₦airaland Forum

The Commonwealth Executive Masters in Business Administration (CEMBA) and in Public Administration (CEMPA) admissions is on with study centres in Port Harcourt, Lagos and Abuja. In Nigeria, it is a partnership between the Commonwealth of Learning and the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). It is distinct from the regular MBA/MPA programmes.
It is designed for professionals working in public, private or not-for-profit organisations who wish to develop their skills in strategic business management and public administration. It has the benefit of affordable/flexible fees, high quality curriculum and recognition/credibility.
For Port Harcourt residents, you can inquire via +234 (0) 9022331685 or 08033102878.

http://nou.edu.ng/announcements/20152016-commonwealth-of-learning-advert-cembacempa

http://www.nounadmissions.com/commonwealth-of-learning-cemba-cempa/

If you are a former, current or prospective student, we can connect here on this thread. I am interested in Port Harcourt particularly please.

Anyone with independent update on this? This hospital is really hyped and this is quite mind-boggling!

There are two venues in Port Harcourt. One is at Deeper Life Camp Ground Rumuodara near Tank along the East-West road. The other is at College of Health Technology Rumueme. There are other centres/locations in virtually every Local Government Area in Rivers State. In Abuja, there are centres at Kado, Timbershed-Nyanya, Kurudu along Karshi/Orozo road, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Kubwa/Bwari.
You can also attend in all other States of the Federation and/or connect at the church website: http://www.dclm.org/
http://webcast.dclm.org/dwc/
Don't miss this life-time opportunity to encounter God and alter your eternal destiny -decision determines destiny.
Theme is readiness for Christ's coming. Eternity is near my brother and sister. Let's get ready for the New Year and for eternity.
Camp-style accommodation and feeding all free. Come just as you are and you wont leave like you came in Jesus name.

What of First Nation and Air Peace? They seem to be on time, next only to Dana Air in my view/experience.

I am not happy with the gluttony of my car. I feel it’s more voracious during scarcity. So sad that it adds no weight despite feeding fat on my billfold. In no time, the machine guzzles litres mercilessly, making me wonder if there is a mechanical placebo to adjust the engine’s mechanism.
But all motorists in Nigeria nowadays bear the brunt of the nationwide scarcity. Two days ago in Abuja, I managed to go out around 12 midnight, hoping to refill at a Maitama filling station. As I drove for about five kilometres, the sight of a long line of vehicles snaking to eternity frightened me. I gave up and returned home. I can’t sleep at the filling station, I mused.
Yesterday I had to spend N5,500 to buy 20 litres of petrol. This means I bought each litre at the cost of N250, against the official rate of N87. Ordinarily, the rate should be lower in the wake of the oil price fall in the international market.
To say Nigerians are suffering is an understatement. We are groaning under a biting scarcity of basic commodities. Electricity is scarce. Out taps have long been dry. Nigerians have given up on water, long ago. We contrive to live. In Nigeria, utility service provision lies upon the citizens. Everything is private in this country. We dig private sewer lines, drill private water wells, use private transportation, generate private electricity and go to private hospitals and private schools for quality service delivery. Nigerians seem to have a high tolerance threshold.
With the aforesaid burden on citizens, there is every tendency that Nigerians could be corrupt. Our salaries are stationary, while the price of commodities are always in motion. Unless one has a “side business”, the salary of an average worker cannot support him.
The economic situation in Nigeria today is taking the unemployment rate higher. The states are bankrupt and are on borrowing sprees. Governors owe workers’ salaries as uncertainty looms over the payment of minimum wage.
The problem with fuel scarcity is that it affects the prices of other commodities. Nigeria is a country where there is no price control, and once prices go up, they hardly come down. Prices of Achaba, garri, sugar, soap or bus ticket hardly come down when such circumstances trigger them.
Naira keeps losing gravity, especially at the parallel market. Last week the currency lost more than N20, making the exchange rate stand at about N290 to $1. The price of crude oil, the livewire of our economy, keeps falling. The economy is not in good shape, at all.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in November that Nigeria recorded the lowest growth in real Gross Domestic Product, GDP, since 2011. The GDP, which is the total value of all goods and services available for use and export in a country for a given period, is termed as the most important indicator of economic wellbeing of a nation. Ours is at its lowest ebb in recent times.
In a country where there is no metro railway, with near-comatose intercity lines and a dysfunctional aviation sector, road transportation is the only available transportation system we have. In view of this reality, government should have planned ahead to avoid getting the nation at a standstill.
The economy is seemingly nonexistent, rudderless. Economic experts and The Economist magazine described our minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun as inexperienced.
“Africa’s biggest economy,” the Economist wrote in November, “which relies on oil for 70% of its revenue, is sputtering as prices fall. Economic policy has been adrift since Mr. Buhari came to power, and investors complain about the central bank’s use of trade controls and import restrictions.
“However, the new finance minister, an accountant who cleaned up the books of one of Nigeria’s smaller states, is poorly qualified for the job.”
As I write this, the president is yet to appoint his Economic Adviser. I also doubt if there is an economic team on the ground. Had there been such a team at the inception of this government, the scarcity would have been foreseen and tackled. Perhaps a supplementary budget, capturing the subsidy payments and all other critical needs, would have long been prepared, presented to the National Assembly for passage and assented by the president.
Sincerely, I pity President Muhammadu Buhari for coming in the era of recession and biting economic crunch. But I blame him, as president not even as minister of Petroleum, for failure to plan ahead and make the ONLY commodity we produce at export quality and quantity unavailable to citizens.
http://blogs.premiumtimesng.com/?p=170092

Not justified or justifiable but many Nigerians are really suffering and becoming more suicidal.

A middle-aged man in Ochafu village Igbeagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nwedene Godwin, yesterday committed suicide in frustration.
The late Godwin, until his death,, had been traumatized which made him start behaving abnormally after he lost three of his motorcycles in Abuja as a commercial motorcyclist. The situation forced him to return home to his village.
Sources close to the deceased’s family revealed to Leadership that when he could not bear his sudden poor condition anymore, he chose to hang himself on a tree in a bush where his body was found dangling.
The wife, Kelechi, who is nursing a year and two-month-old baby said her husband had suffered setbacks in his motorcycle business on three occasions in Abuja where he was residing.
She noted that Godwin bought three motorcycles and lost all of them to hoodlums.
Kelechi who spoke in tears said since the incidents, her husband never recovered from the shock, even when she keep consoling him to hope in God for recovery.
“My husband has been behaving strangely since he lost all his motorcycles to robbers. He has been so traumatized, such that he can’t talk.
“At times I tried to force words out of him to tell me what his problem was, apart from the motorcycles he lost but he could not talk to me; he will just remain silent and look at me.’’
The woman disclosed that before she could return from an errand he sent her, he had gone to the bush and hanged himself on a tree.
On his part, Godwin’s father, Nwedene Aloji, said that he had been advising his son to forget what happened to his business and forge ahead as his future is bright so long as he lives.
He said Godwin had seemed to take the advice and nodded in appreciation only to later commit suicide.
A team of policemen from Iboko, Izzi local government division went to the bush where Godwin committed suicide and saw him hanging on a tree and later confirmed him dead.
http://www.leadership.ng/news/485232/suicide-man-kills-self-hardship-ebonyi

BARELY five days after a Federal High
Court in Abuja ordered the Federal
Government to immediately release
the detained Pro-Biafra leader, Nnamdi
Kanu, the Department of State Security
Service, DSS is yet to release the
embattled Biafran Leader.
A highly placed security source
yesterday confirmed to Nigerian Pilot
that Nnamdi Kanu was still in custody
of the DSS. According to the source,
the DSS is waiting for the true certified
copy of the judgement before they will
take appropriate action on the matter,
explaining hat a decision will certainly
be reached on the matter today.
Kanu, who has been in the custody
of the DSS for over three months over allegations of terrorism and belonging
to an unlawful assembly, approached
the court for the enforcement of his
fundamental human right.
Delivering its ruling on the application,
Justice Adeniyi Ademola had held that
the continued detention of Kanu without
arraignment in a court of competent
jurisdiction was contrary to Section 34
of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
Consequently, he ordered for Kanu’s
unconditional release by the DSS. “This
court’s order of November 10, 2015 is
hereby set aside. - See more at: http://nigerianpilot.com/biafra-dss-dares-court-refuses-to-release-nnamdi-kanu/#sthash.PSJWYHFS.dpuf

Thanks beloved brethren. Lets post venues across the country.
All are invited and this year's theme is apt -Readiness for Christ's coming.

"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."
Ecclesiastes 8:1 KJV

When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong.
Ecclesiastes 8:1 NLT

When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people's hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong.
Ecclesiastes 8:1 NIV

Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.
Ecclesiastes 8:1 English Standard Version

Following the appointments of ministers by President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have embarked on intensive lobbying for appointments into the boards of federal parastatals and agencies. New Telegraph learnt that the national leadership of the APC has submitted a list of 1,850 party members to the Presidential Committee on the Reconstitution of Federal Government Boards of Parastatals, Agencies and Commissions, chaired by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Babachir David Lawal.There are hundreds of federal agencies, parastatals and commissions.

Not all the 1,850 party nominees will be appointed into the boards. A source in the Presidency said Buhari is also looking beyond the list of nominees submitted by the party. The source said Buhari is giving consideration to some people who worked for his success and have been supportive of his cause, but are not on the party list.

Impeccable sources told New Telegraph that party leaders and members lobbied powerful forces in the APC at the state and national levels to be included in the list of nominees for federal boards. The lobby for the inclusion in the list was so intense that it caused disaffection in some state chapters of the party, which led to the submission of different lists to the APC national leadership.

It was learnt that those who were lucky to make the list of nominees have intensified efforts to ensure that they are made chairmen or members of powerful boards. A source told our reporter that some of the nominees are using their contacts in APC and the presidency to influence their appointments. New Telegraph was informed that party leaders at the state level, who could not make the list of ministers featured prominently on the list.

Some former chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defected to the APC before and after the March\April general elections, also made the list of nominees. Usually, board appointments are reward for party leaders and chieftains.

This has been the practice since 1999. In the last administration, senior party officials and leaders were made chairmen of boards of federal agencies, parastatals and commissions. New Telegraph learnt that the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, had requested the 36 states chapters of the party and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to submit a list of 50 members each for consideration and screening for appointments into the boards of federal parastatals and agencies. Oyegun, in the letter, gave November 30 as deadline for the submission of the list, which must be accompanied with their curriculum vitaes.

The APC national secretariat has, since, forwarded the lists to the Lawal-led committee, except those of some states where there are internal crises, which led to the submission of two to three different lists. “Some states with factions submitted about three different lists of nominees.

The national secretariat is trying to resolve the crisis,” a source said. Oyegun confirmed the submission of party nominees for consideration as board chairmen and members. “It is true that we requested our state chapters to submit the list of prospective board members and chairmen. We have sent the list of nominees to the presidential committee headed by the SGF for consideration,” Oyegun told New Telegraph. One of the nominees told New Telegraph that while it was not difficult for him to get his name on the list from one of the South-West states, he is pulling all the necessary strings to ensure that he makes the final list and be on important board. “As one of the leaders in the party, my name was among the 50 nominees from my state. But we, the nominees, are not leaving it at that; we are lobbying to ensure that we make the final list and allotted a good board,” the nominee said. Another nominee said the board appointment is meant for party leaders and chieftains who worked for the success of the party at the polls. He said there is no crime lobbying for consideration. “Don’t forget that I contested for the governorship poll in my state. The expectation was that I would make the ministerial list. But as it turned out, someone else got the slot. So, I’m hopeful that something tangible will come out of this. I’m consulting with those that matter to see that I don’t just be on a board, but where I can make impact,” a party leader told New Telegraph.

The Federal Government had, on October 26, inaugurated an eight-man committee headed by the SGF for the reconstitution of the boards of federal agencies, parastatals and commissions. Other members of the committee are: Alhaji Mai Mala Buni (North-East), Alhaji Zakari Idde (North- Central), Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir (North-West), Chief Hillard Etagbo Eta (South-South), Chief Pius Akinyelure (South-West), Chief Emmanuel Enekwu (South-East).

Mr. Gideon Sammani is the Secretary of the committee. In its terms of reference, the committee is to determine and recommend to the president the governing boards of Federal Government parastatals, agencies and commissions to be reconstituted immediately; identify the available positions of the chairmanship and membership levels in each of the parastatals, agencies and commissions and to allocate the chairmanship and membership positions to each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The terms include receiving and screening of the nominees received from the states and the FCT, recommend the nominees to the president for consideration and approval. The committee is to also ensure balance in the distribution of board members along the geo-political zones of the country.

Despite the plan of the president to constitute the boards of the federal parastatals, commissions and agencies, many APC leaders and members are restive about the development. An APC leader told New Telegraph that members of the party believe that Buhari should first remove the chief executive officers and directors general of the federal parastatals, agencies and commissions before the appointment of the boards’ chairmen and members. The party leaders feel that the appointments of ambassadors and heads of the federal parastatals, agencies and commissions should come first before the boards.

“There is restiveness in the APC over the planned appointments of boards’ chairmen and members. We feel that it is like putting the cart before the horse. Many party members feel that the heads of the various parastatals and agencies should be removed first.

“The fact remains that over 80 per cent of the heads of the agencies and parastatals were appointed by the past PDP government. We believe that their loyalty is still with the PDP. So, we feel that the president should remove the PDP appointees before the constitution of boards’ chairmen and members.”
http://newtelegraphonline.com/apc-leaders-scramble-board-appointments/

The Adamawa State government has approved N1 billion for members of the state House of Assembly, for constituency developmental projects in 2016.

Ahmed Sajoh, the state commissioner for information, disclosed this while briefing journalists after the state executive council meeting in Yola on Wednesday.

Mr. Sajoh said the funds would be distributed through the 25 members of the state house of assembly for the empowerment and wealth creation of their constituencies.

“The funds would go a long way in supplementing government’s efforts in providing basic infrastructure to rural communities,” he said.

He said the council also approved N270 million for the purchase of three water drilling machines for the provision of portable water in the state.

“This administration is projecting 2016 for all communities in the state to have adequate portable water supply,” Mr. Sajoh said.

He said that, “the council also approved N172 Million as payment for the renewal of mining license for the state”.




According to him, the challenge had been the renewal of the license as investors were already waiting to commence mining of barite.

Barite is one of the important elements used in petroleum drilling.

He said that the mining would generate employment for 3000 youths.

The government’s spokesperson said the council also constituted a committee for the distribution of tricycles to the seven affected local government areas affected by insurgency.
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nnorth-east/195294-adamawa-lawmakers-get-n1bn-for-constituency-projects.html

Mergers, acquisitions likely for banks
Six commercial banks are likely to seek mergers and acquisitions in the New Year – no thanks to the shock created in their assets and balance sheet sizes in the face of declining oil prices.

Crude oil prices have fallen to as low as $37.11 per barrel from over $110 per barrel a year ago. This has adversely affected banks’ oil assets.

Besides, the level of non-performing loans in the sector has risen.

The Managing Director, Sterling Bank Plc, Yemi Adeola, who disclosed this yesterday said he envisaged possible shrinking in the number of local banks in the New Year. There are already moves suggesting that trend, he said, but did not name any bank.

Speaking at an end-of-year media briefing in Lagos, the bank chief said two international banks were discussing with local lenders on possible acquisition. He said the year has been a challenging one for the economy and the banking sector, adding that banks are now finding ways to wriggle out of these challenges, including a tough regulatory environment.



He said oil price could also come further down, and called for a more efficient tax system, blocking of revenue leakages and focus on areas neglected in the past – “from agric to solid minerals and other commodities we have in abundance. We also need to support Small and Medium Enterprises to create opportunities that will create jobs,” he said.

Adeola said the Nigerian banking industry was the most regulated sector in the country thereby affecting banks’ performance.

“To say that everything will be rosy in 2016 will be deceiving ourselves. I think if the opportunities arise for banks to pursue further consolidation, we could see two or three. I also know that one or two international banks are interested in pursuing acquisitions in Nigeria and they are indeed having discussions already,” he said.

“So, you could see a combination of one or two international banks taking over one or two Nigerian banks or merging with them. And nothing also stops two or three Nigerian banks having merger discussions in 2016.”

Adeola said Sterling Bank is ready for either a merger or an acquisition, provided it will add value to stakeholders. “For us at Sterling Bank, we are always open to mergers or acquisitions. We are open to anything that can give us scale. Whether it is a merger or acquisition, we are open, but the synergy must be there. We must see the benefits clearly. Any merger must be one that ensures stakeholders will benefit more; otherwise it will not be worthwhile,” he said.

Adeola added: “We have every cause to remain optimistic in 2016, despite the fact that it is going to be a challenging year for the banking sector. We are determined to keep the momentum going. We first started a merger of five banks, and all the consultants predicted that all the entities will struggle for the next 10 years. It was challenging but we got out of it. Experience has shown globally, that mergers don’t work, especially when you are merging five institutions.”

Adeola said Sterling Bank did first merger in 2006 and ran as a bank from day one, despite the fact that five banks came together. “In 2011, we did another merger with Equitorial Trust Bank (ETB), and was done in record time and you will never see cultural differences. We are one bank, and it means we have perfected the act of acquisitions. Could there be an opportunity to pursue an acquisition again, we will try,” he said.

Adeola said the foreign exchange challenge remained a tough one for banks and the economy. “You can only spend what you have and if our reserves are at $29.4 billion as at December 15, there will barely fund four to five months of import. The options are usually two: to adopt capital control and focus on key sectors. In other words, you determine where you want the forex to go to in order to curb wastages,” he said.

In Adeola’s view, Nigeria cannot sustain capital controls for so long. He said the government does not want the forex to be used for speculative purposes. “But it is a double edged sword. If you adopt capital controls, investors are reluctant to come in, because if they bring their money in at N200 to dollar, they will not be able to know what rate when they are going. So, you shut your door to new money coming in. The other option, is let the naira find its true value. The question is what is the true value for the naira?”

To Adeola, the right thing to do is find the true value of the naira and devalue it from there. “Some will suggest the street value, while others will suggest the Central Bank of Nigeria rate. But it is also not the true value. The true value of the naira is between the CBN rate and the parallel market rate. But there are ways we can find the true value of the naira and devalue to that extent. If people are sure, they are getting true value for their dollars, then the dollars will come down,” he said.

Adeola said Sterling Bank continued to survive in spite of such tough regulations because it plays by the rules. “We do not flout regulations. We keep strictly to regulations. We will continue to face challenges that come our way with maturity. He said the bank desires to be a top six bank, from top 10 currently, and also be a leading consumer banking franchise,” he said.
http://thenationonlineng.net/mergers-acquisitions-likely-for-banks/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) may reopen investigation into the $180million Halliburton scam in January, The Nation gathered yesterday.

Some of those implicated in the scandal, including three former Heads of State, may be reinvestigated, a source said.

Others, who were spared by the previous administration, may also be questioned.

The reopening of the case may enable the nation to get more of the looted funds from the United States

According to sources, the EFCC may have discovered that Nigeria did not get a fair deal from the investigation of the scam.

The commission also felt some of the suspects, who entered into a plea bargain, did not return substantial funds, a source said, adding: “As from January, the EFCC will reopen investigation into the $180m Halliburton bribery scam because the nation has not got enough justice.

“Out of about $22, 417, 000 and DRM 500,000 bribes shared to top government officials in Nigeria, about N2.5billion fines were paid by some companies.

.”Some suspects, who were neck-deep in the scam, got presidential reprieve, which compelled the leadership of the anti-graft agency to overlook their infractions.

“But the era of impunity is over; we will reopen the probe into the Halliburton scandal and recover the bribe.”

The source said: “No matter how big the suspects are, we will recover the cash. We have the list of the beneficiaries of the bribe sum.”

The source added: “ At a point, the US Government found about $133, 073,750m, which was found in the account of Jeffery Tesler who was the facilitator of the bribery.

“Upon this discovery, the Federal Government proposed a 50-50 sharing formula of the funds. We want to know what has become of this arrangement. Certainly, there are many pegs to the Halliburton scandal.

“We are also a subject of ridicule in the international community – that none of the suspects has been successfully prosecuted and jailed.”

An Abuja High Court on March 27, 2013 struck out the case against six Nigerian suspects arraigned over the Halliburton scandal.

Those set free were a former Permanent Secretary, Ibrahim Aliyu, Mohammed Gidado Bakari and four companies.

The four companies are Urban Shelter Ltd, Intercellular Nigeria Ltd, Sherwood Petroleum Ltd and Tri-Star Investment Ltd.

The six accused persons had stood trial for allegedly serving as conduits and receiving bribes to facilitate natural gas contracts between 1994 and 2005.

Justice Abubakar Sadiq Umar said the prosecution had failed to diligently prosecute the case.

http://thenationonlineng.net/fresh-halliburton-bribe-probe-likely-in-january/

Former Niger Delta militants under the umbrella of Presidential Amnesty Phase II, yesterday warned against an alleged plan by the Federal Government to slash the 2016 budget of the Presidential Amnesty Office.
The ex-agitators, who comprised those in the 6166 Presidential Amnesty Phase II, 3142 and 20192 ex-militants Phase III and Phase I, stated that the proposed N20bn for the initiative was unacceptable to them.
While calling on the Federal Government to respect the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, it signed with them, they lamented that the proposed amount could not cater for their monthly stipends.
The ex-militants, who marched through the streets of Warri, Delta State on Monday in a peaceful protest, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Senate President, beg President to leave the amnesty budget alone;”
“We say no to the plan to reduce the amnesty budget;” “Buhari, please don’t force us to go back to the creeks;” “Saraki, leave our budget alone;” “Ex-militants reject the 2016 amnesty budget;” “The amnesty budget should increase and not reduce”.
The National Chairman of the 6166 Presidential Amnesty Phase II, Gen. Aso Tambo, while speaking with newsmen in Warri, accused the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government of allegedly slashing their monthly allowance in its current budget to N20bn as against the N68bn budgeted for the office last year.
Tambo said, “Our problem is that we have been receiving budget of this programme from October 4, 2009 till today and our budget used to be N86bn. Last year it was N68bn. But this year, we were reliably informed that the 2016 budget for the programme is N20bn.
“If they are giving presidential amnesty programme a budget of N20bn, we don’t know what the Federal Government wants to use the money for because N24bn is what they use in paying the N65,000 monthly stipend of the 30,000 ex-militants. So, if you are giving a budget of N20bn, we don’t know what they want to use the money for. Is it for our stipend or is it to push us to the creeks to go and fight a war? Or they want to use the money to buy arms for us to go and fight Boko Haram?
“That is why we decided to stage a peaceful protest. We want to use this medium to tell the Federal Government that they should reverse the budget. We know what amnesty stipend is. Amnesty stipend is N65,000. When you multiply that by 30,000 it will amount to about N1.9bn monthly. So if you put it together in 12 months you will arrive at about N24bn and above. So we don’t know why the Federal Government has approved N20bn.”
He warned the Buhari-led government to leave the Amnesty Programme alone if it wants to sustain the peace initiated by the late President Yar’Adua in 2009.
The ex-agitator further stated that the alleged reduction in their monthly stipends had reached “a provocative climax.”
http://dailypost.ng/2015/12/15/nigeria-will-go-up-in-flames-if-amnesty-budget-is-slashed-ex-militants-threaten-fg/

kossyablaze:
Inconclusive Boko haram

I like that!

Dasuki to expose more

According to the source close to the former NSA, it had become necessary for Dasuki to expose the first in the series of the top beneficiaries, which include former heads of state and presidents, who were bought bullet-proof Sports Utility Vehicles by the ONSA with funds approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Although Dasuki is keeping the names of the beneficiaries of the car gifts to himself, the source told Vanguard that he was ready to spill the beans at the appropriate time, saying that the list will shock Nigerians.

Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at the federal high court in Abuja, on September 1, 2015. Nigerian prosecutors on September 1, 2015 slapped a charge of unlawful possession of arms against Dasuki. Dasuki was arraigned on a "one-count charge of being in possession of firearms without licence," Prosecutor Mohammed Diri told the federal high court in Abuja. AFP PHOTO
Former national security adviser of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki . AFP PHOTO

According to the Dasuki aide, all the former presidents and heads of state got one exotic car from the embattled NSA and did not find out the source of the funding. The officer explained that of all the former presidents, one of them who has been very vociferous demanded two of the SUVs from the ONSA, who grudgingly obliged him.

The former head of state, it was gathered, had explained to Dasuki that he needed one of the vehicles to be kept for him in Abuja and another to be stationed in Lagos to ease his movement to the two main Nigerian cities. The officer however refused to give the cost of the exotic cars bought for the former heads of state and president, saying that the details could be obtained from the ONSA.

“What is coming will shock Nigerians and many of them will get to know if indeed Dasuki used the money to enrich himself as being bandied in many quarters. As a law-abiding NSA, he had to carry out the instructions handed over to him by the Presidency and nothing more,” the aide said.

“It is also instructive to note that those who are now blaming Dasuki for carrying out his assigned duties and calling for his head actually benefitted immensely from the security vote, which was domiciled in his office. The truth of the matter is that all over the world security votes are used for various reasons to bring about national peace and stability and Dasuki could not have done otherwise,” his aide said.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/arms-probe-dasuki-set-to-name-more-beneficiaries/

OP, indeed this view is largely informed and balanced.

Minister for Information, thanks for the information. Just pile up the evidence and get those involved arrested/prosecuted. You are in government and in power! Meanwhile, quickly expedite action to deliver on your campaign promises. About 7 months have passed already. Don't waste time telling us about the failure of the past government. We know already. That's why you were voted into power. You have your job cut out for you very clearly Mr. Honourable Minister. And please don't tell me that you cannot deliver because of GEJ or oil price. You are expected to think out of the box and get us out of the woods. Thanks as I have my registered voters card to do the needful (vote for another new change if need be) in 2019.

…SGF wants him arrested by DSS

About 48 hours after the cancellation of the rescheduled governorship
election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, the
whereabouts of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Baritor Kpagih,
still remains unknown.
“Kpagih has fled Yenagoa to unknown destination for fear of his life. The
Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), David
Babachir Lawal, is also mounting pressure on the DSS to arrest the REC for
a yet to be declared reason”, one of his friends stated.

According to him, some other friends, family members of the REC and
members of Deeper Life Bible Church where he fellowships have urged him to
consider resigning from his exalted position if that would safe him from
the jaws of the APC leadership.

Sources also said said that the REC had decided to go underground
following threats to his life by some persons who are not comfortable with
the cancellation.
The decision of the REC to go into hiding came less than than 24 hours
after the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in
Bayelsa State election, Chief Timipre Sylva demanded for the sack of
Kpagih, by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

It was learnt that strange he has been receiving text message and calls
from hidden numbers urging him to “reverse the cancellation of the
election” in Southern Ijaw LGA or risk his life.

But Kpagih remained unmoved insisting that the action of INEC was within
the ambience of the laws of the land and in fulfilment of the commission’s
mandate to conduct a credible election.

He said if the process had been allowed to go on, it would have rubbished
all the gains recorded by the commission in recent times.
http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/southern-ijaw-bayelsa-rec-goes-underground-under-pressure-to-resign/

In Port Harcourt, the venue is Deeper Life Camp Ground Rumuodara (near Tank) along the East-West road.

Which State is this?

Whether the list is 2013 or 2015, it is not a reliable benchmark. The fact that it is from NUC changes nothing. I see a school on that list in a strong position when cultists, exam cheats and people who can pay their way in cash or kind are given worthless/unearned certificates. Even my cousin who is a lecturer in that school warned me not to do a PG programme in the school. A lot needs to be done about our schools generally jor!

The decider is Nembe and Southern Ijaw. Wont be surprised if the 'turn out' there is 80% and a candidate gets 80%!

BALLERON:
For sale...morning

N3.2M?

N3m

It has no price?

I wont be surprised if the 'turn out' in Southern Ijaw is at least 80% and one candidate gets at least 80% of the 'votes' there to win the election! By the way, what of results for Nembe LGA? I expect same 'massive' turn out there and same 'landslide' win!!

I wont be surprised if the 'turn out' in Southern Ijaw is at least 80% and one candidate gets at least 80% of the 'votes' there to win the election! By the way, what of results for Nembe LGA? I expect same 'massive' turn out there and same 'landslide' win!!

I wont be surprised if the 'turn out' in Southern Ijaw is at least 80% and one candidate gets at least 80% of the 'votes' there to win the election! By the way, what of results for Nembe LGA? I expect same 'massive' turn out there and same 'landslide' win!!

I wont be surprised if the 'turn out' in Southern Ijaw is at least 80% and one candidate gets at least 80% of the 'votes' there to win the election! By the way, what of results for Nembe LGA? I expect same 'massive' turn out there and same 'landslide' win!!

I wont be surprised if the 'turn out' in Southern Ijaw is at least 80% and one candidate gets at least 80% of the 'votes' there to win the election! By the way, what of results for Nembe LGA? I expect same 'massive' turn out there and same 'landslide' win!!