₦airaland Forum

The Presidency has defended the Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari’s move to cancel yesterday’s Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

Speaking on the move by the nation’s president, the Special Adviser to President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, stated that there is no law which requires the nation to hold the FEC meeting weekly.

Adesina while speaking during a Channels TV programme on Wednesday stated that the president made the decision to cancel this week’s FEC meeting in the interest of the nation.

Recall that president Buhari who is working from his residence stated that he will rather recieve the reports on the probe of the director-general of National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and secretary to the government of the federation (SGF), from the Vice-president, Yemi Osinbajo, than hold the FEC meeting.



Adesina while defending the move said: “There is no law that says the federal executive council meeting should hold every week. There is no law that says it must be weekly. Under a past administration, it used to hold once every two weeks.”

He added: “So, there is no law that says it should hold every Wednesday. It depends on what you have on the agenda to discuss. The president is the chairman of that meeting. So, he has the discretion to hold or not to hold (the meeting).

“The fact that FEC did not hold in one week does not mean anything significant because the president has the discretion to hold or not to hold FEC (meetings).”

Adesina also addressed reports from some quarters that the president has not recovered enough hence his decision to work from his residence.



He noted: “That is not correct. It did not hold every week; when this administration began, it did not hold every week. And right from then, it had been understood that the FEC would hold as often as there are things to discuss.”


http://www.herald.ng/buhari-can-cancel-fec-meeting-presidency/

The medical vacation of President Muhammadu Buhari in London is still a trending topic in Nigeria.

It has been a total of 103 days since President Muhammadu Buhari left Nigeria for a second medical vacation in the United Kingdom, and he returned on Saturday, the 19th day of August, 2017. His arrival ushered in praises from his followers both from the North and South.

President Buhari has undoubtedly broken many records and set new ones. And now, many Nigerians are worried about Nigeria, with Buhari and the efficiency and drive to move Nigeria forward.

President Buhari’s National broadcast to Nigerians was centered on the unity of Nigeria, and other top national issues without making a statement on his health status.



Upon Buhari’s return from London to Nigeria, his country men and women are beginning to question the cost of the president’s medical vacation in London.

Upon Buhari’s return from London to Nigeria, his country men and women are beginning to question the cost of the president’s medical vacation in London.

According to sources, President Muhammadu Buhari spent between £200 and £250 per hour, for medical services in the United Kingdom.

The first Nigerian to embark on such luxury visit was the acting president Yemi Osinbajo, followed by the wife of the president, Aisha Buahri which many argued would not necessarily be called a visitor to the President but had also visited her husband on several occasions in the last 103 days and thereafter left for Saudi Arabia to pray for him.



Five governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) including the party chairman, John Oyegun and Aviation Minister Rotimi Amaechi visited President Buhari.

Barely 48 hours after their departure from London, another six PDP governors drawn from six geo-political regions of the country also paid the president a one-day visit.

The media aides of President Buhari were also not left out.

Among the numerous and luxury visitations to London were the Sen­ate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Rep­resentatives, Hon, Yakubu Doga­ra.

Many pundits have argued that the many London trips by government officials and some politicians constitute a strain on public finances and Nigeria’s already troubled foreign exchange situation. They felt a video transmission of a Buhari from London would have solved the political tension raised over time.

According to our reporter, findings from the market shows that a First Class return ticket to London now cost N3.4million on the low side and as much as N5.1million, if on the high side.

For instance, a First-Class seat on British Airways cost between N3.6million to N5.1million depending on the travel agency of choice and time of booking. Other carriers like Emirates offer similar fares of between N3.5million and N4.7million. On Kenya Airways, a Lagos-London First Class cost about N4million.

A Business Class ticket for the same route costs between N887, 000 and N1.1million depending on the time of booking and airline of choice. Economy Class, which is the last hope of the flying masses ranges from N215, 000 to N360, 000 on Lagos-London route.

Meanwhile, most Nigerian politicians, who visited metropolitan London, lodged at Hilton Hotel on Parklane, which is 17 minutes’ drive from the Abuja house where president Buhari was accommodated.

The least room rate at Hilton is 332 pounds per night. But Hilton Cosmopolitan Suite is considered the preference of most Nigerian VIPs.

Currently, the rate is 2000 pounds per night. At N411 to a pound, each visitor spent over N800, 000 per night.

It was gathered that it is interna­tional practice for aircrafts to be charged for parking after the first two hours of landing in an air­port. To this end, the federal gov­ernment had paid park­ing charges on the Presidential Jet that conveyed Mr. President and his entourages to London since they left the country and upon his return.

According to viral reports online, it costs a whopping £4000 (N1.6m) every 24 hours to use a parking lot in London.

To calculate the cost, the president stayed 103 days in London and calculating how much spent already based on N400/1 pound, President Buhari has spent a whooping N160,000,000.00 on aircraft alone.

Furthermore, the cost of maintaining Buhari’s personal physicians, courtiers and entourages in foreign currencies has further deplete the foreign re­serve.

For his continued stay in power, the presidency allegedly sponsored three pro-Buhari groups with a sum of 20 million Naira each. According to sources and the opposition political parties, the protesters protested in favour of Buhari’s government and policies.

The pro-Buhari protesters also countered the anti-Buhari protests across the country.

To this end, President Buhari’s indefinite medical trip has cost Nigeria a heart-breaking sum of tax payers money in the last 103 days.
http://www.herald.ng/buharis-103-days-cost-nigeria-fortune/

A pro-Biafra group, the Biafra Zionists Federation has discountenanced the welcome home address claim by President Muhammad Buhari that he and late Chief Emeka Ojukwu had decided Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable.

Leader of the group, Mr. Benjamin Onwuka, who spoke with journalists in Enugu, specifically faulted the president’s statement that the late Biafra leader, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, disowned Biafra, describing it as false.

Onwuka challenged President Muhammad Buhari to produce the audio or video of the alleged meeting.

He said: “We are speaking today in response to the broadcast said to have been made by Buhari. We want to let the world know that Buhari is wasting his time; he has been defeated.



“He didn’t start failing today; he supported Hillary Clinton during the US election, but they all failed; he knows it.

“So his broadcast is a waste of time; a compendium of lies; Biafrans challenge him, let him produce the transcript; we saw what they posted on his twitter handle and called it a video. This is very comedic. When has a picture become a video? Where is the voice, where is the motion; where is the transcript? What he has dished out is a far-cry; we are asking for video evidence, with the audio, the transcript of that meeting. Let us see what they agreed on.

“Above all, I don’t believe what he is saying; if that is what happened; let him come up with evidence. Odumegwu Ojukwu, I believe will never compromise on Biafra’s independence. He was the one that led us to war, except that he made a mistake for not accepting the offer from Russia. That’s what the Zionists have done by seeking support from US.

“From the broadcast he made, Ojukwu could never have compromised; let him provide the evidence and what Ojukwu said. Even if it is what Ojukwu said, Ojukwu is not speaking for Biafra; Biafrans are a nation; a nation is more important than one person.



“So Ojukwu can never betray Biafra. Why didn’t he say this when Ojukwu was alive? He should have told us then. When that meeting held, he should have given us an opportunity, where two of them would have come out and told us, we believe in one Nigeria.

“Why now, because the man has died, you are now coming up with allegations against him, because the grave cannot speak? So whatever he said Ojukwu told him, we don’t buy into it.
“Biafra has come to stay with the backing of US. Our matter is right now at the desk of the US President. So, Buhari is wasting his time.
“He is even calling us irresponsible because he is benefiting from our oil. Where in the world are people agitating for freedom called irresponsible people?

“What will he call Boko Haram members? The only reason is that he is feeding from our oil, allocating oil blocks and all that. Without the oil, there will be no Nigeria. He can say whatever he likes.”
When asked to comment on an interim government he claimed to have formed a few weeks ago, he said, “I’m not claiming to be president on my own; United States under Obama recognised Biafra on 15th October, 2014. The Zionists believe in international diplomacy.

“Let me assure those people appointed that the interim government stands until we hear from the White House. So, the interim government and our announcement on Biafra, they are still intact; we are waiting to get reply from US but the government we formed is intact, upon the return of Trump from vacation, Biafra will take off. Obama and Trump will make Biafra to be a reality,” he said.


http://www.herald.ng/buhari-telling-lies-ojukwu/

Nigeria’s Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has been appointed the Chairperson, Board of Governors of ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID).

The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja at the end of the 15th Ordinary Session of the board of governors of the bank.

She succeeds Hassoumi Massoudou from Republic of Niger.

Earlier, Adeosun had urged other finance ministers to speak about radical economic transformation, which would no doubt, take the sub-region to improved living standard for all citizens.







She advised them to prioritise industrialisation, especially through labour intensive manufacturing to promote job creation.

“In addition, conscious emphasis should be placed on agriculture to improve food security and deriving more value from the sea by boosting the ocean economy.



“Potentially, these areas also provide investors with profitable investment opportunities in our community.’’

Adeosun said that critical work was being done to promote regional integration in the sub-region.

She said that on Nigeria’s part, efforts were underway to radically transform its economy in a manner that would shift the age-old emphasis away from oil as the main source of revenue.





Adeosun said diversification and domestic resource mobilisation through improved tax revenue were ongoing in Nigeria.

According to her, “the signaling effect coupled with positive externalities that would be generated will have significant impact on the regional economy.”

“Infrastructure development remains top of the agenda to ease movement of goods, people and services across our community.

“Furthermore, power to light up Africa is an essential imperative for industrialisation and for us to succeed, we need to mobilise appropriate financing.

“Accordingly, we must support our Bank, EBID, to mobilise domestic and external resources to strengthen developmental partnerships and collaboration.’’





She said the meeting was a key instrument in this regard as it brought the drivers of the economy in the sub-region together to discuss important matters.

“Our people yearn for prosperity and we must be determined not to fail them and that is why we have ECOWAS Vision 2020 as a clear roadmap towards a better life for all, ‘’she said.

President of the Bank, Mr Bashir Ifo, said the implementation of the 2016-2020 strategic plan of the bank was being constrained due to lack of resources.

He said a review of the key indicators of the plan showed that all of the projected targets for various quantitative indicators had fallen below expectations.

“Especially hard hit was the mobilization of resources which is the overarching pillar in the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan.

“However, we are hopeful that with the intensification of resource mobilization initiatives, the implementation of the 2016-2020 Strategic Plan would considerably improve.’’





Ifo, therefore, called on all member states and other stakeholders to help the bank to fulfill its mandate to help ECOWAS countries reduce poverty.

He said payment of the remaining capital arrears owed by member states would not only help it fulfill its mandate in the sub-region.

He said it would also significantly contribute to positioning it as a viable financial entity that could mobilise adequate funds on the back of its shareholders’ support.

“In short, additional equity infusion would strengthen the bank’s balance sheet which would then permit it to mobilise funds at competitive rates, ’’the bank president said.

Ifo said the bank was mandated to help member states create employment and build the necessary infrastructure to undergird economic growth and development.

He, however, said that that in spite of resource constraints, the bank had been making significant regional development and integration efforts.

He explained that in 2016, the bank’s net cumulative commitments in member states stood at 1.34 billion dollars for 135 projects.

“We are pleased to report that in 2016, we were able to conclude negotiations with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).

“This culminated into the signing of two loan agreements in the amounts of 45 million dollars and 15 million dollars for trade finance and private sector financing.

“We are also in discussions with the Indian Government for another 500 million dollars line of credit to the bank.

“In addition, discussions are ongoing with the Islamic Development Bank, China Development Bank and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).

“This is for the purpose of mobilising adequate resources to finance development projects and programmes within the ECOWAS sub-region in conformity with our mandate.’’

EBID was established by the 15 member states for economic development of West Africa through the financing of ECOWAS projects and programmes

http://www.herald.ng/adeosun-appointed-chairperson-ecowas-bank-for-investment-development/

The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, on Tuesday reminded Nigerians that it was no longer in the business of issuing them visas.

The Embassy’s Charge d’ Affaires, Mr Michel Deleen, told the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) in Lagos that the Embassy had since 2013 swapped itsvisa issuance processes in Nigeria.

Deleen said that the Embassy had since 2013 swapped its visas issuance to Nigerians with the French Consulate General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

“Let me remind Nigerians that since 2013, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria had signed agreements with the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.







“What this means is that we have swapped our visa application processes in Nigeria with the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

“Let me remind Nigerians that under these agreements, any Nigerian that wants to visit the Netherlands for business, study or tourism should always process their visa applications through the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja,’’ he said.



Deleen also enjoined Nigerians to always apply for visas to the Netherlands, through VFS Global to the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja.

The Charge d’ Affaires said that it was important for Nigerians and other nationals in Nigeria to know that VFS Global was the internationally-authorised organisaton for receiving all visa applications.





“Let me also advise anyone seeking visas to the Netherlands through the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja,to always first apply through VFS Global.

“When you first apply to VFS Global for visas to the Netherlands,VFS Global would thereafter send them to the French Consulate-General in Lagos and the Embassy of Belgium in Abuja for processing,’’ he said.

VFS Global is the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide.

The company manages administrative and non-judgmental tasks related to visas, passports, identity management and other citizen services for its client governments.

http://www.herald.ng/no-longer-issue-visas-nigerians-netherlands-embassy/

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will easily secure victory in the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Anambra state, as there was no one to stop a united party.

Wike made the comments during the recent ward congress of the party, declaring that the PDP would secure the victory easily if it practiced internal democracy.

He said: “I am the chairman of the ward congress committee, and the governor of Ekiti State, Fayose, who is the chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, is also a member. PDP looked very well before selecting us to do the job.

“We are not people you can buy with money. Look at my car there, I bought the fuel by myself and came down for the job, and we came with our own kola and drinks too, so we do not need anyone to give us kola or drink to do the job.



“We have resolved that there will be a ward congress, and no one should talk to us about consensus or even entertain fear that we may be bought. We have told the aspirants to go into the field and prove themselves, and if they are popular, they will have nothing to fear about.

“What we need is for the aspirants to come together and support themselves and the party, and whoever wins the ticket, will surely win in Anambra State. Who do you have here in opposition party that is strong that can stop PDP? If we can win in Rivers State, Anambra State is a small case because you don’t have anyone here that can stop PDP,” Wike said.

In his own remarks, Ekiti Governor Ayo Fayose cautioned aspirants not to employ violent tactics in the course of their campaigns, as such tactic would be met by immediate disqualification.

http://www.herald.ng/anambra-pdp-unstoppable-wike/

Jack Ikegwuonu and his twin brother, William, were two very successful young athletes who seemed to have fame and fortune mapped out for them in life, but somehow ended up sentenced to the Federal Correctional Institution, Elkton for 9.5 years.

The twins journey to prison started in 2014 when they were arrested in suspicion of armed robbery events in their home state of Illinois.

The WAOW arrest report from 2014 reads:

Madison Police say they worked with Middleton Police to arrest the brothers last Wednesday shortly following an armed robbery at the Klinke Cleaners on North Gammon Road.



Madison police say the investigation indicates much of the money taken during the crimes of which the brothers are suspected was being used to buy heroin.

Jack Ikegwuonu, 28, and his twin brother, William, were arrested on University Avenue by a team of officers looking for a specific SUV connected to the suspects.
Authorities say the SUV had been initially identified by a police tracking dog indicating a connection between a State street armed robbery and a parking lot nearby, combined with surveillance images of the suspected get away car.. A detective obtained a warrant to attach a GPS device on the suspect’s SUV just prior to the robbery on North Gammon. Following the holdup, Madison police monitored the SUV’s travel as it drove toward downtown Madison.

Authorities say a handgun, cash and other evidence were found in the SUV.
The brothers are also suspects in a November 13 robbery at Madison Modern Market, a November 14 robbery of Cricket Wireless, a November 18 robbery of Life Is Good and a November 21 robbery of Klinke Cleaners. Madison police say additional charges are likely.



The brothers were eventually found guilty of the crimes and sentenced to 9.5 years.

Details of Jack Ikegwuonu’s foot ball career follows:

2005 season
Ikegwuonu garnered a Freshman All-American honorable mention by The Sporting News. He shared left cornerback duties starting at that position against Illinois, Penn State and Auburn adding another starting assignment at nickel back against Hawaii. Wearing jersey #27, Jack Ikegwuonu recorded 23 solo out of 26 tackles with two stops for a total of 6 yards in losses. He was responsible for deflecting 3 passes and intercepted 3 others for 63 yards in returns and one touchdowns.
2006 season
Ikegwuonu was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice by the league’s coaches and media, adding second-team honors from the media. Although he was suspended briefly after his December arrest, he was allowed to play in the Citrus Bowl. He started all 13 games at right cornerback, switching to jersey #6 from #27 and recording 38 solo out of 41 tackles with 3.5 stops for a total of 14 yards in losses, caused a fumble and recovered another for a 50-yard touchdown return. He was responsible for deflecting 11 passes and intercepted two passes for 28 return yards.
2007 season
Ikegwuonu was selected as an All-Big Ten Conference first-team choice by the league’s coaches and media. He started all 13 games at right cornerback, recording 19 solo out 24 tackles with a league-high fifteen pass deflections and one interception for a 2-yard loss. He saw his main pass coverage assignments catch 38 passes for an average of 15.76 yards and five touchdowns.
Ikegwuonu elected to forgo his senior college season to enter the 2008 NFL Draft, but he injured his knee in January 2008 while preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine.

Professional career
Ikegwuonu was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft after being projected as high as a first-round draft pick. He missed the entire 2008 season because of a knee injury during the 2008 NFL Combine and on July 22 was placed on the Physically-Unable-to-Perform list.
He was waived on September 5, 2009. He was re-signed to the team’s practice squad on September 7, 2009. After cornerback Joselio Hanson was suspended for four games for failing a drug test before the start of the 2008 NFC Championship game, Ikegwuonu was promoted to the active roster. He played in his first regular season game in the NFL on November 22, 2009 against the Chicago Bears. He was waived on November 24 after the team signed Geoffrey Pope off the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad.
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The attack on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may have some connection to a complex investigation into the Central Bank of Nigeria’s foreign exchange dealings.

Recall yesterday, several masked assailants attacked the EFCC complex in Abuja, riddling the premises and properties with bullet holes. According to Wilson Uwujare, the public relations head at EFCC, the assailants left a warning to Ishaku Saru.

“The hoodlums escaped in a getaway vehicle but not without leaving a message; a white envelope dropped by the fleeing attackers was found to contain a death threat addressed to Ishaku Sharu.

“Ishaku, who heads the Foreign Exchange Malpractices Fraud Section, is in charge of corruption investigation involving several politically exposed persons and retired military brass hats,” said the media officer of the commission.



According to Independent, sources in the commission say the CBN investigation may have more than ruffled the feathers of culpable parties.

One source said the attack is indicative of a growing desperation of those uncomfortable with EFCC’s search lights. Apart from arms procurement indictment, there is the ongoing probe involving foreign exchange from the CBN recently instituted.

Bureau de changes (BDCs) in the country, in collusion with highly place central bank officers, were caught in sleaze involving obtaining foreign exchange at official rates only to sell them at higher rate at the parallel market. The country’s foreign reserve is believed to have been heavily pillaged by these officers.

“We believe that the suspected assassins could have been from any one of those people being investigated by Ishaku,” explained an operative of the commission.





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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has fired back at the President Muhammad Buhari administration over their negative comments concerning his own government which elapsed in May 2015.

After several Buhari aides and allies had recently asked Jonathan to keep quiet after the latter praised the efforts of his administration at a Peoples Democratic Party convention which recently held at the eagle square, Goodluck took to social media to remind his successor of the challenges in his own ongoing administration. Specific areas of the Buhari government that came under the elder statesman’s attack are the claimed successes in the corruption war, and terrorism.

In a statement signed by Jonathan’s former media aide, Reno Omokri, the ex-President blasted Garba Shehu for claiming that the Buhari administration had made strides against corruption and terror.

Jonathan reminded Shehu, that the Congress of the United States of America cited Nigeria as the most dangerous place for Christians to live in the world.



He said, “Laughably, Garba Shehu cites the fight against corruption and the terror war as major achievements of the Buhari administration.

“How can Garba Shehu reconcile his so called anti corruption war with the fact that Nigeria has made NO PROGRESS in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index under Buhari and in the latest CPI Transparency International said and I quote “Some other large African countries have failed to improve their scores on the index. These include South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania and Kenya.”

“On the alleged terror war, Nigerians will recall that President Muhammadu Buhari said that Boko Haram has been technically defeated.

“My question is how can a defeated Boko Haram now have the ability to kidnap policewomen and oil explorers? How can a defeated Boko Haram attack military formations? How can a defeated Boko Haram carry out more suicide bombing a in the last eight months than at any other time in Nigeria’s history.



“Has Garba Shehu forgotten that on July 6, 2017, the World Economic Forum named Nigeria as the fifth most dangerous country in the world? Or that on the 4th of February 2017, the United States Congress cited Nigeria as “the most dangerous place for Christians in the world”?

“Garba Shehu can continue living in his fool’s paradise but he should give Nigerians more credit than to issue the pathetic tissue of lies that he called a response to former President Jonathan’s comments at this past weekend’s non elective Congress of the PDP.



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Presidency said on Monday that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration was handed an economy ravaged by years of mismanagement and corruption.

Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, stated this in a statement in Abuja.

The presidential aide was reacting to statements credited to former President Goodluck Jonathan and Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, the Caretaker Chairman of the party, to the effect that “under the previous administration, there was money but now things are very hard’’.

“It is understandable that Dr Jonathan kept his comments short, because a cursory look at any sector clearly indicated that he and his government presided over the most monumental and tragic economic mismanagement recorded in our national history.







“The oil sector boomed under his tenure, with oil prices as high as 120 dollars and peace in the Nigeria Delta. Nigeria earned unprecedented dollar revenues. Sadly, that is where the story turns sour.

“There is nothing to show for the revenues earned; no major capital project was completed, neither power generation, road development, rail nor agriculture benefited from the windfall earnings.



“Rather, the administration presided over the diversion of oil revenues on such a massive scale that even without the protection now accorded to Whistle blowers, the then Central Bank Governor blew not only a whistle but a trumpet.

“He was hurriedly shown the door.’’





Shehu added that the acquisition by public officers and their cohorts, of private jets, luxury yachts and the accumulation of expensive property portfolios world-wide continued unabated.

“Indeed the President once celebrated having the largest number of private jets, whilst our youths languished without jobs, our fields stood idle and our factories began the layoff of workers.

“Government simply reticulated oil revenue through personal spending by corrupt leaders, wasteful expenses and salaries.

“This was done rather than investing in what would grow the economy. Economies grow due to capital investment in assets like seaports, airports, power plants, railways, roads and housing.”





The presidential aide further lamented that Nigeria could not record a single major infrastructural project in the last 10 years, saying that “in short the money was mismanaged.

“Such was the looting that even the goose that was laying the golden egg was being systematically starved.

“The direct contractual costs of oil produced in the form of cash calls, remained unpaid.’’

He, however, maintained that the President Buhari’s administration was left with the task of facing serious economic challenges from the oil majors, which included the demand for six billion dollars owed by Nigeria for oil that had already been sold or stolen.





He also highlighted that at the inception of the current administration, 21 states were unable to meet their salary bills and the spectre of workers arrears had commenced.

He said that the PDP solution was to “raid the Ecological Fund and selectively grant two billion dollars each to the PDP States.’’

He further stated that it was only aggressive borrowing by the Ministry of Finance, under Dr Okonjo- Iweala, that prevented Federal Government from also owing salaries.

“The economic wisdom of borrowing to pay recurrent bills is a questionable one, particularly as those paid would have included over 45,000 that have subsequently been removed by the Buhari led administration as ghost workers.

“It also included the lavish costs of chartering private jets, first class travel and other wasteful acts that have been eliminated under this administration.





“To compound the problem, the government was borrowing heavily and owed contractors and international oil companies.’’

The presidential aide noted that when President Buhari took over mantle of leadership on May 29, 2015, he inherited an accumulated debt back to the level it was before the Paris Club Debt Forgiveness.

He said all the factors were building up to “Nigeria heading for a major crisis if the price of oil fell. Nigeria did not have fiscal buffers to withstand an oil shock.

“The oil shock should and could have been foreseen. When Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, ISIS crisis started, it was clear that the United States of America wanted to cut off funds to terror groups by crashing the price of oil.

“When America granted permission for exploration of oil on land (Shale), the warning signs were evident, but these were ignored by Nigeria’s economic managers.

“In summary Nigeria earned a lot of money when oil prices were high but there is nothing to show for it. Now oil prices have fallen; we are suffering”.

The presidential spokesman revealed that the Buhari administration had since commenced doing things differently to find lasting solutions to the nation’s socio-economic problems.

According to him, the government has embarked on anti-corruption crusade, sanitising the huge salary bill by eliminating payroll fraud and reducing wasteful expenses like first class travel and private jets.

He said the government was also encouraging states to reform their spending and build savings or investments.

Shehu disclosed that the government had also increased spending on capital projects, especially on infrastructure needed to make Nigerian businesses competitive and create jobs.

He said that government had blocked the leakages that allowed its revenues to be siphoned into private hands while focusing on key sectors ( apart from oil) that could create jobs and or generate revenue such as agriculture, solid minerals and manufacturing.

According to him, if these things have been done when the oil price was as high as 120 dollars per barrel, Nigeria will not be in the current predicament.

“We would not be suffering now if we had no cash reserves but we had power, or a rail system, or good roads, or good housing. But we don’t have money and we don’t have the projects either.

“Now that the oil has fallen below those levels, it is very difficult to do what is needed but they must be done to save Nigeria. There is no other way if we want to be honest.

“If PDP were still in power, they would have continued deceiving people, by borrowing to fund, stealing and wastage and the problem would have simply been postponed for future generations to face.’’

On former President Jonathan’s specific boasts that dollar under him was N180 compared to today, Shehu said: “With such a line of argument, it is clear why we are where we are.

“With oil prices as high as 120 dollars, the average inflow of dollars each month was high, making it easy to support cheap dollars.

“However, with oil price plummeting as low as 28 dollars, the fundamental laws of supply and demand dictated that the currency would need to adjust, since oil was the sole export.

“It is instructive to note that virtually every major oil exporter has witnessed currency adjustments with the fall in oil price.

“The Buhari administration has taken a long term strategic view of supporting a stable naira on both the supply and demand sides.’’

He noted that President Buhari had driven import substitution to reduce demand for dollars to buy things the nation could produce, thereby creating thousands of rural jobs in rice and other staples.

The presidential aide maintained that there was a credible plan to diversity the nation’s revenue sources away from oil, with focus on export crops as well as solid minerals, with the release of 100 million dollars fund to develop solid mineral extraction.

He said that President Buhari had a positive and prosperous vision for Nigeria.

According to him, the president is determined to create a nation in which the natural talent and hard work of the people is being supported by an enabling environment of infrastructure development and policy reforms that will develop a firm future for the nation.

“Nigerians are looking forward and the PDP’s lurking in the economic rear view mirror only underscores the resolve of Nigerians, that as far as the economy is concerned, it is `never again’.’’(NAN)
SYC/IA



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Nigeria’s Federal Government has spent N6.2 billion under the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, one of its four ongoing Social Investment Programmes (SIP), with Ogun and Osun states having the most children covered.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity (Office of the Vice-President), Mr Laolu Akande, made this known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

He said the expenditure was in fulfilment of the Federal Government’s plan to ramp up the Social Investment Programmes this year.

According to him, the Buhari administration is now close to its target of feeding three million primary school pupils this year under the Homegrown School Feeding Programme.



“Specifically, at the last count, a total of N6, 204,912,889 has been paid out to 14 states during the school year ending August 2017.

“The 14 states that have been covered under the School Feeding Programme are: Anambra, Enugu, Oyo, Osun, Ogun, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Delta, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Bauchi, Taraba and Kaduna.

“So far, a total of 2,827,501 school children are currently benefiting from the School Feeding Programme, which is well on course to achieve the Federal Government’s projection to feed over three million pupils this year,’’ he said.

According to the presidential aide, 33,895 cooks have been engaged in the communities where the schools are located across the 14 states.



Akande said Anambra received N693, 013,300 while 103,742 children had been fed thus far, with 1,009 cooks paid.

“Enugu state got a total of N 571,877,400 and 108,898 children have been fed so far, with 1,276 cooks paid.

“In Oyo state, a total of N490,296, 800 was released by the Federal Government for the feeding of 107,983 children, with 1,372 cooks engaged.

“Osun state received a total of N1,000, 394,888 for the feeding of 151,438 children. A total of 2,863 cooks were engaged in the state.

“Similarly, Ogun received a total of and N1,042,217,400 for the feeding of 231,660 schoolchildren, while a total of 2,205 cooks were paid.”

Akande further stated that Ebonyi received N344,633, 100 for the feeding of 163,137 pupils so far, with a total of 1,453 cooks paid while Zamfara received N402,295,600 for the feeding of 107,347 school children with 1,127 cooks were engaged.

He also disclosed that Delta received N225,896,300 for the feeding of 141,663 pupils and 1,364 cooks engaged in the state.

Akande also said, “Abia and Benue received a total of N128,763,600 and N337,157,800 respectively to feed a total of 61,316 and 240,827 pupils.

“In Abia, a total of 750 cooks were engaged, while 3,344 cooks were paid in Benue.

“Plateau and Bauchi states received a total of N133,187,600 and N214,909,101 for the feeding of a total of 95,134 and 307,013 pupils respectively in the states.

“Also, 1,418 cooks have so far been engaged in Plateau state, with 3,261 in Bauchi state.”

The presidential aide also said Taraba received N120,284, 500, adding that 171,835 pupils had been fed while 2,596 cooks were paid.

He said that Kaduna state received N499, 985, 500 while 835,508 pupils had been fed so far and 9,857 cooks were paid under the programme in the state.

According to him, more states and primary school pupils across the country are expected to benefit from the feeding programme by the time schools re-open next month for a new session. NAN



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Opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described the Nigerian Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo as a mere figurehead adding that he is not in charge of the country.

PDP made this known through its spokesperson, Dayo Adeyeye, while speaking to newsmen in Abuja over the weekend.

Adeyeye said Osinbajo has not been able to make key decisions especially as he has been unable to assign portfolios to the two new ministers that he recently swore in.

Adeyeye maintained: “The Acting President is not in charge of the country. He is not in charge of anything. This is why nothing is moving forward. How do you explain a situation where two of the ministers who were sworn in after much pressure from the people and the National Assembly have not been assigned portfolios? He is not in charge.



“He is a mere figurehead and cannot do anything. The cabals are still in charge. That is why nothing is moving forward in this country. The two ministers are just idle. They have no offices, nowhere to resume to and nothing to do.

“What is the essence of their being sworn in then? They are ministers without portfolios. It is a constitutional breach on the side of the government because each state ought to have a minister each.

“Now, these two states had been without ministers for long and after you reluctantly appointed them, you refused to give them offices.”

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Nollywood actress, Mercy Johnson-Okojie has defended her man in a new interview wherein she described him as a ‘Saint’.

Speaking during a chat with Nigeria Tribune, the actress revealed she is extremely in love with and crazy about her man.

She said: “My husband is a saint. Everything. My husband is not someone you interact with, with your body. He is someone you commune with, with your soul. You just love his soul.

“He is everything bottled in one person. I don’t know how to explain him. My husband is the closest thing after God’s existence. I am not saying he is perfect, but l love that man too much [Sings]. Sometimes I can’t explain him.



“I used to have mentors, but for some time now it has been my husband. He has the best things to say about everything. I am always awed by the way he reasons.

“He has certain perception of life that intrigues me. For like four years now, he has been my mentor. He makes me see things right. And we all need a person who makes us see the best in everything. So, yea, my husband is my mentor.

Speaking on her relationship with actress, Tonto Dike, who recently separated from her man, Dr. Olakunle Churchill, the actress said: “She’s my girl. She is like a sister to me. We outgrow things. We both have kids and are raising them.”

On her religious life, the actress who revealed she is a born again spoke on how her religion influences the choice of movie roles.



She said: “Yes, I am a born-again Christian. I wouldn’t say it influences my role because as a Christian you are a bridge maker. People should look at you and tell the difference.

“In filming, I don’t like to embarrass myself, I don’t like to embarrass my husband.”



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Former President Goodluck Jonathan says the soundness of his economic team ensured that prices did not spiral out of control during his administration.

The ex-President speaking at Eagle square, Abuja, at the Peoples Democratic Party non-elective national convention, said despite serious challenges including a major flood in 2012, Nigerians had food to eat and at manageable prices.

Accompanied to the podium by his former deputy vice president, Namadi Sambo, and other party chieftain, Jonathan appeared disturbed by some of the corruption allegations and looting discoveries, trailing his administration since its twilight.

He said, “Though we didn’t completely plug the loopholes in the fight against corruption, but we did well.



“I learnt that some people said that if the PDP had remained in power beyond 2015, the economy would have been worse. This couldn’t have been the case, because we had a sound economic team in place.

“Let us not forget that the great floods of 2012 were a major calamity that damaged homes and farmlands on the plains of River Niger and Benue.

“But despite the devastating effects of this natural disaster, there were no food shortages or arbitrary increase in prices, because of what we were able to accomplish with our agriculture transformation agenda, which considerably boosted food production.

“If we say that we rekindled hope in our people and regained international goodwill, it is because we pursued a number of policies and programmes that were not only richly rewarding for our people, but were also being copied by many countries across the globe, a few of which I will mention here.”



He harped on the successes of his administration including presiding over the emergence of the nation as the largest economic powerhouse in Africa with a GDP of over $500 billion, a single digit inflation rate, and a top destination for Foreign Direct Investment.

Jonathan rallied the Peoples Democratic Party, encouraging the members to be of good courage as God loves the PDP.

“The PDP is indeed back to reclaim its prime position as the party to lead Nigeria to greatness. As a human institution we cannot claim perfection, but obviously as a political party, our accomplishments as of 2015 far outweigh our shortfalls,” he said.

Jonathan also stated, “Nobody should intimidate the PDP. I believe in the PDP; even God Himself believes in the PDP. Today is August 12, look at the weather.

“God wants us to celebrate in the PDP, that’s why there is no rain. We are ready to take over the state houses of assembly, the National Assembly, the states as governors and the Presidency.

“It is important we manage our differences responsibly, with an eye on the divine role of the PDP to lead Nigeria to greatness. Let us rededicate ourselves to playing by the rules.

“Let us all ensure that the PDP is renewed in vigour to deliver on its divine responsibility to Nigerians. Let us forget the grievances of the past and look to the future with confidence and optimism.

“I urge you to go back to your respective constituencies to promote the ideals of our great party. Let it be known that our party has been born anew, committed to the best ideals of democracy.”





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President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday at Abuja House in London received members of the Presidential media team, reassuring them that there was tremendous improvement in his health.

Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who was part of those who visited Buhari in London, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday.

He said the president spoke when he received the presidential media team led by Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, accompanied by Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity and Malam Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity.

Other members of the team on the trip included Lauretta Onochie, Personal Assistant on Digital/Online Media and Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant on Diaspora Matters.







Adesina quoted the president as saying that although he wished to return home, he could only return to Nigeria based on his doctors’ advice.

“I’ve learnt to obey my doctor’s orders, rather than be the one issuing the orders. Here, the doctor is absolutely in charge.



“I feel I could go home, but the doctors are in charge. I’ve now learnt to obey orders, rather than be obeyed,’’ the statement quoted Buhari as saying

On how he felt hearing different conjectures about his health, the president said he followed events at home closely, lauding Nigerian television stations and the media for keeping him informed.





When told that prayers were going on for him, not only in Nigeria, but all over Africa and round the world, he said: “What we did in The Gambia early this year fetched us a lot of goodwill on the African continent.

“It gave us a lot of latitude. I thank all those who are praying. May God reward them.’’

President Buhari sent appreciation to all Nigerians, expressing hope that he would be with them soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among those who visited Buhari at the Abuja House in London in recent times included Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo, state governors, leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) and some prominent Nigerians.(NAN)



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An arrested kidnapper has implicated a top Nigerian politician in the abduction and killing of a 60-year-old woman.

The 60-year-old mother of a rich Abuja-based industrialist was kidnapped on January 18, 2017 and later killed by the abductors.

Following investigation into the case, operatives of the Nigerian Police successfully arrested a suspect identified as Ogonna Alioka who confessed to the crime and further implicated a top Nigerian politician.

Following his arrest on Tuesday August 8, 2017, the notorious kidnapper popularly known as Pilot reveald that they buried the deceased’s body in a shallow grave located in a forest bordering Lokpanta in Umunneochi and Agwu local councils of Abia and Enugu states.



He further opened up that a Politician was the mastermind behind their target recognition.

Pilot further revealed that the woman was killed because she decided to flee the bush where she was being held captive.

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A woman who accused police officers of forcibly removing her hijab has been awarded compensation in the sum of $85,000 after she filed a lawsuit against the Long Beach police.

The woman, Kirsty Powell, who claimed the police operatives stripped her of her hijab and made her spend the night in custody without it revealed that she cried through the night.

The federal lawsuit filed against the police reads: “She cried throughout the ordeal and experienced humiliation when both her religious beliefs and personal integrity were violated.

“She felt that the male officers and male inmates had seen parts of her body that they should not have seen, according to her religious beliefs.”



However, months after the arrest and lawsuit, the Long Beach Police department changed its policy to allow inmates wear religious head coverings in jail unless the fear of causing harm by the inmate has been established.



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The Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators has issued an ultimatum to the Federal Government, as well as Hausas and Yorubas living in the South South region.

According to a statement issued by the group, it declared that it would begin ‘operation zero oil’ from September 10,2017 in preparation for the actualization of the Niger Delta republic.

The statement reads, “After hours of careful deliberations, we unanimously resolved as follows: To commence operation zero oil in the Niger Delta from September 10, 2017 as a preparation for the actualisation of Niger Delta Republic.

“We totally condemn the recent meeting between PANDEF and the Acting President; we see it as another plot to deceive the Niger Delta people. First and foremost, the meeting was marred by inordinate greed of the PANDEF as they did not involve the representatives of the agitating groups and youth leaders.



“We wish to let the Acting President know that those he met have no capacity and cannot solve the current crisis in the Niger Delta; therefore they cannot represent the militants or speak for the Niger Delta people.”

“The Federal Government should hand over all oil blocks owned by the northerners/Yoruba to Niger Delta indigenes.

“All oil companies operating in such oil blocks/wells should vacate by October 1st, 2017.”

It also said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation should relocate its headquarters to any of the Niger Delta states and replace its Group Managing Director with an indigene of the region.



“All the multinational oil, gas, servicing and marine companies must relocate their operational base to the Niger Delta, sign a new memorandum of understanding with Niger Delta people which will include Niger Delta indigenes being paid same salaries with foreigners.

“We demand independence and sovereign Republic of Niger Delta, all the companies and businesses owned by the northerners/Yoruba in Niger Delta should be vacated before October 1, 2017.”

The group congratulated the Yoruba for demanding Oduduwa Republic and wished them success.

It stated, “We hereby call on all agitating groups to resume attacks/bombings on all oil/gas pipelines, especially the exporting lines across the Niger Delta region from September 10, 2017. This is to ensure zero oil/gas production before October 1, 2017.

“We shall work to interface with more patriotic and zealous Niger Delta people to work out new collective approach that will ensure total freedom and complete control of our resources by any means necessary.”

The coalition said it would fight to liberate the region from the “shackles of neo-colonialism and rule ourselves under a Niger Delta Republic, with diplomatic and economic relations with the peoples of the South-East and Middle Belt.”

The groups told the Federal Government that it no longer recognized PANDEF under the present leadership, alleging that the forum was working against the interest of the Niger Delta people.



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The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed has advised the Resume or Resign protesters under the aegis of ‘Our Mumu Don Do’ to channel their energy into more productive ventures that could be of benefit to the nation, rather than wasting their strength on protests.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed speaking with Independent said the President did not know when he would return and made it clear when he asked the National Assembly for indefinite leave. Mohammed said all that was done in relation to the medical vacation and handover to his deputy was in line with the constitution.

“Our position has always been very straightforward on this matter. The president went on medical vacation.

“Not only did he tell the country he was going for medical treatment, he also did the right thing according to the constitution by writing a letter to the National Assembly informing the lawmakers that he is leaving for treatment and while he is away, the vice president will be acting in his place.



“He also said that the length of his stay will be determined by his doctors. So clearly, nobody can accuse him of overstaying because he made it clear that he is going on indefinite vacation and his doctors will tell him when it is over.

“So, there is no constitutional provision that says if the president is ill or on medical treatment for six months or more, he must resign. The president is mentally and physically okay; he is not in any way incapacitated”, Mohammed said.

According to him, “The vice president, who is now the acting president, consults with him regularly, government is running very smoothly and one begins to wonder the reason for protests and clamour that he must resign. This is a very popular president who won with a large mandate. Nobody is as anxious as the president to come back.

“This is a president who is very passionate and committed to the country, therefore he is even more anxious than many of us to come back and complete his works.



“When people now go on the streets and say he must resign, on what basis? What legal or constitutional basis was that demand based? And they should tell us anywhere in the world where a president who is still alive, who is not incapacitated but took ill resigned from office”.



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A massive scandal is currently rocking the Nigerian Police Force as details of bribery for promotions have come to the fore.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isah Hamma Misau (APC, Bauchi) has corroborated testimony from independent sources that the office of the Inspector General of Police, as well as the Police Service Commission collect as much as N2.5 million in bribed from police officers in order to give them special promotion.

Daily Trust reports that an independent source disclosed to their correspondent police officers paying as much as N500,000 to receive career growth.

Their source disclosed, “Officers pay as much as N500,000 to get promoted. It is only those that pay the money and those who are close to the top echelon of the police and politicians that are benefiting from the special promotion.



“Special promotion, which is supposed to be reward for gallantry and outstanding performance, has turned to cash and carry. Otherwise, why is that officers who are serving in the Northeast have not benefited? Why is that all those who have benefited are those manning juicy posts and close to politician?’’

Corroborating this testimony, Senator Misau said the money being collected was well in excess of N500,000.

He told Daily Trust, “You are talking about N500, 000, it’s beyond that. A serving police officer aware of the trend has told me that they pay as much as N2.5 million to get special promotion. Other sources have also confirmed to me. So it is nothing but fact.’’

“We cannot just fold our hands and allow this to continue. The special promotion should be reversed as it was done during the time of Nuhu Ribadu. Unless this is done the lives of Nigerians would no longer be secured. The special promotion is highly compromised.



“Corruption is not only associated with money, it has many forms and money for promotion is part of it. We have to urgently address this because the consequence is what we are witness today’’.

Daily Trust also reported the testimony of an unidentified serving officer who was frustrated with the lack of meritocracy driven channels for career appreciation.

“I’m tired of the bribe for promotion. Junior officers are being promoted and deployed to strategic locations. I swear if I have capital I would’ve resigned from the force,” he told Daily Trust.



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According to a new investigative report, 161 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives have collected N32 billion in salaries and allowances from the National Assembly and are yet to sponsor any bills.

These lawmakers, according to an investigative report published by Daily Trust, have collected over N214 million each, and are yet to sponsor bills to make the lives of their constituents any better.

Daily Trust revealed:

that the North West has the highest where 60 of its 91 members have not turned in any bill. Of the 72 members from the South West, 32 have no bills to their names.


The North East has 48 members, 25 members of whom have no bills, while out of the 55 lawmakers from the South South, 19 failed to sponsor a bill.

Similarly, the North Central, with a total of 49 members, 16 members fail to sponsor a bill, while only 8 members out of 43 from the South East do not have a bill in their name. Only one member out of the two from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) sponsored bills.

The breakdown showed that Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa from Kano State, who is the leader of the North West Caucus in the House, has no bill in his name. Others from Kano are Ibrahim Sani Umar, Abdullahi Mohammed Gaya, Garba Umar Durbunde, Nasiru Baballe Ila, Suleiman Aliyu Romo, Sani Mohammed Rano, Munir Babba Dan-Agundi, Nasiru Ali Ahmed, Shehu Usman Aliyu, Musa Ado Tsamiya, Mustapha Bala Dawaki and Badamasi Ayuba. Only 11 members out of 24 have bills from the state.

In Katsina State, there are 12 members without bill. They are Saidu Sani Fago, Kabir Shuaibu, Danlami Kurfi, Ahmed Dayyabu Safana, Murtala Isa, Ibrahim Murtala, Amiru Tukur, Muntari Dandutse, Suleiman Salisu, Babangida Ibrahim and Mansir Ali Mashi. Jigawa is next where nine members out of 11 have no bill. They are Adamu Mohammed, Magaji Aliyu Da’u, Abubakar Hassan Fulata, Yuguda Hassan Kila, Rabiu Garba Kaugama, Usman Ibrahim Auyo, Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure, Mohammed Gausu Boyi and Ibrahim Abdullahi Dutse.


In Kaduna State with 16 members, seven lawmakers namely: Lawal Mohammed Rabiu, Sunday Marshall Katung, Yakubu Umar Barde, Simon Arabo, Muhammad Musa Soba, Mohammed Abubakar and Yusuf Bala Ikara have no bills.

The lawmakers without a bill from Sokoto State are Hassan Bala Abubakar, Aminu Sani Isa, Kabiru Marafa Achida, Bashir Isa Salihu, Mohammed Sa’adu and Shehu Aliyu. There are 11 members from the state.

There are six lawmakers from Kebbi State out of 8 without bill. They are Aliyu Danladi, Bello Dantani, Suleiman Hussaini Kangiwa, Abdullahi Hassan Suru, Salisu Garba Koko and Mohammed Dantani.
Only one member from Zamfara State has sponsored a bill.The six without bills are Lawali Hassan Anka, Abdulmalik Bungudu, Aminu Sani Jaji, Yahaya Chado, Ibrahim Isah and Lawal Mu’azu.

In the South West, Lagos has the highest members without bill, 10 of them out of 24. They are Joseph Adebayo, Diya Babafemi, Olufemi Adebanjo, Taofeek Abiodun, Abiola Olatunji, Bolaji Ayinla, Raji Olawale, Tajudeen Obasa, Abayomi Danda Kako and Nurudeen Akinwumi, a new comer who replaced late Adewale Elijah who had a bill before his demise.

In Ondo State, six members have no bill out of nine. They are Afe Oluwookere, Babatunde Kolawole, Olemija Friday, Akinfolarin Samuel, Akinlaja Joseph, Baderinwa Bamidele. The same thing obtains in Oyo State where six out of 14 members, namely: Adedapo Lam-Adesina, Segun Ogunwuyi, Olasupo Abiodun, Olugbemi Samson, Ayoade Olugbenga and Sunday Adepoju have no bills.

Five out of the nine members from Ogun State have no bills. They are Akinlade Adekunle, Adekoya Adesegun, Ojugbele Olusola, Mukaila Kazzim and Williams Olusegun. There are three out of six lawmakers from Ekiti State, namely Akinyele Awodumila, Thedeous Akinola and Agboola Emmanuel Kehinde, without a bill.

Osun has two out of 10 without a bill. They are Akintayo Gafaru Amere and Albert Abiodun Adeogun.
In the North East, seven members out of 10 from Borno State have no bill. They are Mahmud Lawan Maina, Jibrin Santumari, Mohammed Nur Sheriff, Mukhtar Betara, Mohammed Sanda, Mallam Bukar Gana and Abdulkadir Rahis.
Bauchi has six out of 12 without bills, namely Tata Omar, Halliru Dauda Jika, Adamu Gurai, Isa Hassan, Aliyu Musa and Lawal Yahaya Gumau.

Also, out of the six members from Taraba State, four, namely: Danladi Tijo, Aminu Malle, Garba Hamman Julde and Danjuma Usman Shiddi have no bill. The same thing obtains in Yobe State where four out of six members have no bill. They are: Ismaila Ahmed Gadaka, Sabo Garba, Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa and Abdullahi Kukawa, who, last year, replaced Khadijah Bukar Ibrahim, now a minister.

In Gombe State, two members out of six have no bills. They are Ismaila Hassan and Yaya Bauchi, both of whom replaced Barambu Kawuwa and Khamis Mailantarki respectively. Also, two lawmakers out of eight from Adamawa State have bill, namely: Gutuwa Philip and Talatu Yohana, who replaced Laori Bitrus last year.

In the South South, nine members out of 13 from Rivers State have no bill. They are Dagomie Abiante, Gogo Bright Tamuno, Blessing Ibiba, Randolph Brown, Boma Goodhead, Jerome Amadi, Barry Mpigi, Chidi Wihoka and Maurice Pronen. Our correspondent reports that most of the Rivers lawmakers did not spend much time in the House as their elections were nullified. They only returned recently, while Mpigi, Wihoka and Pronen are new in the House.
Of the 10 members from Akwa Ibom State, four do not have a bill. They are Owoidighe Ekpoatai, Iboro Ekanem, Emmanuel Ukoete and Michael Enyong.

Similarly, out of nine members from Edo State, three members, namely Omosede Igbinedion, Aisowieren Patrick and Johnson Oghuma have no bills. Oghuma was sworn in last February, replacing Philip Shuaibu, who became deputy governor of Edo State.
Bayelsa, Cross River and Delta have one member each without bills and they are Jephthah Foingha, Christopher Ngoro and Julius Pondi respectively.
In the North Central, six members out of 10 from Niger State have no bill. They are Abubakar Lado, Abubakar Chika Adamu, Muhammad Bala Faruk, Umar Rofia, Abdullahi Garba and Salisu Shadafi.
Benue and Kogi have three each, namely Hassan Saleh, Adamu Entonu and Adaji Ezekiel (Benue) and Kabir Ajanah, Abdullahi Bello and Ikani Benjamin (Kogi).
Kwara and Nasarawa have two each, namely: Tope Olayonu and Olufunke Adedoyin (Kwara), Abubakar Sarki Dahiru and Mohammed Jafaru (Nasarawa). Jafaru replaced late Musa Onwana mid last year.
All the eight members from Plateau State have sponsored at least a bill.
In the South East, of the 11 members from Anambra State, four, namely: Okechukwu Eze, Anayo Nnebe, Chris Azubogu and Anohu Chukwuemeka have no bills. Three members out of the six from Ebonyi have no bills. They are Anayo Edwin, Nwazunku Chukwuma and Ogbee Lazarus.
Only Nkole Ndukwe out of the eight members from Abia State has no bill, all the members from Imo (10) and Enugu ( have sponsored different bills.
Similarly, Zakari Angulu from the FCT has no bill to his name.

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The Senate had mandated the committee to probe into the alleged over N30 trillion revenue leakages in the import and export value chain between 2006 and 2017.



The committee had met with indicted commercial banks and government agencies, while it had penned down over 60 companies for investigation over allegation of complicity in the practices leading to revenue loss.

Chairman of the committee, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, directed the companies to come back on Thursday for their defence.



He said that Retail Supermarkets Nigeria Limited, for instance, had to come forward with its defence, which would be sourced from its bankers over alleged unutilised Form M amounting to N13 billion.





“Our position is that if there is anything new outside what we have submitted and presented to you, show us.

“Let us see that you paid the right duties and you will continue with your businesses. That is what we are saying.

“We will have to meet on Thursday. If there is anything you need like
clarifications, you can consult with our secretariat,” he said.

The lawmaker said that free trade zones in Nigeria were being
abused by corrupt companies, stating that he could no longer understand the idea of free trade zones.

“I don’t know why it is still in operation in Nigeria. It is
being abused.”

Also speaking to journalists after the meeting, Uzodinma said that companies which failed to answer the committee’s summons on Tuesday and Wednesday sent their representatives at the meeting on Thursday.

He said, “What we did on Wednesday, we did the same thing
today; it is in batches.

“We took the companies who came today and we have given them the materials, and we have directed further that those who were supposed to come today but did not come should ensure that by tomorrow they are here.

“We are also meeting tomorrow.”

On companies that failed to appear on Wednesday and were given Thursday deadline to appear, Uzodinma said, “Some of them came while some of them sent representatives.

“They said that their Chief Executive Officers were abroad, realising that it is summer period really. We have given them time.

“We are waiting till the next two weeks for them to get in touch with their CEOs to appear before us.”

He had said that the refusal by the firms to honour the panel’s invitation was disrespect to the institution of the National
Assembly and would not be tolerated. (NAN)



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Former Governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi has disclosed why he lost $39 million to fraudsters in Rivers state.

The Federal Minister of Transport who at his Senate hearing famously uttered, “I have never taken bribe in my life but if they send a girl to you and you sleep with the girl and do that favour, that means you are corrupt”, said that he lost the money because he was only human and was learning on the job.

Guardian reported about the fraud in 2015, After spending N8.54 billion on a proposed 1,000-bed Adolphus Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital, the permanent secretary in Rivers State Ministry of Health, Somiari Harry yesterday said there is no physical structure at the site of the project.

Vital documents such as a memorandum of understanding and shareholders’ agreement between the state government and Canadian-based Clinotech Diagnostic and Pharmaceutical Limited, which received the $39.2 million to build the contentious hospital are said to be missing.



Harry told the Justice George Omereji-led commission of inquiry investigating the non-execution of the 15-storey Adolphus Karibi Whyte Specialist Hospital after the payment of $39.2 million (equivalent to N4.6 billion in 2008), to Clinotech, that besides some parts of prefabricated buildings littering around, containers and other equipment, there is nothing at the site of the proposed hospital to justify the huge amount the state government paid to the contractor.



According to him, the concept was for the hospital to provide world-class medical services in Port Harcourt. He said the estimated cost of the project was $98 million and based on this a memorandum of understanding and shareholders agreement were signed by the parties, which required that the state government would provide 40 percent of the funding, while Clinotech would provide 60 percent.

According to him, state government paid off its own 40 percent equity valued at $39.2 m (N4.6 billion) at the time to Clinotech, which in turn failed to contribute its own counterpart funding for the project.



Amaechi is seen in this video explaining how his learning on the job cost the people of Rivers state $39.2 million.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZxCeF2kugM


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Brazilian Football star, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior has been cleared by Barcelona FC to transfer to Paris Saint Germain in a record £450 million Deal.

According to The Guardian, PSG have given the go‑ahead for the striker’s buyout fee of €222m (£198m) to be handed over at the Spanish football federation offices, the protocol required to clear the transfer.

Neymar, who flew to Porto on Wednesday for his medical, is expected to be presented in Paris this week.

PSG had anticipated that and always intended to meet it. A five-year contract for Neymar has been waiting to be signed for several days.



The wages are understood to be around €30m a year after tax – equivalent to around £520,000 a week – almost doubling the player’s salary. Neymar Sr and others including the agent Pini Zahavi are due to share a €38m payment for facilitating the move.

During a training ground visit of around 30 minutes Neymar also told his team-mates he was leaving. They were disappointed to learn of his decision and although it was not unexpected there had been hopes they could convince him to stay.

Lionel Messi posted an Instagram video and message to Neymar a few hours later, writing: “It was a great pleasure to have shared all these years with you, friend @neymarjr. I wish you good luck in this new stage of your life.”

Neymar had been due to return to training on Wednesday but was given permission by the coach, Ernesto Valverde, not to take part. He headed for Porto, where PSG’s doctor was with Maxwell, the club’s sporting coordinator.


http://www.herald.ng/neymar-moves-psg-word-record-450-million-deal/

Former Aviation minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Wednesday titled “Boko Haram back in full force and have hit Adamawa” detailed some of the socio-economic maladies that pervade the Nigerian country at this time.

The statement reads, ‘Fulani herdsmen killing innocent people all over the country.

‘Security agencies killing with impunity and committing mass murder.

‘Economy in recession. Nigerians poorer than ever: suffering, hungry and badly divided.



‘Absentee ailing President who has been away and not seen by or spoken to his people for approx 90 days.

‘Calls for break up of the country from southern separatist groups. ‘Calls for mass murder and genocide of Igbo by northern youths if they don’t leave north by Oct 1st.

‘Demonisation and persecution of opposition figures by Fed Govt..

‘Monumental fraud and corruption being perpetuated by Fed govt officials.



‘A National Assembly that is self-serving and weak.

‘A Judiciary that has been cowered and that is terrified of the executive.

‘A media that is a toothless bulldog, that has been intimidated and that has been brought to its knees.

‘Nigeria is now a laughing stock in int community.

‘Meanwhile lies, lies and lies being told by Minister of Information and Presidency officials.

‘This is BUHARI’s miserable legacy. They did all this damage to our country in just two years.

‘Can you imagine how much more they will do in the next two years that is left? May God deliver Nigeria”- FFK



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The National Chairman of Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, said the party would participate in the Nov. 18 governorship poll in Anambra and would hold the primaries on Aug. 20.

Abdulsalam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the party would win the election, adding that it had been receiving and screening aspirant ahead of the primaries.

“Labour Party has been doing tremendously well; we have been organising and strategising across the country, moving and preparing for the 2019 elections.

“Presently we are on ground in Anambra, Osun and Ekiti states and very soon we will get to other areas.





“We have gone very far in our preparations toward the Anambra election and we are having our primary on Aug.20, 2019.

“With the level of preparation and strategy, Labour Party will certainly produce the next governor of Anambra state,’’ he said.



The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released schedule for the Nov. 18 poll, with Aug. 18 to Nov. 16 fixed for campaigns by political parties…

The commission also directed political parties to conduct their primaries between July 22 and Sept. 2. (NAN)

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His name is Kase Lawal and he was born June 30, 1954 in Ibadan, Oyo state. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in chemistry from Texas Southern University in 1976, and his MBA from Prairie View A&M University, Texas in 1978. Lawal was a member of the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Business Advisory Council and, in 1994, he was a finalist for the United States Business Entrepreneur of the Year. Lawal is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.He is a naturalized American and is regarded richest oil magnate ever in Houston, Texas.

His company, CAMAC HOLDINGS in Houston, Texas comprises of CAMAC International Corporation, CAMAC Energy Inc and Allied Energy Corporation.

In a country that complains about its Government and the illegal means people seem to make money, Kase stands as a shining beacon of what a business man should be like.

A huge achievement of his was being appointed in the last administration of former President Barack Obama as a distinguished Advisory Committee member for Trade Policy and Negotiation (ACTPN) announced by the White House.



Mr. Lawal also controls six Oil Blocs in Kenya and can best be described as a perfect example of ‘a dream come true’ being successful business owner and employer in United States of America.

Lawal’s journey to stardom started some years back as an undergraduate, just like every other Nigerian foreign student aspiring to move forward in life, not once did he give up on his dreams.Presently, he is the chairman and chief executive officer of CAMAC International Corporation, the chairman and chief executive officer of CAMAC Energy Inc, and chairman of Allied Energy Corporation in Houston, Texas.

Lawal currently holds the position of chairman and chief executive officer of CAMAC International Corporation, the chairman and chief executive officer of CAMAC Energy Inc, and chairman of Allied Energy Corporation in Houston, Texas.

He is also the chairman and chief executive officer, CAMAC Holdings; vice chairman, Port of Houston Authority Commission. He serves as a member of the board of directors and is a significant shareholder in Unity National Bank, the only federally insured and licensed African-American-owned bank in Texas.



Due to his creative endowments in energy sector, Lawal has guided his oil exploration, refining and trading company to international prominence. Lawal’s expertise in the field of international energy led to his appointments by the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations to the United States Trade Advisory Committee on Africa, where he was responsible for crafting African trade policy.

Regarding the seaport, Lawal was appointed by former Houston Mayor, Lee P. Brown, to serve as a port commissioner on the Port of Houston Authority Board, while in 2001, where he rose to become the commission’s first vice chairman.

He is the chair of the port’s Small Business Development Committee and a member of the board of directors for the Port of Houston Authority International Corporation, both programmes that he helped establish. The Port of Houston ranks very high in the United States of America and it is said to be the sixth largest port in the world.

In 2005, Black Enterprise, a highly regarded magazine, voted Lawal’s business number one among black Americans, and again as the company of the year with revenue above $1.4billion.

Lawal is married to Eileen with four children: two boys and two girls based in Houston. He and his wife are founding members of major charities in both Houston and Nigeria, among which is a UNICEF initiative that they co-manage to raise $300 million to fight HIV/AIDS.

Lawal leads a diverse group of affiliate companies that comprise the second largest African-American owned company in the United States with more than 1,500 employees worldwide and approximately $1.4 billion in revenue for 2006. CAMAC’s principal business activities include energy exploration and production, crude oil/natural gas/electricity trading, and transportation services.







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The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Burutai, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddiq Abubakar, have relocated to Maiduguri as directed by the Acting President.

They arrived the Command and Control Centre in Maiduguri on Tuesday.

Maj-Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, disclosed this to newsmen in Maiduguri.

“Right now, we will be having an interactive session with the Service Chiefs where they will be briefed about the ongoing operation,’’ Attahiru said.



He said that their relocation to Maiduguri was imperative toward achieving the overall objectives of the counter-insurgency operation.

He said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, and other heads of military commands would also be attending the meeting.(NAN)
HMS/RSA/AOM/AMY




http://www.herald.ng/insurgency-burutai-abubakar-relocate-maiduguri/

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Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has said that no amount of attacks by naysayers will deter the Federal Government from repositioning the creative sector.

The minister said this on Monday evening in Abuja when he received a delegation of Music Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (MUPMAN) led by its National Chairman, Mr Sharon Wilson.

Mohammed who was alluding to some of the reactions that had trailed the programmes and decisions of his Ministry in repositioning the creative industry said he would not be deterred.

“Some of these reactions are not completely salutary or pleasant, but we are committed to our goals.







“According to Winston Churchill, “No man gets to his destinations if he stops at every point to throw stones at dogs backing at him’’.

“My position is that the wagon has moved; let the dogs continue to bark. This will never stop our moves and our motion.’’



The minister reiterated that the agenda, programmes and decisions of the administration to reposition the sector were well thought out and yielding fruits.

He explained that major stakeholders were carried along in the process and the creative sector was taking its rightful position.
.



“Whether you agree with the minister or you disagree with him, it is obvious that what is being discussed today in Nigeria is the creative industry.

“We have succeeded in bringing to the front burner, the creative industry,” he said.

Mohammed said that the recent meeting he held with the Inspector-General of Police alongside stakeholders in the industry to address piracy was yielding results.

“At the meeting the IG promised to set up anti-piracy units in all the state and FCT Commands.

“I am glad to announce that on Wednesday, he (IG) met with all the commissioners of police and the Assistant-Inspector General of Police on the issue,” he said.

Mohammed told them that he had promised to set up the Anti-Piracy Unit and they should go and start working on it.

“These are concrete evidence that we are committed to the development of the creative industry,” he said.

The minister thanked the delegation for the visit and for the honour bestowed on him as the Grand Patron of MUPMAN.

He promised to look into the requests tabled before him by the association.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Sharon Wilson expressed the solidarity of the association with the minister in his efforts to reposition the creative industry.

“The growth of the Music Industry in Nigeria could not have been better without the input of your ministry and allied.

“Your ministry has continuously created the enabling environment for the practice of various professionals around the industry.

“You have re-positioned the culture and tourism sector, ” he said.

Wilson also commended the minister for his efforts at addressing the challenge of piracy in the industry. (NAN)





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The Publisher of an online news platform Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore, has taken to his social media page to cry out over the status of his bank accounts.

The publisher who is in an on-going war with the Nigerian Senate President, Bukola Saraki took to his social media page to reveal that his bank accounts have been frozen.

The frozen status of his bank accounts comes after a court sitting on the case between the two parties ruled in favour of the no-debit account order.

The New York based publisher took to his social media page to reveal the details of his various accounts in Nigeria and American adding that his accounts were frozen using a ‘Kangaroo court order.”



He wrote on his social media page: “Folks: Let me just act goofy today by declaring all my private bank accounts publicly just so that so some of you can get some answers you need.

“It is important to let you know that the Bank Of America (BOFA) bank account summary being bandied around by Bukola Saraki and his minions yesterday was manufactured since last week. I do not have a personal or investment account at BOFA.

“However, after hitting them hard yesterday revealing their fraudulent legal judgements in Ilorin, they had to resort to something.

“These screenshots of my accounts both in the US and Nigeria were taken today.



“Please understand that my Nigerian accounts have been frozen via a kangaroo court order obtained from a Jankara judge in Ilorin, Kwara state.

“My confirmed cash balance across two (US and Nigeria) continents as of this morning stands at $6,213 minus $6, 100 and debit card balance of $100 frozen in my GTB account. My account balance in Naira is less than N2,000.

“My available bank cash today in the US is approximately $13!”

He added: “I also have close to £10 left from funds that I exchanged while in the UK his weekend.

“Mind you I am not seeking anyone’s sympathy, there is no need for it.”

See photos of his account details shared online below:


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