A Corporal Hassan Aminu, a member of the presidential bodyguard squad for Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has been arrested following his alleged links with terrorist group, Boko Haram.
No one knows how he got into the army least how he became a presidential guard.
The corporal is under custody for interrogation.
On the passing away of Ojo Maduekwe, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice Nikki Tobi, retired Supreme Court judge and Elechi Amadi, a literary icon. Mr President condolences gets to their respective states.
In a statement signed by presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said Mr. Buhari was saddened by the passing away of Maduekwe
President Buhari also paid tribute to Justice Nikki Tobi, describing him as a brave jurist who served Nigeria creditably and brought his many years of training, knowledge and wisdom to the Bench.
The president also commiserate with the literary and academic community in mourning Mr. Amadi whose writings as a novelist, poet and playwright introduced many to the Nigerian culture
May their souls rest in peace
Preparations and registrations are still ongoing in Akwaibom the South South training centre for YIEDP.
NYSC, CBN, anf HB bank are on ground ensure all goes as planned. On Ground for NYSC is the DG represented by Deputy Director Sule, the State cordinator was represented by NYSC deputy human resource
Person Augustine Udo, while the CBN governor was represented by Amidu.
They all gave opening speeches, which they all stated how lucky the selected where to be given an opportunity to actualize their dreams, in the entrepreneurship department, especially in a time when government policy is encouraging diversification of the economy and encouraging youth entrepreneurship.
The Corp members and Ex Corp members expressed their gratitude, and stated their desire to help build the nation and reduce unemployment, using the assist they will be receiving.
The YIEDP was kicked off on March 15 2016, and over one million youths registered.
The program unlike uwin does not give out national cakes, rather it is a single digit loan of 9% interest over three years given to this young potential Financial magnets of tomorrow. It is hoped that this program will reach 1million youths.
Venues of training can be found in the 7geopolitical zones : Abuja, Akwaibom, Enugu, Plateau, Osun, Lagos, and Kastina.
The training ends on 02/07/2017, with certificate given to the participants.
In a time if shortage and global scarcity, a rare huge helium gas field has been discovered in Tanzania Rift Valley. The said discovery could help address a shortage of helium gas in the world, at a time like this, with the global economy falling, and the lack of commercial helium gas, this discovery puts Tanzania and Africa on limelight ones again, as the home of secret and wonders, unexplored. Helium gas is used for MRI scanner, space exploration vehicles, and nuclear energy.
This discovery is credited to UK's Durham and Oxford university working with helium one.
The stream two of batch A today are leaving camp.
The Akwaibom State coordinator, has urged corpers to be duty minded and avoid any incriminating act as they will be duly penalized.
Ekweremadu goes to international community as he feels the President is after him.
Buhari isn't relenting his drums of war against corruption, and if all is done well, no one will be shielded from the grasps of the warrior.
Meanwhile Suicide bombers take at it again in madugiri.
Politicians, officers have been said to be behind the recent coup rumor.
COAS comes at it saying chibok girls may not be alive after all.
Virtually Every Nigerian has been calling for Buratai's probe. But Buhari maybe using the old familiar biblical quote "touch not my anointed... "
He can't be the angel Buhari says his appointees, friends and family are.
Nigerians been creative and calculative even have done the mathematics on his salary, savings, and possible expenses.
It goes as below
.
.
Lieutenant General Buratai's promotion dates are:
.
Lieutenant (January 1985)
Captain (January 1989)
Major (January 1994)
Lieutenant Colonel (January 1998)
Colonel (January 2004)
Brigadier General (January 2009)
Major General (January 2012)
Lieutenant General (August 2015)
.
His salary structure :
.
Nigerian Army Salary Structure per month for
Commissioned Officers as at Dec, 2015
.
Second Lieutenant- N120,000
Lieutenant- N180,000
Captain- N220,000
Major- N300,000
Lt. Colonel- N350,000
Colonel- N550,000
Brigadier General- N750,000
Major General- N950,000
Lt. General- N1 million
General- N1.5 million
.
Note: The salaries were far less than the present structure. Former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the Review of the Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS) in July 2010.
.
N115. 6million was alleged to have been paid for a property in Dubai. If the properties are two as reports allege, then we should be talking about N230million or more.
.
Assuming General Buruntai didnt touch his salary since he joined army till 2014 and using the current salary structure (which is much more that what he actually received), he should have the following in his bank as at January, 2014:
.
N8, 640, 000 as a Lieutenant
N13, 200, 000 as a captain
N14, 400, 000 as a major
N25, 200, 000 as a Lt. Col
N33, 000, 000 as a Col
N27, 000,000 as Brig. General
N22, 800, 000 as a major General
.
Total earnings by Gen Buruntai since joining the army in 1985 till January 2014 is much less than N144, 240, 000.
.
Now, being an award winning, globally acclaimed saver of the century, he might be saving up to 50% of his salary(which is practically impossible). That gives us less than N72, 120, 000.
.
And even has a disclaimer:
This amount cannot buy a house in Dubai let alone two. There are many grey areas to be addressed before drawing conclusions. With this, you can form your own opinion and draw your own conclusions but be warned that you are sorely responsible for any opinion or conclusion you draw from this computation.
From the calculation one doesn't need a suitsayer to conclude Buratai is fantastical corrupt, thanks to Buhari corruption must be battled, what Nigerian now await is how much of the presidential angels will face the war against corruption music Sai Baba Muhammad Buhari has been playing.
Meanwhile Buruntai has declared Sahara reporters, who brought his hideout to public notice TERRORIST!
Governor Ikpeazu files appeal over court order.
Yesterday the governor was ordered by an Abuja high court to vacate the office of the governor based on some fraudulent PDP manipulations.
The governor has urged his followers to remain calm, even as trouble loom in God's own State.
Mrs. Usman a former minister of finance and director of finance of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization in the 2015 election.
And
Mr. Fani-Kayode a former aviation minister. Who also served during the 2015 election as director media/publicity of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization.
Both are alleged to have stolen and illegally disbursed about N4.9 billion belonging to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.
A Lagos high court have ordered they be remanded till Friday when their bail applications would be heard.
The next stage of the CBN/HB bank youth innovative entrepreneurship development Programme (YIEDP) will officially kick off on 29th June 2016, as have been gathered by Naija Youth Voice, for Akwaibom State, the training will hold at NYSC orientation camp. Officials and participants are expected to arrive today and tomorrow respectively. The Stream 2 of NYSC batch A will also be leaving camp tomorrow.
In Akwaibom, five participants will be taking the CBN/HB organized training. They have also been provided with a doctor, a pharmacist, and a Nurse.
Naija Youth Voice will keep you updated as the training goes on.
The picture shows a participants acknowledgement letter depicting requirements.
Please do feel free to send updates about the training in your states.
Abia happens to be located in a strategic places in the heart of the South East, it is a commercial state and enjoys a popularity brought by the Aba historic tales and commerce. Abia is a route so to say, it leads to several other states, it has serviced and still services it's neighboring states in commercial equity and thus must not be left to become an eye sore.
The ones fast developing state is now fast becoming a jungle. A jungle of dirty and foul odour oozing from refuse of administrative decay. It is upon this decay, that the current governor had based his campaign promises, "to rebuild Abia" especially its commercial town Aba. Despite how it all went down, god fatherism, rigging and all, the present administration was tasked with repairing and rebuilding. A task to wish he has been delinquent, as no substantial improvement has been noted. Potholes on major roads are filled with stones and chippings, drainage are dug and abandoned without been completed, leaving the people to the mercies of the rain, as even stores are collapsing from the actions of unchannelled flow of water.
Disturbingly the present government against the people's wish are forcing business men to take up stores and offices in the Aba Mega Mall (a mall located outside the business sketch of Aba town, and still unaffordable for the Aba business man) located at Osisioma in Aba. The business men of Saints Michael now ask the federal government to intervene since the state assembly has remained mute. One question one may ask is why the governor will ask business men on private property to vacate into another private property by force. The answer is one very simple - He has a Master, who controls 99% of his actions. This master owns Aba Mega Mall. And thus the mall a priority and a must accomplish task. While important issues other than who should occupy Aba Mega Mall exist, issues such as we see daily on Aba Roads, Aba roads have become seas of mud, and leave no appeal to the passer by or residents.
A federal high court has issued that INEC nullifies Gov Okezuo Ikpeazu's election, on the bases of falsified party credentials. Meanwhile the governor has reacted to the verdict by saying he will be appealing.
If the governor is finally sacked the PDP runner up during primarys may likely become the next governor.
First City Monument Bank a date site or an escort service bank?
Women all over the world are viewed as a tool of profit, they have been incorporated into adverts and business profiles and portfolio. Women are marketing strategy no doubt, but when used inappropriately, it could raise eye brows. Like the First City Monument Bank Advert.
A president who only reacts to issues when it comes from a certain geopolitical region has been tipped to be what the nation needs. The vice President again sang praises for his boss, who has left reconciliation and unity to beat the drums of war, disunity and religious segregation. Upon his return to Nigeria, president Buhari is yet to show he has the interest of prolonging Nigerian unity.
Hungar continues to
Nigerian senators are like dogs that keep eating the bones round her neck.
A poll conducted by Premium Times shows that Nigerians have reacted rather negatively to the proposal of life pension and immunity for National Assembly members. According to Premium Times 1,442 Nigerian twitter users responded and 1,326 condemned this.
Nigerian Senate seems to only make policies that will benefit them and affect the country. In an economy such as Nigerias presently the Senate are thinking of life payment even for offices that leaves no electoral power to the people.
How and what this will mean for Nigeria is left for the future.
For decades UK have made public their possible desire to exit EU, they have made threats about it. And finally it's going to happen.
The exit of UK from EU will mean alot to alot of countries differently, it will also affect them differently. But one thing they will have in common is a redefinition of relationships between Britain and other countries. For Nigeria whom Britain have been giving support political and otherwise especially in the fight against terrorism, it could possibly be renegotiated or even be withdrawn. The British government may now only think of her people. After all her exit from EU means pounds will fall as Investors are seriously thinking of relocation with this possibility that anything can happen on their mind, many would have even changed their account currency, while awaiting for the inevitable. Britain's exit is like a woman bound by prenuptial contract who goes on to instigate a divorce. Nigeria could benefit from the pounds slumb.
But one clear fact is a new policy on foreign relations will have to be redrafted by all parties involved.
Undeniably Fayose has talked himself into Buhari's black book and Buhari's dogs are after him. Shame on EFCC.
This is what it means when you get noticed by Buhari for the wrong reasons which simply is not agreeing with him. The Fayose EFCC case is a clear fact that Buhari is only after those who don't agree with him and not necessarily on the bases of corruption. He is a dictator who was handed over a democratical power. He will run it how he knows best INTIMIDATION!!!! He has virtually intimidated all his opponents and shut the mouth of all who may stand in his way of leadership. They all have cases in court to which some are detained and were never given due trial.
Governors have left the duty of running the states to their wifes and have taken up a womanly position. Imagine two grown men in a battle of words.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state and his counterpart in Delta state, Ifeanyi Okowa have engaged in hot exchanges over accusations by the former that Okowa is planning to recruit thugs and hooligans to register as voters in Edo state ahead of the September 10 governorship election.
If you ask me Oshiomhole is more at fault for accusing a governor in another state. Are Deltans that jobless? To leave their state and engage in rigging processes to enthrone an Edo man into an Edo office for what purpose I ask? We understand that in Nigeria any thing can happen but until it happens, don't play the omnipresent and omniscient.
It can take a minute to die.
It can take a minute to save a life.
You can save one now by sharing this post.
Your loved ones could be at risk..... Who knows?
News Flash: Stephen Keshi died of cardiac arrest.
Please read this tips from a Cardiologist.
It takes you just 2mins.
1. Let’s say it’s 7.25pm and you’re going home (alone of course) after an unusually hard day on the job.
2. You’re really tired, upset and frustrated.
3. Suddenly you start experiencing SEVERE PAIN IN YOUR CHEST that starts to drag out into your arm and up in to your jaw. Yet you are about 3 km from the hospital nearest to your location.
4. Unfortunately you don’t know if you’ll be able to make it that far.
5. You have been trained in CPR, but the guy who taught the course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.
6 HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE?
Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart attack without help, the person whose heart is beating improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only
about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.
7. However, these victims can help themselves by:
i. coughing repeatedly and very vigorously.
ii. a deep breath should be taken before each cough
iii. the cough must be deep and prolonged (as in when trying to produce sputum from deep inside the chest).
iv. Continue the breathe deep and hard cough repeatedly about every two seconds without letting-up until help arrives, or until the heart is felt to be beating normally again.
POINTS TO NOTE:
Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs, while coughing
movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood circulating.
The squeezing pressure on the heart also helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart attack victims can get to a hospital.
Tell as many other people as possible about this. It could save their lives!! May be a life of a beloved.
The cardiologist says If everyone who gets this mail can kindly sends it to 10 people, or/and circulate it on your social media profiles, you can bet that many lives of our beloved would be saved.
If this message comes around you ……more than once, please don’t get irritated, it means you have friends who care about you, reminding you of how to tackle a heart attack.
With long life will I satisfy him,..... Psalm 91:16a
Nigerian are calling for the remaining chibuk girls to be rescued. The 29th May drama played by Buhari and Buharimaniacs may yet still seem real to Nigerians. Nobody has thought about how a terrorist was brought was brought into ASO Villa, and purported as a husband to a missing girl.
It's been 800 days since the initial Chibok girls incident, which was one of the pivots on which the President was elected. A call for the Chibok girls is prove Nigerians have not realized the politics behind this.
Since the presentation of the lost but found girl no news have been heard of her whereabout. The Presidency is yet to make any comment
Where then is the found Chibok?
EFCC in Buhari's hands has become a victimization tool, a deadly weapon used to fight all those who do not agree with his dictatorship, they now arrest at his will and release at his will. In its degrading state, I Openly give Gov. Fayose a three hearty cheers for his courage. It's a pity Nigeria is seen and played like a chess game by the man who cried over Nigeria. Indeed the devil you know is better than any Purported Angel. Buhari is a lesson we will not forget so soon. He has some good visions no doubt, but pride has clouded the better part of his judgment. Am therefore he consults no one and takes no opinion.
Which Aisha are we talking about? The corrupt warrior's wife? Or daughter. #whistling : "Remove the log from your eyes before you dey show me my own o"
Nigeria modelled after America, Has never enjoyed the benefits of such form of governance. Nigeria still under the influence of Britain also runs the Westminster System. One would think that a government that has incorporated the form of governance of two great nations will be close in disparity. No don't run such imaginations....we are so far apart that one American Dollar is equivalent to almost 400 of Nigerian naira. And a British Pound equals to almost 650 of our Naira. Nigeria has enjoyed some success no doubt until after the civil war, when it all became all "men to himself" the Yoruba man doesn't accommodate the igbo, the Igbo is suspicious of the Hausa. Don't think that in each of these tribes unity exists. No! Far from it, the Anambara man thinks he is superior to other Igbo tribe. The Lagosian believe he holds the key to the Oduwa republic. Come to the Hausa's they have divided themselves into the conquered and the conqueror. On and on the Nigerian division subjugates the Nigerian dream.
Nigeria is a nation the entire world expects to breakup at anytime, Even Nigerian expect and await. By miracle and the doggedness of few we are still united. A unity that has cost us more than it has given, Nigeria's unity is built on the blood of Nigerian, we have used our bloods to wet the insatiably appetite of unity in diversity. It has kept us on the struggle
of majority and minority a struggle that is Nigerian's major problem politically, socially, infra-structurally, and otherwise. Previously in hopes to cut off this problem States and local governments were established and for sometime it seemed to work.
Few men have thought themselves worthy to the treasures of Nigeria and her people and therefore have looted... A loot, the looters are calling for immunity. Even the laws seem to target the less privileged. Be it the English law, Sharia, Customary and the common law. We cannot break away from corruption, we cannot break our from our pretentious unity but we can make it work for us, for I believe that what doesn't kill us will make us stronger..but first acceptance is key. We should accept that the Igbo, the Hausa, or the Yoruba man has come to stay, and device means to live and die for one another as one, then only then can we reap the dividends of our diversity.
Political aspirants have been known to to smooth talk people into believing they are the long awaited solution to the country's or State's problem. Buhari did...Infact he was so good at it, his die hard followers bragged he will bring fuel price to 45 naira a liter. We know what happened in the long run. It is still unfolding.
Abia State aspirant; presently the governor of Abia State. Dr Ikeazu, is one among politicians whose words should be taken with a grain of salt. After his failed chairmanship in ASEPA, where he did or achieved nothing, political god fatherism was to favor him yet again.
There after, having become the state flag bearer of the fallen PDP. He went to virtually all radio station to campaign on how he has come to rebuild, reconstruct, amend both political trust in and Abia environs. He was so compelling that Abian watched him rig his way in against the Dr Alex Otii they voted. They all believed peace must reign in other to welcome political restructuring, and social progress he has promised. Otii's tribunal to them was serving as a distraction to the actualization of the Abian dream. With the support of the federal government, Otii lost at the tribunal unconventional way of judgment. The jubilee that followed was soon masked by regrets as roads were abandoned halfway in construction, salaries owed, task force on every corner of the streets, houses mowed down and left, drainage dug and left fast railing to gully erosions.
Like Solomon's son Rehoboam, his master Orji Theodore, had ruled Abia with whips, he was going to rule them with an iron.
Today Abia is in shambles - a condition which perhaps under the steering of Dr Alex Otii would have been different.
No more tenure policy? This administration keeps scrapping.
I wonder what suspending the tenure policy will yield to and for Nigeria.
Cleaning up an oil spill has never been an easy task, no two oil spills are thesame. The level of tons and location of spill determine how devastating a spill is and could become. The effects of spills have been known to last long after the incident. The Ogoni Cleanup recently kicked off by the president is one long Overdue service Nigeria owe the Niger Delta people. It's not just Ogoni all over Niger Delta. Due to the nature of Ogoniland as a rainforest, actions of rain had helped the hydrocarbon to wash into several parts of the land and also to sink deeper. Not Even the Exxon Valdez 10m gallon disaster can be compared to the Ogoniland incidents which has compiled over the years. The government after over 50years of spill and run method they have subjected Niger Delta finally decides to take action.
Any of these Several procedures can be taken to arrive back or atleast near the natural condition of a geographical location after spills, they include:
(1) Leave the oil alone so that it breaks down by natural means. If there is no possibility of the oil polluting coastal regions or marine industries, the best method is to leave it to disperse by natural means. A combination of wind, sun, current, and wave action will rapidly disperse and evaporate most oils. Light oils will disperse more quickly than heavy oils.
(2) Contain the spill with booms and collect it from the water surface using skimmer equipment. Spilt oil floats on water and initially forms a slick that is a few millimeters thick. There are various types of booms that can be used either to surround and isolate a slick, or to block the passage of a slick to vulnerable areas such as the intake of a desalination plant or fish-farm pens or other sensitive locations. Boom types vary from inflatable neoprene tubes to solid, but buoyant material. Most rise up about a meter above the water line. Some are designed to sit flush on tidal flats while others are applicable to deeper water and have skirts which hang down about a meter below the waterline. Skimmers float across the top of the slick contained within the boom and suck or scoop the oil into storage tanks on nearby vessels or on the shore. However, booms and skimmers are less effective when deployed in high winds and high seas.
(3) Use dispersants to break up the oil and speed its natural biodegradation. Dispersants act by reducing the surface tension that stops oil and water from mixing. Small droplets of oil are then formed, which helps promote rapid dilution of the oil by water movements. The formation of droplets also increases the oil surface area, thus increasing the exposure to natural evaporation and bacterial action. Dispersants are most effective when used within an hour or two of the initial spill. However, they are not appropriate for all oils and all locations. Successful dispersion of oil through the water column can affect marine organisms like deep-water corals and sea grass. It can also cause oil to be temporarily accumulated by subtidal seafood. Decisions on whether or not to use dispersants to combat an oil spill must be made in each individual case. The decision will take into account the time since the spill, the weather conditions, the particular environment involved, and the type of oil that has been spilt.
(4) Introduce biological agents to the spill to hasten biodegradation. Most of the components of oil washed up along a shoreline can be broken down by bacteria and other microorganisms into harmless substances such as fatty acids and carbon dioxide. This action is called biodegradation. The natural process can be speeded up by the addition of fertilizing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous, which stimulate growth of the microorganisms concerned. However the effectiveness of this technique depends on factors such as whether the ground treated has sand or pebbles and whether the fertilizer is water soluble or applied in pellet or liquid form.
Number 4 is the most effective.
Looking back to the Ogoni situation it has taken Five years of ignoring on the recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) on Ogoniland clean-up, for the federal government to finally commence its implementation aimed at restoring the heavily polluted environment.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently demonstrated his administration’s commitment to implementing the recommendation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) by delegating Vice President YemiOsinbajo to kick off the clean-up of Ogoniland in Rivers State.
Buhari had demonstrated his administration’s commitment to implement the report by approving the compositions of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP) and also amended the Official Gazette that established HYPREP to reflect a new governance framework on the project.
The setting up of the Governing Council was to boost the efforts of Shell and other stakeholders towards the implementation of the remaining part of the 76 actions recommended by the world body.
The progress made by Buhari’s administration came after four years of total ignorance by the past administration to implement the report. In 2006 UNEP was commissioned to conduct an independent assessment of the environment and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland and make recommendations for remediation.
The UNEP’s report, which was released in August 2011, revealed that crude oil contamination in Ogoniland was widespread and severely impacting many components of the environment.
According to the report, “The Ogoni people live with this pollution every minute of every day, 365 days a year. Since average life expectancy in Nigeria is less than 50 years, it is a fair assumption that most members of the current Ogoniland community have lived with chronic oil pollution throughout their lives.
“Children born in Ogoniland soon sense oil pollution as the odour of hydrocarbons pervades the air day in, day out. Oil continues to spill from periodic pipeline fractures and the illegal practice of refining, contaminating creeks and soil, staining and killing vegetation and seeping metres deep into ground, polluting water tables.
“Smoke from refining is a daily presence and fire close to inhabited areas is a constant threat from pools of oil which gather after a spill due to corrosion or bunkering or where artisanal refining of crude oil takes place,” the report said.
The UNEP report said the Ogoniland might require the world’s biggest-ever clean-up that would likely take up to 30 years and recommended that both the federal government and the oil industry should contribute $1billion.
The report, which made far-reaching recommendations, also raised local and international concerns on the environmental tragedy in the oil-producing Niger Delta.
But despite the local and international outcry that greeted the UNEP report, the former administration did nothing towards the implementation of the report.
Major highlights of the report
UNEP had recommended that a total of 76 actions be implemented by the federal government, Shell Petroleum Development Company-operated joint venture and the Ogoni Community.
While the federal government was given 50 actions to implement; Shell and its partners – NNPC, Total and Agip were required to implement 22 actions.
The federal government was among other things, required to establish restoration authority; establish clean-up fund; coordinate multi-stakeholders efforts; carry out emergency measures to reduce community exposure and initiate institutional and regulatory reforms
Shell was required to review procedures for clean-up and remediation.
The world body also tasked Shell to develop asset integrity management and decommissioning plans for Ogonilandand also contribute to an Ogoni clean-up fund established by government, among others.
UNEP also required the Ogoni community to implement four out of the 76 recommendations.
The two major ones among the four include that the community should take a pro-active stand against theft and refining and also allow access to clean up spills.
However, some of SPDC’s 22 actions and federal government’s 50 would require collaboration of all the stakeholders.
For instance, UNEP advocated that a campaign to bring to an end illegal oil-related activities – tapping into oil wells/pipelines,transportation of crude, artisanal refining should be conducted across Ogoniland.
According to the global body, the campaign should be a joint initiative between the federal government, the oil companies, Rivers State and local community authorities.
The report noted that while a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan exists in Ogoniland, with NOSDRA having a clear legislative role, the situation on-the-ground indicates that spills are not being dealt with in an adequate or timely manner.
Past administration’s slow motion
When the report was published, the people of the affected community and other stakeholders had expected huge efforts from the past administration towards the speedy implementation of the recommendations, especially as both the President and the Minister of Petroleum Resources were from the oil-producing Niger Delta, which is heavily impacted by oil spill.
But apart from the establishment of the moribund Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), which ought to have been the vehicle for the implementation of 76 actionable recommendations, no major step was taken towards the implementation of the report by the former administration.
After the report was released almost four years were wasted, holding meetings and conferences on the report, without any tangible actions to implement the report.
In fact, HYPREP was set up only in 2012 exactly 12 months after UNEP presented its report, thus demonstrating government’s slow motion in the implementation of the report.
Even the 140 staff members of HYPREP were owed 18 months’ salary arrears just barely two years after the agency was established, prompting the intervention of the then Senate Committee on Environment headed by the current Senate President, Senator BukolaSaraki in July 2014.
UNEP recommended that “Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) should conduct a comprehensive review of its assets in Ogoniland, including a thorough test of the integrity of current oilfield infrastructure” with a view to developing an “Asset Integrity Management Plan for Ogoniland.”
It also required the oil giant to map out a comprehensive decommissioning plan and also specify risk levels, inspection routines and maintenance schedules for assets it wants to retain and communicate same to the Ogoni people.
Shell was also asked to carry out an environmental due diligence assessment of the plan, prior to the decommissioning plan.
UNEP also called on SPDC to discontinue the then approach of cleaning-up contaminated sites through remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA).
According to UNEP, even SPDCs revised Remediation Management System did not address the issues observed in its assessment.
To address the 22 actions recommended for it in the UNEP report, Shell had in July 2012 requested approval from the federal government to decommission its assets in Ogoniland but it took the past administration 19 months to grant the approval in February 2014.
One of UNEP’s recommendations was for the federal government to secure the environment to ensure easy access for Shell and also end illegal oil-related activities that cause fresh spills.
But four years after the report was released, the federal government has not been able to provide adequate security in Ogoniland to ensure that Shell and other stakeholders carry out effective environmental restoration actions as recommended by UNEP.
Despite the challenges, SPDC-operated joint venture has been able to close out 16 out of the 22 actionable plans recommended by UNEP on Ogoniland and is currently working on the remaining six recommendations.
Buhari’s audacious effort
President Buhari recently took the bull by the horns when he delegated the Vice President to kick off the clean-up of the area at an event, which took place at Bodo in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
In an address read on his behalf by the Vice President, Buhari warned that his administration would no longer condone crude theft and illegal refining in the Niger Delta.
The President also charged the regulators in the oil and gas industry to live up to their responsibility by discharging their duties effectively.
“The current oil theft and illegal refining will not be tolerated. The regulators in the oil industry must live up to expectations. They must ensure that oil companies carry out their operations in line with universal best practices,” he explained.
Buhari said his administration was laying a foundation for change to ensure the safety of the people and promote the rule of law.
He noted that the cleanup of Ogoniland would have sustainable development components that would benefit the people in the areas of diversifying the country’s economy and creating jobs and wealth for the people.
“The methodology of the cleanup will ensure job creation for young people. The agro-allied industries required for processing of agricultural produce will also be put in place,” he added.
In an apparent reference to the approval of the compositions of the Governing Council and Board of Trustees of Hydrocarbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), the president said approval had been given for the setting up of the necessary institutional framework to drive the implementation of the UNEP report.
In his address, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike congratulated the President for taking the bold step by launching the implementation of the report and promised that the state government would provide the necessary platform for all the stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the report.
Wike recalled that the environmental pollution had adversely affected the ecosystem in the Niger Delta.
Also speaking at the event, the Minister for Environment, Ms. Amina Mohammed said the government had taken stock of the work done in the past to commence the restoration of the environment.
According to her, the implementation of the UNEP report would require accountability, genuine partnership and proper representation of the people at the grassroots.
In a remark at the event, the Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner said the UN would support Nigeria to ensure full implementation of the report.
We await to see how serious the government is in their new found commitment to cleanup the world's largest oil spill area.
Telling Nigerians the truth
Political Restructuring: A Distraction
The bane of Nigerian problem is that we have too many idle politicians created by the PDP regimes. They have no viable means of livelihood except attending political meetings were they receive handouts, which has dried up, participating in all self-proclaimed `leaders of thoughts` fora and issuing statements which boil down to advocating for national conferences, so that, they can warm their bank accounts and play the big men role.
Can Industrialisation be divorced from power and energy supply? Since 1999, the Nigerian Industry has been recording negative growth and our economy has been import driven. Nigeria has been operating a container and generator economy. China is a communist country with a unitary Government, yet the biggest success story. Britain, France are all unitary state but one of the biggest economies in the world. It is not being the Federal Republic that transformed Brazil into the 7th largest economy in the world with over 125 000MW of electricity production or Germany to be a powerhouse in Europe, but planning, discipline and the collective ability of the people to stay focused and plan with what they have.
Since 1954, our political elites have focused so much on the political structure of Nigeria rather than focusing on economic transformation. There is no country or continent in this world that has been devastated by wars like Europe,Japan. Yet they are among the first world. Syria and Iraq are at war yet, they have electricity.
The WAEC, NECO, and JAMB results might not be the best parameter to judge educational prowess of any state as we know the corruption, exams malpractices that go on some of these states. Educational advancement is meaningless if not linked with the transformation of our physical environment into clean and habitable communities. Disney world makes more of its revenue from Chinese tourists than Americans.
Let’s not be naively taken in by calls for restructuring coming from the same individuals who’ve always held sway yet did little with huge funds when they themselves were in power (some even have corruption cases against them). Let’s not naively believe that handing over more money to the same cabal will magically develop this country. After all, when states were brimming with money when oil prices were high, what was done?
Ethno-religious conflict in Nigeria is often sponsored, whereas we have enough states in this country to develop every single ethnic group, and to make everyone feel relevant and appreciated if government funds are used correctly rather than diverted. If proper healthcare and education existed in most states, it wouldn’t be so easy to recruit more Nigerians to work and earn a living.
If government funds meant for infrastructural development were properly spent, the government wouldn’t need to use the civil service as a welfare tool: citizens would be self-employed, engaging in all sorts of businesses, autonomously. But we’ve grown accustomed to distorting everything, from public discourse to the economy. The civil service has recruited half-baked individuals for years (all in a bid to mask rising unemployment), it is often incapable of delivering on government objectives, even when governors are well-intentioned.
It’s definitely more important, at this time, to recover stolen funds, plug loopholes and opportunities for corruption than to restructure the federation: this will be the inexorable conclusion of our march towards progress but it is neither feasible nor desirable in our current context. Calls for restructuring are a political distraction: let’s not fall for it
OXFORD DICTIONARY: New word inclusion 2016. Ref: 20150806
BUHARI
/boo-ha-ree:/
Noun: buhari
1. hard, hardship, difficult, harsh, tough;
e.g "The economy is now buhari for the masses"
Synonyms: onerous, strenuous, arduous
grueling, painful, hellish;
Antonyms: easy, smooth, simple.
Verb: buharify, buharicate,
buharification;
2. to make complex, worse, unbearable;
e.g "Please don't come and buharicate issues here"
"The only way to reduce applicants is to buharify the process"
Synonyms: complicate, exacerbate, degenerate;
Antonyms: simplify, ameliorate.
Adjective: buharific
3. terrible, hectic, difficult;
Synonyms: tough, back-breaking, intricate, knotty, thorny;
Antonyms: fantastic, splendid, pleasant.
e.g "How were your final exams? It was buharific!!!"
Nigerians have been known to criticize their presidents not because they are never satisfied but because each of them failed. Nothing hurts like when you have your hopes dashed by whom you placed so much trust on.
On the political front we Nigerians need delivery of promises.
Someone has said,
"BELIEVE ME OR NOT THIS IS THE MOST CLUELESS GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA'S HISTORY EVEN ABACHA WAS BETTER
DON'T BLAME GEJ HE CONTESTED IN 2015 AND HE FAILED (for the first time) . GEJ IS USED TO GETTING EVERYTHING SO EASY FROM DEPUTY GOV TO PRESIDENT HE WAS RELAX THINKING 2015 WILL BE LIKE 2011. GEJ TRUSTED PEOPLE BUT THEY FAILED HIM.
BUHARI WAS READY IN 2015. .THAT'S WHY HE SAID EVEN WE MUST ALL DIE 2015 IT MUST BE HIM BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE WAS JUST READY FOR POWER AND NOT TO RULE"
It's not just Nigerian Now who sees the error of Buhari.
"President Buhari administration lacks vision" so says a USA ex lawmaker, Mr pete Hoekstra revealed.
1. He said, president Buhari was Nigeria problem, not its solution
2. The US lawmaker noted that president Buhari anti corruption drive was selective
3. He said, an anti corruption drive, that is selective and focus on senior member of the opposition party create deep political division.
4. He said, members of president Buhari own cabinet, accused of large scale corruption walk free.
5. He said, seventy percent of the national treasury is spent on the salaries and benefits of government officials.
6. He said, the manufacturing sector, essential to Nigeria diversification, has been hardest hit in president Buhari one year reign in office, exacerbating an already fast growing employment crisis
7. He said, foreign investors have started to flee in mass.
Alright, who are the corrupt APC members in president Buhari cabinet? Let us have your input on this platform. May God deliver Nigeria.
Amen
God things done and undone in your name. Prophets and prophecies. Even the Bible says, test all spirits, what we see did not start today
A Nigerian cleric has prophesied that President Muhammadu Buhari will not die but will not come back to serve as president of Nigeria.
I wonder how anyone can make such conclusions, on what bases? Is Buhari incapacitated? I am taking no ones side here, rather I prefer realistic comments especially when God is involved.
Bishop Solomon Koleayo, a prophet, gave this prophecy at a deliverance and prophecy service on Sunday morning, June 19, 2016 in Abuja.
President Buhari returned to Nigeria in the evening of same day to presidential fanfare. He reportedly challenged a journalist to a wrestling bout. “I am taller than you, do you want to wrestle me?” He asked a journalist at the Abuja airport.
According to Bishop Koleayo, the Nigerian president is “surrounded by evil men who don’t like him”. He said that many of Buhari’s cabinet members will betray him. “Buhari’s ministers are the ones destabilizing the government and confusing the president,” the popular prophet said.
Koleayo is founder and president of Abuja-based Diamond Life Ministries Inc. His ministry is known for healing, prophecies, and signs and wonders. ‘The Prophet of Solution’, as Koleayo is often called is known for his prophecies and has the gift to tell people their past, present, and future.
An Ailing President Buhari
The president has, reportedly, been diagnosed of cancer by London doctors.
A reliable source in the presidency confirmed it that the President Buhari had received a cancer diagnosis and UK specialists had recommended surgery. However, the president is reluctant to undergo a surgery for fear of being out of office for up to 6 months, the recuperating period.
Controversial Roman Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka claims he saw a vision of Buhari’s illness and said chance of hill looks slim. He made this revelation at one of his miracle ministries programmes in Enugu.
Father Mbaka complained that several efforts he made to reach people close to Buhari over the vision had remained unsuccessful as they refused picking his calls.
The presidency remains silent on the cancer diagnosis, reportedly on the orders of Buhari who says that “it will only be a distraction”.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian presidency insists that Buhari is not sick. The yaradua days are repeating all over again.
A thriving marketplace that sells access to more than 70,000 previously compromised Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) servers have been uncovered. How it began is left for those who wish to go into investigations to uncover. So for a marginal amount of around $6, members of xDedic forum can access all the data of the server and can use this platform for further malicious attacks. India ranks 4th in hacked servers with 3,488 compromised servers listed on xDedic as of May 2016.
The server access allows the attackers to undertake a number of criminal activities as the hacked servers come preloaded with software that allows attackers to carry out denial-of-service attacks on other networks, launch spam campaigns, illicitly manufacture bitcoin currency, or compromise online or retail payment systems.
It’s every hacker’s dream to simplify access to the victims, making it cheaper and faster, and opening new opportunities for cybercriminals as well as advanced threat actors. These developers do not sell anything themselves. The price to access a high capacity server can be upto $15.
The entire process goes in a certain pattern:
1. Numerous servers host provide access to popular consumer websites and services and some have software installed for direct mail, financial accounting and Point-of-Sale (PoS) processing.
2. Users can now install malware that harvests card data funnelled through the compromised servers.
With a $7 upgrade, cybercriminals can gain access to government-based servers, including systems in interior and foreign ministries, commerce departments and local councils. The market administration that is believed to b Russian speaking operate by taking 5% upfront fee on all money entered for trading accounts on the website.
According to Kaspersky, targets include a US aerospace firm, banks in the United States, Philippines, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Ghana, Cyprus, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, chemical firms in Singapore and Thailand and oil companies in China and the United Arab Emirates.
Kaspersky has notified national computer emergency response teams in several countries.
A plot to remove Saraki or just paranoid men in Senate?
Fresh crisis as the Senate makes huge accusations on plot to remove Saraki and Ekweremadu by the Buhari administration.
The Nigerian Senate has accused the Buhari administration of plotting to muzzle the legislature and criminalise legislative processes. The upper chamber said the plot was to cause a leadership change in the National Assembly.
The senate’s stance followed criminal charges of forgery slammed on Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, by the Federal Government.
“(This) is a return to the era of impunity and lack of respect for due process which we all fought to abolish,” the Senate said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Aliyu Sabi, on Sunday.
Also charged alongside the two presiding officers are former Clerk to the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasu, and his deputy, Benedict Efeturi.
The four are accused of conspiracy and forgery of Senate Standing Rules that brought Messrs. Saraki and Ekweremadu to office last year.
The suit was filed on June 10, almost a year after Suleiman Hunkuyi, secretary of anti-Saraki Unity Forum, petitioned the Inspector General of Police, demanding criminal investigation into allegation of forgery of Senate Rules used for the elections of the presiding officers last year, June 9.
Earlier, in a statement, Mr. Ekweremadu stressed neither he nor Mr. Saraki was invited for interrogation by the Police or indicted in its July 2015 report to the Attorney-General of the Federation. He queried the basis for the fresh charges filed.
Read the full statement by the Senate:
1. After reading in the national newspapers and online platforms of the planned charges of forgery and conspiracy preferred against the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, immediate past Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Salisu Maikasuwa and the Clerk of the Senate, Mr. Ben Efeturi and reviewing the circumstances leading to the filing of these charges, we are compelled to alert the good people of Nigeria and the international community, that our democracy is in danger and that the attempt by the Executive Arm of the Federal Government to muzzle the legislature and criminalise legislative processes in order to cause leadership change in the National Assembly is a return to the era of impunity and lack of respect for due process which we all fought to abolish.
2. We urge President Muhammadu Buhari to please call his Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, to order. The Senate of the Federal Republic voted freely to elect its leadership into office and continuing attempts to change that leadership through the wanton abuse of judicial processes cannot stand in the eyes of the world. It is clear that the Attorney General and party leaders behind this action either lack the understanding of the underlining principles of constitutional democracy, the concept of Separation of Powers, checks and balances and parliamentary convention or they just simply do not care if the present democracy in the country survives or collapses in their blinded determination to get Saraki and Ekweremadu by all means necessary, including abuse of office and sacking the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
3. The Nigerian people have enough economic hardship at this time requiring the full attention and cooperation of the three arms of government, instead of these attempts to distract and politicise governance. We are in a state of economic emergency such that what the National Assembly needs at this time are executive bills and proposals aimed at resolving the crises of unemployment, currency depreciation, inflation, crime and insecurity. What the National Assembly needs now are executive bills to build and strengthen institutions to earn revenues, fight corruption and eliminate waste. Instead, we are getting hostile actions aimed at destabilising the National Assembly, distracting Senators from their oversight functions and ensuring good and accountable governance.
4. We must make it clear here to the individuals in the Executive arm and party leadership behind these plots not to mistake the maturity and hand of co-operation being extended to the Presidency by the legislature as a sign of weakness. The National Assembly bent backwards to accommodate various infractions and inefficiencies in pursuit of inter-arms co-operation and national interest. We did not follow up the various infractions because we believe there are bigger issues which the government has to attend to in order to ensure that every Nigerian have food on his table and live comfortably in a secure environment. We know that the country is actually in a state of economic emergency and all hands must be on deck.
5. This latest plot is directed at forcing a change of leadership in the Senate or, in the extreme case, ground the Red Chamber of the National Assembly. Or how do one interpret a move in which the two presiding officers are being set up to be remanded in Kuje Prison or incapacitated from sitting at plenary through a day-to-day trial on a matter that is purely an internal affair of the Senate.
6. This obviously is a dangerous case of violation of the independence of the legislature, undue and unnecessary interference in the internal affairs of the Senate and blatant abuse of the judicial process. The matter now being criminalised was brought to the plenary of the Senate in session, over a year ago. And because it had no support, it was overruled and roundly defeated in chambers. To now take a matter that was resolved on the floor of the Senate to the police and then make it form the subject of a criminal prosecution of freely elected legislators beats all imagination of free thinking men all over the world. The implication is that any matter that fails on the floor of the National Assembly will now be taken to the Police, thereby endangering every Senator and House member. This current move clearly runs contrary to the Doctrine of Separation of Powers and Checks and Balances which are fundamental to the successful operation of the Presidential System of government. It runs counter to the principle outlined by the Supreme Court in the Adesanya Vs Senate case where it was held that nobody should seek to use the courts to achieve what he or she has failed to push through on the floor of the National Assembly.
7. This present efforts, therefore, is clearly a coup against the legislature with the ignoble aim to undermine its independence and subject the law making institution to the whims and caprices of the executive. It is a plan to return Nigeria to the dictatorial era which we have, as a nation, voted to reject. It is a dangerous trend with grave implications for the survival of our democracy and the integrity of the component institutions. This rule of men as against the rule of law is also the reason why the War Against Corruption, one of the cardinal objectives of the present administration, is losing credibility because people perceive it to be selective and, in most cases, aimed at settling political or partisan scores.
8. The Rules of the Senate and how the institution elects its leadership are internal affairs. The Rules of a new Senate are provided by the National Assembly bureaucracy. It has always been so since 1999. After the inauguration of the Senate, if Senators have objections to any part of the Rules, they can follow the procedure for changing it. Senators of the Eighth Senate have no control on the rules applied in the elections of June 9, 2015 because until after their inauguration, they were only Senators-elect, and therefore mere bystanders in the affairs of the Senate.
9. We therefore urge all Nigerians and the International Community to rise up and condemn this blatant attempt to subject the legislature to the control, whims and caprices of the executive. If the Legislative branch falls, democracy fails as there will be no other institution empowered by the Constitution to check and balance the enormous powers of the Executive branch. We also call on the judiciary as the last hope to save our constitutional democracy and stand up for the rule of law, by doing that which is right in this case
Buhari Returns To Nigeria After 10 Days Vacation In London
After all the rumors of possible death, jubilations from Nigerians.
President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria on Today after 10 days official vacation in London.
The president is no doubt one of many alot of persons wish death.
He arrived in Abuja, the nation’s capital, at about 5:30 p.m. local time.
The President had travelled to the UK on June 6 to rest and also see an E.N.T. specialist for ear infection evaluation.
A spokesman for the President, Mr Femi Adesina, had in a statement said President Buhari’s Personal Physician and an E.N.T. Specialist had recommended further evaluation of the ear after they had examined him.
On June 16, the acting President of Nigeria and the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, said President Buhari would return to Nigeria on Sunday.
Vice President Yemi Osibajo hinted State House correspondents of the President’s return date before the National Executive Council meeting held in the council chambers.
The Vice President said that he spoke with the President and confirmed that he was in good health.
Professor Osinbajo said that there was no need for the President to start rushing back to the country but should spend the weekend there and get back home on Sunday.
19 killed in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway accident.
At least 19 people died on Sunday in a ghastly auto crash along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
A witness said the accident occurred at about 1.00 p.m. at Fidiwo/Ajebo axis of the busy expressway. It involved a fuel-loaded truck with registration number RAN 571 XA which attempted to overtake a truck carrying Dangote cement with registration number AJG 40 XA.
The truck fuel truck collided with an 18-seater bus, registration number AGL 373 XR, heading towards Lagos. The accident occurred at a point of diversion of vehicles on the road, considered the busiest inter-state road in Nigeria.
All the 18 passengers in the bus and the driver died on the spot, the witness said.
When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed the incident and the casualty.
Mr. Akinbiyi said the cement truck was also damaged in the crash. He said an on-going repair along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway necessitated the road diversion at the point of the crash.
In the bit to encourage SMMEs NTA partners to bring Youth Entrepreneurship Summit & Expo Nigeria which will convene heads of government ministries, agencies and parastatals, leaders of financial institutions and entrepreneurs to discuss key issues facing SMMEs in Nigeria on July 12, 2016 at Eko Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Palm3 Strategy, in partnership with Zenera Consulting and Africa’s largest television network, the Nigerian Television Authority, Saturday, June 18, 2016 announced that the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo would be broadcast LIVE on the NTA as part the network’s commitment to the economic advancement of Nigeria.
Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, vice president of Nigeria, is expected to give the keynote address at the opening plenary. The summit is a social investment to empower entrepreneurs, create sustainable jobs and boost economic opportunities by providing access to finance, skills, knowledge and other critical resources. A Proudly Nigerian Expo would run beside the conference and attract more than 5,000 youth nationwide.
Registration is now open for the summit, which will be held at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites Convention Centre, Victoria Island Lagos, on Tuesday July 12th, 2016.
The meeting’s theme is “Towards a diversified economy: harnessing the power of Africa’s largest consumer market, agro-allied resources and technology for innovation through entrepreneurship.”
Other speakers and panelists include Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of Lagos State; Mr. Waheed Olagunju, acting managing director, Bank of Industry; Mr. Kyari Bukar, chairman, Nigeria Economic Summit Group; Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, chief strategy officer of the Dangote Group; the executive secretary, Lagos State Technical Vocational Education Board, Engineer Olawunmi Gasper; CEO, Wecyclers, Mrs. Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola; Mr. Bunmi Otegbade, CEO, Generation Enterprise, amongst others.
The speakers will share on the current economic climate and what opportunities exist for entrepreneurs, how to get past challenges in accessing finance and investment, and also disseminate in-depth knowledge via master classes from entrepreneurs who have made it and succeeded in Nigeria despite the challenges.
There will also be a business matchmaking session where delegates will be able to network and get one-on-one advice from business leaders and the speakers on the day. In addition, a Proudly Nigeria expo will run concurrently, showcasing the rich diversity of Nigeria’s entrepreneurs. Budding startups can obtain free legal and financial advice and business consulting services on the day. The expo is free to attend but registration information can be found at the yesnigeria website.
“We are very excited about the level of enthusiasm we have received from speakers, sponsors and attendees for this unique conference,” said Mr. Ndiana Matthew, managing director of YES Nigeria on behalf of the organisers. “We look forward to the growth and enhancement of the MSME sector in Nigeria and to our youth being job creators, and not just job seekers.”
According to Mr. Meka Olowola, the chairman of Youth Entrepreneurship Summit, “Nigerians can look forward to a well-facilitated conference that meets the public and private sector’s aspirations of stimulating the Nigerian economy away from current recessionary trends. We have put our several years of research on the Youth and SMME sector at Zenera Consulting behind this legacy summit, and we are confident that this summit will not be a mere talk-fest, but a truly national initiative that accounts directly for a revolution in sustainable wealth creation across the bottom half of the socio-economic value chain.”
Delegate fees are discounted at N30,000 and N5,000 for students. For more information, and to register for the conference, please visit www.yesnigeria.com.ng.
YES Nigeria is a collaboration between Palm3 Strategy, a Pan African event and strategic communications consultancy, and Zenera Consulting, a reputation management and investor relations firm in Nigeria. Both companies have over 35 years of strategic business, investor relations and event management experience between them.
Youth Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo 2016 is endorsed by the following MDAs; Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nigeria Export Promotion Council, Small And Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, Government of Lagos State (LASTVEB).
Presidency threatens to sue lawyer over comments on Buhari’s certificate.
It's clear Buhari wouldn't be showing any certificate soon or later. And speaking about it may certify you for a court appearance. Literally the President wouldn't want you to exercise your freedom of speech where his certificate is involved.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu
Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja
The Presidency on Sunday carpeted a lawyer, Mr. Nnamdi Nwokocha, over his public comment on a pending suit on President Muhammadu Buhari’s certificate.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, reacted on behalf of the Presidency in an interview with journalists in Abuja.
Shehu warned the lawyer that if he did not stop his “unfair and professionally inappropriate abuse of free speech”, the President’s lawyers would use the instrumentality of the law in dealing with his unethical actions,
Shehu faulted a recent interview Nwokocha granted a national newspaper (not THE PUNCH), saying it is unfair for a lawyer who is a litigant in a case pending in court to hijack the power of a judge by declaring the President guilty of what he is accused of on the pages of newspapers.
He said, “Newspaper pages are not alternative courts where a lawyer can declare anybody guilty of anything when the court has not formally given a definitive judgment on an issue before it.
“The two-page interview published on Saturday, June 11 breaches lawyers’ ethical code and we hope that the court and the Nigerian Bar Association will take notice of this.”
Shehu said any lawyer that sincerely believes in judicial process and the rights of other parties to a case would not have engaged in what he called “the inappropriate and unprofessional practice of trial by media.”
He particularly faulted a situation where Nwokocha openly declared the President guilty when the court had yet to make such declaration.
The presidential aide observed that gag orders emerged in the United States on account of lawyers’ inappropriate conduct on trying and convicting people on the pages of newspapers or the court of public opinion.
“Free speech is not synonymous with recklessness and wanton abuse of the rights other parties to a case in court.
“The litigant’s unabashed claim that he was a card-carrying member of the opposition PDP which lost power in the last election clearly indicates a scheme that seeks power by circumventing the democratic process of elections,” he added.
I wonder when the government will realise that this bail out fund is misused in several states. There are no monitoring teams to ensure funds from the federal pocket is used properly for what it is intended for.
The Cross River Executive Council has given approval for the state to access another N1.4bn bailout from the federal government.
The Finance Commissioner, Asuquo Ekpenyong, who disclosed this to newsmen in Calabar shortly after an emergency Exco session chaired by the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, approved that memo be raised to access the loan facility.
Ekpenyong said “State government will access the N14.1 billion fund available to each state of the federation from the federal government in order to support developmental projects in the state.
“It is no longer news that the economic realities are tough nationwide and as we witnessed last month, we had a negative statutory allocation from the federal government. Thus, the Budget Support facility.”
“We have now being granted access to the sum of N14.1 billion which will help to smoothen and stabilize the expenses of state governments. And this was as a result of the outcome of that meeting (with Finance Minister Adeosun) led to the emergency Exco to get approval for us as a state to access this funding from the Federal Government,” Ekpenyong said.
He further disclosed that the terms for facility include “a tenure of ten years, a concessionary interest rate of 9 percent as well as a 1 year moratorium which will really help the state.”
According to him, what the federal government has done by setting up these stringent terms is to ensure fiscal discipline and added that the facility will be disbursed within a period of 12 months.
The Commissioner for finance said “For the first three months, the state will receive N1.3 billion and then N1.1 billion for the remaining 9 months of the year.”
He said arrangements have been concluded to approach the State House of Assembly to get clearance and an issuance of a resolution so as to support the exco’s documentation.
Uyo is the capital of Akwaibom, quite a beautiful city and peaceful, which leaves me asking why anyone in their right mind would attack of all places are church.
The Christians Association of Nigeria in Akwa Ibom State has condemned attacks on some churches in Uyo, the state capital.
Hoodlums on Thursday set ablaze the altar of The Apostolic Church, along Information Drive; Mount Zion Gospel Church, along Aka Itiam; The Apostolic Church along Bassey Esau Street, and Salvation Army Church, destroying pastoral seats, musical instrument, pulpits, among others.
The CAN state chairman, Rev. Nduoso Ekwere, said on Today that he would not directly pass the blame on the outsiders as such attacks usually involve insiders..
Ekwere, who described the attacks as abominable, called on the security agencies in the state to identify those behind the burning of the church items.
He added that those who perpetrated the act would not go unpunished.
“I personally had to drive round the Uyo metropolis to look for the churches in which items had been burnt. I have personally seen those things, and they range from musical instrument, pastoral seats in the church to pulpits. They were completely burnt down.
“There is no evil that will go unpunished. I do not want to suspect much of the outsiders. I want to believe that nothing happens without an insider and, if there is anybody in this state or in this metropolis that is linking him or herself to such devilish destruction, such individual should know that the destruction of church property is a serious abomination.”
He said he and other church leaders were praying for the perpetrators to repent and advised churches to be vigilant and make appropriate security arrangements.
Also, Ekwere said CAN would investigate the whereabouts of N100m that the former governor of the state, Godswill Akpabio, gave to the association to build a secretariat.
He said, “The Akwa Ibom State government under Godswill Akpabio, gave CAN N100m to build a secretariat. I will say as I am seated here, nothing known as a structure has been raised, but we know that the money had been given.
“We received some papers during the handing over; we want to a settle down and go through the papers to know how the money was used and for what purpose?”
