₦airaland Forum

Abia state to provide land as Hungarian firm invests $1.5 million to boost manufacturing 

Abia state to provide land as Hungarian firm invests $1.5 million to boost manufacturing .


Abia state, Alex Otti
The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has approved for the state to initiate talks with Hungarian company Ortoprofil regarding the establishment of a manufacturing facility within the state. 

Nairametrics learns that Ortoprofil plans to invest 1.5 million dollars in Abia state to produce prosthetics, shoes, raw materials and others through a form of partnership. 

The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Kazie Uko, announced this development in a statement on Monday. 

The decision follows a meeting between senior officials from Abia State Government, headed by the Governor, and high-ranking representatives of the Hungarian Government, led by Mr Gabor Kruss, Deputy Ambassador of the Embassy of Hungary in Nigeria, over the weekend.

Collaboration on manufacturing 
Uko mentioned that Governor Otti welcomed the Hungarian delegation, who arrived with various proposals spanning various sectors involving Ortoprofil.

The Hungarian team expressed their interest in forming partnerships and collaborating with the Abia State Government across various sectors such as Energy, Health, Education, Agriculture, Sports, and the provision of clean drinking water.

Ortoprofil is a Hungarian medical service provider which operates its subsidiary dedicated to producing tailor-made prosthetics, limb prostheses, body-powered devices, electronic and mechanical wheelchairs, as well as orthopaedic and therapeutic footwear, along with insoles for flat-foot and diabetic foot conditions.

The Chief Press Secretary concluded on establishing a partnership with the firm after discussions were made with Ambassador Kruss and Judith Beres, the Economic Counselor at the Embassy of Hungary in Nigeria, the Abia Government delegation, which included Dr Chimezie Ukaegbu, Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry; Prof Uche Eme-Uche, Commissioner for Education; and Dr Ngozi Okoronkwo, Commissioner for Health.

Facilitating development in Abia
Governor Otti spoke saying, 

“The first time we met, we talked about cooperation in the area of healthcare development. I know that you spent over a million dollars retrofitting St. Charles Hospital in Anambra. We will be very interested in that kind of cooperation.
“The Ortoprofil manufacturing plant has been approved. The details will be worked out. I will direct the Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry to liaise with the Commissioner for Lands, who is not here right now so that we can provide the half hectare of land for them anywhere they choose”.

“We would provide the land without asking for payment for it; that will be our contribution”
“For us there are two important things, the production that is happening here and the creation of jobs for our people. The production increases our GDP and hopefully our Internally Generated Revenue.”
Governor Otti said the government would also be looking at opportunities in the area of education.

The governor also spoke on supporting innovative youths to create jobs.

He said,

“The area of scholarship is also something we want to take advantage of. We have a lot of our young people with various initiatives, they are inventors and very innovative in thinking even if they didn’t go to proper school. We will encourage them to go to school. They are better inventors when they go to school.”

IconicR:
He may later reject this, I still don't like what they are doing to him. Mallam was the main man who stood his ground for Asiwaju. I hope Obi is not having hand inside all these because he has been using those unfortunate LP national assembly members to orchestrate evil in Asiwaju's government.

Omo-Agege Emerges Interim President of AFBC

Omo-Agege Emerges Interim President of AFBC
The Vice President of the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC), Hon. Azania Omo-Agege Siena, has emerged as the interim president of the African Boxing body.

Omo-Agege whose rising profile in continental and global boxing knows no bounds, replaced the ousted president of AFBC, Bertrand Mendouga, 62, from Cameroon who was among others, accused of high-handedness and lack of foresight in running the affairs of the African body..

Mendouga was forced out of office on 6 August, 2023, in front of IBA President, Umar Kremlev during the AFBC’s Exco meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon.

This follows the tension at the Cameroon Boxing Federation (FECABOXE) which forced the postponement of the African Boxing Championship in Yaounde that ended yesterday.

The unholy shift in date forced a number of eligible countries who had earlier bought airline tickets for the previous date of the championship but were unable to use it after the postponement, not to participate. Thus loosing their money and Mendouga adamantly refused to refund their money..

It was also revealed that the ousted AFBC president did a lot of damage to Fecaboxe which the Cameroonian Government is investigating and has appointed a Nomalization Committee to reshape things.

As the AFBC’s Interim President, Azania Omo-Agege Siena who is also the Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation(NBF), will be in charge of African boxing affairs pending the election of a new president which he is also eligible to contest if he wishes.

Omo-Agege Emerges Interim President of AFBC

Omo-Agege Emerges Interim President of AFBC
The Vice President of the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC), Hon. Azania Omo-Agege Siena, has emerged as the interim president of the African Boxing body.

Omo-Agege whose rising profile in continental and global boxing knows no bounds, replaced the ousted president of AFBC, Bertrand Mendouga, 62, from Cameroon who was among others, accused of high-handedness and lack of foresight in running the affairs of the African body..

Mendouga was forced out of office on 6 August, 2023, in front of IBA President, Umar Kremlev during the AFBC’s Exco meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon.

This follows the tension at the Cameroon Boxing Federation (FECABOXE) which forced the postponement of the African Boxing Championship in Yaounde that ended yesterday.

The unholy shift in date forced a number of eligible countries who had earlier bought airline tickets for the previous date of the championship but were unable to use it after the postponement, not to participate. Thus loosing their money and Mendouga adamantly refused to refund their money..

It was also revealed that the ousted AFBC president did a lot of damage to Fecaboxe which the Cameroonian Government is investigating and has appointed a Nomalization Committee to reshape things.

As the AFBC’s Interim President, Azania Omo-Agege Siena who is also the Vice President of the Nigeria Boxing Federation(NBF), will be in charge of African boxing affairs pending the election of a new president which he is also eligible to contest if he wishes.

Why I turned Uber driver in US – Joseph Benjamin

Actor Joseph Benjamin has opened up on seeking succor in the cab industry after relocating to the United States of America with the hopes of breaking into Hollywood.

He recounted how his hopes were dashed by someone who promised to get him gigs in the global movie scene.

The 46-year-old recalled selling his cars and practically gifted out his other belongings with high expectations when he got to the US but that was dashed two days after he arrived with only S1,500 in his possession.

Discussing with Teju Babyface on his comedy podcast, ‘King of Talks’, Benjamin noted he had to settle for the life of an Uber driver after a church member gave him a car. And with the proceeds, he was able to pay his bills.

He said: “I got to America on a promise that I had some gigs waiting for me. So I thought I was going to have a soft landing there. I packed up everything from Nigeria, bought a one-way ticket, and came to America.

“I was put in a well-furnished house and all of that. Then two days later, the person who I was supposed to book a deal with said to me, ‘Those our financiers have pulled out. They have an issue.’ So, I said, what do I do? He was like, ‘From next month on, you will have to start paying rent in this house.’ The amount of the one-month rent was equivalent to a one-year rent in Nigeria.

“I’m like, ‘I’m not earning any money so what do I do?’ I don’t know what to do. So, shot into that life, I had to figure out what to do.

“I had nowhere to go. Nothing to turn to. My phone was buzzing, like, ‘When are you coming back to Nigeria? We have this gig for you.’ Teju, $1,500 was all I came to America with. How do I buy a ticket to go back to Nigeria?

“My life pattern then was so disorganised in the sense that I didn’t have a proper saving culture. With all the money I was making in Nigeria, my life was a mess.

“I sold my cars and gave out like 90 per cent of all my belongings in Nigeria. I was like, I’m going to America to live a good life and all of that stuff.

“How do I buy a ticket to go back to Nigeria? Lord, what do I do? And God said to me that ‘Welcome to the life that I arranged for you. I needed to break you away from your comfort zone so that I can build you.’

“I was like, ‘No, no, no …’ He was like, ‘Yes, welcome to it. So, here you are, no way to earn a living. How do you move forward?’

“Then, sometimes I will be in my room crying. I’m like, ‘Lord where do I go from here?’ And for some reason every month I get to pay the rent.

“I got connected to my church. And then someone gave me a car. I’m like, what do I do with the car? And they said Uber. I was driving for Uber and Lyft to pay my bills.”

Kazeem47:
So they want to develop the poverty ridden Niger too?

IconicR:
He has a point which I can't deny but hope it's only his skits that's fetching him all the money and luxurious lifestyle and not some shady things most comedians and skit makers do behind closed doors. I hope this is not a case of pot calling kettle black.

Jostoman:
Sanusi is a good man

Prechgold1180:
Stupid people
China and Russia banks would start giving out massive loans


Biden and Gay crased Americans can go to hell

NEWSCoup: Niger junta rejects diplomatic overtures from ECOWAS, UN, US

Niger’s junta on Tuesday rejected the latest diplomatic mission from African countries aimed at restoring constitutional order after a July 26 coup.

NAN reports that the junta resisted pressure from the United States and the United Nations to come to the negotiating table.

Heads of State from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss their standoff with the Niger junta, which defied an Aug. 6 deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The possibility of military intervention will be discussed but ECOWAS has said it is a last resort.

The African Union (AU) sent a joint mission with representatives of the UN and ECOWAS to Niger on Tuesday but they were denied permission to enter the country by the junta, which has closed Niger’s airspace, French magazine Jeune Afrique reported.

EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Ex-Army Chief Buratai Secures Court Order Through Proxy To Recover Funds, Posh Vehicles, Other Properties Seized By Anti-Corruption Body, ICPC

In June 2022, SaharaReporters reported how the ICPC recovered funds (including foreign currencies) from a house registered to someone fronting for Buratai, a military contractor and Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau.

Aformer Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.) has secured a court order through his proxy to recover funds and other items seized from him by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

In June 2022, SaharaReporters reported how the ICPC recovered funds (including foreign currencies) from a house registered to someone fronting for Buratai, a military contractor and Managing Director of K Salam Construction Company Nigeria Limited, Mr. Kabiru Sallau.


The suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/165/2023 was filed by Buratai’s proxy, Sallau at the Federal High Court, Abuja. A document obtained by SaharaReporters shows the ICPC received the court order on July 18, 2023.

SaharaReporters had reported that N2.1 billion was recovered by the ICPC, which was later taken to the Central Bank of Nigeria.

EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Moves N2.1bn Recovered From Ex-Army Chief, Buratai To Central Bank, To Seek Forfeiture Of Posh Vehicles, House, Others
Jul 06, 2022


SaharaReporters had also reported that the commission was under pressure not to disclose the full amount recovered to the public. The initial plan was to reduce the figure to as low as N30 million.

But the commission, in a statement, later said it recovered money and other items "from the property viz. N175,706,500; $220,965; G-Wagon; 2022 editions of BMW and Mercedes Benz cars; customized mobile phones; several designer wrist watches, including three Rolexes, and some property documents".

A source on Tuesday told SaharaReporters that “Buratai has got a court order through his proxy to get seized properties returned to him from ICPC”.

“The Mercedes Benz 2022 recovered from him. The Commission placed a lien on N1.9 billion and recovered 220 USD plus N174 million when the house was searched.

“BMW also recovered from him during the execution of a search warrant. Bulletproof G Wagon voice customized that was recovered from him was valued at N150 million,” the source added.

EXCLUSIVE: How Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Covered Up For Ex-Army Chief, Buratai, Failed To Submit Funds To Central Bank, To Secretly Move Cash From Facility
Jun 25, 2022
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SaharaReporters had gathered that the huge cash was part of the billions of naira earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition by the then-Muhammadu Buhari-led government.

Buratai, a retired Lieutenant General was the COAS between 2015 and 2021.



Despite denials by his lawyer and other faceless individuals, the army general later admitted to a newspaper that the property was his and no search warrant was obtained before it was raided.

A source later told SaharaReporters that the ICPC would approach a court to seek the forfeiture of the monies, house, posh vehicles, jewellery and other things recovered from the building.

“N2.1 billion was recovered and it has been taken to the CBN. ICPC is set to apply for forfeiture of the money, vehicles and the house where these items and monies were found. But the commission is still under immense pressure,” the source had said.



'Missing' Arms Funds

In March 2021, the then-National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno revealed that funds running into billions of naira meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition under the past service chiefs were unaccounted for.

His revelation came a few months after then-President Buhari replaced Buratai and other service chiefs.

Others were former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique and Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas.

According to Monguno, neither the money nor the arms were on the ground upon the resumption of the new service chiefs.

“Now that he (President Buhari) has brought new people (service chiefs), hopefully, they will devise some ways… I’m not saying the former service chiefs diverted the money, but the money is missing. We don’t know how, and nobody knows for now,” he had said.

“The President will surely probe this matter. As we speak, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum too is also wondering where all the money went. I can assure you the President takes issues of this nature seriously.

“The fact is that preliminary investigation showed the funds are missing and the equipment is nowhere to be found.

“When the new service chiefs assumed office, they also said they did see anything on the ground.”



Buratai's History Of Graft

SaharaReporters in a series of publications in 2016 exposed how Buratai procured expensive assets in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, between 2013 and 2015, from proceeds of crime.

He and his two wives in 2013 paid the sum of 1,498,534.00 AED (N120 million/$419,000) for the first property, Project TFG Marina Hotel Unit 2711.

Sale documents indicated that the first property was handed over to the Buratais on January 13, 2013.

Eleven days after he was appointed by Buhari, the retired Army General made arrangements for the purchase of a second property from the same company in Dubai.

Between July 24 and August 17, 2015, he paid a total sum of N42.2 million into TFG Sigma 111’s account in Nigeria (Skye Bank 1770380452).

Evidence exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that Buratai made N10 million payments on July 24 and August 7 respectively.

Three days later, another N10 million was paid into the real estate firm’s account. The phone number listed on the Skye Bank teller was 08033349740. SaharaReporters' investigations showed that it belonged to a Nigerian Army Major, Emmanuel G. Adegbola of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps (N/10808).

On August 17, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff paid the sum of N3,270,000 into the account.

Buratai, who owned up to purchasing the two properties in Dubai, however, claimed that he amassed his wealth through “personal savings” and not ill-gotten gains.

He added that he made a lot of money from his snake farm along Keffi-Abuja Highway in Nasarawa, just 50 kilometres from the that he made a lot of money from his snake farm along Keffi-Abuja Highway in Nasarawa, just 50 kilometres from the nation’s capital.

The Nigerian Navy has released MT Praisel to continue with its journey.

The Navy and the Management of Tantita Security Service operated by ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, had traded words over the vessel.

While the security outfit claimed to have suspected foul play, the Navy gave the vessel a clean bill of health.

Tantita had noted that the vessel, intercepted by its personnel, ought to be sailing to Lagos and not Bonny, adding that the intelligence it gathered and the documents, including the naval clearance tendered by the master of the vessel, affirmed that Lagos was its destination.

Tanita had said, “It is our resolve that we will not allow a situation where the small fry is chased out of the illegal business only for the big fish to remain in business.

“A single 10-tonner vessel will do more damage to our economy in a single voyage than 1,000 dugout canoes carrying jerrycans. And while the illegality with the dugout canoe is a crime of need, the illegality with the 10-tonner vessel is a crime of greed. “

The Director of Information, Naval Headquarters, Commodore Adedotun Ayo-Vaughan, in a statement on Sunday, however, accused Tompolo’s men of high-handedness and unprofessional conduct.

The Navy said, “As of Saturday, August 5, 2023, the results of the laboratory analysis of the product onboard MT Praisel by all agencies, including NMDPRA, indicate that the product displayed properties consistent with Nigerian industrial standard specification for HPFO.

“This result, therefore, proves that the allegation and suspicion were totally wrong, unfounded, and perhaps mischievous.”

Giving an update on the matter in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, Ayo-Vaughan said the vessel was released at 7:20 am.

He said, “Affirmative. The Ship was released at 07:20 am today.”

AmotekunSW:
Go ask those wey dey beg because of ordinary 1 Day sit at home.

IconicR:
When the world didn't know he'll be a serial impregnator. The life this thing 👇 has ruined is uncountable . Penis Picture removed 😂😂😂

AriyaTV:
The earlier you accept Tinubu as your president, the better for your mental health.

I can see anger, bitterness, hatred, perdition written all over you. I feel your frustrations. If you abuse me from now till eternity it won't change anything. Pandora criminal will never rule this country.