Star Actress, Biodun Okeowo Acquires $28,829 New Acura MDX 2010

Star actress and happy mother of Two, Biodun Okeowo better known as Omo Butty has acquired a new Acura MDX 2010 as gift for self. The actress whose son (first born) celebrated his birthday yesterday, was so excited to break the news of her new acquisition today.
The beautiful mom of 2 said, she bought the car to mark her son's birthday, as she is also counting down to her own day which is on December 26, 2015. Talk about 2 in 1 celebration within one month.
Congrats to the harworking actress. See more pics of the toy http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/12/star-actress-biodun-okeowo-acquires.html

Bossforeva:
Hbd. Op if you want ur post to reach front page, remove that middle link.

I don't clamor for from page...I prefer..it's inside my profile Wall

See the mouth of this Woman self......she carry scarf like Juju woman......come to court, you will be put to shame.....wetin concern you with Church money, is it a financial institution....let this woman check her law.......God removed people like you before the judgement ....so face your untrained children or you are a single mother like others .,.....I am hating this Abeg.....

Mavin Boss is a year older today. Don Jazy is grateful to God for everything he achieved so far.
Michael Collins Ajereh (born 26 November 1982), better known as Don Jazzy, is a Nigerian multi award-winning record producer, singer-songwriter, musician, former CEO of Mo' Hits Records and current CEO of Mavin Records. Born in Umuahia in Abia state, Alongside his friend and partner they created the Mohits record label.
http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/mavin-boss-don-jazzy-is-year-older-today.html
Don Jazzy's first full credit production work was in 2004 on Tongolo for Nigerian singerD'banj. He went on to produce D'banj's first studio album titled No Long Thing released in 2005.
He has produced tracks for Dr SID, Wande Coal, Emeka Infiniti, D'Prince, Darey, Naeto C,Olakunle Excel et Zanga, Sauce Kid, Ikechukwu & Tiwa Savage. He also collaborated withJay-Z and Kanye West on the production of Lift Off, featuring Beyoncé on the album Watch The Throne, released on 8 August 2011.
He recently was rated as the 39th "Most powerful celebrity in Africa" according to Forbes
Awards:
2015 City People Entertainment Award - Special Recognition Award
2006 Nigerian Music Awards (NMA) - Producer of the Year
2007 Nigerian Entertainment Awards - Music Producer of the Year
The Headies 2011 – Producer of the Year for the songs "Over The Moon", "Mr Endowed" and "Pop Something"
The Headies 2014 – Producer of the Year for the song "Dorobucci"
Source: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/mavin-boss-don-jazzy-is-year-older-today.html

finalboss:
why is she looking like dat

She just gave birth

The family of Mr & Mrs Adekola has welcomed a bouncing baby boy. The cute couple welcomed this new addition on Monday night at a private hospital in Abeokuta Ogun state.
As at the time of filing this report, both mother and her baby are said to be doing fine.
Seems, brother Odun wants a baby Girl but God is giving him Boys....Truly, he is a strong man *Winked*
Odunlade and his wife, Ruth Adekola are now proud parents to four handsome boys. Check out the photo of the couple’s other children
Source: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/odunlade-adekola-and-wife-welcome-baby.html

Tonto Dikeh Has Travelled To The US To Deliver Her Baby – Unconfirmed Source
Heavily pregnant Tonto Dikeh has opened up on her pregnancy.
The actress who engaged her fans in an open chat yesterday said she is planning to have two children for her hubby.
When asked to talk about her marriage and pregnancy, the actress said:
“It’s been very blissful and rewarding since I got married. Marriage is sweet and it’s a beautiful thing. Well, it’s in our nature as women to multi-task. I’m handling family business and entertainment all really well,”

“Pregnancy is a beautiful thing and we look forward to having that, it’s in the plan and we pray for God’s blessings.”
Tonto said she will like to have two children for her husband, but stressed that he might not likely accept that.
An unconfirmed source says Tonto Dikeh has left Nigeria to deliver her child in the US.
She is missing her hubby badly and can’t stop expressing it.
Check out what she told him on IG last week:
“I miss kissing you my Kingkong.S urely u know how much life you give to this broken soul & made me a better being “
For now she is playing hide and seek game with the media, she has suddenly stopped taking full pictures…
Below is one of the recent pictures she took in the United States.

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Published by Olayemi Esan at Tuesday, November 17, 2015

MKO4ever:
And I just hope Nigerian women can learn 'how to do a meaningful protest' from these people

My argument though. Especially Breast cancer awareness...we ladies can do the same in Naija

youngpol:
End tıme! lalastıclala you bın lıke bOObs that year o

Dear, this is not lalastica....this is justpye....

The Union of European football (UEFA) yesterday announced that EURO 2016 will still be hosted by France come June next year despite the terror attacks that occurred in the Country last weekend.

"The EURO final draw will go ahead as scheduled on 12 December at the Palais des Congres in Paris and the final tournament will be played in France from 10 June to 10 July 2016," UEFA said in a statement on Tuesday (AEDT).
"Following the dramatic events that occurred last Friday in Paris, UEFA and EURO 2016 SAS wish to reaffirm their commitment in placing safety and security at the centre of their organisational plans. While there is no reason to believe that the EURO might become the target of any attack, the potential terrorist threat has always been taken into account, since the beginning of the project." On Sunday (AEDT), organising committee president Jacques Lambert said the risk level around the Euro 2016 finals had "gone up".

"EURO 2016 SAS and all stakeholders involved in the organisation of the tournament will continue their joint work and will regularly monitor the level of risk for the tournament and their respective organisational plans," UEFA added. "For over three years now, EURO 2016 SAS has been working closely with the relevant authorities to develop the most appropriate mechanisms in order to guarantee there is a safe and secure tournament and we are confident that the necessary measures will be taken to ensure that is the case for all involved."

The Stade de France was targeted by suicide bombers as France played Germany, while France midfielder Lassana Diarra lost a female cousin in the attacks and forward Antoine Griezmann's sister escaped unhurt from the assault on the Bataclan theatre.

Co-ordinated attacks, for which Islamic State has claimed responsibility, took place in Paris bars, restaurants, a concert hall and outside a soccer stadium on Friday killing at least 129 people and wounding 352 - the worst atrocity in France since World War II.

http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/uefa-confirm-france-to-host-euro-2016.html

Hundreds of women stripped off to protest rape and violence as part of a SlutWalk event.
The topless participants had slogans written on their bodies and banners as they marched through the streets and blocked traffic in Rio de Janeiro's, Brazil.
The event, which featured powerful messages and colourful displays, was held along Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beachfront in Brazil.

Protesters said one their key aims was to address claims by some that women provoke attacks by the way they dress or act.
They also wanted to fight against proposed new abortion restrictions which, if passed, would mean a woman who was raped could only have a termination if she could prove the crime.

Demonstrators scrawled words onto their breasts, stomachs, backs and arms with lipstick and crayons and there was samba dancing.

Stephanie Ruas, 26, said: "We may face violence anywhere. At school, as a young girl, at work - that's the culture.

"Brazil is one of the worst places for a woman to travel alone. When I travel I bring a special door jam so that my hotel room cannot be opened."
The protesters said a woman is killed every two hours in Brazil which they claim makes it the fifth most dangerous country for females.
SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/women-strip-off-to-take-part-in.html

Indara Costa, 18, said: "Men in Brazil think we are objects. We want to be able to do what we want with our bodies without being harassed."
Saturday's event was the fifth Slutwalk march held in Rio.

Source: Justpyesblog. http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/women-strip-off-to-take-part-in.html

Itzjoy:
hmmm

Love or Lust??

Toyin Aimakhu To Remarry: New Lover, Seun Egbegbe Confirms Romance, Says They’re A Match Made In Heaven LOBATAN

Popular Nollywood actress Toyin Aimakhu may be giving marriage a try again few months after her marriage to Adeniyi Johnson crashed.
Though the actress has been denying the rumoured romance between her and Ebony Film CEO, Seun Egbegbe, the man is saying the opposite.
In an exclusive chat with Global Excellence, Seun Egbegbe hinted that the two may be heading to the altar soon.
Hear him:
“We may decide to marry. It has been awesome in my life within the short period of time Toyin and I have been together again. Even for Toyin herself, her career is on high tempo. I’m sure we are meant to be together as partners”.
Now you believe me that Toyin and Seun have dated before.....
SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/toyin-aimakhu-to-remarry-new-lover-seun.html

Honestly, even LASTMA now beat like Police...

Two overzealous LASTMA men beat up a company driver in Alakija area of Lagos yesterday before taking cover.
The unidentified officers descended on the driver moments after he turned down their bribe request.
They dragged him out of the car and beat him to coma

A witness who sent these photos said the men later removed their shirts and escaped to avoid jungle justice from the members of the public.
The victim was later revived at the hospital.
SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/pictures-lastma-officials-beat-driver.html

A married pastor in Harare, Zimbabwe, was involved in a serious car accident during a se x act with a school girl in his car while the car was still in motion.
As reported by MyZimbabwe, the man who is the pastor of a local pentecostal church and his friend, had picked up two girls along Leopold Takawira Street, and were performing the act when the accident happened.

While the pastor sat in the front of the car, a silver Honda vehicle, with registration number ADG 9166, with his girl, the friend in the back seat with the other girl set to work and the pastor also asked the girl beside him to get down on him and while she was at it, he lost control and crashed the car.
When the accident happened, a crowd who rushed to their rescue were shocked to see the near na ked occupants, giving a suggestion of what was going on in the car before the accident.
Those who knew the pastor called his wife on the phone and when she arrived the scene, members of the public were already beating up the pastor, his friend and the two young girls before the police arrived to whisk them away.
Bottles of beer, butts of cigarettes and two used condoms were also discovered in the car.
SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/pastor-involved-in-car-accident-while.html

Gospel artistes, Kehinde and Taiwo Adegbodu are not really Happy now as their Keyboardist, Joshua escaped a Motorcycle accident which cost the Motorcyclist (the rider) his life.
This happened last week on his way to an event where other band members were already waiting for him to play the Piano when they received a distress call that, he was involved in an accident on Motorcycle popularly known as Okada
Joshkey fondly called, was later referred to Teaching hospital Ile Ife and from there to Univeristy College Hospital Ibadan UCH. He was badly injured, hands and legs were badly damaged.
According to report, Joshkey's health is improving as he is getting better everyday.
Quick recovery dearie.

Source: http://pyeworld..com.ng/2015/11/adegbodu-twins-keyboardist-escapes-death.html?showComment=1446635705013

The King of Pop died six years ago today, but in his wake,
left fans a career of incredible live moments
Six years ago today, Michael Jackson died — but the
trailblazing musical performances live on through the wonder
of video sharing sites.
In his career, Jackson earned 13 Grammys, 26 American
Music Awards and sold an estimated 400 million records
worldwide. But his on-stage performances were just as
lauded
as his in-studio ones.
In remembrance of the King of Pop,we compiled six
iconic song and dance routines from the ultimate song and
dance man.
The first video inspired a generation of fans to try to
Moonwalk, but nobody quite did it like Jackson.
The crowd at the 25 anniversary of Motown show went
crazy for the second or two that Jackson broke out his
signature move for the first time.
Re-witness the original Moonwalk in this iconic performance
of "Billie Jean":
Jackson could captivate a crowd simply by standing there.
No
performer has ever wasted more time doing nothing during a
Super Bowl halftime show, and still put it was considered one
of the greatest performances of all-time.
Once more, it was "Billie Jean" that really got the California
crowd excited, but the impressive set list also included "Black
or White" and "We are the World." It was certainly the
highlight of the game for Buffalo Bills fans.
Perhaps the King of Pop occasionally overdid it a little with
the theatrics (and the pants), but the fans ate it up anyway.
His catalog and performances spoke for themselves.
To date, nearly 22 million people have watched the following
video — a Munich performance of "Smooth Criminal" from
Jackson's History World Tour — on YouTube. The clip
features
the incredibly angled forward-lean move that Jackson made
famous (and would make a lot of amateur impersonators fall
flat on their faces).
Slash of Guns N' Roses joined Jackson onstage for this
memorable MTV performance. It included lots of steam, lots
of wind and lots of hits. Jackson also pulled out all of his
best moves for the memorable set.
A winded Jackson took to the microphone to address the
crowd in the middle of the following clip.
"Some of us like to play it safe and take each day as it
comes," Jackson opined, before he performed "Dangerous."
He
concluded, "Some of us like to take that crazy walk on the
wild side. So, for those of us that like living dangerously, this
one's for you."
Written by Justpye: pyeworld..in/2015/06/6-iconic-performances-in-remembrance-of.html?m=1

Note: I decided to share this here, hope it will make your front page.....
From INEC Office in Akure.....
The presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress,
Retired General Muhammadu Buhari has polled the highest
number of votes in Saturday's elections held in Ondo State.
Though General Buhari and President Jonathan of the PDP
both won in 9 local governments each, the APC Candidate
edged out his PDP Counterpart with votes 48,521 votes.
The state returning officer and vice Chancellor of the
University of Abeokuta, Professor Oyewole Ousola after all the
18 local government collation officers had given a breakdown
of results in their respective council areas announced that
Buhari jonathan polled 251,368 votes.
The state resident electoral commissioner, Olusegun Agbaje
thanked the people for their support since the electoral process
began and urged all parties to accept the result in good fate.
Agbaje said collation of votes is still ongoing for the
senatorial elections and some of the house of representative
polls at respective federal constituencies.
Speaking after the result announcement, the APC Agent, Bode
Sumonu and his PDP Counterpart, Banji Okuomo said they are
satisfied with the outcome of the result.
At total of 582,435 persons voted in the election which is
about 52% of the over 1.1 million who collected their PVCs.
Akure SOUTH
APC -50,411
PDP - 18,125
Akure NORTH
APC - 13,092
PDP - 7,817
AKOKO SOUTH EAST
APC - 7,245
PDO -6,769
ONDO WEST
APC -18,923
PDP - 20,243
ONDO EAST
APC - 5922
PDP - 8708
IRELE
APC- 9,969
PDP- 11,639
IFEDORE
APC -13,459
PDP - 8,031
OSE LG
APC -11,300
PDP 13,466
IDANRE
APC - 12,654
PDP - 12,290
ODIGBO
APC - 18,655
PDP - 19,315
ILE OLUJI/OKE IGBO
APC - 12,338
PDP - 13,652
ESE ODO
APC - 4002
PDP - 24,943
OWO
APC - 27,290
PDP - 13,757
Akoko SOUTH- WEST
APC -25,336
PDP 15,490
OVERALL RESULT
APC - 299,889
PDP - 251,368

SOURCE: pyeworld..in/2015/03/first-15-lgas-collated-in-ondo-state.html?m=1

We got here exclusive photos of vehicles and weapons captured
from the encounter with Boko Haram members yesterday
March 9th at Gombi LGA of Adamawa state. The militants
attacked the community early yesterday but were repelled by
Nigerian troops. See more photos pyeworld..in/2015/03/pictures-vehicles-weapons-captured-from.html?m=1

Over the years,the country has given birth to a thriving Film
industry. The world third largest movie business.
Today, "I received a mail about a new cinema movie about to
be produced......Now,the producer of the movie is organising
an audition to have the best out of the best actors for the
movie......and the most ANNOYING part is......asking those
who are interested to be auditioned, to pay a sum of
5000naira into his account and bring the teller on the
auditioning day"...
my question is.......is acting now School that u will pay for
change of institution or...is acting not a career.....imaging
asking a MASTER DEGREE HOLDER of Theatre Arts to pay 5k
to be auditioned again.....plssss.....stop all these.....There is
should be a law guiding our movie industry..If you audition
100 and only 30 are okay for the Job.....yes...let them act
and u will pay them....OH MY GOD....We need an
entertainment lawyer...
STOP MANIPULATING PEOPLE.....It is wrong to pay money
for a job interview or Movie/film audition....plsss
MY PEOPLE....THESE ARE SCAMMERS...AS FAR AS I KNOW
THOSE FILMMAKERS.....THEY DONT COLLECT MONEY FOR
AUDITION...PLS...
Beware of one filmmaker asking people to payinto his Access
bank account for a new movie to be shot in Ikorodu.....
IF YOU WISH TO JOIN ACTING....I WILL ADVISE YOU TO GO
TO SCHOOL AND STUDY THEATRE ACTS AND THEN,JOIN
ANY OF THE MOVIE GROUPS/CLICKS...IF YOU ARE GOOD
THEY WILL TAKE YOU. ACTING A PROFESSION AND NOT
something else....I later called the number inside the mail and it was a man that answered.....i asked him if its proper to pay 5k for a movie audition and he said....it is actually for accomodation
and feeding of the participant. i also asked him how long hes
been in the industry, he said about 10years. So i finally asked
that, in the history of the movie industry, as he ever paid any
sum of money to get auditioned for a role and he said No.
So that ends my conversation with him...
SOURCE: pyeworld..in/2015/03/scammers-hit-nollywood-ask-actors-to.html?m=1

APC VP candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo celebrated his 58
year birthday yesterday with disability in
Lagos. Also present was APC Lagos governorship candidate,
Akinwunmi Ambode's running mate Dr. Oluranti Adebule.
According to him, The celebration was to foster the spirit of
sportsmanship among people living with disabilities, as they
played basketball to commemorate the event. More
photos...YEP!
SOURCE: pyeworld..in/2015/03/photos-yemi-osinbajo-celebrates-his.html?m=1

He lived a fulfilled life.. He's against terrorism etc... Rest in peace.

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud has died, according to an announcement on Saudi state TV. He was 90.
The next king will be Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, state television reported.
The announcement of his death comes several weeks after the state-run Saudi Press Agency said Abdullah was suffering from pneumonia and had been admitted to the hospital.
King Abdullah became the oil-rich nation's sixth king in August 2005.
In the context of the kingdom's conservative circles, King Abdullah was seen as a reformer and often came up against more hard-line clerics.

SOURCES: http://pyeworld..com/2015/01/breaking-news-saudi-arabias-king.html
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/22/middleeast/saudi-arabia-king-abdullah-dies/index.html?eref=edition

Pictured below is controversial Nollywood actor and movie producer Aremu Afolayan, the younger brother of Kunle Afolayan with his female friend, a fellow actress at a party that held in Abuja recently. He was pictured holding the boobs of the lady at the event while posing for the camera.
Eyewitnesses claimed Aremu said”Oh, these things are bigger now than the last time I met you”.#aremu the naughty boy

SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com/2014/12/married-nollywood-naughty-actor-aremu.html

Veteran Nollywood actress Ayo Adesanya has spoken up again on her failed marriage to her baby daddy, Goriola Hassan.
The Ogun-born actress said she married Mr Hassan at a very young age and that such mistake will never repeat itself in the future.
In her own words: “I think that will be attributing to my young age. When you are still young you do a lot of funny things and as you grow up, you become more matured and understand a lot of things because your eyes will be widely open to a lot, I did that because I was a baby and I grew up with it to be matured. I wouldn’t say my previous marriage was a mistake, because I know that it shouldn’t have ended up like that. I keep saying that my past marriage is something I don’t want to remember or talk about at all, but you journalists won’t let me be.
I can’t just explain what made it crumbled, but are we all perfect? Since we are not all perfect and we also have our shortcomings like I keep saying, so it may be from him or me but I don’t know, so whichever way it is, we all have our own shortcomings. As long as blood runs through our vain, which means mistakes will always surfaces because there is no perfect man. What I did in the past wasn’t a mistake but it made me stronger to become who I am today. It was meant to happen and it has happened. So I am okay.
Marriage entails a lot of scarification but between you and i, I am going to be myself because I am very unique. I am not looking for a boyfriend neither a husband but if God if says I will remarry no problem, but I will remain the same person I have always been. I won’t change for anything; you have to marry me for whom I am. I don’t think I can still marry again but if God says this person is right for me, while not, I will go with him.

SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com/2014/12/my-1st-marriage-was-mistake-im-not.html

Recently, we told you that, Actress Lola Alao has returned back to Nigeria after

Actress Lola Alao secretly tied the knot last year August to an American based Nigerian Olawale Ajibola at a civil ceremony in Atlanta. She gushed in a recent interview about how happy she was with her new hubby. But just a little over a year after her wedding it seems her marriage has crashed!

According to a gossip blog, Lola’s husband has left her for another woman and not just any woman, the woman in question is said to be her BFF!!!!! The actress and her husband are based in the United States, while Lola’s BFF is based in Canada with her hubby. According to insider, Lola is/was close friends with Becky, the woman that allegedly stole her hubby. Becky is married to a man named Kola.

According to people in the know, Lola married Wale at a point when he was at his lowest. They were brought together by a friend when he was “inside” and Lola supported him and gave him the love he needed, because of his “peculiar situation”.

So Lola & Wale are married, then comes Becky, who always referred to Lola’s husband as her “uncle”. By virtue of that she and Lola become very close, besties, almost like sisters.

S**t hit the fan for all parties involved when Becky called the cops on her hubby (Kola) after an alleged domestic dispute at their home in Canada. He was allegedly arrested and bailed out by his close friends. It is alleged that when Becky’s husband was in jail & waiting to be bailed out, was when Becky & Wale decided to go make their long distance affair legit. Wale was previously based in the States, but it’s alleged that he is now in Canada with the new love of his life…Becky…who is Lola’s BFF….sorry former BFF. Wale & Becky are allegedly attending events together in Canada and are allegedly not hiding their relationship.

It is being alleged by insiders that Lola Alao did not see this coming and she is not only embarrassed but in complete shock!

WOW! What a mess! These men/friends ain’t loyal!
SOURCE: http://pyeworld..com/2014/12/actress-lola-alaos-best-friend-becky.html

185 women and their children have been kidnapped in a village near Chibok town in Borno State. The attack took place over the weekend in Gumsuri village but the news couldn’t get out because of no telecommunication due to previous terrorist attacks on telecom masts in the area.
Sources from Borno claimed the gunmen attacked the village in the early hours of Sunday, shooting down all the men and vigilante group volunteers before kidnapping the children and women totalling 185.
Another source who is a local government official in Borno state said the terrorists took their captives away in a truck and burned down the village with petrol bombs. Few hunters reportedly escaped the attack.

Source:

He's defending his pocket

Nigerians Blast Femi Falana Over His Report on Half Filled Sprite Can Drinks : N100million Sprite sanction and Femi Falana’s meddlesomeness By Ikenna Agu

Femi Falana’s purported letter to the CEO of Coca Cola Group worldwide over an ongoing judicial process between the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the local affiliate of the beverage brand in a Nigerian court is rather curious. For the renowned lawyer to take to extra-judicial means in order to influence a case that is already being heard by a judge at the Federal High Court in Abuja is an indication of one of two things: Either the CPC has suddenly realised that its regulatory inquisition is
being found out, and is therefore resorting to its friends and allies for support, or that its case at the court is at best watery, and is therefore seeking to influence the case via the court of public opinion.

The motive behind Falana’s letter gets even more opaque when a straightforward correspondence between a supposedly concerned Nigerian is first distilled into a news release and sent to the media long before the letter has been dispatched to the recipient; and worse, Falana is not even the counsel to the CPC in the case between the regulatory agency and the beverage brand. So the question is asked, as Falana would have done several times: What is his locus? Falana’s letter contained quite a few issues, all unrelated to the matter before the court! The issue between CPC and Coca Cola is the propriety of a N100million fine imposed by the regulatory agency on the beverage brand over two half-filled cans of Sprite drinks!

Many commentators have rightly questioned CPC’s motive in imposing such a hefty, incredulous fine over a consumer’s complaint that he was served two half-filled cans of Sprite. If the consumer had bought a crate of 24 bottles and all were half-filled, then CPC would have slammed N1.2billion fine on Coca Cola. But then, the agency explained that out of the N100million it demands from Coca Cola, N60million is for investigating the levels of liquid content in the two cans of Sprite and the balance N40million as civil penalties; N50,000 is to be paid to the consumer.

As several commentators have rightly pointed out, N60million cost of investigation is beyond hefty. The CPC did not travel out of the country to carry out its investigations, did not require the services of international forensic auditors to travel to Nigeria, flying first class and staying in five star hotels, to investigate thecase of two half-filled cans, and did not need to talk to all the consumers of Sprite in Nigeria to ascertain whether they have ever been served half-filled cans.

Beyond the sanctions, CPC’s motives and grandstanding, that this issue has given to a few organisations and people to exhibit their stagecraft is the appropriateness of the sanctions and CPC’s role of protecting the interests of all its stakeholders, be they consumers, businesses or indeed its biggest stakeholder, Nigeria. Now, who would take any country seriously, even if it hires the best public relations firms in the world, if one of its agencies could levy such an incredibly hefty fine over two half-filled cans of drink? Are sanctions meant to be death knells of businesses or corrective? If the latter is the case, then is it appropriate to bill N50million for a can of half-filled Sprite drink?

Nigeria, CPC’s biggest stakeholder, has been consistently ranked poorly in the annual ease of doing business report. What many commentators point to is the acute lack of infrastructure and services that support the growth of business and also the middle class who patronise the goods and services produced by the businesses. However, one of the biggest obstacles shackling businesses is the overzealousness of regulatory agencies, right from the federal level to the local governments. This overzealousness is best expressed in revenue drive, so much so that agencies that were not statutorily established to operate with a positive net income balance every year strive to impress their bosses that they too can earn money. If the availability of infrastructure was the single biggest factor driving the growth of businesses, countries that have even bigger infrastructure deficits would not be able to hold a candle to Nigeria in terms of attracting and retaining business. Many outperform Nigeria in this regard; Nigeria is even ranked lower than many of these countries by the World Bank in its 2014 Ease of doing Business report. It is easier to establish and grow a business in Sudan, Cameroon, Guinea, Niger, among many countries which some Nigerians regard as poor cousins, than doing business here. And as the World Bank stated in its report, the higher ranking means that the regulatory environment in those countries are more conducive for businesses. Note that there is an emphasis on the regulatory environment.

It is easy to dismiss the pushback against the excesses of regulatory agencies by private sector organisations particularly as recently shown by members of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and the umbrella body for the beverage food drink industry, when they rallied round Coca Cola and its bottler, the Nigerian Bottling Company, over CPC’s onslaught. Nigerians and their businesses deserve to be protected by a government that has as one of its cardinal programmes, strengthening the private sector to grow the economy. Foreign Direct Investments form a crucial element of the programme. If the CPC and other agencies desirous of becoming profit centres end up killing the businesses they were established to regulate, Nigerians will be worse off. Nigerians will be out of jobs that the businesses provide, and the profit ambition of the agencies will also be jeopardised. CPC will do well to carry out its oversight functions with learnings from other countries that have successfully grown their economy via the private sector.

Ikenna Agu is of the Society for Social Development and Good Leadership. He can be reached on sosfsodad@yahoo.co.uk.

Source: www.pyeworld..com

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