₦airaland Forum

27 of the 28 communities involved in the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) of the April 15 Trans-Ramos Pipeline Spillage in Odimodi, Burutu local government area, Delta State have called for the cancellation of the JIV report. In a petition to the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDREA), the communities said the cancellation of the exercise was inevitable for allegedly being shut out of the spill mitigation responsibility by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, the alleged polluter, and in signing of the report of the JIV in which they partook. Alleged N450m fraud: Court threatens to revoke Zamfara ex-gov’s bail Shell had maintained that it was not its place to join issues with any party, but it would abide by directive of regulators, including NOSDRA as the arbiter, based on the findings of the JIV report. The petition signed by Presley Angiama, spokesman for the “ 27 PollutedBut Excluded Communities”, said: “We are miffed that we partook in the JIV with regulators and SPDC to all four separate spill points, but when it came to signing the JIV report, SPDC chose persons we did not nominate and without disapproval by the NOSDREA staff involved.

“SPDC had earlier vowed to deal only with Odimodi community to the exclusion of all other polluted and impacted by the spill in question, just as they had denied us relief materials”. “We implore you to quickly reject and cancel the purported JIV report to engender environmental justice in the process in line with your Establishment Act and Regulations”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/trans-ramos-oil-spill-27-communities.html

The Creative Life Television otherwise known as TCL TV has been unveiled amidst fun fare in Lagos. The launch was witnessed by major home appliance dealers across Nigeria and top business leaders. The new television brand which presently is rated number three in the world and Americas fastest growing band birthed in Nigeria with improved picture resolution, viewing experience and a value based pricing model.
While introducing the product to media and dealers in Lagos, the Chairman of TCL, Mr Adnan Mehdi said, “TCL the fastest growing brand in technology is growing to become the number one in the nearest future. We are doing everything possible to offer this premium brand to home in Nigeria.”Managing director of the company, Mr Hassan Mehdi, said: “We have established a new entity for TCL to build trust, transparency and confidence. We hope you enjoy this experience.”

TCL being a global manufacturer of smart products and provider of internet application services was founded in 1981. It has grown from a small joint venture producing audio tapes in Huizhou into a global corporation, which engage in a wide range of business such as telephone, TV, mobile phones, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners and many more. According to Mehdi, ever since its invention in 1981, the brand has globally gained recognition with 19 years of international development history that has produced over 13 million TV sets taking 27 per cent in the North American Market, South America 47 per cent and Europe 73 per cent. He said, the brand is looking to take a major chunk of the entire African market with its entry through Nigeria. The marketing manager of TCL, Jeff Yao, said, the brand has been designed to meet consumers’ television needs. “Our cumulative investment is over $278 million and we are committed to serving our customers to bring our global community together” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/new-tv-brand-enters-nigerian-market.html

The Federal government says no fewer than 130 million people will benefit from the Niger-Basin project when it is completed.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, at the opening of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of the Niger Basin Authority on Friday in Abuja, therefore, urged member nations to pay up their contributions.

According to him, the call became necessary following continued strain and inability of the authority to meet the growing needs of the basins’ population,

“Luckily Nigeria is not owing, though we have lots of economic challenges.

“Many countries are members of so many international organisations and they find it tough sometimes because of the economic situations.

“Most of the members of the NBA are among the poorest countries in the world and sometimes it’s very difficult for them to make the payments; they are trying their best.

“But we must also appreciate that without these contributions, it’s going to be very difficult for the NBA secretariat to execute its mandate.

“So we are going to continue to appeal to member countries to prioritise NBA in their budgets.’’

Adamu said it was paramount to ensure the integrated development of the Niger basin in areas of energy, agriculture, livestock, fishing, fish farming, and forestry.

He said one of the problems facing the authority was the delay in passing the budgets in member countries, noting that “even when deadlines are given, it may not be feasible’’.

The minister also said that Nigeria had shown maximum commitment for trans-boundary water activities through programme implementation and goal of effective regional cooperation and coexistence.

For his part, the Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr Abderahim Hamid, said commitment from member nations was needed to ensure improvement of livelihoods.

He urged member countries to take the need of the region seriously, noting that though the financial capability of the authority was improving, it was necessary to manage all available resources.

Hamid said with the needed financial resources, the goals to provide structured investments in the basin’s resources in agriculture, livestock, fishing, energy and inland transportation will become a reality.

“For the last four years, the River Niger Basin is subjected to the degradation of its ecosystems which, today, has reached the alert level.

“The consequences of the population growth and the effects of climate change are increasingly alarming.’’

The executive secretary said that the authority was putting modalities in place to implement the Programme for the Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin and the Programme for Developing Resilience to Climate Change.

He said the programmes would improve the resilience of communities in the nine countries through sustainable management of natural resources and reduce silting processes to improve agriculture production.

He urged participants to review the issues critically, so as to come up with workable recommendations that will help to improve climate resilience for improved livelihood for the basin’s survival.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the nine-member countries are; Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote D’ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger and Nigeria.

The overall population of the basin is approximately 130 million, of which 70 per cent are in rural areas with life expectancy of 50 years.

Due to its ecological and socio-economic importance, the Niger basin is an essential for the development of the sub-region. (NAN)

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/niger-basin-project-to-improve-130.html

Gov. Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has promised to stem the migration of youths to overseas countries in search of jobs by creating employment opportunities via the Agritech Nigeria Programme.

The governor expressed the commitment on Thursday night in Abuja at a sensitisation dinner organised for diplomats and captains of industry on the Agritech Nigeria Programme.

Aregbesola, who was represented at the meeting by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, said that as part of the Agritech Nigeria Programme, the Federal Government and the Osun Government were organising the International Agro-Technology Exhibition and Conference.He added that the exhibition and conference had “Transformation of Nigerian Agriculture through Sustainable Technological Innovation’’ as its theme.

He said that the event, which would hold in March 2019, would create employment opportunities for the youth and, in essence, stem the desire of youths to travel abroad “in search of greener pastures.“Agritech Nigeria is coming at a period when the Federal Government is diversifying the nation’s economy from reliance on petroleum resources to agriculture, as part of the economic recovery and growth plans of President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he said.

Aregbesola said that agriculture had been globally recognised as a tool for economic transformation, adding that his administration believed that sustained agricultural production with modern technology would facilitate efforts to stabilise and improve the national economy.The governor said that over 200,000 participants from different countries across the world, drawn from the full spectrum of agriculture, were expected to attend the event.

Aregbesola said that the number of prospective investors in various value chains of agri-business expected at the event would attract foreign capital into Nigeria and help create job opportunities for unemployed youths in the country.He added that the programme would strengthen Nigeria’s efforts to diversify its economy with agriculture as the cornerstone.

He noted that Nigeria, which had the largest population in Africa and the largest market economy on the continent, was blessed with many resources which foreign investors had yet to exploit.

Besides, the governor noted that more than 45 million Nigerians were engaged in farming, adding that the farmers were, nonetheless, in need of modern technologies and innovations to boost their productivity.

Aregbesola solicited the participation of embassies and high commissions in Nigeria in the forthcoming event, adding that they ought to have pavilions at the exhibition venue to showcase their countries’ agricultural technologies and allied products at the Agritech Nigeria Osun 2019.“We are also calling on international and local financial institutions to support and sponsor youth empowerment programmes during the event.

“Agritech Nigeria Osun 2018 is an international conference and exhibition that offers a meeting place for manufacturers, researchers, investors, academics, purchasers and decision makers, representing both local and international interests,’’ he said.

Speaking, Amb. Fahad Al Taffaq, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador to Nigeria, noted that Nigeria had a lot of opportunities to benefit from the experience and expertise of his country, particularly in the area of agriculture.

He pledged that UAE was ready to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially in science-based agricultural development and other areas, to boost agricultural production.He commended the Osun Government for the initiative which, he noted, would facilitate efforts to enhance the socio-economic development of Nigeria and its citizens.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/aregbesola-says-agritech-programme-will.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that pregnant women and ordinary Nigerians will vote him back to power in 2019 election.

Buhari said he was not hoping to get any vote from the “big men” because they don’t come out to vote during elections.

The President also said that he would perform better if given another opportunity.


Buhari further stated that he had warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies to ensure that every vote counts in 2019.

He said he instructed them that all Nigerians must be allowed to vote whoever they want without harassment.

NAN reports that Buhari spoke on Thursday during an interactive session with a select group of Nigerian professionals based in the United States and Canada.


Buhari said he recognised that Nigerians in the diaspora were talented people and called on them to come to the support of the country, particularly, in education.

The president also said that he was not slow as some people had assumed, saying he was trying to follow the law, especially as democracy is different from military rule.

He recalled that he put people in Kirikiri Maximum Prison in Lagos when he was a military head of state and then ensured they remained in custody until they were able to prove themselves innocent.

Buhari, however, said his administration was making progress but had to go by the law assuring that “if I win the next election and I survive the next four years, I will do better”.

He also recounted his experience in politics saying that he suffered electoral corruption from 2013 when he started contesting for the presidency and had at each point, pursued the case up to the Supreme Court but lost.

“I’m always conscious of the ordinary people because they are the ones that always vote for me. A lot of big men have no time to go and queue on the line for hours.

“There were even pregnant women who were on the line for hours and they delivered. They are my constituencies; they always vote for me,” Buhari said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-buhari-reveals-where-his-votes.html

Cardi B revealed that although her mustache is ‘getting thicker’, that only means she has a ‘good p****.’ Watch her wildly funny Instagram video!
Cardi B got real about her mustache, and what it means for, um, other parts of her body. In an hilarious Instagram video, Cardi told her fans, “You know as I get older and I wax more, I notice that my mustache is getting thicker, but it’s cool though because b****es with mustaches got good p***y.” She then calls out to her friend Patience and asks, “Am I right?” to which Patience replies, “Right, sis.” Cardi continues, “Talk about it, b***h. What’s up? F*** you mean, though? What’s up?” Watch the whole video for yourself just below!

Cardi recently appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and opened up about how the process of child birth “broke” her vagina. “It was totally harder [than I imagined],” she admitted to Cardi. “She broke my vagina! Why nobody tell you about that? Nobody told me they were going to stitch my vagina. People were like, when you give birth… it’s gonna hurt. But they’re never like… YOUR VAGINA!”

Speaking of Kulture, Cardi had fans completely confused over whether she was pregnant again based on a tweet she sent out. “Would ya be mad at me if i get pregnant again,” she asked her fans. While she neither confirmed nor denied if this was true or not, her Twitter followers were sent into a frenzy of speculation.

Watch video at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/cardi-b-praises-thick-mustache-vagina.html

Industrial crisis appears imminent as governors have announced that they would not be able to afford the agreed national minimum wage.

Governors under the aegis of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), who met on Wednesday night in Abuja, said though they were not against the upward review of the national minimum wage, they lacked the ability to pay the proposed N24,000.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige had last week told reporters that while Labour unions were demanding N30,000 per month, Federal Government proposed N24,000 and state governors N20,000.

However, it is doubtful if the leadership of the labour unions would accept the N24, 000, which they claimed was “unilaterally” adopted by the Federal Government.

Indication to that effect emerged as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has summoned an emergency meeting for next week to take a decision.

Chairman of NGF and Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting, disclosed that the governors also met with the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, who briefed them on how many states complied with the agreement signed to clear salary arrears.


According to him, the issue was not just on agreed figure to be paid by the governors, but the “ability or resources to take care of that agreed minimum wage.”

Asked whether the issue of minimum wage was part of the agenda of the meeting, Yari said: “We didn’t discuss minimum wage because that is in the hands of the Federal Government, because it is on the Exclusive List. But like we said, we can do minimum wage on any amount we need but the issue is the ability to pay the minimum wage agreed. In the last meeting which the minister of Labour attended with the negotiation committee and also the committee that we also set up, we made it clear that we are not against the upward review of salary, we are in tandem with the NLC to get the minimum wage reviewed but the problem we are having is the capacity to pay what is agreed.


“As at today, most of the states are struggling to pay the N18,000 minimum wage. Some states are paying between 35 to 50 percent of the minimum wage and some states are owing salary. Ifwesaywearegoingtodo anupward reviewof the minimum wage, it is not about only reviewing it but how we are going to get the resources to cater for it.”

On the Paris Club refund which the Federal Government disbursed to states on the condition that they use larger percentage of the money to pay workers’ salaries, Yari said while some states had recorded some progress in line with the condition they signed with the Federal Government, others were still owing arrears

“We invited the national president of NLC to give us details on how some states performed. Some other states that are not up to date, where are they?

“So they have signed Memorandum of Understanding with the NLC at the national level and their representative in states on when they are going to overcome the issue of salary arrears.

“That has been done and it has been taken to the Central Bank (of Nigeria) governor to ensure that those states were also paid.”

However, the National Economic Council (NEC), which met yesterday failed to discuss the issue of a new national minimum wage despite threat by workers to embark on an indefinite strike.

According to Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar who briefed the press, “the issue of minimum wage was not discussed at NEC today.”

“Unfortunately that was not discussed at the National Economic Council meeting. Secondly, governors are part and parcel of the negotiation. The governors have not taken a decision either way because its a negotiating process and it’s still ongoing. We are represented by six governors in the committee. It’s a work in progress and am sure we will get to the promised land,” he stated.


On Wednesday, General Secretary of NLC, Peter Ozo-Esan, told an online media that the committee set up by the workers’ union had adopted (through a motion) to recommend N30,000 as minimum wage. According to him, the motion was moved and seconded by members from the labour union and the employers’ representatives.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on October 10 after Federal Executive Council meeting had refuted media reports quoting Wabba as saying that the tripartite committee discussing the demand for new minimum wage had agreed to increase it from the current N19,200 to N30,000.

“Such information is not true,” he said.

Ozo-Esan insisted that the tripartite committee adopted a figure and “that is the only relevant thing in the issue.

“If Ngige is manufacturing something that was not agreed at the table, that is his problem. We have called our organs for an emergency meeting that will hold next week and the next step will be taken from there,” he said.

National President of United Labour Congress (ULC), Joe Ajaero, on October 16, said labour would not sign any agreement with the Federal Government on new national minimum wage if it was below N30,000.

NLC which had initially demanded a N50,000 minimum wage for workers, called out workers on a one week warning strike a fortnight ago.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/minimum-wage-we-cant-pay-n24-000-ngf.html

Nawoo to some mothers

see more photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/photos-4-year-old-girl-seen-drinking.html

Love has visited the hearts of two Anambra-based lover who recently released their pre-wedding photos. Like many other couple, the adorable couple rocked matching outfits as they posed for the memorable photo session.

The excited bridegroom-to-be, Richard Okeke shared the cute photos on social media, announcing that their special day is arriving soon and they couldn't be anymore grateful they found eachother.
Many online users have wished them well as they set to walk down the aisle in a simple, stylish wedding. As plans are in place, they decided to follow the pre-wedding trend and showed family and friends how cute they are together as a couple.

More photos at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/anambra-based-lovebirds-share-adorable.html

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has appealed to political parties in the country to avoid hate-speeches, violence, vote-buying and other electoral frauds come 2019 general elections.



The association also urged Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic, political and religious persuasions, not to sell their votes or be used to perpetrate violence before, during and after the elections.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, CAN President, Rev. (Dr.) Samson Ayokunle, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all the security agencies to be neutral and apolitical in their conduct to have free, fair and credible polls in 2019.


Besides, the CAN, which commiserated with the victims of the recent flood disaster and wanton killings in the country, expressed disappointment, worries, shocks and grief over the loss of lives in the country in recent years due to some unavoidable factors.

It, therefore, urged government at all levels and security agencies to revive their intelligence gathering.

In another development, the Hope Democratic Party (HDP) has said that the 2019 presidential election will be the choice between ending the present excruciating and dehumanising poverty malaise in the country or entrenching poverty.

The party, which promised a new order of ideological direction, said a minimum wage of N100,000 would be implemented while registered unemployed, aged and widows would be paid N25,000 monthly.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Usman Sanni, in a statement yesterday, said the present exploitative capitalist system foisted on Nigerians had ensnared the masses in abject poverty.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/can-urges-political-parties-to-avoid.html

National Coalition of Niger Delta Ex-Agitators, (NCNDE-A), under the leadership of Eshanekpe Israel, has said it would not support President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

The group said the president has disappointed them and the entire Niger Delta.

According to the group, the president has shown enough disdain for the youths and ex-militants under the aegis of the NCNDE-A, noting that the group worked tirelessly to install Buhari with the promise to better the lots of members of the group in patronage and develop the Niger Delta for growth and empowerment of the youths from the region.


“Rather than reward hard work and loyalty to him by members and leaders of the NCNDE-A, President Buhari, engaged in selective patronage, along tribal lines,” he said.

He added that the coalition is discussing with “a better and more reliable candidate for the 2019 presidential election,” reiterating that it is “fed up with a government that lacks vision and purposeful leadership.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-we-wont-support-muhammadu-buhari.html

The Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has decimated a Boko Haram Terrorists’ (BHT) hideout and neutralized several terrorists at Bogum in Northern Borno State.

This was confirmed to Akelicious by Ibikunle Daramola, Air Commodore, and Director of Public Relations and Information, in a statement on Monday.

According to him, “the attack was carried out on Sunday, 14 October 2018, after intelligence reports indicated significant BHT activities within the settlement.

“The ATF scrambled two Mi-35 Helicopter Gunships to engage and destroy the identified BHT positions in the village.

“Overhead the target, the concentration areas of the BHTs were attacked in successive waves by the helicopters with direct hits recorded on the targets, leading to the neutralization of several BHTs.
“The few surviving BHTs were tracked and mopped up in subsequent follow on attacks.
“The NAF, working in concert with surface forces, will sustain the tempo of operations with a view to destroying all remnants of the terrorists on the fringes of Lake Chad and other areas in Northern Borno.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/boko-haram-many-killed-as-air-force-jet.html

Lagos lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to withdraw the travel ban imposed on 50 high profile criminal suspects under Executive Order 6 (EO6).

Falana, in a statement titled: “Allow the courts to impose travel ban on suspected looters”, said only the courts could impose travel ban on the suspected high profile persons”.

He argued that since the power of the anti-graft agencies and the courts to place criminal suspects on watch list or subject their passports to temporary seizure has never been in doubt, “the directive to place the 50 high profile suspected persons on watch list and restrict their movement is highly superfluous, completely unwarranted and totally uncalled for”.

The rights lawyer said the travel ban “is an ingenious design to expose the Buhari administration to ridicule”.

Falana added that since the high-profile suspects covered by EO6 had been placed on a watch list and their passports seized by either the anti-graft agencies or the courts, the travel ban slammed on them by President Buhari ought to be withdrawn without any delay.

Falana said the travel ban was a sad reminder of the placement of political opponents on security watch list and seizure of their passports by the defunct military junta.

He noted that a Federal High Court last week upheld the constitutional validity of the Executive Order 6 (EO6) issued by Buhari on July 5.

The lawyer added that the government, acting on the ruling, directed the Nigeria Immigration Service and other security agencies to place no fewer than 50 high-profile persons directly affected by EO6 on watch-list and restrict them from leaving the country pending the final determination of their cases.

He said even though the names of the “50 high profile persons” have not been published by the Federal Government, they are presumed to be either standing trial in the various high courts or being investigated for corrupt practices by the anti-graft agencies.

“If the Federal Government had done some background checks, it would have discovered that the names of the 50 VIPs have long been placed on a security watch list while their passports have been impounded by the anti-graft agencies or the courts as one of the conditions for admitting them to bail.

“It is public knowledge that whenever the defendants wish to travel abroad for medical treatment, they usually apply for the interim release of their passports.

“Since the courts have taken judicial notice of the perilous state of medical facilities in the country, such applications are usually granted. And once the suspects return from the foreign medical trips, their passports are returned to the registry of the trial courts,” he explained.

Falana, however, regretted that indigent accused persons standing trial for stealing, fraud or other economic crimes are not entitled to such a privilege because they have no money to acquire passports not to talk of paying for foreign trips and medical treatment abroad.

Notwithstanding such judicial indictment of politically exposed persons seeking medical treatment during trial, he contended that the law has not authorised the executive to restrict the movement of criminal suspects.

He counselled the Buhari administration to wage the war against corruption within the ambit of the rule of law.

SERAP, in a statement, said Executive Order 6 (EO6) banning 50 alleged high-profile corrupt Nigerians from travelling abroad was illegal and repressive.

SERAP said the order, “without any legal basis and a judicial authorisation, is clearly arbitrary, repressive and illegal, as it breaches constitutional rights and the country’s international obligations, which protect the rights to freedom of movement, to leave one’s country, to privacy, and to due process of law.

”A travel ban by its nature is an interference with the right to leave one’s country. It is neither necessary nor proportionate to prevent dissipation of stolen assets or stop politically exposed persons (PEPs) from tampering with any such assets.”

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary Akinloye Oyemiyi, the ANN said: ”We know that Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution as amended legally guarantees the right to freedom of movement to all Nigerians and this right can only be tampered with by established laws as enshrined in the Section 45 of the same constitution and not by any draconian executive order targeted at political opponents by a president that is scared of electoral defeat.”

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, said he was not bothered about a travel ban.

He said: “I could not give a damn that my name is on the list of 50 members of the opposition and prominent Nigerians that have been placed on a travel ban because nothing that Buhari does surprises me.

“I have not left Nigeria since 2008 because my passport has been with the EFCC and the courts for the last 10 years and they have refused to give it to me and allow me to travel.

“Those on the travel-ban list that need to travel abroad for medical attention or to see their loved ones are the ones I feel sorry for.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/falana-serap-ann-urge-withdrawal-of.html

Former Kaduna state governor and a Presidential aspirant in the recently concluded national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi has denied nursing any intention to return to the senate in the 2019 general elections. The erstwhile chairman, National Caretaker Committee of the PDP stated this while reacting to speculations linking him with intent to return to the federal parliament .

In a statement issued by his media aide, Mukhtar Sirajo, the PDP chieftain urged Nigerians to dismiss the insinuation, adding that since he did not participate in the primary elections; there’s no way he would be nursing intent of returning to the red chamber.

“The attention of Senator Ahmed Makarfi has been drawn to rumours going round to the effect that he is planning to contest for a senatorial seat in the 2019 elections. Nothing can be further from the truth. “Senator Makarfi wishes to make it clear that he has no such plan as he did not participate in primaries for any senatorial ticket. His position is that, in accordance with democratic norms, all winners should, as of right be allowed to fly the party flags for the respective primaries they won.

“He believes that other people should be encouraged and given the chance to also contribute to the political process. This way, we will continue to widen the democratic space as well as deepen the process,” the statement read.

More at https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/2019-makarfi-dismisses-senatorial.html

The police in Enugu State have arrested four suspects for house-breaking in Emene community near Enugu, the state capital.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Ebere Amaraizu, announced this in a statement on Friday, saying that the suspects were arrested between Oct. 10 and Oct.11.

Amaraizu noted that intelligence information enabled the police of the Emene Division of the Command to apprehend the suspects.

He said that the suspects were in the habit of breaking into houses and robbing people of their cell phones, handbags and other household valuables, especially between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

“The first two arrested suspects, who gave their names as Daniel Igwe alias Akpo and Chinecherem Bartholomew alias Barto, were promptly nabbed after a hot chase on four of them in which two others escaped.

“But the two fleeing gang members were later nabbed and they gave their names as Christopher Ejiofor and Chukwuebuka Chigbogu.

“They were also identified by their various victims, who are residents of the area, as part of a gang of house burglars disturbing the peace of Emene community,’’ he said.

Amaraizu said that the operatives recovered an iron rod and other stolen items such as cell phones and numerous household valuables from the suspects.

The police spokesman said that the suspects had been helping the police in their investigations, adding that they would be arraigned after the conclusion of the investigations.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/police-arrest-4-suspects-for-house.html

The Federal Government has charged the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and Senator Bassey Akpan, for their alleged refusal to declare their assets to the Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIPRPP).

Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered that the charges and other accompanying papers be served on the lawmakers, through the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Two separate sets of charges were instituted against the senators.

Giving his ruling on Wednesday, the judge fixed October 22, 2018, for the hearing of Ekweremadu’s case and November 19 for Akpan’s case.

The SPIPRPP, under the leadership of Okoi Obono-Obla, had filed different applications at the Federal High Court in Abuja for the interim forfeiture of the properties following their said refusal to declare the assets.

However, Ekweremadu has responded to the charges, describing them as politically-motivated.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/fg-charges-ekweremadu-akpan-over.html

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has told governors of northern states to deliver on education or quit government.

He read the riot act at the Northern Nigeria Traditional Leaders Conference on Out-Of-School Children yesterday in Kaduna State.

At the event, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, and other speakers had admitted that “northern Nigeria contributes a large chunk” to the 13.5 million out-of-school children in Nigeria.

The emir said that Nigeria could only fix the problems facing education by addressing issues of misplaced priorities and accountability exhibited by those responsible for delivering education, healthcare, nutrition and development.

According to the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), elected politicians who are not being held accountable do not want such discourse.

In the same vein, the Sultan, who chaired the conference, said: “As we look forward in our quest to revitalise the education sector, we must build the requisite courage to tell ourselves the truth. For several decades, our investment in education, human capital formation and development fell far below expectation and cannot move us to the optimal level we all desired as a region and as a nation.

“This conference must not go the way others had gone in the past.”

The deputy representative of United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Nigeria, Pernille Ironside, quoted the Federal Ministry of Education’s ‘Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan’ as stating that Nigeria has 10.5 million out of school children aged six to 14.

“When we speak of out-of-school children, who are they? It is too easy to keep them nameless and faceless. The latest Mics data tells us that 69 per cent of out-of-school children in Nigeria are in northern states. Bauchi has the highest number of 1.1 million and Katsina follows with 781,500,” she said.

For her, we can take the quantum leap together to give more children the opportunity to stay in school.

“For Nigeria to achieve its Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target for education, this is essential. Only a quantum leaps today will enable Nigeria to achieve its social and economic goals for the future,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, the executive secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Hamid Bobboyi, described the out-of-school phenomenon in northern Nigeria as cancerous, which, if not addressed, would lead to the collapse of the systems in the region.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/emir-sanusi-reads-riot-act-to-northern.html

A former Governor of Kaduna State and one of the 12 presidential aspirants on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, platform, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has said that the party’s presidential candidate, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, will be the best for Nigeria.

According to Markafi, who got 75 votes during the primary election, Atiku will return Nigeria to the right track if elected in 2019.

Makarfi, a former Chairman of the National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP, noted that the emergence of Atiku as the PDP flag bearer was an indication that the party has, “turned a new leaf in broadening the democratic process and space.”


This was contained in a congratulatory message dated October 8 which Makarfi personally signed, and addressed to Atiku, copies of which were made available to journalists in Kaduna on Wednesday.
The message reads, “Your emergence as the candidate of the party has gone further to reinforce the new philosophy and the promise that the PDP holds for both the present and the future of this country.
“Having known your strength of character, never-say-die spirit as well as total commitment to, and the dogged pursuit of any cause that you believe in, I have no doubt in my mind that you will successfully lead us in this very crucial battle to rescue our country and return it to the path of sanity.

“When prior to our party’s convention, we all came together to commit to the success of the party in 2019 elections irrespective of the outcome of the primaries, I personally did that, fully conscious of the fact that each one of the aspirants was eminently qualified to fly our flag.
“The contest, as far as I am concerned, was not just an expression of the legitimate rights of individuals to give vent to their aspirations, but also a statement in how the party has turned a new leaf in broadening the democratic process and space.
“I, therefore, write, on behalf of myself, my campaign organisation and all my supporters to warmly congratulate you on your success at the convention and to pledge our total support and commitment towards your, and the party’s success in the 2019 polls.
“I am available to play any role expected of me in the pursuit of this noble objective.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/pdp-presidential-primary-makarfi.html

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to ensure that the Chairman, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, Innocent Chukwuma is arrested to face a fraud charge in court.

The Commission made the vow Wednesday, after Justice Olusola Williams of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, struck out the case of fraud it instituted against Chukwuma.

The Judge struck out the case after the EFCC failed to produce Chukwuma in court to face trial.

Chukwuma and his company, Innoson Motors Nigeria Limited, were to be arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy to obtain by false pretences, obtaining by false pretence, stealing and forgery.

The defendants allegedly committed the offences between 2009 and July 2011 in Lagos.

The defendants were alleged to have conspired to obtain, by false pretences, containers of motorcycles, spare parts and raw materials, property of Guaranty Trust Bank, from Mitsui OSK Lines Limited, Apapa, Lagos.

They were also alleged to have fraudulently induced staff of Mitsui OSK and Maersk Line to deliver to them, via their clearing agents, the goods that were imported from China in the name of GTB by falsely pretending that they were authorized by the bank to clear the goods.

The defendants were said to have forged a bill of lading numbered 598286020 of Maersk Line Limited and 11007950841 of Mutsui O.S.K. Line by knowingly putting a false GTB stamp and signature of the bank staff.

The alleged fraud was to enable the forged documents to be used or acted upon as genuine to the prejudice of any person within Lagos or elsewhere.

However, since the suit was instituted, first before Justice Mojisola Dada of the same court, the defendant has refused to appear in court to face his trial.

In a short ruling today, Justice Williams held that it was the responsibility of the EFCC to produce him in court.

“This court is not an investigator or a prosecutor. This court cannot waste precious judicial time prosecuting a matter that is going nowhere.

“This is a criminal matter that can be instituted anytime the prosecution is ready. The court hereby strikes out the matter,” the Judge held.

Justice Dada on June 22, 2018, stepped down from presiding over the matter on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

All efforts by the EFCC to arraign the defendant before Justice Dada on five consecutive occasions failed despite being declared wanted on May 23, 2018 and also procuring a bench warrant for his arrest.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/efcc-to-innocent-chukwuma-we-are-coming.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the National Campaign Against Fake News has received a boost from the Social Networking Platform, Facebook, which plans to partner with the Federal Government to check the menace.

The Minister announced the planned cooperation in Abuja on Tuesday when he visited Daar Communications, owners of AIT and Raypower, in furtherance of the campaign.

He said the national campaign, which was launched on 11th July 2018, has succeeded in bringing the phenomenon to the front burner of national discourse.

“We are not under any illusion that our campaign will immediately end the menace of fake news. But we know that by creating national awareness, we are putting the issue of fake news on the front burner.

“Fake news is now a subject of national discourse, workshops and conferences. In the coming days, the social networking web platform, Facebook, will be meeting with us and other top policy makers across the country in the days ahead to see how to assist us in fighting fake news. That, to us, is a major step forward, and we thank all our partners, and indeed all Nigerians, for this achievement,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

The Minister, who described fake news as a global phenomenon, said different countries are adopting various measures to tackle the menace, but said Nigeria has decided to appeal to the sense of responsibility of media practitioners, bloggers and Social Media Influencers, instead of engaging in coercion or censorship.

He said if left unchecked, fake news has the capacity to disrupt the peace and unity of the country and it’s also a clear and present danger to the nation’s democracy.

“For example, the fake news phenomenon played out during the recent governorship elections in Osun State. Whereas 16 PDP members were arrested for various offences, including impersonating observers and for violence during the rerun, the purveyors of fake news made it look as if the APC was the perpetrators of these crimes.

“Also, a few days ago, fake news about the release of Leah Sharibu circulated freely on the social media. Imagine the additional trauma this would have caused for the parents. Imagine the implication on efforts to secure her release, and indeed the national security implications,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

He said the campaign against fake news could not have come at a better time, considering that the 2019 general elections are fast approaching and enemies of democracy will latch on to it to wreak havoc.

The Group Managing Director of Daar Communications
Plc, Mr. Tony Akiotu, commended the Minister for embarking on the campaign to minimise the dangers of fake news to the unity and security of the country.

He pledged the readiness of Daar Communications to partner with the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to check the excesses of fake news.

“Honourable Minister, I will like to assure you that the management and staff of Daar Communications PLC, without reservation, join in the crusade and will be one of your major partners in the campaign against fake news because we don’t have a choice. If we don’t do so, we will be one of the media organizations that will be encumbered and whose existence will be endangered by those who are involved in this ignominious business,” Mr. Akiotu said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/facebook-to-assist-nigeria-combat-fake.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has hosted the leadership of Qadiriyya Islamic Movement in Africa and told them that education was an antidote to terrorism.

The president urged religious leaders to assist the government to overcome forces of destruction through enlightenment of their followers to guard against religious extremism.

President Buhari also stated that Muslim leaders have a duty to promote the principles and tenets of Islam as a religion of peace and justice.

He said those who indoctrinate children and plant explosives on them to harm innocent people do not belong to any religion but ‘‘terrorists who should be identified and fought until they give up their evil ways.’’

The President who commended the Qadiriyya movement for promoting education, interfaith dialogue and good moral conduct in the society, expressed support for the proposed Islamic Centre in Abuja by the movement.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the Qadiriyya in Africa, Sheikh Qaribullah Kabara, congratulated the President on his emergence as his party’s candidate for the 2019 election.

He also commended the President on the achievements of his administration since coming into office, stressing the diversification of the economy, increased power supply and food sufficiency.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/education-is-antidote-to-terrorism.html

Contrary to the foreboding in several quarters, the Senate yesterday reconvened in a quiet mood resolving to put to rest the political brickbats that had distracted it from attending to key national issues in the recent past.

The meeting, which held behind closed doors for 20 minutes, did not produce an official statement.

But a lawmaker, who craved anonymity, told The Guardian that earlier threats and counter-threats by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers were dropped.


According to him, “the Senate today (yesterday) reconvened after over two months recess and immediately went into a closed session where all members had frank discussions about the future of the Eighth Senate as it goes into its last stage.”

He added: ” The members agreed to give peace a chance and avoid allowing the red chamber of the federal legislature to degenerate into an arena of conflicts over partisan and personal issues.”

It was equally learnt that the APC caucus extracted a promise from Senate President Bukola Saraki that national interest would continue to take precedent over other considerations during sittings.

The senators were said to have agreed not to allow external forces and influences to cause disaffections among them.

APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, had severally urged his party men in the upper chamber to unseat Saraki on account of his recent defection to t
he PDP.


Just last Sunday at the national convention of the in Abuja, the Senate Majority Leader, Ahmed Lawan, renewed the threat.

The pronouncement had attracted serious warning from his PDP colleagues the following day through the Minority Leader, Abiodun Olujimi.

However, the chamber expressed concern over the serial rejections by President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Electoral Amendment Bill and others recently passed by the National Assembly.

It also set up a technical committee to look into the unsigned pieces of legislation.

The reaction followed some correspondences from the presidency adducing reasons for Buhari’s decline of assents to 16 bills.

Others which got the president’s cold reception are the Advance Fee Fraud and other Related Offences (Amendment) Bill; Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (Amendment) Bill; Stamp Duties (Amendment) Bill; Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB); Industrial Development (Income Tax Relief) (Amendment) Bill as well as the National Institute of Hospital and Tourism (Establishment) Bill among others.

Also yesterday, the House of Representatives adjourned plenary in honour of the late Funke Adedoyin, who passed on recently.

At the plenary presided over by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, the lawmakers held a special prayer in her honour before adjourning sitting to today.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/senate-reconvenes-decries-buharis.html[url][/url]

Nigerian singer Oladapo Oyebanjo, a.k.a D’banj, walked the runway at the African Fashion International Johannesburg Fashion Week.

The musician, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, television personality and rapper, teamed up with South African designer David Tlale, as he showcased a suit while strutting comfortably down the runway recently in Johannesburg.

He has won several music awards, including the awards for Best African Act at the MTV Europe Muisci Award 2007, Artist of the Year at the MTV Africa Music Awards 2009.

Best International Act: Africa at the 2011 BET Awards, and Best-selling African Artist 2014 World Music Awards, Evolution award at the 2015 MTV Africa Music awards.

In 2016, D’banj was ranked to be the richest solo musician in Nigeria according to T.I.N Magazine. (NAN0
D’Banj is vastly immersed in the information technology, particularly in the areas of value added services and Content digital distribution.

He owns MCOMM Ltd (Median Mobile Communications Limited, A Value Added Service Content Provider) and D’ Kings Men Media Limited (a 360 Media Company), which are responsible for his major digital moves in recent times.

D’banj’s D’Kings Men Media partnered with MTN Nigeria and the Bank of Industry (BoI) to launch THE CREAM PLATFORM, a creative talent platform to help discover young creative minds across Nigeria by just dialing a USSD code on a mobile phone.

It is reported that the platform, as at December 2016, had over two million paying subscribers and has discovered hundreds of talents from the music category alone, with tens of music videos and millions of Naira given out to winners.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/photos-dbanj-walks-runway-in-south.html

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has congratulated former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for picking the Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general elections.

However, Tambuwal, in a letter addressed to Atiku, dated Oct. 8, and issued on Monday in Abuja, pledged to support his presidential bid.


“On behalf of myself, my family, and millions of my supporters from across the length and breadth of the country, I heartily rejoice with and congratulate you on your emergence as the flag bearer of our great political party, the PDP.
“Your emergence through a transparent process is a testament to the fact that the PDP is now a reformed party and has sent a strong signal about our resolve to bring about the desired national transformation needed to turn around the fortunes of our beloved nation Nigeria,” he said.
Tambuwal promised to work with Atiku to ensure that he emerged victorious in the 2019 general elections, and urged members of the PDP to roll up their sleeves to ensure victory for it.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/pdp-primary-tambuwal-finally-speaks-on.html

To ensure even distribution of digital connectivity across the country, experts on Information Communications and Technology (ICT) have called on government to come up with policies to subsidise rural connectivity to ensure full participation in the digital space.

They argued that, Nigeria, though still at the level of infancy in the global space, its capabilities, developments and technological infrastructures are not uniformly distributed in some parts of country.

According to them, every Nigerian is entitled to participate in the digital space, and not needed to be bound by geographical location.They spoke during a program tagged ‘Digitising Nigeria’, organised by the ICT-Driven Knowledge Park of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife (OAK Park) in conjunction with Academy Halogen.

The Chair of FASMICRO Group, USA, Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe, noted that with the country’s slow steps to automation, there is need for the country to invest heavily in digitization and build the necessary infrastructure in order to be at par with other digitalized economies.

According to him, government need to increase its effort as it is only the private sector that is taking it upon itself to build capabilities for Nigeria to be a digitized nation.

Similarly, the Vice Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede, who explained the role of the academia in digitizing Nigeria, stressed that the academia also need to partner with the industry and community to move the development agenda of the Federal Government through their contributions to ease the process of digitising the economy.

On steps taken to digitalise the country effectively, he said: “there is need for government subsidise the cost of digitisation, sensitise the populace to let them know the importance while the academia would also look for a way to make it economical for the public for easy availability and deployment.”The Chief Operating Officer of Academy Halogen, Dr. Wale Adeagbo, who noted that digitalization increases the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) substantially, mentioned exposure of data to hackers as part of the challenges of digitalization.

He said the academy partnered OAU to further equip and work with competencies specialists that can work both with the private and public sectors to protect systems and their organizations against cyber attack. The aim of the event, he added was to throw up more awareness to the public against cyber security.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/ict-experts-seek-policies-to-subsidise.html

The Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission(NCC) Professor Umar Garba Dantatta has said the commission will continue to serve as a feedback mechanism for telecom consumers so as to avoid being exploited by service providers

He also said the gesture would assist the service providers to provide quality services, value for money and to check unwholesome practices.

Dantatta stated this at the weekend during 99th edition of consumer outreach programme held in Ilorin, Kwara state capital with the theme: “Using Information and Education as Tools for Consumer Empowerment and Protection.”

According to him, “the forum was organised to educate telecom consumers and other stakeholders in contemporary issues generating interest in the industry and also to serves as feedback mechanism.”

He said “At the NCC, the Telecom consumers are the target beneficiaries of all our activities which make them enjoy primary focus in terms of ensuring that they get good quality service, value for money spent, timely and fair redress of complaints and protection from unwholesome practices of some service providers.”

Dantatta who was represented by the Director, Consumers Affairs Bureau, Mrs. Felicia Onwuegbu Chulam said the commission had decided to design the outreach so as to empower consumer through the provision of necessary information and education to consumers.

Dantatta noted that: “Through empowerment and education, telecom consumers are fortified with necessary tools to be protected from market exploitation and to make rational and informed decision when making choices of services.

“Consumer information and education is identified by the NCC as one of the most effective mechanisms that provides and guarantees consumers empowerment and education.

“It also serves as a proactive way of providing consumers from making wrong choices and also protected the consumers from being exploited and against fraud.”

He, therefore, urged consumers to be up and doing and always free to come out with their feelings about the service providers saying that, “it is their inalienable rights to inform the service providers and NCC during this kind of forum so as to bring the much desired results and to assist them to continue to enjoy the value for their money spent on the services being provided to them”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/ncc-vows-to-protect-telecom-consumers.html

At the end of the count of the votes at the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar polled 1,532 to clinch the ticket.

The Fulani-born businessman and politician beat 11 other contestants to face another Fulani-incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

His closet rival, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, scored 693 votes.

Atiku, a native of a Fulani village of Jada in Adamawa state, was earlier at the end of votes sorting declared the winner of the primary by his agents Messrs Gbenga Daniel and Ben Bruce.

With the win, Atiku Abubakar would have to face incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari of APC and Mr Donald Duke of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and some others in the February 2019 presidential election.

About 3,274 delegates were at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt and took part in the primary which produced the following results.

Aminu Tambuwal – 693
Bukola Saraki – 317
Sanator David Mark – 35
Sule Lamido – 96
Kabiru Turaki – 65
Donald Jang – 19
Datti Ahmed – 5
Attahiru Bafarawa – 48
Ibrahim Dankwanbo – 111
Ahmed Makarfi – 74
Rabiu Kwankwanso – 158

72-year-old Abubakar, a businessman, who served as the second elected vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), with President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Abubakar worked in the Nigeria Customs Service for twenty years, rising to become the Deputy Director before he retired in April 1989 to go into politics.

He ran for the office of governor in the Gongola State (now Adamawa and Taraba States) in 1991, and for the Presidency in 1993, placing third after MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe in the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primaries.

In 1998 he was elected Governor of Adamawa State. While still Governor-Elect he was selected by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential candidate Olusegun Obasanjo as his running mate.

The duo went on to win elections in February 1999, and Abubakar was sworn-in as Nigeria’s second democratically elected vice president on 29 May 1999.

Abubakar’s second term as Vice President was marked by a stormy relationship with President Obasanjo.

Abubakar ran for presidency on the platform of the Action Congress, having quit the PDP on account of his issues with President Obasanjo.

Abubakar lost the election, placing third after Umaru Yar’Adua and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

He joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and sought the party’s ticket in 2014 but lost to President Muhammadu Buhari at the primary held in Lagos.

Abubaker defected again in May to PDP where he on Sunday clinched the ticket to tackle incumbent President Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.

Abubakar is a co-founder of Intels, an oil servicing business with extensive operations in Nigeria and abroad and founder of the American University of Nigeria (AUN).

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/fulani-born-72-year-old-atiku-clinches.html

The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed has vowed that the federal government will bring to book all persons responsible for the failure of the erstwhile Skye Bank, now Polaris Bank.

Speaking yesterday during a familiarisation visit to the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), she said government cannot continue to bail-out banks with public funds while those behind the failure of banks are shielded from prosecution.

The minister also commended the NDIC for being up to date with the payment of its operating surpluses into the Consolidated Revenue Fund, stressing that till date, a total of N107 billion had been remitted.

She said: “The example of the recently wound-up Skye Bank, now Polaris Bank is something we would look into. We would find out what happened. Your investigation must be thorough; we are going to hold whoever was responsible for the failure of that bank.”

“We have to show some examples, we cannot just be bailing out banks and leaving perpetrators of the failure of these banks to just go scot-free.

“Even though you intervene by protecting depositors, but your intervention is limited. You’re not able to payback all that the depositors have. We must show some examples and this is a good one for us to start with.”

Ahmed emphasised the need for the NDIC to continuously monitor the banks to ensure that problems were detected early and solved before they become crisis.

She said: “The role that you have in monitoring banks should be continuous, because if you capture these issues early, there is a better chance of us protecting these banks, protecting shareholders and depositors.”

The minister also commended the corporation for adhering to the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, by constantly paying its operational surpluses to the federal government.

She said: “I can confirm to you that just within this week, the sum of N15 billion was received by the federal government and this brings to about N107 billion that NDIC has paid to date.”

Earlier, the NDIC boss, Mr. Umaru Ibrahim hinted that following the revocation of Skye Bank Plc licence by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the former chairman and other director of the defunct bank, including Mr. Tunde Ayeni and Dr. Festus Fadeyi are currently under investigation.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/fg-vows-to-prosecute-skye-bank.html

The National Population Commission of Nigeria (NPC) has estimated that no fewer than 19 million persons are living with disabilities in Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Commission, Mr Eze Duruiheoma (SAN), announced this during the 73rd UN General Assembly General Discussion of Agenda 28 on Social Development at the UN headquarters in New York. The World Bank estimates that one billion people, or 15 per cent of the world’s population, experience some form of disabilities and the prevalence is higher for developing countries. The population chief said Nigeria had existing policy that reserved certain percentage of vacancies for the disabled, adding the corporate organisations were also encouraged to reserve two per cent for the disabled population. “As a result, government is implementing measures to promote and enhance the entrepreneurial skills of many of our 19 million Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). “This is executed through training in various vocations and provision of relevant tools to enable them to embark on economic ventures of their choice. “Furthermore, corporate organisations in Nigeria are encouraged to reserve two per cent of their vacancies to PWDs in support of the existing policy in the public sector.” He said Nigeria recognised the importance of implementing policies that bridge social inequality gap through poverty eradication, social integration, full employment and decent work that target especially the disability population. “As part of our commitment to the continuous implementation of the relevant provisions of the 2002 Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, President Muhammadu Buhari signed into law the National Senior Citizen Act 2018 early this year. “The Act mandates all tiers of government, including institutions in the country, to establish National Senior Citizens Centres to ensure proper care, training, integration, orientation and re-orientation of senior citizens. “This highlights the need for, and ensuring full utilisation of potential and expertise of the elderly, while recognising the benefits of increased experience through age, as well as strengthening intergenerational solidarity,” Duruiheoma said. Similarly, a pre-retirement vocational training is being provided to officers prior to disengagement from the public service to enhance investment of retirement benefits and guarantee income security as a means of eradicating poverty, he said. “Waivers are also extended to treatment provided for the elderly in government hospitals in some states in the country,” the Nigerian population chief said. He said Nigeria’s recently-revised National Population Policy now accorded special attention to ageing and the aged, and provided strategies for improving their welfare through investment in healthy ageing and integration into life-long learning programmes. He added that the Nigerian Government remained irreversibly committed to implementing social policies that impacted positively on the lives and well-being of all Nigerians, regardless of social status, creed and affiliations. “This is based on President Muhammadu Buhari’s conviction that the implementation of people-centred and all-inclusive sustainable development policies remain a strong parameter for measuring the success of any credible government,” he said. He explained that Nigeria had begun implementation of an ambitious three-year medium-term economic development strategy: ‘Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)’. Duruiheoma said the ERGP would fast-track the realisation of the objectives of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the overarching social-economic goals of Agenda 2063 of the African Union. “Fundamentally, EGRP was designed to place the country’s economy on a trajectory of upward growth, sound social infrastructure, global competitiveness, as well as ensuring environmental sustainability for all Nigerians. He said a National Social Investment Office has been established within the Office of the Vice President, to guarantee effective coordination, implementation and to facilitate access to a broad range of social development opportunities and benefits for all citizens. Duruiheoma said a potent feature of the social welfare programmes related to the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, saying it had continued to provide monthly stipends to one million poor and vulnerable households in Nigeria. He said a veritable component of the CCT was the concept of ‘Market Money’, disbursting micro credit loans with a zero interest rate to another batch of one million market traders across Nigeria. “Bridging youth empowerment inequality through provision of jobs and development of innovative ideas is at the very core of our government policies and programmes. “Consequently, the N-Power Youth Employment Scheme, created to facilitate employment generation for a total of 500,000 graduates in the country, has successfully deployed over 400,000 graduates to the agricultural, health and teaching sectors all over the country. “The non-graduate component that targets annual employment of 100,000 artisans has also created jobs for more than 30,000 youth till date,” Duruiheoma said. He said the Nigerian Government was scaling up the creation of innovative hubs through the establishment of technological smart villages across the country to unleash the innovative potential of youth and bridge the technology divide in the country. Duruiheoma said in terms of mainstreaming youth into all aspects of governance, Buhari had created the Office of Special Adviser on Youth Matters and signed into law the ‘Not-Too-Young-To-Run’ bill. “This has undoubtedly triggered more interests from the Nigerian youth population in the office of the President in the coming presidential election in February 2019,” he said. He pledged Nigeria’s usual cooperation to the global community, adding the country remained committed to its international obligations, programmes and strategies that promoted social development for citizens.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/npc-puts-nigerias-disabled-population.html

Former Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the Portugal squad for their upcoming October international encounter against Poland and Scotland at his own request.

The 33-year-old national team captain has made 154 appearances for his country.

Portuguese newspaper, A Bola reports that he has asked to be left out of the side until 2019.

That means he will also miss this month’s matches, and will not also be unavailable for games against Italy and a rematch against Poland in the middle of November.

He was also left out of the squad in September, meaning he has not played for the European champions since their unspectacular appearance at the World Cup in Russia.

The reason for Ronaldo’s absence is that he has asked both managers Fernando Santos, and federation chief Fernando Gomes, for more time to adapt to life at Juventus.

After almost a decade at Real Madrid, Ronaldo opted to move to Turin, and he and his family are still adjusting to their new lift – on and off the pitch.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/cristiano-ronaldo-to-miss-all-portugal.html

Senator (Dr) Victor Umeh OFR casts his vote at the ongoing Primary Election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, to elect the flagbearer for Anambra Central Senatorial District.
It is Happening Live from St Matthews Catholic Church, Amawbia, Awka South LGA.

for full details click the link https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/live-report-victor-umeh-casts-his-vote.html

Ahead of the general elections next February, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Monday that he is fully committed to make the Independent national Electoral Commission(INEC) to be truly ‘Independent’.

The president reiterated the commitment in his speech to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence anniversary.

‘I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.

“Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be no quick fixes or short cuts. These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation”, he said.

Perhaps with the pestilence of fake news and people inflaming ethnic passions and divisions on his mind, Buhari seized on the occasion to warn citizens not to misuse the technology now “in our hands”.

“Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for knowledge and understanding. As with other countries, we must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.

“Never before have we faced such a challenge. We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s world of social media. We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts. Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake”, he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2018/10/buhari-commits-to-truly-independent-inec.html