₦airaland Forum

Leaders of the three main ethnic nationalities in Benue State yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja alleging a fresh plot by herdsmen to unleash another deadly attack on the people.

Addressing a press conference under the aegis of Mdzough U Tiv, Idoma National Forum and Omi Ny’ Igede, the leaders claimed that there was existence of an armed militia on the Nigeria-Cameroun as well as the Agatu borders of Nasarawa State extending to North West of Benue.

The President General of Mdzough U Tiv, Edward Ujege who presided over the briefing alongside the President of Idoma National Forum, Amali Adoya Amali and President General of Omi Ny’ Igede, Ode Enyi, alleged that the Federal Government had been reluctant in responding to attacks on Benue people “even though we voted and have been supporting this administration.”


According to Ujege, the main reason for the alleged fresh plot was the commencement of the implementation of the anti-open grazing law in the state.They stated: “Our three main socio-cultural organisations and indeed the entire people of Benue State are deeply troubled because the herdsmen, already tagged as the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world by Global Terrorist index, have the capacity, capability and means to carry out the threat.
“Knowing that the favourite pastime of these herdsmen is unprovoked bloodletting, unjustifiable destruction of people’s livelihoods and systemic denigration of the ecosystem, we cannot take such a report lightly and especially, in consideration of the recent call by the Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore to its members to mobilise and resist the anti-open grazing and establishment of ranches law enacted by the Benue State House of Assembly and assented to by Governor Samuel Ortom on May 2, 2017.”
To underscore their seriousness, they have written President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki on the development.However, over 400 women in northern part of Cross River State yesterday took to the streets calling on herdsmen to leave.
Mostly middle-aged women, they called on the state government to enact anti-grazing laws to protect their lives, crops and farmlands.The protesters, from Ugaga Community in Yala Local Council of the state, carried fresh leaves, as they chanted, “Fulani must go, Fulani must go.
“The herdsmen should be relocated far away from our community. Security should also be beefed up at the boundary areas to secure our lives.”This is coming on the heels of a recent clash between herdsmen and farmers from the community that resulted in casualties on both sides.
Reacting, the member representing Yala State Constituency in House of Assembly, Regina Anyogo, sued for calm, assuring the people that government was on the verge of imposing ban on open grazing.
In a related development, indigenes of the sleepy Otulu community in Aniocha South Local Council of Delta State are currently living in fear following the killing of a suspected herdsman, Mallam Hassan Riscu, by an irate farmer.
Consequently, the divisional police headquarters of the police force has arrested one Okwukwu Demion for allegedly stabbing the 21-year old to death.The suspect, a native of Imo State, was said to have been angered by the sight of the cattle rearer and his herd on his farmland.
A community source, who pleaded anonymity, explained that there was a verbal exchange between the duo prior to the unfortunate incident.A police source at the divisional headquarters, who would not want his name in print, said the timely deployment of anti-riot policemen forestalled an immediate reprisal.He added that the deceased had been buried in the community according to Muslim rites, adding that investigation was ongoing.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/benue-leaders-allege-fresh-plot-by.html

Hundreds of civilians have fled Gulak town, the headquarters of Madagali Local Area as Boko Haram made bold attempt to take over the town.
Akelicious learnt that a large number of armed militants attacked the town around 6;30 pm and engaged the military in battle.
A fleeing resident who spoke to our correspondent on phone said he believed the insurgents had displaced the military and police from the town.

"Boko Haram have taken over the town and thousands of us are here in the bush, We don't know what will happen to us. Can't you hear gun shots?".
Major Badare Akintoye, the spokes person of the 28 Task Force Brihade in Mubi did not answer calls from our reporter.
However, a military source who did not want his name published confirmed the attack, saying a reinforcement was sent to the town.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/boko-haram-hundreds-flee-madagali.html

Rapper Meek Mill was in a Philadelphia court Monday when the judge sentenced him to 2-4 years in state prison for violating probation from his 2009 drug and weapons case, when he got arrested in a St. Louis airport for getting into a fight with an airport employee. The judge also cited another probation violation when he got arrested for reckless driving in New York City.

Even though both cases were dropped, the judge said getting arrested alone violated his probation.He was immediately arrested while in court and remanded into custody.

Recall that Meek Mill got off with a house arrest when he violated his probation in 2015, well, the judge didnt feel so lenient yesterday.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/meek-mill-sentenced-to-2-4-years-in.html

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday defended himself over the leaked Paradise Papers wherein he was alleged to have broken the law.The Paradise Papers is a set of 13.4 million confidential electronic documents relating to offshore investment, leaked to the public on Sunday.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media Publicity) noted that he had not done any wrong. “Once again, the issue of offshore company registration which was first raised in 2016 is being revived and thrown to the public space. As a responsible public officer, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, will continue to explain his position. We know this is the period of politics when mudslinging is a common trick in the game.

“However, we will like to make it known that Dr. Saraki violated no law and did nothing illegal in the course of registering the company under reference, Tenia Limited, and afterwards.


“As we had earlier explained when the issue was first brought into public view, the company in question, Tenia Limited, was incorporated in 2001, long before Dr. Saraki ventured into politics and was elected into public office.
“The company from incorporation to date had never been used for any transaction. It held no asset. It had no bank account to the best of the knowledge of Dr. Saraki. Even if it did, the Senate President was not a signatory to such account. This is just a paper company and therefore could not have been used to hide any asset.”
Meanwhile, Britain’s tax authority has asked to look at the leaked offshore investment documents dubbed ‘Paradise Papers’ to examine allegations against the queen, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday.
“It is important to point out that holding investments offshore is not an automatic sign of wrongdoing, but Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has requested to see the papers urgently so it can look into any allegations,” he told reporters.The leaked papers have revealed that Queen Elizabeth II invested some of her private money in offshore tax havens.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/saraki-defends-self-on-allegation-over.html

Oil prices hit their highest since July 2015 yesterday as Saudi Arabia’s crown prince cemented his power over the weekend through an anti-corruption crackdown, while markets continued to tighten.

Brent crude futures were trading 26 cents higher at $62.33 a barrel. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 25 cents to $55.89 a barrel, breaking above $56 for the first time since July 2015.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman tightened his grip with the arrest of royals, ministers and investors, including prominent billionaire Alwaleed bin Talal and the powerful head of the National Guard, Prince Miteb bin Abdullah.

Analysts for now do not see Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, changing its policy of boosting crude prices.


Prince Mohammed’s reforms include a plan to list parts of state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco next year, and a higher oil price is seen as beneficial for its market capitalisation.

“We believe the kingdom will stick to the OPEC deal and continue to focus on reducing global oil inventories,” UBS oil analyst Giovanni Staunovo said.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said while there is “satisfaction” with a production-cutting deal between the OPEC and other producers led by Russia, the “job is not done yet”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/oil-rises-to-6233.html

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has nominated veteran sports journalist and AIPS-Africa incumbent president, Mr. Mitchel Obi as Nigeria’s Sole Candidate for the office of President in the forthcoming AIPS-Africa elections.

The nomination signed by the association’s president, Mr. Honour Sirawoo follows a careful screening of aspirants from Nigeria in consultation with the National Executive Committee (NEC).

In the letter to the AIPS-Africa secretariat, the SWAN Boss said, “As one of our members, we trust his capacity and wealth of experience in view of his contributions to sports journalism in Africa and the World,” and urged the secretariat to avail Mr. Obi all necessary support.

In a related development, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has set up a 7-man mobilization and sponsorship committee for the re-election bid of Mr Mitchel Obi.


The committee is headed by SWAN President, Honour Sirawoo, with Taye Ige as Alternate Chairman.

Other members include Felix Awogu, Ejiro Omonode, Idris Malikawa and Imam Imam, while Alloy Chukwuemeka is to serve as Secretary.

Sirawoo disclosed that the association will reach out to its counterpart across Africa to galvanize support for Mr Obi, just as the committee will pull all the stops to ensure that Mitchel Obi is re-elected.



He thanked other members of the Committee for accepting to serve and pleaded with corporate Nigeria, critical stakeholders and individuals to open their doors as a way of lending support in the country’s quest to continue to play a leading role in Africa’s sports journalists’ environment.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/swan-nominates-mitchel-obi-for-aips.html

Friday’s suspension of ceasefire with the Federal Government, by the Niger Delta Avengers, and the possible resumption of attacks on oil installations has brought about heightened tension in the Niger Delta.

The NDA, at weekend, announced a suspension of its ceasefire via a statement by its spokesperson, Murdoch Agbinibo.

The group, which said it would renew hostilities, vowed that the fresh attacks would be worse than those of 2016, stressing, “We can assure you that every oil installation in our region will feel the warmth of the wrath of the Niger Delta Avengers.”


Before the cessation of hostilities last year, its activities made the country’s oil production to reach its lowest level in nearly 30 years.
Stakeholders in the region, who are worried about the adverse implications of the ceasefire on the 2018 budget, have, however, warned the Federal Government against dismissing the NDA’s threat with a wave of hand.
In the last 10 days, tension has spiked in the area after security operatives aborted the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) General Assembly meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Sources in PANDEF, who pleaded anonymity distanced the group from the fresh threat by NDA, and blamed the desire of a minister from the region to hijack the peace process brokered by PANDEF, for heightened tension, which has now placed the peace initiative on life support.
NDA, while calling off the ceasefire on Friday, lampooned PANDEF for not allowing it to ruin the country’s economy, through total stoppage of crude oil production.
The Guardian gathered that NDA became totally disillusioned that one year after PANDEF met with President Muhammadu Buhari, and presented its 16-point agenda, none of the demands have been implemented by the Federal Government.
A source close to the militant group said NDA reached the decision to resume hostilities because some members of the Buhari’s cabinet from the region, who perceived that some PANDEF leaders were sympathetic to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (in a bid to whittle down the influence of PANDEF), decided to sponsor the Pan-Niger Delta Congress, (PNDPC), led by former national chairman of Traditional Rulers of Oil Minerals Producing Communities of Nigeria, (TROMPCON) and king of Seimbiri Kingdom, Charles Ayemi-Botu.
“Absolutely, it was stupid to stop the PANDEF meeting because that was only going to cause trouble. I understand, the minister’s selfish motive, but you don’t stop a meeting of 200 people. It was for some selfish motives that some people in government, who want to control the peace process decided to stop the PANDEF meeting. The Rivers State government didn’t have a role in it; it was from Abuja that the message came down to the DSS that the meeting should be stopped. PANDEF has a lot of problems, but PNDPC has no base and no spread, they just got a political sponsor,” he said.
The sources maintained that it would be perilous for the Federal Government to ignore NDA’s threat because of its implication for the national economy.
A security source in one of the multinational oil companies told The Guardian that NDA’s threat was being taken seriously by oil majors, who suffered severe losses when the militants in 2016 shutdown oil production to an unprecedented low of level of 800,000bopd.
It would be recalled that PANDEF, led by Chief Edwin Clark, King Alfred Diete-Spiff, former Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) president, Ledum Mitee, and several others on November 1, 2016, met Buhari in Abuja, where they presented their 16-point agenda. This led to the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, setting up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the agenda, and how it should be implemented. Nothing has been done, not even the promised opening of the Maritime University last month.
PANDEF’s immediate past secretary, Ledum Mitee, warned that if the threat by NDA was carried out, it would have adverse effect on the 2018 budget projections and possible investments in the oil and gas sector by the international oil companies.
“Mine is to wish and make an appeal that it is not necessary at this stage. We are already in recession and every effort must be made to ensure that we regain needed revenue at this time. I still believe that there is still need for dialogue and we should always explore that opportunity. I will therefore, also call on the Federal Government to take opportunity of cases like this to do the needful. Look at the 2017 budget, for example, the amount voted for the East-West Road is not up to what was voted for Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, not to talk of what was voted for the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, or Kano-Maiduguri Road. I think government should also show that they can match action with words.”
Former Minister of Information and one of the founding fathers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tony Momoh, has warned that cases like this still require dialogue that have been used in the past to address it as “any other approach to it would cause further crisis and the nation would lose economically, while the Niger Delta area too will not benefit.”
He further warned that no country or military might can win guerilla war, adding that, “If there is a disagreement between Niger Delta youths and their leaders, someone should intervene and bring peace instead of allowing the situation to escalate. There is the need to go back to the drawing board.”
Former Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Kokori, who dismissed the Niger Delta Avengers threat outright, described it as “absolutely irresponsible.”
According to him, “Blowing of pipeline and denigrations of the area by its youth would not help nor resolve any issue.”
He said leaders of the region should talk to their youths, particularly the Ijaw extraction, and if there are issues they should endeavour to resolve it. “They should bear in mind that no government would fold its arms and allow its wealth to be destroyed, and if the government should wade in as they have threatened to start hostilities, the consequences would be disastrous.”
Kokori, who claimed that government has done lot for Niger Delta youths, except that they were being shortchanged by their leaders, added, as an elder statesman, “I charge them not to resume any hostilities against this nation, not at this time. I plead with them.”
A former member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Bernard Mikko, said hostility against one’s nation is unpatriotic under whichever guise.
According to him, “The Nigerian society as a whole needs total re-orientation and attitudinal change. The legislature or government as a whole cannot reconstruct human lives because societies have long existed with customs and traditions without modern day social contract espoused in government. The change must be holistic beyond government.”
On her part, Executive Director of Academic Associates Peace Works, Dr. Judith Burdin Asuni, is calling for calm, just as she is appealing to the Federal Government to negotiate with the people of the region to avert fresh crisis in the region.
“The people of the region are rightly angry because government has not delivered on its promises. It set up a committee but nothing has happened after that,” she said.
National Coordinator of the Ijaw Media Action Initiative, and former spokesperson of the Ijaw National Congress (IYC), Victor Burubo, is of the view that the government must change its stance on the agitation for the restructuring of the Nigerian State.
He blamed NDA’s threat on the frustration felt by people of the region about their present situation.
President of the Ijaw Youth Council, (IYC), Eric Omare, says the Federal Government should be blamed if the NDA resumes hostilities as it lacks sincerity.
He, however, advised the militant group to still give dialogue a chance, as war may not be an alternative to peaceful resolution of the issues at stake.
Omare, said the decision by the militant group to resume hostilities was very unfortunate and worrisome because of the devastating effect the attacks had on the Nigerian economy the last time.
“However, the Federal Government has been most insincere in its response to the demands of the Niger Delta people. The last time the Avengers struck, it was the leaders that prevailed on them to stop. And this was with the understanding that the demands of the people would be addressed such as immediate take-off of the Maritime University, Okerenkoko, implementation of key developmental projects in the region, and above all, take steps towards restructuring Nigeria towards a true federal state.
In his reaction, the Paramount Ruler of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Delta State, His Royal Majesty, Oboro Gbaraun II, Aketekpe (Agadagba), said that the Federal government should be blamed if the militants resumed hostilities, warning that the APC-led Federal Government must not toy with the Avengers’ threat because the effects could be devastating to the nation’s economy.
The monarch, who spoke through the Secretary of the Traditional Council, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said allowing the militants to resume attack on oil installations would only jeopardise the gains of the relative peace earlier put in place.
He said: “Avengers are not Internet-based fighters so their threats are frightening. And because Gbaramatu is worst hit in terms of military onslaught, we are always the first to call for dialogue and peace.
“Currently, we have very serious trouble in our hand, because the group has said both PANDEF and Tompolo who have been pleading with them to suspend hostility had failed to get the Federal Government to act.
“We admonish the Avengers to sheathe their swords. Whatever is making them angry is justifiable. Oil is the blood of the nation. Destroying oil and gas facilities will do us no good”, Gbenekama said.
Meanwhile, the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security (UNDEDSS), says Federal Government’s insincerity, inertia and blind belief of its self-serving players in the Presidency is responsible for the ceasefire suspension.
Rising from an emergency NEC meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the coalition of civil society and community groups in the Niger Delta region, in a statement signed by the Secretary General, Tony Uranta, called on all agitated groups in the region not to lose faith in the power of negotiations.
The group also upbraided the Federal Government for what it termed its insensitivity and insincerity, as evidenced especially in it’s ignoring the nationally popular call for restructuring, and non-take-off of the maritime varsity.

“Nigerians have nobody to blame, but the Presidency, which has not shown good faith concerning the Niger Delta region, for the imminent negative impact on the national economy of this portentous suspension of a ceasefire that was not respected by the Federal Government ab initio anyway.”
The Federal Government has, however, appealed to Niger Delta youths against renewing hostilities in the area, saying it will neither be beneficial to both parties.
In a phone discussion with The Guardian, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said government has kept to all its promises and is ever committed to fulfilling whatever remains.
“We have not deviated and if there is any thing that is not clear to the youths, the government’s doors are always open for dialogue, instead of restiveness.”
He appealed that the country’s interest and that of the people of the Niger Delta area should be placed above individual interests.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/tension-as-niger-delta-avengers-suspend.html

NIGERIA TO EARN $2BN IN THE SHORT-TERM FROM PROPOSED FISCAL POLICIES FOR OIL INDUSTRY SAYS KACHIKWU

Nigeria is eyeing at least $2 billion in the short-term, and $9 billion in the long-term from the rollout of a new fiscal policy it has initiated for her oil and gas industry, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has disclosed.

Kachikwu, in his monthly podcast for the period of November which was released within the week in Abuja, stated that the government would rollout the new fiscal policies shortly for use in the industry. He added that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) was on the verge of approving the policy and its rollout. He however did not give out details of the policy.


He also said that once FEC approves the new fiscal policies, it would transmit same to the National Assembly to give it the required legislative backing that it deserves.
“As we get towards the end of this year, we are running towards a finished line with batons. A few things still need to be delivered, some of the policies that we enunciated – petroleum policy, the gas policy. We need to begin to bring out regulations to be able to push those.

“We are going to be rolling out our fiscal policies which are now waiting for FEC approvals. These fiscal policies will expand income in the short-term over $2 billion a year to the federal government but on a long-term over $9 billion. So, very major movement and obviously on the back of that, we will be working with the assembly to then transmit that into legislative provisions,” said Kachikwu.

He said government had also ensured that the oil industry operated transparently in the last one year, but that there was still a lot to be done to keep the sector completely transparent and accountable.
According to him: “We delivered an open NNPC, we basically opened up our books, we published and tried to be as transparent as we can, but a lot of works still needs to be done there, but for the first time we delivered the kind of NNPC that has never been the sort of NNPC that you used to know.”

The National Assembly, he noted, has been working on getting the entire aspects of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) passed into law. This, he explained, would need the support of the executive arm of government to get it functional for the stability of the oil industry.The minister further explained that in the runoff to the end of the year, Nigeria would continue to push her target to produce 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) of oil, but subject to its commitment to the production cap that exists between member countries of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC countries led by the Russian Federation.
He equally disclosed that he would this week revive negotiations with stakeholders in the Niger Delta, which had somewhat gone stale, to firm up commitments to peaceful production of oil from the region.

“Deepening the Niger Delta engagements: Next week, I am going back there to talk to the governors of the region, the oil companies, to put a seal to some of the agreements we have made – MoUs that all of us can work with, in that way, there is faith in what the vice president has said in his statements,” Kachikwu, stated.

However, his resort to revive negotiations with stakeholders in the Niger Delta came at a time a militant group – the Niger Delta Avengers, said it was calling off the ceasefire it declared on vandalism of oil facilities in the region because of what it said was the government’s non-committal attitude to negotiations with the region.

The group which in 2015 destroyed oil installations in the region and downed Nigeria’s oil production to an average of 1.1mbd, stated in a statement posted on its website on Friday afternoon that it would resume hostilities.
It said the Buhari administration had not been sincere with its peace talks and promises to the Niger Delta. Since its ceasefire, the militants have not carried out any major attack on oil facilities this year.

Meanwhile, member countries of OPEC and their allies who had initiated a production cap agreement to shore up prices of oil in the international market, may be wary of the recent upwards movement in prices of oil which they fear could spur shale oil producers back into production.

On Thursday, oil prices edged up, and steadied near two-year highs. According to Reuters, Brent crude settled at $60.62 per barrel with an upbeat market outlook.
Accordingly, the OPEC-led supply cuts continued to tighten the market and drain inventories that led to supply gluts and price crash in 2015.

To buttress this development, Reuters quoted Saudi Arabian Energy Minister, Khalid al-Falih, to have said that supply and demand balances were tightening and oil inventories falling, while compliance with the OPEC-led pact to curb supplies had been excellent.

However, a highly placed OPEC source told THISDAY at the weekend in Abuja that despite the encouraging price rise, and compliance to the output cuts, member countries were cautiously watching the market against potential forceful return of shale producers on the back of the price rise.

The source stated that the upcoming November 30 meeting of the group in Vienna would ordinarily afford the group an enlarged opportunity to assess the market and its interventions, but more importantly, the threats that shale producers pose to the market as prices shore up.

“Yes, it (price) is a good movement, but then it is beginning to look like a challenge to OPEC and its allies because at $50 per barrel, shale producers would be on the fringes to come back. Now going above that band, we may begin to see them take investment decisions, and this is not good for OPEC,” said the source.

He further explained: “OPEC, I think could loosen up the market a bit to at some level moderate this price rise. I’m not sure there is a price band the group wants to adopt but I’m sure we want to keep prices good for us and not very encouraging for shale producers who do not require a lot of time to make investment decisions and get bank facilities to get back more oil into the market.”

According to the source, whatever decision the group takes either to go slow on its market tightening or hold fast to it, Nigeria would be fine and still within a good compliance threshold in the freeze agreement they reached. Already, Nigeria has committed to cap its production at 1.8mbd.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/nigeria-to-earn-2bn-in-short-term-from.html

The Exquisite Lady of the Year (ELOY) Awards has released the full list of nominees for this year’s event.

The ELOY Awards celebrate women doing exceptionally well in their fields and those who have made a great impact in the society.

This year, themed “The Year of Inspiration”, shows that a lot of inspiring women have emerged and are still emerging. These extraordinarily exquisite women These extraordinary exquisite women are showing other women that it can be done and can be done gracefully too.

You can vote for the ladies you feel deserve to win on the ELOY website or via text by sending “ELOY + nominee name” to 35070.

See the full list of nominees below:

Female-Owned Events Company (events decorator, planner, etc)

2706 Events – Adeola Ojuolape Okeshola
Trendy Bee Events – Bisola Borha
Perfect Touches Events – Nafisat Olubando
Wedding Guru – Christine Ogbeh
Dunamins Events – Funmbi Akinyosoye
Newton and David – Uche Majekodunmi
Female Social Entrepreneur

Nkem Okocha – Mama Moni
Adepeju Jaiyeoba – Mothers Delivery Kit
Bukky Shonibare – Girl Child Africa
Funmi Adebajo – Kindle Africa
Onyinye Edeh – Strong Enough Girl Empowerment Initiative
Abisoye Ajayi- Akinfolarin – Girl Coding (Pearl Africa Foundation)
Beauty Entrepreneur

Madam OriSkin care
Taries Beauty Lounge
Beauty Geek Ng
My Hair Ltd
Hair by Wanneka
Good Hair Ltd
Female Movie Director

Kemi Adetiba – The Wedding Party
Bunmi Ajakaiye – My Wife and I
Grace Edwin Okon – Little Drops of Happy
Jadesola Osiberu – Isoken
Omoni Oboli – Okafors Law
Female Fashion Designer of the Year

Funke Adepoju – Phunk Afrique
Jumoke Raji – Teekay Fashion
Agatha Moreno – Agatha Moreno
Tokunbo Abiodun – Ceo Luminee Official
Huda Fadoul – Hudayya
Bisola Adeniyi – Lady Biba
TV Actress (Terrestrial and Online TV)

Ini Dima-Okojie – Battle Ground, Africa Magic
Omowunmi Dada – Jemeji, Africa Magic
Beverly Naya – Tinsel, Africa Magic
Dakore Akande – Fifty, Ebony Life
Uru Eke – Rumour Has It, Ndani TV
Abimbola Craig – Skinny Girl in Transit, Ndani TV
Oreka Godis – Our Bestfriend’s Wedding, Red TV
Chiagozim Nwakanma – This Is It, Lowladee TV
Female Music Artiste of the Year

Simi – Joromi
Niniola – Sicker
Waje – In The Air
Yemi Alade – Knack Am
Ada – I Overcome
Female Chef or Food Designer

Matse Nnoli – Matse Cooks
Bukky – The Kitchen Muse
Ozoz – Kitchen Butterfly
Kemi Oyedepo – The Kitchen Monsters
Iquo Ukoh – 1q Food Platter
Nengi Ukpabi – Nengi’s Kitchen
Dumebi Agbakoba – Chef Dish
Uzo Orimolade – Uzo Food Labs

Female YouTuber

Sisi Yemmie
Delphinator
Uwami Aliyu
Kehinde Smith
That Igbo Chick
Actress Big Screen

Osas Ighodaro – Ajibade – Little Drops of Happy
Adesua Etomi – The Wedding Party
Toyin Abraham – Alakada Reloaded
Omowunmi Dada – Omugwo
Chigurl – Banana Island Ghost
Dakore Egbuson – Akande – Isoken
Rahama Sadau – Hakkunde
Mary Lazarus – Dance to my Beat
Female Makeup Artist

MLPro Beauty – Ololade Koleosho
Stephanie Ani Makeup Artistry – Stephanie Ani
Y-Glam – Olayemi Oduyoye
Faari By Sisi Ope – Opeoluwa Odunbaku
Oteniara Makeovers – Oteniara Adelegan
Misz Poshmua – Linda Onyinye Chukwuka
Bookie Ladiva – Bukky Obey
Female Blogger

Deola Adebiyi – www.omogemura.com
Oma Ehiri – www.sotectonic.com
Eden Benibo – www.edenbenibo.com
Hafsah – www.hafymo.com
Lade Ibikunle – www.ladesblog.com
Cynthia Akinyemi – www.blacksatino.com
Female TV Presenter (Terrestrial and Online TV)

Idia Aisien – Style101 Show, Spice TV
Bridget Chigbufe – Page 3, STV
Sammy Walsh – Slayed or Shade, MTV
Tallulah Doherty, Toke Makinwa, Bola Olukanni – Moments, Ebony Life TV
Ariyike Dimples, Olayemi Ogunwole – Entertainment Splash, TVC
Latasha Ngwube – Hot Topics, Linda Ikeji TV
Mercy Ajisafe – Fashion Fix, Accelerate TV
Uvbi Ehigiamuose, Bettina Nwelih – Talk Talk, Wazobia TV
Female On-Air Personality

Yasmin Obadaki – Cool FM Kano
Josephine Amie Egbe – Beat FM Ibadan
Moet Abebe –Souncity FM
Faith history – Lagos Talks
Kemi Smallz – Cool FM Lagos
Kiki Mordi – WFM
Awazi – Soundcity
Adeyinka – R2 FM Ibadan
ELOY Ladies who inspire (Recognition) Awards (Winner chosen by judges)

The ELOY Awards for ladies who inspire in public sector
The ELOY Awards for ladies who inspire in Technology
The ELOY Awards for ladies who inspire in Tourism
The ELOY Awards for Ladies who inspire Start-up ( Someone who has set up a successful business that is at least a year old)
The ELOY Awards for ladies who inspire (Lady to Watch – Up and coming, under 30 in any field or category).
The ELOY Awards for ladies who inspire Pioneer (Trailblazer who has made an astonishing breakthrough in her field).

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/full-list-of-nominees-for-2017-eloy.html

Top radio station, Naija F.M, 102.7 are set to award top Nigerian entertainers(comedians and actors) on the 3rd of November, 2017 as their show, “Naija F.M Comedy Jam and Awards Ceremony” comes up live at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos.

The 2017 edition of the event, tagged ” GreenFridayNaija will be hosted by famous, rib-cracking Nigerian comedic pair, Osita Iheme(Aki) and Chinedu Ikedieze (Pawpaw) will be graced by several musicians and comedians who will be pulling down the roof at the event.

The event will see seven comedians to be announced in seven different categories with a Hall of Fame award to be given posthumously to a very prominent comedian.

The annual event which draws a capacity crowd that usually comprises the station’s listeners, entertainment and showbiz personalities and several Captains of industries who enjoy performances by A-list artistes.

Guests at the event are in line to enjoy wonderful performances from A-list artistes like Kcee, the ancestor, 9ice, Reggae Blues crooner, Harrisong, Omo Iya Teacher, Small Doctor, “Baba Hafusa” Reminisce, Terry Apala, Mayorkun, Solid Star, African China, Sound Sultan, Jaywon and ludicrously talented soul singer, Cobhams Asuquo.

It will be a night of glowing countenance with Basket Mouth, Bovi, Kenny Blaq, Funnybone, Akpororo, Dan D Humorous and others cracking guests’ ribs all night long.

The Nominees list is one that has generated a great media attention as several categories are hotly contested with the quality of comedians in there with “Nigeria’s Most Authentic Comedy Award” being the most competitive and has been dubbed a “tight race” between the comedians which include the budding and established who are all vying for the coveted award.Other highly anticipated categories are the “Comedian of the Year” and “Best Comedy Show of the Year” categories with fans already being suspense-filled in expectations of the eventual award winners.

Disclosing the slight additions made in this year’s event, the Programmes Director for Naija F.M, Osamoje “Osam” Isaac has made it known that this year had a new category of the “Most Fashionable Comedian of the Year” aimed at rewarding trendy comedians who dress well both on and off the stage.

The categories and nominees include;

Online Comedian of the Year:

-Mimicko

-Emma Oh My God

-WoliAgba Ago

-Josh2funny

-Charles Okocha

-Ebiye

-Etinosa

Sitcom of the year nominees:

-The Johnsons

-My flatmates

-Jenifa’s Diary

– Hustle

Comedian of the year:

-Bovi

-Kenny Blaq

-Funnybone

-Bash

-Akpororo

-Seyi Law

Most promising comedian of the year:

-WoliArole

-Short family

-E don do

-Efewarri boy

-Kelvin sapp

Comedy actor of the Year:

-Bishop Ime

-ChiwetaluAgu

-Toyin Abraham

-Helen Paul

-FunkeAkindele

-Ada Ame

-Samuel Ajibola (Spiff)

Most Fashionable Comedian of the Year:

-Senator

-Basket Mouth

-I go dye

-AY

-Ali Baba

-OkeyBakassi

-I go save.

Best Comedy Show of the Year; Bovi:Man on fire

chinny Bone:Untamed

The Oxymoron of Kenny Blaq

What’s been billed to be one of the major highlights of the night is the presentation of the Hall Of Fame Award, which will be given posthumously to a very prominent comedian who contributed a great deal to the growth of comedians in Nigeria.

Tickets for the show will be sold at N3,000 flat and can be purchased online at ARIYA Tickets, AFRI Tickets, and the Diamond Bank Mobile App. The event is sponsored by top Nigerian companies like Instapickup, Minimize Chin chin, Praisemart Properties.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/naija-fm-comedy-jam-and-awards-ceremony.html

Chief Sylvester Nwobu-Alor, founding member of the All Progressives Grand Alliance Party, APGA, and chairman of the party’s Stakeholders Forum has declared support for PDP candidate for the Anambra election, Oseloka Obaze.

The election will hold on November 18.


He said he withdrew his support for Governor Willie Obiano, because he is finding it difficult to perform and that he has no good advisers.

“Forget about money that is being carried around, forget about threats and all that; people will vote based on their convictions and will definitely go for a person who has been empowered to deliver, who has the commitment and integrity to deliver”, he told Sun.
“And that person is Oseloka Obaze. He is very well introduced; he is a calm, collected, intelligent and committed person. With him on seat, we can turn Anambra State around. That is my stand on this issue.
“I believe in objectivity and sincerity of purpose. If in my house, my wife misbehaves, yes, it is my duty to protect her but if she is doing a wrong thing, I will criticise her, correct her and possibly force her to do the right thing. That is what I am doing. The issue of being a member becomes irrelevant.

“If you are a member and your association is peddling backwards instead of forward and you keep quiet, you are aiding and abetting destruction because you know it is moving towards destruction. I cannot sit down and watch the government now, because the party is already gone.
“But if the government wakes up any time and start performing then we might change our mind. As I am talking to you I don’t have any confidence again in the government. They have not done much to warrant a second chance.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/anambra-guberobiano-has-no-good-adviser.html

Long gone are the days when you’ll not be able to use NairBET — and make money betting on your favourite teams — just because you don’t have internet data.

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Every time you log on to www., you enter free browsing mode! No special setting or code or subscription required; just visit with an MTN line. Shikena.

Even if you have data or credit, MTN stops deducting from your data or credit whenever you’re on . And you can keep browsing on NairaBET for as looooong as you like…because MTN gives you a whopping 50mb for free every day to browse on NairaBET.

Yes, we know it sounds crazy and impossible, but all you have to do is try it and see things for yourself.
Immediately you enter with an MTN SIM, you get a message that tells you that you now have 50mb to browse NairaBET, just as in the picture below:
We know you’re excited and can’t wait to try this out. We are excited about it too. And guess what? More awesome features are coming to NairaBET.
Oya, story don do. Go visit www. now and enjoy your free browsing.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/browse-nairabet-for-free-with-your-mtn.html

The Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), yesterday charged the National Assembly to stop faulting President Muhammadu Buhari’s gesture to grant bailout funds to state governors. The party said the lawmakers should rather ensure effective monitoring of the fund which is meant for the payment of workers salaries.

The national chairman of APDA, Malam Shittu Mohammad, who stated this during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja, also stated that the party would soon flag off its governorship campaign ahead of the November 18 polls in Anambra State.

Speaking after the NEC meeting, Mohammed who stressed the import of the bailout funds to the welfare of Nigerians, decried the poor oversight provided so far by federal lawmakers.
He said, “The NEC commends the federal government for taking us out of recession and equally applaud bailout funds initiatives to states but appeal to National Assembly to come up with framework to monitor the utilization of such funds instead of trying to fault the president on this laudable gesture.”
He added that until there are checks and balances in the system, corruption would continue to thrive.
While he lamented the poor involvement of young persons in leadership positions both at party and government offices, Mohammed underscored the place of mentorship in party administration.
The NEC further commended its state chapters in Ondo, Adamawa, FCT, Zamfara, Kogi and Ekiti over the commencement of registration of members. It appealed to other states to emulate them.
While the NEC affirmed the leadership of Mrs Foluke Okeya as chairperson in Ekiti State, it also ratified a 13 member national working committee which includes some state chairmen.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/bailout-funds-monitor-utilisation-by.html

Few months after Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) slammed a N1.04 trillion fine on Mobile Telecommunications Company of Nigeria (MTN) for failing to deactivate some 5.1 million subscribers, the firm has landed into yet another $4.2 billion trouble over its licence bid in Iran.

This time a telecommunications firm, Turkcell, had sued the company over a disputed Iranian mobile phone licence.

Turkcell first sued MTN in a U.S. court in 2012, alleging the company used bribery and wrongful influence to win a lucrative Iranian licence that was originally awarded to it.

But it had to drop the suit in 2013 after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in a separate case made it clear that U.S. courts would not have jurisdiction in a claim involving two foreign firms in an overseas dispute.

However, in 2016, Turkcell filed another case in South Africa, where the case has been stuck in procedural wrangling since.

But MTN had claimed in a defence that Turkcell’s claim is opportunistic, an abuse of the process of court, baseless and without merit.

Recall that MTN obtained the licence in Iran in 2005 and maintains that Turkcell missed out because it did not comply with an Iranian rule that caps the shareholding in the licence at 49 per cent.

Iran is MTN’s third largest market out of the 22 countries the company operates in.

MTN previously appointed a retired British judge to lead an external investigation into Turkcell’s allegations. That probe dismissed the accusations as “a fabric of lies, distortions and inventions. Turkcell was not immediately available to comment.

In Nigeria, the failure of MTN which controls 43 per cent of the country’s telecommunications market, to fully deactivate subscribers with unregistered and incomplete Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) cards details within the stipulated time earned the South African firm a fine of N1.04 trillion.

NCC officials feel belittled and disrespected after MTN sent low ranking officials to a meeting which was attended by high ranking NCC officials, members of the SSS and officials from the office of the National Security Adviser.

As if that wasn’t enough NCC said their enforcement and monitoring officials were denied access at the MTN office to their switches for inspection.

The N1.04 trillion fine is said to be as regards the timing of the disconnection of 5.1 million MTN Nigeria subscribers who were disconnected in August and September 2015 and is based on a fine of N200, 000 for each unregistered subscriber.


However, the matter was later resolved with the telecommunications firm agreeing to stagger the payment. ENDS

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/mtn-in-another-42-bn-mess.html

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, last night said the National Assembly was ready to receive the 2018 budget from President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he chooses to present it.

Saraki made this remark while answering questions from journalists after the dinner hosted by Buhari with principal officers of the National Assembly.
He said the dinner served as a forum to welcome the president back to the country after 103 days in London for medical vacation.

“Mr President invited us for dinner as you know since he came back we have not had the opportunity to meet with him.
“He has met with different stakeholders, this is the first meeting since returning to the country with the leadership of the National Assembly. “So, the meeting is to welcome him and we are all grateful that he has come back and we are happy and we assured him that we will continue to cooperate with the executive and also to acknowledge the role we played while he was away. He thanked all the members for the patriotic approach they took on the period of his absence.’


Asked when the president would present the budget to the National Assembly, he said “that question should be directed to the executive. We ‘ll receive them whenever they are ready.”Senate President, Bukola Saraki, last night said the National Assembly was ready to receive the 2018 budget from President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he chooses to present it.

Saraki made this remark while answering questions from journalists after the dinner hosted by Buhari with principal officers of the National Assembly.
He said the dinner served as a forum to welcome the president back to the country after 103 days in London for medical vacation.

“Mr President invited us for dinner as you know since he came back we have not had the opportunity to meet with him.
“He has met with different stakeholders, this is the first meeting since returning to the country with the leadership of the National Assembly. “So, the meeting is to welcome him and we are all grateful that he has come back and we are happy and we assured him that we will continue to cooperate with the executive and also to acknowledge the role we played while he was away. He thanked all the members for the patriotic approach they took on the period of his absence.’


Asked when the president would present the budget to the National Assembly, he said “that question should be directed to the executive. We ‘ll receive them whenever they are ready.”Senate President, Bukola Saraki, last night said the National Assembly was ready to receive the 2018 budget from President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he chooses to present it.

Saraki made this remark while answering questions from journalists after the dinner hosted by Buhari with principal officers of the National Assembly.
He said the dinner served as a forum to welcome the president back to the country after 103 days in London for medical vacation.

“Mr President invited us for dinner as you know since he came back we have not had the opportunity to meet with him.
“He has met with different stakeholders, this is the first meeting since returning to the country with the leadership of the National Assembly. “So, the meeting is to welcome him and we are all grateful that he has come back and we are happy and we assured him that we will continue to cooperate with the executive and also to acknowledge the role we played while he was away. He thanked all the members for the patriotic approach they took on the period of his absence.’


Asked when the president would present the budget to the National Assembly, he said “that question should be directed to the executive. We ‘ll receive them whenever they are ready.”Senate President, Bukola Saraki, last night said the National Assembly was ready to receive the 2018 budget from President Muhammadu Buhari whenever he chooses to present it.

Saraki made this remark while answering questions from journalists after the dinner hosted by Buhari with principal officers of the National Assembly.
He said the dinner served as a forum to welcome the president back to the country after 103 days in London for medical vacation.

“Mr President invited us for dinner as you know since he came back we have not had the opportunity to meet with him.
“He has met with different stakeholders, this is the first meeting since returning to the country with the leadership of the National Assembly. “So, the meeting is to welcome him and we are all grateful that he has come back and we are happy and we assured him that we will continue to cooperate with the executive and also to acknowledge the role we played while he was away. He thanked all the members for the patriotic approach they took on the period of his absence.’


Asked when the president would present the budget to the National Assembly, he said “that question should be directed to the executive. We ‘ll receive them whenever they are ready.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/11/we-are-ready-for-budget-presentation-by.html

As unpaid workers’ salaries began to bite harder in Ekiti State, seven local government pensioners were reported to have died in the state in the last two weeks over hardship allegedly unleashed on them by non-payment of their monthly pensions and gratuities.

The pensioners at their monthly meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Monday, urged Governor Ayo Fayose, to pay their eight month arrears of pension.
Those that died included, Mr. J.O. Ojo, Mr. Adedayo Ojo, Mrs. Modupe Aribisala, Mr. Abegunde, Mr. Ogunleye, Mrs. Adelugba and Alhaji Abdullahi.

They also urged the governor to pay them their gratuities which had
not been paid in the last five years , regretting that the situation had inflicted untold suffering on them.


Acting under the aegis of Concerned Local Government Pensioners’ Forum, they expressed shock over the spate of deaths of retirees who
lacked the money to take care of themselves over non-payment of their entitlements.
A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting signed by the Forum’s
Coordinator, Alhaji Quadri Oguntuase, and Secretary, Mr. Biodun Agboola, urged the state government to accord the pensioners’ welfare utmost priority.

The Forum reminded the state government that council pensioners have only been paid up till February 2017 “contrary to the state
government’s pronouncement in the media.”
Speaking with reporters at the end of the meeting, the LG Pensioners’
boss, Oguntuase, expressed dismay with the condition of the
retirees whom he said served diligently in the prime of their life
only to be dumped to poverty and hardship in their later years.

Oguntuase said: “The situation has become unbearable for us and we
have no option that to cry aloud for the world to know that we,
pensioners are suffering in Ekiti.

“The rate at which we are dying is alarming and imagine the harvest of deaths in the last two weeks. Seven of our members died within the
period and the situation was caused by non-payment of our benefits.
“Because our monthly pensions are not paid, many of us lack money to
eat and to take care of our families. The denial of our rights has made many of us to become irresponsible fathers and husbands at home”.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/ekiti-pensioners-mourn-death-of-seven.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged politicians and other citizens to emulate Alhaji Balarabe Musa’s virtuous life of honesty, integrity, selflessness and patriotism in order to make Nigeria achieve progress.


Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, said Buhari made the call in a tribute to Balarabe Musa on the occasion of his 81st birthday anniversary.


Buhari described the former civilian governor of old Kaduna State as a “man of unassailable integrity and untainted record of public service”.


According to the president, even Musa’s worst enemies and critics cannot dispute his remarkable reputation for integrity and selfless service to the people.


He said: “Balarabe Musa is one of Nigeria’s brightest stars of integrity and sterling principles.


“The octogenarian has lived to his reputation by avoiding any conduct associated with corruption and dishonour.’’


He recalled that his close association with Musa in the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) had enabled him “to appreciate the radical politician’s patriotism and his commitment to build strong opposition in the country in order to deepen democracy’’.


The president also praised Musa’s independent-mindedness, stressing that the principled politician can criticise even his friends, associates and allies when it comes to politics.


According to him, politics is public service and not an opportunity to amass wealth overnight at the expense of the ordinary people or the voters.


He prayed that God would continue to bless the elder statesman with better health, more wisdom and longer life in the service of the country. (NAN)


Musa, a left-wing Nigerian politician, who was elected Governor of Kaduna State during the Second Republic, said his wish and desire for Nigeria had yet to be fulfilled, 57 years after the nation’s independence.


He held office between Oct. 1, 1979, and June 23, 1981, when he was impeached.


Musa said: “Though, I felt great on the attainment of a new age and achievements in life, I would have been more fulfilled, if the country has overcome most of its development challenges.


“At 81, I will say I feel great and I thank God for everything. But, I am not completely fulfilled because we are yet to have the country of our dreams.


“We are yet to have a country where there is equity and respect for rights and dignity of all citizens.


“We are yet to have a country where the governed are good followers and leaders think first think about the people and not the other way round.


“I desire a better Nigeria where everyone will feel the impact of governance that is my birthday wish for the country.’’

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/buhari-asks-politicians-to-emulate.html

The Executive Secretary of the Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr. Oseni Salawe Elamah, has disclosed that state governments will reap huge benefits from the implementation of Voluntary Assets and Income (VAIDS), an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance. Speaking in Abuja yesterday, Elamah explained that VAIDS, was conceived to ensure that individuals and corporate entities are given a time-limited opportunity to voluntarily declare their income and assets as basis for tax assessment.

This, he said would greatly benefit all tax authorities, especially at the state level. According to Elamah, the decline of oil revenues, the major source of funding to states, has made it imperative for state governments to pay more attention to taxation, a more reliable and sustainable basis of generating revenue. “Whatever taxes that have not being paid previously on assets and income are assessed and paid in order to avoid legal actions and then penalties and interest will also be waived. The taxable entities or individuals reside in states and the tax authorities have the responsibility to subject them to tax payment,” he said. The JTB, an umbrella of all revenue collection agencies in the country, Elamah added, will help coordinate the collaboration among the various tax authorities, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and State Boards of Inland Revenue (SBIRs) and that of the Federal Capital Territory to ensure successful implementation of VAIDS. “We have information on Nigerians, who have acquired a lot of assets and incomes that are not known to the tax authorities. This window provides an opportunity for us to have an exchange of information. Based on the information, the data will be used to assess both corporate and individuals,” explained Elamah.

He observed that tax education and data collection are crucial to the implementation of VAIDS, advising state governments to ramp up their data collection and enlightenment efforts. “Data mining is extremely important. States in Nigeria have different levels of development. So while it is easy for a Lagos State or River State or Kano State to collect data, it is not same for some other states. I believe that with what is being done at the Federal Inland Revenue Service and what has already succeeded in the Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) when the current JTB Chairman, Mr. Tunde Fowler, was the Executive Chairman of the LIRS, is to have tax enlightenment and enforcement teams. “If every state can replicate that, it will help in mining information. In Lagos for instance, It is not only for collecting taxes. It is also to meet the stakeholders in their various locations to obtain data and information. These data were fed back into the system and this gave Lagos huge number of taxpayers. The number of taxpayers in the whole of the country is not up to 50 per cent of what you have in Lagos. So we have to do a lot of work and that is the reason we are trying as much as possible to carry every of the state revenue authority along and give them the necessary tools and assistance to sensitise their people and be able to collect this data,” Elamah further explained. The secretary also noted that data is now more easily obtainable through the use of technological tools and adequately trained field officers, who are crucial to the process.


He equally promised that the JTB would eliminate the incidence of double taxation by ensuring the uniformity of procedures and processes of various tax authorities involved in VAIDS implementation. Elamah added that doubts about the workability of VAIDS are being tackled through various enlightenment initiatives to improve education on what the scheme entails. He noted that Tax Thursday, which is part of the scheme, provides additional opportunity for various tax authorities to engage various stakeholders in the revenue chain and enlighten them about the provisions of the VAIDS. He advised individuals and corporate entities with undeclared assets and income to take advantage of the window offered by VAIDS, as federal and state tax authorities will use information gathered, in line with the provisions of the law, to enforce payment after the window closes. “What happens afterwards is that the tax authority will now take all this information and go with the provisions of the law to enforce it and I believe that if every state tax authority follows the same route or leverage on the FIRS through the JTB collaboration, they can enforce tax collection. For instance, if company A is non-tax compliant and a non-compliance tax sticker has been placed there, the issues to be demanded on that company will not just be company income tax or value added tax, but also personal income tax of their employees. And until the company clears all its tax obligations, it is not tax compliant either to the FIRS or state tax authorities,” Elamah stated. VAIDS, an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, offers individuals and corporate entities with previously undeclared assets and income a time-limited opportunity to honestly declare such and pay taxes on them. VAIDS-compliant taxpayers will avoid paying interest and penalties on previously unpaid taxes, tax audits and prosecution, benefits that will not be enjoyed by the non-compliant at the expiration of the window.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/elamah-how-states-will-benefit-from.html

The South East Governors’ Forum rose from a closed door meeting in Enugu yesterday with an appeal to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that nothing stops the conduct of the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State.

The forum expressed satisfaction at the willingness and readiness of residents of Anambra to participate in the election.


Members of the outlawed Indigenous Peopleof Biafra (IPOB) are presently mobilising to stop the election.

But briefing journalists after their meeting at the Government House in Enugu, the chairman of the forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor Dave Umahi, said nothing should stop the election.

The meeting was also attended by members of the National Assembly from the zone, leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and speakers of South-east Houses of Assembly.

The forum also expressed concern on the deplorable condition of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu and called for the urgent intervention of the federal government in upgrading the facilities.

Umahi said the enlarged meeting which included other political leaders from the area, became necessary following the urgent need to address the infrastructural decay in the area.

He said members of the forum had met with President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to address the infrastructural challenges in the area.

“Further to our meeting with the president, the meeting call on the federal government to take urgent steps in repairing the roads, especially this dry season,” he said.

The governor listed the worst affected roads as the Enugu-9th Mile- Onitsha Road, 9th Mile-Makurdi Expressway, Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, Aba-Ikot-Ekpene Road and Okigwe-Owerri Road.

“Equally important is the deplorable condition of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, especially the runway, terminal buildings and cargo shelter.

“We request that urgent steps be taken to address the problems at the airport,” he said.

Umahi said that the forum had resolved to hold the maiden South East Economic Summit in partnership with DFID from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13, 2017.

“We also approved the visit of Brenthurst Foundation of South Africa to the South East from Nov. 6 to Nov. 11 on economic mission,” he said.

Umahi said the meeting expressed satisfaction at the willingness and readiness of residents of Anambra to participate in the Nov. 18 governorship election in the state.

“We urge INEC to ensure that the election takes place as scheduled, “ he said.

Among those who attended the meeting included Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Deputy Governor of Anambra, Nkem Okeke, Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere.

Others included the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nnia Nwodo, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu,, among others.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/seast-govs-task-inec-on-anambra-guber.html

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, would, today, be conferred with the “Global Human Settlements Outstanding Contribution Award” by the Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards (SCAHSA).

Wike is also expected to deliver an address on key developmental issues at the event scheduled to take place at the United Nations Headquarters, New York City, in the United States of America.

The event is part of activities to celebrate the World Cities Day 2017, the 12th Global Forum on Human Settlements and Sustainable Cities and Human Settlements Awards Ceremony (GFHS XII).

According to the organisers, GFHS – XII is committed to “creating a global platform for high-level dialogues, sharing advanced standards, technology and success experience, enhancing capacity-building, fostering partnership and facilitating effective actions.


The theme of GFHS – XII is: “Effectively planning and managing urban spatial fevelopment to implement 2030 agenda for sustainable development and new urban agenda.”

The GFHS–XII is jointly organised by the Permanent Mission of the Gambia to the UN, the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the UN (AU), the Global Forum on Human Settlements (GFHS), the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment), the University Peace Federation (UPF), the World Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (WANGO) and the Better City Institute (BCI).


The organisers recognised Wike for his commitment and contribution to sustainable cities in the state.

The governor has developed infrastructure in settlements in different parts of the state, ensuring that people have access to basic amenities.


He was also recognised for constructing the Iriebe Medium Housing Estate, Rivers Quarters at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, quarters for Junior Staff of the Department of State Service (DSS) and facilitating the improved investment in housing by private investors.


He received further commendations for investing in land reclamation , sand filling in Asari-Toru, Degema, Akuku-Toru and Port Harcourt Local Government Areas. The organisers believed that the land reclamation projects would enhance sustainable homes for the people.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/wike-receives-global-award-today.html

Despite the current scare of alleged vaccination exercise in some schools around the country, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that it will immunise 300,000 people against cholera in Borno.

This development was contained in the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA), Humanitarian Situation Report for the Month of September.


The report said the organisation in collaboration with other health development partners would also conduct another round of Oral Cholera Vaccination (ORV) exercise in the state.

It indicated that the immunisation exercise would be conducted at Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and host communities of Damasak, Banki, Bama, Gamburu, Ngala and Pulka.

“For the first time in Nigeria; an Oral Cholera Vaccine (OCV) was carried out between September 18 and 22 to protect communities and prevent further spread of the disease. The first round campaign reached close to 850,000 people through combination of fixed and mobile strategies.

“The request for the additional vaccines is to be submitted to the International Coordination Group on Vaccines Provision pending the clearance and approval of the state and health authorities”, it noted.

The UN-OCHA report shows that 4,360 suspected or confirmed cholera cases and 60 related deaths were recorded in Borno in September.

It notes that humanitarian organisations had scale up activities to contain the outbreak in parts of Maiduguri, Jere, Dikwa, Monguno and Mafa local government areas.

To control the outbreak health, sanitation and hygiene actors established Cholera Treatment Centres (CTC) and Oral Re-hydration Points (ORP) in the affected communities.

According to the report, another key intervention to be conducted was the third round Seasonal Malaria Chemo-Prevention campaign. The exercise was targets children under the age of five in Maiduguri, Konduga, Monguno, Jere and Mafa local government councils.

OCHA also disclosed that the Mobile Hard-To-Reach teams were increased to 35 as against 24, to enhance health care elivery in Yobe.

It noted that the measure was to enhance access to healthcare services in remote and security compromised communities at Gujba, Gulani, Geidam, Yunusari, Tarmuwa, Karasuwa, Bade and Fika local government areas of Yobe State.

The report further showed that 13,000 children had so far benefited from consultations and treatments of minor ailments, 41,752 children de-wormed and 32,930 received Vitamin A supplement, since the deployment of the teams to the state.
While 59,080 children were screened of malnutrition; 41,542 reached with health promotion messages, 626 women received ante-natal care, 82 pre-natal care and 31 family planning consultations.

The UN agency revealed that proactive measures had been evolved to strengthen the Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support (MHPSS) response to provide appropriate referral pathways for individuals, groups or families in need of mental health support in the war ravaged region.

It added that WHO and other health partners are working with Nigerian mental health authorities to enhance clinical management of mental disorder through deployment of specialised mental health workers such as psychiatrists, psychiatric nurses, pharmacological, non-pharmacological and psychologists.

According to OCHA, the Boko Haram insurgency caused humanitarian crisis with over 6.9 million people in need of quality healthcare services.

It explained that 5.9 million persons were targeted for support services while 5 million people reached with emergency health services this year in the Northeast.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/despite-vaccine-scare-who-to-immunise.html

The Council of Ibadan Authentic Mogajis otherwise known as Family Heads yesterday raised the alarm that unknown persons were threatening them to desist forthwith from going to the Palace of Olubadan of Ibadan land at Popoyemoja or risk being killed.

Addressing journalists at a hideout in Ibadan, the spokesman of the group, Chief Wale Oladoja, flanked by other executives of the forum, said: “Our lives are no longer safe here. And we begin to wonder what is our offence? For standing by the Olubadan to preserve our culture, traditional norm and values?


“Frequent anonymous calls from the people we suspect to be agents of deaths are threatening all of us including the Chairman seated here, Mogaji Moshood Akere, the Vice Chairman, Mogaji Abass Oloko, the Coordinator, Mogaji Jelili Adanla, the Financial Secretary, Mogaji Ademola Olasomi and my humble self, to desist forthwith from going to Olubadan’s palace.

“You recall that about a month ago, some yet to be identified gunmen stormed the Popoyemoja palace and shot sporadically to disrupt the peace there. Three of you journalists also escaped death by mere whiskers. What is befalling our land, what has come over us in this great city, why are people showing impunity and lawlessness because they wield powers today, forgetting that tomorrow is greater than today?

“And unfortunately too, other supporters of Kabiyesi are equally not left out in their threat. These people include our revered Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja, palace spokesman, Adeola Oloko, Tairu Akande, Prince Asawale Asanike including three other Mogajis; Badmus Adewale, Fatai Olanrewaju and Kosoko,” Oladoja stressed as others in attendance also affirmed the call threats in unison.

Asked if the group had reported to the police for proper investigation, Oladoja said they are reaching out to them first through the public as represented by the media, adding that the group was disturbed that the fleeing gunmen were yet to be brought to justice, few weeks after the dastard act.
Oladoja therefore called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police to wade in and caution whoever was behind the threat and recent attack to desist forthwith because “God forbids, if anything happens to any of us, we won’t take it with levity as we shall go all out to avenge any uprising because nobody can intimidate or cow us for being customs’ fighter and standing by the Kabiyesi.

The group also called on the state Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, to call the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state to order for their uncomplimentary remarks on the ongoing crisis between the government and the Olubadan.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/our-lives-under-threat-ibadan-family.html?m=1

Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the completion of the of Lagos-Ibadan rail gauge by 2018.Besides, issues of right of way and obstructing structures remain impediments to the smooth progress of the ongoing construction of the construction.

Speaking on Tuesday after meeting of Project Steering Committee for the rail gauge, Chairman, Board of NRC, Usman Abubakar, said there is also the issue of gas pipeline on the right of way of the rail line, which the consultants and stakeholders are trying to resolve.
Despite the hindrances created by access and right of way, Abubakar revealed that the project would be delivered in December 2018 as planned.The rail line is the first phase of the Lagos-Kano standard gauge line being constructed by the China Civil Engineering and Construction Corporation expected to link the already completed and operational Abuja-Kaduna standard gauge rail line.

Speaking on the percentage of work carried out, he said NRC have put its consultant to evaluate the report stating that the project is sectorial.“In some sectors it is 100 per cent achievement, in other sectors, it is one per cent, two per cent, the overall achievement would have to wait until when our consultants look at the documents and come to an agreement on the achievement.”
For those whose structures would be affected in the project, he said there are consultants working to determine appropriate compensation, people whose structure have to come down, they are already going about it and people are being paid depending on how far the consultants are able to finish the work. It is an ongoing work.
In the last meeting the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the president have approved projects of about 10 in number but when such projects are approved there is need to source for funds for such projects.
“We are talking to people who are ready to provide loan, for us to carry out the projects. We are committed; the President has given us a matching order to put on all our best to make sure that a lot of work is done in the railway sector,” he added.At the meeting held inside the Railway Compound were representatives of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo state governments, the contractors, among other stakeholders.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/lagos-ibadan-rail-gauge-will-be.html

Cold blood of Jesus official goes on sale in Nigeria at 2000 naira per bottle

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The last Leonardo Da Vinci painting dating from around 1500, “Salvator Mundi” — which depicts Jesus Christ as the world’s saviour, will go under the hammer next month in New York.

The Christie’s auction house, on Tuesday, estimated its worth at $100 million, the AFP reported.

The painting which was long believed to be a copy of an original by the Italian master, was eventually certified as authentic.

Fewer than 20 works by Da Vinci, whose art was already highly sought after during his lifetime, have survived to this day — all of them held in museum or institutional collections, with the exception of “Salvator Mundi.”

As a general rule, very few pre-19th-century artworks remain in private ownership, and it is extremely rare for one of them to be offered at auction.

“For auction specialists, this is pretty much the Holy Grail, no pun intended, but it doesn’t really get better than that,” said Loic Gouzer, co-chairman of Christie’s Americas post-war and contemporary art department.

A third party guarantee has been arranged for the painting, which ensures it will sell for around the estimate of $100 million on November 15, said Francois de Poortere, head of the Christie’s old masters department in New York.

The work will travel to Hong Kong, San Francisco and London, before spending three days on display in New York leading up to the sale.

According to Poortere, “Salvator Mundi” — which measures 45×65 cm (26×18 inches) — was last sold to an unnamed European collector following a historic Da Vinci exhibition at London’s National Gallery in 2011-12.


Mining a common theme, next month’s auction will begin with the sale of the massive “Sixty Last Suppers” by pop artist Andy Warhol — which depicts Da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” 60 times over, and is offered with a $50 million estimate

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/da-vinci-painting-of-jesus-to-be-sold.html

Efforts at creating a more conducive environment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector will receive fresh impetus tomorrow as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will lead an array dignitaries among whom are, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Yakubu Dogara, industry experts and other dignitaries to a brainstorming session in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

Professor Osinbajo is expected to deliver the keynote address at the event billed to take place at the prestigious Grand Hotel while Minister of Petroleum, State, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, will present a paper.


The forum is a one-day event with the theme: ‘Peace and Sustainable Development in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Areas,’ organised by the leading advocacy group, Nigeria Entrepreneur (Summit and Honours) NESH, for short.

NESH founder, Emeka Ugwu-oju had stated that the event had become necessary to create a road map for optimising the benefits of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources against the background of not only declining crude prices but the decision by most European countries to migrate from fossil fuels for automobiles to other alternatives.

He noted that this cannot be achieved without peace in the Niger Delta, a factor necessary for driving down costs and building stakeholder confidence in the environment.

He said: “It is in that regard that Nigeria and Entrepreneurship: Summit & Honors (NESH) team, has made the main theme of this event to be “Peace and Sustainable Development of Nigeria Oil and Gas Producing areas” and packaged a special session to bring together key and impactful stakeholders to discuss and device a new template for rapid development of the oil and gas producing areas that will reinforce and complement existing institutions and roadmaps, through a more robust private and public sector partnership.

“Another session at the roundtable will also have experts discussing the subject of Mini/Modular refineries which is a key item on the 16 point demand presented to the federal government by the Pan Niger Delta Forum as necessary condition for sustainable peace in the oil and gas producing areas,” he said.

Top oil industry players, finance experts, investors and notable advocacy groups have all confirmed their participation at the event to be hosted by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

The choice of the Delta State capital is seen as a masterstroke aimed at showing key stakeholder groups in the Niger Delta sub-region that the development of the region will remain on the front-burner until it is settled. Areas of emphasis include infrastructure, industrialization, local content management, capacity building and funding of small and medium scale enterprises in the region.

As part of the event, NESH has incorporated in the program interviews with high net worth Nigerians, to provide a broader knowledge pool for result-oriented stakeholder engagement in the area.

The event will be rounded off with a dinner at which ‘thank you” plaques will be presented to 10 private and public sector individuals for their roles in bringing about the relative peace prevailing in the region.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/osinbajo-to-deliver-keynote-address-at.html

Former Vice President, Abubakar Atiku, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said Wednesday that the north had nothing to fear about restructuring of the country.
However, while Atiku Abubakar and Tambuwal spoke about how the present structure of the country could be tinkered with, Prof Abdullahi wanted regionalism or outright break up of the country. The trio spoke at a two day conference on “The North and the Future of Nigerian Federation”, organized by the Arewa Research and Development Project, in collaboration with Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation; the Northern Elders Forum; Arewa Consultative Forum; Code Group; Northern Delegates Forum; Arewa Reawakening; Jamiyar Matan Arewa and Forum for Northern Youths Organisations. While Atiku said the north was not afraid of restructuring because it stood to gain more if more power was devolved to the federating units, Governor Tambuwal, who is also the chairman of Northern Governors and Traditional Rulers Committee on Restructuring, said to show that the north had nothing to fear about restructuring, northern governors and traditional rulers forum had set up a committee to aggregate the views of the north on the issue. Prof Ango Abdullahi on his part, said restructuring should mean a return to the regions as they existed in 1960. He also suggested that the country should be broken up to the units that they were, prior to the amalgamation of the northern and southern protectorates in 1914, stressing that in as much as the region was not afraid of restructuring, it would not be blackmailed into it. Atiku, who was represented by Dr Auwal Anwar, said his idea of restructuring was the devolution of more powers to the federating units; creation of state police and other such things. “The north stand to gain more if there is devolution of power. There there local police, there would not have been Boko Haram for instance because they would have had the intelligence to stop them. ”The new North has nothing to fear (about restructuring) because we have the land, the people and resources. His Tory will not wait for us. The north should direct the process and the outcome,” he said. On his part, Governor Tambuwal, who was chairman of the conference, said: “The idea that the north is against restructuring because it benefits most from the current state of things is circumscribed and patently false. ”The fact that some people continue to parrot such lies only help to give credence to the flawed argument. Let us be clear: the north wants restructuring as much as any one.” The governor said what the north craved was a mutual agreement on the definition of restructuring, adding that any decision taken on the issue of restructuring “must be inclusive and respect procedures and processes so that the outcome is sustainable. “In my view, if restructuring means taking stock of our arrangement to ensure that no state takes a disproportionate amount of resources, or most of the available space in the education of job sector, or subjugate the others’ culture or religion, or lords it over the other so that the number of the poor and uneducated whose future is circumscribed by their circumstance is shared proportionately, then we are in the game.” He said what the north was asking for was a “country where there is peace and progress, where justice is guaranteed, where all lives are safe and people can pursue their legitimate livelihoods wherever they choose. ”I believe each state in this country has areas of comparative advantage and and life is a cycle so that what was once the largest revenue earner can in time become less while something else takes ascendency”. But in his remarks, former Vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Professor Ango Abdullahi said the call for restructuring in the country indicates “the failure of the operators and not the structure.” He said those calling for the implementation of the reports of the 2006 and 2014 conferences by Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan respectively were ill-informed because the two conferences were tailored to achieve a predetermined result by the conveners. According to him, while the Obasanjo conference was to ensure that he got a third term, President Jonathan convened the 2014 conference to legitimize his ambition to strangulate other regions. Abdullahi, who noted that the best option for the country was to return to 1914 or 1960, said: “Let us go our separate ways. If on the other hand we give credit to the British and our founding fathers (and they deserve credit), and we cannot contain restructuring based on what existed in 1914, we should go back to 1960 when the country operated regions. The north is not afraid of getting our north back.” Professor Abdullahi said the call for restructuring of the country gained more currency when a northerner was in power, adding that it was a “political blackmail against northern Nigeria and we will not tolerate it anymore.” He enjoined political leaders in the region not to “rush into committing the north to any agreement or allow anybody to stampede us into agreeing with something that will hurt the north.” In his remarks, the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Rl Rufai, said it was the responsibility of the north to carry a ‘national plaque in the quest for restructuring” as it is the elder brother in the Nigerian federation and should handle the issue of restructuring in an amicable and harmonious manner. Governor El Rufai, who was represented by his deputy, Bala Bantex, said the north should be concerned with addressing the dual challenge of poverty and deficiency in education in the region. In a remark, the chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in the 19 northern states, said what ever form the restructuring of the country took, it must “respect all forms of worship. No one should be treated as inferior. We should respect our faiths” Convener of the conference, Dr Usman Bugaje, said the resurgence of the call for restructuring represented failure of leadership at all levels of government. “The raging debate about the future of our federation is only a fraction of the problem. We must see it as the first and necessary step that will help us prepare for our future. It is therefore important that we bring a lot of objectivity and maturity. ”Mere display of emotions is not going to be useful here. We need to think through whatever proposal we make. We should realize that we can’t force any view on anybody in this day and age. We must seek to persuade and not dictate,” he said. He noted that one of the objectives of the conference was to “bring clarity,accuracy and precision to the debate on the future of the Nigerian federation. ”This is necessary because the the moment, there is a lot of confusion about what a federation is supposed to be. People who talk about true federalism clearly need to revise their notes and realize that true federalism is not only misleading but also untenable since every federation is unique and there are no two federations that are the same. ”Similarly, the concept of of fiscal federalism has been grossly misunderstood and many are reading their parochial wishes and confusing the debate.”

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/break-up-nigeria-or-go-back-to.html

All schools close, Parents on the run to peak up their children as Nigerian soldiers carried out their free medical treatment to the schools in Edozie Enugu state...

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Top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the northern part of the country yesterday declared that there is no going back on the approved zoning arrangement for 2019 election which cedes the presidency to the North and party chairman to South.

The northern stakeholders frowned at the action of the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, who recently declared interest in the presidential race under the platform of the party, in disregard of the zoning formula of the party.

The party leaders who rose from a meeting in Abuja, warned him and others who might want to toe his line to desist from playing spoilers game, adding that the zoning of the presidential ticket to the North by the 2015 national convention is sacrosanct.


The outrage by the northern PDP stakeholders came just as the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, clarified the position of the party on the issue of micro-zoning of other national executive offices, saying it is not binding on members.

While some of the leaders advocated sanctions against the governor for disobeying the party’s zoning arrangement, others argued that in as much as zoning of the two key offices has been endorsed, those who wish to try their luck would be allowed to do so.

Governor Fayose, who hails from Ekiti State in the South-west, had jolted the party leadership when he formally declared his presidential ambition in Abuja a fortnight ago.
But speaking at the meeting, Makarfi maintained that the zoning arrangement as approved by the national convention still stands.
He maintained that while the North will produce the president, the southern zone is to produce the chairman of the party.
Makarfi stated that while micro zoning is not binding on the party, he stressed the need for constructive engagement over the choice of who emerges.

He explained that the Supreme Court in its judgment last July affirmed the supremacy of the party’s national convention and decision taken therein.
“For the avoidance of doubt, we asked the National Publicity Secretary to issue a statement affirming that the zoning approved by the Port Harcourt convention remains valid and binding.

“I want to also expatiate that the Supreme Court affirmed the supremacy of the the convention. The Supreme Court, in affirming the authenticity of the caretaker committee, has also affirmed the decisions of the convention.
“One of the decision taken at the convention is the setting up of the National Caretaker Committee and the zoning of the presidency and party chairmanship,” Makarfi recalled.

He however, called for caution so that the intentions of the Supreme Court might not be misinterpreted.
He noted that while zoning arrangement between the North and the South is recognised by the party, micro-zoning is not binding on anybody, adding that the PDP would not deny anybody the right to seek any political office to void litigations.
“If a position is zoned to the North and you are from the North and you come to buy form, we will sell to you,” he said, adding: “People will not get tired of taking the PDP to court.

“That is why I am saying that consultation and consensus remain the best option.
Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, who was one of the conveners of the meeting, dismissed Fayose’s presidential ambition as he said that PDP had already zoned the presidency to the north.
“Whatever the Fayoses of this world may be doing, the party has resolved that the presidential candidate will come from one of the three zones in the north,” said Gana added.

He, however, advised the northern region to go for the best in selecting the party’s presidential candidate for the 2019.
“Let us therefore give to the party, men and women of impeccable integrity,” he added.
Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, advised all zones in the North to come together and look inward with a view to agreeing on who to push forward for the exalted position.
“We must be able to take a decision that will be acceptable to the North and the country,” he added.
A former acting National Chairman of the party, Dr. Bello Haliru, outrightly called for sanctions against those going against the zoning arrangement of the party.

He said: “Zoning and rotation are part of the PDP Constitution. We must adhere to them if we are to keep this party alive.
“There are people who are bent on contesting whether the office is zone to their place or not. We must discuss with the South, so that anybody who goes against zoning can be punished. We cannot afford to have people come to the convention and make a fool of themselves and ridicule the party,” he said.
Also, a former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, said the PDP must put an end to impunity and dictatorship as preparations for the convention intensify.

“The PDP is a party that was formed to fight dictatorship; it’s an anti-dictatorship party. Let’s stop imposing candidates and allow them to emerge through electoral democracy or through consensus.
“We have representation in all the 774 local government s in the country. If we mobilise them, we will return to power,” Ayu said.

Chairman of the Former Ministers Forum, Mr. Tanimu Turaki, maintained that all PDP members must obey the party’s zoning formula.
“We believe that our party haven taking the position on zoning, every legitimate party member must respect it. Zoning is legal. It is legitimate and it is what has given us peace over the year.
“At the end of this meeting we must come up with a decision that the north is capable of producing legitimate president for the country by 2019.

“Therefore we must come up with person with credible character that can win the votes of Nigerians.”
Present at the meeting were former Governors Ibrahim Idris, Idris Wada (Kogi), Ramalan Hero (Kaduna), Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Ibrahim Schema (Katsina), and erstwhile Ministers, Abba Moro( Internal Affairs),
Others are Adamu Maina Waziri (Police Affairs), Kabiru Turaki (Special Duties) and Zainab Maina (Women Affairs), former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, former National Woman Leader, Ina Ciroma.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/northern-pdp-leaders-slam-fayose-insist.html

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it is putting in place modalities to reduce the estimated two billion dollars (about N720 billion) being lost as capital flights to importation of Information Technology (IT).

NITDA’s Director-General, Dr Isa Pantami said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos at the ongoing 37th Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), holding at the Dubai World Trade Centre, United Arabs Emirates (UAE).Pantami said that the capital flight was as a result of importation of foreign technologies into the country.

He said that there was a need for Nigeria to promote local technology solutions to develop Nigerian youths in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

According to him, this will truly catapult Nigeria into becoming one of the countries to be reckoned with on the global ICT map.

”NITDA has realised the need to develop our ICT ecosystem, the indigenous IT companies and the start-ups by offering them an enabling environment in terms of policy and laws to operate.

”This is one of the ways Nigeria can adopt to curb annual two billion dollars (N720 billion) capital flight,” he said.

Pantami said that the agency had gone to GITEX with seven agenda designed to develop Nigeria’s IT industry and curb the huge annual capital flight.

”These include promoting IT regulations in Nigeria, IT development and promotions, striking partnership on how to better secure Nigerian cyberspace and capacity building.

”It also include promotion of e-government in Nigeria, showcasing indigenous tech innovations as well as looking for investors, who will assist in supporting local development of Nigeria’s IT industry,” he said.

The D-G said that NITDA was working with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to ensure that the annual estimated N37.8 billion wasted on frivolous ICT projects was curbed through enforcing NITDA Act.

He said that the Act stated that all MDAs must get clearance from NITDA for any IT project they wanted to embark upon to ensure those projects were implementable.

According to him, NITDA’s screening of an MDA’s IT project conducted recently resulted in saving government N500 million.

”This is saved from a single IT project and you can now imagine how much we will be saving government as an agency, if thorough screening of all MDAs’ IT projects are carried out in the country,” Pantami said.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/nitda-to-curb-yearly-n720bn-loss-to-it.html?m=1

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has commiserated with the family of the Lt.-Gen. Victor Malu, a former chief of army staff, who died on Monday.

He said in a statement issued by the army spokesman, Brig.-Gen. Sani Usman that he “received with deep shock the sad news of the passing away” of Malu.

Buratai prayed to God Almighty to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

The late Malu was said to have died at a hospital in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday.


Born on Jan. 15 1947 at Katsina-Ala, Benue of Tiv origin. Malu enrolled in the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in 1967.

He was part of the 3rd Regular Course and got commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant upon graduation in 1970.

Malu held various positions in his military career, including Commander, the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) peace-keeping force (ECOMOG) from December 1996 to April 1998.

He was Chief of Army Staff between May 1999 and April 2001.

During his service, he contributed immensely to the sustenance of democracy, peace and security in the country.

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/10/buratai-mourns-malu.html?m=1