₦airaland Forum

About N4 trillion downstream investments are being threatened, as over 198 private depots or tank farms across the country have remained idle since the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) assumed the full importation of petroleum products. These depots do not include the 22 operated by NNPC through which it pumps refined products across the country.

The inactivity of the depots is due to the inability of the major and independent marketers of petroleum products to access foreign exchange (forex), and obtain letters of credit to import.

The development has brought to the fore the proliferation of private tank farms and their sustainability in the long term, against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s promise to end products importation next year.



A property expert, Jude Azubuike, estimates that it costs between N18 and N30 billion to construct a depot depending on the size. At N18 billion per one the 198 tank farms will translate to, at least wasting N4 trillion investments.
More than this, about 19,000 direct jobs are at risk in the event that the depots close shop, aside from thousands more jobs that would be lost indirectly.
According to him, about 50 of these depots in Lagos and Port Harcourt, and Warri have been put up for sale, by their owners to recoup their investment. But prospects are low because of the Federal Government’s promise to end fuel importation by 2019.
Even the Dangote Refinery, reputed as the biggest in Africa, offers no hope to the endangered private depots. Its spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, insists the new refinery will have no need for the private depots, when it comes on stream in 2019.
However, NNPC, as the sole importer of petroleum products, can patronise a few of these depots for third party storage agreements known as “through put” or storage for a fee under specified terms if the corporation’s existing depots are unable to receive all the imported products.
Even at that, some of the throughput contracts have recently been mired in controversies, with some products “disappearing” from the tank farms without a trace.
The proliferation of the tank farms is the result of the failure of the refineries operated by the NNPC in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri with a combined installed capacity of 445,000 bpd, to produce enough fuels to meet industrial and domestic needs. This left the country with no other choice than to rely on imported petroleum products to run the economy.
As a result, most of the products including premium motor spirit (PMS) or petrol; automotive gas oil (AGO), diesel; and dual purpose kerosene (DPK), are imported to meet national daily demand estimated at 40 million litres.
Reliance on importation required the availability of necessary infrastructure to store the products, particularly along the coastal lines, thus leading to the springing up of tank farms in Lagos and other littoral areas.
The introduction of fuel subsidy to reimburse importers for the price differentials between the landing cost and the pump prices gave further impetus to investment in tank farms by downstream operators.
Besides, the destruction of the Atlas Cove Jetty, the country’s major and biggest reception point for imported petroleum products encouraged the breading of tank farms especially in the Lagos area to bridge the gap.
In fact, to qualify for subsidy, marketers were required to own petrol depots of not less than 5,000 metric tonnes, and should be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
The scenario changed with the coming of President Muhammadu who took the drastic step to end the subsidy regime, which was characterised by enormous fraud. At once, the basis for establishing the depots was knocked off leaving investors stranded.
With 22 NNPC depots located in different parts of the country with storage capacity of over 87 million litres and as Nigeria aspires to be self sufficient in the refining of petroleum products by 2019, investment in the over 198 private depots may be lost completely.
Explaining the NNPC’s role in the downstream sector, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, said that the corporation now has enough depots to store all imported products.
According to him, with the corporation’s over 21 depots across the country fully functional, the need to patronise private depot has reduced.
Ughamadu stated: “We have depots all over the country. Many of these depots were not functional due to pipeline vandalism. The essence of these depots is to store products for onward distribution to consumers.
“But over the years, many of these depots were not functioning due to pipeline vandalism.
“There has been re-inaugurating of these depots by the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru.
“For example, Mosimi was out of stock for several years and we have been able to put Mosimi in place by fixing the damaged pipeline. Just last week, we re-inaugurated the Kano depot and plans are in place to do the same to Jos depot. We were only patronising the private depots for ‘through put’ arrangement because the pipelines were vandalised.”
But the Executive Secretary of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Olufemi Adewole has a slightly different explanation. He attributed the idle depots to the inability of the marketers to import petroleum products due to the scarcity of foreign exchange.
He said that the Federal Government was yet to pay the marketers the N400 billion subsidy arrears.
Adewole said that the inability to pay or service the loans has not only impeded the importation of fuel, but it is threatening the relationship between the affected banks and the marketers.
He appealed to the government to provide adequate foreign exchange and pay all outstanding debts to marketers to prevent distortion in the supply chain.
He said the huge debt owed marketers had taken a toll on operators, adding that further delay in the payment of the debt as allegedly agreed by both parties might affect the sector.
A former Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Reginald Stanley, however agreed that 80 per cent of petroleum tank farms across the country are currently lying idle.
Stanley noted that the stiff competition in the downstream oil sector would not allow marketers to sell Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, above the approved price limit of N145 per litre despite the fear of looming hike in the price of the product.
He said: “The Federal Government has partially deregulated the downstream petroleum sector and has put the price of the PMS at a maximum rate of N145 per litre. It has also allowed a band in which marketers can go up or down. But we are in the heat of competition; so if you go up and the guy next door to you is at N145, you are out.”
The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Joseph Akinlaja, is offering hope that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and the deregulation of the downstream sector would help marketers assume the full importation of petroleum products again.

According to him, there are over 198 depots in Nigeria and many of them are idle because members of DAPPMA can no longer import products since the scarcity of forex set in.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nnpc-kills-n4tr-fuel-investment.html

Globacom has posted the highest data penetration among other operators in the telecommunications industry.This was gathered from the report by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) covering the first quarter (Q1) of 2017.

According to the report, Globacom recorded over 27.021 million Internet users on its network. This translates to 72 per cent of the total number of subscribers on its network which stood at 37.33 million at the end of the quarter.

The data penetration rate of 72 per cent figure is more than the industry average of 59 per cent. The total number of Internet users in the industry stood at over 90.003 million as at the end of Q1 compared to about 152.22 million subscribers in the industry.


Etisalat was second with a data penetration of 68 per cent, as it had about 13.01 million data users out of a total subscriber base of over 19,621 million.
Airtel came third with 56 per cent Internet penetration. Data users on its network as at March were over 19.423 million out of about 34.66 million subscribers on its network.
MTN recorded the least penetration of data users on its network in comparison with the total number of subscribers using the network. Only about 30.52 million or 51 per cent of about its 60.392 million customers subscribed to its data services.
In the last two years, Globacom has maintained its position as the preferred network on data services. The network added half a million customers to its internet subscriber base in the last one year. The steady growth in the number of data subscribers on the network is
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/glo-claims-highest-data-penetration-in_24.html

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Tuesday shared N415.730billion among the three tiers of government- Federal, States and Local Government Areas (LGAs) for the month of April 2017.
According to the Accountant General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed, who made the announcement after the meeting in Abuja, the gross statutory revenue of N274.100 billion received for the month was lower than the N331.583billion received in the previous month.
He said that “we have a balance in the Excess Crude Account as at 23rd of May 2017 of $2.299billion. We also have a balance in the Excess PPT, which is Petroleum Profit Tax, excess account as at 23rd May, 2017 of $67million.”
He explained that there was a significant increase in Export Sales Revenue by about$63.69 million due to increase in the average unit price of crude oil from $52.38 per barrel and a rise in crude in oil export volume by 1.07 million barrels.
He added that despite the improvement, production still suffered the perennial setbacks.
His words: “Leakages arising from sabotage and programmed maintenance led to shut-ins and shut-downs at terminals. The Force Majeure declared at Forcados Terminal since February 2016 was still in place.”
Ahmed noted that the “distributable statutory revenue for the month is N272.115biooion. The sum of N6.330billion was refunded by NNPC to FGN. There is apropos end distribution of N20.425 billion from the Excess PPT Account. Also, exchange gain of N38.517billion is proposed for distribution. The total revenue for the current month (including VAT) is N415.730billion.”
Speaking, the chairman, Commissioner of Finance Forum, Alhaji Yunusa Mahamud gave the assurance that the nation’s economy was recovery from recession.
He said that the recession has become a blessing in disguise as most of the states have taken the opportunity to improve their internal revenue generation.
According to him, there is now improvement in the security in the Niger Delta and the level of stability in the crude oil market.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/fg-states-lgs-share-n415b.html

State government says it continue to seek ways to heighten engagements with different development partners in the State.

Governor Willie Obiano stated this at the Deputy Governor's Lodge, Awka, during a dinner with a delegation led by the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright.

Part of the visit were delegates from the International Trade Department, Political Department of the Commission from Lagos and Abuja, DFID from Enugu, among others.
Receiving the team, Governor Obiano expressed joy that the State government's proactiveness in Diaspora relations is finally paying off and yielding positive results, as more doors are being open to foreign investors, saying that with security in place, as well as his idea in agriculture, creation of viable institutions, among others, the High Commissioner is quite pleased with the progress made.Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Dr Nkem Okeke, the Governor hinted that discussion has started between the Commission and the State in terms of collaboration, and expression of interest in helping the State to link up businesses that may be willing to come and invest in the State.
He further stressed that having seen the caliber of men and women in his team and the zeal in them, the Commission has revealed it's interest in working with the State, as long as they remain committed and are always ready to push on.The Governor who pointed out that it is easy to procure visas to do business in the United Kingdom, urged ndi Anambra to continue to be inspired to take advantage of the various available opportunities, noting that it is now easier to do business in the State unlike before, calling on more investors, especially ndi Anambra, to come home and invest.
Earlier, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright who revealed that he is on working visit to the State, said that the major reason for the visit is to look at opportunities for British business as well as economically help the State develop, in terms of job creation and growth, disclosing their interest in helping the State to develop more opportunities in agriculture, infrastructure, solid mineral, among others.Mr Arkwright who extoled Governor Willie Obiano's determination and commitment to developing the State, expressed happiness that all the positive things he heared about the State is in tandem with what is on ground, such as the ANSIPPA, infrastructural advancement, export of agricultural produce to the united Kingdom, among others.
While revealing that they will match action with words in the coming weeks, the British High Commissioner stressed that the State has moved ahead of many States in terms of business friendliness, investment friendliness and better understanding of the people's need, urging ndi Anambra to take advantage of the ease of procurement of UK visas and engage in their genuine businesses.
Stating the benefits of the visit, the Chairman of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, ANSIPPA, Igwe Cyril Enweze said that the investment climate of the State has greatly improved since Governor Obiano took over the mantle of leadership, saying that the visit as well as actions that will follow, will further promote the overall development of the State.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/british-high-commissioner-visits.html

Mrs Titi Atiku, wife of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, on Tuesday told an Ikeja High Court, that she trusted a business partner who allegedly defrauded her of N918 million because of his status as a pastor.

“I thought that the first defendant, being a pastor, he will not defraud me.

“I thought that he was being genuine with me during our business dealings “ Mrs Atiku said while being cross examined in the ongoing fraud trial against a pastor, Nsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs, Abdulmalik Ibrahim and Dana Motors Ltd.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed the accused with a 15- count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.

Mr Amos Ibe, the defence counsel to Akpan-Jacobs while cross examining Mrs Atiku, questioned why she used different monikers in company documents relating to the fraud.
“Before I start cross examining you Ma, should I refer to you as Your Excellency?
“Why was the name Florence Doregos used in the petition from the EFCC which is exhibit one, as well as other fake names in documents you used to transact business with the first defendant?,” Ibe queried.
Replying, Titi said: “I am Her Excellency forever, it was under my instruction and direction that the petition was written.
“My name is Florence Doregos, my name is Titi Amina Atiku Abubakar, the Mrs in the petition is a mistake made by my Lawyer.
“Florence is my name and it was easy for me to use Doregos while I was in state service.“The name of my biological father is Dorego Albert, we are from Ilesha but I have cousins who are from the Republic of Benin.
“I can choose Doregos, I can choose Albert as my surname, they are all my names, even Dino Melaye, his name is Daniel but he calls himself Dino.
“I can twist my name anyhow I want.”
Responding to Ibe’s questions about her identity when she married the former Vice-President, she said “I married my husband at the Ikoyi Registry in 1971.
“I was a Christian before I married my husband, Angelina is my baptismal name, Florence is my confirmation name.
“When I got married to my husband, I converted to Islam and I have been called Amina Titilayo, Titilayo was what I was called at home,” she said.
Ibe, however, still questioning Mrs Atiku’s real identity, told her that a book written in honour of her husband titled ‘Atiku: The Story of Atiku Abubakar,’ claimed that she was from a Local Government Area in Adamawa.
“I am from my husband’s Local Government Area by virtue of marriage.
“Whether I’m from the moon o, that’s not the matter on ground,” she said.
Ibe, sought to tender the book written in honour of the former Vice-President to the court but it was rejected by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye.
“The document does not fall under the definition of a public document under the Evidence Act, it is a private document, it is therefore rejected,” Ipaye said.
NAN reports that THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd, a company created in 2000 belonged to Mrs Atiku, Akpan-Jacobs and Fred Holmes.
She was allegedly to be the majority shareholder with 49 per cent shares, while Holmes and Akpan-Jacobs each had 25 per cent shares.
Akpan-Jacobs, who also doubled as the company’s Managing Director and Secretary, was accused to have gone to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and altered the share holding in his favour and forging the company’s board resolution.
He allegedly under the new share arrangement allotted 70 per cent shares to himself and 15 per cent shares each to Titi and Holmes.
According to the EFCC, welding a fraudulent shareholding power, Akpan-jacobs sold a property belonging to the company to Dana Motors Nigeria Ltd for N918 million.
The property is located at Plot C63 A, Amuwo-Odofin Commercial Layout along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the defence disputed Mrs Atiku’s claims that she invested over N1.2billion into the business transactions with the defendants.
“Your petition stated that you invested over N200 million and in another document it stated that you invested over N1.2billion, which fact is correct?
“Do you have accounting reports, did you hire an auditor to look at the accounts, how did you arrive at N1.2billion?
“N200 million is the money I spent in building the bonded terminal, by the time it was ready, it was worth N1.2billion.
“Akpan-Jacobs never gave me any records, I was in the state service, I did not get any auditor, Akpan-Jacobs has the evidence of the money I spent, I didn’t know that our business transactions will become a court case,” she said.
Mrs Atiku while in the witness box, accused Akpan-Jacobs of using her company property as a collateral for a bank loan that he sought when he wanted to run for the Akwa-Ibom gubernatorial elections.
“He used my bonded terminal as a collateral for a loan when he wanted to run for governorship of Akwa-Ibom, when he couldn’t refund the money the bank wanted to acquire the bonded terminal, he sold it to Dana Motors Ltd,
“I was the largest shareholder of THA Shipping Company with 49% of shares, my German partner Fred Holmes had 26% and Akpan-Jacobs has 25%,
“Akpan-Jacobs never contributed a dime to the company, I couldn’t be involved in all the documentation because I was in service.
“He did the registration and promotion of the company, he brought all the papers to me at the villa to sign, he later fraudulently changed the shareholding powers of my shipping company to favour himself.
“He gave me 15 percent, Holmes 15 percent and he took 70 percent shareholding power for himself.
“I never entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with him to sell the company, that is why I’m in court, when he couldn’t repay the loan, he sold the company to Dana Motors Ltd.
“When the fraud happened, we initially agreed to settle out of court, but instead of settling, he went to sell the cranes and the company, giving the EFCC N16 million which I received, “ she said.
Akpan-Jacobs lawyer, asked the court to cancel the next court date slated for May 24 for continuation of the trial on the grounds of his Ill health.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/i-thought-pastor-will-not-defraud-me.html

With the current administration to mark two years on Monday, the Presidency on Tuesday insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari has not failed Nigerians.

The Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu and the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Laolu Akande, were fielding questions from journalists after a Press Briefing marking the commencement of activities to showcase second anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Adesina said that Nigerians should wait for four years in order to properly assess the Buhari’s administration.

According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has four years to deliver and not two years.On the question claiming that the APC has failed, he said “The person that asked the question said there is a buzz in town, I am sure that you have not conducted a scientific survey that shows you that is a popular position. People can always expresses their opinions, there is liberty on that but you don’t have a scientific survey that has given you the percentage of people that believed that the APC has failed.
“The second point is that, when a government via a party is voted into office, it is voted for a four year term under our own democratic arrangement. When you have spent two years which is like a midterm, the first half of a game, you don’t then determined that it has succeeded or it has failed. No. You can be accused it be atomistic using a small part to determine the whole.
“You can’t write the report card of this administration when it is just hitting the half way mark that will not be fair. The term is four years and the promises are going to be stretched over that four year period. Like the Minister of Transportation said recently, APC did not promise to solve all the country’s problems in one year or two years.
“The mandate the party has is four years and it is pacing itself as it goes along and I am sure that by the end of those four years we will have a lot more to record. It is not by a sudden flight, it will not come by a snap of a finger but will the promises be fulfilled? Yes, I believe it will be fulfilled.
“This administration will take Nigeria far beyond how it met it. So if anybody says APC has failed just tell them it is too early in the day because it is a four year-term and this is just two years. You don’t reach definitive conclusions in two years,” he added.
On alleged coup plot, Adesina said: “The Army has spoken and let us take that position. What the Chief of Army Staff said was a routine warning that goes to military officers, don’t hobnob with politicians and the army has explained the position, let’s take that position and not stretch it beyond what the military has said because they are the ones that can give us the definitive position and they have spoken on it.”On job creation, he said that the government is mainly focusing on creating enabling environment.
He said that PenCom appointment is a developing issue and being looked into.
On selective anti-corruption war, he said that there are no friends and no foes in the anti-graft battle.
According to him, anyone who has questions to answer would be queried.
He also explained that the status quo remains on the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal and suspended Director-general of National Intelligence Agency, Ayo Oke, just as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had declared.
On Boko Haram regrouping, he said that the remnants of Boko Haram would be dealt with by the Army.
Urging Nigerians to look at the brighter side of issues, he said that there many failed suicide bombing than those that succeeded.
Stressing that the masses are happy with President Buhari, Mallam Garba Shehu said the President will win any Presidential election conducted today.
“If elections were held today, Buhari will win overwhelmingly. The masses are still with him.” he said
Asked when the ordinary man will start feeling the impact of the government, he said “The ordinary Nigerians are the pillars of Buhari administration and their confidence in his administration has remained unshaken. The whistle-blower policy has excited them. They are happy that their stolen money is being recovered. The masses are happy but those elites whose sources of ill-gotten wealth have been blocked would not.”
He gave reasons why the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki is still being held in detention.
Shehu insisted that Dasuki was being kept in custody in spite of court orders because there are more cases against him that are being investigated.
He urged Nigerians to allow the agencies to do their jobs.
On the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMAN), Sheik Ibrahim El-Zak Zaky , he said that he was being kept in custody to ensure his safety.
He explained that his family members and relatives have unhindered access to him.
On Chibok girls, he said, government does not have any peculiar interest in keeping the girls, stressing that most of them prefer to stay in Abuja and don’t want to return home.
Speaking on Human rights records of the administration, Shehu said “The Human rights records of this administration are impeccable, thry are unimpeachable. I think we should avoid speaking in general terms. The thing to do is to pin point specific cases to butteres assertions that people make and then we can tackle them.
“As we speak to you now, we are not aware that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari is in breach of the constitution of Nigeria with regards to the protection of the rights of Nigerians.
“Journalists in this country ought to bear testimony on this, there is no single journalist that has been expelled from his duty because he has reported or failed to report, there is no single journalist who is in government detention because they have expressed some views that the government does not like.
“This administration is complying with the decision of the courts of the land, I assure that if anybody tries to do otherwise the President will not allow him to get away with it.” he said
On alleged power deterioration, Shehu said: “It is also a mistake to say power has deteriorated under this administration because when we came in 2015, power generation it was 3,324MW, it increase to 4,357MW as at August 2015, barely three months after President Buhari came to power and rose to the peak of 5,077MW in 2016, it was the highest power generated in the country.
“Presently, the average generation is about 3,000; this is as a result of vandalism or gas pipeline infrastructure and also low water in our dams. The power sector is also gaining gradually from the peace in the Niger Delta. Usually we experience low generation of power during dry season and this is not because of Buhari’s administration.
“Government is investing heavily in power and has been licensing a lot of renewable energy projects, which is the future. We are doing what is called energy mix, we are not just doing gas power, we are doing hydro, etc. you cover some of these decisions from FEC you have covered them.” he said
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/buhari-has-not-failed-nigerians-says.html

For frequent borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by commercial banks, the regulator recorded N3.29 billion as interest income in February 2017.

Although some of the lenders kept their excess cash at CBN’s Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) within the period under review, others, including merchant banks continued to access the Standing Lending Facility (SLF).

By the subsisting decision of the Monetary Policy Committee, applicable rates for SLF and SDF remained at 16 per cent and nine per cent, respectively.The huge patronage by banks was to make up their positions, either borrowing from the CBN or depositing excess reserves at the end of each business day, especially for some that were hit hard by persistent liquidity mop up, payment for dollar, treasury bills and bonds’ auctions.
An analysis of the apex bank’s February Economic Report, showed that the there was more patronage of the SLF facility than the SDF window, an indication that the banks were cash-trapped.

Total request for SLF, including Intra­day Lending Facility (ILF) that were converted to Overnight instrument, made up of N696.31 billion direct SLF and N3.57 trillion ILF, amounted to N4.26 trillion, with a daily average of N224.57 billion.

Therefore, CBN earned N3.29 billion in interest income, representing an increase when compared with SLF of N3.38 trillion and interest income of N2.7 billion in January 2017.

Total SDF granted during the review period was N742.62 billion, with a daily average of N39.1 billion, compared with N1.85 trillion in January 2017.

On the other hand, the interest payment to banks on SDF in February 2017 was N218.39 million, compared with N633.32 billion in January 2017.

Similarly, the persistent liquidity mop up exercise by the apex bank resulted to increased lending rates among banks.

During the period, at the inter­bank call segment, the weighted average rate, which stood at 8.15 per cent in the preceding month, rose significantly by 19.31 percentage points to 27.46 per cent.

Also, the weighted average rate at the Open Buy Back (OBB) segment increased from 8.69 per cent in the preceding month to 23.60 per cent.

Meanwhile, a total of N527.6 million was guaranteed to 3,324 farmers by CBN under its Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme (ACGS) in February 2017.

This amount represented 12.6 and 14.3 per cent decline below the levels in the preceding month and the corresponding period of 2016, respectively.

A sub-sectoral analysis showed that food crops got the largest share of N330.3 million (62.6 per cent) guaranteed to 2,309 beneficiaries.

The mixed crops sub-sector received N25.7 million (4.9 per cent) guaranteed to 164 beneficiaries; livestock, N72 million (13.7 per cent) guaranteed to 314 beneficiaries; and cash crops, N52 million (9.9 per cent) guaranteed to 270 beneficiaries.

The fisheries sub-sector had N24.5 million (4.6 per cent) guaranteed to 89 farmers, while others got N23.1 million (4.4 per cent) guaranteed to 178 beneficiaries.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/cbn-makes-n33-billion-from-banks.html?m=1

The federal, states and local governments shared N1.4 trillion in the first quarter of the year, according to the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) report.

Akwa Ibom received the highest share of N34.8billion while Osun state got N1.7billion, the lowest among the states.

The breakdown, contained in the monthly FAAC report, was obtained by NAN on Sunday. The report indicates that the Federal Government, states and LGAs shared N1.4 trillion from the account, being the revenue generated in the first quarter of 2017.

A breakdown of the allocation shows that Abia got N8.42billion, Adamawa, N7.8 billion; Anambra, N8.7billion; Bauchi, N7.9billion; Bayelsa, N22.97 billion; Benue, N8.16 billion; Borno, N9.74 billion and Cross River, N4.28 billion.

Also, Delta got N21.5 billion; Ebonyi, N7.56bn; Edo, N6.5bn; Ekiti, N4.97bn; Enugu, N7.86bn; Gombe, N6.35bn; Imo, N7.92bn; Jigawa, N9.66bn; Kaduna, N10.56bn and Kano, N14.02 billion.

Katsina’s share was N10.05 billion; Kebbi, N8.37 billion; Kogi, N8.28 billion; Kwara, N6.9 billion; Lagos, 19.03 billion; Nassarawa, N7.41 billion while Niger got N9 billion.

Similarly, Ogun got N4.98 billion; Ondo, N10.22 billion; Oyo, N8 billion; Plateau, N5.7 billion; Rivers, N26.8 billion; Sokoto, N9.07 billion; Taraba, N6.9 billion; Yobe, N8.33 billion and Zamfara, N5.91 billion.

The FAAC report further shows that the revenue shared in January between the three parties was N430.16 billion. The Federal Government got N168billion, N114.28 billion for states and N85.4 billion for LGAs.

In February, there was an increase as the allocation was N514billion with the Federal Government taking N200.6 billion; states, N128.4 billion while the LGAs got N96.52billion.

However, in March, revenue generation dipped to N466.9 billion in which the FG got N180.5 billion, states got N116.5 billion, while LGAs got N87.5 billion.The allocation was done using the revenue sharing formula of 52.68 per cent for Federal Government, 26.72 per cent for the states and 20.60 per cent for the local councils.

The key agencies that remit funds into the federation account are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS).
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/akwa-ibom-gets-jumbo-share-of-n14trn-q1.html?m=1

The leadership of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Taraba State, yesterday, charged employers of corps members to pay special attention to the welfare of corps members.Briefing journalists on the activities for prospective corps members to resume this month, Taraba State Coordinator of the NYSC, Alpine Japheth Akyam, noting that corps members posted to the state have been of good character, said corps members’ employers need to reciprocate by improving their welfare packages. She admonished incoming corps members to declare their true health status, as it would facilitate better planning.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nysc-charges-employers-on-corps-members.html?m=1

Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has challenged banks in Nigeria to create wealth instead of degenerating into only issues of depositing money in the banks.
Umahi made his feelings known during an interactive meeting he had with CBN Financial inclusion strategy Implementation team at the Government House, Abakaliki on Thursday.

The governor, who was visibly unhappy over the bottlenecks and attitudes of some banks towards granting loans to farmers, called on the CBN to assist Ebonyi State attain its agricultural potential.“We will not welcome you again unless you take positive steps to help our state. This state is not wealthy in spite of the fact that we were the first to give palm and cement to the country. But now, how many Federal projects are ongoing in this state? So, you have to help us,” he said in a statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya.
He added, “Banks generally have degenerated to the issue of depositing money. Banks are not creating wealth in Nigeria. Can’t banks come out with programmes that create wealth amongst the people? Let me give you an example. A bank can say, ‘give me 13 people from Ebonyi State that we can take to China to learn how to make shoes and clothes.’ When such people return, you can then give them N5m each to buy equipment and start production. Such people can start paying back with time, but regrettably, banks are not doing so. They are just chasing deposits.”

Umahi said now was the time for banks to start investing in people and help governments to tap their natural resources.“We must invest in our people. Look at solid minerals scattered everywhere in Ebonyi State. We are sitting on money and banks have to come and help us exploit our God-given resources.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nigerian-banks-are-not-creating-wealth.html?m=1

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State’s, Mr John Mayaki, on Thursday in Port-Harcourt, received the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG)–Engine Lubricant Dealers ‘Prestigious’ award.
According to the body, Mayaki was awarded in recognition of his role as ‘Best Mass Communicator and Respected Stakeholder in the Economic Development and Progress of Edo State’.
The union said it had observed Mayaki’s sense of humility and his contributions to the society as well as his demonstrations through his media relations with the people of Edo State and Nigeria in general.
Mayaki, who once worked as a reporter at The Hope Newspaper in Akure, as well as The Comet and The Nation Newspapers, appreciated the body for deeming him worthy of receiving the award.
Represented by Mr. Nathaniel James, Mayaki noted that information had become a key factor of production with the increase in media for dispelling such information and the improved ease of access to information.
He said: “Since the advent of the 21st century there is a growing consensus that information has become the most valuable factor of production in the context of the development of any economy.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/obasekis-cps-bags-nupeng-award.html?m=1

A woman was burnt to death in a tanker accident in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Wednesday.

Three vehicles and three buildings were also razed by the inferno.

The accident occurred around 11:30 a.m. at Eleyele area of the city when the tanker, filled with 33,000 litres of diesel detached from the vehicle while ascending a hill.

An eyewitness, Lekan Durosaro, said the tanker rolled over a Nissan Almera car which was coming behind it and caught fire immediately.
The intensity of the fire made it difficult for rescue team deployed to the scene of the accident, to save the woman who was trapped in the car.
The rescue team including policemen, men of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) and personnel from the state fire service tried to identify the woman or any other thing that could reveal her identity.
Sympathizers wailed as her body was pulled out from the wreckage by rescuers.
The driver of the truck who was said to be a very young man and the motor boy fled the scene for fear of being lynched by angry mob.
Before fire fighters arrived the scene, three buildings including a church, Save and Serve Ministries, were affected.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/woman-burnt-to-death-in-oyo-tanker.html

Mercy Aigbe’s estranged husband Lanre Gentry has been freed from prison.

Gentry, was released late Tuesday evening after one week in prison custody and meeting the bail conditions.

He was detained by the Police on two-count charge of Assault and Battery.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/lanre-gentry-released-from-prison.html

A total of 335 foreign nationals were on Tuesday in Abuja granted citizenship by the federal government after statutory clearance and due diligence by the relevant security agencies.

Mrs. Lara Oshiomhole, wife of former Governor of Edo, Adams Oshiomole, who is from Cape Verde, is one of the recipients.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he explained that 245 of the foreigners approved were granted Citizenship by Naturalisation while 90 were by registration, mainly foreign women married to Nigerians.
“Let me say that application for the Citizenship of Nigeria which can be by Naturalisation or Registration is provided for in Chapter 3, Sections 26 and 27 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ the minister explained.
The minister said that the approval was part of government’s effort on the “Ease of doing business in Nigeria” and boosting Nigeria’s image in line with international best practice.
He tasked the “new Nigerian citizens” to be of good conduct, respect the rights and customs of their communities and contribute to the development of Nigeria.
Damabazau said the last time such ceremony was conducted was in December, 2013 and pledged to ensure its sustenance on an annual basis for proper scrutiny.
Dr Lamabert Shumbusho, from Rwanda, who responded on behalf of the recipients, thanked the federal government and pledged their loyalty and commitment to the development of Nigeria.
Other recipients include nationals from Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, China and some African countries, most of whom are business moguls who have been operating in Nigeria for years.
The Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) are charged with the responsibility of processing applications for naturalisation from foreign nationals who have stayed/lived in Nigeria for a minimum of 15 years and those by Registration who are mainly married to Nigerians.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/oshiomholes-wife-334-foreign-nationals.html

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday asked Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIOs) to stay permanently off all roads across the state and challenged them to come up with technology to monitor and track vehicle registration and Ministry of Transportation (MOT) certifications.


He unveiled the strategic projects alongside the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Mr. Adebowale Akinsanya, and Permanent Secretary, Works & Infrastructure, Mr. Temidayo Erinle, among others.
Before unveiling the projects that will redefine the flow of traffic at Ojodu Berger, the governor said that the VIOs “have been asked to stay off our roads permanently”.
He also asked the FRSC “to stay on the fringes and highways and not on the main streets of Lagos”.
Ambode lamented that both VIOs and FRSC contribute “to the traffic challenges on our roads”.
“We will employ technology to track and monitor vehicle registration and MOT certifications,” he said.
On the projects, Ambode noted that he would always ensure that promises made are promises kept.
“We will continue to rely on the support of all segments of the population for regular tax payments.”
He explained that obeying the rule of law and protection of public infrastructure was the only way the state could progress and achieve its goal of being one of the world’s top centres for business, entertainment and leisure.
“As we celebrate the golden jubilee anniversary of our state, I am confident that the future prospects are very promising and that the journey of the next fifty years is commencing on a very sound and solid footing.
“Our state has lived up to its reputation as a land of possibilities, a centre of excellence and we are on our way to becoming a truly global city-state. As we celebrate the delivery of this facility, I wish you all happy golden jubilee anniversary celebration,” he said.
At the inauguration, Akinsanya explained that the projects were conceived by the Ambode administration in response “to the yearnings of the people of this community for an improved, efficient and gridlock-free road network and the need to preserve the sanctity of life of Lagosians”.
He said the bridge was a major life-saving device designed to stop avoidable loss of lives at the Berger end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
“It is also meant to decongest traffic in the area, which informed the provision of laybys and the slip roads that take passenger buses off the road.”
Ambode also directed the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to stay off the inner-city roads and the main streets of Lagos, saying the operation of the federal agency should henceforth be restricted to the fringes and highways over which the federal government has jurisdiction.
He gave the directives on Tuesday at the inauguration of pedestrian bridges, laybys and slip roads at Ojodu Berger, stating that the three-in-one project was conceived and executed by his administration to end the intractable gridlock and avoidable loss of lives in the area.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/ambode-bans-vios-from-lagos-roads_17.html

An Auckland woman was "mentally and financially drained" after losing more than $300,000 to several overseas accounts in a social media romance scam.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous and asked to be called Linda, shared her story with the Herald with the hope of warning others of similar traps.

The 54-year-old businesswoman said she was introduced through Facebook by a "mutual friend" to a man "presenting himself as a caring, religious and spiritual person".

Identifying himself as "Jim David Morrison", the British-American man began exchanging messages with Linda on WeChat, a social media chat site, in August last year.Linda, who has been in relationships but never married, was charmed by the man, unaware he was a fraudster.

"We talked about family background, pets, religious beliefs, business and life experience, where we had travelled to, and arrangements for future life including buying property in New Zealand," Linda said in a police statement, obtained by the Herald.Jim claimed he was a 40-year-old who owned a Scotland-based company called Morrison Construction, and had won a United Nations construction project to help rebuild Lebanon.

"Towards late September he was still talking about buying a home in New Zealand. It was then he introduced the topic of making me as an authorised signee to his bank account."

Linda said she "felt very uneasy" when her admirer first broached the idea of his financial arrangements."It was his way of showing me that he had faith in my abilities to look after his business and personal interests. I felt honoured."

Jim told Linda he was worried about his safety in Lebanon, where there was a "risk foreign workers can be kidnapped", and asked her to be his next of kin.

Linda later said these were all tactics Jim used to "lure me into his web of deception".

"I was led to believe that this person, who I had met through an acquaintance, was genuine and had good moral standards."

She was given Jim's account details at what was described as a Scottish investment bank.

After contacting the "bank" and proceeding through security checks, Linda was named as a co-signer of Jim's account.

The bank asked her to make an initial deposit of US$15,000 ($21,780), before a second payment of US$45,000 ($65,350) was required for a Bank of America account in San Diego.

Growing increasingly brazen, the scammer(s), via the investment bank, further asked Linda to pay an fee of US$85,000 ($123,430) to receive an "anti-terrorist clearance certificate" and cover wire transfers of more than US$5 million ($7.25m).

Linda didn't pay the fee, but a few days later Jim raised the issue of helping him with a personal loan of $US10,000 ($14,500) for a Kuala Lumpur-based building supplier.

She loaned the money, after which Jim said he'd made a mistake and required a further US$40,000 ($58,000), which Linda paid.Jim claimed his Beirut construction project had developed problems, and he had to pay income tax to the Lebanese Government.

He asked and received for a further US$50,000.

"Of course I was very reluctant to make further loan payments. Then he told me about the kidnapping of a foreign worker from a construction site next to his," she said.

In total, Linda forked out more than $300,000.

"By this time I was stressed out emotionally, mentally and financially drained [and] hoping to get my loans back as soon as possible."

Linda made her final US$50,000 payment for the Lebanese tax.But Jim continued to ask for more money, and as Linda began to question him, he became more aggressive with in his messages.

"Why did you not mortgage or borrow from your own house, or borrow from your friend," he wrote.

Linda said the messages continued for several more weeks into this year.

"By this time I had become very ill, relied on sleeping pills and stomach ulcers [had developed] due to the stress from the debt and emotional turmoil," she said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/auckland-woman-loses-more-than-300k-in.html

Academic activities were yesterday halted as workers of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) began an indefinite strike.

The workers protested against alleged victimisation, intimidation and non-payment of their hazard allowances.

They blocked the gate leading to the university and other major roads, causing a traffic gridlock in the area.
Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), participated in the strike.

The workers threatened not to call off the strike until their demands were met.
The NAAT Chairman, Ekundayo Ajibaye, called for the immediate withdrawal of the queries issued to the union leaders, as well as the dissolution of the panel raised to intimidate the workers.
“We are fighting impunity and corruption at the university and we want the Federal Government to beam its searchlight here,” he said.
The workers also called for the establishment of a budget monitoring committee to look into the allegation of financial impropriety against the management.
The university’s management had suspended the union leaders for allegedly disrupting the meeting of the university’s governing council held in the school last week.
It took the intervention of the Oye Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sadiku Afolabi, to pacify the workers to remove the blockages.
Also, NASU Chairman, Dada Adebayo and SSANU Chairman, Babafunso Awe, also justified the strike.
Reacting, the university’s spokesman, Godfrey Bakji, said there was no reason for the unions to go on strike, especially as their leaders had been suspended.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/ekiti-varsity-workers-begin-indefinite.html

For the financial year ended December 31, 2016, Wema Bank Plc has posted gross earnings of N54.25 billion and Profit After Tax (PAT) of N2.59 billion.

Addressing shareholders during the bank’s yearly general meeting held in Lagos, on Wednesday, the Managing Director of the bank, Segun Oloketuyi, told shareholders that the bank recorded a double-digit growth in gross earnings of 18.48 per cent from N45.79 billion to N54.25 billion, driven by an 18.61 per cent and 13.61 per cent increase in Interest and Non-Interest Income respectively.

Similarly, PAT, according to him stood at N2.59 billion, representing 14.10 per cent rise over the N2.27 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2015.

He explained that as a well-focused financial institution dedicated to continuously provide convenient banking opportunities for its loyal customers, the bank recently launched ALAT, Nigeria’s first fully Digital Bank.
Oloketuyi explained that despite the challenging operating environment in 2016, particularly in the banking industry, the bank benefited from its improved brand acceptance and market penetration.
“Sound risk management practices remain at the core of our business model. The bank was not immune to the impact of the economic slowdown, but a more prudent approach was taken, in providing for some loans. We closed with a Non-Performing Loan (NPL) ratio of 5.07 per cent from 2.67 per cent in the prior year. In addition, our coverage ratio remains robust at 100 per cent with Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) at 11.07 per cent, which is above the regulatory minimum of 10 per cent.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/wema-bank-posts-n5425b-gross-earnings.html

Gunmen suspected to be assassins have killed a Benin-based lawyer, Barrister Agbontean Eghosa Odiase and a policeman, Sergeant Sunday Agbonmwenma at Avbiama community in Ikpoba-Okha local government area.

Odiase was killed at his residence in the presence of his wife and children while Sergeant Sunday was killed while on his way home.

Witnesses said the gunmen killed the policeman after they had killed the lawyer.

Wife of the late lawyer said the gunmen invaded their residence at about 10pm last week.
She said the killers only took her late husband’s phone.
According to her, “We heard a bang inside the compound. My husband jumped up from the bed, we peeped through the window, we saw a boy half naked with a scar on his head. My husband started making calls.
“Before we knew it, they shot and broke through the window and were inside with us. They told my husband to shout or call anybody he wanted to call as they were ready for him that night. I quickly took my three children to the other room while the eldest child ran back to meet his father with the three gunmen.
“Then, I heard two gun shots and everywhere was silent. Thereafter, they said to themselves, let us go the man is dead”.
Owner of the firm where late Odiase worked, Barrister Chris Agbonwanegbe urged security agencies to be discreet in their investigation into the killings.
Wife of the late policeman, Rosemary, said she was expecting her husband at home but he never came home.
Her words, “My husband called me in the afternoon to inform me that he would not travel again and he was preparing to return to the house.“About 8pm I called my husband because he does not come home late. He said the mechanic was still working on his car and that he has bought a torch for him to work with.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/gunmen-kill-lawyer-policeman-in-edo.html

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has met with a musician, who was recently arrested and later released by the Department of State Services, DSS, William Chibuzo Mbah Prince for his alleged support for Biafra.

Prince, who was once declared by the DSS as “most wanted artiste” met with the IPOB leader in his hometown in Isiama Afara in Umuahia, Abia over the weekend.The Spain-based musician was arrested and prosecuted for treasonable felony for his music which promotes the struggle for Biafra.

DSS had arrested Prince in the presence of his daughter and her two visiting foreign friends, when they arrived Nigeria from Spain at the car park of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja on 30th of January, 2017 and subsequently charged him for felony.

However, a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Abuja discharged and acquitted Prince of the charge levelled against him.The Magistrate, Balami M, who threw out the case, also warned the DSS against bringing such “meaningless charges” that only constitute a waste of the court time in the future against the accused.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/nnamdi-kanu-prays-for-pro-biafra.html

The 2017 budget was yesterday passed by the two chambers of the National Assembly—147 days after it was laid before them.

President Muhammadu Buhari presented a N7.298 trillion estimate before the joint session on Deember 14, last year.

But the lawmakers passed an estimate of N7.441 trillion, raisng the expected expenditure by N143 billion.
The appropriation committees of both chambers presented the reports of the budget for consideration and the bill was passed with little complaints.Oil price benchmark was raised from $42.50 proposed by the President to $44.50. The lawmakers however retained 2.2 million barrels per day for crude oil production and an exchange rate regime of N305/ USD.
The lawmakwers raised their expenditure plan from N115 billion to N125 billion.
For the first time, the lawmakers released an outlay of their budget.
At the House of Representatives, Chairman, Committee on Appropriation Mustapha Dawaki (APC, Kano) presented the report which was considered and passed.
The Green Chamber suspended the business of the day and dissolved into the Committee of Supply for the consideration and passage of budget with its 12 attached clauses.
There was only one complaint as the Speaker took members through a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill. Members protested against the N84.7 billion Recurrent and Capital budget of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.There were shouts of ‘no, no’, as the Speaker got to the item with the SGF’s budget. Nonetheless, it was passed.
Dawaki said while the Executive proposed a crude oil benchmark of $42.50, the lawmakers approved $44.50. The lawmakers retained 2.2 million barrels per day for Crude Oil production and the Exchange rate regime of N305/ USD.
Explaining the N 143 billion increase in the estimate, Dawaki said: “With the additional expected revenue from the increase in the benchmark price of crude oil, provision has been made from the under listed budgetary needs, among others. This has increased the aggregate figure to N7,441, 175, 486,758.”
The additional expenses are: Judgment debts (Justice) N10 billion; backlog of Corps members allowances ( Youth) N13. 06 billion; repairs of Abuja Airport runway ( Transport) N5.8 billion; increase in personnel cost ( 18 MDAs) N5.1 billion; UNESCO assessed contribution (Education) N1.2 billion; subscription to Shelter Afrique (Power, Works & Housing) N3.6 billion.
Others are: Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) ( Service Wide) N2.5 billion; Amnesty Programme ( Service Wide) N10 billion; National Identity Management Commission (SGF) N5 billion, and Roads Nationwide ( Power, Works and Housing ) N25 billion.
Dawaki added: “ Adequate provision has been made for the improvement of our inland water ways, for the second Abuja runway, and funding of the long- abandoned Itakpe- Warri rail line and the Abeokuta Airstrip.”
SpeakerYakubu Dogara said after the budget consideration: “The House considered and passed the report of the Committee on Appropriations on a Bill authorising the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N7,441, 175, 486,758 (Seven trillion, four hundred and forty- one billion, one hundred and seventy-five million, four hundred and eighty- six thousand, seven hundred and fifty- eight naira only).”
In the budget passed N434. 413 billion is for statutory transfers, N1. 841 trillion is for Debt Service and N177.460 billion is for Sinking Fund from maturing bonds. Also, N 2. 987, 560, 033,436 is for Recurrent Expenditure and 2,177,866,775,867 is for Capital Expenditure .
Fiscal Deficit is N2.356,773,720,940. Deficit to GDP is 2.18 per cent.
The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing received the highest fund of N586,535,786,168, followed by the Federal Ministry of Transport with N256,519,103,581 and the Federal Ministry of Education N455,407,788,565. The Federal Ministry of Health received N308,464,276,248.
For debt servicing, N1,663,885, 430, 449 is allocated and N177,460,296,707 is for sinking fund to retire maturing loans, making a total of N1,841,345,727,206 for debt management.
Ministry of Information and Culture got N9, 546, 245, 041.
Under the Service Wide Vote and Pensions N2, 599,702,192 is allocated for the benefits of retired Heads of the Civil Service of the Federation; N4 billion for Treasury Single Account operations; N2.5 billion is for the implementation of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.
Allocation for the contentious zonal intervention projects, better known as constituency projects, remained unchanged from 2016 at N100 billion. The North-East intervention fund stays at 45 billion.
The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing got N32, 821, 929, 005 recurrent and N553, 71, 857, 113 for capital expenditure; Ministry of Health receives N252, 854, 396, 662 for recurrent and N10, 291, 783, 534 for capital.
Ministry of Interior is to receive N472, 597, 817, 561 for recurrent and N63, 760, 562, 487 for capital; Ministry of Transportation to receive N14, 810, 103, 581 for recurrent and N241, 709, 000, 000 for capital.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) to get N100, 000, 000, 000 billion; while the Universal Basic Education Scheme is to receive N95, 189, 395, 538 billion.
For the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, it’s N63, 222, 101, 051 billion and N6, 793, 128, 647 for recurrent and capital expenditures respectively.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/national-assembly-passes-n7441-trillion.html

The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) was shut down

Thursday afternoon as students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN)

blocked entrance to the hospital.
The aggrieved students were protesting the death of a
student who was said to have died shortly after being brought to the
hospital.

The students, who protested from the University of Benin main
gate to the UBTH gate alleged that their colleague identified as
Chibuike Jerald, a 300 level student of the Department of Philosophy
and Religion gave up as result of negligence.
The students said his death was avoidable and besieged the hospital in
anger, forcing the UBTH security officials to lock the gates to the
hospital.
Speaking to newsmen, the leader of the group of protesters who gave
his name Agbolahor Manassehon said their colleague died because of
negligience on the part of the hospital management.

“When he was brought in after complaining of fever, we took him to the
Accident and Emergency Department around 8pm last night and met some
doctors at work.
“They told us that they could barely help because they
did not have Adrenaline and intravenous. We were given prescriptions
to go and get the medications.‎
“We searched for the drugs but because it was night we could not get
them on time. By the time we could get the recommended materials, we
were informed he had passed on.

“It is worrying that his death which
was very avoidable was caused by issues as embarassing as a hospital
like UBTH not having syringes and needles.
“It has become a common practice in the UBTH for doctors to demand from
the patients before obliging them medical services due to non
availability of basic medical facilities,” he said.
He also alleged that the continued industrial disharmony in the
institution had affected the quality of health care delivery as
doctors, nurses and other health workers always exhibited nonchalant
attitude due to poor welfare.‎
They called on the management of the hospital to improve on the
relationship with the workers in the hospital so as improve the
quality of health care services given to the public.
The protest came after several warnings from doctors at the
hospital over conditions in the hospital which has made it impossible for doctors to function well.
They listed some of the problems as lack of materials, decaying
infrastructure and what they termed management irresponsibilty.
In March, the Association of Resident Doctors, (ARD) UBTH chapter,
declared a State of Emergency at the hospital due to the acute decay
of administration procedures and state of equipment in the hospital.
But responding to enquiries by the media on the alleged death, the
hospital management neither confirmed nor denied the death of any
student.
The Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee of the University of
Benin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Casmir Omuemi said UBTH had always been
up and doing in the discharge of service to the public.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/death-of-uniben-student-sparks-students.html

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr Abiodun Owonikoko has said that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) haS no evidence linking his client Mr Rickey Tarfa (SAN) to alleged bribery of two judges.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tarfa is being prosecuted by the anti-graft agency of two charges of offering gratification to a public official and perverting the course of justice.

According to the EFCC, Tarfa allegedly bribed Justice Mohammed Yinusa and Justice H.A Ngajiwa to pervert the course of justice.

Tarfa claims to be innocent of the charges.
Owonikoko, made the assertion on Thursday, while cross-examining Mr Danladi Daniel, a detective with the EFCC.
“The EFCC has no evidence directly linking Rickey Tarfa’s chambers to the bank accounts of the judges.
“Our findings revealed that the alleged UBA bank account which belonged to Justice Mohammed Yinusa, belonged to someone who bears the same name, one Mr Mohammed Auwal Yinusa,” he said.
Owonikoko presented to the court an affidavit sworn by Justice Yinusa’s namesake claiming ownership of the said account.
Explaining the alleged illegal communication that the SAN had with the judges, Owonikoko noted that the Tarfa, had prior personal relationships with Justice Ngajiwa and Justice Yinusa.
“Justice Yinusa was one year junior to Rickey Tarfa when he was studying law at the university of Maiduguri from 1982-1986 and they are friends.
“Justice Ngajiwa worked at the chambers of Rickey Tarfa for over 17 years.
“Ever since Ngajiwa became a judge, Rickey Tarfa has never had a case before him.
“Before Ngajiwa became a judge, he had over 300 cases he was handling at the Rickey Tarfa chambers some of which are still pending in court,” he said.
Owonikoko also accused the EFCC of not concluding their investigations before charging the SAN to court
“Justice Yinusa’s statement to the EFCC was given on Oct. 17, 2016 which is seven months after he was charged in February 2016.
“The call logs from MTN which allegedly showed the communications between the defendant and the judges were obtained on Feb. 11, which is six days after the defendant was charged.
“The defendants phones were retrieved by deceit by the operatives of the EFCC, they told Tarfa’s driver that his boss was requesting for his phones and when he brought the phones, they were seized.
“The phones did not become an exhibit of the EFCC until Feb. 9, after the defendant was charged,” Owonikoko claimed.
Owonikoko noted that the EFCC did not profile Tarfa during the course of their investigation.
“You did not try during the course of your investigation to profile Rickey Tarfa and his lawfirm.
“His lawfirm is the biggest lawfirm in Nigeria, employing over 100 lawyers with branches in Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Yola.
“He currently has two retired judges working as consultants for his chambers,” he said.
Responding to Owonikoko’s accusations, Daniel said “The defendant signed a consent of analysis form for his phone, it is not true that the phones became exhibits after Feb. 9, 2017.
“We have documents linking one Esther Agu, a staff of Rickey Tarfa’s chambers to Justice Yinusa, though, we don’t have documents showing that the defendant directly made any payment to the judge.
“I am not aware that ever since Justice Ngajiwa became a judge, the defendant has not had a case before him,” Daniel said.
Earlier, during proceedings, Daniel during his evidence-in-chief, revealed details of text message as well as voice communications between Tarfa and the judges.
“On Jan.2, 2014, there were three text messages between the defendant and a member of his staff stating that they were in court for a case to be assigned before Justice Yinusa.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/efcc-has-no-evidence-linking-tarfa-to.html

All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has predicted an abysmal showing for the Peoples Democratic Party in the 22 July council polls in Lagos state.

He said the PDP will win nothing.

In contrast, he said his party is assured of sweeping the entire 57 local council because Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had lived up to expectation.

He added that the people at the grassroots were anticipating the reenactment of the superlative performance across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas.
He said if performance and purposeful leadership were the criteria for voting, the electorate would vote for the APC chairmanship and councillorship candidates as they voted for Ambode two years ago.
Tinubu pleaded with members to accept the decision of the party to give automatic tickets to 18 former chairmen in recognition of their loyalty, commitment and efforts and the decision that the sole administrators who took over from the Executive Secretaries (ES) should not contest election.
The former Lagos State governor spoke on preparations for the elections at the enlarged meeting of APC stakeholders held at the party secretariat. Acme Road, Ogba. It was attended by Governor Ambode, party elders, apex leaders, party officers, legislators, members of the State Executive Council, grassroots leaders, aspirants and their supporters.

Lagos APC Chairman Oladele Ajomale inaugurated a seven-man Lagos APC Local Government Appeal Committee headed by former Deputy Governor Olufemi Pedro.
Other members of the committee are the APC Assistant legal Adviser, Mrs. Toke Benson (secretary), former Secretary to Government Princess Adenrele Ogunsanya, Prof. Aderibigbe, Idris Thany, a lawyer, Mr. Femi Laoye and Dr. Solomon Aina, a former council chairman.
Also, a five-man State Electoral Committee headed by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi was set up to conduct a credible primary. Other members of the committee are Senior Special Assistant to Ambode on Political Affairs Adekunle Olayinka (secretary), Otunba Alabi Macfoy, Hon. Hakeem Sulaimon Oris, Alhaja Sade Abiola-Agbalajobi and Mr. Tayo Alabi.
Ajomale urged the members of the two committees to be above board in the discharge of their assignments, adding that eyes would be on them before and during the exercise.

Ambode enjoined party faithful to work round the clock to ensure victory at the poll, adding that the state can only make steady progress, if the party controls the local governments.
He attributed his victory in the 2015 poll to the dedication of party members and leaders, especially Tinubu, urging the party faithful not to relent in their quest for electoral victory.
Ambode said: “Almost exactly two years after, we have cause to thank God. I am able to look back that the confidence you give me two years ago and all of you working together to make sure I defeated the PDP candidate was no small feat.
“I have come here, not only to attend this meeting, but to say a big thank you to all of you. I want to thank you for being the first set of people that believed in me and thereafter, God has been so gracious. He has not allowed me to disappoint you. I want to say a big thank you to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the state APC chairman and Exco members for supporting that cause.

“If there is any party remaining in Nigeria today, that party is manifested in all the good things coming out of Lagos State. Why are we here; we are here to count our blessings and renew the cause of unity to move forward as one great party.
“I want to implore all of us, whatever it is that would have transpired, it is very clear that this coming council election is all in your hands; just the same way we have done in the last two years, my call to all members of our great party is that all 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas must be won by APC without exception.”
Tinubu revisited the 2015 general election, lamenting that the APC lost some national and state legislative seats to the PDP in controversial circumstances.
Describing the election as very challenging, he recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan invaded Lagos with huge money to woo voters and create confusion.
He lauded the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, noting that his exemplary leadership led to the defection of six PDP legislators to the APC.
MORE AT http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/tinubu-pdp-will-win-nothing-in-lagos.html

On Wednesday, Facebook announced plans to start cracking down on links to "low-quality" web pages as part of the company's plan to show people "fewer misleading posts, and more informative posts." Facebook is starting with the ratio of ads to actual content; a page with too many ads and not enough original text or images is considered spam.
If a site's ads are "disruptive, shocking, or malicious," Facebook will make sure fewer people can see and click on it. The company continues to explain that the links aren't being banned; if you post one it will still appear on your wall but their news feed ranking will drop and they will be seen by far fewer people if anyone at all.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/facebook-begins-crack-down-on-spam.html

Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, on Sunday expressed optimism that more Chibok girls would soon be released.
He spoke in Ibadan at the 3rd General Assembly of the Muslim Ummah of South West (MUSWEN).
No fewer than 82 Chibok girls were released by the islamist terror militia, Boko Haram, on Saturday.
The minister said more of the girls held hostage by the insurgents would be set free as the Nigerian government was adopting the same method used in brokering the earlier releases.
Dignitaries at the occasion included Justice Tijani Babalakin and Abdul-Jabar Ajibola, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MUSWEN.

Also present was Sheikh Jamiu Kewulere, the President-General of the League of Imams and Alfas of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/remaining-chibok-girls-will-be-freed.html

Despite warning by security agencies against public procession or protest, the Biafra Independent Movement (BIM) and the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) have finalised plans to celebrate their anniversary on May 22.

A statement by the Deputy Director of Information, Jimmy Ukaegbu and Emma Akabekwe at the weekend said the leader of BIM, Chief Ralph Uwazurike and other principal officials have approved May 22 to celebrate the event.

The statement disclosed that members of the groups in the South East and South South had been informed to mark the anniversary in their locations without violence.

According to the statement, activities lined up for the occasion include peaceful procession by members from the regions, cultural display, football matches and thanksgiving service.
Speaking on the event, an official of the movement, Ahamefula Onyenuma, said: “The change of date for the anniversary was symbolic. Uwazurike hoisted the Biafra flag on May 22 while Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu declared the state of Biafra, demanding its independence on May 30, 1967.”
Meanwhile, Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha has pledged that his administration would provide a platform for indigenes and residents of the state to express themselves without hindrance.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/bim-massob-defy-warning-release.html

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) section of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas workers (NUPENG) has denied the allegation that the detained Managing Director of Capital Oil and Gas Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, incited it to embark on strike and cause economic sabotage.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on Friday arrested Ubah for alleged economic sabotage, including stealing, diversion and illegal sale of petroleum products, belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).


The agency has also accused Ubah of undermining the country by inciting tanker drivers to stop the lifting of petroleum products with the ulterior motive of arm-twisting the NNPC to abandon the cause of recovering the stolen products.
But PTD’s Media Officer, Mohammed Abdulkadir, said in a statement last night that it was not true that Ubah or any other individual was inciting tanker drivers to cause any economic sabotage.
“The allegation is baseless, unfounded and totally untrue. Our responsibility as a trade union is solely to promote, project and protect the job security and welfare of workers most especially the petroleum tanker drivers in Nigeria. We have no further relationship with any capitalist/employer beyond the precinct of promoting, projecting and protecting the security of jobs and welfare of our members,” said Abdulkadir.
The drivers said they supported the ongoing war against corruption by the current government, adding that “any capitalist/employer found culpable of stealing, diversion or embezzlement of government funds should be appropriately dealt with in accordance with the law.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/tanker-drivers-deny-being-incited-by.html

The Lagos State government’s Task Force on Environment has dismantled more than 120 shops and illegal structures in Itedo area of Lekki Phase 1. The task force boss, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, led the exercise.

Spokesman of the agency, Taofiq Adebayo, noted that the 120 ‘illegal’ shops, including other structures were constructed under electric high-tension cables. The occupiers were said to have received a six-month ‘Demolition Notice’.

Egbeyemi disclosed that owners and occupiers of the structures were served a reminder of ‘Demolition Notice’ four weeks ago by the state government.

“Radiation from the high tension cables pose serious danger to human health, no responsible government would put any of her citizens’ lives at risks. Furthermore, the illegal shops were a sorry sight with miscreants freely smoking marijuana there.”
He urged affected owners to take advantage of the newly introduced ‘Rent-To-Own’ housing scheme of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, which has more than 4,355 fully-equipped housing unit spread across the state.
“The housing policy is meant to alleviate the housing problem of both low and middle-income earners, and to equally discourage people from living at any restricted areas.”
Egbeyemi also urged traders and middle income earners to apply and benefit from the N25 billion Lagos State Empowerment Trust Fund (LSETF) scheme, which tend to help residents grow and scale-up their micro small/medium enterprises with N500,000 to N5 million soft loan.
He advised Lagos residents to stop trading at any restricted area, including under high-tension cables, warning that the demolition would be extended to other areas.
One of the residents, Dr. Femi Ololade, commended the government for saving the lives of both traders and residents living under the high-tension cables.
He made reference to a recent incident, where many people died when a high-tension cable fell on a viewing centre in Calabar, Cross River State, during a football match, and urged citizens to co-operate with the government and stop endangering their lives.
In a related development, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Malam Muhammed Bello, has given a 30-man ministerial committee two weeks to begin the demolition and evacuation of all illegal structures and refuse dump along the Abuja-Nyanya-Karu-Karshi dual carriageway.
The minister, who frowned at the criminal activities going on in the area coupled with the long stretch of refuse dump, said government would no longer condone such practices. He made this known at the weekend in Abuja when he inaugurated a ministerial task force headed by Major-Gen. Emmanuel Neinge.
The road, which connects the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with Nassarawa, Plateau, as well as Benue states, is heavily congested with traffic and refuse dumps, which has become an eyesore to visitors coming into the city centre.

Meanwhile, prior to the proposed expansion of Agbonyi-Ketu road, which will ease traffic along Alapere, Ketu axis, the Lagos State government has promised that there will be minimal demolition during the road rehabilitation, while appealing to residents to support the administration’s effort towards bringing development to the area.
The project, which would witness development of Oluwakemi Street and some adjoining streets developed into a four-lane road from Alapere to Agboyi, is billed to carry traffic from Alapere through Agboyi towards Ikorodu.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/task-force-pulls-down-120-shops-others.html

The 2017 French presidential election came to a head yesterday with 39-year old Emmanuel Macron emerging the winner by a decisive margin. The independent centrist Macron garnered 60.3 percent of the votes while his rival; Marine Le Pen got 39.7 percent.

The far-right La Pen who had since congratulated the president elect, expressed appreciation to her supporters and promised to “lead the fight” in the France’s parliamentary elections next month.

Le Pen also pledged a “profound reform” of her Front National party to create ‘a new political force’.


Although it was not clear what she meant by this, rumours are rife that the defeated presidential candidate may be planning to disband the party and build a new movement, aiming to organise “a major political reorganisation around the divide between patriots and globalists”:
With his victory, Macron becomes France’s youngest president and has pulled off a remarkable feat. He has never held elected office, and just over a year ago his political movement En Marche did not even exist.
His rival, the far right leader Le Pen, has brought her France-first, anti-EU Front National party a long way. According to information from French state TV and radio monitored by The Guardian, the turnout projection of 74 percent is the lowest in the second round of a French presidential election since 1969.
“This is not unexpected in a contest as unique as that between the independent centrist Macron and far-right Le Pen, neither of whom have the formal backing of a mainstream political group, say analysts.
The outcome matters not just because France is the world’s sixth biggest economy and a key member of the EU, Nato and the UN Security Council, but also because the two candidates’ worldviews could not be more different.
Pollsters have predicted since the first round on April 23 that Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, former banker and economy minister, would win comfortably, possibly by more than 20 percentage points, and at 39 become France’s youngest ever leader.
He is economically liberal, socially progressive, globally minded and – on the whole – optimistic. Le Pen, of the far-right Front National, is a nation-first protectionist who wants to close France’s borders and abandon the euro and EU.

Macron wants to ease labour laws, boost education in deprived areas, extend welfare protection to the self-employed and re-energise the EU while Le Pen announced plans to cut immigration to 10,000 a year, punish outsourcing by multinationals, and eradicate Islamism.
The campaign has been extraordinary in many ways: for the first time, a sitting first-term president has not sought re-election, and the two mainstream centre right and centre left parties that have run France since the 1950s are not represented in the runoff.
It has been marked by the crashing out of pre-race favourites, a terror attack on the eve of the first round, and – less than 48 hours before the elction, a massive online data dump of documents hacked from Macron’s En Marche! Movement.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/macron-39-wins-french-presidential.html

Irate youths in Mgboshimini Community in Rivers State, yesterday razed down buildings and damaged property worth millions of naira following the murder of a chief, Charles Minikwu.

The Guardian gathered that unknown gunmen, Friday night, invaded Orokpor Village in Mgboshimini, Rumueme Community, Obio/Akpor Local Council of the state, where titled chiefs were meeting and shot Minikwu dead.
Even though the motive for the murder is not known, the angry youths believed to be the slain chief’s supporters, went on rampage burning down houses. The violence that erupted forced many to abandon their homes as they feared the violence could escalate.

Prior to his assassination, Minikwu’s was the secretary of a faction of the community leadership. The community has been entangled in a protracted chieftaincy tussle.
Sources revealed that an attempt on the deceased life, which was blamed on the other of the divide failed last year. Houses torched by the irate youths were said to belong to those on the opposing side of the chieftaincy tussle.
Rivers State Police spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Nnamdi Omoni, who confirmed the incident, said policemen have been deployed to the community to restore peace.
He explained that the police is investigating the matter and would ensure that all those behind the dastardly act are brought to book.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/irate-youths-raze-down-houses-in-rivers.html

National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), has disclosed that the Federal Government earned over N6b from lottery proceeds in the last five years, adding that the money is with the Lottery Trust Funds under the supervision of the Presidency.

NLRC Director-General, Lanre Gbajabiamila, made the disclosure yesterday in Abuja, during a Public Presentation to Mr. Anthony Akoma, winner of the biggest Nigerian Jackpot of Plenty million National Lottery.

Represented by Mr. Yagba Tsav, an Assistant-Director, Regulatory and Monitoring Department of the commission, the DG said government has already spent over N1b out of the total revenue to procure sports equipment for four primary schools in each of the 774 Local government areas of the country.


Gbajabiamila explained: ”In every license in the lottery scheme, the proceeds are shared, government takes 20 percent, and put into the development of infrastructure like schools, sports, hospitals and road construction.
“This goes along to improve the economy of the country. So far, out of the over N6b earned, as much as, N1 billion was approved by the last administration for the purchase of sport equipment to four primary schools each in the 774 Local government across the country, the process is ongoing, we have finished with 28 states and we are going over to others.”
Earlier, the Head, AG&H integrated concepts (Plenty million) licensed lottery operators and promoters of the winner, Thompson Eja, described the event as the biggest jackpot winning in Nigeria.
In his response, the award winner, Anthony Akomah, who hails from Enugu State, thanked God and commended the Lottery agency for the exercise.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/05/lottery-fg-generated-n6b-in-5-years.html