₦airaland Forum

FORMER Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, has described the economic policies of the government as “confusing”, expressing regret that in spite of the confusion, the government remains “adamant”.

Former Vice President of the World Bank for Africa, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili.


Ezekwesili, the Convener of the Bring Back Our Girls and former Minister, spoke in the current edition of The Interview magazine.
Answering a question on the call for diversification, she said: “I am not a fan of the economic policies of this government so far; I feel it’s too tentative in making even the right policy decisions and even when it tries to make the right policy decisions, it has been in the breach. It has been very confusing.”



In a statement, the MD/Editor-In-Chief of The Interview, Azu Ishiekwene, described the interview as “a no-nonsense call to reflection. Oby is not treading on eggshells. It’s bareknuckle stuff.”

Ezekwesili said: “It’s not that the government is timid; it’s about doing the wrong things and being adamant about them.”

She cited the government’s monetary and fiscal policies as key areas of denial of “empirical evidence” and called for structural reforms and better citizen engagement.

In the interview, conducted before the BBOG’s visit to Sambisa Forest, Ezekwesili wept over the fate of the remaining Chibok girls, saying the episode had exposed Nigerian governments in their “worst form”.

She spoke on what she would do if President Muhammadu Buhari invited her to serve, her perception of former President Goodluck Jonathan and her relationship with former President Olusegun Obasanjo.



Also in this edition, the founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Prof. Pat Utomi, spoke, among other things, on why he is not in Buhari’s cabinet and on Nigeria’s “self-inflicted recession”.

Entrepreneur, Mo Abudu; leadership capital enthusiast, Linus Okorie; and pharmacist-turned-bag designer, Maureen Obayewa, also share their experiences.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has told the Senate that no action can be taken against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, to warrant his being removed from office.

The position of the President was contained in a letter to the Senate on Tuesday.

The letter was read at plenary by the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.



The Senate had indicted Lawal for the award of a contract to a firm in which he was alleged to have interest.

The contract was for N230 million for the clearing of what was termed “bush” in Yobe State.

However, the Yobe State Government said it was not aware of the contract or the site.

Based on this, the Senate demanded the removal of Lawal from office.



Lawal, however, described the allegation as witch hunting, saying he had divested his interest in the company months before assuming office as SGF.

A former President of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani, on Sunday formally joined the All Progressives Congress from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Nnamani was elected into the Senate on the platform of the PDP.

But on Sunday, he registered as a member of the APC in his country home in Amechi-Uwani, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Nnamani is the head of the Electoral Reform Committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nnamani said of his decision to join APC: “I like to identify with potential winners.

“If that makes me an opportunist, so be it.”

Nnamani, who said he had left the PDP since February 6, 2016, declared the party dead.

He said: “In the politics of our nation, if you look carefully and read between the lines, you will not ask somebody who is on his way back from the market to buy something for you, such a person will not get anything for you, but if you ask somebody who is on his way to the market to buy something for you, he is more likely to get it for you.



“I noticed that the APC has all it takes, but it is not perfect yet.

“We will join hands to make it near perfect.

“I am acting according to my conscience.

“Many people will criticise me that I am abandoning a party that helped me to attain a high level politically.

”February 6, 2016, was the day I left the PDP and went into political sabbatical.

“Our (Nigeria’s) constitution does not allow independent candidates, so I cannot remain party-less.

“Now that change is going on in the country, one cannot remain rigid.”

Nnamani equally urged the Igbo people to join the APC.

He said: “The South-East has a role to play in our nation.

“We can’t play that role from outside.

“We have to be inside to play our role in Nigeria.

“Even if we want to ask that imbalances in the country should be corrected, we have to ask for that from inside.

“You cannot stay outside to criticise.

“It is not about being confrontational.

“I am not condemning any party or anybody, but since you cannot be an independent candidate, you have to join a political party, even if it is not yet perfect.

“But then, even those who stayed 16 years (in power) could not achieve perfection.



“So, we have a better chance to support a party we can help and build to achieve perfection.

“I am not hiding it that I want to identify with the APC and I will do that boldly.

“In time, I will tell my supporters that this is where the road is.”

Among those who witnessed Nnamani’s registration were the Vice Chairman, APC South-East, Chief Emma Eneukwu; the Director-General, Voice of Nigeria, Osita Okechukwu; the Chairman, Enugu State chapter of the party, Dr. Ben Nwoye; and the Chairman of the Registration Committee, Rev. Tony Ibeabuchi.

A bunch of brooms was presented to Nnamani after he registered.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has saluted the Nigerian media for performing its duties diligently.

The President, who made his position known on his Twitter handle, @MBuhari, on Sunday in London, said he was always in touch with news from home.

President Buhari, whose picture was also posted in the tweet, specifically named Channels TV as one of his favorite Television stations.



He said: “Wherever I am, I keep up with news from home. Channels TV is one of my favorites. I’m proud of what the Nigerian media are achieving.”



The post to a large extent has dispelled the insinuation that President Buhari had died.

This is what happens when government is about to be defeated legally! They resort to settling out of court

INTRODUCTION

Today is Day 1012 of the abduction of our Chibok girls, taken from their school, Government Secondary School, Chibok by terrorists on 14 April 2014, Day 602 under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch, and Day 997 of consistent daily advocacy for their return as 195 of them remain missing.

For Day 1000 of our Chibok Girls abduction on January 8, 2017, our movement held a Global Week of Action (GWA) with seven days of twenty-four hourly marches to the exit into the Aso Villa office and residence of the President of Nigeria. On the fifth day of our GWA, being 12th of January, 2017, we received a letter from the Federal Government inviting #BBOG to a “Guided Tour of the North East” commencing the following two working days. The invitation came as a surprise considering the history of adversarial actions against our movement over the last one year by the Federal Government. Nevertheless our BBOG movement responded by welcoming the opportunity to explore a tour of Sambisa with our Military but on the prior condition that a pre-tour meeting would hold to help clarify various issues of concern to us. In its response to that demand, the FG pleaded that due to operational and cost constraints, it could not delay the tour date, urging us to reconsider and join with local and foreign journalists that were on the delegation to observe the air component of the counterinsurgency war by Nigeria Air Force.

OUR DELEGATION

The #BBOG team was led by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (Co-convener), Aisha Yesufu, (Chair, #BBOG Strategic Team), Ibrahim Usman (Member representing our Sit-out), and Dr. Manasseh Allen (Representative, Chibok Community and Uncle to some of the abducted Chibok Girls).

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DELEGATION

The Federal Government was led by the Minister of Defense and the Minister of Information and Culture and included the Chief of Air Staff. Several Journalists from both local and international news media were also on the Guided Tour.

BBOG STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVE FOR ACCEPTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FG GUIDED TOUR

In consideration of the FG’s inability to reschedule the tour, we reviewed our original position and decided to join the “Guided Tour”. We thereafter framed our objective for the tour as “an opportunity to directly learn from our Military the operational objectives, successes, failures and constraints involved in its effort to rescue our Chibok Girls and other abducted citizens even as it secures and defends our national territorial integrity in order to empower our advocacy for the rescue of our remaining 195 ChibokGirls and other abducted citizens”.



BBOG ALWAYS HAD CONFIDENCE IN OUR TROOPS IN THE FRONTLINE OF BATTLE

Even as we framed the Objective for our movement’s participation in the Guided Tour of the war zone, we consider it important for the records to reiterate that our movement was never in doubt that our troops at the frontlines of the counterinsurgency war are giving their best effort to the task of searching for and finding our daughters. We were never in doubt that our troops are doing their utmost to finding and rescuing all other citizens we as a nation never even knew were in terrorist captivity. We were never in doubt that our troops were sacrificing with their lives to secure and defend the territorial integrity of our country. Indeed, like most Nigerians, members of our movement individually and collectively take pride in the capacity and commitment of our troops fighting in the frontline of battle.

Our advocacy is entirely directed at the leadership of the federal government and the military establishments which have the strategic responsibility to adequately resource our troops with the appropriate tools, equipment, guidance and decisions that they must have in order to be effective and achieve results. Evidently, since our ChibokGirls were abducted and our Movement began advocating for their rescue, what the public sees–especially in the early years of the terrorist insurgency–is failure of leadership to appropriately prioritize, resource, guide troops and make strategic decisions for their rescue. It is for this reason that our movement defined our advocacy as a Demand for Good Governance from those who have the constitutional mandate to ensure the security and welfare of citizens like our Chibok Girls.

ACTIVITIES AND BRIEFINGS OF THE NIGERIA AIR FORCE LED GUIDED TOUR OF SAMBISA GENERAL AREA WAR ZONE 16-17 JANUARY 2017

On Monday 16th January, 2017 at 8.53 am our movement’s four member-team, the Minister of Information and Culture, local and foreign journalists on the delegation, departed the Air Force base at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, the Nigeria Air Force (NAF) Hercules C130 air craft.

On arrival at the Yola Air Force base at 10.35 am, the delegation was received by the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadiq Abubakar. The Minister of Defence, Mr. Mansur Dan-Ali, and the representative of the Chief of Defence Staff arrived concurrently and the full delegation was ushered the briefing room of the holding room of the Nigerian Air Force.

The Guided Tour was a combination of briefs and search flights into the war zone called “The Sambisa General Area” by the military. The briefings were categorized into segments with Air Force officers and experts led by the Chief of Air Staff. They made technology powered presentations on various aspects of the counter-insurgency war as well as basic general routines of the Command. The delegation was given access to the analysis and technical war room of the Nigeria Air Force. Crucially, two members of our BBOG Team were on the two Sorties — Flight Searches — that took place at day and at nighttime during the Guided Tour.

THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BBOG PARTICIPATION IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT-LED GUIDED TOUR OF SAMBISA GENERAL AREA HOSTED BY NIGERIA AIR FORCE:

We had interactions with the leadership and the officials of the Nigerian Air Force that enabled our Movement to assess the quality of the personnel in the establishment. We can confirm that the air component of the counter insurgency war is being prosecuted by a highly professional, capable, motivated and committed team of the Nigeria Air Force.

Furthermore, the presentation by the Chief of Air Staff on the training and human capital development strategy of the NAF enabled us to appreciate its plans for the future.

We saw that Data, Knowledge and Information Analysis play a major role in the strategy of the Nigerian Air Force prosecuting the air component of the war.

Our exposure to the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform and the technical room of NAF indicated the level of adoption of technology in the prosecution of the war.

We were presented data on the growing fleet of ISRs, fighter jets, Helicopter Gunships and other tools and equipment available to prosecute the air component of the war by NAF.

We observed the Coordination between the NAF and the Nigerian Army which prosecutes the ground component of the war was demonstrably strong as we saw evidence of the manner in which they share information toward achieving results.

We were provided data and imagery evidence to show that the search for our Chibok Girls and other abducted citizens is a daily activity by NAF.

The data sheet showing the summary of all search operations was displayed with the following key data points over the last eighteen months by NAF:

Total Missions to Sambisa General Area–2,105
Number of Sorties— 3,534
Time/Hour of flight— 6,323
Fuel Cost: Over N2.4 Billion

The Day Sortie — that is, the 3 hours search flight on the ISR platform in which we participated on Monday 16 January had us being flown at as low as 15,000 feet. It enabled us to see the theatre of war in Sambisa and to clearly observe activities on the ground via the technology platform within the aircraft. We observed cases of human movement and saw a woman running with a child. When our Day Sortie report was later analyzed, it showed that 14 women were gathered around a suspicious location which the NAF designated as the “Tree of Life” because it has been suspecting enemy movement around that spot. The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) stated that they would probe the result further with their army colleagues in order to determine the appropriate response.

The Night Sortie— At 2.41 AM on Tuesday, we participated in the Night Sortie which involved a similar flight search of the theatre of war like we did during the day. We were told by the NAF that until the acquisition of more equipment by our military since July 2015, the terrorists used to be most active at night time as darkness offered them advantage. It was usually during the night that they moved their captives who are mostly women, girls and children across locations.

Interestingly, our Night Sortie only revealed one movement on the ground– an animal foraging for food.



The searches enable the NAF to also sight enemy activities and to determine appropriate response jointly with the Nigerian Army. The Air Force presentation revealed its missions in which it sighted Boko Haram terrorists (BHT) as well as abducted persons running, fleeing from their captors especially during the operation that led to the capture of Camp Zairo. For example, some dates on which sightings were made are Kangarwa: 1st and 6th January, Dogon Chiku: 6th January and Chikun Gudu: 8th, 10th, 12th and 16th January.

Data trends like level of equipment of NAF and their direct impact on volume of observed enemy activities within the Sambisa General Area proved the correlation between adequate resourcing of the troops and results. Our flight into the Sambisa General Area on the ISR platform showed low suspected enemy activities compared to the data of previous year.

Better understanding of a key military language like the celebrated “capture of Camp Zairo” which previously to our movement and the larger public meant that capture of the entire vast land of Sambisa General Area. We now also know that the capture of Camp Zairo is significant because it used to be the operational base of the terrorists. With its capture, the military has achieved a major degradation of the capacity of the terrorists to launch attacks on our country.

We became aware that our troop must remain in Sambisa General Area which the NAF data presented as 60,000 square kilometers and equivalent to 18 times the size of Lagos. (There is currently a public contention and debate over this data and so our Movement calls on the NAF in the promotion of transparency to clarify the accuracy for everyone’s understanding). The legitimate fear of regrouping of the enemies to relaunch new attacks means that our military on air and on ground operations must continue.

There is no contradiction in the fact of the recovery of Camp Zairo by our troops and yet our Chibok Girls not having been recovered at that same time. This is because, in view of the vast land of the Sambisa General Area, our Chibok Girls could have been taken to a new base into which the terrorists relocated when they fled Camp Zairo.

Signed:For and on behalf of #BringBackOurGirls
OBY EZEKWESILI
AISHA YESUFU
MANASSEH ALLEN
IBRAHIM USMAN

A special report by the #BringBackOurGirls Movement following the return of four of its members who were part of the Federal Government guided tour of Sambisa Forest in search of the missing Chibok schoolgirls.

ADAMA Barrow, the newly sworn-in President of Gambia has said his predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, has agreed to quit.

Adamu Barrow, Gambia’s President taking oath of office on 19/01/2017.


Jammeh had in the last few days insisted on not relinquishing power to Barrow.
This led to the intervention of African forces under the command of the Economic Community of West African States, which had moved into Gambia on Thursday.



The troops, however, halted their moves when Jammeh offered to engage in further negotiation.

Barrow announced on Friday evening that Jammeh was set to quit.

Writing on Twitter on Friday, Barrow said Jammeh would also leave the country.

He tweeted: “I would like to inform you that Yahya Jammeh has agreed to step down. He is scheduled to depart Gambia today. #NewGambia.”



Barrow was sworn-in at Gambia’s embassy in Dakar in neighbouring Senegal on Thursday.



Red carpets were on Friday reportedly laid out at the airport in Gambia’s capital in what appeared to be preparations for a speech by Jammeh and a departure.

Also on Friday, Gambia’s chief of defence forces, Ousmane Badjie, pledged his allegiance to the country’s new president, a major shift as mediation continued to persuade defeated Jammeh to cede power.

TWO Journalists of Online Newspaper, Premium Times arrested on Thursday have been released by the Nigerian Police.

Photo; Twitter.com




‎Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of the newspaper, was arrested alongside the judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu, at around 5:00 p.m.
‎
They were released on bail and instructed to report at the FCT Police Command Headquarters by 8:00 a.m. Friday morning.
‎
But a highly-placed police source said the invitation could be a ploy to detain the journalists for an extended period.
‎
The police source said there are chances that the two could be taken before a Magistrate’s Court.
‎
“From what I understand, if they report tomorrow morning, they will be taken to a Magistrate’s Court and arraigned before a judge that will readily comply with the police arrangement and grant order for them to be detained,” the source said. “That way, they can then claim to be detaining them legally.”
‎
The development has sparked widespread condemnation, with the Amnesty International promising to launch an investigation into the motive behind it.
‎
The journalists were arrested after several plain-clothed officers raided Premium Times office.

The newspaper’s managing editor, Idris Akinbajo, hailed the “overwhelming” support from Nigerians and readers around the world.
‎
He said the paper would release a full statement after the journalists meet the police Friday morning.‎

AN early explosion has occurred in  Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
‎
The explosion occurred at about 5am.
‎
The exact scene of the explosion was yet to be confirmed as at press time.
‎
But  sources said it was at a mosque close to the University of Maiduguri.

According to an eyewitness, staff and students of the university were observing their prayer when the incident happened.‎
‎

‎
Details of casualties were equally not available as at press time.
‎
Borno State, especially Maiduguri, the capital, has been the ground for strikes by the Boko Haram sect.
‎
This has been more so since the sect was flushed out of its headquarters in Camp Zero, Sambisa Forest.‎

Suicide bombers, especially female, have been used to carry out the bombings.‎

BOMB explosions has occured in Madagali town; a local government area located in Adamawa, according to an eyewitness.

Social Times gathered that the explosions took place this morning.
‎
An eyewitness stated that many persons are dead following the explosions which happened in a crowded motor park.

As at the time of filling this report, the number of casualties is not clear, as security men and volunteer were seen carrying out bodies from the scene of the blast.

As at now it has not been ascertain if the explosion was a suicide bomb attack.‎

POPULAR Ponzi scheme MMM which was suspended last year has been re-opened.

P‎anic greeted participants on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, when the scheme froze all confirmed Mavros, saying it would resume operations after one month.

Many thought the money doubling scheme was gone for good and made fun of MMM members.

‎The scheme had said it would resume on January 14 but it has resumed a day earlier. Apparently, the scheme is not ready to say goodbye yet.

‎A message on its website said it resumed a day earlier because of the hysteria and buzz by authorites and the media.

This time around the Russian Ponzi scheme is back with new conditions, which includes encouraging its members to use bitcoin for transactions.

Upon resumption, the scheme says its members will now be able to pay and receive money in bitcoins, the digital currency.

MMM cites bitcoin’s steady growth in value as a reason for participants to adopt the currency.

“In a month, not only 30 percent will be added to your initial amount, but, it can increase itself due to Bitcoin price growth,” MMM’s letter to its participants partly reads.

Last week, MMM promoters issued instructions to its participants whose accounts were frozen, to perform “Promo Tasks: A New Tool for MMM Community Development.”
In the MMM message, subscribers were told to perform tasks, both online and offline, to promote the scheme and drive “traffic and participation” by the time the restriction on the account is lifted.

MMM, which before suspending operation on December 14 had over 3 million participants in the country, made inroads into the Nigerian investment market in 2015.‎

NO fewer than 100 motorcycles were recovered from fleeing Boko Haram terrorists on Wednesday, the Nigerian Army has announced.
‎
The recovery was made by operatives of Operation Lafiya Dole in Madaki Village, Biu Local Government Area of Borno State.
‎
According to available information, the terrorists, who have been fleeing Sambosa Forest since their dislodgment and subsequent occupation of their stronghold at Camp Zairo, were arrested by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole during intensified searches, patrols, raids and mop up operations.
‎
It was during one of such patrols to Madaki village by troops of 27 Task Force Brigade stationed in Bara that four of the fleeing members of the Boko Haram sect were arrested on Wednesday afternoon.
‎
They were intercepted along with 100 concealed motorcycles on the outskirt of the town.‎

The suspected Boko Haram terrorists, whose names were given as Muazu Gogobir, Mamman Shuaibu, Muhammadu Muhammadu and Isah Ibrahim, are said to be undergoing preliminary investigation.‎

It has been widely reported that the Nigerian economy is in a recession. In fact, economic experts and commentators have apprised Nigerians to cut their spending. Despite this, it seems Nigerians have largely ignored this advice especially when it comes to weddings. This is because, during some weekdays and weekends, event centres are filled out with guests, family members and friends present to witness the grand wedding. And some of them spend had currencies at these weddings. Of course, you know the amount expended on weddings. This has made some people doubt if Nigeria is actually in a recession. So why have Nigerian weddings defied the recession? Jumia Travel shares 5 reasons.

Nigerians naturally love to party

Although the Ijebus in Ogun state, south-west Nigeria, are born party-lovers, partying seems to be in our DNA. Hence, no matter how difficult things are in the country, Nigerians will find time merry and rejoice. Some do not even mind if they spend their earnings or borrow money to satisfy their party urge. Consequently, it will not stop them from organising weddings.

Family crowdsourcing of finance

This is one of the exciting things of being a Nigerian. When you organise weddings or any other event, you will never carry the burden alone. Your family and friends will support you. Hence, if you want one of the biggest weddings in Lagos, you will definitely have their support morally and financially. But remember, after the wedding, you are on your own when it comes to settling your debts after all the merriment.

It’s one of the couple’s happiest moment

Getting married to your heartthrob is one of the happiest moments in the life of the couples. Even if you are not going to break the bank for your wedding, you will try as much as possible to celebrate to the fullest. So, recession or no recession, the wedding goes on. After the wedding, both you can spend time at Intercontinental hotel Lagos.

You can make money from the wedding to settle expenses

Nigerians have evolved creative ways to make money during their weddings. How? It is through dancing. Whether the couple knows how to dance or not, they must hit the dance floor because that is one of the ways to make money and settle some expenses. This why there is always a music band and someone who will pick the money on standby.

Splinz:
Yes o... standing up against a tyrant isn't an easy one. Well done gallant officers!

THE Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, has described the sack of six police officers attached to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, as “the height of political victimisation by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government just because the policemen were among the patriotic Nigerians who foiled the attempt by the party to rig the Rivers State rerun elections”.

Governor Fayose described the six police officers as heroes of democracy.

He said: “Their names will be written in gold in the comity of defenders of the people of Rivers State and whenever normalcy returns to our body polity, they will surely regain their job.”

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose questioned the police authority on what it has done in respect of the Police officers that Nigerians have seen on videos hijacking ballot boxes.



He said: “Funny, they claimed that the six police officers, while in the convoy of Governor Wike misused the firearms in their possession and I have asked myself, who did they shoot with the firearms said to have been misused?

“The policemen simply did their job by protecting their principal and punishing them for performing their duties can only be meant to discourage policemen from protecting Governor Wike and other opposition Governors.”

Fayose also challenged the police to tell Nigerians the report of its investigations on the murder of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Alkali, and his driver during the Rivers State rerun elections.

He said:[b]“Since Christian Chukwuemela Ekikeme, a member of the gang that killed DSP Alkali, and his driver reportedly linked a certain Mr Kachi Nwokocha, who is a top member of the APC and an aide of the Minister of Transportation and immediate past governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as sponsor of the gang, the police has been silent on the murder.

“Up till today, the man mentioned as the sponsor of the gang that allegedly killed the DSP has not been questioned by the police.

“Why didn’t the police handle the murder of DSP Alkali and his driver with the speed of lighting that it handled the dismissal of the six police officers?



“Why are Nigerians not being told anything about the murder and the involvement of an APC chieftain just the way the police paraded the six police officers?

“It is sad that instead of focusing on those who killed its men, the police is now acting as an arm of the APC by punishing whoever acted against the wish of the vindictive leaders of the party."

PASTOR Enoch Adejare Adeboye remains the General Overseer Worldwide of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, a statement by the church said on Saturday evening.



The statement, signed by Leke Adeboye, the clergyman’s last son and Personal Assistant, said the clarification is coming on the heels of misrepresentation of Pastor Adeboye’s announcement at the Annual Ministers Thanksgiving held at the Redemption Camp on Saturday that the Church Nigeria is now to be led by Pastor Joseph Obayemi. 


The statement clarified that the latest development is sequel to the new legal requirements set up by the Financial Regulations Council guiding all registered churches, mosques and Civil Society Organisations.

The regulation stipulates that heads of non profit organisations like churches now have a maximum period of 20 years to lead their organizations, while in retirement they are not permitted to hand over to their families.

Leke Adeboye reiterated that Pastor Funsho Odesola will now serve as the new Church Secretary, while Pastor Joseph Adeyokunu is the new Treasurer.‎

He advised all members of RCCG to understand this new structure and go about their service to God and humanity in holiness and soul winning.



He also appealed to members to educate people around them and not spread inaccurate information, stressing that Pastor Adeboye remains the General Overseer of RCCG Worldwide.

‎THE Town Planning Department, Uyo City Capital Development Authority, has blamed the government of Akwa Ibom State for not releasing funds for the demolition of Reigners Bible Church, Uyo.

The Church building collapsed on December 10, 2016 during the ordination of its founder, Apostle Akan Weeks, as Bishop, leading to the death of some worshippers, while several others sustained injuries.

Effiong Akpan, the head of the agency, made the statement on Friday in Uyo while testifying before the Commission of Inquiry set up by the state government to investigate the cause of the collapse of the structure.

Akpan told the commission that the church building had been marked for demolition five different times.

He said that UCCDA had once demolished the structure at foundation level and warned the developer to desist from erecting any structure on the site.

He added the land and the entire area where the church was built had since 2002 been mapped out by the government as conservation area.

Akpan said that the area lies on the hilly side of Uyo ravine, which is prone to landslide.

He said that all the churches and event centres built along that axis of the road were illegal, as the soil could not hold any structure.

He said that on May 4, 2015, UCCDA applied for funds from the government to procure cranes, excavators, bulldozers and security coverage to demolish the structure.

He explained that though the governor approved the money, the then Accountant-General of the state refused to release the funds.

Akpan said: “We marked ‘X’ on the structure on March 6, 2013.

“It was covered by paint.

“We did the same on July 16, 2014; March 1, 2016; July 20, 2016; and August 16, 2016.

“The developer ignored all the markings by covering them with paint.

“We later issued 21 days ultimatum to remove the property, failing which the authority will remove the structure and cost borne by the developer.

“The developer used heavy pillars for the construction.

“After the expiration of the notice, we did not have the capacity to remove the heavy pillars and roofing used for the construction.

“We needed cranes, excavators, bulldozers, money, security coverage and vehicles to carry out the demolition.

“On May 4, 2015, we requested for funds and security coverage for the demolition.

“The money was approved by His Excellency, but we never accessed the money.

“The then Accountant-General did not release the money for us to embark on the demolition.”

Akpan said the UCCDA needed the security coverage as its employees were molested when they came to the site earlier to demolish the structure.

He added that the owners of the Church threatened to liaise with the government to dismiss any of the authority’s employees who made attempt to embarrass workers on the church site.

Reacting to Akpan’s testimony, Ini Ekpo, counsel to Weeks, accused the Akwa Ibom State Government of not releasing the funds needed by UCCDA to demolish the church.

Ekpo told newsmen that if the government had released the funds, the building would have been demolished and lives would have been saved.

He said: “UCCDA gave the developer of Reigners’ Bible Church 21 days to demolish the building, but after 21 days, government did not facilitate the demolition.

“UCCDA has clearly said if they it had the money, the building would have been demolished and lives would have been saved.

“Since the government did not provide the funds to facilitate the demolition, if negligence is found anywhere, then government will not go scot-free.”

The commission had adjourned sitting to reconvene on January 9 for further hearing.‎

NORMALCY on Friday returned to Total Nig. Plc Blending Plants, Lagos, after four days of protest by the NUPENG members working at the lubricant section over anti-labor activities of the company.

The workers resumed after suspending their protest on Thursday evening following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Total management and the labour contractor, Jomog Nig. Ltd.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the blending plant situated at Kirikiri Road, Apapa, observed that the two trailers used to block the entrance had been removed.

Workers were seeing at their different posts in their offices.

Mr Gude Michaels, the NUPENG Chairman, Total Blending Plant, confirmed to NAN that workers of the plant had resumed work.



Michaels said that the leadership of NUPENG had signed a MoU with the Total Nig. Plc and Jomog Nig. Ltd., the labour contractor handling staff recruitment for the company.

“As a result of the agreement reached between the union representing the workers, the labour contractor and Total management, we have resumed work today.

“We thank the union, Total and the labour contractor for resolving the issues amicably.

“After all, there is no job loss and the status quo remains unchanged,’’ he said.

Speaking earlier, Alhaji Tokunbo Korodo, the South-West Chairman of NUPENG told NAN that all parties regretted the incident caused by their actions immediately after resolving the issues.

Korodo said that the union had acknowledged the economic situation of the country in related to Total position on the matter.

He said that the company had agreed not to victimise any workers as a result of their industrial actions.

“We were able to resolve all the issues we had with them and a communiqué was signed.

“The existence of the union has to stay and the contract of three months has been cancelled,” he said.



Mr Kayode Olasupo, the Managing Director, Jomog Nig. Ltd., a labour contractor, assured workers that the company would follow all agreement reached with all parties in the MoU.

NAN reports that on Jan. 3, the NUPENG members working at the lubricant section of Total had embarked on protest with a view to amending their yearly renewable contracts.

NUPENG on Thursday ordered the shutdown of fuel depots belonging to French oil major, Total, over the threat to some of its members’ jobs.

THE National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the commencement of the payment of N5,000 each to the poor and most vulnerable under the Conditional Cash Transfer programme of the present administration.

The programme was part of the cardinal promises of Buhari during the 2015 campaign.

Asiwaju Tinubu said the stipend for the poor was a sign of the Buhari-led APC government’s commitment to people’s welfare.

He said in a statement by his Media Office: “I commend President Buhari for keeping faith with his campaign promise. I commend him for empathizing with the poor and the most vulnerable among us.

“The payment could n’t have come at a better time than now. The stipend is a sign of the government’s commitment to people’s welfare. We must all unite to beat poverty and bring prosperity to the land.”



Tinubu again called for support for the present administration, saying with such, the government would soon turn things around for the benefit of the people.

President Buhari had started the payment of N5,000 each to one million poor Nigerians under its Conditional Cash Transfer programme, which is one of his cardinal campaign promises.

Under the programme, the President had promised to empower one million poor and most vulnerable with the N5,000 monthly stipend each.

The programme is under the government’s Social Investment Programmes, where N30,000 monthly stipends were earlier paid to 200,000 youths under the N-Power programme, which began in December 2016, and the School Feeding programme.

The commencement of the N5,000 payment was announced on Monday in a statement from the Office of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

The statement, signed by the Vice-President’s spokesman, Laolu Akande, said the first batch of payment would cover nine states.

Akande said some of the beneficiaries had started receiving their payments since December 30, 2016.

Akande had said funds for the payments to beneficiaries in Borno, Kwara and Bauchi States were released last week to the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, the platform that hosts and validates payments for all government’s SIP.

He said the funds for another set, which included Cross Rivers, Niger, Kogi, Oyo, Ogun and Ekiti States, would follow soon to complete the first batch of beneficiaries.



According to Akande, the nine pilot states were chosen because they had an existing Social Register that successfully identified the most vulnerable and poorest Nigerians.

He said the registers emerged through a tried and tested community-based targeting method working with the World Bank while other states were developing their social registers and would be included in subsequent phases.

Akande said the Federal Government would commence community mobilisation for the creation of the social registers in more states to expand the scope and reach of the Conditional Cash Transfer across the country.

THE Secretary to the Government of Federation, Babachir Lawal, has reacted to the demand for his resignation by the Senate.

The Senate in session had on Wednesday demanded the resignation and prosecution of Lawal for allegedly awarding a N200 million to a company in which he allegedly has interest.

But reacting, Lawal said the decision of the Senate was absolute nonsense‎.



Speaking with newsmen after the 2017 Budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari, Babachir said the lawmakers never invited him to hear his own side of the story.

Lawal, who confirmed ownership of ‎Global Vision Limited, the company at the centre of the controversy, said he resigned from there on August 18, 2015, which was before hs appointment as SGF.

According to him: “It is very instructive no effort was made to invite me.

“They did the session to malign me.

“Nigerian politicians have formed the attitude of bring him down by all means.



“I have the report of the committee with me.”‎

Lalasticlala mynd44