₦airaland Forum

Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has said the Asaba International Airport would be functional in the next four months.

The Governor made the disclosure yesterday at Kwale during a meeting of members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta North Senatorial District.

According to the Governor, his administration is committed to delivering dividends of democracy to Deltans, noting that the Asaba International Airport is very important to the socio-economic development of the state and neighbouring states. “I want to tell you that the contract for the construction of the Asaba Airport project has been awarded to Setraco. Setraco is a reputable company and in the last one week a lot of construction work has been witnessed at the airport.

“The company has a mandate of four months to deliver the project. The amount that Setraco quoted to deliver the job was lesser than the amount the contract was awarded to the former contractor.” Okowa, who scored his administration high in project delivery, disclosed that the administration has mapped out a holistic programme to tackle flood in Asaba and Okpanam, stating that while work has commenced in the construction of storm drains to check flood at the Direct Labour, Jesus Saves roads, contract has also been awarded for the construction of drains to check flooding on the Delta Broadcasting Service, Mariam Babangida Way and Junior Staff Quarters areas of the state capital. He disclosed that the contract to check flood water on Okpanam road would soon be awarded.

He congratulated members of the PDP for the success recorded by the party in the January 6 local government elections and called for a more united PDP, where there would be mutual respect and understanding.

Those who spoke at the meeting including the Chairman of the party in Delta North Senatorial District, Chief Moses Iduh, commended Governor Okowa’s administration for providing good governance in the state.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/asaba-intl-airport-ready-in-4-months.html

The Senate has passed through second reading a bill seeking the establishment of the Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigate Auditors, as part of moves to detect corruption and fraud in the public and private sectors of the economy.

The bill sponsored by Senators Ahmed Lawan and Andy Uba is fully named “a bill for an act to establish the chartered institute of Forensic and Investigate Auditors in Nigeria to provide for the registration and regulation of membership and for other matters connected therewith.”


According to the Lawan, the institute would provide the platform for the training of qualified professionals to deploy forensic science and other technological tools and techniques of forensic and investigative audit in public and private sectors.
They would be trained to deploy the acquired tools in line with international best practices, he added.

Lawan explained further that it is also expected to save Nigeria millions annually, which is used to hire foreign forensic auditors to detect high profile fraud.

Uba also argued that the institute would assist to eliminate cases of compromised audits from manipulation of accounting facts and figures. It therefore holds the potential to prevent fraud due to the fear of easy detection, he added.

“The Bill will not only strengthen the nation’s institutional framework in the fight against corruption but stimulate public confidence, enhance transparency and accountability in the nation’s economic system and national lives,” Uba said. The bill was unanimously voted through second reading.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/senate-moves-to-establish-chartered.html

From its 2018 fiscal plan, Lagos State economic outlook signals more prospects than it recorded in the past. Gboyega Akinsanmi writes

On December 18 last year, the national budget performance came under scrutiny at the Senate. Contrary to a report from the Budget Office of the Federation that put the performance of the national budget at 40 per cent, the Senate discovered that the federal government had only implemented between 12 and 15 per cent of the budgeted capital expenditure.


That, indeed, was an abysmal narrative for Nigeria’s crawling economy, which, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, managed to record a 0.55 per cent growth in the second quarter of 2017. Even though it sustained growth by 1.40 per cent in the third quarter, national economic indicators still depicted “an economy in a whirl of winds” with unemployment rate rising to 18.8 per cent.



Uncertainty

Apparently, this trend spelt uncertainties for almost all sub-national economies. For instance, oil-producing states were not spared from this spell of economic woes, which the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is struggling to resolve. Already, federal allocation to the state governments has declined drastically. Given their reliance on federal allocation, the trend altered the fiscal directions of most states in the federation, culminating in their failure to meet core constitutional obligations.



Standing Out

But the Lagos economy has stood out, even though it is not totally immune from the economic turbulence. This is evident in the performance of its 2017 capital expenditure; the growth its internally generated revenue recorded and the number of jobs the state created through its infrastructure development projects, urban renewal programmes and different initiatives under its economic trust fund.

From all indications, 2017 did not present much hope for Lagos. At inception, Nigeria was still reeling in the swirl and whirl of economic recession. As indicated in the NBS report, the national economy shrank by 2.06 per cent in the 2016 second quarter. Likewise, it recorded a wider decline of 2.24 per cent in the third quarter. However, the rate of negative growth shrank to 1.3 per cent in the fourth quarter with exchange rate crisis and inflation going out of control.

In the first quarter of 2017, the national economy was at the verge of recovery with a negative growth of 0.52 per cent. Yet, it did not present desired national economic indicators, which analysts said, could beam some rays of hope for Nigerians. Amid these national economic uncertainties, the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, reeled out an ambitious fiscal plan at a time Nigeria was neck-deep into recession, the worst of its kind in the last three decades.

The issue was not the volume of the state’s budget valued at N812.998 billion, but the level of performance the Ambode administration recorded in the era of turbulence. The budget witnessed an increase of 18.47 per cent compared to what the state proposed the year before.

Despite the harsh economic realities, the state’s budget recorded 82 per cent performance. Ambode attributed this to God’s hands in the management of the Lagos economy.

At the tenth town hall meeting, penultimate week, Ambode said the total recurrent expenditure was N281.33 billion, which represented a performance of 92 per cent. He equally put total capital expenditure at N387.60 billion, accounting for 76 per cent.

Under the 2017 fiscal regime, the state proposed a total revenue of N642.848 billion and deficit financing of N170.151 billion. Aside what it received from the Federation Account, total revenue generated in 2017 was N503.7 billion, which represented a performance of 78 per cent. By implication, the state generated 75.30 per cent of what it spent in 2017.

In the last two decades, no administration has recorded this feat. However, all analysts acknowledged the fact that the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu reformed the state’s tax system in 1999. From N600 million, the state proposed to generate N50 billion internally under the 2018 fiscal regime, which the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, said was achievable through the revenue expansion strategies the state had already mapped out for this fiscal year. However, he said that did not suggest that the state will increase the tax commitment of its residents, but rather it will expand its tax net to the over five million residents not paying taxes.



New Era

The budget performance offered a window into the new fiscal year. That might be the main reason Ambode recently said the year “holds great promises for Lagos and its residents.”

Obviously, 2018 appears more auspicious for Lagos than previous years for three different reasons. First, the national economy has recovered from recession, coupled with rising price of crude oil at the international market. Second, the state proposed to spend N1. 046 trillion, which the governor said, accounted for an increase of 28.67 per cent compared with what he presented in 2017.

Third, under the 2018 fiscal regime, the state equally planned a total revenue of N897.423 billion, which showed a gap of N148.699 billion. But the state revenue projection showed that the state would bridge the gap through deficit financing – bond issuance programme and external loans, to be specific. Of the estimated total revenue, the state plans to generate N720. 123 billion, representing 80 per cent, while expecting N177.30 billion from federal transfers and 13 per cent derivations

In every economy, the level of budget performance often determines whether people’s aspirations are realised or whether reasonable measure of real growth is recorded under a specific fiscal regime. For Lagos, its annual budget analysis revealed an antecedent that signals more prospect than gloom.

In 2016, for instance, it was an account of boom, despite harsh economic conditions. Yet, the state recorded 78 per cent budget performance at the height of economic slump that almost shut sub-national economies. In 2017, too, the state attained an aggregate budget performance of 83 per cent, which was the highest it ever recorded since Ambode assumed office in 2015.

Across the federation, however, other states are reeling under the burden of debt and unpaid salaries. Of course, Lagos is not on the list of sovereign debtors, though its net debt stock is N874.38 billion, which according to the governor, represents only three per cent of its GDP currently valued at $131 billion and rated the fifth largest economy in Africa. For Ambode, it is not an indication of fiscal viability, but of the state’s commitment to fiscal sustainability. Contrary to reports, his administration had not contracted any new external loan “to fund our projects since assumption of office.” Rather, he had completed transactions, which the governor acknowledged were already in place before he came into office.

By implication, Ambode’s administration inherited external loans from various past administrations, which according to him, constituted at least 60 per cent of the state’s total debt stock. The governor pointed out that the debt stock “is made up of some loans that have been running since 1989, about 30 years ago; and were contracted at an average of N80 to $1. Today, the loans are being repaid at an average rate of N305 to $1, translating to 205 per cent increase in the loan repayment rate.”



Agenda

At a lecture he delivered at Harvard University in October last year, Ambode unveiled a plan to create at least 250,000 jobs per annum. Aside, under the same fiscal regime, the state has set aside $13.5 million to empower small-and-medium enterprises under the different initiatives of the ETF.

Already, the state has earmarked N135.815 billion to fund infrastructure projects. It has started construction of Pen-Cinema flyover, a 1.4-kilometre bridge designed to undo gridlocks in Agege. Aside this flyover, it equally planned to construct Opebi-Mende Link Bridge; dualise Lekki-Epe expressway; reconstruct 181 inner-city roads across the local councils and complete Oshodi-Airport road, among others.

In a 2017 budget report he presented last month, Ashade disclosed the government’s plan to take advantage of the Public-Private Partnerships to deliver three critical projects. Under the current fiscal regime, the state would implement 3,000-megawatt embedded power programme, Ikorodu-Agbowa-Itoikin-Ijebu Ode road and Okokomaiko -Seme section of Lagos-Badagry road. Likewise, the state set aside N101.358 billion to execute different transport infrastructure projects. As indicated in the report, the allocation would benefit Light Rail (Blue Line) project and 10-lane Lagos-Badagry expressway.

From the allocation, the state plans to complete Oshodi-Abule Egba BRT corridor, jetties and terminals at Marina in Epe and Badagry with shoreline protection, among others.

Under the fiscal regime, the state had budgeted N54.582 billion to address different environmental challenges. It placed premium on the execution of Cleaner Lagos Initiative, which according to the governor, replaced the old regime of waste management in the state. Besides the CLI, the fund would be used to improve drainage channels; landscape Gbagada-Oshodi expressway and modernise the recreation park/botanical garden along Gbagada-Anthony road.

Like the year before, the state allocated N59.904 billion for housing and community amenities. With a housing deficit of over five million, however, Ambode acknowledged that the state government “cannot provide shelter for all residents.” But he believed the allocation would allow his regime deliver affordable housing units to interested residents under the “rent-to-own” schemes in Gbagada, Igbogbo, Iponri, Igando, Omole Phase I, and Sangotedo.

Ambode’s plan to use information technology to drive governance and solve diverse challenges associated to Lagos metropolis gets much attention. At least N23.508 billion was allocated to complete the state’s strategic information management system; build information technology infrastructure state-wide and fund the Smart City project targeted at deploying technology to enhance security and revenue generation in the state.

Alongside other associated projects, the state allocated N64.485 billion to continue the development of Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ); N15.2 billion to execute the Heritage Centre for Leadership (Lugard House); N10.574 billion to accelerate its food expansion programmes; N9.059 billion to construct four new stadia in Igbogbo, Epe, Badagry and Ajeromi-Ifelodun and N37.708 billion to maintain law and order across the state with a clear vision to drive its economy.

Ambode said 2017 witnessed a massive leap in terms of infrastructure development in the state. In 2018, he said, some of the reforms in key sectors of the economy will take full flight. By implication, the governor is saying there is good reason to be optimistic about what 2018 has in stock.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/with-80-budget-performance-in-2017.html

The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has arrested a 32-year old woman, Rukayat Abdulkareem who reportedly trailed her husband to his lover’s house where she allegedly stabbed a 17-year old son of her husband’s presumed lover, Awal Sani, to death.

The deceased was a 200 level student of University of Abuja.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abubakar Sodiq Bello told Sunday Sun that the incident happened at Plot 50, Pipeline, Kubwa village, Abuja, on January 11, 2018.

The suspect reportedly left her matrimonial home at Gauraka town, and trailed her husband, Usman Abdulkareem to his lover’s house at Gbazango Pipeline, Kubwa, at about 10:00pm.

CP Bello explained that the suspect saw her husband’s car parked outside and demanded to see him, claiming she needed to get money from him to be able to take their child to hospital.

Sunday Sun further gathered that the situation later degenerated into commotion during which, she allegedly stabbed the 17-year old.

The young Sanni was said to have been rushed to Kaduna General Hospital where he was confirmed dead. The deceased’s mother reported the case at Kubuwa Police Station.

Sunday Sun gathered that the car belonging to the husband of the suspect was smashed by some angry youths before it was taken to the police station.

The suspect, in a chat with Sunday Sun said, “I got married to my husband Usman Abdulkareem in 2008. We are blessed with three children. The deceased’s mother has been dating my husband and I have been suspecting them. This is a woman who has been calling my husband at night. On January 11, 2018 my husband left office and told me that he was going to Kaduna. Around 8:00pm. I called him to inform him that my little baby was very sick and that I had no money on me but he refused to pick his call.

“I left my house to check him at his lover’s house. On getting there, I saw my husband’s car parked in front of the house.

His lover’s children came out and told me to leave. They threatened to kill me if I would not leave. I started crying and begging my husband to come out. At a point I started exchanging words with the woman’s children” she said.

The suspect who hails from Kogi State explained further that “ Later they started beating me. So, I went to my husband’s company car and took a knife and stabbed the boy.



The suspect’s husband however claimed that the mother of the deceased was the family’s nurse. “The deceased’s mother, Safiya Sani, is our family nurse and a widow. She has been our family nurse for a while. My car was faulty and I decided to park it in her house. It was the deceased’s mother who called me on phone that my wife had stabbed her son. I rushed to her house and saw the son in the pool of his own blood. So we rushed him to Kubwa General Hospital around 12:00am where the doctor confirmed him dead.” he said

The deceased mother, in her own account said, “I am a widow and the family nurse to Abdulkareem family. They came to my house for treatments. The suspect had sent me a text message around 9:00pm that day and accused me of having a love relationship with her husband and warned me to stop.

“She later came to my house and called her husband, who was in my house earlier for treatment. She insisted that her husband was in my house. I called the police but she refused to follow them, so they had to leave her.

“Suddenly I heard my daughter calling me that the suspect had stabbed my son, Awal. I called the suspect’s husband, who raced down to my house and we rushed my son to Kubwa General Hospital where the doctor confirmed that he was dead. I want justice to be done on this case,” she added.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department FCT Abuja, Mr. Bala Ciroma confirmed to Sunday Sunthat the suspect was being held and added that the corpse of the deceased had been released for burial.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/woman-stabs-family-nurses-son-to-death.html

• Renews call for Magu’s replacement
• President nominates Adamu as CBN deputy governor



Relying on a judgment by an Abuja division of the Federal High Court, which affirmed its powers to confirm or reject the president’s appointments, the Senate is insisting that it would never consider nominations submitted by the president to it.

Key among the president’s nominations that have been kept in abeyance by the Senate because of the impasse include the nominee for the position of Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and four members of the apex bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).

The Senate specifically declared that the failure of the CBN to form a quorum for the meeting of the MPC should be blamed on the presidency that had failed to do the right thing by complying with the constitution and the law on appointments.


Senate Spokesman, Aliu Sabi Abdullahi, who briefed journalists on the development yesterday stated:“By this court judgement, for those who have been worried that the Monetary Policy Committee never met, I think this is a window for the MPC to see the light in meeting.’’

Over 40 other nominations including heads and board members of the Pension Commission (PenCom), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC), National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) are also being kept in abeyance.

Already, impasse between the Senate and President Muhammadu Buhari over the appointment of the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, is producing grave consequences for the economy.The Senate also renewed its call for immediate replacement of Magu by the president through the nomination of another person for confirmation.

The Senate had in 2016 rejected the appointment of Magu after receiving a letter from the Department of State Services (DSS) declaring that Magu failed integrity test.

Meanwhile, President Buhari has nominated Mr. Edward Lametek Adamu to the Senate for confirmation as Deputy Governor of CBN.A statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina yesterday said the nomination contained in a letter dated January 26, 2018 to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, is in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(1) (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (Establishment) Act 2007.

Adamu, from Gombe State, replaces Mr. Sulaiman Barau, from Zaria, Kaduna State, who retired in December, 2017.The nominee, who has spent 25 years in the CBN, was appointed in 2012 as Director of Strategy.He became Director, Human Resources in 2016, from where he was nominated as Deputy Governor.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/senate-insists-on-not-considering.html

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has dissolved the 2017 compliance team and substituted it with a strike force saddled with among others the mandates, checking the activities of officers.

The NCS’ Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Attah, who made the disclosure, said the Comptroller-General (CGC), Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), effected the replacement.


The strike force team, according to Attah, will be posted to the four zonal offices of the NCS in Lagos, Kaduna, Bauchi and Port Harcourt, adding that the strike force can also use the Customs training colleges as their base.

Part of the mandate of the strike force, he noted, was to check the activities of customs officers.
He said: “The Customs strike force is set up to replace compliance team. This team is to operate under a different strategy.
“The team is empowered to enter any command system on suspicion of fraudulent activities taking place or about to take place with a view to blocking all revenue leakages from the system.

“The team is allowed to partake in the examination of any suspected container generated by the ICT,” he stated, stressing that the team would ensure that all unutilised Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) bill of lading, as well as air way bills are accounted for.
“They are to monitor the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) in order to checkmate capital flight and PAAR merchandise.
“This is what they are expected to do, their operation is fashioned this way to be in line with the demand of the executive order on the Ease of Doing Business,’’ Attah said.
According to the NCS’ spokesman,
the strike force would erect checkpoints instead of patrolling the highways except on credible information by the surveillance operatives of the service.

“The strike force will treat the information and return to base. It is the desire of the CGC to sanitise the system for optimum performance.

“This particular strategy will enhance free flow of goods on our high ways.
“No hinterland or highway patrol by the team. The surveillance team will work for 24 hours and their work is not intended to impede free flow of goods,’’ he disclosed..

The team will be under the co-ordination of a Deputy Comptroller assisted by four Assistant Comptrollers of Customs.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/customs-replaces-compliance-team-with.html

The Tin Can Island Port Customs Command, Lagos has bagged the World Customs Organisation (WCO) award, for consistently and effectively securing its business environment.

Conferred by the WCO Secretary General, Kunio Mikuriya, the award was apresented by the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), who specifically noted that the International Customs Day celebrated by Customs administrations all over the world, provided an opportunity to X-ray, review and evaluate the role of Customs in nation building, not only as a revenue generating agency, but also in terms ensuring secure business environment.


Speaking on this year’s theme: ‘To Secure Business Environment for Economic Development,’ the CGC reminisced on the giant strides of the Service in 2017, and declared that the Service by generating N1.3 trillion into the nations coffers, did remarkably well in anti-smuggling operations through spectacular seizures among others.

He also stated that the international event was an auspicious moment to recognise private and public organisations as well as officers and units that have demonstrated outstanding performance during the period under reference for awards by the WCO.

While receiving the award on behalf of the Command, the Comptroller, Bashar Yusuf recalled the exploits of the command in the past two years.

The obviously elated Comptroller Bashar said: “I assumed leadership of the command at a time its rating was at the lowest ebb in terms of functionality in areas of Revenue and Seizures which forms the core mandate of the Command.

“I thank God Almighty for giving me the wherewithal to justify the confidence reposed in me by the CGC and his management which is evidenced in this International Award.

“I therefore dedicate it to the entire Tincan Team, comprising the officers/men, the CIU, Valuation, PCA, the Customs Brokers, critical Stakeholders and the Media for their tremendous support.”

Under Bashar’s leadership, the Tin Can Island Port Customs Command has in the last two years generated over N544,049,621,515 in revenue through various far reaching reforms which he instituted. Part of the reform agenda was the building of an ICT Training Centre as well as a fully equipped clinic which was officially commissioned by the CGC on the 11th of November 2017.

He said: “The training facility has been used to train over one thousand two hundred (1,200) people, including officers and other stakeholders. On the area of seizures, the command in the past two years recorded very unique seizures which included but not limited to; Cocaine with a street value of over N2 billion concealed in a container; 900 Cartridges/Military Hardware; Recovery of suspected stolen two Range Rover and repatriation of same through Interpol to United State of America; Seizure of substandard/regulated Tramadol containers; large quantity of Biafran Arms band; 31 containers of rice falsely declared as yeast/bread enhancer; and 20 x 20 containers of Vegetable Oil falsely declared as Disodium Phosphate.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/tcip-customs-command-bags-world-customs.html

Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Professor Itse Sagay, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to sack those he described as “the cabal” in his cabinet, saying they have been the clog in the wheel of progress of the administration.

Sagay made the call yesterday evening after delivering the convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State.
Sagay who spoke with journalists, said: “Cabal has no business being in the presidency and as such, they should be fished out and flushed out.”


He, however, declined to mention the names of those in the cabal, but insisted that “they are not helpful to the government, everybody is complaining about them.”

Speaking on the Abdulrasheed Maina saga, Sagay said those behind his recall to the civil service should also be identified and punished, stressing that the matter had not been swept under the carpet.

He, however, said the problem with the former chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Pension did not start with the Buhari administration, adding that the government was determined to get to the root of his reinstatement to the satisfaction of all Nigerians.
Sagay advised that “Nigeria should stay with President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo” if the country was to get to the promised land.

“Buhari and Osinbajo have absolute integrity, if we don’t use them now I don’t know when next we will have leaders like them. All my hopes are on Buhari in 2019.”

He, however, said the president should be firmer, adding that “we need a little dose of autocracy if we want to develop.”
Earlier, while delivering his lecture titled: ‘Nigeria: The Travails of An Animal Kingdom,’ Sagay said the elite were to blame for the problems of the country, adding that the quality of the political elite had continued to decline in Nigeria since after the First Republic.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/02/sack-cabal-in-your-cabinet-now-sagay.html

Hausa community in Rivers State said yesterday in Port Harcourt that they are not part of the group that endorsed Governor Nyesom Wike for a second tenure in office.

A group of Hausa community led by one Alhaji Mesundu was among the hundreds of non indigenes resident in Rivers State that endorsed Governor Wike for second tenure on Wednesday in Government House Port Harcourt.

During the visit, Alhaji Mesundu said the entire Hausa community in Rivers is in support of Wike’s second tenure and promised to mobilize Hausa community in the State to actualize the Governor’s 2015 bid.

But the Rivers State liaison officer of Hausa community, Alhaji Musa Saidu said the Hausa community in the State has not endorsed anybody for 2019 governorship election.

Alhaji Saidu who spoke in Port Harcourt said that Hausa community in Rivers State has political and administrative structures headed by both traditional institutions and other leaders of thought saying that none of the bodies were consulted before the endorsement was made.

He said that Alhaji Mensudu endorsement of Governor Wike is his personal opinion and does not represent the interest of the entire northern community in Rivers State.

“I read in the media that a certain group of people led by one Alhaji Mensudu went to Government House on Thursday and endorsed Governor Wike for the- second tenure in office.”

“I want to state here that Alhaji Mensudu does not have the mandate to speak on behalf of Hausa community in Rivers State. What transpired in Government House on Wednesday where Mensudu claimed that the entire Hausa community is in support of Wike is his personal opinion and does not in any way represent the interest of the entire northern community.”

“Mesundu does not understand the political and administrative structure of Hausa community in Rivers State. We have an organised leadership structure headed by Sariki Hausawa who is our spiritual leader.”

“I am the Chief liaison officer of Hausa community in Rivers State. If we want to endorse anybody we will meet and take decision on that. We have not discuss any issue concerning the endorsement of anybody.”

“So we have not endorsed Governor Wike for 2019. If there is any need for that the entire leadership of Hausa community will meet and take decision on that.”

He called on the public to disregard such endorsement saying that Hausa community in Rivers State is yet to take decision on who to support in 2019.


http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/2019-hausa-community-in-rivers-state.html

The World Bank has supported the most populated primary school in Kaduna, LEA Rigasa, with educational facilities worth more than N30 million.

The school, which has a population of 22,240 pupils, would benefit from facilities which include 500 chairs and 50 mats.

Malam Dahuru Anchau, the Director of Schools, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, disclosed this in an interview with News men on Tuesday in Kaduna.

He said that the items would assist in improving the teaching and learning of the students.


Anchau, who is also the Project Coordinator, Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in the state, said that the remaining chunk would be used to purchase books and other writing materials for the school.

He recalled that the bank had in October 2017 ordered the immediate release of the amount during the bank’s midterm review of the N6 billion granted to the state under the bank’s GPE project.

According to him, the bank’s representative, Dr Olatunde Adekola, was moved to take action after he saw the pressure the over populated pupils had put on teaching and learning facilities in the school.

“Adekola immediately announced the intervention for immediate upgrade of facilities at the school.


“Yesterday, we supplied the school with over 500 chairs, 50 mats, bookshelves and other items for children’s playground with the first chunk of the money.

“The remaining amount would be used to supply the school with books and other reading and writing materials as directed by the bank,’’ he said.


Reports also have it that the bank is spending N20 billion under GPE to support girl-child education in the five states of Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Sokoto where all indexes on education appeared to be very low.

The partnership is being supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and UK Department for International Development (DFID).

The target is to increase reading and writing skills for pupils in nursery and those in primary one to three, and strengthen community activism and local governance.

It is also aimed at expanding access to education through community initiatives and to increase the number of qualified female teachers in areas with high gender disparities.

The state coordinator said that over 3,400 primary schools have so far benefited from the programme.

According to him, a total of 8,050 primary school girls from poor homes had received N45,000 scholarship grants to continue with their education, with 1,170 female teachers also getting similar amount to further their studies.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/world-bank-supports-primary-school-in.html

The Federal Operation Unit Zone ‘B’ of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has intercepted 714 jerry cans of smuggled vegetable oil in Sokoto, the unit spokesman, Mr Usman Abubakar said on Tuesday.

Abubakar said in Sokoto that, bags of sugar, bales of second hand clothes and drugs were also intercepted by the unit patrol team on Illela-Sokoto road this month.

Abubakar said the Comptroller in charge of the unit, Mr Usman Dakingari, had inspected the items, adding that similar inspection of seized goods was conducted in Kano and Katsina States.


He said the seized items were worth N9.2 million of duty paid value.

The unit covers Kano, Jigawa, Katsina, Kaduna, Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Kogi and Kwara States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.


He explained that the seized goods were concealed in various locally produced items.

Abubakar added that NCS has competent intelligent officers, investigating specialized activities across the country.

He said the zone has deployed different tactics to tackle smuggling and reassured the public of its readiness to enforce government regulations.

The official appealed to people residing in border communities to assist the service with useful information to prevent smuggling of goods into the country.

The spokesman pointed out that smugglers use various structures, including residential buildings, to store smuggled items in piecemeal before uploading into trucks.

He said smuggling was crippling the nation’s economy and industrial growth, as well as endangering the populace and creating unemployment.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/ncs-intercepts-714-jerry-cans-of.html

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Abuja Chapter has vowed not to suspend the ongoing strike action until their demands are met. Recall that the Union embarked on a nationwide strike on December 4th, 2017 over federal government failure to implement the 2009 agreement and since then are yet to resolve the issue. The branch chairman of NASU, University of Abuja, Mr Yakubu Simon said in Abuja yesterday said, the refusal of government in paying the allowances agreed upon, especially, the earn allowance is the most pressing issue that prompted the strike. Simon said the Union has some percentage that is left with the government. “Earlier on they said 28 per cent so when they send in N23 billion to invest in state target of ASUU academic earn allowance which is not supposed to be so, the payment did not favour us. “All of us submitted our competition on this earns allowance and in the course they went and give the payment in favour of ASUU, that is why our national called that we should embark on immediate and indefinite strike after communicating the federal government. “So our strike is still on, last week we had meeting in town and they briefed us how far they have gone with the federal government.”


http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/breaking-uniabuja-nasu-vows-to-continue.html

Academic and other official activities were yesterday grounded at the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) by protesting members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU).

The aggrieved workers, under the auspices of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the National Association of Academic Scientists (NAATS), said they were following the directive of the national body.

Chairman of JAC Comrade Ibeji Nwokeoma said: “The Federal Government gave N23 billion for the payment of earned allowance to all workers of Federal Universities, unfortunately, the money was hijacked by our sister union and they shared it as their spirit moved them, giving over N18 billion to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) alone, leaving a little above N4 billion for three independent staff unions. ASUU hijacked the money at the national level in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education.

“We felt it was wrong and we asked the Federal Government what the sharing formula was, why they could give one union over N18 billion out of the N23 billion. We also want to know the yardstick for the sharing, whether population or the nature of work they do in the university, but till now, the Federal Government has answered us.


“So we are demanding that if what they gave is academic earned allowance as they called it, the government should give us our own fair share of the largesse. They should also give the Non-Academic Staff their own earned allowance because we all work in the university.

“We have been peaceful all these while about the strike but the government has been recalcitrant and that is why we adopted the measure to draw the public’s attention to prevail on the Federal Government to address the issue so that our students will not suffer”.

SSANU Chairman, Comrade Franklin Matheus, said: “We want to inform the public through this action that we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government on issues including shortfall in workers’ salaries, earned allowances and Staff School emoluments, but none has been implemented. We agreed that these earned allowances will be paid before the end of last year, but what the government did was to give ASUU N23 billion and a paltry N4 billion to all the non-academic staff unions. So if the Federal Government can pay N23 billion to ASSU as earned academic allowance, we are demanding N66 billion as our earned allowances.

“We want the government to obey the judgment of the Industrial Court. We can only end this strike if the government addresses the skewed allowance and pay us N66 billion which is the earned allowance for non-academic staffs.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/futo-shutdown-as-non-academic-staff.html

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said on Friday that it has approved no fewer than 90 Tour Operators out of the 144 companies that applied for participation in the 2018 Hajj operation.

NAHCON Head of Tour Operators’ Unit, Alhaji Alidu Shutti who made this revelation in a statement, stated that about 54 tour operators were disqualified because they did not meet all the requirements for prequalification to participate in the 2018 Hajj exercise.



He said the selection was based on the Screening Committee set up by the Executive Chairman of NAHCON; Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammad, which conducted a transparent screening to ensure that only qualified companies scaled through the exercise.
He further explained that the committee considered past performance of the selected companies, validity of their Tax Clearance and Corporate Affairs Certificates before they were prequalified.
Shutti said “The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has released the results of Pre Qualification exercise carried on the 144 Tour Operator Companies for the 2018 Hajj. After thorough screening 90 Applicant companies were prequalified to participate in the 2018 Hajj exercise’’.
He also revealed that the committee in the selection exercise got inputs from relevant government agencies and other indices in the course of pre-qualifying the applicants.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nahcon-approves-90-operators-for-2018.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it will offer about N252 billion in treasury bills next week.

The offer comprises of N6.10 billion, N69.57 billion, and N177.22 billion of the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day bills each.

Meanwhile proceedings were broadly bearish in the treasury bills market this week, as average yield rose by 11 bps to 14.16%, amidst relatively tight liquidity earlier in the week.

Yields expanded across all ends of the curve – short, mid, and long.

Dealers say the likely expected squeeze in system liquidity, particularly in the latter part of the coming week will constrain demand and cause yields to expand.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/cbn-to-sell-n252bn-treasury-bills-next.html

The Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) have rescued two South-Africans who were kidnap at a mining site in Kaduna State.

IRT commander, ACP Abba Kyari, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Saturday that some members of the kidnap gang were also arrested.

Kyari said that Messrs Thomas Arnold and Hendrick Gideon were kidnapped at a mining site in Maidaro Village on Jan. 23 and taken to Birnin Gwari forest in Kaduna State.



He said the victims were rescued on Saturday morning following intense pressure jointly mounted on the kidnappers by the IRT, Police Air Wing helicopter patrol and Kaduna State Command Police.
“The victims were moved from Kaduna to Abuja this morning and were handed over to the South African Embassy and their company representative for medicals and other immediate needs.
“Victims are in good health and have given useful information to the police that will help in further investigation.
“Some suspects were arrested and serious efforts are on to arrest other gang members,” Kyari said.
NAN recalls that on Saturday Jan. 23, two Americans and two Canadians, kidnapped on Jan. 23 along Jere-Kagarko Road in Kaduna State, were rescued on Tuesday.
Two policemen were killed by the gunmen during the kidnap incident while two of the suspected kidnappers were arrested.
Those rescued were; Nate Vangeest and Rachel Kelley (Canadians) as well as John Kirlin and Dean Slocum (U.S. citizens). The victims were handed over to the American Embassy in Abuja for medical attention and other immediate needs.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/police-rescue-2-south-africans-from.html

Terkibi Yakpe, husband of an eight-month pregnant woman, Mnwaga, who was killed by Fulani herdsmen in Orin Ekiti, Ekiti State, has spoken out.

The 37-year-old man said his wife’s death was like snuffing life out of him.


Yakpe and his family were attacked before dawn at a farm settlement, some kilometres from Orin Ekiti, on Thursday, January 18. His pregnant wife who was 25 years of age was shot dead before him.
The woman was eight months pregnant with their baby before assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen struck and shot her in the head.
Yakpe speaking with Punch said, “I was very happy when she told me that she was pregnant; we sat down, held each other ’s hands and talked about our plans for our children. My wife was a gift to me; she stood by me through thick and thin.
“We had started planning for the baby and buying things in readiness for its birth.

“We were so happy and really looking forward to the birth of a new baby to join the family soon. We had made the necessary preparations, but the killers came from nowhere and took away my joy for no reason.
“They killed my wife without any provocation and turned our joy to sadness. God will surely visit them with calamity wherever they are.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/herdsmen-attack-husband-cries-out-over.html

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the dates for five friendly matches the Super Eagles will play ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

The team’s itinerary was revealed on Wednesday, at a press conference to announce the sponsorship agreement between the NFF and Coca Cola.


Gernot Rohr’s men will take on Poland and Serbia on March 23 and March 27 respectively.

The Eagles will play a farewell game against Congo at the Abuja National Stadium on May 28. President Muhammadu Buhari is expected to be in attendance.

Next up will be the Three Lions of England on June 2 at Wembley, before they round off their friendlies with a clash against Czech Republic on June 6.

The Super Eagles official 2018 World Cup kits will be unveiled by kit sponsors Nike on February 7 in London.


Nigeria will face Croatia, Iceland and Argentina in Group D at the mundial.

Full schedule of friendlies:

Poland vs Nigeria – Mar 23 (Poland)
Nigeria vs Serbia – Mar 27 (UK)
Nigeria vs DRC – May 25 (Nigeria)
England vs Nigeria – Jun 2 (UK)
Nigeria vs Czech – Jun 6 (Austria

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/2018-world-cup-nff-confirms-five.html

The Benue state police command, have arrested youths from the Hausa and Tiv ethnic groups in Makurdi, in connection with the renewed clashes on Sunday night in the Wadata and Ankpa ward axis of the state.


The police in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Moses Yamu says, their offenses border on inciting public disturbance, mischief and possession of dangerous weapons with the intent to inflict injuries.

The arrest brings to 59 all those who have been arrested since the violence broke out on Saturday, with the police has vowing not to allow misguided youths to destabilize the state.

On the casualty figure, eight persons were wounded in the Sunday night clash, while Two houses were set ablaze by the opposing youths in a crisis that stem from the alleged refusal by the Hausa community to comply with the public holiday declared by the state governor to honour the state burial for the 73 victims of herdsmen attacks.

Despite the resolved among the leadership of the various ethnic groups at the emergence security stakeholders meeting convened by governor Samuel Ortom on Sunday, where they all agreed to bury the hatchet, the youths will do well to allow peace prevail.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/police-arrest-59-suspects-of-benue.html

The world-beating rally in Nigerian stocks may not be over yet.


The main equity index in Africa’s biggest economy has surged 12 per cent this year in dollar terms, the most among 96 major bourses tracked by Bloomberg, pushing it to the highest level since 2008. Dangote Cement Plc, controlled by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, and the largest company on the bourse, has climbed to a record high.

The advance will probably be sustained thanks to rising prices for oil, Nigeria’s main export, and as investors look to increase their holdings of what remain among the cheapest stocks in Africa, according to the asset management arm of South African lender FirstRand Ltd.

“For investors wanting more exposure to consumers in Africa and Nigeria, in particular, the outlook is good,” said Paul Clark, a money manager in Johannesburg at Ashburton Investments, which owns Nigerian stocks including Seplat Petroleum Development Co. “The banking sector is probably the most attractive at the moment, especially the tier-2 lenders.”

Nigerian stocks are leading the world so far this year. Foreign investors have been crucial in driving the market higher. The New York-based Global X MSCI Nigeria ETF attracted record weekly net inflows through Thursday. That helped to increase the exchange-traded fund’s market capitalization to almost $90 million, double the level in May last year.

Even after the gains, Nigerian valuations are the cheapest among the major African equity indexes. Nigerian stocks trade at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 10.2, while South Africa’s are at 14 and the MSCI Emerging Market Index is at 13.

That suggests there’s further upside, according to Cape Town-based fund Allan Gray. While foreign investors turned negative on Nigeria after following the 2014 oil crash and subsequent recession, the economy picked up last year and growth is forecast by the International Monetary Fund to accelerate to 2.1 percent in 2019.

“For long-term investors, Nigerian equities were a screaming bargain,” said Nick Ndiritu, co-manager of Allan Gray’s $389 million Africa equity fund, which doesn’t include South Africa. “Investor sentiment has turned more bullish on Nigeria and a re-rating of the Nigerian stock market is now underway.”

Still, there are some warning signs. The 120-day correlation between Nigerian stocks and Brent crude is now around the highest in two years. If oil prices reverse their 45 percent climb since June, Nigerian assets could take a hit.

That’s one reason HSBC Holdings Plc has a negative outlook on the stocks. The U.K. bank also says Nigeria will have to free its currency further if it wants to attract more investment. While the central bank eased some capital controls last year and opened a trading window for foreign portfolio traders, it continues to operate several exchange rates.

“Nigeria’s multiple exchange rate system is likely to remain a key drag, keeping long-term investors on the side lines,” HSBC analysts David Faulkner, John Lomax and Kishore Muktinutalapati said in a note on Jan. 11.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/with-12-rise-in-fourteen-days-nigerian.html

The Federal Government, with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has disclosed plans to launch a N10billion fund for the National Egg Production Scheme (NEPRO) in the country.

The target of the scheme is to achieve a daily production of 50million eggs over the next five years for the purpose of local consumption, export and processing into egg powder for use in confectionaries and pharmaceuticals.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, during a press conference announcing the launch of the programme in Ondo State, last Friday disclosed that the programme would provide one million jobs nationwide through egg production, processing and marketing.


Noting that there may have been a loss of four million jobs in the city last year, he said an additional six million jobs were created in the rural areas in the last two years, and additional one million jobs from the egg production would increase the number of jobs created in the sector.Ogbeh disclosed that the loan to be provided by the CBN will be disbursed by the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), at a single digit interest rate of nine percent, and would be piloted in six states of Abia, Cross River, Ondo, Kebbi, Kogi and Ondo.

Ogbeh explained that if the loan is approved by the CBN each farmer would get N4.2million with repayment spread over 30 months, each farmer would be self reliant with physical assets worth over N2.8million and cash assets of N1.68million.

The programme would also develop local capacity for the processing of minimum of 75 percent of table eggs, produced shelf table egg based products such as egg powder.

The Chairman, Tuns farm, Tunde Badmus, the anchor person for the programme, commended the government for the support given to poultry farmers, saying it was the first time they were getting such support from the government.

The project will be officially flagged off today (Friday), nationwide and would help conserve foreign exchange through the provision of egg processing machine to turn egg into powder.He said: “the secondary aspect of the production is processing that is capable of crushing 200,000 eggs per hour. The factory is expected to take off in June this year, because it is expected that the eggs would start coming out from that period.”

He disclosed that they are in talks with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, to provide a railway coach that would be specifically designed to convey eggs from different parts of the country to the processing plants.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/cbn-to-launch-n10-billion-fund-for-egg.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it hopes to explore the possibility of winning the votes of youths and women who form an overwhelming population of the electorate in the country towards winning back the presidency in 2019.


The Deputy National Chairman of PDP (South), Yemi Akinwumi, who made the assertion, commended the office of the National Youth Leader of the party for being the first to have set the ball rolling in mobilising the youths.”

Akinwunmi who spoke at a meeting of the PDP Youth Leader with coordinators of affiliate youth groups in the country, assured that the youths would be given special attention and backed with all they need to deliver victory for the party in 2019.

While emphasising the crucial role of the youth in party politics, Akunwumni said among the youths are found the most active set of electorates who would be ready to stand in the sun and rain in order to cast their votes.

According to him, it was because of this that the party has resolved to do everything in its powers to support the youth groups so as to work hard to recover power from the APC.

He urged the youths to be more active in the social media to able to tackle the inefficiencies of the ruling party and bring out their failures for Nigerians to know and to be guided in their decisions ahead of the elections.

He said the two most important offices in the party that can ensure voting advantage are the offices of the Youth and Women Leaders.
The PDP National Youth Leader, Mr. Sunday Ude-Okoye, said the youth department would soon embark on nationwide retreats to sensitise youth leaders on grassroots mobilisation campaigns.

“We should also, as youth leaders, be conscious of the fact that it is our responsibility to educate all Nigerian youths on the need to vote for our party, secure the vote, defend themselves and their votes, and insist on the announcement of the authentic results at every polling booth,” he advised.

He noted that it is only PDP’s victory in 2019 that would put the nation’s economy on the right track, guarantee job creation, security and viable environment for Nigerian youths.
The deputy national chairman said if the party can manage its youths groups very well it would have little need to dissipate energies on campaigns.

Deputy National Youth Leader, Babangida Maina, said due to some mistakes the party made during the last general election, it lost the presidency.

He however said that the party has learnt its lessons and hopefully it will retake power in 2019.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/youths-women-crucial-to-our-2019-plan.html

The paramount ruler of Ikulu chiefdom, Zangon Kataf Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Chief Yohanna Sidi Kukah, has regained his freedom after spending 10 days in captivity.

The traditional ruler who is the younger brother of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese was released thursday afternoon.


A member of the Ikulu Traditional Council, Allahmagani Yohanna, who announced the release of the monarch in a statement on behalf of the chiefdom yesterday evening, said Kukah was hale and hearty and had since joined his family.
“With gratitude to God, we the entire Ikulu nation wish to announce the release of our royal father, Mr. Yohanna Sidi Kukah, the Agwam Akulu, this afternoon.

“He is hale and hearty. We will like to thank the security agencies, various religious and traditional rulers, the media and the public for their support, prayers and solidarity,” the statement said.
Kukah was abducted in his private residence in Anchuna village on January 2, 2018 by unknown gunmen.
The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of N100 million but later reduced it to N20 million.

The statement did not say whether the ransom was paid, but sources said a ransom was paid for the release of the traditional ruler.
According to the source, the Ikulu Development Association (IDA) approached some prominent and wealthy sons of the chiefdom to contributed money for the payment of the ransom.

The source did not however, say how much was raised or how much was paid to the kidnappers.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/kaduna-traditional-ruler-regains.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpgtEtMQmIs

Nigeria migrants evacuated from Libya by the Federal Government on Sunday have described their experiences as “hellish.” On arrival at the Port Harcourt International Airport on Sunday, one of the returnees shouted, “see food oh” when he sighted Federal Government officials serving plates of rice with water to the victims.

Six-month pregnant Lewisa Comfort, 23, narrated her experience to The Guardian. She said: “The Nigerians who collected money and took us to Libya usually betrayed us. They did sell Nigerian ladies to Arab men for about N200,000 and the Arab men would use the girls as sex machines and for house cleaning jobs and with all these, we would only be given one dry bread to eat per day without water.

“If you were sold to a black man, it was a continuous sale, because the black men kept selling and re-selling the individual, just to make money. Human trafficking is the only lucrative business in Libya.


“The situation there is very bad, so pathetic that it is not an experience one would wish his worst enemy. The desert experience is worse than the sea experience. In my set, 14 Hilux vans carrying 27 passengers each left Nigeria but only 10 people survived. More than 1,000 died.”

The pretty lady, who hails from Edo State, disclosed that some of them paid between N600,000 and N800,000 to cross over to Italy but regretted that their hopes were dashed when they were left stranded in Libya.Lewisa said when they arrived in Libya, some of them were arrested, while some were sold out. Others were moved from prison to prison with severe toture. “No water or food,” she said.She said the hellish experience forced most of them to fast and pray, seeking divine intervention for rescue.

According to her, “When we were going through all these experiences, we decided to turn our hunger into fasting and prayers .We fasted and prayed for three days and we saw ourselves as one; there was unity (of mind) among all of us in Libya.

“It was on the third day when our fasting ended we heard the cheering news that our President Muhammadu Buhari, has sent some delegations to come and evacuate us out from Libya and we were very happy, we are so glad that finally, we are back to our country and we have our freedom.”

She advised those nursing the idea to travel out of the country through illegal means to have a rethink, warning that it is better to learn skills and work with freedom in Nigeria than to be a slave in a foreign country.

She lamented that she left the country due to frustration, saying the educational system in Nigeria is very costly with no jobs at the end.
“As a graduate, I was earning N8, 000 monthly where I was teaching and before the month ran halfway, the money would have been exhausted. At a point, I was tired and decided to go look for greener pastures.”

Lewisa also urged the Federal Government to create the enabling environment that would help people learn skills, trade, work and become useful to society.

Another returnee, Shedrack Lagarde, said he was happy to return to Nigeria alive, noting that six of his friends died in his presence due to hunger and severe torture.On his part, Harry Musa said, “it feels very good to be home,” adding, “one does not know what he has until he loses it. Now we know that there is no place like home.”

While disclosing that he ate only two spoonfuls of indomie for two months, he advised people not to travel to foreign countries illegally.Meanwhile, the President of the Association of Industrial Security and Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON), Dr. Ona Ekhomu, has advised the Federal Government to ensure proper vetting and documentation of the Nigerian returnees from Libya before releasing them to society.

This is to detect ISIS fighters who might be masquerading as Nigerian returnees.In a statement yesterday, Ekhomu said that given the threat of infiltration into Nigeria of ISIS fighters, it is prudent to carefully prove the identity of each of the returnees before releasing them.“Some of these people might have pledged Bayat (loyalty or oath) to ISIS. They need to be separated from those who migrated for economic reasons,” he added.He observed that there was no way of knowing a Nigerian by face. And it is presumed that most of the returnees do not have travel documents.It is therefore, merely assumed that they are Nigerians.


A questionnaire must be quickly drawn up to enable the returnees to prove their national identity. These should include questions about their date of birth, place of birth, LGA, name of town, traditional ruler, primary and secondary school attended, ethnic nationality and native language spoken.

In order to discern their purpose for migration, Ekhomu suggested that they should be questioned about the source of funds for their trip to Libya, while all information provided must be quickly investigated (verified) and each individual cleared to enter society.

Ekhomu commended Buhari for ordering the repatriation of the Nigerians: “As a responsible government, the Federal Government did the right thing by bringing back ‘fellow Nigerians’ to our country.The security expert noted: “Nigeria currently has too many active killing fields, and does not need the threat of ISIS infiltration.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/how-nigerian-ladies-were-sold-to-arab.html

Okeke Agujiobi is a 42-year-old trader from Njikoka selling used clothes in Onitsha Main Market. He got married two years ago at the age of 40. His marriage came late because he was channelling every resource to training his brother, Obinna, in Petroleum Engineering at FUTO.

In 2012, Obinna graduated and in 2013 attended a further training in oil and gas in Dubai. The cost of the journey and training itself was so outrageous Okeke had to borrow to fund it. As a result of the expenses, he went bankrupt but his friends shored him up.

In 2014, Obinna got a job with Exxon Mobil in Eket and began to earn good money. Last year, he got married to Jennifer from a neighbouring local government. Life was beginning to get rosy. OKeke was happy for his brother who promised to surprise him in 2016.

On 22 December, Obinna and Jennifer left Eket for Njikoka. They were going to spend the Yuletide in their village with Okeke and his wife. Okeke and Obinna had always wished their parents were alive to see their progress.

At Ama Awusa, between Abia and Enugu, Obinna stopped and bought a huge ram and took it home. On 24th's morning, he took some orange pulp to feed the ram but the backed up and charged towards him, ramming into his face. Obinna fell down and blood began to gush out of his nostrils.

He was taken to Palermo Hospital but he died the following day being Christmas. Sadness enveloped the family; it was a black Christmas. Obinna died on 25/12/2016 at the age of 33.

In February 2017, Okeke visited Jennifer in Eket and asked her about any possible assets Obinna had. She said there was a duplex he built in Uyo. Three plots of land in Emene, Enugu. A 2014 Toyota Highlander and Mercedes-Benz C300 Formatic. Some money in GTB and Skye Bank; she didn't state amounts. He asked for the documents of the landed property but was disappointed that everyone of them also had both Jennifer's name alongside Obinna's.

The following day he went to the Eket branches of GTB and Skye banks but was told Obinna's next of kin was his wife for all the accounts. Through an informal means, he got to find out that the GT account had N17.12 million in it. Nobody could help him at Skye bank. It was obvious that Obinna had other investments which Jennifer couldn't disclose to Okeke.

Before he left Eket, he confronted Jennifer on the issue of Obinna's assets but Jennifer told him to seek the counsel of a lawyer.

In May, 2017, Okeke invited Jennifer for peaceful settlement, making sure to narrate all that he went through to train his brother. He told Jennifer that his brother had a plan to do something big for him. He pleaded with Jennifer to give him the Mercedes Benz, one plot at Emene and N4 million. Jennifer said no.

Just last November, Jennifer sold the house in Eket and married her university boyfriend from Imo state. She and her boyfriend, who's currently unemployed, are living at No.4 Shawton Avenue, GRA Enugu and the man alternates the Formatic with the Highlander.

The question is: if you were Okeke, what would you do?

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/a-true-life-story-of-42-year-old-trader.html

A number of Deposit Money Banks in the country have barred their customers from using debit and credit cards to withdraw dollars, euros, pounds and other foreign currencies whenever they travel abroad, investigation by our correspondent has revealed.

The development may put business and leisure travellers, who may need hard currencies to meet some obligations abroad, in a difficult situation.



Also, students who are studying abroad and often rely on withdrawing hard currencies with their Nigerian payment cards from Automatic Teller Machines abroad to meet certain needs may find the situation challenging.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that the naira volatility of the past year made many of the Nigerian banks to get their fingers burnt and the fear of losing heavily to possible future currency volatility was making them to exercise restraint in reactivating overseas ATM withdrawal services for their customers.

However, some banks, which are said to be having high risk appetite and some with partner banks overseas to make settlements easier, are having a smooth ride and as such, have reactivated the ATM withdrawal service overseas.

A top banker close to the development, who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said, “Each bank has various reasons for not yet activating their overseas ATM cash withdrawal service. For some banks, they ran into losses last year when the naira fell and, as such, they are trying to minimise their risks now.

“For such banks, there is no plan to reactivate it. Some others banks are not ready to reactivate the service because they are trying to check customers who are doing round-tripping. It is for various reasons that the banks are not stopping yet.”

Findings by our correspondent revealed that while almost all the banks allowed customers to use their payment cards to do Point of Sale and web transactions overseas, a number of them had suspended their ATM cash withdrawals without indicating when they would resume.

It was gathered that Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria were among the lenders that had suspended their ATM cash withdrawal services.

When our correspondent put a call through to their customer service centres, the banks confirmed they had suspended the services without stating the reason and possible resumption plans.



The customer service personnel, however, said the PoS service abroad and Web services were available for customers to use.

Some bankers told our correspondent that in terms of volume, Nigerian banks were spending more in overseas settlements from PoS and Web than in ATM cash withdrawal.

They said the fear of money laundering by customers was a major reason why some banks had to stop ATM cash withdrawal overseas.

They also stated that for some banks, the settlement issues they had when the dollar was scarce last year was making them to limit their card usage abroad to only PoS and Web transactions.

Following the crash in global oil prices, the drop in Nigeria’s foreign exchange revenue and the resultant dollar scarcity that hit the economy had made the local banks to suspend the ATM cash withdrawal and the PoS services abroad. They also stopped web transactions.

However, following the improvement in forex supply early this year, some banks announced the resumption of the services.

Some of the banks that have resumed full services in these area include United Bank for Africa Plc and First Bank of Nigeria Limited. Similarly, Zenith Bank Plc, Ecobank Nigeria and Skye Bank Plc have announced that their customers can do the ATM cash withdrawal, the PoS and web transactions.

But some of the banks, which have yet to resume full services, claimed that the regulator was not giving them approval to do so.

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/nigerian-banks-stop-atm-cash-withdrawal.html

Despite the benefits from motor insurance cover, the Nigerian Insurance Association says over 12 million Nigerian motorists carry fake insurance papers.

Investigations by stakeholders in the sector, revealed that many motorists prefer patronizing fraudsters for insurance papers rather than obtaining valid certificate that would provide cover and compensation in times of accident.

Nigerian Insurance Association boss, Mr. Sunday Thomas who spoke to reporters in Asaba, at the weekend said that the development had not gone down well with operators in the industry who have decided to collaborate with law enforcement agencies to put an end to fake insurance business in Nigeria.


He said that the industry had continued to record increase in the number of genuine insurance policies registered in its Nigerian industry data base, adding that “the vehicles on the Nigerian roads are between 16 million and 17 million but what we have registered in our data base is about 4.3 million, it is possible that insurance cover of some expired and have not been renewed.’’

Noting that the association was trying to separate the expired policies from the current ones to determine the actual number of vehicles with genuine insurance, Thomas explained that the industry data base was introduced to curb the proliferation of fake motor insurance papers, provide information on the details of vehicle on the Nigerian roads as well as enhance the verification of certificates in owners’ possession.

He said from available statistics on the number of motorists that are using fake insurance papers, it was obvious that many motorists are unaware of the position of the law on defaulters,.

He said section 68 of the Insurance Act 2003 states that “ no person shall use or cause any other person to use a motor vehicle on the road, unless a liability which he may thereby incur in respect of the damage to the property of third parties is insured with an insurer registered under its act, the insurance states that the law shall cover the liability of not less than one million and that a person that contravenes the provisions of that section of the law commits an offence and will be liable on conviction to a fine of N250,000 or imprisoned for one year.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/12-million-nigerian-motorists-carry.html

Arsene Wenger has been handed a three-match touchline ban and fined by the Football Association over comments he made about the refereeing of Sunday’s Premier League game against West Brom.

In a separate case, the Arsenal boss has also been asked by English football’s governing body to provide his observations on what he said about penalty decisions that went against the Gunners in both of their last two matches over the festive period, against the Baggies and Chelsea.

“Arsene Wenger will serve a touchline ban for Arsenal’s next three matches after he was charged with misconduct,” an FA statement said.

“It follows an independent regulatory commission hearing today at which the Arsenal manager admitted that his language and behaviour in the match officials’ changing room after the West Brom game on Sunday was abusive, improper and questioned the integrity of the match referee. He was also fined £40,000 ($54,000).”

Earlier, Wenger said he was unrepentant over his comments about penalty decisions against the Gunners.

“I maintain what I said in the press conference — 100 percent,” Wenger told reporters on Friday ahead of his side’s FA Cup third-round match at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

“I try to serve this game with honesty and integrity and when I have something to say I will say it.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2018/01/arsene-wenger-banned-for-three-matches.html