₦airaland Forum

Kano APC organised a retreat on party management in Sokoto. Sokoto state Governor Tambuwal and APC Chairman Oyegun were on hand to support Governor Ganduje.

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Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday expressed delight at the emergence of Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa, just as he said his administration is in the process of setting up an Economic Management Team comprised of distinguished individuals from the private sector and the public sector to manage and scale up the successes recorded in that direction.


Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House in Ikeja when he received a delegation from the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce on courtesy visit, said the emergence of Lagos was very instructive, adding that government would explore synergy with private sector with the view to catapult Lagos into a true global city-state in the true sense of the word.


“Very soon we would be setting up what we would refer to as an Economic Management Team to drive the fifth largest economy, because that’s the way we need to envision our self and this Economic Management Team will involve nominees from the Chambers and other people in the private sector, so that we can collaborate because majorly this economy is driven by the private sector, our duty is to create an enabling environment and fuse all that together, I think that synergy can just catapult Lagos into that global city state that we want it to be,” Governor Ambode said.



The Governor said there was no doubt about the fact that the economy of Lagos was in the hand of the private sector and the willingness on the part of government to ensure an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, which according to him, was why his administration has been investing massively in security and other business incentives.


According to the Governor, his decision to come up with the Office of Oversees Affairs and Investment, otherwise known as Lagos Global, was part of efforts at encouraging investment in Lagos both from within and outside, among many other initiatives of the present administration.


He said: "I think it is very instructive to clearly state that the economy of Lagos is in the hands of the private sector and beyond the fact that Lagos is now the fifth largest economy in Africa, the drive to take Nigeria out of recession actually resides in the private sector and willingness on the part of the public sector.


"Because our economy is in the hands of the private sector and we are willing to allow them drive it, that is why we have decided to formulate policies and decisions that will make the private sector to thrive in this State and that is why in the last 18 months, we have been running this administration on a tripod of security, job opportunities and infrastructure development."


While explaining the tripod, the Governor said his administration believed that when the people and investors are well secured, businesses will thrive and more people would be employed, while the resources generated in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) would be deployed to provide infrastructure for the people.


Besides, Governor Ambode commended investors who have remained committed in doing business in Lagos despite the down turn in the economy, assuring that his administration would continue to work hard and partner with the private sector.


While justifying the recent joining of O’dua Investment Group by Lagos, the Governor said his administration was of the strong view that the socio-economic integration of western Nigeria depend majorly Lagos, adding that it was better for states around Lagos to be equally prosperous to address migration issues.


Earlier, leader of the delegation and President of the Council, Prince Dapo Adelegan, congratulated Governor Ambode on the emergence of Lagos as the fifth largest economy in Africa, adding that with the development, it was now important to globalize the economy of Lagos.



He said the Chamber would be willing to partner with the Lagos State Government not only to globalize the economy of the State, but also in the area of policy formulation, among other critical sectors.



Adelegan, who lauded the various initiatives of the present administration in terms massive investment in security, job opportunities, Light Up Lagos, road projects, among others, also announced the decision of the Chamber to inaugurate Governor Ambode as one of the patrons of the Chamber.


In a related development, Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has lauded the Lagos State Government on the management of the economy of the State, especially in this period of recession.


Sanusi, who was the immediate past Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), said any country that depends on a mono product commodity like Nigeria is bound to fail.

According to him, Nigeria and other African countries has a lot to learn from how the economy of Lagos is being run, especially before the state gained oil producing state status.


The Emir, who spoke at a forum recently, commended the Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration in Lagos and urged the State Government not to allow its new oil status distract it from the very solid economic template it is currently running.

According to him, Lagos should emulate Norway, where all its oil proceeds are warehoused in a sovereign wealth fund and saved for the raining day.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/lagos-set-to-launch-economic-team-after.html

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As part of efforts to totally stop cattle grazing in Abuja metropolis and major entrance and exit highways into the city centre, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has met with members of the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter.

During the meeting in his office, the Minister reiterated that herdsmen must move their cattle out of the Federal Capital City because there is no way, such animals can co-habit with the residents.

Malam Bello emphasized that even for safety reasons, cattle should not roam on the streets and highways in the city and this is not because the government wants to prevent cattle breeders from raring cattle in the Territory.

His words: “You have to understand that when Abuja Environmental Protection Board says cattle should not roam the city, it is not because they want to prevent cattle breeders from raring cattle in the FCT. Basically, it is just for safety. It is for safety of your cattle and above all, safety of the citizens.”

According to him, “In a modern city, it’s not possible for animals and vehicles to move together on the roads because this could cause accidents which in some cases could be fatal, and it is our duty to protect lives and property”.

In order to achieve meaningful results, the Minister implored the Association to nominate some of their members to serve in the Ministerial Task Team on Environment under the Chairmanship of Squadron Leader, Abdullahi Adamu Monjel to ensure that there is smooth communication between FCTA and the Association.

“You can give him some number of educated young men in your communities who will be part of some of these Committees so that they will be able to communicate,” he added.

Malam Bello said that the FCT Administration has moved a step further to even identify new grazing reserves that will cater for their requirements.

“A total of 33,485 hectares have already been earmarked for grazing reserves to cater for about 7 million herds of cattle comprising of Paikon Kore - 8,500 hectares, Karshi - 6,000 hectares, Kawu in Bwari - 9,000 hectares and Rubochi in Kuje which is 9,985 hectares,” the Minister revealed.

Malam Bello noted that the critical issue is compensation for the farmers that are there but assured that his Administration will work together with the National Assembly to resolve that amicably.

The Minister remarked that the FCT Administration may even reach out to the host communities to work out a situation where compensation does not have to be in monetary terms because of the large expanse of land involved.

“Nothing should prevent the communities that are there and the Fulanis living together because you don’t always have to move people away,” he stressed.

The Minister thanked Miyatti Allah for its support to the FCT Administration and also to the Federal Government and urged them to continue to robustly support the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the FCT Chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Malam Yahaya Isah promised to continue to interface with the government to promote peaceful co-existence.

He assured that his Association will enlighten the members not to breed their cattle on the streets and highways of Abuja again.

Signed.
Muhammad Hazat Sule, FCAI
Deputy Director / Chief Press Secretary,
Monday, October 24, 2016.

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It is my pleasure and a great honour to be in the hallowed chambers of the Oxford University, one of the world’s most prestigious universities, not just to speak, but to exchange ideas and answer questions from you, some of the world’s most brilliant youths and future leaders.

It is instructive to note that since 1823, the Oxford Union has consistently presented this platform for scholarly and social congregation of the student population, the interchange of ideas, propagation of views in the enhancement of knowledge, and for the overall good of mankind.

This is highly commendable. This discussion is topical for our global search for development and security. The issue of youth entrepreneurship in Africa is very critical, as Africa is the only continent in which we will witness a population boom in our lifetime.

Studies reveal the symbiotic relationship between youth unemployment and youth restiveness. Accordingly, most violent crises in Africa have been traced to a lack of education among its teeming youth population.

Genuine search for development and sustainable peace must therefore begin with youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. When I was Governor of Bayelsa State and later the President of Nigeria, I asked myself some critical questions; · Why are some nations rich and some poor? ·

Why do individuals that grow up in similar circumstances end up differently, with some as successes and others as failures? · Is the wealth of nations a result of geography, weather, culture, destiny, etc.? What could a leader do to effectively lift a people out of the depths of poverty, and enable them to achieve prosperity?

After much soul searching, my conviction in regards to these questions is this : wealth is a creation of the human mind properly prepared by education. It is my firm belief that any Nation that does not spend its wealth and resources to developing the capacity of its youth will eventually be forced to devote its resources to fight insecurity amongst those same youths.

As a leader, you can decide through your policies to educate the youths, or face the consequences of failing to do so. The problem all African leaders have is how to manage the youth bulge.

Do we consider this a ticking time bomb or an opportunity? To me there are two key areas we must invest our resources if we are to convert this perceived time bomb to the opportunity I believe it is.

The first is requisite education and capacity building. This should be followed by enabling youth entrepreneurship.

Allow me to share with you a brief account of the implementation of my vision to empower the youth. Within a year of my stewardship as the Governor of Bayelsa State, I gave Education a top priority. I provided infrastructure in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions and gave undergraduate students financial assistance in the form of Bursary awards.

I started building two special post primary schools for gifted and talented children. The relevance of the gifted children school is obvious. For the talented children, the idea is to develop their natural talents in addition to sound education so that at graduation they can make a living from their God given talents if they choose to do so.

While construction work was on-going in the special schools, we initiated a program to encourage the best brains of the State. We selected through competitive entrance examinations the most brilliant pupils in our primary schools and sent them to the best secondary schools in the country.

The idea was for the State Government to take care of the best brains from the post primary through the tertiary level of their educational career and ensure that they attend the best institutions anywhere in the world. It was designed for a minimum of 100 pupils to be selected for this program annually.

I left the State after one year and five months to contest election as the Vice President, and therefore could not see the idea through.

Upon assumption of office as President of Nigeria, I launched a similar program called the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development. [PRESSID] This scheme nurtured a select cadre of professionals, to serve as facilitators for accelerated, sustainable, economic and technological advancement. Each year, through competitive examinations, we selected between 100-to-120 first class graduates and sent them to the top universities in the world to study for higher degrees.

These students were drawn from various STEM disciplines. Let me mention here that Oxford University was an integral part of this program and indeed, a favourite for most of our applicants. The essence of the program was to get a crop of youth over a period of time that will advance our course technologically. When I launched the program, I did mention that we were training young people that will take Nigeria to the moon.

In addition to this, my administration also gave a series of educational incentives to university students across the country. We established twelve conventional Universities and a specialized Maritime University. To assist the disadvantaged children in Northern Nigeria, we built 165 special schools known as “Almajiri School” that integrated Islamic culture into Western education.

The foundational theme of my Administration was ‘The Transformation Agenda’. It was conceived to engage the latent potential in the entire nation, and to stimulate and enable higher productivity. And this was also the foundation of our youth development drive.

The Transformation Agenda sought to address the problems of youth job creation, with emphasis not just in getting our young citizens employed, but in assisting them in acquiring the right skills, and providing the requisite support.

This was to enable them set up and run their own businesses; thereby becoming employers of labour themselves. In Nigeria and most African countries, there are well-educated young people. The problem is how to create opportunities for them.

My Administration came up with various programs to encourage young entrepreneurs. The most popular is the Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria “YouWIN”. It was a unique intervention launched in 2012, which targeted youth with unique business proposals in startups and expansion of existing enterprises.

YouWin is structured as a competitive cyclic initiative which invites and reviews Business Plans submitted by Youth. Young people who wanted to be entrepreneurs were asked to submit their business proposals. The best business plans were chosen based on relevance, profitability, demand and practicability. The winners were trained and given grants.

YouWIN was multi-sector- cutting across light manufacturing, food processing, and the service sector. The motivation for this program is for young people to go into SMEs, create jobs for other young people with the expectation that some would grow to large scale businesses.

In addition to YouWin, under our broad based Agricultural Transformation Agenda, we developed the Youth Employment in Agriculture Program [YEAP] – and like many of our other youth programs, we incorporated the youth themselves in its design. This took a complete value chain approach from farming to processing and marketing. Just like in the YouWIN initiative, my Administration gave young farmers grants and training. The young people who were involved were called “Nagropreneurs”.

We also launched The Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS). The objective of this program was to provide temporary work experience for fresh graduates, to enhance their capacity to attract permanent jobs. Eligible graduates are posted to corporations and companies in the private and public sectors. They received practical training and mentorship for a one-year period, within which remuneration is paid by the government. This enabled the young graduates to acquire relevant experience.

We also increased the allowances due to Youth Corp members by more than 100% in 2011. This was in line with our policy of youth empowerment and development. To ensure that the Nigerian youth benefit massively in the ICT revolution, we created a special Ministry of Communication Technology. We wanted the Nigerian Youth to be self-employed and exploit the advantages of ICT.

The Ministry, among other things, improved broadband penetration, set up ICT incubation centres in Lagos and Calabar. The efforts of the Young software engineers at the Lagos Co-Creation Hub (CC Hub) became so successful that it did not only give birth to many thriving start-ups, but their activities also attracted the attention of Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg who chose it as his first stop during his first ever visit to Africa.

One sector we deliberately encouraged to stimulate job growth for Nigerian Youth was the Nigerian entertainment industry. We identified Nollywood as a sector that can employ many young people. We provided a grant of $200 million and for the first time, Nollywood became a major contributor to our GDP. In 2014, Nollywood contributed 1.4% to our GDP.

The sporting industry was also not left out. We encouraged our young people in that sector. I was to launch a Fund to encourage sporting activities in the Country but I had to bow out by 29th of May 2015. Nigeria has a crop of talented youth but the nation has not properly keyed into the global sports industry. The Fund would have been a catalyst to promoting the Nigerian sports industry by promoting training, welfare of athletes and manufacturing of sporting equipment among other things.

Distinguished audience let me conclude my speech by urging contemporary African leaders to see youth entrepreneurship as a collective project transcending national boundaries. I believe in the Nigerian youth and indeed African Youths. My conviction is not only an emotional one, but one grounded in my experience with youths from all over the continent.

You will agree that foremost in the minds of many youth, is a desire to develop their dreams and potentials. Placing them closer to the driving wheel, does a lot for their confidence.

Despite incredible challenges, Nigerian youths are achieving great things and placing Nigeria positively in the world map. Nigerian youths are an inspiration to their leaders. I once said that I was not elected President of Nigeria to spread poverty, I was elected to generate and spread wealth.

My belief in this regard is that getting a job or being a worker cannot completely cure the disease of poverty. It is only your own business that can provide such security and give you the financial freedom you need to prosper.

That was why my Administration introduced these initiatives and policies, to enable Nigeria’s youths take their own destinies in their hands. You can appreciate that there was a lot of emphasis on education during my time at the helm of both my State and my Nation.

This is because the richest people today are those who develop ideas and commercialize them. Viable ideas can only come from educated minds, and money pursues ideas.

My three flagship programmes ie the gifted and talented children schools in Bayelsa State, the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development and the ICT Incubation Centers (Co-Creation Hub) were geared towards developing that calibre of youth.

We may not have been perfect, but we did our best, and our best yielded an era of unprecedented economic growth for Nigeria.

A growth that proved the truism that a Nation’s wealth is not underneath the ground but between the ears of her people.

Under my watch, Nigeria was projected by CNN Money to be the third fastest growing economy in the world for the year 2015 and rated as the largest economy in Africa and the 23rd in the world by the World Bank and the IMF, with a GDP above half a Trillion US dollars. These in a nutshell are some of the ways we were able to promote youth enterprise; a topic that I know is of utmost interest to many of you here.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to me.
I shall now take your questions.

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Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo presides over the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

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The Bauchi State Police command has rescued about one hundred (100) hostages including One Engr. Ali Usman of PHCN Abuja just as it arrested over Eighty Eight (88) Suspects including of Fifty Nine (59) suspected kidnappers and Fourteen (14) Armed Robbery suspects.
Addressing the press, the police commissioner, Zaki Ahmed, said the suspects have volunteered very useful information to the Police regarding their nefarious activities and level of involvements.

The police boss disclosed that seventy One (71) suspects were charged to Court while Thirteen (13) others are under investigations.According to him, the proactive steps taken by the command through robust synergy with other security agencies, vigilante groups and other stakeholders has continued to yield positive results.He said the command has recovered two (2) AK 47 rifles eleven (11) dane guns, five (5) single barrel guns, two locally made revolver pistols with seven round of 9mm live ammunition Five (5) fabricated pistols and two fabricated Guns.Other exhibits recovered, according to the commissioner, included one (1) laptop, nine handsets (9) , fifty three wraps of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, one (1) Knife, one (1) DVD player, One (1) television, twenty one solar batteries stolen from MTN Mast. He said the command, following intelligence report recently foiled an attempted jail break and arrested one Mal.Mahmud Tanimu who had concluded plans with his accomplices to break the Bauchi Federal prison in order to free his brother who is standing trial in a case of terrorism.

“The Command has maintained a synergy and robust Inter agency co-operation with a view to sharing intelligence to assist in combating crimes. Equally, tremendous efforts are made in collaboration with all major stakeholders to get valuable information which after evaluation can be used as actionable intelligence that can assist in fighting crime in the state.

“The whole idea is to nip in the bud these emergent trends of crime presently bedevilling the State due to influx of suspected Cattle Rustlers, Kidnappers and Insurgents and other misguided elements from the neighbouring states” he added.The Commissioner assured members of the public that the command is fully committed and battle ready towards ensuring safety and security in the State and urging residents to “feel free to come forward with any reasonable information and be rest assured that it will be treated with outmost confidence”.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-police-rescue-100-hostages-in.html

Honorable Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu led a delegation to Indian to negotiates USD15 billion investment in Oil and Gas. The delegation was received by Minister of State, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan. See photos below


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In commemoration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the Wife of the Governor Of Ogun State and President of the UPLIFT Development Foundation, Mrs Olufunso Amosun has organised a food outreach programme for more than 3,000 vulnerable indigenes of the State.

The programme, which took place at Oke-Ona United Primary School, Iberekodo in Abeokuta, saw the beneficiaries going home with several dry food items.

Speaking at the event, Mrs. Amosun advised Nigerians to join hands with government to reduce poverty in the society.

"If you are in position to assist anyone, let us always rise up to help, because that is the only way we can reduce poverty in the country," she said.

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 17 October as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

Mrs. Amosun noted that the state government would continue to invest in food security to improve the quality of lives of the less privileged in the State.

Responding, the Chairman of Abeokuta North Local Government, Hon. Surajudeen Folarin said the state was working hard to reduce poverty in the state, charging the beneficiaries to optimise the opportunity given to them and join hands in the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State.

He thanked the governor's wife for her commitment to the welfare of the people, particularly the aged people.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Madam Abeni Adekanbi and Mr. Lateef Adesanya lauded the state governor and his wife for their efforts at eradicating poverty in the state and their kind gesture.

Highlight of the event included the distribution of the dry food items such as bags of rice, cartons of spaghetti, cartons of noodles, refined salts, sugar, cartons of sausage rolls amongst others.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-gov-amosuns-wife-olufunso-amosun.html

Kogi state University students are not looking for fuel or kerosene but ordinary water in KSU ANYIGBA. See another photo below

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In line with the anti-corruption stance of his administration, President Muhammadu Buhari, will on Tuesday declare open a two day seminar aimed at formulating a legislative framework for the anti-corruption fight in the country.

The seminar which is being organised by the Senate and House of Representatives committees on Anti Corruption has as it's theme: 'The role of the legislature in the fight against corruption in Nigeria' and the seminar is the first major event jointly organized by both chambers of the 8th National Assembly since inauguration in June 2015.

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara will co host the anti corruption seminar.

According to the Senate Committee Chairman on Anti Corruption, Senator Chukwuma Utazi, "the Seminar is to give legal strength to the anti corruption fight of the present administration and to create legislative synergy for the anti corruption fight".

"The seminar is aimed at making good the promise of the National Assembly that we are on the same page with the President Buhari led administration and in line with the legislative agenda, that there is a synergy between the National Assembly and the Presidency in the fight against corruption. It is to reaffirm the point that you cannot clap with one hand. It is our way of saying that there must be a legislative strength to back the anti corruption stance of the present administration", Utazi said.

The keynote address of the seminar will be delivered by Prof. P. L. O. Lumumba, Director General of the Kenyan Law School who is also an international scholar on the issues of corruption.

Other topics slated for discussion at the seminar include "the Legislature as Champion of Anti-Corruption Reforms Leveraging ‎ Constitutional Mandates" under the chairmanship of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na'Abba with the House of Representatives Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, Senator Bala Ibn Na'allah, Eze Onyechere of the Centre for Social Justice and Adetokumbo Mumuni of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) as panelists.

Also slated for discussion at the seminar is the " Reform of the Anti Corruption Legal Framework /International Partnership Against Corruption; Nigeria's Membership of FAFT in Focus" under the Chairmanship of the Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu ‎Waziri Tambuwal with Hon. Pwajok Edward Gyang (SAN), Prof. Deji Adekunle, Director General of the Nigeria Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, Femi Falana (SAN), Ibrahim Magu, Chairman of EFCC and Prof. Shehu Abdulahi, former Director of GIABA as panelists.

On the second day, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Agunwa Anaekwe will serve as chairman of the panel discussion, titled, "Appropriation Process and Limits of Legislative Powers" while, Hon. West Idahosa, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, Prof. Sam Egwu of the Political Science Department, University of Jos, Prof. Chidi Onyia and Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, a Director of CISLAC will serve as panelists.

Other topics slated for discussion include "Consensus Building in the Fight Against Corruption; Making the Arms of Government Accountable" under the chairmanship of Katsina State a Governor, Aminu Bello Masari with Hon. Pally Iriase, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, Idayat Hassan, Director, Centre for Democracy and Development and Hon. Ismaila Kawu as panelists. The topic slated for discussion is "the Legislature and the Civil Society; Making the Feedback Count" under the chairmanship of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu with Prof. Etanbi Alemika of PACAC, Hon. Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen and Yemi Adamolekun of Enough is Enough (EIE) as members of the panel.

The last topic slated for discussion is titled, "Fighting Corruption at the State and Local Government Levels" under the chairmanship of the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmad Idris, with Senator Sam Egwu, speaker of Kwara State House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta, Prof. Sadiq Isah Raddah of PACAC, Mr. Debo Adeniran, Director of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) and Prof. Malachy Okwueze of the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Department of Economics.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/buhari-to-declare-open-national.html

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Currently trending on Facebook. Footballers of Zambia national football team 'Chipolopolo' put their eggplants on display. Wonder what locker room banter they had before coming out onto the pitch! lol

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/what-is-wrong-with-this-photo-18_13.html

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Kano state Governor Umar Ganduje today flagged off the state-wide free eye campaign in commemoration of the world sight day 2016... See photos below

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President Buhari departs for Germany for official visit, to confer on security, IDP's & rehabilitation of the North-East,trade & economic matters. See photos below

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Abians in Houston Texas, USA, hosted the common Governor of Abia State to a town hall meeting yesterday.


It was all interactive as suggestions were made and well received with a promise that they will be implemented as much as possible.


It was also an opportunity to meet with Abia professionals in diaspora towards the common goal of repositioning Abia for developments.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-gov-ikpeazu-meets-abians-in-usa.html

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Kogi state Governor Yahaya Bello paid a courtesy call on the Honourable Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN). See photos below

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The Kaduna state police command arrest some shiites members today during a peaceful protest in the state. See photo below

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Sokoto state Governor Tambuwal and Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola inspected ongoing works at Sokoto IPP and flagged off distribution of free pre-paid meter in Sokoto today. See photos below

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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that he is ready to sacrifice his life in order to protect the state from external predators.

The governor also charged the people of the state to rise up to defend the state and her interest in the coming weeks as anti-democratic forces have ganged up against Rivers people.

Speaking during the flag off of the construction of the Abua-Emoh-Egbolom road in Abua/Odual Local Government Area on Saturday, Governor Wike said: ""This is the time to say no to illgality.If they are testing the waters for rigging and mayhem, it will not work".

Briefing the people on the failed abduction of a Federal High Court Judge by the Police and DSS, the governor said that the security operatives were on an illegal mission to entrench an evil scheme in Rivers State.

He said: "I told the security operatives who planned to abduct the judge that instead of this impunity, you better take my life. I will always protect the interest of this state.

"When God gives you an assignment, he will give you the enablement to complete the assignment. Rivers
people must be ready to fight any form of injustice. I am ready to defend Rivers State with my life".

On the construction of the Abua-Emoh-Egbolom road, Governor Wike said that the project will be completed in seven months, pointing out that he will wipe away the tears of Abua/Odual people with quality projects.

He said the contractor, MCC Nigeria Limited has the capacity to deliver a quality project within the scheduled time. He called on the people to support the contractor all through the duration of the road .

The governor said that he had promised to construct the road during a rally to celebrate his Supreme Court victory in March.

He charged the people to remain committed to the PDP as it is the only political party that will promote their welfare.

Member representing Abua/Odual/Ahoada East Federal Constituency, Mrs Betty Apiafi and the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assemby , Mr Marshal Uwom lauded Governor Wike for bringing development to the people.

They said since the creation of the local government 25years ago, no serving governor has initiated a major project in the area. According to them, Governor Wike deserves commendation for being the first serving governor to initiate a major project for Abua/Odual Local Government Area.

Commissioner for Works, Mr Harrison Iheanyichukwu said the 8.2kiometre road will connect the seven communities on the route to the rest of the state.

Simeon Nwakaudu,
Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor,
Electronic Media.
8th October, 2016.

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Ahead of their 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Zambia on Sunday, the Super Eagles of Nigeria had their first feel of the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday evening during their first training session in Zambia.

The full squad under the watchful eyes of head coach Gernot Rohr and his assistants oversaw the Eagles first and only training session as they finalize preparations for the big clash on Sunday.

The Nigerian delegation to Sunday’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Zambia arrived in Ndola minutes after noon on Saturday.

The Super Eagles are staying at the Protea Hotel Marriott, which is adjacent to the match venue.

Sunday’s encounter, the first FIFA World Cup qualifying match at senior level between both countries, will kick off at 2.30pm Zambia time (1.30pm Nigeria time).


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-super-eagles-first-training.html

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An Igbo business woman simply identified as Beatrice and her husband from Adamawa state have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a beautiful girl identified as Zainab Umar in Kaduna state.

The girl kidnapped from Islamiyya at Badikko area of Kaduna state on the 27th of March 2016 was found by her aunt in Malali area of Kaduna yesterday.

When police asked the couple for the motive behind the abduction, they simply said they did it because she is beautiful.
Police raided the couple’s hideout where five other children were rescued.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-couple-arrested-for-kidnapping.html

EFCC QUIZZES FUTA VICE CHANCELLOR, BURSAR
Professor Adebiyi Daramola, Vice Chancellor Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State and the Bursar, Emmanuel Ademola Oresegun, are being quizzed at the Iyaganku office of the EFCC in Ibadan today 5th of October, 2016 in respect of an alleged case of Abuse of Office and misappropriation of funds reported against the duo.
According to the petition submitted to the Commision, it was alleged that the Vice Chancellor and the Bursar were involved in “Corruption, Fraud, Criminal Breach of Trust, Unlawful Enrichment and Conversion of millions of Naira of the University”.
The Vice Chancellor allegedly drew Furniture Allowance annually instead of once in 4 years as approved and was paying himself Housing Allowance while residing in the University’s Vice Chancellor’s Quarters. The petition further alleged that he diverted funds from various unrelated subheads to finance other projects without the appropriate approvals for such virement.
They are still undergoing interrogation as at report time. #Fraud #EFCC

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said that he did not attend the public presentation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s authorised biography, ‘Muhammadu Buhari: The Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria’ on Monday because he got the invitation to the event late.

The explanation was contained in a statement by Abubakar’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe.

Ibe claimed that the former Vice-President only received the invitation on Monday after the event had started.

He, however, admitted that the invitation dated September 30 was received in Abubakar’s office on Saturday.

He said, “For inexplicable reason, the former Vice President only received his invitation today (Monday) after the event had started.

“It is on record that the invitation for the Turakin Adamawa was delivered to the Atiku Centre on October 1, 40 hours before the event of today, and only after the former Vice President had travelled to Gombe to honour the invitation for the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of the creation of creation of the State.

“The former Vice-President returned to Abuja on Sunday night, October 2.

“The invitation letter signed September 30, 2016, the last working day of the week was handed over to Atiku Abubakar today (Monday), after the programme had commenced.

“As a former Vice-President well-schooled in the demands of protocol, it would have been inappropriate of the Turakin Adamawa to storm into the event while Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-chief was already seated with other dignitaries including visiting Heads of Government to the occasion.”

Abubakar was one of those who contested for the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress against Buhari in Lagos in 2015.

The former Vice-President came third behind Buhari and a former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/why-i-did-not-attend-buharis-biography.html

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Ore-Sagamu axis of the Benin-Sagamu highway


http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-work-continues-on-lag-ibd.html

In order to improve the travel experience of commuters and speed up work on the reconstruction of the Lagos to Ibadan expressway, Julius Berger workers were seen working on the road during the independence holiday. See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/10/photos-work-continues-on-lag-ibd.html

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Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Emmanuel I. Kachikwu pictured at the

15th International energy forum ministerial in Algeria. On the outskirts of the 15th International Energy Forum in Algiers, he had an interview with CNBC’s Hadley Gamble as regards a freeze in oil production by OPEC members.

he true progress in my perspective has been honesty; honesty about what the real factual situations are, specific actionable points at the end of it all on what needs to happen, willingness of all the blocks to come together and find a joint solution not to leave it to one block to carry the can. This is the real progress.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/09/photos-kachikwu-at-15th-international.html

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APC leader, Tinubu and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar with Peter Obi pictured at at the 9th Investiture ceremony of President of CIS and lecture yesterday.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/09/photo-tinubu-atiku-and-peter-obi-at.html

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Rivers state Governor Wike and Senator Godswill Akpabio pictured as they commission Igwuruta/Chokocho road today. See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/09/photos-gov-wike-and-sen-akpabio.html

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Borno state begins fumigation of Bama town a key town liberated from Boko Haram on Saturday 24 September, 2016 at Borno State Nigeria. See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/09/photos-borno-govt-fumigates-bama-town.html

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Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed met with US Special Envoy on Climate Change Dr. Pershing today, Directors at the Federal ministry of environment were also in attendance.

See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/09/photos-amina-mohammed-meets-us-special.html

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As Paralympics begins in Brazil, Rio 2016. Para Athletes were pictured today during a protest against the government for neglecting them in Kwara state.

See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/09/photos-para-athletes-protest-in-kwara.html

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