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
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said the average price of imported rice decreased by 7.22 per cent, as one kilogramme (1kg) was sold for N250.30 in April from N418.71 in March.The seized consignment
The NBS stated this in its"Selected Food Price watch data for April 2017" released on Tuesday in Abuja.
It, however, stated that the average cost of 1kg of rice (imported high quality sold loose) increased year-on-year by 29.98 per cent in the month under review.
According to the report, an average cost of 1 dozen of Agric. eggs medium size increased year-on-year by 41.04 per cent and decreased month-on-month by 1.71 per cent to N518.66 in April 2017 from N527.69 in March.
"The average price of piece of Agric. eggs medium size (price of one) increased year-on-year by 28.74 per cent and month-on-month by 5.21 per cent to N46.22 in April from N43.93 in March.
It further stated that the average cost of 1kg of tomato increased year-on-year by 15.32 per cent and month-on-month by 6.36 per cent to N285.72 in April from N268.64 in March.
Similarly, the average price of 1kg of yam tuber increased year-on-year by 42.45 per cent and decreased month-on- month by 2.17 per cent to N250.30 in April from N255.86 in March.
On methodology of reporting the food prices, NBS stated that over 700 staff was sent to all the states of the federation for the field work and were supervised by experts.
Prices were collected across all the 774 local governments across all states and the FCT from over 10,000 respondents, locations and analysed.—
Reno Omokri, the ex-media aide to Former President Goodluck Jonathan on electronic media has taken a swipe at second republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed who had, in a recent interview, said that should anything happen to President Muhammadu Buhari, the north will insist on being in power till 2027.
Omokri who reacted to the statement said everybody in Nigeria is equal before the law and if the ex-lawmaker does not like it that way, he should hearken to the once advice of a Lagos Oba by jumping into the lagoon.
Mr. Mohammed had, in the chat, quoted to have said, "If anything happens to Buhari the north will insist on being in power till 2027…..those who see Buhari as their representative and are not being treated justly are going to claim their own rights and the only way you are going to resolve the issue is that after Buhari's administration, you have it zoned to the north for eight to 10 years," said Junaid Mohammed.
But in his reaction, Pastor Omokri said, "Recently, Nigerian woke up to a rude and not so subtle threat issued by one cantankerous fellow, Junaid Mohammed, who has an over bloated opinion of himself and the weight his words carry in Nigeria.
Reno Omokri & Junaid Mohammed
"Without deigning to repeat his repugnant and provocative threats, let me respond to Junaid Mohammed and any other person that thinks along those lines.
"First, I and those I represent pray for President Muhammadu Buhari’s recovery, but if what Junaidu Mohammed is contemplating should occur (and it is highly disappointing that Junaid should be contemplating such instead of praying for the president), then it is the Nigerian constitution that will dictate what will happen next and not Junaid, or Northern Nigeria or any other part of Nigeria for that matter.
"For the avoidance of doubt, there is no first class or second class citizen in Nigeria. No part or citizen of Nigeria needs permission from another part or citizen of Nigeria before they can lay claim to what has been freely given to them by the Nigerian Constitution which is the Grundnorm and basis for the existence of Nigeria.
"We are all equal. And if Junaidu Mohammed and those he speaks for do not like it, they should take the Oba of Lagos’s advise and jump into the lagoon. Nothing, I repeat nothing, must happen to Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His fate is in the hand of God and not in the hand of proud and presumptuous mortals like Junaid and those he speaks for!
"My advise to Junaid Mohammed is that he confine his busybody to praying for the President rather than pontificate about a post Buhari Nigeria when the President is very much alive."
Lagos – Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC) operated Joint Venture on Tuesday said it contributed over 29 billion dollars (10.44 trillion) to the Nigerian purse between 2012 and 2016.
Mr Osagie Okunbor, the Country Chair of Shell Companies in Nigeria, disclosed this in Lagos during the official lunch of Shell in Nigeria Briefing Notes 2017.
Okunbor said that Shell remained strongly committed to the development of Nigeria.
He said that in 2016, royalties and corporate taxes paid by Shell companies in Nigeria to the Federal Government purse stood at 1.4 billion dollars (N504 billion).
"SPDC contributed $1.0 billion (N360 billion) while Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) contributed .4 billion (N144 billion) to government revenue.
"This is besides the energy which Shell companies contributed to the Nigerian economy with Shell-operated ventures in Nigeria recording an output of some 572,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2016,'' he said.
Okunbor said that Shell Contractor Funding initiative was expanded with eight participating banks committing about 2.2 billion dollars (N792 billion) to fund contract executed by Nigerian companies working for Shell companies in Nigeria.
He said that since the programme's creation in 2011, loans worth approximately one billion dollars (N360 billion) had been awarded to 220 small and medium-scale Nigerian enterprises with no recorded defaults on repayment.
Okunbor said that the determination of Shell to support the monetisation of the nation's huge gas resources led it to establish Shell Nigeria Gas in 1998.
He said that Shell was now supplying gas to about 90 industrial customers in Ogun, Rivers and Abia states.
"The gas is used for power generation and processing by industries for the manufacture of domestic products ranging from household consumables to household utensils and hardware.
"Shell companies in Nigeria paid special attention to the welfare of host communities, making Nigeria the second largest recipient of social investment spending in the Shell Group after the United States.
"Areas of focus include community and enterprise development, education, health, access-to-energy and since 2016, road safety.
"This is in addition to community-driven development programmes and initiatives delivered through the Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) which target themes is determined by benefiting communities,'' he said (NAN)
To protect the interest of aspirants, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said on Tuesday that Lagos state chapter of the party is allowed to take any decision it considers appropriate in the forthcoming Local government election. This is due to the problem the party is facing at the moment, which they believe will be resolved soon.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary, PDP – NCC, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, it said; ”Our position is not to choose a platform for any state where true PDP candidates are denied the opportunity to stand for the elections. State Chapters are allowed to take any decision they consider appropriate.”
The statement titled ‘Local Government Elections In Lagos And Other States: The Issue Of Political Party Platform To Use,’ reads in part; ”The attention of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s led National Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been drawn to some news items to the effect that the National Caretaker Committee has instructed PDP members to use the Platform of a newly registered Party to contest the forthcoming Local Government elections in Lagos State and other states where Local Government Elections are pending. In view of the misconception and unease which the issue has raised, we are constrained to make the following clarification.
PDP
”The National Caretaker Committee is working with all the Organs of the Party, the BoT, the National Caucus, NEC, PDP Governors Forum, PDP State Chairmen Forum, PDP Ministers Forum, the Youths and Women Groups and other relevant bodies to pursue the Appeal filed at the Supreme Court to its logical conclusion. We have a good Case and our ground of Appeal is solid.
”We believe ultimately that justice will be served on the leadership issues in our Party and we are also confident that the Judiciary will continue to remain independent, unbiased and neutral.
”However, while we await the verdict of the Supreme Court, we are confronted with with pending local government, National and State Assembly by-elections in many states of the federation. Since the Platform of our great party, the PDP is currently in dispute, we recognize the anxiety of our patriotic and loyal members to avoid a repeat of the Edo and Ondo Gubernatorial Elections experience where Senator Ali modu Sheriff and his co travelers tried to scuttle the chances of our members by fielding APC lackeys and surrogates as alternative candidates in other to disturb, distract and dissipate the energy and concentration of our genuine candidates in those elections. It is indisputable that this was the main reason for our defeat particularly in the Ondo Governorship Election.
”That was why we deliberately decided not to run parallel congresses in Anambra State in order not to subject our Party members in that State to the agony of a disputed platform.
”It is also important to state at this point that Senator Sheriff and his cohorts have been creating factional chapters in different states of the federation in order to compromise our chances in the Local Government Elections.
”In the circumstances and with no hope of the Ali Modu Sheriff problem abating before the Supreme Court judgement, we are left with no choice than to consider ways by which our members will not be disenfranchised in these elections. However our position is not to choose a platform for any state where true PDP candidates are denied the opportunity to stand for the elections. State Chapters are allowed to take any decision they consider appropriate.
”We continue to pray for a positive outcome in the Judgment of the Supreme Court so that the agony and pain of recent times may be finally put behind us.
”God bless the PDP! God bless Nigeria!!, he finally said”.
ABUJA – THE Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has released the result of the Computer Based Test of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, for the 57,000 candidates that wrote the examination on Saturday.
UTME: Students waiting to be accredited for JAMB at Oak Int.School. Aguda Ogba. Going on smoothly. By citizen Chichi
This is as racketeers have allegedly duped some of the candidates by selling fake examination questions they tagged, ‘origi’ for N200,000 which JAMB latter discovered that the questions were the JAMB questions in 1984.
Meantime, security operatives have arrested one of the “candidates”in Aba, Abia state for allegedly attacking the JAMB officials that prevented him from gaining entry into the exam centre.
But Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah has commended the conduct of the 2017 UTME, saying that with the conduct, subsequent ones will be excellent.
Speaking to journalists after monitoring the examination on Monday, the Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede disclosed that the result of UTME that was taken on Saturday by over 57,000 candidates had been released.
He also said that the examination could not go on at the Lagos State University of Technology, LAUTECH because of the ongoing strike in the institution, saying that if the strike was not called off by today (Monday), the authorities of JAMB will have no other option than to relocate the candidates to University of Ilorin which he said was the nearest centre from Ogbomosho.
According to him, “For me, I believe everything is going on well, we are monitoring what is going on except for the person that was said to have attacked our staff in Aba, Abia State this morning.
“The security agencies have taken care of that, except for that, I have not heard anything. He was arrested. He claimed to be a candidate, maybe he had been duped somewhere by somebody and getting there, you know some of these people going about telling people that they can give them questions.
Fake questions sell for N200,000
“Even this morning somebody sent me questions, they call it “origi” and he bought it for N200,000 and when I saw it, it was our questions in 1984 and he just put 2017 on it and he started selling it and people were buying. So if people are corrupt, I won’t have any sympathy if they are extorted by corrupt people like themselves.
“So, they are just being wise, they went into past questions of JAMB and just changed the heading to 2017, somebody sent text to me and said I have all the questions and I said send them to me and I checked I just laughed because non of that was on our questions.
“So, what people are just doing is that they are making money because people are gullible. We are pleading to people to please just do everything according to the rules, no cutting of corner will work with JAMB, so it will not work and that is why so many of them are disappointed.”
Releases results He further said, “The result for the Saturday has come out and the performance is not too bad but at least we are sure that that is the performance now ratter than thinking that you can get result one way or the other.”
The JAMB Registrar said that about 400,000 students wrote the Monday UTME and that the board would conclude the examination in some states on Monday, while some states will continue till Thursday and Friday, adding, “but by Friday we should be over to face the foreign students.”
He said, “We have rounded off in some parts of Abia, we have rounded off in some parts of Bauchi, we have rounded off even Niger but we will go on in Kebbi, we will go on in Lagos till tomorrow then Oyo will go for four days but where we have sufficient number of CBT centres like Delta, they are complaining that they are not fully utilised, we are going to engage them to make them fully utilised the year round.
Strike in LAUTECH “We understand that there is a sort of strike either by staff or by students in LAUTECH and we have two of our centres there, so, arrangements are being made to transfer the students because there are no private CBT centre in Ogbomosho.
“Because Ilorin is closer to Ogbomosho than Ibadan so we believe it is better for us to take the students from Ogbomosho to Ilorin rather than taking them to Ibadan of Oyo.
“What we are going to do is that we have passed the appropriate message that if the staff or students do not call off their strike in Ogbomosho today, by tomorrow we will reschedule all our registered candidates there to Ilorin and the University of Ilorin has accepted to accommodate them in terms of taking their examination.
“It is not our fault, we didn’t know they will go on strike, it is not good to go on strike. That is why we have said that we are destroying this country with strike. You are free to disagree, but the disagreement should not go to the level of destroying our collective tomorrow, that is where my problem lies with those who are strike hungers.
“If some people that were before us had destroyed us, we wouldn’t be where we are. So we are free to disagree with government but we should not destroy the future of Nigeria simply because we are going on strike.”
Speaking after monitoring the examination, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anwukah said, “Everything is in place and the exercise is going on well, exceptionally well. Based on what I have seen, the examination is going on well and if we can factor in into what we are doing today, I think it will be excellent from now on.”
A Muslim cleric, Sheik Yusuf Amzat-Salam, 35, his wife and four children were killed by hoodlums suspected to be herdsmen in the early hours of Tuesday in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun.
The incident occurred at Atiba area of Odogbolu Local Government Area.
The eldest child, a girl, was aged 11, followed by her twin brothers, aged 8 and the last female child, aged 2.
All the victims had since been buried according to Muslim rites amid wailing. The attackers, whose motive could not be ascertained, butchered the entire household with machetes.
The victims were discovered in the pool of their blood when school bus came to pick the children.
A close family friend, Mr Yusuf Oludaisi, described the act as dastardly and wicked, wondering what the victim must have done to warrant such treatment.
"He was someone whom we grew up together. I have known him for 30 years to be humble and kind to everyone who came across his path.
"It's really sad because this was someone you will never see quarrelling or being disrespectful", said Oludaisi.
The younger brother of the victim, Alfa Ishaaq Amzat-Salam, however, said he would leave the matter for God to judge.
"I leave those who perpetrated such evil into God's hands for He alone will judge them. The deed cannot be undone.
"I will always remember my brother forever for his loving kindness as he was a shining light to us all", said Ishaaq.
Ex-Senator Gbenga Kaka (Ogun East), who was at the burial of the victims, described the incident as very sad.
"I am a close friend to the father of the victim and when I heard what happened, I was in bitter shock.
"It is unimaginable what these people did and it brings much sadness to my heart. I don't even have the words to describe it", said Kaka. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in Ogun, Bimbola Oyeyemi, said the command was aware of the incident.
"We are already doing all to investigate and apprehend the culprit", he said.
Sympathisers described the cleric as a peace-loving, humble and caring individual.
Maiduguri – The Police Command in Borno on Tuesday confirmed the killing of five persons in a suicide bomb attack in Konduga Local Government Area of the state.
The Spokesman of the command, Mr Victor Isuku, made the confirmation in a statement in Maiduguri.
"Information received from Konduga has it that on Monday at about 2130 hrs, three Female suicide bombers detonated explosives strapped on their bodies at Shuwa settlement of Mandarari Ward Konduga , killing themselves and two others.
"While six persons sustained injuries, Normalcy has been restored in the area," Isuku said
The command had on May 13 confirmed a twin suicide attack that rocked the premises of University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID).
According to the command's Spokesman, Victor Isuku, three suicide bombers hurriedly detonated IEDs strapped to their bodies, killing themselves and a university security personnel.
By Bashir Bello KATSINA – Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farooq has on Tuesday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.
This was as he prayed for the quick recovery of the President in order to complete his first term which is two years down and the second term.President Buhari and Emir of Daura HRH Alhaji Dr Faruk Umar Faruk at the Emir’s Palace in Daura.
According to the Emir who spoke in Hausa, “We pray for our President’s quick recovery, good and sound health to continue with his work. To complete the two years and four years to come,” he said.
The Emir stated this while receiving the Federal Commissioner of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons who were in the state to distribute relief materials to the IDPs.
Alhaji Farooq prayed that God grant Buhari good and sound health to continue with his leadership.
He commended President Buhari for restoring peace back to the North East region of the country which he said in the past has been crippled by activities of the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents and displaced persons across the country.
Also upon visitation to the Emir of Katsina’s palace to pay homage, the Emir, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman prayed for the quick recovery of President Buhari while noting that the country’s porous border is largely responsible for the Boko Haram insurgents.
He said no measures has been put in place to curtail the influx of people into the area.
Speaking while receiving the team in his residence in the President Muhammadu Buhari government House, Governor Aminu Bello Masari called on the commission to go beyond distribution of relief materials to resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and providing them with means of livelihood to improve their welfare.
Earlier, the Federal Commissioner, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq said they were in Katsina State to flag off distribution of relief materials to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs from the North East region to the state.
The Federal University Gusau in Zamfara, has rusticated 15 students and expelled two others over examination misconduct.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Magaji Garbage, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen while inspecting ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination [UTME] in Gusau on Tuesday.
He said the University Governing Board took the measure to serve as deterrent to other students who might indulge in examination malpractice.
"Out of the 17 students that were caught in examination misconduct, only two students did not appear at the Senate meeting for interrogation; and so, they were expelled.
"The remaining 15 students were rusticated, which means they will miss one academic session, and will resume after serving their punishment.
"This will serve as a lesson to other students to behave themselves, study well and be of good behaviour,'' he said.
The vice chancellor, who serves as JAMB Chief External Examiner for the 2017 UTME in the state, said the examination was going on peacefully and smoothly in all the centres.
Gov.Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has declared May 19, work free day in the state in honour of the late retired Maj.Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, a former Military Governor of the old Western region.
Fayose announced the date in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday during a meeting with members and executives of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS).
The governor said nothing would be too big to honour the late Adebayo, having paid his dues and contributed immensely to the growth and development of Yorubaland.
"In this respect, the new Government House was named after him as well as the General Hospital, Iyin-Ekiti.
"We need to celebrate our heroes, irrespective of political leanings.
"We are quick to chastise those who do badly and we must not shy away from recognising people who have done well
"I also want you to come out in large number to be part of the programmes to be held for him in the state.
"The work free day does not, however, affect the banks in the state," he said.
According to him, the body of the deceased will lie-in-state at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, Ado-Ekiti on Friday before interment on Saturday in Iyin-Ekiti.
The governor had earlier met with youths between 17 years and 22 years where he told them that his administration had a master plan for their development.
According to him, the master plan include a social security scheme which would soon be put in place for them.
ABUJA- Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has ordered immediate expansion of Social Investment Programmes, SIPs of the federal government to accommodate more Nigerians. Osinbajo
Osinbajo gave the directive when he received the SIP update report recently.
He also expressed satisfaction with the level of progress so far made under the programmes.
With the development, over one million Nigerians are to benefit from the programme.
Also, no less than 25 million meals have been served under the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme, (SIP).
These were contained in a statement signed by Mr. Laolu Akande, the spokesman of the Acting President in Abuja in Tuesday.
According to the statement, the administration had as at the end of last month (April 2017) spent a total N41,714,793,293 across all the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, FCT, implementing different aspects of the four Social Investment Programmes.
A breakdown of the total number of meals served showed that “1,051, 619 million primary school pupils are now being fed across the seven states of Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Zamfara state. No less than 11,847 cooks have also been employed. Altogether 8,587 schools are involved in those States.”
The statement added that “later in the week, more meals will be served as Delta and Abia States are now ready to be paid under the federal government school feeding scheme.
“Specifically, Delta State is expected to receive soon, a sum of N63, 366, 100 to start the feeding of 90, 523 primary school pupils. In the same vein, Abia State is also expected to receive N42, 921, 200.”
Also, Kaduna State “has now been repaid N3.4b for its past expenses implementing the food programme ahead of FG's roll-out.”
The statement also stated that “In a breakdown of the over N41b so far spent on the SIPs, N-Power, which is the job programme for unemployed graduates has received N26.418 billion, being the single largest spending item out of the four social investment programmes under the 2016 Appropriation.”
It further stated that beside N-Power, actual released funding for the other 3 programmes, apart from other expenses, so far, were “Home Grown School Feeding (HGSFP) – N7.092 billion; Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)- N800 million; Government Enterprises Entrepreneurship Programme (GEEP) – N7.301 billion”
Meanwhile, a comprehensive SIP implementation analysis, according to the statement “shows that every local government area, every State and the FCT have beneficiaries in one of the four programmes, while some states are already benefiting in more than one.
“For instance, under the N-Power job scheme for unemployed graduates now running in 36 States and FCT, 162,024 unemployed graduates have been effectively enrolled and validated-meaning have been cleared to be receiving the N30,000 monthly stipends, out of the 200,000 originally engaged late last year.
“A vast majority of the validated beneficiaries have been receiving stipends as at 31st March, 2017. Indeed an additional number has just been added to the list of those receiving their pay in the last several weeks.”
Similarly, the federal government said that it was working to ensure that more Nigerians would benefit from N-Power, Transfer (CCT) scheme and the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
A date for the commencement of the registration for N-Power would be announced soon.
“However, effort is being made to validate others and ensure that the 200,000 places provided for in the first batch of the N-Power programme are all effectively validated as provided for under the first phase of the programme.
“A date for the engagement of more N-power beneficiaries and the reopening of the portal to receive more applications would be announced soon.
“Under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme, 26,942 beneficiaries are now being funded as at last month with the monthly N5,000 stipend in 9 States and 84 Local Government Areas. The States are Borno, Cross River, Niger, Kwara, Ekiti, Kogi, Oyo, Osun and Bauchi.
“Based on the recent directive of the Acting President, the number is expected to add up to about 400,000 beneficiaries (and in more States) in a couple of months.
“Also the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) designed for the empowerment of market women, traders, artisans and co. has also recorded good progress with the disbursement of 57,234 interest free loans, except a one-time low administrative fee.
“GEEP which is designed for well over one million Nigerians has now registered 3,162,451 people who have showed interest and are members of 26, 924 registered cooperatives for purposes of the loans.
“So far, women participation has been remarkable with 56% of loans so far disbursed to women beneficiaries in 28 States and FCT.
“Directives have also been given to scale up the loan disbursement to 150,000 by end of next month”, the statement added.
Aiteo Group announces the appointment of Mr. Ratko M. Knezevic to its Global Executive Management team as Group Advisor on Business and Capital Development with effect from 5 May 2017.
Mr Knezevic will lead Aiteo's funds raising activities from global capital markets with the primary objective of reinforcing the Group's growth and diversification targets in Nigeria and across Africa as a whole.
Ratko brings to this role vast experience and expertise acquired through proven track record of direct operational leadership, strategy development, team building, financial and relationship management. He has achieved this immense depth of capability from more than 20 years of top flight experience in international business, investment banking, world political affairs, and international government relations through, amongst many roles, previous roles as Vice Chairman of Macquarie Capital EMEA and senior advisory roles with some of the biggest blue chip companies in the world.
Mr. Knezevic also served as Special Advisor for Economic and Foreign affairs to Prime Minister of Montenegro from 1994-1997 during which time he also served as Chief of the Montenegrin Mission to the United States of America.
On the appointment, Benedict Peters, Vice President and CEO of the Aiteo Global Group, said:
"This appointment is a testament to Aiteo's commitment to stable, experienced leadership and I believe with Ratko Knezevic's exemplary guidance and advice, based on his vast experience in the UK, US, Europe and China in capital markets, we will continue to grow in the kind of significant proportions that we have come to be known. Mr Knezevic's unrivalled network within global capital markets offers an excellent opportunity for investment in Nigeria and Africa through the Aiteo Group."
Ratko Knezevic, Global Strategy and Capital Markets Advisor to Aiteo Group, said:
"Africa is a new market and offers me a new challenge. My previous clients are some of the world's biggest capital movers, and looking through their eyes, I can see the potential of Aiteo as a major commercial organisation in Africa and the world. I will be saying nothing new to recognise that future world economic growth lies with Africa, and I am excited about playing a role in Aiteo's expansion, diversification and international stakeholder engagement."
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday dared a lawmaker who filed a failed impeachment bid against him, over alleged extrajudicial killings in his drug war, to now take his case to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Duterte was unfazed by the threat of Rep. Gary Alejano that he will bring the charges against the president to the ICC after the House of Representatives' Justice Committee voted to throw out his impeachment complaint.
"He can go ahead. He is free to do that," the 72-year-old leader told a press conference on his return from a trip to Phnom Penh, Hong Kong and Beijing.
"This is a democracy."
"What kind of a war against drug is it if there is no one killed?" Duterte said. "But not in the character and kind that I was dished out, including ordering the killing of children. That is nonsense."
Philippine-President-Rodrigo-Duterte
On Monday, the Justice Committee voted to throw out the impeachment complaint for being "insufficient in substance" because it was based on hearsay and Alejano did not have personal knowledge of the alleged offences.
The complaint, the first to be filed against Duterte since he took office in June, mainly accused the president of inducing abuses and extrajudicial killings in his administration's campaign against illegal drugs, which has left thousands dead.
In line with the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai's disposition to have a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adamu Baba Abubakar had in the early hours of Monday 15 May 2017, led some security chiefs comprising of the Commissioner of Police (COMPOL) Ebonyi State Mr Titus Lamorde, Commander 44 Engineer Brigade Brigadier General Mark Mamman, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Ebonyi State Mr Enyinnaya Adiagu, representative of Ebonyi State's Director of State Security Services (SDS) Mr Joseph Oleseni, Commandant Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corp Ebonyi Srate Command Mrs Chinwe Kannu, Commanding Officer 24 Engineer Support Regiment Lieutenant Colonel Paul Kulawe, Commander Mobile Police Squadron Ebonyi State Command, Superintendent Yusuf Bala, Commander 82 Division Provost Group Colonel Ahmadu Abubakar and the representative of the Commander Military Intelligence Brigade Major Titus Oladejo on a visit to the conflicted villages of Cross River and Ebonyi States with the aim of resolving the crisis.
Journalistic temperament pushed me to look at the trip not so much from a public relations perspective but more from a journalistic enterprise. Thus, the 5 hours journey on a bad road took us to Okputimo – Okwerike communities in Abakaliki Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State, Ijitum and Idoro neighbourhoods in Obubra LGA of Cross River State. Contagious villages like Offia Orji, Osofong and Enyebichiri, and other neighbouring but scattered communities close to Ogurunde and Ogamanya located at the fringe of Cross River and Ebonyi States were also visited to determine the extent of damage and their involvement in the perennial conflicts.
Some of these communities seem actively involved in the skirmishes, while a few are passive – supporting one community against another. Although agrarian, dispersed or fragmented, some of the villages appear to be divided, tensed and obviously at war with each other.
The only major common market was barricaded, the dilapidated primary and secondary schools are no go areas, and the only bad road linking the communities to the two States has been blocked by the 'merchants of war'. Instructively, socio – economic, educational and religious activities are virtually paralyzed and peoples' suffering seems to be increasing.
What is intriguing, – is not just the realities of conflict and pervasive neglect, but the sheer poverty and underdevelopment in the communities. Although, most of the localities look deserted, the remnants of women, children and men look downhearted and melancholic. Hope and an aura of relief came when the people in Okpuitimo – Okwerike community saw the convoy of security agencies.
Majority came forward, welcomed and ushered the GOC and his team to a natural shade provided by a cluster of mangrove trees for a meeting. It was the first community engagement, dialogue or consultative meeting of the day. At first, the submissions by the village head, a few elders and youth leader appeared conflicting, evasive or outright falsehood. But, the GOC, COMPOL and the SDS and other security chiefs on the mission were determine to ensure total and everlasting peace in the village and its environs. So, General Abubakar, – looking calm and unemotional, warned the chiefs and youths of the consequences of their actions.
Consequently, the Village head, Chief Luke Obu and the Youth leader Mr Augustine Nwoyo passionately opened up and voiced their community's anger against their neighbours – 'their Ijitum brothers and sisters'…. 'the problem is about our land,… our farm lands laying at the border between Cross River and Ebonyi States which have been severally encroached by the Ijitums, and there will never be peace if they do not vacate our land' – Chief Luke stated.
At this point, General Abubakar interrupted, urged them to calm down. 'I want you all to know that by your actions and utterances, you are sowing the seed of animosity between your community and its neighbours, and the result will be nothing but vicious circle of violence which will do no one any good… having been together for many years, no village will relocate to anywhere. No community has the mandate to order for the relocation of any community, whatever the grievances, we must today amicably discuss and resolve them for the common good".
I would like to make it clear to you that government is aware of the recurrent boundary skirmishes between and among your localities and a lot is being done to address the problem…… I will table this issue once again to appropriate authority with the view to resolving the issue once and for all… whatever we agree on here, I will pass it on to the other warring communities – General Abubakar posited.
The day was going fast; we were only able to reach out to three volatile communities of Okpuitimo – Okwerike, Ijitum and Idoro. In all the communities, the messages were straight forward – that of peaceful coexistence and the need for periodic intra and inter community engagement/dialogue between and among the warring societies. The major achievements of the visit included restoration of peace, reopening of the major road, the common market and the schools.
Above all, mechanism/processes for the establishment and activation of inter community vigilante groups would be established by the civil power in Ebonyi State to help to de-escalate tension and address emerging security challenges across the communities and its environs. BY Colonel Sagir Musa Deputy Director Army Public Relations 82 Division Nigerian Arny
The Leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), under Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON, on Tuesday commiserates with Chief Tony Anenih, Former chairman of the parties Board of Trustees (BoT), over the demise of his dear wife, Mrs. Patricia Anenih and Mr. Eugen Anenih, the son, newsmen report. It was gathered that both mother and son died this year.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan (R) with the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, during the former President's visit to the Chief Anenih’s residence in Abuja on Monday (15/5/17) over the death of his son, Eugene, who reportedly slumped and died while playing Tennis in a club in Lagos on Saturday.
This was made known to newsmen via a statement issued by Prince Dayo Adeyeye the National Publicity Secretary, PDP – NCC.
The statement reads thus, ‘Mrs. Patricia Anenih passed on at the age of 74 on Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 in London while her Son, Mr. Eugene Anenih passed on the 14th of May, 2017 at 51. It is indeed heartbroken for any man to loose both wife and son within such a short interval.
‘Our leader Sir, we identify with your pain and agony at this trying period. Your wife’s untiring support in an extremely busy and action packed political career cannot be overemphasized. Her departure must have left you with so much sorrow.
‘We believe in your capacity to overcome these painful loss. May the Lord grant you and your family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss. We pray that you will not sorrow again in the remaining days of your life. ‘May the Souls of the departed rest with the Lord in perfect peace, they finally said’.
Film studio Disney has said that hackers have threatened to release one of the studio's forthcoming movies unless it pays a ransom.
Disney CEO Bob Iger told ABC employees about the demand at a town hall meeting on Monday, The Hollywood Reporter said.
He did not name the film, but Deadline reports that it is Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Mr Iger said Disney is refusing to pay, and that the studio is working with federal investigators.
He added that the hackers had demanded the ransom in bitcoin and that they would release the film online in a series of 20-minute chunks unless it was paid.
It is not the first film studio to be threatened with online leaks.
disney
Last month, a group of hackers uploaded the fifth season of Orange is the New Black after Netflix refused to pay a ransom.
Dead Men Tell No Tales is the fifth instalment of the Pirates franchise and will see Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow return to the ocean alongside Geoffrey Rush and Orlando Bloom.
It is due to be released in cinemas in the US on 26 May.
Mark James, security specialist at IT security company ESET, said: "Anything that has a value will always be a potential victim of theft, either digital or physical. If someone has it and someone wants it then in theory there's a market for it."
Analysis – Zoe Kleinman, BBC News technology reporter
It's not clear how the hackers got hold of this material – did they manage to breach Disney's hopefully robust IT security framework or was it a result of human error?
Either way, the ransom tactic is popular among cyber criminals – just as we have seen with the recent ransomware attack which caused havoc around the world.
The sad fact is that it's easy money for them. People often choose to pay simply because they just want their data back, whether it's a blockbuster movie or those irreplaceable family photos. These days our digital possessions are the new family silver.
However there is no guarantee, even if you do give in to the demand, that the criminals will keep their side of the bargain (they are criminals after all), or that you won't end up on a list of easy targets and be hit again.
The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has concluded arrangements to terminate about six abandoned projects spread across the region with a view to enhance the development of the region.
The Minister, Pastor Uguru Usani had made this known while receiving the report on the audit and review of the East-west road and other project of its Ministry in Abuja. Usani said that following the report from the Ministerial Technical Audit Committee on the contracts awarded from 2009 – 2015 in the Niger Delta, that some projects have been proposed for termination.
He listed the projects to include construction of OkpuhutaMbano Junction – Orie market –Lomara- Igwebulka (35km) – Abia State; Land reclamation and Erosion control project at OguduAbia Phase I, Abia State.
Others are Idoro-Eastern Itam Water Supply Scheme Akwa Ibom; Construction of Mbak Atai-Ikot Ntu-MkpetiOkuiboku road project (13.86km) Akwa Ibom State; Ukparam Water Supply Scheme and Construction and Supervision of Omelema – Agada II Road, Rivers State. Project Length 14.415km.
The minister said the above listed projects were proposed for termination as a result of lack of capacity to complete the work as witnessed on site.
He cited "Gross lack of capacity problem, lack of seriousness on the project, lack of technical capacity to prosecute project and gross lack of competence by the contractors” as being the reasons for the termination.
Usani said the committee juxtaposed its findings from project sites against facts retrieved from available documents domiciled in the departments that supervised the projects.
According to him, there were violation of contract award process; Right from the cycle of procurement, planning to contract award, the committee noticed inconsistencies with the provisions of vital aspects of the Procurement Act.
"Prominent among other issues of violation were indiscriminate award of contract by initiating and benefiting departments without the leading and guiding role of the procurement department.
"Awards never took cognizance of availability of funds and annual appropriation provisions," he said.
The minister said the structure and content of some contract agreements lack checks and balances, saying that they hardly protect the interest of the Ministry in case of disputes.
He explained that the imminent picture of abandoned and uncompleted projects was as disturbing as the retinue of projects that extremely exceeded the dates of completion.
"This manifestly, emanated from inconsistency in government annual budgetary provision and lack of capacity to deliver especially where funds released do not correspond with performance.
"Most contracts were awarded with specific dates of completion but were not captured in subsequent appropriations.
According to the minister, this further exacerbated contractors' poor performance and inability to achieve project objectives.
"Consequently, no capital project was completed within the stipulated time frame," he said.
Mr Chijoke Micheal, an Estate Manager, from Abia State, told newsmen that the policy of terminating contracts not executed by contractors would speed up development in the Niger Delta region.
"Those contractors who think they can eat their cake and have it should better sit up because the present administration is determined to develop the region and curb corruption.
"We have been advocating for this change for a long time and I have been very vocal in calling on government to come down to our level and assist the region in development.
Micheal said: "It is important for contractors to realize that it can no longer be business as usual.
"It is important for everyone doing business with the ministry to realize that things must be done properly," he said.
Mrs Emen Odok an architect from Cross River described the policy as a waste of money, saying that government wants to politicize it by putting such policy in place.
"What is wrong with the government calling the contractors to order? The excuse by the ministry doesn't hold water at all.
"Rather than terminate a project that is 45per cent completed, why not terminate the contract and re-award the contract to another company that is most capable of completing it?
"The ministry has practically abandoned the Calabar skills acquisition centre, these beautiful structures are wasting away and being destroyed by erosion.
"What measures has the government put in place to address such wastage," she said.
Mr Okon Udoh, a retired Civil servant, said the ministry has so many abandoned projects spread across the region, saying that the Federal Government should address the issue, if truly government wants to develop the region.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Arkwright, said the British Government would support power sector reform in Nigeria.
Arkwright stated this on Tuesday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen after visiting Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.
He said that the visit was to identify areas of collaboration with the Nigerian Government, especially in infrastructure and power sector.
He said that the idea was to support President Muhammadu Buhari's agenda on diversification, adding that no meaningful progress could be made without effective power sector.
The envoy said that the meeting was also for British companies to take advantage of the opportunities available in Nigeria's power sector.
He said that rural electrification was another issue discussed at the meeting with a view to using UK expertise in solar energy to address rural electrification problem in the country.
According to him, getting transmission line through hundreds of miles to rural communities is not really feasible, so our discussion centred on the use of solar energy for such communities.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue on Tuesday said that the state would soon sign the anti-open grazing bill into law to curb the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
The governor stated this in Abuja after briefing Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on the security situation in the state.
According to him, the state looks forward to receiving the same cooperation from farmers and herdsmen so that all can live together as brothers and sisters.
`We will soon sign the anti-open grazing bill into law and we look forward that we will receive the same cooperation from farmers and herdsmen so that we can live together as brothers and sisters.
"We can do it; it is achievable, living without strife, fighting and killings; we can live.
"Human life is very precious to some of us and we will do everything to protect lives and property of the state.''
The governor noted that the state was on top of the security situation in terms of the relationship between herdsmen and farmers.
"The herdsmen and the farmers are now cooperating and the understanding is that no one should encroach into anyone's farm, whether cattle-breathing or farming activities.
"Those ones that cannot live within the community except they do open grazing are already exiting to other places where there is land.
"In Benue State, almost all the land is for cultivation; so it is difficult to talk about grazing and the herdsmen too are quite understanding in this regard,' Ortom said.
On his demand that anyone who had any corruption allegation against the state should expose it, he said such person should also provide concrete evidence.
According to him, those who accuse falsely or tell lies to blackmail others should stop or give evidence as the state can decide to sue such people for libel.
The governor affirmed his administration's position against corruption, adding that it was the duty of all Nigerians and professionals to work together to eliminate the vice.
"It is the duty of all of us to work together to eliminate corruption because that has been the problem and people were not bold enough until President Muhammadu Buhari came in. "For some us we are actively supporting what the federal government is doing so that together we can eliminate this corruption. "Nigeria has no business with poverty because we have enough.
"The only problem is corruption and all of us, journalists, government officials, leaders, everybody must come together to ensure that we eliminate corruption,'' he said.
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