₦airaland Forum

NEW OFFICIAL VICE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE PROPOSED BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION NOT IN THE 2016 OR 2017 BUDGETS
SOURCE: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/new-official-vice-presidents-residence.html

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT PRESS RELEASE
NEW OFFICIAL VICE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE PROPOSED BY PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION NOT IN THE 2016 OR 2017 BUDGETS
*AGUDA HOUSE GOOD ENOUGH--AG PRESIDENT OSINBAJO
For the umpteenth time, we like to clarify that the proposed plan of the immediate past administration to build a new official residence for the occupant of the Office of the Vice President, including the controversial gatehouse preceded this administration.
The project which started in 2010, was initiated and funded by the immediate past administration, but had never featured in the two budget proposals of the Buhari administration: neither in the 2016 nor the 2017 spending plans.
Any suggestion therefore that this project benefits our administration or that it reflects our spending style or preferences is not only misleading but blatantly false.
Besides, the incumbent Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has said publicly that he considers Aguda House, which he currently occupies, a befitting official residence for the Vice President and sufficient for his needs.
While the project is now about 85% complete, the Federal Government, in the circumstances, will decide at the appropriate time what is the best use for the 14 buildings already on the project site.
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the President
Office of the Vice President
February 19, 2017

see post : https://www.facebook.com/TheAsoVilla/posts/591913347666065

CHURCH MUSICAL EQUIPMENT STOLEN AS ROBBERS INVADE OGUN NUJ SECRETARIAT
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/church-musical-equipment-stolen-as.html

Burglars on Saturday night broke into the Apostolic Revival World Centre located within the premises of the Ogun State Secretariat of the Nigerian Union of Journalists and made away with musical equipment valued at millions of Naira.
The incident was the latest in a series of raids on the secretariat, which is a stone throw from the headquarters of the Mobile Police Force at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, and shares a fence with the private residence of former Head of Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan.
Recent victims of the burglars include a media consultancy firm, Steppingstone Communications, which lost two giant electricity generators in a space of two months.
Rolls of iron sheets worth millions of naira were also stolen when a shop in the premises was burgled, while food items, bottles of wine, a generating set, a giant-size storex tank, stablisers and a plasma television set were also removed from the popular Iwe Iroyin Food Canteen in the premises.
The bar in the secretariat had also lost several plasma television sets and assorted alcohol drinks to burglary, while the Ogun State NUJ, which owns the building, has recorded losses of its own, including plasma television sets, accessories of air-conditioners in offices, standing fans and chairs inside the conference hall.
In the latest raid on Saturday, the burglars went away with musical equipment and religious books after gaining access into the church by breaking some windows.
The Pastor of the church, Dele Adejuwon, informed our correspondent of the incident on Sunday.
Although the cleric prayed that God would touch the hearts of the bandits, Mr. Adejuwon said he wished that the law enforcement agents would catch them first.
He said the church had reported the break in at the Ibara police station, and that officers from the station had visited the scene.
When contacted, Chairman of the state chapter of the NUJ, Wole Shobunbi, also confirmed that the incident was reported to the police.
A man suspected to be an armed robber was recently apprehended at the centre, while allegedly attempting to rob lodgers at the NUJ guest house.
The suspect, whom the police identified as a serial robber, has been charged to court.

I DON’T WANT TO GO BROKE, THAT’S MY MOTIVATION - OLAMIDE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/i-dont-want-to-go-broke-thats-my.html

Having released six successful albums in as many years, many wonder where rapper, Olamide Adedeji, gets his drive and motivation from.


In an interview with PUNCH, the rapper said the fact that he came from the bottom pushes him to keep doing better.

Olamide said he is relentless in his pursuit of success because he does not want to go broke.

“My major motivation comes from knowing that I came from the bottom, and I don’t want to go back there. I want to live a good life, and because of that, my working life is a relentless grind.

“I don’t want to go broke, and I don’t want anybody to look down on me. I’m still on top of my game because I don’t see myself as everything.

“I take advice from my mum, manager, and label mates, and they always help. They’re responsible for some of my ideas. Some things that people see and think is all about,” the rapper said.

The YBNL CEO said he never aspired to be an “average” artiste, noting that he always intended to be different.

“I didn’t start out to be an average artiste, I wanted to stand out. Right now, I’m living my dreams. All I can say is that my life right now is a dream come true.”

The rapper released Glory, his sixth album, on boxing day, December 2016.

EKITI WITHHELD ALLOCATION HAS BEEN RELEASED - FAYOSE
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/ekiti-withheld-allocation-has-been.html

Governor Ayo Fayose says the Federal Government has released the withheld January Budget Support Fund to the state.


Fayose made the claim while speaking a live programme tagged, ‘Meet Your Governor’ aired on the state-owned Ekiti Television and Radio Stations. “On Thursday, a letter was sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria that the money be released and it has not been released because the CBN Governor was not in town,'' Fayose said.

“What is important now is that the money has been released. I won’t want to go into details.''

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Mother Of Triplets Gets Help From Mrs Saraki
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/mother-of-triplets-gets-help-from-mrs.html

Mrs Olivia Plangnaan Sunday, can now heave a sigh of relief, after the wife of Nigeria’s Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki, came to her aid.
The lady who delivered triplets through Cesarean Section surgery at the Maitama General Hospital, had been a student of a student of Mrs. Saraki’s Wellbeing Foundation, Africa’s MamaCare Antenatal and Postnatal Education Classes Program, which caters for expectant mothers from the antenatal stage through to the postnatal stage.
Mrs. Saraki who paid the triplets’ mum who sells pure water a visit, after she received a distress call while on her way to Abuja airport, later took to her Instagram page to welcome the new set of triplets; two girls and a boy.
The senate President’s wife, who is also a mother of two sets of twins, made a donation right there at the hospital, to cover the hospital costs for the mother’s surgery and special care of the newborns.
The new mum was also visited Wellbeing Foundation Africa Mamacare Midwife Trainer Rita Momoh and MamaCare Lactation Counselors.

Petrol Subsidy Back In Full Force
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/petrol-subsidy-back-in-full-force.html
Petrol subsidy is back. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has been offsetting for months the difference between the landing costs of petrol and the pump price.
In series of interviews with knowledgeable players in the sector, NAN can report authoritatively that the landing costs per litre of petrol is higher than the price Nigerians pay at the pump.
According to a source, who is a staff of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, government being a listening one has been quietly bearing the differential.
“The landing costs hovers around N160 to N165. The marketers buy from us and so the government bears it because it feels it will be unfair to make the consumer pay the difference.
“With the current recession, the government will not want to burden the people with a price hike,’’ the source said.
Both the NNPC and the government are also concerned by the recent smuggling of petrol across the porous Nigerian borders to Chad and Niger, where a litre of petrol goes for over N400, compared to Nigeria’s N145.
A staff of the Petroleum Products Pricing Agency (PPPRA), who also preferred anonymity, said the marketers had no moral right to divert fuel meant for the people.
“For nowFOREX is a big issue,’’ the source said adding that “but the NNPC sells virtually everything it imports to them. So no marketer has any right to divert fuel.”
“If indeed the product is being sold for N400 in Niger Republic like you said, the Nigerian marketer has no right to look there.
“This is because NNPC is paying the difference just because it wants every Nigerian to have easy access to the white products.
“The fluctuating foreign exchange has not helped matters, but even the marketers cannot complain because government bears the brunt of the whole thing’’, the source reiterated.
However, a source at the NNPC fears that government may find itself overburdened by the subsidy as the economy is still caught in a web of recession.
“Soon the government may not be able to pay the price difference again because it runs into billions of naira”, said the source.
“Recall that at a workshop last year, an engineer with the corporation had said partial deregulation was unreasonable, he was right.
“The solution is full deregulation. Let the consumer feel it once and for all. This politics of walking around the problem won’t help at all’’.
On May 11, 2016 the Federal Government, through the PPPRA, had announced a new petrol regime of N135-N145 from its previous price of N97, which was heavily subsidised.
This increase led to various economic emergencies that affected all sectors and since Nigeria operates an oil-dependent economy, the impact was felt on external reserves, exchange rate, gross domestic product and inflation rate.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, had at the time said he would prefer to use the word liberalization rather than deregulation.
Kachikwu ‎said the major plan of the Federal Government was to stop importation of petroleum products in the long term.
The global oil benchmark, Brent crude, which was trading around $41 per barrel when the petrol price was increased, is now $55.64 per barrel.

Mikel backs Iheanacho to regain Manchester City spot
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/mikel-backs-iheanacho-to-regain.html
Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has backed ‘strong, very positive and level headed’ Kelechi Iheanacho to regain his Manchester City spot.


The former Chelsea midfielder who now plies his trade in China with Tianjin TEDA has encouraged the Manchester City striker to not allow his present status at his club to affect him but be prepared to make maximum use of his chance when given the nod to play again.

“Iheanacho will become a better player after this phase.

“He is a strong lad, a very positive minded being and level headed. He will regain his spot in the team, he just has to keep on working hard in training and wait for his chance, when it comes I know he won’t disappoint.

“Every player wants to play and when you are not getting into the matchday squad it can be so discouraging. But I have learned to always pick the positives from every situation,” he said.

Kelechi Iheanacho has not played for the Citizens since he was subbed on in their 4-0 defeat at the hands of Everton, since then Pep Guardiola has not used him in their last five games, in fact, he didn’t make the bench in 4 of the last 5 games he hasn’t played in.

With Gabriel Jesus out injured the Nigerian striker stand a big chance of wearing the sky blue jersey again

FIFA Features Super Eagles Coach As He Aims To Lead Nigeria To New Heights
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/fifa-features-super-eagles-coach-as-he.html

Many German coaches such as Otto Pfister, Rudi Gutendorf and Burkhard Ziese have led teams throughout Africa with varying degrees of success. But while the trio represent the old guard of coaches, a new generation has found their way to the continent. FIFA.com spoke exclusively to one of the new breed: Gernot Rohr.

When the 63-year-old took over Nigeria in August last year, the Super Eagles had just failed to qualify for a second CAF Africa Cup of Nations in a row. The disappointment was palpable in the football-mad west African country, having come shortly after lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2013 and competing with distinction at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil


Rohr was thus given a clear directive: ensure the Super Eagles qualify for Russia 2018. Achieving that feat will mean overcoming the so-called 'Group of Death' with Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia standing in the way. The former defender, who became an iconic figure at Bordeaux during his playing days, got off to a winning start with Nigeria, beating Tanzania 1-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier that had already been rendered meaningless after Egypt secured the lone qualifying berth from Group G.

More importantly though, Rohr got the Super Eagles off to a winning start in their World Cup qualifiers, recording a tough 2-1 win in Zambia. Nigeria then collected a confident 3-1 victory at home against Algeria. The six points, coupled with some surprising results in the other games, leaves Nigeria with an early four-point lead.

“Winning our first two matches was a great start, but we will not play again until the end of August and early September, when we face Cameroon,” said Rohr. “They of course are African champions and will be highly motivated to take the form from Gabon into the World Cup qualifiers.

“I do not get carried away. It is a very tough group and nothing has been decided. But I admit that, at the moment, we have a small advantage and if we win our two matches at home against Cameroon and Zambia, we will qualify.”

Like many of his counterparts throughout Africa, Rohr can call up a host of players plying their trade throughout Europe. But unlike most, Rohr has an array of players who appear regularly in one of the world's toughest leagues: the English Premier League. “As the team and the country had been deeply affected by failing to qualify for the finals in Gabon, I wanted to bring in some younger players into the squad. This, of course, is without closing the door on anyone.”

Rohr handed a first call-up to Isaac Success and also included youngsters like Alex Iwobi and Kelechi Iheanacho. But the German did not put all his faith into talented youngsters, he included experienced campaigners like Elderson Echiejile, John Ogu and captain John Obi Mikel in his squad.

fifa.com

yes

Many Nigerians can’t eat, yet N40m budgeted for Aso Rock wildlife - Sen Ben Bruce

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/many-nigerians-cant-eat-yet-n40m.html


Ben Bruce, senator representing Bayelsa east, says it’s heartbreaking that at a time many Nigerians can’t afford to eat, N40 million in the 2017 budget was designated for the feeding of wild animals in the presidential villa.


In a couple of tweets on Thursday night, Bruce said at N510 to a dollar, it has reached a stage where buying made in Nigeria commodities is a necessity.

“It breaks my heart that at a time when many Nigerians can’t eat we are budgeting N40 million to feed wildlife in Aso Rock Presidential Villa,” he tweeted.

“At N510 to a dollar, #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira is no luxury, it is not even a necessity. Nigeria has reached the stage where it’s a necessity.”

The senator has been openly critical of the 2017 budget proposal.

“Recurrent expenditure is still 70 to 75 percent, that has not changed, Nigeria will not develop that way, [we should] reduce it by 50 percent so that we can put in capital projects,” Bruce had said during the debate on the 2017 appropriation bill.

He also said the benchmark of N305 to a dollar was not realistic because at the “black market”, naira was about N500 to a dollar.

FERMA boss to answer for unused N10billion in coffers
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/ferma-boss-to-answer-for-unused.html

A joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has threatened sanctions against the Acting Managing Director of the agency, Mr Peter Ibu.


The committee handed down the threat on Wednesday as a result of non-utilisation of N10 billion allocation in the agency’s coffers, which was meant for projects in the 2016 budget.

The dormant N10 billion allocation was uncovered during the agency’s budget defence session before the joint committee.

A member of the joint committee, Mr Magaji Aliyu (Birnin Kudu/Buji Federal Constituency, has drawn the attention of members to the released to FERMA for road rehabilitation projects in different parts of the country but which was left untouched.

The committee frowned at the action, against the background of the deplorable state of major federal roads in different parts of the country.



It accused the agency of insensitivity to the plight of road users who have been falling victim to fatal road accidents occasioned by the deplorable condition of the roads.

Peter IbuAliyu said, “The leadership of FERMA does not seem to be responsible. People are dying every day, six persons died along Kano/Kaduna road just yesterday (Tuesday) and the Agency had N10 billion released to it out of the N40billion appropriated in 2016 budget which was not utilised.

“Decisive action should be taken against FERMA. The Managing Director should be removed; those in charge of the agency should be changed because it is absolutely unacceptable for people to be dying on a daily basis as a result of the deplorable condition of the highways and FERMA failing to carry out the needed intervention with the N10billion allocated to it.”

The Chairman of the joint committee, Senator Magnus Abe also spoke in similar vein, declaring that FERMA had failed totally in its 2016 budget performance and charged the management to rise to its responsibilities.

The committee, however, pledged to ensure adequate funding for the agency, insisting that FERMA must submit a clear cut budgetary expectation document for the 2017 fiscal year.

Abe said, “Let’s say that we like to hear and understand the expectations of FERMA for 2017, believing that if we work together, we will be able to change narratives of the agency.”

The FERMA boss however responded by saying that the agency was hampered by a number of financial challenges, leading to its inability to meet up with its mandates in 2016.

According to him, FERMA lacked trained accounting staff to handle the TSA regime, stressing the urgent need to satisfy certain requirements to secure sub-TSA accounts for field offices.

He told the committee that the agency was almost grounded in 2016, owing to the difficulty in accessing funds appropriated to it, as well as a delay in budgetary approval which got started in May 2016.

Said he, “The challenges posed by the newly introduced zero-base budget process and the TSA policy, difficulties in accessing funds directly appropriated for direct labour, and delay in budget approval which took off in May last year were factors that hampered our activities.”

AMCON seeks private investors for Arik Air
SOURCE: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/amcon-seeks-private-investors-for-arik.html

The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is shopping for investors for troubled carrier Arik Air.


AMCON told the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and other Financial Institutions that Nigeria’s biggest airline would have stopped flying within the next three weeks if it did not intervene.

AMCON, on February 9, announced the removal of the Arik Air management and appointment of a receiver-manager.

Committee Chairman Rafiu Ibrahim noted that it appeared that the takeover of the airline was belated.

AMCON Managing Director Ahmed Kuru, who briefed the committee, said that contrary to some claims, Arik owed AMCON N147 billion.

Kuru also said the airline owed some local banks over N165 billion. Foreign debts, he said, stood at $81 million.

The airline owes over 2,000 staff between six and seven months salary arrears, Kuru said.

The AMCON boss noted that negotiations were ongoing on how to immediately resolve the salary arrears.

Kuru said the airline had 30 aircraft, but only 10 were in operation.

The AMCON boss noted that prior to the interim takeover of the airline, it was obvious that it could no longer meet its financial obligations.

He said the airline frequently relied on collection of fares from passengers before it could buy such basic things as aviation fuel.

Kuru insisted that it was obvious that the incessant cancellations and delays of flights was as a result of the airline’s inability to buy aviation fuel.

He dismissed the insinuation that the Federal Government was planning to make Arik Air a national carrier.

Insisting that there was no plan to make the airline a national carrier, Kuru described it as “too problematic for the government to handle.”

He said: “Despite all the things we have done to ensure that Arik Air stays in business, they have not done their part in meeting their own obligations. Arik Air is owing up to seven months salaries.

”They have refused to pay salaries and also refused to ensure that their loans are repaid. We could not just sit back and allow an important airline with about 30 aircraft and covers 55 per cent of all routes in Nigeria to go down. From the records, Arik makes over N7 billion annually.

”We are talking to people to see how they can acquire the airline. They came. But when they saw the records of what was on ground, they decided to suspend everything, pending when we will resolve some of the issues bedeviling it.

”We have deployed people there to manage it, pending when we can stabilise it and then bring in investors to take over. We discovered that out of the 30 aircraft of the airline, only about 10 were functional. Some of them were not in Nigeria. They have refused to meet all their obligations, even the insurance payment. They did not even have money to buy aviation fuel.

”What they did was that they collected money from passengers and then quickly use the monies realised to buy fuel. This is how they have been running the place and these were some of the things we met on ground.

”The first thing we did when we moved in was to address the payment of salaries of staff. Remember some of them were owed for up to seven months. The staff of the airline are very pleased with what we have done.

”We are hopeful that with an annual profit of about N7 billion and if the monies are not laundered, I think we can pay back the loans in time. AMCON debt is about N147 billion. There are local banks which Arik Air is owing about N165 billion. These banks collect all the monies they make.

”The issue of converting the airline to a national carrier is not on the table. Arik is too complicated to make a national carrier. The total asset worth of the airline right now is less than N40 billion.

”Government does not have plans to do that. The interest of government is that we must continue to fly and people must work. They have about over 2,000 staff.

”They do not need more than N10 billion to stabilise their operations. Within the next three months, they will be able to pay back what we have put in right now. In national interest, Arik Air should be allowed to fly.”

The AMCON boss said: ”Within the next two to three weeks, Arik Air should have up to 15 or 16 aircraft flying. Arik Air cannot compete internationally. They do not have the kind of services other airlines have.”

Kuru said the suspension of international flights became necessary because the airline cannot cope.

He said the airline spends about N1.6 billion on aviation fuel on 12 international destinations.

He said AMCON is certain that the airline lacked the capacity for international flights.

He said: “We are thinking of suspending international flights. Arik Air needs about N1.6 billion to buy fuel for international routes. We cannot do that right now. By the time we manage it for about six months and the airline can now survive, then we can sit down and talk about where to go from there.

”Based on what we have achieved in just one week, we are hopeful that in the next three weeks, the issue of delayed or cancelled flights will be things of the past.

”We are carrying everybody along. At the end of the day, we want to return it to profitability. We need to emphasise one fact – that the only way we can recover our debts is for Arik Airline to continue to fly. The banks have come to realise that this is important.

”Government has a responsibility to ensure that it intervenes whenever there is any threat to national interest. Within the next 30 days, we will be going to places we have not been to in the last three years.”

The committee praised the move to take over the airline by AMCON.

It, however, noted that the takeover time appeared to be belated.

Senator Rafui Ibrahim compared what he described as the mess in the airline with the alleged fraud perpetuated by the immediate-past National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.

He said: “Was the takeover not done rather too late? From what you have given us, this is worst than Dasukigate. It appears what is happening in private sector is worst than that of the public sector.”

The AMCON boss said that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) was prepared to support the turnaround of Arik Air.

Kuru also said: “In line with AMCON’s statutory mandate, the non-performing loans of Arik Air were acquired in 2011 from two banks:

”Union Bank Plc N71billion, Keystone Bank Limited N14billion (transaction originated by defunct Bank PHB). Total amount N85billion

”The facilities were granted to Arik for purchase of additional aircraft and to refinance existing term loans. The default in repayment posed systemic threat to the banks and indeed the Nigerian economy.

”The principal promoter of Arik Air is Sir Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide. Apart from AMCON, Arik is also currently indebted to other commercial banks, including Standard Chartered, Zenith Bank, Ecobank and Access Bank, to the tune of N165billion.

”N26billion is owed to the Federal aviation agencies and regulations. $11million is owed to European aviation agencies and service providers. $20million owed to Lufthansa Technique.

”AMCON also acquired three other non-performing loans of companies in which the principal promoter is Sir Johnson Arumemi-Ikhide.

Rockson Engineering (N107billion), Ojemai Farms Limited (N8.6billion). Ojemai Investment Limited (N1.9billion). Total exposure of Sir Arumemi-Ikhide to AMCON is N263. 7 billion.

”In September 2011, AMCON restructured Arik’s debt from N85 billion to N70 billion as a nine-year term loan running at 12% per annum. ‘ Other terms of the restructure included the following:

”AMCON to appoint a resident Monitoring Manager who shall have the authority to call for any of Arik’s records for examination.

”Arik to provide three-year record of its remittances to FAAN.

”Arik defaulted on the term of the restructure and failed to make the monthly repayment as agreed.

”In May 2013 AMCON sourced N26billion of the CBN/PAIF through BOI on behalf of Arik.

”AMCON disbursed N21.38billion of the BOI loan to Arik as working capital.

”Out of this amount, N2.4billion was meant for reconfiguration of two aircraft from passenger to cargo carriers. This was never done as the funds were diverted by Arik management and is now the subject of EFCC investigation. Both aircraft were abandoned in the UK.

”In December 2015, due to accrued interest and unpaid principal, a second restructuring was proposed for Arik debt to reduce the debt from N138billion to N90billion.

”Proposal awaiting CBN approval.

“This was proposed based on Arik’s plan to do a private placement and subsequently do an IPO within a period of six months. Based on that, they were expecting N44billion from Afrexim as a bridge. None of this happened as Arik could not comply with any conditions given to them.

“In spite of the leniency and good faith demonstrated by AMCON throughout the negotiations, Arik refused or neglected to adhere to the terms of settlement.

“AMCON continued to bear the burden of repaying the B01 loan at 1% interest rate without any corresponding commitment from Arik. So far, AMCON has paid N9.05billion on behalf of Arik. Refusal to cooperate with the AMCON resident Monitoring Manager. Refusal to disclose financial information to AMCON.

”Total recoveries from Arik till date N4.6billion (only 3.2% of current exposure). Total repayment by Arik in the last 12 months- N50million only.

”As at December 2016, Arik’s debt in AMCON stood at N146billion due to mounting interests and unpaid principal.
“The consolidated exposure of debtor-companies in which Sir John Arumemi-Ikhide is the principal promoter in AMCON stands at N263.7billion.

“This figure excludes Arik’s indebtedness to other banks, aviation authorities (local and foreign), vendors, contractors and workers.

“As at December 2016, Arik’s debt in AMCON stood at N146billion due to mounting interests and unpaid principal.

“The consolidated exposure of debtor-companies in which Sir John Arumemi-Ikhide is the principal promoter in AMCON stands at N263.7billion.

“This figure excludes Arik’s indebtedness to other banks, aviation authorities (local and foreign), vendors, contractors and workers.

“Arik has about 30 aircraft, the largest fleet in Nigeria. Holds approximately 55-60% of the air transport market in Nigeria.

“Serves 18 domestic and 11 international destinations, including Johannesburg, London, Dubai, and New York City.

“Estimated revenue at N7billion monthly

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday sacked four of his commissioners
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/the-benue-state-governor-samuel-ortom.html

The Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Wednesday sacked four of his commissioners and a special adviser.

This was contained in the statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Mr. Tahav Argezua.

Argezua, in the statement, said the governor also announced the appointment of Prof. Anthony Ijohor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as the Secretary to the Benue State Government.

Those affected by the exercise are the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Chief Odeh Ageh, his colleagues in the ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mwuese Mnyim; Water Resources and Environment, Nick Wende; and Arts, Culture and Tourism, Sekav Iyortyom.

Argezua added that the Special Adviser on Small, Medium Enterprises and Micro Financing, Dr. Augustine Idogah, was also sacked.

great , like this idea of FG

Fayose pictured dancing with Ekiti State Corps members, today, during the Dinner/Farewell Party for the 2016 BATCH B Stream II NYSC members
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/fayose-dancing-with-nysc-member-at-2016.html

South-Africans burn houses of Nigerians in Johannesburg

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/south-africans-burn-houses-of-nigerians.html
At least 15 houses either belonging or rented by immigrants, especially Nigerians, have been burnt by angry residents in Rosettenvile, south of Johannesburg. The residents are reported to be angry that foreign nationals had turned the neighbourhood into a drug haven.


Africa Review reports on Sunday that some shops belonging to foreign nationals in the area were also looted. South African residents in the area claim Nigerians had illegally taken over most properties and turned them into drug and prostitution dens.

The African Diaspora Forum (ADM) chairperson, Mr Marc Gbaffou, confirmed the attacks and blamed Johannesburg Mayor Herman Mashaba, for his inflammatory comments. Early last December, Mr Mashaba told a media conference that illegal immigrants got there criminally and should be treated as such. On Friday, he visited Rosettenville where he made claims that foreign nationals were using girls as young as nine as prostitutes in ‘drug houses’.

“According to community members, these homes are illegally occupied by Nigerian foreign nationals who run the homes as brothels and have girls as young as nine years old working as prostitutes. Many of the women in these brothels are also alleged to have no official identification documentation,” said Mr Mashaba. Mr Gbaffou said it was reckless for the mayor to make such a statement without proof.

“What proof does he have that foreigners are running these brothels? His remarks are very inflammatory, and it makes no difference that he has diverted from illegal immigrants to drug peddling. It is very dangerous and we see it as propaganda of hatred,” he said. A community leader, Mr Andile Tshem, called on residents to desist from violence, adding that it was high time law enforcement agents took action against criminals.

“We don’t encourage this at all, you cannot correct a wrong with another wrong. South African people must not be living on the streets when foreigners are using houses as brothels,” he said. Police have arrested a man found in one of the houses that were set alight in Rosettenville. Some Nigerians in Johannesburg have take to twitters to express their anger. Arewa Youth Forum ‏@ArewaYouthForum tweeted on Sunday, “Nigerians’ houses burnt in Johannesburg”

Pastors Are Jesus Killers, By Femi Aribisala
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/pastors-are-jesus-killers-by-femi.html

Christians are told lies so repeatedly; many no longer recognise the truth. Answer me on this: did your pastor happen to mention that Jesus was killed by pastors?



Not likely! Pastors don’t want people to know their fore-fathers killed Jesus; otherwise they would soon recognise they too are in the same business. Jesus says to the pastors of old: “You are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.” (Matthew 23:31). Even so, the pastors of today testify against themselves that they are the descendants of those who killed Jesus.

Testimony of Jesus

Let me tell you a story you must have heard before but have probably been led to misunderstand. Jesus told the story to some pastors and they were very angry with him because they recognised it was a veiled attack on them. They even wanted to kill him right there and then but held back because of the crowds. Perhaps you need to listen to the story one more time.

“There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit. And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.”

“Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.” (Matthew 21:33-40).

Let us get certain things straight about this true-to-life story. The landowner is God. The servants of the landowner are the prophets. The son is Jesus Christ. The vinedressers are the priests and the pastors.

What you may not have realised is that, precisely because Jesus told this story against pastors, they have gone to great lengths to distort it. They now insist it was not the vinedressers who killed the son of the landowner, but that the landowner himself killed his own son. They tell men God sacrificed Jesus for their sins, instead of the fact that pastors killed Jesus in order to continue in their own sins.

Mercy and Not Sacrifice

Jeremiah says: “Among my people are found wicked men; they lie in wait as one who sets snares; they set a trap; they catch men.” (Jeremiah 5:26). Who are these wicked men? Make no mistake about it; pastors are at the top of the list.

Hosea says: “The priests are like a gang of robbers who wait in ambush for a man. Even on the road to the holy place at Shechem they commit murder. And they do all this evil deliberately!” (Hosea 6:9). Today, there are even gangs of Catholic priests raping young boys.

Jesus said prophetically to the Pharisees: “If you had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, you would not have condemned the guiltless.” (Matthew 12:7). What did he mean? He meant if they understood the love of God, they would not kill him, an innocent man, in order to protect their corrupt lifestyles. If pastors today knew the love of God, they would not continue to kill Jesus by misrepresenting him.

A man walked in on a gang of men robbing a bank. He switched on the light and declared: “Repent. I am the light of the world.” What do you think the robbers did to him? They had him killed, switched off the light and continued with their robbery. They then claimed it was God who killed him as a sacrifice for the sins of men. But God demonstrated unequivocally that he was not responsible for Jesus’ death by raising him from the dead.

Fleecing the Flock

Jesus says: “I am the good pastor.” (John 10:11). “All who ever came before me are thieves and robbers.” (John 10:. Those who came after him are no different. Their primary focus is to fleece people of their money so as to build up their own kingdoms. Jeremiah says: “They are as greedy as dogs, never satisfied; they are stupid pastors who only look after their own interest, each trying to get as much as he can for himself from every possible source.” (Isaiah 56:11).

In many respects, what holds today is no different from the falsehood popularised in the days of Martin Luther, when priests maintained a man could purchase forgiveness of sins for a dead relative by giving money to the Catholic Church. The Dominican monk, Johann Tetzel, was one of those sent out by the pope to preach this message in order to raise money for the church.

His message was straightforward: give money and your sins will be forgiven. Like the pastors of today, he came up with a popular refrain: “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.”

Unrighteous Pastors

Jesus came to set the captives free by giving us true first-hand information about God. But after he did, pastors have endeavoured to distort even the true portrait he gave. They pretend to reveal God to men but have a vested interest in ensuring they don’t know him. How would they continue to rip people off if they were to know the truth of Jesus’ message that makes men free? (John 8:32). The result is that more falsehood about God is taught in the churches today than almost anywhere else.



So what does Jesus do about this? First, he tells us a parable that a man travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by armed robbers and left for dead. A priest came along, saw the dying man but quickly walked away. A pastor also came along but he too ignored the dying man. Finally, a Good Samaritan came along. He bound up the wounds of the poor man, took him to the hospital and paid for all his medical expenses. When the man recovers, should he remain the disciple of priests and pastors? Certainly not!

Jesus is the Good Samaritan. One of his major assignments is to convince us that the presumed principal custodians of our faith; the chief priests, the Pharisees, the religious hierarchy; indeed the pastors, bishops and popes of our churches, are ungodly and unrighteous. Accordingly he says to them: “Assuredly, tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.” (Matthew 21:31).

Jesus’ life demonstrates this conclusively because these so-called “men of God” kill him, an innocent man, in order to protect their interests and positions. Jesus’ adversaries were not “sinners” but “holy” and religious pastors. Therefore, contrary to what it seems, many of those who claim to speak for God are not of God. Instead, they rob men of God. They rob them of his knowledge by presenting counterfeit portraits of God. They rob them so that they and not God would be the gods of their lives.

EFCC seizes 10 properties from ex-FCT Minister
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/efcc-seizes-10-properties-from-ex-fct.html

The immediate past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, and his son, Shamsudeen, have lost 10 choice houses and plots to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), at least for now.


The agency believes the properties were acquired by father and son with stolen public funds.

They include three plots of land with development at various stages of completion at No 54 Mike Akhigbe Way, Jabi, Abuja; Plot 2276 Sunrise Estate, Asokoro, Abuja and Plot 1804 Damaturu Crescent, off Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki 11, Abuja; Nos. 1 and 3, Marian Street, Asokoro, Abuja and a twin plaza at Wuse Zone 3 by Tamarak Guest Inn, Abuja.

The rest are: No. 7 Gana Street, Maitama, Abuja; an estate and plaza at Dawaki, opposite Gwarinpa, Abuja; an Estate at Jahi District, Abuja; three number duplex Abuja Investment Company Limited Estate, Abuja and a shop at Dubai Market, Kaura District, Abuja.

“The seizure of the first three properties is on the strength of an interim forfeiture order by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja which temporarily forfeited the properties to the federal government pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of criminal charges against the suspect,” the Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft Commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said yesterday.

“The court also gives the Commission power to appoint competent persons/firm to manage the assets/properties listed.

“The rest properties were confiscated on the strength of the order by Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja which forfeited the assets to the federal government pending the conclusion of investigation and determination of the criminal charges against the suspects.”

He said the court also forbids “any disposal, conveyance, mortgage, lease, sale or alienation or otherwise of the property/assets.”

The EFCC plans to arraign the ex-Minister in court any moment from now to face trial for alleged corruption.

It was gathered yesterday that the EFCC has gone far in its investigation of the ex-Minister.

He said the properties have been placed under temporary forfeiture until the trial of the two persons is concluded.



Senator Bala Mohammed was arrested in connection with alleged N1billion fictitious contracts. He was also questioned on alleged allocation of 12 choice plots to his son running into billions of Naira; 37 other commercial plots of land worth about N8billion to his suspected front and the controversial N1trillion Abuja land swap.

A mansion allegedly worth N782million, belonging to the ex-Minister, has been placed under Interim Assets Forfeiture.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Abuja on February 3, 2017 granted Shamsudeen Bala, bail in the sum of N100million with two sureties who must be private businessmen or public servants of the rank of assistant director and above.

Bala is being prosecuted by the EFCC on a 15-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion.

The accused was docked on February 1, 2017, along with four companies – Bird Trust Agro Allied Limited, Intertrans Global Logistic Limited, Diakin Telecommunications Limited and Bal-Vac Mining Nigeria Limited.

Bala and Diakin Telecommunications Limited were accused of making cash payment of the sum of N74, 244,005 (seventy-four million, two hundred and forty-four thousand, five naira) to Abuja Investment Company Ltd without going through a financial institution.

The offence was said to be in breach of Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended in 2012).

On arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.

One of the counts said: “That you, Shamsudeen Bala (alias Shamsudeen Mohammed Bala), Bird Trust Agro Allied Ltd and Intertrans Global Logistics Ltd sometime in 2015 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did without going through a financial institution make cash payment of the sum of N296,000,000 (two hundred and ninety six million naira) only to A & K Constructions Ltd Abuja and Sunrise Estate Development Ltd for Construction of a house on plot nos 2116 and 2276 at Asokoro Gardens (alias Sunrise Estate) Abuja, which sum exceeded the statutory limit and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) and (4) of the same Act.”

The trial of the ex-minister’s son is to commence on March 27, 2017.

EFCC Arraigns Two Suspected Internet Fraudsters for Forgery.

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/efcc-arraigns-two-suspected-internet.html

An angry wife has publicly humiliated her husband’s mistress after she caught them in bed together.
source : http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/wife-mercilessly-beat-up-and-strips.html

The woman frog marched the 20-year-old mistress Unclad through a residential area after she secretly followed her husband to his friend’s house, where he was caught in bed with the mistress.
It was gathered that the woman used a razor blade to slash the mistress’s hair before tearing off her clothes.
She was filmed holding onto the woman’s hair as she paraded her around apartment blocks in Cubatao, Sao Paulo, Brazil while her teenage sons and their friends could be heard howling with laughter.
Her husband later picked the 20-year-old and found clothes for her.
The family later shared the video clip online to boast about the attack, which prompted social media users to make a police complaint against the family.
After the complaint was made the police launched an investigation to find the victim and identified her after her sister took her to the station to give a statement.
She told the police that the man said he was single and they had been dating for five months before the incident.
The alleged attacker has been arrested and she could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty on suspicion of threat, bodily injuiry, defamation, violence against women and torture.
lol

'$1 Billion Eurobond will prolong economic crisis' - Fayose blasts FG

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/1-billion-eurobond-will-prolong.html

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said the Federal Government’s plan to secure a $1bn Eurobond might prolong the nation’s economic crisis.


The governor, who is also the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors’ Forum, challenged the Federal Government to clarify who the beneficiaries of the bond would be as its repayment would last till 2032.

The governor, in a statement issued on Friday, by his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, threatened to sue the Federal Government if it fails to do so.

He said, “What I’m even worried about and which they must explain to us is that you cannot get a bond without committing it to the source.

“Is the repayment going to be made by direct deductions from Nigeria’s crude oil sales or from Federal Government’s share from the federation account?

“If it is going to be made directly from proceeds of crude oil accruing to Nigeria as a country, then the bond belongs to the federal, state and local governments and not the Federal Government alone.

“The Federal Government is just one of the federating units making up Nigeria and revenues accruing to the country cannot be used to repay bond taken by the Federal Government for its own use alone.”

Fayose said the Federal Government must therefore tell Nigerians how it would repay the facility from now till 2032.

He said, “So, we have to find out and take steps. The Federal Government should bring the money and we share it; we take our percentage and it takes its own. The Federal Government cannot take that money and deduct from source and tell us that the money, which belongs to all of the federating units, is for it alone.”

Lamenting a lack of fiscal federalism in the current government, the governor noted that Federal Government’s affairs were shrouded in secrecy.

“We will definitely go to court and ask questions,” he said.

Expressing the fear that the $1 billion Eurobond might plunge the nation into more serious economic woes as its repayment was scheduled to last till 2032, Fayose said, “the APC-led government is behaving like the prodigal son who asked for his inheritance and spent it lavishly.

“It is a prodigal government who wants to destroy this country. The rate at which it is taking loans, which would keep this country indebted till 2032, is quite unfortunate.”

AGAIN! Kemi Olunloyo Comes For Angela Okorie, Toyin Aimakhu, Georgina Onuoha Amongst other's
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/again-kemi-olunloyo-comes-for-angela.html

good

See the woman that gave birth to a bouncing boy on her birthday
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/see-woman-that-gave-birth-to-bouncing.html
According to a Facebook user who shares his joy on facebook on how he called to wish her sister happy birthday when he got a better news that she just had a bouncing baby boy on her birthday.

Adorable new photos of Zahra Buhari and her billionaire husband, Ahmed Indimi looking all happy

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/adorable-new-photoa-of-zahra-buhari-and.html

Suspected Oil Thieves Arrested
http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/suspected-oil-thieves-arrested.html
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently received twelve suspected oil thieves, a vessel MV OMISAN 1 with registered number IMO 7216244, an un-named barge and two wooden boats from the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER Naval Base, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State for further investigation and prosecution.
While handing over the suspects to the EFCC, Commodore W. O Kayoda, Commander of NHS PATHFINDER said that, the suspected oil thieves were arrested on 6 February, 2017 by the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) PATHFINDER patrol team deployed for Anti-Crude Oil Theft/ Illegal Oil Bunkering operations around Taraba Jetty, Borokiri, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. .

They were arrested with one vessel: MV OMISAN 1 and one wooden boat. The suspects, who were crew members of MV OMISAN 1 and the wooden boat were arrested in the process of transshipping an estimated 60,000 litres of suspected illegally refined Automated Gas Oil, AGO, from the wooden boat to MV OMISAN 1.

Similarly, on 7 February 2017, the patrol team intercepted a barge laden with an estimated 100,000 litres of products suspected to be AGO, and another wooden boat laden with an estimated 60,000 litres of products suspected to be illegally refined AGO around Isaka axis. However, no suspect was arrested with the seizures made on 7 February, 2017. .
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The suspects aboard MV OMISAN 1 are: Captain Benjamio Igiogio; Engineer Samuel Ogunfemi; Jakpa Eyituoyo; Johnson Dudu; Ogunkalu Taiwo; Toju Oko-Otiuroh; Desmond Edafe Unuarhe; Ibiye Ngiania; Sylvanus Ikorawi J; Ayadi Abiola, Chibueze Nwali and Imeh Brown.
The suspects will be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.

JJC Skillz set to debut new tv drama featuring His Wife, Funke Akindele
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/jjc-skillz-set-to-debut-new-tv-drama.html

The Shook One: Peter Psquare disables comments, edits caption, after being slammed for telling people to stop blaming celebs
source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/nigerians-blast-peter-psquare-on-his.html

Charly Boy announces another protest with NLC and TUC in Lagos
http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/charly-boy-announces-another-protest.html

Prophet arrested for abducting and turning a new convert into a prostitute

source: http://www.eyesoflagos.com/2017/02/prophet-arrested-for-abducting-and.html

Police operatives attached to the Ndiegoro Police Division in Aba, Abia State, have arrested one Enyeribe Nkwocha for allegedly abducting one Sandra and turning her into a commercial sex worker.

Narrating her ordeal, the victim said, "He told me that God said he should use me for missionary work and that he will be saving any money I will make from preaching in his friend's account and he will use it to build a church for me because he saw that I have the gift of prophecy.

He said God told him I should not marry and have children ; whenever a man wants to marry me , he will ask me to forget about him . He has been taking me from one hotel to the other and using me to make money.

He made me to forget about my family since then . I believe he used charm on me because he forced me to swear to an oath with him right inside the taxi when he kidnapped me . So I stopped communicating with my parents.

But last Christmas , he collected N 20, 000 from me , making it about N 100, 000 I have given him . After some days, I started realising myself and asked him if the money I had been giving him was not enough to build the church he promised to build for me.

He then told to go back to my family. But he warned me not to tell them about the gift of prophecy he told me about and that if I did, they would poison me. That was how I started thinking about how my family members would poison me and then I regained my consciousness."

But the suspect denied turning his victim into a prostitute , saying, “She is my girlfriend that I met in Bayelsa State . At a time, I wanted to get married to her but she refused to marry me. So , I married another woman and I didn ’ t tell her that I got married.

When she found out that I was married , she got offended: that was what caused the problem we are having now." The commissioner of Police in the state, Mr . Adeleye Oyebade, confirmed the arrest of the suspect