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Ahead of the Feb. 13 celebration of World Radio Day, acting General Manager of Radio Niger, Andrew Achanya, called for the establishment of more stations in the country to ensure increased flow of information. He made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Minna on Sunday.
Achanya, who expressed concern over the number of radio stations in the country, said the country was still lagging behind in information dissemination through radio.
He added that there were more than 11,000 radio stations in the United States alone, while countries in Europe had more than the number in Nigeria.
Radio set
He said Nigeria was mature enough to have radio stations in each community or in every local government area for the purpose of informing the people.
"Information is power; people should know what is happening in their immediate community, especially on issues bordering on security, health and economy.
"Radio is the mouth organ of government, radio will sensitise people about policies of government, what the government is doing and how it intends to do it." The general manager also called on children and women to take some time to listen to Radio Niger because it airs many UNICEF programmes.
He said "there are many issues bordering on education, health and the general wellbeing of the child, the girl-child especially, sponsored by UNICEF.
"Such programmes help young women to know the causes of Vesico Vaginal Fistula, polio and the consequence of Female Genital Mutilation, among others."
He commended the people for listening to the state radio, adding that 80 per cent of Niger people listened to radio always. There are about 10 radio stations in the state, comprising private, campus and government-owned.
Proclaimed by the UN Assembly in 2011, World Radio Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 13 to celebrate radio as a medium; to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and to encourage major networks.
The theme for 2017 edition is "Radio is you!" a call for greater participation of audiences and communities in the policy and planning of radio broadcasting.
Ahead of the Feb. 13 celebration of World Radio Day, acting General Manager of Radio Niger, Andrew Achanya, called for the establishment of more stations in the country to ensure increased flow of information.
He made the call in an interview in Minna on Sunday.
Achanya, who expressed concern over the number of radio stations in the country, said the country was still lagging behind in information dissemination through radio.
He added that there were more than 11,000 radio stations in the United States alone, while countries in Europe had more than the number in Nigeria.
He said Nigeria was mature enough to have radio stations in each community or in every local government area for the purpose of informing the people.
"Information is power; people should know what is happening in their immediate community, especially on issues bordering on security, health and economy.
"Radio is the mouth organ of government, radio will sensitise people about policies of government, what the government is doing and how it intends to do it."
The general manager also called on children and women to take some time to listen to Radio Niger because it airs many UNICEF programmes.
He said "there are many issues bordering on education, health and the general wellbeing of the child, the girl-child especially, sponsored by UNICEF.
"Such programmes help young women to know the causes of Vesico Vaginal Fistula, polio and the consequence of Female Genital Mutilation, among others."
He commended the people for listening to the state radio, adding that 80 per cent of Niger people listened to radio always.
There are about 10 radio stations in the state, comprising private, campus and government-owned.
Proclaimed by the UN Assembly in 2011, World Radio Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 13 to celebrate radio as a medium; to improve international cooperation between broadcasters and to encourage major networks.
The theme for 2017 edition is "Radio is You!", a call for greater participation of audiences and communities in the policy and planning of radio broadcasting.
Prince’s classic albums including “Purple Rain” on Sunday returned to major streaming services, bringing a new audience to the late pop legend who fought music industry convention.
Hours before a star tribute to Prince at the Grammy Awards, Prince’s albums on Warner Brothers Records returned to all streaming sites including Spotify and the services of Apple and Amazon.Prince
“We’re honored to bring back the work of such a legendary artist to music lovers everywhere,” Spotify, the world’s largest streaming site, said in a statement.
Prince had a famously turbulent relationship with record labels and the internet, which he accused of putting artists into virtual slavery.
Late in his career the pop icon withdrew his catalog from all streaming sites except Jay Z’s upstart Tidal, which he credited with granting him the freedom to release music quickly.
Tidal remains the sole service to stream all of Prince’s works. The new streaming deal pertains only to the artist’s work on Warner — which he exited in the mid-1990s after writing “slave” on his cheek and changing his name to the unpronounceable “love symbol” to protest his contractual conditions.
But Warner has Prince’s best-selling albums including “Purple Rain” and “1999” as well as two albums he put out simultaneously in 2014.
The streaming absence of Prince’s more recent works will likely be short-lived, as his estate last week signed a deal with Warner’s rival Universal for rights to works which the Purple One put on his own New Power Generation imprint from 1995.
Prince, who died in April from an accidental overdose of powerful painkillers, had experimented with new ways to release music including through Tidal and by distributing a complimentary CD in European newspapers.
Prince’s estate has made clear it wants to do more to monetize his music, although financial details were not disclosed for the streaming deal.
“Prince recorded his most influential and popular music during his time with Warner Brothers and we are deeply aware of our responsibility to safeguard and nurture his incredible legacy,” Warner chairman and chief executive officer Cameron Strang said in a statement.
Beyonce leads the nominations for Sunday’s Grammy Awards with nods in nine categories, including three of the most prestigious.
More than 13,000 music professionals in the Recording Academy vote to determine winners of the Grammys, to be announced in a televised gala in Los Angeles.
Here is a list of nominees in the most prominent categories:
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 12: A detailed view of the GRAMMY awards in the press room at the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, California.
Adele, “25”
Beyonce, “Lemonade”
Justin Bieber, “Purpose”
Drake, “Views”
Sturgill Simpson, “A Sailor’s Guide to Earth”
RECORD OF THE YEAR (for best overall song):
Adele, “Hello”
Beyonce, “Formation”
Lukas Graham, “7 Years”
Rihanna featuring Drake, “Work”
Twenty One Pilots, “Stressed Out”
SONG OF THE YEAR (for songwriting):
Adele, “Hello.” Songwriters Adele and Greg Kurstin
Beyonce, “Formation.” Songwriters Beyonce along with Khalif Brown of rap duo Rae Sremmurd, Asheton Hogan and Mike Will Made It
Justin Bieber, “Love Yourself.” Songwriters Bieber along with English star Ed Sheeran and producer Benny Blanco
Lukas Graham, “7 Years.” Songwriters are band frontman Lukas Forchhammer and keyboardist Morten Ristorp along with producer Stefan Forrest and composer Morten Pilegaard
Mike Posner, “I Took a Pill in Ibiza.” No additional songwriters
FC IfeanyiUbah of Nnewi on Sunday in Nnewi beat the visiting El-Masry of Egypt 1-0 in the first leg match of their 2017 CAF Confederation Cup pairing.
A powerful shot from Tame Medrano in the 87th minute was all that was needed to secure the win for the home team and send the crowd into a frenzy.
The Anambra Warriors launched series of attacks on their visitors in the first half through Ifeanyi Onuigbo, but his shots could not find the back of the net.
The visitors who played with jerseys without names but just numbers were rather cautious in the first half but almost paid dearly for this if not for their goalkeeper's excellent performance.
The only attempt by the Egyptians was ably contained by host goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa who was virtually on holiday for a larger part of the match.
Reacting to the game, Chairman of FC IfeanyiUbah, Chuma Ubah, said he was satisfied with their players' performance as it showed they learnt from their long observation of the visitors.
Ubah who regretted that his players could not maximise the opportunities which came their way expressed confidence that they would do better in Egypt.
"We played well and the result is good for us. But unfortunately we could not utilise the chances.
"My players are experienced enough, and I am confident that we are going to do better in Egypt when we go for the second leg," he said.
The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Sunday confirmed the death of six persons in an auto accident on Malumfashi-Funtua road in Malumfashi Local Government Area of Katsina State.
The FRSC Sector Commander, Alhaji Abdu Bagadawa, told the newsmen in Katsina that the accident occurred at about 2 p.m. in Tashar-fulani village, about 10 kilometres from Malumfashi town.
He said the accident involved a Toyota bus with registration number: DKA 716 YF, with 19 people on board.
He added that the vehicle had a tyre burst that caused it to skid off the road, somersaulted, and killed six occupants on the spot. He revealed that the 13 injured persons and the corpses were taken to Malumfashi General Hospital.
The sector commander urged motorists to always abide by traffic rules and regulations to reduce accidents on the highways.
He also urged motorists to desist from using worn-out tyres, speeding and wrong overtaking for their safety and their passengers'.
….We have learnt our lessons-Mantu By Daud Olatunji
ABEOKUTA-The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South West has passed a vote of confidence on the factional national Chairman of the party, Senator Alli-Modu Sherrif as the national chairman of the party.
Alimodu-Sheriff
The South West leaders came two days after the party leaders in the South East had passed a similar vote on Ahmed Makarfi-led national exco of the party.
The meeting was attended by the national chairman of PDP, Senator Alii-Modu Sheriff, his deputy, Dr. Cairo Ojugbo, acting national publicity secretary, Hon. Bernard Niko, former FCT Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Abba Gana, Senator Chris Anyanwu and leadership of the party from Oyo, Osun, Ekiti, Lagos, Ondo and Ogun states.
Rising from the expanded South West PDP Committee meeting on Sunday in Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun state, the party acknowledged and affirmed the leadership of the party under Senator Alli Modu-Sheriff and his efforts to reposition it.
Reading the communique, the National Vice-Chairman/Zonal Chairman, South West PDP, Chief Makanjuola Ogundipe, said all hands must be on deck to move the party forward and put it in good stead for the task ahead.
In his remark, Senator Alli-Modu Sheriff said he would continue to work for the progress of the party and return it to the grassroots.
Sheriff, who stated that he would not be provoked by the statement of the party’s Chairman of the PDP Strategy Review Committee, Prof. Jerry Gana, said he would stand in the way of any individual who wants to corner the party for selfish reasons.
In his keynote address at the meeting, the former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, attributed the crisis rocking the party to lack of internal democracy, imposition of candidates and impunity of some individuals within PDP.
Mantu, who is the deputy chairman of PDP Reconciliation Committee PDP, hinted that the party bungled the goodwill it enjoyed for 16 years by allowing internal wrangling to fester urging leaders of the party to shelve personal interests and work towards mending the cracks in the party.
He, however, disclosed that the party has learnt its lessons mentioning that machinery has been put in place to address the problems bedeviling the party with a view to restore its lost glory.
“The national leadership is doing its very best to rebrand and reposition our party positively before the Nigerian public in readiness for 2019. In spite of the crack in the family, the leadership is moving steadily in the right direction -encouraging mass participation of members in the activities of the party, thereby giving them sense of belonging”. Mantu stated.
He, therefore, reiterated that leaders and members of the party must come together to settle the differences in the party, if PDP is serious of taking mantle of leadership from the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019.
“All hands must be on deck to ensure total victory in the entire South West and Nigeria in 2019. The tongue and the teeth live inside the mouth and they do sometime clash but none vacates the mouth for the other. We must therefore not allow seeming differences affect our victory at the polls.
“Our detractors had expected the crack in the family to be the beginning of our end. Tell them that the lion was just sleeping in order to conserve more energy and make a minced meat of them in 2019. No matter how much weight an elephant loses, it can never be compared to a cow”. He added.
The ‘hero to zero’ run of last season’s Premier League Champions continued with a disappointing 2-0 loss to Swansea City that now sees the team swimming deep in relegation waters. The defending duo of Alfie Mawson and Martin Olsson gave Swansea the win.
The out-going Champions who surprised themselves and the world by lifting the trophy have been a complete shadow of their last season self.
Claudio Ranieri and his boys last tasted Premier League victory against West Ham in a week 19 fixture.
Swansea City’s English midfielder Jack Cork (L) vies with Leicester City’s Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez (R) during the English Premier League football match between Swansea City and Leicester City at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales on February 12, 2017. AFP PHOTO
Ranieri who has come under fire from the English press following a poor run of results recently got the Vote-of-Confidence from the club’s management.
The likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy have not been able to light up the stage like they did last season, seeing off the likes of Chelsea, the Manchester Clubs and Liverpool in the process.
Leicester’s next game will be again Millwall in the FA Cup; a competition they have managed to find solace with their last victory being a 3-1 win over Championship side Derby County in the said competition.
Mr Nwoha Amaechi, the former Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, on Sunday, urged Federal Government to intensify efforts in recovery of stolen common wealth.
He made the call in an interview with newsmen in response to the recovered 9.8 million dollars recovered from Andrew Yakubu, former Group Managing Director (GMD) of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He said "the reckless and mindless looting of the country's common wealth could only be reduced if more culprits would be exposed. "The recent discovered loot typifies the level of mindless looting of the treasury in the last government.
EFCC operatives
"That such amount can be carted away by one public servant leaves one wondering how much our common wealth can be taken by other officers. "This development should send shivers down the spines of every right thinking Nigerian."
The former speaker called on Nigerians to condemn the looting of the country's common wealth no matter how and when.
He said Nigerians should condemn this and demand further actions toward such officers, past and present.
Amaechi, who congratulated Federal Government on its achievement in the war against corruption, said it was time to reinvest the money into the ailing economy.
He said that Nigeria's economic buoyancy could not be realised without the collective participation of all in the area of information and support to government.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) recovered 9.8 million dollars and 74,000 pounds belonging to former NNPC GMD, Andrew Yakubu in Kaduna.
Sen. Suleiman Adokwe, Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and National Orientation has called for prudent management of funds by Chief Executives of Federal Government Media Organisations to avoid wasteful spending.
Adokwe made the call in an interview with the newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.
He said the obvious limitations of the National Budget were indicative of the fact that the era of waste had gone.
"You have to be very careful not to bloat the budget with unnecessary items," he said.
He said that agencies that had the mandate to generate revenue had to be more creative to generate more revenue.
"And when we generate more revenue, we will have more money to spend. Some of these things require good management.
"You have to cut down your wasteful spending and direct your spending on those things that really matter that will help you to even deliver on your mandate more,'' he said.
He said huge spending on re-current expenditures such as tea and purchase of laptops were needless.
"The annoying part is that these needless items are repeated and provisions made but never accounted for.
"We are particularly concerned about the level of revenue generation by those government agencies that have capacity to generate revenue. We think they can do better," he said.
While Adoke agreed some of the outfits needed financial help to deliver on their mandate, he said all funds must be accounted for.
He, however, said government information organs should be repositioned for better better performance.
"This is because there are some choices available. People can disseminate their information through other platforms like the social media and international or paid for television where they can invade every space.
Cartoons of journalist
"If you do not reposition sector, it would not have the capacity to compete with others favourably.
On the performance of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the lawmaker said that the agency was insufficiently funded.
"They do not have sufficient funding to send their members of staff around for appropriate coverage.
"We were shocked to discover that they were not able to send reporters to cover the Gambian crisis in spite of the fact that Nigeria was practically leading the truce.
"Even good events like AFCON football Competition, Olympics and other international engagements require converges by newsmen, but that is not the case right now,'' he said.
He however, noted that the Internally Generated Revenue of the agency was low, adding that the agency should step up its drive for revenue.
On staff welfare, Adokwe said journalist serving in government media must be adequately catered for, adding that they were not regular civil servants.
…As Sultan Commends Aregbesola's fairness to all religious organizations in Osun
President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, has joind the Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and others to pray for peace in Nigeria as well as for the quick recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He also commended governor Aregbesola for his commitment to religious tolerance in the state.
The Sultan gave the commendation while on a courtesy visit to the governor at the State House, Osogbo shortly before leading a national prayer for our Nation for peace, security, Stability and development, organized in honour of Deputy President General (South) Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Sakariyau Olayiwola Babalola.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar II, Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, others pray for Nigeria, Buhari.
The leader of the Muslims also enjoined various religious groups across the country to make prayer a daily routine as the country needs spiritual solutions to its peculiar challenges.
Speaking after receiving the guests, Governor Aregbesola observed that economy and abject poverty, rather than religion is the major springboard of the Boko Haram terrorism.
Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar II and Osun state Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola
During the Sultan's courtesy call on the Governor, he commended Aregbesola for his commitment to the development of humanity regardless of socio-economic, political and religious differences. He said the state under the leadership Aregbesola has demonstrated high sense of fairness to religious organisations in the state.
He noted that the Governor has extremely demonstrated to the world the sterling quality expected from whoever holds the office of the Governor. The Sultan said, “I must acknowledge your commitment in promoting unity among the various religious organisations in the state as this is in line with our cardinal objective of ensuring a peaceful nation.
The Sultan stated that his visit makes the 6th time of being in Osun and we are here in large number as one family under the umbrella of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs which is the apex body for muslims in Nigeria to further register our determination to unity, peace and tranquillity of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Meanwhile Governor Aregbesola averred that it must sadden every Muslim to hear that a Muslim can kill himself or herself or accept a suicide mission for the paltry some of N200.
He argued that economy rather than religion is at the heart of insurgency in the northern part of the country.
He therefore called on muslim leaders to undertake the task of how to eradicate poverty in the land in other that terrorism could be uprooted once and for all.
Apostle Daniel Aguocha of Divine Solutions With Favours Assembly, Kaduna, on Sunday led a prayer session for President Muhammadu Buhari`s sound health.
The priest appealed to God to elongate the President`s life with good health to enable him fulfil his God-assigned assignments.
Aguocha led the prayer during a thanks giving service in honour of Mr Charles Uka, a civil servant and a member of the Church, who turned 58 years.
He said that no man can cut shot the life span of President Buhari until he fulfilled what God had ordained him to accomplish on earth.
''I assure you that God shall disappoint those who wish the President death before his time.
Buhari
''God shall replenish his health and he will be with us until his time is right, '' he said.
He assured Nigerians that better days lay ahead in spite of the current hardship being experienced across the nation.
The clergy urged the people to be patient, adding that things would get better at the appointed time.
''What is expected of us is to intensify our prayers for God to increase the strength, health and wisdom of our leaders to lead us well, '' he said.
He called on parents to inculcate good habits and entrench noble character in their children, to grow and become useful to themselves, their communities and the nation. Uka explained that he was in the Church to thank God for keeping him thus far.
He equally urged Nigerians to be grateful to their leaders and pray for their success for the good of all.
Edin Dzeko made amends for a first-half penalty miss to hit Roma’s second in a 2-0 win over Crotone that kept the capital side’s Serie A title challenge ticking over on Sunday.
Roma’s 17th win of the campaign moved Luciano Spalletti’s men back up to second spot to close the gap to four points, although Juventus can restore their seven-point lead with a win at Cagliari in Sunday’s late game.
Napoli sit third two points further off the pace following a 2-0 win over Genoa on Friday.
Elsewhere, Eder and Antonio Candreva struck one apiece in either half as Inter Milan moved up to fourth, 12 points behind Juventus, with a comfortable 2-0 win at home to Empoli.
Atalanta’s push for a place in next season’s Europa League was given a boost by a comfortable 3-1 win away to relegation-haunted Palermo.
The Bergamo side are up to fifth, on the same points as Inter, although Lazio, a further two points off the pace, will move above both Inter and Atalanta with a win at home to AC Milan on Monday.
Roma’s Bosnian forward Edin Dzeko (R) celebrates after scoring with teammate Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah during the Italian Serie A football match FC Crotone vs AS Roma on February 12, 2017 at the Ezio Scida Stadium, in Crotone. / AFP PHOTO
Italy striker Andrea Belotti hit a brace for Torino in a 5-3 win over Pescara, who kept Sinisa Mihajlovic’s men on their toes till the death after Ahmad Benali built on Arlind Ajeti’s 73rd minute own goal for the hosts with a late brace.
Sassuolo’s woes continued in a mid-table battle with Chievo that saw the Flying Donkeys triumph 3-1 thanks to a Roberto Inglese brace after Alessandro Matri had broken the deadlock in Reggio Emilia with a 24th minute opener.
Dzeko, meanwhile, went from zero to hero in Crotone.
After missing his second successive penalty this season, he made amends with an 18th league goal of the campaign that gives him a one-goal lead on Belotti in the Serie A scoring charts.
Roma got off the mark on 40 minutes when Radja Nainggolan collected Mohamed Salah’s pass to beat Alex Cordaz with an angled strike.
The visitors doubled their lead shortly after the interval when Dzeko pounced on Salah’s cutback to seal the points.
He admitted afterwards: “Next time I will be telling someone else to take the penalty, but it’s not a major problem.
“The important thing is we won today.”
Spalletti was all praise for Salah on his full return from the Africa Cup of Nations, where the inspirational Egyptian front man lost in the final to Cameroon.
“It was a great comeback match for him, his ball control shone through today,” said Spalletti.
Inter’s 2-0 San Siro win came in the absence of Mauro Icardi, Ivan Perisic and Marcelo Brozovic.
Argentine striker Icardi and Perisic were handed two and one-game bans respectively following unsavoury incidents at the end of last week’s 1-0 defeat at Juventus, where Brozovic broke his toe in a challenge with Miralem Pjanic.
Given Icardi and Perisic have scored 22 of Inter’s 37 league goals this season, Nerazzurri fans had cause for concern.
But any pre-match fears were settled quickly, Empoli ‘keeper Lukasz Skorupski performing heroics to tip a Rodrigo Palacio header out from underneath the bar early on.
Inter broke deadlock in the 14th minute, Eder chesting the ball past Skorupski at the back post after Palacio flicked on Antonio Candreva’s inswinger.
Eder turned provider 10 minutes after the restart, the Brazil-born Italy striker setting up Candreva for a strike from distance that beat Skorupski at his near post.
The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on Sunday said it had discovered deep rooted rot that embattled airline, Arik Air.
AMCON said it would require over N10 billion to fix the rot before the largest local carrier could resume full and uninterrupted flight operations to its regular routes across the country and beyond
The asset company made the disclosure in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr Jude Nwauzor in Lagos.
Newsmen reports that the airline was on Feb. 9 taken over by the Federal Government under the auspices of AMCON as a result of a whooping debt profile of over N300 billion.
AMCON had directed that the airline would now be managed by Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, a veretan aviation expert, under the receivership of Mr Oluseye Opasanya (SAN).
Arik Air
The statement noted that the situation was so bad that only nine aircraft out of the 30 in the fleet of the airlines were operational.
According to the statement, 21 of them have either been grounded, gone for C-check in Europe, among other forms of challenges.
"As if these problems are not enough, the airline does not have money to procure aviation fuel for the nine operational aircrafts because no dealer wants to sale aviation fuel to Arik if it is not on cash-and-carry basis.
"This also calls for public understanding because flight schedules may be realigned based on the nine aircrafts that are available, technically sound and ready for flight operation," it said.
The statement said it was discovered that Arik also owe its technical partners and also in perpetual default in its lease payments and insurance premium, leading to regular and embarrassing squabbles with different business partners.
"All these problems in addition to huge staff salaries, which have remained unpaid for 11 months; vendors that supply different items to Arik Air that are also owed means that Nigerians may have to tarry-a-while to allow the new management clean up the huge mess at the airline before Arik would finally resume uninterrupted flight,'' It said.
The statement quoted Ilegbodu as reassuring Nigerians that these issues; though daunting, would be gradually resolved to enable Arik Air, which carries about 55 per cent of the load in the country recover the 21 aircraft.
According to him, once all the aircrafts are back to the fleet, Arik Air will within the shortest possible time regain its pride of place as a leader among the comity of airlines in Nigeria.
He reiterated the fact that the intervention at Arik Air clearly underscores government's decision to instil sanity in the nation's aviation sector, adding that the move also prevented a major disaster that would have befallen the airline.
It said that the new management had settled the insurance cover for the aircraft which would have expired on Feb.12 and also met with different trade creditors as well as aggrieved staffers.
It, therefore, called for public understanding as the management begins the tough job of ensuring that Arik is returned to full operational capacity within the shortest possible timeframe.
Lagos – The Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) on Sunday said it had discovered deep rooted rot at embattled airline, Arik Air.
AMCON said it would require over N10 billion to fix the rot before the largest local carrier could resume full and uninterrupted flight operations to its regular routes across the country and beyondArik Air
The asset company made the disclosure in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr Jude Nwauzor in Lagos.
The airline was on Feb. 9 taken over by the Federal Government under the auspices of AMCON as a result of a whooping debt profile of over N300 billion.
AMCON had directed that the airline would now be managed by Capt. Roy Ilegbodu, a veretan aviation expert, under the receivership of Mr Oluseye Opasanya (SAN).
The statement noted that the situation was so bad that only nine aircraft out of the 30 in the fleet of the airlines were operational.
According to the statement, 21 of them have either been grounded, gone for C-check in Europe, among other forms of challenges.
"As if these problems are not enough, the airline does not have money to procure aviation fuel for the nine operational aircrafts because no dealer wants to sale aviation fuel to Arik if it is not on cash-and-carry basis.
"This also calls for public understanding because flight schedules may be realigned based on the nine aircrafts that are available, technically sound and ready for flight operation," it said.
The statement said it was discovered that Arik also owe its technical partners and also in perpetual default in its lease payments and insurance premium, leading to regular and embarrassing squabbles with different business partners.
"All these problems in addition to huge staff salaries, which have remained unpaid for 11 months; vendors that supply different items to Arik Air that are also owed means that Nigerians may have to tarry-a-while to allow the new management clean up the huge mess at the airline before Arik would finally resume uninterrupted flight,'' It said.
The statement quoted Ilegbodu as reassuring Nigerians that these issues; though daunting, would be gradually resolved to enable Arik Air, which carries about 55 per cent of the load in the country recover the 21 aircraft.
According to him, once all the aircrafts are back to the fleet, Arik Air will within the shortest possible time regain its pride of place as a leader among the comity of airlines in Nigeria.
He reiterated the fact that the intervention at Arik Air clearly underscores government's decision to instill sanity in the nation's aviation sector, adding that the move also prevented a major disaster that would have befallen the airline.
It said that the new management had settled the insurance cover for the aircraft which would have expired on Feb.12 and also met with different trade creditors as well as aggrieved staffers.
It, therefore, called for public understanding as the management begins the tough job of ensuring that Arik is returned to full operational capacity within the shortest possible timeframe. (NAN)
People are always blaming circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get ahead in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, make them."– George Bernard Shaw
Interesting times we live in, and what a week it has been. Young Nigerians took to social media with hash tag #IStandWithNigeria and then to the streets. They stood up and spoke out. Across the country and abroad, they marched in their tens, hundreds and thousands to protest about the present living conditions in Nigeria. Whatever the motive of 2Face Idibia, he was right to start the conversation publicly and initiate a public protest. It was well intended and many millions of young Nigerians took up the mantle of responsibility.
It was well overdue and inspite, of the police leaning on 2Face to call off the protest because they said they could not guarantee the protesters safety, it went ahead without 2Face and the police could not do anything about it. The future really does belong to the young people and they have been ignored for far too long, therefore the politicians should do more to improve the lives of our young people. This neglect is a poor indictment of successive governments over the last couple of decades. We have a nation that has over 7 out of 10 young people who are not in employment, education or training. This is not something that the government should be proud of.
With the absence of the President, who we are told, remains on medical vacation, it is little wonder, why the nation is anxious and are wondering what actually is going on. Where is the Captain of the ship and what direction are we going? Is the Able second mate taking over to steer the ship through the political choppy waters? One can only hope that the crew know because they are not telling the passengers (Nigerians). The Government won on an anti-corruption platform, and the country is waiting for them to deliver and the results is not forthcoming. Where is the Change that was promised? The mantra of "Change begins with me" now seems so dishonest and hollow. Change cannot begin with some people and not with others, especially when the government demands change from those who do not have the power and lack the means to make the change: they do not have enough food, no substantial opportunities, employment, no health-care facilities or access to affordable staple food. So it is cruel when the powerful are rubbing salts in the wounds of the poor while they are going overseas to have medical treatment while the country's health care systems crumbles, inaccessible or not working. It is obvious that some people are more equal than others.
One of the protesters commented that the, "government by the rich, for the rich, to make laws so that poor people suffer". Sadly, this is the truth. Increasing poverty and the gap between the very rich and the poor are so wide and it continues to be so on a daily basis. Nigerians are resilient and they have taken all the economic blows for too long by adjusting their lives accordingly but there is no more room to adjust. The patience has worn thin and asking for anymore is unkind.
Honesty and transparency are needed to ensure that Nigerian can trust that the Government and they in turn should do right by Nigerians. PMB has extended his medical vacation, all we know that he is well and awaiting medical tests. One of the protesters said; "Nigerians are frustrated and tired of this absentee government,". Everything that is wrong with Nigeria today is written on their colourful placard: "Unemployed people are hungry and angry". It is cold comfort to call the nation, the biggest economy or the giant of Africa. This accolade does nothing for Nigerians. It is nothing and means nothing unless the man on the street can feel the difference positively.
There are pictures of officials visiting PMB in London, we could assume that it is to show that PMB is fine and well. The more this theatre and dramatics continues, the more peculiar and intriguing plot is becoming. We can do without the amateur and this circus is not doing anyone any favour least of all, PMB and his cabinet.
There is too much fake news about the president even before he was due to return to work after a two-week medical vacation in London. Now that he has extended his vacation, the rumour mill has gone into over drive. This has been handled badly and it does not help that his appearance is shrouded in secrecy and it unsettles many as they are not sure what to think of the state of country.
Vice President Osinbanjo, has assured the protesters and Nigerians that the government understands the grievances of the protesters and that the administration will implement policies that will address all issues raised. He said: "To those who are on the streets protesting the economic situation and those who are not, but feel the pain of economic hardship, we hear you,"
With the absence of the President, Vice President Osinbanjo has asked for calm and assured the young people in particular that the government is listening and they are working hard to make Nigeria a better place for everyone. Nice words, but this has been heard too many times. With the Gate House of the vice president costing Millions and Millions of Naira, little wonders these words fall on deaf ears. Are we really in the same boat? Speaking at a town hall meeting at Kano, he said that he was confident everyone would come out of the current recession happy. When will that be and how will it look and feel like?
What the government needs to understand is that the country went through trauma in 2009 during the illness of former president Yar'Adua. They were left in the dark and repeatedly lied to about the condition of the former president when it was obvious to everyone that he was not in the best of health. The concerns are real and it would be helpful if this government could be honest and support the citizens with facts.
So this Monday, the young people spoke and the young people, regardless of their tribal and religious backgrounds, they all took to the street despite the warning by the police that the protest could not go on. They walked side by side, placards–in-hand demanding from the government an improvement to the living conditions for all Nigerians. Times are very hard in Nigeria for majority of Nigerians and as one young person put it so well-how long do the young people have to be patient and why are the older generation denying the young free education when in fact most of the older generations were recipients of free education.
This is not the time to say wait and see, that has been the mantra of successive administrations, and no discernible change to improve the lives of the young people, and in the meantime, the politicians cart off billions of dollars and leaving the country bereft of crumbling structures, substandard education, social care, economy, trade, devalued Naira, depleted resources, youth mass unemployment, poverty, sick and unhealthy citizens.
This is the harsh reality and the young people are aggrieved that the politicians are throwing away their future. The time to listen to the young people is now, in fact, it was yesterday but now, will do. The young people have been deprived and ignored for so long and no amount of heavy handedness from the wealthy and the powerful will stop the young people from finding their way with or without the politicians.
The government cannot run a nation like Nigeria, like an organisation and treat ordinary Nigerians with contempt and disdain. The young people are standing up and it is important to listen to them and it is advisable that the powers that be take note and start to make the sustainable and realistic changes.
It is a departure from the fatalistic stance. It is clear that people do not know how strong they are until strong is the only thing they have. The resilience of Nigerians has been sorely tested and taken for granted for too long. Many of these young people are not in employment, training or education. This is not what we should wish our young people, they deserve better than this and they are worth much more. Talk is cheap and time to change the mindset.
There is an urgency to put things to right and so there is an urgency to get it right and roll it out to the ordinary Nigerians.
Can the government make changes to high prices of food, petrol prices, high unemployment rates and a devalued naira make the lives of so many Nigerians bearable?
Nigerians are becoming unwell both physically and emotionally. For them, every day is life and death. They have to decide where their next meal is coming from, should they go to work and not get paid or how they can pay their children's' school fees.
This is the time to affect change and the time for the government to practise what they promise. A word of caution to the young people:
"When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system's game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight! Because once they've got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don't know how to handle is non-violence and humour."-John Lennon
It is Time to See.
"In my language Igbo, the word for love is "ifunanya" and its literal translation is "TO SEE". I would like to suggest today that this is a time for a new narrative, a narrative in which we truly see those about whom we speak. Let us tell a different story. Let us tell the story differently. Let us remember that the movement of human beings on earth is not new. Human history is a story of movement and mingling. Let us remember that we are not just bones and flesh. We are emotional beings. We all share a desire to be valued. A desire to matter. Let us remember that dignity is as important as food." -Chimamanda Adichie
By Dele Sobowale "Power and money do drive people crazy. So why shouldn't people also gain power and wealth through being crazy." Saul Bellow. VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTES, p 195.
Americans, since the end of the Second World War, had always wondered how the most advanced people in Europe, the Germans, in the early parts of the last century could produce a monstrous leader like Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, 1889-1945. With the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States of America, they now know how in a fit of absent-mindedness bordering on lunacy, nations use their votes to appoint a crack-port as their leader. History does not repeat itself; only human beings are so stupid.
US President Donald Trump
Each and every time the world faces a series of problems, along comes a leader in one of the more powerful nations offering alluringly simple solutions to complex problems. It was a global recession in early 1900s, as well as the unanswered question of balance of power and an economic depression in 1933 which resulted in two world wars last century. The second war and the role of Adolf Hitler are of more interest to us. He and Donald Trump share a few things in common which could help us to understand the trajectory of Trump's presidency and how it will affect the world. Eventually, those who had complacently assumed that the world can no longer fight a global war might be proved wrong. They assume that because of the destructive power of nuclear weapons and the Mutually Assured Destruction, MAD, capacities, available in several countries, no leader would dare unleash his own arsenal first. Not stated, but implied in that assumption is another one – that every nation with nuclear weapons will always have a leader who is totally rational and not a single one will lose his marbles. I am not so sure that mankind can perpetually guarantee that sane men and women will always rule all nations of the world.
Donald Trumps' first few days in office is a pointer to how wrong the optimists might turn out to be about the perpetual sanity of world leaders. Hitler was considered deranged only after he had plunged the world into war and after he had died – but not before taking close to one hundred million souls down with him. Until then, his detractors thought they were dealing with just a difficult person; his supporters regarded him as a god-sent hero. That is the first similarity between Fuhrer Trump and Fuhrer Hitler. Adolf had his hard core followers, the Brown Shirts, who would do anything the Fuhrer ordered with no questions asked. Fuhrer Trump had cultivated his American version of "Brown Shirts" – people who accept anything Trump does or orders to be done as legitimate. Both groups believe only in obeying orders from their leader – to whom they owe total allegiance.
Hitler's basic principle and Trump's are also the same. They both believe that MIGHT IS RIGHT. Imagine, if you can, the President of Ukraine telling Russian President Putin that Ukraine is going to construct a wall between the two nations and Russia would pay for it; or Viet Nam saying the same thing to China. The absurdity of those two scenarios is clear to all. Turn the situation around; this time Russia and China planning to build the wall and the smaller nation would be compelled to pay for it. Which nation in the world would be the first to condemn the big nations? You receive no medals for guessing America. Americans would have been the first to condemn the announcement and the attempt at extortion of funds from a weaker nation. They would have told us that it violates international law; that it is banditry raised to the level of statecraft. Yet, before Election Day last year, millions of American "Brown Shirts" clapped at every campaign rally where Trump promised to adopt banditry as government policy in dealing with Mexico.
Fuhrer Trump does not give a damn about the rule of law, the constitution or justice. He favours rule by force or fraud (the man is a proud tax evader). That was why the Acting Attorney General who stated clearly that she would not obey an unconstitutional order was fired. She joins late Elliot Richardson, the Attorney General under President Richard Nixon, who resigned rather than obey an illegal presidential instruction in what in American history was known as Black Friday. Trump had selected people like Hitler's cabinet who would gladly carry out unconstitutional orders. Most on them are descendants of German and Italian immigrants. They are at home with Fascism – the cult of personality.
So, what stops the same "Brown Shirts" of America from endorsing a war with Mexico to collect the "debt" arising from the construction of the wall? Unless the rest of the world understand that we are dealing with a clone of another German, of un-blessed memory, nothing would stop Fuhrer Trump and his gang from going to war with Mexico. Hitler did the same thing to the Balkan countries and, like Trump, he actually told the entire world he would do it. Nobody believed any sane person would do such things – until he started doing them. Obviously, the safest thing for the whole world to assume is that Fuhrer Trump, like Fuhrer Hitler, will try to fulfill all he promised in the campaigns and he would not allow legality or justice to stand in the way. So, the world has two choices – submit or resist.
In making that choice, we need to take advice from Hitler who warned that "You don't fight terror with appeasement; you fight terror with terror". Every bully is a terrorist; irrespective of whether the bully is an individual or a nation. Trump had shown us the bully's face of America – which had previously been well-concealed – and the rest of us must deal with that reality and not hope there will be a change.
Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump have German blood running through their veins. Trump's parents migrated to the US and his mother was reportedly an illegal immigrant allowed to stay by charitable people. Her son is not so generous. He cares not a dime for the down-trodden. For all we know, Trump and Hitler might be distant cousins. But, that thought need not delay us here. America has Trump just as Nazi Germany had Hitler. The world should not make the same mistake twice.
One nation and its current leader appear too eager to repeat the errors of 1936. Hitler's ascendancy and his first conquests brought in a clown waving the olive branch and promising to support the Germans in their global ambitions. The man was Benito Mussolini, 1883-1945 – the Italian Fascist leader – who was too happy to kiss Hitler's hand and perhaps his rump as well. Bad history repeated itself two days after Fuhrer Trump was sworn in. Mrs "Mussolini" May, Prime Minister of no so great Britain, was in the US to "kiss" Trump's hand; and perhaps his rump. Before her meeting with Trump, she had a speaking engagement with Republicans in Philadelphia. There she proceeded to polish the American and Trump apple.
Among other things "Mussolini" May recollected that it was in that city that the Founding fathers of America gathered from thirteen states to announce the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. She even recollected that one of the most famous lines in that declaration pronounced that "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all Men are created equal…" As with most white people telling white audiences about American history, Mrs "M" May conveniently forgot that most of the hypocritical Founding fathers were slave owners and women were not allowed to vote. More importantly, she deliberately overlooked the fact that Indians were already there when white men reached America. She did not remind the Republicans that their fore-fathers carried out the worst holocaust known to man by wiping out all the Indians and stealing their land. Mrs "Mussolini" May did not recollect all those facts because they would reveal to the Republicans and the entire world that under the American velvet glove extended to the world is a blood-stained steel claw; that America's vaunted moral superiority is a sham.
The emergence of Fuhrer Trump was an incident waiting to happen. It has at last revealed to the entire world that America thinks it has bought the world, the way a client has rights to a prostitute. And, the rest of us better behave or there will be hell to pay.
An Islamic scholar, Malam Abdullahi Abubakar,on Sunday, advised Boko Haram members to end the violence and embrace peace if they truly believe in Islam.
He gave the advice at a workshop on Deradicalisation, Counter-Terrorism and Migration in Maiduguri. Abubakar, also a lecturer at Bayero University Kano (BUK), said killing of innocent souls and destruction of property was contrary to Islamic teachings.
He condemned the Boko Haram ideology of trying to establish a wholly Islamic State, adding that "the Boko Haram group should re-consider its thought and revisit its methodology by following the right teachings of Islam.
Boko Haram member
"Islam is based on four foundamentals; they are justice, mercy, wellbeing and wisdom and anything contrary to these is against Islamic Shariah.
"Boko Haram members claim that Muslims who do not join their group are non Muslims, which is contrary to the concept of justice in Islam because in Islam, there is no compulsion to any religion."
Abubakar then urged individuals having interest in the group to have a rethink as Boko Haram was evil.
He said "they slaughter people and rape women all in the name of religion, this is certainly not part of Islam.
"Muslims must seek knowledge to be able to perform the religion in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Prophet."
The scholar explained that the workshop was packaged by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) to sensitise participants on the true teachings of Islam.
Mr Ikponmwosa Omoigiade, the CDD Project Coordinator, said the event was aimed at strengthening the capacity of communities and religious leaders in counter narratives to extremist views and perspectives toward the prevention and countering of radical views capable of breeding terrorism.
Newsmen reports that 80 participants comprising clerics, youths and women took part in the workshop, supported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japanese Government.
By Jimoh Babatunde With the take over of the operations of troubled Arik Air to save it from total collapse by the Federal Government, it has been gathered that Flight schedule may be realigned to match the 10 aircraft in the fleet, while sorting out the myriad of problems confronting the airline.
A source disclosed that the airline’s management is looking to stabilise its operation by scaling down flight operations based on the number of serviceable aircraft at its disposal, until more aircraft return from C-check and maintenance yards abroad.
"Therefore a new schedule will be announced in the next few days to accommodate its existing fleet of 10 aircraft." I t was equally gathered that before the government’s intervention last week that virtually all of Arik’s trade creditors are being owed, staff salaries have not been paid for between 4- 6 months, and of the 28 aircraft in Arik’s fleet, only 10 are in operation.
The source said "It appears that unlike previously recorded, Arik have debts in huge amounts, in excess of N300 billion, especially with some banks, excluding fuel suppliers, lessors and maintenance companies. Due to government’s intervention, operations are continuing and the insurance cover for the aircraft which would have expired yesterday (on Sunday, 12 February) has now been sorted out. Trade creditors and fuel marketers have been assured that all indebtedness will be looked into; they have offered to support the new management to get operations run smoothly.
Previously the fuel suppliers had suspended credit facilities, but the airline is working to ensure steady fuel supply, which had been the cause of the airline’s erratic operations.
"Flight schedule may therefore be realigned to match the 10 aircraft in the fleet, while sorting out the myriad of problems confronting the airline."
The source added “It is obvious that without Government intervention Arik would have virtually stopped operation by Monday of next week. We need public support to understand the enormity of the challenges here, while we stabilise operations over the next few days, as we offer safe, secure and timely services to customers.
President Donald Trump has assured Japan it has the full support of the United States following a North Korean ballistic missile launch.
"I just want everybody to understand and fully know that the United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent," Trump said in a very short statement during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He did not elaborate.
The Japanese leader denounced the launch, which came in defiance of UN resolutions, as "absolutely intolerable."
"North Korea must fully comply with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," Abe said.
The two leaders were speaking after spending the day together at Trump's luxurious Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, playing golf and dining with their wives.
On Friday, the pair met at the White House and reaffirmed the strength of US-Japan ties.
The North Korean missile launch, the first since Trump became president, took place at 7:55 am Sunday (22:55 GMT Saturday) from Banghyon air base in the western province of North Pyongan and flew east towards the Sea of Japan, South Korea's defense ministry said.
"The concrete type of the ballistic missile has yet to be identified", a defense ministry spokesman told AFP.
Five nuclear tests and a series of missile launches since 2006 have resulted in Pyongyang being slapped with crippling international sanctions, which were further tightened in March and December.
But the measures have not deterred North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un from pursuing his nuclear ambitions.
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