National President, Polymer Institute of Nigeria, Prof. Paul Mamza, has appealed to the Federal Government to drop the proposal for the ban on plastic bags and materials in the country.

Polymer Institute of Nigeria is an umbrella for all Polymer scientists, engineers, technologists and industrialist in Nigeria.

Recently, an environmental law prohibiting the use and manufacture of plastic bags in Nigeria passed through First Reading in the House of Representatives.

Regardless, Professor Mamza told newsmen that instead of banning plastic materials, Nigeria should be integrated into the technological world where Plastic wastes are used as a veritable recovery rather than the ban.

He said: “Recently, the House of Representatives passed an Environmental law prohibiting the use and manufacture of plastic bags in Nigeria through first reading, but, I want to say that there is no alternative to plastics yet.

“Plastics have replaced traditional materials, due to its higher technical advantage and low cost. Most superior materials that run automobiles, household items and initially, all materials in commercial uses, are made from plastics.

“In some countries like Singapore, polymeric wastes were utilised in the generation of electricity.

“The Government of Nigeria, rather than ban the use of plastic bags, should engage polymer professionals in finding ways of environmentally friendly disposal of plastics by novelty of waste to wealth.

“Nigeria must be integrated into the technological world where plastic wastes are used as veritable recovery rather than simple ban.

“Modern technologies also offer viabilities of biodegradable and photodegradable polymers. The built–in disposability of plastics, through the use of microorganisms or photosensitive groupings, are areas of current research and development that Nigeria should key into, not outright ban on plastic bags.

“All levels of government in Nigeria should invest in science and technology, especially polymer science and technology, which is a springboard for economic prosperity.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/dont-ban-plastic-bags-polymer-president.html

The first set of intending pilgrims (542) from Kaduna State have left Kaduna International Airport on Sunday, for Saudi Arabia for the 2019 Hajj, the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board of the state has said.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the board, Yunusa Abdullahi, made the disclosure in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna.

He said the intending pilgrims were from Igabi, Lere, Kauru, Makarfi and Zangon Kataf Local Government Areas of the state, adding that they departed to the holy land on Med View airline.

According to him, the number comprises 348 males and 194 females.

The PRO quoted the Governor of the state, Mal.Nasir El-Rufai and his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe as having tasked the intending pilgrims to be good ambassadors of the state when they addressed the intending pilgrims before their departure.

El-Rufai and Balarabe, he said, also advised them to abide strictly with the rules and regulations of the Saudi government.


According to him, the second flight is expected to leave on Sunday with intending pilgrims from Giwa and Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state.

He said that all necessary arrangements had been completed by the board for a successful hajj operation.

These PRO said include renovation of Mando Hajj Camp with provision of modern toilet facilities, expansion of mosque, drilling of boreholes and procurement of visa for the intending pilgrims.

“About 3,500 pilgrims are expected to perform the pilgrimage from the State this year,” he said.

A correspondent of the News of Nigeria (NAN) covering the exercise, who visited the Prophet’s Mosque in Minnah, said the intending pilgrims from the state and other intending pilgrims were seen observing their prayers as part of Hajj rites.

So far, four states: Katsina, Kano, Kaduna and Lagos have commenced transportation of their intending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the exercise.

Hajji is one of the five pillars of Islam made compulsory for Muslims who have adequate resources and good health to perform it.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/2019-hajj-first-batch-of-kaduna.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said yesterday that investigation into an alleged N100bn Alpha Beta scam involving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s firm is ongoing.

EFCC in a statement by its acting Spokesperson, Tony Orilade reacted to a story in the Punch Newspaper of Saturday, July 13, 2019, titled: Osinbajo’s firm linked to company fingered in alleged N100bn Alpha Beta scam.

The statement reads: “While not denying the fact that such petition was received on Alpha Beta by the Commission last year, preliminary investigation has shown that the petitioner did not substantiate the allegation contained in his petition.


“For the records, the Alpha Beta investigation is ongoing and we have nothing to hide over the matter. If the petitioner has any further proof with regards to the petition, our doors are wide open.

“As a tradition, we do not deal on hearsay, we act on facts and raw data. The Commission will not allow anybody to drag its name and reputation into the mud for ill-motive reasons.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/efcc-admits-receiving-petition-on.html

Tulsi Chanrai Foundation (TCF) in Abuja, a facility established to provide both free and billed eye surgeries and general treatments has said that Nigeria will save about $1bn ‎annually that is currently being pent on offshore medical tourism.

It also said 60 per cent of its services will be free of charge as they are targeted at the less privileged and vulnerable Nigerians; while 40 per cent will be paid for by wealthier clients.

Speaking at a pre-commission press briefing, the Founder and Trustee of the Foundation, Mr Jagdish Chanrai assured that the facility is also expected to improve healthcare opportunities for complicated eye patients at a subsidized rate in the country, rather than going offshore to procure such specialized services.

According to him, “eradicating curable blindness not only offers a person the gift of sight, but more importantly, restores livelihood thereby immediately and favourably impacting economic output across the nation. It is estimated that a US $1 invested in eye-care produces multifold effect on economic output”, he explained.

Chanrai added that the state-of-the-art eye hospital bridges the gap of lack of a facility in Nigeria and West Africa to tackle eye challenges that have made some sufferers go blind. He noted that the hospital will adopt modern techniques to prevent blindness and treat various eye conditions, through hospital-based and outreach activities.

He said the management has a system used in identifying vulnerable Nigerians in remote villages where they are transported free of charge for free eye treatment and taken back to their destinations.

On funding, he said the bulk of the money used in running the place comes from the Chanrai family, while other donors also help out. The hospital is run largely by a Nigerian team of 30 eye professionals who have recently undergone intensive training in India.


The facility will be managed by the globally renowned Aravind Eye Care System of India, the largest provider of quality eye-care in the world, the CEO stated further.

The hospital commenced full operations in January 2019 and till date has provided eye services to over 6,400 out patients and performed over 1000 eye surgeries, of which 850 have been free for the poor.

“When at full capacity, the state-of-the art hospital will have the capability of performing around 15,000 surgeries per annum, with every effort being made to set a good standard for eye-care across Africa”, Chanrai said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nigeria-to-save-1bn-annually-from.html

Popular Nigerian Blogger,Linda Ikeji has been awarded the African Media Personality of the Year award at the 2019 African Achievers Awards.
The award ceremony in its 9th edition of took place at the House of Commons, Palace of Westminster, United Kingdom.
The prestigious awards, which is an annual awards event that recognises personalities who distinguished themselves in their contributions toward the growth and development of Africa,had Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commssion in attendance.
The high point of the ceremony was the Achievers honours that was presented to Africans making a difference in various sectors across the Globe.
In 2018, Ikeji received an honorary doctorate degree from the Trinity International University of Ambassadors in Georgia for her contribution to African media and business.
After graduation from the University, Ikeji worked hard to break into journalism by launching her own media company, Blackdove Communications, a modelling agency and events management outfit.
She also started a magazine called FM which release its first issue in 2006.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/linda-ikeji-wins-2019-african-media.html

A group supporting Atiku Abubakar, Justice Vanguard have accused the Buhari Media Organization of spreading fake news to distract Nigerians from the facts emanating from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.



The Atiku group further accused the presidency of making funds available to BMO to sponsor fake news in the media.



Akelicious recalls Atiku was the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 presidential election and he lost out to Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC).



He is, however, challenging the election result before the tribunal.

The statement issued by the Convener, Justice Vanguard, Ezekiel Adeojo, said the APC and the presidency has gone into panic mode.

“With the mind-boggling testimonies of Atiku’s witnesses at the ongoing Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which validates our earlier statement that Atiku’s mandate was stolen, the Presidency has been sent into frenzy mode.

“The APC has been panicking since the petitioner’s witnesses opened the putrid can of worms on how the electoral will of Nigerians was truncated. Even INEC has been contradicting itself; destroying whatever credibility that is left of the commission just to defend indefensible electoral heist called 2019 presidential election.



“We, Justice Vanguard have been reliably informed by our intelligence that BMO has been given a matching order with commensurate funding by the Presidency to rubbish testimonies of Atiku’s witnesses in the media by ensuring that every comment of the witnesses is twisted in the public.



“This explains the barrage of fake news in the media mutilating statements of Atiku’s witnesses, just to confuse Nigerian public and subsequently create holes in petitioner’s submissions.

“Some propagandised stories like: ‘Atiku’s witness can’t remember date of presidential election’ published by online version of a news medium, and sensational report tagged ‘Breaking: I saw my statement for the first time before Tribunal, says Atiku’s witness,’ promoted in another newspaper. These are spine reports. Discerning Nigerians are already aware that the news medium is one of propagandistic platforms of an APC chieftain.



“We want to categorically inform Nigerians that these infantile propaganda reported as statements of Atiku’s witnesses, do not reflect what happened at the tribunal in the last few days. We acknowledge the fact that the PDP’s witnesses are not infallible like every other human, but does not have the propensity to make such omnibus mistakes.



“These stories were planted in the media by fake news industry called Buhari Media Organization (BMO) to reduce the discourse Atiku’s watertight petition is generating. Nigerians should watch out for more fake news as more spin doctors under the payroll of the ruling APC have been commissioned to unleash a beehive of falsehood to corrupt impregnable facts being reeled out by Atiku’s witnesses at the tribunal. They are jittery because Atiku is indeed coming,” the group said in its statement.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/atiku-vs-buhari-pdp-apc-supporters-in.html

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has described the protest staged against the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye as unfair, embarrassing and ill-motivated to tarnish his image.

National Director, Legal and Public Affairs of CAN, Evangelist Barrister Kwamkur Samuel Vondip, in a statement on Wednesday urged the protesters to take their protest to President Muhammadu Buhari and government officials to end herdsmen killings, kidnapping, banditry and other forms of criminality in the country rather than attacking the man of God.

“The attention of the Christian Association of Nigeria has been drawn to the news of a protest led by some secular musicians against one of our highly- respected leaders of the Church, not only in Nigeria, but worldwide, namely, the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye, over his purported silence on some unpleasant national issues and the call for his suspension from the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, (PFN).

“While we appreciate the concern of the protesters over the issues they raised and the call for a better nation, we strongly believe, as the umbrella body for Christians and churches in Nigeria, to which the Redeemed Christian Church of God and Pastor E. A. Adeboye belongs, that to single out one of our leaders and members, to say the least, is unfair.

“The entire exercise, in our view, was ill- motivated. The people who staged this insulting protest against a highly-reverred servant of God in the person of Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye are totally ignorant of the operations of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“It needs to be known to all that for more than once, Pastor E. A. Adebayo has addressed the press and said that as a ‘man under authority’, he cannot speak on issues that CAN or PFN has spoken about, unless by the express permission of the two bodies.

“Our highly-respected worldwide, Pastor Adeboye is an unusually humble man and a man of the spirit, who has learnt to operate under authority in line with scriptural injunctions as a servant of God. He has said more than once that he cannot say anything again after CAN and PFN have spoken on issues.

“Any protest against Pastor Adeboye will be seen by us as a systematic insult against the leaders of the church in Nigeria. Why should any group of people think that it is their right to protest and demand that Pastor Adeboye should speak on the issues they listed when CAN and PFN have not spoken on them?”

Evangelist Vondip said CAN had visited and written several times to President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to work hard towards releasing those in captivity and address the insecurity that has claimed several lives in the country.

“For emphasis, if we go the memory lane, on not less than three occasions, CAN has taken many of the issues which the protesters were mentioning to President Muhammadu Buhari, requesting the government to do more to get the people in captivity released such as the remaining Chibok girls, Leah Sharibu, the captive of faith and El Zakzaki, the Islamic preacher that is still kept in detention against the ruling of the court.
“CAN has spoken to those in government, especially the Christians among them, who belong to our association, to speak for the oppressed like Esther of the Bible did, and defend the faith rather than explain away evils in order to protect their jobs and daily bread. On some occasions we have written to the National Assembly for their intervention to no avail.

“We further urge those who protested to direct their future protest at those in government who should do more to free people in captivity for no sin of theirs. They should direct their protest against the people in power to make the nation safer from the attacks of herdsmen, kidnappers, ritual killers, armed robbers, armed bandits and Boko Haram terrorists. We have no gun to fight our battles except to speak out as we have been doing and never at the same time give up praying to God who can do all things.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/protest-against-pastor-adeboye-unfair.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last month expended over $956 million to defend the nation’s currency, the Naira, at the various segments of the foreign exchange (forex) markets.

This is in addition to more than 63 million Chinese Yuan (CNY) released for the Renminbi-denominated Letters of Credit (LoC) for businessmen plying their trade along the Chinese corridor. The figure was arrived at based on the weekly amount released by the apex bank in its forex report.

The month kicked off with the injection of $294.7 million and CNY31.4 million into the Retail

Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) segment of the market on June 7. It was followed by the $210 million intervention on June 11, 2019.

A breakdown of the figure shows that authorised dealers in the wholesale segment of the market were offered $100 million, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) segment received the sum of $55 million. The sum of $55 million was allocated to customers requiring foreign exchange for invisibles such as tuition fees, medical payments and Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), among others.

On Tuesday, June 25, the apex bank again offered authorised dealers in the wholesale segment $100 million, while the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and the invisibles segments each received the sum of $55 million.

Three days later, on June 28, this bank of last resort, in continuation of its intervention in the inter-bank forex market injected the sum of $242.04 million into the retail Secondary Market Intervention Sales (SMIS) and CNY 32.3 million in the spot and short tenored forwards segment of the inter-bank forex market.

Its Director of Corporate Communications Department, Isaac Okorafor, disclosed that the intervention was for requests in the agricultural and raw materials sectors, adding that the Chinese Yuan, on the other hand, was for Renminbi-denominated LoC.

Okorafor expressed satisfaction over the stability of the foreign exchange which, according to him, was largely due to sustained intervention by the CBN. He gave assurance that the apex bank would remain committed to ensuring that all the sectors of the forex market continue to enjoy access to the needed foreign exchange.


He added that with improved inflow of forex, the exchange rate had remained stable around N360/$1 for the past 27 months.

Investigation revealed that between April 2018 and last March, CBN injected over $42.3 billion into the forex market to ensure liquidity in its various segments.

An analysis of the intervention showed that the apex bank injected about $7.89 billion into the market in the second quarter of 2018. This rose to $11.88 billion in the third quarter.

However, the figure dropped to $10.72 billion in the fourth quarter before rising to $11.81 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2019.

During this period, CBN sustained its interventions at both the inter-bank and the Bureau De Change (BDC) segments. However, the average exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar at the inter-bank segment depreciated by 0.04 per cent to N306. 84 to a dollar in the first quarter, compared to the level at the end of 2018.

Commenting on the impact of the interventions in stabilising the forex market, Okorafor attributed the relative stability in the market largely to the continued liquidity injection of the apex bank.

The CBN mouthpiece then assured the public that the apex bank remained committed to ensuring that all the sectors continued to enjoy access to the forex required for the business concerns, whether in United States dollars or Chinese Yuan.

He said the apex bank would continue to come up with measures that would ensure the value of the Naira appreciates in the forex market.

He stated: “The Importers and Exporters (I&E) window was formed basically to sustain that market. We also have international money transfer operators. They also bring money that we also allowed to reflect market realities and that is another autonomous source.

“The currency swap has helped to stabilise the market. Because these are the demand that would have found itself in the dollar segment of the market.


“So we have been able to remove that and that also has helped to maintain stability.”

He said the apex bank would continue to sustain its intervention in the forex market until availability of enough liquidity in the market

He added that the apex bank would continue to sustain its intervention until enough liquidity in the market.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/cbn-injects-956m-cny63m-into-forex.html

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau will on July 10 conduct its primary election to select candidate for the Pengana constituency by-election in the state.

Mr John Akans, the party’s Publicity Secretary in the state, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Jos.

NAN also reports that the by-election became imperative following the demise of Mr Ezekiel Afon, who died immediately he was declared winner of the election into the Pengana constituency in March.

Akans explained that the conduct of primaries was in accordance with the provisions of the electoral act.

He also said that the party had constituted a five-man committee to ensure the conduct of a successful and transparent primary election.

“The state working committee of our party has today set up a five-man committee that will conduct primaries in respect of the pengana constituency bye-election that has been slated for Aug. 3

“The committee has been mandated to in conjunction with the Bassa Local Government chapter of our great party, organise and conduct free,fair and credible primary election on July 10.

“As a responsible party, we are committed to the good of all Nigerians, particularly plateau people.

“We are also mindful of the fact that over the years, our people have been subjected to poverty, hunger killings and nepotism. They need to be liberated,” he said

Akans urged residents of the constituency to support and vote for the PDP in the forthcoming poll, adding that the party would provide good leadership for the people.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/pdp-to-conduct-primary-for-pengana.html

The Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), in Southern Nigeria on Sunday, cautioned the people of the area to remain vigilant even with the suspension of the controversial Ruga settlement for Fulani herdsmen.

The was made known in a press statement issued by Dr. Joseph Ajujungwa, Secretary of CAN, in the 17 Southern States.

Ajujungwa, who suspects that the suspension of the programme by President Muhammadu Buhari may not be its end, said there was every indication that an underground work was still on, even though Buhari claimed to have suspended it.

He called on every Southerner to be watchful, stressing that “even as we pray, we don’t need to keep quiet; they are experts in underground work.”


“We do not have land to give to anybody as a grazing field or colony and we call on the South East governors to maintain their stand that they do not have such a place. Do you know what it means to give 10 hectares of land to herdsmen? We say no to that.

“As CAN, we will preach it from our pulpit, every Imam should peach from the mosque and the traditionalists should stand against it; nobody should relent; no land should be given; any traditional ruler that does that should be dethroned.

“In the North, we have largest hectares of land, very vast that nobody is occupying. Why are they not building the ranches, Ruga of whatever there? They can come here, take grass and go, and we buy cow in exchange, just like the governors said. We do not have such mass land required.”


“We are also calling on the Federal Government to be mindful of what they are doing because cattle rearing is a private farming business. Why should the government support individual cattle farmers against other farmers?” he said.

On the threat and ultimatum issued by a coalition of Northern Youths, Ajujungwa said “they should understand that nobody has the monopoly of violence. As they are planning to attack, others are planning to defend themselves and we cannot run away for them.

“CAN is calling on all Christians, all law abiding citizens of the Southern Nigeria to please watch and pray. Watch means that you must open your eyes to see what is going on and therefore pray; do not relent.

“Anybody that is coming to buy land now, in the name of business, factory, and what have you, let us be cautious in dealing with the person, because their plot is to turn such into colony.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/be-vigilant-buharis-suspension-of-ruga.html

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has called on the Federal and State governments not to relent in the campaigns and vaccination to totally eradicate the wild polio virus.

In a media chat with newsmen in Abuja, the President, Global Policy and Advocacy of the Foundation, Mark Suzman cautioned governments not to relax until the World Health Organisation’s certificate is obtained.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation had been in Nigeria since the year 2000 supporting the government in curbing HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, maternal and child mortality as well as fighting polio.

Suzman explained that Nigeria is the last country in Africa to have recorded the disease, adding that the nation only had a few months to meet its 3-years mark specified by WHO before the virus can be termed eradicated.

Suzman, who is also the Chief Strategy officer of the foundation, expressed worry over some cases of other types of polio which had been recorded in 16 states in the last few months, attributing it to complacence.

He acknowledged that it was difficult to spend time and money on vaccinations when there has been no case in over 30 months, but warned that if any new case is recorded as a result of reduced vaccination, then Nigeria would be back to square one.

“On the fight against polio you are all aware that Nigeria is the last country in Africa that has had endemic polio, we are getting very close: you need to have not had a wild polio virus case for three years to be certified by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“We are getting tantalizingly close to that date and we are hoping that we are going to be able to celebrate with the government and WHO.

“We have just come from a meeting with the NGF and we would be having a meeting with the Vice President and we would be saying: at this last moment when we are so close we need continued Nigerian leadership and support to meet the deadline.

“The risk when you get so close and people don’t see any case is that there would be a slowdown in vaccination campaigns.

“You have to keep vaccinating every child as long as there is any polio case anywhere in the world.

“We have also seen in the last few months unfortunately some cases of when you have very low immunization rates, lower than expected, you see a spread of some related polio.

“We have seen this in around 16 Nigerian states in the last 6 months where vaccination rates dropped below 50 per cent.

“We have had a good meeting with the governors forum and a strong commitment from them that they will redouble their efforts to make sure that we do up the vaccination rates and meet that deadline,” he said.

He urged the governments at all level to follow through with their commitment by fully funding the polio campaigns for the remaining few months to the issuance of the WHO certificate.

He greatly commended the governments at all levels for the amazing work that had been done so far, stressing that it was only through good leadership that the nation had come thus far in the fight.

He added that the foundation was already delving into other areas, including agriculture, that it would be focusing on after the total eradication of polio by September.

Suzman stressed that polio cases had nothing to do with insecurity but with non-commitment to the vaccination campaigns.

With specific examples of Lagos and Ogun which also recently recorded cases of the different type of polio that is not endemic, the Foundation’s president said that what is needed was commitment to vaccinate every child or at least 80 per cent of them until the virus is eradicated.

“It has been the lack of full energy about the revaccination campaigns, all we need to do is to go and do emergency campaigns where there have been cases.

“Nigeria had been doing that but in the last few months we have seen slippages where some times the immunisation rates and campaigns dropped below 50 per cent.

“That is the point where we want to see the political leadership, where we need a clear commitment from the Nigeria Governors Forum.

“When you are close to the finish line, it’s easy to just get a little bit complacent, we cannot just let up. The risk of a let up just raises the prospect of if we were to get another case of wild polio outbreak then we would be back to square one.

“So far, the news is good, we want you to be optimistic but we also want to be vigilant,” he stressed.

The Country Director of the BMGF, Paulin Basinga said that the foundation was the biggest funder of the Nigerian government’s efforts to eradicate polio.

Basinga also clarified that the programme was domiciled in the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), an agency of the Nigerian government.

“The NPHCDA leads the polio intervention not the gates foundation, we are one of the biggest funder but the government of Nigeria is the one pushing that.

“The surge of the cases that you have been seeing is not wild polio, the wild polio that we are supporting the government to eradicate we have never seen any since close to three years.

“By September 2019 it would be three years since we have seen the wild polio so we are really waiting to celebrate that big achievement for the Nigerian government.”

He corroborated that there was need for the children to be vaccinated up to 80 per cent so that everyone could be protected.

He also attributed the rare cases of polio which are being seen now to low level of vaccination.

“In some states where you have low level of immunization, some very rare form of polio would come and that is what we are seeing now.

“It started in Jigawa and it has gone to Bauchi and it has reached 16 states now including Lagos, including Ogun, including Osun.

“What the governments need to do in those states is to revaccinate kids quickly and then that rare case would disappear,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/polio-gates-foundation-urges-fg-states.html

The Federal Government yesterday vowed to ensure the release of Leah Sharibu who was abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in 2018.

President Muahmmadu Buhari who gave the assurance said all the girls abducted by the insurgents would be reunited with their families soon.

President Buhari who was represented at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL) parade at the Ikeja Cantonment, by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said that the government would not relent in its fight against the insurgents.

He commended the Nigerian Army for ensuring that no territory of the country was taken by the Boko Haram terrorists, pointing out that in the earlier part of 2015, 17 local governments were in the hands of the terrorists.

“We must and will continue to demonstrate the political will and determination towards ensuring that our land is rid of insurgency and criminality is kept at the barest minimum.

“During the first term of this administration we worked tirelessly to lay the foundation for the Nigeria that works for all of us, regardless of ethnicity, religion and party affiliation, our priorities were and remained, security, economy and fight against corruption,” he noted.

The President said that the security challenges in the country were being tackled in collaboration with the Nigerian Armed Forces, pointing out that, “the challenge for us is to recognise this sick extremism of Boko Haram for what it is and form alliances across faith, ethnicities, to destroy an evil that confronts us all.

“We will continue to demonstrate the political will and determination towards ensuring that our land is rid of insurgency and that criminality is kept at the barest minimum.

“There are also other situations of insecurity in our midst, the Fulani herders and farmer conflicts, random killings, banditry and kidnapping.


“In different parts of the country, there are challenges that the army has had to intervene in, in many occasions.

“We assure all Nigerians that these challenges are been seriously tackled by the Federal Government working with the states through a multi-pronged approach, working with the Nigerian Army and all our security forces and law enforcement agencies.

“Nobody will be allowed to maim, kill or commit other crimes and escape. It is our duty to apprehend and punish these criminals and we are doing that and we will continue to do so,” he said. Buhari urged the judiciary to ensure timely dispensation of justice in the cases of arrested bandits.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/fg-vows-to-secure-leah-sharibus-release.html

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Saturday congratulated the four illustrious sons of the state just elevated to the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed in Lokoja, Bello also congratulated Oyetola and the good people of Osun for the election victory at the Supreme Court.

The new Senior Advocates are: Mr Usman Ogwu Sule, Mr Abdullahi Haruna, Mr Alhassan Akeje and Mr Ayo Asala.

Bello attributed their elevation to hard work, dedication and commitment to duty while challenging them to further enrich the legal profession with their commitment to the pursuit of justice.

He expressed confidence in the ability of the new Senior Advocates to further consolidate on their past track records which had earned them the highly-respected status as SAN.

The governor further urged them to continue to distinguish themselves in the legal profession and bear the flag of the state with pride as they had demonstrated over the years.

He advised the legal luminaries to see their elevation as a challenge to make more remarkable impacts in the legal profession.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/gov-bello-congratulates-4-new-sans-from.html

Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) operating in Anambra State, has reacted to reported ban placed on it in the state.

The Anambra Stste Commissioner for Transport, Uchenna Okafor, via a statement, said yesterday that the ban became necessary following ceaseless negative reports over activities of the association in the state.


He further warned that any person or group operating on the guise of tricycle operators would be dealt with.

But in a statement sent to Akelicious on Saturday, and signed by KeneChukwu Okeke, Chief Ombudsman for the TOAN Anambra State Chapter, he said,

“Our attention has been drawn to a report titled, ‘Anambra State Government bans tricycle union’ published across online media platforms on Friday, July 5, 2019.


“The report, which has curiously gone viral on the Internet smacks of puerility. The malafide action of the Anambra State Government as published is not only infantile, but clearly baseless, null, void and of no effect whatsoever in common law.

“While we are still at a loss as to why a democratic Government of Anambra State, a primary beneficiary of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria would be so reckless, draconian albeit dictatorial thereby subverting the will of the people using state power, but questions remain on the competence of state officials, and one may not be wrong to assume that the State Executive Council meetings could be weekly a binge party, given the nature of its public policies and antecedents.

“Now, the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Section 40 thereof provides that ‘Every person shall be entitled to assemble freely and associate with other persons, and in particular, he may form or belong to any political party, trade union or any association for the protection of his interests.’


“Section 40 holds great significance, for it gives the labour, a constitutional right to associate freely. The Constitution further protects the workers’ rights not only to belong to but also to form a trade union. The 1999 Constitution expressly prohibits or bars a ‘closed shop’ agreement, ‘yellow dog’ contract, or any other arrangement that compels a worker to join a particular union or that excludes the worker from union membership or activities.

“Section 40 of the Constitution further guarantees the right of every citizen to freely associate and interact with other citizens for purposes that are of common interest to the said citizen, it is trite law that no right is absolute. But the circumstances and grounds upon which the exercise of such rights are to be limited is the pertinent question that comes to fore.

“Guided by the constitution itself, section 45 stipulates in effect that any law (emphasis mine) that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society would justify the circumscription of the free exercise of a constitutional right, therefore:

“What law or circumstances reasonably justifiable in a democratic society did the Anambra State Government rely on, to the extent that it seeks to limit the free exercise of the rights guaranteed under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution?

“In determining the above-stated question, whether a law is reasonably justifiable, the test required for any law restricting section 40 is an objective rather than subjective one and the standards include (i) whether there is a grave risk of harm to a larger section of the community. (ii) whether the risk of harm is imminent and demanding grave urgency; and this should not depend on the subjective view, opinion or arbitrariness of the Governor or any Commissioner in the executive arm of the of the State Government.

“Having regards to the wordings of section 45 of the 1999 Constitution, which postulates that laws which attempt to hinder the free exercise of rights must have their justifiability tested within the ambience of ‘a democratic society.’

“If the ethos of democratic values involve the freedom of interaction, freedom to exchange socio-economic ideas, then any law nay action that seeks to circumscribe such liberty is draconian, despotic or totalitarian and can only be accommodated under a military society or a police state, but would certainly run counter against the basic pillars or tenets of a democratic society, especially when the powers it purports to confer are exercisable arbitrarily by the recipient of that power.

“Therefore, the intendment or purport of Section 45 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is that the exercise of the rights conferred by Section 40 of the constitution does not rest primarily, substantially or effectually on the whims, caprices nay subjective judgment or despotism of the state Governor or his commissioners but through a law reasonably justifiable in an extant democratic society, like in Nigeria.

“For record purposes, we will like to state the true picture of the prevailing circumstances in Anambra State as follows:

“1. Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) is a registered and recognized trade union by the Registrar of Trade Unions under Form B of the Trade Unions Act, Cap. T14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 in January 26, 2016; and it is, therefore, only the Registrar of Trade Unions (under the directives of the Minister of Labour of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment) that has the power to register, recognize, de-register or proscribe any trade union that may organize in specific areas of the economy, and not even a commissioner of any State Government, whence issues of trade unionism come directly under item 34 of the Exclusive Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“2. That the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), an affiliate of Trade Union Congress (TUC) is the only umbrella body authorised by law to co-ordinate, monitor or regulate the activities of all tricycle workers in the whole Federation of Nigeria or any part thereof including Anambra State.

“3. That the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Anambra State Chapter is a lawful, peaceful and non-violent union of employers and workers who are engaged in the tricycle trade or industry operating in Anambra State . As far as the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) are concerned, there has been no negative reports against the union engaging in anti-social or criminal activities anywhere in Anambra State.

“4. The laudable programmes and objectives of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) are meant to restore sanity, probity, accountability, and further the interests and welfare of all employers and workers in the tricycle trade or industry operating in Anambra State.

“5. That touts and louts operating anti-trade union associations had enslaved albeit molesting, harrassing, intimidating and extorting and defrauding the commonwealth of tricycle workers in Anambra State. Many a tricycle workers have been either been maimed or murdered by those violent touts working in cahoots with some corrupt government officials.

“6. Expectedly, the touts and louts who hijacked the affairs of tricycle employers and workers have been greasing the palms of corrupt government officials at the expense of the tricycle owners and operators in Anambra State who pay outrageous and multiple levies to the extortionists or rackeeters.

“7. The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sitting at Kwali had on June 24, 2019 issued an order restraining the named illegal revenue collectors, touts and louts operating in Anambra State from harassing, intimidating, assaulting, extorting vide issuance of tickets and the imposition of dues and levies occasioning forceful distrainment of tricycles belonging to members of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Anambra State.

“The court presided was over by Hon. Justice Venchak S. Gaba gave the order on Monday while ruling on the motion FCT/HC/M/7331/19 in respect of suit FCT/HC/CV/2268/19. It voided the collection of dues, levies or sales of tickets to tricycle workers by named touts and louts other than TOAN. This apparently miffed the tout-infested Anambra State Ministry of Transport.

“8. The Anambra State Commissioner for Transport said that, ‘TOAN is strange to Anambra State Government, the group operate in disguise and in very negative circumstances.’

“Any right-thinking man may be tempted to ask: What are the specific plaints constituting ‘negative circumstances’ which was reported against the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Anambra State Chapter? The answer is none, TOAN is a lawful and non-violent association of law-abiding tricycle employers and workers in Anambra State for the purposes of collective bargaining.

“The Anambra State Government by saying that TOAN is ‘strange’ is tantamount to saying that the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under which TOAN is duly registered and operates upon is ‘strange’ to the Anambra State Government. Indeed, the Anambra State Government of Nigeria has gone rogue.

“9. The Anambra State Commissioner for Transport further stated, apparently exposing his crass ignorance and lack of appreciation of the relevant laws of the Federation.

“He said, ‘No union can exist without the consent of the government.’ For the avoidance of doubt, no duly registered trade union or federation of trade unions in Nigeria require the consent of any State Government to operate or function.

“That misguided statement is akin to saying that the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria cannot operate in any part of Nigeria nay Anambra State without the consent of the State Government. This is gross and worrisome, especially when it is coming from a component state of the Federation of Nigeria, a federating unit.

“I hereby call on the presidency and all security agencies, particularly the DSS to investigate and ascertain the true motive albeit the secessionist agenda of the Anambra State Government in the interest of National Security.

“From the foregoing, it is patently clear that at no point whatsoever has the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Anambra State Chapter engaged in any unlawful or ‘negative circumstances’ as falsely posited by the Anambra State Government, the purported ban is simply a ploy to suspend the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to subverting the will of the teeming members of the tricycle employers and workers operating in Anambra State.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the entire tricycle workers in Anambra State are hereby enjoined to always remain calm, peaceful, law-abiding as usual, to disregard the purported ‘ban’ albeit puerility of the Anambra State Government and prepare for the forthcoming general Congress slated for August 24, 2019.

“We therefore hope that Anambra State Government would reverse the reckless action under review, which has no effect in law and to desist forthwith from negating the rule of law for the overall interest of the Anambra People. In effect, the Anambra State Government should channel its resources to eliminating and curbing the activities of touts and illegal revenue collectors who on daily basis, harrass, molest, intimidate and maiming the Anambra people.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/why-anambra-govt-cant-ban-us-tricycle.html

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Friday, urged the nation’s judiciary to always reflect in their judgment what the people expect.

“I urge the nation’s judiciary to take a pulse of the nation and reflect it. In their hands, God has placed a great responsibility.


“The duty to ensure that justice is done, irrespective of the pressure to do otherwise, by the powers that be,” he stated in a statement on Friday, NAN reports.

On the Osun judgement, he said: “The love, acceptance and endorsement that the people of Osun bestowed on both Adeleke and the PDP is not over and cannot be overlooked.

“Those who think this is the end of the road for Adeleke and the PDP in Osun, are greatly mistaken. This is not the end. Not even the beginning of the end. No.


“Today marks the continued ascendancy of Adeleke and his party in the hearts and minds of his people.

“They had expected that the progress and development that the Adeleke family had consistently brought to Osun will be translated to their governance. That hope is not dead. it is only delayed,” he said.

Abubakar, who was the PDP Presidential Candidate in the February presidential election, said that he extended his hands of brotherhood to Adeleke in all his future endeavours.


He also assured the people of Osun that the PDP remembers their love and acceptance, promising that he would never forget to stand by them no matter the situation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nigeria-election-do-what-nigerians-want.html

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Friday described the Supreme Court judgment which validated the election of Gov. Isiaka Oyetola of Osun as ”a victory for democracy”.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed in Lokoja, Bello congratulated Oyetola and the good people of Osun for the affirmation of the election victory at the apex court.

He stressed that the verdict would go a long way in restoring the confidence and hope of Nigerians in the sanctity of the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

Bello urged the governor to extend hands of fellowship to his opponents and ensure that the state get purposeful leadership.

“I have been at election tribunal down to the Supreme Court and can attest to the level of distraction a governor and his administration face on account of some needless litigation.

”But a calm disposition, open-mindedness and inclusiveness towards everybody; including those who instituted litigation against you, is what defines a true leader,’’ Bello said.

He urged Oyetola to build on the policies that had defined him as a good ambassador of the All Progressives Congress (APC), sustain the programmes and developmental agenda of his state in line with the party’s manifesto.

“After all the legal tussles, the lesson is to ensure that the citizens are repaid with good governance, which is a proof that their confidence in their leader is not misplaced,” he said.

He commended the apex court for standing strong in defense of the law and Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He thanked the people of Osun for standing behind their governor and for their patience all through legal tussle, while urging them to set aside political differences in the interest of the development of the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/supreme-court-oyetolas-triumph-victory.html

House prices could fall by as much as 30 per cent over the next four years, it has been predicted. That could wipe out all the increases brought by the buying boom since April last year.

The thousands of buyers currently risking 100 per cent mortgages and borrowing up to five times their salary could be plunged deep into negative equity.

The warning has extra force because it comes from a respected expert in the field rather than yet another monthly report from a mortgage lender.

Roger Bootle, managing director of Capital Economics, was formerly chief economist at HSBC and one of the Bank of England’s ‘wise men’ who advised Chancellors under the last Tory government. He said: ‘The message is clear. Houses are now so over-valued that a prolonged period of falling prices is on the cards.’

Analysts at Capital Economics say it would take a fall of 22 per cent to bring the cost of homes back into line with what buyers can afford. A more serious slump, with prices collapsing 30 per cent, cannot be ruled out if there is a 1980s-style ‘boom and bust’ cycle.

Some London ‘hot spots’ have already seen prices marked down in recent weeks, which has been attributed to lower City bonuses and Stock Market uncertainties.

But the analysts at Capital Economics suggest that the most serious and widespread effects will not begin to be felt until late next year. They are forecasting increases of 12 per cent in 2003 before falls of 5 per cent in 2004, 10 per cent in 2005 and 7 per cent in 2006.

That would see the average price rising from around £117,000 now to £128,000 by the end of next year, then falling to £102,000 by Christmas 2006.

Such a shift would push thousands of new and recent buyers into trouble – only last week lender Bristol & West unveiled a new mortgage allowing young people to borrow up to 110 per cent of a property’s value.

The wider economy would suffer as consumers tightened their belts, spreading the gloom into the High Street and beyond. There would also be social effects, with young couples locked into small homes without the space to raise children.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/house-prices-to-fall-by-30-in-nigeria.html

The Chief Operating Officer, MTN Nigeria, Mr Mazen Mroue, has advised investors interested in doing business in Nigeria to have a proper understanding of the business dynamics in the country.

While responding to questions regarding the regulatory issues it faced in Nigeria in the past four years, Mruoe said collaboration, transparency and discussion with the regulators helped the telecom company to resolve the regulatory issues.


He said open and proactive engagements with various stakeholders and regulator on challenges investors were facing was one of the ways to succeed in Nigeria.

“For potential investors, based on our experience, they have to understand the local environment very well. They have to ensure that there is a clear and transparent process they are following. They have to be open and proactively engage various stakeholders and regulator with the challenges they are facing,” Mroue added.

“For a country like Nigeria, we understand the dynamics and how the different challenging environment has been. However, we have been here for the last 18 years. We have continued to invest and being listed on the Stock Exchange is a commitment, not only for tomorrow or for the next year but for the future. So, that is a very positive message not only for the local players for international players.”

He described Nigeria as a very promising economy and market with a youthful population that foreign investors had to approach to build capacity and capability for the future.

MTN Nigeria had faced a four-year-long regulatory battle over its failure to disconnect five million unregistered subscribers, for which it was fined $5.2bn in 2015.

However, the fine was reduced to N330bn in a settlement that paved the way for MTN to list its subsidiary on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. The fine was completely paid on May 30, 2019.

The telecom company also faced $8.1bn forex repatriation dispute with the Central Bank of Nigeria in August last year.

After discussions with the regulator, the company paid $52.6m in settlement of the dispute having realised that certain Certificates of Capital Importation utilised in some private placement shares of about $1bn in 2008, were not properly issued as the company only got approval-in-principle from the CBN.


Also in the same month, the Accountant General of the Federation accused MTN of not remitting $2.1bn in back taxes, an allegation MTN refuted while maintaining its innocence of wrongdoing.

The company instituted a legal suit against the AGF challenging the legality of the assessment of its import duties, withholding tax and value-added tax.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/collaborate-with-regulators-mtn-coo.html

Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos East, Kaoli Olusanya has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to show Nigerians clear-cut vision that will enhance development, peace, progress, and unity.

The former Commissioner for Agric and Cooperatives said a leader must lead, and “that is why Mr. President must show us where we are going in the next two, three and four years”.

Olusanya, who addressed reporters at the party secretariat on ACME road, maintained that there must be equity, justice, and fair-play in the actions and inactions of President Buhari.

The ex-commissioner, who called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to maintain the momentum, stressed that the governor has three assignments at the moment. The first is speedy completion of the Lagos/Badagry Expressway and township roads that will provide accessibility to homes, ease traffic gridlock, save manpower and ensure bonding with families.

According to him, sustainable infrastructure must be put in place as well as clearing of canals and drainages during this raining season to checkmate flooding and unexpected deaths.

His words: “The number of out-of-school children will become a time bomb if the situation is not succinctly addressed. We have over 10 million out-of-school children in the country and I am sure Lagos, with its large population, could have up to 1 million. These are the root causes of crime and insurgency. We need to revive peoples hope because joblessness and poor living conditions can aggravate tension against the government.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/nigerians-need-clear-vision-apc.html

I just have few areas I'm not very clear about in the whole saga.

1. Is Busola telling us that she never seduced or be in any shady relationship with pastor Biodun?

2. Is Busola telling us that she wasn't the one that probably invited pastor Biodun to their house before dawn of d day?

3. Is Busola telling us that for her to open door for outsider around that time with her nightgown on while the sister was upstairs wasn't intentional?

4. Is Busola telling us that she never had any sexual intercourse with any man before the incident and someone could help her to remove the veil she never wanted to remove and she couldn't shout even for once to let her sister hear, or probably pretended as if she was ready for it and find her way out of the scene or give a strong bite on pastor Biodun' nose?

5. Is Busola telling us that she was being tied down while the accuser went to get the neutralizer for her that she could not run to her sister upstairs to disgrace the accuser?

Is Busola telling the public that pastor Biodun never planned such with her to come with a neutralizer which she kept in the car while coming inside since he never can tell who will open the door for him?

6. Is Busola telling us that it is easy to unveil a lady of her age in her house where her family member is and the pains, the struggle to do that without her consent won't create a FITAL injury for her to be noticed by her sister?

7. Is Busola telling us that such a bad experience, living such a trauma on her was easy to forget the next Sunday that she would be in the same car with the acclaimed rapist again? Or she probably told the pastor she would like to take it again?

8. Is Busola telling us that an outsider can rape a 17years old lady 3 times without her consent?

9. Is Busola telling us that someone who raped her was still the same pastor that conducted her wedding?

10. Did she tell her husband all these b4 bringing it out?

11. Did she tell her parents before raising the issue?

If she did, then something is wrong somewhere.

I can't wait to see the end of the saga. It is completely a script written which will result into song or movie.

May God help us all.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/our-review-on-bisola-dakolo-vs-pastor.html?m=1

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and chairman of the South-East Governors Forum has said the suspension of the Ruga settlement plan was because of its lack of consistency.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had earlier suspended his administration’s plan to build Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements in some states across Nigeria.

Mr Umahi, who kicked against the insinuations trailing the federal government’s alleged plan for establishment of Ruga settlements earlier

Mr Umahi explained that the South-east zone did propose a deal with the members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) as a panecea to achieving lasting peace between farmers and herdsmen.

However, briefing State House correspondents at the end of the National Economic Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja, Governor Umahi said, “the suspension is owing to lack of consistency with the NEC and FG approved national livestock transformation plan, which has programme of rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs) resulting from the crisis and development of ranching in any willing state.

“The NEC says it is not compulsory and any state willing is required to put up a development plan towards the implementation in line with the NEC program based on the challenges inherent there.”


The meeting had in attendance, governors of Ebonyi, Dave Umahi, Plateau, Simon Lalong, Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu and Adamawa Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/why-fg-called-off-ruga-settlement-plan.html

Contrary to the notion that the ninth Senate would be a rubber stamp, Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has revealed that the ninth Assembly would scrutinise projects and contracts executed by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his welcome address, yesterday, when the Senate reconvened from its three-week break, he said the various standing committees, which were yet to be constituted, would monitor and supervise projects to be undertaken by the Executive arm of government.

“I intend to work closely with President Buhari in the interest of Nigeria without compromising the integrity of the National Assembly as an independent arm of government with oversight powers.

“As lawmakers, one of the powerful tools we have for our work is the power of oversight which is meant to enhance transparency and accountability.

“In exercising these powers, we will not only review, monitor and supervise projects being implemented by the executive, we will critically examine them vis-à-vis the cost and whether they align with our national aspirations.

“And we will follow the progress of these projects right from conception to when they are finally delivered to the people, but we will do so with every sense of responsibility.


“The system of checks and balances which we practice in Nigeria today was enshrined to safeguard the values of justice and the rule of law and deliver public good.

“Therefore, in a season when majority of Nigerians are more concerned with outcomes that reflect their concerns, the best way to serve that interest is through cooperation and collaboration.”

He said given the dwindling resources amidst rising population, the executive and legislature must work together to deliver essential services to Nigerians.

“So, in exercising our mandate as lawmakers, we must at all times, and in all circumstances, be guided by how our action will positively impact the greater majority of our people.

“Each of us, as lawmakers, must also resolve that the exchange of views, especially within this hallowed chambers, will be constructive and that we will respect one another.

“On my part, I pledge to lead in a bipartisan and unifying manner.’’

Lawan said the Senate would help the executive to reinvigorate the war against corruption with necessary legislations.

He announced a 13-member adhoc committee to fashion out a Legislative Agenda for the ninth Senate.

The Agenda is a policy document that contains the direction of the lawmaking body.

Lawan also said efforts on how best to tackle growing inequality, security challenge would be part of the legislative agenda.

The 13-member committee which has former governor of Kebbi State, Mohammed Adamu Aliero as chairman, has two weeks to submit its report.

He said the Senate would also consolidate on the oil sector reforms started by the eighth assembly.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/07/senate-wont-be-rubber-stamp-lawan.html

Here is a list of things President Muhammadu Buhari promised during his second term campaign.

1.Promise to take Nigeria to the next level
2.To engage 1 million N-Power graduates.
3.To train 10 million Nigerians in various skills.
4.Give 1 million farmers inputs and jobs via Anchor borrowers scheme.
5.Create 1.5 million jobs through livestock, beef, crop programmes.
6.Create 5 million jobs through mechanised agriculture.
7.Provide $500m innovation fund for Tech and creative sector to create 500,000 jobs.
8.Train 200,000 youths for outsourcing market in tech, services and entertainment.
9.Create 6 regional industrial parks and economic zones.
10.Increase children fed through the school feeding programme from 9.3 million to 15 million.
11.Feeding programme to provide 300, 000 extra jobs for vendors and farmers.
12.Complete coastal rail (Lagos-Calabar), 2nd Niger Bridge, East-West road, Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria to Kano road among others.
13.Complete Ibadan-Kano rail, Port Harcourt-Maiduguri rail, etc.
14.Move broadband coverage to 120,000 km of fibre network across the country.
15.Increase power generation by 1000MW every year.
16.Raise power distribution to 7000MW; 9 universities, 300 markets and clusters to have interrupted power.
17.Implement $550m rural electrification programme.
18.Provide N1million soft loans to artisans.
19.TraderMoni beneficiaries to be increased from 2.3 million to 10 million.
20.Establish 109 One Stop Shops of all regulatory agencies (CAC,NAFDAC, SON, etc).
21.To retrain all teachers in public primary and secondary schools.
22.To remodel 10,000 schools every year.
23.Use co-payments to share the cost of health insurance between individuals, the private sector and government.
24.Poorest 40% of Nigerians to be exempted from co-payments.
25.Increase population covered by primary health care from 12.6% to 45 % in 2023.

Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/list-of-whats-buhari-promised-to-do-in.html

The National Engineering and Technical Company Limited (NETCO), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Tuesday released its 2018 operating report which reveals a profit of N4.75 billion.

The figure is a 130 percent increase from N2.07 billion recorded in 2017. Speaking at its 29th annual general meeting in Abuja, the Chairman of the company, Mallam Bello Rabiu noted that in the previous year, the company’s revenue rose by 63 per cent (N2.68billion) from N22.46billion to N36.64 billion in the year under review.

He added despite the challenges in the industry, the firm was able to record a total profit before tax of N6.75 billion which represents an increase of 107 per cent from N3.26billion in 2017.

He said: “Despite the challenges faced in the industry, NETCO was able to record a total profit before tax of N6.75billion which represents an increase of 107% from N3.26billion in 2017.

“The company’s revenue also increased by 63% from N22.46billion in the previous year to N36.46billion in the year under review. The operating profit of the company increased by 130% (N2.68billion) from N2.07billion in 2017 to N4.75billion in 2018.”

Owing to the leap in profit performance, according to Rabiu, NECTO overshot its last year’s highest dividend record of N750 Million, and the company declared a dividend of N1.50billion to its shareholders at the meeting.

He said that the leap was an increase of 100 percent dividend from the previous year.

The Chairman however attributed the achievements in the year under review to two major projects: Mobil Producing Nigeria (MPN) Major Integrity Projects (MIPs) EPCm2 and NPDC FPSO Mystras Operations & Maintenance Contract; and the enforcement of cost reduction measures that were adopted during the period with the management and staff doggedness.


Rabiu said that the success was also through the sustained efforts on the part of the company to leverage on the continued strong support of the shareholder and Group Managing Director in particular, which culminated in the award of some big ticket projects.

NECTO, he said, ensured that the projects were delivered on time, within budget and without compromising quality in service delivery.

Presenting his management report, the Managing Director, Engr. Mustapha Yakubu said that authorized share capital of the company remained 1,000,000,000 ordinary share of N1.00 each.

He explained that in 2018, the issued share capital stood at 1,000,000,000 of N1.00 per share, fully paid-up by the shareholders. While 99,999,995 shares were due to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, five shares were due to Nigerian Petroleum Development Company Limited.

In year 2018, according to Yakubu, there was no acquisition of the company’s shares.

He revealed that the company’s staff strength as at December 31, 2018 stood at 380 comprising 77 NNPC staff, 88 NETCO Direct Staff and 215 Project Staff.

He projected that the company had set a target to perform 660,000 man- hours of work.

In order to attain the goal, he said that NETCO would relentlessly pursue and explore new opportunities, improve service delivery and create more confidence in its clients and shareholders.

The shareholders reappointed the management and auditor, Chimereze Okeke & Co of the company at the meeting.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/netco-records-n475bn-profit-in-2018.html

A 22-year-old Pakistani blogger and journalist known for criticising the country's military and the spy agency ISI was killed by a man in Islamabad, the police said today.

Muhammad Bilal Khan, having over 16,000 followers on Twitter, 48,000 on his YouTube channel and 22,000 on Facebook, was with a friend on Sunday night when he received a phone called to go from the Bara Kahu area in Islamabad to G-9, where a man took him into the forest, Dawn news quoted the police as saying.

The suspect used a dagger to kill him, Superintendent of Police (SP) Saddar Malik Naeem said, adding that some people heard gunshot firing as well.

Mr Khan's friend was also injured in the incident.

Apart from being a social media activist, Mr Khan was also a freelance journalist. Soon after his killing, #Justice4MuhammadBilalKhan started trending on social media websites.

Several Twitter users said that his criticism of the Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) led to his killing.

"Pakistani activist and journalist Mohammad Bilal Khan was shot dead last night in Islamabad. Khan was known for his criticism of the all-powerful military and its notorious spy agency," a man said in a tweet.

The man's father Abdullah said his body had marks of a sharp tool. "My son's only fault was that he spoke about the Prophet," he said.

"The incident has created fear among people," he added.

A case was registered under various sections including the Anti Terrorism Act.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/22-year-old-pakistani-blogger-and.html

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has applauded Sen. Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe Central) for stepping down for Sen. Ahmad Lawan (APC-Yobe) in the race for Presidency of the 9th Senate.

El-Rufai spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after he, Lawan, Goje and Senator-elect, Uba Sani (APC-Kaduna Central) emerged from a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

He said that Goje had withdrawn from the race for Senate Presidency and endorsed the candidacy of the Lawan, who was the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We discussed steps to unify our leadership in the National Assembly starting with the senate.


“I am very pleased to announce that distinguished Sen. Goje has agreed to fully endorse and support the choice of the party and that of the President within the Senate; that is Sen. Lawan.

“We are very grateful to Goje for his sacrifice, patience; this discussion has been going on for a long time and I am honoured to be part of it and I am grateful to him for recognising the many years we have worked together when he was minister.

“I know him to be a man of impeccable integrity and a man of his word and I am very honoured that he has come to see the president and to conclude this matter once and for all,” he said.


On his part, Goje thanked his supporters and associates across the country, who had been urging him to declare for the Senate Presidency.

He said that, as an elder statesman in the Senate for a long time, he should be able to appreciate leadership coming from the party elders.

Goje said that in spite of the calls from his supporter, he had because of his loyalty to the president and for the interest of the party, decided to step down from the race.

“Instead, I am supporting the party’s position thereby endorsing the candidature of Sen. Lawan.

“I am not compelled to step down; I have been winning my elections many times from local government to House of Assembly, to National Assembly to governorship and I was also a minister.

“To say that I have been threatened to support somebody, no! I am supporting Lawan based on my own conviction that I am doing the right thing for our country, for our president,” he said.

Speaking, Lawan thanked Buhari, El-Rufai and Goje for the making agreement possible.

He said that the endorsement by Sen. Goje was going to bring so much unity in the APC and indeed in the entire Senate in a bi-partisan fashion.

“I believe that is the way to go, we want to go to the ninth Senate focused and united right from onset, kick start our activities which is very important at this time.

“The country needs a senate that is focused and united for optimum performance and I believe that the senators-elect will be happy to hear that this has been achieved.

“I want to thank Sen. Goje, he is very experienced politician like he has said; he has been in this business much longer and than most of us really.

“I respect him; even when there were so many clamours for him to run for the position of the president of the senate, he never came out to publicly to declare.

“Even though he had enormous respect and following, he has willingly chosen to respect the wishes of the party and president, is the best position any politician could take,” he said.

He thanked those who had been working behind the scene to try and broker the understanding, adding that the race had been changed for the better

https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/06/06/senate-presidency-gojes-sacrifice-appreciated-el-rufai/

Shanghai Shenhua striker, Odion Ighalo, has declared himself fit and ready for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations preparations with the Super Eagles, after recovering fully from an injury that kept him out of action for three weeks.

Ighalo picked up the injury featuring for Shanghai Shenhua in a Chinese Super League clash against Tianjin Teda last month.


However, he’s back in training for a few days, and is now working on his match fitness ahead of Saturday’s international friendly against Zimbabwe at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

“I’m extremely happy to be back training and I can’t wait to rejoin my teammates in Asaba,”

“The Nations Cup is a big tournament and I’m ready and fully fit to take part in it.”

The 29-year-old, who scored seven goals in the Chinese Super League before his injury, is also confident about the team’s chances at the tournaments.

“There are no pushovers; we must work hard to record victories at the AFCON. It’s a tough group but we will go through.”

Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has hinted that Leon Balogun, Kelechi Iheanacho and other players who did not feature prominently at their clubs will get a chance to play against Zimbabwe.

“I want to see a lot of players who are not playing so much, give them the opportunity to play,” Rohr told reporters in Asaba.

“It can be for some defenders like Balogun, he is fit but he didn’t play so much, so we want to see him playing on Saturday and also some players like Kelechi who didn’t play at all, so we want to see him play on Saturday.”


Super Eagles are expected to leave for Ismaila, Egypt on Sunday to intensify their preparations for the AFCON.

The Eagles last pre-tournament friendly is against Senegal, billed for the Ismailia Stadium on June 16.

Nigeria kick-start their 2019 AFCON campaign against Burundi on June 22 at the Alexandria Stadium in Alexandria, before taking on Guinea at the same venue four days later.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/im-fit-ready-for-afcon-says-ighalo.html

Former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, has implored Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of President Muhammadu Buhari to check insecurity in the country.

“The president has promised to combat insecurity I believe he will do so”.


Gen. Babangida made the statement in a brief chat with some newsmen after the state acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmad Muhammad Ketso, and the Emir of Minna, Dr Umar Farouq Bahago, paid him a sallah homage at his uphill residence in Minna, the state capital, on Tuesday.

The former military president appealed to Nigerians to have faith in the ability of the government to check insecurity and solicited for the cooperation of the people with the administration.

“The president has promised to combat insecurity and I believe he will do so.

“We need to support the government and the security agencies. We should give valuable information to the security agencies about the locations of criminals among us,” he said.

Babangida also asked Nigerians to continue to remain peaceful and live in peace with one another, insisting that the country will not grow without peace.

In his remarks, the state acting governor, Alhaji Ketso, said the state government would continue to invest in projects that would ensure peaceful coexistence of the people, which he said, would also translate to the economic growth of the state.

Ketso lauded the efforts of security agencies in the state, which according to him, has brought about the relative peace.

The acting governor assured their host that the Next Level administration in the state will build on the gains recorded in its first term.

Earlier, the acting governor and Emir Bahago had led hundreds of Muslims to the prayer ground in Minna to offer prayers to Allah for the successful completion of Ramadan during which Muslims abstained from eating and drinking in the day time.

The prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Minna Alhaji Abu Fari.

He offered prayers for the peace and progress of the state and country.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/have-faith-in-buharis-ability-to-combat.html

Bank customers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday decried poor network and insufficient funds in most Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at the time of filing this report, many customers were seen stranded and on long queues at ATMs waiting to make different transactions.

Some of the banks visited were First Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB), Diamond Bank, Union Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), and Stanbic IBTC in Area 3 , Garki.

Other ATM spots visited were Fidelity and Stanbic IBTC in Shoprite, Jaiz Bank, GTB in Apo and Zenith Bank, Garki.

Some of the customers, seen making different transactions expressed displeasure at the situation while urging relevant authorities to do something about it.

At the GTB Area 3, a customer, Mrs Liz Gabriel, said she took a taxi with the last money she had only to pay off the cab man and realise there was no cash in the ATM.

Another customer at First Bank, Mr John Jika, said he had been to several ATMs and there was no cash before he came to First bank.

“I do not understand why the banks will keep treating customers like this.

“Everybody is aware that there is public holiday today and tomorrow, and it is only ideal for the management of banks to ensure their ATMs are very functional.

“It is very insensitive of them to make their customers go through so much stress just to take back their monies which they deposited in the banks at the time they need it.’’

Another customer, Miss Funke Kadir, said she was supposed to travel and her trip had been delayed for insufficient funds in most ATMs.

Kadir, who described the situation as pathetic, called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sanction banks that does not properly monitor their ATMs.

However, at Zenith bank, Garki, although, customers were seen on queue, the ATMs were dispensing cash appropriately.

Mr Julius Okoro said:“I have been to Eco bank and GTB but there was no network so I drove to this place.

“This is the first day of the holiday and we are already having a situation of no cash and poor network.

“I appeal to the people in charge to please do something about this situation because it is not fair for one to go through much stress to collect his hard earned money.’’

At Stanbic IBTC and Fidelity Bank ATMs in shoprite, Apo, it was observed that although there were long queues, the machines were dispensing cash.

NAN reports that the Federal Government had declared Tuesday June 4, and Wednesday June 5 as public holidays in celebration of the Eid-el-fitr, to mark the end of Ramadan.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/eid-el-fitr-bank-customers-decry-poor.html

The Federal Government has confirmed its full implementation of the controversial Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) but airline operators are kicking against the approval.

A letter by the Director-General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), dated May 10, 2019, sent to other African countries through the African Union (AU), and obtained by Daily Independent, stated that the Federal Government was ready to fully implement the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) on establishing the SAATM.

The government said that its airspace was also liberalised to allow all African airlines unhindered access to the country’s airspace and airports.


The Yamoussoukro Decision was a treaty that allowed for open skies among most African countries. The decision was endorsed by 44 members of the AU in 1999 and became binding in 2002. The treaty grants fifth freedom transit rights among all of its signatories.

SAATM is a project of the AU to create a single market for air transport in Africa. Once completely in force, the single market is supposed to allow significant freedom of air transport in Africa, advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063. SAATM was launched in January 28, 2018.

At present, 23 out of 54 African countries, including Nigeria, have signed the treaty.


Part of the letter reads: “Pursuant to the implementation of the declaration on the creation of a Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) in January, 2018 and the solemn commitment of the African Union (AU) member states with respect to the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) on establishing the SAATM, the Federal Government of Nigeria wishes to state that it is fully committed to the immediate implementation of the YD under the terms of the declaration of the solemn commitment in line with the AU Agenda 2063.

“In this regard, the government of Nigeria wishes to notify other state parties, especially states that are signatories to the Declaration of Solemn Commitment that its sky is liberalised in accordance with the YD.”

But Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has kicked against the government’s decision to commence the full implementation of the treaty.

Capt. Nogie Meggison, Chairman, AON, in a recent interview with journalists in Lagos, said the country’s airlines were opposed to the decision to implement SAATM up till date, the government was yet to carry along the airlines.

He said the government went ahead to sign the declaration’s implementation without putting in place facilities to aid domestic airlines to compete.


Meggison insisted that the country was not ready for the intra-African open skies, stressing that the playing field was not level and was skewed against Nigerian carriers with regards to how their neighbours tax and charge them.

Also, Allen Onyema, Chairman, Air Peace, made reference to what he described as “unfair competition” recently.

Onyema said such practice was illegal and called on the Federal Government to watch out for this, pointing out that this was the main reason the local airlines were opposed to SAATM ab initio.

He threatened to sue some airlines that flew into Nigeria but created bottlenecks for Nigerian airlines wishing to travel to their countries.

“What happens is a situation whereby they come into Nigeria, we welcome them with red carpet but to go to their own countries, we find it difficult,” Onyema said.

But Richard Aisuebeogun, the former Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), backed the government’s position on SAATM.

He noted that this would help to stimulate air transport growth in Nigeria, in particular, and Africa as a whole.

Aisuebeogun said travel between African countries over the years had proved to be a major challenge for air travellers on the continent.

He noted that most time air travellers who wanted to travel to an African country needed to travel to one European city before taking a connecting flight to their final destination on the continent.

He said: “Until 2017, many of us travelling by air within Africa have probably had bad or sour experiences flying within one African country to another, especially within the sub-region to another, and even flying from Africa to connecting the rest of the world.

“Some 10 years ago, my team and I needed to attend an airport conference in Bamako, Mali, but sadly to get to Bamako, we had to fly out of Africa to Paris, France to connect Air France back to Bamako in Africa.

“When we were done we thought on how to connect Bamako back to Lagos; of course, there was no connection, so all we could do was to fly back to Paris and then to Lagos.

“That wasn’t a pleasant passenger experience for us because ordinarily, the flight from Bamako to Lagos could have taken us less than four hours or thereabouts, but it took close to 24 hours to get to our destination.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/06/airline-operators-kick-as-fg-implements.html

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has appealed to Christian leaders to participate in the political process to help in the development of the country.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Anglican Bishop of Niger Delta North, at the Government House, Port Harcourt yesterday, Governor Wike said Christian leaders can no longer stay away from the political arena in view of present-day realities.

“Continue to pray for us, but, encourage your members to participate actively in politics.

“There is no reason to stand aloof at this time. When religious people are involved in politics, there is always a difference. If they participate, there will be an improvement in the governance process”.

Governor Wike acknowledged the role played by the church in his victory at the polls, saying that his administration would continue to partner with the church as it works towards the rapid development of the state.

He commended the Anglican Diocese of the Niger Delta North for critical investments and projects that would help in stabilizing the church.

Earlier, the Anglican Bishop of Niger Delta North, Rt. Reverend Wisdom Ihunwo, said that the governor’s victory was a loud statement by Rivers people that they appreciate his performance.

He said: “Your electoral victory is a lesson to all to keep faith in all legitimate pursuits”.

While commending the governor for his commitment to a better second term, Bishop Ihunwo prayed God to give Governor Wike the grace to end well.

Prayers were said for a successful second term for Wike, while the bishop specifically blessed the governor.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/participate-in-politics-wike-tells.html

Alhaji Ahmadu Fintiri, Adamawa Governor-elect, says he is ready to step on toes to address injustice against the people of the state by the outgoing administration of Gov. Jibrilla Bindow.

Fintiri made this known on Saturday in Yola while receiving report by a 67-man State Transition Committee.

He said findings by the committee revealed lots of breeches and mismanagement of government’s funds that needed to be looked into.

“We shall rise and boldly face the challenges, fully conscious that we were voted to fix them. We will not turn a blind eye to breaches of the law, mismanagement of funds, or abuse of privilege.

“Adamawa State, our only home has been battered and bruised but I am optimistic that it will heal.

“Let me restate the call on our people to join hands in the task of correcting the ills of the past. In doing so, we shall not hesitate to step on toes where public interest has been compromised.

“As a corrective government popularly elected by the people, we will not hesitate to step on toes in the interest and advancement of public good,” Fintiri said.

While lamenting that the outgoing administration received about N332 billion federal allocation with nothing much to show, Fintiri said his administration would look into the report in detail with the aim of implementing its salient recommendations.

Presenting the report earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Alhaji Aliyu Isma’la, said the outgoing administration messed up the state in various sectors and is leaving a debt of N115 billion.

“It is disheartening to note that the outgoing government had, from inception, always been taking over-draft to augment salary payments while internally generated revenue were being collected but not applied judiciously in the interest of tax payers in the state.

“While also the government had failed to create businesses for the state and even resort to the sales of state-owned assets in corporate organizations simply to service personal interest, ” he said.

Ismaila said that the committee found out that some of the lands sold out by the outgoing administration included school land and a historical German cemetery of 1948.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Fintiri of PDP defeated Gov. Bindow of APC in the general election.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/05/well-step-on-toes-adamawa-governor.html