A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
By Prince Osuagwu The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Wednesday warned telecom operators to desist from flouting the order banning sale of pre registered SIM cards or face stiff sanctions.
The Commission accused the operators and their agents of selling pre registered sims, despite the ban. According to the Director, Public Affairs, Mr Tony Ojobo, "despite regulations and directives against the sale and use of pre-registered SIM cards, Operators through their Dealers/Agents are still selling pre-registered SIM cards in several parts of the country".
Ojobo drew attention of the operators to the section 19 and 20 of the Nigerian Communications Commission (Registration of Telephone Subscribers) Regulations, 2011 saying the commission under the provisions of these sections of the Act, would not hesitate to mete out appropriate sanctions if this continued Sections 19 and 20 of the Act states that: 19.
(1) Any licensee who fails to capture, register, deregister or transmit the details of any individual or corporate subscribers to the Central Database as specified in these Regulations or as may be stipulated from time to time by the Commission is liable to a penalty of N200,000.00 for each subscription medium.
(2) A licensee who activates any Subscription Medium without capturing, registering and transmitting the personal information to the Central Database commits an offence and shall on conviction be liable to a fine of N200, 000.00 for each unregistered activated Subscription Medium. 20. (1) Any licensee who activates or fails to deactivate a subscription medium in violation of any provision of these Regulations is liable to pay a penalty of N200,000.00 for each unregistered but activated subscription medium.
(2) Where the Commission is satisfied that a body corporate is culpable, the Director, Chief Executive Officer, Manager or Secretary shall also be liable to pay a fine of N200, 000.00 unless, having regard to the nature of his functions in that capacity and to all the surrounding circumstances, he proves that-
(i) the offence was committed without his knowledge, consent or connivance; and
(ii) he took all reasonable precautions and exercised due diligence to prevent the Commission of the breach.
LAGOS-Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, yesterday, said it had licensed 11 additional international money transfer operators. The CBN named the operators as TRANS-Fast Remittance, Worldremit limited, UAE Exchange Center LLC, Wari limited, and Home Send S.C.R.L. Others are Small World Financial Services Group, Weblink International limited Cashpot limited, DT&T Corporation Limited and Corporation limited and Fiem Group LLC, and DBA Ping Express, CP Express limited.
The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, had earlier granted licenses to three certified operators -Western Union, MoneyGram and Ria. The granting of licenses to the three sparked off protest from money transfer operators which made the CBN open the door for more applications from prospective IMTOs jostling for the Nigeria market, and targeting huge dollar inflows from Nigerians in the Diaspora, who remit over $21 billion annually to national coffers. The annual Diaspora remittance to Nigeria is expected to hit $35 billion this year following the devaluation of the naira, which remains an incentive for Nigerians in Diaspora to send more dollars home.
The need to license new operators followed the exit of hundreds of international money transfer firms, after the CBN rolled out new guidelines stopping operations.
CBN in a statement signed by its acting Director Corporate Communication, Mr. Isaac Okorafor, said "In furtherance of efforts to liberalise the Foreign Exchange Market, ensure liquidity and make foreign exchange more readily available to low end users, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has licensed more International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) to operate in Nigeria. In line with the existing Guidelines on International Money Transfer Services in Nigeria (2014), the following IMTOs are now licensed to operate in Nigeria"
Before the new licenses were granted the CBN, had refuted claims that it has stopped the licensing of interested International Money Transfer Operators, IMTOs, in the country, stressing that it has not foreclosed the licensing of interested players in the IMTO space in Nigeria. The apex bank had observed that this claim is being made by some individuals in spite of its transparency in the licensing of the operators in Nigeria.
The statement had said: "interested applicants are required to forward their requests for licensing to the Director, Trade and Exchange Department of the CBN, in line with the CBN Guidelines on International Money Transfer Services in Nigeria (2014), which among other things, specifies the minimum technical and business requirements for various participants in the international money transfer services industry in Nigeria.
"The Central Bank of Nigeria remains committed to providing an enabling environment for international money transfer services in Nigeria. It is, however, important to emphasize that a prospective player shall first obtain the requisite licence to operate in Nigeria as an IMTO."
By Prince Osuagwu The Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Professor Umar Garba Danbatta, Wednesday approved the release of the commission's data from the ongoing Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards registration exercise to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
The commission said the approval was to complement Federal Government's effort at harmonizing biometric data captured by different agencies in the country, particularly as there had been earlier instruction to transfer validated data from SIM registration to NIMC.
Danbatta made the approval while receiving the Director General of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, who paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in Abuja.
"I would like to pledge our commitment to this cooperation between the NIMC and the NCC to ensure that we have a secure, reliable database containing biometric information for all Nigerians, which will definitely augur well for the security of the country among other benefits," he noted.
"So we are committed to this. We recognize the importance of this cooperation and I would like to stress the need to give it all the seriousness it deserves. I am happy that there's an MoU and there's also a Federal Government's directive, which would help in facilitating the data transfer," he added.
The EVC, however, called for the reinvigorating of the existing inter-agency committee handling the exercise in order to fast-track the peace-meal data transfer to NIMC. He promised that the data to be transferred to NIMC would be fully backed up to avoid any hitches in future.
Responding Aziz expressed a delight at the cooperation between the two agencies, said that the data transfer from NCC would also improve the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) exercise of the commission.
He said NIMC would use the NCC's data to assign NIM to Nigerians who were captured in the validated data received.
KADUNA-The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, known as Nigeria Shiite, Wednesday, warned of dire consequences should its leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, who has been in detention, dies or goes blind in custody.
El-zakzaky
The IMN also dismissed two lawyers, Sadau Garba and Bello Ibrahim, as impostors, saying they were having high dealings with the Department of State Services, DSS, on behalf of Zakzaky's family and IMN.
In a statement by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, in Kaduna today, IMN also challenged the Federal Government to arraign its leader in court, if it had any case against him.
The statement read in part: "We demand that our leader and his wife be released unconditionally without delay. It will be a tragedy of monumental proportions should our leader go blind in detention or suffer further physical disability due to him being denied access to adequate medical attention.
"We understand those that sanctioned his detention and those detaining him want to humiliate him and make sure that he goes completely blind before he is eventually released, thereby rendering him powerless the moment he is released from unconstitutional and illegal detention.
"The health of our leader and the wife continues to deteriorate on a daily basis and those holding him in custody are playing politics with his detention and that of his wife.
"We urge the Nigerian people and the international community to intervene in this crude violation of the fundamental rights of our leader."
… disowns lawyers, as DSS stooges
"The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, wants to make it clear that the said Sadau Garba and Bello Ibrahim can only be solicitors to the Department of State Services, DSS, with who they are in constant contact, and not that of the Movement or our revered leader.
"It is DSS that briefed the two, giving them access to their facilities, encouraging them to pose as solicitors to our revered leader and urging them to write letters begging DSS to release our leader on compassionate grounds.
"The Islamic Movement in Nigeria, therefore, makes it abundantly clear that Femi Falana (SAN) is the leader of the legal team and assisted by Festus Okoye (Esq.) and Maxwell Kyon (Esq.)."
Chelsea have completed the signing of Brazil international David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain for £38m (?45m).
The 29-year-old returns to Stamford Bridge just two years after leaving Chelsea, who opened talks with their ex-player on Tuesday.
Luiz has signed a contract after completing a medical in London.
Chelsea have also officially announced the signing of Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina while they also have the option of signing Aymen Abdennour on loan from Valencia.
Passengers of Aero Contractors Airline who have already booked and paid for their flight tickets were Wednesday, seen making frantic efforts to reclaim their money and luggage that have been checked in before the announcement that the airline is suspending its flight operation.
At the airline's counters at domestic terminal, there was no airline staff at the check -in and ticket counters and passengers were confused as there was nobody to speak to. Passengers who had come to board flights to Port Harcourt and Abuja were disappointed as there was no one to contact to get their refunds, as officials of the airline were no where to be seen.
Angry passengers whose flights were canceled and who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that they only got to know of the cancellation after they checked -in their luggage and collected boarding passes.
Passengers were seen moving from the ticket sales counters to the check-in counters and from there to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) at the first floor of the terminal, where they were later directed upstairs without solutions to their problem.
An elderly woman, who was affected by the impromptu cancellation, also said that she had already checked -in her luggage and the flight was to depart at 12noon and that she had been at the terminal since 10 am.
She also said that she only got to know about the cancellation after she had check-in and collected boarding pass.
She added that she has been at the terminal waiting for the flight to fly her and other passengers to their destinations at 12noon, when it was announced that the flight would take off at 1.30pm and subsequently cancelled the flight.
"How do I get my luggage and go back home now. I don't know anywhere and it was my people who dropped me in the morning and they left immediately .Now my luggage has been checked -in, how do I collect my luggage," she complained.
Some of the passengers numbering about 100, who had also checked-in their luggage for the Abuja and Port Harcourt flights were seen moving towards the arrival to proceed to the baggage reclaim area to collect their luggage.
At the baggage reclaim area, passengers were very angry and raining curses on Aero Contractors for allegedly knowingly selling tickets to passengers when the airline knew that it will not fly. The passengers were further angered by the disappearance of the officials of the airline from the counters to assist them in getting their refund.
By Prince Osuagwu (Hi-Tech Editor) & Emeka Aginam Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg who arrived Nigeria Tuesday unannounced, Wednesday, had a town hall meeting with Nigerian technology application developers in Lagos, charging them to look inwards for applications that can bolster the ailing economy.Mark Zuckerberg
Zuckeberg said that the best way to predict the future was to be creative, adding that there was no problem in the world that does not have application to solve it.
He confirmed that currently Nigeria hosts about 18 million Facebook users making it the largest country of Facebook users in Africa, saying that it was majorly instrumental to why he made Nigeria his first port of call in sub Saharan Africa.
The Town hall meeting which held at LandMark event centre Oniru, Victoria Island was not open to the media as Vanguard gathered that Zuckerberg insisted that the meeting was strictly between him and Nigerian tech application developers and engineers.
However, a viewing centre was opened in Eko Hotel and Suites where the town hall meeting was streamed live to the media. At the meeting, Zuckerberg reminded the local developers that there were a lot of things happening in the country they could use their applications to solve. "There are a lot of things happening around you that if you think deep, you’ll use apps to solve. All I can say is that you keep open minds and keep an eye on apps.
"The Eco system must keep developing. There are a few apps that are going to be built in years to come that are going to make things cheaper. That is my wish for Nigerian developers because the power to change things is in your hands.
Definitely the economy of Nigeria is not going to be built by companies like facebook. The reason I am here with you today is that you are already doing it with your initiatives and businesses. Facebook can always do our bit by providing the enablement and interactions like this that can spur you to do more. I believe that the ecosystem will erupt when you continue to learn new things and consistent in building new applications.
Expressing the respect he has for Nigeria as one of the countries in Africa with largest facebook users, Zuckerberg said: "There are about 18 million Facebook users in Nigeria. That is huge an enormous. It is for countries like Nigeria that we have been able to allow translation of our products in different languages and dialects. There are a lot of technicalities involved in making this translation and letting services go in different areas. But the most important thing is that we have been able to show the passion and concern we feel for our different customers around the world. We are also planning to allow more translation of facebook contents and applications in more dialects both in Nigeria and around the world"
The Nigerian event is his first developer question and answer,Q&A session in Africa and more than 100 of Nigeria’s top developers attended. The Q&A was part of a developer workshop being hosted in Lagos, to help Nigerian engineers build applications to reach local and international audiences. The workshop was one of a series to be held across Africa this past week, with others already having taken place in Johannesberg and Nairobi. During the Q&A Zuckerberg spoke to Nigerian developers about how excited he was to visit Nigeria and witness first- hand the creativity and innovation which is happening in places like Yaba.
Facebook’s Director of Global Product Partnerships, Ime Archibong, who hosted the developer conference, said: “When I came to Lagos back in May this year I was really struck by the energy of the tech scene here and by how many people were building. As someone with strong links to Nigeria, I’ve been trying to expose Mark to this ecosystem for a while so I am very excited for him to be able to come here and meet some of Nigeria’s top entrepreneurs and developers today.” Top Nigerian tech talented developers Zuckerberg met included:
Jobberman Jobberman was started from a dorm room at the Obafemi Awolowo University in August 2009 when owners,Opeyemi Awoyemi, Ayodeji Adewunmi and Lekan Olude, decided to do something about the high unemployment rate and started the largest catalogue of jobs in Nigeria.
Fast forward to 2016, it has become Africa’s largest jobs website and one of the most recognisable start up success stories on the continent. As Nigeria’s No.1 Recruitment website, it keeps people informed about the latest jobs in Nigeria, vacancies and recruitment opportunities. . In February 2012, Jobberman was named No. 8 in Forbes Magazine Top 20 Tech Start ups in Africa .
Balogunmarket.ng Balogunmarket.ng enables people to order things directly from one of West Africa’s biggest markets, Balogun Market in Lagos, using WhatsApp. The market traders, supply the goods and the ecornmerce team handle the logistics from their fulfilment hub located in the middle of the market where they provide free photography, tagging and last mile delivery services.
Truppr.com Truppr is a social tool that provides sports lovers and fitness enthusiasts alike with an easy way to find local fitness partners while on business trips, holidays or in a new city. If you are visiting a city and fancy joining people for a run or a game of football you can log on, see what is happening and join people already doing sports. The app was designed by Bosun Tijani, who also runs Co Creation Hub,(CCHub, after he realised it was hard for him to find people to play football with when he visited a new city.
Port Harcourt – Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers on Wednesday suspended four commissioners, Head of Service and Special Adviser on Lands for three months.
Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media Simeon Nwakaudu, announced this in a statement in Port Harcourt.
The governor did not, however, state the reason for the suspension in the statement.
According to Nwakaudu, the affected commissioners are Dr John Bazia, Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Tonye Briggs-Oniyide; Culture and Tourism, Fred Kpakol; Finance and Mr Boma Iyaye; Sports.
He said the Head of Service, Mr Rufus Godwin and Mr Anugbun Onuoha, Special Adviser on Lands were also affected by the suspension.(NAN)
By Henry Umoru ABUJA – MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Mallam Mohammad Musa Bello has been forced to approve a review of the 2016/2017 academic calendar for all primary and post primary schools in the FCT following the forthcoming Eid el Kabir celebrations.
According to the Minister, the review affects all public and private schools in the FCT.
In a statement by Assistant Director, Head of information Education Secretariat for Ag. Secretary for Education, FCTAAnthony Ogunleye, the reviewed calendar shows that first Term begins on Sunday, 18th September 2016 (for boarding schools) andMonday, 19th September 2016 (for day schools) and ends on Friday, 17th December 2016. Second Term begins on Sunday, 9th January 2017 and ends on Friday, 31st March 2017.
Third Term begins on Sunday, 23rd April 2017 and ends on Friday, 21st July 2017 All schools are enjoined to take note and comply.
According to him, FCT schools were hitherto scheduled to resume on Sunday, 4th of September 2016 for boarding schools and Monday 5th of September for day schools. However, the Eid el Kabir celebrations which are expected to take place in the second week of September orchestrated the review of the 1st term resumption date.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed Wednesday to step up efforts to send migrants with no right to asylum in Europe back to their homelands.
“All of us in Europe must work for the repatriation of those who do not have rights (to stay),” Renzi said after a meeting with Merkel in the home of the Ferrari sports car empire. “It is unthinkable that we can accommodate everyone.”
In comments pointing to a hardening of attitudes about how to resolve the migrant crisis reshaping politics across Europe, Merkel added: “Not everyone can stay, and Italy has the same problem, so we have a common agenda.
“Those who do not have the right to stay have to be repatriated,” she said.
The German leader was speaking a year to the day after she won praise and criticism in equal measure for signalling an open door policy on refugees by declaring “we can do this” in relation to people fleeing the conflict in Syria.
She said Wednesday that she stood by the expression.
“I’m convinced it was the right phrase,” she said, striking a less contrite tone than she had adopted in an interview with German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung that was published on Wednesday.
“There are political issues that one can see coming but don’t really register with people at that certain moment,” Merkel was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
“And in Germany, we ignored both the problem for too long and blocked out the need to find a pan-European solution.”
From: Kingsley Omonobi Abuja – The Nigerian Army said Wednesday that its troops of 222 Battalion, 4 Brigade Nigerian Army involved in the field training exercise of Operation Crocodile Smile continued conducting patrols and raids in Delta State on Wednesday and arrested five suspected militants.
The Army in a statement said “Today (Wednesday), the troops carried out patrols through Edje-Ewu-Opere waterside and Araya communities in Ughelli South and Isoko South Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Delta State.
“As part of the training programme, the exercising unit would continue to dominate the general area with patrols and raids of reported or suspected hideouts of criminals.
” Reconnaissance is also ongoing to detect the site of economic sabotage on NPDC/shoreline pipeline along Ogor-Oteri swamps in Ughelli South and Ughelli North LGAs by some criminals. “Similarly, following intelligence report, a robust patrol team was dispatched to raid suspected criminal hideouts at Ehweru community in Ughelli North LGA this morning.
“The team was able to track down and arrested hoodlums known for terrorizing commuters plying the East-West road between Ughelli to Patani. SUSPECTS
“The patrol team arrested 5 suspects who include Messrs Oruno Egbede, Atiyoyo Rewemuesere, Peter Kehinde, Wilson Godbless and Friday Odede.
“They also recovered Locally made gun, 1 dagger and a cutlass from the suspects.
Continuing the statement said “At about 3.45am earlier on Wednesday, another patrol team of the unit raided house number 4, Temile Street off Egor road in Ughelli, which served as the residence of Mr. Gabriel Ogbudje (a supposedly ex-militant leader) and now leader of the Otugas Fire Force (a new militant group in the Niger Delta).
“Although still at large, he is suspected to be responsible for the recent acts of economic sabotage perpetrated at NPDC/shoreline major delivery trunk line within Ogor-oteri communities on 29th August 2016.
“However, Messrs Vincent Ekeke and Henry Koko alongside Mrs. Rachael Abbah and Mrs. Amaratefa Odada found at the residence were invited for questioning, while efforts are ongoing to track down the wanted suspect.
“The troops will continue to maintain vigilance, carry out raids and patrols as part of the training exercise in the general area as part of their routine activities to improve proficiency and professionalism.”
Chelsea have agreed terms to re-sign Brazil defender David Luiz from Paris Saint-Germain, the two clubs announced on Wednesday.
Luiz was sold by Premier League Chelsea to French side PSG for a world record fee for a defender when he joined the French club for £50 million ($65 million, 58 million euros) in 2014.
But the 29-year-old was in danger of losing his place to compatriot Marquinhos this season and, with new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte desperate for defensive reinforcements, the Blues have agreed to bring him back to Stamford Bridge for a reported £32 million.
“Chelsea Football Club and Paris Saint-Germain have agreed terms for the transfer of David Luiz back to London,” a statement on Chelsea’s website read, similar to PSG’s own statement.
“The move is now subject to him agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.”
World number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic reached the third round of the US Open without swinging his racquet on Wednesday when scheduled opponent Jiri Vesely pulled out injured.
Serbia’s Djokovic won by walkover when left forearm inflammation prompted Czech Vesely — who inflicted a rare defeat on Djokovic on the claycourts at Monte Carlo in April — to withdraw prior to the afternoon second round clash scheduled for the Arthur Ashe stadium court.
Djokovic will face either Guido Pella of Argentina or Mikhail Youzhny of Russia for a place in the fourth round.
Buhari presides over FEC meeting in State houseBuhari presides over FEC meeting in State house.L-R: Minister of Information Lai Mohammed, Minister of Science & Technology Barr. Adebayo Shittu and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami at the Statehouse, 31st Aug 2016.PRESIDENT BUHARI PRESIDES OVER AUG 31 FEC 3. R-L; President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SGF Engr Babachir David Lawal and NSA Major General Babagana Mongonu as President presides over August 31 2016 Federal Executive Couincil (FEC) Meeting held at the Council Chamber of the State House in Abuja.L-R- Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun, Minister of State Budget & National Planning Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Women Affairs Aisha Alhassan, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and Minister of Environment Amina Usman Mohammed. 31st Aug 2016
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of a substantive Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and two Executive Directors for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC).
Joseph Chiedu Ugbowho was in an acting capacity is now the substantive Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the company.
Others are Mallam Babayo Shehu, Executive Director (Finance and Administration) and Engr. Ife Oyedele, Executive Director (Engineering and Technical Services).
A statement signed by Bolaji Adebiyi, Director (Press),Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said Mr. Ugbo is a legal practitioner and infrastructure regulations specialist with extensive experience in electricity industry reform and privatization.
“He has Bachelor and Master of Law Degrees from the University of Lagos and was admitted to practice Law in Nigeria in 1991. For over 15 years, he provided legal advisory services to public sector power entities including legal support to erstwhile National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and to the Bureau of Public Enterprises during the privatization of the twenty successor companies of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
“Mallam Babayo Shehu has a First Class Honours Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. Mallam Babayo Shehu began his working career with Bauchi State Development Board in 1981. He was in banking from 1987 to 2003 and thereafter joined the federal public service in 2003 and was in the service from 2003 to 2014.
“Engineer Oyedele graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, Electrical Engineering from the University of Lagos in 1982. He is a member, Nigerian Society of Engineers and Institute of Directors. Between 1982 and 1992, Engineer Oyedele worked in both the public and private sectors. He established his own company, Messrs Matcom Limited in 1992. He is the Managing Director of the company until his new appointment”
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor As emphasis on capital expenditure by the Federal Government begins to yield positive results with investment/GDP ratio increasing, the GDP growth rate of the Nigerian economy is likely to beat the IMF prediction of -1.8% for the full year 2016, the Ministry of Budget and National Planning has indicated.
Although the recent data released from the National Bureau of Statistics shows that the GDP declined by -2.06% in second quarter, the Budget and Planning Ministry noted that the picture that emerges points to the fact that agriculture and solid minerals sector, the areas given priority by the Federal Government are beginning to respond to policy initiatives.
The Ministry, in a release, stated that though the inflation rate remains high, the good news is that the month-on-month rate of increase has fallen continuously over the past three months.
For the rate of unemployment which still remains high, it explained that the unemployment issue is of a structural nature and is usually the case during growth slowdowns. It is expected that the social safety net initiative will slow down the unemployment rate before the end of the year.
According to the Ministry, past vulnerabilities of the economy combined with the short term effect of the structural changes complicates the trajectory of growth and inflation, pointing out that this formed the basis for negative growth in Q1 and Q2.
However, the rest of the Q2 data is beginning to tell a different story. There was growth in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors which are the areas in which the Federal Government has placed priority. Agriculture grew by 4.53% in the second quarter of 2016 as compared with 3.09% in the first quarter. The metal ores sector showed similar performance with coal mining, quarrying and other minerals also showing positive growth of over 2.5%. Notably also, the share of investment in GDP increased to its highest level since 2010, growing to about 17% of Gross Domestic Product.
It indicated that the manufacturing sector, though not yet truly out of the woods, is beginning to show signs of recovery while the service sector similarly bears watching; as it disclosed that available data already shows a reduction in imports and an increase in locally produced goods and services.
The Ministry is optimistic that the trend will be maintained, although it will start off slowly in the initial stages before picking up later. Explaining the GDP decline in the second quarter, the Ministry said a close look at the data reveals that the outcome was mostly due to a sharp contraction in the oil sector due to huge losses of crude oil production as a result of vandalism and sabotage; but it quickly added that there is room for optimism that the recent commitments to stop attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta will help to resolve this situation, while also improving government revenues.
This, It added, would however be a temporary solution in the sense that it still promotes the weak economic structure of the past which it said manifested in two ways – the over-reliance on crude oil and the country's economy being mainly consumption driven with a high import propensity. With crude oil contributing 8-12% of GDP and up to 50-53% of the non-oil sector dependent on the oil sector, it is clear that the fortunes of up to 60% of the Nigerian economy rested on a volatile sector. This shaky foundation was masked in the past by high oil prices and reasonably high foreign reserves.
Again with the availability of foreign exchange it was possible to drive growth in national income through consumption without feeling the fallout of such structural weaknesses.
These vulnerabilities were exposed when oil prices collapsed at a time the country did not have adequate revenues and reserves to cushion the effect, a situation further complicated by loss of production.
It drew attention to the fact that the situation which pointed to the need for difficult but necessary structural reforms necessitated Federal Government's move to improve public financial management and change the structure of the economy through diversification and an investment driven model.
The Federal Government therefore took policy actions to promote sectors like agriculture, solid minerals, manufacturing and services and to boost public and private investment in infrastructure and housing. It also acted to remove supply constraints with regard to foreign exchange and the supply of premium motor spirit while encouraging the private sector to add value to crude oil through refineries, petrochemical plants, fertilizer plants and gas infrastructure.
In an attempt to maintain consumption demand in the short term, the Federal Government also assisted States to pay salaries and to encourage a private sector supply response by bringing about improvements in the ease of doing business.
LOKOJA- The 22nd edition of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) sport competition, kicked-off on Wednesday, in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital following the unveiling of the tournament trophy.
Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mahmud Mohammed
The CJN, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, who unveiled the trophy at the Kogi state High Court, assured the organisers of the support of the judiciary.
Mahmoud who was represented by Justice Suleiman Galadima of the Supreme court said the bench was happy to host the tournament in the state because it has one of the best judiciary in the country.
He noted that the judiciary in the state was scandal free, saying he was convinced that the tournament would be hitch free.
Mahmoud also noted that the preparation put into the competition by the state government would make it to be one of the best organised in the history of the competition.
The Kogi state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, said the tournament would further strengthen the oneness of the judiciary in the country.
Ajana, who spoke through Justice Henry Olusuyi, said stars would emerge from the competition.
He said the tournament which formed part of recreational opportunities for the bench would also foster unity among the judiciary.
The Kogi state commissioner for sports and youth development, Arome Adoji, said the state was ready for the competition, adding that adequate security measures had been made for the participants.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has agreed to release the commission's data from the ongoing Subscriber Identification Mode (SIM) cards registration exercise to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC).
Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, stated this when he received the Director-General of NIMC, Mr Aliyu Aziz, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
He said that the release of the data to NIMC was to give a boost to efforts of the Federal Government toward harmonising biometric data capturing by different agencies in the country.
Danbatta said the decision to release the data was in line with government directive to transfer validated data to sister agencies.
“I will like to pledge our commitment to this cooperation between the NIMC and the NCC to ensure that we have a secure and reliable database containing biometric information for all Nigerians.
“The data will definitely augur well for the security of the country among other benefits. So, we are committed to do this.
“We recognise the importance of this cooperation and I will like to stress the need to give it all the seriousness it deserves.
“I am happy that there's a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and also there is Federal Government's directive which would help in facilitating the data transfer,''he said.
Danbatta , however, called for the reinvigorating of the existing inter-agency committee handling the exercise in order to fast track the peace-meal data transfer to NIMC.
He further said that NCC would ensure that the data transferred to NIMC would be fully backed up to avoid any hitches in the future.
Responding, the NIMC boss expressed delight at the cooperation between the two agencies, adding that the data transfer would also improve the ongoing National Identification Number (NIN) exercise of the commission.
He said NIMC would use the data to assign NIM to Nigerians who were captured in the validated data received.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that inter-agency and other stakeholders' collaboration is a key component of the 8-Point Agenda unveiled in February by NCC.
adidas will present a unique experience for its Lagos based fans by hosting its inaugural Fan day. This will be an opportunity for football fans of the world's leading clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea FC and Real Madrid to purchase authentic home and away jerseys for the 2016/2017 season.
Following the launch of the new kit in July 2016, there has been widespread anticipation on the arrival of the authentic products to Nigeria, where these international football giants enjoy massive support from fans in their millions.
Focusing on the need to ensure that Nigerian supporters of these clubs, and fans of the brand enjoy the latest season's kit, adidas recently shipped in its latest stock to meet the growing demand for the product in Nigeria.
In addition to the football jerseys, some of the latest adidas products available in Nigeria include PureBOOST X running shoes for women, UltraBOOST in new color ways for women, Superstar Originals footwear and adidas Stan Smith footwear, name a few.
The limited 2016/17 season football jerseys are available in various sizes only at adidas franchise stores at Lekki12E Admiralty way, Lekki Phase 1, and Ikeja City Mall in Lagos.
Commenting on this development, CEO, Mopheth Sports and adidas retail partner in Nigeria, Kunle Oyegade said
"Fan day is a great opportunity for Nigerian superfans of the game to secure their authentic football jerseys, at the beginning of the season. We are excited to offer the fan what they want, be it football or the latest style product"
Fans of Manchester United, Chelsea FC and Real Madrid will get exclusive invites for a one-time opportunity to shop limited home and away kits of their favorite at designated adidas stores from Saturday, September 3, 2016. Fans will also go home with special gifts on purchase made. To get invite, interested fans are to register at http://goo.gl/UhJ5OF
Aero Contractors Airlines on Wednesday said that it would suspend all its scheduled services indefinitely from Thursday Sept. 1.
The airline's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Fola Akinkuotu, said in a statement in Lagos that the management decision was part of the strategic business realignment to reposition the airline and return it to the path of profitability.
He said that all staff directly and indirectly involved in providing the services, would also proceed on indefinite leave of absence.
“This business decision is as a result of the current economic situation in the country, which has forced some other airlines to suspend operation or outrightly pull out of Nigeria.
“In the case of Aero, the airline has faced grave challenges in the past six months, which impacted its business and by extension the scheduled services operations,'' he said.
Akinkuotu said the impact of the external environment had been very harsh on the airline's operational performance, hence the management's decision to suspend scheduled services operations indefinitely effective Sept.1, 2016.
“This suspension is pending when the external opportunities and a robust sustainable and viable plan is in place for Aero Contractors to recommence its scheduled services.
“The implication of the suspension of scheduled services operations extends to all staff directly and indirectly involved in providing services, as they are effectively to proceed on indefinite leave of absence during the period of non-services.
“We are aware of the impact this will have on our staff and our highly esteemed customers, hence we have initiated moves to ensure that we are able to return back to operations within the shortest possible time, offering reliable, safe and secure operations,'' he said.
Akinkuotu said that both internal and external environmental factors had made it difficult for the airline to continue its scheduled services, leading to the management's decision.
He recalled that, as part of its resolve to ensure the airline survived, unlike most other carriers that experienced short life span in the country, Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) had appointed Mr Adeniyi Adegbomire as Receiver Manager in Feb. 6, 2016.
Akinkuotu also noted that since AMCON's intervention in Aero Contractors in 2011, it had provided support for the airline to meet working capital requirements and fleet expansion.
When NAN correspondent visited the airline's counter on Wednesday, the ticket counters at the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal (MMA2) were empty.
A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
Abuja – The Presidency has listed the gains of President Muhammadu Buhari's participation in the just concluded Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) to include the billions of dollar to be injected into African economies by Japan.
A statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by Malam Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the president, said the Japanese Government had pledged to expend 40 billion dollars to boost the African economies in the next four years.President Buhari as he departs Nairobi Kenya for Abuja after participating at the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi Kenya
He gave the breakdown of the amount as 10 billion dollars to be injected in the next 12 months while the remaining 30 billion dollars would be expended over a three-year period on areas key to African economies, targeting infrastructures such as roads, energy, ports, hospitals and training institutions.
According to him, the TICAD seeks a win-win partnership between Japan and Africa.
He added that a key objective of the conference was to build up African ownership of its own vision of growth and development.
“In furtherance of this, Japan seeks to differ with the other players on the continent by placing emphasis on high quality infrastructure that do more than job creation by transferring technology through the training of youth and women.''
According to Shehu, for Nigeria in particular, the conference’s milestones include the important meeting between President Buhari and Prime Minister Abe, at which event problems militating against the inflow of Japanese investment into Nigeria were discussed and agreed upon.
He said, “Japanese companies had done a lot by way of investment in the past in Nigeria but there has noticeably been a drop in the last decade or two. Chiefly to blame is the problem of security, disguised in official discussions as `business environment.”
He stated that President Buhari used the meeting effectively in giving assurances that the problem was being addressed.
“Boko Haram terrorism is nearly gone and sabotage in the Niger Delta will soon be ended preferably through dialogue and if not, by force of arms.
“Coming into close personal contact for the second time, the two leaders discussed the issues of trade and investment, health, peace and development of the continent.
“In addition, they discussed issues in diplomacy and international relations.
“President Buhari’s statement at the Head of States’ round table meeting with business leaders underscored the serious efforts government is making to improve Nigeria’s notoriously bad business environment.
“At this meeting, he announced the coming into place of a soon-to-be inaugurated “Presidential Enabling Business Council, PEBEC.”
“He described it as an inter-ministerial council to oversee the efforts of government to remove various bottlenecks that stifle business and economic activity to give way to the right enabling environment and investment climate in Nigeria.
“It will be powered by the government but will be private-sector driven.
“According to its vision, the PEBEC will make Nigeria one of the most attractive business destinations in the world.
“It will start with the modest effort of moving the country up 20 points in the World Bank ranking in the ease of doing business in the first year, taking it into the top 100 at the end of the four-year mandate of the current administration.
Shehu announced that the third takeaway was on the sidelines of the TICAD where the Nigerian government delegation met a good number of big Japanese enterprises.
He said, “collectively and individually, these businesses expressed their intention of either coming in newly or expanding their participation in Nigeria’s private sector.
“The companies with varied interests in power, agriculture, automobile, motor cycles, textiles, financing and the service sector included the Honda Manufacturing (Nigeria) Limited, representing Honda Motor Co. Ltd; Japan Tobacco Inc., Marubeni Corporation and Mitsubishi Corporation.
“Others included Toyota Tsusho Corporation, Toyota Tsusho (Nigeria) Ltd., an affiliate of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, West African Seasoning Co. Ltd., affiliate of Ajinomoto Co. Inc., and Japan External Trade Organization, JETRO''.
He stated that at these meetings, they explored the scope for the incentive packages the Nigerian government would give them to deepen and expand their investments.
He said that these included export rebates, access to Foreign Exchange, land, interest rates, transparency in business regulation and favourable regulatory structure.
Shehu said the fourth important takeaway of the conference was the formation of a new group KENSA made up of industry leaders on the continent, Kenya representing East Africa, Egypt for North Africa, South Africa for the South and Nigeria, from West Africa.
The Presidential aide said the fifth takeaway of the conference was that Nigeria and Kenya seized the opportunity of the meeting of their leaders to strengthen bilateral relations and follow up on the achievements of the State Visit to Nairobi by President Buhari, earlier this year.
“From the time of the visit, both countries have seen a growing impetus for trade and investment between them.
“Kenya which discovered oil lately is picking lessons from Nigeria’s vast experience in oil and gas.
“Nigeria is learning from Kenyan experience in managing animal grazing.
“There are efforts on both sides to share experience and promote private sector participation in trade, cooperatives, micro finance, cotton farming and palm oil processing.
Shehu disclosed that under the auspices of the Bank of Industry and the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC0), several memoranda of understanding were signed between Nigerian parties and their foreign counterparts.
“From many of these, investments and jobs would follow.''
He noted that the conference was significant in the sense that this was the first time it took place in Africa.
“They met in Japan all the time in the past.''
According to him, another significant departure is the recognition of the role of the private sector in the economic take-off of the continent.
“In this respect, more than 100 Chief Executive Officers, CEOs from leading Japanese companies accompanied Prime Minister Abe.
“This is a clear indication that more and more Japanese companies are eying the African continent.
“A modest number of Nigerian business and state-owned enterprises were equally present.''
The TICAD was being held every five years from the time it started in 1993 until the last one in 2003 when it was decided that it should be convened every three years instead.
On the President’s delegation were the Ministers of Agriculture, Health, Budget and National Planning, and Industry, Trade and Investment.
There were also the National Security Adviser (NSA), and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA).
“Members of the delegation expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the conference and the side engagements,'' Shehu said.
Abuja – The Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has assumed duty following his arrival in Uyo on Tuesday in preparation for the AFCON 2017 qualifying match against Tanzania on Saturday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the encounter which is best described as a “dead rubber'' is Rohr's first official assignment as Eagles technical adviser.
The Eagles and their Tanzanian counterparts failed to qualify for the competition after Egypt picked the sole qualification ticket from the group.
Chad had withdrawn from the qualifiers over financial difficulties and thereby making Nigeria walk a tight rope following a 1-1 draw with Egypt in one of the qualifiers in Kaduna.
Rohr would use the encounter as a test match for the Super Eagles' 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Zambia on October 3.
Cameroon and Algeria are the other teams drawn alongside Nigeria and Zambia in Group B.
Super Eagles Media Officer Toyin Ibitoye the 24 invited players had yet to arrive in camp as at Tuesday night.
Ibitoye said that the usual morning and evening training session had begun as Rohr had resolved to build a formidable squad for the country ahead of future international engagements.
According to him, Belgium based Moses Simon and Slovakia based Kingsley Madu will arrive on Wednesday, while Wolves goalkeeper Carl Ikeme will arrive on Thursday.
“The players are in high spirit owing to the fact that they have a new technical adviser,” Ibitoye said.
Majority of the players failed to report to camp on Monday following cancellation of ARIK airline flight and hours of delays.
Professor Chiweyite Ejike, the deputy chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, in this interview, spoke on the centrifugal issues that give rise to Igbo marginalization and agitations for Republic of Biafra among others.
rofessor Chiweyite Ejike, the deputy chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT,
On alleged marginalization of Ndigbo by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration
The issue of marginalization had been a constant theme in discussions of the dividends of governance in Nigeria since Independence in 1960. At any point in time, it has been either the North or the South claiming marginalization in the distribution of government amenities and services and blaming it on the government in power while suggesting that the zone or region producing the Head of Government is being favoured.
Many a time, one can say that there is no smoke without fire. There is no denying the fact that favouritism, nepotism and related unwholesome practices are part of the second nature of most Nigerians. In the current situation, it is important that we work with the knowledge and understanding that marginalization form part of the general problem of bad governance in the Nigerian polity.
What is necessary is that we should fight marginalization not by pointing accusing fingers at any party, government or ethnic group, but by undertaking a proper study of the genesis, causes and empirical proof of this phenomenon both as it had played out in the past and as it is now being practiced under the current APC government at the centre and one might add, in almost all the state and local governments of the country.
Thereafter, we should be able to proffer ways and means of providing remedies for this negative aspect of our national governance.
The Igbo Leaders of Thought had in the past discussed this and other related national challenges at several of its Focus Group meetings. In summary, what we are saying is that, first, we need to be fully informed about the remote and the immediate causes of marginalization of Ndigbo.
Secondly, the external and internal socio-economic and political dimensions of this fact of marginalization must be tackled.
Thirdly, the need to evolve a viable road map with which to act in rectifying this deficiency. For the time being, the immediate reaction recommended is to realize that we (Igbo) as a people had fallen short of our expected role in preparing our people to take on the challenge of appropriate positions and role in the national theatre of operations in Nigeria. We must therefore, through our individual and corporate efforts, serious and determined good governance of the various states, initiate emergency action-plans and programmes that would enable us stand out as a beacon of excellence in Nigeria.
That way, we would legitimately demand and fulfil the responsibilities and duties expected of us and claim the reward that Ndigbo deserve considering their past and present investments in the founding and nurturing of the Nigerian nation over the past 100 years.
There is the opinion that Biafra agitations are being fuelled by extreme marginalization of Ndigbo in the country's political and core professional appointments. Is this so and what have the ILT done in this direction?
We are living in an age of grave circumstances. Protests are accepted in the world over as modulating techniques for keeping any given democracy on a steady keel. The danger, however, is that what normally starts up as peaceful protests could readily escalate into violence especially if not well led and if met with disproportionate police action.
As for the nascent militancy in the South-East, the ILT would like to remind the nation that the constitution guarantees freedom of expression manifested in lawful protest(s) as a fundamental right. The solution to this serious development of Pro-Biafra demands is that we approach it with standard conflict resolution strategies accepted by the civilized world and directed by rules of engagement prescribed for such levels of national difficulties. What is required is not necessarily strong-arm response but consultations and dialogue aided by peaceful negotiations.
Nigerian midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim has arrived in Belgium ahead of a switch to KAA Gent this week.
Rabiu Ibrahim
The 25-year-old is expected to undergo a medical before joining up with The Buffalos on a long-term deal.
Details of the contract, at this time, remain sketchy until the attacking midfielder finalises the move.
Ibrahim, a member of Nigeria's senior men's national team, has spent the last two seasons with Slovakian side AS Trencin where he has played a role in winning two league and Cup titles.
The midfielder enjoyed early success in his career when he joined up with Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon at the age of 17 after winning the Fifa Under-17 World Cup in South Korea with Nigeria.
Unfortunately Ibrahim could not thrive at Sporting Lisbon considering he was still young and he would later move to PSV Eindhoven, Celtic and Kilmarnock, all brokered by his English representative, Tony Harris.
Ibrahim, who was named among the world's top 50 most exciting talents in the sport a few years back, has made more than 40 appearances during his time at Slovakian champions AS Trencin.
Seven-time Nigeria champions Enyimba say they are satisfied with current head coach, Paul Aigbogun.
The former Warri Wolves gaffer has come under intense scrutiny in recent months for what some fans of the club have termed an underwhelming season.
Paul Aigbogun
The fans have voiced their discontent over the club's failure to progress past the group stage of this year's CAF Champions League but the People's Elephant are still in contention in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the Federation Cup.
Enyimba chairman, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, says he has had no reason to question the credentials of Aigbogun.
"We (Enyimba) have not been given any reason to show dissatisfaction with the work of Aigbogun.
"He has been given a free hand to do his job to the best of his knowledge.
"People are free to speculate that Aigbogun will be sacked but I don't know where those stories are emanating from. "There is nothing from our end to suggest that Aigbogun will be sacked at the end of the season.
"Aigbogun is doing a good job and he needs to be encouraged also.
"Enyimba never presses the panic button and we will not start doing at at this stage," he told supersport.com. Meanwhile, Aigbogun has declared that he was never worried about the prospect of getting the sack at Enyimba.
"I have never had a problem with the chairman or the board since I took over.
"I admit that there are times this season when things did not go according to script for me but there has been a lot of mutual respect between all parties and no one has ever talked about sacking me," he said.
Aigbogun replaced veteran trainer Kadiri Ikhana at the start of the season.
Franco-German Gernot Rohr took charge of the Super Eagles, for the first time yesterday as the team began training sessions ahead of Saturday's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations match against Tanzania.
Rohr and a number of players could not fly to Uyo from Lagos on Monday as Arik airline eventually cancelled their flight after many hours. But the entourage landed in Uyo just after noon on Tuesday.
On arrival at the team's Le Meridien Hotel, Coach Rohr had a meeting with his assistants, backroom staff and players present, before the evening's training session at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium.
In camp as at Tuesday evening were Skipper Mikel John Obi, assistant captain Ahmed Musa, goalkeepers Emmanuel Daniel and Ikechukwu Ezenwa, defenders Musa Muhammed, Chidozie Awaziem, Abdullahi Shehu, Jamiu Alimi, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong and Elderson Echiejile, midfielders Ogenyi Onazi, Wilfred Ndidi and Nosa Igiebor and forwards Brown Ideye, Imoh Ezekiel, Kelechi Iheanacho, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo and Victor Osimhen.
Team administrator Dayo Enebi Achor confirmed to thenff.com that Belgium -based Moses Simon and Slovakia -based Kingsley Madu will arrive today. The delegation of Tanzania's Taifa Stars is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday, while the match officials will jet in on Thursday.
Marc Albrighton has become the latest Leicester City player to commit himself to the club after the Premier League champions announced he had signed a new four-year contract on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old former Aston Villa winger played a key role in Leicester’s 5,000-1 title triumph last season.
He follows Jamie Vardy, Danny Drinkwater, Riyad Mahrez, Wes Morgan, Kasper Schmeichel and manager Claudio Ranieri in signing a new contract at the King Power Stadium.
“I just think there’s a really good feeling around the place,” Albrighton told the Leicester website after tying himself to the club until 2020.
“Everyone seems to want to stay at the club and I think that’s a massive credit to how far the club has come in the last few years.
“It’s exciting times for Leicester City Football Club and I want to be a part of that.”
Albrighton joined Leicester from Villa on a free transfer in 2014 and has made 65 appearances, scoring four goals.
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the British Government on the modalities for the return of Nigerian stolen assets. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, signed on behalf of the Federal Government in Abuja on Tuesday.
President Buhari as he departs Nairobi Kenya for Abuja after participating at the 6th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi Kenya
Malami said that the MoU reflected the desire and willingness of both countries to continue cooperation and mutual support. Malami said that this was in the responsible and transparent return of all recovered assets.
He outlined the objectives of the MoU to include the fact that the processes of returning stolen assets was a partnership recognising the interest of both countries and based on mutual understanding, confidence and trust.
“That both countries recognised that they have a mutual interest in ensuring that returned assets are not at risk of being misappropriated again. “And that both countries recognised they have obligations toward their own citizens for providing such assurances. “That both countries recognised the importance of ensuring that the highest possible standard of transparency and accountability are applied for the return of assets.”
He gave the assurance to the international community that all funds recovered would be judiciously utilised for projects that would benefit the poorest segment of the Nigerian society. Earlier, leader of the UK delegation, British Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Goodwill, said that the MoU provided the mechanism by which monies could be returned.
Goodwill, who is also a member of the British Parliament, noted that there was no safe place for stolen assets in the UK. “Our ability to recover and return stolen assets should send a clear message to all who may seek to habour such assets that there is no safe haven in the U.K,” he said.
According to him, the British government is committed to the return of all funds looted from the Nigerian State. “We are keen to do this as soon as the necessary legal process allow. “As outlined at the summit, we will be taking steps to accelerate the procedures for identification and confiscation of illegally acquired assets.”
He said that they were as committed as Nigeria in ensuring that beneficial ownership of assets was made available to relevant authorities so they know who the real owners of assets held in the UK are.
“Forty jurisdictions, including British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies announced that they will automatically share beneficial ownership information relating to companies, trusts, foundations, Shell companies and other relevant entities and legal arrangements.
“It is important that everyone can see how returned assets are used to benefit Nigerians. We have therefore agreed in this MoU to be fully transparent about this.” The signing of the MoU is a follow up to the agreement reached at the London anti-corruption summit in May.
Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers has warned against the politicising of Capt. Elechi Amadi's burial.
This is contained in a statement by Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Electronic Media, on Tuesday in Abuja. According to the statement, Wike said the Late literary icon deserved a befitting burial for his contributions to the development of the state, Nigeria and humanity.
The governor inaugurated a State Burial Committee for the burial at the Government House, Port Harcourt. During the innaguration, Wike urged the family to cooperate with the committee to ensure that the late literary icon got the deserved befitting burial.
He warned against the politicisation of the burial, adding that the state government would not struggle with any group on who should organise the burial. He said,“if the family do not want Rivers State Government to participate in the burial, it should make its position known.”
Wike said the committee was set up after wide consultation with stakeholders, to carry every group along, adding that the committee could co-opt more members as the need arose. He urged the committee to ensure the burial took place in 2016 and weather the state should play a part in the date for the burial.
Responding, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr Frank Ohwor, assured the governor that members of the committee would work towards a befitting burial for the literary icon.
Those inaugurated by the governor are Mr Frank Owhor, Chairman; Mr David Briggs, Secretary and Mr Paul Wonodi, Deputy Chairman. Mr Monday Mgbor, Mr Hope Ikiriko, Mr Chris Orji and Chairman, Ikwerre Local Government Area are also members of the committee.
Others are Henry Wordu, Dr Preye Elechi Amadi, Mr Carl Amadi , Mr Azubuike Elechi-Amadi, Prof S.C. Achinewhu, Mr Ben Ugo and Mr V. Amadi.
The late Elechi Amadi born on May 12, 1934, and was a Nigerian author who had written five African novels – The Concubine, The Great Ponds, The Slave, Isiburu and Estrangement. Born in Aluu in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers, he attended Government College Umuahia and the University of Ibadan where he obtained a degree in Physics and Mathematics.
Amadi's novels are generally about African village life, customs, beliefs and religious practice, as they are all set before contact with the Western world. Elechi died on June 29 at Good Heart Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike to press home its demands for the implementation of its 2009 agreement with the Federal Government. The ASUU Lagos Zone Coordinator, Prof. Olusoji Sowande, said this at a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
Sowande said that the union was planning to toe this part after several efforts to ensure that the government address the pending demands, proved abortive. He said that the 2009 FG/ASUU agreement, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on funding of state universities, breaches of the conditions of service and re -negotiation of the agreement, were still pending. ?
The coordinator also mentioned other demands like the exclusion of Nigerian universities from Pension Management Company and non-release of NEEDS Assessment Intervention Fund. He said that funding of state universities, earned academic allowance and renegotiation of the agreement were parts of the outstanding issues. ? Sowande recalled that the union had embarked on strike in 2012 and 2013 as part of the efforts to make the government implement the agreement, adding that the issues remained unresolved. He said that the 2009 agreement provided for a periodic review after every three years which had not been done.
“The review of the agreement should have been undertaken in 2012 and 2015 but that did not happen.? “The implication is that our union has shown enough patriotism and understanding on these matters in the last four years. “We are perplexed and disappointed that both the Federal and State Governments are not responding to our consistent appeals to bring about genuine transformation in the education sector, '' he said. ? According to him, embarking on strike has never been a favourable choice as the Students and ASUU members have always suffered the pains more. “It is unfortunate that the only language government appears to respect and listens to is that of industrial action like strike,'' he said.
The don said that the National officers of the union had met with the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu on May 10 and tabled ten-point demand. He said that the minister had promised that the issues would be resolved within two weeks but nothing had been done till now.
Sowande said that based on MOU signed in November 2013, “Nigerian universities requires N1.3 trillion to revitalise the system'', adding that the government was already in arrears of N605 billion as at the third quarter of 2016. He said that the government had refused to release N128 billion and N250 billion respectively for the earned academic allowance of three years after the MoU was signed.?
“In order to forestall this avoidable crisis, we appeal to all genuinely progressive individuals and groups to prevail on both the Federal and State Governments to commence release of funds for the listed purposes. “This is to arrest the brewing and potentially combustible situation in the Nigerian university system before it degenerated into a serious conflagration,'' he said.
The Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rejected the party's Board of Trustees (BoT) recommendations on its next national convention and resolution of its leadership crisis. This is contained in a statement signed by the faction's Ag. Deputy National Chairman, Dr Cairo Ojougboh, on Tuesday in Abuja.
It also said that the BoT would facilitate the raising of adequate funds for the party's activities, including the convention. The trustee passed a vote of confidence on the caretaker committee, and charged it to, as soon as possible, convene a meeting of the NEC of the party.
But, Sheriff's group said that the outcome of the BoT Monday's meeting fell short of its earlier decision with party's reconciliation committee.
“Having deliberated on the reported outcome of the BoT meeting of Aug. 29, we have resolved that the resolutions feel short of the decision reached with the Dickson/Mantu reconciliation committee. “The agreement we had is that Sheriff should chair a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting where Makarfi will attend as a member of the BoT.
“At the meeting, a chairman of convention committee will be agreed upon, a new convention committee setup, including all other sub-committees, zoning, finance, accreditation, etc. “The venue of the convention will be in Abuja, where a new leadership of the party will emerge, internal democracy will be respected and confidence will return to the party,'' the group said.
It said that it had hoped that opportunity would be given for everybody to return to the one umbrella “and shake hands and will see the PDP re-emerge for the challenges ahead''. The group added that it “completely rejects the vote of confidence passed on the `illegal caretaker committee' because a committee that has failed twice to successfully organize a convention on two occasion is a failure''.
“Consequently, we can now confidently inform the general public that well-meaning Nigerians have been urging Sen. Makarfi to resign to save democracy. “We, therefore, call on his friends and associates and family to advice him to do the needful and resign now to save multi-party democracy in Nigeria and stop impunity that has been the bane of internal democracy,'' the group stated.
It alleged that the BoT Chairman, Sen. Walid Jubrin, brought crisis to the party. “ In any case, his tenure has expired as he has spent more than 10 years as secretary and chairman of BoT, which runs contrary to the Constitution.
“A party where we have eminently qualified persons like Sen. David Mark, Babangida Aliyu and others, cannot be led by individuals controlled by the love for money. “The source of irritation in the party is the still-born illegal caretaker committee and the Board of Trustees should have advised that the illegality be addressed,'' it said.
The faction commended PDP supporters nationwide for their understanding and patience, adding that “we make bold to state that until we get it right and check impunity, the Nigerian opposition party won't perform as required.
“As we move towards reconciliation, PDP should prevent any person or group from hijacking the party. “Be rest assured that the PDP will emerge stronger as we note that impunity marred the party's success in 2015 general elections,'' it added. Contacted, BoT Chairman, Jubrin, declined comment, saying that he was in a meeting.
National Deputy Chairman (South) of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Segun Oni, on Tuesday accused politicians of complicity in the incessant attacks on communities across the country by suspected herdsmen.
Oni, who made the allegation while speaking to journalists at the party's National Secretariat in Abuja, said that the intent of the politicians was to destabilise the Federal Government.
It would be recalled that recently, communities in some states, including Benue, Plateau, Enugu, Nasarawa, Kaduna and Taraba had been attacked by the suspected herdsmen, who carried arms.
”This, personally worries me because these gunmen who have suddenly become so notorious, invading villages and so on, are people that have always been around. ”My guess is that many of these are sponsored by people who have so much money and want to create instability.
”I believe that many of these have political motives and people who just want to trouble the government of the day. ”People who don’t want peace because they believe peace will also not be what they will want to see. It is very, very difficult. ”You will just hear one version here today, another striking us there tomorrow and so on.
”It is also a way of saying that what we are battling with is not ordinary,” he said. The APC chieftain said that the APC-led Federal Government had scored pass mark in fighting insecurity. He said, ”one thing we can say for sure is that Boko Haram has been mutilated.
”I believe the average Nigerian can see that, can feel that and understand that; whatever is left of it, let us encourage the security agencies to move ahead and move fast and take further control. ”I don’t think the security situation is as terrible as it used to; no, it is not. ”Therefore, as far as security is concerned, I would say that we have earned the pass mark, but we can do better.”
On President Muhammadu Buhari’s resolve to treat the Niger Delta militants like the Boko Haram if they did not stop their acts, Oni said, “I think it is a warning. ”You know at times a father would also warn his child, `don’t cross this line so that I will not be hard on you'. I think it is a warning.”
He admitted that the public was right to have expected a quick fixing of the economy, but said that in reality, there was no magic way out of Nigeria's present economic problem.
”This economy must work, we must get Nigeria back, but it is not as quick as anybody could imagine by touch of a hand. ”So, people are entitled to their expectations; we, as a government will do our best to ensure that the end will justify its course.
”We were not elected to run Nigeria for one year or two years; we were elected to run Nigeria for four years. “Before we get to an appreciable length of time, I am sure, I am confident that we will begin to see very obvious changes.”
Meet The Boss interviews DHL’s new Regional Director in charge of West & Central Africa, Randy Budah, who shares his views on the current state of innovation and the strategies the logistics company has used over the years to consistently deliver outstanding results in the parcel delivery business. Clearly, as this excerpt shows, DHL is committed to customer-focused innovation:
Could you tell us a bit about the history of DHL? DHL was founded by three young shipping executives Adrian Dalsey, Larry Hillblom, and Robert Lynn who were looking for a way to increase turnaround speed for ships at ports. They reasoned that if the shipping documents could be flown from port to port, they could be examined and processed before the ships arrived, and speeding up the process would decrease port costs for shippers. With this in mind, the trio combined the first letters of their last names to form the acronym DHL, thus beginning an air-express company that revolutionized the delivery industry.
DHL’s new Regional Director in charge of West & Central Africa, Randy Budah
DHL rapidly developed into an express delivery service between California and Hawaii, then quickly expanded to points east. So that evolved from California to Hawaii; then it branched into the international market in the early 1970s by entering both developed and developing countries coming with the solution to move documents at a very quick pace.
What is role of DHL Express within the scope of the DHL Deutsche Post Group? DHL Express transports urgent documents and goods reliably and on time from door-to-door in more than 220 countries and territories, and operates the most comprehensive global express network.
What are the challenges of coordinating and moving parcels and documents on a worldwide scale-and the opportunities that presents?
You have customs related challenges, challenges with other regulatory authorities, local politics, landing and territorial rights and so on. There are lots of interests for the various postal regulators and sometimes, international express operators can be considered to be competition to the post office but if anything, we are an added enhancement to the post office because in most cases, we work with them.
What portion of the market does DHL represent within Nigeria as well as the West/Central Africa? We operate in all sectors but this is also dependent on the specific market in question. For instance, Nigeria, Gabon and Angola are oil-based economies so we have a lot of clients within the oil and gas industry in those markets. In commodities based countries like Ghana, we work with the NGOs, life sciences, high tech and communications companies.
Bearing in mind the growing number of delivery companies, what's your view of the current level of competitiveness in West/Central African market? The industry is very competitive here and it's a good thing because it ensures that customers get a reasonably sized pool to choose from. Over the past 34 years, DHL Express has invested significantly into equipment, vehicles, aircraft and facilities as well as into the training and development of our staff. More specifically for Nigeria, in addition to our fleet of vans and motorcycles we have a state of the art DHL Gateway and DHL Hub located on the airside of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, which is the logistic home to our aircraft operations and distribution model for West Africa.
Within the Nigerian Gateway, we have dedicated customs officers as well as other regulatory aviation authorities to ensure the rapid clearance of our inbound shipments coming into the country. Recently, because of the heavy traffic often experienced when going from the Lagos mainland to Victoria Island, we added a boat to our fleet to ferry our parcels and documents from Victoria Island/Ikoyi to the mainland, which connects to our international and domestic aircrafts based at MMIA. And that has really saved us quite a bit of time by utilizing the waterways to move our materials back and forth.
What is the movement of goods from West Africa to Europe like? Is this merchandise traffic still in its infancy, or has a development become noticeable? For most West African countries, the major lanes are US and parts of Europe as well as South-East Asia. However, on the inbound, we are starting to see a lot of the traffic shifting from the traditional western countries to South-East Asian markets like China, and India, which are becoming big players in global trading. It’s evolving and it continues to evolve. How have you managed to maintain a productive workforce and the company's commitment to growth?
If your people are happy, your business will flourish and at DHL, we have identified continuous training and employee empowerment as important drivers to ensure that we have motivated people, which is an important pillar of our global focus strategy.. We have an internal learning and development platform called Certified International Specialists (CIS). The programme is a global initiative which has reached over 100,000 DHL Express employees in 220 countries and territories; it has been a principal factor in the company's impressive global performance. As a change management initiative, the award winning programme has been instrumental in instituting a cultural transformation within DHL Express and reinforcing the company's international market leadership. All DHL Express employees in Nigeria have been trained on CIS as well as many other specialized programs which fall under the umbrella of Certified International Specialists. The CIS programme is both educational and motivational. All the trainers are company employees and I’m one of the facilitators.
How significant is the West/Central African markets for future growth? There are many opportunities here in West Africa and there is an abundance of opportunities outside of the oil and gas industry. With a lot of investments and trading being done here, West Africa is very strategic not just for us but many businesses. You have one of the largest African economies here, and if you also look at the diversity of all the economies all the way from Senegal down to Cameroon and across to Central Africa and Chad, there are multiple business opportunities and it hasn't reached maturity. So if anything, we are still in our infancy in this particular side of the world but one cannot deny the fact that the opportunities exist and with the ongoing trends in the global markets, we believe the odds favour this region and this is one of the reasons why West/Central Africa is very strategic for our business in Sub Saharan Africa.
How do you see the trend in the Nigerian mail and parcel market? The trends have evolved quite a bit. As we know the oil and gas industry is being suppressed because of the drop in the price of crude. What we’ve seen in the last couple of years is the emergence of the high-tech industry especially the advent of smartphones with people wanting to get connected. The other sector that is booming down here is e-commerce with the likes of Jumia, Konga, Yudala competing in the market.
How involved is DHL Express with e-commerce expands and also, how do you manage security concerns? We are heavily involved with e-commerce and it has continued to grow. Recently, the mechanics of e-commerce has started to evolve from the traditional e-commerce system to a more market-based one where buyers and sellers are brought together and a company like DHL provides transport or logistics to the buyer and seller. Nigerians are very high-tech savvy so e-commerce is a natural progression for growth. More than that, a lot of Nigerians who went overseas for education are coming back to help drive the economy. So, despite the sheer fact that we have the largest population in Africa, we have a very big consumer market so if you’re in the consumer segment of the market, this is really the place to be.
If you have to move e-commerce, you need fast and reliable speed to market. When people buy something online, they want it quick and if you look at the growth of our industry, probably the fastest growing segment is e-commerce not just here but worldwide. That is why we have a lot of investment in technology and handling these person-to-person deliveries to our consumers is becoming a very important part of our business and it will continue to be that way in the years to come.
Security is a top priority for DHL Express. We have aircraft that not only fly domestically within countries but internationally across borders so we have to be careful with what we put on those aircraft so as to ensure we continue to remain compliant with our security policies and procedures.
To what extent does the Nigerian economy rely on logistical services and express shipping companies? Logistics facilitates connectivity which is important for economic growth. DHL's own research, conducted with IHS Global Insight, has shown that SMEs who trade internationally are twice as successful as those who trade only within their own market - so connecting with global opportunities is key to success.
Innovation is one of DHL's key strategic priorities. Why does innovation occupy such an important role in the group's strategy? Innovation is critical to ensure that we continue to make incremental improvements to our processes - and the end goal of improving the customer experience. On the e-commerce side, we have some locations called DHL Pack stations so we don’t actually make a delivery to the end user, we provide a service point that has multiple electronic lockers and the clients can collect their shipments at a convenient time, using protective passcodes to access the lockers. We have also introduced scanner units in 26 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of our Global Courier Application deployment. These pocket sized Android-based scanners come equipped with touchscreens, built-in location services as well as GPS navigation capabilities, enabling customers to track parcels in real-time. With the new scanner units, customers are able to sign on the device's touchscreen and within 15 minutes, the electronic proof of delivery will be made available on the DHL.com website.
How would you describe your role in driving the culture at DHL? I am the chief energy officer for the West and Central African region so I live by example and keep my team motivated, well trained and happy. We have shared values, goals and targets because it’s a large company but at the same time, it’s a family company. I’ve been in the company for 35 years now and I learn something new every day.
Retraction: Last Monday, the print version of this interview erroneously omitted attributing the introductory note to African Business Magazine. We regret this error.
The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the outcome of Nigeria's outing at the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil. Briefing State House correspondents in Abuja after a meeting with the President, Dalung disclosed that he briefed Buhari on the performance, challenges and progress recorded by Nigeria's Rio Olympics contingent.
He said the President appreciated Team Nigeria's performance, and challenged the athletes and officials to do more at future international competitions for the country to move forward in sports development.
“It is normal for you, after somebody has sent you, to come back and discuss with the person before you now start talking outside. “So, all I did was to brief the President on our performance, the challenges we had, the progress we made. This is because in 2016 Nigeria was celebrated.
“Two Nigerian athletes particularly, Aruna Quadri and Chierika Ukogu, were recognised internationally in Rio. That is happening to Nigeria. It is an achievement. “And I also requested from him (President Buhari) the support to get a date to organise a reception for our Dream Team VI which got a bronze medal for us.
“He (President Buhari) also appreciated our performance and thanked us for doing the country proud and keeping the flag flying. “He challenged us to do more for the country so as to move forward in sports,'' Dalung said.
The minister dismissed calls for his resignation due to Team Nigeria's “below expectation'' performance at Rio, saying sports development's problem in the country had gone beyond his resignation as minister. He said the country's sports system needs a total overhauling, pointing out that the country must develop a sports developmental model where talents would be identified, developed and groomed.
Dalung assured that the National Youth Games would be fully resuscitated for identification of young talents to boost sporting activities in the country.
After two bruising quarters marked by attacks on oil pipelines in the Niger delta and ballooning inflation, Nigeria is expected on Wednesday to announce it is officially in recession.
The news shouldn’t come as a surprise. Sales of oil at a high price had made Nigeria the biggest economy in Africa.
But when the price of crude crashed from more than $100 a barrel in June 2014 to below $50 today, Nigeria’s fortunes followed.
Reacting to the dramatic decline in state revenue, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari ended costly fuel subsidies and finally devalued the naira in June after upholding a controversial currency peg for months.
But Buhari’s policies have yet to inspire any real confidence at a time when inflation is hovering around 16.5 per cent and getting dollars is still a throbbing headache.
One dollar is now worth over 400 naira on the parallel market, up from 340 in January. “We can’t get dollars,” one black market seller complained, “we’re even accepting bills from 2003″.
The shortage keeps investors away and makes life tough for local businesses.
"You don’t have to be an economist to know that any system that allows you to sit in your garden, and with a telephone call make one billion naira without investing a kobo, that system is wrong,” said Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi, who served as Nigeria’s central bank governor under the previous administration.
Buhari’s refusal to devalue the naira for months kept “foreign investors waiting on the sidelines”, Daniel Richards, West Africa analyst for BMI Research, told AFP.
“The uncertainty that has surrounded monetary policy in Nigeria over the past 18 months has been the biggest constraint on growth after lower oil prices.”
Nigeria’s economy will likely show a decline of 1.6 percent in the three months through June, estimated Bloomberg News, following a 0.4 percent year-on-year contraction in the first quarter.
This year gross domestic product could contract by 1.8 per cent, according to the International Monetary Fund.
– ‘Execution risk’ –
Buhari has been frank in his assessment of the beleaguered Nigerian economy.
In his May speech commemorating his one-year anniversary in office, the president said he inherited “decrepit” infastructure and the oil refineries in a “state of disrepair”.
His plan to kickstart the economy has two priorities: one is to tackle endemic corruption, the other is to diversify the economy.
Buhari’s anti-corruption drive has been largely met with applause. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is doggedly persuing top politicians who allegedly looted millions from state coffers.
Yet the response to his expansionary budget designed to wean Nigeria off oil has been tepid.
“It projects a very large increase in non-oil revenue of 70 per cent”, said Moody’s Investors Service in April, adding that “the government’s objectives are extremely amibitous.”
In reality, said Moody’s, “since 2012, non-oil tax revenue has gradually grown but at a much lower pace.”
Razia Khan, Africa economist at Standard Chartered Bank, has similar concerns.
“A very ambitious budget was outlined, but we know from the past that Nigeria doesn’t have a good record in delivering on time,” Khan said.
“In the longer term the execution risk is all about revenue mobilisation. Is Nigeria going to be able to sustain this spending without amassing great debt?”
– Power barrier –
The sluggish growth could go on for “another two years”, said Dawn Dimowo, an analyst at consultancy firm Africa Practice.
Even if the oil price rebounds and rebels stop sabotaging oil production, Nigeria has to address its decript infrastructure and revamp its refineries.
“There is a critical need for massive investments in infrastructure and import replacement, which will take years to come through,” Dimowo said.
“Power is a major barrier, that sector needs to be a priority”, she said.
Electricity production, which already was faltering before the crisis, barely reached 2500 megawatts for its 170 million inhabitants.
By contrast, South Africa — with a population less than a third of Nigeria’s — has a power capacity of 40,000 megawatts.
Without power, growth may improve but diversifying the economy will be near impossible, explained Richards.
“If import substitution is to be realised and the manufacturing sector bolstered, then more headway must be made in improving power supply.”
As more and more African countries are confronted with security challenges, the President of the Network of National Human Rights Institutions in West Africa (NNHRI-WA), Prof. Bem Angwe, has called on them to provide educational opportunities and employment for youths so as to check insurgency.
Prof Angwe, who is also the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission, spoke at the 2016 Annual General Assembly of the Network in Abuja in Abuja, during which he condemned the high level of violation of rights to education and employment in the region.
Prof. Bem Angwe
Angwe noted with dismay the growing vices which he said had combined to erode the rights and dignity of the people.
Prof. Angwe said each country in West Africa was confronted with diverse forms of security challenges thereby distracting them from providing the needed support and opportunities for their nationals.
Angwe said: "Basic rights like freedom of association and assembly, freedom of expression and the press are routinely trampled upon.
"Press freedom remains under siege in many countries. The right of women to equality and freedom from fear of discrimination is common. Religion and cultures combine to undermine the realization of equality in West Africa".
"Prison conditions are dire with overcrowding, poor feeding and absence of rehabilitation facilities are key issues. Poor prison conditions violate numerous human rights and this must be addressed urgently.
"The rights to education and employment are violated without remedies. Youth unemployment is dangerous trend that must be arrested. The use of child labour in plantation farms and an artisanal mine violate international law and dehumanises the child. In Nigeria, Niger and Mali, the use of children for the promotion of insurgency is deplorable and regrettable".
Prof. Angwe also condemned what he called "the serial violation of the right to participate in government as required under Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and the applicable ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance.
The Executive Secretary if the NHRC noted that when the right to participate in public affairs is violated, it means that community citizens are unable to vote for the candidates of their choice during elections.
The President of ECOWAS, who was represented by Mr. Eyisan Okorodudu, said that the Commission had taken steps to improve the process of monitoring human rights framework with a holistic outlook from the perspective of the ordinary community by taking time to bring CSOs to produce reports on human rights situation in West Africa.
He noted that by 2017, the first of the reporting would be circulated in the region with a view to addressing the gaps noticed across the region and pleaded with the member states to work with the secretariat in promoting thematic issues especially rights to education, employment and good health.
Meanwhile the secretariat of the NNHRI-WA, headed by Mr. Saka Azimazi said that the objective of the meeting was largely to examine the human rights situation in West Africa and the challenges faced by national institutions in upholding their mandate and offering remedies for human rights violations.
In his opening statement, the Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights for West Africa, Mr. Andrea Ori advocated for credible and effective national partners that can contribute on the side of or jointly with governments and civil society in the effective implementation of international human rights instruments, and the expansion of the human rights culture among the public in general.
Arsenal’s Olympic silver-medallist Serge Gnarby is set for a transfer back to Germany, Werder Bremen’s sports director said on Tuesday.
“We have an agreement in principle with Arsenal, but it is not yet signed,” Bremen boss Frank Baumann told reporters.
“We have agreed terms with the player and I really think it will happen.”
Gnarby, 21, played all six matches for Germany at the Rio de Janeiro games as his side lost the final to Brazil on penalties.
Having joined the Gunners in 2011 from Stuttgart’s academy, Gnarby spent last season on loan at West Bromwich Albion and has only made a handful of Premier League appearances for Arsenal since 2012.
Bremen badly need reinforcements after being drubbed 6-0 by defending champions Bayern Munich last Friday on the opening weekend of the new Bundesliga season, less than a week after their shock German Cup defeat at third-division Sportfreunde Lotte
ABUJA: Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, yesterday, disclosed that the administration has concluded plans to award the contract for the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan railway project.
Chief Amaechi, who said this while speaking at the one year memorial lecture in honour of Human Rights Activist and former General Secretary of Alliance for Credible Election, ACE-Nigeria, late Comrade Emma Ezeazu, in Abuja, said contracts for Kano-Kaduna and Calabar-Port Harcourt railway project would also be signed before the end of this week.
File photo: From Left: Acting Managing Director of Nigerian Railway Corporation, Mr Fidet Okhiria; Managing Director, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Mr Jack Lee; Minister of Transportation, Mr Chibuike Amaechi and Director of Rail Transportation, Mr Mohammed Babakobi, during the Minister's inspection of the Abuja-Kaduna Rail Project ..
The memorial lecture with theme; Advancing the Frontiers of Progressive Governance, was organised by Emma Ezeazu Mandate Group.
Meanwhile, the former governor, while giving reasons why he dumped his former Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to pitch tent with the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, explained that he left the then ruling party because he was made an orphan.
According to him, "The President agenda is not just to recover loots. We are recovering as much as we can. But the president is determined to create employment. That is why you can see his focus. In transportation, from Kaduna to Abuja, we have created over 700 workforce. What did I do? I said all the villages or those communities along the route; I said they should give them level six down. March on that railway.
"Their job is to march on that railway from the beginning to the end to see there was no security breach. The rest of applicants will go online to apply for the jobs. They said if we publish people will die the way it happened during immigration recruitment exercise and they will say Amaechi should resign (thunderous laughters)
"The President called a meeting last week and requested too be briefed on what we are doing in terms of the railway. This year, we will start Lagos-Ibadan, railway project. You know the difference between us and the rest, we will not say go and start we will look for counterpart funding.
"We will bring our counterpart fund as poor as the country is now and give to the Chinese because their money is already in their bank account. It is for us to bring our own. If we bring our own they bring their own to make sure there is no delay, we will bring all our own to give them and say go and start work.
"If that happened, in two years, Lagos-Ibadan will be ready. Tomorrow I will sign the contracts for Calabar-Port Harcourt railway project. Before the week runs out, I will sign Kano-Kduna. That is what we are doing. This is to show you that we are moving away from the corruption economy to production economy."
Amaechi, while recalling the students' union activities were eventful during their time when the late Comrade Emma Ezeazu was President of National association of Nigerian Students, NANS, lamented that student union has drifted to the lowest ebb.
According to him, "Recall 1983 to 1987 there were no speeches, there were actions. I reminded President Muhammadu Buhari and I said student when you were Head of State I was among those who used to sing all sorts of things about him because there were demonstrations in all the schools everyday.
"Then, they were closing university down everyday because we are not addressing give us hostels, give us water, give us rive, we are addressing national issues and the closure of schools were because we will not agree to any national issue we thought was against the people. Now, NANS president has a convoy and has SAs, and his office is located in the villa."
On the dying agitation for good governance, he said, "When I listen to all of you I laugh, I laugh because the poor has lost.either thoroughly beaten by the ruling class has lost the ability to resist. So, those resisting now is no longer the poor, it is the ruling class resisting themselves."
Responding to a remarks by the guest lecturer, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, the minister said, "He made analysis now and I laughed when he talked about nomadism in the politic of Nigeria and I laughed. While I laughed is that he knew little or nothing of what was going on. And I want to be put on record, I was made orphan including oil bloc.
"And I said no, Nigeria was going under and I won't continue to support this government. And I have to move, I was kept on the table for discussions, not one meeting, not two or three meetings. I was taken out of the country for meetings for me to remain in PDP. I was made orphan that when you see it you will say, what is my business with this Nigeria?
"But at that time, it was between me my conscience and the Nigerian country. I could have taken those offers. I was the beautiful bride. If you remember one of the speeches I made as governor at the Freedom Park, and I said if you people continue to look at us, we will steal everything. And there will be nothing left for you to eat. That until you begin to stone us. There will be no stop to stealing. You can't stop to stealing."
On the issue of transparent, he said "The system built for you to be transparent. When you are not transparent does not mean the system is not there. It means that you just undermine the system. There is a contract you will award, the system said no; advertise it for everybody to bid.
"That system is ridiculous. It will only offer you what is called single source. You will approach them and say you want single source and when they give you single source and because you want to break the rule of law no one will even apply and you just say contract come and do this thing and nothing happened. Nothing happened because the President of the country does not want anything to happen."
In his lecture, the Director General of Electoral Institute, Professor Chidi Odinkalu blamed the corruption and underdevelopment of the country to the consequences of the Structural Adjustment Programme, SAP, introduced by the President Ibrahim Babangida's administration in 1986.
Prof. Odinkalu regretted that Nigeria never recovered from the SAP, which according top him led to wreck unprecedented havoc on the economy, with the collapses of the manufacturing sector of the economy.
He said, every other countries that were at par with Nigeria then have left us behind because of the adjustment.
His words, “Next stop: Lagos! This is my first trip to sub-Saharan Africa. I’ll be meeting with developers and entrepreneurs, and learning about the startup ecosystem in Nigeria. The energy here is amazing and I’m excited to learn as much as I can.
Our first stop is the Co-creation Hub Nigeria (CcHUB) in Yaba. I got to talk to kids at a summer coding camp and entrepreneurs who come to CcHub to build and launch their apps. I’m looking forward to meeting more people here!” He noted.
…as over 5,000 CSOs March in Abuja to support Buhari
The Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE), a coalition of over 5000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Tuesday, in Abuja, held a rally to appreciate the successes recorded by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and the current military leadership in the war against insurgency.
Members of Coalition Against Terrorism and Extremism (CATE), during their March in Abuja, to support President Muhammadu Buhari
Addressing journalists during the rally which kicked off at the federal secretariat and ended at Office of the Secretary to the Federation (SGF), Secretary General of the Coalitions, Comrade Daniel Obaje said since the government of President Buhari came into office, significant progress has been made in addressing the security breaches that had threatened the integrity of Nigeria.
He said areas where Boko Haram once set up camp have been cleared, adding that some displaced persons are already beginning to return to their homeland.
He said, “The Army freed over 5000 persons that the terrorists once held captive even as efforts are being intensified to free those that are yet to regain freedom.
He said, “Remnants of the terrorists are risking death to flee across the desert into the Mediterranean. The group in its defeat can only now think of hit and run attacks by drug addicted fighters who now increasingly opt to fail in their assignment so that the military can capture them for rehabilitation.
“The recent weeks have seen the higher echelon of Boko Haram decimated with several commanders killed in troops' operations. Others have been captured, which has left the group being fragmented with split in its leadership. Everything points to a group that has been finished.
“We therefore want to urge Mr President not relent in continuing with measures that will ensure Boko Haram terrorists are not allowed to regroup anywhere on our territory ever again. In fact, we urge that Nigeria does all that is necessary to make sure these killers do not regroup in Cameroon, Chad and Niger Republic, all of which share borders with us.
Responding on behalf of the SGF, Ibrahim Bapetel Hasan, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on policy development analysis said the report will be passed to the President Buhari
He thanked the coalition for acknowledging the efforts of the current administration in the war against Boko Haram, saying obviously, much progress has been made since President Buhari came into office.
He said the current administration is happy that Nigerians acknowledge the efforts of the military.
