, Italian media reported. About five people were seriously hurt, including a seven-year-old boy who was trampled, Sky TG24 reported.
Thousands of fans had gathered to watch the Champions League final in front of a giant screen in San Carlo Square.During the second half of the match, which local club Juventus went on to lose 1-4 to Real Madrid, video cameras show a sudden rush in the middle of the crowd that caused a surge that flung people against barriers.
Many fans then began to run out of the center of the square, screaming in fear.
The panic may been started by the explosion of a loud firecracker that was mistaken for a bomb, a Reuters witness said.
Afterwards shoes and bags littered the ground, people were seen limping and searching desperately for friends and relatives, the witness said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/400-juventus-fans-injured-in-turin.html

Comedienne Emmanuella has said that she will like to become a make up artist and actress when she grows up.

She said this in an exclusive interview with goldmyne.tv where she revealed that she feels happy about what she does but that does not make her the greatest kid in the world for it is only God that makes on great.


Looking at how well she has done in the comedy industry she can do very well as an actress in the movie industry. Talking about make up, although she does not wear makeup in any of her skits but the young comedienne seems to have an innate passion for makeup, hence her interest in becoming a makeup artists when she grows up.
The talented 6 years old Emmanuella who came with her uncle, Mark Angel for the interview said that she loves watching cartoon, playing games, and jumping around whenever she is not on set .

She came into limelight after one of the several Mark Angel’s comedy skits “This Is Not My Real Face” went viral on social media.

Her extraordinary talent has earned her several awards both nationally and internationally yet she is moving higher every day.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/when-i-grow-up-i-will-like-to-be-makeup.html

The Police in Enugu State say they have arrested a fleeing member of an armed group that allegedly killed the Enugu Deputy Governor’s orderly, Sgt. Helen Sunday.

This is contained in a statement by the command’s spokesman, SP Ebere Amaraizu on Friday in Enugu.
Amaraizu said the fleeing member of the group was arrested on May 27 in Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the orderly was killed in Enugu on May 9 by a group of armed men while on her way home from work.
The police had on May 10 stormed the group’s hideout and engaged the suspects in a gun duel.
Two people suspected to be members of the group were arrested while others escaped.
The police said the deceased’s Infinix smart phone, amongst other items, was recovered from the hideout after the shootout.
Amaraizu said the anti-kidnapping unit of the command arrested the suspect via a well-coordinated operation.
He said police operatives trailed the suspect to a hideout at Apapa in Lagos State, where he was allegedly receiving treatment.
“It is believed that the treatment was for bullet wounds sustained on May 10 when a shoot-out ensued between members of the armed group and police at Lomalinda and Amorji Nike areas of Enugu.
“On that day, two of the gang members were fatally injured and apprehended while others believed to have been hit by bullets escaped,’’ he said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/enugu-police-apprehend-alleged-killer.html

A 22- year-old man, Samuel David, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s daughter, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court.

The accused, a driver, who resides at 30, Oremeji St., Bariga, a Lagos suburb, is being tried for defilement.

The Prosecutor, Sgt .Raphael Donny, told the court that the offence was committed on May 12, at the residence of the accused.
Donny said that the accused called the girl, an 8-year -old, into his room, on the pretext of sending her on an errand.
“The accused defiled the girl, cleaned her up and told her not to tell anybody.
“Days after, the girl was feeling uneasy and cannot urinate properly, hence she told her mother what happened and the accused was apprehended,’’ he said.
The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Davies Abegunde, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N1 million, with two sureties in like sum.
Abegunde ordered the accused to pay N100,000 into the Chief Registrar ‘s account, as part of the bail conditions.
She, therefore, adjourned the case until June 26, for legal advice from the Office of the State Director of Public Prosecutions.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/man-arrested-for-defiling-neighbours.html

Drivers shut down Benin-Lagos Expressway, yesterday, to protest killing of a conductor with Young Shall Grow Motors by robbers and incessant robbery attacks on the ever-busy highway.
The drivers’ protest left commuters stranded on the highway for several hours.
A witness, who gave his name as Ayinla, a driver with Complete Sports, said the robbers took over the road as early as 1:00 am and killed one person on the spot.
He said while the robbers were operating, calls were put across to the Nigeria Police for intervention but they did not show up.
The robbers, he added, after having a field day, left uninterrupted.
Ayinla further added that luxury bus drivers, aggrieved at the incessant robbery attacks on the road, especially at Okada Junction axis and the degree of responsiveness of the police to an emergency situation, decided to barricade the road, which led to protracted gridlock which lasted for several hours.
“The drivers said they will not leave the highway until federal and state governments address the issue of incessant robbery on the Benin-Lagos expressway.
“This whole thing started at about 1:00am. I have been on the road since then…” he said. Another witness, Mr. Johnson Saliu, a driver with Tribune Newspaper, who arrived Benin at about 1:50pm described the situation as horrific.
“It was tough. You can imagine somebody who has been on the road since 11:00am till now, it is not easy and the experience was terrible.
“More than three weeks since I have been plying that road, there is no day there has not been a robbery attack,” he said. Another witness, who declined to be named added: “We left Onitsha at about 10:30pm, while we were on the way, armed robbers attacked us immediately after Benin, heading to Okada. We managed to escape but, we now decided to park somewhere because the shooting was too much. That was when we discovered that the conductor of the bus hadbeen killed. The robbers also attacked several vehicles close to where we parked, including Ezenwata bus and some small buses and were shooting everywhere.”
In his response to the development, Secretary to Edo State Government, Osaro Ogie, admitted receiving a report on the incident.
“We received this report about a traffic jam which occurred around Okada Junction, as a result of armed robbery incident. We got in touch with the director of the Department of State Service (DSS), Ibrahim Hiliu and the Commissioner of Police. We saw the thousands of stranded passengers and drivers.
“We received the report of robbery operations and I can assure you now that security agencies are going to increase their presence around here and across the state.
“We have the responsibility to make sure that our state is safe and everybody who passes here does that safely. We are going to increase security on all the major roads involving members of the communities, the army, police and others.”
On his part, Edo commissioner of police, Haliru Gwandu said: “We got this information in the morning that there was total gridlock from Benin to Lagos and when I contacted our DPO and commanders, the report was that there was robbery attack at about 1:00am. Thank God, the distress call was able to rescue all the passengers. However, hoodlums who came from the bush shot the windscreen of the bus, wounded the conductor who later died in the hospital.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/drivers-shut-down-benin-lagos-highway.html

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), made up of governors of the 36 states have raised concern over the quality of rice being consumed by Nigerians.
The governors described it as substandard, harmful and called on the Nigeria Customs Service to take urgent measures to arrest the situation.
A statement by NGF’s Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abulrazaque Bello-Barkindo, said the alarm was contained in a communique released after the forum’s last meeting in Abuja.
The governors said a large consignment of rice still finding its way into the Nigerian market was imported since 2014 when the Goodluck Jonathan administration issued a liberal import licence regime to those who were able to bring substantial quantity of rice into the country using a waiver from the presidency at the time.
The governors noted that while bulk of the consignment was stale, others were either rejected in other countries or had overstayed in various warehouses before they found their way into Nigeria through the activities of some unscrupulous elements.
“Governors expressed concern that Nigerians were either falling sick or losing their lives to the consumption of this substandard produce even though some states have commenced elaborate efforts to produce rice in commercial quantity with a view to halting the nation’s over-reliance on staples that can be produced locally.
“Most governors of the states that have already embraced the back to land mantra of this administration frowned at the situation where Nigerians snubbed the locally produced commodity in preference for foreign ones which were most of the time stale, contaminated or even fake,” the statement said.
The Nigeria Customs Service was invited to shed light on the matter in order to proffer solution to the problem.
Briefing the Forum, the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali who was represented by Deputy Comptroller General, Dangaladima Aminu, said though there was an upsurge in the smuggling of rice through the nations land borders, there had been no alteration to the prohibition on the importation of rice through land borders. He claimed that any quantity of rice which found its way into Nigeria through land routes was smuggled.
Dangaladima said rice was usually smuggled through unauthorized border routes which span more than 4,000 kilometres. He claimed that the smugglers were aided by border communities who alternated between motorcycles, canoes and rafts to smuggle contraband rice into the country.
“It may interest you to note that a motorcycle can make up to 30 trips with six 50kg bags of rice per night depending on the distance. And when the border communities are not smuggling the produce themselves, they are aiding or providing cover for smugglers.”
Dangaladima added that rice merchants had recorded huge losses as a result of seizures by the customs.
He disclosed that in 2014 Customs seized 12, 000 metric tons of the commodity, 4, 503 tons in 2015 and 14, 000metric tons in 2016.
He informed the governors that the Customs “takes the issue of smuggling of rice seriously, having identified the danger posed by it to the economic well-being and health hazards it constitutes to the Nigerian people.”
Rice, which was hitherto occasionally consumed during special occasions and ceremonies, has became a daily household staple and first choice at public gatherings.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/06/governors-raise-alarm-over-killer-rice.html

Sterling Bank Plc has said it supported the star boxing match between Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Africa’s leading Political Champion versus Evander Holyfield, former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion because it cares and promotes culture.
Mr. Henry Bassey, Chief Marketing Officer, Brand Management and Communications Group stated this at Rhumbles in Lagos organised by Afinju Concept International Entertainment (ACI) to celebrate the two leading champions in their own rights as part of activities lined up for the celebration of Lagos @50 over the weekend.
According to Mr. Bassey, Sterling Bank as a bank that cares with the primary purpose of enriching lives is constantly focusing on meeting its customers needs with its new “Your One- Customer Bank Campaign” which recognises the need to solve specific problems in the life of its customers by delivering bespoke services.
He said the bank also, “acknowledges that entertainment plays a part in helping its target audience lead a fulfilled life and will continue to connect with them through their passion points.”
He stated that Sterling’s involvement was beyond mere entertainment as Evander Holyfield’s REAL DEAL organization has a focus on youth empowerment which is in line with the bank’s focus on the youth market. He also highlighted how the Bank’s Made in Nigeria campaign tied into the growing of Nigerian talents who have over the years been a dominant force on the global boxing stage.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/why-sterling-bank-supported-evander.html

Deposed Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo has launched series of allegations against Supreme Court justices, accusing them of a deliberate plot to confuse and complicate the appeal against his victory at the Court of Appeal in order to secure indefinite treatment of the case.
“The record of proceedings shows that this case has gone through 5 state high courts, 1 Federal High Court, 4 courts of appeal and 5 times before the Supreme Court between June 2005 and April 2017. In the process, a total of 13 Justices have presided, including Your Lordship (twice) in two rounds from Birnin Kebbi to Kaduna to Birnin Kebbi to Argungu to Birnin Kebbi to Sokoto to Abuja.
“I recall Your Lordship observing at the last sitting on 27/9/2016 that the case had taken too long; 12 years, prompting Your Lordship to direct that all briefs be in for hearing on 4/4/2017, including the consolidation of the two Appeals SC 2/2013 and SC 314/2016, rather than waste more time on injunctions and other interlocutory issues. As the plaintiff, my predicament cannot be better demonstrated,” he submitted.
He averred that despite his victory at the court of first Instance and the Court of Appeal without injunction granted against the verdicts, he was being prevented from the benefits of his victory by the present Appeal and in the process elongating his ordeal and increasing the weight of injustice imposed on him in the past 12 years.
In the petition entitled, “Re: Suit NO SC 314/2016: Alh. Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar vs Alh. Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo & 13 Others.
Dissatisfaction with the proceedings of 4th April, 2017”, dated 18th April, 2017 with reference no: AHJ/SC/01/L/17, Jokolo stated that he resorted to a petition when the hearing in April “was railroaded back to the slow lane in Your Lordship’s absence by another panel of Justices presided by Mary Peter Odili (JSC) CFR.
“Astonishingly, the presiding justice who agreed that an Application for extension of time to file Notice of Appeal by the 2nd-14th applicant was incompetent, instead of striking it out still went ahead to grant a seven month adjournment to 13/11/2017 to enable the applicants file a fresh application.”
The deposed Emir also alleged in the petition that the Justices exhibited favourable disposition to the appellant and applicants by ordering their Counsel to change his motion from Appeal to Cross Appeal and seek another date for filing, a stance which Jokolo noted was a help from the Justices to conduct their case. “My Lord, this case has been turned into the theatre of the absurd.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/jokolo-petitions-cjn-accuses-supreme.html

Egypt on Thursday blocked 21 websites, including Qatari news network Al Jazeera and Islamist-affiliated platforms, following in the footsteps of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Among those blocked since Wednesday evening is the website of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, Ikhwan Online, according to a report in the privately owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper.
All websites blocked contain material that “support terrorism and extremism as well as publish lies,” a security source was quoted as saying.
The Arabic edition of the Huffington Post was blocked, although the English-language version was accessible.
The independent Cairo-based Mada Masr was another site blocked.
Since the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood from power in Egypt in 2013, Egypt’s relations with Qatar have worsened as Cairo slams Doha for hosting members of the now-banned group.
Egypt’s Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates blocked the website of Al Jazeera and other Qatari websites on Wednesday after controversial comments praising Iran were attributed to the Qatari ruler, Tamim Al-Thani.
Iran is the main regional rival of Saudi Arabia, which hosted an Arab Islamic summit over the weekend.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/egypt-blocks-al-jazeera-20-other.html

Judgment will be delivered on 9 June by a South African court on the bail application by Nigerian Pastor Tim Omotosho, charged with human trafficking and sexual assault.

The Port Elizabeth Magistrate’s court fixed the judgement day after listening to arguments and counter arguments for Omotosho’s bail.

The lawyer to the 58 year-old pastor had tried on Tuesday to poke holes in the testimony of an immigration officer that the pastor was in the country illegally.
Alfonso Hatting, for the pastor, pointed at what he refers to as mistakes appearing in the pastor’s passport pages and tried to find loopholes in the visas to point out the inaccuracies on the part of government officials.
Senior Immigration Officer Ivan Klaasen took the stand again on Tuesday.
The matters on dispute were amendments on several permits, as appearing in the pastor’s passport, for a work permit and a temporary stay permit which were issued on the same day on July 18, 2000.
“The applicant made an application for a work permit in the South African Embassy in Botswana, on his arrival back at the port of entry in Botswana, he was granted a temporary stay permit, instead of having his work permit activated,” said Klaasen.
“These documents were further extended and amended for years after the initial issues.”
However, Hatting rejected Klaasen’s label on the applicant, which flags him as an illegal immigrant, and said that Klaasen had no legal standing to label the pastor as an illegal immigrant, he said the applicant is not a prohibited person.
“Permits have been issued to the applicant and these were based on information in prior documents issued by Home Affairs,” said Hatting.
“In view of the imperfections of your administration staff, the mistakes contained in his passports mean that your version of the applicant’s status could also be a mistake.”
Klaasen disputed responding: “Your worship, there is a distinction between a mistake and fraud.”
“A mistake can be corrected, but a fraud will not be corrected… It is not mistakes, this was a deliberate tactic,” he said, citing that even though he is not privy to what transpired on the events of the fraudulent transactions between the pastor and the immigration officers that granted him the fraudulent permits, he said there were red flags that informed his opinion on the permits.
In an attempt to use the issue of the granted amendments and extensions, Hatting said if the department had issued these documents that makes the applicant of legal status in the country. He enquired on the reasons why the pastor was not processed for deportation.
“Will you proceed with a process to deport him before the the conclusion of the case in 2018?” he said.
Klaasen indicated that there was no plan to deport the pastor, due to the court proceedings currently underway.
Hatting argued that there was no reason for the State to refuse the applicant bail, adding that it was up to the court to give the pastor the status of illegal or prohibited.
He said the State’s case was weak and added that the pastor was not a flight risk and had known since October that he was under investigation.
“He had five opportunities to escape but he came back; therefore he is not a flight risk,” said Hatting.
However, prosecutor Nceba Ntelwa opposed the bail application citing that there was “seriously incriminating” evidence against the pastor.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/pastor-omotosho-knows-fate-9-june.html

The state Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Peter Ezeobi has distanced the state chapter of the party from judgment of the Enugu State High Court which declared Chief Martins Agbaso as the national chairman of the party.
Ezeobi said he (Agbaso) was not a member of the party, having earlier defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is yet to officially return to the party.
The Imo State APGA chairman who stated this yesterday in Owerri, while reacting to the judgment of the court said Victor Oye remains the only authentic national chairman of APGA.
According to him, Chief Agbaso was a member of the party until he left the party for PDP in 2015 where he has contested for the gubernatorial primaries of the party. He said since he left, there was no record that he had officially returned.
“It was a rude shock for the Imo State branch of APGA to hear in the news that a court of competent reckoning in this country announced his name as the national chairman of a party he is no longer a member,’’ he said.
The APGA chairman said there was the need for the judiciary to support democracy in the country to grow rather than promote acts that could cause disharmony.
He said the state chapter of the party was behind the Victor Oye-led national leadership of APGA and supports the move by the party to challenge the judgment that announced Agbaso as chairman
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/imo-apga-disowns-agbaso.html#more

Gov. Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom on Wednesday inaugurated a Coconut Refinery in Mkpat-Enin in continuation of activities to mark his second year in office.

Emmanuel who performed the exercise at the Ikot Abasi/Mkpat Enin/Eastern Obolo axis of the state, said that coconut was created by God with over 360 uses.

The governor, who projected 18 months for the completion of the refinery, promised to bring in more foreign investors who had declared interest in the project.

He lamented that some youths were out to frustrate the efforts of his administration and warned that those who destroyed the seedlings at the coconut plantation would be arrested and prosecuted.

The governor urged village heads to caution their youths to cooperate and protect government investments in their domains rather than engaging in acts of sabotage and vandalism.
He warned that government would not hesitate to withdraw certificates of village and clan heads whose subjects stalled government development projects.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mr Uduak Udoinyang, said he was excited because Gov. Emmanuel had fulfilled his promise in line with his five-point agenda.
Onur Kumral, the Contractor handling the refinery, said that oil from coconut was more expensive than crude oil and assured that the project would be completed on schedule.
The state House of Assembly member for Ikot Abasi/Eastern Obolo Consituency, Mr Uduak Ududoh who spoke for the community, commended the governor for keeping to his electoral promises of providing employment opportunities to indigenes of the area.In a goodwill message, Mr Otobong Ndem, representing Mkpat Enin in the House of Assembly, said the governor had shown commitment to develop the area and thanked him for the newly constructed roads.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/gov-udom-emmanuel-inaugurates-coconut.html