₦airaland Forum

REJECTION OF CORONER INQUEST BY ADELEKE’S FAMILY UNFORTUNATE – OSUN GOVT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/rejection-of-coroner-inquest-by.html

The Osun Government on Sunday said the rejection by Sen. Isiaka Adeleke’s family of the coroner inquest it instituted into the late politician’s death was unfortunate.
Mr Semiu Okanlawon, a media aide to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, said on Sunday in Osogbo that the step taken by the government in setting up the coroner inquest was the most responsible action to take.
The younger brother of the late first civilian governor of Osun, Deji, had alleged on Sunday in Ede that the outcome of the inquest was already predetermined.
“The family, hereby, denounces in its entirety the ill-advised and self-serving coroner inquest ordered by the Osun State Government, purportedly setup to determine the cause of death of our dearly beloved Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke.
“We condemn, in strictest terms, the continuous politicisation attempts by the state of this great loss to our family, particularly the ordering of this inquest at a time we are still coming to terms with the harsh reality of his sudden departure and the pain and grief therefrom.
“We have been reliably informed by credible sources that the outcome of the kangaroo inquest is already predetermined by the state.
“It is also designed to serve its own interest with distorted facts and misinformation which will clearly not be in the interest of the good people of Osun in general and the Adeleke family in particular,’’ Deji had said.
Okanlawon, however, said government’s decision in setting up the inquest was the acceptable standard in any civilised society.
He said: “The attention of the Government of the State of Osun has been drawn to a press conference purportedly held by the family of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, where it rejected the Coroners Inquest instituted by the Government into the unfortunate and sudden death of our beloved former Governor.
“This is rather unfortunate; as a government the step that has been taken is the most responsible and the most acceptable standard in any civilised society.”

TALK OF CABAL RUNNING BUHARI’S GOVT IS A MERE MYTH – TINUBU
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/talk-of-cabal-running-buharis-govt-is.html

Former Lagos State governor and APC national stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged Nigerians to ignore the rumpurs about President Muhammadu Buhari’s health and allow the president to do his job as he deems fit.
In a strongly-worded statement personally signed by him, Tinubu said the business of government was running and dismissed the notion that a cabal was at work in Abuja as mere myth.
He insisted that President Buhari has moved the country from the path of failure to “a path where we have a fighting chance to realize a better nation. Had we stuck to the ways of the former administration, our present situation would be worse than untenable.”
“Nigeria is a place of numerous challenges and the home of vast human potentials. Our greatest challenge has always been how to best direct our vast potentials so that we overcome the challenges that plague us.
“This cardinal challenge is why the APC was formed and why the party presented then General Muhammadu Buhari as its standard bearer. The people rightly chose him as their president, believing he was the best person to make Nigeria into a better nation.
“His electoral victory was historic. More importantly, like most Nigerians, I believed his presidency represented a historic mission to right many of our nation’s wrongs. I still believe so. The previous administration treated Boko Haram softly, appearing to view the terrorists as part of their political equation rather than a lethal threat to national security.
“President Buhari has gone after Boko Haram without condition and without fear. He has pushed them back, saving lives and giving northern Nigeria a chance to breathe again the air of peace and normalcy.
“My recent visit to Borno State to inaugurate projects opened my eyes to the progress President Buhari has made in the anti-terror war. An enabling environment has been created for Governor Kashim Shettima who has taken advantage of the peaceful space to initiate laudable projects such as the provision of housing for and rehabilitation of Boko Haram victims. The previous administration treated corruption as its co-tenant in office. President Buhari has fought it with tenacity, equal to that with which he has confronted Boko Haram.
“We currently face stiff economic challenges. This is neither President’s Buhari’s doing nor choosing. The steep decline in oil prices caused the downturn which exposed our nation’s long-time failure to plan ahead by diversifying our economic base. It has fallen on the Buhari government to fix the immediate problem while also diversifying our economy so that we will no longer be as vulnerable to the price of oil again.
“His policies have begun to bear fruit. We are moving out of recession and toward the long-term reshaping of the national economy. Given the complex menu of problems he has faced, President Buhari has done well in a tough situation. While I seek not to diminish the hardship still faced by many of our people, we also must be cognizant of the important progress made these past two years.
“President Buhari has moved us from the path of failure to a path where we have a fighting chance to realize a better nation. Had we stuck to the ways of the former administration, our present situation would be worse than untenable. Those who publicly speculate about the issue of the President’s health must keep all of this in mind. Much is at stake. We owe a responsibility to be wise and circumspect in what is spoken into the public ear.
“We voted for President Buhari because we trusted his ability to make decisions regarding complex issues of state. If we can trust him to handle difficult matters of governance, we can also trust him to make correct decisions regarding his personal health. The President Buhari I have come to know is an honest and responsible man and leader.
“When he returned to Nigeria on March 10, he disclosed to the nation that he had been sick to the extent that he received blood transfusion and would leave for further treatment at some future date. He said he would follow the counsel of his doctors and there is every reason to believe that he has been true to their counsel.
“Many people have openly speculated about the President’s health. Some have done so for their own selfish reasons. These people shall be found out in time. There are many who have done so out of sincere concern for the President.
“These people should not be condemned for their heartfelt concern. However, they should be advised not to allow fear to ambush their better judgment and their courage. They should not give themselves to idle speculation. We should not buy into the myth of some cabal at work. Dwelling in empty speculation on the existence of some mythic cabal is not what the country needs at present. From what I can see, the President remains at the helm and his policies are being implemented.
“The President is also showing his belief in process and partnership by assigning more responsibilities to the VP, which included presiding over meetings of the Federal Executive Council, thus demonstrating his trust and implicit confidence in him. Unfounded speculation serves no purpose other than to encourage those who would rather derail the President’s progressive agenda and who would divisively pit one aspect of this nation against another. Such chatter may foment division where there was none and this might come to impair the management of the affairs of this country.
“By fomenting animosity among groups that have heretofore been allied, those who hold to the bankrupt politics of yesterday seek to thwart the President’s mission while claiming to support him. Those who truly care about the President and the important work he still must do should not allow themselves to become the unwitting tools of these regressive forces.
“We must stand with and beside our President. The unfounded speculation around his health should stop. We must not covet fear and rumour but should engage our creativity and enterprise to help the President accomplish his historic mission. Our greatest energies should be focused on righting this economy so that it provides a decent livelihood for all people. This critical path towards economic recovery must be followed for the sake of our children.”

LOVELY PHOTO OF LEGENDARY ACTOR OLU JACOBS AND HIS WIFE JOKE SILVA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/lovely-photo-of-legendary-actor-olu.html

Lovely photo of Legendary Actor Olu Jacobs and his wife Joke Silva

SEC DISSOLVES IKEJA HOTELS BOARD OVER LINGERING ISSUES
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/sec-dissolves-ikeja-hotels-board-over.html

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced the dissolution of the Board of Ikeja Hotels Plc due to unresolved internal crisis involving some majority shareholders of the hotel.
Mr Naif Abdulsalam, the Head of the Corporate Communications of SEC disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Abdulsalam said that the dissolution was a proactive measure that had become necessary to dissuade the warring parties from taking certain actions that would give them an advantage over one another.
“To forestall chaos in the organisation, the commission and other distinguished personalities previously held various meetings with the existing board towards resolving the crises.
“The company continued to be plagued with unhealthy corporate governance practices in disregard with the Code of Corporate Governance for public companies.
“As a public company, it is paramount that the activities of the company are conducted within the confines of existing corporate governance regulations in the Nigerian capital market.
“This is to ensure the protection of minority shareholders and other investors.’’
He said that having failed to resolve its lingering crisis; the commission approved the appointment of an interim board for the company with Chief Anthony Idigbe, SAN as the interim Chairman.
He said that SEC did this through exercising the powers conferred on it by the Investment and Securities Act, 2007 to protect investors and the integrity of the securities market.
The Ikeja Hotels Plc, owners of Lagos Sheraton Hotel, has been involved in boardroom crisis.
The development led to some of the shareholders removing its Chairman, Mr Goodie Ibru early 2015 at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM).
Three shareholders (Alurum Investments Ltd., Dadifoll Ltd., and RFC Ltd.) on behalf of others had procured an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos permitting the EGM.
However, on getting to the venue of the meeting, the shareholders were prevented from entering the venue through another order procured by representatives of Goodie Ibru from another Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The shareholders decided to conduct the EGM standing outside the premises of the hotel and passed all the resolutions for the EGM through a poll.
At the end, majority voted for the resolutions thus leading to the ouster of Ibru as board chairman.
The removal of the chairman was followed by court action by Ibru, who later secured a ruling in his favour.
However, In February 2017, it was reported that Ibru resigned from office.
The resignation came barely two months after securing victory in court as the authentic chairman of the hotel.
Ibru said that he decided to take the move in the interest of the company and the Ibru family.
In November 2016, the NSE suspended trading in shares of Ikeja Hotel to protect shareholders of the company in the wake of sustained board imbroglio.
According to the NSE, the suspension, pursuant to the Provisions of Rule 15.45 of its Rulebook was to safeguard shareholders of the company as the dispute has negatively impacted the company’s governance structure.

NOLLYWOOD ACTRESS IRETIOLA DOYLE CELEBRATES HER 50TH BIRTHDAY TODAY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/nollywood-actress-iretiola-doyle.html

Nollywood Actress Iretiola Doyle shares on her Instagram page as she celebrates her 50th birthday today

:

A NEW THING

TODAY...I SPEAK OVER MY LIFE AND MY HOUSEHOLD THAT GOD HAS DONE A NEW THING IN OUR LIVES.
MY TESTIMONIES WILL NOT FADE AWAY, AND MY VICTORIES SHALL NEVER CEASE. GOD'S GLORY SHINES OVER MY LIFE, AND I HAVE BEEN LIFTED ETERNALLY.
I FOREVER PROSPER IN ALL MY HANDS FIND TO DO. MY SUCCESS IS UNENDING AND MY PROGRESS IS LIMITLESS. GOD HAS SHOWN ME MERCY, I HAVE RECEIVED FAVOUR, AND I MOVE FORWARD, NEVER TO BE STAGNATED.
OF MY INCREASE IN LIFE, GRACE AND FAITH, THERE SHALL BE NO END. I AM JET-PROPELLED INTO DESTINY. I GROW DEEPER IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND REVELATION OF GOD. I AM ESTABLISHED IN HIS WILL. THE BLOOD OF HIS EVERLASTING COVENANT SPEAKS MERCY ON MY BEHALF. DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY. PERFECT LOVE HAS CAST OUT FEAR. I AM THE THE BELOVED OF THE LORD, SANCTIFIED UNTO GOOD WORKS. I AM ANOINTED TO EXCEL IN LIFE.
I HAVE AN ETERNITY WITH GOD, I ATTRACT GREATNESS. I HAVE PEACE, I AM STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT IN MY INNER MAN. I EXCHANGE WEAKNESS FOR THE POWER OF HIS SPIRIT. I MOVE UP TO A HIGHER LEVEL, I PROGRESS TO TO ANOTHER DIMENSION. THE FUTURE OPENS UP TO ME. MY HARVEST IS UNSTOPPABLE. I ENTER INTO MY SEASON OF UNHINDERED GREATNESS. I OVERCOME THE WORLD.
MY FAITH WILL NOT FAIL. I AM DESTINED TO EAT THE GOOD OF THE LAND. I AM PREPARED TO REIGN IN LIFE. ABUNDANCE IS HERE, AND THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN ARE OPENED. THE GATES OF POVERTY ARE BROKEN. I HAVE ACCESS INTO THE STORE HOUSES OF ETERNAL PROSPERITY. MY PLACE IN CHRIST IS SECURED. MY INHERITANCE IS PRESERVED. MY LOT IS MAINTAINED. GOD HAS SETTLED ME IN JESUS NAME...
I BELIVE AND I SAY AMEN.
(CULLED FROM GOKE COKERS "GOD'FESSIONS)

OLUSOLA ANIKE....IRETIOLA...PELE...O KU IRIN. AADOTA ODUN KO MAY NSE NKAN KEKERE. HMM...WO IBI TI O TIN BA BO....WO IBI TI OLORUN GBE E DE...YOU ARE A LIVING TESTIMONY OF HOW THE LORD CAN TAKE A HOT MESS AND TURN IT INTO SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ...IN HIS OWN TIME.
WHAT A JOURNEY EH..? NOT ALWAYS SMOOTH...NOT ALWAYS "PICTURE PERFECT" BUT THERE IS NO DENYING THAT THE LORD HE HAS DONE ALL THINGS WELL.

COPY OF THE ONE-MILE RADIUS RESTRAINING ORDER ISSUED AGAINST MERCY AIGBE’S HUSBAND, LANRE GENTRY, YESTERDAY
SOURCE: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/copy-of-one-mile-radius-restraining.html

AREGBESOLA SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER ON INQUEST INTO ADELEKE’S DEATH

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/aregbesola-signs-executive-order-on.html

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday signed an executive order setting up a coroner inquest into the death of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke.
The governor, while signing the executive order in Osogbo, also appointed a Magistrate, Mr. Olusegun Ayodele, as the head of the inquest.
Aregbesola, also directed that the inquest be carried out in Osogbo within three weeks.
The governor, said inquest became necessary because of the suddenness and the circumstances surrounding the death of the Senator.
According to him, a coroner inquest is a long established procedure, dating back to the eighth century and is generally applied in the interest of the community to investigate sudden and unexplained death of a person.
“A sudden and an unexplained death of a person of high status must be investigated and documented.
“Therefore, the status of our brother, late Isiaka Adeleke, the suddenness and the circumstances of his death will propel a responsible government to set up an inquest to unravel the circumstances of his death.
“History will not be kind to us as a government if we fail to do the inquest into the circumstances surrounding his death.
“We must do this for historical purposes because it is in the general interest of the community and state to investigate any sudden or unnatural death of this nature,” Aregbesola said.
Earlier in his speech, the State Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs Abiola Adewemimo, noted that the circumstances and the suddenness of Adeleke’s death necessitated the setting up of the Coroner inquest by the governor.
She added that the inquest would ascertain the cause of death of the deceased, adding that the governor by virtue of the Coroner Law is empowered to order such inquest in this present circumstance.

I MAY STILL BE SINGLE BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK CELEBRITIES ARE SPOILT -OKORO
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/i-may-still-be-single-because-people.html

32-year-old charming Ghanaian cum Nollywood actress, Chinyere Yvonne Okoro who has dual citizenship has revealed that she may still be single because most people think celebrities are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing partners. She also explained that she has been single for more than two years because men just do not have the courage to approach her.
She made this known i in an interview recently during the launch of Glam Africa Magazine in Accra.
According to her, “The issue is men don’t have balls to come forward to ask me out because they think I am already hooked or perhaps I am very high maintenance”
“Also, I may still be single because most people think celebrities are spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing partners but that is a very wrong perception.
“A good number of celebs are single because they are confused as to who to accept in their life. You see, you are not sure if the person is coming in because of your fame and money or the person wants to be with you because of real love” she added.
“It is not about money but if a man is not brave enough to come forward then I do not think I want to be with such a person. Anyway, who wants to be with a timid man? She queried.
Contrary to the perception people may have, she does not really have eyes for high society men. She is ready to date a man who will understand her and make her happy.
Asked if she has not come across such a man yet, Yvonne said “No I haven’t but I hope to meet him very soon” , she added.

EL-RUFAI LIFTS CURFEW IN TWO LGAS IN SOUTHERN KADUNA
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/el-rufai-lifts-curfew-in-two-lgas-in.html

The Kaduna State government has lifted the curfew imposed on two Local Government areas in the Southern part of the State.
The two Local Government areas are Jema’a and Kaura.
The curfew in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area was lifted earlier.
This is coming barely two weeks after the Nigerian Army launched the operation ‘Harbin Kunama to flush out bandits and criminal elements in Southern Kaduna.
A statement by Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, said the curfew imposed on the two LGAs in December 2016 and in early this year following renewed crisis, was lifted based on the recommendation of the Kaduna State Security Council.
The statement read in part, “Today’s meeting received and reviewed reports from the security agencies which pointed to improvements in the security situation. Therefore, the council upheld the security recommendation that the curfew be removed with immediate effect.
“The State Security Council expressed the hope that all communities in the area will embrace the opportunities offered by the improved security situation to make sustained moves for peace and harmony.”

The security council meeting, which was chaired by El-Rufai, had in attendance the Commander 1 Division Garrison, Nigerian Army, Brig-Gen Ismaila Isa; Representative of the Commandant, Nigerian Navy School of Armament, Capt SM Ochidi; and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Agyole Abeh, and heads of other security agencies in the state.

We’ve Already Started Moving Out Of Recession – Finance Minister
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/weve-already-started-moving-out-of.html


We’ve Already Started Moving Out Of Recession – Finance Minister
EYES OF LAGOS TV 11:46 PM POLITICS



The minister of finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, yesterday said the nation’s economy has started moving out recession as President Muhammadu Buhari’s- led administration was bringing a lot of efficiency into government spending and infrastructure.
Speaking during a flagship programme of Covenant Christian Centre in Lagos, the minister said the government in the short- term has to borrow and invest in infrastructure rather than wait for the global oil prices to recover.
According to her, the country in the past has little to show for all the oil revenues of boom years and questioned the past administrations on roads, power plants, and infrastructures constructed.
She said when global oil prices were $110, the federal government was borrowing to pay salaries but today, “Our borrowing is to invest infrastructure.
“Today we’re trying to do a lot more with lot less. That’s the summary of our agenda.If we’d invested our oil boom in the things that matters- road, rail, power- we wouldn’t be where we are today.”
She noted that the Development Bank of Nigeria(DBN) has taken off, to support small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) and federal government has reviewed and repositioned the YouWiN!Connect Enterprise Programme.
The minster explained that government was blocking leakages in Customs revenue collection with huge investment in scanners, and in a long overdue Single Window system.
Adeosun said the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has identified more than 800,000 companies currently not paying taxes across the country
She said the country’s Tax-to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio was among the lowest in the world.
“Nigeria’s tax-to- GDP ratio is six per cent, one of the lowest in the world Only 214 people paying tax greater than N20million. We are working to change that.”
The minister commended President Buhari and his vice president, Yemi Osinbajo for their commitment in bringing lasting change to the masses.

Kogi: Issues Surrounding Assassination Attempt On Melaye
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/kogi-issues-surrounding-assassination.html


Kogi: Issues Surrounding Assassination Attempt On Melaye
EYES OF LAGOS TV 11:33 PM POLITICS




In the nineties, a Commercial Bank’s Agricultural Credit Officer who is an indigene of Kogi state approved agricultural credit loans for some small scale farmers in Koton-Karfe town and environs. The then Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe, the late Alhaji Shaibu Mamman Lafiya guaranteed the loans which became bad due to non-repayment. The Agricultural Credit Officer, an Ebirra tribe also but from Okene side, chased for recovery of the loans for long without success. One day, he went to Ohimege-Igu and told him that he was arranging with security operatives to arrest and prosecute Ohimege-Igu’s subjects for the loan default.
The face of Ohimege-Igu, who shortly before then was sharing with the Officer, the usual jokes and amusements between Ebirra-Koton and Ebirra-Okene became smitten; with his eyes set and firm, he turned to the Agricultural Credit Officer and put a question to him : ‘’You want to come and arrest and take your people own to court? If you finish that your work, aren’t you coming back home to meet them’’? And that was the last time that officer went there to chase for the loan.
By and large, who wants to kill Dino Melaye, the Cicero of Ijumuland and the Senator representing the Kogi West? To kill him for what purpose and to achieve what, which are the questions begging for answers that may not be of any use.
On Saturday April 29, 2017, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, paraded before the newsmen in Abuja the six suspects arrested in connection with an assassination attempt on Melaye in his home in Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area of Kogi State on April 15.
Moshood said the arrested suspects included a sole administrator of Ijumu local government, Taofiq Isa and his orderly, Sgt. James Ede. Others are Ade Obage, Abdullahi Isah, Ahmed Ajayi and Michael Bamidele.
Unarguably, most of these suspects stood with Melaye under the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his election to the senate against the then incumbent, Senator Smart Adeyemi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and most formidable contender, Samuel Bamidele Aro of the Accord Party (AP). Against all odds, they aided him to floor Aro who some people allegedly said had earlier defeated him during APC primary before crossing to Accord Party to contest against Melaye and others in the main election.
The story has it that some of the boys parted ways with Melaye allegedly on the grounds that they were not well compensated for their daring-do jobs during his election. Their decisions were aided by the appointment of Taofiq Isa as sole administrator; who they said was rather ‘’wearing munificent gloves in the hand’’, just as they see Melaye as if he was a ‘’ former Araldites Production Manager’’ while relating with them. It is the same set of boys that allegedly demonstrated with play cards calling for his recall from the senate back at home last year and also before the National Assembly by April 1, 2016. Besides, they felt that despite his activism in the senate and been in the corridor of power superintended by Senate President, Bukola Saraki , same has not transmitted with any development project zoned back home; two years into his term in the senate.
It’s doubtful if any current member of the senate is free of this accusation back in his or her constituency; a condition caused not just by the recession but the cataract relationship between the Presidency and the leadership of the senate. And like a general without troops, the senate controls no votes to dispense favours with or allocates projects for communities. And Melaye’s case is no exception.
The birth of any form of political violence or killings in a community is akin to sowing dragon teeth which invariably leads only to the harvesting of whirlwind, woes, chaos, destructions and regrets. When it dawned in Okene some years back, no one gained anything. Okunland has been home of peace, and may that remains till eternity.
Graciously enough, Governor Yahaya Bello’s political philosophy abhors political violence and killings. One clear example was his reaction when he denounced and sent some boys from Agassa from his campaign trails for been involved in a violent fight with opponent group while he was seeking for the APC ticket.
This is why the call of the Okunland traditional rulers on April 30, 2017 led by the Acting Chairman of the Okunland Traditional Council, the Olubunu of Bunu land, Oba Adewale Ikusemoro for a truce between Taofiq Isa and Melaye is commendable. Since no one negotiates while in chains, the elders’ demand for unconditional release of Taofiq needs no further stressing.
This supremacy feud is needless. Both Melaye and Taofiq need each other including the other suspects in police custody. Taofiq can’t be a garrison commander like other Local Government Chairmen and at the same time being a diplomat out their calling shots in the national political sphere or discourse. Besides, even in the absence of any other assessment, Melaye’s nuisance value can be politically appropriated to the benefit of his immediate community, Kogi West and Kogi state; for his usual disquieting presence in the senate. While many members go through third parties to table issues from their domains on the floor of the senate, the Cicero of Ijumuland goes straight to do his own equanimity.
Nigeria is a federation, therefore each state is almost sovereign in nature, which is the reason a governor is described as the chief security officer of his state. One must therefore give to Caesar what belong to Caesar.
A Fulani herdsman came to the town and saw the then larger than life Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto addressing a political crowd. While some people were clapping their hands for a good talk, some sections of the gathering were murmuring in disagreement with what he said. The man went back to his farm only to watch his son directing a herd of over 50 cow heads with one stick. The boy shouted at the herd; go right and it went to the right, go left and it took to left, without any questioning his directives. This made his father to conclude that with a herd of 50 cows, one needs just a stick. But for 10 human beings in your custody or under your control, one needs 10 sticks of different sizes, shapes, lengths and so on.
This is why the wisdom of Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe, the late Alhaji Shaibu Mamman Lafiya counts for Melaye, just as he requires request of the Okunland Traditional rulers for soft landing in this ‘’family matter’’. Besides, Melaye is yet to formally disclose to Governor Bello, the chief security officer of the state that he was attacked during his visit to his village. This will also provide grand soft landing for Melaye in the needed resolutions between and even with Taofiq, ‘’other suspects’’ and some Okun people who generally now feel he has used his Abuja connection to arrest and detain their relations in Abuja.

MTN Nigeria sacks 280 long-serving workers
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/05/mtn-nigeria-sacks-280-long-serving.html

South African telecoms firm, MTN, on Friday sacked 280 of its employees in Nigeria, in a major job cut that affected about 15% of the company’s entire Nigerian workforce.


Those affected by the move include some 200 permanent employees and about 80 contract staff across various cadres, ranging from new graduates to senior managers.

Many of those sacked spent up to 15 years with the company having joined MTN as it opened its business in Nigeria in 2001.
Our sources said affected workers were given a dismal severance of 75% of their gross monthly income multiplied by the number of years with the company.

“Given that the company is about 16 years old in Nigeria, the severance package brought pain and discontent among the affected staff,” one source said.

“With the payoff structure, senior managers with 15 years of service were left with about N15 million. Most of the staff got less than N5 million.”
MTN Nigeria recorded nearly $1 billion in profit in 2016. However, the telecoms firm was heavily fined by the Nigerian government for failing to disconnect 5.2 million unregistered subscribers.

The spokesperson for the company, Funso Aina, could not be reached for comments on Monday.

But a source familiar with the latest downsizing said 200 of those affected had earlier agreed to leave the company voluntarily.
The source said the sackings were as a result of “the changing dynamics of the telecoms industry in recent times”.

The source said the company introduced the voluntary severance scheme, VSS, to provide a window for one week in April, for persons who have served in MTN for five years and above to take up.

Those who decided to leave under the VSS were to be paid the equivalent of their three weeks gross salary for every year they worked with MTN.
“What it means is that if one worked in MTN for five years, one would be paid three weeks of their gross salaries times five,” the source said.
Eventually, all 280 staff were disengaged under the VSS and paid their benefits, the source said.

Lagos Tackles Kidnaping With Security Buffer Zone
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/lagos-tackles-kidnaping-with-security.html

To check incessant attacks from kidnappers ,Lagos State Government at the weekend said it has acquired five hectares of land to establish a security buffer zonr for the security operatives at Igbodu Community in Epe area of Lagos notorious for kidnapping activities.
The state commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami disclosed this at the weekend during a ministerial press conference in Lagos.
He said government was determined to arrest the rising wave of kidnapping in Epe area of the state and had therefore acquired the hectares of land for security operatives to effectively checkmate activities of kidnappers.
Harping on the forthcoming local government election, the commissioner said the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission had put in place all necessary measures to ensure that the polls hold as planned.
Folami added that the government had engaged Community Development Associations, CDAs and members of Community Development Committees, CDCs in the state to take ownership of some of its community-based projects for adequate monitoring, management and supervision.
According to him, the various CDAs and CDCs across the State presently provide a platform through which government tested the viability of its plans, policies and programmes and also obtains feedback from members of the public on the acceptability of government projects.

Anti-graft War: NIS Withdraws 518 Officers From Airports
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/anti-graft-war-nis-withdraws-518.html

In a bid to conform to the executive order on the ease of doing business in the Country as well as check corruption among its personnel, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), has withdrawn 518 Officers and men from five (5) major International Airports.
The major airports are, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, Port Harcourt International Airport, and Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu and others from State Commands.
The action is borne out of the Comptroller General’s quest to assist his officers key in to the President Muhammadu Buhari’s change mantra and as well as to eliminate unnecessary bureaucracy in the course of rendering services to the public.
The withdrawal which was contained in a statement signed by the Service spokesman, Sunday James, explained that “the massive deployment is to reduce the number of officers and men in these formations by half for efficient Service delivery and to enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.”
According to the statement, the immediate withdrawal which is part of the reforms aimed at bringing positive change of attitude to work among personnel of the service became necessary against the backdrop of sharp practices and in an effort to curtail same.
The statement partly reads, “ The Comptroller General, Muhammad Babandede is therefore calling on all Officers and men of the Service to align with the change mantra and eliminate every unnecessary bureaucracy in the course of rendering services to the public”.

OBASANJO WARNS FOREIGN NATIONALS AGAINST UNDERMINING NIGERIA’S SELF RELIANCE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/obasanjo-warns-foreign-nationals.html

A former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has warned foreign nationals and investors doing business in Nigeria to stop undermining the nation’s self-reliance in their business dealings with Nigeria, saying that their dealings should be mutually beneficial.
He was speaking in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital during an interactive session with members of the Indian Professionals Forum, where he sought more trade and economic relations with the two countries
Giving an outlook of the Nigerian economy, the former president expressed optimism that Nigeria is capable of surpassing the 1% national growth, predicted by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) an the World Bank if more attention is paid to agriculture sector of the nation’s economy.
”I want to say it as it is, there are some Indian companies who have been doing what they would not have done in their country and that is unfortunate – I hope those of you who are doing the right thing who really make us proud of our association with India will make sure that this type of thing is stopped.
“Such actions not only give Nigeria a bad name, they are also giving India a bad name, they give businesses generally in this part of the world a bad name but we should not allow them to go away with it.
”A situation where Jollof rice is being prepared and shipped to Nigeria is ridiculous to the extreme. If that is done by an Indian company, such company should be condemned, that is not what we want – what we want is something that will really enhance our capacity of achieving what we should be – self reliance and making contributions to the global economy and that, we should be able to do.
”The projection by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank is that we will grow by 1% by this year, I believe that if we do very well in the Agriculture sector during this raining season, we may even do a little bit better than that. So, the outlook for the Nigerian economy is good, it is bright and all of us who are in business with Nigeria must now be prepare to take advantage of the up that is coming to us in Nigeria,” Obasanjo stressed.

Intrigues In Dino, Goje’s Weighty Allegations
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/intrigues-in-dino-gojes-weighty.html



Lawmakers Dino Melaye and Danjuma Goje attracted a lot of media attention in the past week, following two weighty allegations bordering on assassination attempts on Melaye and the raiding of Goje’s Abuja abode by a team of policemen. While the Senate has set up committees to investigate these incidents, ISAH AHURAKA YUSUF wonders about the authenticity of the claims by both men.
he news went virile on Saturday, April 15, 2017, that Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, escaped an attempt to assassinate him, after gunmen attacked his home in Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area of Kogi State.
Melaye, who seized the moment to mount a soap-box to canonise and demonstrate his escape, fingered the chairman of Ijumu Local Government, Hon. Taofiq Isa, saying the attack was carried out because of his criticism of the state government.
Addressing newsmen same day, Melaye said the assailants came about midnight and started shooting sporadically at his building. He said the shooting occurred intermittently with little break for more than one hour, where two of his vehicles (security car and a caravan) were destroyed.
In his own narration, Dino said: “I got a rousing welcome from Kabba to my home town on Friday and I know it angered the powers-that-be in the state, which mobilised for this assassination attempt on my life.
“At about midnight, we started hearing gunshots. They fired more than 200 rounds of bullets into the house. This attempt to kill me will not stop me from speaking the truth. If I speak the truth, I will die; if I lie, I will die. I have decided to speak the truth and die. I’m not afraid of death. I only respect men; I don’t fear them.
“This attempt is being championed by the chairman of my local government. He had said it many times that he will do everything to stop me from coming home. Besides, those assailants, when leaving, were chanting ‘we will know if it’s Taofiq that owns the land or you’.
“I am championing an administrative cause. I will continue to speak and be the voice to the voiceless. I’m not deterred; I remain resolute to make Kogi better. Nothing will stop me from coming home,” the fiery senator vowed.
Melaye, who officially had six mobile policemen in his entourage and in the tradition of politically exposed persons, with a cortege of thugs to boot, said he suspected some persons collaborating with the Police Division, Aiyetoro Gbede, whom he said did not come to his house until three hours after the hoodlums had left, despite being a stone-throw from his house.
“The DPO did not come to my house until three hours later. Even the area command in Kabba was not notified until I called the CP. I suspect a satanic collaboration with the police in Aiyetoro. Only God will protect us in this country but, definitely, not the police,” he added.
He later disclosed before senators – just as Senator Isa Misau (Bauchi Central) transmitted in the Senate plenary of April 26 – saying that none of the six policemen and the thugs shot back at the assailants, who spent over an hour during the said ‘operation’.
On April 25, 2017, the Senate said that passage of the 2017 budget has been put on hold, following the April 20, 2017 raid on the Abuja home of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, by the policemen; based on information provided by a whistle-blower.
Speaking during the Senate plenary last Wednesday, Goje said the policemen carted away his laptop and critical files relating to the budget from his study.
Also, Goje disclosed that, beside the 18 files, the sum of N18million, $19,000 and 4,000 Saudi Riyals were found and taken away from his home by the police.
Goje, who raised a point of order, said the Appropriation Committee had planned to lay the budget on Tuesday for the Senate’s passage on Wednesday.
“I want to apologise to my colleagues that we could not keep to the timetable you gave us to lay the budget yesterday (Tuesday) and to get it passed today (Wednesday).
“It is not our fault; it is the fault of the police, because the police interfered with the whole budget process. I hope Nigerians will not turn around to blackmail the National Assembly, because the process was truncated by the police.
“I am so traumatised. I don’t know which files are missing [or] available now. Some of these files have to do with the work I am doing.
“Don’t blame us if the budget is further delayed, because it’s not my fault. It is not the fault of National Assembly. The police are the ones, maybe, hiding the budget now. Maybe, they are using the laptop and files to come out with the budget,” he said.
Goje disclosed that the raid started around 4 p.m. while he was in the office and he called the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to inform them of what was going on.
Saraki and Dogara made efforts and contacted Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and all the relevant agencies, including the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but the operation continued, Goje said.
Meanwhile, Saraki constituted a committee headed by Senator Jibrin Barau (Kano North) to investigate the raid and summon the IG, Saraki also mandated the committee to look into the files with the police that are affecting the passage of the budget.
The Senate that asked the IG to investigate assassination attempt on Dino also directed Senator Barau-led committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged attempt to assassinate Melaye and the “poor response of the security agents attached to the senator.”
In other words, if the Police report falls short of senate’s expectation or says Dino is behind the assassination attempt of himself, senate will revert to its own report. Of course, the Senate cannot be a complainant, investigator, prosecutor and, perhaps, the judge in this same matter.
Furthermore, the senate directed Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu to lead a high power four-man delegation to the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to extract a promise of neutrality from him in the course of the investigation and, possibly, prosecution of the suspects in the assassination of Melaye.
Bello is also to undertake that he will direct his Attorney General to issue a fiat to an independent and private legal practitioner to prosecute culprits in the assassination attempt on Melaye’s life.
According to an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Alasa Ismaila, what the Senate is asking for is already contained in the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance Bello took before assuming his office.
“This Senate is not just peopled by seasoned men and women; otherwise, it ought to know that Bello swore to the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance before he assumed office. The firs duty of a governor as the chief security officer of his state is to safe-guard the lives and property in his state. What if he says Ekweremadu has come to insult him and shuns the visit? He will be right for so doing,’’Alasa posited.
Alasa went further: “How is one sure that Melaye wasw not the one who concocted stories of gunshots at his house? Come to think of it, over 10 hired assassins shot over 200 bullets at his house for over an hour and not even a goat was killed in his compound. None of the six policemen attached to him countered or replied these assailants’ gun shots, yet, they did not attempt to gain entrance into his house to do the needful, or what they were paid to go do, even with such huge encouragement from his security details. I think this story was not well plotted.
‘’Experience dictates that hired assassins don’t shoot asunder; they shoot on sighting the target(s),” Alasa added.
According to an analyst who didn’t want to be mentioned, also said: ‘’How can assailants shoot for more than an hour without going inside when there were no security forces confronting them? Armed robbers don’t do that, talk more of those paid to do a job.
‘’The entrance doors to the sitting room and kitchen were left out in favour of the side ceilings, which Dino will spend less to repair. Dino’s theatrics have taken another bend,” the analyst said.
Melaye had, in a statement on April 19, 2017, said the silence of his state governor over the assassination attempt speak volumes.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Gideon Ayodele stated that: “It is outrageous and high sense of disbelief that four days after the attempt on his life, the Kogi State governor, the Chief Security Officer of the State, has neither called nor visited to know the state of affairs with him as a serving Senator from Kogi State. The Governor’s deafening silence speaks volumes.”
While reacting through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kingsley Fanwo, Governor Yahaya Bello said he won’t join issues with Melaye, whom he claimed was being “hunted by his past.”
The statement by Fanwao read: “We do not want to join issues with Senator Dino Melaye. He is an adult and can explain the path he has chosen to tread. If he accused the Governor of complacency in the so called assassination attempt, those who have been following the trend from the day his group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will not be surprised.
“The case is under investigation by the Police and making serious statements about it may be seen to be subjudice. We have been witnessing imaginary attacks in the state and when the Governor travelled to Kogi East, his antagonists also alleged he was attacked even when the opposite was the case.
“As a government, we believe the Nigeria Police is capable of getting to the root of the allegations and do justice to it once and for all. Governor Yahaya Bello is redefining leadership in Kogi State, therefore, the plan of “One Day One Trouble” will not work.
Melaye and Governor Yahaya Bello were very close, until May 2016, when the governor appointed care-taker chairmen for the 21 local governments in the state.
According to the SA Media and Strategy, Abdulkarim Omuya Abdulmalik, Melaye brought in Mrs Folashade Ayoade, who Bello appointed as secretary to the state government. “But he demanded to be allowed to nominate persons as care-taker chairmen for all the local governments in the Kogi West to which the governor said ‘no’. Also, he wanted to nominate someone for his local government and the governor told him he had someone else in mind. This was all that led to Melaye’s quarrel with the governor,” Abdulmalik dislcosed.
There are even more new twists in Senator Danjuma Goje’s story, as police had not only denied carting away documents relating to the 2017 budget, but disclosed that they rather went away with ‘’documents with security concerns.”
The Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday April 27, 2017, said Goje’s account of the raid in his house was false, misleading and capable of misinforming Nigerians.
Moshood said items recovered include, N18m; $19,850; 9, 400 Saudi Riyals; 38 Files and six envelopes containing documents; a laptop; file on funds spent on security administration and information gathering in 2009 and none of the items included the 2017 budget document.
Although Goje preemptively state at the Senate plenary of April 26, 2017 that as a big politician, he has about 50 households by the time police raided his house, meaning the large cash vault found in his house do not belong to him alone to warrant violating Money Laundering Act 2011. But the during police raid, only three adults that conducted them round the house were met.
Part 1, Subsection 1 of the Money Laundering Act 2011 states that: “No person or body corporate shall, except in a transaction through a financial institution, make or accept cash payment of a sum exceeding- (a) N5,000,000.00 or its equivalent, in the case of an individual; or (b)N10,000,000.00 or its equivalent in the case of a body corporate.”
Moshood who said that Police actions were in line with the provisions of Sec. 4 and 28 of Police Act and Regulations, disclosed that among the files taken away is the file containing details on “how former Kano State governor, Ibrahim Shekarau plotted the assassination of Sheikh Jafaru; and that ”further investigation was ongoing into the matter.
The late Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam, one of the Nigerian’s foremost and respected Islamic Scholar, was murdered while leading the Subhi (early morning) prayers in his Kano residential Mosque on Friday April 13, 2007; at a time Goje and Shekarau were governors of Gombe and Kano states, respectively.
Moshood again warned Goje during a breakfast television show titled, ‘Sunrise Daily’ on Channels Television, that he risks police arrest, if he continues to ignore its invitation.
Moshood said: “On the day the house was searched, a call was put through to him (Goje) by Ango Usman, who is the housekeeper, confirming to him the presence of the police team. He (Goje) said he was coming on that day but he switched off his phone afterwards.
“The following day, which was a Friday, one Nura got in touch with the police investigator and said they were coming on Friday with their lawyers to the police headquarters to meet with the investigators but they never did. Later, they called that they would come on Monday but they never did.
“So, I am using this opportunity to equally call on him to appear before the investigation panel because the investigation is still ongoing into all the recovery that was made in his house and it is important that nobody be allowed to cast aspersion on the investigation of police to pervert the course of justice.”
When asked if Goje would be arrested should he continue to shun police invitation, Moshood said: “Yes, nobody is above arrest. We will definitely do so and it is important for him to know that on time and appear before the police investigation team handling the matter.”

NNAMDI KANU RELEASED, PRODUCES ISRAELI RABBI
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/nnamdi-kanu-released-produces-israeli.html

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was last night finally released from custody.
Kanu who was brought to the Federal High Court in Abuja at about 7pm regained his freedom after fully perfecting his bail conditions.
Accompanied by family members, lawyers and sureties, Kanu signed his own portion on the bail paper to pave way for his release from Kuje Prisons.
The Biafran leader left the court premises around 6:45pm when he was driven away in a Mercedes Benz 4matic GL500 with registration number ABC 46 MU.
On April 25, Justice Binta Murtala Nyako had granted Kanu bail in the sum of N100 million, saying the bail was granted to the defendant to enable him attend to his ailing health condition.
The judge, in addition, ordered that the defendant produces three sureties with N100m each.
The judge, however, noted that the sureties to be provided by Kanu must include a highly respected Jewish leader since, according to her, the defendant claimed Judaism as his religion.
Another of the surety, the judge said, should be a senior and highly placed individual of Igbo extraction and in the ranking of a senator, while the last was expected to be a respected individual who is resident in Abuja, with proof of ownership of landing property.
In addition, Justice Nyako said Kanu must never be seen in a crowd of more than 10 people, adding that, “no interviews and no rallies”.
Also Kanu was ordered to deposit his international passport including his British passport with the court, even as the court should on a monthly basis be furnished with a progress report on the health of the defendant.
Kanu co-accused were however unfortunate as the court denied them bail on grounds that the charges against them were grievous.
The judge also refused to grant their second motion which prayed the court to review it’s earlier ruling on protection of witnesses.
Kanu, Onwudiwe Chidiebere, Banjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi were arraigned by the Federal Government on an eleven count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony and illegal possession of firearms amongst others.
But, Justice Nyako had struck out six out of the 11 count amended charge filed against the defendants on grounds that the charges lacked competence.

Ycee advises Efe: “Do not put all your money into music”
source; http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/ycee-advises-efe-do-not-put-all-your.html



Nigerian Rapper, and Jagaban Crooner, Ycee has advised Big Brother Naija winner, Efe not to put all his money into music. Though he says if music is really something he’s passionate about, then he should turn deaf ears to people who says he shouldn’t venture into music.

Ycee noted that Efe already has the fame, and if he really puts his time into making good music, then he’d liely go far.

In his words:

“Regarding what he wants to go into.. You know, I haven’t listened to any of his songs. But lot of people are saying he shouldn’t do it. He shouldn’t take his money into music. I feel if music is something he is really passionate about and he really wants to do it.

think with the amount of money, and the amount of popularlity he’s been able to get from big brother, if he works on his craft, it’s not just having passion for music, but taking that time out to create good music… Music that people can actually enjoy. He’s already gotten the fame, so that takes away like 90% of having to be patient and release music from time-to-time.

All I’m gonna say to him is, Don’t put all your money in music. It’s not venture that it’d yield money like asap. It’s like all the people you see making it, they actually started out from time.

So it’s not something you wake up today, and you’re a star. It take s along process.”

It’s Good Friday
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/its-good-friday.html

Today is Good Friday. It is a day, a Christian holiday in the Church calendar, that commemorates the crucifixion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. It is observed during Holy or Passion Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of Passover. The other days of the Triduum are Holy Saturday and the Easter Sunday proper. The 40 days of Lenten observation of fasting, praying and abstinence ends on that day which also trips off the anticipation of the resurrection.
On that day as on Ash Wednesday that ushered in the Lent, most Christians, especially Catholics, abstain from eating meat. Good Friday is instituted as a legal holiday in many countries around the world, including in most Western countries (especially among Anglican and Catholic nations) as well as in 12 states in the United States of America. It is also a Holy day of obligation.
The day opens with the betrayal of Jesus through the instrumentality of Judas Iscariot and his subsequent arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. After the mock trial before the High Priest, Jesus was taken to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, under charges of subverting the nation, opposing taxes to Caesar, and making himself a king. Pilate authorized the Jewish leaders to judge Jesus according to their own law and execute sentence; however, the Jewish leaders replied that they were not allowed by the Romans to carry out a sentence of death.
Pilate himself did not find a basis for sentencing him to death yet under the guidance of the chief priests, the crowd asked for Barabbas, who had been imprisoned for committing murder during an insurrection. Warnings by Pilate’s wife could not sway the opinion of those already bent on taking out the Saviour. Coming before the crowd one last time, Pilate declared Jesus innocent and washed his own hands in water to show he had no part in this condemnation. Nevertheless, Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified in order to forestall a riot and ultimately to keep his job.
Jesus agonized on the cross for six hours. During his last three hours on the cross, from noon to 3 pm, darkness fell over the whole land. Jesus spoke from the cross, saying “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
With a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit. There was an earthquake, tombs broke open, and the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. This tear, according to Christian tradition, signified a removal of restriction of the common Jews from the Temple’s “Holiest of Holies”, and that God’s people now could, themselves, communicate directly with their advocate before God, Jesus the Christ, rather than needing the Temple’s High Priest as an intercessor. The centurion on guard at the site of crucifixion declared, “Truly, this was God’s Son!”
Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin and secret follower of Jesus and another secret follower of Jesus and member of the Sanhedrin named Nicodemus brought his body from the cross and buried him after they had obtained permission from Pilate. That was after a soldier had pierced the side of Jesus with a lance causing blood and water to flow out, and the centurion informed Pilate that Jesus was dead. Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in a clean linen shroud, and placed it in his own new tomb that had been carved in the rock in a garden near the site of crucifixion.
The events of Good Friday are commemorated in the Stations of the Cross, a 14-step devotion often performed by Catholics during Lent and especially on Good Friday. The Stations of the Cross are commonly observed on Wednesdays and Fridays during Lent. Another devotional, the Acts of Reparation, may also be prayed.
Good Friday is a day of fasting within the Church. Traditionally, it is the only day in the Catholic calendar that Mass and celebration of the Holy Eucharist are not allowed. A liturgy may still be performed and communion, if taken, comes from hosts consecrated on Holy Thursday. Baptism, penance, and anointing of the sick may be performed, but only in unusual circumstances. Church bells are silent. Altars are left bare.
The day ends with Veneration of the Cross. On Good Friday, the entire Church fixes her gaze on the Cross at Calvary. Each member of the Church tries to understand at what cost Christ has won our redemption. We unite ourselves to our Saviour, and we contemplate our own death to sin in the Death of our Lord.

PMB Appoints New Heads For PENCOM, FMB, 21 Others
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/pmb-appoints-new-heads-for-pencom-fmb.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved appointments of heads of various federal government agencies.

The appointments, which are with immediate effect was made known through a statement issued by the director media in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, Bolaji Adebiyi.

The agencies and their new heads are National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Barrister Julie Okah-Donli as Director-General; National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Barrister Mary Ikpere-Eta as Director-General; Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), Bayo Somefun as Managing Director, while Tijani Suleiman, Mr. Jasper Azuatalam, Kemi Nelson are appointed as executive directors.
Others include Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB), Arc. Ahmed Dangiwa as Managing Director, Melvin Eboh as Executive Director (Org. Resourcing), Hajiya Rahimatu Aliyu as Executive Director (Loans Department, Securities Issuance and Market Development) and Umaru Abdullahi Dankane as Executive Director (Policy and Strategy Loans Set-Up and Pay Off); While Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has Alex Okoh as Director General.

Others include Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Abdulkadir Saidu Umar as Executive Secretary; Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies (MINILS), Saliu Dada Alabi, Director General; National Park Service (NPS), Ibrahim Musa Goni as Conservator-General/Chief Executive Officer (CEO); Service Compact (SERVICOM), Nnenna A. Akajemeli as National Coordinator/CEO; National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Dr. Nasiru Mohammed Ladan as Director General.

Others are National Research Institute for Chemical Technology, Professor Jef. T. Barminas as Director General; Nigeria Institute for Social and Economic Research (NISER), Dr. Haruna Yerima as Director General; Nigeria Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Sunday Thomas as Deputy Commissioner; Protection Council,Tunde Erukera as Executive Secretary; Federal Character Commission, Barr. Mohammed Bello Tukur as secretary; National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Dikko Aliyu Abdulrahman as Director-General (Subject to Senate Confirmation), with Funso Doherty as chairman, Akin Akinwale, Abubakar Zaki Magawata, Ben Oviosun and Nyerere Ayim as executive Commissioners.

Easter 2017: FG declares Friday, Monday, public holidays

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/easter-2017-fg-declares-friday-monday.html



The Federal Government has declared Friday 14th and Monday 17th April, 2017 as Public Holidays to mark the Good Friday and Easter celebrations.

‎The declaration was contained in a statement signed by the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Muhammadu Maccido. ‎
Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd) who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, enjoined Christian faithful and Nigerians in general to extend the spiritual benefits of Easter, which are love, peace, justice, sacrifice and kindness to their daily living, and through this contribute to unity and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.‎

Gen. Dambazau further urged Nigerians to co-operate and join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in his sustained efforts to build a strong and virile nation.
Meanwhile, Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, has ordered the deployment of 40,000 personnel for the Easter celebration across the nation. '
Gana while felicitating with the Christian faithful urged them to lead exemplary life preached by Christ, who sacrificed himself for the sins of all.‎
He reiterated that fasting period as observed by Christians before the Easter is a time meant for the atonement of sin, alms-giving, reconciliation, tolerance and making peace with one another in ensuring lasting peace and harmony in the society, therefore, Easter festivity should not be seen as a time of merriment and fun fare alone but should be seen as a time of tolerating one another irrespective of the religious differences.
However, ’apart from the deployment of personnel, sniffer dogs, specialised units, such as CBRN, Special Force, Counter Terrorism, Ambulances, Surveillance team are to be deployed in strategic areas, he charged the personnel to ensure the protection of Critical Infrastructure within their localities against vandals and enemies of the nation’, he said.

CASHLESS POLICY: PAYPORTE SUSPENDS PAYMENT ON DELIVERY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/cashless-policy-payporte-suspends.html

Payporte.com, an indigenous online store and sponsor of the ongoing Big Brother Naija reality show, has announced the suspension of ‘Payment On Delivery’, as part of its payment options.
According to the online store, only online secured payments and bank transfers would be accepted as means of payment from Monday March 3, 2017, in its bid to better serve customers better and to re-position its business for profitability.
The MD / CEO, PayPorte, Mr. Eyo, said, the decision was in line with the new CBN cashless policy, increasing security challenges posed by Payment on Delivery option and improved customers satisfaction. “We have suspended the Payment On Delivery option on our website with effect from today, April 3, 2017.
“Our decision was necessitated by the increasing risk and security challenges posed by this payment option. Also, to reduce the amount of cash carried from one location to another by our delivery staff. We encourage our customers to make use of our other secured electronic payment options such as online payment or bank transfer for payments.
“We believe this will also play an active role in the growth of e-commerce business in Nigeria, as well as give a new dimension to the business” added Eyo. In line with the suspension, refunds for unsatisfied customers would now be processed within a maximum of 48 hours while only customers who have shopped on PayPorte for five times or more will be able access the POD option from the 10th April pending its total discontinuation.

LABOUR PARTY DEMANDS AMOSUN’S IMPEACHMENT OVER RISING DEBT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/labour-party-demands-amosuns.html

Worried by what it termed monumental debt profile of Ogun State, the Labour Party (LP) has called on members of the state House of Assembly to commence an impeachment process against Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to save the state from the clutches of perpetual poverty.
The party claimed that with the state’s debt profile, totaling over N220b, it is evident that Ogun should be classified as a failed state.
The party also stated that the impeachment process must commence so that the next administration will device means of salvaging the state from the ruins left by the ‘clueless administration’.
In a statement signed by the state Chairman, Comrade Arabambi Abayomi, and his Secretary, Comrade Oginni Olaposi, the party warned that “should the Speaker and the legislators fail in discharging their duties towards impeaching the governor within 21 days, our party in conjunction with other like minds, shall compel declaration of State of Emergency by the president through the National Assembly.”
While noting that in January, the governor requested the approval of N65.75b (with 35 years repayment plan), the party claimed that the governor did not give any detailed expenditures of the borrowing.
Reacting to the allegations, the governor said the state does not owe near any of the figures being bandied.
Amosun, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) Media, Adejuwon Soyinka, said: “For anyone interested in the truth, it is so easy to determine by checking with the Debt Management Office (DMO). A simple check on the DMO website will suffice.“

OKADA RIDER FOUND DEAD IN ONDO CHURCH
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/okada-rider-found-dead-in-ondo-church.html

A lifeless body of a commercial motorclist identified as Adewale Aderogba was at the weekend found at the entrance of a pentecostal church(name withheld) at Amuludun street in Ondo city, the headquarters of Ondo west local government area of Ondo State.
The cause of the middle-aged man was not known at the press time.
We gathered that the deceased used to be an epiletic patient before his untimely death.
The incident, according to a source has thrown the residents of the area into confusion as it was gathered that some of them had fled for fear of indiscriminate arrest by the police.
The source explained that , the deceased went out with his friends to drink on Friday night and his lifeless body was found on Saturday morning by the residents.
Also, some residents of the area called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation over the matter because the deceased was found dead and half-naked.
According to our source , investigation revealed that the police have already arrested the deceased’s friend who went out together with him to drink, for interrogation.
Confirming the incident when contacted on telephone , the Police Public Relations Officer of the Ondo State Police Command, Mr. Femi said that the deceased was an epileptic patient.
The PPRO said , ” He was an epileptic patient and the same time he is a drunkard. He went out with his friend to drink, at that point he had an epileptic crisis and his friends rushed him to the church for resuscitation and spiritual healing but he died on the way.”
He added that in the investigation conducted there was no foul play on the death of Late Aderogba.

DOLLAR TO CRASH FURTHER AS CBN REITERATE DETERMINATION TO SUSTAIN FOREIGN EXCHANGE LIQUIDITY
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/dollar-to-crash-further-as-cbn.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria on Sunday reiterated its determination to sustain the provision of foreign exchange with a view to ensuring liquidity in the market and enhance accessibility and affordability for genuine end users.


The apex bank’s acting Director, Corporate Communications, Mr. Isaac Okorafor in a statement said the bank wants to disabuse the notion by market speculators that it wouldn’t be able to sustain its forex intervention.

He said that the bank would again, early this week, inject more foreign exchange into the market, leading to a further weakening of the dollar.

“This is in addition to the further increase in the sale of dollars to the Bureau de change operators from 8,000 dollars to 10,000 dollars per week,’’ he said

Okorafor warned commercial banks and other dealers to desist from sabotaging the efforts aimed at making life easier for foreign exchange end users.

According to Okorafor, the CBN had received complaints from customers over frustrations in getting foreign exchange for invisible items like tuition fee, medicals, personal and basic travel allowance.

The Bank urged the general public to report any bank that failed to meet customers’ needs after due documentation.

It once again reiterated its determination to deal with any official or institution found to be sabotaging the operations of foreign exchange market in whatever guise.

It would be recalled that the Naira closed at N394 to a dollar on Friday, which translated to 10 per cent depreciation of what was recorded earlier in the week.

The depreciation was attributed to the alleged hoarding of forex by banks rather than selling to genuine customers.

Analyst believe that with the twice weekly sale to BDCs up to 20,000 dollars, the Naira is likely to appreciate in the coming week.

ABIA GOVT TO ESTABLISH INTERNATIONAL MARKET OUTLETS FOR MADE-IN-ABA PRODUCTS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/abia-govt-to-establish-international.html

Plans are on top gear by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration towards establishing international marketing outlets of Made in Aba products in foreign countries like United State of America, Japan, China, Dubai, Egypt amongst many others.
The outlets which will be stocked with products like shoes, belts, wears, leather bags and other leather products manufactured by Aba business community.
The Chief of Staff to deputy Governor, John Nwangborogwu, disclosed this during an event held at Aba North Local Government Area of the State to appreciate members of the Okezuo Abia Organization in the rural areas for their dogged efforts and support given to Governor Ikpeazu
He made it clear that the Governor is ever committed to local content and capacity development of the Aba business community as an avenue of increasing the State’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through the sales of Aba Made Goods locally, Nationally and Internationally.
“In this time of recession, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is unrelenting in finding alternative means of increasing the State’s Internally Generated Revenue,
“I want to say that he has discovered the socioeconomic potentiality of Aba and is ever determined to explore it to its fullest,
“We are set to organize a mini-empowerment programme that will touch directly on lives of the people and the society at large, we are prepared to ensure that the empowerment programme reaches every individual.”

LAGOS GOVT WARNS CIVIL SERVANTS NOT TO MAKE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR RESIDENTS
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/04/lagos-govt-warns-civil-servants-not-to.html

The Lagos State Government has warned civil servants not to make life difficult for residents of the state in the discharge of their responsibilities.
The government challenged civil servants to ensure that transactions and interactions with citizens were simplified.
Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Benson Oke issued this warning at a two-day workshop with the theme: “Engaging global best practice to deliver value per excellence in Lagos State”.
Oke said by providing citizens with the information they needed on how to process a request in an easy-to-use resource, citizens could adequately prepare to complete their transactions and processes in one visit.
“Providing the necessary information for common processes and procedures in an easy-to-use resource can reduce the number of people in lines at government offices and allow government staff to spend more time helping citizens complete processes and less time providing instructions. As a result, government staff can be more efficient and productive,” he said.
Oke stated that civil servants must ensure that citizens had a positive experience interacting with the government, stressing that “By creating opportunities to inform and discuss public finances with citizens, the government can foster an informed and involved citizenry.
“Providing citizens with information regarding government budgets can contribute to constituents feeling they are part of a community development process, and as such cultivate citizens buy-in,” he added.
According to him, it was important that the civil servants ensured simplified process as citizens expected the government to comply with global best practices in democratic governance.
“Delivery of value to citizens is the fundamental objective of any democratically elected government. In today’s world, however, the value must be delivered per excellence. This is chiefly because citizens have become sophisticated and exposed to the standards of governance in other climes such that their expectations have been conditioned to demand and insist on compliance with global best practices at all levels of governance. Meeting these expectations is the central challenge for governments in developing world,” he said

VIDEO: DINO MELAYE CLEARS SELF AGAIN, SINGS 'AJEKUIYA' SONG ON LIVE TELEVISION
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/video-dino-melaye-clears-self-again.html

Determined to prove their innocence to the public, Senator Dino Melaye, representating Kogi West in the Senate, today was interviewed by Channels TV on issues concerning his certificate saga, Ndume’s 6 months suspension by the House and Bukola Saraki’s on the allegation that he imported N298 million SUV Range Rover jeep Customs and intercepted as having allegedly underpaid import duties.


In the interview, Dino melaye said he graduated from the Ahmadu Belo Universiy and that the allegation leveled against him and senator Bukola Saraki were all lies and have been cleared by the Senate Committee on Ethics. Similarly, the 6th months suspension given to senator Ali Ndume, the senate leader, was the Senate’s way of discipline for members going contrary to the Upper House rules, he said.

Watch Video here

https://www.facebook.com/channelsforum/videos/1510100965668690/

ABDULSALAMI SHOULD TELL NIGERIA MORE ABOUT HOW ABIOLA DIED – BAMAIYI
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/abdulsalami-should-tell-nigeria-more.html

A former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ishaya Bamaiyi, has said that the winner of the 1993 presidential election, Chief MKO Abiola, could not have died of natural causes.



Abiola whose election was annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida-led military administration in July 1993 was arrested by the late Gen. Sani Abacha-led junta in 1994 when he declared himself the winner of the election and his resolve to reclaim his mandate.

The business mogul turned politician later died in detention in controversial circumstances on July 7, 1998.But Bamaiyi, the Chief of Army Staff under the Abacha regime, has insisted in a book that was launched in Abuja on Thursday that former Head of State Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar owes the nation more explanation on the death of the late politician.

“I believe only Gen. Abubakar and those he used to handle Abiola’s death can tell Nigerians how Chief M.K.O Abiola died. Abiola could not have died the way he reportedly died,” Bamaiyi declared in the book titled Vindication of a General.

Recalling the circumstances in which he learnt about Abiola’s death in the said book, Bamaiyi, who was also the Chief of Army Staff in the brief period Abdulsalami held sway as head of state, said: “One evening, the Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar called while I was in Lagos to tell me we had a problem.

“I asked him what was wrong and he told me Chief Abiola was dead.

“I was shocked and asked him what we were going to do about it. He told me he was handling the situation.

“I was disturbed because I expected problems in Lagos. But nothing happened.

“I was directed to lead a delegation to Abiola’s house to commiserate with the family and was told Abiola had some visitors, including some Americans.

“He had taken tea, which raised suspicion about his death.



Bamaiyi said the late business mogul never relinquished his mandate in spite of the pains of incarceration.

“At no time did Abiola relinquish his mandate. His death came as a surprise to me because he had been healthy when we met,” he added.

Bamaiyi recalled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a former Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters and others were involved in a coup plot against the late Abacha in 1995.

He also said the botched 1997 coup allegedly led by a former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya against Abacha was real.

He said Diya made $60,000 and N2 million cash available for the feeding of soldiers during the coup against Abacha.

He said the plan was to “blow up” Abacha’s car at a function in Sheraton Hotel, Abuja with an RGP-7.

Excerpts from the book, whose launch was presided over by a former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon said: “It will forever remain a puzzle to many Nigerians that two former helmsmen, a former head of state and his deputy, were arrested and tried for the coup that sought to remove General Sani Abacha from power in 1995.

“Interestingly, the 1995 coup, which, either out of ignorance or for political reasons, has been termed ‘phantom’ by the actual players highlights the challenge of lack of honour and integrity among highly-placed officers because of naked pursuit of power.

“Despite spirited denial by these key officers, some of them will always tell the truth, including Col. Lawal Gwadabe and Col. Bello Fadile, whose recordings cannot be denied.

“I want to state clearly and without fear of contradiction that the 1995 coup in which Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo was convicted was real.

“I am glad that Gen. Mujakpero, who investigated the coup, stood his ground in asserting that it really happened.

“Gen. PN Aziza carried out his duties by trying and convicting Gen. Obasanjo, and has clearly stated that if he retried that case, he would still convict Obasanjo.

“I know the coup was real and was reported to Gen. AZ Kazir when he was GOC 1 Mechanised DIV, but he did nothing about it until he was appointed COAS.

“I remember going go Gen. Kazir when I was commander of the Lagos Garrison and telling him there were rumours about the coup. He confirmed that he had heard about it.

“I asked him what he was going to do about it, and he said he was handling it. He was my boss, so I did not go further.

“I don’t remember the exact date. But on a Sunday, the COAS, Maj. Gen. Kazir, invited us into his study at his residence.

“Present at the meeting were Gens. Kazir; Olanrewaju who happened to be in Lagos from Jos; Muktar, the DMI; and Adeleke Kola, the provost marshal, and me, Comd. LGC.

“Gen. Olanrewaju briefed us on how the coup plan started from his Division and said that he had lot of officers involved.

“In Lagos, we had two involved officers named Col. Bello Fadile and Col. Gabriel Ajayi- my Col. Administration and Quartering. The decision to arrest these officers was made at the meeting.

“Based on Gen. Olanrewaju’s briefing, it was clear the officers could strike anytime.

“It was decided that Gen. Olanrewaju be given an aircraft to take him to Jos. The same aircraft would then proceed to Yola to bring in Col. Gwadabe, who came to Jos and was put in detention.

“I read some falsehood Colonel Ajayi wrote several times claiming he and I took Holy Communion in the church, but I did not say anything to him.

“I received instruction to arrest him in the evening. I directed CO 26 Battalion to arrest him, and he was arrested.

“If I had received this instruction before going to church, I would have ordered his arrest as soon as he left church.

“I was not involved in the matter again after Ajayi’s arrest.

“Headquarters Lagos Garrison Command (HQ LGC) has always been the venue for coup trials in Lagos and was used as such in 1995.

“After the trial and conviction of Gen. Obasanjo and Gen. Shehu Musa Yar’Adua, efforts were made by many Nigerians, including some army officers, to get them released.

“At one point, I went with Gen. PN Azazi to the Head of State and we pleaded with him to pardon the two generals and release them from prison because they were a former head of state and his deputy.

“He promised to look at it. But I was told later, though I did not confirm it, that some security officials advised him against the release, and nothing was done.

“I did not go to Abacha because I had doubts about Gen. Obasanjo’s involvement in the coup based on the briefing we received from DMI, Col. Sabo, the SIP report, and the statements of other coupists.”

Bamaiyi also fingered a former Chief of General Staff, Gen. Oladipo Diya and others in the 1997 Coup plot against Abacha.

The book says: “Again, within a space of two years, Gen. Oladipo Diya, second in command to Gen. Sani Abacha, was caught in the centre of another coup.

“It is an issue which Nigerians have extensively debated and commented upon.

“Unfortunately, the coup plotter, Gen. D. O. Diya, cowardly denied that he masterminded it with the support of officers like Gen. Ibrahim Sabo, who wanted to destroy me.

“Gen. Diya started planning to overthrow Gen. Abacha as early as 1994 when I was at Lagos Garrison Command (LGC).

“At that time, it was the responsibility of the service chiefs to receive the Commander-In-Chief anytime he visited Lagos, which during Gen. Abacha’s time, was occasional.

“The commander LGV would receive the Chief of General Staff (CGS) at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (Presidential Wing) and see him off.

“I always received Gen. Diya at the airport and escorted him to his private residence at Fajuyi Road in Ikeja or the Vice President’s home at Ikoyi, depending on where he felt like staying.

“On one such visit, at his Ikeja residence, he mentioned how Gen. Abacha had not been doing well. He made the statement during the next visit and I asked him what the problem was.

“Gen. Diya mentioned that the Commander-In-Chief did not come to the office early and was not listening to him and other senior people in the government.

“I told him I believed Gen. Abacha would listen to him because of their special relationship. I knew how many times Gen. Abacha had stopped plans to retire him.

“On the next visit, Diya said openly that there was a need to remove Gen. Abacha and that he was being blamed for the failure of the government from various quarters. I asked him which quarters he was talking about but he did not mention specifics.

“Gen. Diya went on to tell me I was one of the officers he trusted and he would rely on me to get Gen. Abacha out of office so the country would move forward under his leadership. I told him I would think it over and get back to him.

“I informed Gen. Abacha, who said he was going to put Gen. Diya on trial. I suggested there would be no evidence for a conviction and Gen. Diya would not be acting alone, so there was need for patience.

“I was appointed the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) in April 19996 and Gen. P.N. Aziza was appointed to take over LGC. It became Aziza’s responsibility to receive and see off the CGS (Diya) at Murtala Muhammed Airport.

“After returning to Lagos from a tour of 2 Mech. Div., Gen. Aziza came to me at the COAS official residence. He looked worried, and I said ‘I hope all is well.’

“He later told me how Gen. Diya had told him of the need to overthrow Gen. Abacha, and he believed Gen. Diya was serious about it.

“I laughed first, and Gen. Aziza was surprised. He said, ‘Giwa [this is how we addressed each other since we were such old friends], why are you laughing at something so serious? You know this is a matter of life and death.’

“I told him it was nothing new. Gen. Aziza asked me what I was going to do about it. I assured him I would do something.

“I knew Gen. Aziza would want me to act, and it was in my best interest to do so because if there was an investigation, I would be held responsible for having known about a coup and hiding it.

“I went to Abacha the following day and told him what Gen. Aziza had told me. Gen. Abacha said he wanted to hear from Aziza directly. I sent for Gen. Aziza to meet me in Abuja, and the two of us went to see Gen. Abacha.

“Gen. Aziza told him exactly what he had told me. From Gen. Abacha’s looks, he was not surprised. He directed us to play along with Diya until we knew what he really wanted.

“I suggested to Gen. Abacha that he should call Gen. Diya for Aziza and me to challenge him and then make him resign or retire.

“Gen. Abacha disagreed and said we did not know what had been happening. I later found out that Gen. MC Ali as COAS and some service chiefs were retired because of their alleged plan to remove Gen. Abacha.

“Other meetings took place at a guest house with Gen. Diya, Gen. Olanrewaju, Co 7 Gds Bn, Gen, Diya’s security officer—Major Fadipe and me. Of course, Gen. Abacha was always briefed after the meetings.

“Other meetings were held between Gen. Diya and me in his office. The issue of international support came up, he told me he was working on it.

“When the issue of feeding soldiers was brought up, he provided USD $60,000 to be given to GOCs to provide feeding for soldiers if there was the need.

“The money was taken to Gen. Abacha and I made a joke with him saying: ‘This is your worth at present.’ He only smiled and collected the money and later returned it to me. The money was used as exhibits during the trial.

BANKS HAVE ADEQUATE FOREX FOR BTA, TUITION, MEDICAL FEES – CBN
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/03/banks-have-adequate-forex-for-bta.html

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday disclosed that all banks have more than enough stock of forex in their possession for the purpose of meeting genuine customers’ demand for BTA, PTA, tuition and medical fees.
The apex bank also described as false claims by some Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) that the apex bank is not allocating enough forex to them for BTA, PTA, Tuition and Medical fees.
There had been grumblings by some Nigerians seeking to buy forex for BTA, PTA, medical and school fees that they are being frustrated by some banks who claim not to have enough forex to meet their demand for the green back.
In a press statement signed by the acting director of communication in the CBN, Mr. Isaac Okorafor the claim cannot be true. He said:”All banks have more than enough stock of forex in their possession for the purpose of meeting genuine customers’ demand for BTA, PTA, tuition and medical fees. Indeed, on a weekly basis, the CBN has been selling at least $80m to banks for onward sale to their customers for these invisible items.”
“Members of the public seeking to buy forex for the above-mentioned purposes are, therefore, advised to go to their banks and obtain their forex. Any customer who is not attended to within 24 hours for BTA/PTA or 48 hours for tuition and medical fees should call 07002255226 or send an email to cpd@cbn.gov.ng, with the name and branch of the non-cooperating bank.
“Furthermore, no customer should accept to buy forex from any bank at more than the currently prescribed rate of N360/$1.”