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 governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson and the ex-governor of Delta state, Chief James Ibori, that was given a glorious welcome be his people to have returned from London prison after serving his jail terms of money laundering and other charges, have on Thursday 9 March resolved to tackle security issues plaguing the Niger-Delta region. Mobilization and employing their various resources together in fighting insecurity in their various state is what they have resolved, thus exploring every means to fight insecurity.
Gov Dickson
This was made known in a statement signed and issued by Daniel Iworiso-Markson, the Chief Press Secretary to Dickson, following a closed-door meeting between the two regional leaders which took place at Oghara, Delta state residence of Ibori.
Chief James Onanefe Ibori
According to the statement, the two leaders will play major roles in informing key stakeholders towards tackling some of the several challenges affecting the development of the region.
Some civil society organisations on Thursday described the conviction of two policemen involved the killing of six traders in Apo, Abuja in 2005 as victory for tenacity and democracy.
Justice Ishaq Bello, Chief Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, sentenced Emmanuel Baba and Ezekiel Acheneje to death on Thursday over the killing of Anthony Nwokike, Tina Arebun and Ifeanyi Ozo.
The other traders murdered by the convicted cops along with their two other colleagues, Danjuma Ibrahim and Othman Abdulsalami (at large) and one deceased, were Chinedu Meniru, Isaac Ekene, Paulinus Ogbonna.
The deceased were said to have been shot dead on the orders of another police officer, at a popular night club, the only female victim, Tina, turned down a senior police officer's love advances at the club.
Mr Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reform (PER) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the judgment showed that the judiciary could stand up expediently to deliver justice.
Nwagwu said that death sentence on the police officers was well-deserved, adding that it was a show of perseverance by the public.
"This judgment symbolised what perseverance and doggedness can do. When citizens don't give up on the pursuit of justice, they are likely going to get the results that they desire.
"It was because the `Apo six' issues were not allowed to die that we were able to get the kind the result we had today.
"So, it is victory for doggedness, perseverance and victory for democracy as well as justice to the ordinary person,'' he said.
He urged Nigerians to stay strong on what they believed and what was right, saying "when advocacy is very strong on any matter, the desired result will be achieved''.
Mr Frank Tietie, President, Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), said the judgment was a welcomed development for the nation's democracy and portended safety of life of the common man.
He said that the spate of taking citizens' lives illegally by law enforcement agents had been on the rise, but that the judgment by Justice Bello would send a strong message to perpetrators.
"This will trigger a sense of respect for lives to all Nigerians, especially the arms-bearing law enforcement agents, that when they deprive anyone the fundamental right to life as provided in Section 33 of the Constitution, there is penalty.
"They would be punished and be possibly given the death penalty as in this case.
"Nigeria is one of the countries that still retain the death penalty. This is underscored by the value of human life in Nigeria.
"Therefore, anyone who takes the life of another deliberately and in cold blood must also be deprived of his or her life.
"However worrisome is the length of time it took to dispense with the case. In an act of crime which took place as far back as 2005, it has taken about 12 years just at the court of first instance to give judgment,'' Tietie said.
He urged the judiciary to step up its judgment, especially in cases that had to do with taking the life of another deliberately in cold blood and ensure that anybody involved should also be deprived of his or her own life.
The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) on Thursday said the Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had moved to intervene in the Etisalat loan issue.
The Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo said this in a statement issued in Abuja.
"After a meeting on Thursday afternoon in Abuja between the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta and the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and his team, a decision was reached to intervene in the loan issue between Etisalat Nigeria and a consortium of commercial banks.
"The meeting which was held at the CBN in Abuja was convened by the financial regulator at the instance of NCC and the telecom regulator to further deliberate on how best to stop the attempt by the banks to take over Etisalat.
"At the end of the meeting, the CBN agreed to invite Etisalat management and the banks to a meeting tomorrow, Friday, toward finding an amicable resolution,'' he said.
Ojobo said that the NCC as a regulator of the telecom industry had moved quickly to intervene earlier in the week by reaching out to the CBN because it was convinced of the negative impact such takeover move would have on the industry.
He added that NCC was worried about the fate of the over 20 million Etisalat subscribers and the wrong signals this might send to potential investors in the Telecom industry.
It was reported that on March 8, Etisalat was had been taken over by three banks because of its N541.8 billion debt.
However, the Head of Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms Oluseyi Osuntedo, dispelled the talk that banks had taken over the company.
Osuntedo said that discussions were still ongoing between the banks and the company.
"Discussions are going on; nobody is taking up the company.
"It is not true that we are being picketed, whoever gave the information is not telling the truth," she said.
A consortium of some foreign and Nigerian banks, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank and Zenith Bank, have been having a running battle with the mobile telephone operator, over a loan facility totalling 1.72 billion dollars (about N541.8 billion) obtained in 2015.
The banks said their attempt to recover the loan by all means, was fuelled by the pressure from the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), demanding immediate cut down on the rate of their non-performing loans. . NCC appears not to be favourably disposed to the takeover proposal as it believed that Etisalat is not only a viable going concern, but also willing and able to negotiate the servicing of its loans.
Etisalat is Nigeria's fourth largest telecoms operator with about 21 million subscribers as at January 2017, according to the NCC.
By Omeiza Ajayi ABUJA – The 2019 Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16thFebruary 2019, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has announced.
Equally, the Governorship/State Assembly/Federal Capital Territory Area Council Elections will hold on Saturday 2nd March 2019.
Popular stand up comedian Thompson Amaefula, aka Hold Water is one of the fast-risingcomedian in Nigeria right now. The bald headed Imo state born stand-up comedian who is also an actor and a TV /Radio presenter has been in the entertainment industry for close to a decade and he is still ready to give more to the industry that has given him fame. Iyabo Aina recently cornered him where he spoke about himself and the challenges faced in the course of his profession
People know and address you as Hold Water. Is that your real name?
Hold Water is just my stage name that I was "baptized" with many years ago. My real name is Thompson Amaefula. I am from Imo state, a Nigerian of course (prolonged laughter) and I have been in the industry for close to seven years as a comedian.
Hold Water
Apart from being a stand up comedian what other things are you into?
I can easily say that I am one of the few stand up comedian in Nigeria who is also an actor and apart from that, I was once a presenter on radio and television station so I am also a journalist. In all I can tell you that I am all in all as far as entertainment is concerned.
As stand up comedian do you have any preferred events or clients?
No my clients are many. I am versatile and I play for everybody
How do you crack your jokes or what inspired the type of jokes you crack?
I study my audience, so if you call me, I will study the people, that tells tell you my type of joke will determine the kind of people that are sited in an event, and my dressing.
What inspires my comedy is motivational. I am a motivational comedian, I tell real jokes
Was there anytime you crack a joke that look so expensive?
Yes, there were many times like that. But there was one that I cracked about four years ago, that made me lose my endorsement at MTN. It was during the Chidima time. I cracked one joke and I was yanked off from MTN for life, and it was just a simple thing.
What was the joke?
Let’s forget about it, I don't want to remember it any more
How has it been as a comedian?
A lot of things happen. It’s not easy to be a comedian. At times you will go to someone’s table and try to crack a joke they will tell you to get out. And you know as Nigeria is now, it's not easy to make someone laugh, everybody is hungry and angry they never pay house rent, pay children school fees, some their wife don leave them, and before Nigerian girl go leave you, she for don milk you dry, collect every collectable things from you"
Who can you point to as your role model among the numerous stand-up comedian we have in Nigeria?
When I was small, people said I behaved and look like my brother from Port-Harcourt, Julius Agu. Aanytime I am on stage they say I behave like him. I have performed in his show and he loves me too much. So I can say he is my role model.
The Naira on Thursday marginally appreciated against the dollar at the parallel market.
The Nigerian currency gained three points to exchange at N462 to a dollar, after it closed at N465 on Wednesday, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N550 and N477, respectively.
At the Bureau De Change (BDC) window, the Naira was sold at N399 to a dollar CBN controlled rate, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N550 and N500, respectively.
The Naira exchanged at N305.80 at the interbank market.
Currency traders expressed optimism that liquidity boost in the market would help to shore up the Naira rate.
However, An economist, Mr Harrison Owoh has attributed the instability in the exchange rate in spite of liquidity boost in the FOREX market to excessive demand for dollars.
Owoh said that the injection of 1.14 billion dollars by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the interbank market were majorly at the service of letters of credits and invisibles.
According to him, it is the cash at hand that brings down the exchange rate not mere letters of credit.
He explained that China, which is the seat of importation business, was on holiday for a full month, adding that the vacation slowed than importation activities by Nigerian importers.
The economist said that since the resumption in importation, the demand for FOREX had outstripped its supply.
Ekiti State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, Mr Ayodele Fayose has reiterated his support for the decision of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi led Caretaker Committee to appeal the Court of Appeal, Port-Harcourt judgement on the leadership of the party, saying; "There cannot be any meaningful reconciliation with an impossible character like Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who is obviously working for political interests different from that of the PDP."Ayodele Fayose
The governor said he was aware that well over $1 million had been provided by the APC to fund the convention being planned by the Sheriff group while adequate security will also be provided by the security agencies that are now more like part of the APC. This is being done so as to sustain the party's plot to turn Nigeria to a one party State.
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor, who said he was reacting in his capacity as the governor of Ekiti State to the submission of report of the Governor Seriake Dickson-led reconciliation committee to Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, said; “all constitutionally recognised organs of the party, including staff of the national secretariat are with the Markafi led Caretaker Committee and since political party is about membership, Sheriff will continue to carry with himself the burden of lack of legitimacy.”
The governor, who said he had nothing against Governor Dickson, added that; "I respect Governor Dickson, he is my brother and he is entitled to his own personal opinion just as I am entitled to mine. But I must state it categorically that no genuine lover of the PDP will take part in a convention sponsored by the APC."
Governor Fayose, who said implementation of the Dickson Committee report was beyond Sheriff, noted that; "assuming but not conceding that the report is acceptable, can Sheriff even implement it? Where will he find seven serving governors, seven former ministers, etc?"
Governor Fayose reiterated that no meaningful reconciliation can be done with Senator Sheriff, adding that; “With APC calling for support for Sheriff, it should be clear to all genuine lovers of the PDP who are behind the crisis in the party.”
He said; "I am speaking for myself and the entire people of Ekiti State that I represent; we won't be part of any PDP convention sponsored by the APC and I must state categorically that Sheriff is being sponsored 100 percent by the APC.
"We therefore remain undaunted in our support for the Markafi committee and its decision to approach the Supreme Court to challenge the Appeal Court, Port-Harcourt judgement."
Former wife of the late Nelson Mandela, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, South African anti-apartheid veteran has been admitted to hospital for observation. This was made known by a statement made publicly by her family members.
Late Nelson Mandela
" On Wednesday, March 8 2017, Mrs Mandela went for routine medical checkup in a hospital and decision was taken to admit her for further observation," the statement said. Moving back the memory lane, journalists gathered that former first lady Madikizela-Mandela spent several weeks in hospital in 2016 for back surgery.
She went through detentions, banishment and arrest during her ex-husband's 27-year incarceration for his fight against apartheid. Madikizela-Mandela campaigned for his release and for the rights of black South Africans.
It was reported by media that Mandela died in 2013 and made no mention of Madikizela-Mandela in his will, which she plans to challenge the will.
LAGOS State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH, in conjunction with the International College of Aeronautics and Aviation Studies has produced drones to boost the security operations in the state, the Rector, Mr Samuel Oluyinka Sogunro has said.
Sogunro who disclosed this during the institution's pre-convocation press conference in Lagos said: "We have partnered the International College of Aeronautic and Aviation Studies to produce drones capable of securing the institution's campus and the State."
He said that if you get to SESA, you will see both the International College of Aeronautic Aviation and Laspotech building the drones which will be commissioned today.
According to him, there is going to be surveillance drones that will survey the entire Laspotech campus area, adding that the institution will extends it to the entire Lagos State as soon as they start building it with 70 per cent local content.
"By the time we built it with at least 70 per cent local content, then we will be able to go further and secure Lagos through the drones."
He said: "If you go there now, you will see them constructing the drones. We can see the process that really, it is being built here. "It is a partnership thing and our students, staff and some departments are involved in the production. "Arts and design, engineering department and every thing that will make the drones workable are employed into it, he said.
Sogunro who hinted that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode will be at the convocation to commission those projects, lamented that since the existence of the institution, no civilian governor has ever attended Laspotech's convocation. "Governor Ambode will definitely brake the jinx," he said.
According to the rector, the last time they had a governor who visited the institution was 27 years ago, and that was during the regime of governor Akhigbe as the military administrator of Lagos State visited the 40 year old institution.
"We are going to Commission the school of technology complex of eight blocks. Three blocks have been completed and the fourth to be commissioned by the governor. We appeal to the governor to help complete the remaining ones," he noted.
Meanwhile, Sogunro disclosed that Laspotech will this Thursday churns out 9,228 graduates with 273 students graduating with distinctions. Moreover, he said that while 1223 made upper credit, 5693 had lower credit, just as 2106 graduated with pass.
Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has urged Mr Abiodun Odude, the new Commissioner of Police in the state, to arrest the miscreants threatening the peace of the state.
The governor made the plea on Thursday in Ibadan while receiving Odude in his office.
Odude took over from Mr Sam Adegbuyi who retired recently.
Ajimobi said a group of miscreants had connived with some suspected members of the NURTW to harass and extort money from contractors working on new road project sites.
Gov Ajimobi
"These miscreants have been terrorising our contractors working on the roads. We will not fold our arms and watch people take the laws into their hands.
"I want the police to ensure that these miscreants are arrested. The police should help nip thuggery in the bud,'' he said.
The governor noted that majority of the miscreants in the state were known, calling on the police to support and encourage community policing.
Ajimobi also stated that it was easy to achieve peace in the state if preventive measures were adopted, adding that peace and security remain the focus of his administration.
He also alleged that some policemen in the state had aided and shielded miscreants from being arrested, urging the police boss to fish out the bad eggs within the command.
"I believe that the command under your leadership, from the information gathered, will add value to the security of the state.
"Oyo State today is a peaceful state unlike the way we met it when we assumed office. Let me assure you that we will support you,'' he said.
Earlier, Odude said that his visit to the governor was to solicit his support during his stay.
The commissioner said that the command had in the last one week arrested seven suspected kidnappers and 19 armed robbers and had also recovered seven vehicles.
"Some of these armed robbers were arrested in Oyo, Kwara and River states,'' he said.
A national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has urged all Nigerians, regardless of their differences, to live peacefully with one another in order to build a strong, united nation.
Tinubu gave the advice on Thursday when he paid a condolence visit to the Lagos family home of former governor of old Western Region Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo who died on Wednesday.
The APC chieftain visited the late Adebayo's family on a day the late elder statesman should have turned 89, and joined other eminent personalities to sing "For He Is a Jolly Good Fellow,'' in honour of the deceased.
Adebayo
He said no nation attained progress or prosperity in the absence of peace and unity, urging all Nigerians to work assiduously for peaceful-coexistence of Nigeria.
The former Lagos State Governor described Adebayo as a patriot and a nationalist, who in his days fought for, and struggled for the unity of the country.
He said that the late Adebayo gave exemplary leadership, as he made positive impacts as military officer, as a nationalist and as a Yoruba elder.
"Late Adebayo was a great leader who fought for the unity of this country and its continued progress. He left a legacy of achievements for us to emulate and he was an inspiration to us.
"Although he is gone, rather than mourn, we are celebrating this great achiever who has left a lot for us to consolidate upon for the continued development of our nation," he said.
Tinubu urged leaders to learn from the life and times of the deceased and put the unity and the prosperity of the nation first in all they did.
Other prominent Nigerians who visited the Adebayos to commiserate with them include Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
In his terse speech, Ambode described Adebayo as an epitome of peace who did a lot for the cohesion and development of the nation.
He said the nation had lost a rare gem in Adebayo, but the consolation was that the former governor of Western Region left a legacy of achievements.
"He was a symbol of peace and he did his best for the unity and progress of this country," Ambode said.
Fayemi said late Adebayo was a father figure who nurtured people into greatness and made positive impacts on lives.
He said that he benefitted from the wise counsel of the deceased when he was Ekiti governor.
"For us in Ekiti, it`s celebration. We are celebrating the glorious exit of one of our founding fathers who nurtured and inspired some of us.
"Late Adebayo lived a fulfilled life and his achievements as a patriot are there for all us to see and build on," he said.
Former Interim National Chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande; former Delta State governor, Chief Emmannuel Uduaghan and former Ogun State governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, also visited to commiserate with the family.
Daniel said Adebayo was a great man who contributed immensely to the lives of many including him.
He said the life and times of the former military officer would continue to be a reference point in the nation`s history for the role he played in nation-building.
"We are going to miss him. He was a great man who touched lives. Nigeria has lost a colossus. He was a symbol of peace, " he said.
The visitors were all received by late Adebayo`s widow, Modupe; his son, Mr Niyi Adebayo, who is a former governor of Ekiti State, as well as other family members.
The Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) on Thursday said the Commission and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) had moved to intervene in the Etisalat loan issue.
The Director of Public Affairs of NCC, Mr Tony Ojobo said this in a statement issued in Abuja.
"After a meeting on Thursday afternoon in Abuja between the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Danbatta and the CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele and his team, a decision was reached to intervene in the loan issue between Etisalat Nigeria and a consortium of commercial banks.
"The meeting which was held at the CBN in Abuja was convened by the financial regulator at the instance of NCC and the telecom regulator to further deliberate on how best to stop the attempt by the banks to take over Etisalat.
"At the end of the meeting, the CBN agreed to invite Etisalat management and the banks to a meeting tomorrow, Friday, toward finding an amicable resolution,'' he said.
Ojobo said that the NCC as a regulator of the telecom industry had moved quickly to intervene earlier in the week by reaching out to the CBN because it was convinced of the negative impact such takeover move would have on the industry.
He added that NCC was worried about the fate of the over 20 million Etisalat subscribers and the wrong signals this might send to potential investors in the Telecom industry.
It was reported that on March 8, Etisalat was had been taken over by three banks because of its N541.8 billion debt.
The Head of Public Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Ms Oluseyi Osuntedo, dispelled the talk that banks had taken over the company.
Osuntedo said that discussions were still ongoing between the banks and the company.
"Discussions are going on; nobody is taking up the company.
"It is not true that we are being picketed, whoever gave the information is not telling the truth," she said.
A consortium of some foreign and Nigerian banks, including Guaranty Trust Bank, Access Bank and Zenith Bank, have been having a running battle with the mobile telephone operator, over a loan facility totalling 1.72 billion dollars (about N541.8 billion) obtained in 2015.
The banks said their attempt to recover the loan by all means, was fuelled by the pressure from the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON), demanding immediate cut down on the rate of their non-performing loans. . NCC appears not to be favourably disposed to the takeover proposal as it believed that Etisalat is not only a viable going concern, but also willing and able to negotiate the servicing of its loans.
Etisalat is Nigeria's fourth largest telecoms operator with about 21 million subscribers as at January 2017, according to the NCC. It commenced business in Nigeria in 2009.
A Professor of Educational Psychology, Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Aisha Madawaki, has identified gender equity as panacea for growth and development of any organised society.
Madawaki said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Thursday on the to commemorate the 2017 International Women's Day.
"For any development to take place in the society, there has to be gender equity," Madawaki, also a former Commissioner for Women Affairs in the state,'' she said.
She stressed the need for women to be given more responsibilities alongside the men in the affairs of the country and the world at large.
"Women are very peaceful, understanding, patience and can endure hardship. They are also easily contented and less corrupt than men.''
The don, who is on sabbatical leave to the state Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Sokoto, noted that women in the country had comparative advantage in terms of entrenching democracy.
Madawaki said that records showed that 54 per cent of registered voters in Nigeria were women.
She, however, expressed concern that ''a very insignificant number of them are holding elective positions and appointments across the nation.''
"In Sokoto State, there is no single woman councilor, chairman, state or federal lawmaker.
"Majority of the appointments in senior government positions like Directors and Permanent Secretaries, are held by men."
Madawaki, commended the three tiers of government for taking women along, but stressed that ''women are not looking for equality, but equity.''
"It is high time women participated fully in politics and other sectors in the country."
There are varieties of strategies to help you save thousands of naira over your car. Jumia Travel, the leading online travel agency, shares 6 of these strategies to help you.
DRIVE PRUDENTLY
Aggressive driving like speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking is one of the quickest ways to waste fuel. To cut fuel costs, you should try to drive more prudently so your vehicle will not have to use up so much fuel trying to adjust to the way it is being handled by you.
Also, refraining from hard braking will prevent your brakes from wearing out quickly and extend the life of your brakes. This will therefore help you save money on changing brake pads.
REGULATE YOUR AIR CONDITIONING
Running the air conditioning can reduce a vehicle's fuel economy by more than 25%, says Oak Ridge National Laboratory. To regulate your air conditioning, drive with your windows open for a short time before using the A/C to let the hot air out first. On days that are not so hot or on windy days, go without air conditioning and put your windows down. Alternatively, on these days you can use air conditioning, but set it at a slightly higher temperature so it does less work.
ROTATE YOUR TIRES
The front tires wear out faster than the rear tires, switching these tires helps both sets wear evenly so you wouldn't have to replace them prematurely. Read your owner's manual or confirm from a trusted mechanic to know the best time to make the switch. Once you know this, rotating the tires is something that you can easily do on your own.
AVOID 'OVER OILING' YOUR CAR
Some mechanics will tell you to change the oil of your car after every 3000 miles, but some of the newer car models can actually go up to 10,000 miles before needing an oil change. You should ensure you read your car's owner's manual to know the timetable for oil change that is specified for your car. Alternatively, if you don't have access to the manual, you can use Google Search to get the information or ask a trusted mechanic
TRY HANDLING EASY REPAIRS YOURSELF
A mechanic doesn't have to handle every repair and maintenance that concerns your car. Repairs like replacing wiper blades, changing car tires, replacing your lights etc. are easy enough to do on your own. You can even go a step further and watch how-to-videos to help your better learn how to do these things.
KNOW YOUR CAR
You should have a basic understanding of what your car needs and when it needs what it needs. This way you can avoid being up-charged when you take it for maintenance. Often mechanics or re-wirers give a list of things they recommend for repairs when you take your car to them. Your car many not actually need some of the things they listed at that time, but to make additional profit they will include it. This is a well-known fact for most car users but they still fall into this trap because they don't have basic understanding of their car and its needs.
Mr. Doyin Okupe, former aide of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has said on Thursday, 9 march 2017, in an open letter to Osinbajo, that Buhari’s administration through the acting president Yemi Osinbajo can save Naira by adopting a crude oil-swap initiated by Jonathan during his regime. This initiative he said, saw government exchanging crude oil for refined petroleum products, through third party traders.
Furthering his speech, the former aide said, that Buharis’s government has replaced this to adopt a direct-sale-direct-purchase of crude oil initiative, that has removed middlemen. This he said has affected the value of Naira in the international market. Okupe urged the goverment to return to the crude -oil-swap. In his words, "Nigeria is nearly totally an import dependent economy, we earned about N4.6 trillion from export of crude oil in 2015, while our total import bill was in the region of about N6 trillion; 30 percent of which was dedicated to the import of petroleum products. Actual figure was about N1.8 trillion or $5bn," he wrote.
naira sign
"It is obvious that if we can remove or substantially decrease this demand of $5bn from our forex pull, the value of naira will significantly appreciate further.
"Your Excellency, I want to submit that this is achievable through a responsibly and transparently organised crude swap scheme.
"I am not unaware that this administration has undertaken a limited crude oil swap arrangement, but this will not suffice. We need to carry it to the level at which we will not commit any significant amount of forex to import of petroleum products anymore.
"No doubt this option was also tried and to a large extent poorly executed and abused by the previous NNPC leadership. The errors in its manner of implementation can be corrected to give a major relief to the demand for dollar in our economy.
"The statutory allocation of 450,000 barrels of crude oil daily for domestic consumption which has been on for several decades needs to be readdressed for better productivity.
"In this dispensation, the government can start by committing the seven oil majors to the new scheme and after a period of about one year of successful implementation, qualified indigenous companies can be brought in, to join and participate."
"Your Excellency, with all humility, I submit that while the above may not exactly represent the actual details in the suggested transactions, I strongly believe that this proposition of mine, if fine-tuned by experts, will give results with much commendation to your administration and more importantly, improve the strength of our national currency further and relieve some of the current hardship in the nation."
Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Thursday said he has approved the recruitment of additional 89 academic staff into various departments in the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.
Ambode, who made this known at the 25th Convocation of the institution, said that the approval was in line with the recommendation by the polytechnic Governing Board.
He also announced the approval for the construction of hostel accommodation for students of the institution.
Gov Ambode
The governor said that this would enable the students to reside within the campus and ease their stress of coming from long distance to attend lectures.
Ambode said that beyond academics, the state government was determined to promote the institution as a developmental tool to boost employability of students and improve the livelihood of Lagosians.
He promised to build an auditorium and a standard stadium to be constructed simultaneously.
"The next time I come here, I will not want to address a convocation congress in an open field," the governor said.
Ambode lauded the institution for justifying the 40 years of its existence as demonstrated by the pride it occupied among the state-owned polytechnics in Nigeria.
He charged the institution's authorities to rise to the challenges of meeting the technical manpower requirement of both the public and private sectors, not only in Lagos, but Nigeria as whole.
"This is by no means saying that the polytechnic has achieved the desired objective of becoming a true centre for excellence in technological education and research.
"As an emerging mega city, our institutions and services must be of acceptable global standards and be agents of development.
"We must rise above just providing education for the sake of acquiring a certificate to providing knowledge which will empower our youth.
"Also, to become champions of their generation, to chart their own course and establish enterprises that will create jobs and generate wealth for all," he said.
The governor said that in 2016, "the Ready, Set, Work Programme'' was conceived as a capacity building initiative, targeted at final year students in the state tertiary institutions.
"The vision of the project is to ensure that graduates in the state institutions emerge as ready candidates for the increasingly competitive labour market, and more importantly, as job creators.
"At least, 200 students from LASPOTECH participated in the programme and 86 of them gained internship or apprenticeship placements in companies across the state.
"We are building on the success of 2016 by expanding the programme from 500 final year students to 2000 students, and LASPOTECH has been approved as a second centre for the programme.
"In addition 10,000 students in their penultimate year will have the opportunity to participate in Ready, Set, Work Academy online, " he said.
In his remarks, Mr Samuel Sogunro, LASPOTECH Rector, appreciated the governor for his presence, saying that this was the first time a sitting governor would be attending the institution's convocation.
Sogunro said that the best graduating had been given automatic employment by the state government. 9228 students graduated with 273 distinctions.
Adedolapo Ejire of the Department of Science Laboratory Technology (Chemistry option), emerged the best graduating student with Cumulative Grade Point Aggregate (CGPA) of 3.85.
The Cross River Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC) said it would conduct council elections in the state on June 17.
Chairman of the commission, Dr Mike Ushie, stated this on Thursday in Calabar while addressing representatives of political parties and other stakeholders.
He advised registered political parties in the state to visit the commission's office to obtain the required forms.
He said: "political parties and their candidates should visit CROSIEC Headquarters for first-hand information about the various forms and fees as contained in our guidelines and published on the commission's website and notice board.
"This is to avoid misrepresentation and misinterpretation of the commission on the issue of election.''
Ushie added that any information submitted by candidates or their political parties would be verified and tendered in any court or tribunal.
He said that conducting credible election was the commission's desire, and called for support from all stakeholders.
The tenure of the last elected council administrators in the state ended in December, 2016 and the state government directed the Heads of Administration in the councils to take over.
To ensure that council elections were conducted, opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state went to the court and obtained an injunction restraining the government from appointing caretaker committees for the councils.
The acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday in Sokoto, called on stakeholders in the country to promote Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), to stabilise the economy.
Osinbajo made the appeal when he opened a two-day nationwide MSMEs Clinic.
Ag Pres Osinbajo
He said," being one of the cardinal points of the present administration, it is important to deepen all of our engagements into agriculture which is what the government is focusing on."
Osinbajo implored federal agencies like the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to partner the small and medium business owners.
This, he said, would ensure that those making local products got to the formal market.
"The small and medium business owners should partner with all the government agencies by registering their businesses so as to get their products to the formal market.
"This country will soon pull out of recession; we have resources of every kind – gypsum, potassium – and there is no reason this country should not be the wealthiest in the world.
"We must grow what we eat and wear what we produce, " he said.
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar, said that the clinic was aimed at looking into the comparative advantage on what the MSMEs were doing to improve their performances.
Abubakar said," This is why the government agencies are brought forward to help improve the MSME business owners."
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal commended the Federal Government for using the clinic to galvanise the sector in the states.
Tambuwal explained,"This would improve the cardinal injection to the development of N2 billion MSME loan with the Bank of Industry."
The Police Command in Cross River on Thursday presented before journalists one Ms Hope Usang, 25, suspected of leasing arms for robbery operations in Calabar.
Mr Hafiz Inuwa, the Commissioner of Police in the state, who briefed newsmen on the activities of the command on Thursday, also presented 21 other suspects, who alongside Usang, were arrested at different locations.
Inuwa said that Usang was arrested on the Feb. 24, 2017, following armed robbery attack on one Paschal Bisong in Calabar.
According to him, after Paschal had complained to the Police about the attack, his men swung into action and arrested two suspects, Emmanuel Edet-Etim and Idoreying Usa.
Nigerian Police
Inuwa said that after a thorough Police investigation, the suspects confessed that they got the arms from Usang.
"When my men stormed Usang's house, they recovered two revolver pistols, one long revolver gun with four rounds of ammunition, one berretta pistol, one locally made pistol among others." The commissioner said that the suspects would soon be charged to court.
He said that the suspects would be charged for various offences — armed robbery, rape, kidnapping, murder, cultism and illegal possession of fire arms, among others.
In her reaction, Usang told newsmen in an interview that the guns belong to her boyfriend, who is a student but she refused to mention his name and his whereabouts.
"The guns belong to my boyfriend who is a student. I never knew that he was keeping some guns in my house,''she said.
Students of some Federal Science and Technical Colleges (FSTC) have commended the Federal Ministry of Education for the platform given to them to exhibit their innovations.
Some of the students, who were drawn from nine schools to participate at the 2nd Annual National Students Vocational Skills Competition made this known on Thursday in Abuja.
They said that the innovations they showcased would enable them contribute their quotas to national development.
Miss Theresa Nsi, a student of FSTC, Akwa Ibom, who exhibited a multi-purpose oven using electricity, bio-gas, cooking gas and charcoal, said the innovation was borne out of the need of the people of the state.
Nsi said that the oven was developed to assist the fishermen to have easy way of processing their product.
She said that the oven, which was coupled within two weeks, was designed to meet the needs of the people and provide healthy environment during processing of foods.
She said that the innovation could also provide employment for the youths who had nothing to do.
"The purpose of the oven is to help people that dry their foods by the road side because it prevents bacteria from infecting the foods.
"We found out that in our locality, most of people are fishermen and farmers, when people go to the river to fish they come back and use charcoal which brings smoke and which is not good for the eyes.
"With this oven, employment can be created and in the present state of economic recession, where we hardly find jobs as graduates, it is an opportunity to key into such products," she said.
Osadebamwen Osasere, a student of FSTC Uromi, Edo State who invented a multi-distiller said that the product was aimed at helping medical practitioners to have easy way of doing things.
Osasere said that the motor vehicle department of the school discovered a need in the school which prompted the design of the product.
He said that the product was also designed to filter water to make it clean and good enough for drinking.
He added that it could be used in the hospitals by doctors because they need distilled water to mix with injections.
Also, Jonathan Martins of the FSTC Zuru, Kebbi State showcased a Neem Seed product from the Neem tree.
Martins said that the seed had a lot of medicinal benefits as it could cure malaria and the oil extracted from the seed could be used to grow human hair.
He said that it had also been proven to be used as fertiliser to help improve the growth of plants.
"The seed has so many benefits to man. It is medicinal because we have made a research and we have discovered that the shaft from the seed can be used as a fertiliser to grow crops.
"When soaked in water, it you can to cure ulcer and you can use it to grow your hair.
"So the purpose of all these works is to improve on the economy through the various innovations," he said.
Out of the 39 selected schools, nine schools came top for the grand finale of the competition.
They are Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Ohanso, Abia State, FSTC Awka, FSTC Yaba, Lagos State, FSTC Doma, Nasarawa State and FSTC Uromi, Edo.
Others are FSTC Dayi, Kastina State, FSTC Zuru, Kebbi State, FSTC Akwa Ibom and FSTC Shiroro, Niger, FSTC.
