₦airaland Forum

Laolu Akande, Abuja: Although the nation may be passing through difficult times, the Buhari presidency will ensure that the Nigerian people benefit from the resources of the nation.


https://i1.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/vlcsnap-2016-06-01-12h47m54s213.png

This indication was given today by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, during a courtesy visit by the Australian Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary, African Branch, Mr. Mathew Neuhaus who was accompanied by the country’s High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. Paul Lehmann.

“It is a difficult time, but we think it is an excellent opportunity to do right by the people so that our people are able to get the benefit of the nation’s resources,” says Prof Osinbajo while noting the steps the presidency is making in the areas of security, governance, anti-corruption and the economy.

For instance, he said there has been a liberalization of the oil and gas’ downstream sector and that the flexible foreign exchange policy just recently put in place would encourage foreign investment adding that “we are looking forward to the benefits of the new foreign exchange policy.”
Commending the Australian government for its “excellent support,” in the fight against insurgency in the Northeast, the Vice President observed that while significant progress had been recorded in militarily downgrading Boko Haram, the other challenge now is overcoming the ideology that motivates terrorist activities.

According to him, “we have already dealt with Boko Haram militarily, we now have to deal with the ideology (of terror) and this is something that the entire world has to also deal with. The terrorists basically reject any engagement, simply preaching hate and murder. it is a new kind of threat, the ideology and motivation is what we-the global community- have to find a way to deal with.”

Speaking earlier, Mr. Neuhaus, who had earlier served as his country’s High Commissioner in Nigeria congratulated the Buhari administration observing that the presidency is “off to a good start.”
He also praised the steps that have been taken so far by the administration,some of which he said have not been “easy,” adding that Australia looks forward to doing more with the government and working “very closely with Nigeria.” In particular he mentioned closer relationship in mining and investment, and also cooperating at the Commonwealth and the United Nations.


Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/opportunity-right-nigerian-people-vp-osinbajo/

Tshwane municipality, which includes Pretoria, is one of the important centres the ANC is at risk of losing

[img]http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-06-21-protests-continue-in-south-african-capital-over-anc-mayor-choice[/img]

Tshwane protest. (Photo/Aki Anastasiou).

PROTESTS in townships around the South African capital, Pretoria, continued on Tuesday after it was announced that the current mayor didn’t get backing from the ruling African National Congress to run again in upcoming local government elections.

Protesters are burning tyres and barricading roads, Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department Spokesman Senior Superintendent Isaac Mahamba, said by phone.

The violence started on Monday after it was announced that Tshwane municipality Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa will be replaced by Thoko Didiza as the candidate for the ruling party.

South Africa will hold elections on Aug. 3, when voters will elect mayors and councilors for the country’s 278 municipalities. Tshwane municipality, which includes Pretoria, is one of the important centres the ANC is at risk of losing, along with the commercial hub of Johannesburg and the coastal city of Port Elizabeth.

The ANC “condemns violence in the strongest possible terms,” spokesman Zizi Kodwa said by phone. “The provincial leadership has already been interacting with branches and regional leadership in the area and we will continue to do so to explain the decision.” Ramokgopa in an interview with Johannesburg-based PowerFM on Tuesday said he supports Didiza’s nomination as mayor.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/protesters-set-south-african-capital-ablaze-ruling-anc-mayor-choice/

Cement tycoon fell 25 places on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index as the naira fell on its first day of trading without a peg to the US dollar.


https://i1.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Dangote.jpg


NIGERIAN billionaire Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest person, fell 25 places on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index on Monday as the naira tumbled on its first day of trading without a peg to the U.S. dollar.

Dangote’s fortune fell $3.7 billion, knocking him to No. 71 on the Bloomberg ranking, down from No. 46 on Friday. The majority of Dangote’s $12.7 billion fortune is derived from a 91% stake in Dangote Cement Plc, which shed 2% in trading Monday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria began auctioning dollars to limit the currency’s decline. The bank had been using capital controls to stem an outflow of dollars after the naira crashed in February 2015 when oil prices slumped.

Dangote’s slide came as equity markets worldwide surged on hopes that British voters would choose to remain in the European Union. The upswing lifted the collective net worth of the 400 billionaires on the index by $44 billion to $3.99 trillion.

Amancio Ortega, Europe’s richest person, French luxury billionaire Bernard Arnault and Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos led with respective daily gains of $2 billion, $1.4 billion and $1.1 billion.

After Dangote, the second-biggest drop belonged to U.S. casino billionaire Sheldon Adelson, whose Las Vegas Sands fell 5.6% along with other gambling stocks after reports that revenue was trending downward. Adelson, who lost $1.1 billion Monday, is the world’s 29th-richest person with $23.3 billion.


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/dangote-lost-3-7-billion-mondays-naira-tumble/

The Country Director, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Ousmane Dore, has earmarked 175 million dollars for Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP-I) as instrument for consolidating the bank’s investments in Nigerian agricultural sector.


https://i2.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/farm-North-west.jpg

The this was stated in the bank’s latest edition of its newsletter, issued by its Nigerian Country Office on Tuesday in Abuja.

It quoted Dore as saying this at a meeting held in Kaduna Government House recently.

He said that in recognition of its ongoing effort to transform agriculture from subsistence to agribusiness, AfDB was invited by the leadership of Nigeria’s North-West region to review the agricultural development strategy for the region.

Dore added that another aim of the invitation was for the bank to give an overview of its ongoing and upcoming interventions in agriculture in Nigeria as they relate to the seven North-West states.

The country Director said that under the programme, the bank established four Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs), which cover four out of the seven North-West states – Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano and Jigawa.

He also outlined two upcoming projects totalling 500 million dollars.

Dore said that 300 million dollars was on Empowering Novel Agri-Business-Led Employment (ENABLE) Youth Programme and 200 million dollars on Phase II of the ATASP.

According to him, the forum recognised that the bank had been providing financial support to SMSE through lines of credit to several commercial banks as well as through the policy banks like Bank of Industry and NEXIM.

He added that the forum also appreciated the bank’s technical assistance to the Bank of Agriculture through grants.

Dore said that the governors expressed gratitude to the bank and its president for supporting the region.

He said that they also gave the assurance of working closely with the bank to finalise and operationalise their agriculture strategies.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/afdb-earmarks-175m-agricultural-programme-north-west/

The Nigeria-China Business Council has called on the Federal Government to ban the importation of prepaid meters to promote indigenous production of the device.


https://i2.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/meter-1.jpg


The National Co-coordinator of the council, Mr Mattew Uwakwe, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

Uwakwe was speaking against the background of complaints by indigenous smart meter manufacturers that their capacity has been underutilised due to very low patronage from the government and the electricity boards.

He said that Nigeria would benefit more if it was to manufacture pre-paid meters locally and not import them.

“Our own position as a council is if you are giving some people licence to manufacture (pre-paid meters) and they are manufacturing, how come you will at the same time give people licence to import (pre-paid meters).

“Because it is more beneficial to manufacture those things than to import (them).

“When people go to import (pre-paid meters) some of them come back with substandard products.

“But, when it is manufactured in Nigeria – and we have our own youths, who have been trained – they (manufacturers) will follow the guidelines and manufacture them according to the standard.’’

Uwakwe said Skyrun Industrial Company Limited that manufactures prepaid meters in the country had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with some state government to produce such meters for their states.

He then advised that other states should collaborate with the company to produce prepaid meters.

He explained that Skyrun is a public company in China, developing, producing and handling raw pharmaceutical materials and intermediates.

Uwakwe said in the next three to four years, all the raw materials used for the manufacturing of prepaid meters would be sourced within the country.

“In issuing operating licence to no company can start immediately getting the 100 percent raw materials in Nigeria; they will start with assembling then will go to manufacturing.

“Even as they are assembling now, they are sourcing for some raw materials but the major raw materials are being brought in.

“After three years or fours, they will now go into full sourcing of all the raw materials here in Nigeria.’’

Uwakwe recalled that in 2015, nine young Nigerians went to China to improve their skills in modern technology, pertaining to energy and prepaid meters.

“The nine youths concluded such training in electricity meter assembling in China and have been offered automatic employment by the company’’.

The coordinator said the training was sponsored by the council, in partnership with Skyrun.

According to him, another batch will leave Nigeria in September, 2016 to undergo a similar training in electricity transformer assembling in China.


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nigeria-china-business-council-wants-fg-ban-importation-prepaid-meters/

United States Consulate General Lagos, Lagos State Police Command, civil society, and community leaders met for an exploratory discussion to reduce violence in Lagos and encourage nonviolent resolution of disputes, as well as improve opportunities for youth.


https://i2.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/American-Flag-Government-Pa.jpg


United States Consul General F. John Bray hosted a round-table discussion on June 9, 2016, with the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa, Oba of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu, Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni, Nigerian pop singer and Nigeria Police Force Youth Ambassador Korede Bello, and eight other civil society representatives, leaders of security agencies, and leaders of road transport unions.

The participants shared best practices for peace-building, their vision for a safer community, and ways of further strengthening partnerships between youth and the police.

“We sought to spark a dialogue for leaders in law enforcement, government, civil society, trade unions, and culture, where they could come together informally and generate ideas that could improve safety and security for the citizens,” said Consul General Bray. “We urge the stakeholders to continue the conversation and engagement, to the benefit of Lagos youth.”

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/us-holds-nigeria-police-community-leaders-discussion-crime-violence-prevention/

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Ibrahim Kpotun Idris as the Acting Inspector General of Police. He is to succeed Mr Solomon Arase who retired this Tuesday after 35 years in service .

Until his appointment Mr Ibrahim Idris from Niger State was the AIG in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters.

The Acting Inspector-General, who hails from Kutigi, Lavun in Niger State, was born on 15th of January 1959, and was enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force in 1984, after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with a Bachelors degree in Agriculture. He also holds a degree in Law from the University of Maiduguri.

President Buhari, with the new IGP of Police, Ibrahim kpotun Idris. Outgoing IGP, Solomon Arase (PHOTO: Femi Adesina)

AIG Idris has served in various commands and formations in the Nigerian Police Force, working in the Police Mobile Force for 17 years as Unit Commander, Squadron Commander, and Commandant. He served as Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa and Kano States and was also the Commissioner of Police in charge of Police Mobile Force at the Force Headquarters.

He was also at the United Nations Mission in Liberia and East Timor and was awarded “Medal of Merit” by the President of the Republic of East Timor in recognition of his service.

AIG Idris, who was in charge of Operations at the Force Headquarters before his appointment as the Acting Inspector-General of Police, will act in that capacity pending his confirmation.

State House Correspondent Adamu Sambo reports that President Muhammadu Buhari is at the moment meeting both the Outgoing and incoming Inspectors General of police at the presidential villa.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/president-buhari-appoints-ibrahim-kpotun-idris-acting-inspector-general-police/

Are you a Nigerian based micro or small business owner or aspiring entrepreneur that wants to learn how to leverage on the internet and technology to grow your business? If you answer is YES, then you need to attend SME Connect Series 2.0 themed “Leveraging on Technology and the Internet to propel your small business”.


https://i1.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466532550174.jpg


In this increasing beneficial digital age, the best any business can do is to tap into the immense opportunities the digital space offers to all businesses and brands. It’s time to learn the few tricks involved in marketing to the right customers who are readily available to buy from you.
The event which features the likes of the Mr Waheed Olagunju (CEO of Bank of Industry), Toni Kan (Deputy GM, Ntel), Tayo Oviosu (Founder, Paga), Emeka Azinge (CEO, Emedith Consulting), Chin Okeke (Managing Partner, Eclispe Brand Agency and owners of GidiCulture Festival), Oluseun Onigbinde (Founder, BudgIT), Oluyomi Ojo (Founder, Printivo), Yemisi Odusanya (Publisher, Sisi Yemmie blog), and several others promises to be interesting for all attendees.



Venue: 10 degree event center, Billings Way, Ikeja, Lagos.
Time: 10am
Attendance is FREE but requires registration
Registration link: https:///Y4h0aX

Its time to learn, network and meet a mentor as you strive to excel in your business.



SME Connect Series 2.0 is brought to you courtesy SME Connect Nigeria (www.smeconnectnigeria.com), an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between MSMEs and the opportunities around them.
For enquiries and sponsorship, kindly contact any of these numbers
08030789148
08093208456
Or send a mail to the organizers via smeconnectnigeria@gmail.com

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/waheed-olagunju-toni-kan-tayo-oviosu-oluseun-onigbinde-oluyomi-ojo-sisi-yemmie-others-speak-use-technology-internet-growing-businesses-sme-connect-series-2-0/

From time immemorial, philosophers and scientists have linked development to the presence of safe and clean drinking water. In fact, the availability of and access to potable water is one of the strongest indicators for development in any society. It is therefore not surprising that 37 percent of the 884 million people in the world who lack access to safe water supplies live in Sub-Saharan Africa. As water is linked to development, so is it linked to poverty and almost 2 in 3 people who need safe drinking water survive on less than $2 a day.


https://i1.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/zamfara-map1.jpg


Not only are people living without access to clean water burdened with poverty and underdevelopment, their health and education are also adversely affected. Worldwide nearly 1 out of every 5 deaths under the age of 5 is due to a water-related disease and in developing countries, as much as 80% of illnesses are linked to poor water and sanitation conditions. Half of the world’s hospital beds are filled with people suffering from a water-related disease, leading to more than 840,000 deaths each year.
With these searing statistics in mind, it becomes almost impossible to not view what Dr Abdul’aziz Yari Abubakar has achieved in improving access to potable water in Zamfara State over the last five years as a revolution. Most state governments in Nigeria pay close to zero attention to provision of potable water. It is one of those issues politicians rarely campaign with or give any promises about. Whatever is done in that sector is hardly regarded as an achievement. But Governor Yari Abubakar has spent a great deal of time and resources over the last five years bringing lasting solution and succour to Zamfara State.
When his administration assumed office in 2011, Yari Abubakar wasted no time in giving the strongest possible hint that water provision would be of the highest priority to his government. The Governor kicked off efforts in the regard by ensuring the speedy completion of the N636million Kaura-Namoda water treatment plant in order to ease the persistent problem of water scarcity in Kaura-Namoda Local Government. He personally inspected the project, which was inherited from the previous administration but was curiously omitted from the handing over notes.


https://i0.wp.com/www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Sule-Lamido_Zamfara.jpg


One year into office, the administration of Yari Abubakar awarded a N6.7 billion contract for the construction of a water treatment plant at Talata Mafara. The project at its completion was expected to provide five million gallons of treated water to Talata Mafara, Maradun, Bakura and Maru Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. The true test of Yari Abubakar’s leadership ethos came when while he was away, the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Ibrahim Wakkala, in acting capacity inspected this monumental project and ordered the demolition of part of the water treatment plant over non-adherence to contract specifications. The engineering consultants handling the projects had raised observations over the contractor’s violation of contract agreement, and the Deputy Governor, being well grounded in the administration’s vision said the government would not compromise quality and standard in any job awarded in line with its principle of transparency and accountability.
In 2013, Yari Abubakar continued with his vision of executing at least one major water project each year to improve access to clean and safe drinking water in Zamfara State. The dredging of the Gusau water barrage and the provision of two underground fresh water plants and reservoirs to complement the barrage in an effort to ensure consistent water supply in the state capital were classified as priority projects. Two years in, the Yari Abubakar administration had spent N7 billion to improve water supply in all parts of the state with the rehabilitation and expansion of Kaura Namoda and Talata Mafara water works as achievements.
Seeing the dedication and commitment of the Zamfara State government under the leadership of Dr Yari Abubakar to the provision of adequate water supply, international organizations in 2015 partnered with the government to achieve even more. The governor signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF) in conjunction with the Department For International Development (DFID) in effort to enhance the provision of water and sanitation in the state. He also immediately approved the release of N85 million counterpart funding for the projects to be executed under the MoU. Birnin Magaji, Tsafe and Gusau were selected as piloting local government areas to immediately benefit from the projects, before expanding to all the other local government areas.
So far in 2016, N111 million has been committed by the government, through the Ministry of Water Resources, to tackle water shortage usually experienced during dry season by residents in Gusau, Zamfara State capital and its environs. The expansion of water pipelines from Koramar Wanke and Yarkusa reservoir directly to the water board is almost completed. Similar projects are executed in all the 14 local councils of the state before 2019 to ensure that the acute water shortage being experienced by the communities is addressed.
Travelling through Zamfara State there is a recurring theme, from one local government to the other, giant water supply plants powered by solar energy. From Kasuwar Daji, to Gora in Maradu local government, to Rini in Bagura local government, these water schemes have gone a long way in improving the economic development of the communities where they are sited. And there is perhaps no greater form of economic empowerment, albeit indirectly, for the women in these communities. Almost two-thirds of households rely on women to get the family’s water when there is no water source in the home and in many developing countries, millions of women spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources. The United Nations estimates that Sub-Saharan Africa alone loses 40 billion hours per year collecting water; the same as an entire year’s labour in all of France.
For Yari Abubakar, no policy decision or investment is in isolation, and there is a nexus, driven by innovation and thoughtfulness, between education and water supply in Zamfara. As government embarked on wide rehabilitation of old structures and construction of new ones in schools across the state, they were also equipped with their own solar-powered water supply schemes. The ingenuity behind this is fully appreciate when you learn that more than half of all primary schools in developing countries don’t have adequate water facilities and 443 million school days are as a result.
According to the World Health Organization, for every $1 invested in water and sanitation, there is an economic return of between $3 and $34. Haven committed N26 billion over the last five years to the establishment of an efficient system of production and distribution of clean and safe drinking water, Yari Abubakar has undoubtedly set Zamfara State on the path of economic prosperity while alleviating the sufferings of the people.
by Adamu Mustapha

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/enhancing-economic-development-water-supply-zamfara-state/

The Federal Government says it has suspended the tenure policy in the Federal Civil Service with immediate effect.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/head-of-Service.jpg

This was stated in a press release issued by the Director communication at the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation on Monday.

He said that the directive was contained in a circular to all Ministries Departments and Agencies signed by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita.

The circular which conveyed the President’s directive on the suspension said the suspension is with immediate effect and all concerned are to comply accordingly with the directive.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/fg-suspends-tenure-policy-civil-service/

The Inspector General of Police(IGP), Solomon Arase on Monday commissioned the Police Finance House at The Force Headquarters Abuja.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/PoliceHQ.png


The IGP got down memory lane, saying that the event was an outcome of a journey that started some thirty-five (35) years ago In June 1981, which arise from the necessity for the Force to take ownership in the preparation, defence and utilization of its financial resources.

“The Nigeria Police Budget Unit was established under the headship of Retired DIG Parry Osayande, NPM, CON, the former Chairman of Police Service Commission who was then a Commissioner of Police.

“Despite the establishment of the Police Budget Unit, the Nigeria Police Force did not enjoy the Self-Accounting status like its counterparts in the Nigerian Armed Forces and even the Para-Military services.

“This structure was considered inimical to accessing funds required for operational and administrative exigencies, taking into consideration the peculiarities of the Force.” He said.

Arase said that for those reasons, the Police Force was granted a Self-Accounting status in January 2014, by which the Inspector-general of Police becomes the Chief Accounting Officer.

According to him, the commissioning of the Nigeria Police Finance building is part of the ongoing restructuring of the Nigeria Police Budget and Accounting System to key into the financial reforms in the public sector.

“In this regard therefore, the Police Management has upgraded the Office of the Commissioner of Police, (Budget) to Assistant Inspector-General of Police, (Police Accounts and Budget). An organogram to meet this new structure has already been approved.

In addition, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has posted Directors of Finance and Accounts and Internal Audit to work alongside with the Police Finance Officers.” He added.

Arase said that the edifice is meant to provide conducive working environment for the Finance Officers including the Civilian components that are scattered in various locations as a result of inadequate office accommodation.

The IGP reiterates the fact that modern accounting and financial processes are electronic-driven, and so the state-of-the-art ICT infrastructure are being provided as part of the facility, to ease integration into the various payment platforms of the Federal Government.

Arase encouraged officers and personnel to become members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) in order to meet up with the prerequisite for professionalism.

The IGP also acknowledged the contributions and support of both the Federal Government and the Nigeria Army Finance Corps in the developmental processes and training of personnel.

“Finally, I must recognize and commend AIG Abdul Salami Iyaji, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in-charge of Nigeria Police Accounts and Budget Section for his ability to lead his team of highly knowledgeable and dedicated officers towards aiding the Force leadership in achieving this giant stride.

“I must, however, challenge you and your team to emplace a sustainable maintenance culture that will keep this edifice as befitting and attractive as possible.

“I also admonish you and your team to sustain and advance the professional ethos which has now become their trademark in the discharge of their schedules.

He urged officers to justify the high expectation which the Force leadership and nation will demand of them in their dual professional roles as Police Officers and Accountants.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/igp-commissions-police-finance-edifice-2/

Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, Abuja: Joint protest by some staff of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, to back a demand for the payment of an unofficial allowance totaling N1.2 billion has been brought to the attention of the Management of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Kemi-Adeosun.jpg


The Management wishes to state as follows:

i. The payment of what the protesting staff called a Special Overtime (SOT), was stopped by the last administration in 2014 on the ground that it was not listed in any extant government Circular, Financial Regulations or the Public Service Rules;
ii. The sum of N1.2 billion computed by the staff union for payment could not have been budgeted for in 2016 in the first place, not only because of the paucity of funds, but also the fact that the SOT allowance was not part of the remuneration in the Federal Public Service; and

iii. The Federal Ministry of Finance, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Budget Office of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, do not individually or collectively, owe any of their personnel their salaries.

In view of the foregone, the Management of the Federal Ministry of Finance wishes to categorically state that the protests have no justifiable grounds.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/breaking-update-protest-staff-federal-ministry-finance/

The Air Component of OPERATION LAFIYA DOLE has foiled a plan by Boko Haram Terrorists (BHTs) to ambush own surface forces harboured at Doron Naira, north of Borno State.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Airforce1.jpg


The Nigerian Defence Headquarters revealed this in a statement issued on Monday.

It stated that on Sunday 19 June 2016, a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) King Air A350i Beechcraft aircraft on Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission sighted a group of BHTs in 7 Hilux vehicles hiding under tress at a location along the axis of advance of own ground forces towards Kangarawa, north of Borno State.

Following this discovery, an Alpha Jet was scrambled to attack the BHT location. The attack was successful as 15 members of the BHTs were killed and the whole vehicles knocked out.

The casualty figure was confirmed by ground forces who subsequently consolidated on the gains of the air effort to pursue and inflict further casualty on the fleeing wounded members of the terrorist group.

Troops also confirmed 2 gun trucks were among vehicles destroyed by the Alpha Jet as 2 x AK-47 rifles, 2 x RPGs and cache of assorted munitions were recovered.

“The latest victory against the BHTs brings to fore the important role of airpower in counterinsurgency operation.

In furtherance of this role, the NAF has been relentless in its effort to shape the battlespace and provide favourable environment for own surface forces to operate.

“The recent deployment of additional platforms to increase the tempo of air operations at the commencement of OPERATION GAMA AIKI is aimed at fostering this objective. The foiled plan to ambush own surface forces by BHTs shows that the air efforts by the NAF has started to yield the desired results.” It stated.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/air-force-jet-foils-planned-ambush-boko-haram/

The Albino Foundation has appealed to the National Assembly to address the National Bill on Albinism and hypo pigmentation to assist Albinos in the country access free health services on the treatment of skin cancer.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Albino-Foundation_10.jpg

Speaking on Radio link, the Radio Nigeria Audience Participatory Programme which focuses on the issues affecting
Albinos, the Head, Media and Communication of the Foundation, Mr. Afam kasim explained that if passed and accented to, the bill would help in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Mr. Eyo Ito from Calabar asked via text messages the effectiveness of the protective creams for Albinos.

Responding, another guest on the programme and the national project and programme specialist of the foundation, Mr. Damain Ivon explained the effectiveness of the sun screed cream.

Ifeanyi Olumba who called into the programme from Imo State advised Albinos to build self-confidence to deal with discrimination.

Responding, another guest on the programme and the Assistant National Project and Programme Specialist, Miss Oluchi Iwuoha observed that family members of victims had a role to play is building self-confidence.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nass-address-national-bill-albinism-foundation/

The Central Bank of Nigeria has resolved to clear all the backlog of forex demand of about 5 billion dollars in the country through spot and forward settlements.

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Naira.jpg

According to a statement released by the Acting Director, Corporate Communications of the Central Bank, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, the move is to engender confidence, ensure credible price formation and sustain the integrity of the Nigerian inter-bank FX market.
This comes as the new flexible forex trading begins on Monday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had released the highlights of the much awaited flexible foreign exchange market policy on Wednesday, June 15; weeks after the Monetary Policy Committee announced the introduction of the policy.

After its meeting of May 24, the CBN said the policy would allow the bank retain a small portion of foreign exchange for critical transactions.

Key notes released stated that the market would operate as a single market structure via the interbank market and authorised dealers and that it would be purely an exchange rate market managed via Thompson Reuter’s platform.

Part of the key notes is that the CBN would participate via periodic intervention and would introduce primary dealers that deal with the CBN on a two way quote basis.

The primary dealers are also expected to deal with other players in the interbank market.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/cbn-resolves-clear-backlog-forex-demand/

Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, Abuja: Troops of 114 Task Force Battalion of 28 Task Force Brigade in conjunction with members of vigilante group in an effort to keep the road open and secure, yesterday, Sunday 19th June 2016, carried out a clearance operation along Bitta-Damboa axis.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/image-18.jpeg

The troops carried out clearance patrol from Bitta up to Junction point at Gambori village, Borno State. During the operation, the troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Bulajani village and successfully cleared and pursued the fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in the area.

Unfortunately, the troops ran into an ambush which was eventually cleared enroute back from the pursuit. Unfortunately, 5 soldiers were wounded in the process and their Buffalo vehicle was badly damaged. The troops killed 4 Boko Haram terrorists, while an unconfirmed number escaped with gun shot wounds.

The patrol recovered 6 bicycles and food storage facility laden with foodstuffs. They also discovered and safely detonated 1 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) at Madube village.
The wounded soldiers have been evacuated to 23 Brigade medical facility in Yola for further treatment.

In a related development, troops of 22 Brigade Garrison accompanied by Civilian JTF also carried out patrol at Albanya village and its environs along Dikwa-Marte axis. The troops encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Sinabaya village which is left of Marte-Kaje road in Dikwa Local Government Area of Borno State.

During the encounter, they killed 3 and apprehended 11 Boko Haram terrorists.

The patrol team also recovered 1 AK-47 rifle with registration number N37113 and 5 AK-47 rifle magazines. Other items recovered include a 36 hand grenade, 3 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, 4 motorcycles, 3 bicycles, 1 magazine pouch and 1 mobile telephone handset.

The arrested terrorists have been moved to the Brigade Headquarters for preliminary interrogation and subsequent handing over to the Joint Interrogation Committee.
Similarly, another patrol team from the same unit in conjunction with some elements of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps picketed Dikwa-Mafa-Maiduguri road in order to keep it open and safe against Boko Haram terrorists activities. The same team also escorted International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) humanitarian materials from Maiduguri to Dikwa and Gamboru Ngala Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in collaboration with troops of 7 Division Garrison.

At this point, it is important to state that as at today, there are 68, 653 IDPs at Dikwa camp that comprised of 31, 296 males and 37,356 females.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/114-task-force-carried-clearance-operation-bitta-damboa-road/

Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, Abuja: Following attack on Kuda community in Adamawa State by some suspected Boko Haram terrorists, the Commander 28 Task Force Brigade, Brigadier General Felix Omoigui has visited and commiserated with the families of the deceased in the community. He also interacted with the community leaders and the vigilantes.

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/image-19.jpeg

The Commander who was there on an assessment tour following attack by Boko Haram terrorists that claimed the lives of 18 persons with several others wounded, also condoled the community for the unfortunate incident. He also assured them that the military and indeed the security agencies were there to protect them. He added that his command would do all that is possible to track and apprehend the assailants and also assured that remnants of Boko Haram terrorists hiding in the area would be found and routed out.

He however stated that that could not be successfully done without the active cooperation and support of the people. He therefore enjoined them to see the fight against terrorism and insurgency as a collective responsibility that requires synergy of efforts and timely and accurate information sharing.
He further encouraged them to be more vigilant and security conscious and report any suspicious movement or persons immediately.

Responding on behalf of the community, the District Head of Gulak, Alhaji Ijadi Bello, thanked the Commander for the visit and acknowledged that there was need for closer collaboration between the security agencies and his people. He promised to cooperate and support the military in the fight against the Boko Haram terrorists.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/general-visited-ghulak-commiserate-people-attack/

Col. Sani Kukasheka Usman, Abuja: Following received information from well meaning members of the public, troops of Forward Operation Base (FOB), Ningi of 33 Artillery Brigade conducted a fighting patrol at Dutsen Dumburum, Ningi Local Government Area, Bauchi State yesterday, Saturday 18th June 2016.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/image-20.jpeg


Earlier intelligence reports confirmed the presence of kidnappers and cattle rustlers in the locality which made the troops to swing into action by organizing a fighting patrol to the area.

During the patrol, the team encountered the armed bandits and after fierce exchange of gun fire, they were overpowered. The troops killed 3 of the armed bandits and rescued 3 kidnapped females held hostages by the bandits pending payment of ransom. The patrol team also recovered many items including arms and ammunitions before destroying the camp.

The recovered items include 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 locally made Small Machine Guns (SMGs), 1 Double-barrelled Dane Gun, 68 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunitions and 4 AK-47 rifle Magazines. Others include 2 Boxer Motorcycles and 2 Mobile telephone handsets.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/kidnappers-cattle-rustlers-den-cleared-bauchi/

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) in Borno on Sunday said it had discovered a “spiritual book“ suspected to be used by Boko Haram to hypnotize their victims.

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/NSCDC.jpg


The Commandant of the NSCDC in the state, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, disclosed this in Maiduguri in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Abdullahi said that the book, written in Arabic, was discovered during an operation by men of the command at an abandoned house in Dikwa Local Government Area of the state.
“It is sad that many innocent souls had been dragged into submitting to Boko Haram through spiritual indoctrination.
“The book, named“Guduma`, was used by the insurgents as a powerful charm to indoctrinate followers into submitting to the dictates of leaders of the sect.
“Our findings revealed that the book was also used in deceiving victims and members of the sect into believing that it could make them invisible and also offer protection against bullet shots and bombs.
“The spiritual book was abandoned by ‘Boko Haram’ after the takeover of Dikwa from the insurgents, two years ago, “he said. (NAN)

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nscdc-discovers-boko-harams-spiritual-book-used-hypnotise-victims/

Mr Garba Abari, the Director-General, National Orientation Agency, has appealed to Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari`s anti-corruption war.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/garba-NOA.jpg

He made the appeal in Maiduguri on Sunday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

“What government is doing is, first and foremost, to stop the destruction, blocking leakages, stabilising the system and re-engineering its citizens.

“As you already know, this government came at a time of great insecurity when we were already rolling back; at a time when the entire national fund had been reduced to a slush fund,’’ he said.

The director-general commended the Federal Government`s efforts at addressing problems connected with stealing of public money so as to put the nation on the path of sustainable development.

“Nigerians must, therefore, appreciate and understand the fact that the destruction did not come over night; it is a destruction that had been sustained over a period of time.

“What we should be doing as a nation is to actually sensitise Nigerians, mobilise them so that all the vices in the past can be discarded and we turn up a new leave.

According to him, Nigerians should realise that it does not pay to be corrupt and they ought to rally round leaders in the fight against corruption.

He urged Nigerians to imbibe Nigerian’s core values, spirit of honesty, integrity and selflessness in public service.(NAN)

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/support-war-corruption-imbibe-core-values-honesty-integrity-selflessness-dg-noa/

HUMANIMALS (Human-Animals) by VILLY & The Xtreme Volumes is the boldest work of any Nigerian musician since Fela Kuti. As an indie label Blank Creation Entertainment prides itself on building and exposing only the best and this work is a testament of what is yet to come.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/received_1344114582268967.jpeg


VILLY & The Xtreme Volumes led by Mr Common Sense “VILLY” are fast changing things with their music, causing an underground excitement and now coming out to the world after years of fine-tuning their sound.



This EP tackles corruption in Africa and VILLY boldly drops names; it covers the stereotype and profiling attitude of foreign embassies. VILLY is speaking with a voice silenced for years, he is ready to bring the sound for mental revolution in Africa back again.

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/received_1344114598935632.jpeg

The music is free; the aim is to make sure the message travels across the Africa and the world.

The message of VILLY & The Xtreme Volumes is a warning to the oppressor but more importantly a wake up call to the oppressed. It is time Africa claims it’s own.
Let the Mental Revolution begin!


Socialize:
Facebook: VillyXtremeVolumes
Twitter: @DXtremeVolumes
IG: thextremevolumes

Click on the source link to listen.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/villy-xtreme-volumes-release-humanimals/

Shortly before the one year anniversary of President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, spoke to PREMIUM TIMES’ Festus Owete and Sani Tukur, on the achievements of the administration, how the president spends his time outside official hours, his family life, and capacity to govern Nigeria.
Read the interview below:


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/President-Buhari-2.jpg

PT: One year after, how has the journey been?
Adesina: So far so good, I will say. Because, if you recall how our country was this time last year and compare it with how it is today, you will see that there is a big difference, particularly in the area of security, in the area of the anti-corruption war, you can say that this government has done very well. The third one is the economy. That one is still tricky and it is work in progress. Then you take it one by one because there are three key promises APC made while campaigning. The president believes that you cannot administer a country you have not secured. And that is why he has gone all out to try and secure the country. You recall that by this time last year you weren’t quite sure where Nigeria was headed. Boko Haram was not just in the north east, it was in the north west, it was in north central and it could go down south anytime. That was the fear in the country. After some time the military pushed them back, got them circumscribed within the north east and as we speak they are even in the narrower area which is the Sambisa Forest. You can say other battlefronts have been opened in Niger Delta, herdsmen, kidnapping. Those are issues but one thing that is not in doubt is that this government has the capacity to deal with all the issues. I am not saying they are all going to be by armed conflict or by force of arms. Where they need to dialogue, they dialogue and where they need to negotiate, they negotiate. But this government does not lack the capacity to secure this country. So that gives us a lot of hope. Security wise, the government has done very well. On anti-corruption, of course we know what has been uncovered in this country. I remember in the UK about two weeks ago, one foreign media asked the president – did you know it was this bad? He confessed that he knew it was bad but he didn’t know it was that bad. It has turned out very, very bad. But it is also something that the government is tackling and the president is determined to leave a saner and cleaner Nigeria in terms of accountability and probity by the way he is going. No matter what anybody says about this corruption war, no friend no foe, no retreat, no surrender. Anybody, irrespective of who he is, if he has questions to answer on corruption, he will have to answer. I hear people say that it is selective. They need to prove. He who alleges must also prove. The anti-corruption war is going on and going on very well and it has earned Nigeria a lot of respect in the international community. The third promise he made was to revive the economy. Like I said earlier, that one is still key and touchy but it will be done because when the economy collapses as Nigeria’s did, it is not something you bring back by a snap of the fingers. It takes a lot of re-tooling and re-engineering to bring it back. It is work in progress and we will get there. No doubt, jobs will come from agriculture and solid minerals and other policies will stimulate the economy. It is a N6 trillion budget for instance for the first time. If it is properly implemented, and there is no reason why it will not be properly implemented, it will stimulate the economy. There will be more spending money at the disposal of Nigerians. So, I will say so far so good, the government is on course. I have used this illustration before, and I will use it again. Nigeria is like a plane that has taken off and is gaining altitude, with its nose in the air. As long as its nose is in the air, it is climbing. If the nose is down it is a danger signal.

PT: Since you brought up the issue of economy, let’s talk about it. Suddenly there are talks about recession and devaluation. Are these palliatives you mention capable of correcting the insinuations coming up in terms of recession, devaluation?
Adesina: I would rather leave that question to the economists to answer. But then one thing I can assure is that whatever would happen, this government is going to do its best to ensure that Nigerians, particularly the ordinary people will not suffer again. Things may be tough, may be difficult, but it will get better.

PT: Maybe we should take you back to the issue of the war against corruption. Are we really winning the corruption war? Some people out there still say it is selective. They say if it is not, point to any APC member that is in court? Also, there appears not to be any corruption case that has been concluded.
Adesina: You don’t just go running after people because you want to give the semblance of a balance. If there is no allegation against an APC person or if there is no prima facie case, you don’t just bring them to trial just because you want to create a balance. But if there is any prima facie case or there is a need for any APC person to be pulled in for questioning or to be tried, you be sure that will happen. Then the second leg of the question is – how many people have been convicted? Unfortunately, the executive does not convict. The executive does not pronounce judgement. There is absolutely nothing the executive can do in a polity where there is separation of powers. There is separation of powers and so the executive cannot convict and it cannot lean on the judiciary to begin to convict. The onus is on the judiciary to know that it has a role to play if Nigeria will win this anti-corruption war. But has the war been on course, no doubt it is on course.

PT: The EFCC is probing the PDP Campaign Fund. Although you are not the spokesperson of the APC, it is the party that brought the president to power and you are his aide. Shouldn’t the APC campaign fund be probed also?
Adesina: There is no immunity for probing it but is it the president that will probe himself? No. Nobody stops anybody from probing it.
PT: Maybe because the allegations are not there yet!
Adesina: If they are there, trust the security agencies!

PT: Some Nigerians say there are some corrupt people in the Buhari administration. You may regard this as a rumour but looking closely would it not earn the administration a bad image?
Adesina: The president has answered that question and the challenge he threw was – give me the evidence against them. You can’t just on the basis of suspicion say this person is corrupt. If there is evidence against them, give me the evidence. He said it even at the media chat. He said if you have evidence even against a serving minister, that minister will answer for it. That is the president for you.

PT: Talking to you is almost like talking to the president. You are always around the president, you travel with him. In the eyes of the ordinary Nigerians they see a president that is always strict and serious all the time. What are those things about Mr. President that Nigerians don’t seem to know?
Adesina: It is his great sense of humour and his humanness and humanity. I have done a piece which I called “Buhari, Beyond The Iron and Steel.” Beyond the iron and steel, you need to know the president as a man of humour, as a man who feels touched by what happens to people and what happens to Nigerians generally. You need to know him.

PT: He also looks like somebody who takes his time to do things not minding whether people expect him to act in a particular way all the time. Why does he take his time? I give you an example. Everybody is waiting for an appointment into Board of Parastatals. The president is taking his time just like he did in the appointment of ministers. Why does he think that is the best? Even now he is delaying in appointing the Special Advisers.
Adesina: Don’t forget when he was a military leader there was something he used to say – “This administration will not be rushed.” Even as a military leader. He used to say it. It is still the same way – painstaking and methodical. Don’t rush me! Don’t rush me! That is how to lay a foundation that is solid and enduring. It is so easy to rush and get all the applause and at the end of the day everything is built on quicksand and collapses. But when he does things like that methodically and painstakingly, it is more enduring. That is why it took him time to even name his ministers. Because when he came he did not envisage the enormity of the rot that confronted him. As I said before, when you land and you land on solid ground, you can run. But if you land inside mud, how do you do it. How do you stand, how do you begin to run. That was what happened to this administration. He could believe what he met when he came and so there was a need to begin to re-lay the foundation. And that was what he did and ministers did not come until November. That is the president for you. Anything he needs to do he does it methodically. You said all the Special Advisers have not come. It is also because he is cutting the cost of governance. When he came, he met 42 ministries. Now they have 24. He has approval to take about 15 Special Advisers maybe he has used three, four, five or something. He still has a large number that he has not filled because he will fill them according to need. There is no point in just amassing them without pressing need, wasting government’s funds.

PT: Some say this delay tactics also have disadvantages. Some persons say the economy is in shambles this way because he did not appoint ministers early. Do you share that view?
Adesina: That would not be true. He met the economy in a shambles. Economies don’t collapse in weeks. Well, if you do some things badly, yes, economies can collapse in days. The Nigerian economy that President Buhari met was in complete doldrums. To use the president’s world – he said they vandalised the country. The country was completely vandalised by the time he came. So, appointing ministers late has nothing to do with it. What we see and are still seeing now is what I call the consequences of corruption. A certain part of the country says they have no road and they have no infrastructure. Do infrastructure break down in six months, ten months, in one year? No. They broke down over the years. What is evident in Nigerian is consequence of corruption. And so anybody that says it is this government that led to what we are seeing now is not being fair. If they want to be fair to this government, it met a collapsed economy and gradually it is trying to stimulate that economy and rebuild it. And we will get there.

PT: Aside the economy, are there some things the president discovered that you will want to tell us?
Adesina: The president has promised that the May 29 broadcast will be quite revealing and I can tell you it will be quite revealing. You also know that apart from the economy, even the inter-ethnic relationship in the country was an issue. The president met a country that had been badly divided, more than at any time in the history of this country. Because in the last days of the last administration, all the things that divided us were emphasised because they wanted to win the election at all cost. They used religion, used ethnicity, used language, used where you came from, threw everything into it. He inherited a country that was almost breaking apart. It is gradual process to put the country together. We are not there yet. We know that there are still some agitations in some parts of the country. Those are still fallout of the things he inherited.

PT: Is the president bothered about the trial of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, who is the number three citizen of this country?
Adesina: The president answered this question sometime in the US. I was there. The question had been – what is his relationship with Saraki vis-a-vis the trial? And what will his relationship be after the trial? The president said the outcome of the trial will determine what his relationship will be. So the president knows what is going on, he is aware of his environment, he keeps tab, naturally he is not touching the issue in any way either influencing it positively or negatively. The president will not do that. Even in the choice of the leadership of the National Assembly you know he didn’t do that. So like he said, his relationship with the senate president will be determined by the outcome of that trial.

PT: What about his relationship with his party?
Adesina: The president recognises that the platform that brought him is the party. No president has legitimacy without a platform and the APC is his platform. From time to time he meets with the party, meets with the NWC of the party and twice in the life of this administration he has gone to attend meetings at the party secretariat. That already shows you the importance he places on the party.

PT: But there are stories that he does not help the party in terms of funding?
Adesina: How do you expect a government to fund a party with government’s money? Part of the problem the last party in government had was that it took official money to campaign. And that is why they all answering in court today. Knowing President Buhari, he will never do that. There are many ways to fund a political party but he will not dip hands into the coffers of government to fund a political party. He won’t do it. Don’t forget that when he came in 1983, a lot of politicians went to jail for using official money to enrich political parties. How do you think a man like that will then come and do the same thing? Not this president.

PT: Does running Nigeria negatively affect his relationship with his family?
Adesina: If you know the president and how organised he is then you will know it won’t affect the family much. No doubt it is a demanding job. It will mean that there is demand on his time more than it used to be but because he is so organised I am sure he still has a lot of time to spend with his family. One thing you need to know about the president is his respect for time. On the dot of the hour when he has anything to do, he is there. If he should finish, he finishes. That therefore makes it easy for him to plan his schedule when he starts in the morning till evening. You need to get to his house in the evenings. When I need to see him even about official things I go to the house in the evening. You need to see the place. One day I went to see him after the 8 ‘o’ clock prayers, just two of us were waiting to see him. The second person was a top person in government before and he told me ‘look at this vast place and only two of us are waiting to see the president.’ He said in one dispensation that I will not mention, come to this place at 2am or 3am it is still like a market place. When any government runs like that, you know it is not good. You know it is either they are wheeling and dealing or cutting deals and when a president is still up by 2am or 5am when he will still get to work the next day, how effective will he be in the office and all that. Not this president. By the time he has his dinner, he meets just a few people that have been scheduled to see him and he goes to bed.

PT: How does he spend his weekends?
Adesina: Because he is president of a country of 170 million people, work is not restricted just to the office. There are things he treats at home. He has an office at home where he continues his work. But you will be surprised that on weekends his grand children jump on him, they climb all over him just like a typical grandfather.

PT: Between your own office and the media you have given a lot to the media. What have you got from it?
Adesina: You know it is my constituency and as much as possible I try to keep in touch with it. if any media person calls me and I miss that call, maybe I am the president’s side or there is no network and I come back and I see it, I will call back. I try to keep my doors open for the media because if they can’t reach me, I have no reason to be here. The reason I am here is to serve as an interface between the media and the president and the presidency. I think I have had a good relationship with the media. The media is quite critical. I am not saying the media should not be critical. I am only asking the media to be fair. That is all I require. Once the media is fair to us, I am okay.

PT: Are you getting that fairness?
Adesina: To a large extent! Sometimes we receive what I think is unfair. But when it is unfair I can always complain. I can always point out this and this and this. But by and large I think we are okay with the media.

PT: That means you have stopped stories before?
Adesina: No, we don’t. We don’t attempt to stop stories. If anybody calls me I give our side and I never ask; don’t use. No.

PT: Has the job also affected your relationship with your family?
Adesina: Yes, naturally because this is the first time I have to live apart from my family. My family is still in Lagos and I go once or twice a month to visit. I have been married for 25 years and this is the first time I am living apart from my family. But I think it is a sacrifice. For me I see what I am doing not just as a job but as an assignment. For me, it is a national assignment and I am happy doing it. Part of the sacrifice is that I see less and less of the family and they too, it is part of the sacrifice they are making.

PT: What are we expecting from this administration in the next one year, by May 29, 2017?
Adesina: I have no doubt, God sparing our lives, by this time next year there will be a far better situation- security wise, economic wise, anti-corruption war, job creation, Nigeria will be in a far better situation. The president was promising earlier today that by 2018/19, we will not be importing food again, particularly any kind of grains – rice, maize, wheat etc. The first year I will say is a year of laying the superstructure for this country. The second year the government will build on that structure and you can be sure that at the end of the second year of this administration things will be radically different from what we have now. It will be a lot better.

PT: In a nutshell, how would you score this administration?
Adesina: That should not come from me. I would rather it comes from Nigerians. But I will just say that there is a lot of reason to hope that the future will be a lot better. It is different from when there is despondency. Here we can almost be cocksure that things will get a lot better.


Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/president-buhari-will-leave-nigeria-cleaner-saner-femi-adesina/

Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola says the Federal Government is committed to finishing all ongoing projects within three years.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Babatunde-Fashola-001.jpg

Fashola gave the assurance after inspecting work at the Loko-Oweto Bridge over River Benue which connects Loko and Oweto communities in Nasarawa State and Benue respectively.

He said that the Federal Government would make funds available to pay contractors as soon as they delivered completed projects.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria and President Muhammadu Buhari have expressed very clear commitment to finish the ongoing and abandoned projects.

“We are focusing on completion of ongoing projects; this is one of the many ongoing projects.

“Lagos-Ibadan expressway is one of them; Kano-Maiduguri is one of them; Ilorin-Jebba is one of them and the Second Niger Bridge is one of them.

“All those projects now, the contractors are moving back to sites and work is beginning. Gradually over the next three years we would complete many of them’’, the minister said.

Fashola expressed the confidence that the resumption of construction activities would stimulate expansion of infrastructure, create jobs and generate commercial opportunities for the people.

He said when completed, the Loko-Oweto Bridge would boost socio-economic activities in Nasarawa State and Benue.

“You will see those who lost their jobs; they would come back to work. You would see increased merchandising and supply of building materials.

“When this project is completed, it would open up these communities; connect Nasarawa State and Benue; farmers would benefit from the movement and transportation of their farm produce.

“I am optimistic that we would get this project completed in 2018,’’ Fashola noted.

The Loko-Oweto Bridge contract was awarded to RCC Nig. Ltd. in November 2011 at N36. 1 billion with original completion date of Nov. 15, 2015.

The project was stalled in 2014 due to lack of funding and currently, at a revised contract sum of N51.6 billion, the project is scheduled for completion in 2018.

Source:http://www.barbaric.com.ng/nigeria-complete-ongoing-projects-3-years/

“It’s early days, but it would be a disaster for the ANC to lose three of nation’s main cities, which it controlled before”


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Zuma.jpg

THE ruling African National Congress may lose control of three of South Africa’s main cities including the capital, Pretoria, and the key economic hub, Johannesburg, in Aug. 3 municipal elections, according to the latest poll.

In Johannesburg, 31% of respondents said they would vote for the ANC, 29% supported the Democratic Alliance and 10% backed the Economic Freedom Fighters, the survey conducted June 6 and 7 by research company Ipsos for Johannesburg-based broadcaster eNCA and released Thursday found.

The DA topped the rankings in the Tshwane municipality, which includes Pretoria, with 33% support, while the ANC polled 28% and the EFF 10%. In the southern Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, which incorporates the city of Port Elizabeth, the DA had 34% backing, the ANC 30% and the EFF 7%.

The Ipsos poll results suggest support for the ANC has slipped following a series of scandals implicating its leader, President Jacob Zuma, and amid rising discontent grows over a lack of jobs, decent housing and education.

Both the DA and EFF have said they are prepared to enter into coalitions with other opposition parties but not the ANC. The ANC, which has ruled Africa’s most industrialised economy since the first multiracial elections in 1994, secured an outright majority in all three cities in the last municipal vote five years ago and won 62% support in the last national election in 2014.

“I think the ANC should be extremely concerned about this poll,” Daniel Silke, director of Cape Town-based Political Futures Consultancy, said by phone. “It shows there are more South Africans in the urban areas that are prepared to consider an alternative to the ANC than at any other time since 1994.”

Ipsos surveyed 3,000 eligible voters across the three cities. The election results may still change, with between 17 and 21% of respondents in each of the cities saying they were undecided about who they would vote for, it said.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/according-poll-anc-may-lose-control-south-africas-capital/

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged Nigerian leaders to play a fatherly role in governing the affairs of the country by providing qualitative leadership. According to a statement issued by Turaki Hassan, the Speaker’s spokesperson, Dogara made the call on Sunday during the Fathers’ Day service at the Aso Villa chapel, where he represented the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466370376670.jpg


The service, which was presided over by the chaplain, Pastor Seyi Malomo, had a special segment during which children appreciated fathers, and the Speaker was presented with gifts of indigenous artworks from the Chapel for the President, the Vice President, the Senate President and for himself.



Speaking on the importance of fathers, Dogara said that: “the word “father”, in the Bible, stems from the word “Abba”, which means sustainer. That is what a father is. As the sustainer, the father is then the foundation and the root of the family, and no matter how beautiful a building is, it is not defined by the colour but by the strength of its foundation. When God created man, He said: “be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth” and in other versions, it says to dominate. The family institution is the way through which this mandate to have dominion over the earth can be achieved and as long as the family unit is disorganised, there is no way humanity can exercise the dominion that God has given us, and that is why it is important that we honour our fathers as they are the foundation of the family institution.”

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466370404720.jpg

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466370397663.jpg

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466370376670-1.jpg


The Speaker further stated that the Bible lays emphasis on honouring and obeying parents, explaining that the commandment about honouring parents was the first to have a condition attached. “I guess that is the importance of this day and whoever instituted this day, I believe, did so in line with the commandment of God which says to honour our parents.



“As the chaplain said, what do you do with fathers who are abusive, those who are never there and those who abdicate their responsibilities? We should honour them whether they deserve it or not, as God’s word is eternal and will never change. In such situations, the most important thing is forgiveness and if you haven’t learned how to forgive, then you have not taken the first step in Christianity. When we say the Lord’s prayer, we ask God to forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us, and this includes those categories of fathers.”

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466370383131.jpg


Dogara also urged Nigerian fathers to live in accordance with God’s commandments, saying: “when you honour God as a father – praise Him and live by his dictates – that moves God to make you a father of nations like he said and did to Abraham.”



He concluded his address by stating that leaders are the fathers of the nation, and should play their role by providing qualitative leadership and providing strong foundations.



Pastor Malomo, in his address, urged fathers to be more steadfast and to strive harder in raising children in accordance with God’s directives. The service ended with Dogara praying with the children in the kids’ section of the chapel.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/fathers-day-dogara-urges-leaders-play-fatherly-role-providing-qualitative-leadership/

ECOWAS Community Court of Justice on Saturday in Abuja elected Justice Jérôme Traoré from Burkina Faso as its new President.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/jerome-traore.jpg

This is contained in a press statement issued by the court through Mr Sunny Ugoh, the head of the information department of ECOWAS.

The statement said that Jérôme took over from Justice Maria Do Céu Silva who just served out her two-year tenure.

“Justice Traore, who becomes the first male President of the 15-year-old court, will serve a two-year term with other members of the bureau.

“The new president, who replaces Justice Maria, whose two-year term ends today, was until his election the Dean of the Court,” ,” the statement said.

Besides, the statement said that Justice Micah Wright from Liberia and Justice Hameye Mahalmadane from Mali would now serve as the court’s vice-president and dean respectively.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the newly elected justices will be responsible for the court’s programmes, while providing policy guidelines for the court’s management. (NAN)

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/ecowas-community-court-justice-gets-new-president/

They do this in Nigeria all the time. Using tax-payers' moneys to order university "runs girls" at 2 for N100k. Now, they have overstepped their boundary.

Mokoko worked for Sassou Nguesso until he announced his candidacy, and doesn’t acknowledge the Congo president’s victory

[img]http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-06-17-congo-republic-charges-opposition-leader-with-plotting-coup[/img]


President Sassou Nguesso. (Photo/File).
THE Congo Republic charged opposition politician Jean-Marie Mokoko, a former army chief of staff, with attacking state security three months after he challenged President Denis Sassou Nguesso in elections.

Mokoko, who worked for Sassou Nguesso until he announced his candidacy, is held in a prison in the capital, Brazzaville, according to his lawyer, Yvon Eric Ibouanga.

He was also charged with illegally possessing weapons, Ibouanga told reporters late Thursday.

Mokoko is suspected of plotting to overthrow Sassou Nguesso because of a video dating from 2007 that surfaced during the election campaign and in which he is seen discussing a coup plan, his lawyer said. Mokoko denies the charges and doesn’t acknowledge Sassou Nguesso’s victory.

The March vote followed a referendum on the constitution that allowed Sassou Nguesso, who’s been in power since the end of a civil war in 1997, to seek a third consecutive term. The referendum was boycotted by the opposition.

Source: http://m.mgafrica.com/article/2016-06-17-congo-republic-charges-opposition-leader-with-plotting-coup

The government still has choices for raising external debt and can borrow cheaply from its liquid local markets


[img]http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-06-17-imf-says-kenya-debt-market-price-for-wide-fiscal-gap-1[/img]

View of Kenyan capital Nairobi. (Photo/Bloomberg).
THE International Monetary Fund said Kenya’s failure to narrow its fiscal deficit may push up the costs of tapping international credit markets.

East Africa’s biggest economy projected a funding gap of 692 billion shillings ($6.8 billion) for the fiscal year starting in July, Treasury Secretary Henry Rotich said in his budget speech last week.

That’s about 9% of gross domestic product compared with 7.9% this year, according to the Washington-based lender’s resident representative, Armando Morales.

The deficit “is not consistent with fiscal consolidation,” Morales said in an interview on Thursday in the nation’s capital, Nairobi. “The plan was that Kenya would move to a process of fiscal consolidation and that is still our expectation.”

Kenya increased planned spending by 28% to 2.3 trillion shillings for 2016-17. It plans to borrow 225 billion shillings in the domestic market and another 462 billion shillings from external creditors through bonds and concessional loans.

The budget deficit has widened since Uhuru Kenyatta became president in 2013 as his government rolled out infrastructure projects including a $3.2 billion railway that’s been the biggest investment in the economy since independence more than half a century ago.

The country should be targeting a reduction in its fiscal deficit of 3 percentage points over the next two years as part of commitments made when the IMF extended a $1.5 billion precautionary facility in March to cushion the economy in times of shocks, the IMF official said.

Traditionally, the country spends less than it budgets and a clearer fiscal outlook will emerge later in the year, Morales said.

Difficult negotiations

Kenya has “a more positive story” than other frontier markets and investors still have an appetite for the $61-billion economy, Morales said. The ballooning deficit will, however, make for tougher negotiations when the government starts discussions for foreign debt, he said.

As long as the deficit announced by the government is larger than it was the previous year, “it would be more difficult to approach creditors in global markets,” he said. “That doesn’t mean that they won’t have access, but that normally translates into more expensive financing.”

Domestic Treasury yields have dropped to almost three-year lows as a banking crisis following the collapse of three small lenders has caused big banks to seek the safety of government securities.

The return on Kenya’s three-month Treasury bill has fallen 337 basis points this year to 7.3%, the lowest since July 2013, according to central bank data. The government still has choices for raising external debt and can borrow cheaply from its liquid local markets, Morales said.

Kenya raised $2.82 billion in debut Eurobond sales in 2014 and is reviving plans to tap the bonds market again. Rotich held a no-deal roadshow in London in April and plans more in the U.S. to weigh investor sentiment.

The country also raised $750 million in a syndicated loan to alleviate a cash crunch last year and another $600 million from China. Yields on the dollar bond due June 2024 were at 8.5% on Thursday from as high as 9.8% in mid-January.

“I don’t think availability will be a problem,” Morales said. “It’s the terms of financing and the risks that is higher, because vulnerability to adverse global developments will be a bit higher the larger the deficit is.”

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/​imf-says-kenyas-failure-narrow-fiscal-deficit-may-push-international-borrowing-costs/

“Africa is on the move…consumers are more affluent and better educated. Inflation has been tamed, armed conflict and violence is down”


[img]http://mgafrica.com/article/2016-06-17-billionaire-wiese-takes-long-term-africa-view-as-growth-dips-2[/img]

Shoppers line up to enter a Shoprite store. (Photo/Bloomberg)

CHRISTO Wiese, South Africa’s richest man and the chairman of the nation’s biggest retailer Shoprite Holdings Ltd., has some advice for companies looking to tap the spending power of Africa’s 1.2 billion consumers: stick around and have deep pockets.



“Over the years, I’ve seen too many companies set up shop, stay around for a while and then disappear again,” 74-year-old Wiese, who’s been doing business in African countries other than South Africa for more than two decades, said in an address to the Consumer Goods Forum’s global summit in Cape Town.

“Make very sure Africa is where you want to be.” Investor sentiment toward the continent has soured as a commodity-price rout and a drought slowed economic expansion. Economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is forecast to slow to 3% this year from 3.4% in 2015, and an average of 5.2% over the previous five years, according to the International Monetary Fund.

The MSCI EFM Africa Index of shares has dipped 23% this year, seven percentage points more than a gauge of stocks across 24 frontier markets. The slowdown in many African nations and other emerging markets is likely to be temporary, with their economies expected to grow twice as fast as developed markets for the foreseeable future, according to Steve Matthesen, the global head of retailer services at research company Nielsen.

Growing populations

“The populations are growing and they have more money,” he told the summit. “There is a lot of room for them to continue to grow. Those companies that do well are those that have been there for a while. The best time to go in is when it’s the roughest time.”

Coca-Cola Co., which has been selling beverages in Africa since the 1920s, is among those taking a long-term view. The Atlanta-based company is in the middle of a $17-billion, decade-long investment programme on the continent, according to Chief Executive Officer Muhtar Kent. “We are investing in people, we are investing in opportunities, we are investing in facilities,” he told the summit.

“Africa is on the move. Africa’s consumers are more affluent and better educated. Market economics is gaining ground. Inflation has been tamed, armed conflict and violence is down.”

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world’s largest retailer which owns a controlling stake in South Africa’s Massmart Holdings Ltd., also sees business opportunities in the rest of the continent, according to Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon.

Wal-Mart aspirations

“South Africa is a terrific market and it gives you something to work with but our aspirations are for the sub-Saharan African region,” McMillon told the summit.

“I get really excited about it. You can put me into that optimistic group.” Africa attracted $71.3 billion of foreign direct investment last year, down from $88.5 billion the year before, accounting firm EY said in its 2016 Africa Attractiveness report last month.

South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Kenya were ranked the top investment destinations. Other speakers who highlighted Africa’s potential at the three-day summit that ended Friday included Martin Sorrell, the chief executive officer of WPP Plc, the world’s largest advertising company, Gareth Ackerman, the chairman of South African retailer Pick n Pay Stores Ltd., Nestle SA Chief Executive Officer Paul Bulcke and South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The continent’s poor transport links, inadequate power supply and excessive red tape are the biggest constraints to investment and growth, according to Wiese of Shoprite, which operates more than 300 stores in 14 African nations outside of South Africa.

In some cases, the company has had to build its own roads to enable customers to access its stores, he said. “Although the rewards can be great, so will be the challenges,” said Wiese, who has a net worth of $6.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index. “I am an Africa optimist. Whatever the negatives, there are many positives.”

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/billionaire-takes-long-term-view-africa-says-stick-around-deep-pockets/

TO LET: 3 Bedroom Flat in an Estate at Ajah, Lagos. N1.4 million (All Expense). Large bedrooms, all ensuite with wardrobes, small visitors’ waiting room, laundry room, dinning room, large parking space, water treatment.



https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171623544.jpg

Building



The 3 Bedroom occupies the entire ground floor of a house comprising 3 flats. Location is Good Homes Estate at Oke-Ira, Ajah-Addoh Road, Lagos. N1.4 million (All Expense including Agency Fee and Agreement Fee). NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE!


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171483095.jpg

Kitchen



https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171464910-1.jpg
Master Bedroom



https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171477269.jpg
Master Bedroom bathroom

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171471016.jpg
Master Bedroom wardrobe



https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171573216-1.jpg
Children’s Room toilet with shower


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171536449.jpg
Third Room bathroom



https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171495487.jpg
Corridor


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171507155.jpg
Laundry Room



https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171595115-1.jpg
Front with enough parking space for 4 cars

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171600618-1.jpg
Front Side with more parking space

https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171605769-1.jpg
Rear Side


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/IMG_20160615_084239.jpg
After the great rains of Wednesday June 15th, estate is NOT flooded.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171578537-1.jpg
Water Treatment plant


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171589089-1.jpg
Each flat has a central power stabilizer


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/FB_IMG_1466171611143-1.jpg
Backyard / Garden




-Large Parlour
-3 spacious bedrooms, all ensuite with wardrobes
-Small visitors’ waiting room with visitors’ toilet
-Spacious laundry room,
-Separate dining room,
-Large parking space,
-Water treatment.

No flooding in the estate. Best to inspect during this rainy days.

Email: info@barbaric.com.ng .
Twitter: @Bar_Baric
www.facebook.com/barbaricbar
www.barbaric.com.ng

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/3-bedroom-flat-secure-estate-ajah-n1-4m-includes-agency-agreement-fees/

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Zone RS2 Command, Lagos says its attention has been drawn to the scandalous acts of impostors who have been parading themselves as FRSC Operatives and soliciting money/ recharge cards from members of the public for purpose of treatment their relatives purportedly rescued by the Corps in road traffic crashes.


https://www.barbaric.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/road-safety.jpg


This was made known to the public in a statement issued by the FRSC on Friday.

The statement said that one of such numbers being used for this nefarious act is 08147605560. This number does not belong to FRSC or any of her operative.

According of the statement, the Command has launched necessary investigation towards unraveling the true identities of these impostors.

It added that for avoidance of doubt, FRSC does not request money for rescue operation or treatment of rescued crash victims.

“The Corps is public institution whose one of its statutory functions is to ensure prompt attention to road traffic crash victims.” It said.

The FRSC warned members of the public to beware, and report any such incidence to FRSC Zone RS2 Command on 08077690200 or FRSC Toll Free Emergency line 122.

Source: http://www.barbaric.com.ng/frsc-warns-general-public-impostors-parading-operatives/