₦airaland Forum

Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka’s 8th intervention series, Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes? (Who keeps watch over the watchman?) Gani’s Unfinished Business is published to address the lies, sins, maligning, and provocations of former president Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo against him, Gani Fawehmi, Femi Falana, and others. The book was launched last Thursday, August 2 at the Freedom Park, Lagos. It was also a forum which Soyinka used to warn Nigerians to be wary of Obasanjo: “Obasanjo is not a stupid man,” Soyinka told the audience. “He reads the wind; he tests the wind, and then swoops in. I didn’t even know this before (but when I did) I said this man is about to hijack an existing movement; it’s just been confirmed. And I am warning the people to watch this man. He knows how to hijack. Don’t let it happen again.”

Amongst various other issues, Professor Wole Soyinka minced no words in accusing Obasanjo of building his Presidential Library in Abeaokuta with fraud: “That structure in Abeokuta remains a moral eyesore….When we were school pulpils, one of our illustrated reading texts was one titled: This is the house that Jack built. Today, and forevermore, generations will point to that thing which I have daubed the Presidential Laundromat and say: This is the house that Fraud built.” One pertinent question, and to which not a few among the audience identified with was asked by Seun Okinbaloye of Channels TV. “Obasanjo appears to have the good fortune or sense to stand on the good side of history….. About the open letters he wrote to Buhari, a lot of people have said, ‘look, take away the messenger and look (dispassionately) at the message.’ Are you afraid that this time again, Obasanjo is going to be on the good side of political history? To that heavy-laden question, Soyinka replied: “I don’t understand that question at all. I agreed to give this lecture in memory of Gani Fawehimi, and I chose this title because of a certain provocation that this man we are talking about, in a 3-volume biography of his life; all his achievement, he took time, and said that Wole Soyinka said to a young man that he does what he does only to make sure he is not outshone by his colleagues in the struggle. Could any title be more appropriate; could any topic be more appropriate, on a memorial occasion of one or two of the 3 rival activists? It struck to me as singularly appropriate moment to choose that title and in the process, address a 3-volume compilation of what I consider lies, mostly. “He (Obasanjo) fought Gani Fawehimin. He maligned Femi Falana. He fought me. He maligned me. What other topic would be suitable on an occasion honoring one of the three of all criminals. It is a very small pamphlet in response to that, but taking into consideration also the possibility that this man might come back to mislead the people once again. And when you talk about predicting Jonathan’s fall, it is not by any effort of Obasanjo that I am aware. Obasanjo is not a stupid man. He reads the wind; he tests the wind, and then swoops in. I didn’t even know this before (but when I did) I said this man is about to hijack an existing movement; it has just been confirmed. And I am warning the people to watch this man. He knows how to hijack. Don’t let it happen again. Professor Wole Soyinka however, gave it to Obasanjo, saying he is free to form a political party to oppose anybody or promote anything if he wants, “but I will not be what I am, or who I am if I watch the (tissues) of life being spurned (without saying anything).” He accused obasanjo of playing roles to truncate the actualization of June 12. Soyinka also said Obasanjo is welcome if he wants to reform himself: “And I think the process has begun. In this book I said: “Get thee to a monastery. May be he has taken good advice, that’s why he has appeared in the robe of a monk’. I don’t give up on him. And believe you me; you will be astonished how often I have wished him well when he recently inaugurated his Presidential Library. I was all ready to go and celebrate with him. At last moment I said, ‘If I show my presence (there) this man will annoy me physically. He will make some outrageous statement to which I will have to reply. And at the last moment I decided to leave him alone to enjoy his (day), and I wrote him a letter and said: ‘when you are celebrating something uncomplicated; a real achievement of your own, I will be there. Ask him, he will show you the letter. “Instead of just accepting my letter, he started abusing me again, saying that I deprived him with grammar of the Secretary Generalship of the world. I thought I was saving the world from perdition, and he was thinking of his own personal ambition. What more can a man do?” Soyinka lashes out at Buhari too Neither did the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka spare President Muhammadu Buahri and his APC government. “It has become essential,” Soyinka told the audience and the press, “that grounds be cleared to pave way for a new generation of rulers in this nation, but that the former President, Dr. Olusegun Obasanjo should not be allowed to lead or hijack any movement organized for the purpose such intervention. Asked whether he has had “moments of doubts, alarms and repulse about Nigeria lately, Soyinka replied: “Oh yes, frequently, all of the above, and more. Even now, I have clearer grievous act of mis-governance around us under this regime. Errors and forced errors all which I consider being stupid; failures to secure lives, language of self excusing, which we condemn; which have condemned in the past, but now are resurfacing all over again; the glossing over degrees of intolerable bloodshed, as if it is just a casual event happening by accident; failure to exert authority when and immediately as due which has led to the escalation of killings of impunity right, left and centre, and one police commissioner calls it communal clashes.” The Nobel Laureate decried what he described as present cheapening of life of Nigerians: “There’s a cheapening of life. The value of life in the last one year or so is such that we have not witnessed for a very long time. This is why it has become essential that we all do a lot of ground clearing to pave the way for a new generation of rulers in this nation. “To make sure that in the process we don’t go back to what we are getting ourselves out of: one of the most unconscionable act we can be held guilty by coming generation. Between now and 2019, an opportunity still exists that can be reformed; there can be total overturn, whatever it takes to secure the nation and give us a new sense of dignity.” Asked whether Obasanjo has not done any good thing whatsoever, Soyinka said “First of all, there is no question whatsoever; I do not know any human being who has not done some good at one point or the other. It is very difficult to find one. It is just that I can’t remember one which Obasanjo has done. But we know it is there, it has got to be there. “Some people have been going to see Obasanjo and when they leave they come to see me in Abeokuta and we discuss. And that is why I am incensed that any attempt to hijack possible movement; and I have seen that attempted hijack take place. At the beginning for instance the first group that came out was Agbakoba’s intervention group in which Oby Ezekwsili was a member. And the next thing I hear; the same terminology that was used before was “Ota”, and I said, what on earth is going on? Why can’t young, new blood be allowed to do this without (Obasanjo)?. Present at the event were JP Clark, Sam Omaseye, Kunle Ajibade, Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana and other dignitaries.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/dont-allow-obasanjo-to-hijack-movement.html

Nollywood actor, Charles Okocha, aka Igwe Tupac, has revealed the kind of woman he likes to settle down with as life partner.

Okocha, in a chat with Saturday Beats revealed that he would eternally consider himself very lucky if he could find a woman like his mother; a woman who will treat him exactly the way his mother treats him at present.

Okocha confirmed he has a very cordial relationship with his mum; that explains why he features her in his videos regularly. He said, “I am still looking for that right woman; a woman who is going to love me for me, not just for my social status or anything; I don’t want to get into any relationship that won’t last. She should be there for me like a mother and a sister; she should be able to treat me the way my mum is treating me right now. I appreciate my mum so much; she has been very supportive, if I’m to come to this world again, I’d still want her to be my mum.”

The actor, who has lately delved into social skits, also revealed the positive impact the advent of social media has on his career.

“Social media is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Although I still appreciate my movie background; social media has been the best. I am making it big through social media. Of course, I am not trying to downgrade other platforms I’ve been on but social media has really increased my fan base.”

The MC and rapper who described himself as all round entertainer, revealed how he discovered his hype man who always adds spice to his videos. He also emphasised that his comedy skits are meant to inspire people.

“My slogans come naturally and they are meant to inspire people. Just like my latest slogan called Identity, it is about motivating people to ensure they are identified with something tangible in life. For example, my identity is that I am an all round entertainer.

“I respect my hype man a lot, his role in my videos was a coincidence; it wasn’t planned. I used to do skits alone, so when my new car arrived; he was the one with the camera adding spice to what I said and that was how it all started,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/i-want-woman-who-will-treat-me-like-my.html

The Benue government has urged the Police Service Commission (PSC) to end the occupation of the State House of Assembly by officers of the force.

The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Michael Gusa, in a letter to the PSC chairman dated July 31, 2018, stated: “We call on you to intervene and direct the Inspector General of Police and the Commissioner of Police, Benue State, to withdraw the officers and men from the illegal invasion and sealing up of the Assembly complex.”

He also requested that the new Speaker, Titus Uba, and the other members be granted access to the building to carry out their functions.


Gusa said: “The change in leadership of the House is a routine legislative affairs to which the police are not expected to take sides and unleash chaos on that arm of government.”

The CP had on July 28, 2018 based on a directive from the IGP deployed officers to shut the assembly premises.

But the commissioner retorted: “In order to forestall breakdown of law and order, the affected lawmakers took up an action at the High Court and secured an order of interim injunction restraining the police from sealing the complex or interfering with the functions of the new leadership of the House.”

According to him, the force has disobeyed the court order hence the need to seek the intervention of the commission.

Several documents, including proceedings of the Assembly, as well as pictures of policemen in the Assembly Complex, were attached to the letter of complaint.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/tell-your-men-to-vacate-benue-assembly.html

About 10,000 Nigerians were employed during the construction of the Abuja Light Rail Project, which was recently commissioned by President Muhammadu Buhari, while 100,000 more will be directly or indirectly employed when the project begins full operation.

The Chief Resident Engineer for the Abuja Light Rail Project, Mr. Anthony Agbakoba, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who took journalists on a tour of the project, which is now being test-run.

Mr. Agbakoba said that in addition, 68 highly-skilled personnel have been trained in Malaysia and China on Railway Operations and Management in order to build the required technical capacity needed to run such a modern rail system.

“FCTA (Federal Capital Territory Administration) and Nigeria now have capacity to supervise similar railway construction projects from start to completion within 3 to 4 years of conception,” he said.

While conducting the Minister and his team round the train stations, the Secretary of Transportation in the FCTA, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, said the present administration inherited the Abuja Light Project at 53% completion stage and delivered the project within 18 months.

He said the project is the first integrated mode of Transportation in Africa that connects the railways and the airport in order to ensure seamless movement of passengers.

Mr. Opeifa said a desk will be assigned to the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture at the Airport Station to showcase the nation’s rich cultural heritage and tourism attraction, adding that the station itself is a tourist attraction.

He said although the Abuja Light Rail is currently on a test run with 3 coaches, contract for the construction and supply of 48 additional coaches has been awarded, with the coaches expected to be delivered in batches.

In his remarks, The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the Buhari Administration is building a legacy of enduring infrastructure for posterity.

“This administration is not looking for quick fixes because quick fixes don’t work. We are laying a foundation for an enduring infrastructural development. We are painstaking and very transparent and we remain focused and committed,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed expressed the confidence that Nigeria possesses the required technical competence to manage the Light Rail Project and turn it into a huge success.

“Some of the key personnel, who have worked in virtually major rail companies in the world, are actually anchoring the programme. Some of them have been trained in the best schools in the world for transportation and so we are confident of the expertise and experience of the personnel that are handling the light rail and the regional rail,” he said.

The Minister said the level of successes being recorded by the present administration, in its key priority areas, has left the opposition in shock, hence their resort to fake news and hate speech.

The 45.2-kilometre Light Rail Project, which is divided into six lots, comprises 12 stations, 50 culverts, 13 railway bridges, 9 pedestrian bridges, 15 flyovers, and a 21-building Rolling Stock Depot.

Since kick-starting the nationwide tour of Federal Government projects in May 2018, the Minister has inspected eight Federal Government projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan Standard Gauge Rail Line, Lagos-Ibadan, Oyo-Ogbomoso and Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressways, and the Second Niger Bridge.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/100000-to-be-engaged-by-abuja-light.html

Determined to ensure effective service to its customers, First Bank of Nigeria on Thursday unveiled its chat banking on WhatsApp.
Mr Chuma Ezirim, the bank’s Group Head, E-Business, said the application would enable customers leverage the real-time messaging capabilities of the WhatsApp Business Solution to check their account balance.
Ezirim said that customers would also leverage on the solution to perform simple banking queries.


He said in a statement in Lagos that the launch which took place on Aug. 1 was at its pilot phase and would be available to a select group of customers after which it would be made available to all customers.


Ezirim said additional details on the solution would be provided in the coming weeks as customers are encouraged to keep interacting with the bank on its various social media channels for updates.


“Customers expectations are constantly changing and it is our duty as a customer-focused bank to ensure that our customers are provided with the means to carry out banking services through any channel they desire.


“We are constantly seeking new ways and opportunities to meet customers at their preferred touch points and we understand our customers are actively engaged on WhatsApp.


“With First Bank chat banking on WhatsApp, it is not just about staying connected with friends and loved ones, but also keeping in touch with your bank anytime and anywhere you are,” Ezirim said.


The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that First Bank is the premier bank in West Africa with about 14 million customer accounts and also provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services with over 750 business locations.


It has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, the Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal as well as a representative office in Beijing.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/first-bank-launches-chat-banking-on.html

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has made another shocking revelation on the reasons for his exit from the All Progressives Congress, APC.


Ortom in a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, said contrary to the rumours being peddled by his political enemies that his administration had done nothing, he had embarked on monumental developmental projects across the 23 LGAs of the state.

The full text of his speech below:


My dear good and patriotic People of Benue State.
I am sure you are aware of the recent political developments in our State. I took time to address some of the issues in my phone in Radio program and our meeting with the media community on Monday.

Our challenges are not over. The wave of illegality with impunity is here with us. On Monday, the impeached speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, along with seven members of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the house created a scandalous scene.

They were escorted to the Assembly by heavily armed policemen in several trucks to perpetrate the level of impunity we have never seen before in this state. The mission appears to be the second phase of the deliberate destabilization of our dear state after the Fulani herdsmen concerted invasion, killings and destruction.
All these are coming under the veil of a plan to impeach some opposition governors including the democratically elected governor of Benue State. The ultimate objective of the grand conspiracy is the destabilization of the entire Middle Belt and other parts of the country for the purpose of conquest and occupation.


22 out of the 30 members of the State assembly sat and changed their leadership. This is in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) as well as the Standing Rules of the House.

The 22 members approached the Makurdi High Court, sought and obtained an injunction restraining the former leaders from parading themselves as leaders of the house. The restraining order also covered the police and Department of State Services (DSS).

They were restrained from occupying the premises of the assembly and interfering with members lawful duties. Both the impeached speaker who was also suspended for six months, and other leaders mobilized the police and blatantly disobeyed the court order.
In disobedience to the court order, the police prevented the 22 members from getting into the house premises while they escorted the 8 members right into the chambers for illegal sitting without the Clerk or his Deputy. They did not also form a quorum for the sitting.

However, in that sitting, illegality became the order of the day. These included the purported suspension of the 15 members and passing a resolution to serve an impeachment notice on me. It is clear that this impunity with illegality is dead on arrival. You can see the wide spread condemnations, from President Muhammadu Buhari, right across the country and beyond.

Having failed to achieve their anti-Benue objectives so far, the next phase is likely to be the unleashing of massive Fulani militia to embark on more devastating attacks and killings in the state. The most unfortunate aspect is that some sons of the state including a serving senator have been recruited and mobilized to lead this phase.

As I earlier alerted the people, EFCC is now probing the state Security vote. So far, I am the only governor in Nigeria whose Security vote is being investigated by EFCC. Recently, the Presidential spokesman Mr. Femi Adesina, said on Channels Television and I quote “I doubt, world over, if any government would come to say this is how much we have spent on security, because can you quantify the amount of one life? It is not something that any government will begin to disclose”.

Why should Benue case be different if not persecution? If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending they should have started from the Presidency right across the 36 States. If their focus was on Benue State they should have started from 1999. But this is not the case.

With the enormous security challenges in the State since my assumption of office it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe. The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the State. I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution. I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money. I have nothing to hide. I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me.

My dear Benue people, as your Governor, I swore to respect and protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and that is what I have been doing. Needless to say I have been performing my role creditably well as governor. In spite of our challenges especially insecurity instigated by Fulani herdsmen invasion and financial crunch, we have constructed roads and bridges across the state. We have mobilized Contractors to site on 11 roads, two of which have been completed.

These are Oshigbudu-Obagaji and Zaki- Biam- Gbeji Roads. There is ongoing work on several other roads including Origbo-Imande Akpu-Gbajimba and Mobile Barracks-Yaikyo Roads. We have over 100 ongoing rural access roads with many of them completed, and 43 completed electricity projects with several still ongoing. We have 740 primary school projects with 60 percent completion. We have renovated Secondary schools including Government Girls Secondary School and GovernmentCollege both in Makurdi.

We have improved the facilities at the College of Health Sciences of the Benue State University, Makurdi which led to the graduation of five sets of 175 doctors after 12 years of stagnation. We have renovated and re-opened the School of Nursing and Midwifery as well as College of Health Technology Agasha which have now received full accreditation and resumed academic activities.
In addition, it is worthy of note that our School of Nursing is now affiliated to Benue State University as a degree awarding institution. We have constructed 42 Primary Health Care Centres fully equipped and handed over to communities and you are using them in your various communities. Similarly, we have constructed Enterprise Development and Innovation centers popularly called Skills Acquisition centers in Gbajimba, Apa, Agila and Makurdi. All these are completed.

An ultra-modern Deputy Governor’s Office has been completed and is being occupied. In Partnership with International Development agencies we have over 800 water schemes providing water in Benue communities. In the area of education, health, poverty alleviation and infrastructure, we have done well and it is left for you to judge.

In Agriculture and agro allied industries we have also performed creditably well. We have made fertilizer easily available at subsidized prices. We have renovated and equipped laboratories at Akperan Orshi College of Agricuture, Yandev. Agricultural productivity has improved. In partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) we have developed 35 kilometres of access roads in Five Local Governments and four Aggregation centres in Logo, Guma, Gwer East and Ogbadibo.
We have completed Rice Processing Centres in Gwer East and Otukpo Local Government Areas. We have also completed Garri Processing and Packaging plants in Agatu and Ohimini Local Government Areas. We have Sesame Seed Cleaning and Packaging plant in Oju, and we completed the one in Daudu which was inherited from the past Adminstration. We have Soyabean Cleaning and Packaging Plant in Wannune, Orange Cleaning, Packaging and Juice making Factory in Ushongo and Yandev, Gboko. How can anyone say we have not performed given our enormous challenges?

My challenge has been payment of salaries which is a result of the N69 Billion I inherited as arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities as well as another N70 Billion commitment on contracts and other obligations. Benue State also has very low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) but has the third highest salary bill in the country.

It is surpassed by only Lagos and Rivers States. During the recession we used two months allocation to pay one month. However, from January this year, we have faithfully paid each month up to June and by next week, July salaries will be paid. But for Benue State University staff, their salaries are paid up to date. We have repeatedly assured the Benue people that we are sourcing funds to pay arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity.
I will continue to do my best to pay because I know that a worker deserves his wage. I have also directed the reinstatement of workers who were wrongly included on the list of ghost workers. I am totally committed to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of my people. Democracy is nothing more than doing what majority of people want their leaders to do.

May I call on all of you to resist any attempt by any person or group of persons to destabilize our State. How can eight opposition members, including the suspended former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, suspend 22 members? Does this make sense? This is pure illegality and impunity which must not be allowed. Yesterday, the police, acting on “directives from above” also chased away staff of the Assembly who reported for work. The action is flagrant flouting of a subsisting court order. This is unacceptable.

I am calling on His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, to protect the democracy that brought him to power by directing the Police and other security agencies to respect the rule of law for the survival of democracy in Nigeria.

I say this because the President is the ultimate head of all security agencies in the country. I call on our traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, Mass media, Unions and all people of conscience, who love democracy to help avert the emerging impunity in our beloved state. Impunity is dangerous and destructive. Its negative effects on people and institutions can be very far reaching. If unchecked, its unexpected consequences will consume all, including those deploying it as an instrument of power.

My fellow patriots. I have committed no crime. Today I am facing persecution just because I love my people. I am being persecuted because I am a true democrat. I am giving you concrete dividends of democracy. You asked for the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 to regulate the relationship between farmers and herders in the State which I obliged.

Now that the Ranching Law is in place, the enemies of our State are out to harass and blackmail us. I assure you that we will not be deterred. What exactly is wrong in asking the people of Benue to ranch their cattle? The world is not waiting for us. If we don’t ranch now, we will be forced to do so soon because there will be no land to practice open grazing anywhere in Nigeria.

What is wrong in changing party? When I left PDP some years ago to join APC, I was exercising my democratic rights. I have left APC back to PDP where I served for over 12 years at various times as executive committee member. I left as a Minister in the PDP government and joined APC but I was not persecuted.

Permit me to call on you, my dear people of Benue state to remain prayerful, calm, and law abiding. As I have always told you “Though the giants may be on the way to hinder, God will surely give us victory”.

Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Long Live Benue State,
Long live the good people of Benue State.

Thank you.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/ortom-makes-another-shocking-revelation.html

Konga, e-commerce firm, has relaunched Pay On Delivery (POD) for the e-commerce market in Nigeria.

The service, which was launched August 1,2018, started with customers in Lagos, with plans to extend same service to other states from September 1st 2018.

The service is coming after Konga effectively achieved same day delivery of approximately 97 per cent of product orders in major cities in the last 30 days.



Confirming the development, the CEO, Konga Online, Mr. Nick Imudia, disclosed that POD was suspended when erstwhile owners – Naspers and AB Kinnevik were in discussions before the acquisition of the business by the Zinox Group.

“We have taken our time to restructure, improve our technology and capacity in terms of our own staff and logistics to meet customers’ expectations. We have invested substantially in our logistics arm, K-Express culminating in the acquisition of new line-haul trucks, delivery vansand motor bikes to meet the commitments of not just POD, but also achieve a minimum of 85 per cent same day delivery of major products categories by July 2019 across the nation as mandated by the Board of Konga.

“Someone must make it happen, and we have decided to take the bull by the horns with new mega warehousing and storage facilities being opened across the country with best in class technologies,” he affirmed.
Imudia, also stated that Konga, in line with its status as the biggest composite e-commerce company in Africa, is expanding its retail network as promised by the company’s management, with a target of 100 stores before the end of 2019 but with a long-term ambition of achieving 774 stores by 2022

“Effective August 1, 2018 and considering Nigeria’s deficient payment system, Konga customers had several payment and delivery options. This will go a long way to excite our customers and expand the numerous order fulfilment channels available to our customers.

“In addition to pre-payment and payment on delivery, you have the additional option of ordering online to pay and collect from the nearest Konga retail store. Our customers can also walk into any of our stores nationwide and with the help of our staff, order products we do not have in store, then pay and collect when it is delivered at the store or we deliver it at their door-steps. At Konga, we consider the challenges of our market and simplify things for our customers. No other e-commerce company offers these delivery and payment options on the continent,” he concluded.

www.akelicious.net

As part of efforts to further drive financial inclusion in the country, the Nigeria InterBank Settlement System (NIBSS) in collaboration with banks and the telecommunications companies, yesterday relaunched the mCASH solution.

mCASH is an innovative solution that was designed to facilitate low-value retail payments, grow e-payments by providing accessible electronic channels to a wider range of users and to further enhance financial inclusion in Nigeria.

This solution also extends e-payment benefits to payers and merchants at the bottom of the pyramid where usage of cash has been predominant.


Speaking at an event in Lagos, the chief executive officer of NIBSS, Mr. Adebisi Shonubi, explained that the product was launched again, after some issues that constrained its acceptance by members of the public were resolved.

“When we started Mcash for example, we did not anticipate the full effect of the sim swap problems that existed. So, when it came to be, we had to slow down because sim swap was a major issue from a loss and a risk perspective.

“The telcos sat with us and came up with some frameworks that allow us identify sims that have been swap and therefore prevents them. Since we did that, the fraud rate has dropped.

“So, for us it is being a learning experience and that is why we have built in an almost perfect product, which is why we are relaunching it,” Shonubi explained.

He said the solution was developed to support the country’s drive towards a cash-less society.

“We talk about cashless, we talk about financial inclusion. Really, all those conversations are about how to get people to put cash in their pocket and find other ways of doing financial transactions.

“It involves two kinds of people – the buyer and the seller, and both have to be comfortable for it to work.

“The idea behind the mCASH was to make it easier and replace the use of physical cash. And for that to happen, we needed to sit down with a number of parties because every individual element in the chain has a part to play.

“Many times, you hear people talk about unique solutions in the world, but over the last two years we have been creating our own unique blend of what is possible in the world.

“For mCASH, we would not charge any fee for the USSD. The banks said they would give access to their customers and because it is targeted at the lower value of transactions, we had to do away with some fees that we normally charge people. The telcos have committed to provide USSD channels and to give it priority.

In his keynote address, the chief executive officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Mr. Uzoma Dozie, who was represented by the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Mrs Caroline Anyanwu, pointed out that prior to the mCASH, users of payment solutions were facing a number of challenges.

“There is technology phobia, where people say they can’t use technology. We must leverage the best innovation and technology to drive financial inclusion locally and I believe NIBSS is prepared for that.

“mCASH is cheap and secured and would significantly increase the volume of mobile payments in Nigeria. But banks must deploy aggressive awareness to ensure that is widely accepted,” she added.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/nibss-others-seek-to-boost-financial.html

Almost five years after core investors put $1.2 billion (about N427bn) to acquire 60 per cent stakes in 11 electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) in 2013, they say they are yet to recover the investments or make profit.


The investors disclosed this yesterday in Abuja at a joint briefing by the Association of Electricity Distributors and Investors and the Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED).

The Executive Director, Research and Advocacy at ANED, Chief Sunday Oduntan said, “DisCo investors, who paid $1.4bn (about N427bn) for the distribution assets have not made any return on their investments, a condition which was the basis of the investment after a five-year performance period.”


He revealed a N1.3 trillion market shortfall in the DisCos’ financial books that hindered their performance on improved metering, customer service and increased customer connections.


The DisCos’ operators also decried wrong investments by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in cities instead of unconnected rural areas using the $350m World Bank fund that could have addressed deficit in the electricity market.


“Additionally, N78bn has been put in the budget for “distribution” projects to be implemented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). Categorically, until the tariff gap is addressed by the government, we do not see a pathway to meeting both commitments,” they said.


Chairman of Aura Energy Company (AURA), the core investor in Jos DisCo, Alhaji Tukur Modibbo, who spoke for the investors said the firms have not gotten any return on their investments.


Modibbo said the labour crisis during the peak of the privatisation in 2013 hindered the potential investors from doing a technical due diligence of the assets before they made payment to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).


He said: “I was part of the team; we had to rely on records given to us by BPE. I can tell you that the records were not accurate as there was no technical audit or a financial audit of the firms when they were under PHCN.”


The investors said they found that the estimated Aggregate Technical, Collection and Commercial (ATC&C) losses, customer enumeration and metering requirement by BPE were wrong, coupled with huge old legacy debts which the DisCos took from the N213bn CBN loan which they are paying interest for.


Modibbo said the investors would want to meet with the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, on the issue of service improvement. “We have invested much in the utility but we have not recorded any gain,” the added.


The investors said they are ready to quit if government would refund their acquisition investments as they have declared a force majeure twice, a condition for their refund with the Federal Government refusing to accept their quit notice.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/08/phcn-privatisation-electricity.html

Staff of the Benue State House of Assembly, including the Clerk of the House, Torese Agena, were, on Tuesday, chased out of the Assembly complex by armed policemen.

The development followed the event of the previous day where eight members of the Assembly, led by the impeached Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, with the help of security personnel, gained access into the Assembly chambers and commenced an impeachment process against Governor Samuel Ortom.

The heavily-armed security operatives, drawn from the Police and DSS, were said to have prevented from entering the Assembly, the remaining 22 lawmakers perceive to be loyal to Governor Ortom.

The policemen, on Tuesday, who were said to be acting on ‘order from above,’ also put the gate of the premises under locks even as they completely took over the complex.

Speaking with newsmen, in Makurdi, Agena who lamented the development, said the policemen stormed the Assembly complex without any prior notice and asked all staff to leave the premises.

According to Agena, “Today, staff of the Assembly were, after two hours of resumption of work, asked to vacate the Assembly. The security personnel said they were acting on orders given to them by the Police Commissioner, Besan Gwana.

“This is one harassment too many. I therefore urge President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Inspector General of Police to withdraw his men from the Assembly so that staff can carry out their duties unhindered.”

On his part, Security Adviser to the Governor, Col. Paul Hemba (rtd), who confirmed that, at the time of filling this report, the policemen were still occupying the House of Assembly, said on getting the information, he immediately put a call through to the Police Commissioner, who told him he was acting on orders from above.

Meanwhile, a coalition of the Benue Civil Society Organisations has expressed regret and apprehension over the political developments in the state in the last few days leading to further socio-political tension in a state.


The Coalition, in a statement signed by Barr. Justin Gbajir, however, warned that the current political tussle in Benue State, which constitutes an assault on democracy and democratic ideals, has the tendency to lead to a breakdown of law and order and escalate the already existing humanitarian crisis in the state.

The group also noted that the level of security deployed to facilitate the political drama of Monday, July 30, 2018 at the Benue State House of Assembly, would have been enough to prevent the incessant and unchecked killings in the state if the Federal Government had demonstrated enough sincerity and value for every Nigerian’s life.

The Coalition said, “In the event of the desperation of politicians to take or hold on to power at all cost, the people they serve to protect are always at the receiving end.

“Therefore, the civil society as a veritable democratic institution, must stay on the side of peace and well-being of the people.”

The coalition added that the political crisis in Benue State must not be allowed to degenerate further into a state that would give the Federal Government the excuse to grant a state of emergency in Benue State.

“Therefore, all political gladiators in the crisis must amicably resolve the impasse in the interest of the peculiar security situation of Benue State and the effect of it on the Benue person particularly, women and children. Benue has had enough.

“We call on the international community and bodies to intervene and save the nascent Nigerian democracy from further militarised assault which can lead to total siege on all forms of democratic freedoms.

“Nigeria sets the pace for Africa. Therefore, a threat to democracy in Nigeria is a threat to democracy in Africa.

“We implore the government of Nigeria to give attention to the rising humanitarian situation in the IDP camps in Benue State and work modalities for the safety of lives and property and further return all IDPs to their respective homes and businesses.

“We call on all citizens of Nigeria in Benue State to be law abiding and to do their best to exercise their civic responsibility in peace as the 2019 elections approach.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/police-chase-out-clerk-staff-from-benue.html

After what feels like forever for some users, WhatsApp has updated its messaging service with support for group video calls. This will allow you to chat with up to three people simultaneously on its Android and iOS apps.

1. If you are itching to try this feature out, you’ll need to follow a few, easy steps.

2. First, make sure your app is updated to the latest version.

3. Start a one-on-one video call with a contact like you normally would.

4. Then, tap the “add participant” button at the top right of your screen.

5. And voila! You’re making a video call with more than one person.

One-on-one video calls were introduced to the application in 2016 and voice-calling in 2014. Its users spend up to 2 billion minutes per day talking on the phone. But WhatsApp took its time adding this feature that allows you to call more people at a time, regardless of where you are.

WhatsApp calls reportedly have end-to-end encryption like standard messages on the platform.

Facebook, the parent company for both WhatsApp and Instagram, announced in May at its F8 developer conference that it was building this feature (group calling with both voice and video support) for both apps. The feature became available on Facebook in June, with the same four-person limit.

The feature is engineered to work under less-than-stellar network conditions, according to the company, so you can video chat a friend or family member from wherever you are as long as you can connect to the internet.

Although this is good news for many active WhatsApp users, iOS 12’s FaceTime allows for up to 32 people at once.

Either way, this feature is rolling out today to its 1.5 billion monthly active users, so enjoy!

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/see-how-to-make-group-video-calls-on.html

There has been a reduction in the retail price of electricity by 6 per cent, subsequently cushioning 3.6 million users in Kenya.

Kenya’s Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) announced the reduction.

According to ERC, the overall unit cost of power will reduce from Kshs 17.77/($0.18)KWh in 2017/18 to Kshs 16.64($0.17)/Kwh 2018/19 representing an overall reduction of costs by 6% over the Tariff Control period.

“The lifeline tariff which is meant to cushion the low income households, who at the moment constitute 3.6 million,” said ERC.

Additionally, commercial and industrial customers on the average will get a reduction of 4.4 percent.

“This is in addition to the 50 percent discount in the time of Use Tariffs and the proposed Special Economic Zone tariff,” said ERC in a statement.

To ensure that there’s equity and consumers pay for power only when they consume, all fixed charges for all consumer categories have been removed.

This is meant to reduce the many cost items in the customer bills and simplify understanding of the bills, said ERC. APA

NAN reports that World Bank had granted Kenya one billion dollar concessional loan for energy, transport and water infrastructure projects in poorer regions of the country’s north and northeast.

The World Bank sai, that the regions were being targeted because they had benefited little from Kenya’s strong economic performance.

“Most of the money will be spent in the counties of Garissa, Isiolo, Lamu, Mandera, Marsabit, Samburu, Tana River, Turkana, Wajir, and West Pokot which fall below national averages on development indicators,” the bank said.

“These infrastructure investments are laying the ground for additional operations that will enable sustainable livelihoods with targeted support to farmers and pastoralists in the region.

“It will also ensure expanded support to the most vulnerable households through regular cash transfers.”

The East African economy is growing by about 5.8 per cent this year, after electoral turmoil and drought cut last year’s expansion to the lowest level in more than five years.

The funding will go to six projects, including an off-grid energy access initiative worth 150 million dollars.

The World Bank said the off-grid energy project would provide electricity to 1.2 million people and contribute 96 megawatts to the national grid.

A further 500 million dollars would go toward a 740 kilometres stretch of the Isiolo-Wajir-Mandera road corridor in the northeast as well as enhance internet access there.

The new loan is in addition to 1.4 billion dollars the World Bank has already invested in the region in the areas of health, transport, agriculture and social protection.

The World Bank said “given the significant needs, more needed to be done in a targeted and coordinated manner if the bank is to support the Government of Kenya in its efforts in the north and northeastern region.”

Typically, World Bank concessional loans have zero or very low interest rates and have repayments periods of 25 to 40 years, with a five or 10-year grace period.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/electricity-price-drops-by-6.html

Propelled by the desire to encourage cross border economic development, Nigeria and the Republic of Niger recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the construction of a hydrocarbon pipeline and a petroleum refinery.

The pipeline is to be constructed from Niger to a border town in Katsina State, Nigeria. The new refinery would process up to 100,000 and 150,000 barrels per day of crude from Niger Republic.

The choice of Katsina was informed by its short distance to Niger, a factor that would lower the pipeline distance and cost of construction.


President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after signing of the MoU, inaugurated a steering committee for the projects which is to be co-chaired by Nigerian and Nigerien ministers. Buhari also inaugurated a separate team led by Nigeria’s Engineer Rabiu Suleiman, supported by the Director General Hydrocarbon of Niger Republic, to develop the implementation roadmap and strategy for both the refinery and pipeline projects.


The two committees are expected by December 2018 to come up with a detailed roadmap and guideline leading to actual execution of the projects. The roadmap would cover bankable feasibility studies for the refinery and pipeline projects, optimal project site, pipeline routes and details, security plan and selected consortia of investors for both the refinery and pipeline projects.


The projected duration for completion of the projects is put at between three to four years.


The signing of the MoU and subsequent inauguration of the two committees has continued to elicit questions from Nigerians. The questions have largely been raised about the level of government involvement, the funding for the project, crude supply from Niger and security issues in the region.


Where is the fund coming from?


So far, the estimated cost of the refinery and pipeline projects remain unclear as it would only be determined by the outcome of the technical study of the committee.


However, a Nigerian investor, Alhaji Ibrahim Zakari, said about $2 billion would be needed for the construction of the refinery.


Zakari announced that his company, Blak Oil Energy Refinery had mobilized substantial part of the $2 billion needed for the construction of the refinery.


“The funds are coming from abroad, US, Canada, India and the Middle East,” he said.


It is instructive to note that the project will be private sector driven with the full support of the governments of both countries, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, also said, explaining that almost nothing of both governments’ funds would be put in the projects. According to him, about 50 investors were at the MoU signing at the State House to observe the processes and firm up their initial expressions of interest.


Crude source


Questions have also been raised about the volume of crude supply from Niger Republic for the proposed refinery that will have capacity to process between 100,000 and 150,000 barrels of crude per day.


Kachikwu said the landlocked West African country currently produces “enough to support about 60-70,000 barrels per day but lots of fields that have been capped will be opened (with the coming of the new refinery.)”


Moreso, China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) has ramped up Niger crude output to nearly 70,000 barrels per day this year from under 20,000 barrels, according to Niger’s statistic agency Institut National de la Statistique du Niger.


The Nigerien authorities have also assured that there is ongoing plan to expand crude oil production to about 90,000 barrels per day as the refinery project comes on stream.


How would Nigeria benefit?


The project when completed is expected to provide job opportunities for more than 2,500 Nigerians.


Buhari while speaking on the benefits of the projects said the initiative will not only provide a reliable market for the stranded crude from Niger Republic but will also provide petroleum products for Nigeria, as the country “aggressively pursues its aspiration on petroleum product self-sufficiency”.


The general benefits to be derived from these projects by both countries are enormous, Kachikwu said. He said other similar projects getting government support across the country include the Agip refinery for which studies are ongoing in Bayelsa State.


“You have the Port Harcourt refinery which when we finish refurbishing it, will cover the South South and South East. The Warri and Kaduna refineries are all there including the Dangote in Lagos.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/things-to-know-about-niger-nigeria.html

The Chairman of the Reformed All Progressives Congress, Buba Galadima, said President Muhammadu Buhari was against forming an alliance with a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, who had nominated Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate before the 2015 elections.

He also said he blocked the Serving Overseer of the Latter Rain Assembly, Pastor Tunde Bakare, from becoming the running mate of Buhari during the build-up to the 2015 Presidential election.


Galadima said this during an interview with ‘The Interview’, an Abuja-based monthly magazine.

He, however, said he was the one who insisted that he would not sign the correspondence to the Independent National Electoral Commission unless Bakare’s name was removed.

Galadima said, “Buhari was the one who was against the alliance with Tinubu and I don’t want to say anything. Let Buhari deny what I have said. I was for it and I organised it and I wrote a memo and even produced a candidate for the Vice-Presidency, this same Osinbajo.

“We were a committee of three: Osinbajo, Sule Hamma and me. Sule Hamma promoted the alliance more than anybody else. It was Buhari that refused. Let him deny before us and we will show him. Whenever you see him, ask him why Buba Galadima said he wouldn’t sign INEC’s form with Tunde Bakare’s name.

“I don’t want to say much. Buhari cannot challenge all these things we are saying.”

The R-APC chairman said his disagreement with the President was based on principles and not selfish interest.

He said it was Buhari, who gave out his (Galadima’s) daughter in marriage, adding that his grandson was named after the President.


Galadima added, “There are no differences between Buhari and me. My daughter visits him in the Villa. He gave out my daughter in marriage. Her first child was named after him. What we are doing is on the basis of principles.”

The R-APC chairman said he would not blame those around the President but only Buhari.

He said he would not blame the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, or Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, because the buck stops on the President’s table.

Galadima added, “I don’t believe in any inner circle. The buck stops on Buhari’s table. If Buhari says he doesn’t want to see Mamman Daura or Abba Kyari or any other person, they will not spend two seconds in the Villa.

“So, if there is any inadequacy or shortcoming, it should be that of the President, not an aide. After all, they can only advise. They can’t force his hand. For example, the Nigerian ambassador was in Israel and was said to have attended the official opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.

“And there was this huge outcry by all Nigerians because this is counter to Nigeria’s policy on Israel. Buhari said he would investigate. Now it has been three months. Where is the result of the investigation?”

Buhari’s undoing, he said, was responsible for the gale of defections that hit the ruling All Progressives Congress.

But the President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign Organisation has dismissed the defection of some APC lawmakers and other members from the party, saying it will not have any negative impact on Buhari’s re-election.

The group, in a statement on Sunday by its spokesman, Festus Keyamo (SAN), said the defection of the lawmakers and the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, would not harm the President’s re-election.

He stated that even if two more governors, who were said to be planning to defect, left the APC, it would not affect Buhari.

Keyamo stated, “The President won with wide margin in the past in some states without the support of majority of the politicians from those states who moved recently to join the opposition party.

“Also, we are all witnessing the significant gains Mr. President is making in several places where he lost in the past, notably in the South-South and the South-East.”

According to him, 12 northern states of Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Niger have 30 million registered voters.

He said that these “are states the President had consistently won with considerable wide margin in past elections, especially in 2011 and 2015.”

This, he said, was achieved despite the fact that most of those states were being controlled by political parties other than his own.

“In 2011, when the President was in the Congress for Progressive Change, despite being states with sitting opposition governors, National Assembly members, state assembly members and local government chairmen, the President posted close to 11 million votes against all odds, defeating all his rivals in these 12 states.

“In 2015, despite the majority of these states being in opposition after the merger that formed the APC, the President posted close to 11 million votes again with the PDP not scoring up to 20 per cent of the votes.

He recalled that in Kano, during the 2011 presidential election, the President scored 1,624,543 votes as the CPC candidate, while in 2015, he had 1,903,999 votes as the APC candidate.

Keyamo also analysed the effect of defections in nine states Buhari lost in 2011, but won in 2015. These, he said, included Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Kwara, Kogi, Adamawa and Benue.

He stated, “The five south-western states have registered voters strength of more than 14 million out of the about 20 million voters in these nine states. Today, those five states are being controlled by the APC. Ekiti will join before the 2019 elections after the Governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi, is sworn in.

“All the political gladiators in those south-western states that helped to tilt the election in favour of the President in 2015 are still solidly with him and more have joined. The entire defunct ACN structures that moved into APC are solidly behind the President.”

Meanwhile, some members of the House of Representatives on Sunday described as “laughable,” the current moves by the APC to stop the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, from defecting to the PDP or any other party.

The lawmakers spoke under the aegis of Parliamentary Democrats Group, dominated largely by the PDP members and other opposition party members.

They spoke after their meeting in Abuja. They expressed surprise that the APC suddenly began to appreciate the worth of Dogara amid the gale of defections that hit it since last week at the National Assembly.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Timothy Golu, the group advised the APC not to waste its time as the Speaker would leave whenever it pleased him to do so.

The group also said Dogara would remain the Speaker upon defection as the APC alone did not have the two-thirds majority (240 out 360 members) to remove the Speaker.

“It is a futile one and a sheer waste of time. It is laughable that the APC is running cap in hand, begging the Speaker to remain in a party that has for so long failed to acknowledge his relevance and contribution to its existence…

“Nemesis has now caught up with the party as the Speaker and other men of conscience have decided to pitch their tents with a party that recognises that the collective gain of Nigerians is greater than a few primordial interests.”

There were indications over the weekend that the APC had initiated a reconciliation meeting between Dogara and the Governor of Bauchi State, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, to settle their local political dispute in the state.

The Speaker is from Bauchi State. The APC’s alleged indifference to the disputes, which weighed heavily against Dogara, was the main reason the Speaker sought to dump the party.

However, the ruling party was said to have intensified reconciliation moves since the emergency of Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman and the start of the latest defections.

But, the PDG urged Dogara to ignore the APC and defect to another party as soon as possible.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/buhari-didnt-want-alliance-with-tinubu.html

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) said it has rehabilitated 42 workers who sustained injuries in the course of work in the last one year.

The Managing Director of NSITF, Adebayo Somefun stated this in Abuja when members of the Civil Society Coalition for Transparency visited him.

Somefun said that the fund provided artificial limbs and legs for workers that lost parts of their bodies in the course of work as well as paid them sustenance allowances in addition to their salaries.


He said that NSITF is collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to stem corruption and enthrone the culture of transparency in its processes.


He said, “Definitely there were some level of fraud that were committed in the NSITF before we came on board, which was why we decided to work closely with the EFCC, ICPC, and BPP to build a culture of integrity of operations for NSITF towards the prevention of any fraudulent acts during our tenure and beyond.”


He said that the present management has overhauled the procurement operation through competitive bidding and advertisement in Newspapers for procurement in order to ensure transparency and accountability.


He revealed that the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation has approved the recruitment of 22 law officers to boost enforcement of Employees Compensation Scheme (ECS) and that 2,598 staffers have been trained to boost staff efficiency.


Somefun said that the Electronic Revenue Collection, Claims and Compliance (ERC3) system, which will begin on the 1st August 2018 was introduced to galvanise investment, compliance and compensation activities as well as overall operation of the Fund, saying efforts are currently intensified to ensure data integrity of the system.


Also speaking, the Executive Director Operation of NSITF, Kemi Nelson said that the Fund has established a special account that is fully dedicated to the payment of claims and compensation.


In his remarks, the President of Civil Society Coalition for Transparency, Mike Femi lauded the management for introducing innovations that have repositioned the Fund for greater efficiency.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nsitf-rehabilitates-42-workers.html

Chairman, Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim has described the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai as a "loose cannon and a liar" who is one of the people that got the All Progresives Congress (APC) into the current mess it found itself now.
Reacting to a statement by El-Rufai on a Hausa radio Programme where he described the present Senate under the leadership of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as the worst, Senator Rafiu stated that the Kaduna Governor is known as a "flippant and loose talker" as the facts do not support his position.


"Maybe we need to educate this aggrieved Governor that this Senate in three years already has the highest number of bills with relevance to improving the economy, eliminating insecurity and corruption since 1999, even though we still have 10 months to the end of our tenure. Similarly, we have treated more petitions than the number that all the past Senate combined had done. Our interventions on key issues that affect the day to day living of Nigerians have remained unparalleled.


"El- Rufai is an aggrieved Governor. He is pained by the rejection of his request for foreign loans by the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debt which is headed by a Senator from Kaduna State, Shehu Sanni. The Governor has been speaking from both sides of the mouth.


" He had sent several persons to the Senate President on this loan. I am aware that when he sent the current Minister of Finance to Dr. Saraki, the latter made it known that he too was helpless on the issue as there was no personal reason that will make him stand against such a request. The Senate President advised the Governor to reach out to the three Senators from the State and get them to support the decision as he, the Senate President, would find it difficult to overrule the Senators, particularly since one of them is the chairman of the concerned committee. The three Senators from Kaduna State insisted that an approval for the loan would sentence Kaduna State to many years of indebtedness.


"I am aware of the text message that this same El-Rufai sent to Saraki few weeks ago,thanking him for the useful and supportive discussion the Senate President had with the Minister of Finance on the Kaduna loan issue and commending this same Saraki for the leadership he has provided on a number of issues.


" For him to now be making this kind of nonsensical and reckless statements against the Senate President shows that he is a double-faced, reckless, immature and unstable liar. People should ignore him. He is one of the people who destroyed APC up to the point that it is and President Buhari had better realized that with a supporter like el-Rufai, he does not need an opponent again", Rafiu stated.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/el-rufai-is-liar-loose-cannon-senator.html

The United Nations is running out of cash, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned, saying the cash crunch is the worst in years.

The UN chief urged member states to pay their mandatory contributions on time and in full, so that the world intergovernmental body could continue to deliver on its key mandates.

In a letter to UN staff, the secretary-general stated that he had “written to member states regarding the troubling financial situation facing the United Nations.’’

Guterres wrote: “Caused primarily by the delayed contributions of member states to the regular budget, this new cash shortfall is unlike those we have experienced previously.“Our cash flow has never been this low so early in the calendar year, and the broader trend is also concerning: we are running out of cash sooner and staying in the red longer.’’

Nigeria had paid its annual dues for 2018 in full, making it the 74th out of the 193 member states of the global intergovernmental organisation to fulfill its financial obligations.

Investigations revealed that Nigeria paid $5,080,178 on April 5, 2018 when 119 member states were yet to pay their regular budgets, making Nigeria the 10th country in Africa to pay its UN regular budgets in full.

At the end of June 2018, the amount of money paid by member states for the 2018 assessment stood at around 1.49 billion dollars, while at the same time in 2017, the amount paid to the regular budget was just over 1.70 billion dollars.

The General Assembly in December approved a 5.4 billion dollars two-year budget for the United Nations which was separate from the UN peacekeeping budget.

A total of 112 out of the 193 countries have paid their dues in full as of July, although this list did not include the United States, the UN’s number one financial contributor.

The outstanding amount owed for 2018 remained at nearly 810 million dollars, with 81 states yet to pay.

The United States pays 22 percent of the UN budget, but the payment occurs later in the year, in line with its national budget cycle.

During the 2017 gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump complained that the United States was shouldering too much of the cost of the world body.

“I have appealed to member states to pay their assessments on time and in full, and highlighted the risk the current situation poses to the delivery of mandates and to the reputation of our organisation,” Guterres wrote in the letter.

In 2016, Nigeria had asked the UN to review the country’s assessed contributions to the global organisation in view of the economic recession in the country at the time.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Ms Winifred Oyo-Ita, made the call at the UN Headquarters in New York when she visited the Chairman of the UN Fifth Committee, Kingston Rhodes.

The Fifth Committee is the committee of the General Assembly with responsibilities for administrative and budgetary matters.

Nigeria was expected to pay outstanding contributions of 10.2 million dollars as at December 2016.

However, Oyo-Ita said: “Due to recession, we want something done to review our dues and we want the UN to reconsider our assessment due to the realities of the time.

“What Nigeria is being asked to pay now is on the high side. Nigeria is committed to paying its contributions but we want some considerations. We want something to be done to re-adjust our scale.”

Nigeria’s scale of assessment for 2013 to 2015 was 0.119 before the re-basing of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2014.

However, with the re-basing of the GDP from $270bn to over $500bn, the scale of assessment of Nigeria increased to 0.209 for the period 2016 to 2018.

Nigeria has been pursuing the re-adjustment of the scale due to the economic reality of the country and the country’s scale is due for review this year.

Speaking to journalists, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, said that the UN fully understood that some member states operated on different fiscal timetables.

She, however, said that unlike in previous years, the cash flow had never been this low so early in the calendar year.

Dujarric also said the UN did not have much financial flexibility and relies on member states to pay their dues on time and in full.

The spokesperson added that the UN Secretariat would now be looking into ways of reducing expenses with a focus on non-staff costs.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/united-nations-running-out-of-cash.html

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, has emphasized the need for all stakeholders in the country to consider the independence of the legislature as paramount if truly they want true democracy.


The party, however, stated that Nigeria has gradually been turned a laughing stock before the international community, because of harassment and intimidation of members of the National Assembly by the executive.

This is coming following the alleged siege on the residence of the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and that of his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu by police officers on Tuesday.


But, the force headquarters in Abuja, through its spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, denied the alleged police siege on the residences of the two principal officers of the National Assembly on Tuesday.

The SDP chairman in Abia state, Hon. Chidi Nwosu, who made this known in a chat with Akelicious on Thursday, condemned in its entirety, the alleged security siege on the Abuja residence of the two presiding officers of the National Assembly.

According to the former Abia lawmaker, “It is very unfortunate. That is what happens when the executive wants to do the job of the legislature, or when the executive wants to have absolute control in order to protect misgovernance and irregularities in the system.


“Because, it is said that, the legislature is the watchdog for the people. So, Tuesday’s incident also shows another traumatic display by the executive to the legislature.

“With the security siege on the residences of Senator Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, the international community and other democratic countries would be laughing at Nigeria.

“I will advocate that the independence of the legislature should be considered most important and paramount in the minds of Nigerians if actually, we want to be democratic”.

“With the way it is today, there is no sign that the current leadership in the country or the government of the day, wants Nigeria to be democratized”.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/sdp-speaks-on-police-siege-to.html

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Sango-Ota Command, on Thursday said that two persons died while some others sustained injuries in an accident that involved three vehicles at Ilo-Awela Road, Sango-Ota.

Mr Adekunle Oguntoyinbo, the Sango-Ota Unit Commander of FRSC, who confirmed the incident in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, said that the accident happened at about 9.45 p. m. on Wednesday.

Oguntoyinbo explained that a Mack truck with registration number LND 615XP that was heading to Lagos from Ilo-Awela road, lost control due to speeding and rammed into a Mazda bus with registration number KSF 102XD and a tanker with registration number APP 273XP in the process of crossing the road median.

He said that two out of 18 persons in the bus died while some others sustained injuries.

“The corpses of the victims had been deposited at the morgue of General Hospital, Ota, while those injured are receiving intensive treatment at Lead way Hospital, Ota,” he said.

The Unit Commander, however, advised motorists who are not familiar with the terrain of Sango-Ota and its environs to always drive carefully and ensure their vehicles are always in perfect condition.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/accident-claims-2-lives-at-sango-ota.html

A House of Representatives member, Rep. Abdulrazak Atunwa, who with 36 others defected from All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, said more members would leave the party in the coming weeks.

Briefing newsmen in company of some of the members who moved to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atunwa said that Tuesday’s defection was just the first batch of members that would leave the APC. He said that the public should expect more as many members had indicated interest to defect from the party. Atunwa said that the APC was a party they all laboured for as people came from various parties, campaigned and formed a government in 2015. According to him, we came together because of what was being proposed to the people of Nigeria as we believed in change and a better Nigeria. The legislator said that they believed in respect for the rule of law, improved education, social welfare of the people as the men, women and youth of the country deserved better among other ideals. “Sadly, no sooner we formed government in May, 2015, the party put itself on course to be derailed and that derailment has continued to today. “Some of us have been agitating that we should go back to the ideals that brought us together, but the party was not listening. “The party rather embarked on victimization and criminalisation of its members, those perceived as opponents and have divergent views,” he said. He said that the party set itself on the line of destruction when the aggrieved members brought up their concerns but were castigated and referred to as “inconsequential and as nobody”. “Putting all that together and the interest of the country, particularly as the APC has derailed from the ideals that will propel Nigeria to advance, we felt we have to take this step we took today,” he said. Atunwa said the defectors were interested in economic development, respect for parliament and rule of law, while the APC was concerned about membership to form majority. He, however, said that the PDP in the past three years had learnt its lesson. The lawmaker added that they had monitored and had seen that the PDP had taken corrective measures. He said that having been beaten at the polls in 2015, the PDP had got its acts together and was now a reformed party, adding that it was the reason they felt confident to return to the party. Also, Rep. Hassan Saleh, who also defected, said that from the ward congress up to the national convention of the APC, no fewer than 25 states in the country had parallel congresses. He questioned the process that brought about the national convention given the issues at ward levels, saying that the foundation was faulty. According to him, we cannot continue to hide our faces like nothing is wrong when the problem is there. Rep. Alliyu Madaki said some of the defectors joined the APC because it campaigned and promised to ensure security of lives and properties. He said section 14 of the Constitution said that the primary responsibility of government “is the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians”. According to him, nobody is safe today in Nigeria; under the PDP administration, l could drive from Abuja to Kano with myb eyes closed but now, I depend on consistent prayer to arrive safely. Newsmen report that 33 lawmakers in the lower chambers defected from the APC to PDP, four others to African Democratic Party (ADC) while one resigned. The house, however, adjourned to proceed on eight weeks break and will resume plenary on Sept. 25.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/more-defections-loom-in-house-of-reps.html

Since N5 billion was slashed from the provisions of Pension Redemption Fund and the public service wage adjustment by the National Assembly before passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, it has been pain, anger, sadness, frustration and disappointment for retired federal public servants, next of kin of deceased public servants and indeed stakeholders in the pension management sector.

Federal Government pensioners who were excited by President Muhammadu Buhari’s intention to remedy some of the issues noticed in the budget passed by the National Assembly, have pleaded with him to step up the process of a supplementary budget to ensure that benefits are paid without further delay. Spirit behind pension reform Ivor Takor, a Legal Practitioner and Executive Director, Centre For Pension Rights Advocacy, CPRA, said “The failure to pay retirement benefits including death claims as and when due is at the heart of the public sector pension crisis in Nigeria. The cause being the irregular settlement of accrued pension liabilities of the Federal Government because of inadequate funding of the Federal Government Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund account with the Central Bank of Nigeria and death claims of deceased federal public servants. Payment of retirement benefits to retired federal public servants and death claims are made in batches only whenever funds are released for the purpose. “This is contrary to the spirit behind pension reform, whose objective as stated in section 1 (c) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, is to ensure that every person who worked in the federal civil service, Federal Capital Territory, states and local governments or the private sector receives his retirement benefits as and when due. Consequently, the passing of the annual budget by the National Assembly is something that is expected to bring relief and joy to those who are on the line awaiting payment. It’s therefore understandable that the revelation by President Buhari during the 2018 budget signing ritual, on Wednesday 20 June 2018, that the sum of N5 billion was slashed from the provisions of Pension Redemption Fund and public service wage adjustment by National Assembly before passing the 2018 Appropriation Bill, brought pain, anger, sadness, frustration and disappointment to retired federal public servants, next of kin of deceased public servants and indeed stakeholders in the pension management sector”|. Takor who is also a retiree of a federal government agency, contended that the Act also provided among others that “the Budget Office of the Federation on receipt of the advice from the Commission shall ensure adequate appropriation for the shortfall and subsequent payment. The amount in the redemption fund shall be used by the Central Bank of Nigeria, as prescribed by the Commission, to redeem any retirement benefit bonds issued pursuant to section 15(1)(a) of the Act. Unfortunately, successive governments failed to adequately fund the Federal Government Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund from where accrued pension rights of employees are redeemed. It is therefore sad that the National Assembly, to whom retirees have always been complaining over the nonpayment of their benefits has slahed budgetary allocation for payment of retirees. “We concede that the Constitution gives the National Assembly powers to scrutinise and approve budget proposals laid before it by the executive arm of government and in that process, the Assembly is not expected to rubber stamp whatever is laid before it and return same to the executive arm. However, in “satiating this constitutional obligation, members should have at the back of their minds that pensions are actual liabilities of government and not just estimates; therefore they require little or no alterations”. “Mr President did say that all the issues raised notwithstanding, he signed the 2018 budget in order not to further slowdown the pace of recovery of the economy, which has doubtlessly been affected by the delay in passing the budget. I also hasten to add that it will help to reduce the suffering of retirees and relations of deceased public servants if the money so appropriated for the payment of their benefits is released timely. It is also heartwarming, when the President said he intends to seek remedy for some of the issues he raised through a supplementary and/or amendment to the budget which he hopes the National Assembly will expeditiously consider. Mr President should in line with the spirit of his pronouncement, cause to be laid before the National Assembly, a supplementary and/or amendment to the budget, to remedy some of the issues he raised including the N5billion slashed from the provisions of Federal Government Retirement Benefit Bond Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment. In the interest of retirees and families of deceased public servants, the National Assembly should expeditiously consider the request”.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nass-wants-us-to-die-without-our.html

The All Progressives Congress has become the minority in the upper chamber as 15 senators elected on the platform of the party joined the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.


Senators Musa Rabiu Kwakwanso and Dino‎ Melaye along with more than 13 others have announced their defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Others are Rafiu Ibrahim, Ubale Shittu, Barnabas Gemade, Bayero Nafada, Suleiman Hunkuyi, Monsurat Sumonu, Shaba Lafiagi among others.

They announced their defection in a letter read on the floor of the Senate by Bukola Saraki on Tuesday.

Full details at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/breaking-apc-becomes-minority-as-15.html

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, said the party is not jittery about members of the the R-APC joining the Peoples Democratic Party.


He also said his wooing them to stay with the APC was not an act of cowardice.

Oshiomhole spoke at the launch of a book by Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim (APC, Yobe-East). He said his gesture to the aggrieved members was all about restoring peace and getting justice for those who deserved it.


“Throughout the weekend and up till today (Monday), many of the national dailies reported different stories with the impression that I have not been sleeping within the last one week as a result of alleged midnight meetings with aggrieved party members, who they say I have been begging not to leave the party.


“In some of the reports, the insinuations even went as far as saying that I made juicy offers to the aggrieved party members in stopping them from defecting. While I will not be too direct in reacting to such reports here, I will only say though I have been meeting aggrieved party members over whatever injustices they felt the party or some chieftains of the party had done to them. I have not been having sleepless nights as being reported, and also I am not in any way jittery.


“Rapprochement move, as far as I am concerned, is not an act of cowardice but a desirous endeavour in making peace since you can’t decree peace but only work for it. So, in a nutshell, I am not ashamed of doing that as chairman of a great party. To those who the rapprochement moves are being directed to, we want them to appreciate that we are more or less trying to prevent them from making a blunder of dumping palm wine for kain kain (local gin).

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/oshiomhole-apc-not-jittery-about-r-apc.html

Shortly after the success of the recently held event tagged, The Ibadan Concert with Mayorkun; which featured artistes like Davido and Perruzzi, there were rumours that the show recorded some form violence probably due to the massive turn out at the event.

However ,the production team in a chat with Punch denied knowledge of any violent outburst or attacks.


They said, “That the Mayorkun’s Concert, which was widely acclaimed by attendees as the best music concert to be held in the city of Ibadan was very well managed with experienced security officials in place, despite the over 13,000 people in attendance. So, we will like to disassociate ourselves from news going round of violence against some persons as no such thing happened at the event. It was a free and fair event.

“While trying to encourage safe sex among youths, the organizers, with the support of relevant organizations distributed packs of condoms freely for reproductive and family health awareness which is typical of events of this magnitude. These were seen littering the event ground afterwards.”

Contrary to the online reports making rounds that people were maltreated by security officials especially journalists, the organisers were quick to refute such claims stating, ” Adequate securities were made for all media houses and journalists with access tags at the event, and no violence was experienced by any journalist or pressman at the event.
The ‘all access’ tags were given only to authorized journalists and photographers. This is part of the security procedures that were put in place to prevent unauthorized access by impostors.

Although there were false reports by some blogs that alleged that a reporter was manhandled by security operatives. The reporter who was allegedly drunk attempted to forcibly gain entrance into the artistes’ green room without authorized access and was prevented by security operatives. The report by the aggrieved reporter is a calculated attempt to bring the event into disrepute. This isolated event is not representative of the concert event which otherwise was very peaceful and violence free.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/there-was-no-violence-at-mayorkuns.html

Oil producing communities in the Niger Delta region of the country have indicated their preference to have the new bill – the Petroleum Host and Impacted Communities Bill (PHICB) – contain a 50 per cent derivation payout to them as against the 13 per cent that exists at the moment.

The communities demanded that either that would be put in the PIHCB or 25 per cent of royalties paid to the government by oil-mining companies be made to come back to them in the bill.


They equally stated that they want the bill to be specific on how their environment would be managed by oil companies in such a way that they are protected from the hazards of oil exploration and production.

These communities made their positions known at a consultative meeting organised by the Emerald Energy Institute for Petroleum and Energy Economics, Policy and Strategic Studies at the University of Port Harcourt, as part of an ongoing legislative consultation to get the PHICB passed by the National Assembly.

A communique on the outcome of the meeting was sent to us in Abuja, by Prof Chijioke Nwaozuzu, from the institute.
In it, the communities explained that the 13 per cent derivation allowance paid to states in the region; eight per cent littoral states fund; the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Act; Ministry of Niger Delta; and the Amnesty Programme of the government, had done very little to stem criminality in the region, hence the clamour for deeper communities’ involvement and some measure of control of revenues accruing from petroleum resources in their region.

They explained that the exclusion of the communities from control of oil revenues to them had often led to increased agitation; heightened insecurity in the Niger Delta Region; and incessant disruption of petroleum operations.

To this end, they noted their preference that the bill should contain, “50 per cent derivation pay-outs should be considered instead of the current 13per cent, or government should dedicate 25 per cent from the royalty payments for host communities.”

They also requested that the bill include, “Provision of opportunities for participation of the host communities in governance of the petroleum sector,” and asked to know how the bill will address the issue of environmental remediation, how communities impacted by already decommissioned oil and gas operations would be protected, as well as measures in it to evaluate the impact of the trust funds over time.
However, facilitators of the meeting stated in the communique, that the 50 per cent derivation request would require an amendment of the federal constitution.

They added that the proposed bill provided for participation in governance and management of the oil sector by host communities through a development and management fund.

In addition, they explained that environmental regulation and management were covered by the provisions of the bill for both decommissioning and abandonment of oil and gas operations, as well as environmental remediation.

With regards to monitoring and adequate supervision of the fund, they noted that the bill provided for oversight by a commission, which will monitor and assess the management and performance of the fund.

They explained PHICB was designed to facilitate community inclusiveness; fast-track infrastructure development in communities; end direct cash payments to community leaders; and enforce good governance, transparency and accountability in interventions in communities.
According to them, the PHICB provided for the incorporation of a Petroleum Host Communities Development Trusts (PHCDT) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), including the structure of, and funding for the trusts.

It also provided the governance guidelines for the PHCDT; sound financial management; and mechanism for dispute resolutions in the communities.

They noted that with the bill, it was expected that there would be a reduction in cost of oil and gas production for government and oil companies; recognition of host communities as stakeholders and joint protectors of petroleum facilities; active participation of host communities in resource allocation and development process; as well as conferment of direct measurable economic benefits from petroleum operations on host communities.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/oil-producing-communities-want.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has restated its resolve not to fund defaulting farmers under its pet-project- Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP).

The initiative, scripted to rev up food production in the country as opposed imports, has already disbursed over N56 billion involving more than 250,000 farmers across the country, with more than two-third of the state governments participating.

The apex bank’s Acting Director of Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, made the disclosure while reacting to what he described as “cheap blackmail” by a group of farmers in Kaduna.


He said that the allegations of the Kaduna State Coordinator of FEHDON Seed, Abdulrahman Ali Musa, was a cover for non-payment of funds accessed in 2016 by the cooperative group.

Musa, had alleged that despite fulfilling all the necessary requirements needed to access the Anchor Borrowers fund farmers in the state were denied of the intervention.

The group also alleged that CBN has diverted the anchor fund into somewhere else to get interest from it, thereby making the bank unable to disburse the money to the farmers on time.

They farmers also complained bitterly about the rigorous processes involved in getting screened to access the fund and the farming inputs, claiming that such processes where deliberately institutionalised to render the programme unsuccessful.

Okorafor said the project for they were complaining about was facilitated by the Nigerian Incentive-based Risk Sharing and Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), not CBN and have been sponsoring similar blackmails.

“FEDON is one of the prospective off-takers that expressed interest to participate in the ABP under NIRSAL. Meetings have been held with all the prospective anchors and off-takers, where the issues affecting the projects on maize and rice were determined.

“The BVN of the farmers were validated by NIBSS and the indebted farmers were highlighted in red and forwarded to NIRSAL. The Office conducted Farmer/Farm verification.

“As at June 14, 2018, NIRSAL staff said they were still sorting out issue of insurance with their Head Office. The CBN has no direct role in the alleged delay of disbursement as all documents submitted by the PFI (NIRSAL) were promptly attended to,” he said.

He reiterated that the whole issue is basically about farmers who have failed to pay back their loans, but use the media to blackmail and arm-twist NIRSAL to give them additional funds.

“The so-called spokesman of the cooperatives is one of those who have failed to pay back their loans in accordance with the guidelines.

“Only those farmers and cooperatives who pay back their loans and comply with the guidelines will get additional funding. No amount of sponsored negative media reports and blackmail will help their case,” he added.

Okorafor advised that they pay up their loans, comply with the guidelines and agreements and go ahead with their projects, while they should learn from successful ones in other states.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/anchor-borrower-fund-not-for-defaulting.html

Filani Dankali aka Musa Ardo, 70, has died in custody of the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, after he was allegedly brutalised by the personnel.


According to the lawyers of the deceased septuagenarian, SARS officers from Kano had seized him from his residence at Gedege village in Kubau Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

In their petition filed by Al Qasim Ja’afar and Co. (Gidado Chambers) dated July 16, 2018, and addressed to Kano State Commissioner of Police, late Mr Ardo’s family requested for the full details of the SARS action and the circumstances that led to his death as well as an autopsy report.


It reads in part: “One Alh. Musa Kano consulted the deceased in his resident at Gedege village in Kubau Local Gov’t Area of Kaduna State and sought a protection charm (Layar Bata), which they negotiated at the cost of N30,000. The client left for Kano after being informed about the strict guidelines, which must be adhered to in order to avoid the disappearance of the charm.

“To the amazement of late Malam Musa Ardo, he returned two days after, thus before the completion of the directives given, complaining that the charm had disappeared. He demanded for another charm but the deceased perceived that it was a clever way of tryingnto secure another one for free. Malam Ardo then insisted that Alh. Musa Kano should bring back the charm to claim his money.

“Alh. Musa Kano returned to the deceased house two days after in company of a police officer from SARS Office, Kano by name Auwal. They made three trips in an effort to force the deceased to refund the money Alh. Musa was now claiming was N1.6million. He later even claimed it was N2million while the deceased rejected the claims in totality.


“It is evident that Alh. Musa Kano who is with NNPC Kano Depot has connived with Auwal, Umar and one other SARS Officer to cause the arrest and detention of the deceased as to hatch plans to eliminate him which they succeeded in doing. This amounts to flagrant violation of the deceased’s right to life, besides, no cogent explanations were given to either the deceased family or their lawyers on the matter.

“All those involved in the arrest and detention of the deceased should be immediately apprehended and interrogated for their role in conniving to cause the death of the deceased.”

The deceased son, Shehu Musa, recalled that they followed up the case to SARS office a day after, and met their father in good condition.

“But on Wednesday, July 11, we received calls from the police that we should come to Kano as our father was seriously sick. We arrived the following day to meet his corpse deposited at Murtala Mohammed teaching Hospital Kano. Our father apparently died on that Wednesday.

“The Police officer named Auwal told me to go back as arrangement had been concluded for the burial in Kano,” he said.

The spokesman for Kano Police Command, Magaji Majiya, confirmed the incident and receipt of the petition told Daily Nigerian.

He said the matter was before Chief Magistrate Court 30, sitting at Audu Bako Secretariat, and that the court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Mr Ardo for criminal conspiracy and threat to Mr Musa’s life.

On the circumstances leading to Mr Ardo’s death, Mr Majia said the deceased was rushed to Sir Sanusi Hospital at Hedejia Road, Kano and later transferred to Murtala Mohammed Teaching Hospital, where he died of complications of cholera.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/sars-accused-of-killing-herbalist-over.html

Dangote Cement Company has invested $3b in building manufacturing plants and import/grinding terminals across Africa, Group Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Cement, Joe Makoju, has revealed.

He explained that the investments were located in Cameroon (1.5Mta clinker grinding), Congo (1.5Mta), Ghana (1.5Mta import), Ethiopia (2.5Mta), Senegal (1.5Mta), Sierra Leone (0.7Mta import), South Africa (2.8Mta), Tanzania (3.0Mta), and Zambia (1.5Mta).

Reviewing the company’s operations in the second quarter of 2018, Makoju said Nigeria’s total sales volumes went up by 13.9 per cent to 7.8 metric tonnes, Pan-African volumes reduced by 3.9 per cent, mainly due to the shutdown in Tanzania.

Makoju said: “In all, the company, which employed 27, 952 workers in Nigeria as at 2017 had its revenue increased by 16.9 per cent and its earning per share also increased by 3 per cent to N6.60 kobo per share for the second quarter, which ended June 30, 2018.

“In addition, we achieved the largest-ever issuance of Commercial Paper by a Nigerian company when we issued ₦50b Series 1 & 2 Notes at the end of June, with a discount rate that reflected the strength of our company and its excellent credit ratings.

“Of course, our strong performance was overshadowed by the tragic event in Ethiopia. I would like to pay tribute to my colleagues Deep Kamra, Beakal Alelign and Tsegaye Gidey and offer our sincere condolences to their families.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/dangote-cement-invests-3bn-on-plants.html

The National Information Development Agency (NITDA) has said that technology would soon eliminate the middleman if he does not properly adopt branding and trademarking in his business or service.

The Head Legal Unit, NITDA, Emmanuel Edet, made the assertion in Lagos at the 2018 Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NIRA) .ng Media College.
The event had the theme, “A World of Opportunities: Tapping These Opportunities in the Domain Name System Industry”.


Speaking on ”Brand Protection and Trademarking on the Internet,” Edet described brand as a name, term, design or symbol, adding that trademark was part of intellectual property.

He said that a brand might be registered, and when registered, would become a trademark and the trademark must have goodwill.

Edet said that branding and trademarking were both international and vital aspects of intellectual property, adding that trademark distinguished goods and services.

He advised that cybersquatting, misspelling, identical domain name, concurrent claims and profit grabbing should be properly looked into.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/technology-to-eliminate-middleman-says.html

Miss Emmanuella Oziofu, a nine-year-old child prodigy and grade five pupil of Skycrest School Lagos, on Friday showcased her website, www.emmasacademy.com, and her mobile app, Emma’s ICT Academy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oziofu, who is passionate about Information Communication Technology (ICT), has diploma certificates in Desktop Publishing, Advance Excel, Adobe Page Maker, Advance Power Point and Corel Draw.

Showcasing her website and mobile app in Lagos, Oziofu said they were created to teach the younger generation about ICT.

“My mobile app is available for download on Google play store.

“The purpose of the mobile app is to teach the younger generation like me ICT skills I have acquired, the app is free and adults can also download and use it as well.”

On her plans for the near future, Uziofu said, “My plans are to build some websites focusing on health, offer free ICT training for children my age on Saturday, Sundays and during holidays.

“I’m also planning a boot camp for young people in the near future.

“My target is to become a professional web designer and analyst at age nine and I have accomplished it,” she said.

Oziofu revealed that she had previously created a chat site, a personal website and had at the age of eight, created three websites for her former school, Fortune Schools in Benin, Edo.

The child prodigy said that she was on a quest to gain more knowledge about programming languages and artificial intelligence.

Mr Lekan Otufodurin, the Chairman of the occasion, said that young people in the country should be given necessary support to develop their talents to put the country in a positive light.

Otufodurin, the online editor of The Nation Newspaper said “We can produce more Emmanuellas; we can support young people because they are leaders of tomorrow.

“Journalists also have to learn multimedia skills to remain relevant.”

Sharing Otufodurin’s sentiments, Dr Quasim Akinreti, the Chairman of the Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), urged journalists to acquire new skills to adapt to the ever evolving modes of news coverage.

Akinreti, a part time teacher of news media training at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) said: “What is happening here underscores my passion for Lagos journalists to have other skills.

“We are competing with content providers who are not trained journalists and journalist are currently ceding their rights to these content providers,” the NUJ Lagos Chairman said.

Mr John Mayaki, the Uziofu’s father shed some light on how he noticed his daughter’s innate talent at a young age and developed it.

“She was born on Jan. 7, 2009, when she was at about seven-years-old; she was always interested in what I was doing with my Samsung Galaxy Tab.

“I got her a laptop when I noticed her skills and I also made sure that during her holidays, I dropped her at the computer school for more training.

“In April, she completed some online courses from SOLOLEARN California.

“These courses are Certificate in HTML Fundamentals Course, Certificate in PHP Tutorial Course, Certificate in CSS Fundamentals Course and Certificate in SQL Fundamentals Course.

“Others are Certificate in JavaScript Tutorial Course and Certificate in IQuery Tutorial Course,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/9-year-old-girl-showcases-website.html

The Cross River State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Friday said that over 34,000 Cameroonians, were currently taking refuge in six local government areas of the state.

Mr John Inaku, the Director General of SEMA in the state, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

Inaku said that the inflow was as the result of the crisis in Cameroon over the demand for Ambazonia Republic by the Southern Cameroonians.

Inaku told NAN that the asylum seekers were currently taking refuge in Obudu, Boki, Ikom, Etung, Akamkpa and Obanliku Local Government Areas of the state.

“So far, we have 34,000 Cameroonian asylum seekers spread across six local government areas in Cross River.

“About 21,000 of them have been documented by the United Nations High Commission on Refugees and the National Commission for Refugees.

“As an agency, we go into the interior areas that have not been accessed by these organisations and holistically, we have 34,000 of them already on ground,’’ he said.

The director general told NAN that the state government was doing its best in providing succour to the refugees, adding that the increasing number was too heavy for the state government alone to handle.

He however, appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), corporate organisations and other humanitarian agencies to offer their support to the refugees.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/34000-cameroonian-refugees-in-criver.html

Human Rights activist, Chief Mike Ozekhome has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to release the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki who has been granted bail six times by different courts.


Ozekhome, in a letter to Buhari on Thursday tagged, “President Muhammadu Buhari, Please, Release Col. Sambo Dasuki in God’s Name”, insists Dasuki has not been convicted by any court of law to have warranted the long detention since December 2015.

Ozekhome, making references to the various bails including the one by ECOWAS Court, said a situation where government picks court order is dangerous.


He said, “We are having the dangerous situation where this government picks and chooses which orders to obey or disobey, an anarchical situation.

“The same government has so far refused to obey several orders for the release of the Shittes leader, El-Zakzaki. This is clearly against constitutionalism and the Rule of Law.”

The legal luminary further pleaded with the President to give Dasuki a lifeline by releasing him on bail.


“Mr President sir, in the name of almighty Allah, the Supreme God we all serve, let Dasuki go home on bail. Give him a breather. He has a family, friends and dependants to care for. He has not yet been convicted by any court of law.

“He is still presumed innocent under section 36 of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Give him a lifeline. Help us build strong institutions, not strong men. I appeal to you sir, on my bended kneels. Let the milk of human kindness flow in you. Seek ye not vengeance. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but give place unto wrath; for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord (Romans 12:19).

“The Rule of law doctrine theorises, amongst others, that: all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law, the principle of government of law.

“The rule of law means that no person or government is above the law; that there is restriction of arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws. It means that no person however highly placed, is above the law, whether law makers, law enforcement officials, judges or persons in government”.

https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.dailytrust.com.ng/amplite/ozekhome-begs-buhari-to-release-dasuki-261773.html