₦airaland Forum

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday Commissioned BUA Group’s 1.5million metric tonnes Kalabaina Cement Plant in Sokoto State which gulped $350 million to build.

Speaking at the commissioning of the new cement plant which on full utilization will provide at least 2,000 direct and 10,000 indirect job opportunities, Osinbajo called on BUA Group to collaborate with other major cement manufacturers toward achieving reduced cement price to drive infrastructure development in the country.

Osinbajo noted that the inauguration of the plant was a milestone, not only for BUA Group, but for the cement industry and the nation’s economy.

According to Osinbajo “Nigeria now produces over 40 million metric tonnes of cement. More cement than any other country in Africa. The citing of the Kalabaina cement factory by BUA is a demonstration that Nigeria has vast potentials which investors should explore”.This achievement by BUA he noted, “Will consolidate Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in cement production, and boost our status as a NET exporter of cement. The significance of this feat cannot be over-emphasised as we explore opportunities to diversify the country’s earnings away from oil.

“The National Infrastructure Master Plan recommends that we need to spend $3 trillion to bridge the infrastructure gap as well as five percent of GDP annually”.

Making his address, the Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, attributed the milestone achievement being experienced in the country’s cement industry to deliberate policies put in place by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to support the real sector.

He noted that through some of the policies, the Central
Bank of Nigeria (CBN) provided adequate foreign exchange for import of machinery, which has been helpful in completing the project on schedule.

Highlighting some of the unique features of the plant, Rabiu noted that the plant “Can run on either coal, heavy oils or a mixture of both thereby putting less pressure on our operations whilst improving energy-efficiency.

“By also using coal to power our kiln, we expect to save over 70% in terms of energy costs compared to if we had to use over 15 million litres of fuel oil per month or about 400 tonnes or 20 trucks of fuel oil per day.

The BUA Chief also added that, “The second line of our $1 billion Obu Cement Complex in Okpella, Edo State – which was commissioned in August 2017 will be completed by the end of this year and by the time that plant is completed, BUA Cement’s total production volumes will be in excess of 8 million tonnes which will represent over 35percent of the entire volume produced in Nigeria”.

[b]http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photos-osinbajo-inaugurates-buas-350m.html

Former national chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and a senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has threatened to “expose” Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, for referring to him as nonperforming lawmaker.He said he regretted supporting Okorocha’s governorship ambition in 2011.


Umeh described Okorocha as a “trickster” and a “419” who found his way into office through fraud and deception and said he (Okorocha) is about to make history in Nigeria as the only governor who impeached two deputies.

He regretted supporting Okorocha when he was chairman of APGA 10 years ago and said Imo governor attacked him because he advised him not to impeach Chief Eze Madumere, his deputy, having impeached his first deputy, Jude Agbaso, during his first tenure.

“Rochas Okorocha is about making history in Nigeria as the only governor who impeached two deputies; and, because I advised him against impeaching the current one, he started attacking me.


“I regret supporting him to become a governor of Imo State, against all odds. I didn’t know he is a trickster and a ‘419’’ who found his way into office through fraud and deception,” Umeh said.

The lawmaker disclosed that he personally signed an agreement which brought Okorocha to power, but later saw the governor is a trickster.

The lawmaker accused Okorocha of attacking religious leaders and elder statesmen and threatened to publish his fraudulent transactions, if he continues vituperations against him.

Umeh said: “Here is a man who was answering ‘yes sir’, ‘yes sir’ to me, even in the presence of my police orderly, who has been working with me in the last 13 years.


“On getting to office, he suddenly changed, became a tiger and attacking every body. I have documents of some of his fraudulent practices and if he continues to attack me, I will publish them.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/ill-expose-okorocha-victor-umeh.html

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has assured members of the National Union of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Joint Employers and Workers Association (NUFBTJEWA) that the federal government will review the newly introduced 500 per cent excise duty on locally produced alcoholic beverages.

Ngige disclosed this recently in Abuja while responding to call by leaders of the association who were in his office on a Save Our Soul (SOS) mission.
The Minister said the Economic and Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) of the government was partly tailored towards job creation rather than losses, saying that the Executive Order No. 1 and 4 are for job creation as well as ensuring that jobs created were done by the locals.

According to him, “You have written to the federal government through me that the increase in excise duty on alcohol and beverages will create job losses because once you add a new cost and pass it on, there will be consumer resistance, resulting in low patronage whereas the products coming from overseas that are being smuggled in which are cheap, will take over the market. It is a statement of fact.


“I have passed your complaints and luckily we have a listening President who wants the good of all Nigerians. He will definitely ask the Minister of Finance and the economic management team to review the tariff.

“We cannot afford to create poverty and job losses here while promoting abundant jobs in other countries. Job losses are not part of this government and will not support the 500 per cent tariff increase.
“This is not to say that we don’t know that in some places available jobs have more than available staff members to match them, but this is a compassionate administration.

“The President does not want to throw many families into anguish. The President always said that he was a salary earner in all his working life.
“You can also see that we did not place an embargo on recruitment as we used to have years ago even while we were under recession. The federal government has been replacing staff members who exited as well as creating new jobs in the public sector. But this has to be complemented with the private sector jobs to have a full blend.”
Furthermore, Ngige who expressed the commitment of the government to the welfare of workers, also referred to the staff housing programme for workers being operated by the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, under the Federal Integrated Staff Housing (FISH) and other housing programmes meant to provide cheap houses to workers.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/fg-will-reconsider-tariff-on-local.html

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi on Tuesday received Blueprint Newspapers award for his contribution to the rail development and building of the first monorail system in Sub-Sahara Africa. Amaechi received the award at the maiden edition of Blueprint Impact Series/Awards with the theme: “Tolerance, Unity and Security: Building a Legacy for National Development held in Abuja. According to the citation, Amaechi is a shining star in his current appointment as the minister of transportation. “The ministry has set to work to bring extensive changes to the country’s transportation framework; the nation’s railway network has received attention under this administration. “It has now become a beacon of hope for both highly placed and common Nigerians. As a former Governor of Rivers, Amaechi built the first monorail system in Sub-Sahara Africa.’’ Receiving the award, Amaechi urged Nigerians to vote All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next general elections. Speaking with newsmen in an interview after receiving the award, Amaechi appreciated the Blueprint Management for recognising his contributions to national development. The minister, however, said that the award would inspire the recipients to do more in their various fields. “I am grateful to blueprint, the management and the board, the award is to task us further to do our best in our various assignments and fields. “ Among other dignitaries that received awards were Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele and Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna Central.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/photo-rotimi-amaechi-bags-blueprint.html

Sequel to the sack of over 800 ExxonMobil staff on Friday by the Management of the company, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has issued an ultimatum to the Management of ExxonMobil to comply with the Supreme Court Judgement of April 20th.

The Chairman of PENGASSAN, ExxonMobil branch, Mr. Razaq Obe, who said this in an interview at Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom called for an immediate reinstatement of personnel of the security department, who were unlawfully sacked on July 13 and the payment of all entitlements due them as employees.

“We rise in solidarity with these oppressed Nigerians to express our total disagreement and utter displeasure at Management’s action, we hereby give management up to close of business Wednesday, July 18 to meet our demands, failure to comply, the management should not hold the Union responsible for any unpleasant outcome,” Obe said.


He further hinted that the union demanded the management of ExxonMobil to immediately reinstate the 16 employees purportedly sacked in Dec. 2016 in a similar fashion.

He called for the immediate repatriation of over 20 expert personnel in security department who had been engaged and kept in defiance of extant Nigerian laws and security directives.

“Management’s last week action confirms its plan to perpetuate its newly-resurrected, primordial Theory-X labour philosophy, which is alien to the Nigerian oil and gas industry and will be resisted by our Union.


“As a union, we have studied the details of the Supreme Court judgement with our legal team and have not seen therein where the company was directed to carry out mass sack of impacted employees in security department as captured by the subject of your communication to the workforce,” Obe said.

Meanwhile, the sacked personnel had on early hours of Monday, barricaded the premises of Qua Iboe Terminal (QIT) thereby disrupting the activities of the day.
The protesters denied some staff and contractors of the company access to the premises by placing coffins at each gate of the company.

The ExxonMobil facilities blocked included Hotels, Mobil Housing Estates, Airstrips, Lagos and Abuja Qua Iboe Terminal, Ibeno their operational base in Akwa Ibom.

Speaking, Mr Godwin Ndem, Security Personnel at the company, said ExxonMobil should comply with the Supreme Court judgement of April 20.

He called on the company to pay them their entitlements based on the numbers of years of service to the company.

“We have been maltreated for so many years, we have been underpaid, our welfare was not taken care of, one of our managers said if we have a case to settle that we should go to court.

“We have been in the court for 15 years, luckily for us, in April 20th, the Supreme Court gave us a judgment and confirmed us to be their staff.

“They directed Exxon Mobil to pay us all our entitlements for the numbers of years we have put in the company.

“We want them to comply with the Supreme Court judgement, that is why we are carrying out a peaceful protest,” Ndem said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/pengassan-issues-ultimatum-to.html

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday in Abuja said Nigeria was not ready to take chances by hastily signing the African Continental Trade Agreement (AfCTA) because the country’s economy was the real target of the agreement.

Osinbajo who made this remark at the quarterly meeting of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) meeting in the Presidential Villa, said the entire Africa awaited Nigeria’s coming into the agreement because of the economic potentials inherent in the Nigerian market.


According to the vice-president, Nigeria is making extensive consultations because of suspicions that the agreement may cripple its manufacturing sector and simultaneously hamper the current benefits of agricultural revolution in the country.

He also said whereas the general consensus seems to favour Nigeria’s participation in the trade agreement, there are yet concerns on the necessity to upgrade the business environment for virile competition, improve power supply and invest in infrastructure.

“With respect to the AfCTA, there are clearly huge advantages for us, no question about it at all. The rest of Africa sees the enormous advantage of Nigeria’s participation. Everybody is waiting for us naturally and that is because they see a huge market. There are advantages of our being there. But we must ensure to get the best possible terms for Nigerian trade and commerce.
“Our experiences with dooming and other injurious practices make it obvious to us that our market could be a real target. Our local manufacturing could become unprofitable. Our agricultural advantage could be reversed.

“Consequently, we have embarked on an extensive consultations with trade groups, manufacturers and organised labour in all the six geo-political zones in other to get a clear sense of concerns as we navigate the process of signing the treaty.
“I think the general resolve favours engagement but the concerns remain around improving the domestic environment for greater competitiveness, concerns of power supply and investment in infrastructure. I don’t think I will make a more eloquent case than the Minister of Power, Works and Housing has just made,” he said.

Osinbajo who said this is the first time that Nigeria is actually involved in negotiations for a treaty, added that in the past, Nigeria only found itself in treaties without knowing how it got there or the benefits derivable from them.

Osinbajo reasoned that having taken into consideration concerns expressed by the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), it looks appropriate to proceed to sign the agreement now because Nigeria does not have the luxury of time to keep waiting.
He added: “I have noted the various studies that MAN will like to see done, I think those background checks are important as to what works and what doesn’t work and what is going on with the industry and all that. I think those concerns are very crucial and I think many of them are being done already.

“But at the same time, we must be careful not to give the impression that these are minimum pre-conditions for engagement with the process because the question of course has been asked, ‘when will we be ready?’ What is the opportunity cost of not engaging now? I think these are some of the concerns that we must fix. The only way to go is that we must fill the gap.

“We must keep the engine running. There is no time for us to say ‘let’s wait, take down the entire time just to prepare.’ I think this is the time to go ahead and do something about it while we are taking into accounts all the issues that have been raised and making sure that we are negotiating well.
“For the first time, Nigeria is actually engaged and we are leading the engagement. This is something that had never happened in the past. In the past, we found treaties that were negotiated. Nobody knew who negotiated them. Nobody knew how they were done. Nobody knew what was going on.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said if Nigeria signs the agreement, the country will have a competitive advantage over a number of other African countries because it has six functional international airports unlike those that have only one.
Furthermore, as poor as Nigeria’s electricity supply may be, the minister disclosed that it is far incomparable with the situation in some other African countries, recalling that as of 2016, Rwanda was only trying to secure paltry 106 megawatts of electricity.

He also said besides the road which leads to the Accra Airport in Ghana, there is no other dual carriage way in the country, pointing out that Nigeria supplies Niger 150 megawatts of electricity out of which he said they can only distribute 110 megawatts of electricity.

In the same vein, Fashola said Ghana which generates a total of 3000 megawatts can only distribute 1,600
“But if the decision on whether to sign or not were made, I will look at the countries that have signed. The interesting thing about the countries that have signed is that, unlike us where we have Kano, Kaduna, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos, Owerri, six different cities that can land an Air plane and other cities like that, the country is that have signed are one city countries – Rwanda – Kigali, Niger – Niamey, Ghana- Accra, those are the countries that have signed and we are afraid.

“How much power do we have and we say we are not ready? Just listen to me and you can fact check this, as at 2016, Rwanda was trying to get to 106 megawatts of electricity. The suburbs of Rwanda are on generators. The only place that I saw that has a dual carriage way when I visited last year was the GRA. All their roads are dual carriage way, but they are ready.

“Apart from the airport in Accra built by the American Nexim Bank, which other roads have dual carriage way? Because I go there. It might interest you to know the Niger Power Minister came to see me. They are owing us on power but they are ready. We supply 150 megawatts of their power. Their entire grid is 250 megawatts. The 150mw we supply, they can’t distribute more than 110 megawatts but they are ready. Ghana has roughly about 3000 megawatts installed. They are distributing only 1,600 megawatts, that’s a little above what Lagos is getting,” Fashola said.

In his own submission, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said Nigeria’s failure to sign the agreement puts it at a disadvantaged position adding that if Nigeria does not participate in the negotiations, it may be counter-productive in the end.
“If we are not at the table when the engagement is going on because those at the table are those who are deciding. So, if we are not at the table, we actually run a risk of being shut out.

“I have had meetings with some of the lead manufacturers and what we have proposed going forth is that, both MAN and other stakeholders should join our working committee to make sure we engage. But the idea of not signing the agreement actually disadvantages us. It weakens our position. As it has been pointed out by the speakers, the agreement is a ticket to play and I mean not buying the ticket to play is suicidal in a market where the consequences will be there,” Enelamah stated.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/osinbajo-all-africa-targets-nigerian.html

The Katsina State Government says it is working with the World Bank to spend N50 billion to tackle erosion, desertification and flooding in the state.
Gov. Aminu Masari, who made the disclosure during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the money would be provided through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

NAN reports that the World Bank would soon be launch the project in the state.


The governor said that the government was doing a lot in addressing environmental challenges since its inauguration in 2015.

According to him, the administration has spent over N5 billion on the construction of drainage across the state over the last three years.

‘‘When you have good drainage system, you have reduced the issue of collapsed buildings as a result of over flooding especially in the low level areas in the state.

‘‘That will also assist in reducing loss of farmlands due to erosion,’’ he said.

Masari said the government has been sensitising the people against building houses with substandard materials to reduce damage by windstorm.

‘‘People should seek advice of experts with regards to directional flow of wind before building houses,’’ he added.

He said that the government would continue to provide information on weather condition for the people to take appropriate measures to reduce the magnitude of windstorm disasters being recorded in the state.

The governor assured that the administration would also partner other organisations to improve the social and economic conditions of rural dwellers especially in providing access roads and markets for farm produce.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/katsina-state-government-world-bank-to.html

National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), on Monday adopted a veteran journalist, Mr Adetokunbo Oluwatoki as its governorship candidate for the Sept. 22 election in Osun.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oluwatoki, the sole aspirant for the party’s governorship ticket, was adopted during the APGA primaries in Osogbo, witnessed by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In his acceptance speech, Oluwatoki thanked the party members for selecting him, stressing that the decision was an indication that the party has no time for money-bags politics.

According to him, he is on a mission to rescue the state from subjugation, economic infringement, delusion and poverty.

He said that the party has already designed projects that would transform the state into an industrial one, in addition to programmes on poverty alleviation and youth employment.

The APGA candidate also said the party has plans to subsidise education at some level, offer free health care, and improve the state economy, infrastructure and agriculture, if elected.

Mr Mikeangel Folorunso, the Oyo Chairman of APGA, who represented the party’s national chairman, described Oluwatoki as a vibrant individual with the needed charisma to lead the state.

Folorunso reminded people of the state that politics of money sharing would not bring about development or take them out of their economic difficulties, adding it is only by voting sincere and upright candidate as Oluwatoki that can gurantee them a better future.

He urged the electorate to vote for APGA during the Sept. 22 governorship election, assuring that the party would bring about sustained democracy dividends.governor.

Mr Olatunji Popoola, Osun APGA Chairman, said he was happy that the primary was a success and that the party has filed a credible candidate.

Popoola said APGA is the only party that understand the pains of the people of Osun and has a blueprint and working plan to bring prosperity and wealth back to the state.

NAN reports that the APGA candidate had worked with Lagos News and the defunct National Concord Newspapers.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/osun-election-apga-adopts-veteran.html

The national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, has slammed President Muhammadu Buhari for failing to deliver quality leadership and foster national unity. Secondus said Buhari, who has declared his intention to seek a second term under his All Progressives Congress (APC), was no match for even the worst presidential aspirant in PDP.
Secondus dismissed claims by some prominent Nigerians that there is no credible alternative to Buhari. He stated that it was an insult to the nation for anybody to claim that only Buhari was fit to rule Nigeria.

In a related development, PDP said yesterday that it had fully reconciled with the ex-president and former party man, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. A statement by the PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the reconciliation followed a two-hour meeting between the party’s leadership and Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

On his part, Obasanjo advised the party to pay attention to moral discipline, commitment, good image, and leadership in order to restore its lost glory and regain the confidence of Nigerians. He gave the advice yesterday at his home in Abeokuta during a courtesy visit by the National Working Committee (NWC) of PDP, led by Secondus, and Chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees, Walid Jibrin.

The PDP national chairman said in the interview, “Nothing can be more irritating and insulting than that kind of argument. A country of over 180 million people: you are saying that the best is a person whose three years of terrible governance has dragged the country to the dyke. Those saying that are selfish persons around the president, who have held him hostage by telling him what they want him to hear, not what the situations really are. The alternatives abound from every corner.

“If every registered political party in the country were to pick a presidential candidate, any of them would do better than the current APC president. In PDP, we have a reservoir of presidential aspirants – the worst among them will do better than what APC has been offering Nigerians since 2015.”

Secondus explained that PDP’s recent alliance with other political parties and groups was forged to provide a virile and credible platform that would give hope to Nigerians and restore the oneness of the country.

According to him, “What influenced the alliance is essentially to save our democracy and to rescue the country. Every other influencing factor is secondary. The primary motive is to save Nigeria. All members of the coalition agreed to forge ahead along this line. Picking a common presidential candidate couldn’t have been the main motive; otherwise, you can get an endorsement from a party or group without going into a coalition.”

The PDP chairman pointed out that Nigerians across the country felt justifiably concerned about where the Buhari-led APC administration was taking the country.

Expatiating on the coalition’s mission, Secondus stated, “We need to halt them before they crash our democracy. PDP has ample reasons why it must fight to keep this democracy. We have a very high stake in this project. Our history as a party is full of struggles to restore democracy. Having restored and nurtured it for 16 years, we cannot just sit and watch some unconcerned power grabbers destroy all we have built over the years using their own narrow view of democracy.”

He added, “Because they (APC) are not democrats, they make sure that other arms of government – the legislature and Judiciary – are harassed to frighten them out of their statutory function of checking the executive. This president has committed so many impeachable offences but the legislature is embattled to do the needful. But by February 2019, Nigerian voters will do it with their PVCs.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/secondus-says-pdps-worst-presidential.html

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said stronger leadership was critical for the economic development of the African continent.

Obasanjo said this on Friday at the ongoing 2018 Afreximbank Annual Meetings in Abuja.

He said Africa had the human, mineral and capital resources as well as strong institutions to become a “heaven on earth,” yet it wasn’t living up to its potential due to weak leadership.

He said: “We are not where we should be, but we have moved away from where we where.


“It is obvious from what we have started to see with the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

“The signing of the AfCFTA is historic and it shows that at last Africans are beginning to work together.

“The talk of establishing the AfCFTA has been there since the African Union was established. Imagine how long it took for it to become a reality.

“I remember what happened in Kigali, a day before the signing, we were not sure if 20 countries will sign, so it was a surprise when 44 countries signed that day,” he said.

Obasanjo urged African leaders to collaborate more and emulate countries that were doing well and also learn not to make the same mistakes that had already been made by others.

He pointed out that the African population was rising at an astronomical rate, therefore it was imperative to ensure that the right policies were in place to improve the economy and create jobs.

He cited the telecommunications sector in Nigeria as a success story of how Africans were the architect of their own future.

The former President used the opportunity to encourage more women to go into politics.

He urged women to vie for gubernatorial and senatorial seats in the coming elections in Nigeria.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/africa-needs-stronger-leadership-says.html

Tunde Bakare, senior pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Lagos, and Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, are currently meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Bakare and Adeosun, who are from Ogun state, walked into the president’s office around 2:30pm.

The reason for the meeting is not known.

The minister has been in the news over alleged forgery of the exemption certificate of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Premium Times had reported that Adeosun submitted a forged NYSC exemption certificate for her ministerial screening.

The newspaper said she is not eligible for an exemption certificate, having graduated at the age of 22 and failing to present herself for the mandatory one-year programme before she clocked 30 years.

Full report at http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/breaking-bakare-adeosun-currently.html

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says it has received a batch of 160 assisted voluntary returnees from Libya who were stranded in failed attempts to reach different European countries.

The Planning Officer of NEMA, Mr Segun Afolayan, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Friday that the returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at 9.45 p.m. on Thursday.

Afolayan said that the returnees landed at the Cargo Wing of the airport aboard Libyan Airline flight with registration number 5A-DMG.

He said that they were brought back through the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

“After profiling, the returnees comprised of seven female adults and 153 males,” Afolayan said.

He urged the returnees to put their experiences in the volatile North African country behind them and forge ahead with their lives.

“They have another opportunity to make a new start of posterity and abundance. Nobody can tell it better than them that there are no greener pastures elsewhere.

“The best option is to live a dignified life, make their families happy and make the country proud by contributing their own quotas,” Afolayan said.

He added that the federal and state governments and development partners should create a more conducive atmosphere where all Nigerians could prosper.

NAN reports that another batch of 155 Nigerians had voluntarily returned from Libya on July 5, with the assistance of the IOM.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nema-receives-160-stranded-nigerians.html

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has condoled with Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, and the entire Baraje’s family, on the death of their mother, Hajiya Aisha Omoagba Baraje.

In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki spoke glowingly of the late Hajiya Baraje and stated that she has raised a family that has produced one of Nigeria’s finest patriots and committed professionals.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, and the entire Baraje’s family at this time, on the loss of their mother, the late Hajiya Aisha Omoagba Baraje.

“Hajiya Baraje lived a fulfilled life as a mother and wife, which is evident from the fact that she helped to raise one of Nigeria’s finest patriots and statesmen. She will be dearly missed.

“We pray that the Almighty Allah, who granted her a long and prosperous life, may bless, guide and continue to protect the family that she has left behind. We also pray, that the Almighty Allah in his infinite mercies and grace, grant her a place amongst the righteous ones in Al Jannah Firdaus. Amin”, Saraki stated

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/saraki-mourns-kawu-barajes-mother.html

The federal government on Thursday promised to release the names of 200 individuals who own property that was purchased with illegally-acquired funds.

The Chairman, Special Presidential Investigative Panel for the Recovery of Property, Okoi Obono-Obla, said this at the “Tackling corruption through improving transparency in property ownership” project which was held by ANEEJ in Abuja on Thursday.

Obla, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, also launched ANEEJ’s new online platform ‘Properti Tracka’ which will aid in tracking down these illegal properties.

He described the platform as being one of the single most important contributions towards the fight against corruption.

“Anybody who has taken what doesn’t belong to him should return it back to Nigeria or else face being tracked down,” he said.

“Properti Tracka will expose those who have taken what belongs to the entire Nigerian populace.

“We will start by making available to the public the 200 names of those who own massive properties in Maitama, Abuja, most of whom are highly placed people in the country, some in the government, some in the past governments.

“If they cannot explain where they got the money to build such massive properties, they should quietly return it back to the State.”

Executive Director, ANEEJ, David Ugolor said that the Properti Tracka will help to unveil the owners of these and more properties and find out whether they are actually paying appropriate taxes to the government.

“The Properti Tracka is a citizen tool to identify these owners of illegally-acquired properties and also to push for clean property in Nigeria.

“It will also serve to strengthen citizens’ knowledge about using technology to demand for transparency and accountability in the property market in Nigeria.

“The source of building the property must be from a genuine source. We will be working with the federal government agencies, the tax office, and law enforcement agencies as well.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/fg-to-name-owners-of-illegally-acquired.html

Drinking at least six cups of coffee every day could decrease your risks of early death, a new study has revealed.

Researchers say that those who drink six or seven cups of coffee per day are 16 percent less likely to die from any disease over a 10-year period than those who never have a cup of Joe.

Coffee has long been linked with combating heart disease, cancer, dementia, diabetes and depression.


The researchers, who hail from various institutions including the United States National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health, say they hope their findings provide further reassurance that coffee can be part of a healthy diet.

For the study, the team tracked almost 500,000 Britons between ages 38 and 73 from 2006 to 2016.

The researchers asked them how many cups of coffee they drank per day, including the type: decaffeinated, ground or instant.

The researchers, who published their results in JAMA on Monday, found that those whose coffee intake was high fared the best.

Those who drank eight cups or more per day saw their death rates cut by 14 percent, and it was raised to 16 percent among those who drank six to seven cups.

A 10-year study of 86,000 female nurses showed a reduced risk of suicide in coffee drinkers.

Another study, conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that women who drank four or more cups of coffee were 20 percent less likely to suffer from depression.

A cup of brewed coffee represents a contribution of up to 1.8 grams of fiber of the recommended intake of between 20 to 38 grams.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/drinking-six-cups-of-coffee-daily.html

The Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) disclosed yesterday that its investment in the Nigerian economy stands at over $17 billion .

Afreximbank President, Dr. Benedict Oranmah, who spoke at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Anglophone Regional Office, in Abuja, stated that the decision to invest in the Nigerian economy was in appreciation of the critical role the nation played in the bank’s formation, and the demonstration of a strong support by strengthening its capital base.


He said, “Approvals to various corporate organisations including indigenous oil firms and banks and government entities, are in excess of $17 billion.”

According to Oranmah, the Regional Office would strengthen closer and continuous relationship between the bank and Nigerian government entities and businesses.

In her address, the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, said Nigeria invested an initial $50 million, becoming one of the largest shareholders of the Bank which helped to attract the interest of others in the equity participation of the Bank.

“Just like many other member countries of the Bank, Nigeria continues to support the Bank’s capital mobilisation by reinvesting its dividends in the Bank’s capital.

“Since inception, the bank has been very active in Nigeria. This is reflected by the institution’s consistent support to corporate and government entities through financing and advisory services, and significant financial and technical supports to Nigeria, with the country’s share of total loans averaging more than 40 per cent of the Bank’s aggregate,” Adeosun said.

The minister expressed optimism that the construction of the Regional Office complex would also create job opportunities for Nigerian youth, generate business opportunities for entrepreneurs to venture into the bank, and by extension, financial support to our private sectors.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/afreximbank-invests-17bn-in-nigeria.html

The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to restore Sen. Dino Melaye’s (APC-Kogi) security details without further delay.

Melaye, while raising a Point-of-Order at plenary, said his security details were withdrawn by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Idris Ibrahim, shortly before his arrest on April 23.

He said that the action exposed him to danger.

The law maker said: “While we ask that Nigerians should be defended, we ourselves here also ask to be defended.

“I announce that the police withdrew security details attached to me even before I was arrested and till date, I have no security.

“I applied to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps two months ago to no avail even as a citizen and not a senator.

“President Muhammadu Buhari as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces by his office is supposed to protect me.

“I now call that this senate must make sure that the way Nigerians all over are protected, some of us also have to be protected.

“I survived two assassination attempts and there is imminent threat to my life now.

“I read and watched the spokesperson of the Nigerian Police, Mr Jimoh Moshood, when he announced to Nigerians that 30,000 policemen will be in Ekiti to observe, monitor and provide security for the governorship election.

“To start with, election is a civic responsibility and we have consistently maintained as democrats that we need not militarise, scare or create fear during elections,” Melaye said.

He said that he was appalled that the Nigerian Police could deploy 30,000 of its personnel for an election in a 16-local government state.

“One begins to wonder that to conduct a presidential election, you will need 30,000 policemen multiplied by 36 States plus the Federal Capital, Abuja.

“It means we will need no fewer than 11 million policemen to monitor a national election in Nigeria,” Melaye said.

He wondered why the federal government had not deployed 30,000 policemen to some crisis-ridden states.

“Election is important but not as important as the lives of Nigerians.

“We cannot as senators allow democracy to become ‘militariocracy’.

“If we die in the line of defending the constitution and human rights, we have died well.

“We cannot sit down in a democracy and allow contents and materials of militariocracy to show face in our democracy,” Melaye said.

In his remarks, the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary, said that the essential thing was for the policemen to discharge their duty deligently.

Ekweremadu said, “My appeal is that if you are deploying one million policemen to Ekiti they must be seen on the ground so that the protection of life and property must be ensured.

“We must be sure that those policemen are available to do the job,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/senate-wants-melayes-security-details.html

Armed riot policemen on Tuesday disrupted a rally and press briefing organised by the Peace Corps of Nigeria to mark its 20th anniversary in Abuja.

The policemen fired tear gas canisters at the PCN members and journalists as everyone scampered for safety.


To celebrate the anniversary, the Corps leadership had addressed a press conference at its old office in Gwarimpa.

The PCN members and journalists thereafter moved on a peaceful rally to its headquarters at Jabi which had been sealed off for some time by the police, for another round of briefing.

But as they were about commencing the programme, a detachment of riot policemen arrived the premises and started shooting tear gas into the midst of the crowd which included Peace Corps personnel, civil society groups, and journalists.

Though no casualty has been confirmed, several civil society activists and journalists were said to have been injured in the process.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/just-in-police-disrupt-peace-corps.html

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the British government Monday advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties to ensure that the exercise was free, fair and credible.


The British intervention came through its High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Paul Arkwright, who spoke to journalists in Abuja shortly after meeting with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Adams Oshiomhole.

His host, Oshiomhole, who also spoke during the visit, expressed his party’s preference for the deployment of the military in the state during the election to help check violence and assure voters of their safety.

The British High Commissioner said that his country was interested in seeing that the people of Ekiti State were allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote in line with their conscience.

He said Britain was interested in Nigeria’s democracy, adding that the UK Mission would send observers for the election, to ensure it was free and fair.

“The British High Commission will be sending a team there to observe the election and to ensure that they go smoothly; to ensure that INEC can do its job; that the security forces do their job and basically to ensure that the people of Ekiti State are allowed to freely express their opinion, to vote along with their conscience and to be able to do so in peaceful manner,” Arkwright said.

Commenting on the move by the Nigerian Police Force to deploy about 30,000 officers with additional 19,000 men by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oshiomhole said no one should lose sleep, since the security forces would only be in Ekiti to maintain peace.

Oshiomhole, who reacted to the outrage over the deployment of 30,000 police officers for the election, said that it was not the number that mattered but the effectiveness of the force in ensuring the safety of voters and ballot boxes.

According to him, “Whether they use the military or not, I don’t think you want to argue that. Over the years, since 1999 to 2003, the armed forces have always been deployed; don’t forget when I was in Edo State, I told people that I want the armed forces to be involved in the election because the rigging machine is serviced by criminals who are hardened and who are often hired.

‘’Now if you have criminals wielding AK 47 on an election day, and the police is overwhelmed you want to say the army should not be deployed? We shouldn’t worry about who we deploy; I think we should all pray that however people are deployed that in the end we are not counting dead bodies.”

He added that the important thing is that regardless of what the police choose to do and the number they choose to deploy, it will ensure that those who are going to vote are safe and that the votes cast are secure.

While commending the British High Commissioner for the visit, he assured him that he would do everything to ensure a free and fair process in the Ekiti governorship election.

“The process is more important than the outcome because we are looking at the Nigeria project, in terms of sustaining democracy, not the survival of a particular political aspirant, whether it is on my party platform or in the platform of the opposition,” he said.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/uk-warns-against-rigging-of-ekiti.html

Governors of the South-East states rose from a meeting in Enugu on Sunday evening with a decision that no land would be made available for the establishment of cattle ranches in the zone.

The meeting, which held at the Enugu State Government House, had the governors of Enugu (Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi), Ebonyi (Dave Umahi) in attendance, while Abia and Anambra were represented by the deputy governors.


Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, was absent and was not represented by his deputy.

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, presented the association’s ‘template on restructuring’ to the governors at the meeting, which ended late on Sunday evening.

Addressing journalists after the parley, the Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, Umahi, disclosed that the governors had agreed that ranching would not be allowed in the zone.

Umahi explained that the reports that some South-East states had made land available for the establishment of ranches, based on a request by the Federal Government, were not true.

The Ebonyi State Governor stressed that while the Federal Government had not asked for any land for ranches, the governors would not accede to such a request, should it be made.

“No land in the South-East has been donated for ranching. We have not donated any land; we have not been asked to donate and we are not going to donate.

“Ranching is not approved by the South-East governors in the South-East,” Umahi declared.

The governors, in the same vein, condemned the recent killings in Plateau State, and demanded “justice for Plateau people.”


The governors, however, raised the alarm over what they described as challenges posed by the movement of herdsmen in the South-East.

They agreed to meet with heads of federal security agencies over the development.

Reading from a communiqué adopted at the meeting, Umahi said, “The South-East Governors Forum commiserates with the Governor of Plateau State and the people of the state for the recent killings.

“We condemn the killings and join other regions to demand justice for the Plateau people.

“South-East governors have noticed increased challenges in the movement of herdsmen from one state and region to another with the resultant effect of massive destruction of farmlands with attendant clashes with farmers.

“South-East governors have been spending huge funds in settling farmers whose farms and crops are destroyed – we, therefore, request an emergency meeting in the South-East with federal security chiefs, farmers and herdsmen to stop the movements and prevent clashes.”

Following the presentation by Ohanaeze, the South-East governors restated their demand for restructuring.

“Ndigbo’s Stand on Restructuring of Nigeria was presented to the South-East Governors Forum by the Ohanaeze President, based on the resolutions arising from the Awka enlarged Igbo meeting.

“He (Ohanaeze President) also laid down the template for the governors. The Forum thanked Ohanaeze on a job well done and reiterated its earlier stand that restructuring is the only way forward for Nigeria.

“The Forum also decided that the governors should take a studied look at the template of restructuring and will make its final stand clear by the next meeting of the Forum,” the communiqué said.

The governors, at the meeting, observed that the ‘dispute’ between the governments of Anambra and Ebonyi states over the recent renaming of Abakiliki Street in Awka, Anambra State, was due to ‘communication gap which is already being closed.’

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/we-wont-donate-land-for-ranching-south.html

The Igbimo Ure Ekiti, a consultative body of eminent elders and leaders of Ekiti State from within and outside Nigeria, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to keep the military away from the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State.

This was just as the elders condemned the desperation of the two leading political parties – the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress – to win the election at all costs.


The IUE, which addressed a press conference in Lagos on Sunday, expressed concern about the atmosphere of tension being created in the Ekiti State ahead of the election, particularly as a result of shootings and use of hate speeches.

In the text of the press conference jointly signed by its National President, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, and General Secretary, Sir Remi Omotoso, the IUE said election not being a war; President Buhari should ensure that the military was not involved.

The elders said, “With the palpable fear of the people within the state that the army may be used for this election, we call on Mr President and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammed Buhari, to ensure that men and women of the Nigerian Armed Forces are not involved in an electoral process that is totally, essentially and constitutionally a civil matter.

“Election is not a war. The earlier we began to instil confidence in the ability and the capacity of the Nigeria Police Force together with other civil security agencies for the prevention and detection of crime, apprehension of offenders, protection of lives and properties, preservation of law and order and due enforcement of our laws and regulation including our electoral laws, regulations and guidelines, the better for our democracy.”

Recalling that the governorship election and the re-run that followed between 2007 and 2010 were characterised by killing, destruction of valuable assets and trepidation among Ekiti State residents, the Ekiti elders appealed to the political gladiators not to allow history to repeat itself.

“No one will forget in a hurry, the Ido Osi tragedy, the Oye skirmishes, and the inconsistencies of Madam Ayoka Adebayo, the then Ekiti State Electoral Commissioner,” the IUE said.

“As a people, we must learn from history. The failure to learn from history is the reason for repeating same mistakes. We wish to recall with pain and anguish the electoral crisis of 1983 in the old Ondo State (comprising of the present Ondo State and Ekiti State) which occasioned loss of several lives and destruction of properties,” the elders added.

Apart from Adelusi-Adeluyi and Omotosho, others present at the press conference were a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Wole Olanipekun, historian, Prof. Banji Akintoye and a former Managing Director, UAC, Dr. Ayo Ajayi.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/keep-military-away-ekiti-elders-tell.html

Unemployment in the country reduced by 1.1 per cent in the first three months of this year, data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics on Friday showed.

According to the statistical bulletin on formal employment and earnings for the first quarter of 2018, the average formal employment increased from 48,192 in the last quarter of 2017 to 48,708 in the first quarter of 2018, while the average earnings also increased by four per cent.


The NBS said when compared with the same quarter in 2017, the formal employment and earnings showed an improvement 5.4 per cent and 7.9 per cent, respectively.

“Increase in employment numbers in the first quarter of 2018 were recorded in the following industries: public administration and defence; compulsory social security; activities of households as employers of domestic personnel; transportation and storage; administrative and support services activities; wholesale and retail trade; and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles,” the bulletin read in part.

Data from the NBS showed that employment in the private, parastatal and government sectors stood at 31,276; 7,420 and 10,012, respectively, while earnings stood at 10,948; 15,310 and 16,941, respectively.

Of the employment numbers, the bulletin stated that “97.5 per cent are local workers, while 2.5 per cent are expatriates.”

It added that decreases were recorded in the activities of extraterritorial organisations and bodies, other service activities, and financial and insurance activities, when compared to the same quarter in the previous year.

The NBS bulletin revealed that average earnings by sector in first quarter of 2018 were highest in the government sector and lowest in the private sector.

According to the NBS, an analysis of earnings by industry shows that among all the industry groups, the average earnings were highest in the financial and insurance activities industry, followed by the information and communications industry.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/unemployment-rate-dropped-by-11-in-q1.html

The Federal Government on Friday said it had commenced a review of the operations of tanker drivers nationwide, following the tragedy that struck at the Lagos end of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, after a petrol-laden tanker crashed and exploded last Thursday.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, the review commenced at his office on Thursday at a meeting that involved key government agencies.


Speaking on the sidelines of the 2018 Africa Transport Policy Programme in Abuja on Friday, Mustapha stated that a stakeholders’ meeting would be convened on Monday to further look at the issue critically.

Asked whether the government had taken a decision to address the menace posed by tankers on roads, Mustapha replied, “We have. And as a matter of fact, there was a structured meeting in my office yesterday (Thursday) with the key government agencies to review the operations of tanker drivers. On Monday, we are calling for a stakeholders’ meeting that will look at that issue quite critically.

“This is because it is only in developing economies that you find tankers carrying and hauling petroleum products. In many other places, they use railways or other services of transportation like pipelines. But there has been vandalism of our pipelines.”

He added, “So the ability of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to move crude oil or refined products has been very limited, which is why we now use the haulage processes on our roads and this has been a major challenge.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/lagos-explosion-fg-reviews-operations.html

Oil rich communities in Akwa Ibom State are alleging neglect “despite being the goose that lays the golden egg and gives Nigeria a lifeline.”

In a letter to Governor Udom Emmanuel and signed by the National President, Ekid People’s Union (EPU), Prof. Asindi Andrew Asindi, the Eket people said “Eket and Esit Eket Local Government Areas produce about 60 percent of Nigeria’s oil since the last quarter of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, but the two have remained benignly neglected and abandoned.”

The communities advised the governor to call a town hall meeting and personally address Ekid people early enough with a view to redressing the situation before the next election.


The oil communities lamented: “The East-West Road was meant to pass through Eket to Oron and Ikot Abasi. As the dual carriageway got close to Eket, the contract was altered and terminated.

No explanation was given, despite the repeated questions and protests by the people.

The Federal Government has preferred to give the people a cold shoulder and an undignified silence.

Why did the state government decide to keep mute in this agitation?

“Eket-Ibeno road was only 70 percent completed when it was commissioned about one year ago.

Eket and Ibeno people continue to watch but see no indications that the unfinished project will ever be revisited. The road is, therefore, not fully motorable.

In 2015, Eket urban was promised a total facelift with a beautiful, impressive drawing entitled ‘Eket Urban Renewal’ and this was pasted on billboards all over the city.

The project got started, then went into the slowest snail speed, and eventually became comatose.

“Fiongetok Market was scarified, and sacrificed as it was meant to be relocated somewhere else in Eket to make way for the Eket facelift which has failed.

Till date, government has done nothing about the relocation, hence Fiongetok Market, the commercial heartbeat of Eket and neighbouring towns, is no more.

Contract said to be awarded for this project remains on paper.”

The letter listed other complaints of the communities: “There was a magnificent drawing showing a plan to expand and renovate UruaNka.

That project has currently slipped into controversies due to obvious selfish and political interests.

Eket and Esit Eket LGAs do not have any market commensurate with their status as oil producing areas.

The market sites in each of these two areas are embarrassing.

A better choice would have been to site the relocated markets in auspicious locations given their historical, cultural and economic roles.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/oil-communities-allege-neglect-by-fg.html

The removal of tariffs and non-tariff barriers under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) will help to speed up the expansion plans by Dangote Cement Plc in Sub- Saharan Africa and increase its consumption across 16 countries to 275. Metric tonnes by 2030.

This projection was contained in the study report on the potential benefits of AfCFTA on Nigeria that was unveiled by the Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) in Abuja recently.


For the second time in four months, the federal government abstained from signing the AfCTA pact when the African Union (AU) Heads of Governments met on Sunday in Nouakchott, Mauritania, during the 31st Summit of the 55-member AU.

But the document which enunciated how the AfCFTA will broadly catalyse Nigeria’s economic performance and lay the foundation for inclusive growth in line with the vision of the Economic Recovery Growth Plan (ERGP) on export orientation and economic competitiveness, was reviewed by a lead Research Consultant with Africa International Trade and Commerce Research, Dr Olamide Taiwo.

Using the cement manufacturing sub-sector as a case study, the report said Dangote Cement which expects to reach 16 countries by 2023, reported sales revenue of N615.1 billion and a net worth asset minus liabilities of N797.3 billion.

Dangote currently maintain s cement production in 10 African countries, mainly in the Sub- Saharan region, including Ghana and Sierra Leone, where it carries out bulk import from Nigeria,

All the countries, according to the report, accounted for a combined GDP of $1.2 trillion in 2017 and total cement market potential of 121.9 Mt per annum and a total consumption of 64.3 Mt.

Cement consumption in Sub-Saharan African grew at average of 7.2 per cent between 2010-17 and is projected at 119.7 Mt in 2018, presenting a very large cement market.

Dangote Group’s share of the Cement market was 21.8 percent in 2016 and at the current growth rate, consumption is projected to reach 181.7 Mt in 2024 and 275.7 Mt in 2030.

Nigeria became self-sufficient in cement production in 2012 and a net exporter in 2016. With investment in several African countries with a view to expanding the cement market across the continent into 16 countries by 2023.

The group’s share of the cement market in Sub-Saharan Africa is projected at 27.1 percent in 2018 and expected to attain 59.4 per cent by 2030.

Its cement sales will grow to 88.6 Mt in 2024 and 140.1 Mt respectively by 2030 while the net worth which was N797 billion in 2016 will grow to N4.1 trillion by 2024 and N6.6 trillion by 2030.

A total of 16,045 jobs were projected to be created in Nigeria by 2018 within the cement sector and the number is expected to rise to 35, 085 in 2024 and 45, 662 in 2030.

Reacting to the study where 512 companies were polled, the DG NOTN Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, said one of the low hanging fruits which government and stakeholders can harvest should include
Industrial incentives at African level to also consider procurement policies for Nigerian companies particularly for micro and small scale industries.

He also said the trade policy should protect manufacturers and industries to entail taking out of liberalization where tariff will go to zero of the 90 percent of level of tariff.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/afcfta-dangote-cement-consumption-in.html

Following the abuse and diversion of local government allocations, the Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) Thursday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the state and local government joint account in the last 10 years.


The union made this known during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

NULGE argued that the diversion of local government allocations by state governors was solely responsible for the lack of development across the 774 local government areas in the country.

While charging Buhari to investigate the governors, NULGE National President Ibrahim Khaleel said: “Beyond fulfilling his promise to restore sanity in the operations of local governments by state governors, it is our belief in NULGE that Mr President should also use his administrative powers to appoint reputable auditors to carry out forensic auditing of state-local government joint accounts in at least the last 10 years.

“This is necessary since there is little or nothing on ground in the 774 local governments to show for the huge resources allocated to states over the years.”

NULGE also accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum of deliberately undermining the local government autonomy bill through dubious political gimmicks.

Khaleel said: “The APC Governors Forum (or is it Progressive Governors Forum?) had engaged in a dubious political project under the guise of restructuring, in a committee chaired by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, made a recommendation based on a spurious broad national constitution that local governments should be removed from the constitution as a third tier of government.

“Just as we decided then not to dissipate our energy in taking Governor el-Rufai to task, we still maintain our position that this exercise by the APC governors was nothing but a charade.

“For us in NULGE, there is no better time and opportunity to achieve autonomy for the local government system in Nigeria than now!”

Khaleel also tasked state assembly lawmakers to expedite action on the bill, stating that: “With the signing into law of the financial autonomy bill by President Buhari, which effectively puts an end to the hegemony of absolute control of state legislatures by state governors, state lawmakers no longer need to fear or be intimidated in asserting the logic of the constitutional provision which empowers them to check the excesses of governors.”

The NULGE president also warned that should the passage of the Local Government Autonomy Bill fail, the union would mobilise its members in the 2019 general election to work against the political ambitions of elected officials who truncated the local government autonomy

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nulge-asks-buhari-to-probe-state-lg.html

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, in the South-South region has condemned the killings by herdsmen in Plateau State.


PFN said it was painful that the Federal Government of Nigeria had not taken any decisive step to put an end to the nagging cases of killings in several Northern states.

National Vice President, South-South, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and Founder, Flock of Christ Mission, Warri, Delta State, Bishop Simeon Okah, said Christians should take political actions to vote out any government that is insensitive to the senseless killings in the country.


The cleric said: “We must continue to condemn these killings. We must continue to challenge the Federal Government to take positive action to stop these killings.

“We must continue to urge the international community to take action to protect the lives of defenceless citizens, who are daily being slaughtered in their homes at midnight.


“Above all, we must take political actions by mobilising to remove any administration that is insensitive to the security of lives and properties of Nigerians.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/killings-in-nigeria-must-stop-now-pfn.html

Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc, Access Bank Plc, and the United Bank for Africa Plc led the top 10 banks that facilitated investment in fixed securities and currency valued at N69.16 trillion on the FMDQ OTC Securities Exchange between January and May 2018, according to data made available to us.

Specifically, the 10 banks accounted for 74.7 per cent or N51.67 trillion of the total investment in five months.


However, the top three banks (Stanbic IBTC Bank, Access Bank and UBA) accounted for 45.2 per cent or N31.28 trillion.

Apart from the three banks, others among the top 10 banks were: Standard Chartered Bank Limited, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, CitiBank Nigeria Limited, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Zenith Bank Plc and First City Monument Bank Limited.

A breakdown of the transactions showed that treasury bills contributed the largest to overall turnover, accounting for 40.86 per cent (N28.26 trillion) of the market.

Also, forex market transactions (Spot FX and FX Derivatives) accounted for 36.64 per cent whilst Repurchase Agreements (Repos)/Buy-Backs product categories recorded 15.25 per cent and Bonds and Unsecured Placements & Takings representing 6.54 per cent and 0.71 per cent respectively.

As part of efforts to make the market more efficient and attractive, FMDQ with the support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the dealing members (banks) recently deployed a fixed income market straight through process (STP) settlement solution.

The settlement solution was deployed through exchange’s proprietary market system – FMDQ’s Q-ex – a customised fully-integrated multi-asset trading system with post-trade services capabilities.
“FMDQ’s Q-ex has been integrated with the CBN’s Scripless Securities Settlement System (S4) to provide STP capabilities for efficient settlement in the fixed income market, improving the efficiency of the trading, reporting and settlement processes, whilst further developing, in no small measure, the Nigerian financial markets,” FMDQ OTC the exchange explained.

The exchange said with integrity being one of the key ingredients for a successful market, as adjudged by global counterparts, the achievement of STP in the fixed income market via the integration of Q-ex and the CBN’s S4 could not have come a moment too soon.

Commenting on development, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FMDQ OTC, Bola Onadele.Koko, said: “The development of FMDQ’s Q-ex and its subsequent linkage to the CBN’s S4 is one of the key medium- to long-term initiatives of FMDQ, aimed at making the Nigerian financial market operationally excellent – delivering on the “O” in FMDQ’s GOLD Agenda. With the continued collective efforts of the CBN, the Securities & Exchange Commission and indeed, other key regulators and stakeholders, we at FMDQ, are confident that the potential of our domestic markets, acting as a catalyst to propel economic growth, shall be realised. To build and sustain a well-functioning market, it is hoped that all hands remain on deck even as FMDQ continues to re-affirm its commitment to promote a world-class financial market operating in alignment with international best practices.”

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/10-banks-facilitate-n52tr-on-investment.html

Forty-nine out of the 55 members of the African Union have signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, said AU chairperson Paul Kagame.

Kagame, who is also the Rwandan president, made the announcement in Nouakchott during the closing ceremony of the 31st summit of the 55-member African Union.

South Africa, Sierra Leone, Namibia, Lesotho and Burundi signed the AfCFTA in Nouakchott.

Chad and Swaziland ratified the agreement, which brings the total number of ratification to six.

A minimum of 22 ratifications are required to enable the AfCFTA to come into force, while 15 ratifications for the protocol on free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment.

The AfCFTA will be the largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation, according to the AU.

It could create an African market of over 1.2 billion people with a GDP of 2.5 trillion U.S. dollars, according to the pan-African bloc.

The AU said the deal was expected to improve the economic prosperity of the African nations removing barriers to trade, like tariffs and import quotas, allowing the free flow of goods and services between its members.

However, Nigeria and five other countries failed to sign the deal.

Countries that signed the AfCFTA Consolidated Text are Niger, Rwanda, Angola,

CAR., Chad, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, The Gambia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Cote’d’Ivoire, Seychelles, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea.

Others are Morocco, Swaziland, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, DRC, Guinea, Liberia, Libya,

Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, South Sudan, Uganda, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sao Tome and Principle, Togo and Tunisia.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/nigeria-abstains-as-49-au-members-sign.html

The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) Monday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently save Nigeria from avoidable doom or step aside as the country was sliding into anarchy.

The bishops, in a statement signed by the CBCN President, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, and Secretary, Most Rev. Camillus Umoh, said the ongoing killings in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country by suspected Fulani herdsmen were clear signposts to anarchy.

The bishops spoke against the background of persistent carnage in the country, particularly, the recent massacre of over 100 persons in three local governments in Plateau State, where the government Monday relaxed the dusk-to-dawn curfew it imposed in the aftermath of the bloodbath.

The military, whose heavy presence in the troubled area had failed to contain the bandits’ aggression, in an update of its operations Monday, said it had made 11 more arrests of suspects, bringing its total haul to 21.

The bishops said the latest massacre of scores of innocent Nigerians, especially children and women, including pregnant women in Plateau State by the bandits who seemed to be operating without hindrance in the country showed that its last statement had been completely ignored by those who had the responsibility to protect lives and property of Nigerians.

Pained by this development, they said: “Once again, we ask President Muhammadu Buhari to please save Nigeria from further pain and avoidable chaos, anarchy and doom,” adding: “If the president cannot keep our country safe, then he automatically loses the trust of the citizens. He should no longer continue to preside over the killing fields and mass graveyard that our country has become.”

They said the country would witness another mass burial as a result of the serial murderous activities of a group that it said clearly seemed to be above the law in the country, and who by their actions and words had insisted that human lives were far less than the lives of cattle.

“This shameful inversion of values portrays our country as barbaric and our society as brutish,” the bishops stated.

They argued that the killings were not mere coincidence given the temerity of the Fulani herdsmen in perpetrating the killings.

The bishops stressed: “We are equally sad as the federal government continues to find it difficult to proactively address the issues of these wanton killings.”

Military Arrests 11 More Suspects

Meanwhile, the Military Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in Plateau State code named “Operation Safe Haven” (OPSH) has disclosed that it has so far arrested 21 suspects in connection with the recent killings and civil disturbances in Jos.

The suspects were paraded before newsmen Monday at the STF Headquarters Jos by the media officer of the task force, Major Adam Umar, and the Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), Tyopev Terna.

Umar, who spoke to newsmen during the parade, said: “Out of the 21 suspects arrested so far, 11 of them are those arrested in connection to the killings in Barkin Ladi and environs, while 14 of them were arrested from the scene of the civil disturbances after the attacks.”

He added: “The suspects we are parading were arrested with arms, some of them with locally made guns, revolver and other dangerous weapons, which they are not supposed to have as citizens.

“Information we extracted from the original suspects led us to trace some other accomplices and we have also arrested them. And there is the possibility of making more arrest over those killings as we intensify our efforts to get to the root of the killings in pursuant of our mandate to prevent further killings and restore total peace in the state.”

Jang, Secondus, Kaigama React

The announcement of more arrests by the military did not entirely mollify many people aggrieved by the wanton killings. Former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Jonah Jang; Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus; and former President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) and Archbishop of Jos, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, intervened Monday, condemning the killings.

Jang, who was accused of complicity in the crisis, dismissed the allegation as nonsense. “Doesn’t that sound funny that Jonah Jang, a Berom man from Plateau State is organising Fulani herdsmen to come and kill Beroms or which killings are they talking about?” he told journalists in Jos.

The senator said he had been hearing somebody making noise on the television alluding many things, and that he had directed his lawyers to write him and let him explain or else he would go and explain in the court.

In his own reaction, Secondus asked for internationally-supervised inquest into the killings across the country to ascertain those behind them.

He said the call became necessary because of the lacklustre response of the federal government to the heinous crime and some attempts by agents of the government to divert attention of the public away from the issue.

Speaking while receiving one of the presidential aspirants in the party, Alhaji Tanimu Turaki, at the Wadata House National Secretariat of the party Monday, Secondus said an enquiry by the international community would help halt the bloodletting in the country.

Also reacting to the crisis, Kaigama said the recent killings in Plateau State was a shameful projection of the image of Nigerians.

Kaigama, who is on a working visit to Canada and the United States (US), said in a statement that the killings had continued to paint Nigeria negatively across the international community.

“The flagrant and despicable taking of human lives and the continued destruction to homes and means of livelihood is a disgrace to humanity and a shameful projection of a negative image of Nigerians,” he said, adding, “The gruesome murders have robbed me of the enthusiasm, energy and pride with which I came to Canada and America.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/save-nigeria-from-avoidable-doom-or.html

The police on Monday rescued the abducted father of Super Eagles captain, Mikel Obi, in Enugu.

A statement issued by spokesman of Enugu State Police Command, Ebere Amaraizu, said Pa Michael Obi and his driver, Ishaya John, were kidnapped last Friday along Makurdi – Enugu Road.

The statement read:‎ “The Enugu State Command of the Nigeria Police Force through its operatives of the 9thmile Division on Monday at 2:30 p.m. rescued Pa Michael Obi and his driver one Ishaya John unhurt in Egede udi forest of Enugu State along old Egede Affa Road in Enugu.

“They were rescued hale and hearty and Pa Michael Obi and the driver have rejoined their family. It was gathered that Pa Obi was allegedly abducted along Makurdi -Enugu road in the afternoon of 29/6/18 on his way from Jos in his grey colored Toyota pardon jeep with registration number MUS 604CG and taken to unknown destination through the thick forest part of the area.


“It was further gathered that the abductors started calling to demand a ransom of N10 million before the operatives acting on intelligence information swooped on them where a gun duel ensued. This forced the hoodlums to abandon their victims inside the forest and they were promptly rescued.”

more photos at[url] http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/police-rescue-mikels-abducted-father-in.html[/url]

The Presidency on Monday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris over the reported protest embarked by police personnel in Maiduguri, the Borno capital, on Monday.

The police personnel were said to have protested over non-payment of their monthly salaries and allowances.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IGP was seen heading towards the office of the Chief of Staff to the President, Malam Abba Kyari, at the presidential villa, Abuja.

A source at the Presidential villa, who preferred to remain anonymous told NAN that the IGP was in the villa to brief the presidency on the police protest.

NAN reports that the Police in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, dismissed the media report, claiming that the policemen only made inquiries on their allowances and salaries before returning to their duty posts.

According to the statement, the delay in payment is due to late passage of the appropriation act, adding that with its assent by President Buhari, the issue will soon be addressed.

http://www.akelicious.net/2018/07/police-protest-presidency-summons-igp.html