₦airaland Forum

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose has urged the Federal Government to ensure that the allegation over illegal purchase of property against Femi Falana is properly investigated and not swept under the carpet.

Fayose, addressing the press in Ado Ekiti yesterday, said such a report against the person of Falana who is reputed to be a human rights activist, friend of the masses, crusader of justice and defender of democracy, was shameful.

The embattled former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina, had accused Falana of buying the building, which was one of the properties he helped to seize from pension thieves and handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).


The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), laid before the Senate a report linking the lawyer to alleged purchase of a N1 billion looter’s property located at 43 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja. He said the property was sold to a ‘Lagos lawyer.’

Falana, at the weekend was reported to have said the property he bought in Maitama District, Abuja, was from A Group Properties and not from the EFCC as alleged.

In a statement he issued entitled, ‘Sale of Property to Femi Falana is Another Lie from AGF’, Falana also challenged the minister to substantiate his claim that the property was allocated or sold to him (Falana) by the EFCC as alleged in media reports.

The governor said: “Falana’s attempt to be clever by half in the explanations he offered to justify his alleged atrocious act; whether or not he was a first degree or third degree buyer; his efforts to white-wash what is an alleged fraudulent deal and a betrayal of public trust and his desperate double speak to wriggle out of this tight corner, all fell flat on its face.”

Fayose who insisted that truth must be told, added: “We must call a spade a spade and what is bad is bad. It is sad, disgraceful and shameful that Falana, a supposedly social crusader, anti-corruption advocate, and friend of the masses, can be cited in such odious, obscene and offensive conduct.

“This must be the real reason why Falana always fall head over heels in defence of the EFCC and Magu, not minding the vicious violations of the constitutionally-guaranteed rights, freedom, and liberties of citizens. What we have always suspected has now been confirmed publicly and by no less a person as the Attorney- General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.”

When contacted yesterday, Falana speaking on telephone said: “Why do you want my reaction? I have made my position clear. Didn’t you read my comments?

“Fayose is expressing his own opinion; what is my business with that? Despite my explanation, I am saying if you publish anything libelous, I am going to take it up with you. That is all I have to say.”


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/fayose-urges-government-to-probe-falana.html

The core investor in the rehabilitation and operation of the ailing Hotel Presidential, Enugu, Mr. Chuma Anosike has condemned the invasion of the hotel premises by some security personnel on the orders of the Enugu state government.

Describing it as an unfortunate development, Anosike said, “On Monday October 30th 2017, a group of armed soldiers, policemen and Civil Defence Corps/Legionnaires forced their way into the Hotel Presidential, Enugu manhandled our Security Personnel and attempted to take over the Property.


Since they presented no Letter authorising them to take that action or a valid Court Order our Security Personnel naturally resisted but had to back down when their lives were threatened.”

Anosike said in his statement that “the Invaders claimed to have been instructed to “take over the Hotel” by Mrs. Rita Mbah, the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism who later came to the site in company of some other persons we learnt were “Prospective Investors.”

“When I contacted Mrs. Mbah to confirm if indeed this narrative was correct, she said she was discharging a “Government Directive”. I advised her about the obvious illegality of her action but she proceeded regardless.

“Our lawyers are considering our options and have instructions to take all steps necessary to protect our legal interest.”

He said “Primeview Hotels Ltd is the Concessionaire of the Hotel Presidential. By virtue of the Joint Venture Agreement date 17th September 2013 between Hotel Presidential Limited, E Hospitality Services Ltd and Primeview Hotels Ltd and the Deed of Assignment dated 6th February 2014 between Hotel Presidential Ltd and Primeview Hotels Ltd respectively legal title in the Property is vested in Primeview Hotels Ltd (PHL) for 35 years commencing from 1st of October 2013.

PHL has been in uninterrupted possession of the Property since August 2013 and has carried out extensive work both on-site and offsite with a view to redeveloping and transforming the hotel to a world class Hospitality facility.

“Unfortunately, we have experienced a number of setbacks the latest of which is a pending law suit by an entity which claimed to have had a previous interest in the Property.

To the extent that PHL were joined as co-defendants in the suit together with the Officials of the Enugu State Government, we advised the Government to resolve the matter as the facts relating to the dispute arose prior to our engagement.”

He said since 2015, they had met with the Government team including His Excellency, the Governor, his Deputy, members of the State Privatisation Council and the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism and we have kept them apprised of our challenges and suggested ways in which we can move forward.

He said “At the last of such meetings held in June this year, it was agreed that efforts would be made to reach out to Status Symbol Ltd, the litigant in the aforesaid suit with a view to arriving at an amicable resolution so that we could all move forward without further hindrance.”

He said in the meantime, PHL had continued to work with its Consultants to fine-tune plans for the restoration of the Hotel including making funding arrangements which had altered significantly given the foreign exchange situation and level of inflation in the country.

“We therefore received with great shock and disappointment the information that Mrs. Mbah had decided against good reason, common sense and more importantly in flagrant disregard of the provisions of a legally binding agreement taken matters into her own hands and orchestrated an attempted violent takeover of the Hotel from PHL.

We have as at 30th September 2017 invested over a $1,200,000 (One Million Two Hundred US Dollars) in the Project and will take all necessary steps to protect our investment.

“We take this opportunity to appeal to His Excellency, Governor Ugwanyi whose record so far is quite impressive not to allow the action of a few misguided elements in his administration tarnish his hard-earned reputation.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/investor-condemns-invasion-of-hotel.html

The President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Dr Frank Jacobs has canvassed a radical reduction in the Import Duties on raw materials into Nigeria.

Jacobs, at the commissioning of a world class syringe and needle complex HMA in Ilorin, said the standard practice the world over on the proposition remained five per cent Import Duties as against Nigeria’s 35 per cent.

For him, Nigeria should revive all its ailing industries noting that countries that used manufacturing, as their economic pivot would be advantageous in job creation endeavours above the ones that export their raw materials.


According to him, “35 per cent of duties for a nation like Nigeria on importation are killing our indigenous companies. In many other countries it is a mere five per cent. We should also note that countries that process their raw materials are the ones creating job opportunities. While doing this, government should put up policies that would protect the local industries.”

He canvassed a favourable tax policy for the nation’s industries, just as he canvassed a speedy implementation of the National Action Plans noting that many present day Nigerian manufacturers operated as “risks takers”, rather than promising investors.

The HAM Medical Syringe and Needle Production Plant is a wholly indigenous owned venture with partnership with a Sino-German company. According to the Chairman Board of Directors of the HMA, Hon. Ayodele Shittu, the company would expand the plant from the current capacity of 200 Million Syringes and 350 Million Needles per annum, to 500 Million Syringes and 700 Million Needles respectively in the next three years. Besides, it has in its payroll over 200 staff and 700 ones recruited as causal workers.

According to Shittu, “our products will be exported to the West African Countries and the African Union (AU) countries. This will save and earn us scarce forex. Raw Materials are also available locally from Eleme Petrochemical Industry.”

He added, “in order to protect the local manufacturers of syringes/needles and safeguard the interest of consumers, we advocate a lower tariff of 5 per cent cumulative on the importation of raw materials and zero duty for the importation of plant and machinery for companies interested in the production of the device and a 20 per cent Import Duties plus 50 per cent Import Adjustment Tax making a cumulative of 70 per cent for importers of Finished Syringes and Needles.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/man-president-seeks-reduction-in-import.html

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday morning led hundreds of people on road walk for diabetes awareness in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, declaring that he still walk with agility at 80, despite being diabetic.

Obasanjo revealed that he was diagnosed of diabetes over 30 years ago but said the condition has not affected his daily functions because of efficient management of it, exercise and strict adherence to prescribed drugs for Diabetes.

The Ebora Owu who made this known to journalists in Abeokuta, shortly after completing a kilometer walk uphill along Abiola Way, recalled that his primary school Headmaster was also diagnosed of diabetes at 50 but managed to live up to 85 years, following proper management of the ailment.

According to him, diabetes does not kill if well managed, but only bares its fangs and kills those who do not give a damn about it.


Obasanjo who was joined in the road walk by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi from Osun State, the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, and members of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), lamented that many of the nation’s youth rarely exercise to remain fit.

He urged Nigerians, particularly those living with diabetes, to engage in regular exercise, use prescribed drugs faithfully and watch their diet to avoid being knocked down by diabetic disease.

“Diabetes is not a disease that should kill, I was diagnosed to be diabetic more than 30 years ago but rather, I am growing strong, if you don’t believe I am growing strong and you didn’t witness this walk, come and see me at night, you will know I am growing strong, come and see me in the morning, you will know I am growing, even in the afternoon, you will know I am growing strong.

“What is necessary is a management of diabetes. Some people said some diseases are incurable, but diabetes is manageable and compliant.

“My headmaster in primary school was diagnosed at the age of 50 and died at age 85, you will agree with he tried.

“What to do is that if you’re diabetic don’t be nonchalant about it and don’t eat carelessly. Three things are important, the food you eat, regular exercise and prescribed medication, those are the three most important things.


“You can be diabetic and still lives till 100, I don’t know when I would die but I am above 80 and many of the youth could not catch up with my pace during the exercise this morning, many of them were running to keep pace me.

“This is my message. Whether you’re diabetic or you have a family or friend with diabetic, diabetes is not a killer disease or it should not be a killer disease unless you are careless,” Obasanjo said.

Also, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi he was in Abeokuta to support the ex – President and his foundation in the walk for Diabetes awareness, and urge people to exercise regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

The Chief Executive Officer of Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF), Dr. Olalekan Makinde, said the Foundation has interest in Health of people particularly giving awareness to Non – communicable Disease (NCD).

“The focus this year is on women, because of the high level of morbidity and mortality that has been related to them. I want to enjoin Nigerians to join hands with the Foundation to further create a better life for all Nigerians and Africans,” Makinde said.

The about two kilometre walk which began at the Marque within the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta, coursed through MKO Abiola Way and had 15 minutes stop – over at the premises Sunny Yinka Oil on same before turning to end it at the take off point.

The road walk was organized by the Southwest zone of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) in collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation (OOF) to mark the year edition of the World Diabetes Day(WDD).

In a lecture titled: “Women and Diabetic: Our Right to Healthy Living,” former chairman of DAN, Prof. Sunny Chieneye called for concerted efforts to check the menace of diabetes.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/ive-been-living-with-diabetes-for-over.html

After months of speculation about his political future, Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has resigned from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying they party has failed and continue to fail the Nigerian people in its avowed promise to bring change to the Nigerian people.
Sources close to him however said the former Vice President was yet to join any political party despite pressure on him to join the PDP.
Atiku said he was leaving the APC. He joined the party after the PDP became factionalised, leaving many of them in limbo, pointing out that since joining the APC, nothing has been done to reverse the treatment meted out to those of us invited to join the All Progressives Congress on the strength of a promise that has proven to be false, but rather, those that prompted his leaving the PDP have actually worsened within the APC.
In a letter addressed to no one in particular, and made public by his media office on Friday morning, the former Vice President said he was leaving the party after due consultations to ponder over his political future.
The former Vice President has been very critical of the Buhari led APC government for several months and also accused the government of lack of consultation, stressing that despite his contribution to the emergence of the government, he has been abandoned.
He has also been very vocal on the issue of restructuring and true federalism which he has canvassed at every public function.
The letter reads: “On the 19th of December, 2013, I received members of the All Progressives Congress at my house in Abuja. They had come to appeal to me to join their party after my party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had become factionalized as a result of the special convention of August 31, 2013.
“The fractionalization of the Peoples Democratic Party on August 31, 2013 had left me in a situation where I was, with several other loyal party members, in limbo, not knowing which of the parallel executives of the party was the legitimate leadership.
“It was under this cloud that members of the APC made the appeal to me to join their party, with the promise that the injustices and failure to abide by its own constitution which had dogged the then PDP, would not be replicated in the APC and with the assurance that the vision other founding fathers and I had for the PDP could be actualized through the All Progressives Congress.
“It was on the basis of this invitation and the assurances made to me that I, being party-less at that time, due to the fractionalization of my party, accepted on February 2, 2014, the hand of fellowship given to me by the All Progressives Congress.
“On that day, I said “it is the struggle for democracy and constitutionalism and service to my country and my people that are driving my choice and my decision” to accept the invitation to join the All Progressives Congress.
“Like you, I said that because I believed that we had finally seen the beginnings of the rebirth of the new Nigeria of our dreams which would work for all of us, old and young. However, events of the intervening years have shown that like any other human and like many other Nigerians, I was fallible.
“While other parties have purged themselves of the arbitrariness and unconstitutionality that led to fractionalization, the All Progressives Congress has adopted those same practices and even gone beyond them to institute a regime of a draconian clampdown on all forms of democracy within the party and the government it produced.
“Only last year, a governor produced by the party wrote a secret memorandum to the president which ended up being leaked. In that memo, he admitted that the All Progressives Congress had “not only failed to manage expectations of a populace that expected overnight ‘change’ but has failed to deliver even mundane matters of governance”.
“Of the party itself, that same governor said “Mr. President, Sir Your relationship with the national leadership of the party, both the formal (NWC) and informal (Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso), and former Governors of ANPP, PDP (that joined us) and ACN, is perceived by most observers to be at best frosty. Many of them are aggrieved due to what they consider total absence of consultations with them on your part and those you have assigned such duties.”

Related: News
“Since that memorandum was written up until today, nothing has been done to reverse the treatment meted out to those of us invited to join the All Progressives Congress on the strength of a promise that has proven to be false. If anything, those behaviours have actually worsened.
“But more importantly, the party we put in place has failed and continues to fail our people, especially our young people. How can we have a federal cabinet without even one single youth. A party that does not take the youth into account is a dying party. The future belongs to young people.
“I admit that I and others who accepted the invitation to join the APC were eager to make positive changes for our country that we fell for a mirage. Can you blame us for wanting to put a speedy end to the sufferings of the masses of our people?
“Be that as it may be, after due consultation with my God, my family, my supporters and the Nigerian people whom I meet in all walks of life, I, Atiku Abubakar, Waziri Adamawa, hereby tender my resignation from the All Progressives Congress while I take time to ponder my future. May God bless you and may God bless Nigeria.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/party-that-doesnt-consider-youths-is.html

Wife of Nigeria’s first President, Prof Uche Azikiwe, has called on Igbo women to go fully into politics, just as their male counterpart.

Prof Azikiwe made this call at a one-day international Igbo women’s conference organised by Ohanaeze Igbo Women Organisation Worldwide, in collaboration with Ezumezu Ndigbo Women Organisation Worldwide, in Nnewi, Anambra State.

She urged the women not to be afraid to contest elections with men, and advised them to exploit their numerical strength to achieve their political goal in the country.

“If you cannot come out, support whoever that comes out among the women. And, we must pressurise the National Assembly to approve the 35 per cent representation we demanded,” Mrs. Azikiwe, who was an award recipient at the event, said.

Also speaking, leader of Ohanaeze women organisation, Mrs. Calista Adimachukwu, quoting the late Dr Nwafor Orizu, said to educate the mind is to liberate it from darkness.

She said people perish because of lack of knowledge, and pointed out that it was based on that premise the awareness conference was organised.

“Not too long ago, the issue of 35 per cent affirmative quota to women for appointive and elective positions was rejected by the National Assembly. If women could be made to understand how relevant they are in the socio-political landscape of this country, I believe they will see the need for them to come together and remain united in their efforts towards securing their voice in the decision-making process of this country.

“However, there are salient and mind-boggling issues I must not fail to raise in this forum. These are those things that are found unacceptable to us, that must be rejected, if women must realise their potentials in the patriarchal society where gender syndrome plays out,” Adimachukwu said.

Some of the vexed issues she pinpointed were “the refusal by the Senate on the proposal to provide women with 35 per cent of all appointments at all levels of government; refusal of married women to use their husband’s state of origin for elected and appointed positions; that women should no longer be treated as second class citizens in the society as they are capable of undertaking any task, including participation in governance like their male counterparts given the same condition, among other gender-related issues.”

The Ohanaeze women leader also gave reasons for recognising efforts of Igbo daughters, who, she said, had long been neglected.

“If we are to make progress and set the pace, we must first appreciate those daughters of ours who, in one way, or the other, contributed towards the upliftment of the Igbo nation.”

She also announced plans of the organisation to build a skills acquisition centre, where women would be given free training and subsequently empowered.


just as she called on all well-meaning Igbo, both at home and in the diaspora to financially assist the organisation towards achieving the goal.

The women who attended the conference vowed that if such an injustice and maltreatment as replicated in the deliberate move to stop the 35 per cent affirmative action by the National Assembly continues, they would not hesitate to rise again in protest, this time, in much more organised manner than the Aba Women Riot of 1929.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/ziks-wife-urges-igbo-women-to-go-into.html

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and national leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, have canvased for the restructuring of Nigeria.

Atiku stated this at a colloquium with the theme: “Niger Delta next decade: away from oil, a way with oil,” organised by the National Point newspapers in Port Harcourt yesterday.

Represented by Azibola Omekwe, the former vice president observed that the Niger Delta which generates crude oil and gas, our most valued asset, has been suffering neglect due to the current political- economic structure of the country.


He said it is terrifying to hear from global energy experts that the oil which Nigeria has solely depended on; made nations to rise against nations, and the DNA of politics and commerce across the globe, will soon become unprofitably as the advance nations are moving away from the use of oil to other alternative sources of energy.

Atiku regretted that while the world is moving away from oil, Nigeria seems to be insisting on it as all eyes are always on the inefficient and dull NNPC. According to him, the situation is pathetic that presidents have had to be minister of petroleum.

The former vice president said that by 2025, the United States will become a major supplier of crude oil to the world. He said this makes it expedient for Nigeria to restructure and return to the true path of federalism.

Clark said if Nigeria must survive as a single political entity, then the political leaders must ensure that the country is restructured so that the federating units can control their natural resources and drive their own development.

He said why elders in the Niger Delta have continued to prevail on militants to maintain the peace was not because they are afraid of military incursion or repression. He warned that in 2019, the region would not support any presidential aspirant who would not restructure the country.

Former president of the Ijaw National Congress, Professor Kimse Okoko, said stakeholders in the Niger Delta will be meeting next month to brainstorm on the kind of restructuring the region want to see before 2019.

A member of the House of Representatives, Okey Chinda, urged Niger Delta states to empower their people to become entrepreneurs thereby creating employment opportunities for others.

The founder of The Guardian, late Dr. Alex Uruemu Ibru, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Jasper Adaka Boro were given posthumous awards for their immense contribution the nation. While Governor Nyesom Wike, was honoured for his defence of democracy.

The Executive Director, National Point, Ibiba Don Pedro said the award Niger Delta Open Democratic Space 2017, was given to Ibru for his uncommon service in promoting the ideals of democracy in Nigeria.
Also honoured were seven others.


http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/atiku-clark-okoko-clamour-for.html

Footballers usually throw their jersey to fans at the final whistle but Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon stunned one supporter by giving him his shorts after Wednesday’s Champions League draw against Barcelona.

The 39-year-old Buffon was competing for the first time since his emotional international retirement after Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup.

Barcelona advanced to the last 16 after the 0-0 draw in Turin but Juventus remain second in the group and can secure their qualification with victory at Olympiakos on December 5.
An exuberant Buffon ran to hug Barcelona’s Ivan Rakitic after the game following a social media exchange on the eve of the game when the Croatian had said he would love to tell Italian goalkeeping great to take his place in the 2018 World Cup.

After embracing Rakitic, Buffon then pulled off his orange shorts and ran towards the tunnel in his Y-fronts to the cheers of the delighted crowd.

“This is only a point tonight, but it’s a good point,” Buffon later Tweeted. “It’s always a pleasure and an honour to play against great champions, like Ivan Rakitic.”

Buffon — who earned a record 175 caps for Italy over 20 years — had been targeting a record sixth World Cup appearance in Russia.

He announced his international retirement after the 1-0 play-off defeat to Sweden which saw Italy miss the World Cup for the first time in 60 years.

Playing likely his final season with Juventus, Buffon has one final ambition: to win the Champions League, after finishing runner-up twice in the past three years.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/photobuffon-stuns-fan-by-throwing-him.html

In spite of the Super Eagles sterling performance in the World Cup qualifiers and its convincing defeat of Argentina – one of the world’s finest teams, Nigeria has dropped nine (9) places in the latest football ranking by the International Federation of Association Football ( FIFA ).

FIFA made this latest ranking known on Thursday, putting Nigeria at 50th position in the world and 8th in Africa.It can be recalled that Nigeria occupied the 41st position in the last ranking. This did not augur well for the die-hard fans of the Super Eagles as they expected the recent exploits of the team to have levitated the Eagles to more desirable position in the upward direction.


A few unexpected teams like Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo etc., ranked higher than Nigeria.

However, we are very hopeful that the forthcoming ranking by FIFA scheduled for 21st December, 2017 should hold more serendipitous prospects for our national team.

See below the list of the top ten (10) teams in Africa and the world:
Africa
Senegal
Tunisia
Egypt
Congo DR
Morocco
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Nigeria
Ghana
Côte d’Ivoire


World
Germany
Brazil
Portugal
Argentina
Belgium
Spain
Poland
Switzerland
France
Chile

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/super-eagles-drop-9-places-in-fifa.html

Social media platform, Facebook, has launched a new nationwide initiative in Nigeria, to further cement its commitment and investment in the country, and across the continent.

Facebook, which has 1.37 billion daily active users, announced this in Lagos, yesterday, saying the plan Incorporates a series of high profile partnerships, training programmes and a physical space that will serve as a centre for learning and skills development.

It stressed that this set of initiatives is aimed at helping to develop and nurture communities, including small businesses, the tech and start-up ecosystem, youths and creatives.

Facebook Public Policy Director, Africa, Ebele Okobi, informed that in Nigeria, more than 22 million people use Facebook every month, and that 87 per cent of SMEs claimed that when they hire, digital skills are more important than where an applicant went to school.


“This demonstrates that the power of digital skills to aid economic growth and development has never been more important.”

“At Facebook, our mission is clear: To give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together. Our investments and commitments announced in Lagos today further reflect our intent to partner with Nigeria’s policy-makers and its vibrant tech and entrepreneurial eco-system to create economic opportunity and independence in Nigeria, and across Africa.’’

Meanwhile, in partnership with CC Hub, Facebook will be opening the doors to its first community Hub space in the heart of Lagos, scheduled to open early next year.

‘NG_HUB from Facebook’ will be a multi-faceted creative space, which will connect and bring together developers, start-ups and the wider communities to collaborate learn and exchange ideas.

The NG_HUB will also host a start-up, incubator programme, as well as bespoke trainings, guest speakers and a dedicated event space, all aimed at attracting the best talent and driving innovation in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem.

Additionally, across Nigeria, Facebook will be supporting a number of existing tech Hubs to serve the communities outside Lagos. The hubs will function as learning centres for local communities, providing multiple opportunities for training and access.


Commenting on the announcement of NG_HUB in partnership with CC Hub, and Facebook’s further support of local hubs across Nigeria, Head of Platform Partnerships, Middle East & Africa, Emeka Afigbo, said “Nigeria is producing a new generation of exciting start-ups that have incredible potential. We understand the important role Facebook plays here in Nigeria with developers and start-ups, and are invested in helping these communities build for the next billion. One of our key passions at Facebook is nurturing and helping to develop the tech and start-up community, and I’m excited to announce our partnership with the Nigerian tech hub ecosystem especially the NG_HUB space, here in Lagos.”

Facebook, founded in 2004, in the United States of America, said it is committed to working with Nigerian small businesses, tech entrepreneurs and the next generation of leaders to better understand and utilise the power of digital tools for economic growth.

Launching a series of learning-based programmes facilitated by local training partners, these have been designed to provide skills that lead to employment and to support the growth of small businesses.


The goal is to train and support over 50,000 students, small businesses and creative entrepreneurs across the country through a series of scaled digital skills trainings, as well as long-term impact programmes. The training programmes will include: aspiring entrepreneurs (to be offered in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Ibadan, Kaduna and Enugu); creates jobs for youth (coding); boost businesses; creates entrepreneurship training, among others.

Ahead of the programme launch, Facebook undertook a detailed ‘Economic Impact Study’ to further understand how communities like small businesses and consumers in Nigeria use the platform, and the effectiveness of social media as a growth tool.

“Nearly 1 in 2 small businesses on Facebook say they built their business on the platform, and 62 per cent stated they have been able to use Facebook to help find employees for their business, whilst over half (58 per cent) of small businesses on the platform say they have been able to hire more employees’ due to growth since joining Facebook,” it stated.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/facebook-launches-nigeria-initiative-to.html

The Federal Government yesterday lamented that the country lost about $9billion in two years on illegal mining particularly on gold exportation.

Consequently, the Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved the procurement of 50 Hilux Vehicles to be distributed to states through the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force to put a stop to the illegal business.

This was revealed by the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, which took place at the First Lady’s Conference room, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Feyemi flanked by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah and the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Kazaure, also disclosed that about 20 Nigerians and their Chinese collaborators were arrested for illegal mining.

The nefarious activity he said was carried out in Zamfara, Taraba, Plateau among other states had made the country to lose huge sums of money that was supposed to grow the Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

The Minister said, “The memo presented to Council has to do with contribution of mining to the GDP. In the latest figure of GDP, there is significant improvement.

“Industrial contribution after agriculture to that report as was released by the National Bureau for Statistics, NBS states that 8.97 percent increase has happened and the bulk of the contribution from the industry is from mining and quarry activities.

“But the primary reason for this memo is the fact that mining could still do a lot more in terms of its contribution.

“NEITI has just released its report and that report made it clear that in 2014 and 2015, what we lost to illegal mining operation was somewhere in the region of about $9 billion particularly from gold illegal exportation. There were other things that were illegally taken out, lead, zinc, tin and coal.

“You recall that in the roadmap the Federal Executive Council approved last year, there is the establishment of the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force.”

50 Hilux for surveillance

“This memo that went to Council requested from Council the approval of the procurement of 50 Hilux Vehicles for the Special Mines Surveillance Task Force to capacitate them in their work to monitor and curb illegal mining activities in all the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory and then to support the collaboration between the State and federal governments via the Mineral Resources and Environmental Committees that the Mining Act has allowed to set up in all the states.

“So this memo went to Council for the procurement of 50 Toyota Hilux Vans for the sum of N987 million at a set piece of about N19.3 million per a vehicle.

“But it just forms part of an overarching framework because Council also underscores the fact that this one vehicle per state cannot solve all the problems but in order to begin to tackle the issues, we need to start from somewhere and ultimately the goal is to ensure that we deploy technology to monitor the illegal activities across the length and breadth of the country and through that capacitate the security services.“The Special Mines Surveillance Task Force is made up of all security agencies. The DSS, the Police, the Civil Defence, EFCC and the National Security Adviser’s Office.

“You may be aware that over the course of last year, the Police have established Mines Police and we now have a Commissioner of Police in-charge of Mines Police. We have a Commandant from the Civil Defence also exclusively deployed for mines activities.

“If we can stop the spate of illegal activities, not just by Nigerians but by Nigerians in collaboration with some foreigners, we will significantly improve the revenue that comes from that sector, increase the contributions to GDP, increase the royalty to government and also provide more jobs for our people.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nigeria-loses-9bn-in-2-yrs-on-illegal.html?m=1

Senator representing Kogi West at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has alluded that Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello has allegedly recruited young men and women as local vigilante group in the state.

Melaye also said the recruits were also armed with “pump action” guns with which they harass innocent people in the state.


The Senator made this assertion on Wednesday, while contributing to a motion on the spate of insecurity in the country.
He said, the rate at which the armed vigilantee groups were operating in Kogi, it could degenerate into full blown terrorist group if not quickly checked.
The lawmaker said the situation would be catastrophic during the general elections in 2019 and governorship election in 2020, unless the trend was addressed.
He vehemently objected to the idea of state police, saying the state Governors would abuse the formation, the same way Governor Bello has allegedly done with the vigilante groups in Kogi.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/gov-bello-allegedly-equipping-local.html

At least 30 people were killed when farmers attacked herdsmen in northeast Nigeria’s Adamawa state, police told AFP on Wednesday.

State police spokesman Othman Abubakar said farmers from the Christian Bachama ethnic group stormed four settlements of Muslim Fulani herders in Numan district on Monday, hacking residents and burning homes.

“We have so far recovered 30 bodies from the affected villages but the toll is not conclusive as rescue teams are still combing the bushes in the area for more bodies,” he said.


A man-hunt had been launched for the assailants, he added.

“The deputy governor visited the villages and an investigation has commenced to unravel the cause of the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice,” he said.

Fulani community leaders gave higher tolls from the incident, the latest in a long-running series of clashes between farmers and herders across Nigeria.

Mafindi Danburam, head of the herders’ union in Adamawa, said the farmers stormed the villages of Kikan, Kodomun, Shafaran and Ketowal at about 1:00 pm (1200 GMT) on Monday, “killing women and children” and burning homes.

“From our estimation more than 60 women and children were slaughtered in the attack, with some of them pursued inside the bush and killed while they tried to flee,” he added.

The Fulanis had taken their cattle for grazing while others had gone to the market when the villages were attacked.


Aminu Yakub, in charge of Numan’s central mosque, said 47 bodies were buried on Tuesday in line with the Muslim tradition.

“We claimed 47 bodies of women and children from the morgue at the general hospital for burial, including months-old babies,” he said.

Numan, which lies on the Benue River some 70 kilometres (45 miles) west from the state capital, Yola, is Adamawa’s farming and herding hub, with fertile land and fresh water.

Disputes over grazing and water rights have persisted between the indigenous Bachama farmers and settler Fulani herders, leading to periodic violence.

Reports of Monday’s attack came a day after at least 50 worshippers were killed in a suicide bombing in a mosque in Mubi, also in Adamawa state.

Although no group has claimed responsibility, the bombing bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram Islamists who are waging a jihadist uprising in Nigeria’s northeast.

Nigeria’s central states have been riven for decades with ethnic, sectarian and religious violence linked to tensions between farmers and herders over land and water.

In September, the International Crisis Group said some 2,500 people were killed and tens of thousands forced from their homes, as unrest spread southwards from central and northern states.

It warned the deadly clashes threatened the country’s national security.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/just-inat-least-30-killed-in-herdsmen.html

Interns at Google bring questions and build answers. We offer a range of internships across EMEA and durations and start dates vary according to a project and location. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and our recruitment team will determine where you fit best based on your resume.

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GMS Sales and Operations: When our millions of advertisers and publishers are happy, so are we! Our Google Marketing Solutions (GMS) team of entrepreneurial, enthusiastic and client-focused members are the “human face” of Google, helping entrepreneurs both individually and broadly build their online presence and grow their businesses. We are dedicated to growing the unique needs of advertising companies. Our teams of strategists, analysts, advisers and support specialists collaborate closely to spot and analyze customer needs and trends. Together, we create and implement business plans broadly for every type of businesses.

Large Customer Sales: Our Large Customer Sales teams partner closely with many of the world’s biggest advertisers and agencies to develop digital solutions that build strong businesses and brands. We enjoy a bird’s eye view on the massive transformation occurring as advertising shifts to mobile and online platforms. We’re uniquely situated to help shape how companies grow their businesses in the digital age. We advise clients on Google’s broad range of products across search, video and mobile to help them connect instantly and seamlessly with their audiences.

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Marketing: Know the user. Know the magic. Connect the two. At its core, marketing at Google starts with technology and ends with the user, bringing both together in unconventional ways. Our job is to demonstrate how Google’s products solve the world’s problems–from the everyday to the epic, from the mundane to the monumental. And we approach marketing in a way that only Google can–changing the game, redefining the medium, making the user the priority, and ultimately, letting the technology speak for itself.
The idea for Gmail began with 1 Googler. Today it has more than 425 million users and counting.

At Google, one Googler can make a huge impact, and it’s no different with our interns–they are key players in our daily innovation. As an intern, you’ll have the opportunity to work on projects core to Google’s business, whether it be Sales, Google Cloud or Marketing. Our intern recruitment team will determine where you fit best based on your CV and the preferences you indicate on the application form.

Our internships expose you to the technology industry, as well as provide opportunities for personal and professional development. From being challenged, to collaborating with a team, join our team to make an impact.

Note: duration and start date of internship vary depending on the position.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities and detailed projects will be determined based on your educational background, interest and skills.

Qualifications
Minimum qualifications:


Currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program and maintaining student status throughout the internship. Priority is given to students graduating end of 2018 or in 2019 so please include your graduation date on your resume.
Returning to education on a full-time basis upon completing the internship.
Ability to commit to a minimum of 10 weeks and up to 6 months at Google.

Preferred qualifications:
Previous internship experience in Sales, Advertising, Consulting, Analysis, Customer Service, Marketing or related fields.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/google-invites-students-and-graduates.html

@ Akelicious.com

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), has renewed the power generation licence for Afam VI Power Plant, a 650MW-capacity facility that has delivered over 24.16 million Megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity into the national grid between inception in 2008 and 2016.



Afam VI is owned by the Shell Petroleum Development Company Joint Venture (SPDC JV), and located in Okoloma, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Presenting the renewed licence to the leadership of SPDC at the Commission’s office in Abuja on Tuesday, the Commissioner, Legal, Licensing and Compliance, Dafe Akpeneye, described SPDC JV as a committed partner in the Nigerian power sector.

He added that the company’s belief in the sector and its resolve to help it develop were remarkable.“We hope for greater efficiency and improved operations from Afam VI in the next 10-year phase of your operations just as we look forward to working together to resolve some of the challenging issues in the power sector,” he said.


Receiving the licence, the General Manager, Gas, SPDC, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, described the Afam VI as a model worthy of emulation by government and other players in the power sector. “Here’s a power plant with a dedicated gas plant operating with high uptime generating clean and efficient power from the combined cycle of three gas and one steam turbines,” he said

He decried the challenges of debt, power evacuation and off-take which he said prevented the plant from delivering optimally at 15 percent of the total national grid-connected electricity.

Afam VI uses combined cycle gas turbine technology that burns 40 percent less gas than plants using older open cycle technologies. This also contributes significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, Afam VI power plant supplied approximately 12% of the nation’s grid-electricity.

Built with the most efficient technology in the industry and utilising waste heat energy from the gas turbine exhaust, the plant generates an additional 200MW from the steam turbine without consuming any additional gas, thereby considerably reducing its carbon footprint.

As a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project under the United Nations Executive Board for Climate Change, Afam VI Power Plant eliminates over 500,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year, while also maintaining excellent safety standards.

The operations at Afam VI have generated subcontract opportunities and employment for over 150 staff from the 16 host communities. It also provided hands-on and offshore training for 15 youths in Electrical, Mechanical and Instrumentation engineering on Combined Cycle Power Plant operations and maintenance. All the trainees are already employed in the Nigerian power industry. Arrangements have been concluded for the training of another 15 community youths.

The power plant also won SPDC the Best Company in Climate Action Award in the 2016 edition of Sustainability, Enterprise, Responsibility Awards for Corporate Social Responsibility (SERAs–CSR), an annual event to celebrate organisations that invest resources to improve the socioeconomic living conditions of people in Nigeria and Africa.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nerc-extends-shell-jvs-afam-vi-power.html

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has described former President Goodluck Jonathan as the pillar that has held the nation’s democracy from falling, saying Jonathan’s political tolerance is second to none in the nation’s history.

The governor said this in a statement to mark the former president’s 60th birthday.

In a press release by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, the governor said Jonathan’s contributions to the growth and sustenance of democracy in the country would never be forgotten.

“I celebrate you, Your Excellency, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as you hit the diamond. You are indeed a rare gem as far as politics, leadership and nationalism are concerned. You lived your words that politics is not a do-or-die affair when you relinquished power despite the many flaws in the election that brought your opponent to power.

” Your great attribute of political tolerance made you overlooked many evils said and done about your person and administration. Nigerians are now living witnesses to how lesser statements have become hate speeches. Because you are a man of destiny, any effort to pull you down will fail.

“Happy birthday and many happy returns of the day and on behalf of my family and the good people of Ekiti State, I wish you many years of fruitful contributions to the growth and development of our dear nation,” he said.

Also, the governor commiserated with the Ekwueme Family, the people of Anambra State and Nigerians in general over the demise of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme.

He described the late vice president as a humanist who held no grudge against political enemies.

“Moreover, Dr Ekwueme’s contributions to the formation of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party are etched in our minds. He joined others to struggle for the enthronement of democracy in the face of tyranny at its highest level. May his gentle soul find repose in the bosom of the Lord,” he added.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/fayose-celebrates-jonathan-at-60-mourns.html

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will celebrate their platinum wedding anniversary on November 20, marking 70 years since they married in the splendour of Westminster Abbey.

Despite three of their four children (Charles, Anne and Andrew) having divorced, this royal union has endured through the decades without any public hint of marital strife.

Now, they join a small club of couples who have spent seven decades together.


No events are planned to celebrate their landmark, but the bells of Westminster Abbey will ring at 1300 GMT in tribute.

Elizabeth and Philip will spend the day with other members of the royal family, a Buckingham Palace spokesman told AFP.

After 70 years of marriage it’s a burgeoning clan, with four children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

They expect to welcome a sixth great-grandchild in April, when Prince William and wife Kate Middleton’s third child is due.

The 96-year-old Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, retired from the public eye this summer, enjoying his newfound free time reading and painting.

For her part the Queen, at 91, is slowly passing over some of her official duties to her son Prince Charles, now aged 69.

Meeting at 13 years-old

It was a version of love at first sight.

Elizabeth was aged just 13 when she first laid eyes on her future husband Philip, then a dashing 18-year-old blond army officer.

The pair may have met in their teens, but it would be eight years until the nation celebrated with pomp their fairy-tale wedding at Westminster’s famous abbey on November 20, 1947.



The princess dazzled, dressed in a satin dress embroidered with roses and decorated with 10,000 pearls and sparkling crystals.

In this post-war period, it was “a flash of colour on the difficult road we’re taking,” said Winston Churchill, leader of a Conservative Party then in opposition.

Fresh memories of the war and fears of anti-German sentiment meant several of Prince Philip’s German relatives — including his three surviving sisters — were not invited to the ceremony.

Prior to the wedding, the Queen Mother asked her future son-in-law if he would cherish her daughter.

“Cherish Lilibet? I wonder if that word is enough to express what is in me,” he replied, using the Queen’s childhood nickname.

He went on to say that he had “fallen in love completely and unreservedly” with her.

Sacrifices

After their honeymoon — at Balmoral, the Scottish holiday estate of the royal family — the newlyweds moved to Malta where Philip, a naval officer, had been stationed.

However, the premature death of King George VI, in 1952, put an end to the more carefree life the young couple had adopted on the Mediterranean island, and propelled Elizabeth to the throne.

It also forced Philip to sacrifice his career in the Royal Navy to become the Queen’s spouse.

The son of a Greek prince banished from the country, he renounced his titles and Greek Orthodox faith and became a British citizen to marry Elizabeth, adopting his mother’s anglicised name, Mountbatten.

But their children would take the Queen’s family name, Windsor.


On his 90th birthday in 2011, she surprised her husband by making him Lord High Admiral, the titular head of the Royal Navy and a role she had held since 1964.

It was reported to be a show of gratitude for his decades of unstinting support as her consort.

That support has come alongside a steady stream of gaffes, sometimes with xenophobic hints, which the Queen appears to have forgiven him for.

“I think the main lesson that we have learnt is that tolerance is the one essential ingredient of any happy marriage,” Philip said in a golden wedding anniversary speech in 1997.

“You can take it from me that The Queen has the quality of tolerance in abundance.”

The man she referred to as her “rock,” also once remarked: “My job first, second and last, is never to let the Queen down.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/elizabeth-ii-prince-philip-celebrate-70.html

The Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC), on Friday in Enugu vowed to clampdown on telecom providers who still issue unregistered mobile telephone sim cards to subscribers, as it had commenced investigation into the discovery.


The Commission said it had thought such trend no longer existed until recently when it was brought to the notice of some of its officials about the unethical practice.

Chairman of the Governing Board of NCC, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye, made the disclosure at the commission’s South East Sensitisation workshop on the code of Corporate Governance in Enugu, yesterday.

Durojaiye said: “Only three day ago, pressmen in Abuja confronted me with the allegation that some telecom service providers still indulge in allowing unregistered sim cards to remain in circulation.
“I have immediately requested the management of NCC to step into prompt investigation so we can take appropriate remedial/punitive actions.”

Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Dambata, at the workshop, also disclosed that evaluation report of the state of the industry suggested that most challenges negatively impacting operators in the sector were attributable to poor governance issues.

Dambata noted that it was for such shortcomings that the commission was sensitising stakeholders in the telecom industry on the code of corporate governance.

According to Dambata, the sensitisation was to draw attention to the adopted international best practices and principles as mandatory baselines in the communication industry.

He stated that it was found out that countries with good corporate governance culture attracted and retained higher quality of investment and capital flow and reduce operational cost in the medium to long term.

The NCC chairman also corroborated that the commission had been having serious issues with operators on the integrity of SIM registration data generated by operators and their agents under the SIM registration.
“These challenges emanate from state of our corporate governance practices which this workshop and the code are intended to sensitise us about,” Dambata said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/telecom-providers-issuing-unregistered.html

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, has challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to do more to improve the lot of citizens. Tinubu gave the advice yesterday while unveiling a book, Making Steady, Sustainable Progress for Nigeria’s Peace and Prosperity, at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The 360-page book is a mid-term scorecard on the Buhari administration put together by the Presidential Media Team. The APC chieftain who refrained from commenting on the 2019 elections, said although Buhari had used the last two years to lay foundation for a better Nigeria, many citizens were still in lack, due to the prevailing economic crunch.

“Many of our people are without basic needs. Too many parents cannot properly feed and clothe their precious children. Too many young adults exist in the void of joblessness, and too many of us do not have the resources to care for elderly parents who once cared for us. We must cure these wrongs,” he said.


Tinubu implored the Buhari administration to hasten and complete the good works it had started. “Do it the more. The good that you are yet to achieve, get to it with a laser-like focus,” he said.The former governor, who was special guest of honour at the occasion, noted that Nigeria could not make appreciable progress without robust industrial capacity.
“Our national industrial revolution plan must be more than mere words. It must be refined. Just as the private sector may partner with government on public endeavours, government must guide and support the private sector into new areas of industry and production.
“Government must invest in research and new products the private sector may find risky and uncertain at the initial stage. Government policy must push and incentivise the private sector into production of goods that will be demanded in the immediate future and for some time to come.
“Whether we focus on steel, textiles, cars, machinery components, processed agricultural goods, other items, or any combination of the above, we must manufacture things the rest of the world wants to buy and not necessarily the things we think are the easiest to do,” Tinubu said.
According to him, as a corollary to the push for industrial maturity, Nigeria needs a national infrastructural plan that accords with both the industrial plan and with extant agricultural activity. The fulcrum of the plan must be continued progress in the achievement of adequate and affordable electric power, especially solar and wind.
“We must help the common farmer by improving rural output and income. We must return to commodity exchange boards or similar mechanism to allow farmers to secure their income and prevent loss. An active and expanded agricultural loan scheme is needed to further promote these goals.
“More needs to be done to make business and consumer credit available by lowering interest rates. We also must move toward true federalism by the balance of power and responsibility between the Federal Government and the states. In so doing, we attain the correct balance between our collective purpose on one hand and our separate grassroots realities on the other,” he said. ‎
Tinubu further accused the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan of corruption, saying so much ‎money grew feet and ran away from the country, faster than Usain Bolt ever could.
“The prior government used the public treasury as a private hedge fund or a charity that limited giving only to themselves. One minister and her rogue gallery picked the pocket of this nation for billions of dollars. While poor at governance, these people could give a master thief lessons in sleight of hand. In governance, they earned a red card. But in corruption, they won the gold medal. It was not that our institutions had become infected by corruption; corruption had become institutionalised,” he said
President Buhari seized the occasion to reiterate his resolve to prosecute anyone who dips his hand in the public coffers. He assured that his government was making efforts to ease the prevailing economic hardship by creating more jobs and social security platforms for vulnerable families.

He also promised to tame the menace of ‎herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, kidnapping and armed robberies within the confines of limited resources, and secure the release of the remaining Chibok schoolgirls.Vice president Yemi Osinbajo said the government had begun investment in various sectors of the economy in the past two years, to provide succour to citizens.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, ‎who reeled out the administration’s achievements since May 2015, rated the Buhari-led government high, particularly in the area of power, which he claimed had risen to an all-time 7,001mw by September 12, 2017 from 5,000mw in 2015.
He disclosed that despite the downturn in oil prices, the current administration had been able to invest over N1.2 ‎trillion in capital projects through the 2016 budget.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nigerians-are-still-suffering-tinubu.html

The House of Representatives adhoc committee investigating the operational activities of telecoms operators panel yesterday threatened to issue an arrest warrant against the Chairman of the defunct Etisalat Nigeria, Akeem Bello-Osagie as well as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airtel Nigeria for shunning the panel’s summons.

According to the Hon. Ahmed Abu- headed committee, Bello-Osagie and the Airtel CEO refused to honour the invitations by the panel to answer questions on alleged tax evasion by Airtel and former Etisalat

Abu while speaking at the National Assembly during a public hearing yesterday described the behaviour of the two men as unacceptable adding that an arrest warrant would be issued against them should they fail to appear on the next invitation.

His words: “It’s important that your MD is here. Public interest overrides any other interest. We don’t want anybody to play this card to say people will lose their jobs. Nigerian workers are ultimate.


“It’s only in Nigeria where what happened in the transition between Etisalat and 9Mobile will happen. We looked into the books, and the balances are annoying. You must bring Bello-Osagie here, else we’ll issue arrest warrant against him.

He said while speaking on the Airtel CEO: “when next we do a letter to the CEO of Airtel and he doesn’t turn up, we’ll issue an arrest warrant against him.”

However, because he was in a meeting at the Presidential villa, the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler could not appear before the lawmakers hence the spect of 5 percent Value Added Tax charges on sales of recharge cards could not be treated.

Meanwhile, another ad-hoc panel of the House which is probing the various intervention funds by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has summoned the Managing Director of the Assets Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), Ahmed Kuru.

At the same committee hearing, the Director General of the Nigeria Lottery Commission, Lanre Gbajabiamila said that while approximately 295 licensed Value-added Service (VAS) providers have generated about N80 billion revenues across the four operators within the past 4 years , MTN alone is grossing about 50 percent of the entire revenue

He said it is therefore evident that there is need for the revenue sharing formula between Mobile Network Operators and Value-added Service (VAS)/Digtal content and Mobile- based lottery providers be reviewed upwards in favour of the VAS providers.


Gbajabiamila, said the sharing formulae should now be 60- 40 in favour of the VAS providers.

“VAS partners are largely responsible for running lottery/promo services in behalf of the operators. As these initiatives are very resource consuming, it is important that any partner looking to engage in it is well prepared in terms of funding and planning of their expectations and returns.

” The resources and creativity the continues to be applied to VAS and digital content generation are the key components to the success of the industries..

“Over the years, collaborations between MNOs and the VAS partners have seen revenue share continue to take a fall from 60 to 30 percent on the average, to as low as 15 percent to VAS providers in some cases.”

He said previously, VAS partners who held licenses from the Lottery Regulatory Commission were guided by certain sets of provisional rules which are easily applied according to the type and scale of promo offering being proposed..

But that the guideline seems to be varying in ways that VAS partners are struggling to comply with. “And this is the basis of the presentation of our position to this honorable assembly.”

Gbajabiamila said the current lottery ACT 2005 seem to address mostly main stream lottery services, usually based in ticket sales and returns.

While citing, sections 20,24,35 and 57 of the Act he said a minimum of 50 percent of the proceeds of the National Lottery is to be paid to a prize fund, which is dedicated to the payment of prizes.

He however said that approximately 295 licensed VAS providers have generated about N80 billion revenues across the four operators within the past 4 years ” of which MTN is grossing about 50 percent of the entire revenue.”

Members of the committee agreed that there is need to upgrade the share of the VAS providers adding that the Mobile Network Operators are obviously not treating the VAS providers fairly.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/reps-panel-threatens-arrest-warrant.html

@Akelicious.com

The Chairman of Governor Willie Obiano Reelection Campaign Committee, Chief Sir Victor Umeh OFR (Ohamadike Ndigbo) will this morning be on Channels television's Sunrise Daily to analyse key issues concerning the forthcoming Anambra governorship election...

Please do tune in by 7am and be part of the discussion which promises to interesting.

Thanks

Source :http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/just-ini-will-be-on-channels-tv-by-7am.html?m=1

@Akelicious.com

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has demanded affordable, accessible and quality health care for all Nigerians irrespective of economic, social or political class.

This is coming against the backdrop of recent health challenge of the former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who was flown out of the country for proper healthcare through direct intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari.


CDHR had last week charged Buhari and the federal government on the “gross violation of the constitutional right to life of all Nigerians due to the poor state of health infrastructure in the country, which is responsible for the avoidable deaths of millions of citizens, especially the low and middle class, children, women and other vulnerable Nigerians.”

The National Publicity Secretary, CDHR, Henry Peter Ekine, in a statement yesterday said the renewed call became imperative following the increasing cases of avoidable deaths by Nigerians, almost daily, due to the poor state of public health infrastructure across the country

Ekine made reference to the case of one Mr. Christopher Ojika who died of gunshot injuries following an attack by armed robbers in Port Harcourt, 11 hours after the attack, as a result of the failure of the health institutions, including the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, to provide prompt and quality care due to poor or outright lack of necessary facilities needed to save the life of the young man.

He stated: “Two other health institutions visited earlier, including the Military Hospital, Port Harcourt, could not give the needed care mainly due to lack of facilities.

“CDHR restated that the concept of right to life relates to the provision of functional health institutions and efficient and accessible health care system; hence the connection between the provisions of section 17 (3) (c) particularly (d) and section 33 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.”

To this end, he called on Buhari to immediately direct its policy towards the protection of the health, safety and welfare of all citizens and the actualisation of the objectives of adequate medical and health facilities for all persons.

Ekine however “condemned the disposition of the president and the federal government in neglecting the nation’s health institutions and infrastructure in preference for foreign medical trips, especially by the political class.”

He also “called for immediate comprehensive overhaul of the health sector infrastructure and the enabling legal frameworks or considers a comprehensive policy of inclusion of all Nigerians in a national programme that will provide opportunity for all citizens to be entitled to prompt and quality health care or medical treatment abroad.

In our body of laws, the remuneration of former presidents and Heads of State (and other Ancillary Matters) Act, particularly Item 5, Part I and Item 5, Part II of the Schedule thereof, provides for state funded quality medical care, within Nigeria and abroad at the expense of the federal government, for all former presidents and former vice presidents and members of their families.

“Thus, the president has recently approved for Ekweme to be taken abroad for quality medical care, a kind and commendable gesture.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/ekwueme-cdhr-demands-affordable.html

@Akelicious.com

The Lagos State Government wednesday unveiled fresh Joint Security Task Force to end traffic congestion and security threat in Apapa Central Business District arising from the uncontrollable activities of tankers, trailers and trucks.

The state government also disclosed its plan to fully enforce the 2012 Lagos Road Traffic Law, thereby directing officers of the state Police Command and other security agencies in the state to enforce the law.


These were part of the decisions reached at the Security Council meeting held at the State House, Ikeja, wednesday under the chairmanship of the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

The council meeting was attended by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Imohimi Edgal: Commander of Ikeja Cantonment, Brig Gen. Elias Attu; Commander of NNS Beecroft, Commodore Murrice Ansa Eno, and Executive Secretary of the state Security Trust fund (LSSTF), Dr. Abdulrazaq Balogun, among others.

Edgal, who addressed journalists after the meeting, said the new task force comprising officials of the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Armed Forces, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) would immediately be deployed to the axis to ensure sanity and contain any potential security threat.

Edgal said while the issues that gave rise to the gridlock were being addressed, the task force would ensure that the roads in the axis were not totally locked down, and also prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of the gridlock to perpetrate their nefarious activities.

He said: “We deliberated extensively on the Apapa gridlock. With immediate effect, the governor has approved the reconstitution of a joint task force to ensure that while the major problems that gave rise to that situation in the first instance are being tackled, we will ensure that we have a good semblance of decency on our roads.

“We will ensure that we create a corridor for smaller vehicles and ensure that there is no complete blockade to free flow of traffic. We will also have plain cloth and uniformed security agencies ensuring that there is no crime in the axis due to the traffic gridlock.”

The commissioner assured residents that every necessary arrangement had been made to ensure peaceful yuletide season, noting that the council also approved increased visibility and patrol in all parts of the state, especially in areas there are traffic gridlock as a result of construction activities.

Edgal disclosed that due to increased patrol, about 35 notorious traffic robbers were recently arrested in Ilupeju and Oshodi axis, many of whom he said are ex-convicts and would soon be charged to court at the end of investigation.

He said there had been about 35 per cent drop in issues of residential robberies as a result of the community policing and community safety partnership strategy adopted by the Lagos Police Command.

According to him, while more boats had been handed over to Marine Police by the state government to secure the waterways and riverine areas especially to checkmate incursions by militants and secure schools in such areas, in addition to the tactic guards already formed.

On the traffic law, the commissioner noted that security agencies in the State “have been given marching orders to strictly enforce the traffic law, and that no lawlessly or breakdown of law and order would be condoned.”
He urged all motorists and transport unions “to impress it on their members to obey traffic laws. Commercial motorcycle operators must not only refrain from restricted routes, but also use helmets both for rider and passenger and not carry more than one person at a time, among other rules of engagement.

“We have the Lagos State Traffic Law and it is our responsibility to enforce the law. Motorists, motorcyclists and other form of road users must obey the law. Our men have been mandated to enforce all aspects of the law not only prohibition along some routes but also those aspects that have to do with safety.

“We do not want officers and men to be challenged unduly when they are enforcing the law. I urge all the unions to call their members to cooperate with the police. They should not form themselves into pressure and riotous groups to challenge the police and other security agencies.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/lagos-unveils-fresh-joint-task-force-to.html

@Akelicious.com

Ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial election in Anambra State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, said that 2,158, 171 voters are expected to participate in the election. This is as the electoral body has said that all political parties and their candidates would be given equal treatment.

According to the commission, Anambra State is in the verge of making history in Nigeria as the first state to field candidates in 37 political parties in a gubernatorial election.

Speaking at a stakeholder meeting on the Anambra State governorship election, held at the Women Development Centre, Awka, the INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said it is the first time in the history of the state that 2,158, 171 people collected their PVCs and are ready to vote in an election.

According to the INEC boss, even though the gubernatorial election holding on Saturday would be combined with a state assembly by-election, all political parties and their candidates would be given equal status.

“The decision on who becomes the next governor of Anambra State rest with the people of the state,” Yakubu said adding, “We shall uphold their choice without favour or ill will.”

“INEC is neither for nor against any political party or candidate. INEC have no candidate in this election.

“Let me further reiterates that this election in Anambra State is unique in many respect. With 37 political parties fielding candidates, this is the first governorship election with the largest number of political parties in the history of Nigeria.”

“Secondly, with 2,158, 171 voters, it is the election with the largest number of voters (and number of PVCs collected) in the history of Anambra State,” Yakubu added.

The INEC chairman said it was the first off- season governorship election in Nigeria to be combined with a state constituency by-election.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/2-million-nigerins-to-vote-in-anambra.html

It was indeed the mother of all grand finales today at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, Anambra state capital as APC and Dr Tony Nwoye’s national Campaign train for Anambra State Governorship election which comes up on 18th November 2017 hit Awka for their grand finale.
The capital city of Anambra state, Awka was agog as APC Anambra state, those who believed in change mantra of APC and Dr Tony Nwoye’s supporters in Anambra state came out in their numbers for the historic event. They also came out to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari, the President Federal Republic Of Nigeria, who graced the event as it was speculated during the preparation that he would come.
The grand finale, not only witnessed the presence of Mr President, it also witnessed the presence of 12 state serving State Governors of APC, 18 Ministers of the Federal Republic, 15 former Governors including Sullivan Chime of Enugu state, national Chairman of APC, all APC National working committee members and Principal officers.
Meanwhile, the eldest son of late Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, known as Emeka Ojukwu jnr and APGA chieftain dumped APGA today and declared for APC. He was welcomed into his new party, APC by the national Chairman of APC and President Muhammad Buhari at Alex Ekwueme Square.
In his remarks after being welcomed into the APC fold, he warned APGA, Gov Willie Obiano and whoever cares to know to stop using his father’s picture in their campaign to deceive the populace. He made it clear to them that APGA is a party formed to enrich few individual. He called them few fishes in a small pond. He asserts that his father on his return from exile joined NPN which was party at the center then, because he understands the need to be in the mainstream of Nigeria politics.
However, from what Nigerians witnessed today at Alex Ekwueme Square, Awka, nobody in Anambra is left behind in the mission of Dr Tony Nwoye and APC to reconnect Anambra to the national grid.
Dr Tony Nwoye and APC have conquered Anambra state political atmosphere and it’s now obvious that Anambra is APC and there is no more sentiment of party affiliation, Anambrarians now hunger for connecting to the national grid come 18th November Anambra State Governorship election.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/breakingemeka-ojukwu-jnr-dumps-apga-for.html?m=1

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode has said the 27,500 sanitation workers employed in line with its Cleaner Lagos Initiative designed to make all parts of the State clean, would commence work in the next three weeks.

Ambode stated this while commissioning the multiple Lay-by and Slip Road in Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area of the state.

The Governor who also launched the Intelligence Transport System (ITS), the e-ticketing for commuters using the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the Ojota BRT Depot and the new complex for the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority known as LAMATA Place, said the initiatives were critical components of the ground plan to scale up the integrated transport management system.

He said the project was a significant milestone in drastically reducing the traffic along the corridor, adding that its completion would no doubt impact directly on travel time as the targeted reduction of traffic along the length of the Third Mainland Bridge to the entire stretch of the axis, moving towards Old Toll Gate and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway would be accomplished.
“This project is one of the major interventions in recent time by this administration.
There is the multiple lay-by at Oworonshoki, the car wash Layby, slip road at Olopomeji, the several see through fence and the recently launched lay-by at Alapere bus stop.
“Without doubt, this administration has dedicated considerable resources to the fulfillment of its initiatives of providing basic elements or roads and transport infrastructure. This obviously is in tandem with the fact that the importance of transportation to our economy cannot be over emphasized,” he said.
On his part, the Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, urged the traders and residents to take ownership of the facility by making sure that the purpose for which the lay-bys were constructed was not defeated.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/27-000-lagos-sanitation-workers-to.html

With a target to become Africa’s third largest economy by 2020 and Africa’s model mega city in 2025, the Lagos State government has reiterated its commitment to sustain the existing partnership with the private sector.

This it aims to do by creating more business-support infrastructure and developing sound policies, which will build a solid framework and enable businesses thrive.

To ensure smooth operations, the private sector has been advised to play its own part in the social contract by ensuring taxes are paid promptly in order to meet the obligations of the state.



The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode who stated this yesterday during the closing ceremony of the 2017 Lagos International Trade Fair said that the state is committed to supporting the business community through policies that will ease the process of doing business.

According to Ambode, the objective of job and wealth creation is dependent on the state’s ability to create and sustain a conducive business environment that will attract more private sector investments particularly in the critical and largely untapped sectors of state government.
At its Special Day at the fair yesterday, the governor said the state being a global economic and financial hub, will not stop being a pathfinder in Nigeria’s drive for economic recovery and sustainable growth.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Tunji Bello, Ambode noted that owing to the nation’s over dependence on oil, he urged operators to explore the various sectors in the state to revive the country from economic dearth.
President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Nike Akande, tasked governments at both the federal and state levels to address the issues of enabling environments in the country, especially as regards infrastructure.
She said this is necessary in order to fully harness the huge enterprising resource of domestic and foreign investors for the diversification of the economy and welfare of the citizenry.Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye said that the participation of the state government in the annual trade fair has afforded the state to showcase the programmes and projects of the state government driven by various MDAs and has also provided a platform for the Micro, Small, Medium Entrepreneurs in the state’s pavilion to relieve them of the burden of bearing the cost of participation, thereby ensuring their visibility and improved patronage by domestic and foreign patrons.
Meanwhile, the State Government, yesterday, threatened to shut the corporate headquarters of organisations in the state, defaulting in remitting statutory taxes to government from Monday, November 20.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade, it said some banks have failed to remit statutory taxes, including withholding taxes on bank interest for more than 10 years, stating that the government has resolved to ensure compliance with statutory tax remittances.

He warned that any company found to have evaded tax would not be spared, adding that it is in the interest of defaulting companies and their management to remit the statutory taxes to the state within the grace period to avoid embarrassment.
“All law abiding corporate organisations are advised to adhere to this directive as the state government has given enough grace period for them to remit their taxes. The government will on Monday, November 20, commence the process of shutting down the headquarters of corporate organisations, including banks that have failed to remit statutory taxes to government coffers. It is in the interest of companies who are yet to remit their taxes to do so on or before Monday,” Ashade said.
“Prompt payment of tax will enable the government to provide the necessary infrastructure and improve the standard of living of the people, but when people pay their taxes promptly, government is encouraged to do more. The administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has shown in the last two and half years that taxes paid are judiciously spent on projects that have impacted positively on the lives of Lagos citizens,” Ashade said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/lagos-targets-third-largest-economy-by.html

Six days to the Anambra governorship election, five leading candidates are slugging it out in the governorship debate organised by Channels Television.

Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives Congress (APC); incumbent governor, Mr Willie Obiano, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and Mr Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are presently telling the people why they should be elected.

Also participating in the debate are Mr Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA) and Mr Osita Chidoka of the United Progressive Party (UPP).

More than two million people are registered to vote in the election, which will take place on Saturday, November 18 and the candidates are pushing to win over votes by explaining their plans.

updates

This is a government that is visionless; government must be purposeful, government must be adaptive. We need infrastructure that works – Oseloka Obaze #AnambraDebates

I am the only fellow paying salaries and pensions, as well as working on roads – Willie Obiano #AnambraDebates


My opponents do not know the size of Anambra’s economy. Today, we are exporting yams and vegetables to the UK – Willie Obiano #AnambraDebates

Road construction will be my utmost priority if elected governor of Anambra State – Tony Nwoye #AnambraDebates


Anambra is not on a sustainable path to growth, we should focus on leveraging the people – Osita Chidoka #Anambradebate

Where are the roads he (Willie Obiano) constructed? This state is broken, we need to fix it – Obaze Oseloka #AnambraDebates


This government has spent almost N600billion in the last four years; there is nothing commensurate to show – Obaze Oseloka #AnambraDebates

My predecessor left N9billion cash. He issued cheques worth over N15billion before he left office. – Willie Obiano #AnambraDebates

Tony Nwoye doesn’t have an executive capacity. He has never worked in his entire life – Willie Obiano #AnambraDebates

I wish to make Anambra State an industrial hub through provision of power and water – Tony Nwoye, APC #AnambraDebates


Funds meant for building an airport in Anambra should be used to develop the capital city – Osita Chidoka #AnambraDebates

I will engage agitators positively. I will create jobs. I have it on record that I have employed more than 150 men and women – Tony Nwoye #AnambraDebates

Funds meant for building an airport in Anambra should be used to develop the capital city – Osita Chidoka #AnambraDebates

This is a government that is visionless; government must be purposeful, government must be adaptive. We need infrastructure that works – Oseloka Obaze #AnambraDebates

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/anambra-guber-governorship-candidates.html

The Nigeria Police has faulted a recent report by two foreign bodies—International Police Association (IPA) and Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), which described it as the worst globally, saying the so-called rating was out to blackmail Nigeria Police.

The report, a fallout of 2016 World Internal Security and Police Index, (WISPI), claimed to have measured ability of police to address internal security issues in 127 Countries in four key areas of capacity, process, legitimacy and outcomes.

But reacting to the report, which was published by an online medium, Force Public Relations Officer, (FPRO) Jimoh Moshood, said yesterday in Abuja, that the Nigeria police was rated the best in the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations and Africa and also one of the best in the world.



The reaction came just as the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, assured Nigerians, international community and stakeholders of policing with integrity and international core values and world best practices.
The statement reads: “After a careful study of the report and the news emanating from it, the Nigeria Police wish to state categorically that the report is entirely misleading, a clear misrepresentation of facts and figures and essentially unempirical, considering the area of coverage of the report, which was said to have been carried out in 2016 by the above mentioned associations.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/police-flay-report-rating-it-as-worst.html

As shared on Instagram
You know why strangers support you more than people you know? Cuz people you know have a tough time accepting you come from the same place but they are still in The Same Place. I love how people I've never met before root for me and support me in every thing I do as well as my businesses and projects. God bless you all for the love and support. As you wish me well so shall it be in your lives. I love you all and I pray for the very best in your lives 2018. Amen ����

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/i-love-how-people-root-for-me-says.html

Senate yesterday directed its Committee on Health to institute an inquiry into the death of 250 victims of snake bites within the past three weeks in the snake belt states of Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Plateau.

The victims were said to have lost their lives due to the unavailability of anti-snake venom to treat them.

The senators want the Ministry of Health to explain why it failed to supply anti-snake venom to treatment centres and other health centres in the country, especially in the Northern region where cases of snake bites are rampant.

In the meantime, the Senate has urged the minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, to mandate the ministry, as a matter of urgency, to procure and supply enough anti-snake venom to the treatment centres at Kaltungo, Langtang and Bambur.
The lawmakers also mandated the ministry to initiate steps towards the local production of the anti-snake venom.
These resolutions followed a motion by Senator Joshua Lidani (PDP, Gombe South) entitled, “Alarming Increase in the Rate of Deaths of Victims of Snake Bites Due to Scarcity of Anti-Snake Venom”.
Senator Lidani told his colleagues that the ministry stopped the supply of anti-snake venom to health centres since last year, causing a rise in the number of deaths from snake bites especially in the snake belt states of Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Plateau due to the absence of the life-saving drug.
He expressed the Senate’s concern that 91 victims died within the past three weeks as a result of their inability to get treatment in these areas.
The lawmaker noted that there were only three snake bite treatment centres established by the federal government in the North, namely Kaltungo in Gombe State; Zamko, Langtang in Plateau State and Bambur in Taraba State, catering for the numerous victims of snake bites in the area.
He wondered why the Federal Ministry of Health, which used to supply the anti-snake venom to the three centres, stopped doing so since last year.
According to him, “The Gombe State Government had been supplying the anti-snake venom worth N8.5 million every quarter to the treatment centre at Kaltungo but because of the numerous patients coming from the neighbouring states, the quantity of anti-snake venom has been inadequate and patients have resorted to buying from pharmaceutical shops at exorbitant rates.”
Senator Lidani added that the Senate was “alarmed that the suppliers of the anti-snake venom, who used to import them from UK and South Africa, have been unable to import these vaccines adequately and, consequently, patients have resorted to traditional means which are unsafe and unreliable.
He revealed that an ampoule of anti-snake venom costs N35, 000 and noted that no fewer than three ampoules dosage was required for the treatment – a sum, he said, most of the peasant farmers in those areas could not afford.
He went on: “Sometime in the 1990’s, the federal government, in partnership with the United Kingdom, the ECHITAB Group and the University of Liverpool and Costa Rica, agreed to undertake a research into the snake bite and production of suitable anti-snake venom with a view to transferring the technology towards local production of the anti-snake venom.
“The government of President Olusegun Obasanjo had approved the establishment of the factory for the production of anti-snake venom in Gombe State but nothing has been done in furtherance of that approval.”
He lamented that no pharmaceutical company was producing the life-saving drug in the country.
In his contribution, Deputy Senate Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP, Taraba South) noted that many of the snake bite deaths were unreported.
“Periodically, lives are being lost and in most cases, these lives are lost without being reported, yet they are citizens of Nigeria.
“I think Nigeria has attained a level where we should be able to find solutions to this, either through scientific research or provide sufficient medicine that will attend to this problem once they come up, otherwise we are being embarrassed daily.
“We should adopt a proactive measure to tackle this matter. As a parliament, we owe it a duty to attend to this and ensure we provide a long lasting solution to bring to an end, the threat posed to lives of citizens who reside in the area”, he said.
In his remarks, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the session, said, “We support any initiative that will protect the life and property of citizens. It is important we begin to develop technologies that will eradicate the snake completely and produce some of the medications. We need to spend some money to ensure that snakes are eradicated.”
However, the minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, had in his response on Monday, said the ministry still had some vials of anti-snake venom in stock from the 2016 procurement from which states and other treatment centres were supplied upon request.
According to him, “the states in question have refused to comply with the new procedure of request, hence their inability to access the product from the ministry.”
The statement also noted that five states had so far made requests and had been issued the vials for the treatment of victims in the last four months, the last on September 6, 2017.
The health minister also called on snake bite endemic states to invest in the procurement of anti-snake venom for their people, warning that the federal government could not continue to procure and distribute it free to states indefinitely as being currently practised.
“The federal government is however working on a Public Private Partnership arrangement for the local production of anti-snake bite venom which will make the product available, affordable and accessible,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Plateau State commissioner for Health, Dr Kuden Kemshak, has faulted the report that 280 people died as a result of snake bites in the country, saying the figure was exaggerated.
The commissioner, however, told our correspondent in Jos on phone that the country faces shortage of anti-snake venom.
According to him, the incidence of snake bites is rampant especially now due to the dry season, which is harvest time.
He further noted that the entire country was finding it difficult to access anti-snake venom.
He pointed out that the Plateau State government had contacted Dr Nandul Durfa, who is from Plateau State and managing director, EchiTAB Study Ltd, distributors of EchiTAB Anti-Snake Venom (ASV) in Africa, who had promised to provide the anti-snake venom in the next six days – because it has to follow due process.
Kuden further noted that he had also contacted the chief medical director (CMD), Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) and was told that the hospital was also facing challenges in accessing anti-snake venom.
He said the state government, through the Ministry of Information, had been carrying out awareness campaigns in rural areas, warning the residents to always wear their boots and hand gloves whenever they go to their farms.
“I always advise the public, especially people in the rural areas during harvest – because the incident of snake bite is very high, to avoid digging rat holes whereby they put their hands into it to look for rats and in the process they get bitten by snake,” he said
Many children, aged between seven and 10, are currently being treated after being bitten by snakes in rabbit holes at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Comprehensive Health Centre, Zamko, Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
The hospital’s medical officer, Dr. Nyam Azi, said that as many as 280 victims were received in the hospital, 25 of them in the last three weeks, with one person dying because he arrived too late to be saved. He advised children to desist from hunting rodents in the bush as that puts them in danger of snake bites.
LEADERSHIP Friday reports that most victims of snake bite are youths, farmers, rat hunters and herdsmen
Dr Azi said: “For the adults, the situation is worse during the harvest season because people go to the farms without wearing boots and gloves.
“The hospital is struggling to cope though the federal government had provided 100 vials of anti-snake venom. We get lots of cases and the vials given by government are not sufficient. During the hot season, the 100 vials can be exhausted in five days.
“A vial of anti-snake venom costs N27, 000 and many victims, who could not afford that amount, usually seek alternative treatments: some go to native doctors leading to high mortality; many people just die at home. We have challenged them to do the economic arithmetic – a rat is not worth N27, 000; it costs just about N50 to N70.
“We have also advised them to stop moving around at night; where they must, they should use torchlights and try to avoid snakes’ possible habitats.”
He advised people in affected areas to rear pigs and ducks because they are sources of biological control of snakes.
“The two are natural predators that eat snakes and deplete their population,” he noted.
However, a non-governmental organisation, Oracle Business Limited Foundation, said it had spent N150 million on the treatment of snake bites in Benue State from 2013 till date.
The founder of the Foundation, Dr Samuel Ortom, the governor of Benue State, disclosed that over 579 people from 14 local government areas in Benue State and one from Nasarawa State have benefitted from the initiative.
Coordinator of the snake bite treatment scheme of the Foundation, Evangelist Daniel Unongo, said there were beneficiaries from Guma, Makurdi, Gwer, Gwer West, Tarka, Buruku, Gboko, Konshisha, Ushongo, Oju, Logo, Ukum, Kwande and Apa in Benue, and Obi in Nasarawa State.
He stated that several students from the Benue State University whose local governments of origin could not be ascertained were also treated during the period under review.
He said the initiative was part of the services which the foundation rendered under its three-fold agenda of redemptive, restorative and reformative commission.
Terseer Mnega, a survivor from Tarka local government area, came to express his gratitude to the NGO for his successful treatment at the Bishop Murray Medical Centre in Makurdi.
Father of the survivor, Mr. Mnega Yenge, who accompanied his son, said that but for the NGO’s help he could have lost Terseer because he could not have afforded the N228,000 spent on the boy’s treatment in February this year.
Governor Ortom stated that the treatment was part of the services which the Foundation rendered under its three-fold agenda of redemptive, restorative and reformative commission.
He said God gave him the inspiration for the Foundation in 2004 as part of the Christian Help Ministry to cater for prison inmates, widows, orphans and the vulnerable as well as support the preaching of the gospel.
He disclosed that it became imperative for the Foundation to respond to the challenge of snake bites which persisted in rural communities where most victims were unable to pay the expensive bills for treatment.
He expressed gratitude to God that most of those who benefited from the treatment had survived, noting that due to rampant nature of the cases of snake bite; the Foundation retained the services of Bishop Murray Medical Centre and Rahama Hospital in Makurdi for the treatment of victims from various parts of the state.
Ortom revealed that the most spectacular case of survival was that of Mrs Ngufan Iorbee from Kaseyo in Guma local government area who, in the course of treatment, gave birth to a set of twins and survived along with the children.
Efforts to speak with the commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Cecilia Ojabo, to ascertain whether the state had been able to access the federal government’s anti-snake venom and the level of awareness created among citizens failed as she neither picked her calls nor replied text messages sent to her phone.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/senate-probes-health-ministry-over-250.html