₦airaland Forum

Soccer fans willing to watch Super Eagles’ international friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London should be ready to pay £10. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said yesterday that the tickets had gone on sale since Wednesday, adding that it could be purchased online. While adults will part with £10 to watch the game, children will pay £5.

The matches will hold on March 23 and 27 respectively at the Hive, London, home of Barnet FC. “It can also be purchased by phone (0044) 2083813800 (ext.1100 or 1101), or in person from The Hive, Barnet FC, Camrose Avenue, London HA8 6AG,” the NFF said in a statement.

It added that media accreditation would be allocated on first-come, first-served basis, and that it will only be given to those who have emailed/requested in advance before match day. The games will kick by 8.00 p.m. on each of the match days.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has said that some China-based players, including team captain, John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, Brown Ideye and others left out of the list for the international friendly against Senegal and Burkina Faso, are still part of the Eagles squad.
Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, told The Guardian that the coach is only using the warm up games to assess the ability of some of the players, especially the debutants.

Ibitoye said Rohr had not named any player to replace Mikel in the midfield, adding that the coaches will pick the players based on their performance in training.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/fans-to-pay-10-to-watch-eagles.html

Chief Lasbery Okaforanyanwu, the Chairman, Imo Transport Corporation (ITC), has called on Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to review its policy restricting usage of speed limiting device to commercial vehicles.
Okaforanyanwu made his position known while briefing journalists on Thursday at ITC corporate headquarters in Owerri.

He said though the introduction of speed limiting device was a welcome development, but restricting the policy to only commercial vehicles was not good for the safety of commercial drivers and passengers.
“My position is that FRSC’s policy on speed limiter device should be implemented across board and both private and commercial vehicles should all install the device at the same time.

“For the FRSC to focus only on commercial vehicles, while private vehicles are allowed to drive at full speed will make commercial vehicles vulnerable.

“They will be vulnerable to armed bandits who obviously will attack them using higher speed automobiles,” he said.

NAN reports that FRSC, had with effect from Oct. 1, 2016, introduced the speed limiting device to peg maximum speed for commercial vehicles at 100km/h, while private vehicles still use maximum speed automobiles.

Okaforanyanwu said as a law-abiding company, “ITC has started complying because a lot of ITC vehicles are being installed with the device by one of the accredited FRSC companies”.

The ITC chairman also used the medium to throw more light on the alleged sealing of the company’s head office by Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over tax evasion.

Okaforanyanwu said there was no truth in the report that ITC office was sealed, but blamed the situation on information gap which was jointly addressed between the management of ITC and FIRS.

“FIRS did not seal ITC office; it was a problem of reconciliation that brought the operatives of the FIRS to ITC.

“And when they came we brought our books and showed them the method of our payments and they were satisfied, so ITC has never evaded tax payment and is not owing any tax either,” he said.

Okaforanyanwu also said that the company had addressed the issue of non-payment of 11 months’ salary arrears owed ITC workers and had sorted the problems of bank loans by the company.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/transporter-wants-frsc-to-extend-speed.html

The Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) has said about three million Nigerians lost N18 billion in the Phonzi scheme, popularly called Mavrodi Mundial Movement (MMM).

The Managing Director of the Corporation, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, stated while speaking at the ongoing 38th Kaduna International Trade Fair on Thursday.

Represented by the NDIC Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs, Alhaji Hadi Suleiman, Ibrahim lamented that despite repeated warnings by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the corporation, Nigerians still patronise MMM.

He said,”The Phonzi scheme is the phenomenon of illegal fund managers, popularly called ‘Wonder Banks’ which have continued to defraud unsuspecting members of the public of their hard earned money. This phenomenon has been a source of concern because despite our repeated warnings over the years, some members of the public have continued to fall victims of their fraudulent practices.

“We would like to reiterate the fact that these fund managers are illegal as they are neither licences by the CBN to take deposits from members of the public nor are those who patronise them covered by the NDIC deposit insurance scheme.


“I want to also draw the attention of some cooperative societies which often go beyond their primary mandate by accepting contributions from members as cooperative societies are only recognised to mobilise savings from their members.”

While advising the general public on the dangers of keeping large sums of money at home or in market shops, he said there are 978 licensed microfinance banks nationwide out if which seven are spread across Kaduna State.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/ndic-three-million-nigerians-lost-n18bn.html

Justice Binta Nyako, of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday struck out six of the 11 charges brought against detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, by the federal government.

The dismissed charges bordered on “ownership of unlawful society, illegal importation of radio transmitters and researching on how to make improvised explosive devices”.

Justice Nyako, in a ruling, held that the charges were not supported by the proof of evidence adduced against the defendants by the prosecution. She held that was no evidence before the court to prove that IPOB, which was allegedly managed by the defendants, was an unlawful society.

The court however sustained five other charges against Kanu and three other pro-Biafra agitators namely: Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi. They however entered a fresh plea of not guilty to the sustained charges.
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The charges are based on conspiracy, treasonable felony, publication of defamatory matter and Kanu’s alleged importation of goods contrary and punishable under section 47(2) (a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act, Cap C45, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

In count three of the remaining charges, the federal government alleged that Kanu had in a broadcast he made in London on April 28, 2015, through Radio Biafra, referred to President Muhammadu Buhari as “a paedophile, a terrorist, an idiot and an embodiment of evil”.

Meanwhile, the court has fixed March 20 and 21 to commence full-blown trial of the defendants.

It would be recalled that a former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Chukwuma Soludo; a professor of Economics, Pat Utomi, and some Igbo leaders on Tuesday called for the immediate release of Kanu.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/03/court-strikes-out-six-charges-against.html

Nigerian reggae singer, Patoranking says he was pushed by girls to do the kind of music he does.

From Nigeria to South Africa and London, the alubarika crooner is very much in demand for his infectious reggae tunes.


In a chat with Punch, he said, “One of the reasons I chose reggae even though it might sound funny is because of the girls.

“I remember back then in secondary school, if you did not know how to mime songs, you could not get the girls and I like standing out.

“I thought it would be wise for me to mime the songs that my colleagues won’t know. I listened to more reggae songs.

“Whenever I did that, the girls were always impressed. I listened to a lot of Bob Marley and Lucky Dube’s songs.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/i-sing-reggae-music-because-of-girls.html

Nigeria’s leading beverage alcohol company, Guinness Nigeria Plc, has released its Sustainability Report for 2016, reporting its performance on various aspects of its operations, while outlining its sustainability targets for the future.
The report was unveiled in Lagos, on Thursday, at a formal ceremony attended by various stakeholder groups and partners such as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Business School, Water Aid, Institute for Industrial technology (IIT) and Diageo’s Global Sustainable Development Director, David Croft, amongst others.

The Sustainability report, titled Sustainability: From Grain to Glass, is an 87-page report that covers “the goals we set for ourselves every year, stretching targets that will guide us as we work to reduce our negative impact on the environment. We also strive to increase our positive social impact by delivering transformational social investments in communities where we operate.”
Major highlights from the 2016 report include notable social investments in the Guinness Eye Hospitals, the flagship Water of Life scheme and the Undergraduate Scholarship scheme, which has opened doors of opportunity to many young Nigerians.
Guinness Nigeria also continued to make notable economic impact in Nigeria. In the 2016 financial year, the company paid over N16 billion in taxes ranging from VAT, employee taxes, Corporate Income Tax, Excise Duties and other taxes

Managing Director/CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr. Peter Ndegwa, noted that the overarching ambition of the company is to become the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products company in the world. He further observed that the attainment of this goal would be futile if a commitment to society is not at the heart of the business.

Ndegwa said Guinness remains committed to helping Nigeria meet her Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, especially in the area of providing access to water and sanitation for the majority of the people. In this regard, the company has made significant investments, he disclosed.

David Croft, Global Sustainable Development Director, Diageo Plc said: “Overall we are proud of the progress made. Guinness Nigeria’s Sustainable Development strategy, which aligns with Diageo’s global strategy is underpinned by three main pillars: leadership in alcohol in society, building thriving communities and reducing environmental impact. Delivering on these goals is an integral part of our long term business strategy and our commitment to making a real difference in communities where we operate.”

Moving forward, the company outlined strategic objectives the attainment of which will put it in better stead to serve its key stakeholders as well as help to strengthen corporate reputation and build a sustainable business.

In the area of business performance, the company aims to optimize return on investment for its investors and shareholders through good corporate governance and by implementing the plans that underpin its performance ambition. Product quality will be sustained through unwavering commitment to providing consumers with beverages that meet the highest standard of quality.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/guinness-nigeria-unveils-2016.html

Former Leicester City forward Gary Lineker who holds the record for the most goals for an English man at the World Cup has slammed sacked Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri for his trust in Ahmed Musa which led to his sack.
Ranieri was reportedly fired for starting the Nigerian ahead of Demarai Gray against Sevilla, a decision which angered the senior players of Leicester City and led to the axing of the manager.
Lineker who is however unhappy with the decision to sack the coach, was however critical of his blind trust in the former CSKA Moscow man Musa, who has failed to live up to his price tag since his move from Russia.
His post on social media, also suggest that he wants the Nigerian to follow the manager out of the King Power Stadium.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/england-legend-lineker-wants-musa-out.html

The Management of Zenith Bank on Friday handed over the rehabilitated Zenith Information Communication Technology Centre to the authorities of the Lagos State University.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Zenith Bank donated the facility to LASU in 2007 to improve and advance ICT skills of students and staff of the university.

Nonye Ayeni, the General Manager/Group Head, ICT, Zenith Bank, said the rehabilitation marked 10 years of partnership between LASU and Zenith Bank.

Ayeni said a total of 80 Internet-enabled computers were provided in the newly-upgraded facility.

According to the Zenith Bank official, the Internet broadband of the ICT centre was expanded while a standby generator was provided, among other facilities.
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He lauded Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the various development projects underway in the university and the LASU management for its dynamism and creativity.

LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, expressed delight at the gesture and assured the bank that the university would reciprocate the gesture by putting the facilities into good use.

Also, Kappo Olawale, the President, LASU Students Union, thanked Zenith Bank for refurbishing the ICT centre.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/zenith-bank-hands-over-rehabilitated.html

Suicide attacks on two security service bases in the heart of Syria’s government-held third city of Homs killed 42 people on Saturday, overshadowing peace talks in Geneva, state television and a monitor said.

“There were at least six attackers and several of them blew themselves up near the headquarters of state security and military intelligence,” Syrian Observatory for Human Rights director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP.

State television reported that the province’s army intelligence chief, General Hassan Daabul, a close confidant of President Bashar al-Assad, was among the dead when the six suicide bombers struck in the heavily guarded Ghouta and Mahatta neighbourhoods. Security forces locked down the city centre.

Homs has been under the full control of the government since May 2014 when rebels withdrew from the centre under a UN-brokered truce deal. But it has seen repeated bombings since then. Twin attacks killed 64 people early last year.

State television paid tribute to the “martyrs” in the latest bombings. There was no immediate claim for the bombings but they bore the hallmarks of the Islamic State group, which controls swathes of the largely desert countryside east of Homs.

Government forces retook the oasis city of Palmyra and its UNESCO-listed ancient ruins in a much heralded Russian-backed offensive in March last year but were then pushed out by IS in December.
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Since then, the focus of government efforts has been further north, on second city Aleppo, which they fully retook after a rebel withdrawal in December, and areas to its east and west.

Saturday’s attack comes as the UN is struggling to get a new round of peace talks off the ground aimed at ending the six-year civil war which has killed more than 310,000 people.

UN envoy Staffan de Mistura said that despite government and rebel delegations being present in Geneva for the talks there had been little discussion of substance between the rival parties.

“We discussed issues relating to the format of the talks exclusively,” said Syrian regime delegation chief Bashar al-Jaafari after meeting de Mistura on Friday.

IS claimed a Friday suicide bombing that killed 51 people outside the northern town of Al-Bab, which Turkish-backed rebels said this week they had taken from the jihadists.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/suicide-attacks-on-bases-in-syria-kill.html

Morocco, a north African country, has officially requested to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as a full member.

According to APA, the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation issued a statement on the plan to join the 15-member West African bloc.

The kingdom of Morocco has informed Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of Liberia, who is the current chair of ECOWAS of “its interest to join the regional grouping as a full member” a statement from the ministry said.

This request is in line with provisions of ECOWAS founding treaty and in full satisfaction of its membership criteria, it asserted.

According to Morocco, its move comes “to crown the strong political, human, historical, religious and economic ties at all levels with ECOWAS member countries”.

It said these links were reinforced over the last few years, through the king’s 23 visits to 11 countries in the region.
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The statement said these visits were crowned by the signing of several hundred agreements, which gave a “strong” impetus to bilateral cooperation with the 15 member countries of the regional bloc.

Morocco also maintains institutional relations with ECOWAS, through an observer status, which has been in place for several years.

Morocco has participated in several meetings of the organization and has contributed to its activities, particularly in areas relating to peace and stability, the statement added.

The desire to join ECOWAS is also part of the royal vision for regional integration, as a key to Africa’s economic take-off, and is in line with the African policy of King Mohammed VI, reflected by the return of the kingdom to the African Union (AU), the statement concluded.

The country was recently re-admitted into the African Union (AU) after decades of voluntary withdrawal from the continental body.

The country embarked on diplomatic shuttles to many African countries, including Nigeria and Senegal to mend sour relations and to seek support of the countries for its admittance into AU.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/morocco-seeks-to-join-ecowas-as-full.html

more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/gov-femi-kayode-shares-photos-from-his.html#more

An alleged imposter who claimed to be Ernest Erowo with a facebook account opened in the name of Prophet Ernest Erowo Untouchable of City of Faith Ministries Int’l Inc., also known as The Untouchable Family, aimed at defrauding unsuspecting members of the public, has been arrested at Ozoro in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.

The suspected internet fraudster, who opened an account with First Bank PLC in the name of Abada E. Best with account No. 3043867593, was linked to his facebook account in the name of Ernest Erowo, asking members of the public to pay money into his account with intent of providing spiritual providence, thereby defrauding them.

The suspect, while confessing to the crime at the Area Commander’s office of the Nigerian Police Force, Delta Central Command, Ughelli, said he is a pastor and intentionally opened the facebook and First Bank accounts to source for money to finance a programme he planned to execute. Meanwhile, huge and undisclosed amounts of money has been paid to him by unsuspecting members of the public.

Earlier, the Prophet, through his lawyer, A.E. Erakpofuke Esq. had appealed to the Area Commander, in a January 16, 2017 letter, to arrest and question the said impostor using the duplicate facebook account Ernest Erowo, to prevent him from carring out further acts of fraud and impersonation.

The cleric’s media director, Pastor Success I. E. Udogidi, also the Regional Head Pastor (South South region), City of Faith Ministry Int’l Inc, confirmed the arrest. He said the imposter had hacked into the facebook account name “Ernest Erowo” of the prophet and duplicated it with a changed picture.

“The fake duplicate account is what he used in defrauding the unsuspecting members of the public,” Udogidi stressed, urging members of the public to be vigilant and watchful as internet fraudsters are everywhere.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/alleged-facebook-fraudster-impersonator.html

Gionee Communication Equipment Co. Ltd, will launch a brand new smartphone A1, at the Mobile World Congress (MWC).

Mobile World Congress is the world’s largest gathering for the mobile industry, organised annually by the Groupe Speciale Mobile Associatio (GSMA) in Barcelona, Spain.
Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) is an association of mobile operators and related companies devoted to support the standardization, deployment and promotion of the GSM mobile telephone system.

It represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.

Speaking ahead of the February 27, world forum, the Marketing Director, Gionee Nigeria, Mr Somoye Habeeb, said the phone which has a long-life battery and equipped with sensational selfie camera, and dual cameras for enhanced photo quality will be in the class of high end devices tat will be officially launched in Spain.
According to Gionee’s research into consumer needs in India and Africa, Habeeb said: “Handsets with a better selfie performance and seamless user experience are becoming increasingly popular with local consumers.

Users expect to be able to take bright, beautiful and natural-looking selfies at any time of the day or night. The younger generation regard selfies as an expression of themselves and they tend to share their photos through various social channels whenever and wherever they are.”


Gionee, he said, has noticed this increasing popular trend and has devoted itself to the evolution of the selfie experience.

“At MWC 2017, we will launch a product which combines its traditional feature, its long-life battery, with outstanding selfie features and performance, that will enable users to capture their unique beauty through the camera. The new device will be equipped with a function that will allow users to tailor the lighting effects to that of a professional photography studio,” he said.

He added that the firm will continue to feature their long life battery and leverage integrated solutions to guarantee the super battery. “The large battery capacity combines an ultrafast charge through dual charging chips and excellent power-saving system.

“As a leading smartphone manufacturer in China, Gionee is always pursuing evolution and globalization. William Lu, President of Gionee, will be happy to share his insights into the global smartphone industry and future trends at Hall 8, NEXTech Theatre C on February 27 by 11:00 am.,” he said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/gionee-to-launch-a1-at-mobile-world.html

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kola Awodein, has described as malicious, utterly ridiculous, and revolting the allegation that he gave Justice Niyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, currently standing trial for alleged corruption, N500, 000.00 as bribe.

This was said to be at the behest of President Muhammadu Buhari during the contrived certificate issue affecting the then presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

A statement by Awodein yesterday said Nigerians know that President Buhari challenged the elections of 2003, 2007, and 2011, up to the Supreme Court, and not once was he named as trying to compromise any judge, though some of them were his schoolmates, or contemporary, at one time or the other.

It is in keeping with the president’s time-tested reputation as a man of truth and integrity. Any attempt to sully that reputation is bound to fail, inexorably, Awodein said in the statement signed by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina.

The statement which Awodein said shows that the president was in no way linked with Justice Ademola at all reads in part : “Any link whatsoever with Mr. President, or any court case or cases, of my personal gift from my personal resources delivered to Justice Niyi Ademola by myself on that occasion or any suggestion whatsoever that it was anything but such a gift or that it ever came from Mr. President or at his instance or that I was acting, under any circumstances, on his behalf is most malicious, utterly ridiculous and in very poor and revolting taste and most undeserving of any further comments,” he said.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/buhari-did-not-bribe-justice-ademola.html#more

Emir of Kano, Muhammed Sanusi II, has counseled Local Government chairmen in the state to desist from actions that were likely to encourage disputes between herders and farmers.

Emir Sanusi, who gave the advice at a two- day workshop organised by the Kano State Ministry of Local Government, stressed that many Local Government Chairmen in the state were in the habit of selling grazing reserve areas to individuals.

Speaking at the workshop with the theme, “Managing Security at Local Government Level”, the Emir urged the state government to be proactive in addressing the situation so to prevent the looming crisis in the affected Councils.
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While urging the public to prioritize their personal security, the monarch also tasked the Local Government Chairmen and the district heads to unite against any security threat in their respective domains.

In his opening remarks, Kano State Commissioner for Local Government, Murtala Sule Garo, said the incessant attacks in Borno State and other parts of the North-east necessitated the workshop.

In response to the remarks of the monarch, the Commissioner pledged that the State Ministry of Land will identify such grazing reserve areas in Kano

He also used the opportunity to caution the affected Local Government Chairmen to desist from the habit of selling reserved areas to private individuals in their domain.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/emir-sanusi-warns-against-herders.html#more

Ekiti State Governor,Ayodele Fayose was seen eating Amala at the popular Iya Oyo Amala joint Wuye Abuja.He was seening eating with a few of his friends at popular amala joint.The meal consists of amala with gbegiri and Ewedu and goat meat,A delicacy which loved by a great deal of the Yoruba population of South Western Nigeria
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/gov-fayose-demolishes-plate-of-amala-at.html?m=1

A day after Epe farmers and community leaders staged a Save Our Soul (SOS) protest to the governor’s office against the continued abduction of their members, kidnappers, wielding sophisticated weapons, yesterday stormed Igbodu area of Epe, Lagos State, with ferocious anger and unleashed terror on the hapless residents.

But unlike previous invasions, the kidnappers met policemen resistance, who were patrolling the area in the mother of all battles. While some residents claimed the kidnappers were reacting to Monday’s protest, others claimed the bandits were fighting over sharing formula.

A resident said: “We heard they argued among themselves over money. The kidnappers withdrew money from an ATM gallery with the card of one of the victims. It was in the process of fighting that one of them was shot and killed. Apparently angry and mourning their slain colleague, five among them stormed Elysian Farm, hoping to abduct another set of victims.

“They, however, met policemen and immediately opened fire, riddling the police patrol van with bullets. The policemen scampered in different directions, leaving their vehicles. But the policemen later regrouped, called for reinforcement and returned fire for fire.”

It was gathered that the kidnappers were able to abduct five victims. For reasons yet unknown, the kidnappers left the victims in the custody of two of their colleagues in the bush. When the victims realized that only two kidnappers were keeping watch on them, they attacked and allegedly killed one of the kidnappers. Those who escaped returned from the bush to narrate their ordeal.

A farm manager claimed the kidnappers were more than 30, who stormed Elysian Farms yesterday. Elysian Farms was the farm where five farm workers and two members of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) were abducted last week. Yesterday’s attack was the third time the abductors will invade Elysian Farms this year.

The farm manager, who refused to disclose his name, said: “We can’t ascertain the number of farm workers abducted for now. We cannot go into the farm presently; those of us, who were around when they came, had to escape. We are going to have a head count later to know the number of workers kidnapped. There were gunshots everywhere. The community is under attack.”

The Baale of the community, Mr. Michael Shodipo, while speaking with The Guardian on the phone, screamed that the community was under intense attack.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/kidnappers-storm-epe-again-attack.html#more

A nine-year-old Sierra Leonean girl suffered serious beating in the hands of her guardian last week after she allegedly stole 12,000 SLL (N500).


According to Sierra Loaded, the girl is presently hospitalized at the Kambia Government Hospital while the perpetrator has been arrested by the police.
more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/9-year-old-girl-beaten-mercilessly-for.html

The Presidency and the National Assembly tuesday in Abuja agreed to pass into law all executive bills seeking to remove all encumbrances which make doing business in Nigeria a nightmare.

The bills, which included the Credit Bureau Bills and the Collateral Transactions Security are to be passed within 60 days.


The agreement was reached after an expanded meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council chaired by the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja which had the Senate President, Bukola Sakari and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara in attendance.

Others in attendance were the Attorney General of Federation and Minister of Justice; Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Trade and Investments, Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah former Prime Minister of Georgia, among other relevant stakeholders

Osinbajo, who briefed State House Correspondents after the meeting said the leadership of the National Assembly was co opted into the meeting to get the support of law makers to pass the bills which are already pending before the National Assembly into law.

He explained why the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, attended the meeting.

Osinbajo said: “This is an expanded meeting of presidential enabling business environment council and we have had the pleasure and privilege of having the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The whole idea of course being to work together on trying to improve business environment in Nigeria.”

He said the meeting considered three broad areas that would help to improve ease of doing business.
There he said are: entry and exit of goods, entry and exit of persons into Nigeria and the whole general government transparency and efficiency in government agencies and parastatals.

According to him, the whole idea is to provide an enabling environment for those who want to do business (both local and foreign) in Nigeria.

He noted that a lot of work had already been done, adding that there are pieces of legislation that “we are also looking forward to seeing and we have been working with the National Assembly to ensure that these pieces of legislation were passed.”

The acting president also said there would be Improvements at seaports, airports and issuance of visas to immigrants.
“We have set time lines for ourselves to ensure that we are not just speaking about these things without necessarily tying ourselves down to specific time lines. So, we are looking forward to an improved business environment in the shortest possible time.”

Also speaking on behalf of the National Assembly, Saraki said their presence at the meeting was to ensure there was the synergy between the legislature and the executive for the realisation of the set objectives in the Nigerian business climate.

He said: “Seeing myself and the Speaker here as part of the expanded meeting of the Business Environment Council is to stress the importance of the meeting. It is a very good initiative. Some of the issues about addressing business environment are policy issues but there are some that need legislation and we have been talking about what is our own responsibility there.

“We have taken away today some of the bills that we need to address particularly looking at access to credit, credit bureau, transactions, a lot of SMEs that don’t have fixed assets, we need to see how it can be addressed so that they can have access to credit.”

Saraki said that meeting and working together with the executive wiould make it much easier to work on the laws
The meeting, he said, also sent a strong message to investors.

“We have given ourselves timelines. We have been given 60 days for some specific bills to be passed and we hope and promise that we will do that on our own part. It is a good initiative and it will go along way to improve business environment,” he added.

Fielding questions from journalists afterwards, Saraki dismissed the insinuation that the 60 days time line undermined the independence of the legislature.

He said: “No, no, no. Whether executive or legislature, we are all working for one government and for our people. You see, they are already doing things that we are already doing but this is to ensure there is no duplication. We are all setting for ourselves deadlines some of them have already been passed by the Senate and the House has passed but there are some they are interested in which we also have. We are not fighting here,” he said.

Reminded that one of the problems with enabling environment was unstable power supply, the Senate President said that they were working on that.

“The issue of power supply goes beyond enabling law. There are a lot of factors that go into that. You know we held a summit which was initiated by National Assembly with all stakeholders in the power sector, looking at distribution, generation.

“The problems are enormous, we have talked about that and we are waiting for the technical report to come, and then there will be a meeting with the minister and then we will begin to address that and then we will begin to see result.

“We did mention at that summit that we were at a crisis and we need to come out with some things. Things were done wrongly in the past but we cannot continue to cry over that we need to come up with some solutions and we will come up with those solutions,” Saraki stressed.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/presidency-mandates-nassembly-to-pass.html

Senator Bukola Saraki, Rt Honorable Speaker, Yakubu Dogara and leader of Senate, Senator Ahmed Lawan paid a visit to President Buhari in Abuja House in London.
We were delighted to see that President Buhari is doing well, was cheerful and in good spirits.
The president I saw today is healthy, witty and himself.
The presiden’ts absence and imminent return shows that there is no vacuum in government and our system of democracy is working with all organs of government fulfilling their mandate. And let me use the time tested cliché, there is no cause for alarm!
Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki
President of Senate and Chairman National Assembly
More at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/saraki-buhari-is-healthy-no-cause-for.html?m=1

Manchester United goalkeeper, David De Gea, has insisted that he is “very happy” at the club, amid renewed speculations over a summer move to Real Madrid.

The Spain international was on the brink of signing for the La Liga giants in 2015, but the transfer collapsed at the last minute.


The 26-year-old returned to Old Trafford and signed a new contract that will run out in 2019.

Madrid are reportedly still following De Gea and are keen to land him at the end of this season.

“The future, no one knows,” De Gea told AS.

“The future is the future. I’m very happy here — it’s a great club. In England, football is much enjoyed.”


Asked about the potential of a summer move to Madrid, he said: “I will not talk about that. I will not talk about it anymore. Now we need to stay focused with my club.”

However, Madrid president, Florentino Perez, insisted on Thursday that they were happy with their current No. 1.

“We won’t work on transfers until the end of the season,” he told reporters.

“We are delighted with Keylor Navas.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/de-gea-i-dont-want-to-talk-about-summer.html#more

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo last night met with heads of security and anti-graft agencies.‎

Those at the meeting were the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Chairman Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC),Ekpo Nta,‎ the Department of State Services (DSS), Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu and the DG Nigeria Processing Zone Authority (NIPZA).

The agenda of the meeting which lasted for over two hours was not made public at press time.Meanwhile, the heads of the anti-graft agencies had earlier met in a closed door with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari before proceeding to meet with Acting President Osinbajo.‎



Kyari had also separately met with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ‎Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Trade and Investment Okechukwu Enelamah.

Speaking in a brief chat with State House correspondents after the closed door meeting, Magu attributed the biting recession in the country to the menace of high level corruption. ‎

Mangu said “I’m asking all Nigerians to join in the fight against corruption. Adults, children, men, women and including you journalists. Corruption is the greatest menace we are facing in the country.

“Corruption is responsible for the recession we are witnessing today. So all Nigerians must join in the fight against.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/osinbajo-meets-with-igp.html#more

Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday dismissed claims by a former militant group, saying he called ex-President, Olusegun Obasanjo an ingrate.

A former militant group under the umbrella of National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, had accused Fani-Kayose of insulting the former President.


The group-led by one Israel Akpodoro alleged that Fani-Kayode called Obasanjo an ingrate for not supporting the presidential ambition of Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

According to the ex-militants, Fani-Kayode’s underlying reason for his persistent attack on President Muhammadu Buhari was to secure an appointment from the President’s cabinet.

The group claimed that the former Minister used the same strategy to secure the media director’s office during Jonathan’s campaign in 2015.

Reacting to the allegations,FFK described the allegation as false and baseless.


In a statement by his media aide, Jude Ndukwe, Fani-Kayode said he has never and will never be part of Buhari’s government.

Ndukwe said, “Chief Fani-Kayode has NEVER said that Obasanjo is an ingrate. We do not respond or join issues with faceless groups.

“The former minister has said it countless times that he would rather die one million times than be part of Buhari’s government.”
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/fani-kayode-to-ex-niger-delta-militants.html

More photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/photos-adekunle-gold-win-wine-and-rose.html?m=1

The National Drug law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has arraigned two brothers, Ifeanyichukwu and Chike Ananti of Ojibah lane, Inland Town Onitsha, before

Justice I.B. Gafia at the Federal High Court Awka, for alleged drug related offenses.
The duo aged forty- seven and fifty- six years respectively, were alleged to have been caught in August 2016 in possession of six point three grames of cocaine, an offense contrary to, and punishable under section nineteen of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency law of Nigeria 2004.
In their submissions, the defense counsels to the brothers, Barristers Godstime Okafor and Lawrence Nduka, prayed the court to allow them withdraw their preliminary objections to facilitate the bail of their clients.
The prosecuting counsel, Barrister Patrick Eshua on his part, prayed the court to grant the agency legal right to posses a vehicle belonging to one of the accused persons, Mr. Chike Ananti, saying that the said vehicle is gotten from proceeds of hard drugs.
The court presided over by Justice I.B Gafai which granted the withdraw plea, urged the prosecuting and defence counsels to prepare their cases for the adjourned dates so as to avoid delay in the dispensation of justice.
Ekwi Ajide reports that the case had been adjourned to Tuesday next week for hearing of the bail application while the trial holds on the seventh and fifteenth of next month respectively.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/two-brothers-arraigned-in-anambra-for.html#more

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Borno Command, on Tuesday intercepted two female suicide bombers, who tried to ram into motorists at the NNPC Mega Station along Damboa Road, Maiduguri.

The Commandant of the corps, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Maiduguri on Tuesday that the incident occurred at about 6.45 a.m.

“Our personnel at the NNPC station intercepted two female suicide bombers, who were targeting motorists on the long queue at the NNPC mega petrol station at about 6.45 a.m.One of the bombers got scared and threw her bomb and was instantly arrested, while the other one started running after people with her explosive but luckily, she was shot on the leg by our personnel after he chased her to a safe place.



“We have deployed our Anti-Bomb Squad to the area,” Abdullahi said.

The commandant said that the few insurgents remaining were looking for soft targets where they could cause havoc and appealed to all residents in Borno to be on alert and vigilant.
more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/two-suspected-female-suicide-bombers.html

A commercial sex worker, Janet Etim, has been reported dead in Lagos State after she was allegedly attacked and beaten by her customer when she could not withstand a long drugged-induced sex.

The unnamed customer went into Etim’s room on Wednesday to have short time sex with her for a fee but when the romp started, he was taking too long to ‘cum’.

Etim, who could no longer bear the pain, reportedly withdrew and offered the customer his N500 fee but he refused.

According to the report, he said he had already prepared for the action and will complete it.

This, however, led to exchange of words and in the process he attacked and injured her on her head at a popular hotel, De Love located at Ilufumi street, Ejigbo area of the state.

She was rushed to a hospital by the hotel management where she eventually died.

The customer who allegedly assaulted and killed her is said to be at large and the remains of the deceased have been deposited at Isolo General Hospital for autopsy report.

The manager of the hotel, Prince Bassey has been arrested by operatives from the Ejigbo Police Division.

Confirming the incident, the Divisional Police Officer, DPO, SP Folorunsho Afolabi said the police was waiting for autopsy report to determine whether Etim died as a result of the assault or something else.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/drunk-man-who-take-man-power-sex.html#more

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday named former Senate leader Mohammed Ali Ndume as chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Ndume was controversially removed as Senate leader on January 10.

The Borno South lawmaker described his removal as a “coup” against him and blamed his removal on his position on the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

President Muhammadu Buhari has re-nominated Magu for the same position following initial rejection of his nomination by the Senate.

Other fresh committee appointments Saraki made included Abba Kyari, Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence.


Kyari was former chairman, Senate Committee on INEC.

Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) was named chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and George Sekibo was named chairman, Senate Committee on Interior.

The Committee on Interior was held by Oleka Nwogu, who was defeated by Abe in the December 10, 2016 senatorial election in Rivers State.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/saraki-names-ndume-inec-committee_27.html#more

The Police have arrested four persons over the kidnap of some teachers and pupils of the Nigeria Tulip College (NTIC) in Isheri north of Ogun State on January 23.

The suspects are Bekewei Agbojule, aka Prince Yellow, Are Philip Joel Kakadu, aka “General Kakadu,” a militant leader, Romeo Council, aka Raw and Totki Okoda.

A statement in Abuja yesterday, the Force Spokesman, Don Awunah, reads: “The IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT), working in synergy with the Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU) of the Nigeria Police Force in a joint operation supervised by AIG Kayode Aderanti, AIG Zone 2, Lagos, successfully smashed a notorious kidnap gang and arrested four vicious kidnappers who are active members of the gang responsible for the kidnap for ransom of five Turkish school children and three members of staff of the school in Ogun State on January 13.

“In the course of investigation into the dastardly crime, three suspects namely Are Philip Joel Kakadu aka “General Kakadu” a militant leader; Romeo Council aka “Raw” and Totki Okoda who lives in the fishermen’s community behind the school and provided information about the victims to his gang, were trailed and arrested at different locations in Delta, Ogun and Lagos States respectively, for the criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime.

“Further investigation and sustained pursuit of the matter by the Intelligence Response Team, led to the arrest of Bekewei Agbojule aka “Prince Yellow”, a principal suspect and one of the key members of the gang on January 25, at about 7am. The suspect who is an Ijaw from Arogbo town in Ondo State was arrested after he came out of the creeks to enjoy his loot.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/how-we-got-turkish-school-kidnap.html#more

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said the plethora of criminal activities in the Niger Delta threatens existence in the region. Also, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas, has said the snail-paced criminal justice system in the country, among other issues, has ensured continuance of crimes in the maritime domain.
Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday in Abuja at the public presentation of the ‘Harmonised standard operating procedures on arrest, detention and prosecution of vessels and persons in Nigeria’s maritime environment 2016’, said that besides threatening national security, other crimes, which manifest in the form of sabotage, vandalism of national maritime infrastructure, crude oil theft, kidnapping, illegal bunkering and unregulated fishing and environmental degradation have to be treated as existential threats.
“People and resources of the Niger Delta region, including the adjoining waters of the Gulf of Guinea, have unfortunately suffered these unfortunately larger consequences of these maritime crimes and environmental degradation,” he said.Osinbajo noted that as a consequence, the area now hosts the most notorious of maritime criminal gangs, “fuelling terrorism” and other notable trans-border crimes.
He said the initiatives carried out by the Navy to strengthen security operations in the region were commendable, just as the most enduring step was the harmonisation of the operating procedure to combat maritime irregularities.
Ibas in his opening address said the Nigerian Navy (NN) in operational partnership with other Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies (MLEAs) has arrested several vessels and people in the past, but the criminal justice system in Nigeria has not helped matters and inter-agency rivalry was also an obstacle.
He added: “It might interest you to know that some of the arrested vessels have been in the custody of the NN for over 10 years with attendant drain on the NN logistic and financial resources for their maintenance. The delay in the prosecution is in most cases linked to inadequate synergy among agencies, which creates loopholes for the perpetrators to evade justice and sometimes drag the MLEAs into litigations that could otherwise have been avoided.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/osinbajo-maritime-crimes-threaten.html#more

Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo yesterday called for probe of the alleged killing of protesting members of Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital last week.
Speaking to The Guardian, the President-General of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo (Jnr) said that given the serious national security implications of the development, Ohanaeze would like the Federal Government to appoint an independent judicial panel of inquiry into the alleged killings.
Nwodo wondered: “Was the IPOB demonstration an unlawful assembly? Did IPOB require a police permit to demonstrate? Was IPOB violent in any manner that threatened public peace and order? Does possession of Biafran flags and coat of arms per se constitute conspiracy to commit treasonable felony?“Whereas some of these issues are subjudice, it is important in the public interest to note as follows: The correct position of the law in Nigeria is that any curtailment of the right of the citizens to freely associate and assemble for lawful purpose is unconstitutional. It is unnecessary for police permit to be first had and obtained, prior to any assembly, subject of course to section 70 of the Criminal Code (See IGP V ANPP (2008) WRN 65; Anambra V AG Federation (2005) NWLR (PT 572) 616 per UWAIS JSC. Any attempt to deal with demonstrations of IPOB in a manner different from treatment of Boko Haram members, Niger Delta Avengers, Fulani Herdsmen and Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) will be discriminatory and unfair.
Also, the National Chairman of United Peoples Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie urged President Muhammadu Buhari government to investigate all the unwarranted killing of Igbo men and women.
Okorie said: “Security agencies must be ordered to stop shooting unarmed, non-violent persons who are only exercising their inalienable right of freedom of association. This is the only way the palpable tension in the country today can be doused. There is only a tiny line between violence and non-violence. It may just require a little extra provocation to cross the Rubicon.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/okorie-seek-probe-of-alleged-killing-of.html#more

President Buhari has once again reassured Nigerians that he will surely fulfill all his campaign promises.

Buhari said this while commissioning the Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Centre.

Read His Full Speech Below..

We shall focus more on the people living in the rural areas and the vulnerable population in our society such as women, children under 5years of age and the elderly in collaboration with national and international partners.

Let me state clearly, that this revitalization programme is in alignment with the agenda of our party, the All Progressive Congress (APC). We did promise to provide succor to the poor while at the same time providing for all other segments of the society. I am aware that out of pocket payment for health constitute over 70% of total health expenditure. This is more than the globally recommended 30-40%. However, only less than 5% of the total population is covered by any kind of health insurance or risk protection mechanism which is against the recommended 90% coverage by the World Health Organisation. Our vision is to reverse this unsatisfactory situation and better care for the poor and needy.

Our Administration in recognition of this promised to revitalize one Primary Health Care Centre in each of the political wards in the country. So far, we have commenced the revitalization of one Primary Health Care in each senatorial zone in the country. Our vision is to revitalize 10,000 Primary Health Care Facilities in Nigeria using a phased approach. The first phase of this approach is what we are flagging off today. It will signal the revitalization of the first 109 Primary Health Care facilities across the 36 states and the FCT.

Kuchigoro Primary Health Care Centre has been renovated as a model primary health care center where quality health care services will be obtained at little or no cost to the beneficiaries. This is through the collaboration of Government (Federal Ministry of Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Federal Capital Development Administration and the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital) and Partners such as General Electric and Sterling Bank.
Read full detail at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/01/buhari-am-man-of-my-word-i-will-fulfill.html