₦airaland Forum

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived Nigeria from New York, Igbere TV reports. He arrived through the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

This followed his successful participation at the just concluded 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74) in the United States.

The President's arrival from the New York was announced by his Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmad, in a tweet sighted by Igbere TV, Saturday.

“President @MBuhari returns to Abuja after his participation in the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly #UNGA in New York, the United States”, he wrote.

https://twitter.com/BashirAhmaad/status/1177822738788040705?s=19

Igbere TV reports that Buhari departed Nigeria on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019 to participate in the United Nations programme, which saw over 189 head of states in attendance.

While in New York, the president had several bilateral meetings with Bill Gates, Aliko Dangote, President of Portugal, US Army Chief, amongst others.

He also participated in several high-level events as part of the sidelines of the UNGA74, including one co-hosted by the EFCC, on Thursday.

davodyguy:
I saw him too
www.nairaland.com/attachments/10285010_img20190925133259_jpegbdd88235e60733ddf50c7a7ac6668704

“The blood of an innocent man shed...

“Barely 20minutes ago, the men of the Nigeria Customs were in hot pursuit of a Sienna bus allegedly carrying rice.

“The customs officers were able to double cross the vehicle right at the front of the Bovas Filling Station. The occupants of the Sienna bus resisted attempts and this led the men of the Customs to open fire on them.

“The bullets didn't penetrate. Along the line, one of the bullets hit an Okada rider...

“Onlookers attempted rescuing the man but the customs officer started shooting at them. They sprayed till they exhausted their bullets and fled.

“This is the country we found ourselves!!!

“We demand justice for the slained (sic) young man.

“This happened in Oyo town, Oyo State. Presently, the family and friends of the stained man are at the Ojongbodu police station, Oyo demanding justice.”

A South African man, Mr Jason Jetnarayan, has been left disappointed at the fallout xenophobia caused in Japan - where he resides.

According to Jetnarayan, a Manchester United fan, he had gone to a pub to watch the recent match between his team and Leicester.

Taking to his social media page, he said he met a Nigerian who was also there at the football viewing centre.

Jetnarayan, however, said he felt ashamed of his country after the man refused him a seat next to time owing to the xenophobic attacks in his country home.

“The pub was busy and there weren’t any seats available, but I looked around and spotted a black gentleman in a Manchester United jersey with open seats at his table.

“I approached him to let him know my friend and I were Manchester supporters too and asked permission to join him.

“He gave us his approval in an African accent. As a proud African myself, I was excited about this because Africans are rare here. So I ask him where he was from. He said ‘Nigeria’ and reciprocated the question. I extended my hand and excitedly told him I was South African. He didn’t believe me until I proved it to him, showing him my ID as I beat my chest with pride.

“However, he didn’t seem to share the sentiment by the look of it.

“He was visibly upset, and made a statement about South Africans not being his brothers. I immediately realise he was referring to the xenophobic attacks that have unfortunately occurred in SA for the last decade, and only seem to be getting worse.”

Jetnarayan said he felt a sense of uneasiness, which he described as “a sinking feeling in my chest”.

“The pride I felt a moment before sharply deteriorated into one of shame.

“I, for one, have never taken issue with immigrants in my country or any other. I am in no manner responsible for the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, yet I apologised to the gentleman as he got up to leave the bar, having made the choice he would rather not be affiliated with a South African.

“We’re failing our brothers and sisters in Africa, we’re failing our women, we’re failing our children. We need to be better. We need to fight for our people and speak out against atrocities committed on our land, or else we too are part of the problem.

“Let’s be the resolution.”

In his fourth year in Japan, Jetnarayan spoke of his experiences as a foreigner there.

“Japanese people’s perceptions of SA are very uneducated and come across as ignorant.

“They find it hard to understand how an Indian or white can come from Africa. And racism isn’t a prominent topic for them.

“They often don’t know they’re being racist. But I don’t blame them, they live in a very isolated society and are mostly exposed to domestic media only, whereas foreigner perceptions of SA are influenced by movies like District 9, sports, celebrities like Trevor Noah, or apartheid or Mandela.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has arrived New York where he is expected to attend the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74), which officially opened on Sept. 17.

Buhari accompanied by some members of his cabinet and state governors, departed the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Abuja on Sunday morning.

He was received at the JF Kennedy Airport, New York by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the President-General of the United Nation General Assembly, Tijjani Bande.

According to a statement issued by Buhari’s spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, the President would be addressing the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, September 24 (tomorrow).

Buhari, who is 5th person on the list of speakers, would speak on the event’s theme, which is, “Galvanizing Multilateral Efforts for Poverty Eradication, Quality Education, Climate Action and Inclusion.”

While in New York, the Nigerian leader and members of his delegation are expected to participate in the Climate Action Summit, with the theme, “A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win”.

President Buhari will also participate in the High-Level meeting organized by the President of UNGA on Universal Health Coverage, with the theme, “Moving Together to Build a Healthier World”.

He is also billed to hold bilateral meetings with Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Bill Gates on sustaining the polio-free campaign as well as issues on human capital projects and development in Nigeria.

The President and his team are expected back to Nigeria, at the end of the event.

State001:
https://punchng.com/fg-states-lgs-share-n769-523bn-for-july/amp/

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, presided over the Board Meeting of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Igbere TV reports.

The NDPHC, which is subscribed to by the Federal, States and Local Governments, has a mandate to manage the national power project tagged, “National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP)”, an emergency intervention scheme to tackle the power problem in the country.

Currently, ten new power stations are being constructed in different parts of the country including, Alaoji (1,074MW) in Abia state, Ihovbor (451MW) in Edo state, Calabar (563MW) in Cross River state, Egbema (338 MW) in Imo state, Olorunsogo in Ogun state, Gbarain (225 MW) in Bayelsa state, Omotosho (451 MW) in Ondo state, Geregu (434 MW) in Kogi state and Omoku (225MW) in Rivers state.

Today's NDPHC meeting had the Governors of Lagos (Babajide Sanwo-Olu), Anambra (Willie Obiano), Edo (Godwin Obaseki) and Kebbi (Atiku Bagudu), in attendance.

Earlier, Osinbajo presided over the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

During the meeting, members of the Council unanimously voted for the implementation of the recently suspended National Livestock Plan.

Chairman of NEC sub-committee and Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, while addressing journalists, said a budget of N100 billion was proposed for the implementation plan.

He said that the federal government would bear 80 per cent of the N100 billion, while participating states would support with the balance of N20 billion and land for the programme.

feedthenation:
When will the service chiefs be replaced.

FG, States, Councils share N720.880 Billion In August

The Federal Government, 36 States and 774 Local Government Councils shared a total of N720.880 billion for the month of August 2019.

This was disclosed at the monthly meeting of Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) on Thursday,

The N720.880 billion comprised revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT), exchange Gain and gross statutory revenue.

The gross statutory revenue for the month of August 2019 was N631.796 billion. It was lower than the N674.365 billion received in the previous month by N42.569 billion.

Revenue from Value Added Tax (VAT) was N88.082 billion as against N94.159 billion in the previous month, resulting in a decrease of N6.077 billion.

Exchange Gain yielded a total revenue of N1.002 billion.

A communique issued by the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) indicated that from the total revenue of N720.880 billion, the Federal Government received N301.804 billion, the States received N188.925 billion, and the Local Government Councils received N142.654 billion.

The Oil Producing States received N43.513 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N43.984 billion as cost of revenue collection. In addition, the meeting agreed to share N20 billion from Forex Equalization fund.

A breakdown of the distribution showed that from the gross statutory revenue of N631.796 billion, the Federal Government received N288.638 billion, the States received N146.401 billion, the Local Government Councils received N112.869 billion, the Oil Producing States received N43.426 billion as 13% derivation revenue and the Revenue Collecting Agencies received N40.461billion as cost of collection.

From the Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N88.082 billion, the Federal Government received N12.684 billion, the States received N42.280 billion, the Local Government Councils received N29.596 billion and the Revenue Generating Agencies received N3.523 billion.

The communiqué stated that for the month of August 2019, revenues from Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT) and Companies Income Tax (CIT) recorded significant increases while Royalties, Import and Excise Duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) decreased substantially.

However, the N20 billion naira from forex Equalization fund will be added to the N720.880 billion and share accordingly and will bring the Gross to N740,880

The balance in the Excess Crude Account is $328.122 million as at 19th September 2019.

BREAKING: Nigerian Army Declares Action Against Hunger (AAH) Persona Non Grata

...accuses it of aiding Boko Haram activities in North East

The Nigerian army has issued a statement on why it sealed the office of Action Against Hunger (AAH), a non-governmental organization in the North East, Igbere TV reports.

Igbere TV had reported that some troops, on Thursday, sealed the office of the AAH in Borno State, and ejected staff of the establishment.

Reacting in a tweet sighted by Igbere TV, the Army accused the organization of aiding Boko Haram activities by supplying them foods.

It, therefore, said the NGO had been declared person non grata and remains shut till further notice.

The statement read, “The Theatre Command Operation LAFIYA DOLE (TC-OPLD) has observed with utter disappointment and concern the notorious activities of some Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) working in the North East (NE) Nigeria.

“The subversive and actions of the NGO Action Against Hunger (AAH) persisted despite several warnings to desist from aiding and abetting terrorists and their atrocities.

“The TC - OPLD has on many occasions raised alarm over this unwholesome practices of some NGOs and expressed same position during meetings with the NGOs operating in the NE.

“Consequently, the AAH has been declared persona nan grata for aiding Boko Haram Terrorists/Islamic State West Africa by supplying them food and drugs despite warning from the TC - OPLD.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, received security briefing from service chiefs and heads of other security agencies in the country, Igbere TV reports.

This was even as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the monthly National Economic Council (NEC) meeting, today, in Abuja.

The meeting of President Buhari with the service chiefs, Igbere TV gathered, held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting availed the leaders of the various security agencies opportunity to brief Mr. President on the security status of the nation.

Taking to Twitter to announce the meeting in a tweet sighted by Igbere TV, Buhari’s Aide on Social Media, Laurestar Onochie, wrote;

“Earlier today, @NGRPresident @MBuhari was briefed by the Service Chiefs and leaders of other security agencies on the security status of the nation. God bless Nigeria.”

https://twitter.com/Laurestar/status/1174713360736292865?s=19

Nigeria’s service chiefs include the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar.

Heads of other security agencies present include the Police IG, DSS DG, NIA Boss, NSCDC chief, among others.

The Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) has signed a $876 million deal with Cold Water Petroleum Development Company (CPDC) for the development of the NPDC’s OML 65 asset, Igbere TV reports.

The Managing Director of NDPC, Mansur Sambo, and CDPC’s chairman, Capt. Idahosa Wells Okunbo, sealed the deal at a ceremony tagged ‘the $876 Million Financing and Technical Service Agreement (FTSA).’

The signing ceremony held on Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reports Igbere TV.

Speaking on the significance of the deal, NDPC MD, Sambo said it is expected to “open up production potentials of the OML65 from 9,000 to 40,000 bold.”

The NPDC boss said the deal has the potential to “explore, appraise and add reserves to base,” adding that it will help the Federal Government to “earn more than $6 billion in taxes and royalties.”

The event, Igbere TV reports, was witnessed by the Chief Financing Officer (CFO) of the NNPC, Alhaji Umar Isa Ajiya, and other top officials of the NDPC and CDPC.

Exclusive photos below...