Our source, an APC member and Senator from one of the North Central state, who preferred anonymity, in view of the critical role he played in Saraki’s emergence, told LEADERSHIP Sunday that, “I am personally not surprised at what is happening because I knew that Saraki will have problems but I was not expecting it soon. Secondly, I did not honestly look in the direction of any cases of alleged corruption when I was supporting him.
“My fear was how he will manage his colleagues because of his seeming and perceived arrogance, because I remember that the President did say he will work with anybody, provided the person is not corrupt. So I became involved in his project because I believed he could use his experience and complement the president, particularly in the fight against corruption.
But seriously, I am ashamed of myself to see these charges, yes it is an allegation but you can see that they are solid and appear true as far as a layman can see. And then his efforts to stop that process were just admittance of guilt as far as I’m concerned.”.

Nduka Nwosu and Paul Obi in New York
As preparations for the submission of the ministerial list by President Muhammadu Buhari heats up, former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and Buhari met on Friday at the United Nations (UN) Plaza in downtown Manhattan, New York City, United States.

The meeting which took place at the 37th floor of the plaza was behind closed doors.

The former president first came in waiting for the president, when President Buhari came, they both moved in with Dr. Kayode Fayemi and other top dignitaries who accompanied the President to the 70th UN General Assembly.

When journalists ambushed the two leaders, they were shielded by their security aides who said it would amount to 'security breach' to get to them.

The meeting came on the heels of speculations that the ministerial nominees would be out any time soon.

Speculations at the UN General Assembly meeting were also rife that the discussion centred on several national issues, critical among them is the appointment of ministers in the Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

A source familiar with the meeting informed THISDAY that "the leaders decided to hold the meeting to discuss key national issues, crucial also is the ministerial list," the source said.

The meeting by the leaders came amid perceived infighting and differences between Obasanjo and APC national leader and former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Obasanjo who surreptitiously ditched his former party the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and protégée, former President Goodluck Jonathan is bent on gaining some foothold in the Buhari’s government. A move, Tinubu is completely against.

At the UN meeting, there were several other lobbyists wanting to court President Buhari’s attention ahead of the ministerial appointments.

It was also speculated that Hon Abike Dabiri who came with Obasanjo was being tipped to replace Joy Ogwu at the UN as her tenure ends soon.

The president who had a busy day made a presentation at the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) parley after the plenary session where the Catholic Pontiff, His Holiness, Pope Francis 1 gave his inaugural speech.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo is also expected to speak as a guest at the Clinton Global Initiative, where he is to highlight key components of development particularly centred on the developing world.

President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has urged Muslim faithful and the citizenry in general, to make the fear of God the foundation of their lives.

Saraki, in a goodwill message on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir, said the event symbolised the fear of Allah and the desire of man to always comply with the wish of his creator. This, he said, was exemplified by the life of Prophet Ibrahim.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on
Media and Publicity, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, the Senate President stated reasons why the fear of God must reign supreme.

“With the fear of Allah, mutual respect and love, we will tolerate one another, work together and be able to harness our abundant resources as a progressive nation.

“We cannot achieve much with unnecessary frictions and disharmony. What Nigerians need now is to move forward with the present change era,” Saraki said.

He also called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of love, tolerance and mutual respect, adding that these virtues are the panacea to move the nation forward.

Saraki continued, “We have herculean tasks to address. Our army of unemployed graduates and youths are hovering on the street.

“Insecurity is threatening the peace and social development of our dear nation, quality health care services and economic buoyancy are major challenges that require urgent attention.
“I am very optimistic that with our collective efforts, these challenges are surmountable and we will soon overcome.”

The Senate President called on all arms of government not to rest on their oars in the onerous task of building a formidable nation where all Nigerians will live in peace and prosperity.

He urged the Muslim community to continue to pray for the government, the military and other security agencies in the fight against insurgency.
He stressed that peace and socio-economic development of the nation remained paramount.

On behalf of the Senate, Saraki pledged the lawmakers’ continuous support and encouragement towards putting the nation on the right track.

PenSniper:
Thank you Op.
Atleast now we know the true and real slaves in Nigeria.

As the committee set up by President Muhamadu Buhari to investigate the purchase of arms and ammunitions for the armed forces commenced sitting, some past service chiefs are beginning to deliver arms an ammunitions purchased during their tenure, Daily Sun can authoritatively reveal.

Intelligence sources hinted that in the last few weeks, the military has been receiving supplies of arms which the authorities have been sending to the North-east to boost its counter insurgency operations.

The source, however, said that this was done after proper documentation of the equipment received and the dates they were delivered so as to keep their records straight and updated.

Daily Sun, gathered that while some past service chiefs were doing everything possible to wash their hands off any dirty deals that took place during their tenure in office, there seems to be serious trouble for some serving officers said to have participated actively in the arms purchase deals since their principals were busy taking care of the home fronts.

Apart from traveling out of the country at some point in time to see for themselves the kinds of weapons they would need to prosecute and overcome the war against terrorism, sources say some of the officers they appointed to act as the intermediaries between the arms manufacturers and their various services, used the opportunity to enrich themselves in monies amounting to several millions of dollars.

This is said not to have gone down well with some serving personnel who are doing everything in their powers to ensure these officers cough out the illegal money they acquired in the process to the last kobo.

To this end, some damning evidences are said to have been obtained by the aggrieved personnel and submitted to the committee.

Daily Sun further gathered that apart from inviting past service chiefs, former ministers of defence and former national security advisers among others, some military personnel have also equipped themselves with mind blowing evidences of illegal activities carried out by some former ministers of defence and former NSAs, to buttress their innocence and prove to the public that the military was not as corrupt as it is being perceived after all.

Similarly, allegations and evidences over the purchases of fake arms and ammunitions by some bigwigs who have connections to high places have also been dug out to ensure the committee gets to the root of the matter and bring all those culpable to book.

This is even as those who were paid upfront to supply these weapons are reportedly negotiating with the government and the committee to make the refund in cash since they were not able to supply the consignments or better still given more time to make the supply.

Daily Sun, however, was not able to ascertain whether or not the government or the committee have agreed to either of the options.

Kogi 2015: James Faleke emerges Abubakar Audu’s running mate

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has officially picked James Abiodun Faleke, the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives as its deputy governorship candidate for Kogi State, northcentral Nigeria.

Faleke, chairman of the House Committee on Ethics, Anti-corruption and National Values in the Seventh Assembly, was also former two time chairman of Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State as well as ex-Chairman of Conference 57, umbrella organisation for the chairmen of the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs in Lagos State.

Faleke’s choice was regarded a round peg in a round hole which was applauded by many especially leaders of the party at all levels.

This was based on account of his commitment and loyalty to the party.

He has emerged as one of the younger elements of committed party members thus an integral member of the engine room of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Faleke has undertaken several assignments for the party and came out with flying colours, the most recent being his sterling performance as the Coordinator of the Lagos Office of the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation.

Highlight of his role then was organising a walk-to-freedom programme during which hundreds of thousands of party supporters and members including the current Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; Senator Oluremi Tinubu among others participated.

In 2011, Faleke was also in the trenches in Kogi State campaigning and working for Audu who was then governorship candidate of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
Faleke is also a deep rooted grassroots mobiliser who is well loved by many for several qualities including humility, loyalty, commitment and diligence.

http://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2015/09/10/kogi-2015-james-faleke-emerges-abubakar-audus-running-mate/

First Bank of Nigeria Limited on Monday announced that its Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, would replace Mr. Bisi Onasanya as the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
The announcement came on the heels of an earlier notice of Onasanya’s retirement as the GMD/CEO of the lender.

The development came along with major leadership changes at the bank’s parent company, FBN Holdings Plc.

In a statement, the group said the pioneer Group CEO of FBN
Holdings, Mr. Bello Maccido, would be leaving his position to become the Chairman of the newly-licensed FBN Merchant Bank Limited.

The current Executive Director, South, First Bank of Nigeria, Mr. UK Eke, will replace Maccido as the Group Managing Director-designate, FBN Holdings Plc.

The bank noted that the leadership changes would become effective on January 1, 2016.

Other changes will see the current Chairman, First Bank of Nigeria, Prince Ajibola Afonja, retire and be succeeded by Mrs. Ibukun Awosika.

Announcing the other changes, the bank said in the statement, “Following a rigorous selection process driven by the Board and supported by Heidrick & Struggle, the internationally renowned executive search firm, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the current Executive Director/CFO emerged as the Managing Director-designate, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, while Mr. Gbenga Shobo, the current Executive Director, Lagos & West, emerged the Deputy Managing Director-designate.

“This comes on the heels of the group’s earlier notice of Mr. Bisi Onasanya’s retirement as GMD/CEO of the bank. These decisions have been ratified by the Board of Directors, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals and all take effect from January 1, 2016.”

As pioneer Group CEO of the FBN Holdings Group in very critical times, the statement said that Bello birthed the process of establishing the multi-faceted group to comply with diverse regulatory requirements, navigating through uncharted territory.

It added, “He will undoubtedly bring his wealth of experience, spanning over 30 years post call to Bar experience as an accomplished retail, corporate and investment banker, to bear in his new role chairing the Board of the emergent FBN Merchant Bank Limited.

“The incoming Group Managing Director, UK has over 30 years’ post experience in financial services, auditing, consulting, taxation, process engineering and capital market operations.

“Sola, the Managing Director-designate, has garnered diverse expertise in treasury and financial management, risk management, accounting, corporate governance and strategy development, advisory and compliance.”

The new DMD-designate, Gbenga, has a banking career spanning over 25 years with experience in corporate banking, institutional banking, commercial banking, retail banking and treasury, according to the statement.

In announcing the appointments, the Group Chairman, FBN Holdings, Dr. Oba Otudeko, said, “We are proud to announce these appointments.

In reaching these decisions, we are mindful of the imperatives for a more efficient group structure that will benefit the group’s need to deploy systems, which deepen efficiency, while expanding revenue and returns on investment.

“We are confident that we have made the right choices in these appointees. In selecting our MD and DMD, we were particularly mindful to identify outstanding and top-notch professionals with complementary and mutually reinforcing skill set.

“These appointments are a testament to the strength of our succession planning mechanisms and the calibre of candidates it produces.

It also re-articulates our commitment to put our customers first with the confidence in the value that this new leadership team brings to bear on behalf of the group, customers and employees, even as we strive to return greater value to shareholders.”

http://www.punchng.com/business/business-economy/adeduntan-to-succeed-onasanya-as-first-bank-gmd/

THE game appears up for most tax-evading companies in the country as the Federal Government would soon commence tax-audit of all the 450,000 firms operating in the country.

The essence of the audit is to catch the companies that have been short-changing the government by avoiding paying tax, the Federal Inland Revenue Service said on Sunday.

Statistics provided by the FIRS showed that only 125,000 companies, representing 27.7 per cent of the 450,000 firm operating in the country, paid any form of tax. The remaining 325,000 have been evading taxation.

The FIRS, in a statement on Sunday, said a special audit of all the companies would be carried out, in collaboration with audit firms, and tax consultants.

In the statement, the Director, Communications and Servicom Department, Mr. Emmanuel Obeta, explained that the decision to carry out the exercise was reached at a meeting between the

Acting Executive Chairman, FIRS, Mr. Babatunde Fowler; and audit firms, chartered accountants, tax consultants and other professional service providers.

The statement added that the exercise would be carried out within 30 days and would take into consideration the various year ends and peak points of activities of the various companies.

Fowler was said to have pointed out that the collaboration between the professional service providers, states Boards of Internal Revenue and FIRS would mark a turning point for taxation as well as reduce the country’s reliance on oil.

The statement read in part, “The meeting focused on the need to harmonise exchange of information across all the revenue authorities as well as ensuring a synchronised auditing of all the various companies in the country.

“At the end of their deliberations, the meeting agreed to share information with members of the National Assembly, particularly on tax laws, in collaboration with other professional bodies as well as relevant stakeholders.

“They also resolved that FIRS, state Revenue Boards and the various audit firms will carry out joint audits of the various companies to ensure accuracy of the exercise, enhance transparency and drive compliance.

“These audits will be completed within 30 days and will take cognisance of the various year ends and peak points of activities of the various companies.”

The statement quoted Fowler as saying that the input from stakeholders was necessary for the expansion of the nation’s tax net, information dissemination, building capacity of tax administration as well as sharing information that would promote voluntary compliance.

He said, “Irrespective of the fact that we have a duty to advice taxpayers, we equally have obligation to government in ensuring increase in revenue collection.

“It’s time to stop all forms of unwholesome practices in tax related issues because Nigerians need us at this critical time to reposition the country for more resources.

“We don’t have all the answers we need you from both sides to reposition the entire process. All we are asking for is your cooperation to move the nation’s tax system to another level through your support and other stakeholders’’

The tax practitioners, who spoke during the meeting, were said to have called for adherence to professional code of ethics among stakeholders at all time.

Buhari’s 100 Days: Placing Nigeria on the firm path to recovery- By Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria
Three months ago, the course of Nigeria’s future changed for the better. The All Progressives Congress won a historic election.

Tired of the broken promises and damaged public institutions wrought by sixteen years of Peoples Democratic Party’s misrule, the people demanded change. By virtue of the election, the people reclaimed the primacy of their sovereign will. They demanded that government should serve them before serving itself.

That proclaimed that government for the people was not only possible in this land but that its establishment was overdue. The breath of hope was restored to the body politic. On that day, we all stood more proudly and more eager to walk into the new day that had come.

But change is not made simply by winning an election or ejecting a few bad seeds from office. Change requires the careful removal of the rotted timber that has made national governance such a rickety structure. It requires the bold articulation yet wise implementation of a vision and supporting policies, programs and projects aimed at making our country better, making our people’s lives better.

Change does not tolerate the high rates of poverty and joblessness that insult our national potential and reduce the lives of too many Nigerians. The change we seek will revive this economy in a way that creates jobs and lifts Nigerians out of poverty that all may enjoy the dignified and secure life promised us.

Change is not weakening our military to the point where it is too demoralized and ill-equipped to protect our people from terrorist violence.Change is energizing that military with new leadership, better war materiel and the firm mandate to rout Boko Haram.

Change is establishing peace and security so that the hundreds of thousands of displaced Nigerians may return home in contemplation of rebuilding their lives in ways better than what was before.

And change means fighting corruption in all of its manifestations instead of consorting with it. No longer shall the public treasury, meant for the wellbeing of the many, be treated as the private reserve of the few.

Nigeria is now 100 days into President Buhari’s leadership. It is clear that he has begun the change Nigeria needs. He has shown the decisiveness, the incorruptibility, security acumen and progressive vision we voted for. He has brought the leadership we desperately need.

I shudder to think where we might be had the prior administration been allowed to govern even 100 days more, let alone another four years.

First, Buhari has turned the table against Boko Haram. He has not hesitated to take the fight to the terrorists, destroying their hideouts, capturing their fighters and equipment while taking the military initiative away from them. They are on their heels and on the run.

To get to this better position, he dismissed general officers who had lost heart and were too hesitant to confront Boko Haram, replacing them with new military commanders selected not on regionalism or favoritism but on the strength of their military leadership and fighting spirit.

The president strengthened our security partnerships with Chad, Niger, Cameroon, and the United States to build a much stronger regional and international coalition to uproot the terrorists. He continues to reach out to other nations to further strengthen that coalition.

We are no longer a junior partner in a fight that mostly takes place on our soil. Because of President Buhari, we are at the head of this multilateral effort, driving it forcefully to successful conclusion.

We are already seeing improvements in safety across the Northeast as Boko Haram retreats and retreats. Buhari will not relent until there is no more Boko haram left to fight.

Buhari is also tackling corruption. Hehas already shown dozens of corrupt officials the exit, demonstrating that he will not tolerate corruption in his government. He is busily plugging the loopholes in the system to prevent the wholesale thievery so common under the predecessor government.The idea of a single federal government account is one such corrective measure.

Moreover, he is studiously tracking where much of the stolen funds went. He is doing this that he may recover these public funds and bring to book those who purloined them.

He will return that money to the people, using the funds to build schools, roads, and hospitals that Nigeria needs.

The President is also taking steps to pull our economy from the dangerous brink where the PDP left it and then to strengthen and diversify the economy that it may provide jobs and prosperity to all who are willing to work to improve their lot.

He has fought and already cured much of the indiscipline and subterfuge that plagued the operation of our refineries and power system.

Just in the first hundred days, refinery production has increased reasonably, lowering the cost of fuel importation and thus spurring greater economic activity. He also has improved electricity production by holding the power companies accountable.

By approving a package of emergency fiscal and financial relief, he has stopped the slide of numerous states into economic depression and imminent bankruptcy. By enabling the payment of back salaries to state government civil servants, he has saved millions of Nigerians from sinking into the hunger and poverty.

Moreover, the funds paid to these people will be used to purchase goods and services thus energizing local economies that were becoming flaccid due to lack of aggregate consumer demand. The former government should have taken this step months ago, even before the election.

However, it let a bad situation fester into impending calamity. Had that government remained in office, it would have allowed the states to slide into bankruptcy, triggering a financial crisis that would have engulfed the banking system if not the entire economy. In his first 100 days, President Buhari staved the financial paralysis of the states and, as such, may have prevented a sudden and crippling financial crisis.

Gone are the days of rebasing falsehood and brazen theft from our treasury.

In coming weeks, he will reveal his budget. The budget will go far toward honoring his campaign promises to boost domestic industries, improve our schools to prepare our children for the jobs of tomorrow, and invest in infrastructure that will make Nigeria a better place to run a farm, build a factory, drive your car, drink the water, construct a home, and create jobs.

We have still a lot of work to do. While reeling, Boko Haram is not completely defeated. Ourstolen girls are not back, and too many from the North East are still unable to return home.

With regard to corruption, we must not only recoup stolen money, we must rediscover lost public ethics. We need to establish the mindset that corruption is criminal and evil and do away with the mentality that has treated it as correct public etiquette.

While actions have been taken to thwart imminent crisis, much needs to be done to place the economy on solid footing over the longer haul. I look forward with great optimism and enthusiasm to the government coming forward with plans to create jobs, modernize our infrastructure and diversify the economy so that our industrial sector may attain greater prominence.

I salute and accept the deliberate painstaking slow fix of this government which is meant to set a stronger foundation for quick economic recovery. The effort to stem the primitive pilferation of our commonwealth must attain national priority. The Buhari administration is committed to building a new country.

Looking at the fragile vehicle they inherited and at the harsh terrain they have been able to navigate, I could not be prouder of what the President, the Vice President and their team have done thus far. If they continue in this manner, they would have done more than justify the people’s faith in them. They would have placed Nigeria on the path to its better self. We cannot ask any more from them than that.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a former governor of Lagos State
Twitter: @AsiwajuTinubu

Dangote Cement has announced new pricing and marketing initiatives to stimulate building work across Nigeria by reducing its cement price by N300.

According to information made available to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), yesterday, in Lagos, Dangote Cement would reduce the price of its market-leading 3X brand of cement in Nigeria by N300 per 50kg bag, or N6,000 per tonne. The new price will become effective immediately.

The company would also undertaking a number of marketing initiatives designed to stimulate consumption of cement in Nigeria and to increase exports.

Speaking on development, Chief Executive of Dangote Cement, Onne van der Weijde, said: “Our cost-saving initiatives in Nigeria have enabled us to cut the price of cement to a level that is good for consumers yet still allows us to achieve strong returns that are sustainable in the longer term.”

In spite of the sentiments bothering on preference for the use of English Language at the expense of Yoruba Language, it is interesting to observe that it is still being sought after not only by Africans in diaspora but also Americans and Asians.

Some Americans have arrived the Centre for Yoruba Studies at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State to learn the Yoruba Language. This is however not the first time Americans will arrive Ibadan, to learn the language as four Americans in 2011 graduated from the centre. Watch the video hereIn spite of the sentiments bothering on preference for the use of English Language at the expense of Yoruba Language, it is interesting to observe that it is still being sought after not only by Africans in diaspora but also Americans and Asians.

Some Americans have arrived the Centre for Yoruba Studies at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State to learn the Yoruba Language. This is however not the first time Americans will arrive Ibadan, to learn the language as four Americans in 2011 graduated from the centre. Watch the videohere.http://www./video/x30v8d6.

In spite of the sentiments bothering on preference for
the use of English Language at the expense of Yoruba Language, it is interesting to observe that it is still being sought after not only by Africans in diaspora but also Americans and Asians.

Some Americans have arrived the Centre for Yoruba Studies at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State to learn the Yoruba Language. This is however not the first time Americans will arrive Ibadan, to learn the language as four Americans in 2011 graduated from the centre. Watch the video here.

NOBLEDANDY:

hypocrite

besides there is nothing like saddest

NOBLEDANDY:


go and ask google if you donno the gist

Fulani slave

NOBLEDANDY:
Igbo's like the hausa's now. for teaching sufferisticated Yoruba's a lesson. and making them realize that they are only but slaves to them.

I will rather team with northerner than Yoruba as it is now.

confused people.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday slammed a N3 million bail on a blogger for allegedly publishing a defamatory item about the CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo. The accused, Seun Oloketuyi, 39, is standing trial on a two-count charge bordering on defamation.

The accused was arraigned by the Police Special Fraud Unit and he pleaded not guilty to the charge. Justice Mohammed Yunusa, who gave the ruling, also granted the accused two credible sureties in like sum. Yunusa said that one of the sureties must be a blood relation of the accused while the second surety must have a landed property in Lagos.

He added that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means while the sureties must be verified by the prosecutor. He ordered that the accused should be remanded in Ikoyi Prisons pending when the bail conditions would be met and
adjourned the case to Nov. 4 for trial.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Muiz Bamire, had urged the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms. He supported the bail application with affidavit and a written address. The Prosecutor, Mr Olakanmi Omisope, had opposed the bail application with counter-affidavit.

Omisope had told the court that the accused committed the offences sometime in June in Lagos. He said the accused knowingly and intentionally published a defamatory story on the internet against Okonkwo, the CEO of Fidelity Bank. Omisope alleged that the accused published the defamatory story on www.naijahottestgist.com, in order to annoy and insult Okonkwo.

He said the offences contravened Section 24 (1) (b) of the Cybercrime (Prohibition Prevention) Act, 2015 and Section 375 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation.

NAN reports that Section 24 (1) of the Cybercrime Act provides that any person who intentionally or knowingly sends a message which is grossly offensive or an indecent obscene that is false by means of computer network is liable on conviction to a fine of N7, 000 or three years imprisonment or both.

Humanrights activist, Mr. Emmanuel Adejoh, has assured the nation that Buhari’s anti-corruption stance would soon come under the light in Kogi State with the emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu as the governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress, ahead of the November 21 governorship election in the state.

Prince Audu is standing trial over sundry corruption charges, ranging from money laundering to embezzlement of public funds.
In a chat with Vanguard in Anyigba, Adejoh said the APC, under the leadership of President Mujammadu Buhari, shouldn’t have allowed someone whose integrity was tainted to contest under his party.

He said: “The essence of the APC screening of candidates for the election was supposed to ensure that only credible people are allowed to contest the governorship poll.

‘’I am not a politician but as a citizen of this state, I am waiting for the day Buhari will stand on the podium to lift the hand of Prince Audu who has been accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of corrupt practices.


“Though Audu has not been convicted, many people in the state are already insinuating that Audu is desperate about the governorship in order to alter the course of justice. But I think he has the constitutional right to contest the election”.

Adejoh called on political parties in the country to stop parading corrupt individuals as candidates for political offices, saying leaders must be people who only see the good of all.

Meanwhile, a political pressure group, Team Kogi 2016, has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, not to be intimidated by the recent emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu as the governorship candidate of APC in Kogi State.

The group in a statement signed by Comrade Sam Yinka, said it was imperative for the anti-graft commission to substantiate its charges against the former governor in order to give the fight against corruption in the country a new vista.

“In the days of Jonathan, political allies were said to be shielded from anti-graft agencies. President Buhari must know that the main reason Nigerians voted for him was his anti-corruption credentials. He must not sacrifice this hope on a platter of politics,” the statement read.

post=37545872:


Why was the feasibility studies tented by ethnocentricism and regionalism?


Let me help you to affirm that the project location was hijacked and nobody is denying it.


Let the conglomerate responsible for the dock build it in Lagos and consequently host it there for peace to reign. It should not be built in Lagos and be transferred to Niger Delta to host.

•Governor hands over 10 Hilux vans, 15 motorcycles
to police

To ensure 24-hour service in general hospitals and health centres, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the recruitment of more parademic staff and special medical coordinators.

Ambode made this known at the Lagos House in Ikeja yesterday when he commissioned 20 Mobile Intensive Care unit (MICU) ambulances and 26 transport ambulances in fulfilment of his promise to bring quality healthcare service closer to the people particularly during emergencies.

He also handed over 10 new Hilux Vans and 15 motorcycles to the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni in furtherance of his commitment to ensure a crime free state.

The governor said: “In my inaugural address, I pledged my total commitment to run a government that will leave no one behind; a government that will implement programmes that make life simpler, easier and happier for our people, Today we are launching the free ambulance service as a demonstration to that pledge”.

He said the acquisition of the ambulances was also in consonance
with his administration’s mantra to run a government of continuity with improvement.

“I recall with much satisfaction, the great strides we have witnessed in the health sector in the last 16 years; commencing from the foundational leaps of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the significant landmarks of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN)”, the governor said.

The transport ambulances, he said, would be in the 26 general hospitals for easy access, adding that his administration has restructured the State Emergency Ambulance Services and increased the fleet of MICU by 20, bringing the number to 33 units.
Ambode promised to upgrade the general hospitals and also build a Medical Park.

Handing over the vehicles and motorcycles to Owoseni, the governor urged the Police to utilise them judiciously for the enhancement of security.
Owoseni thanked the governor for the gesture, promising that the vehicles would be deployed for crime prevention.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr Modele Osunkiyesi, said the acquisition of the MICUs was a fall-out of a stakeholders’ meeting with the governor.

IsraeliAIRFORCE:
The letter submitted amidst tight security by NLNG neither deterred the youths who matched on within the NLNG premises to deliver the strongly worded letter received by one of NLNG’s key management officers.
.
.
.
While they wait on NLNG to reply the letter they are strongly maintaining a capital NO stance to siting the Drydock in Badagry.

Nigeria LNG Limited has denied its involvement in the proposed USD 1.5 billion Badagry Dry Dock Project after several media reports identified the company as the owner of the project.
Nigeria LNG said that the company is not the owner and is not investing in the building of any dry dock anywhere in the world, as it has a singular business focus, namely processing and exporting LNG.

The owner of the proposed dry dock in Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria, is a consortium of other Nigerian companies under the name of Badagry Ship Repair and Maritime Engineering Company (BSMEC), according to Nigeria LNG.

"NLNG's only interest was and still remains, encouraging investors to consider building dry docks in the country to save the nation's foreign exchange and save local ship owners, like ourselves, the trouble of having to go overseas for dry dock services,'' the company said in a statement.

''Nigeria LNG would thus be pleased to see more dry dock projects emerge in different parts of the country, but will not be investing in any. It is thus fair to add that not being an investor in dry dock, NLNG cannot dictate to investors where to site their projects.''


Badagry Dry Dock will be the first facility of this kind able to receive large vessels in the region of West Africa. Currently, owners of large vessels in the region have to dry dock their vessels in Europe, Asia and North America.

The Badagry Ship Repair and Maritime Engineering Company (BSMEC) has responded to the ongoing controversy which trailed its recent decision to site a $1.5billion dockyard project in Badagry, Lagos State.

Speaking in Lagos on behalf of the consortium, Dr. Taiwo Afolabi, who is BSMEC’s Chairman as well as Chairman of the participating company, Sifax Logistics and Marine Services Limited, denied the insinuation that NLNG is funding the project.

“BSMEC is the sole owner of the Badagry Dry Dock Project and no other person else.

BSMEC is made up of five different successful Nigerian companies which came together as core investors to form BSMEC, which is a joint venture between Sifax Logistics and Marine Services Limited., Energy Nature Limited, GMT Energy Services Limited, Japaul Oil and Maritime Services PLC and SIVC Infrastructure DMCC (Sahara Group Limited).

“Nigeria LNG is not a part of the consortium and is not an investor in the construction of the drydock project. To be clear, the Badagry drydock will be used for the maintenance of a wide range of oil and gas related vessels including very large crude carriers (VLCCs), offshore drilling rigs and offshore support vessels in addition to large LNG carriers,”the company said.

It is also planned to be a hub to be used for drydocking vessels from other West Africa countries.

According to Afolabi, the choice of location was made on a purely business interest, taking into account several factors considered important to investors.

He added that the project is in line with the government’s drive for Nigerian Content and will create capacity for Nigeria and help address capital flight.