₦airaland Forum

According to the report by the Cables, Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, says Nigerian roads are not as bad as they are portrayed to be.

Addressing state house correspondents on Wednesday after the federal executive council(FEC) meeting presided over by VP Yemi Osinbajo, the former Lagos state governor said most road projects in the country would have been completed but for funding challenges.

“The roads are not as bad as they are often portrayed. I know that this is going to be your headline, but the roads are not that bad,” he said.

Reacting to this statement, Femi Fani-Kayode made his disappointment of Babatunde Fashola statement known. This the Former Minster of Aviation to Goodluck Jonathan responded to via his twitter handle, @realFFK. His reply reads “

“Nigerian roads are not that bad”- Tunde Fashola.

"I have always believed that Tunde is shallow, limited, intellectually dishonest, overrated, loyal only to his own ambition and not too bright. He also has a big chip on his shoulder. With these words he has proved it."


https://twitter.com/realFFK/status/1192364334401363968

https://ngg.ng/2019/11/07/ffk-replies-fashola-for-saying-nigerian-roads-are-not-that-bad/

cc lalasticlala

On Monday, the Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Abba Kyari traveled to London, Uk to present the Deep Offshore (amendment) Bill for the President to sign.

This made Nigerians to ask a lot of questions on whether the Office of the Chief of Staff to the federation supersedes the office and powers of the Vice President of Nigeria.

Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation to the Goodluck Jonathan’s administration has threw shades at Vice President Osinbajo for been ignored by the Abba Kyari thereby taking a bill the Vice President would have signed on behalf of President Buhari.

As seen on his twitter handle @realFFK; He wrote;

FFK said Osinbajo’s helicopter crashed but instead of him to proceed to a hospital his boss asked him to continue sharing trader money.

He also said Osinbajo who is a SAN and Prof. of Law, yet under him lawlessness is practiced: he deputises for a fellow who has no proof of both primary and secondary education.

He continued by saying ” They took a Bill to the United Kingdom for your boss to sign and publicised it to further humiliate you. As an ERRAND boy, your boss sent a junior Minister to represent him in an event that you were present.

He further called the VP A real ERRAND boy. He said. they have removed all your (VP) aides from Aso Villa to a rented apartment in Maitama. An ERRAND boy, you went and knelt before Abba Kyari to stop the criminal investigation against you.

”We told you this would happen but you refused to listen. Today, your two bosses, Tinubu and Buhari, are against you.”

”As for your Pastorship, well, we don’t know again.”

”Sorry! With this latest humiliation of taking a document to an ailing man without recourse to you, it serves as a confirmation that you are now a certified ERRAND boy.”

”The latest is that your boss has now sacked 36 of your aides in your office. Are you waiting for them to lock you out of Aguda House before you resign and go back home to Ikenne? ”

”We don’t pity you. You opted for it. While he’s in the United Kingdom he sent you to his village Daura to attend the turbaning/coronation of an unknown Chief. So sad! We pray you receive sense.” He concluded.

https://mobile.twitter.com/realFFK


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/06/ffk-throws-shades-at-vp-osinbajo-tagged-him-errand/

cc lalasticlala

An Appeal Court sitting in Kaduna has sacked Senator Dayo Adeyeye of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared Senator Biodun Olujimi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the winner of Ekiti South Senatorial District Election held on February 23.

The Kaduna Appeal Court therefore, affirmed the judgment of the election petitions tribunal declaring Abiodun Olujimi, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), winner of the 2019 national assembly election in Ekiti State. Before this judgement, Senator Adeyeye was the Spokesperson for Senates.


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/06/court-sacks-apc-senator-declares-pdps-winner-in-ekiti-south/

cc lalasticlala

Following a fallout with Arsenal Fans and failure of Granit Xhaka to shake hands with Saka and Coach Unai Emery after he was substituted in the 2:2 draw between Arsenal and Crystal Palace with Arsenal up with 2 goals lead last two weeks (matchday 10),. He however did little to stop McAurthur from crossing to Ayew for the second goal. He was however not listed for matchday 11 versus Wolves which ended 1:1 at the Emirate stadium.

Today, Granit Xhaka has been sacked by Arsenal FC as Club captain with Pierre Aubameyang in his second full season(since 2018) at the club taking the new role of club Captain as confirmed by Club Coach Unai Emery via the clubs twitter handle @Arsenal.


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/06/coach-of-arsenal-fc-unai-emery-has-confirmed-pierre-aubameyang-as-new-captain/

cc lalasticlala

We use the word ‘data‘ when we talk about using the internet on your phone. Whenever you use the internet you use data – whether it’s browsing the web, sending an email, or downloading audios or videos. Data is measured in bytes.

In Nigeria, network providers such as MTN,Globacom,Airtel,9mobile, etc charge users very high when they subscribe for internet facility(data). For instance, MTN charge #1000 for 1gb(1000kb) for one month, glo, airtel, globacom, 9mobile with same amount for the purchase of 1gb among others. If you compare these charges with that of other countries like Ghana, South Africa, Kenya,Benin Republic and even Niger, you will see that Nigerian subscribers are been strangled and exploited to the fullest.

And also, when we talk about the rate at which this data is been drained by the network providers, you will think you have someone in your village sharing this data with you.

To check all these activities with regards to high cost of mobile data charges by network providers in the country, the Honourable Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Pantami has therefore directed the Nigerian Communications Commission to review the ‘high cost of data’ downward and unlawful deductions of both call units and data. The NCC has been given an ultimatum of five days to do this.

According to the report filed by Ihuoma Chiedozie of Punch Newspaper, Pantami had given the directives in October, after receiving a progress report on the implementation of Short-Term Performance Targets set for the NCC.

The minister had noted that Nigerians were paying so much for data without enjoying value for money spent.

This directive was reinstated at the inauguration of a new Commissioner of NCC in Abuja, yesterday been Tuesday.

Isa Pantami decried that Nigerians are complaining over illegal deductions of their data, a situation which he said also applies to him.

As reported by Punch, Dr Isa Pantami said, “I commented last time on the issue of data deduction, this is one of the issues that is worrying me badly to death.

“I was not fully convinced with the explanation by the NCC; please go back and review that issue.

“It is very important and I want to get your feedback in the next five working days with the decision on it because the complaints from Nigerians are beyond what I can handle.

“As it is today, people are complaining and it happens to me. I recharge my phone (my data line) and I believe what I use is not up to 20 per cent of what I purchase, he lamented.

“This is an issue that is very important.” He asserted.


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/06/hon-minister-of-communication-orders-ncc-to-review-data-cost/

cc lalasticlala

The Presidential candidate of the defunct National Republican Convention(NRC) to the 1993 General Election, Alhaji Bashir Tofa has called on the federal government to review its policy on the border closure.

He said this on Tuesday in Kano while responding to the questions from newsmen at a press conference organized by Kano elders under the auspices of Kano Concerned Citizens Initiatives(KCCI).

The elder statesman talked about the advantages and disadvantages of closing the borders to both the government and the Nigerian citizens and also the policy’s effect on the relationship between Nigeria and her neighbouring countries.

Mr Tofa acknowledged and appreciates why the government closed the borders. He also said that Federal Government’s decision to close the borders will not solve the entire problems.

Abdulmumin Murtala of Vanguard, from Kano, reported that Mr Tofa said that;

“In some cases there are advantages. Some companies like rice millers to them certainly are a very good thing, it is an advantage. But to some others, it is a disadvantage. Even to the federal government, there are advantages and disadvantages to them.

“When the government seeks to stop illegal importation of contra banned goods due to the lack of payment of duties, at the same time government has made many people lose money in terms of their exports while exporting these goods.

“We know that there may be billions of naira worth of goods on both sides of the boarders, those coming in and also those going out and a lot of them are sources of revenue for the federal government” he stated. Tofa thereby advised the federal government to reexamine the issue of the closure to allow those doing their legal businesses to continue accordingly.

“So, what we advise is that the federal government should examine this issue very closely and make sure that those who are legally doing their business are allowed to continue their business as long as they are paying the right duties.

“We understand that a lot of these problems are connivance between Customs officials and some businessmen who are willing and ready to pay some money less than what they should pay through the right process” he lamented.

He also stated that the boarders as still porous despite the closure while those doing their legal businesses are strongly affected.

“In fact, these borders are still very porous and things have not changed much in some of them because some of the Customs officials are still collecting money and allowing goods come in” he charged.

The former Presidential candidate further advised that task forces be formed to check activities of faulting customs officials and also a high powered committee to discuss with neighbouring countries on how to effect the laws of Nigeria and ECOWAS at the border.

“So we advise that there should be task forces in each of the border points made up of professional customs officials, those that are trustworthy who will implement what needs to be implemented.

“There should Also be another committee, a very high-powered committee, that should go and negotiate with these neighbouring countries in terms of abiding by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as ECOWAS laws.

“We do not believe closing the border per se is a good thing for everybody. It is advantageous for some people but certainly, it will ruin a lot of businesses for those who legitimately export out of the country.

Tofa also pointed out the need to bring about ways of resolving congestion at clearing points for importers of goods through Lagos.

“We also pointed out that for all imports coming to the country, one has to go to Lagos first is also another difficulty. It is also another problem because there will be so much congestion there and you will see so many delays there.

“A lot of people who import goods have to go there and stay for upwards of three months, six months and will still incur tremendous losses in their goods because some of these goods are perishables, some are building materials which if they don’t carry for long will be a loss to some of these businesses. It is enormous and that will certainly affect the economy of the country.

“We are calling on the federal government to examine both sides of the coin to make sure they come up with something that will be more beneficial to everybody including the federal government herself,” he said.


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/05/nrc-presidential-candidate-in-1993-election-urge-fg-to-review-border-closure/

cc lalasticlala

On Tuesday, an FCT High Court discharged and acquitted the Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick and other four key executive members which included; Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President), Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President), Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary) and Ahmed Yusuf (Executive Committee member), of 16- count corruption charges. The most prominent among these charges were misappropriation of the sums of $8.4million and N4billion, conflict of interest and non-declaration of assets.

According to the reports on thenff.com,

The panel, headed by Okon Obono-Obla who is now on the run to avoid prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Related Offences Commission, ICPC had filed a 16 –count charge against Pinnick, Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President), Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President), Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary) and Ahmed Yusuf (Executive Committee member) with wild claims of alleged corruption against the men, and even subjected them to extensive media trial at home and abroad. Among the charges were misappropriation of the sums of $8.4million and N4billion, conflict of interest and non-declaration of assets.

At a point, now –fleeing Obono-Obla wrote to the Confederation of African Football, CAF twisting all the facts with regards to Nigeria’s participation in the CAF Congress of 2015.

On Tuesday, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu dismissed the entire case with all 16 charges, and acquitted the NFF chieftains in consideration of the submission of the defence and the prosecution and in line with the rules of administration of criminal justice.

The clean bill is a confirmation of the position of the NFF on all swirling allegations of corruption against its officials. Nigeria’s supreme football –governing body has always insisted that its leaders were being victimized by persons who lost elections through the ballot and were seeking other means to upturn things at Glass House, or disgruntled individuals simply on a mission of vendetta.

Only last month, a motion by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to remove the names of Pinnick and Sanusi from the witnesses’ category and add them to the list of accused persons in a case at the FCT High Court over the same $8.4million FIFA Grant was put on hold after the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation submitted that it was taking over the case with a view to ascertaining its validity, seeing that same persons were being charged spuriously in different courts and/or investigated by several agencies over the same allegations hewed out of petitions by the same individuals.

At the court on Tuesday, a counsel from the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, which had taken over the case, said it could not proceed with the matter as the proof of evidence could not sustain the charges. NFF’s counsel adduced reasons why the charges could not be sustained:

1. The SPIP Investigation Report dated April 30, 2019 filed in the Honourable Court as Exhibit 7 in the Proof of Evidence and its Findings as contained in page 13 to 21 cleared the NFF officials of all allegations, based on the petition investigated by the Panel.

2. A review of the certified true copy of the NFF Bank account with the Central Bank of Nigeria found that there was no transaction of N4Billion or any amount whatsoever on November 3, 2018 as alleged in the charges filed by SPIP. It was also found that the total inflow into the said NFF account for the whole of 2018 is far less than N1billion, confirming that the alleged N4billion never existed anywhere in the first instance.

In the circumstances, the Defence Counsel applied to the court to dismiss the charges and also discharge and acquit the NFF chieftains, since the proof of evidence could not sustain the charges. The AGF office counsel did not have any objection to this submission by the defence.

The judge then ruled that in view of these facts, she had no option than to discharge and acquit the defendants on all counts, wondering why the case was brought to the court in the first place.

Defence Counsel, Barrister Sani Katu, put the issues in perspective: “The matter was adjourned till today to allow time for investigation as to whether the defendants should be arraigned or not by the Office of the Attorney General which had taken over the matter. The Office of the Attorney General went and investigated the matter and discovered that the proof of evidence could not sustain the charges. On that basis, the Office of the AGF applied to withdraw the charges and the consequence is that the defendants should be discharged and acquitted from all 16 charges, to which the court agreed.”


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/05/just-in-nff-boss-pinnick-others-discharged-and-acquitted-of-alleged-corruption/

cc lalasticlala

The unexplainable challenges Nigerians are encountering today largely hove around insecurity as lives and properties are no longer guaranteed their usual protection and safety in Nigeria. All these menaces arose from different terrorists attacks from Boko-Haram to Fulani Herdsmen and then to Banditry.

Femi-Fani Kayode has come to acknowledge this fact that Nigeria is no longer a peaceful dwelling abode. The former Minister of Aviation to Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration has made his findings to assert that, there are mainly two countries sponsoring Boko-Haram and Fulani herdsmen/militia activities in Nigeria. He said, the first among these two countries is ‘Saudi Arabia’, and then the second is ‘Qatar’ according to him.

FFk made this statement via his twitter handle @realFFK. FFK said:

There are two major and rival forces in the Muslim world today that are covertly funding and supporting Islamist terror groups like Boko Haram and the Fulani militias in Nigeria and Al Shabab in Somalia. The first is Saudi Arabia. The second is Qatar.

https://mobile.twitter.com/realFFK/status/1191443669699706880


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/05/ffk-reveals-sponsors-of-terrorism-in-nigeria/

Jason Roger Pope, 42, a DJ who lives in South Carolina have been arrested for alledgely intentionally infecting black girls with HIV, with the hope that they will spread the virus among black men.

According to Ngg.ng findings, Jason was arrested August 2019 for human trafficking, kidnapping young women and allegedly giving over 600 women HIV.

He was arrested for three counts of trafficking, three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count each of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor, promoting prostitution of a minor and kidnapping.

Jason is alledged to have forced four minor girls to perform sex acts for money and he is also believed to have had sex with them. A 13-year-old girl says she also had sex with Pope and found out that he has aids, something he failed to disclose.

He allegedly had sexual contact with ‘600 black women’, and in a leaked conversation, the DJ admitted to having sex with black women and said he wants them to go back and spread it to black men.

In several intimate photos shared online, Pope was seen posing with his several black women who fear they may now have HIV.

Jason Roger Pope is currently behind bars at the Florence County Detention Center. His bond has been denied on all of his charges.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/11/04/revealed-how-hiv-positive-white-guy-infects-over-600-black-girls-with-virus-with-intention-for-them-to-spread-among-black-men/

cc lalasticlala

Nigeria retirees under a platform known as the Nigerian Union of Pensioners(NUP) are protesting and demanding that the government reviews their minimum pensions. They matched and took the protest to

National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s office in Abuja.

This agitation emanates barely two months after the Federal government and organized labour reach an agreement on the new minimum wage of from grade level 1-5 and grade level 6 from #30,000 and the consequential adjustment agreement of grade level 7-17.

Speaking, the President of the Union, Pa Abel Afolabi made it clear that

the vast majority of pensioners depend on the token they receive for survival. And also decried that after the Federal Government and Organized labour had agreed upon the New Minimum wage and consequential adjustment, that no one has been able to bring forward before the government about the pay or minimum pension for the retirees.

He lamented that a “vast majority of pensioners in this country earn below N10,000. It is people in this category that are agitating on what is happening to us.

Responding, Chairman of National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission’s, Mr Ekpo Nta said that the President Buhari government is already working on it and that at the last Federal Executive Council, the matter was discussed.

The Chairman in his words said, “Everybody is aware during negotiation on the minimum wage and its consequential adjustment that there must be corresponding increase for pensioners and we shouldn’t wait for agitation again before we do that,” Nta assured the protesting pensioners.

https://ngg.ng/2019/11/04/nigeria-pensioners-protest-demands-review-of-minimum-pension/

A People’s Democratic Party Member of Board of Trustee and Billionaire Businessman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu said that come 2023, that an Igbo or Southeast president in Nigeria is a certainty.

He said this on Sunday while he was addressing newsmen at his Oguta residence in Imo state. The Politician cum businessman decried that the North has ruled Nigerians for too long hence, 2023 is a time for South East region to produce a President.

In the Elder statesman’s words, “The northern part of Nigeria has ruled the country more than the South. Presently, power is still in the North. In 2023, being eight straight years of the North holding unto power again, under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, it is expected that power will shift to the South.

He also said that as far as the Southern region is concern, that Southwest and South-South had in the past ruled this country as President, talking about Chief Olusegun Obasanjo(SouthWest) and Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan(SouthSouth), it is therefore time for Nigerians to be ruled by a Southeast.

Concluding, the Elder statesman said that “South East must produce the president in the “interest of equity and fairness.”


https://ngg.ng/2019/11/04/2023-igbo-becoming-nigerias-president-non-negotiable/

cc lalasticlala

Johnnyessence:
dangote never finish the refinery yet niiii. Adenuga is warming up to take his place.

it will be ready in 2021

In Nigeria, with regards to the highest number of appointment of aids by an individual government official can be traced back to June when Senator Nicholas Tofowomo representing Ondo South Senatorial Districts appointed 46 personal aids.

On Sunday according to report by Daily Trust, Mr Ikengboju Gboluga now holds the record of the highest appointment of personal. The member of House of Representative representing Okitipupa/Irele federal constituency, Ondo state, appointed 60 personal aids. This is the highest appointment of personal aids ever in Nigeria.

The lawmaker who is a Peoples’ Democratic Party member said the appoint were made in order to appreciate them for their contribution in his election.

The lawmaker also said that they are to work with him in providing service to his constituents. He also said the appointment were to give the new aides a sense of belonging and financial appreciation.

https://ngg.ng/2019/11/04/ondo-lawmaker-set-aids-appointment-record-as-he-appoints-60-personal-aids/

cc lalasticlala

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is deepening its collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Commission (ICPC) in order to curb electoral malpractices ahead of the Kogi and Bayelsa governorship elections scheduled for 16th November 2019.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu made the disclosure on 29th October at a consultative meeting with leaders of registered political parties held in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He appealed to the political parties to advise their candidates and supporters not to engage in hate speech, inciteful statements, physical attacks on opponents, destruction of each other’s campaign materials and other action that could violate the Electoral Act.

According to him, voter harassment or intimidation and vote buying around the polling units constitute a violation of the Electoral Act. He reminded his audience that prohibition of the use of mobile phones and other photographic equipment in the voting cubicles is still in force.

He said: “We are going to deepen our collaboration with the EFCC and the ICPC in this respect. They will keep an eye on the movement of cash during campaigns and on election day.”

He averred that some alleged vote buyers who were arrested across the country during the 2019 general election by the EFCC have already been charged to court. “The latest update I received indicates that the EFCC has secured the first conviction of a vote buyer in Gombe state. This is surely a welcome development,” he said.

Speaking further on achievements recorded in prosecuting electoral offenders, Prof. Yakubu said: “about two weeks ago, the Commission received some case files from the Nigerian Police on alleged offenders arrested during the 2019 general elections. We are studying the case files for further necessary action”.

On the part of the Commission, the INEC Chairman assured the stakeholders that its staff members are constantly reminded on the need to remain professional and neutral at all times. His said: “We have repeatedly warned all staff of the Commission to remain neutral and professional. All election duty staff will swear to an oath of neutrality as required by law. We are working with the security agencies to ensure that our officials, material, processes and procedures are adequately protected”.

The INEC Chairman used the occasion to inform party leaders that the Commission had decided to combine the Brass 1 State Constituency supplementary election in Bayelsa state and the Kogi West Senatorial District rerun election with the governorship elections in both states. This, move he affirmed, would save the country over N300 million naira.

He explained: “You all know that on November the16,th we’ll have two major elections. The end of tenure governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. But recall also that in March (2019) after we conducted the State Assembly and governorship elections, we had issues of violence in Brass, leading to the declaration of the election as inconclusive.

“We had planned to conclude the election two weeks later, but for protracted litigation over six polling units that went up to the Supreme Court. Finally, the Supreme Court decided that INEC was right, that we should go back and conduct the elections in six polling units. So, seven months later, we are now combining the governorship election in Bayelsa state with the Brass 1 state constituency in six polling units in Cape Farmosa Registration Area and we have already made arrangements.”

Prof. Yakubu continued: “In the case of Kogi West, it’s in a whole Senatorial District that the Election Petition Tribunal and the Appeal Court nullified the election conducted on the 23rd of February and ordered INEC to conduct a rerun election. By coincidence, the judgement of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunal came very close to the (governorship) election, so the Commission decided to combine the governorship election with the Kogi West Senatorial District election.

“As a stand-alone election, the Kogi West Senatorial District election in seven Local Government Areas would have cost the nation well over N300 million. But because we are combining the election with the governorship election, it’s going to cost less than N10 million. So, the Commission decided to combine the two elections to save cost and for convenience”.

Commenting on the implementation of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two governorship elections, the INEC Chairman said only four activities were still outstanding: The publication of the Notice of Poll and the last day for submission of names of polling agents by political parties, which is the 2nd of November 2019, followed by the last day of campaign which is midnight of Thursday the 14th of November. The election day proper will hold on Saturday 16th of November.

“While on this matter,” he said, “let me appeal to political parties to please submit the names of their polling agents to the Electoral Officers in the Local government areas in the states where elections will be held.

“In addition, the Commission will make available detailed figures of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) collected, with each state broken down by Local Government and Registration Area in order to deepen transparency and accountability. Copies will be given to the stakeholders at the next stakeholders’ meeting that we are going to convene at Yenagoa and Lokoja, in addition to uploading the information on our website”.

On efforts to ensure that the electoral space is conducive for the conduct of election in both states, the INEC Chairman said, “given the history of volatile politics in the two states, the Commission decided to engage the stakeholders early and also continuously, in addition to some focused engagements with Persons Living with Disabilities and other categories of persons who play roles in elections.

“We had a major stakeholders’ meeting not long ago in Yenagoa and Lokoja. I was personally present. The tradition of the Commission is for the INEC Chairman and the Inspector General of Police to address stakeholders a few days to the election. But this time around, we decided to break with tradition, over a month to the election. I personally visited Yenagoa and Lokoja, addressed the stakeholders and visited some Local Government areas. We plan to have more engagements”.

He continued: “on the 7th of November, the Inspector General of Police and I will be in Bayelsa to address the stakeholders. We’ll repeat the same thing in Lokoja on the 11th of November. Our objective is to speak early and loudly enough to those stakeholders on the necessity for peaceful conduct during campaign, election day activities, collation of results, declaration of winners and the aftermath”.

Prof. Yakubu appealed to party leaders to urge their candidates to attend the stakeholders’ meetings in order to deliberate on ways to ensure peaceful elections in the state.

Responding, the Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Peter Ameh commended INEC for its support to the umbrella body in the area of voter sensitization.

He explained that the parties under IPAC had been talking to themselves on the need to put Nigeria first and shun all electoral vices.

He said: “As a multi stakeholder platform working for a sustainable and credible electoral environment, we have been speaking against mudslinging, name calling when it comes to campaigns, electoral violence, ballot box snatching and voter intimidation and vote buying.

“We must speak to ourselves that whoever is contesting the Kogi and Bayelsa elections must understand that whoever wins elections is an indigene of either Kogi or Bayelsa state.”

https://ngg.ng/2019/11/01/inec-warns-against-vote-buying-violence-in-kogi-bayelsa-governorship-elections/

Following the Nigerian government border closure against it neighboring countries, Benin and Niger Republics since August and lingering scarcity and high cost of rice, other countries are doing everything possible to negotiate with the Nigerian government so that they could import rice to Nigeria. Among these countries worthy of note is the People’s Republic of Vietnam.

As seen on twitter via https://mobile.twitter.com/daily_trust/status/1189401857858441216,



”The Socialist Republic of Vietnam yesterday begged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to appeal to the Federal Government to allow its country import rice to Nigeria at discounted rates.”

This attempt by the Vietnam authorities have all round negative reactions from the Nigerian societies as many were infuriated and perturbed as they took to the platform to exercise their resentments.

Read the comments below:


HOME2019OCTOBER30NIGERIANS REACTS TO VIETNAM’S PLEA TO NIGERIAN GOVT TO IMPORT RICE TO NIGERIA

UNCATEGORIZED
NIGERIANS REACTS TO VIETNAM’S PLEA TO NIGERIAN GOVT TO IMPORT RICE TO NIGERIA
By Shawn Solomon Elliot / October 30, 2019
Following the Nigerian government border closure against it neighboring countries, Benin and Niger Republics since August and lingering scarcity and high cost of rice, other countries are doing everything possible to negotiate with the Nigerian government so that they could import rice to Nigeria. Among these countries worthy of note is the People’s Republic of Vietnam.

As seen on twitter via https://mobile.twitter.com/daily_trust/status/1189401857858441216,



”The Socialist Republic of Vietnam yesterday begged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to appeal to the Federal Government to allow its country import rice to Nigeria at discounted rates.”

This attempt by the Vietnam authorities have all round negative reactions from the Nigerian societies as many were infuriated and perturbed as they took to the platform to exercise their resentments.

Read the comments below:


Uchechi@Uchechi45671558·2hReplying to @daily_trustSo so sorry we now have rice that if they want we can import for them……I never understand what oga meant till I started eating Nigeria made rice…..


Yusuff@Usouph155·41mReplying to @daily_trustSo Vietnam is pleading to us to impoverish us! This is odd. Well, they can come secure land, grow rice and start the milling here. We can do this for them @A_Oshiomhole@ProfOsinbajo@vietnamenglish




Terfa Hemen #BBOG@terphill·2hReplying to @daily_trustNo, we have abundant land. They can come and farm here


Ibrahim S Yammah@IYammah·2hReplying to @daily_trustConsume your’s let’s ours be ours




Ibrahim Bununu@Bununu75·1hReplying to @daily_trustSee what closure of boarder of poverty headquarters of the world can do to many wealthy nations.


Thriving Man@HonThrivingman·2hReplying to @daily_trustHow can? Where – wear – were — sorry, Where is the social media regulator This is a hate speech!..lol




musa kasim ahmad@MusaKhasim·1hReplying to @daily_trustwith time everybody will understand what Baba is trying to do for our country.


Molaw@geeq38·2hReplying to @daily_trustSCAM

�
�
�
�
�
�

أحمد ابرهيم@tjbamals·33mReplying to @daily_trust and @ahmad_tjbThey’ve turned Nigeria to a dumping ground. By importing their rice we develop their economy while ours remain stagnant. we can feed our country locally please! The economy of Cotonou, Niger & Togo is in our hands. We’ve closed boarder and they’ve been crying like a lost poppy.


Abdulmajeed Oladayo Abolaji@AbolajiOladayo·18mReplying to @daily_trustLet them come and farm the rice here and pay the “discounted rate” as tax. At least, they will still employ our people. Great deal I’m sure. Aswear too much sense wee nor kee me

�

Murtala Madobi@mcsteamie·1hReplying to @daily_trustDen dey feel us for vietnam, Benin republic nko? naso.. Niger, cameroon nd co re feeln d heat too. Kudos Baba.

Memphis @FlexMaster_Nate·1hReplying to @daily_trustWill a Vietnamese court allow Nigeria do the same in their country? This is just a click bait headline, I’m sure it’s Nigerian importers that are behind this yeye move.




Father Africa@ReginaldNnabue·32mReplying to @daily_trustEvery import of Rice equals exports of jobs that our local Rice production is now providing, and the much needed Forex being saved. Please Nigeria should beg Vietnam to allow us shortly to begin exporting Rice from Nigeria to them at much more discount than they propose.


Adamu Shuwa CNA@Adamxss·1hReplying to @daily_trustDid we share border with Vietnam? Our country,our border,our region,our government. Let FG implement policy/policies suitable for our economic growth and development. We learned our mistakes.




Abbas Aliyu@__Muhammadd_·37mReplying to @daily_trustThe Nigeria economic laws and import is there. Let them come in and farm in our land.


Aly Bunxa@BunxaAly·23mReplying to @daily_trustWe have fertile land in Nigeria come down here and plant your rice.

Adesoji Adelore@es_adelore·13mReplying to @daily_trust and @toluogunlesiWhat manner of grammar is this? Vietnam can only EXPORT rice to Nigeria not import rice to us. I am with @toluogunlesi on this, let them set up mills in Nigeria. We cannot be exporting jobs to other Nations while our people are unemployed.


temitope wright@proudly_woman·5mReplying to @daily_trustNo, we don’t need your rice. We have made so many of your rice farmers billionaires. We can produce our own rice thank you.

We think Nigerians are wiser now.


https://ngg.ng/2019/10/30/nigerians-reacts-to-vietnams-plea-to-nigerian-govt-to-import-rice-to-nigeria/

cc lalasticlala

At the Maiden Annual Foreign Policy Public Lecture 2019 Organised by the Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN), In Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs states, Amb. Zubairu Dada, gave an imminent hints about Nigeria’s plans to review her foreign policy hub.

Just as the Foreign Affairs minister for state hinted on this, earlier at the same event on Tuesday, the former minister of foreign affairs, Amb. Ignatius Olisemeka warned against foreign policy that is been run on a charitable basis.

The Nigerian Foreign policy was formulated in the first republic, in 1960 and signed by Nigeria’s Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa with Jaja Wachuku as the first Minister of Foreign Affairs, since then, Nigeria is yet to review her foreign policy hub.

This was today however acknowledged by the former Foreign Affairs Minister and the Present Minister of foreign affairs, state. The Minister of state, Dada said on assumption of office, President Buhari gave them a nine-point agenda to executed at the ministry, which include the review of the country’s foreign policy.

Ambassador made it clear that the President Buhari administration has directed the ministry to work upon the reviewing of the country’s foreign policy.

He added that the directive to review the country’s foreign policy was as a result of global dynamism, and the need for the country to change with time.

Ambassador Olisemeka who was the guest Speaker noted that the country’s current foreign policy is too foreign and has not sufficiently stressed the complementarity of domestic and foreign policies.

Ambassador Olisemeka, the Foreign Affairs minister to the Abubakar Abdulsalam military regime led the team in that military regime to view “Africa as Centre piece of Nigeria foreign policy”, warned that foreign policy should never be run on a charitable basis, which has not yielded any tangible benefit to the country.

The nationonline reported that Olisemeka cited the incessant killings and destruction of Nigerian businesses in South Africa and other places as indicative of the weakness in the country’s past foreign policies.

He said, “One lesson that could be drawn from all of this is that Foreign policy should never be run on a charitable basis. There must be a price-tag to every effort. That price, whether in goodwill, or in other terms, must be carefully calculated beforehand, demanded and fully exerted when the mission is over or when the time is ripe. It is not at all, as always been argued, a moral issue as to whether one should or not expect appreciation from another country for a good turn done. It is more basic than that. It is simply that one has the right to expect result from one’s own efforts. How that result is achieved is a matter of planning. There is no doubt, that when policies are properly and carefully conceived and planned, reward is inevitable. On the other hand, thoughtlessly and carelessly conceived and executed programmes and engagements, yield no result.

“This, explains why we could invest so much effort, so much energy and so many resources (as we did in Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Other parts of west Africa) and reap nothing positive from such effort. The reoccurring spate of xenophobic attacks and killing of Nigerians in South Africa, are all indicative of the weakness in our perception of our real interests, weakness in planning, weakness in our approach and style in the Southern Africa Liberation Struggles. Simply put in one sentence: it was an abysmal weakness in our DIPLOMACY.”

The problem with Nigeria foreign policy according to Olisemeka in his presentation titled, “Nigeria’s Foreign Policy: Evolution, trend and prospects since Independence. A personal perspective” is the lack of complementarity with domestic policy.

He posited that the domestic and foreign policy are world apart, as they are oblivion of existence of one another.
He said, “paradoxical as it may sound, our foreign policy is too “foreign”; far too unduly externally focused and not sufficiently internally directed. This observation derives from a combination of the point already made-our desperate search for identity and international recognition; our predilection to run before we can crawl; and our search for a role to play.

“We are, therefore inclined to see foreign policy as a rather detached and abstract exercise, not sufficiently related to tangible, concrete, internal domestic needs and objectives. To some, it is simply an intellectual abstraction. Our military rulers, who have dominated the scene since independence, have depended too much intellectuals as Foreign Ministers.

“Let me assert that the problem facing us in this type of approach to the conduct of foreign policy is the failure to accord it full recognition, especially the development of foreign policy as an essential tool for development.

“We talk so much about our foreign policy being the projection of our domestic realities, mirroring its strengths and weaknesses.

“That is right. We so often talk about the inter-relationship, the nexus between Nigeria’s domestic and foreign policies. This is equally correct. What, however, we have not sufficiently stressed is the complementarity of domestic and foreign policies. More importantly, we have not adequate emphasized the use of foreign policy as an effective instrument for strengthening and stabilizing the domestic base.

“We are yet to fully conceive of foreign policy as an instrument for national development, the way the colonial rulers and most modern developed and developing nations have turned their external contacts and affairs into national advantage.

“With us in Nigeria, it is as if the two most vital components of the nation’s activities the domestic component and the external component are pulling apart, the one oblivious of the existence of the other; at best , indifferent to it. Although we have come a long way, there has still not been sufficient awareness of the inter-locking relationship in the activities of the two parts of our country’s national enterprise.

“The picture that has emerged is that of rivalry, lack of systematic co-ordination of strategic efforts, and a lack of harmonization of policies.

“The point I make here is that our foreign policy has not sufficiently, to the degree desirable, served core internal needs, as it should or ought to have been doing. The fault lies not only in the lack of sufficient awareness of the full potential of foreign policy as an instrument for national development, but more in the absence of an over-bearing policy to attain these goals through diplomacy and foreign policy engagements. This is clearly shown by the lack of an adequate and effective machinery to make these happen (and not just ad hoc or perfunctory coordination of efforts) and the fact that various Ministries and agencies of governments themselves tend to defend their various spheres of authorities and assigned responsibilities.

“Foreign policy has not been consciously used as an instrument for forging and promoting national unity; hence, our entrenched ethnic and religious productivities. We should, for instance, widen our policy of naturalization in order to narrow and bridge our ethnic-religious differences by enhancing healthy competition with other nationalities. “


https://ngg.ng/2019/10/29/since-1960-nigeria-to-review-her-foreign-policy-minister/

At the opening of the 31st Annual National Education Conference of (NUTGTWN) in Abuja, President Buhari, represented by the Registrar, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria, Prof. Josiah Ajiboye, on Tuesday mandated the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Industrial Training Funds (ITF), to partner in the provision of funds for the training of members of the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN), to sustain Executive Order 003.

According to the report of Tribune newspaper, President Buhari said: “The existing 40,000 garment and textile workers must be trained and retrained, I will use this opportunity to call on the CBN to collaborate with your union and the ITF to come in and encourage the union to provide funds to train and retrain the textile workforce in Nigeria.”

He pointed out that the NUTGTWN has the capacity to transform Nigeria’s rural economy and revive the sector to bring about industries by creating more than 2 million jobs, adding, “we are going to ensure that the garment industry is expanded.”

He pointed out that in accordance with the Executive Order 003, the CBN had signed a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) with the Service Chiefs and Chief Executives of Security Services to patronize locally made fabrics, adding that the development was already yielding fruits.

The General Secretary, NUTGTWN, Comrade Issa Aremu, commended the Federal Government for the closure of land borders towards ending smuggling of goods into the country; and pointed out that the move was impressive, as it has aided local production and consumption of goods.

He said: “We will like to commend the efforts of the Federal Government in the closure of its land borders, this has helped in total overhaul of the textile and garment industries in the country. It is already on record that the textile industries are now making money, smugglers and importers have gone into hiding, we should support the Nigeria Customs.

Aremu, however, advised the federal government, that the border closure should not be permanent, but should be sustained for the main time.

Aremu has also called on the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to increase its intervention on worker’s training, retraining and skills development, as this has become imperative as the future of work was being threatened by technology.


https://ngg.ng/2019/10/29/president-buhari-task-cbnitf-to-raise-funds-for-textile-workers-training/

cc lalasticlala

While Nigeria is still struggling to untie the legal knots around the controversial P&ID gas and supply processing agreement (GSPA), another sloppy deal has boxed the country into a tight corner, TheCable can report.

A gas supply agreement (GSA) between the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Ltd and Accugas Ltd has gone sour, forcing the federal government to keep paying over $10 million monthly with or without gas supply to the Calabar Electricity Generation Company (CEGC) Ltd by Accugas.

The GSA has a take-or-pay obligation of 803 of the daily 104.8mmscf/day of gas and is backed by World Bank partial risk guarantee (PRG) as payment security.

If Nigeria is reported for defaulting in payment, the country’s credit rating will not only be downgraded, the $118 million sovereign guarantee will be called in, thereby putting the nation’s foreign assets at risk.

Although this is nowhere near the calamitous $9 billion award to P&ID by a London commercial court — currently being challenged by the federal government — there will still be questions as to how Nigeria persistently enters into agreements that are apparently skewed against the country.

One question that industry watchers have been asking is: why did Nigeria proceed to sign the PRG in spite of the objections raised by virtually every party involved — excluding, of course, Accugas but including the World Bank itself?

WHAT IS THE AGREEMENT?

On December 8, 2011, NDPHC signed the GSA with Accugas Ltd for gas supply to the 561MW Calabar power station — one of power projects under the national integrated power project (NIPP) initiated by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 under the power sector reform.

Accugas was to supply 131MMSCF of natural gas per day to Calabar, which will in turn generate electricity for supply to the national grid.

As payment security for the gas, the GSA provided for a “take-or-pay” obligation on NDPHC, owners of the Calabar GenCo, backed by a World Bank partial risk guarantee (PRG).

That means whether or not Calabar takes gas from Accugas, NDPHC will pay for it.

WHAT COMPLICATIONS AROSE?

Originally, gas was to be supplied to the Calabar GenCo by Addax Petroleum from its off­shore Adanga field, but there was a breakdown in negotiations between Addax and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) joint venture (JV) while the 107km gas pipeline from the Adanga field to the Calabar plant was being constructed.

Because Addax and NNPC JV could not sign their own gas development agreement (GDA), the Chinese company notified NDPHC that it could not meet the deadline to supply gas to the Calabar plant, which was at the time nearing completion.

Addax said even if the GDA was signed and the development of the field started, it would still take three years to get the gas to Calabar.

According to documents seen by TheCable, it was at this stage that NDPHC decided to approach Accugas –a consortium of Frontier Oil Ltd, Seven Energy and Accugas Ltd — as an alternative arrangement to get Calabar up and running.

Accugas also had operations close to the Calabar plant and was already supplying gas to Ibom Power Station and UNICEM.

It would only have to build a dedicated pipeline from its processing plant to join NDPHC’s planned onshore pipeline segment at Oron, Akwa Ibom state.

DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

After the necessary approvals from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), NDPHC entered into the 20-year GSA with Accugas in 2011, with NDPHC and Calabar as the buyers and Accugas as the sellers.

The GSA was an omnibus deal with several components usually described as “side letters”, notably the account charge agreement and direct agreement.

In what it argued then as the need to prevent further delays in obtaining letters of credit for construction, testing and commissioning of its facilities, Accugas developed side agreements with alternative payment security.

This was to make NDPHC as the guarantor of Accugas’ loans and, curiously, bring in the lenders as parties to the GSA — even though it was Accugas, not NDPHC, that was taking the credit.

RAISING THE RED FLAG

In June 2013, NDPHC, through Mohammed Mahmud, the company secretary and legal adviser, forwarded the initial GSA and the “side” agreements to Mohammed Bello Adoke, then attorney-general of the federation, for review before execution.

Adoke advised NDPHC not to sign the agreements because the terms were skewed against the country, maintaining that they should be reviewed to protect the interest of the government subject to an “express approval” from the board of directors.

Curiously, again, Mahmud wrote back to Adoke on September 12, 2013 saying “all draft agreements connected to the gas supply by Accusgas, including Direct Agreement and the Account Charge Agreement, have been extensively amended to make it clear in every instance that the security granted to Accusgas is limited to the funds they are entitled to be paid as the gas seller.”

Mahmud also asked Adoke to direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) “to execute the Payment Security Agreement [which] has been with them for a while without response despite His Excellency, the Vice President’s directive that they execute the agreement immediately”.

The vice-president at the time was Namadi Sambo, who was by law the chairman of NDPHC and also of the NIPP.

Adoke responded again, in a memo dated October 4, 2013, saying the amended agreement “in reality puts the Contractor (NDPHC) in the position of the Borrower’s (Accugas) financial surety as well as its guarantor for performance under the GSA, thereby effectively transferring to the Contractor obligations that customarily should be borne by the Borrower”.

He said in view of the reasons he listed in his two-page letter, “it is my considered opinion that the execution of the Agreements is not in the interest of the Contractor (NDPHC/CEGE)… I am therefore unable to consent to the Draft Agreements”.

In November 2013, the managing director of NDPHC, James Olotu, wrote to Adoke saying all the agreements had been reviewed and changes made to protect the country, but Adoke wrote back that the “securitization agreements” allowed Accugas to draw down on funds provided by NDPHC in the designated accounts and that the issues he raised had not been sufficiently addressed.

In all, the renegotiation of the agreements took about three years, the touchy issue being the payment security in the “side” agreements.

However, by 2014, NDPHC had completed the construction of the Calabar plant.

With the station facing idleness, NDPHC/CGCL and Accugas signed an interim gas sales agreement for gas supply.

NEW LEASE OF LIFE?

In 2015, Accugas was offered what was supposed to be a new life with the World Bank PRG under the Nigerian Electricity and Gas Improvement Project (NEGIP) facility granted to the country.

While this would address concerns over the previous agreements that would have put the repayment burden on NDPHC, the PRG could open up Nigeria as a sovereign entity to possible international consequences in the event of a default.

More so, the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET) and NDPHC were not comfortable with the new arrangement.

NBET is the body that buys power from the generating companies through power purchase agreements (PPAs) and sells to the distribution companies through vesting contracts.

Documents seen by TheCable revealed that both bodies pointed out adverse liquidity challenges in the Nigeria electricity supply industry which would affect the performance of the payment obligation under the GSA.

In a November 21, 2016 memo to Marilyn Amobi, the NBET managing director, Ade Ipaye, the deputy chief of staff in the office of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, expressed disappointment that despite the signing of the PRG at the state house on November 3, 2016, NBET was yet to endorse three “vital documents” — (1) the GSA and related deed of amendment (2) the support agreement and (3) the reimbursement and credit agreement.

Reminding her that the minister of finance, then Kemi Adeosu, and the World Bank had signed the agreement, Ipaye said Osinbajo had “directed that all stakeholders work together assiduously on sorting out all outstanding disputes and execute the required documents no later than the 24th November 2016. Copies of the executed documents should also be sent to the office of the Vice President by the 25th November 2016”.

Ipaye attached a copy of the complaint sent to Osinbajo by Philip Iheanacho, the CEO of Seven Energy International, a member of the Accugas consortium, over the delay in signing the PRG.

AMOBI STANDS HER GROUND

In her response to Ipaye, dated November 28, 2016, Amobi said NBET had signed its own portions of the support agreements and the reimbursement and credit agreement — it is not a party to the GSA — but warned that there was trouble ahead.

According to her, NBET was worried about the “sustainability of the transaction”, pointing out such issues as “the near insolvency situation of the electricity market, the absent immediate market liquidity solution”.

She said NBET and NDPHC would not be able to honour the associated financial obligations to Accugas under the “take-or-pay” GSA.

“The transaction is only sustainable if the distribution companies are fully settling their invoices by NBET for the electricity delivered at their respective grid supply points (GSPs). The electricity market is currently collecting less than 25% of the aggregated invoices,” she said.

She also warned that except “very significant improvements are made in revenue collection and remittances by DisCos, the entire remittances currently received by NBET would barely be sufficient to pay for gas volumes to run the five GE Frane 9E gas turbines at Calabar. This has serious implications not only for other GenCos but for the other seven (7) NIPP plants in commercial operation”.

In other words, the entire revenue from electricity in the country was not enough to pay Accugas for gas supply to Calabar GenCo alone, much less those of the other GenCos, both government-owned and private.

She warned that given the financial state of the industry, “it is reasonable to assume that NDPHC/NBET will default in paying for the gas and Accugas Ltd will definitely draw on the Letter of Credit to be established with JP Morgan Chase, consequently causing the downgrading of Nigeria’s Sovereign Credit Rating”.

“This would be worsened when eventually JP Morgan Chase calls on the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee to recover its full exposure in the payment default. The projected monthly default is in the region of US$8m monthly at the current market settlement rate whereas the World Bank has placed the limit on the PRG for this project at US$112Million,” she added.

Despite all the red flags spotted by NBET, NDPHC and even the World Bank over the likelihood that there would be a default, Accugas and the World Bank, in February 2017, approached federal government again with a proposal to sign the PRG agreement.

In May 2017, NDPHC was cleared to sign the PRG by Abubakar Malami, the attorney-general of the federation.

Osinbajo, as chairman of the board of directors of NDPHC, then gave the anticipatory approval for the signing of the PRG, sending it for another endorsement by President Muhammadu Buhari who was on medical leave in the UK. Osinbajo was the acting president.

AND NOW, TROUBLE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR…

The project is now facing challenges on several fronts — as a result of the inability of the Transmission Company of Nigeria to transport power from the Calabar plant because of capacity issues and others because of low tariffs in the country which are not cost-reflective.

NDPHC had managed to pay Accugas under the N701 billion power intervention fund of the federal government which terminated in December 2018.

After that, it began to default and the federal government had to start making payments of over $10 million monthly to prevent the activation of the default clause by Accugas.

TheCable understands that since the amended GSA became effective, TCN has been dispatching power at a very low level — a situation that means less use of gas even though NDPHC must continue to pay in full under the take-or-pay obligation in the GSA.

While Calabar itself does not have issues, TCN could only take 70MW instead of the capacity of 115MW of each turbine. The turbines have a total capacity of 561MW.

As a result, the turbines have been regularly required to shut down and start up, with loads lowered or raised frequently as requested by TCN but outside of the technical limits stipulated by the manufacturers, TheCable understands.

These incidents have increased maintenance costs incurred by NDPHC and are beginning to impact on the efficiency of the plants.

NDPHC has been groaning under low tariff, making it virtually impossible to meet its financial obligations.

According to insiders at the ministry of power, the generation tariff of N18 per kilowatt hour (kWh) paid by NBET for the NDPHC plants is among the lowest of all centrally-dispatched gas thermal plants in the country. NBET pays other gas-fired plants N23/kWh.

NBET has refused to enter into a PPA with NDPHC because Calabar is still government-owned and until it is privastised, it is not entitled to a fully commercial power purchase agreement that would have boosted its tariff revenue.

ANY WAY OUT?

TheCable understands that the federal government is worried over the developments.

NDPHC was, at a point, indebted to Accugas to the tune of $70 million, but there is an outstanding of $30 million after the ministry of power had stepped in to settle some of the claims.

A possible solution, according to industry experts, is for NDPHC to raise at least $10 million from its current revenue to offset part of the cost in the hope that the federal government will raise the balance of $30 million to pay off Accugas.

TheCable understands that all options are now being weighed as the sloppy deal weighs heavily on Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Nigeria must continue to pay the full current gas bill of over $10 million monthly to Accugas, failing which JP Morgan Chase may call in the PRG.


https://ngg.ng/2019/10/29/exclusive-like-pid-like-accugas-nigeria-in-trouble-over-another-sloppy-gas-deal/

cc lalasticlala

Since Nigeria’s return to civilian rule in 1999, Deputy Governors have always tended to have issues with their bosses, that is the Governors, and the Governors in turn have often had problems with their Godfathers. Whatever shape the conflict takes, it has been more of a blight on our democratic process and the health of the polity. Mini-dictators converting a democratic dispensation into an opportunity for self-aggrandizement and childish power games end up hurting us all.

As Governor of Anambra state in 2003, Chris Ngige, now Minister of Labour and Productivity, had problems with a certain Godfather known as Chris Uba. In those days, Uba had the ears and eyes of the Nigerian Presidency. Ngige’s offence was his refusal to do the bidding of the Godfather and the Godfather of the mini-Godfather in his state. In July 2003, a letter of resignation from office was circulated on Ngige’s behalf. He was also abducted by a faction of the Nigeria Police (the then Inspector General of police would later disown that “faction”). Ngige insisted that he had not resigned. Subsequently, he was shown half-naked purportedly swearing to an oath of allegiance at what was then known as the notorious Okija shrine. He was named. He was shamed. The spectacle of a sitting Governor in shamanic garb looked really ugly. Ngige’s detractors finally got him out of office in 2006. They made him. They unmade him.

In Oyo State in 2006, Rashidi Ladoja, now the Osi of Olubadan, meaning a potential Olubadan of Ibadanland was pushed out of office because he refused to share the state’s security vote with Chief Lamidi Adedibu, the famous originator and promoter of alimentary politics in the politics of Ibadan and the South-West. Alimentary politics is known locally as “amala politics.” It was re-defined in Ekiti State by Governor Ayo Fayose as “stomach infrastructure.” Real meaning: “you-chop -I-chop” politics.

Fayose himself fell foul of the powers that be when in his first term as Governor of Ekiti State, he made the fatal mistake of saying openly that he would not support a Third Term agenda for the Obasanjo administration. The witches and wizards of Aso Rock went after him. Fayose, who is ordinarily very boisterous, had to escape from the Ekiti State Government House in the trunk of a car. He was chased out of office in an overnight raid by a specially assigned police squad. He took the famous NADECO route and gave Nigeria a wide berth for a while. Again in 2006, Joshua Dariye, serving a second term as Governor of Plateau State, was impeached by eight members of the state’s 24-member House of Assembly. He protested about the fact that 8 out of 24 members did not amount to a quorum. Nobody listened. His supporters protested. Two of them were gunned down by the police. Dariye was impeached. His offence was his refusal to respect the powers that be. The Supreme Court later returned him and Ladoja of Oyo State to office, but I doubt very much if they have both recovered fully from taking on those secret manipulators of the Nigerian political process.

But while state Governors often get into trouble with their Godfathers, what we have seen is that the Governors themselves are just as power drunk as their own Godfathers. The target of their fascism is usually the persons they choose or who are appointed to serve as their Deputies. Since 1999, no Governor has made any conscious effort to hand over to his Deputy. In Plateau, and Oyo states, Deputies became Governors by sheer default: Michael Botmang in Plateau (2006 -2007), and Adebayo Alao-Akala in Oyo State (January – December 2006) not because their bosses wanted them as successors. In an exception to the rule in Kano State where Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso was succeeded by his two-time Deputy (1999 -2003; 2011-2015), the Deputy as Governor has shown great contempt and animosity towards his former boss, clearly indicating that there was never any love lost between them while they worked together. The kind of passion that Abdullahi Ganduje has devoted to rubbishing and undoing his former boss is astonishing.

But the battle between Governors and their Deputies is not just at the state level; at the level of the Presidency, the story is not much different. During President Olusegun Obasanjo’s second term, Nigeria was saddled with a divided Presidency. I covered the politics of that crisis in a series of columns tilted “The Bolekaja Presidency”. Going further, the story is often told of how under President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, his then Vice President – Goodluck Jonathan was completely sidelined by a cabal that hijacked Presidential power and authority. The only job President Yar’Adua’s people wanted Dr. Jonathan to do was to just read newspapers. They made sure his office got a good supply of newspapers and a short supply of state news. They showed their hands when they made it clear that they didn’t want him to succeed his boss who fell ill and had become incapacitated. President Yar’Adua died in office. It was a great ordeal to get Dr. Jonathan to succeed him. Concerned Nigerians had to stand up physically and emotionally, for the letter and spirit of the Constitution to be respected. Even when Jonathan became President, the cabal did not leave him alone. They made every day difficult for him.

I have gone on this long, retrospective, voyage to draw attention to a few points: One, that Nigerian politics, even with the exit from military rule in 1999 is still based on a principle of clientelism and godfatherism. Some people just assume that Nigeria belongs to them and they must dictate what happens within its borders. Two, people get into offices not because they are the best persons for the job but because they are the right clients. How many got elected because they swore to an oath in Okija or elsewhere? How many paid fees to get a nomination form? How many of these guys have become big men and women today because they had to trade off? When such persons try to stand up and assert themselves, they are shot down. Three, Nigerian politicians have little regard for the Constitution.

It is also important to note that in real terms, Deputies in Nigerian politics are at best spare tyres. The Constitution gives them no real roles. This is why it is possible for Governors and Presidents to treat their Deputies shabbily. In Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu trashed two Deputy Governors between 1999 and 2007. When Mrs Kofo Bucknor Akerele tried to stand up to him; she was shut down. Otunba Femi Pedro, her replacement also thought he could act like a man. He was shown the exit door. He would return later to beg and genuflect. His own assistant, someone he brought to the party is now the Governor of Lagos State, obviously in an attempt to complete his humiliation. I don’t see the current Governor of Lagos State fighting the powers that be. He only needs to look at Bucknor-Akerele, Femi Pedro and Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past Governor in the mirror.

What am I trying to say? I am saying that Nigerian politics is dirty, crazy and incomprehensible. In the last 20 years, it has been overtaken by Godfathers, cabalists and fascists. They do what they like. If you stand in their way, they crush you. In effect, fear rules the land. In an environment dominated by power-mongers who parade themselves as good men and women, you can no longer trust anybody. Nigerian politics has never been so terrible.. In politics as in society, the picture of a mentally ill community looms large.

But of all the things that I have heard and seen in the last 20 years, permit me to say that the most shocking, the most objectionable, the most fearful happened in Kogi State the other day with the purported removal from office of the Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba. Simon Achuba’s offence is that he is no longer in good terms with his Governor, Yahaya Bello. When a State Governor no longer likes his Deputy, he tells him to jump, if the guy refuses to jump, he pushes him. If the guy refuses to be pushed, the Governor gets the House of Assembly, obviously the largest collection of nitwits since 2019, to help push the Deputy Governor through the vehicle of impeachment. We have seen one or the other strategy adopted in Lagos State with Kofo Bucknor-Akerele and Femi Pedro by Bola Tinubu in Lagos, Rochas Okorochas against his deputies- Jude Agbaso and Eze Madumere in Imo, and Ibikunle Amosun against Segun Adesegun in Ogun State. In the case of Achuba in Kogi State they just threw the Constitution completely out of the window. The 1999 Constitution of Nigeria spells out the procedure for the removal of a Governor or Deputy Governor from office. In Kogi State, the State House of Assembly just decided to do whatever suited it. State Houses of Assembly are appendages of Government House. The Governors in the process become so powerful that once they don’t like anybody’s face they can get rid of him politically or buy him or her. Nigerian politicians can be bought and converted like commodities. Nigerian politics is a market.

In Kogi State, Deputy Governor Simon Achuba chose to differ with his Governor. He got accused of all kinds of things which a House of Assembly in recess interpreted as “gross misconduct’ and then decided to put him up for impeachment and removal. A cash and carry House of Assembly set to work. The state Chief Judge was asked to set up a panel to impeach the Deputy Governor. A seven-man panel was indeed set up led by Mr. John Baiyeshea, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The panel returned a verdict of not guilty on all the charges. What the Constitution says in Section 188, is that once the panel thus returns a verdict of not guilty on all counts, there shall be no further proceedings or process. The word “shall” in law is mandatory. It is a command. Still, in their wisdom, the House of Assembly in Kogi State, which is not even sitting, proceeded to sack the Deputy Governor.

If anyone is looking for a classical rubber stamp Assembly and the most conscienceless legislature in Nigeria’s democracy since 1999, Kogi State House of Assembly fits the bill. It has been more than a week since then and Kogi State is just hoping that this comedy of absurdity will disappear. It is a shame on all the people of Kogi State who have chosen to keep silent, and the most worrisome is that the Federal Government and indeed the National Assembly and the Attorney General of the Federation who is the chief law officer of the Federation by virtue of Section150 of the Constitution have all chosen to be quiet in the face of this brazen abuse of the letter and spirit of the Constitution thus setting a dangerous precedent for the continuous abuse of the Constitution, the very fabric that holds the nation together.

It is a rape of the Constitution, a slap on the rule of law. Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly should cover their heads in shame for projecting themselves as law breakers and persons who do not have the interest of the nation at heart. But the biggest scandal is that of the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Nasir Ajanah. The biggest problem with the Nigerian Bar and Bench is the cancerous proliferation of a body of lawyers and judges who believes that justice is a mere slogan, who thinks equity is sheer nonsense and who behaves as if conscience is for the religious and not the legally minded. This is precisely what happened in Kogi State the other day. The panel set up by the Chief Judge in accordance with the 1999 Constitution reported back to the House of Assembly a verdict of not guilty on all counts. There is no way the Chief Judge could have claimed ignorance of this finding. Having been aware of this, the Chief Judge should not have gone ahead to commit an act of illegality by standing the Constitution on its head. It is not enough for him to claim that he is not a Father Christmas to act, suo moto, on a matter that had not been properly placed before him.

Simon Achuba should go to court. Whether the eventual determination would be academic or not, let him fight for his rights and put the matter on record. His seat is not vacant in the eyes of the law. Edward Onoja has merely usurped the seat of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State, illegally and without conscience. Political vendetta cannot replace the tenets of the law. The fact that other Governors also behave badly does not justify the reign of idiocy in Kogi State.

When the Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello was elected in 2015, he was advertised as a poster boy for the No-Too- Young-To-Run Campaign. He was seen as the young man who would make a difference. He was the youngest Governor in Nigeria. But he has dropped the ball in the same manner in which one Elisha Abbo, youngest Senator in the 9th National Assembly (Adamawa North, PDP), has also dropped the ball. What’s the latest on Elisha Abbo? Young Nigerians want to be part of the governance process, but unfortunately, the ones who show up in the arena are the strange, unprepared types who gamble with the opportunities that they have been given. Our belief that young Nigerians in politics will turn out to be change agents is defeated daily. Yahaya Bello, playing dirty games with the removal of his Deputy, does not deserve a second term in office. The people of Kogi State would be stupid to vote for him on November 16. The absurdity in Kogi State should not be allowed to stand.

https://ngg.ng/2019/10/29/the-constitutional-crisis-in-kogi-reuben-abati/

cc lalasticlala

Following president Muhammadu Buhari's enormous foreign travels after travels, coupled with that of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, reports have it that both President Buhari and Vice president Osinbajo have #1.4 billion proposed for their foreign travels and foods on the 2019 budget.

This huge amount used for foreign travels have been questioned and still gears enormous criticism from the Nigeria populace. The President and other delegates after returning from Sochi Russia to attend the African-Russian Summit on October 23-24, today reports have it that President Buhari will embark on another trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today to attend the third edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII), which runs from October 29-31, after which he will visit Mecca also in Saudi Arabia.

Also shortly after his Saudi Arabia trip, three days later, President Buhari has planned to travel to London, UK on November 2nd, for a two weeks vacation.

In the 2020 budget proposal submitted to the joint session of the National Assembly on October 8, the President and Vice President of Nigeria travel and food will cost Nigeria a total sum of N3.5 billion, an amount which topples that of 2019 by over 60% increase.

From the 2020 budget of #3.5bn combined, the president alone is to spend #2.5bn on local and foreign travels. With Yemi Osinbajo to spend the remaining #1bn.

Despite his new foreign travel guidelines for ministers which Mr Buhari said would curb leakages and ensure efficiency in the management of resources of government, President Buhari's allocation for international travels increased from N751 million in 2019 to N1.75 billion.

Also, N775 million is budgeted for the president's local travels, a whopping rise from the N250 million budgeted for the same purpose in 2019.

Similarly, N98 million was budgeted for the president's foodstuff and catering supplies, while N25 million was budgeted for refreshments and meals.

For refreshments and meals, the president and his household and office are expected to spend more than N68,000 per day asides from the foodstuff and catering services.

For the vice president, N801 million was budgeted for travels for the year as against the N301 million which was budgeted for travels in 2019.

Local travel will gulp N283 million while international travels get N517 million in 2020.

Similarly, for the vice president, the sum total of N50 million was budgeted for foodstuff and catering materials and supplies and N18 million for refreshments and meals.

All these travels expenses have generated a lot of questions from all nukes and crannies as whether these travels are benefiting the Nigerian state.

And also critics put into consideration the level of poverty in Nigeria resulting from unemployment, underemployment, poor infrastructural facilities and lack of adequate social amenities. Furthering on the criticism, they opined that all these travelings could be slashed by the national assembly after a cross checking have been made, if the travels and costs have a commensurable benefit and reward for the country.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/28/buhari-and-osinbajo-travels-cost-nigeria-1-4bn-in-2019-budget-amount-doubles-in-2020-budget/

cc lalasticlala

The federal government has launched a modern garment factory to produce uniforms for the armed forces and other security agencies in the country.

This is to ensure standardization and guard against the misuse of military and security uniforms by impostors and criminals in Nigeria.

Mohammed Manga, Director Press and Public Relations of the Ministry of Interior, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

He said the launching of the garment factory, which was tagged, DICON-SUR Corporate Wears Nigeria Limited, was held at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) at Kakuri, Kaduna.

Mr Manga quoted President Muhammadu Buhari speaking at the occasion as saying that the security of lives and property of Nigerians and the integrity of the nation’s territory was very important to the present administration.

Mr Buhari said: “This event is a clear demonstration of the determination of my government to encourage Public-Private Partnership through foreign direct investment into the Nigerian economy”.

The president, who was represented by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said the garment factory was being launched in recognition of the dire need of Nigeria for a modern garment factory to produce befitting uniforms for the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

He reiterated the administration’s resolve to deal with all forms of crime and criminality in the country.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/359831-nigeria-launches-factory-to-produce-uniforms-for-military-security-agencies.html

source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/28/security-nigeria-launches-factory-to-produce-uniforms-for-military-security-agencies/

Barely four days after he jets down Nigeria from Sochi, Russia where he attended the African-Russia summit, president Mohammadu Buhari is set to travel to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to participate in the 3rd edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference.

The Future Investment Initiative (FII) is an annual investment forum held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to discuss trends in the world economy and investment environment. It is hosted by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). Topics of discussion are focused on economy, investment, trade, technology and infrastructure.

The 1st edition was in October 2017, 2nd edition 23-25 October 2018 and this year's 3rd edition is to run from 29-31 October.

President Buhari will use the occasion to speak about the economic opportunities that abound in Nigeria, the effectiveness of his administration’s policies to improve the business environment, and invite investors to the country.

The President will be accompanied by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, Governor Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State and Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State.

Also on the entourage are, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Zubairu Dada, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Niyi Adebayo, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, Minister of Communications, Ibrahim Pantami, the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd), Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar, and the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kolo Kyari.

After the conference, the President plans to embark on a journey to Mecca, located in Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia to perform the Umrah, a lesser pilgrimage. Shortly after which he will return to Abuja, Nigeria on November 1.

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/28/president-buhari-to-depart-abuja-for-riyadh/

cc lalasticlala

Two Nigerian popular figure, Femi Fani-Kayode – a former Minister and Lawyer, and Dele Momodu – a journalist and writer have been throwing shades at each other on popular social media site, Twitter, over the suppose 2022 Presidency aspiration of the National leader of the All Progressive Congress APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Femi Fani-Kayode had tweeted about Tinubu presidency while casting a shade at Dele Momodu.

https://mobile.twitter.com/realFFK/status/1188624747556458496

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/28/between-ffk-and-dele-momodu-on-tinubus-2022-presidency-aspiration/

Following the preparation of payment slip as the month of October draws to its end for Bauchi civil servants to earn their salaries, the Bauchi government have discovered that 41,000 out of total 101,000 on payroll are ghost workers. He said, these ghost workers have been earning salaries from the Bauchi purse without BVN and concrete records of employment.

This information was unraveled by Governor Bala Mohammed last week. The Governor said he discovered this five months ago on his assumption of office and have been demanding explanations from subordinates especially at the ministry of education and health directors.

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/28/41000-ghost-workers-uncovered-by-bauchi-government/

cc lalasticlala

President Mohammadu Buhari has revalidated the commitment of his administration to conquer the hydra-headed, insurgency ravaging Northeast Nigeria.

Buhari showed this resolve with his recent procurement of 3 Mi-35N Gunship, 4 Super Mushaik with several armouries & calibers of ammunition.

New set of 12 Mi-35N and 12 Super Tucano A-29 Fighter Jets will be receive between now and 2021.


https://ngg.ng/2019/10/27/boko-haram-buhari-acquires-fighter-jets-for-battle-against-insurgency/

The Former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Abdulrasheed Maina and his son, Faisal Maina will today be arraigned by the Economics and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Okon Abang at an Abuja Federal High Court.

Maina is to be arraigned on 12 count charges bordering on money laundering, operating fictitious bank accounts and fraud. One of such allegation was the #100bn theft under his watch as the Chairman of PRTT.

Along his arraignment is also his son facing similar charges. Faisal Maina is a final year student of Telecommunications Engineering at the Canadian University of Dubai.

Father and Son were arrested in Pennsylvania Avenue Hotel in Abuja, with faisal attempting to shoot operatives of the Department of State Services drafted to arrest his father.

Also remember how an Abuja Federal High Court had judged on Maina forfeiting 23 properties to the federal government on interim basis.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have however concluded investigations on Abdulrasheed Maina's alleged fraudulent actions while he chaired the country's pension task force, hence his arraignment at a federal high court in Abuja today.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/25/former-pension-reform-task-team-boss-to-be-arraigned-for-fraud-today/

cc lalasticlala

I Join An Overwhelming Array Of Family And Friends Across Nigeria And The World To Specially Salute Raymond Anthony Dokpesi Today As He Clocks 68 Eventful Years On This Planet Earth.

This Foremost Media Mogul The Founder of AIT, Raypower And FAAJI FM Among Many Other Noteworthy Life Achievements Has Written His Name Firmly On The Record Books Of Nigeria, Of Africa And The Black World As One Of The Most Courageous Defender Of Truth, Freedom And Democracy.

As I Wish The Ezomo Of The Universe A Very Happy Birthday Today, I Join His Family And Friends In Prayer For His Many More Active Years On Earth In Jolly Good Health… Please Enjoy Your Day With Fun And Laughter!

High Chief Tom Ikimi
FNIA, KSG, CON

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/25/high-chief-ikimi-felicitate-with-raymond-dokpesi-on-his-68th-birthday/

cc lalasticlala

President Muhammadu Buhari has again reiterated the Nation’s resolve to stand firm in the face of any act of terrorism.

Remember the bombing of the United Nations(UN) building in Abuja by Boko-Haram in August 26 2011 at about 11:00WAT, which led to the death of at least 21 persons and over 60 seriously wounded as detailed by wikipedia.org.

The UN building which houses about 400 officials employed by the UN has been rebuilt by the President Buhari's administration.

At the Commissioning yesterday, the President who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, the President said his government would do everything possible to remain resilient in the face of any act of terrorism.

The rebuilding and commissioning of the UN Abuja building was to join other parts of the world in celebrating the UN Day which was observed on 24th October, 2019, yesterday been on Thursday.

As reported by Opportunity Spotters, the President said, ”Nigeria will not be cowed but will remain resilient in the face of acts of terrorism designed to break our spirit.”

The President further said that the Rebuilding and Commissioning of the building, is a message and demonstration to all partners of insecurity in Nigeria and the world of his administration and Nigeria's commitment to domestic and global fight and defense against terrorism.

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/25/buhari-commissions-rebuilt-un-building-sends-message-to-boko-haram/

cc lalasticlala

The Nigerian government and its oil sector have benefited from the Africa-Russia Summit held in Sochi,Russia which was attended by the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and other delegates.

The summit which ran from October 23-24 saw the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and the Russian leading Oil Company, Lukeoil signing a Memorandum of Understanding to elevate commercial relationship to a government-to-government backed partnership.

The Russian government has agreed “to improve the efficiency of our oil and gas sector which provides us with the much-needed capital to invest in our security, infrastructure and economic diversification programmes”.

While taking note of the agreement between NNPC and Lukeoil, President Buhari gave an assurance that his administration will “ensure this initiative is implemented within the shortest possible time.”

President Muhammadu Buhari had also gave President Vladimir Putin the assurance when he said ''Nigeria was prepared and willing to work with Russian businesses.

President Muhammadu Buhari is expected back to the Country today by well meaning Nigerians who are aware of the importance of his mission to Russia and the attendance of the African-Russia summit.

The Signing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, though this was not done at the front-end but backend of the African-Russian Summit.

https://twitter.com/GarShehu/status/1187460940016607233

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/25/nigeria-benefits-from-africa-russia-summit-held-in-sochi/

The Ghanaian Alomo Bitters Manufactured by Kasapreko Company limited through its Head of International Business Development Mr Francis Adzah told joybusiness a Ghanaian news platform how the federal government of Nigeria border closure action have halted its businesses as Nigeria is the Company's largest market.

He went further to say that more than a total of $2m has been lost since the border closure. Remember how the president Buhari's administration had closed the borders in August, against neighbouring African countries with the claim of checkmating the illegal activities which have to do with Smuggling of weapons, drugs and the huge lost of revenue from import and export tariffs through the activities of smuggling of food items into the country through the various borders most especially, Seme and Idiroko borders.

Kasapreko Company Limited, is the manufacturer of Alomo Bitters, a beverage widely consumed by Nigerians. The company is also Ghana’s largest local beverage manufacturer.

The beverage company according to report was able to transport three trucks before the border closure. But now, the company has exhausted its products in the Nigerian market according to Ghanain news website, JoyBusiness report.

Explaining the situation further, Mr Adzah said “We managed to send in three trucks of products to the Nigerian market moments before the border was closed.”

Mr Adzah Complained further that “In September, the company lost $1 million to the closure. October is almost ended and our checks show a loss of another million dollars. The situation is getting out of hand and very serious,” he said.

Mr Adzah said the company has been forced to try doing business with other African countries such as Cote d'voire, Senegal, Togo, Benin and other European markets to offset the loss incurred from the Nigerian market due to the border closure.

The Ghanaian products, along with Benin and Niger goods enjoy a very large sales in the Nigeria market as a result of the population and better economic situations compare to that of her neighbouring countries.


https://ngg.ng/2019/10/22/border-closure-producers-of-alomo-bitters-loses-millions-of-dollars/

Cindy Okafor a house mate in the Big Brother Naija reality TV show Season 4's 'pepper dem' just got a car gift. Cindy who was the 17th house mates to be evicted took to her twitter handle to express her joy.

She got this gift from a popular entrepreneur and CEO of FloRich. She thanked Florichceo for the gift.

As seen from the popular 'local' girl's twitter handle:

https://twitter.com/cindyokafor_/status/1186001644074536963

Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/22/cindy-of-bbnaija-season-4-pepper-dem-acquires-car-see-pictures-of-her-and-car/

On Sunday, been October 20, MTN Nigeria sent messages to all its subscribers nationwide saying, it was going to start charging #4.00 per transaction for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) used for banking service.

A copy of the message is as shown below:



However, the attention of the federal government has been drawn to the matter, reacting in a press release, the federal government through the Ministry of Communication and the office of the Honourable Minister of Communication, Dr Isa Pantimi ordered the Nigeria Communications Commission to stop such arrangement with immediate effect until the he is properly briefed about such charges.

The Press release........

The minister gave the advice at a meeting with NCC management on the progress made in the implementation of the Short-Term Performance targets set for it.

The minister lamented by saying that '' “with the prevailing high cost of data in Nigeria, the citizens still do not enjoy value for money as subscribers’ battle daily with illegal deduction of data, poor Quality of Service (QoS), among others.”

Dr Isa Pantimi reminded NCC that one of their main job as communication regulator in the country, is to protect the interest of Nigerians and disengage all irregularities and unprofessionalism.

The Minister has however told Nigerians that the federal government will get to the root of the matter and ensure a better decision that will benefit mostly Nigerians.

The Minister's attention has also been drawn about how other network providers charges them unjustly, such as Airtel which charges between #50.00 to #52.00 among other network providers.


Source: https://ngg.ng/2019/10/21/mtn-planned-4-00-ussd-charges-halted-by-fg/