El-Rufai: One LGA in Kaduna has more gold than S'Africa

<div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="El-Rufai: Kaduna has more gold than S’Africa" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Gold-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div> <div class="article-controls" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"> <div class="date"> <div class="calendar-time">  </div> </div> </div> <strong>Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says a single local government in the state has more gold than the entirety of South Africa.</strong><br /> Speaking at the opening of the Kaduna economic and investment forum in the state on Wednesday, el-Rufai said solid minerals would attract as much as N40 billion.<br /> “On solid minerals, you’ve seen the presentation, the minerals we have in Kaduna, but they missed out a very important mineral: gold,” he said.<br /> “We’ve just confirmed that Kaduna state, indeed Birnin Gwari local government alone, has more gold than South Africa. This is proven, this is verifiable; we have all the data and we are collaborating with the federal ministry of solid mineral.”<br /> He said the investment in mining gold would also focus on the local miners and help them improve and make money.<br /> “To ensure that we bring international companies that would invest billions of naira in Birnin Gwari, to exploit our gold and export it, so that Kaduna state and Nigeria gets the benefits.<br /> “But more than that, these companies, would also take the local miners, and formalise them and train them, so that they would all continue to make money.<br /> “This is the model we are pursuing and we think about 40 billion would be attracted in solid minerals.”<br /> <h4> <strong>INTEREST-FREE LOANS FOR FARMERS</strong></h4> The Kaduna state governor also said his team was leveraging on its agricultural prowess – as the state with the best ginger in the world – to provide interest free loans for farmers in the state.<br /> “We have put in our budget, our intent to borrow N2.1 billion from the central bank for the rice anchor programme. The anchor borrowing programme enables the state government to access funds from the central bank at one percent interest.<br /> “The state government has decided that our farmers would get these monies interest free. So we have put in the budget, the interest component of the anchor borrowing project. We pay the interest.<br /> “We are also doing N5 billion naira for ginger production in Kaduna. We have putting N5 billion to triple ginger production, we have the best ginger in the world.”<br /> <h4> <strong>12 BILLS IN 9 MONTHS, TSA IN RECORD TIME</strong></h4> El-Rufai applauded the state house of assembly for passing 12 bills in nine months, adding that the state implemented treasury single account (TSA) in less than two months.<br /> “We also were the first state to introduce the treasury single account and here I must express my gratitude to the world bank, the IMF and the central bank, for giving us the technical assistance that made us implement the treasury single account in less than two months. It’s a world record.<br /> “Essentially, we moved from 470 government accounts, to one account. 124 MDAs complied, and as at the 31st of August, we had nearly 25 billion in our TSA, which was a sort of record.”<br /> <br /> credit: thecablesng

El-Rufai: One LGA in Kaduna has more gold than S'Africa

  Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says a single local government in the state has more gold than the entirety of South ...

link to this post

EFCC: For 4 years after leaving office as gov, Saraki received monthly salaries from Kwara

<div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="EFCC: For 4 years after leaving office as gov, Saraki received monthly salaries from Kwara" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Bukola-Saraki-2-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div> <div class="article-controls" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"> <div class="date"> <div class="calendar-time">  </div> </div> <div class="right-side"> <div class="colored" style="margin-left: 0px !important;"> <a class="icon-link" href="https://www.blogger.com/null"><span class="icon-text"></span></a><a class="icon-link" href="https://www.thecable.ng/efcc-4-years-leaving-office-gov-saraki-received-monthly-salaries-kwara-govt#share"><span class="icon-text"></span><br /></a></div> </div> </div> <strong>Senate President Bukola Saraki was receiving monthly salaries from the Kwara state government even after he became a senator, Michael Wetkas, a detective of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has said.</strong><br /> While giving his testimony at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) on Wednesday, Wetkas claimed that Saraki was receiving monthly salaries from June 2011, when he left office as governor of Kwara state, to August 2015 while he was a senator.<br /> “In the course of our investigation, we wrote to Access Bank for them to give us details of the salary account of the defendant. The salary that was coming into the account was N254, 212 as of 1 August 2007.<br /> “As of June 3, 2011, the salary was N291, 124. On July 4, there was another payment with the narration Kwara State Government (KSG) June 2011 salary. The amount was N572, 286.<br /> “On August 29, 2011, there was another payment in the sum of N744, 002 from the Kwara state government.<br /> “On September 29, 2011 there was another payment of N743, 942 with the narration salary payment from KSG.<br /> “On October 27, 2011, there was another payment of N1, 165, 468 for salary.<br /> “In November 2011, there was payment of the same amount. The narration was December pension.<br /> “On February 1, 2012, there was payment of the same amount with the narration for pension.<br /> “The salary payments stopped in this account on August 31, 2015. The defendant left office on May 29, 2011, he became senator in the same year.”<br /> Earlier on Tuesday, Wetkas had detailed how Saraki <span style="line-height: 1.5;">allegedly used fictitious names to launder billions of naira.</span><br /> <a href="https://www.thecable.ng/efcc-detective-pa-paid-n60000-to-n900000-into-sarakis-account-50-times-in-a-single-day" target="_blank"><strong>Testifying against the senate president at the CCT</strong></a>, the EFCC detective said, among many other revelations, that Abdul Adama, one of Saraki’s personal assistants, made transaction 50 times into the former governor’s account in a single day, broken down to N600,000 and N900,000 on each occasion.<br /> He added that “after that, one Ubi made a lodgment on the same day about 20 times in the same range of N600,000 and N900,000.”<br /> On Wednesday, Wetkas also alleged that the senate president <a href="https://www.thecable.ng/efcc-detective-in-a-single-day-saraki-made-18-cash-deposits-of-10-000-into-his-gtb-account" target="_blank"><strong>made corruptly obtained cash deposits of $10,000 18 times in one day</strong></a>, into his account with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).<br /> <br /> credit: thecablesng

EFCC: For 4 years after leaving office as gov, Saraki received monthly salaries from Kwara

  Senate President Bukola Saraki was receiving monthly salaries from the Kwara state government even after he became a senat...

link to this post

Jonathan accepts Personality of the Year award, says ‘Nigerians deserve it more than I do’

<div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Jonathan accepts Personality of the Year award, says ‘Nigerians deserve it more than I do’" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Goodluck-Jonathan1-653x365.jpg" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div> <div class="article-controls" style="margin-bottom: 0px;"> <div class="date"> <div class="calendar-date"> </div> <div class="calendar-time">  </div> </div> </div> <strong>Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said Nigerians were more deserving of the personality of the year award, which the editorial board of Vanguard conferred on him.</strong><br /> The newspaper said it singled out Jonathan for the award because he made Nigeria join the league of nations with civilised democratic behaviour.<br /> Vanguard hailed him for the peaceful conclusion of the 2015 presidential election.<br /> “For the first time in the country’s history, the then incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, readily conceded victory to his challenger, General Muhammadu Buhari, an act that perplexed doomsayers at home and abroad,” the newspaper said.<br /> “President Goodluck Jonathan’s finest hour came on that evening of March 30, 2015, when he called General Muhammadu Buhari and conceded the most closely fought presidential election in our history.<br /> “Between  March 28th when the presidential election took place and March 30th when ex-President Jonathan conceded, the entire nation was like a tense time bomb waiting to explode. But that patriotic action he took defused the tension and brought relief.”<br /> Responding, Jonathan said: “I thank the editorial board of Vanguard Newspaper for honoring me as their personality of the year 2016.<br /> “I believe that the people of Nigeria are more deserving of this honour than I am and thus dedicate it to my countrymen and women. May God bless Nigeria. GEJ.”<br /> <br /> credit: thecablesng

Jonathan accepts Personality of the Year award, says ‘Nigerians deserve it more than I do’

  Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday said Nigerians were more deserving of the personality of the year award, whic...

link to this post

Buhari forced me to be governor, says el-Rufai

<div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"></span></div> <div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"></span></div> <div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"></span></div> <div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"></span></div> <div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"></span></div> <div class="article-photo"> <span class="set-image-border" style="float: none;"><img alt="Buhari forced me to be governor, says el-Rufai" class="setborder" src="https://www.thecable.ng/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Nasir-el-Rufai-Muhammadu-Buhari-653x365.png" style="float: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" /></span></div> <strong>Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, on Thursday said it was President Muhammadu Buhari who forced him to contest last year’s governorship election.</strong><br /> <strong>According to THISDAY</strong>, el-Rufai said this at the closing ceremony of the two-day Kaduna Investment Forum that held at the Umaru Musa Yar’adua Indoor Sports Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna.<br /> He was quoted as saying that without the encouragement he received from Buhari, who was then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ), he would not have won the election.<br /> “It was President Muhammadu Buhari that forced me to contest for the governorship race of Kaduna state in revenge for persuading him to run the presidential race,” he was quoted as saying.<br /> “If he had not asked me to run for the governorship, I wouldn’t have stood before you today as the governor of Kaduna state.<br /> “It is the Buhari phenomenon that had swept away the PDP. Buhari is a man of integrity, a Nigerian leader whose name has not been found in the Panama documents.”<br /> He also said he would have lost the election if not for the card reader introduced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).<br /> El-Rufai maintained that without the card reader, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would have robbed him of victory at the poll.

Buhari forced me to be governor, says el-Rufai

Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, on Thursday said it was President Muhammadu Buhari who forced him to contest last y...

link to this post

Rivers rerun: Abe asks INEC to release Tai result

<p dir="ltr">Magnus Abe, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 19 legislative rerun elections in Rivers state, has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to release the result of Tai local government area (LGA).</p> <p dir="ltr">Claiming that his party won election in the LGA, Abe said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been doing everything within its powers to stop the electoral body from announcing the result.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also alleged that the ruling party in Rivers had resorted to attacking Amina Zakari, a federal commissioner of INEC, for failing to carry out its wish.</p> <p dir="ltr">He was speaking on Thursday at a press conference in Abuja.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That the exercise is marred with controversies and violence is no longer news. But what is news is what is happening after the exercise, since after the elections ended on March 19, some results have been released by INEC but the result for Tai local government has not been released up till now and this is despite the fact that the election in this area was peacefully conducted and INEC has not released the result for reasons very curious and unknown to us,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But the reasons are not farfetched, it would appear that it is because of the votes that the APC gathered in Tai for the house of representatives and for the senate, the PDP has gone to town to do all sorts of things in trying to stop INEC from announcing the result.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are a bit puzzled about the delay in announcing the result of an election that has been duly returned. We all know that by section 133 of the electoral act, once a result has been returned, INEC becomes functus officio, and have no power over the result and anybody that has any complain may have to approach the tribunal.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Curiously enough, Wike and the PDP have continued to have their way over and above the laws of this country and activities of INEC</p> <p dir="ltr">“Before the 19th march election, the list of electoral officers which is a document of INEC was in the hands of Wike brandishing it all about, and threatening personnel of INEC, calling the names of these officials and reading their addresses on national TV. We called the attention of security agencies and nothing was done and these officials became scared, many pulled out, the election was a sham.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Again the PDP and Wike has launched another attack on one of the federal commissioners of INEC, Hajia Amina Zakari. We don’t know  Amina, but we know Wike and the PDP, and the only reason why they have launched these attacks on her person is that it must be because for some reasons she has refused to be intimidated or refused to submit to any inducement by the PDP to do their bidding and we want to ask if Amina Zakari is the chairman of INEC, why are they not calling the chairman and only isolating Amina Zakari for this kind of attacks?”</p> <p dir="ltr">He also claimed that Ibrahim Bawa, INEC legal adviser, was on the payroll of Wike, alleged that the PDP bought houses for Bawa.</p> <p dir="ltr">Abe demanded prosecution of Bawa, accusing him of misleading INEC on the issue of card readers.</p> <p dir="ltr">“INEC legal adviser Mr Bawa  is on the payroll of Wike and the PDP,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They bought houses for him and after I mentioned his name we heard that he has retired. INEC should tell Nigerians why he retired.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nigeria invested a lot on the card readers but the briefs of INEC lawyers were against the card readers and its values and importance and it was based on this kind of briefs that the supreme court delivered the judgment that is still causing crisis in Rivers.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Abe also accused Wike of masterminding the violence that marred the rerun election, describing the judicial commission of inquiry set up by the Rivers state government to probe the violence as a sham.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the governor should be held responsible for the death of Samuel Okonta, the corps member that was killed in the election.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How can a chief culprit, the chief instigator, the chief traducer set up a commission of inquiry?  What is he going to do with the commission of inquiry?” he asked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A commission of that nature should start with governor Wike, so, he cannot be the person to set up the commission of inquiry and let me say this for the world to hear, it does not matter who finally pulls the trigger that took down the life of that young corper.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The person who laid the foundation and the circumstances that led to the death of that young man is the governor of Rivers state and who is he deceiving. What commission of inquiry is he going to set up? Of course everybody knows that it is a sham and we dismiss it and it is unfortunate that there are people who are willing to be used for such activities.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Any commission of inquiry must start with why political leaders and actors where calling for those who are coming to Rivers state for election to prepare to die. Any commission of inquiry must ask what was to be used in killing these people at the point of voting and who is to decide that the election were to be rigged, because the person who takes that decision at that point is the person who have the power of life and death over those who participated in that election and who did Governor Wike give that power to? So, if you have any commission of inquiry that does not ask these questions and did not answer them truthfully is a sham.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The problem with this country is that we must get to a point where we must be prepared to tell ourselves the truth and hear the truth until we get there we are wasting our time.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OeWq7lpsZhKgSndrr6iARukkJ57WXdtCd0OrPtxnuK5_kpsdoDkvVfsih0onalvswJf9hxacvvqK9-fSZvKR0eodZ1v8Nv58LmYPl6_mG95JEqVt_dJnyb6uIHHJYenHXUB3oT0TD5Bs/s1600/IMG_20160407_215623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OeWq7lpsZhKgSndrr6iARukkJ57WXdtCd0OrPtxnuK5_kpsdoDkvVfsih0onalvswJf9hxacvvqK9-fSZvKR0eodZ1v8Nv58LmYPl6_mG95JEqVt_dJnyb6uIHHJYenHXUB3oT0TD5Bs/s640/IMG_20160407_215623.jpg"> </a> </div>

Rivers rerun: Abe asks INEC to release Tai result

Magnus Abe, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the March 19 legislative rerun elections in Rivers state, has appealed to th...

link to this post

Court grants Fiberesima N2m bail

<p dir="ltr">The Lagos state division of the court of appeal has granted a N2m bail to Ibinabo Fiberesima, actress and former president of the actors guild of Nigeria (AGN).</p> <p dir="ltr">The 43-year-old actress was sentenced to five years imprisonment by Justice Deborah Olayemi for reckless driving, which led to the death of a hospital staff.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a two-one split judgement on Thursday, the court ruled that her application for bail was credible.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to the judgement read by Justice Samuel Oseji, the ex-beauty queen has to present two sureties in like sum who must be residents of Lagos and each of them must swear to an affidavit of means.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justice Sidi Baje, who presided over the proceedings, agreed  with Justice Oseji but Justice Y.B Nimpar did not share their thoughts.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justice Oseji said he exercised discretion with the River-born actress because of her health and her record of never jumping bail.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also said it would be injustice if after three or four years of being in jail, the supreme court decides that the five-year jail term imposed on her should be set aside.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justice Nimpar argued that the health grounds on which she applied for bail were not justifiable, as there were no records of complications after her breast cancer surgery in February.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The surgery was uneventful. The surgery was done in February, now we are here in April and there is no complication,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The applicant is already convicted and presumption of innocence is no longer available. I personally will not exercise discretion in favour of the applicant.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In favour of her bail application filed by her lawyer Nnaemeka Amaechina, an affidavit submitted by Victor Eden claimed that she just had breast cancer surgery.</p> <p dir="ltr">The affidavit further claimed that Fiberesima feared that her life could be in danger if she was kept in custody.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw9FUkyau2iJhB_P6TGX5pmsnWTxvd75RzeqG0K4uo8_Zlh0U9z6t2t9e1xes5Z0-cMwsRp0rUtcpV5Aki6OVtXhSUEJuLrwxB7E_4pkvb_sodozBVCWTeAf0_sAn5z3l0QLxVpyQR1ze/s1600/IMG_20160407_215057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEw9FUkyau2iJhB_P6TGX5pmsnWTxvd75RzeqG0K4uo8_Zlh0U9z6t2t9e1xes5Z0-cMwsRp0rUtcpV5Aki6OVtXhSUEJuLrwxB7E_4pkvb_sodozBVCWTeAf0_sAn5z3l0QLxVpyQR1ze/s640/IMG_20160407_215057.jpg"> </a> </div>

Court grants Fiberesima N2m bail

The Lagos state division of the court of appeal has granted a N2m bail to Ibinabo Fiberesima, actress and former president of the actors gui...

link to this post

Mugabe: Shame on those who want me dead

<p dir="ltr">President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has accused his potential successors of wanting him dead, saying shame is upon them because “I am not dying”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking with about 10,000 veterans of Zimbabwe’s 1970s independence war on Thursday, the oldest African ruler said his frequent trips to Malaysia and Singapore had fed newspaper reports that he was ill and sometimes dying, stoking succession fights in ZANU-PF, the ruing party.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You then see a stampede now, they will be saying the president is dying. ‘I am not dying, shame on you’,” Reuters quoted him as saying during the first ever such meeting with the veterans.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am there at the mercy of the people. If the people say no, go, I go. But if the people say no, we still want you, I stay on.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He told ruling ZANU-PF supporters to unite against foreign enemies whom he said wanted to destroy the Southern African nation.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mugabe, who has held power since independence from Britain in 1980, says his heir must be chosen democratically and that his wife will not automatically inherit the role.</p> <p dir="ltr">Thursday’s meeting came at a time of high tensions in ZANU-PF as party officials position themselves for a post-Mugabe era.</p> <p dir="ltr">Local media had reported the meeting could split ZANU-PF, especially after Mugabe said last month the veterans had indicated they wanted him to retire.</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, veterans pledged their loyalty to Mugabe, but also presented a list of grievances and demands for top positions in government and state-owned firms, diplomatic posts and at least a fifth of all farmland and mining concessions.<br> Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBJWPmGK9zobWKUewsT1aAhggyxDFrtD2tImAWluqKvRatn83BiIzpeZ3sA0Grxux8HSVX3UyuVBEL-ME6PHjNXdIsUmux-WVQvJBt_AYgx5PoUVuW9_toEeUM3Mpbh9Ciu8Dz-BCLwju/s1600/IMG_20160407_213617.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBJWPmGK9zobWKUewsT1aAhggyxDFrtD2tImAWluqKvRatn83BiIzpeZ3sA0Grxux8HSVX3UyuVBEL-ME6PHjNXdIsUmux-WVQvJBt_AYgx5PoUVuW9_toEeUM3Mpbh9Ciu8Dz-BCLwju/s640/IMG_20160407_213617.jpg"> </a> </div>

Mugabe: Shame on those who want me dead

President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe has accused his potential successors of wanting him dead, saying shame is upon them because “I am not dy...

link to this post

Oil companies ‘provide forex’ to end fuel scarcity

<p dir="ltr">Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, says he has been able to convince some international oil companies to provide needed foreign exchange to end recurring fuel scarcity.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking in a podcast posted on Facebbok on Thursday, Kachikwu, who doubles as the group managing director of NNPC, said they would provide needed forex for the next one year.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The first thing that I have tried to do is, for the first time in this country, I have been able to convince the upstream companies to provide some forex buffer over the next one year for those who are bringing in products,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And so I’ve tied, Total Upstream to Total Downstream, Mobil Upstream to Mobil Downstream, Agip ENI to Oando, Shell to Conoil and things like that. It’s been very innovative, putting $200 million of forex availability out into the space.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s taken a lot of goodwill, it’s taken a lot of work from me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the NNPC has had to box its way through getting some forex from the central bank of Nigeria, to save the day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The second thing we’ve done is we’ve had to box our way through the CBN to get a little of allocation, because we provide the bulk of this foreign exchange.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We should have a bit of it to help stabilise the situation, because fuel queue – don’t make any mistake about it, it doesn’t matter what we achieve in our transformation agenda – is the single most difficult item, which if not solved can bring down the polity and can create a mayhem here.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So it is something that we have focused on. So I have been able to get a bit of cooperation from CBN on that.”</p> <p dir="ltr">He called on his team to “HELP create ideas. HELP suggest ways in which we can find lasting solutions to this”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And if we do that, collectively, every one of us a piece, at the end of the process, people will remember the difficulties, but will also remember an NNPC that was united in the solution to this problem. At the end of the day, it’s not all about ME, it’s actually about YOU.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeSVakk_98kCo-ZaPMPtetcmXxU7aIJSlOwvY6FUtWjAFqDbsI1bY9W9846uUaQrVl66nfe2acKj1NgMdPZDZIQOHvfmL-2KtEsc23wi_ytTdSXibQSfN1KriBh1WHdUgJZrxR1T53-Rc/s1600/IMG_20160407_213539.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeSVakk_98kCo-ZaPMPtetcmXxU7aIJSlOwvY6FUtWjAFqDbsI1bY9W9846uUaQrVl66nfe2acKj1NgMdPZDZIQOHvfmL-2KtEsc23wi_ytTdSXibQSfN1KriBh1WHdUgJZrxR1T53-Rc/s640/IMG_20160407_213539.jpg"> </a> </div>

Oil companies ‘provide forex’ to end fuel scarcity

Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum, says he has been able to convince some international oil companies to provide needed foreign ...

link to this post

Presidency rolls out policy actions to revamp economy

<p dir="ltr">Unveiling a detailed economic agenda that specifically tackles the nation’s current challenges, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on the Nigerian people to remain patient and indeed expectant, assuring that the Buhari administration is firmly committed to revamping the Nigerian economy and fulfilling its promises.<br> Acknowledging the pains currently facing the nation, Mr. Osinbajo expressed the determination of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to take decisive decisions that would positively resolve the current economic challenges.<br> He said, “We acknowledge the pains and are concerned by them. Which is why we are working diligently to address the tough challenges inherited from the nation’s past.”<br> According to him, “We are working diligently to address the tough challenges inherited from the nation’s past,” adding that the plethora of challenges facing Nigeria could be overwhelming, and with it the multitude of things requiring decisive action that have to be strategically handled.<br> Speaking today at “The Nation’s Forum On The Economy” in Lagos, the Vice President averred that the Buhari administration is already “taking action and in due course they would produce satisfying outcomes, for they are borne out of a leadership that has no other agenda but the progress and greatness of Nigeria”.<br> Unveiling the economic strategic plan, Mr. Osinbajo disclosed that the Federal Government’s blueprint would be based on a strategic implementation plan for the 2016 budget under six thematic key areas, adding that the plan, would focus on about 33 Priority Actions.<br> He listed the following strategic areas and some of the policy actions including the following:<br> A. Lasting Changes in the Policy Environment, National Security and Governance<br> – Achieve an Appropriate Foreign Exchange Regime<br> Increase low interest lending to the Real Sector we need to move toward a single digit interest rate.<br> – Maintain Capital Spending in the Budget at a minimum of 30%. Complement this with funds from the Infrastructure Fund for commercial projects<br> – Intensify the fight against corruption by increasing transparency, accountability and compliance with law and order<br> B. Diversifying the Economy by Fast-tracking Industrialization, Agriculture and Agro-Allied Processing, as well as attracting investment into the Solid Minerals, Tourism and Entertainment Sectors<br> – Implement Measures to Achieve Self-Sufficiency & Become Net Exporters of certain agricultural Items: rice-2018, tomato paste-2016, wheat-2019. Increase local production of maize, soya, poultry & livestock, so as to achieve self-sufficiency: deadlines to be announced in due course<br> – Adopt and Implement a Roadmap to Stimulate Investment into the Solid Minerals sector, and plug Revenue Leakages in the Sector<br> – Increase Manufacturing Capacity through the operationalization of Industrial Parks, Free and Export Processing Zones, etc.<br> C. Priority Critical Infrastructure, focused on increasing investment in Power, Rail and Roads, etc.<br> – Optimize the 7,000MW installed capacity and ensure associated infrastructure to Fuel, Transmit and Distribute this capacity.<br> – Undertake the rehabilitation and construction of 31 major Road Projects scheduled for 2016 to restore degraded sections of the Federal Highways network and to Establish Connectivity over a distance of 2,193km (through public works projects, maintenance works, PPP and other interventions)<br> D. Oil and Gas Reforms<br> – Adopt & Execute a Comprehensive National Oil & Gas Master-Plan (‘NOGM’) as the roadmap for the Petroleum Industry’s Development, Diversification, Privatization & Governance. Adopt & Execute a Roadmap of Gas Development & Flare Elimination<br> – Set a deadline to be Self-Sufficient in Refined Petroleum Products & become a Net Exporter<br> Work with the National Assembly on the passage of a Revised Petroleum Industry Bill (‘PIB’) or Bills to give effect to the NOGM & to resolve Fiscal & Governance Issues of the Sector, & Eliminate Gas Flaring<br> E. Ease of Doing Business<br> – Move 20 places up global Ease of Doing Business Rankings, by implementing fast track measures for business approvals, acquisition of land titles, etc. (Nigeria is currently ranked 169 out of 189 countries by the World Bank – 2015 Survey)<br> Fast-track visa application and issuance processes<br> F. Social Investment<br> – Implement Social Intervention Programme and specific Health / Education projects included in 2016 Budget<br> Health Sector Interventions including Flagging off the Revitalization of 1 Primary Health Centre per Ward (a total of 10,000 nationwide)<br> The social investment plans include the following:<br> *Train and deploy 500,000 unemployed graduates as volunteer teachers who would be paid on the job while they seek jobs in their chosen careers.<br> *Homegrown School Feeding for primary school pupils across the country paid for by the government<br> *Micro-credit scheme that provides very soft loans to a million market women, artisans, traders<br> *Creating innovation and technology hubs/ parks on a large scale and skills acquisition & vocational training for over 300,000 non-graduate youths<br> * Conditional Cash Transfer where one million poor and vulnerable Nigerians would receive N5000 monthly<br> *Bursary awards for tertiary education students of Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths, STEM.<br> Vice President Osinbajo also re-assured the nation on the Change Agenda in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement in his 2016 Budget Presentation speech, that “we remain committed to economic diversification through import substitution, and export promotion, in order to build a robust and resilient economy, as a lasting legacy for generations to come”.<br> He then underscored the necessity for continuous engagement with the Nigerian people, including stakeholders in the economy, stating that “we intend to start a quarterly meeting with members of the private sector and other economic stakeholders soon and thereby create a forum for engagement on an ongoing basis.”<br> “Town-hall meetings at the presidential level would also be resumed across the country to explain progress and address the challenges with our people,” he further stated.<br> Laolu Akande<br> Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity<br> In the Office of the Vice President<br> April 7, <u>2016</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVVXK46XHOQNZFyPKfwWNIK0jbuUofHVSnKtJu-MCBiNbVCU1uMNl0tn4zuE1YKGii6geDIzbuCY031JySE6l_I2pkdL-Hrwt0vs7xp-BbDwmiiq09CaHFs3PQCd2rxcYMY98OAaUX7qc/s1600/IMG_20160407_212930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVVXK46XHOQNZFyPKfwWNIK0jbuUofHVSnKtJu-MCBiNbVCU1uMNl0tn4zuE1YKGii6geDIzbuCY031JySE6l_I2pkdL-Hrwt0vs7xp-BbDwmiiq09CaHFs3PQCd2rxcYMY98OAaUX7qc/s640/IMG_20160407_212930.jpg"> </a> </div>

Presidency rolls out policy actions to revamp economy

Unveiling a detailed economic agenda that specifically tackles the nation’s current challenges, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called on t...

link to this post

Presidency Commences Pre-Retirement Training For Employees

<p dir="ltr">The Presidency, Thursday in Abuja, commenced a vocational and entrepreneurial programme to prepare its staff adequately for retirement.<br> Declaring open a two-day workshop for State House staff, who are about to retire, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Jalal Arabi, said the programme was also designed to prepare them mentally and psychologically for retirement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“What the State House has set out to do is to commence a process of early pre-retirement training for potential retirees.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is in the firm belief that adequate planning for retirement will make life after retirement much more attractive,” Mr Arabi said.</p> <p dir="ltr">The Permanent Secretary said that the overall aim of the Presidency was to ensure that all staff undergo pre-retirement training at least 3-4 years before their retirement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This approach is based on the realization that it usually takes about three years to incubate and develop most business ideas,’’ he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">81 prospective retirees are being trained on livestock, fisheries management, personal finance planning and other useful skills and vocations at the workshop which opened on Thursday, April 7, 2016.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWJR1xRmQrHgGBbti6MJS3dsJNUNUB1BQzO2Pw4ecSVU2Y4mhHhz1xlLhWrpYFAJJ3dZ5glDU8YnDIRBLk0AIAtqGJwFwpvT8N8h7hIA6mEIkKYP2e6NVSVBGMkVPE6gMeYm7cDk67obb/s1600/IMG_20160404_135559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWJR1xRmQrHgGBbti6MJS3dsJNUNUB1BQzO2Pw4ecSVU2Y4mhHhz1xlLhWrpYFAJJ3dZ5glDU8YnDIRBLk0AIAtqGJwFwpvT8N8h7hIA6mEIkKYP2e6NVSVBGMkVPE6gMeYm7cDk67obb/s640/IMG_20160404_135559.jpg"> </a> </div>

Presidency Commences Pre-Retirement Training For Employees

The Presidency, Thursday in Abuja, commenced a vocational and entrepreneurial programme to prepare its staff adequately for retirement. De...

link to this post

Police restrict movement in Abuja over LG election

<p dir="ltr">Wilson Inalegwu, commissioner of police of the federal capital territory (FCT) has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement in the nation’s capital between 7 am and 4 pm on Saturday.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Anjuguri Manzah, public relations officer of FCT police command, the restriction is to allow for free and fair conduct of the rescheduled area council election.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is part of the security measures adopted by the command to ensure safety and security during the elections,” Manzah said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">The statement said the restriction excluded vehicles on essential duty.</p> <p dir="ltr">Manzah assured FCT residents that the command had strategically deployed personnel and logistics to provide adequate security during the poll.</p> <p dir="ltr">He enjoined residents to be vigilant and cooperate with the police and other security agencies by reporting suspicious movements and activities.</p> <p dir="ltr">The chairmanship and councilorship elections earlier scheduled for March 19 was rescheduled to April 9.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrzb-SIF1NihrQMjDsXGpL2iuz02vhf2pIQ55PTFS4F0AYDBtEgT4eCsJ9W9QY6DTiq7q4K4pxVCrm3AVciHbSScGiynYQHzoUh7NirIbv8sFCpfHB-SeH_R7uOMuAY-9HPdvSgN55VlD/s1600/IMG_20160407_190750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXrzb-SIF1NihrQMjDsXGpL2iuz02vhf2pIQ55PTFS4F0AYDBtEgT4eCsJ9W9QY6DTiq7q4K4pxVCrm3AVciHbSScGiynYQHzoUh7NirIbv8sFCpfHB-SeH_R7uOMuAY-9HPdvSgN55VlD/s640/IMG_20160407_190750.jpg"> </a> </div>

Police restrict movement in Abuja over LG election

Wilson Inalegwu, commissioner of police of the federal capital territory (FCT) has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement in the nati...

link to this post

Diabetes killed over 40,000 Nigerians in 2015 under ‘avoidable circumstance

<p dir="ltr">Over 40,000 people died of diabetes in 2015, majority of whom could have been saved, Kayode Obembe, the president of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), has said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Obembe (pictured) said this on the sidelines of the celebration of 2016 World Health Day with the theme: “Diabetes: Halt the rise – Beat Diabetes’’.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We note with indignation that due to inequities in availability, affordability and accessibility of efficient and effective healthcare delivery in our nation, majority of the over 40,000 Nigerians who died from the condition in 2015 could have been saved,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is not forgetting the about 1million country men and women who have the disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They are yet to be diagnosed and treated. This is outside another estimated 3.85million people with impaired glucose tolerance: a pre- diabetic condition,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Obembe noted that diabetes patients in Nigeria spend up to N53,000, annually, for treatment and management in a country where two thirds of the population live below poverty line.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We empathise with more than 1.56million Nigerians who are having diabetes – constituting a national prevalence of 1.9 per cent; each of whom spends up to N53, annually for its treatment mainly as out-of-pocket expenditure.</p> <p dir="ltr">He urged the federal government and other relevant stakeholders in the health sector to ensure that diabetic patients have access to affordable medication.</p> <p dir="ltr">Obembe said this would help to reduce the rate of people that were suffering from the disease.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Diabetes is one of the four priority non-communicable diseases (NCDs) targeted by world leaders in the 2011 Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the SDGs 2016•2030</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nigeria, as a signatory to the declaration, must implement the Global Action Plan which has to halt the rise of diabetes and obesity by 2025 as a target,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that the celebration’s aim was to “increase awareness about the rising prevalence of diabetes, its confounding burden and implications, especially in low-and middle-income countries.</p> <p dir="ltr">Obembe called on the federal government to declare a national conscious day for health awareness and medical check-up in the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said that health officials would educate the public on the importance of leading healthy lifestyles and going for regular medical check-ups.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The ideals of healthy living include: consumption of healthy diets, regular physical exercises, good environmental sanitation, personal hygiene practices and the campaign against drug abuse.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is an opportunity to take another decisive step towards advancing universal health coverage (UHC) by expanding the national health insurance scheme (NHIS) coverage.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This will afford Nigerians the opportunity to inculcate the culture of periodic medical check-ups by consulting their doctors and avoid self medication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Avoid abrupt stopping of medications without the directive of their doctor; avoid mixing of orthodox medicines with herbal and native remedies.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Nigerians should take overweight condition and obesity very seriously, beginning with children and young adults, in order to mitigate the rising incidences of childhood obesity.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Regular exercise such as school sports and age-group competitions should be re-introduced to support other physical fitness initiatives,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Obembe charged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to enforce their statutory mandates.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Preventing the importation of all forms of fake and adulterated medical equipment and medicines accordingly, blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose measuring devices.</p> <p dir="ltr">He also said that Nigerians who used their own devices at home should take them along when they attended clinics and hospitals for standardisation and calibration on regular basis.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2G6mu2A5-5xpbXa-a4Y4BiGHRLF8Uu4SlFmi6Acj_0cUIM2AcCB9nfot92Uxt4GKW1yjJcj3M5I0bw5SvB74G2iHe2KPBDEhntSKME3Qx5UYLJVEPGZZ91tJ2TcYiEMQA34zIuY2pfJB/s1600/IMG_20160407_190824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB2G6mu2A5-5xpbXa-a4Y4BiGHRLF8Uu4SlFmi6Acj_0cUIM2AcCB9nfot92Uxt4GKW1yjJcj3M5I0bw5SvB74G2iHe2KPBDEhntSKME3Qx5UYLJVEPGZZ91tJ2TcYiEMQA34zIuY2pfJB/s640/IMG_20160407_190824.jpg"> </a> </div>

Diabetes killed over 40,000 Nigerians in 2015 under ‘avoidable circumstance

Over 40,000 people died of diabetes in 2015, majority of whom could have been saved, Kayode Obembe, the president of the Nigerian Medical As...

link to this post

Obasanjo Says ‘Budget Not To Be Treated In A Hurry'

<p dir="ltr">former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said that the 2016 Appropriation Bill, which has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari, is not a document to be treated in a hurry.<br> The former leader made the statement while addressing reporters after he held talks with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that the law made provision for the President to critically look at the document “even though it takes a longer time” to give his assent.</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked to give his opinion about the budget, he said he had not read the budget.</p> <p dir="ltr">“To be able to tell you about the budget, I have to read the budget to know what it contains and what it does not contain. So, I cannot talk to you about the budget.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The constitution allows you [the President] to continue with the budget provided you do not go beyond the previous year. And that can be done up to the middle of the year,” he told reporters.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Obasanjo, however, parried questions from reporters on the details of his meeting with the president.</p> <p dir="ltr">On March 23, the National Assembly passed the 2016 budget of 6.06 trillion Naira, with a deficit of two trillion Naira.</p> <p dir="ltr">The budget passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives was 17 billion Naira lower than the figure of 6.07 trillion Naira presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to the National Assembly in December.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: Channelstv <br> </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcCsEINLetppu3LXYgsu7NQPdTrKq0oKWlY9DHGaXbLAmqFmI6lWaaSTxglkea-RXYchnRZF4uZDtPqpJEw4Y8Zobw1O4BA4l29Op-HcMA8BXp4tu30B6gDz1ObcOvYSwHajtWtTDE7VE/s1600/IMG_20160407_190155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcCsEINLetppu3LXYgsu7NQPdTrKq0oKWlY9DHGaXbLAmqFmI6lWaaSTxglkea-RXYchnRZF4uZDtPqpJEw4Y8Zobw1O4BA4l29Op-HcMA8BXp4tu30B6gDz1ObcOvYSwHajtWtTDE7VE/s640/IMG_20160407_190155.jpg"> </a> </div>

Obasanjo Says ‘Budget Not To Be Treated In A Hurry'

former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday said that the 2016 Appropriation Bill, which has been sent to President Muhammadu ...

link to this post

El-Rufa’i To Commit N29.6bn To Power Supply, Agriculture

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="Mallam Nasir El-Rufai" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="580" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Mallam-Nasir-El-Rufai.jpg" width="513" /> <div class="caption"> Mallam Nasir El-Rufai</div> </div> <div class="description mt"> <i>Mallam Nasir El-Rufai</i></div> Kaduna State Government said it would commit over N29.6 billion on power supply, agriculture and rail transport.<br /> <br /> Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i who stated this on Wednesday in Kaduna at the opening of the Kaduna Economic and Investment Summit, said that part of the projects captured under the state’s 2016 budget was the construction of a rail line for Kaduna metropolis which would gulp N10 billion.<br /> <br /> The governor said the rail line designed under the first phase to run from Marabar-Jos to KRPC, would be financed by a loan granted to states from the Excess Crude Account.<br /> <br /> “We are using the N10 billion that every state got from the excess crude account 20-year loan at 9% interest to build this important project.”<br /> “The state government will commit N5 billion to complete the 30 megawatt Gurara Power Plant, to provide reliable electricity to Kakuri industrial estate.<br /> “The aim is to revive various industries in the area that were moribund due to high energy cost. In addition, we are collaborating with the Federal Government to take over and complete the 250 megawatt Kudendan Power Plant.<br /> “ We borrowed N7.5 billion from the CBN Power Intervention Fund to finance the project,” the governor said.<br /> <br /> On agriculture, he said that the administration would plough funds into rice, ginger, sorghum and maize production.<br /> According to him, N5 billon would be injected to triple ginger production and N2.1 billion for rice production.<br /> He said that rice farmers would be offered an interest free loan to boost production with the loan secured from CBN at 1% interest.<br /> The governor assured investors of his administration’s commitment to provide security and ensure harmonious coexistence among the people for businesses to thrive.<br /> He assured that the government would grant investors access to land within 30 days, adding that the administration would inject N2.27 billion to computerise its land registry to make access to land titles easier.<br /> El-Rufai also enumerated efforts made by his administration to strengthen tax system, education sector, and other key areas of social and economic importance to the state.<br /> <br /> (NAN)

El-Rufa’i To Commit N29.6bn To Power Supply, Agriculture

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Kaduna State Government said it would commit over N29.6 billion...

link to this post

Ibadan Airport Reopens

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="Ibadan-airport-1024x768" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="768" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ibadan-airport-1024x768.jpeg" width="1024" /> </div> Two weeks after it was closed to air travelers because of safety reasons, flights resumed at the Ibadan airport on Wednesday.<br /> The airport was closed to flights two weeks ago following the breakdown of the fire truck at the facility.<br /> <br /> The situation resulted in many passengers who had booked on the two scheduled airlines that operate from the airport – ARIK and OVERLAND – having to catch their flights in Lagos.<br /> In an interview with NAN on Wednesday, Mr. Olufemi Awolade, the Airspace Manager, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Ibadan Airport, said that the closure of the airspace was in compliance with ICAO regulations.<br /> Awolade said that the safety of air travelers necessitated the closure of the airport to flights, because the fire truck available at the facility had broken down.<br /> “When there is no fire cover, an airport is not supposed to operate and in compliance with ICAO regulations, the airport was closed.<br /> “We consequently sent a “Notice to Airmen’’ (NOTAMN) and closed the airport to air traffic.<br /> “Ideally, there should be a minimum of two fire trucks at an airport like the one in Ibadan, but when the serviceable one broke down; there was no option but to close the airport to traffic.<br /> “Safety is paramount and we do not compromise on it for anything. When Gov. Abiola Ajimobi wanted to fly from the airport two Saturdays ago, we told him it was closed because of the issue of fire cover,’’ the official said.<br /> He said that the intervention of the governor, who provided a fire truck for the airport, has led to the cancellation of the closure order.<br /> Awolade said that a fire truck was sent on Tuesday by Governor Ajimobi, which resulted in the re-opening of the airport.<br /> The airspace manager pleaded with travelers who use the airport not to mind the inconvenience, saying the issue of safety necessitated the closure.<br /> “We don’t want to record any accident or incident at the airport and that is why we give priority to safety issues,’’ he said.<br /> The official said that the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had also started the repair of the broken down fire truck.<br /> An official of ARIK told NAN that flights had resumed at the airport and the airline had a scheduled flight expected to leave for Abuja at 5.00 p.m.<br /> credit: omojuwa.com

Ibadan Airport Reopens

Two weeks after it was closed to air travelers because of safety reasons, flights resumed at the Ibadan...

link to this post

WhatsApp Implements ‘End-To-End Encryption’ To Protect Users

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="whatsapp-ceo-jan-koum" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="362" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/whatsapp-ceo-jan-koum.jpg" width="640" /> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The popular messaging service WhatsApp said Tuesday it had implemented “full end-to-end encryption,” a move which steps up privacy but may lead to conflicts with law enforcement agencies.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Facebook-owned mobile application with one billion users worldwide made the announcement following weeks of intense debate over efforts by US authorities to compel Apple to help break into an encrypted iPhone.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “WhatsApp has always prioritized making your data and communication as secure as possible,” a blog post announcing the change said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “And today, we’re proud to announce that we’ve completed a technological development that makes WhatsApp a leader in protecting your private communication: full end-to-end encryption.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> This means that “when you send a message, the only person who can read it is the person or group chat that you send that message to,” the statement said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “No one can see inside that message. Not cybercriminals. Not hackers. Not oppressive regimes. Not even us.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Moves by technology firms to implement the kind of encryption where even the companies themselves don’t have “keys” to unlock data have unleashed criticism in law enforcement circles claiming this creates “warrant-proof” spaces for criminals and others.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The blog post by WhatsApp co-founders Jan Koum and Brian Action said encryption is an important tool for its users.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We live in a world where more of our data is digitized than ever before,” they wrote.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Every day we see stories about sensitive records being improperly accessed or stolen. And if nothing is done, more of people’s digital information and communication will be vulnerable to attack in the years to come. Fortunately, end-to-end encryption protects us from these vulnerabilities.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Credit: Punch</div>

WhatsApp Implements ‘End-To-End Encryption’ To Protect Users

The popular messaging service WhatsApp said Tuesday it had implemented “full end-to-end encryption,...

link to this post

Germany To Expand Military Training To Malian Army

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="0,,17041965_303,00" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="394" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/017041965_30300.jpg" width="700" /> </div> Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said Germany is planning to expand the military training it is giving the Malian army.<br /> Leyen said that about 200 Germans were currently participating in an EU training mission near Bamako.<br /> Report says over three years, the Germans have trained 8,000 Malian soldiers, who make up two-thirds of the West African country’s army.<br /> “The training mission will first be expanded in the south and later possibly to Timbuktu and Gao in the more restless north, if the peace process between the government and rebel groups moves forward,’’ von der Leyen said.<br /> <br /> He noted that Germany already has more than 200 UN peacekeepers in northern Mali.<br /> <br /> In 2012, northern Mali fell into the hands of Islamist insurgents who were pushed back after an intervention by the country’s former colonial power France in early 2013.<br /> Reports say Islamist groups have continued to stage attacks in the area.<br /> <br /> credit: omojuwa.com

Germany To Expand Military Training To Malian Army

Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday said Germany is planning to expand the military tr...

link to this post

Civil Defence Shoots, Kills Black Market Petrol Seller

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="1" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="277" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/1-16.jpg" width="300" /> </div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A yet-to-be identified female personnel of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yesterday shot a black market fuel seller, simply identified as Dijo to death, in front of the Forte Oil located at 21 road area of FESTAC Town, Lagos State.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The NSCDC personnel was part of the task force, who in conjunction with the police, were mandated to restore sanity to 21 road following the chaos created by fuel queue.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Although it was yet to be ascertained why the personnel shot Dijo, it was however gathered that the deceased bled and died on the spot before help could come, even as two other fuel dealers sustained injuries.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Credit: Thisday</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Photo Credit: SunOnline</div>

Civil Defence Shoots, Kills Black Market Petrol Seller

A yet-to-be identified female personnel of the Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), yester...

link to this post

Federal Government Not Doing Enough To Investigate Fayose – Aluko

<div class="image-container" itemprop="image"> <img alt="Screenshot 2016-04-06 12.17.01" class="attachment-full size-full wp-post-image" height="336" src="http://4a7jjc25uykf24u8sd3k8m5n.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Screenshot-2016-04-06-12.17.01.png" width="500" /> </div> Temitope (TKO) Aluko, a former top-lieutenant to Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose who exposed details of how they rigged his gubernatorial race in 2014, has said that the federal government is not doing enough to investigate Mr. Fayose.<br /> This statement was made during a conversation with SaharaReporters.<br /> Mr. Aluko’s comment follows a dramatic turn of events which saw him and Mr. Fayose apparently make peace during a press conference on April 4, 2016. The two allegedly decided to announce a cessation of hostile speech against one another after Mr. Aluko reported details to the EFCC, Police, and DSS on how they rigged the Ekiti State election.<br /> <br /> However, almost immediately following the peace conference which was televised by a number of media outlets, their newfound affection began disintegrating. A statement issued by Mr. Fayose’s Special Assistant on Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, said that Mr. Aluko “lacked integrity” and that he was grateful that “the hypocrisy of Aluko [was exposed] for the whole world to see.”<br /> <br /> Mr. Aluko said that he and Mr. Fayose “were back at loggerheads” and that the press conference was an orchestrated attempt “to harm my credibility.”<br /> <br /> He also expressed stated to SaharaReporters that “the Federal Government is not doing enough to investigate Fayose for the election rigging in Ekiti State.” He continued that “they must also look into the Ekiti State Attorney General Owoseni Ajayi.”<br /> <br /> It will be recalled that Mr. Aluko provided numerous amounts of testimony to the government demonstrating that Mr. Fayose rigged his 2014 election. This is in addition to the revelations of the Ekitigate whistleblower Captain Sagir Koli.<br /> One of the plotters of the Ekitigate scandal, Brigadier General Aliyu Momoh, was forced into retirement this week according to an exclusive interview with the Minister of Defense Mansur Muhammad Dan Ali.<br /> <br /> <strong>Credit : SaharaReporters</strong>

Federal Government Not Doing Enough To Investigate Fayose – Aluko

Temitope (TKO) Aluko, a former top-lieutenant to Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose who exposed details ...

link to this post

UCL: Man City Draw Away As Wolfsburg Shock Madrid

<p dir="ltr">Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho both scored to hand Manchester City a 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris Saint-Germain on <u>Wednesday</u>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The two away goals give the English side the edge in their Champions League quarter-final tie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zlatan Ibrahimovic had his penalty saved by City goalkeeper Joe Hart as the Premier League side twice punished defensive mistakes by their hosts to get the two goals.</p> <p dir="ltr">De Bruyne put City ahead on 38 minutes, only for Ibrahimovic to level after an embarrassing mix-up in the visitors’ defence soon after.</p> <p dir="ltr">Adrien Rabiot then put PSG ahead just before the hour, but Fernandinho made it 2-2 on 72 minutes and ensured the French giants will be chasing the tie in next Tuesday’s second leg.</p> <p dir="ltr">In Germany, Ricardo Rodriguez and Maximilian Arnold were the goal scorers as German side Wolfsburg dealt a 2-0 blow to Real Madrid’s hopes of taking the Champions League crown this season.</p> <p dir="ltr">Playing in their first quarterfinal in the competition, Wolfsburg bullied the Spanish giant to earn a good chance of making the last four.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ricardo Rodriguez had converted a penalty in the 18th minute after Casemiro was adjudged to have fouled Andre Schurrle inside the area.</p> <p dir="ltr">Arnold then added the second in the 25th minute as the home side used counterattacks to devastating effect at the Volkswagen Arena.</p> <p dir="ltr">Madrid created a number of chances to pull one back, with Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo all threatening, but they were unable to beat goalkeeper Diego Benaglio for an important away goal.</p> <p dir="ltr">An injury to Karim Benzema added to a poor night for the visitors who came into the match following a 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Spanish league “clasico”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ironically, Wolfsburg have been struggling in the Bundesliga.</p> <p dir="ltr">Both sides meet again at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 12 for the second leg of their Champions League quarterfinal.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzo1f2eyHGxlAD51ptACwQ70Iaj1mSCs0z6RuyN5HUaMsXIv2SSWDv1tHUfLiGTJzta5e3OnltgPD9KFUcOH7SxW4ib7N_-jLThUaaAcOAn70ahcgrvaH_RDkc2OYWNwSzuM5_uxbxbdv/s1600/UEFA-Champions-League-UCL-300x162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzo1f2eyHGxlAD51ptACwQ70Iaj1mSCs0z6RuyN5HUaMsXIv2SSWDv1tHUfLiGTJzta5e3OnltgPD9KFUcOH7SxW4ib7N_-jLThUaaAcOAn70ahcgrvaH_RDkc2OYWNwSzuM5_uxbxbdv/s640/UEFA-Champions-League-UCL-300x162.jpg"> </a> </div>

UCL: Man City Draw Away As Wolfsburg Shock Madrid

Kevin De Bruyne and Fernandinho both scored to hand Manchester City a 2-2 first-leg draw at Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday . The two away...

link to this post

Aluko prostrated 3 times at peace meeting and called himself Fayose’s ‘boy’- Ex Ekiti 'Speaker'

<p dir="ltr">Dele Olugbemi, former factional speaker of the Ekiti state house of assembly, on Wednesday said he was the one who organized the now-doubted peace meeting between Tope Aluko, former secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti, and Ayo Fayose, governor of the state.</p> <p dir="ltr">Olugbemi (pictured, left) said Aluko Aluko prostrated for Fayose on three separate occasions during the meeting, calling himself Fayose’s “boy” and “son”, and willingly apologising to him.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said Fayose advised him to switch off his phone for two weeks to avoid any distraction after the meeting, adding that although the governor accepted the apology, he promised to keep Aluko under scrutiny for two weeks.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a statement issued on Wednesday, Olugbemi narrated what transpired at the meeting, explaining that “genuine concern for peace” made him bring both men together.</p> <p dir="ltr">THE FULL STATEMENT</p> <p dir="ltr">The existing cordial relationship between Aluko and myself brought us to a discussion that eventually led to the last Sunday April 3, 2016 meeting at Eko Hotel, Lagos.</p> <p dir="ltr">Before we agreed to meet in Lagos, I first suggested that the meeting should take place in Ekiti State Government House after the wedding of the niece of Governor Fayose but Aluko said he was not too comfortable with the arrangement because of fear that he might be arrested.</p> <p dir="ltr">I reassured him that the intention of the meeting was not to arrest, embarrass or humiliate him rather than to reconcile with Governor Fayose, whom he called his mentor.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the morning [of] Sunday, April 3, we agreed to meet in Lagos and I left Ekiti for Lagos. I got to Lagos at 12 noon; I lodged in a hotel at Magodo Area of Lagos.</p> <p dir="ltr">At 1 pm, Aluko called me to confirm my hotel room number and I gave it to him. Aluko called me back and promised to be with me within 20 minutes. Fifteen minutes later, he called me again, and I told him that I was barbing [sic] my hair at a salon in Magodo. He asked me to come out of the salon and we met. He came in a blue Ford Jeep together with his woman.</p> <p dir="ltr">I joined them in the car and we drove to my hotel room where Aluko stayed with me till 2 pm. He later instructed me to call the governor to ascertain the time and place of the meeting.</p> <p dir="ltr">I called the governor, he did not pick the call. I later called Chief of Staff to the Governor. The Chief of Staff told me to call either the ADC or CSO to the Governor for further directive. The CSO told us that the meeting will take place at the governor’s residence in Magodo at 7.30pm.</p> <p dir="ltr">I told Aluko but he was not too comfortable with venue of the meeting. He said if the meeting is about reconciliation, it should hold elsewhere and not the governor’s residence. I pleaded with the governor that the meeting should hold elsewhere as demanded by Tope Aluko, which the governor obliged.</p> <p dir="ltr">All these I was doing because I wanted the crisis to be totally resolved. Immediately we were told of a new venue for the meeting, Aluko left my hotel room for Victoria Island and promised to come back at 7pm. At 7.45pm, Aluko came back to meet me at my Magodo hotel. At 9pm, I called the governor to inform him of Aluko’s arrival. The governor asked if I was sure Aluko was with me and I said yes.</p> <p dir="ltr">The governor told to us to come to Eko Hotel and his friend will welcome us and that he would join us later. We drove in Aluko’s car, myself, a woman, a driver and my personal assistant.</p> <p dir="ltr">We got to the Eko Hotel at 9.50pm. We were taken to the hotel waiting room. Myself, Aluko, ADC, the governor’s friend entered the same lift to the fourth floor of the hotel.</p> <p dir="ltr">Inside the hotel room, we prayed and I opened the floor for discussion as agreed by Aluko. In my submission, I pleaded with the governor to forgive and forget about the previous comments and allegations made by Aluko against him since he is father to us all.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aluko interjected and said that I should allow him to lead the talk. He prostrated and I also prostrated along with him to beg the governor for total forgiveness.</p> <p dir="ltr">The governor asked Aluko four questions: whether he knew the implication of his coming to him; why he behaved in that manner; how old he was; and whether he wanted the reconciliation to be total or partial and he (Aluko) replied that he knew the consequence of coming to him and that if he did not want total reconciliation, he would not come to see the governor.</p> <p dir="ltr">At this point, Aluko stood up again, saying ‘my mentor, my leader, my egbon, I am your boy, you know, I am your boy. Whatever step I have taken before now, forgive me’. Aluko and myself prostrated again.</p> <p dir="ltr">The governor told him to stop fooling himself at 50 and since he allowed himself to be used by the APC at 50, what legacy will he leave for his children? The governor told him that the APC will react to the meeting and advised Aluko switch off his phones and rest for at least for two weeks to avoid counter allegations. The governor said that the APC will fire back at Aluko because of the money he had received from the APC to malign him.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aluko promised the governor to dismantle all the structure he had put in place to attack the governor. The governor said he had forgiven him totally and that he should go and sin no more.</p> <p dir="ltr">The governor told Aluko that he would call soon and that he would need to study him (Aluko) very well within two weeks because he could go out of the meeting and say something different.</p> <p dir="ltr">The governor also said it was better to let the press know that he had reconciled with Aluko to which he initially disagreed and later agreed to meet the press with the governor, and myself, which we did and the video recording is everywhere for the public to see.</p> <p dir="ltr">On Tuesday April 5, 2016, Aluko called me, sent a text message to me that things were falling apart as the party, and aide of the governor were attacking him. That he would renege on his promise. I advised him not to take any negative action or talk to the press if he wanted his already battered image to be rebuilt.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unfortunately, he did not listen to my advice and having come to deny what he willingly took part in, I have no option than to let the public know the true story.<br> Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_moyy2Upsw2W9ZKoKbCyOGeIdk_aeZvJJSmHnZqSYelD4lBY5y4Qbq-qDebhilM0grcg2vtrhwrXhxpCxI1JtPAfDsn2e9mpeJyRznAFTjWQheZnARtfhhwe3juM4URa2Z0MmNoRe21fK/s1600/IMG_20160406_222849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_moyy2Upsw2W9ZKoKbCyOGeIdk_aeZvJJSmHnZqSYelD4lBY5y4Qbq-qDebhilM0grcg2vtrhwrXhxpCxI1JtPAfDsn2e9mpeJyRznAFTjWQheZnARtfhhwe3juM4URa2Z0MmNoRe21fK/s640/IMG_20160406_222849.jpg"> </a> </div>

Aluko prostrated 3 times at peace meeting and called himself Fayose’s ‘boy’- Ex Ekiti 'Speaker'

Dele Olugbemi, former factional speaker of the Ekiti state house of assembly, on Wednesday said he was the one who organized the now-doubted...

link to this post

Buhari bans govt officials from flying first class

<p dir="ltr">President Muhammadu Buhari has banned ministers and all top government officials from flying first class while embarking on officials trips.</p> <p dir="ltr">Festus Akanbi, media adviser to Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">Akanbi said the decision was taken in a bid to reduce the amount being spent on overheard expenditure.</p> <p dir="ltr">The statement said permanent secretaries, chairmen of federal government committees, chairmen and chief executives of parastatals and agencies are to travel on business class.</p> <p dir="ltr">Akanbi said the directive had been captured in a circular on review of overhead expenses released by the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.</p> <p dir="ltr">He said the development was one of the recommendations made by the efficiency unit which was set up by Adeosun in order to reduce overhead expenses.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit:thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAsdK1P_SATw-eZSSEXpT9qJFA_0eekXdSz4kZFf70rUHcQrBOxk6Bmggpbi6AqoW4G-L4tgnGu_c9Hv5vwrGHlAgz05whoCzIDWT2dVjMNivZmp8Fzt7C7hx8DGm4JKIlInDp1UIztYd/s1600/IMG_20160406_222249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAsdK1P_SATw-eZSSEXpT9qJFA_0eekXdSz4kZFf70rUHcQrBOxk6Bmggpbi6AqoW4G-L4tgnGu_c9Hv5vwrGHlAgz05whoCzIDWT2dVjMNivZmp8Fzt7C7hx8DGm4JKIlInDp1UIztYd/s640/IMG_20160406_222249.jpg"> </a> </div>

Buhari bans govt officials from flying first class

President Muhammadu Buhari has banned ministers and all top government officials from flying first class while embarking on officials trips....

link to this post

Buhari set for China to sign ‘$2bn loan’

<p dir="ltr">President Muhammadu Buhari will visit China on Monday to sign a loan infrastructure projects deal worth about $2 billion.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though the exact figure for the loan is yet to be confirmed, the presidency and Chinese foreign affairs ministry confirmed the visit.</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to Reuters, Femi Adesina, the president’s special adviser on media and publicity said: “I can’t tell you how much until the day the loan will be signed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Both countries will also be signing some bilateral agreements to strengthen their relationship, that is all I can say now.”</p> <p dir="ltr">In February, financial and government sources said the loan could be as high a $2 billion, but officials have not provided an update since then.</p> <p dir="ltr">Nigeria has said it wants to raise about $5 billion abroad to cover part of its 2016 budget deficit which could be as high as 3 trillion naira ($15 billion).</p> <p dir="ltr">Buhari is yet to sign the 2016 budget, insisting he would have to go through the budget details – which was sent on Wednesday – ministry by ministry.</p> <p dir="ltr">Lu Kang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, had earlier said Buhari would visit China from April 11-15 to sign “cooperation agreements” and attend a business forum.</p> <p dir="ltr">In February, a Nigerian government official said when Kemi Adeosun, minister of finance, visits China, any loan deal she agrees on could be signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The finance minister, in the company of the central bank governor, is scheduled to be in China sometime next week to conclude negotiations on the $2 billion loan,” the official said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Adeosun had earlier said the country was looking for a loan with about 1.5 percent interest.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We looked at our debt profile and we recognised that one big problem is interest rate. So, we are going to try and borrow as far as possible externally,” she said at a KPMG forum in Lagos.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are borrowing first of all at the cheapest rates. So, multilateral loans are the cheapest.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If someone offers me 1.5 per cent over 20 years, I think I should take it. So, that is why we are going to the multilateral agencies first and thereafter concessional borrowing and also tap into the Eurobond market.”<br> Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNOfedJfeAcxl2vDuceLMCK9n6wFWzs6KBhmGrKI2ZTprIPxf3sNk9GVjl9Mm-ksvhROSvxYntufCsunJQuWR1RLjkPNhY5xd68ZNrXCbDKfErP__QqTE8tbz286YjXaJCZcr3f5P23v0/s1600/UPN-stalwart-advises-Buhari-to-sanction-defaulting-governors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNOfedJfeAcxl2vDuceLMCK9n6wFWzs6KBhmGrKI2ZTprIPxf3sNk9GVjl9Mm-ksvhROSvxYntufCsunJQuWR1RLjkPNhY5xd68ZNrXCbDKfErP__QqTE8tbz286YjXaJCZcr3f5P23v0/s640/UPN-stalwart-advises-Buhari-to-sanction-defaulting-governors.jpg"> </a> </div>

Buhari set for China to sign ‘$2bn loan’

President Muhammadu Buhari will visit China on Monday to sign a loan infrastructure projects deal worth about $2 billion. Though the exact ...

link to this post

Helen Price to Lead Coca-Cola’s Global Philanthropic Arm

<p dir="ltr">The Coca-Cola Foundation’s new leader is a familiar face and a proven ambassador for Coca-Cola.</p> <p dir="ltr">Helen Smith Price, a 23-year veteran of The Coca-Cola Company, will take charge of the company’s philanthropic arm on April 16, when she is promoted to president of the global Foundation as well as Vice President of Global Community Affairs for the company.</p> <p dir="ltr">Price has served as executive director of the Foundation since 2001. In this role, she managed the day-to-day operations including grant-making, financial reporting and regulatory compliance for domestic and international philanthropy. The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $820 million in grants around the world since its inception in 1984. Its primary points of emphasis now are women, water and well-being.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Helen’s longstanding commitment to serving the community and her proven success within The Coca-Cola Foundation make her an excellent choice for this role,” said Bea Perez, Coca-Cola’s Chief Sustainability Officer. “I am confident that under Helen’s leadership, the Foundation will continue to flourish and grow while strengthening communities around the world.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Prior to joining Coca-Cola, Price held roles in the tax and accounting departments at BellSouth Corp. and Arthur Andersen & Co. She was licensed as a certified public accountant in the state of Georgia. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Spelman College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Clark Atlanta University.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I am thrilled to have this opportunity to lead The Coca-Cola Foundation and shape the company’s philanthropic strategy,” said Price. “It’s an honor to be a part of an organization that has such a deep-rooted commitment to giving its talent, time and resources back to the community.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Price’s involvement in her hometown of Atlanta is extensive. She currently serves on the boards of the Woodruff Arts Center’s Alliance Theatre, The Villages at Carver Family YMCA, and the Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals. She also serves on the Nominations Committee for the United Way of Greater Atlanta, and the Corporate Contributions Council of The Conference Board.</p> <p dir="ltr">She will take over an organization that is instrumental in helping The Coca-Cola Company annually give back one percent of its prior year’s operating income. In 2015, for example, the Foundation distributed more than $84.5 million to benefit nearly 300 organizations in more than 70 countries and territories.</p> <p dir="ltr">Price succeeds Lisa Borders, who left Coca-Cola in March to become president of the WNBA.</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU7xuYMUDRN1JrR0PIZztBmERKOxYUODRviN7s0JajozWtj305Qi_UgM0sdhi7ea2iGSqVD8anFF5_NMqq1qpv5S0HmDaC5edN5mcAa4fIi4tgJJ0kueRuhk3CvX0HXdTOdX2yrLy1sIK/s1600/IMG_20160406_205819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU7xuYMUDRN1JrR0PIZztBmERKOxYUODRviN7s0JajozWtj305Qi_UgM0sdhi7ea2iGSqVD8anFF5_NMqq1qpv5S0HmDaC5edN5mcAa4fIi4tgJJ0kueRuhk3CvX0HXdTOdX2yrLy1sIK/s640/IMG_20160406_205819.jpg"> </a> </div>

Helen Price to Lead Coca-Cola’s Global Philanthropic Arm

The Coca-Cola Foundation’s new leader is a familiar face and a proven ambassador for Coca-Cola. Helen Smith Price, a 23-year veteran of The...

link to this post

FIFA President Denies Links With Leaked Panama Papers

<p dir="ltr">FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has denied wrongdoing after leaked Panama papers suggested he signed off on a contract with two businessmen who have since been accused of bribery by the FBI.<br> Hugo and Mariano Jinkis bought TV rights for UEFA Champions League football and immediately sold them on for almost three times the price.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 2006 contract was signed off by Infantino when he was a UEFA Director.</p> <p dir="ltr">Infantino says he is “dismayed” that his “integrity is being doubted”.</p> <p dir="ltr">News of the contract came to light after 11 million documents were leaked from the Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonseca.</p> <p dir="ltr">The offices of European football’s governing body were searched by Swiss police after ex-Secretary-General, Gianni Infantino was named in papers leaked from the Panamanian law firm.</p> <p dir="ltr">Meanwhile UEFA says it is giving police all relevant documents in its possession.</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit:Channelstv </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QDyWYU4-Txs/VwVdCE605sI/AAAAAAAAA-s/s1600/IMG_20160406_200102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QDyWYU4-Txs/VwVdCE605sI/AAAAAAAAA-s/s640/IMG_20160406_200102.jpg"> </a> </div>

FIFA President Denies Links With Leaked Panama Papers

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has denied wrongdoing after leaked Panama papers suggested he signed off on a contract with two businessme...

link to this post

Okonjo-Iweala: My mother was kidnapped because I told Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy

<p dir="ltr">Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, says her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped because she advised Goodluck Jonathan, former president, to remove fuel subsidy.</p> <p dir="ltr">In an interview with Le Monde, the 61-year-old economist said the fight against corruption was at the root of the kidnap, with the abductors demanding her resignation on live television.</p> <p dir="ltr">When asked what her failures and successes in the fight against corruption were, Okonjo-Iweala said: “Your answer would take a whole day.</p> <p dir="ltr">“On my first experience as minister, I wrote a book, Reforming the unreformable (ed. The MIT Press, 2012). For the second, it was really difficult. Nigeria subsidizes fuel. About $ 6.7 billion that it costs, we found that 1.5 billion was fraudulent.</p> <p dir="ltr">“One importer claimed that his boat was waging its oil while at the other end of the world, according to maritime classification society Lloyd’s Register Marine.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I told the president that we would stop paying. What happened? They kidnapped my mother, 83 years. During the first three days, their only demand was my resignation. I was supposed to go on television and announce my resignation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“This was one of the worst moments of my life. Can you imagine what happens in your head if you have to be responsible for the death of your mother?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I will not go into details, but you must understand that in a country like this… in the fight against corruption, we must be prepared to pay a personal price. My father asked me not to resign. The president asked me not to resign. At the end, everyone began looking for her, and the kidnappers released [her].”</p> <p dir="ltr">GOVERNORS DID NOT ALLLOW JONATHAN SAVE</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to dwindling oil prices, Okonjo-Iweala said state governors did not allow Jonathan save for the rainy day, yet they are the ones complaining today.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Some economists are very concerned for Nigeria, which could greatly suffer from the fall in oil prices. Others say the contrary, that its economy is strong enough to turn the corner.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Both are right. But one thing saddens me. When I was finance minister the first time, the volatility of oil prices, and therefore state resources, cost at least three points of growth in the country.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We then established a stabilization mechanism and opened an account for the oil surplus, which posted up to $22 billion. In 2008, when prices fell from 148 to $ 38 a barrel, no one has heard of Nigeria because the country was able to tap into this fund. And that, I am very proud [of].</p> <p dir="ltr">“When I returned to the department in 2011, there remained only $4 billion on this account while the price of oil was very high! I tried again to put money aside. The president agreed, but the governors did not accept.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I suffered a lot of attacks from them and now that the country would really need this account, these same people accuse me of not having saved! If Nigeria had been more careful, we would not be here today. It hurts me. We have the mechanism, we had the experience, but we were prevented to act.”</p> <p dir="ltr">CHILDHOOD HARDSHIP AND BIAFRAN WAR</p> <p dir="ltr">Okonjo-Iweala further spoke on her childhood and the hardship she experienced first-hand, during the Biafran war.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I grew up in a village in southern Nigeria where I grew up to 8 and a half years by my grandmother. My parents were scholarship students in Germany and did not have enough money to take me with them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I learned real life, fetching wood, water. At 5, I could cook. This life has given me strength and a strong character. The other experience from my childhood is the Biafran war (1967-1970). My parents lost everything. I knew what it was to have nothing more.”<br> Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI8T1zn3Aad_37b59zqVbHYp56b86UEY2lACL-iQNcu2FsTpF_RqMVb7-dnL2Mc0Ypp77g3xpTXhupJXw9UfiL0i8sKHBzIP_0z0PR3g-JV9Ff7-lm3KYqbYIEouhosGmqgxiT0QBMoUX/s1600/IMG_20160406_195139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI8T1zn3Aad_37b59zqVbHYp56b86UEY2lACL-iQNcu2FsTpF_RqMVb7-dnL2Mc0Ypp77g3xpTXhupJXw9UfiL0i8sKHBzIP_0z0PR3g-JV9Ff7-lm3KYqbYIEouhosGmqgxiT0QBMoUX/s640/IMG_20160406_195139.jpg"> </a> </div>

Okonjo-Iweala: My mother was kidnapped because I told Jonathan to remove fuel subsidy

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former minister of finance, says her 83-year-old mother was kidnapped because she advised Goodluck Jonathan, former pre...

link to this post

Pro-Saraki senators vow to resist impeachment

<p dir="ltr">Senators aligned Senate President Bukola Saraki say they will resist any attempt to impeach‎ him over his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking with journalists at the premises of the tribunal in Abuja on Wednesday, Ibrahim Abdulrafiu from Kwara south, described the senate president’s trial as mere persecution.‎</p> <p dir="ltr">‎‎“We have since discovered that the trial of the senate president is a mere attempt to blackmail him and make him look bad in the court of public opinion. No more, no less,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A dispassionate analysis of the proceeding of the CCT yesterday has pointed to the fact that the APC-led executive is still embittered against Dr Saraki over the manner of his election as the senate president.‎</p> <p dir="ltr">“This is why we are standing for the senate president and we will so do till the very end. We are doing this not for him but for the institution of the senate that he imminently represents. We will never allow any arm of government to rubbish the cherished autonomy of the senate.‎‎</p> <p dir="ltr">‎“For those calling for the impeachment of the senate president, we urge them to avail themselves of the provisions of the law relating to such a sensitive step. As far as we are concerned, there is nothing like that on the table, and if anybody is trying to import that from the outside of the Senate, God helps them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“All I know is that they will have to produce as many as a 100 senators to achieve that aim. As long as they don’t have the majority, the call is a tall dream that will remain a figment of the imagination of the groups and their sponsors.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Credit: thecablesng </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k1kXQlyZIGffsh2Z0XGGIfs6rM3Nk8FxzjmEg51z9dfXCjvbUxBrPJ-K6P7bEE06goEgskfL-jwWD_o9nUj46fO5hMnuPSGGUgqtUCiiOxvLC60V1jpbnK90qjiVyckaUx8lrjqQvR5E/s1600/wpid-bukola-saraki-senate-president-in-nigeria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k1kXQlyZIGffsh2Z0XGGIfs6rM3Nk8FxzjmEg51z9dfXCjvbUxBrPJ-K6P7bEE06goEgskfL-jwWD_o9nUj46fO5hMnuPSGGUgqtUCiiOxvLC60V1jpbnK90qjiVyckaUx8lrjqQvR5E/s640/wpid-bukola-saraki-senate-president-in-nigeria.jpg"> </a> </div>

Pro-Saraki senators vow to resist impeachment

Senators aligned Senate President Bukola Saraki say they will resist any attempt to impeach‎ him over his trial at the Code of Conduct Tribu...

link to this post

N13.5bn Arms Scam: Court Adjourns Dasuki’s Trial To May

<p dir="ltr">Again, the trial of a former National Security Adviser,  Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and four others before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court, Maitama, Abuja, met a brick wall on Wednesday, April 6, 2016  as  J.B. Daudu,  SAN,  the lead counsel to the first defendant, Dasuki,  sought a long adjournment to enable his client prepare for his trial<br> Dasuki, alongside Shuaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration, Office of the National Security Adviser; Aminu Babakusa, a former General Manager, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Acacia Holdings Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,  on a 19-count charge  bordering on money laundering and criminal breach of trust to the tune of N13, 570,000, 000.00(  Thirteen Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy Million Naira).</p> <p dir="ltr">The trial had been stalled at the last sitting due to the absence of the first defendant and his counsel.</p> <p dir="ltr">Dasuki, according to the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had flatly refused to appear in court at the last sitting on the grounds that his counsel won’t attend the day’s proceedings.</p> <p dir="ltr">At the resumed hearing today, Daudu filed an application seeking a long adjournment of the trial on the grounds that he had not had access to the first defendant, thereby preventing him from taking instructions from him and preparing for his trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The defendant needs the facilities to enable him have access to his documents in preparation for trial,’’ he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Daudu also prayed the court for an adjournment to enable the Appeal Court decide on the stay of proceedings before it.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, Jacobs, SAN, who was represented by Adebisi Adeniyi,  countered that the application for adjournment lacked merit.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to him, “The application lacks merit, as there is no proof before the court that the defendant was denied access to his counsel.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The mere fact that there is an application before the Appeal Court is not enough for my Lord to stay this proceedings, except there is an order from the Appeal Court to do so”, he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Consequently, Justice Baba-Yusuf ordered the prosecution to provide facilities for the first defendant to have access to his counsel during business hours between Monday and Friday.</p> <p dir="ltr">The matter was adjourned to May 3, 2016 for commencement of trial.</p> <p dir="ltr">Wilson Uwujaren<br> Head, Media & Publicity<br> 6th April, <u>201</u></p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vb0QgiJNxCLHfDHMrkMvLSJLCWH6uVgGV5UR8XoJafULZ5JKRVxWbaSr4wBhMQGp4KodZ2H9WXeTe0sAkwcv8RIHi_2TWfeaDbpLIUhT4dnSY8f6-aPObpnCs8onnAxdG1mfA8kc-PaX/s1600/DASUKI.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5vb0QgiJNxCLHfDHMrkMvLSJLCWH6uVgGV5UR8XoJafULZ5JKRVxWbaSr4wBhMQGp4KodZ2H9WXeTe0sAkwcv8RIHi_2TWfeaDbpLIUhT4dnSY8f6-aPObpnCs8onnAxdG1mfA8kc-PaX/s640/DASUKI.JPG"> </a> </div>

N13.5bn Arms Scam: Court Adjourns Dasuki’s Trial To May

Again, the trial of a former National Security Adviser,  Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.) and four others before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the ...

link to this post

Ekiti Works Commisioner, Kayode Oso Resigns

<p dir="ltr">The Ekiti state Government on Wednesday announced the resignation of the state Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Mr Kayode Oso.<br> The announcement was contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado Ekiti by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Modupe Alade.<br> According to the statement, Oso, known to be one of the closest political associates of Gov. Ayo Fayose, resigned on health grounds.<br> “Mr Kayode Oso has worked assiduously to add value to this administration going by his effort towards the development of our state. His letter of resignation has been fully accepted? by His Excellency, Mr Ayo Fayose.<br> Oso, in his notice to the governor, stated that he decided to resign to attend to his health challenges.<br> We wish him quick recovery, the Government of Ekiti State will stand by him while he overcomes his health challenges,” Alade said.<br> Oso, during the first term in office of Fayose, served as Chief of Staff to the governor and was later appointed works commissioner.<br> Oso, a native of Ado Ekiti, was again reappointed Works Commissioner on Oct. 16, 2014, soon after the governor was sworn-in for a second term.<br> (NAN)</p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1lLeWEtiuV_xJiyekaboAHMp76cH6Y51ik8Mv8_RTGU6S7oqAABrsIFkxodAIKLFMpKcLTDHWQKWVOhEnMCG2Bi_fi85rlFJzHMuy5Of0BgRt_hcFUC2G7-B5oy3YYNffIe6vPqSxNlq/s1600/IMG_20160406_192649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1lLeWEtiuV_xJiyekaboAHMp76cH6Y51ik8Mv8_RTGU6S7oqAABrsIFkxodAIKLFMpKcLTDHWQKWVOhEnMCG2Bi_fi85rlFJzHMuy5Of0BgRt_hcFUC2G7-B5oy3YYNffIe6vPqSxNlq/s640/IMG_20160406_192649.jpg"> </a> </div>

Ekiti Works Commisioner, Kayode Oso Resigns

The Ekiti state Government on Wednesday announced the resignation of the state Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Mr Kayode Oso. Th...

link to this post

FG Signs Agreement With Telecommunications Regulators

<p dir="ltr">The Federal Government and West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) on Wednesday in Abuja signed a Headquarter agreement on adopting a comprehensive framework for the regulation of telecommunications activities.<br> Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Communication, Mr Adebayo Shittu said WATRA was established by member states of ECOWAS.<br> WATRA is an organisation that consists of Independent National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and departments for regulation of telecommunications services established by governments of member-states in ECOWAS and Mauritania.<br> Its mission is to promote rapid and even development in telecommunications in West Africa toward attaining globally competitive standards while facilitating accelerated development of telecommunications infrastructure and provision of services at affordable rate in the sub region.<br> “The Federal Executive Council has given approval for Nigeria’s hosting of the headquarters of WATRA at its 5th meeting on April 13, 2015.<br> “What we are doing here today is to formalise what both the minister of justice and the federal executive council have started,’’ he said.<br> Shittu said that NCC did not only play a vital role in the establishment of WATRA but also hosted it and produced its executive secretary at two different occasions.<br> He said that the signing of the agreement had been vetted and approved by the Attorney General of the Federation and Ministry of Justice.<br> On his part, Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission of (NCC) appreciated the Federal Government for accepting to host WATRA as a regulatory body for the African Sub-region in Nigeria.<br> Danbatta said that the signing of the agreement would no doubt accelerate the process of designing and adopting a comprehensive framework for the regulation of telecommunications activities in the sub-region.<br> According to him, WATRA was conceived during an African Internet Summit (AFRINET) held in 2000 at ECOWAS Secretariat, Abuja, in the realisation that telecommunications development in West Africa required regional integration.<br> Danbatta said that WATRA was launched on Sept. 22, 2000 at the auditorium ECOWAS and “at the moment has 15 African countries as members’’.<br> “The crucial roles telecommunication play in the social, economic and political advancement of people and nations are clearly manifest hence the need to accord it the maximum attention required.<br> “So far, WATRA has been in the forefront of the campaign for infrastructure sharing (co-Location) services amongst member states.<br> “And has contributed to the development of policies to enhance universal access and telecoms penetration in rural and under-served areas in the sub-region.<br> “It is my hope that the signing of the Headquarter agreement will pave way for WATRA to achieve its set goals.<br> Mr Elhadji Laminou, the Executive Secretary of WATRA said that the the organization was set up to encourage the establishment of modern and regulatory structures for telecommunications service delivery in all states in the sub-region.<br> Laminou commended Federal Government and Ministry of Communication for the support in achieving this laudable agreement for the benefit of West Africa and Africa at large<br> Credit: omojuwa.com </p> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTRbgY0PTtpB7c2GiX7CKuNiXiUDjkMa5LCAcGo1JFQiK41sbNgnUmdtuxaLOiCfngftIvlSZZlcsfT_4na_rhT3W58NlUj_UWFEzKAvS-R7Z_3YiNMqHJ02H8vbezZChzwcgKyMvYyKv/s1600/Adebayo-Shittu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTRbgY0PTtpB7c2GiX7CKuNiXiUDjkMa5LCAcGo1JFQiK41sbNgnUmdtuxaLOiCfngftIvlSZZlcsfT_4na_rhT3W58NlUj_UWFEzKAvS-R7Z_3YiNMqHJ02H8vbezZChzwcgKyMvYyKv/s640/Adebayo-Shittu.jpg"> </a> </div>

FG Signs Agreement With Telecommunications Regulators

The Federal Government and West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA) on Wednesday in Abuja signed a Headquarter agreement o...

link to this post