₦airaland Forum

I hope desperate politicians and power mongers will not endanger our hard-earned democracy? Not that democracy has delivered expected developmental dividends though but at least there is hope of continuous learning and improvement. Pray for Nigeria!

chiefolododo:
This is ridiculous, how can the no 5th person be asking the Senate President, the 3rd person in command to resign?

He is not No 5 at all. The CJN is No 5 by the amended protocol. Buhari is No 1, VP No 2, Saraki No 3 and Dogara No 4. This man is a political appointee and can be sacked even verbally by his pay master!

Krystalluv:
I am a lady in my early twenties,, an NCE holder.

I really wish to join one of these Nigerian Security Agencies. But definitely not Nigerian Army. Say maybe Navy, or Custom.

Pls, anyone have useful info about these agencies, which one should I choose and any necessary info pls..


Thanks.

You need to closely follow local news media, social media and check adverts. EFCC just did a recruitment. Airforce, Navy etc also do recruitment from time to time.

Are you a science, arts, social science, business or technical student? What is your natural interest and preference?

Still available and distress sale in a strategic location. Negotiable!
Call Mr Mathew on 08035888420 for inspection and document verification.

Still available and distress sale in a strategic location. Negotiable!

Benjamite01:
I NEED HELP ON HOW SHENGEN VISA WORKS, I GOT MINE THROUGH ITALY AND I PLAN TO ATTEND CONFERENCE,BUT I WILL LIKE TO VISA MORE SHENGEN STATE AFTER THE CONFERENCE, I AM GIVEN 10DAY MAXIMUM TO STAY. THANKS

I think you can use it to travel to any Shengen visa country AFTER first entering through Italy. I advice you go to any others by train or coach/road travel if possible.

Benue voted APC and has an APC government. I expect the Governor to network with the Federal Government and the APC party leadership/chieftains from the State like Audu Ogbeh and Senator George Akume to get the security agencies to do their work. They can also influence the powers that be to exploit their access to the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeder's Association to call the rampaging murderers to order. Politics is a game of power negotiation and the current government ought to reciprocate by delivering security NOT just for APC States but indeed every State, every tribe and every single Nigerian. Lamenting about it or offering excuses isn't expected of any elected official at any level. All who made promises prior to the elections must be assessed on the basis of how they delivered on the promises NOT on the volume of excuses or blaming anyone! As citizens, ours is to pay our tax, pray for them and to be law abiding NOT to offer ourselves and our children as sacrifice!!

Jos is a home indeed!

It was another awesome experience!

This is beautiful!

They have increased it already.

It is interesting that this is coming from APC paper -The Nation Newspaper though we know the Kogi State Governor wasn't the preferred choice of 'The Nation Newspaper'. Beyond the political undercurrents however, I welcome exposures like this and hope EFCC will swing into action and do the needful with alacrity. Corruption must be fought frontally and on all sides. "You expose me, I expose you" -elites fighting each other.

Nigeria’s capital city, Abuja, has come under threats of an epidemic, no, thanks to failure of the relevant authorities to clear heaps of refuse on most streets.

Checks revealed that overflowing refuse dumps and blocked drainages as well as spilling sewage and broken water pipes have become common features in many streets and even some of the highways in recent months, thereby posing avoidable environmental hazards to residents of the city and the environs.

Residents of most of the affected areas stated that they had made several appeals to the FCT authorities on the development to no avail.

From Karu to Nyanya, for example, overgrown weeds and heaps of wastes have taken over many roads.

Similarly, most of the designated waste dumps have exceeded their installed capacities ‎without evacuation or provision of additional ones.

Individual efforts by residents to burn the wastes have often failed because the refuse have become wet and, therefore, fire-resistant due to the rains and water from nearby blocked drainages and burst sewage pipes.

The Karu- Jukwoyi- Karshi Expressway and parts of Kubwa are not left out. Already, the two- lane expressway has been reduced to less than one by heaps of refuse.

Many drainages and sewage lines in Kubwa and the suburbs have also been blocked with faeces and other solid wastes that spill into some of the roads.

Confusion reigns in some of the roads as motorists and commercial motorcycle operators (Okada riders) as well as wheelbarrow pushers struggle for right of way on the remaining portion of the roads.

Often, the situation causes gridlocks and waste of time on the roads.

Another source of possible threat to people’s health, Abuja Metro investigation revealed, are the operations of petty traders who hawk their wares as well as roadside restaurants and fast food joints along the filthy streets and highways despite the stench from the nearby dumps.

Mr. Odey Pius Ofy, a resident of Jukwoyi, decried the unhealthy condition in which people live in the affected areas.

He stated that until about four months ago, authorities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) as well as Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) ensured the evacuation of refuse from the streets.

He noted that the situation has become worse with the rainy season and the consequent humid weather that make burning of wastes difficult.

“We are worried here because the whole environment is polluted with stench and we are stuffed here. All appeals to the authorities to evacuate the wastes fell on deaf ears.”, he said.

Another resident of Karu, a densely populated area ‎in the FCT, Malam Dufu Kaloma, called on the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPA) to quickly clean up the area and save people from avoidable epidemic.

“We live with wastes‎. For several months, no one has come here to evacuate the refuse from various homes. As residents, we do not have evacuation trucks. We pay for these services monthly, yet we are still living with the wastes. It is hazardous. ‎We are increasingly becoming apprehensive about the dangers of our health”, he stated.

‎A civil servant, Mr. Itiza Ukpi, wondered why the authorities could fail in their responsibilities to clean up the environment and urged the civil society organisations (CSOs) in the city to take up the matter with the authorities.

“I think government and the FCT authorities have failed the people. The civil society groups should stand up against these. This is inhuman. The environment we live in is not healthy”, he stated.
http://sunnewsonline.com/help-epidemic-imminent-in-abuja/

Nigerians have called on the federal government to work speedily at addressing the crisis in the Niger Delta region which has led to the sharp rise in the prices of cooking gas and other petroleum products.

Although the price of kerosene and diesel had been deregulated before now, their prices in the past week had shot up by 50 and 28 per cents respectively. The price of cooking gas had also risen by 40 per cent within a week.

Compared to N2500 that 12.5kg of cooking gas sold since the first quarter, LEADERSHIP survey showed that the price of cooking gas has risen to N3500.

Also, the price of kerosene has risen from around N150 per litre to N225 per liter while diesel now sells at an average price of N160 per litre from around N125 per litre.

Some Nigerians who spoke with LEADERSHIP urged the government to address the issues leading to the higher prices of fuel saying at it is adding to the current economic hardship of the country.

Pastor Moses Adejumo, who spoke with LEADERSHIP, said “we talk about change because we believe in change, but the recent increase in price of gas is something else. Basically we have been buying gas at the rate of N2500 but suddenly it rose to N3500 this week.

“Although we all know what is going on in the country concerning the Niger Delta Avengers that are bursting the pipes this is a major challenge to the nation, and also the economic challenges.”
http://www.leadership.ng/business/538387/nigerians-groan-gas-kerosene-price-rise-50

Another militant group, Niger Delta Volunteers, NDV, yesterday announced its presence in Akwa Ibom State.

The group in a statement signed by its spokesman, Commander Ekpo Ekpo, claimed responsibility for last week’s attack on gas pipeline belonging to NNPC/NGC supplying gas to ALSCON, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State.

The pipeline was attacked last Thursday but the Akwa Ibom State Government and the State’s Commissioner of Police, Murtala Mani claimed it was a leakage.

NDV said its professionals attacked the pipeline at exactly 11:45am last Thursday to welcome President Muhammadu Buhari who was due in the country that same day.

The group said the ongoing dialogue between the federal government and the Niger Delta militants should be extended to Akwa Ibom State otherwise it would shutdown some major platforms and flowlines in the state.
http://www.leadership.ng/news/538449/group-claims-responsibility-attack-nnpc-gas-pipelines-aibom

Don't know much about him but he and the commission he chaired, did a robust job on the 2001 crisis in Jos, Plateau State. It remains to be seen if Government will summon the courage to release the final report and the political will to implement its far reaching recommendations.

Blatant politics. Don't tell me its all about merit. There is no State that doesn't have competent people in any field. Excluding 5 States when one has 3 nominees and a few others have 2 can't be justified. To choose Ambassadors, you can use career diplomats and non-diplomats so you cant tell me that there is a State that has no suitable candidate. I hope the Senate will do the needful in the screening exercise.

If information gathered by the Nigerian Pilot is anything to go by, no Deputy Inspectors General of Police, DIGs may succeed the outgoing Inspector General of Police, IGP Solomon Arase, who is supposed to retire tomorrow having attained the statutory age of 35 years in service on June 21.
However, there are strong indications that the presidency may not let him go due to circumstance surrounding the federal character principles.
Nigerian Pilot gathered authoritatively that President Muhammadu Buhari may delay Arase’s retirement to enable him reorganise the security leadership of the country to balance the imbalance in the zoning arrangement in the country.
Sources from the Force headquarters have confided in our correspondent that Buhari has appreciated the 18th indigenous IGP’s contribution to his (Buhari’s) anti-corruption war that he is slow to name Arase’s successor in a hurry.
Besides, the sources revealed that none of the DIGs is qualified to success Arase not even the two most senior police officers namely, DIGs Dan’Azumi Job Doma from Nasarawa State and Chintua Amajor-Onu from Abia State.
Other DIGs that may be shutout of succeeding Arase are DIG Sotonye Leroy Wakama (Operations), DIG Mamman Tsafe (Logistics), DIG Kwake Christopher Katso (Investigation), DIG Hashimu Argungu (Training & Development) and DIG Jibril Olawale (Research).
Another source has told Nigerian Pilot that Buhari is going to reshuffle service chiefs within the week to pave way for a northern to emerge new IGP.
Currently, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Y. Buratai (Borno State) and Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Sadique Abubakar ( Bauchi State) are from North-East, the DG DSS, Lawal Daura from Katsina State, (North-West), while the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonishakin hails from Ekiti State (South-West) and the South-South has Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Cross River State) and the retiring IGP, Solomon Arase Arase from Edo State.
If the reorganisation story of the service chiefs is true, then, the president is trying to substitute Arase with a northerner.
Nigerian Pilot recalls that Arase, the most proficient IGP in recent times, was appointed Nigeria’s number one policeman by former President Goodluck Jonathan in April 2015 and as he quits service 14 months after, the expectations are high on who to succeed him.
As at today (Monday) the presidency is supposed to have named an acting IGP to success Arase, but information from the presidency has indicated that president Buhari is in a fix to name acting IGP due to the fact that none from the Southern part of the country has favour with the presidency.
According to sources, out of the 24 Assistant Inspectors General of Police, AIGs, 18 of them are from northern Nigeria and from the remaining six, the most qualified are controvertial AIG Mbu Joseph Mbu and the current Force Secretary, AIG Patrick Dokumor, a former AIG in charge of zone 7 comprising FCT Abuja, Kaduna and Niger States.
Against all odds, if DIG Amajor-Onu, who holds a degree in law enforcement and criminal justice, is favoured, she would also be making history as the first female IGP. She is currently in charge of the department of Information and Communication Technology, ICT, at the Force headquarters, while, Doma is currently in charge of the Admin and Finance at the Force Headquarters as well.
Nigerian Pilot gathered that the North-Central zone and the South-East are the most favoured in order to create equation in the distribution of service and security chiefs.
Based on this standing, the South-East and North-Central have none and to correct the imbalance, Nigerian Pilot gathered that the Presidency is considering DIG Dan’Azumi Job Doma or DIG Chintua Amajor-Onu to succeed Arase.
Despite this consideration, some source said Doma may not be the man that the cap fits in this instance as other top police officers are also qualified for the top job because apart from IGP Ogbonna Onovo (rtd), who succeeded Mike Mbama Okiro as number two police officer in the hierarchy, seniority had not been the determinant for choosing an IGP.
AIG Ibrahim Kpotum Idris, who hails from Niger State (North-Central) is also qualified for the job should the presidency decides to retire all DIGs.
Idris holds an LLB (Honours) in Law from the University of Maiduguri, and was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet ASP in 1984 and rapidly rose through the ranks.
Another senior officer from North-Central is AIG Mohammed J. Gana, who is currently the AIG in charge of Zone 4 Makurdi, Benue State and he is also from Niger State.
In the case of IGP coming from South-East, if DIG Chintua is not the right choice, a person from police commissioners from the zone would be elevated and that may mean that many senior officers would be sacrificed because the zone does not have an AIG in the first instance since Chintua is the most senior officer from the zone.
Arase was supposed to proceed on a three-month pre-retirement leave, but history showed that previous IGPs never proceeded on such leave and so it is expected that Arase may spend his last day in office as the police boss.
Arase, who was born on June 21, 1956, hails from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State and holds a degree in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1981 and has as well, bachelors and master’s degrees in Law. Before his appointment as IGP, Arase was the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department.
DIG Doma is seen to have an edge over most of his peers, given his international and local exposure and exemplary performance as a police officer. He was promoted to the rank of an AIG in 2012, and was promoted to DIG in 2014.
Doma, it is believed, will be appointed the next IG because of his seniority, zone and faith. First, he is the second most senior in the police after Arase and is from the North-Central.
Also, the president may settle for him on account of his religion, which will make him acceptable to other parts of the country, in addition to his home, the North.
Insiders described him as a tough cop who has been playing a very critical role as a member of the police management team. He still has up to 2019 to remain in the force.
http://nigerianpilot.com/arase-bows-no-dig-may-succeed-police-chief/

With a national minimum wage of 18k, is there really any Nigerian city or major town that has affordable rent? Rent is high even in ordinary 'civil service' States and towns!

The Executive and Legislature appear not to realize that they are separate arms of same Government. They are fast losing public goodwill and political capital -Nigerians on the streets are having a hard time, the national grid has collapsed, prices are going up astronomically and yet they are playing blatant politics.

In a free and fair election, many current Governors can only hope for one term in office. Some would have been impeached but for the fact that State Houses of Assembly are typically in their pockets. There is the case of this Governor who is already being openly called "one term Governor". A year is gone and some are still giving excuses, blaming their predecessors, lamenting collapse of oil revenue/so-called national cake instead of thinking out of the box, tightening their financial controls, plugging leakages, embarking on internal revenue initiatives, cutting down cost of government/government business, downsizing the number of so-called political appointees and hangers-on, introducing biometrics in salary payment, fighting corruption and prioritizing their budget/projects.

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday, arraigned a businesswoman before a Federal High Court for allegedly concealing 35 different currencies in her luggage.

Olawunmi Akinyanjuola Olatara was about boarding a flight from Nigeria to New York, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on January 24, when immigration officials allegedly discovered the concealed currencies in her possession during outward clearance of passengers.

She was arrested and handed over to operatives of EFCC.

The currencies allegedly retrieved from her were £26,420, $5,000, 1,320 Poland Zloty, RS 715 Brazillian real, 965,000 Korean Won, 10,000 Malaysian Ringgit, 2,920 Isreal Shekel, $13,218 American dollars, 394 Japanese Yen, 76,550 Kenyan Shillings, 1,920 New Zeland Dollars, 27,000 Iraqi Diner, RM 392 Malaysian Ringit, 500 Norway Krone, 2,000 Thailand Baht, MAD 260 Moroccan Dirham, QR 159, Qatari Riyal, CHF 250 Swiss Franc, 1,200 Taiwan Dollar, 6,360 Indian Rupees, 3,930 Egyptian Pounds, 6410 Russian Rubble, RS20 Brazil Real, 105 Turkish Lira, LD 26,000 Libyan Dinar, 1,000 Hong Kong Dollars, $50 American Dollars, DT 250 Tunisian Lira, 18 Saudi Arabia Riyal, BD 7.5 Bahrain, Rp 158 Indonesian Rupiah, 50 Phillipine Peso, 50 Sudanese Pounds and 1,515 Pakistan Rupee.

She, however, pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo granted the accused person bail of N5 million and two sureties in like sum, while she adjourned the matter till Octoer 18.
http://tribuneonlineng.com/new-york-bound-passenger-arraigned-for-hiding-34-different-currencies-in-luggage

When it comes to matters like this, there is no difference between APC and PDP members! They will unite over money and their own personal interest.

A photo-journalist with the LEADERSHIP Newspapers Group, Mr. Ibrahim Mohammed, was on Wednesday night attacked by a gang of armed robbers on Mabushi – Kado expressway in Abuja with the robbers snatching away his Honda Accord car (Henessy) 1998 model.

The ash-coloured car with registration number ABJ 85 HM and Chassis number: JHMCGG6678XXC008564, was taken at gun point around 9pm on the fateful day shortly after Mohammed had closed from work and had briefly stopped at Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal street junction of the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua expressway to receive a message from a friend photojournalist working with the People’s Daily Newspaper Mahmud Isa, who was also attacked with a gun butt.

The Mohammed’s friend was however lucky as his car – Honda Civic – proved difficult for the robbers, who hurriedly took the Honda Accord and other valuable items away.

Still photo camera and a phone belonging to Mohammed were taken away while his friend lost a laptop computer, phone and his car key.
http://leadership.ng/news/536936/leadership-photojournalist-loses-car-robbers-2

Less than a week to the end of the tenure of the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr. Solomon Arase, there are indications that lobby for his successor has intensified. By virtue of his date of birth (June 21, 1956), Arase, who is the 18th indigenous IGP, will be 60 years on Tuesday, June 21; the mandatory age of retirement from service.

Arase, who was appointed Police boss on April 21, 2015, would have put in 35 years in the Police by December 1 this year. New Telegraph, however, gathered from highly placed sources that President Muhammadu Buhari is under pressure from about three different interests, who are pushing forward their preferred choices.

While two of the forces are rooting for two Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), the other interest, which is said to be the most powerful, is projecting the candidacy of a serving Commissioner of Police (CP) from the North, who is holding a command position in a strategic state.

This is as there is uncertainty over the fate of seven Deputy Inspectors- General of Police (DIGs), who constitute the Police Management Team (PMT), which has the IGP as head. Already, those jostling for Arase’s position now spend more time in Abuja lobbying some powerful forces in and outside the government.

According to a source, who spoke with New Telegraph in confidence, the groups mounting pressure on the president are articulating the operational capabilities of their choices. This, he noted, was because Buhari wants a very competent successor to Arase who, many believe, would have achieved a lot, at the end of his tenure. “It is true that there are about three interests making separate cases for their preferred choices, who have showed good operational capabilities to lead the NPF.

“Out of the groups, one is pushing for the appointment of a very competent CP, while the other two are making cases for two AIGs. “But, I think the president knows what he wants, and as an upright, disciplined and firm man, he will get the best,” the source said. New Telegraph’s earlier investigation had revealed that one of the DIGs was being considered, considering the fact that none of the service or security chiefs, comes from his zone.

The man Solomon Arase

Arase, the 18th indigenous IGP from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, was born on June 21, 1956. He got enlisted into the Nigeria Police in December 1981, after bagging a degree in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Kaduna State, in 1980.

Until his appointment as Acting IGP, Arase was the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigative Department (FCIID). Apart from being a lawyer and Fellow, Defence College (FDC), the IGP holds two Masters Degrees in Law, as well as in Strategic Studies from the University of Lagos and University of Ibadan, respectively.

Some of his achievements

Arase, who made it clear, upon assumption of office, that the Police under his leadership will be intelligence-driven, scored some firsts, including the provision of scholarship to children and wards of deceased officers, establishment of the Complaint Response Unit (CRU), creation of a database centre, as well as the appointment of the first female Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

Seniority in appointing a new IGP

If the appointment of IGP were based on seniority, then the DIG in charge of Finance and Administration, Mr. Dan Azumi Doma, would have naturally succeeded Arase. Doma had served as DIG in charge of FCIID, before he was redeployed to his present office.

However, sources said the possibility of Doma emerging the 19th indigenous IGP cannot be ruled out, considering the fact that none of the heads of military or security agencies, is from his North-Central zone. Doma hails from Nasarawa State.

The following are the heads of the various Armed Forces and their regions of origin: Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin (South- West); Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai (North-East), Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (South- South), and Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (North- East). The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura, is from the North- West. If President Buhari will be persuaded to zero- in on the Police Management Team (PMT) composed of the IGP and seven DIGs, then DIG Chintua Amajor-Onu, may also be hopeful.

The case of DIG Amajor- Onu may also be predicated on regional persuasion, save for the fact that, like the North-Central, none of the heads of the military and DSS, is from the South-East. Other DIGs, apart from Doma and Amajor-Onu, are: Messrs Mamman Tsafe (Logistics and Supply), Hashimu Argungu (Training), Kakwe C. Katso (Investigations), S. L Wakama (Operations), and Jubril O. Adeniji. The Force Secretary is Mr. Patrick D. Dukumor, an Assistant Inspector General of Police.

Trend of recent appointment of IGP

It suffices to say that the appointment of IGPs by past presidents had not been restricted to the rank of DIGs, as there are instances in the recent past, where Assistant Inspectors- General (AIGs) of Police emerged IG. Available records show that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan appointed IGPs from the AIG rank. Some of those that were appointed from the AIG rank include: Messrs Tafa Balogun, M.D Abubakar, Hafiz Ringim, and Suleiman Abba.
https://newtelegraphonline.com/buhari-shops-arases-replacement/

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives are still sharply divided over which car to purchase for official use, Daily Sun learnt.

According to sources at the Executive Session of the House yesterday, lawmak­ers deliberated on different issues with questions aris­ing on why the leadership of the House settled for the Nigerian made Peugeot 508, rather than the more prestigious Toyota Prado Landcruiser SUV, which is the preferred choice of the Senate.

Daily Sun also gathered that lawmakers, many of whom are now in posses­sion of the 2016 budget de­tails, took turns to express grievances over the spread of constituency and zonal projects.

The lawmakers also raised objections to Ab­dulmumin Jibrin’s position as Chairman of the Ap­propriations Committee, demanding that he be re­moved to salvage the repu­tation of the House which, they insisted, had been sev­erally damaged by the con­troversies that surrounded the 2016 budget. Jibrin, who was not at yesterday’s plenary, has been accused of allocating projects worth N4 billion to his Bibeji/Kiru Federal Constituency.

Only few minutes into the commencement of plenary yesterday, Speak­er Yakubu Dogara called on the House Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiami­la to move the motion for the House to go to an ex­ecutive session.

An hour and half later, when the House reverted to plenary, Dogara did not speak on what was dis­cussed even as lawmak­ers displayed conviviality, most of them chatting in clusters and back slap­ping.

But Daily Sun learnt that the executive ses­sion was characterised by complaints as lawmakers took turns to say that they have been shortchanged with regard to the spread of constituency projects.

Many lawmakers point­ed fingers at principal of­ficers who they said cor­nered projects that should have been shared to other constituencies in their states and zones.

A lawmaker, told Daily Sun that majority of law­makers weren’t disposed to the purchase of SUVs owing to the reduction of the allocation to the National Assembly from N150 billion in 2014, N120 billion in 2015 and to N115 billion, this year.

“If you look at what has happened in the last three years, I don’t think lawmakers should still be talking about what kind of car we should be given. This year we have only N115 billion as allocation, where do they expect the leadership of the House to get money to buy SUVs?

He also said that mem­bers were disappointed that the tradition of prin­cipal officers influencing allocation of more money for projects in their con­stituencies and zones to the detriment of others was still the practice.

“People are really disap­pointed that the culture of principal officers taking a lion share of constituency projects , leaving those in their states and even their geo-political zones with almost nothing is still the order of the day.

“We thought that part of the change the All Pro­gressive Congress govern­ment is talking about also has to do with transpar­ently spreading constitu­ency projects. But the con­trary is the case and people made their feelings known about this.”
http://sunnewsonline.com/reps-fight-over-prado-suv-constituency-projects/

clarity4clear:
OP Supo Ayokunle won 57 while Otubu 28 I was a delegate at that election. Congrats Supo!

Really? Please did the Catholic and ECWA/TCNN blocs vote at the elections? The Nation Newspaper said some of their delegates walked out. Any eye witness report from you?

Still available in choice are, nearest alternative to Maitama. You shouldn't miss this!

blessedqueen:
Oga o... what u got for free... I will soon start my own thread now o...

I have over 500000 Christian books for free including this haggin own... I have then in PDF kindle and iBooks format and can read it on any eBook... just show interest following and next week Friday, I will share the link to my Google drive...

My sister, abeg how can I tap into these your books?

The federal government yesterday explained why it is yet to revive the economy with an injection of N350 billion four months after making the promise.

According to the government, the money is available but it has been hindered by procedural lapses. It, however, gave the assurance that the money will be available in the next week or two.

LEADERSHIP recalls that on March 22 this year, the government had said it intended to inject N350 billion into the country to revive economic activities.

Minister of finance, Kemi Adeosun, had said, at the end of the two-day National Economic Council (NEC) Retreat at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, that the money would partly be used to offset contractual debts in the country.

Speaking to State House correspondents yesterday after a federal executive council meeting (FEC) presided over by acting president, Yemi Osinbajo, the minister of budget and national planning , Udo Udoma, said the focus of the meeting was to review the economy.

Udoma said his ministry briefed FEC members about the economy and the steps that they need to take and that the Council approved that the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should fast-track the processes for the capital budgets so that the economy could be quickly reflated.

He said, “As for the N350billion which was indicated, the money is available but there is a process and this is part of the reasons we briefed Council; there is the need to fast-track those processes so that, very soon, most of those monies would be released. We expect, in the Ministry of Works, they should have quite a substantial release in the next week or so.

“It’s easier for us for existing projects but new projects are a bit more difficult because of the public procurement (requirements). You have to advertise and you have to wait for six weeks and so on. So new projects will take a bit longer.

“But existing projects that had already gone through the public procurement process will be faster and I believe that you will soon start seeing the impact of those releases.

On recession as hinted by Central Bank and the retrenchments in the banking sector, the minister recalled that the government had launched a strategic document, and set out 34 core objectives it intends to achieve this year.

“We set out all our objectives. We have a plan and the plan is to reflate the economy. What has happened to Nigeria is not a surprise to the government; it is something that we came in to meet; it has been caused by the fall of crude oil prices from over $100 to less than $30 and so we came in to meet that problem.

“The decision that we took to address that problem is to reflate the economy and the budget was aimed at achieving that and that is why you have in the budget a plan to spend a large amount of money on infrastructure, but as you know, the budget was only recently passed.

“It is just that, at this particular point in time, we expected this trajectory because the releases will only start kicking in so that, by the third quarter, we will start seeing the impact of what we are doing to reflate the economy.”

On speculated impending sack of workers in para-military organisations, he said the government had no such policy to retrench workers, and pleaded with the private sector to reconsider their stance.

He said, “That is news to me. I am not aware of any instruction to anybody to sack anybody. In fact, the policy of this government, we said so at the beginning that we are not going to retrench. There are people who retire, people who may be disciplined but there is no policy in this government to retrench.

“With regards to the plea to the private sector, it is because we know that by the time the economy picks up, they will need those people again. We know the economy is going to pick up – we are confident about that; that is because of our plan – the plan was conceived because we knew that this was the trajectory we will move into.”

He also disclosed that the government had a plan to move the country up 20 places in the ease of doing business index.

“We want to stimulate the private sector because we know that even the spending by government alone will not be sufficient. We also need to have policies that will encourage the private sector. We do have a plan. It was launched; it was taken to cabinet and approved by cabinet,” he concluded.

http://leadership.ng/news/534425/govt-yet-release-n350bn-stimulus-fund-adeosun

The Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria‎ (MULAN) has condemned the alleged blasphemy in Wambai area of Kano State and Pandogari, Rafi Local Government Council of Niger state which led to the death of some people, and called ‎on non-Muslim brothers and sisters to avoid sensitive issues, especially religion, to allow peace reign in Nigeria‎.
A press release signed by the President, MULAN, Dr. Kamal Alhaji Dawud‎ in Kaduna also ‎felicitated with Muslims all over the World over the commencement of the Ramadan fasting and urged them to use the period to pray for Nigeria.
Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/muslim-lawyers-condemn-blasphemy-in-kano-pandogari/150283.html#xXpVuyGDOFYfMCX1.99