₦airaland Forum

Thirteen persons have been confirmed killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in a night attack in Jol village of Riyom Local Government of Plateau State.


Confirming the incident, the Management Committee Chairman of Riyom Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Danboyi Jugu said the attack took place on Tuesday night.

According to him, the victims have been given a mass burial.


“10 persons including women and children have been given mass burial, three other bodies have just been discovered”, he explained.

As of the time of filing this report, the Spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, DSP Mathias Terna Tyopev, said he was yet to get details of the attack from the DPO of the Local Government.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/plateau-killings-13-persons-killed-in.html

The Edo State chapter of the National Council of Women’s Society of Nigeria yesterday said its members would boycott the forthcoming 2019 general elections if the 35 percent affirmation action of the United Nations charter was not adhered to by the federal and state governments.

Its president, Mrs. Omoluru Aigbokhae Eniye, said this in Benin during a protest against alleged marginalisation of women.

“We are taking a stand either to boycott the election or ask the women not to vote because we have been cheated for a long time and want to correct that.

“We have come to tell the world, that the women of Edo State have been marginalized. We formed the majority when it comes to voting but when it comes to elective positions, they keep the women aside. They want to give us appointing positions so that they can keep the women aside.

“We watch President Muhammadu Buhari while making his speech United Nation Assembly, he drummed support for the inclusion of women in politics in Nigeria but unfortunately, women are relegated to the back ground and we are saying no”, she said.

Omoluru said for 12 years, the Edo State House of Assembly had only had one woman as a member.

“I am here to present a position paper to NUJ. It is very simple, 35 percent affirmative action. If at the house assembly here, we have 24 members by 35 percent, we ought to have eight women but we are not asking for eight,” she said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/edo-women-threaten-to-boycott-2019.html

An emotional moment has been captured showing Governor Kashim Shetiima of Borno State, weeping profusely.

The Governor broke into tears during the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election in the state.

The Governor started shedding tears after a governorship aspirant, Barr. Kaka Shehu Lawan stepped down for Professor Babagana Zulum at the state primary election.


The outgoing governor, Kashim Shettima, had picked a professor, Babagana Zulum, as his preferred successor.

Zulum, the former commissioner for the ministry for reconstruction, rehabilitation and resettlement, RRR, is among the 21 aspirants seeking to secure the Borno APC governorship ticket.

More Photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/photos-apc-governor-cries.html

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, has faulted reports by Transparency International, about corruption in Nigeria.


Adesina spoke this when he appeared on Channels Television’s special Independence Programme on Monday.

The presidential spokesperson was asked about Nigeria’s fall from 136 to 148 on Corruption Perception Perception Index (CPI) for 2017, two years after the Federal Government started its anti-corruption war.


“We have spoken many times about that ranking and my position is that that ranking is not strictly about government, it is about Nigeria and her people.

“Some people want to make it seem as if it is a vote of no confidence in government or it is a lower mark for the government. I don’t agree, I think it is a lower mark for the people because the people constitute the country.

“And if things do not seem to have worked as they should work, the people also have part of the blame,” he replied.


The Presidency had rejected the Corruption Perception Index when it was released in February and Adesina suggested it would not be taking such reports seriously.

“As much as I respect Transparency International, I don’t think we necessarily need them to authenticate what is going on in the country; because we, Nigerians, know that there is a war against corruption ongoing and that war is succeeding.

“There are strides being taken. It may not be there yet, and we are not there, but we are on the way there. So, let no agency from any part of the world come to think that whatever it says is the gospel to us,” Adesina added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/presidency-rubbishes-transparency.html

Succor may have come the way of investors on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and FSD Africa, at the weekend, sealed a 450,000 deal, aimed at strengthening the regulatory structure and investment protection function of the commission.

The deal is expected to assist SEC to fund an institutional capacity audit, towards identifying strengths and areas of improvement in its operations, as well as provide support to implement recommendations.

At the signing ceremony held at the British Deputy High Commission, Lagos, at the weekend, the Deputy High Commissioner, Ms Laure Beaufils, said for the nation’s capital market to attract the much-sought investment and boost investors’ confidence, there is a need to establish strong regulations of international standards.

According to her, efforts by FSD Africa, supported by the Department for International Development, and the British Government, to implement the initiative in the capital market, were because the sector helps to unlock capital that can be invested in the real economy to create more jobs and boost inclusive growth.

She pointed out that through the capital market, investments are channeled in infrastructure for the long term development the nation’s economy in the areas of job creation, small businesses and ultimately, inclusive growth.She stated that the visit of the Lord Mayor of City of London and the Permanent Minister from UK, signified that lots of businesses and investors from the country are ready to bring investments into Nigeria.

“The Permanent Minister from UK was here recently and hosted an event, specifically on financial services, in recognition of the importance of this sector here. Also, the Lord Mayor of the City of London came, the only country in Africa that she visited this year.

“This is a testament to the fact that lots of businesses and investors in particular, in the UK, are really looking at Nigeria and are interested, and capital market also attracts that international capital, making known to the world that Nigeria is open for business with strong regulators who will protect the investments.

“The collaboration is about international cooperation, about international finance, about being reassured that it is safe to do business here. Capital markets have an essential role to play to help unlock capital that can be invested in the real economy and that can contribute to job creation and inclusive growth. I am delighted that the SEC and FSD Africa will be signing a new partnership agreement today.

“It is a testament to the importance we attach to this issue and to our commitment to deepen and broaden our trade and investment relationship with Nigeria. I very much look forward to working with the SEC on this in the future,” she said.The Acting Director General of the SEC, Mary Uduk, said the synergy would further strengthen the commission’s ability to regulate the capital market.




She explained that the commission will provide 22,000 pounds under the arrangement, as part of its contributions to support the efforts aimed at promoting a world-class market. Uduk added that the synergy will also contribute to the continued development of the market by facilitating access to capital by both the private and public sectors and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian capital market as a global investment destination.

SEC Nigeria is excited about the cooperation with FSD Africa and the tremendous potential the various programmes hold in complementing our efforts to enhance capacity and further strengthen our ability to regulate the capital market.“This collaboration will no doubt contribute to the continued development of our market by facilitating access to capital by both the private and public sectors and enhance the competitiveness of the Nigerian capital market as a global investment destination.

“This is a dedicated MOU that will help us strengthen our institutional capacity and look at what we have institutionally and help us strengthen areas that needed improvement. A strong SEC will give us the capacity to drive all the initiatives in the 10 year master of the capital market,” she said.The Director, FSD Africa, Mark Napier, said: “Well-functioning capital markets can play a vital role in support of inclusive economic growth by channeling long term finance into infrastructure and other large-scale projects that create jobs and improve access to markets. Strengthening regulatory capacity in capital markets is an essential pre-condition for building investor confidence.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/envoy-sec-fsd-africa-seal-450000-deal.html

The agitation for an independent Biafra state has soared since President Muhammadu Buhari came into power and the region has not kept secret its displeasure of the current administration. President Buhari has been accused by the Igbos of marginalisation and trying to Islamise the country with the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu, the director of Radio Biafra fuelling the agitation. Although President Buhari has said that he will not conduct a referendum to determine whether to grant the request for secession, this has not stopped the campaign for Biafra. Pro-Biafra groups have staged several protests to call attention to their desire and there was significant compliance with the stay-at-home protest.

Read full article at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/when-will-biafra-be-free-and-celebrate.html[url][/url]

Several hours after some state chapters commenced their governorship primaries, there are no signs that the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Adamawa State held its primaries yesterday.

This is not unconnected to disagreements between Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow and President Muhammadu Buhari’s supporters over the venue for the exercise as at the time of filing this report.

The President’s supporters are fronting for Mahmoud Halilu Ahmed, who is a younger brother to Buhari’s wife, while the governor’s supporters are said to be adamant in the choice of their preferred venue.


In a related development, the Kwara State Chairman of APC, Bashir Bolarinwa, has described a document in circulation, particularly on social media purportedly disqualifying some governorship aspirants on the party’s platform as fake.

Meanwhile, APC’ National Working Committee (NWC) has expelled the Ishola Balogun-Fulani led Kwara State executive from the Party.

The party in a statement issued by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, however, declined to comment on the reason for the drastic action.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/adamawa-apc-fails-to-conduct-election.html

One of the frontline presidential aspirants on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has said another four years of the All Progressives Congress (APC) would bring Nigeria to its knees, and that the country’s strength is in its diversity.

Tambuwal, who is also the incumbent governor of Sokoto State, said this yesterday, while addressing Benue State delegates to the PDP national convention in Makurdi, the state capital.

He explained that he has full understanding of the complexity of Nigeria’s unique diversity through his experience, exposure and broad worldview, having visited and interacted with Nigerians in all the 360 federal constituencies as Speaker.


He said the experience of last three years has shown that the country needs a leader that has the ability, understanding and willingness to unify Nigeria and bring back peace and progress.

“Nigeria has never been this polarised along ethnic and religious lines and we must say no to clannishness. Nigeria belongs to all of us and every one of us here has the right to live and prosper in any part of the country without fear,” he said.

Alluding to recent killings in the state, the presidential hopeful called on Tarabans to “stand with me to enthrone a government that will protect every citizens of our beloved country through better national security architecture. We shall restore normalcy, recreate the well known business friendly environment of Jalingo, so that the good people of Taraba State can have back their thriving economy.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/tambuwal-accuses-apc-of-destroying.html

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of leading a government of gangsters for accepting, instead of condemning the Osun State re-run election, which it described as a sham.

“The supplementary governorship election in Osun State was nothing but a sham. While hoping that this is not a pointer to what Nigerians should expect in 2019, it is now clear that the failed All Progressives Congress government will stop at nothing to subvert the people’s will,” the ADC said in a statement last night.

The ADC said, “If the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria could come out to congratulate a winner in this kind of election, then his integrity is seriously at stake.

“We must stand up against a political party that has proved itself to be a party of gangsters, judging by reports trailing the last Osun re-run.”

It said the Osun debacle was, indeed, a desperate last resort by the ruling All Progressives Congress to retain power by all means after it had “failed to deliver on all its promises and has instead foisted untold suffering on citizens, while resorting to lies, bogus claims, witch hunting to cover up its gross deficiencies.”

The African Democratic Congress said it foresaw this when it inaugurated its Coalition for Electoral Integrity (C4e-Integrity).

According to ADC, “Every Nigerian must key into this coalition to detoxify our electoral environment and seize power from insensitive leaders.

“While we reject the outcome of the Osun fiasco in its entirety, we urge all Nigerians to stand firm and ensure that this does not happen again.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/osun-rerun-buhari-leading-government-of.html

Comic actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu, has called on the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, establish an anti-piracy board for the entertainment industry in Nigeria to cushion the effect of piracy. Mr Ibu made this known while speaking with Akelicious recently. According to him, the industry needs this anti-piracy board urgently. “I suggested it to the Senate during an interview when I attended the birthday party of the Senate President. I told them, the government should stop giving actors guild money. I would say it again, the government should stop giving actors guild money. Give us a location where we can build our home, where we can call “Nollywood City, then we will look for sponsors. When we make the approach, these sponsors would know that the government is already with us in whatever we are going to do. And again, since we have NAFDAC that are in charge of food and drugs in Nigeria, we have EFCC in corruption, then let’s have anti-piracy board for the entertainment industry, those people that will take care of us. And we would be very happy because anybody who is a writer will write more when the film is sold, when actors act more, when directors direct more and when marketers market more. But if this virus called piracy is going to continually plague the sector, then that means we are labouring for nothing. Somebody can even sponsor it, I would be the happiest when that happens,” he explained.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/we-need-anti-piracy-board-for.html

The Enugu State Government has started the distribution of 30,000 cashew seedlings to farmers so as to enhance cashew production in the state and boost its internally generated revenue.

Dr Nelson Onugwu, the Director of Animal Production, Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Enugu.

He said that the seedlings being distributed were special improved species of cashew which would take fewer years to mature.

Onugwu said that the distribution of the seedlings was aimed at encouraging people to go into cashew farming to boost local cashew consumption and exports.

“We are encouraging people to come for the seedlings and go into cashew farming to enable the state to produce enough cashew for local uses and export the crop to countries that are in need of it,” he said.

Onugwu said that the state government had subsidised the price of the cashew seedlings, adding that consequently, the price a seedling was now N50, instead of its normal price of N200.

The director said that the state ministry of agriculture had also informed council chairmen in the state to come over to the ministry and procure the cashew seedlings for distribution to farmers in the council areas.

Besides, Onugwu said that state government had established cashew aggregation and processing centres across the state to facilitate cashew processing and packaging.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/enugu-govt-begins-distribution-of.html

A presidential aspirant in the 2019 general election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has promised to tackle the challenges of insecurity, poor electricity supply and decrepit infrastructure facing the country, if elected as president in 2019.

Saraki, who has been going around the northern part of the country in the past couple of days spoke during a chat with journalists in Katsina yesterday at the PDP secretariat after meeting with supporters of the party in the state.


According to him, “Most of the nation’s problems, including insurgency, emanated from poverty. Poverty is the main problem today in the country. Based on my records and experience I have the capacity to put Nigeria on a right path.

“The level of poverty is worsened by the inability to afford basic meals. We have been in this kind of quagmire for ages, and it is time we found solutions to it. If elected as president I will address it”

While expressing confidence that the PDP would win the Osun rerun election today, the senate president said his party was not afraid of the election considering its “popularity” in the state.

Speaking earlier, the state Chairman of the party, Salisu Yusuf Magijiri, said the party in the state has 119 delegates that would participate in its forthcoming national convention.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/ill-tackle-poverty-insecurity-says.html

A United State based analysis firm Teneo Intelligence has predicted that Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari could lose the 2019 election if the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is united.

The company’s vice president, Malte Liewerscheidt, who also covers political risks in West Africa, while analysing the outcome of the recent Osun state gubernatorial election said it was a bad signal for the ruling party and signals its waning popularity.

“There is already a clear message sent from Osun State: provided the PDP remains united, and the vote is reasonably free and fair, Buhari and his APC are likely to lose the general elections,” Liewerscheidt said.


The candidate of the PDP, Ademola Adeleke had the highest number of votes among the 48 candidates.

Adeleke polled 254,698 votes, 353 votes more than his closest rival, Gboyega Oyetola of the APC.

The margin was, however, less than the 3,498 votes in the polling units where voting was cancelled.

Consequently, the Returning Officer for the election, Professor Joseph Afuape, declared the poll inconclusive.

Afuape said, “Unfortunately, as the Returning Officer, it is not possible to declare any party as the clear winner of this election at the first ballot … I hereby declare the result inconclusive.” with the rerun scheduled to hold on Thursday, September 27.

The election is significant as it is the last major election before the 2019 general election and it will be recalled that Osun is one of the key southwest states that played a pivotal role in Buhari’s victory in 2015.

The retired General and military head of state was voted into power in 2015 on a platform vowing to crack down on endemic graft and stamp out the Boko Haram insurgency devastating the country’s northeast.

His government has made gains against the jihadist group, but Boko Haram is still capable of staging deadly attacks on military and civilian targets.

Buhari has been criticised for aggravating Nigeria’s worst recession in 25 years by introducing a currency peg that spooked investors and depleted foreign reserves.

There are also questions about his health after he spent much of 2017 in a London hospital with an undisclosed illness.

His declaration on April 9, 2018, that he will be contesting for a second term as Nigerian president will see him contend with prominent politicians.

The PDP is to choose a presidential candidate during its national convention on Oct. 5 and 6, with the current Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and former governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso, former Plateau State governor Jonah Jang, former governor of Kaduna State Ahmed Makarfi, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and former Senate president David Mark, who are all vying for the party’s ticket.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/buhari-may-lose-2019-election-says-us.html

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday reinterated his position that terrorism and insurgency in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin are fuelled by local runaway fighters from Iraq and Syria and arms from the disintegration of Libya.

Buhari spoke in New York where he unfolded Nigeria’s positions on international matters before the global audience during the opening of the General Debate of the 73rd Session of the United Nation’s General Assembly (UNGA73).Presenting Nigeria’s national statement, the president first paid glowing tributes to the late seventh UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, for his invaluable contributions to global peace.

“We in Africa, while mourning the loss of this great son of ours and citizen of the world, take pride in the way he served humanity in a truly exemplary manner. He demonstrated, in his calm but determined manner, the virtues of compassion, dedication to the cause of justice, fairness and human rights. He was a visionary leader who inspired hope even in the face of the most daunting challenges. He devoted his entire life’s career to the UN and the pursuit of its ideals and goals. The world is indeed a better place, thanks to his exemplary service,” he said.


Buhari noted that in the past year, the world saw some positive results and encouraging signs from the bilateral and multilateral efforts of the international community to address conflicts, crises and threats to world peace. He commended “the efforts of the leaders of the United States, North Korea and South Korea, to realise our shared goal of a nuclear free Korean Peninsula.”He also acknowledged the commitment to peace shown by President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-Un by initiating a historic summit, urging both leaders to “continue this positive engagement.”

The president expressed regret about some lingering threats to peace and security around the world, lamenting that in some cases, matters got worse. “The continuing plight of the Rohingyas in Myanmar, the protracted Israeli/Palestinian conflict, the wars in Yemen, and Syria, and the fight against international and local terrorism such as Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab come to mind.”

President Buhari, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “The terrorist insurgencies we face, particularly in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin, are partly fuelled by local factors and dynamics, but now increasingly by the international Jihadi Movement, runaway fighters from Iraq and Syria and arms from the disintegration of Libya.

“In Myanmar, the carnage appears to have thankfully abated somewhat. We commend the United Nations for staying focused on the situation of the Rohingya people, to bring their suffering to an end, and hold to account the perpetrators of the atrocious crimes committed against innocent and vulnerable members of this community, including women, children and the old.”

He called on the international community to strengthen its resolve to combat ethnic and religious cleansing everywhere. The president expressed Nigeria’s support for the UN’s efforts in ensuring that the Rohingya refugees are allowed to return to their homes in Myanmar with security, protection, and guarantee of citizenship.

Drawing the attention of the international community to the “carnage and the worsening humanitarian situations in Syria and Yemen,” the Nigerian leader cautioned that “the international community cannot afford to give up on the Syrian and Yemeni people. We must pursue all efforts to find peaceful political solutions to these wars which cannot be won by force of arms alone. Regarding Syria, we hope that the UN-sponsored Geneva process and the Sochi initiative, led by Russia, Iran, and Turkey advance this objective.”

He added that, “The International community must keep up the pressure to encourage the parties to pursue the path of dialogue, negotiations and inclusiveness in resolving their sectarian divides and bringing to an end the immense human suffering in Syria as well as Yemen. We commend Turkey, Jordan, Greece, Germany, Italy and France for hosting the millions of the refugees fleeing these brutal conflicts.”

On the worsening Middle East conflict, President Buhari called “on the Israelis and the Palestinians to make the necessary compromises in the interest of justice, peace and security, in line with our numerous UN resolutions and applicable international laws.”Observing that, “unilateral, arbitrary and insensitive actions only prolong the conflict and undermine world peace and security,” he attributed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza to the “appalling result of unrestrained use of power.”

Nigeria, the president said, urged “both parties to re-engage in dialogue on the basis of relevant UN resolutions, the Madrid Principles, the Quartet Roadmap and the Arab Peace Initiative, among others.”He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s “unwavering support for a just two-state solution, negotiated without intimidation and with Israel and Palestine existing side-by-side in peace and security.”

Citing the current peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the commitment towards peace between Djibouti and Somalia, President Buhari declared:”I believe that with hard work, commitment, and a disposition to compromise and necessary sacrifices, peace is achievable in the Middle East as well.”


On irregular migration which he admitted “entails huge avoidable loss of human lives, puts strains on services in host countries and communities, and fuels anti-immigrant and racist sentiments in Europe,” the Nigerian President welcomed the successful conclusion of the negotiations on the first-ever Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration, and looked forward to its adoption in Marrakech later this year.”He said the “aim is to protect the rights of migrants worldwide, while addressing the concerns of countries of ‘origin’, ‘transit’, or ‘destination’ alike.”

Commending countries such as Germany, Italy and France for treating migrants with compassion and humanity, the president noted that, “irregular migration is not a consequence of conflicts alone, but of the effects of climate change and lack of opportunities at home. Climate Change remains one of the greatest challenges of our time. Very close to us at home, it is our lot in Nigeria, together with our neighbours around the Chad Basin, to live with the climate change consequences of a drastically shrunk Lake Chad and the parching up of otherwise fertile arable lands.”

Painting a distressing picture of The Lake, which was a major source of livelihood to more than 45 million inhabitants of the region, the president said the shrinking meant loss of livelihoods as they are now rendered poor and vulnerable to the activities of extremists and terrorist groups.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/buhari-blames-terrorism-on-iraqi-syrian.html

With daily loss of about N16, 520, 000, two Nigerian major carriers, Arik Air and Aero Contractors have condemned the closure of Osubi Airstrip also known as Warri Airport, in the oil city of Delta State.

The airport was closed on September 3, 2018 when the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) withdrew its navigational services due to debts owed it by the management of the airport, Shoreline Energy International.


In addition to the loss by airlines, the closure has also affected businesses around the airport and also impacted negatively on oil and gas workers who constitute the bulk of the passengers that use the airport.

Akelicious gathered that many of the passengers now use Benin Airport in Edo State, while some travel by road to Delta State.
Head of Communications, Arik Air, Adebanji Ola said yesterday that the airline operates Lagos-Warri flight twice a day and also operates daily flight from Abuja to Warri.

With average fare of N30, 000 per passenger and load factor of 74 passengers per flight with Bombardier Q400 Dash 8 aircraft, the airline said it loses N2, 220, 000 per flight.
Arik also loses a total of N13, 320, 000 daily on three flights to Warri from Lagos and Abuja daily and three flights daily from Warri to Abuja and Lagos respectively.

Spokesman of Arik Air,said that the airline had lost so much due to the closure and described the route as its priced and lucrative route.
“We are losing so much revenue because of the closure. The route is a high yielding route to the airline because we provide premium service to the largely oil and gas workers in Warri and Escravos but now we only provide service to Escravos,” the Arik Air Head of Communication said.

Also the Chief Executive Officer of Aero Contractors, Captain Ado Sanusi, said that Aero operated daily to Warri from Lagos with usually filled Dash 8, Q300 aircraft with capacity of 50-passenger at the cost of N32, 000 per passengers, adding that with the closure of the airport, the company loses N1.6 million on each leg of the flight with a daily loss of N3.2 million.

It was gathered that as at yesterday, September 25, 2018, the airlines had lost N379, 960, 000 since the airport was closed on September 3, 2018The CEO of Aero Contractors Akelicious the airline loses money because of the non-function of the airport, noting that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should have formally closed the airport after NAMA withdrew its service instead of leaving it technically open.

Spokesman of NCAA, Sam Adurogboye, told Akelicious that NAMA withdrew services to the airport “on the ground that they were not being paid for service rendered. We are aware of their action.” Informed source from NAMA however, told Akelicious that the agency withdrew its Air Traffic Management Services (ATMS) due to debts owed it by Shoreline.

The source said that it was not only the Warri Airport that NAMA withdrew its services, adding that it also did so at the other airports and airstrips indebted to it, which include the airports in Uyo, Akwa Ibom; Bonny-Finima airstrip, Rivers State; Dutse, Jigawa State; Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, Bauchi in Bauchi State and Gombe in Gombe State.
Informed NAMA source said only Warri airport was closed because “the management of the other airports came up with their payment plans and reached agreement with the agency.”

Akelicious also learnt that Warri airport is one of the busiest airports in Nigeria although passenger traffic to the airports slumped in the last six years due to decline in oil and gas activities of some major oil companies around the Warri area.
For example, according to available records, in 2010 the airport recorded a total number of 343,333 passengers; 365,875 in 2011; 355, 661 in 2012; 328, 463 in 2013; 221, 250 in 2014 and 187, 630 in 2015.

Shell Petroleum Develop-ment Company (SPDC) owned the Osubi airstrip and sold it to Shoreline, an indigenous oil and gas concern in April, 2015.
Akelicious learnt that since the airport opened for public use, “it is reckoned to be one of the busiest aviation facilities in Nigeria.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/arik-aero-lose-n165m-daily-over-closure.html

Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) says 18 fertiliser blending plants across the country have been revived under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) introduced by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The President of FEPSAN, Mr Thomas Etuh, who said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, stressed that the resuscitated plants were now operational.

He recalled that only six, out of the 32 fertiliser blending plants existing in the country, were functional at inception of the Buhari-administration in 2015.

“We then had six fertiliser plants working at 10 per cent capacity but with the introduction of PFI, we moved to 11 plants in the first phase and today, 18 out of the 32 plants are engaged in this programme.

“At the end of last year’s season, we closed with 12 fertiliser blending plants because WACOT Limited, in collaboration with the Edo State Government, added one plant to the 11 we had in the first phase.

“About five plants are being evaluated to meet up the standards before we enlist them, and I can also tell you that because of this programme, we have five new fertiliser blending plants being set up in the country.

“We have one each in Zamfara, Ajaokuta in Kogi, Akwa-Ibom and Funtua in Katsina State, while the one in Kaduna is at the point of inauguration.

“The plants in Ajaokuta (Kogi) and Zamfara should come live by the end of the year, while that of Funtua in Katsina State might come up by first quarter of next year (2019).

“So, I think these new five plants should be up and running by the first quarter of next year,’’ he added.

Etuh said that Nigeria would soon be reckoned with in area of fertiliser production, considering the amount of money that was invested in the industry in the last three years.

He added that Nigeria would soon be an exporter of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium) fertiliser.

“About 63 per cent of the raw materials are locally available in the country; the materials are produced by some companies.

“We have limestone granules with calcium produced by West African Fertiliser Company in Okpela; we have the Urea produced by INDORAMA and NOTORE in Onne, Rivers State.

“So, I know that in the next two to three years, Aliko Dangote’s fertiliser plant will start production and other are also coming up. Currently, Nigeria is a net exporter of Urea-based fertiliser.

“With the Aliko plant coming on board and INDORAMA increasing to a second line, we will be producing about 7 million tonnes of fertiliser. About 70 per cent of the fertiliser would be for exports, while the remaining 30 per cent would be used within the country,’’ he said.

Etuh, who is also a PFI committee member, said that FEPSAN was working hard to ensure that every farmer cluster had a blending plant to ease product transportation costs and facilitate a reduction in fertiliser prices.

He said that the fertiliser blending plants in Niger and Plateau were to service states in the North Central geopolitical zone, while the fertiliser plants in Lagos were to cater for states in the South West and South East zones, as well as Kwara which as in the North Central zone.

“The whole idea is to get people to build plants around a cluster so that it helps with cost of transportation to achieve that price target we are looking at,” he added

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/fg-revives-18-fertiliser-blending.html

Instagram co-founders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger have announced they are leaving the photo-sharing app bought by Facebook six years ago, setting a new test for the parent company as it works to quell mounting turmoil.

“Mike and I are grateful for the last eight years at Instagram and six years with the Facebook team,” Systrom said in a statement late Monday, following a report on the departure in The New York Times.

“We’re planning on taking some time off to explore our curiosity and creativity again.”

Systrom, 34, created the app in 2010 with 32-year-old Krieger, now the outgoing “chief technical officer,” when they were students at Stanford University in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg praised the departing Instagram leaders for “their combined creative talents,” saying “I’ve learned a lot working with them.”

“I wish them all the best and I’m looking forward to seeing what they build next,” Zuckerberg said in a statement released by Facebook.

Systrom’s fortune is valued at $1.4 billion by Forbes.

“Building new things requires that we step back, understand what inspires us and match that with what the world needs; that’s what we plan to do,” the statement said — though several US media outlets attributed the split to a disagreement with executives at Facebook.

“We’re now ready for our next chapter,” the statement continued.

Instagram in June announced it passed a billion active users and unveiled a new long-form video feature in a bid to attract “creators” like those on YouTube.

It became the fourth Facebook platform to eclipse the billion-user mark, including the namesake social network with more than two billion users, and the messaging applications WhatsApp and Messenger.

Facebook acquired Instagram in April 2012 for a combination of cash and stock worth some $1 billion at the time.
Questions of autonomy

Instagram has been a hit with young internet users, an audience that Facebook is keen to keep in its fold.

The Instagram co-founders have reportedly clashed with Facebook’s leadership over the photo-sharing service’s autonomy within the company, according to The Wall Street Journal citing people close to the matter.

The departures come as Facebook grapples with the worst crisis in its history, vilified for not more zealously guarding the information which users share.

Many see Facebook as having been a top vehicle for spreading false information in recent years, and of being used by nefarious interests intent on swaying elections such as the poll which put President Donald Trump in the White House.

The Cambridge Analytica public relations disaster — in which Facebook admitted that up to 87 million users may have had their data hijacked by the British consultancy — came on top of widespread criticism of the social network’s propensity to spread and accentuate large amounts of completely false information.

Facebook is facing multiple inquiries from US and British regulators about the Cambridge Analytica user data scandal, and Zuckerberg was grilled by the European Parliament and the US Congress earlier this year.

WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum earlier this year left Facebook, which had bought the smartphone messaging service for $19 billion.

Koum said in a post on his Facebook page that he was taking time off to pursue interests such as collecting air-cooled Porsches, working on cars and playing ultimate Frisbee.

US media reports indicated that a disagreement with Facebook over the privacy of user data may have also been a factor in Koum’s decision to quit his position as a high-ranking executive, and likely leave his seat on the board at the leading online social network.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/instagram-co-founders-resign-from.html

Seventy- two Nigerian ladies arrested for illegal entry into the country and for engaging in prostitution are to be deported, according to the Ghanaian authorities.

The ladies arrested alongside eight Ghanaians and a Togolese, last week, during an operation in some brothels and hotels at Madina, an Accra suburb, allegedly entered the country illegally and had been engaged in prostitution.

To facilitate their nefarious business, some of the girls, purportedly erected kiosks from where they operated. According to the Ghana Immigration Service, the area was gradually being transformed into a ghetto.

The girls, who have been handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service, for further action were likely to be deported soon.

A senior official of the Ghana Immigration Service, Deputy Superintendent of Immigration, Linda Asare Mantey told newsman at Accra that the suspects were arrested during a swoop on the area. The Immigration acted on intelligence it gathered, she further said.

Mantey indicated that they were illegal immigrants, as none of them had a valid passport. Eight of them, who claimed they had passports, could not produce the document on request.

She said the girls were arrested in some hotels in the area, where they worked as commercial sex workers, while others were picked up, as they openly solicited for customers stressing,” it is illegal to come to the country and engage in prostitution.”

An official at the Nigerian High Commission, reacting to the incident described the activities of Nigerians, who engage in prostitution as a national embarrassment.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/ghana-to-deport-72-nigerian-ladies.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived in New York to attend the 73rd Session of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA73) which officially opened on Sept. 18.

The president who was accompanied by his wife, Aisha, departed the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Sunday morning and had arrived New York on Monday (Nigerian time) morning.The theme for this year’s Session is: “Making the United Nations relevant to all People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies.”

The President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the highpoint of Buhari’s participation would be his address on Tuesday to the General Assembly on the opening day of the General Debate.

According to him, the President’s presentation of Nigeria’s National Statement is expected to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to international peace and security and sustainable socio-economic development.

He said the presentation would also cover the areas of disarmament and denuclearisation, youth and women empowerment, climate change, rule of law and human rights, among others.

The presidential aide said Buhari would particularly canvass international support for the fight against corruption, the return of illicit assets, counter-terrorism, insurgency and curbing irregular migration.

He said the president would seek the support of the international community in efforts to re-settle Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and recharging the receding Lake Chad.

Adesina said the president would also advocate for the reform of the United Nations, especially the expansion of the permanent membership of the Security Council to make the vital organ of the global organisation reflect regional and equitable geographical representation.

He disclosed that the president and his wife, Aisha, would also attend a reception hosted by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres and his spouse for Heads of State and Government and their spouses.

“The Nigerian leader and his delegation will participate in a High-Level meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis, organised by the World Health Organisation as Nigeria currently ranks seventh amongst the high TB-burden countries globally, and second in Africa.“The Nigerian delegation is expected to attend the Mandela Peace Summit, which is a High-Level Meeting on Global Peace in honour of the centenary birth of the late South African President and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Nelson Mandela,’’ he revealed.

According to Adesina, other side events lined up for the Nigerian delegation include a High-Level Meeting on financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and World Economic Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Summit.

Others are the Second Annual Bloomberg Global Business Forum, High-Level Meeting on Action for Peace-Keeping, Commemoration and Promotion of the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

He said: “During the course of his stay in New York, in addition to the audience with the UN Secretary-General, the Nigerian President is also expected to have bilateral meetings with African and world leaders, including Bill Gates, to promote national and African interests.’’

Adesina disclosed that the president would also grant audience to a select group of Nigerian professionals based in the United States.

More photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/photos-buhari-aisha-arrive-new-york-for.html

The All Progressives Congress APC has rejected calls by the Peoples Democratic Party PDP asking the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC to declare Ademola Adeleke its candidate in Saturday’s inconclusive Osun governorship election.

APC however hailed the Osun electorate, INEC, security agencies and relevant stakeholders over the conduct of Saturday’s inconclusive governorship election in the state which was largely peaceful despite some reported irregularities. In the statement signed by acting spokesman of the ruling party, Yekini Nabena, it said; “While we continue to improve on our electoral processes, particularly correcting some irregularities witnessed in Saturday’s election, the APC commends the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration which has continually exhibited its commitment to ensuring that elections are more peaceful, transparent, credible and acceptable. “This is a departure from the situation under past Peoples Democratic Party PDP administrations where the people’s will was subverted and elections where manipulated. We hereby reject the PDP’s baseless calls that the inconclusive Osun governorship election is announced in its favour. “In the leadup to the rerun election, we call on the Osun electorate, party supporters and members to remain upbeat and focused on the task of consolidating on the APC Change administration in the state by voting for the victory of our candidate, Gboyega Oyetola”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/osun-election-inec-cant-declare-adeleke.html

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, said it would intervene in the labour dispute between Chevron Nigeria and its workers to prevent the situation from degenerating into a crisis.

In a statement in Abuja, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Mr. Maikanti Baru, also urged oil workers under the auspices of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, to halt their planned industrial action over the dispute. Baru directed the management of the NNPC to work with other stakeholders to resolve the issue raised by the leadership of NUPENG and PENGASSAN. While thanking the oil workers for their exemplary conduct and show of support through the years, Baru appealed to the unions not to do anything that would disrupt the industrial harmony that has pervaded the sector, saying the gains of recent past, if care is not taken, can be frittered away inadvertently. He, however, expressed optimism that the current dispute would soon be amicably settled. Furthermore, in the statement signed by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the NNPC allayed the concerns of motorists and other consumers of petroleum products over possible hiccups in supply in parts of the country due to the oil workers’ ultimatum. Ughamadu assured that the NNPC holds adequate storage of petroleum products across the country to take care of the national demand. He said the unions had recently called on the corporation, the National Assembly, the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Department of State Services, DSS, to intercede in a brewing impasse between CNL and its staff in Nigeria over the company’s disclosure that the contracts with all its manpower services providers would expire by the end of October 2018. According to Ughamadu, the industry unions had last Wednesday put its members on red alert fearing the new manpower services contracts may not serve the interests of its members.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/strike-nnpc-to-intervene-in-oil-workers.html

Nuhu Ribadu, former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and former presidential aspirant of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has joined the 2019 governorship race in Adamawa State.

Making his declaration in Adamawa State, RIbadu promised to run an all-inclusive government if elected Governor.

He said the state was facing a number of developmental challenges that require urgent, holistic and strategic handling, and he was offering the people the “much-needed leadership”.

“We do not need to cosmetics, which do not address fundamental issues that are cornerstone to our development as a people,” he said.

“It takes visionary leadership with capacity and modern thinking to provided that needed redirection, beyond deceptive makeup.

“It is this that I promise to offer to our people. I come with genuine intention and I have a burning passion to change the fortunes of our people for good. With all sense of humility, I believe I possess the requisite credentials, both academic and character, required to move this state forward. I will run an all-inclusive government where all stakeholders like you truly have stakes.”

THE FULL DECLARATION
Remarks by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu on his declaration to contest for Adamawa governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC). Saturday, September 22, 2018.

Let me begin by thanking God almighty for sparing our lives to witness this auspicious day. We commence this journey in His name and we invoke his guidance throughout.

I appreciate you all, brothers and sisters for the overwhelming reception you accord me, which is evidenced in the number of people who troop out under the sun to welcome me home. There is no greater show of solidarity than this sacrifice to come out and display sheer love and support. This is very encouraging to me as a person.

This is not an ordinary day for me, and I believe it is not for the rest of the patriotic citizens of this State who desire development, who desire hope, who look up for purposeful leadership.

Today, I come to you as your son and brother who defines himself in the spirit of community service and development.

In the past months, I have had deep reflections about our country and state of affairs in both Nigeria and Adamawa State. As a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and indeed as one who played his own part at the formative stage of the party, I am most proud of a number of things the APC government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is a common consensus that Nigeria is today a different place on account of the leadership being provided by our dear President. Both his friends and foes have agreed that President Buhari has changed the face of conducting government business in this country. The days of free for all corruption and wanton abuse of our resources are behind us and Nigeria is opening a new vista in giving the citizens a reason to once again be proud of their country.

In this drive to change Nigeria, I believe our president needs support of individuals with similar vision, especially at the sub-national level. It is not enough to have a reformed federal government and an honest and sincere president, this has to be replicated at other tiers of government for us to have all-encompassing progress we desire.

The reason for my being here today is that passion to uplift the community that I have; it is that spirit with which I am known, all my life. It is that zeal that saw me going into a career in law enforcement to fight injusticeand bring about development.

My philosophy, is in that upbringing that taught us to put the interest of the public over any other consideration. In life of service, one’s first consideration should be the impact one makes under the circumstance. It is therefore that same will to serve that is responsible for me offering myself for our dear state.

Adamawa is in dire need for leadership. A leadership that encompasses the qualities of a good leadership; a leadership that will not lie, a leadership that will not deceive, a leadership that will not put its interests over and above the interest of the entire state. We need a leadership that will restore our dignity as a people and one that will be honest and forthright.

Our dear state is facing a number of developmental challenges that require urgent,holistic and strategic handling. We do not need to cosmetics, which do not address fundamental issues that are cornerstone to our development as a people. It takes visionary leadership with capacity and modern thinking to provided that needed redirection, beyond deceptive makeup.

It is this much-needed leadership that I promise to offer to our people. I come with genuine intention and I have a burning passion to change the fortunes of our people for good. With all sense of humility, I believe I possess the requisite credentials, both academic and character, required to move this state forward. I will run an all-inclusive government where all stakeholders like you truly have stakes.

As we move into the primaries, what we require from you, our party leaders, is utmost level of responsibility by allowing free and fair contest. We cannot afford to manipulate our party into failure. Injustice can never stand. Even if it does, it would be on shaky foundations which can collapse at any time. Therefore, skewing a process like the primaries to favour one person, even though unpopular, may only lead our great party to failure, something no genuine party member would desire.

I would appeal to all political actors in the state, especially my fellow aspirants, to play politics within the ambits of the rule of law. We should eschew antagonism or stoking primordial sentiments. Elections would come and go but the people will always be together. We should not explore the misfortunes and living conditions of our people to advance ourselves. Even if you succeed in doing that in the interim, you cannot escape the haunting consequences of such action forever.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/ribadu-joins-adamawa-governorship-race.html

Former president, Goodluck Jonathan has stated that only a man with the strength of character and clear conscience like Senator David Mark is needed to rebuild a fragmented and disunited Nigeria in 2019.

Playing host to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopeful in his Yenogoa home, Jonathan said Nigeria has never been so disunited than now, saying “we are only existing superficially and this is very dangerous.”

Beside the issue of dwindling economy and worsening insecurity, the former president stated that the major problem the next President would face is the challenge of uniting the country and giving every section a sense of belonging.


Jonathan stressed that every right-thinking Nigerian should crave for peace and unity “if we must continue to stay together”. He said staying together is what everyone desires “because the global community respects and value us because of our size and population.”

He recalled: “As President of Nigeria, I worked harmoniously with Mark as President of the Senate. He demonstrated patriotism and loyalty to his fatherland. His colleagues admitted that he is a detribalized leader. He is the kind of man the nation needs now.”

Jonathan expressed optimism that the PDP would get it right in the 2019 election.


The PDP presidential contender, Mark, in his remark, stated that Nigerians now know the difference between light and darkness, saying that he possesses the experience, knowledge and skills to bring the nation out of the social and economic malaise within two years if elected.

Earlier, Director-General of the David Mark Campaign Organization, Senator Zainab Kure, paid glowing tribute to Jonathan for his uncommon leadership quality and sacrifices made to keep the nation united.

Senator Kure pointed out that Nigerians would forever be grateful to the immediate past president.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/2019-david-mark-can-unite-nigeria.html

Tinubu’s Hand, Stronghold Osun Central — All The Factors That Will Decide Osun Gov Election

The governorship election in the State of Osun (so the sitting Governor rechristened it) is just a day away. We have a record number of 48 candidates vying for the governorship seat. Of these 48 candidates, five are heavyweights in the real sense of the word; the rest are mere makeweights.



Of these heavyweights three are real contenders while the other two are “swingers” — that is they are capable of influencing floating votes for or against the real contenders.



The two “swingers” are Fatai Akinade Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Adeoti Moshood Olalekan of the African Democratic Party (ADP). Coincidentally, both have been Secretary to the State Government. Both can make or mar the chances of the real hopefuls. The real hopefuls are Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nurudeen Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). These are the chances, the pluses and minuses of each of the contenders to emerge victorious.



ISIAKA GBOYEGA OYETOLA (APC)

Until recently when he resigned to join the governorship race, Gboyega was the Chief of Staff of the outgoing Governor, Rauf Aregbesola. He will hope to win the election on the coattails of his boss.



PLUSES

Osun Central As Stronghold: Osun Central Senatorial District has always been Aregbesola’s stronghold. He had 39,983 votes against Omisore’s 11,513 in Osogbo and 26,551 against Omisore of PDP’s measly 8,483 in Olorunda, both in Osun Central Senatorial District. in 2014. Since Oyetola’s Iragbiji is the headquarters of Boripe Local Government in Osun Central, he will hope to leverage on this,



The Federal Might: Oyetola’s task is somewhat made easier by the backing of his ambition by the federal government. This claim is substantiated by what the master of ceremonies said during APC rally recently in Osogbo as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s chopper was landing at the venue. The MC’s voice rose into a crescendo announcing “they intimidated us in 2014 with federal might now it’s our turn”.



Membership of Aregbesola’s Cabinet: His membership of the outgoing government is both a blessing and a burden, a curate’s egg sort of. But trust politicians, he can turn the seeming burden around by saying that having worked with his boss for years he now knows the problems of the state and he is ready to fix them.



MINUSES

The Tinubu Factor: A fair chunk of the people of Osun are tired of the state being Tinubu’s apparent fiefdom; they are tired of being what they call VASSALS paying tribute to a certain political Lord. Tinubu himself made reference to this while addressing the mammoth crowd in Osogbo during the party’s rally, saying he is no ‘Ajele’ (tribute collector)



Backlog of Unpaid Salaries: Being a member of the outgoing government’s kitchen cabinet that has a backlog of — especially for senior civil servants — partly-paid and totally unpaid salaries to offset, affected workers and their dependants may register their displeasure by voting against Oyetola.



The Adeoti Factor: Moshood Adeoti, a respected politician in Iwo, will play the role of a dog in the manger to the APC, having defected to the ADP, which means for the first time in a long while Iwo won’t be APC’s stronghold.



ADEMOLA NURUDEEN ADELEKE

He is a scion of the Adeleke political dynasty in Ede and a senator representing Osun West Senatorial District. He won the by-election occasioned by his elder brother’s (Isiaka) death. He has won renown, perhaps notoriety, more for his brazen but mesmerizing footwork as a compulsive dancer than for his political exploits.



PLUSES

Osun West’s Claim of Marginalisation: Ever since Osun State was created in August 1991, that’s 324 months ago, Osun West has ruled for only 22 months. The senatorial district produced only the first civilian governor, Isiaka Adeleke, whose administration was truncated by military coup after just 22months. The politicians from this bloc may decide to pool their clout, regardless of party affiliation, and present a common, concerted and united front to wrest the reins of power from the other two senatorial blocs. It’s been done before.



Ede As Stronghold: Forget about his O’level result scandal, what the people of Ede have for the Adeleke family is more than love; it’s a rabid allegiance. He has 95% of their votes in his clutches.



An Influence That Cuts Across Religious Divides: Though Ademola is from a strong Muslim family, his elder brother Adedeji is a convert to Christianity. Deji is now a Christrian of Seventh Day Adventist’s extraction and a philanthropist too. Ademola can leverage on this to secure the votes of Christians in the state. And the fact that he has reconciled with Akin Ogunbiyi, his rival at the PDP governorship primary, is an advantage too.



MINUSES

Certificate Scandal: Outside Osun, his alleged unresolved certificate scandal, especially among the elite, makes his candidature a no-no.



Political neophytism: He is considered a spoilt brat who knows much about dancing and nothing about the nitty-gritty of governance by some people.



The Fatai Akinbade Factor: The fact that there is no love lost between him and Akinbade, who defected to ADC after losing the PDP primary to him, means he should forget winning considerable votes from Ayedaade Local Government, where the former SSG is influential.



IYIOLA OMISORE (SDP)

He is a former Deputy Governor and senator of the state. He lost the governorship race to Aregbesola in 2014 on the platform of PDP.



PLUSES

Ile-Ife and Its Environs As Strongholds: He calls the shots in Ife-East, Ife Central and Ife North local government areas. This was evident in the result of 2014 elections, where he polled 24,500 votes in Ife Central as against Aregbesola’s paltry 9,680, and 20,831 in Ife East against Aregbe’s 13,821.



Political Experience: Whether you like his face or not, Omisore is a veteran politician. He is the most experienced of the three major contestants, and this may serve him in good stead in the forthcoming election. Other contestants could only ignore or underrate him at their own peril. Don’t forget that, by hook or by crook, he won the 2003 senatorial election from the prison. He may want to add another feather to his cap and become the master of the impossible by winning this governorship election on the platform of a fringe party.



MINUSES

SDP As Fringe Party: For the first time in his political career, Omisore is going into an election as a dark horse courtesy of his choice of political party. The truth is, this SDP — except in name — is not the same party on whose horse the late MKO Abiola coasted to victory ahead of Tofa’s soaring bird of the NRC. SDP, as it is today, is a fringe party and a spent force too. This was evident in the calibre of people Omisore presented during the party’s rally in Osogbo. Ever since the country’s return to democracy in 1999, the mainstream parties have always produced governors in the South-West except the Labour Party’s Olusegun Mimiko; but the factors that aided Mimiko’s victory are not available in Omisore’s case



IFE MAY NOT BE A FORMIDABLE STRONGHOLD

Now out of PDP, Omisore has many forces to contend with. PDP has decided to shrink his sphere of influence by picking Albert Adeogun, another son of Ife soil, as Adeleke’s running mate. Adeogun is the federal representative of the IfeCentral/ East/North/South constituency. Aregbesola too has always been a problem for him in the Ife/Ijesha Axis. And there is the case of another late politician of note from that axis hanging around his neck like an albatross even though no court of law has pronounced him guilty.

Votes from five towns (Osogbo, Ede, Ife, Ilesa, and Iwo) often decide the winner of the governorship election in Osun State. Almost all of these “decider-towns” have candidates on different political platforms; which means the spread of votes might be somewhat even and the election might be too close to call. Should we expect a run-off as things stand? A candidate can only be declared winner of a governorship election after polling both the highest number of votes cast and a quarter of the votes cast at each of at least two-third of the local governments. In other words, having the highest number of votes cast is not enough come September 22 but fulfilling the complementary conditions in 20out of the 30 local government areas in the state.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/tinubus-hand-stronghold-osun-central.html

Aminu Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State and presidential aspirant seeking to contest on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has taken his campaign train to Ekiti State.

According to Tambuwal, visiting Ayodele Fayose, Governor of Ekiti State, was part of efforts to “share his vision for a greater Nigeria”.

He was received by Fayose, his deputy, Olusola Eleka, and other party stakeholders in the state.

Tambuwal also maintained that "Nigeria can not afford to be left behind in this digital age".
He revealed the visit via a tweet, which read: "I am in Ekiti State to meet with our party delegates and stakeholders to share my vision of a #GreaterNigeria where the best brains are given the opportunity to lead. Nigeria can not afford to be left behind in this digital age."
After leaving Ekiti, he went to Ondo, where he also attended a book launch hosted by Olu Falae, who was hosting a presentation of his two books: The Way Forward for Nigeria: The Economy and Polity and Keeping Faith: A Biography.
The presidential aspirant has visited a couple of states to seek support for his presidential aspiration.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/photos-tambuwal-travels-to-ekiti-to.html

More than 1,000 contractors are participating in the bids for 12 projects advertised by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC).

The corporation has opened the bids to pre-qualify the contractors for the 2018 projects.

Mr Ben Iloanusi, the NRC Director of Procurement, told the newsmen during pre-qualification exercise at the NRC headquarters, Ebute Meta, Lagos, on Wednesday.

Iloanusi said about 1,000 submissions were received across the various categories.

“The projects numbering 12 as advertised recently by the corporation in some national dailies attracted over 1,000 companies.

“The projects included emergency repair and maintenance of tracks, bridges and culvert, renovation.

“Also inclusive are upgrade of railway stations nationwide, procurement of locomotives, coaches, wagons, railway inspection vehicles and cranes, rehabilitation of locomotives and coaches.

“Others are procurement, rehabilitation and installation of equipment for mechanical, electrical, security, printing and ICT facilities; procurement of rolling stock consumables and spare parts and provision of insurance services,” he said.

The director further disclosed that the exercise may be concluded by the end of October as the procurement team had been directed to conclude the evaluation process in one month.

Mr Niyi Ali, the Director of Operationa, promised that the process would be transparent, saying the corporation will be fair to all in the pre-qualification and selection stages.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about N12 billion was approved by the Federal Government for the corporation’s projects in the 2018 budget.

Representatives of the various companies were on ground as the team verified the documents submitted by them amid tight security.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/1000-companies-compete-for-12-rail.html

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for measures to be put in place towards reaping the gains of a large population, bearing in mind that Nigeria’s youthful population is key and serves as an advantage for optimum economic growth.

He said the roadmap which had been established by the federal government towards achieving this has been divided into four pillars which include, employment and entrepreneurship, education, skills and competency development, health and wellbeing and also rights and governance as well as youth empowerment.


Osinbajo disclosed this in Abuja at a programme organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) with a theme on ‘Harnessing demographic dividend for sustainable development of Nigeria: The role of Muslim religious leaders.’

He said the relevant demographic gain shows the prospects and potentials of a prosperous future for Nigeria especially if appropriate and timely actions are put in place, as well as the successful implementation of the roadmap, which requires that all inclusive and robust stakeholders engagement and participation are offered.

He said: “Nigeria’s population is currently estimated at about 192 million, the largest in Africa. About 63 per cent of the population is under the age of 25.

“About 33 per cent are between the ages of 10-24 and 54.8 per cent, the working ages which is between the ages of 15-64.

“Also, 51 per cent of that number are considered to be the female population and are in their reproductive ages, which is between 15-49 years.

“The successful implementation of the roadmap requires that all inclusive and robust stakeholders engagement and participation are offered.

“In playing these roles, leaders themselves need to be exposed to the prevailing policy issues, options and ideas to test these ideas against their own beliefs, and to see and discover ways of projecting these ideas into the various populations.”

In the same vein, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Prof. Salish Shehu in his address, said Islam is interested in harnessing demographic dividends and looks at it from a holistic perspective.

He said in Islam, marriage is a norm of worship and whatever comes from it is worship in itself.

He said: “In Islam, it is not just the issue of saving the life of the mother, but ensuring that she is not in any way subjected to avoidable penury, difficulties and harm. These must be ensured. The mother must not be harmed in any way, not to talk of negligence, ignorance or whatever form of malpractice or weakness as the case may be.

“So pregnancy in Islam shouldn’t be looked at from the ordinary sense of it, but pregnancy and the suffering that goes with it are all forms of worship. If a woman goes through pregnancy and goes through sickness, all these should not go in vain. She gets reward from Allah”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/demographic-dividends-osinbajo-calls.html

Prices of oil at the international market dropped yesterday as the latest escalation in the Sino-US trade war clouded the outlook for demand, although concerns over tightening supply offered prices some support. Brent crude futures had declined 27 cents, or 0.35 per cent, to $77.78 per barrel while US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell 32 cents, or 0.46 per cent, to $68.59 per barrel. US President Donald Trump on Monday said he would impose 10 per cent US tariffs on about $200 billion worth of Chinese imports. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin last week invited top Chinese officials to a new round of talks on the dispute, but thus far nothing has been scheduled. “The growing trade dispute has hurt trading sentiment. The impact on economic growth is slowly dripping in, which again hurts oil prices,” Wang Xiao, head of crude research at Guotai Junan Futures, said on Tuesday. But supporting crude futures were potential supply cuts from US sanctions on Iran. Sanctions affecting Iran’s petroleum sector will come into force from Nov. 4. Iranian crude oil export loadings have declined by 580,000 barrels per day in the past three months, Bank of America Merrill Lynch analysts said in a note to clients. Meanwhile, oil output from seven major US shale formations is expected to rise by 79,000 barrels per day to 7.6 million bpd in October, the US Energy Information Administration said. Elsewhere, Russia’s energy minister, Alexander Novak, said on Monday that the country was ready to discuss cooperation with the United States to balance the oil market.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/brent-crude-drops-to-7778pb-as-us-china.html

APC Press Release

APC Blasts Proscribed Faction in Taraba, Says Their Activities Remain Illegal

The attention of APC Youths Renaissance has been drawn to the misleading, libelous and deceptive public statement issued by the proscribed faction of the party asking aspirants on the platform of our great party to disregard the ongoing pre-screening exercises of the party in Taraba State.

Ordinarily, we would have ignored the ranting of the illegal association as usual, but because their latest show of shame has the capacity of making Nigerians to believe that our great party is one that disregards court orders as well as the rule of law, we decided to set the records straight as well as letting Tarabans and Nigerians know that the proscribed political association in Taraba State led by Ibrahim Elsuldi remains proscribed and illegal organisation as far as APC and the Nigerian law is concerned.

For the sake of clarity, let it be noted that a Federal High Court recently granted an order restraining Ibrahim Elsuldi from parading himself as Chairman of APC in Taraba State as well as restraining him from taking over the party office in the state.

We believe that the position of the court is very simple for anybody to understand without further interpretation!

We therefore wonder why the illegal organisation led by Mr. Elsuldi would jump the gun by asking aspirants who duly purchased nomination and expression of interest forms on the platform of our great party to ignore and disregard the ongoing screening exercises duly approved and contained in the schedule and timetable of activities released by the national secretariat of our party as guidelines for activities leading to primary elections.

It is also worthy to state here categorically that the national secretariat of the party approved and endorsed; that screening of all aspirants who purchased forms for various elective positions in the party is to hold from September 15 to September 18, 2018 across the country.

Therefore, we wonder what gave the proscribed organisation the temerity and the impetus to make the libelous and contemptuous public statement capable of lowering the estimation of our great party before the right thinking members of the public.

There is no doubt that the illegal association has breached the constitution of our great party which says that no member or group within the party should indulge in any act capable of bringing the party to public odium.

Therefore, we ask all aspirants who bought nomination and expression of interest forms of our party in Taraba State to ignore the misleading statement credited to the illegal organisation in the state.

While we warn the illegal association in the state to desist from taking further contemptuous action or making libelous statement against our great party, we advise aspirants in Taraba State to submit themselves to the Alhaji Abdulmumni Vaki led State Working Committee of the party for screening.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/apc-blasts-proscribed-faction-in-taraba.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises(BPE) have signed an agreement for the sale of the Federal Government’s 12.4 billion shares in Nigerian Security Printing and Minting company (NSPM) to CBN.

The ceremony was chaired by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who is the Chairman, National Council on Privatisation (NCP) at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday.

Osinbajo said that the event was a landmark in the privatisation journey of the country.

“`I am delighted to witness this signing of the sale of 12.4 billion shares of NSPM Plc to the CBN.“ I think this is an important event in our privatisation journey. Many, of course, will recall that in the past 30 years or so over 140 publicly-owned companies have been privatised. “This is, perhaps, one of the very largest that has been privatised so far. “The very idea of selling public asset to credible investors is one that is fundamental to our economic philosophy.’’ The vice president said that security printing had taken new dimensions as it was no longer what it used to be. According to him, there are new assets, new dimensions and new ideas and it is just the private sector that can really be at the cutting edge of technology and innovation. “ I think that particular union between the CBN and De La Rue-the technical partners is good; and we believe that as time goes on even better expertise will be drawn into the company. “And we think that this is possibly one of the best moves that have occurred especially with respect to the National Security Printing and Minting Company,’’ he said. He expressed optimism that Nigeria would reap bountifully from the deal. In his remark, CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said that the capacity of the mint had increased and expanded and it produced all the currency that was needed in the country. He said that the company’s capacity had been expanded to where it had idle capacity that could produce of other ECOWAS countries. “We intend to embark on aggressive marketing to see to it that it not only produces for itself but also produces for other important stakeholders that may require its services in the area of currency printing. “In the area of security document, we are working assiduously given the fact that the mint was in the past produced passports and produced visas and other very sensitive security documents. “Our next phase is to see to it that the NSPM eventually begins the printing of the digital Nigerian passport. That request is already being granted. “The board of the NSPM will be meeting to see what else is needed to retool this company and ensure that it performs its responsibility,” he said. On his part, the Director-General, BPE, Mr Alex Okoh, said he was pleased to report that CBN’s strategic investment in the company was a success-achieving its objective of turning around the fortunes of the company-returning it to profitability. He said there were commendable indications of the progress recorded by NSPM under the strategic engagement of CBN. “Following the expiration of the strategic investment period, the CBN indicated its strong intention to acquire the company on an arm’s length basis. “The sensitive nature of the security printing and minting services rendered by the company included immigration and electoral materials. “Accordingly, after a careful consideration of the pertinent issues, the Bureau made a proposal to the NCP to formalise the sale of 21 per cent of the Federal Government’s interest in the company to the CBN while government would retain an equity holding of 10.1 per cent. “This proposal was approved by the council. “Having received a professional advice from its financial and legal advisers and following a series of negotiations with CBN, an agreement was reached on the terms of the sale. “I am pleased to announce that this transaction will contribute a net sum of over N17 billion to the treasury,’’ he said. He said that the Federal Government was handing over to CBN a company with tremendous potential to achieve significant growth.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/cbn-bpe-sign-sale-of-1269bn-fg-shares.html

Reno Omokri, a former Aide to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has blamed the acclaimed defeat of Boko Haram by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration for being responsible for the death of Nigerian soldiers.

Omokri made the statement while reacting to the death of Miss Saifura Hussaini Khorsa, an aid worker, by the Boko Haram terrorists.

The former aide noted that the claim that Boko Haram has been defeated has made soldiers to relax and complacent, hence the reason they are being killed.

Omokri on his Twitter page wrote: “President Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff should stop saying that Boko Haram is “technically defeated” or “degraded”. It is untrue.

“It also gives a false sense of security to our troops, making them drop their guard. That’s why so many soldiers have died recently.”
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Monday had described the killing of the aid worker by Boko Haram sect as heinous and despicable.
He assured that his administration would seize, “Every given opportunity, with both hands and to use all means available to bring home all citizens being held against their will by the Boko Haram terrorist.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/why-nigerian-soldiers-are-being-killed.html

Change Nigeria Movement (CNM) yesterday accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Nigerian Customs Service (NSC) of being partisan and anti-democratic for placing Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, on its watchlist.

In a statement by its National Director of Information and Strategy, Abubakar Usman, the socio-political pressure group described the action of both government agencies as an open declaration of war against the 1999 Constitution as amended.

CNM gave the EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, and the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hamid Alli, 24 hours to withdraw the memo that placed Fayose on security watch-list, and apologise to Nigerians for subjecting the two institutions to ridicule and public opprobrium or face mass action.

The group stated: “We say very expressly that this is not about Fayose.
The governor should face the full wrath of the law, if he has stolen the commonwealth of his people.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/09/group-slams-efcc-customs-for-placing.html