₦airaland Forum

By Francis Etuko



President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki has expressed gratitude to the U.S government for showing support for Nigeria’s desire to quash terrorism within its domain with the recent presentation of letters of Offer and Acceptance by the US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Stuart Symington.



The American envoy made the presentation to the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sidique Abubakar on Wednesday.



Saraki recalled that the need to lift the arms embargo placed on Nigeria has been of major concern to the senate and this dominated discussion when recently he played host to a eight-man US Congressional delegation headed by Senator Christopher Coons of Delaware.


"My gratitude and that of my colleagues goes to Senator Coons and other members of his delegation for giving Congressional backing to this arms sales arrangement”.



“They have kept their words and backed it up with action. During that visit, they promised they would help to ensure the arms sales embargo against Nigeria was lifted”.



“Now, we can see that they are true partners in the fight against terrorism in Nigeria”.


"It is obvious that if the Congress had vetoed the arm sales deal, we won't be talking of this expected new fighter jets which will definitely help us to finally defeat the Boko Haram insurgents and fully restore the confidence of our fighting force", he stated.


The President of the Senate further commended Ambassador Symington for demonstrating consistent commitment to helping Nigeria fully restore peace in the troubled North-east zone.



"Since his first meeting with me after he resumed, Ambassador Symington had promised that he would make the lift of the US ban on sale of military hardware to Nigeria one of his priority deliverables. Now, he has shown he is a true partner in Nigeria's counter-insurgency campaigns", he added.


He also called on Nigeria's partners across the world especially in Europe to emulate the United States by also supporting the anti-insurgency campaign of the present administration in the country through gestures like sale of arms and provision of assistance towards the rebuilding, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-ravaged areas in the North east.


Saraki urged the Buhari administration to move speedily to conclude all the formalities and make payment in respect of the 12 A29 Super Tucano Aircraft so that the nation's military could be stronger in confronting the insurgents and giving confidence to the fighting soldiers.


http://wdn.com.ng/saraki-hails-u-s-government-sale-fighter-jets-nigeria/

Congratulations aunty Tope.

A recent Wall Street Journal publication has exposed how the present All Progressive Congress-led government paid monies to the leadership of the Boko Haram to secure the release of some of the Chibok girls.

WATCHDOG news gathers that though the deal was known to the presidency, there were however fears that President Muhammadu Buhari may oppose negotiating with or even paying members of the sect to secure the releases of some of the girls.

We can reliably inform you that President Buhari was said to have agreed to the arrangement based only on the condition that money would be given to the sect if only it would be a step towards a comprehensive peace agreement.

It would be recalled that 21 of the 103 school girls were freed on October 13, 2016, while the remaining 82 were set free on May 6, 2017.

The publication by Wall Street Journal has revealed that the sum of €3 million was paid to Boko haram to release the girls in their custody.

Ahmad Salkida, a journalist known to have links with the sect, and Zannah Mustapha, a lawyer were said to be key mediators involved in two separate deals that secured the safe return of the girls from Boko Haram custody.

WATCHDOG can reliably report that what was widely celebrated in late 2016 when the first batch of girls were released was the result of months of talks between the negotiators and leadership of the sect, where a plan was reached for the release of the girls.

The WSJ report was quoted as saying that“As Mustapha worked through the details and tried to maintain the confidence of both sides, the Nigerian government began the delicate process of finding prisoners Shekau would deem acceptable.

“Salkida was the man picked for the task. He began to crisscross Nigeria, combing jails and interviewing inmates, looking for militants who fit the profile.”



http://wdn.com.ng/chibok-girls-release-wsj-exposes-federal-government-paid-boko-haram-sect/

China is indeed taking over...

Aptly capture by Mr Garrick. Lalasticlala, this write up deserves front page.

dem be Fulani

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, has promised to embark on more developmental projects come 2018.

He named the Sagbama/Ekeremor Road as one of the road projects that would get his attention, saying the road would be extended to Ekeremor town by December next year.



He said he had awarded the contract for electrification along the road from Ofoni in Sagbama Local Government Area to Ekeremor town, the headquarters of Ekeremor Local Government Area of the state.

This was according to a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei.

According to Soriwei, Dickson said this when he took a ride in his car, accompanied by a convoy, on the newly sand-filled road to Aleibiri in Ekeremor Local Government Area to celebrate Christmas with the residents.

He said it was the first time in the last 40 years that a car would travel on the road, which was hitherto in a deplorable state.

“He (Dickson) vowed that the state government would ensure that a lane of the road was constructed to Ekeremor by December, 2018 to alleviate the suffering of the people.

“Dickson said while efforts were still ongoing to complete work on the ongoing project, it was crucial that no indigene of the area was made to travel by the waterways through Delta State to other parts of Bayelsa State.

“The governor said he decided to split the contract between the contractors for the purpose of speedy completion of the long-awaited road project,” the statement read partly.

Dickson urged the residents, especially the youths of the community, to organise themselves to ensure that criminal elements were not allowed to carry out acts that could slow the actualisation of the project.



“The governor also urged the members of the community to give the requisite support to the governing council, the rector, students and lecturers of the newly-established state polytechnic at Aleibiri,” the statement added.


http://punchng.com/dickson-opens-community-road-after-40-year-neglect/

yes he deserves it?!

Government of lies...

The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has claimed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) lied to Nigerians on the ongoing nationwide shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol.

DAPPMA made the claim in a statement issued on Monday. Signed by its Executive Secretary, Mr. Olufemi Adewole, the statement rejected accusations of product hoarding leveled against DAPPMA members.

While DAPPMA explained that it can neither confirm nor dispute NNPC's claim of having sufficient product stock, the association said it can confirm that the products are not in the tanks of its members.

According to DAPPMA, there are always hitches in product distribution any time the NNPC assumes the role of sole importer of products. DAPPMA added that 80 percent of the country's functional product receptive facilities are owned by its members and such do not currently hold products.



http://saharareporters.com/2017/12/26/fuel-scarcity-depot-and-marketers-association-exposes-nnpcs-lies

why dont you also look for someone to be running errands for so that you can also make ur own money. Nonsense!

BlackDBagba:
You guys don't know Taiye! He made his money with the past PDP government being an errands boy to Jonathan.

Theives. I pity for Nigeria, Nigerians and the gullible few left.

We shall not be deceived come 2019! Never again.

I agree with you on this Mr Garrick. You captured the minds of every lover of PDP here.

your statement shows that you know nothing about this man called Garrick.

ImperialYoruba:
Taiye Garrick misses the old times when politicians in Abuja dishes out $ £ and € just at the shout of "Your Excellency" to hail and praise thieves.

He wants his money miss road politicians back in power.

Ole!

Oga calm down Mr Taiye is known for nothing but the truth.

NgeneUkwenu:
Mumu! Thieves! They want to come and sell the country....

God punish all of you...

someone wey no know him age na him you won make him dey aware of the happening in the country. Buhari i give up on ur matter

When kneeling become offence na

If you ask na who i go ask

sarrki:
Bros hope wadata paid all the arrears ?

Merry Christmas

Happy Christmas to you brother.

teemy:
I want to make a Christmas request to folks on nairaland.

Seun - without whom the big bang would not have happened

Cococandy, pocahontas, oyididi, pidgin2 and other folks from the Family section

Maclatunji, ehismith, frosbel, ishilove, hopefullandlord and lots of other interesting folks from the Religion section

Genbuhari, sarrki, atiku2019, tonyebarcanista, lalasticlala, Mynd44, temitemi1 and other wonderful politicians of the Politics section

Pipsbasketings, priceaction, bigbasho, tunderr, incredibleace, jline, feshizzy,wamiikechukwu, pipsharingan and my other dudes from the 2017 forex thread

Sagenaruto, firefire, feraz, grimmjoe, uchihaitachi, tosyn007, sircumalot, pickabeau1 folks from the old naruto thread

webmasters like yawa-ti-de, dhtml18, slyr0x, dualcore1

and lots more.


Seasons greetings to y'all

Amen my brother

madridguy:
Every Christmas marks the end of the year and infuses new hope for the coming year. I pray to God that all of us find new hope, new opportunities, new heights in the bag of Santa Claus that make us happier, healthier and better individuals. Merry Christmas from Madrid.guy to my Christian brothers and sisters.

Im fully back bro.

mankan2k7:
where have u been? really miss u. Your role model is going places

Olusola Fabiyi, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party has described this year’s Christmas as the worst to be celebrated by Nigerians.

The party, however, called on Nigerians not to despair but to use the occasion to show love, care and encourage one another regardless of religious, ethnic and political inclinations.



The party said it was disheartening that Nigerians could not merrily celebrate the Yuletide due to the current biting economic hardship worsened by the acute fuel shortage, all due to the alleged shambolic policies, sheer incompetence and gross insensitivity of the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.

PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, described the nation’s economic situation as a national embarrassment which cannot be glossed with deceit, lies and propaganda, urging Nigerians to overcome this very sordid situation by rallying around one another in true love as epitomized in the birth and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He said, “Indeed, this is the worst Yuletide ever. There is no way one can sugarcoat the fact that the anguish Nigerians face today is because of the incompetence of the APC Government, which has also amply demonstrated that it does not care about the welfare and happiness of the citizens.

“Our country’s economic situation has astronomically gone from bad to worse in the last two years and painfully, there is no hope in sight under this APC regime.

“As we speak, many families are completely stranded; many more can no longer afford their basic needs.

“Nigerians have become ravaged by economic hardship because the APC-led Federal Government has abandoned them and refused to channel the abundant resources available in the nation for the good of the people. Instead, they are heartlessly diverting such resources for their selfish political purposes while the people suffer.

“These horrendous realities imposed on us by the APC notwithstanding, we must not become despondent. ”

Nevertheless, he said that the Christmas season presents Nigerians very strong lessons in hope and their collective triumph over adverse situations as exemplified in the birth and teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.



He also called on Nigerians to join hands with the main opposition party to rescue the country in 2019.

According to him, “Now that it has become manifest, even by their speeches this season, that those who promised Nigerians El Dorado do not have the littlest capacity to fulfil the smallest of their promises, we as a people must not also abandon ourselves.

“We must, therefore, rise above all divisive ethnic, religious and political considerations and make this season merry by helping and encouraging one another in love.

“The ugly situation we all confront today as a people must, therefore, serve as the catalyst for a prosperous tomorrow as Nigerians join hands with the PDP to restore our dear nation to the path of good governance and national prosperity come 2019”.

Ologbodiyan further urged Nigerians to use this period to pray for the prosperity and unity of the nation.



http://punchng.com/nigerians-celebrating-worst-christmas-ever-pdp/

your clap-trap here wont stop him from being our chairman bros...

ruggedmallaam:
because you are all stupid like him

you sound frustrated here woman. Prince Secondus is not the source of your frustration, take your frustration to buhari.

Annie939:
look at them silly people

Some state governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have explained that they supported the emergence of Uche Secondus as PDP National Chairman because of his strength, character and honesty.

Also, PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus prophesied that the new National Working Committee will take the party to the Promised Land.

The governors stated that Mr. Secondus as National Deputy Chairman stood for the truth and ensured that rules were adhered to during party primaries.

They spoke at the Thanksgiving Service in honour of Mr. Secondus, National Chairman of the PDP, at the Rivers State Ecumenical Centre in Port Harcourt on Sunday.

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said every governor gave testimony on how the National Chairman stood firm for the right thing to be done.

He said as deputy national chairman, Mr. Secondus relegated monetary considerations and always ensured the promotion of PDP interests.

Mr. Wike said that Mr. Secondus insisted on his emergence as PDP governorship candidate because he felt it was in the best interest of the party, even though other groups preferred an ethnic candidate.

He said: “This position is an opportunity to give Nigerians what they want. I can’t understand why people are suffering untold hardship. Imagine the fuel scarcity with people buying a litre of fuel between N300 and N400.”

He said that Mr. Secondus emerged through a credible process where all candidates tested their popularity. He said the governors and other stakeholders preferred Mr. Secondus because of his experience and track record.



“For the first time in the history of our party, we had an election to elect a national chairman. It was not like the case before where the president and governors decided on a consensus candidate,” Mr. Wike said.

The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, said that he encountered Mr. Secondus when they had a major challenge in the delegates list of the party, but the former deputy national chairman insisted on correcting the illegality without inducement.

He said all the governors who worked for the emergence of the national chairman did so because of the unflinching support Mr. Secondus gave them in the past.

The Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, said: “Secondus stood with me when the promise of man failed.”

He said that all the governors resolved to work with Mr. Wike in canvassing for Mr. Secondus because of his character and content. He said that the governors turned their backs on those who took money in the past.

In his remarks, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, commended the presence of mind of Mr. Secondus, which he said would be beneficial to the party.

He said: “We are prepared to go the whole route with Prince Uche Secondus. He will be an exemplary party leader in Africa.”

Also speaking, Mr. Secondus said that the PDP is poised to take over the leadership of the country.

He said: “We are going according to the plans and purpose of God. This country will be returned to the PDP, whether you like it or not, it approved in heaven. You cannot do otherwise “.

While thanking God for his grace and blessing that delivered the position of the national chairman, Mr. Secondus said God used Mr. Wike and his colleagues to bring the post to fruition.



https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/253478-supported-secondus-chairman-pdp-governors.html

SMH..

They dont joke with the guy in Ekiti o

ufuosman:
That's why ekiti people love dis man. Good move

Is this man OK

Lalasticlala, dont you think we should commend my Role Model for this

Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State taking step to reduce the hardship being faced by his people because of scarcity of fuel.

To reduce the hardship being faced by our people because of scarcity of fuel, I have directed that 80% of the petrol in the 60,000 litres capacity Govt House Fuel Dump be taken to a Petrol station in Ado Ekiti to be announced soon.
It will be sold to the public at N145/litre.

I cannot be keeping fuel in the govt house dump while our people keep suffering.
I have asked them to pump out 80% of the petrol in the Govt House Fuel Dump to be sold at control price of N145. The maximum a single individual can buy will be 25 litres.

This hardship is too much for Nigerians to bear at this time and it is obvious that the President does not have solution to the fuel scarcity.
People can no travel to meet their families because of the wickedness of this APC govt.

https://mobile.twitter.com/GovAyoFayose/status/944939008722919424

More Pictures....

More Pictures...

By Francis Etuko

The current Fuel scarcity hitting major states in Nigeria has made the Christmas celebration less enjoyable for so many Nigerians, the latest scarcity is coming at a time Nigerians are painfully gnashing their teeth in the face of harsh economic realities.

Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as ‘Petrol’ is key to the socio-economic mix of Nigeria, its importance in the daily life and business of the average Nigerian cannot be easily ignored, it’s importance is most significantly felt by over 85% Nigerians who fall within the low income level and a significant number of these people are within the age of 18 to 45 most of these persons do not work in government, but daily survive from with private businesses that has enjoyed over the years no form of government assistance in whatever form.

What makes the current fuel scarcity appear more biting than what has been experienced in the past, is that it is coming at a time when the economy is said to be technically exiting recession, as a result most economic and social activities of Nigerians are just picking up, Nigerians at this period are known to always travel to their villages and traditional birth places to celebrate with their kindred’s and families and according to the latest Nigerian Bureau of Statistics report which stated that “the total number of unemployment and underemployment combined increased from 37.2% in the previous quarter to 40% in the third quarter of 2017”.


“Also during the third quarter of 2017 21.2% of women within the labor force that were between the ages of 15 and 64 years were willing, able and actively seeking employment were unemployed, compared with 16.5% of men within the same period under review”.

What this translates to is that most of these women and men that have not been employed in the last six months of the 2017 fiscal year will have a very difficult Christmas celebration.

This may have informed the sad cries registered in most social media platforms across Nigeria over the current biting fuel scarcity which have prompted Nigerians to call the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to account.

WATCHDOGNEWS took the time to collate some of the views of Nigerians on some social media platforms and the questions being asked vary from; why the Buhari-led government is yet to sack one person responsible for the current crippling situation; why the government is yet to speak up and give some confidence to Nigerians and most importantly what is the way forward out of this dire situation.

Nigerians who have followed closely some of the comments related to the ongoing fuel crisis will see from the blame game coming from some of the marketers hitherto involved in the importation and distribution of petrol seem to have situated the entire fault at the door step of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

NNPC we hear has been behind the importation of petrol since major marketers have been denied access to the dollar since late 2016 or early 2017 as the case maybe.

Just on Friday PENGASSAN came out to blame the petroleum marketers IPMAN, DAPPMA and MOMAN for orchestrating the scarcity because the trio wants to arm twist the federal government to increase the pump price of petrol from N145 per litre, though that allegation made by PENGASSAN’s helmsman was denied what is evident is the PUNCH newspaper of Sunday December 24, 2017 is a pointer that PENGASSAN was at least telling Nigerians the truth.

The Importers are now making comments similar to what Francis Johnson of PENGASSAN made on Friday and this has been confirmed less than two days after.

However, the disappointed cross section f Nigerians are not keeping quiet, they have taken to the social media to ask federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari to explain and if there are no visible explanations get ready to pack out of Aso Rock in 2019, because according to them ‘Enough is enough’

The comments from Nigerians have highlighted their disappointment at the Buhari-led government and die-hard supporters who appear unperturbed and are more concerned about who returns to ‘Aso Rock’ in 2019.

Below are some of the comments and debate that have been collated from various social media platforms across the country.




http://wdn.com.ng/fuel-crisis-nigerians-take-social-media-register-anger/