A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
ABUJA- The Management of Abuja Electricity Distribution (AEDC) Plc has flagged off its Business Process Reengineering (BPR) project.
The BPR project is a two-year project geared towards instituting a better work culture, greater productivity and improved customer service delivery.
The Managing Director/CEO of AEDC, Mr. Ernest Mupwaya, while speaking during the ceremony, charged staff of the Company to strive towards excellence in their respective duties, while also enjoining them to ensure honesty, integrity and be "customer-centric" in line with the company's values.
Mupwaya reminded the company's staff that they cannot continue to do things the same way and expect a different result.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Change Management project in the Company, Mrs. Clara Musama, announced that in the first phase of the BPR project, which commenced in April last year, 136 business processes were mapped, out of which 20 are totally new processes which are now ready for implementation, adding that some of the processes were already being tested in the field through the field operations team.
Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue has cautioned youths in the state against taking the law into their hands over recent attacks on some rural communities.
"No one should take the law into his hands over the attacks; what we should all do is to report any breach of peace to the law enforcement agencies for necessary action," Ortom said on Monday in Makurdi, during a stakeholders' meeting.
He said that he had consistently briefed President Muhammadu Buhari about the activities of herdsmen in the state, and expressed optimism that permanent peace would soon return.
Gov. Ortom of Benue State
"I have intimated the president about the wanton killings and destruction of property in the state.
"We have taken some measures and I can assure you that in no distant time, there will be light at the end of the tunnel," he told the stakeholders.
He said that security agents were on the trail of Terwase Agwaza, popularly known as "Ghana", who has been accused of killing his aide, Mr Denen Igbana.
"We hope to bring him and other criminals in Benue to justice; we shall not rest until we rid the state of all criminal elements," he said.
He promised to execute projects that would create opportunities for Benue people, and revealed that the Federal Government would soon release the Paris Club fund to the states.
"As soon as the money is released, we shall let you know and seek your input in our quest toward a better Benue," he said.
Newsmen reports that nine local governments were hit last week, by the attackers that left scores dead, and many others injured.
As part of measures to end the clashes between herdsmen and farmers, Ortom recently sent an anti-grazing executive bill to the Benue House of Assembly.
The bill seeks to prohibit open grazing which is often blamed for the clashes between farmers and herdsmen, and replace it with cattle ranches, to curtail the movement of cattle.
NIGERIAN independent, Oranto Petroleum, said it is investing $500 million to develop South Sudan's Block B3, launching a comprehensive exploration campaign starting immediately.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Oranto Petroleum Company, South Sudan signed the exploration and production sharing agreement, EPSA, for the block last week in capital city of Juba.
The B3 area covers 25,150 square kilometres. Some aeromagnetic and seismic data have been acquired for the area but no wells have been drilled.
South Sudan's Minister of Petroleum Ezekiel Lol Gatkuoth, said: "We believe the petroleum resources of Block B3 are vast. To reach our target of more than double current oil production, we need committed new entrants like Oranto."
Arthur Eze, Founder and Chairman of Oranto Petroleum, said: "Our company is at the vanguard of African firms exploring and developing African assets. This is the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Nilepet, the people of South Sudan and our partners to bring to light the immense potential of Block B3. Oranto is committed to an aggressive exploration work program that will benefit all stakeholders."
THE 2017 edition of the Sub-Sahara Africa Oil and Gas Summit and Exhibition, scheduled to hold in Lagos from April 5 to 7 will focus on new opportunities in the region's oil and gas sector.
The event, which will equally offer an opportunity to bring to focus how companies can develop processes and systems that could enhance their operations and productivity, provides the avenue for industry players to rethink and re-strategize on how to remain profitable given the increasing unpredictability of the operating environment.
Speaking at an interactive session with the media in Lagos, Dapo Ayoola, CEO of Zenith Professional Training, organisers of the summit said the main objective of the conference is to highlight the new opportunities in the sector.remain profitable given the increasing unpredictability of the operating environment.
By Evelyn Usman Rescue workers, comprising policemen attached to the Marine department of the Force, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and local divers, Monday, combed the lagoon at the Third Mainland Bridge, in search of a medical Doctor , Allwell Orji, who plunged into it, Sunday. But the search ended in futility .
The rescue exercise which began Sunday and continued Monday was conducted down to the Oworshoki end without any recovery of his body.
Recall that the medical doctor attached to Mount Sinai Hospital, Papa Ajao, Mushin, reportedly ordered his driver to park his car, a Nissan Sports Utility Vehicle with registration number LND476EE at the Third Mainland Bridge before jumping into the lagoon.
The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said soon, he would set up a committee to work out modalities for the party's national convention.
Sheriff made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on the recommendations of the party's Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.
He said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was already consulting with members and leaders of the party as part of process for constituting the convention committee.
Alimodu-Sheriff
The chairman said that he was also talking with lawmakers at the National Assembly and State Assemblies on the platform of the party as part of political solution recommended by the Dickson committee.
He added that he had commenced consultation with the Board of Trustees (BoT) through its Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin, who, he said, had promised to get back to him for a formal meeting with BoT members.
He said that by next week they would meet with the party's national ex-officio members from the 36 states.
"Everywhere in our party, we are working across the board; everybody is working for the party to come back to its position in 1999.
"We are for peace and that does not mean that we are afraid of anybody; we will not be relenting.
"We need our party back in power and we will carry everybody that means well for PDP along.
"I assure you that PDP will not be destroyed; PDP is a creation of God and cannot be destroyed by anybody.
"We are on course and we will go as planned. For everybody that believes that it is not political solution, they are on their own," he said.
Sheriff reiterated his determination not to contest the national chairmanship at the national convention, adding that his NWC members had the right to contest for any position of their choice.
On his presidential ambition for 2019, he said that it was a decision left for God.
"Every position I occupied in life, God made it possible. I am a firm believer in the will of God. I told you I will not run for the chairmanship position, the rest we leave to God."
He, however, said that the party's chairmanship position would definitely be for the Southern part of the country.
By Monsuru Olowoopejo Activities at the Lagos State University (LASU) was Monday halted after students stormed the school protesting alleged killing of their colleague, a 500-level law student, Cyril Onyekachi.
This came barely three days to the grand finale of the 21st Convocation Ceremony of the institution scheduled to hold on Thursday.
It was gathered that the protest further degenerated after the school internal security operatives held the student leadership in effort to halt the protest.
Vanguard however gathered that the deceased was allegedly stabbed to death by a commercial driver along LASU-Isheri road on Sunday.
OBIJACKSON Group, parent company of Nestoil Limited, said it had adopted far-reaching measures to substantially cut its costs, especially as it plans to venture into the deep offshore segment of the petroleum industry.
In an interview in Abuja, Mr. Chris Ijeli, Group Head, Business Development, Nestoil Limited, said the Obijackson Group is planning an optimization of its processes, both in construction, fabrication, so that it can cut down its cost and be competitive, not only in Nigeria, but also in the sub-region.
He said, "In Nestoil, we are also planning to go more into deep offshore and also build into platform facilities and offshore facilities. The bottom line to this is optimization of our processes. If we optimise our processes, we will become very competitive.
All the operators are talking about low cost, high quality, but once we optimize, which is what we are doing now, we would become very competitive, we would have businesses. Even if oil price is $20, we are there; our services would be there for people.
"We are deploying more equipment, we are training people to be more efficient and by that we are optimizing all our processes."
Ijeli stated that the company had already begun increasing its capacity by its optimization, explaining that it is only through this process that nit can improve its efficiencies and compete.
Also speaking, Mr. Simeon Tor-Agbidye, Assistant General Manager, Group Business Development, Nestoil Limited, said the Group has fields that have huge capacity, which had not been fully utilized.
"To get utilization, we need to have these optimal processes that were described to be able to keep up, to keep growing our production; to keep that production coming. That is the only way we make money, we keep our staff, we keep people off the streets and the government make money as well," he said.
On its plans for the future, Tor-Agbidye said the company is positioning to tap into the forthcoming opportunities presented by the Zabazaba field, promoted by ENI.
EKO Electricity Distribution Company Plc (EKEDC) has offered to pay 20 per cent of the money recovered from electricity thefts to anyone who reports such.
Mr Oladele Amoda, the Chief Executive Officer of EKEDC, announced this at a stakeholders' forum with Festac Town residents in Lagos.
Amoda said the measure became necessary against the backdrop of over N1 billion lost to the various forms of electricity theft and vandalism in the zone.
Vandalised equipment
The CEO, who was represented by Mr Sam Nwaire, the Chief Operating Officer, said it cost the company about N1billion in the last three years to replace vandalised equipment and damaged meters by customers in a bid to bypass the meters.
According to him, a task force has been set up to inspect houses of consumers and impose a penalty of N1 million on anyone caught in electricity theft.
Amoda said the company would henceforth commence effective prosecution of energy theft suspects and also publish their names in national dailies.
"We appeal to our customers to avoid engaging in bye-passing meters because its criminal and punishable under Electricity Regulation Code of Conduct Act.
" l will advise customers to exercise patience with EKEDC as we promise to address all the issues as regards estimated billing and other challenges," he said.
On pre-paid meters, the CEO said the company has started installation of over 4,000 pre-paid meters to residents of FESTAC and its environs, adding that the first batch of 1,000 meters had been installed. He said that the company would ensure that 4,000 pre-paid meters are installed before the end of the year, while appealing to residents to ensure prompt payment of their bills.
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri ABUJA – The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, on Monday, maintained that Nigerians deserve a fearless and independent judiciary that is completely insulated from external manipulation.Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen,
The CJN, in a keynote address he presented at the opening ceremony of the 2017 refresher course for Judges and Kadis, held at the National Judicial Institute, NJI, in Abuja, described independence of the judiciary as one of the foundations of democratic values.
He said it was imperative for Judges across the federation to dispense Justice without fear or favour.
"It is therefore our collective responsibility to remain committed in promoting the independence of the judiciary for impartial administration of justice".
The address was read by the second highest ranking Justice at the Supreme Court, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed who represented the CJN at the event.
He urged participant at the refresher course to remain steadfast in tackling the challenges of inefficiencies in operation of courts, saying Judges must shun all forms of corruption capable of exposing the judiciary to public opprobrium.
“We must all put our hands on deck to maintain and observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and respect for the third arm of Government is sustained”, he added.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Administrator of the Institute, Justice Roselin Bozinmo, said the theme of the refresher course was modernising Judicial Practice and Procedure.
She said the theme was directed towards ensuring that Judges adopt new trends and judicial best practices and procedures in adjudication of cases at our various courts, thereby assisting them to enhance the performance of their constitutional responsibilities.
“For the Nigerian Judiciary to remain the hope everyman, we must be dynamic by keeping in-tune with modern techniques in the administration of law and justice.
“A judicial officer well versed in modern practice and procedure is of great benefit to the judiciary and the larger society. Thus there is a need for our judicial officers to be abreast with current topical issues in the fields of ICT”, Justice Bozimo added.
She further urged Judges to explore the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution, ADR, mechanism as a modern trend in administration of justice particularly in civil matters, including commercial cases, land and family case, among others, saying it would go a long way in curtailing delays in our courts.
IN line with its annual tradition of rewarding excellence, Total Nigeria Plc has recognized outstanding dealers and staff who have contributed to the growth and increased sales the company recorded in 2016.
The awards ceremony tagged 'AAA-Awards' with the aim to motivate staff and dealers was held in three cities across the country, covering all its sales territories as follows: Lagos for the Western Sales Territory, Port Harcourt for the Eastern Sales Territory and Abuja for the Northern Sales Territory.
Speaking during the awards presentation, Managing Director, Total Nigeria Plc, Jean Philippe Torres said that AAA Awards takes place yearly with the aim of recognizing, and rewarding dealers and staff who have done well in the sales and marketing of Total's products in addition to encouraging others to put in more effort in meeting and surpassing their targets.
He implored all the winners and award recipients to remain good ambassador of the company and brand. The General Manager, Sales and Marketing, Adewole Adesua noted that it's essential to appreciate partners in the business for managing Total service stations diligently and for exhibiting high commitment in order for the company to achieve its 2016 sales targets in different categories.
"Prof. Oladipupo Wale (IFE MEGA) won the best dealers nationwide, Joyce Ugen (ISM WEST) won best ISM nationwide, Cosmos Enyioko (SPEL North) won best specialities engineer nationwide and Afolabi Johnson (Isolo) won best VMS Manager nationwide."
By Henry Umoru ABUJA – THE Senate said Monday that it had already taken a position on the embattled Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC! Ibrahim Magu by rejecting his nomination as the substantive chairman of the anti- graft agency. Magu Speaking with Vanguard Monday, Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan who noted that the Senate had last week at the chambers taken a decision, said that as an institution, it was only waiting for the response of the executive to the action taken by the upper Chambers.
The Senate leader said, ” the Senate had already taken a decision, we will only wait for the response of the executive.”
It would be recalled that the Senate had on Wednesday for the second time, rejected the nomination of Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the anti- graft agency.
The refusal by the Senate to confirm Magu came three months after the Senators had rejected him where damming Security reports by the Department of State Services, DSS were given as the major reason which was a replay of some months ago.
According to the report, Magu was accused of corruption as well as lack the integrity needed to carry out such responsibility as number one crime fighter in the country.
President Mohammadu Buhari has received a written report of the Senate on the rejection of the nomination of the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ibrahim Magu.
Also the Senate through Senate President Bukola Saraki, last week forward the communication of its resolution at plenary to the presidency.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari, Senator Ita Enang has confirmed the receipt, but declined to reveal the content as he was not privy to it.
Enang had told Vanguard saying Yes, there has been a communication between the President of the Senate and the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari.
"But the content thereof is privileged between them. I don't know," he said simply.
Recalled that the Senate on Wednesday turned down the nomination of Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had forwarded Magu’s name to the Senate June, 2016 for confirmation.
He was appointed in acting capacity by President Buhari on the 9th of November, 2015, following the sack of his predecessor, Ibrahim Lamorde.
It would also be recalled that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, acting as the President of the Country, while President Muhammadu Buhari was away in London on a 10-day medical vacation to seek medication for his ear infection in June 6, 2016, forwarded a letter to the Senate, requesting for the screening and subsequent confirmation of Ibrahim Mustapha Magu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP as the substantive Chairman of the anti- graft agency.
Also in the letter, President Buhari sought the Senate's approval to confirm Nasule Moses; Lawan Maman; Garandaji Imam Naji- and Adeleke Abebayo Rafiu as members of the board of the EFCC.
Senate President Bukola Saraki read the letter to his colleagues at the Senate Chambers during plenary session.
The letter which was signed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo as Acting President, had read thus, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Act of 2004 established the commission and makes it responsible among other things for the coordination and enforcement of all Economic and Financial Crime Laws and Enforcement functions conferred on any person or authority.
“Section 2 (1) of the Act also provides that the Commission shall consists of a Chairman who shall: Be the chief executive and accounting officer of the commission; Be a serving or retired member of any government security or law enforcement agency not below the rank of assistant commissioner of police or equivalent and Possess not less than 15 years cognate experience.
“Apart from other ex-officio members of the commission provided for in section 2. The Act also provides for four eminent Nigerians with any cognate experience of the following that is finance, banking, law and accounting. Section 2 (3) further provides that chairman and members of his commission other than ex-officio members shall be appointed by the president and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation of the senate.”
THE divestments of international oil companies, IOCs from Nigerian assets appear to be beneficial to indigenous operators as three independents Aiteo, Eroton and Newcross, collectively produced about 200,000 barrels per day (bpd) at peak, close to the end of 2016.
Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production, the operator of the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, reported gross production of 92,000bpd in October 2016, figures in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC's December 2016 report showed.
production shut-in
Eroton Exploration and Production, in OML 18, was said to have averaged 63,764bpd gross output in the same month.
There were no figures published for Newcross Petroleum Limited in October 2016 and November 2016, (the last months for which figures are officially available), but the company, operator of OML 24, delivered 30,213bpd in September 2016. These figures come to about 186,000bpd, roughly 10 percent of the country's average 2016 production and are less than half of what the 22 Nigerian owned producers of crude oil and gas are capable of delivering.
Also, five similar Nigerian independents, such as Seplat, Shoreline Natural Resources, NDWestern, Elcrest and First Hydrocarbon Nigeria, who have had up to 80 percent of their production shut-in for more than 12 months by the damage to the Trans-Forcados pipeline, were collectively producing over 160,000bpd before the bombing.
Seplat and Neconde alone were averaging 115,000pbd prior to the February 14, 2016 outage. Analysts however say that Nigerian owned oil producing companies have not historically been consistent in maintaining, let alone increasing production.
Conoil, which produced around 45,000bpd in 2005, and now delivers less than 10,000bpd, with four acreages, is proof of this assertion. "Poor governance is part of the challenge", says Sam Ojehonmo, an African focused energy consultant based in Cairo, "but these new breed of operators have a different challenge; they took huge loans to buy the assets; the earlier generation had the assets largely handed over to them gratis, and they were cash flush when they had to bid for another round of acquisitions."
Aiteo, Eroton and Newcross took over their assets from the consortium of Shell, Total and Eni between 2014 and 2015, paying a total of $4.1billion for the consortium's 45 percent share, with NNPC holding the remaining 55 percent.
"We are a strategically important borrower to the Nigerian banking industry", Chike Onyejekwe, Group Managing Director of Aiteo, said at the just concluded Nigerian Oil and Gas, NOG, summit held in Abuja.
The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, said soon, he would set up a committee to work out modalities for the party's national convention.
Sheriff made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday in Abuja on the recommendations of the party's Reconciliation Committee, chaired by Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa.
Modu Sheriff
He said that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party was already consulting with members and leaders of the party as part of process for constituting the convention committee.
The chairman said that he was also talking with lawmakers at the National Assembly and State Assemblies on the platform of the party as part of political solution recommended by the Dickson committee.
He added that he had commenced consultation with the Board of Trustees (BoT) through its Chairman, Sen. Walid Jibrin, who, he said, had promised to get back to him for a formal meeting with BoT members.
He said that by next week they would meet with the party's national ex-officio members from the 36 states.
"Everywhere in our party, we are working across the board; everybody is working for the party to come back to its position in 1999.
"We are for peace and that does not mean that we are afraid of anybody; we will not be relenting.
"We need our party back in power and we will carry everybody that means well for PDP along.
"I assure you that PDP will not be destroyed; PDP is a creation of God and cannot be destroyed by anybody.
"We are on course and we will go as planned. For everybody that believes that it is not political solution, they are on their own," he said.
Sheriff reiterated his determination not to contest the national chairmanship at the national convention, adding that his NWC members had the right to contest for any position of their choice.
On his presidential ambition for 2019, he said that it was a decision left for God.
"Every position I occupied in life, God made it possible. I am a firm believer in the will of God. I told you I will not run for the chairmanship position, the rest we leave to God."
He, however, said that the party's chairmanship position would definitely be for the Southern part of the country.
Luck ran out of a man believed to be in his 30s on Monday as he attempted to withdraw N110, 000 (One Hundred and ten thousand naira) from another customer’s account after stealing his transfer slip, then forging the victim’s signature on a bank withdrawals slip right there in the bank before proceeding to carry out the fraud.
However, he was arrested by the Bank’s security personnel who handed him over to the Police when his face could not match that of his victim’s.
Suspect Lukeman Ibrahim at the police station
The suspect who gave his name as Lukeman Ibrahim said he is from Bauchi state and a graduate of Pure Mathematics from the University of Maiduguri.
The victim, Mr. Theophilus Agada who spoke with Vanguard said he had gone to GT bank, Garki branch, Abuja to deposit some money when the fraud was attempted on his account.
Suspect Lukeman Ibrahim
He said, unknown to him, the suspect who was wearing a ring believed to be fetish perhaps trailed him to the bank, stole his deposit slip after he had deposited the money and gone and then attempted to withdraw the said sum before he was caught. He said it was the bank who called his attention to the attempted fraud.
According to him, ” I was already out of the bank premises when they called me and said someone wanted to make a withdrawal of N110, 000 from my account. They said they had to call me because the suspect’s face did not match mine.”
Continuing, Mr. Agada said, “on getting to my bank, i saw that the suspect forged exactly my signature and my full name. Everything was perfect except his face which gave him away.”
Mr. Agada said he wants everybody going to transact in the banks to always be wary of the person next to them as such a person could be a fraudster.
“This is the second time the suspect is trying to defraud people at the bank. Last week, he attempted defrauding another person at the Area 3 branch of GT Bank but was arrested and later bailed only for him to repeat the same crime at Area 11 today. I want everybody to learn from this and know that while at the bank, they should be very alert as someone standing next could be a thief claiming to equally be a bank customer.”
Suspect Lukeman Ibrahim at the police station
The suspect was taken to Garki police station where he was remanded. He said at the police station that the suspect who is visibly under the influence of some drugs pleaded that he went into the fraud business because he was hungry.
The ring believed to be fetish was however taken from him by the police personnel.
Mr. Agada also revealed that both the state and the bank are pressing charges on the suspect as he would be charged to court.
Chimamanda Ngozi-Adichie's novel "Americanah" has won the "One Book, One New York" campaign by the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment and BuzzFeed.
The office said on Monday that New Yorkers cast their ballots for the book throughout February and said they wanted millions of residents to read it simultaneously.
It stated that the voting which took place in February, were both online and at interactive digital kiosks on subway platforms.
The office added that "finally, Americanah was the book most New Yorkers wanted to read, as 50,000 voters who participated in the #OneBookNY campaign voted for it."
chimamanda Adichie
It explained that New Yorkers were encouraged to form their own book clubs and discussions around the book, which detailed the story of a Nigerian couple that left military-ruled Nigeria.
The office said Americanah centred around two young Nigerian lovers who departed for different cities in the Western world and later reunited in a democratic Nigeria.
Ifemelu, the protagonist, headed for America, where her life as an immigrant changed her perspective on race and identity.
Before being reunited in their homeland, the female protagonist, Ifemelu, was forced to confront new issues of race and class in the United States, and her lover, Obinze, blocked from joining her due to post-9/11 travel restrictions, struggled for dignity as an undocumented immigrant in London.
Published in 2013, Ngozi-Adichie's novel won a National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction and was named one of The New York Times "Ten Best Books of the Year."
The office said New Yorkers could access the full audio-book version for 90 days through a city partnership with the digital reading subscription company, Scribd.
It noted that they could also borrow one of the thousands of additional copies donated by publishers and other organisations to New York City's public library systems.
It stated that "in partnership with the digital library and subscription service, Scribd, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment will provide free 90-day access to full 'Americanah' audiobook through June."
It announced that the office would host events like film screenings and panel discussions to drum up excitement about the book and get New Yorkers talking about it in the upcoming months.
Other books voted on included "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates,
"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz, "The Sellout" by Paul Beatty and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith.
A group, "Cleft and Facial Deformity Foundation'', has operated on six cleft patients and one normal patient at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
Dr Seidu Bello, Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon, said this in an interview with newsmen on Monday at the IBB Specialist Hospital, Minna.
Bello said that the operation, which should have cost each patient between N400,000 and N500,000, was done free of charge for the six children and one Noma patient.
The bill was settled by Maizube Group of Company.
"This operation is a mop up of the 51 patients, who were operated on two months ago.
"Two months ago, we could not operate on these six because they had chest infection.
"We had to refer them to a paediatrician, who treated them before we could embark on the operation.
"This other lady among them; this is the second operation she is having in two months.
"In the past, she had no nose at all, the disease ate up her nose. The only thing there was a hollow but we have been able to work on that," he said.
He said that cough was dangerous for cleft lip operation and must be treated first before such operation could be embarked upon.
The surgeon, who expressed satisfaction after the successful operation, said that no fewer than 21 of the 51 people operated upon in January, reported back to the hospital for a follow-up.
Bello said that the operation was 100 per cent successful, as there was no relapse from the patients operated.
He said the condition was in four categories; cleft lip is either unilateral or bilateral, tumour, lock jaw and Noma.
"Noma is more critical because this condition eats up the nose and the lip. It is a rapidly-progressive, polymicrobial, often gangrenous infection of the mouth or genitals,'' he said.
Bello advised parents and the general public, who have children or wards living with maxillofacial condition, not to feel stigmatised but to go for surgery in a hospital.
"The people who have this condition should not seek solution from a native doctor but seek solution from orthodox.
"Health problems are solved in the hospital; people are better informed in the hospital.
"The idea of consulting an oracle to solve a medical problem is absurd, and should not be. It is in the hospital that medical problems are solved.
"People get informed advice from the hospital. People should not always base their problem on spiritual and seek the service of witch-doctor that will complicate issues for them,'' the medical expert said.
Malam Suleiman Ciroma, a parent of one of the patients, expressed gratitude to the Foundation for the free surgery.
Mr John Tanko, a parent, was grateful to God for using the Foundation to assuage his pain.
Newsmen report that six children had a successful cleft lip surgery, while one Noma patient had her nose reconstructed, as the ailment had eaten up her nose region.
Leaders and members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-South said they remained committed to the resolutions of the party's May 21, 2016 National Convention in Port Harcourt.
PDP
National Vice Chairman of the party in the zone, Mr Emmanuel Ogidi, made this known in an interview with the Newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
Ogidi said that all party members in the zone were under the authority of the National Caretaker Committee headed by Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, which was constituted at the convention.
He assured that the loyalty of members in the area to the committee would be sustained until the verdict of the Supreme Court on the appeal before it on the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt.
The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt had on Feb. 17, 2017, ruled that Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff remained the authentic chairman of the PDP.
The court also directed that status quo before the national convention in Port Harcourt, which sacked the leadership of the PDP and constituted the caretaker committee, should remain.
But, a minority judgment by a one of the judges, out of the three justices of the Appeal Court that heard the case, recognised the resolutions and actions taken at the Port Harcourt convention.
The judge held that as somebody appointed to administer the party for about three months and organise a national convention, Sheriff had by the resolution of the convention, seized to be chairman of the party.
Ogidi expressed optimism that the final verdict of the court on the issue would vindicate the position of majority of the party's members, and would uphold the minority judgment at the Appeal Court.
According to him, the minority judgment captured the crux of the matter and it is the way to go to restore sanctity in the PDP.
He said he was yet to understand the current disposition of Bayelsa governor, Chief Seriake Dickson, who is the Chairman of the Reconciliation Committee raised by the PDP Governors' Forum.
He, however, urged the members to be patient and wait for the outcome of the appeal at the Supreme Court.
On the merger talks between PDP and some political parties, Ogidi said that it was real but that the merging parties would adopt PDP as their new party.
According to him, PDP is the brand and cannot be changed. Yes, other parties will merge with us but the name PDP will be retained after the fusion.
The Edo Government has given full scholarship to three children of Late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.
Gov. Godwin Obaseki announced this when children of the deceased, a former governor of old Bendel state, paid him a thank-you visit at the Government House in Benin on Monday.
Obaseki said the gesture was a way to care for what the elder statesman left behind.
The beneficiaries are Nosa, Donald and Imade Ogbemudia.
Samuel Ogbemudia
Describing the late elder statesman as an astute administrator whose monumental achievements are unsurpassable, Obaseki said the government would take over the responsibilities he left behind.
He said that organising a state burial for the retired Brigadier General was the least that could have been done for him given the scope of developmental projects he executed during the old Bendel state.
The governor said that the state government was also considering immortalising Ogbemudia's name with a national monument.
"We know he has some monuments in the state named after him; we also want to get approval from the Presidency to immortalise him by getting a federal asset named after him,'' he said.
While recounting late Ogbemudia's impact in all sectors of life in old Midwest and defunct Bendel state, Obaseki said that the deceased played a fatherly role in his life and supported him during his electioneering period.
The governor therefore admonished the children to live in unity and keep the legacies of their father.
Earlier, first son of the deceased, Mr Samuel Ogbemudia Jnr., read a letter of appreciation on behalf of the family to Obaseki and the state for their support in giving their father a befitting burial.
Similarly, the first daughter, Mrs Dele George, and a close friend of the family, Mr Gentleman Amegor, commended the governor and secretary to government for working tirelessly to follow the seven days burial wishes of late Ogbemudia.
Highlight of the visit was a presentation of an appreciation gift to the governor by the bereaved family.
Newsmen recall that late Ogbemudia died on March 9 at the age of 84 in a private hospital after he suffered from diabetes for some years.
The remains of the military governor of the defunct Midwest region were laid to rest after an interdenominational service held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on March 17.
The Edo Government organised a state burial for the elder statesman.
The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has awarded foreign scholarship to two students from Kwara, who bagged First Class in their undergraduate studies.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari, made this known in a statement on Monday in Ilorin.
Buhari said the two students were selected from 73 First Class Graduates, who were hosted to a dinner by the President of the Senate in 2016.
He said the scholarship was in addition to N500, 000 given to each of the 73 scholars by the President of the Senate, representing Kwara Central Senatorial District.
He said the two beneficiaries are Abdulkadir Habebulah, a graduate of Euronautic Engineering from the Kwara State University (KWASU) and Aliyu Ajoke Muinat, a graduate of Chemistry from the University of Ilorin.
Bukola Saraki
Saraki in the statement charged the two beneficiaries to give a good account of themselves when they begin their studies in China.
The president of the senate said that the selection of two out of 73 was testimony to the quality of their education and their certificates.
He, therefore, urged them to be of best behaviours anywhere they find themselves in the world.
A beneficiary, Abdulkadir Habibulah, while responding, said the scholarship was a pleasant surprise.
He commended the President of the Senate for giving him and his colleague the privilege of studying abroad.
He also promised that they will not to disappoint the confidence reposed in them.
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
A medical doctor identified as Orji has allegedly jumped from the Third Mainland Bridge into the lagoon and got drowned. The man was said to have stopped his driver and suddenly jumped into the Lagoon.
Policemen from Adeniji Police Station are reported to have taken the driver and the SUV to the police station.
Former Big Brother house leader, Thin Tall Tony has been evicted from the Reality TV Show.
Thin Tall Tony
His quest for the N25million naira ended Sunday after he got the least vote in an eviction battle against Debie-rise, Efe and TBoss.
The eviction comes after all housemates enjoyed automatic immunity from eviction penultimate week.
Bally, Tboss and Thin Tall Tony were the initial nominees for eviction by fellow housemate until House Leader, Bassey saved Bally and replaced him with Efe. Marvis put Debie-Rise up for nomination using her power card.
The Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele has urged the country's monetary and fiscal authorities to collaborate and work in harmony to accelerate Nigeria's economic development.
Emefiele made the call in a statement signed by CBN's acting Director, Corporate Communications on Sunday in Abuja.
The CBN governor spoke at a meeting with fiscal authorities from the Ministries of Finance, Budget and National Planning as well as Trade and Investment at the weekend.
The theme of the meeting was: "Pathway to Price Stability Conducive to Economic Growth.''
Emefiele said the meeting which had in attendance a large representation of fiscal authorities for the first time, was coming at a period when the country was facing serious economic challenges.
CBN Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele
According to him, finding a sustainable solution requires a broadened participation of colleagues from the fiscal side.
He said that the meeting provided perspectives on certain Monetary Policy Committee decisions.
Emefiele said the meeting was aimed at closing the gap on coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities to chart a common course and take decisions to develop the economy.
The statement also quoted the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma as saying "both the monetary and fiscal authorities had no choice but to work together to guarantee the country's economic growth''.
He said that the pathway to lower interest rate was to ensure monetary and fiscal authorities collaboration with the private sector.
The statement quoted Mrs Kemi Adeosun, the minister of Finance as saying "solving the challenges facing the Nigerian economy required unconventional tactics''.
Adeosun said that there were still a huge number of unbanked Nigerians whose contributions to the economy remained un-captured.
She said the government must devise ways to bring them into the financial mainstream, adding that based on the current realities, the Federal Government would have to borrow more to meet its infrastructural obligation.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Okechukwu Enelamah emphasised the need for both monetary and fiscal authorities to ensure business and investor confidence.
Enelamah also stressed the need to ensure policy integrity in order to improve on the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the Deputy Governor, Economic Policy, CBN, Dr Sarah Alade made a presentation entitled: "The Macroeconomic Dilemma and Monetary Policy in Nigeria".
She said the onus of solving the dilemma of low interest and exchange rates as well as low inflation should not entirely be the function of the monetary authority.
Alade said there was also the need to put deliberate policies in Place to ensure stability and engender growth in the economy.
Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose on Sunday night announced his government's interest in the case of a woman beaten by some policemen in Ado Ekiti on Friday.
The state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose made this known while speaking on a monthly public enlightenment programme, "The Governor Explains".
Ayodele Fayose
He disclosed that an investigation panel has been set up to probe what actually transpired between the woman and the police.
He said the investigation will unravel the policemen that beat the woman.
The governor said he was particularly disturbed by media reports linking policemen to the alleged beating of the woman, Toyin Adeyeye, despite her status as a nursing mother.
He described as regrettable, the police action, coming barely two weeks after the state celebrated Women's Day with fanfare.
The governor declared that the law on violence against women still subsists in the state, and that the law would be applied as appropriate in this matter.
Mr Abdullahi Chafe, the state police commissioner had said the woman was beaten by policemen at a checkpoint in Ado Ekiti because she slapped one of his men and tore his uniform. He claimed the woman slapped one of his men when she was asked to prove the ownership of the car in which she was being driven.
Chafe spoke in a reaction to the social media outrage against the policemen for brutalising a woman.
After the beating, Adeyeye and her baby, including her younger brother, Adeniyi Dada were detained at a police station in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital. The Kia Picanto that Dada was driving was also impounded.
"It is not good for somebody to prevent a law enforcement officer from carrying out his lawful duty, somebody wearing the uniform? It is not about his age but the authority he carries, I don't allow my men to do something contrary to the law", Chafe said.
"Those people slapped my policeman on duty and tore his uniform. Uniform is an authority and what those people did was against the law and it is not good for a civilian to slap a policeman
"I don't want a woman to be detained with baby or with pregnancy, I don't want an old woman or a minor to be detained. I have taken note of this and we will take the right action on the matter as investigation continues", he said.
The husband of the woman, Mr Akanni Adeyeye refuted the police claim, saying his wife and her brother were beaten and detained for refusing to offer bribe to the policemen at the checkpoint.
He told newsmen that about five policemen on duty at the checkpoint beat them before taking them to the New Iyin Police Station where they were detained.
He said the police also impounded the black Kia Picanto car with registration number LAGOS FKJ 221 EE conveying them.
The woman and her daughter were released by the police on Saturday night.
Sergio Aguero netted a 69th-minute equaliser in a gripping 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Sunday to prevent Manchester City losing ground in the battle for a top-four Premier League finish.
Liverpool looked poised to leapfrog City into third place after James Milner silenced the boos from fans of his former club to give the visitors the lead with a penalty early in the second half. Aguero But Aguero’s strike kept City a point above their rivals, who have played a game more, and provided a moment of solace after their mid-week Champions League elimination at Monaco’s hands.
“After the Champions League, the last few days at training people were so, so, sad. People don’t talk too much,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“We arrive here against Liverpool, who have no Europe all season and one week to prepare. The spirit, how we played, it is one of my happiest days as a manager.”
Guardiola had come in for criticism after City’s 3-1 loss at Stade Louis II, but his side will approach back-to-back trips to Arsenal and Chelsea on the back of a seven-game unbeaten run in the league.
While Jurgen Klopp failed to become the first manager to do a league double over Guardiola, his Liverpool team are now unbeaten in 10 games against their fellow top-six sides this season.
“To get a point at Manchester City for each team in the world is absolutely OK,” said the Liverpool manager.
“They deserved the goal, but we could have scored more. Two highly motivated sides, both wanted to win until the last seconds.”
A rain-slicked pitch and two attack-minded teams made for a furious first half at the Etihad Stadium, characterised by City possession and Liverpool counter-attacks.
City unambiguously targeted the flanks, Leroy Sane on the left and ex-Liverpool man Raheem Sterling on the right whipping a succession of low, pacy crosses across Simon Mignolet’s six-yard box.
Twice, Aguero felt he had been unfairly impeded as he tried to get on the end of them, first by Joel Matip and then Ragnar Klavan.
– Lallana misses kick – The latter incident, in the 43rd minute, also saw Sterling taken out by a despairing Milner as the pair stretched for David Silva’s low cross, with Fernandinho sliding the ball wide at the back post.
City’s clearest opening of the half saw Silva thrash the ball inches wide of the left-hand post after Mignolet had jutted out his left foot to fend off a drive from Sane.
But the best chances of the first period were all Liverpool’s.
An under-hit John Stones back-pass let in Sadio Mane, only for an authoritative sortie by goalkeeper Willy Caballero, allied to a subtle tug from Nicolas Otamendi, to save the day.
Philippe Coutinho bent a shot just over, Matip headed wide at a free-kick and Caballero showed agility to claw away a Roberto Firmino curler and touch over a thumping Adam Lallana volley.
After Mane had seen a shot blocked by Stones, Liverpool went ahead in the sixth minute of the second half.
Gael Clichy was penalised for a high, untidy challenge on Firmino as the Brazilian chested down Emre Can’s flighted pass and Milner swept the penalty into the bottom-left corner.
Firmino looked poised to double the visitors’ lead from Coutinho’s measured through ball, but Caballero stood up well to save.
Eight minutes later it was all square as Kevin De Bruyne’s brilliantly measured cross from the right was unerringly dispatched by Aguero.
Aguero looked set to put City ahead in the 76th minute, but after a neat one-two with Sane he stumbled, De Bruyne scuffing the loose ball against the post.
An increasingly end-to-end contest then spat out a glorious chance for Lallana, but from Firmino’s knock-down and with Mignolet’s goal at his mercy, he missed his kick.
As the noise levels rose, Sterling and Aguero — twice — spurned late chances, but a draw felt an appropriate outcome.
A medical doctor identified as Orji Sunday allegedly jumped from the Third Mainland Bridge into the lagoon and got drowned.
Vanguard gathered that the medical practitioner, who was without a life-jacket, jumped into the lagoon at about 4: 30 pm.
When our correspondent visited the scene of the tragedy, it was gathered that the victim jumped into the lagoon between Adekunle and Adeniji end of the Third Mainland Bridge.
Sources said that before the tragedy, the man had instructed his driver to pack the vehicle that he wanted to discuss confidential issue with a client on phone.
Efforts to speak with the driver of the victim proved abortive after the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), prevented pressmen from gaining access to him.
At the scene, officials of the Lagos state Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and officers of the Nigerian Police attached to the Adeniji Police Station, Yaba, were sighted at the scene strategizing on how to recover the body of the victim.
Confirming the tragedy, General Manager LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu, narrated that the agency received a distress call of a man , who parked his grey coloured Nissan Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) with number plates : LND 476 EE at about 4.50 pm around Adekunle, inward 3rd Mainland bridge and jumped into the Lagos Lagoon.
According to him, preliminary investigation at the scene revealed that the man said to be medical doctor named Orji ,who was said to be driven by his driver, suddenly ordered the driver to pull over, dropped from the car before jumping into the water from the bridge.
“The vehicle and the driver have been taken to Adeniji Adele Poice Station for further investigation, while effort is on going to recover his body from the Lagoon,” he added.
Former aide to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on electronic media, Pastor Reno Omokri has said that the Kaduna state Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is a threat to Nigeria’s national security.
Reno also accused the Governor of trying to bring President Muhammadu Buhari’s government down.
ABUJA- THE Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, and International Finance for Agricultural Development, IFAD, have rewarded 60 microfinance banks for performance in rural financing.
The award ceremony that took place in Abuja at the weekend was in recognition of what microfinance banks have done to impact in the rural economy that was largely excluded from access to finance.
Representative of the CBN, Deputy Director, Department of Development Financing, Uji Amenju, said the ward was to encourage others that are yet to be awarded to be more committed and also to spur the awardees to accelerate their operations to enable rural women and men access finance with their RBPs.
Amenju also stated that since 2010 when RUFIN started, it has been able to revive the financial life of the rural people by empowering the microfinance institutions to extend finances to those into businesses to grow their business.
The 60 recipients of the award were mainly drawn from the 12 states implementing the Rural Financial Institution Building programme, RUFIN, which include Standard Life Organisation, Trustfund Microfinance Bank, DEC Microfinance Bank, Olufin Microfinance Bank, Esan Microfinance Bank, Garu MFB, Gufa MFB, Oturkpo MFB, Aquity MFB, Future- Growth MFB, and others.
Also the Deputy Director, Research, CBN, Bamidele Alao, urged the government and donors to strengthen and extend the programme to other states and more local governments in order for more farmers to benefit, generation of income from their farm locations, daily savings and creating wealth that will improve their living standards.
He said: "Before RUFIN a lot of rural based enterprises have no access to finance, but since RUFIN started, the rural-based financial institutions were encouraged to lend more to the rural based business-people that are in the rural economy, and RUFIN has been able to grow the capacity of the microfinance institutions on how to expand their business scope to do more for the rural based economy.
"Really a lot of things have been achieved and it shouldn't stop the RUFIN programme mainstream, and especially when you look at the fact that the RUFIN programme only happened in 12 states of the federation and you have 36 states including Abuja 37.
"We have being urging the MFIs that have been participating in the programme not just slow down the activities of RUFIN on the exit of RUFIN any moment from now will be able to maintain the activities so beyond RUFIN to help the rural economy of Nigeria."
According to him, funds injected into the project from IFAD amounts to N40 billion and this money was used in various initiatives, like training, capacity building, provision of infrastructure, on MFIs and in terms of the beneficiaries too on how to access credit , and how to package rural business plan that will be acceptable to MFIs.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, represented by the Director of Agribusiness, Dr. Abdul’azeez Muyiwa, and who is also National Programme Coordinator, RUFIN, maintained that the current administration will ensure most of the rural people are brought out of poverty via the programme.
"In view of the success of the Rural Finance-IFAD programme which we are all witnessing today, the testimonies from farmers, financial institutions, financial NGOs and financial cooperatives, where over N40 billion has been channelled from the MFIs to the rural people, the Minister has indicated interest of contacting IFAD to see how this design can be replicated in all the 36 states of the federation including FCT", Muyiwa said.
Against the background of falling oil prices, Kehinde argues for the potential for agriculture to change Nigeria's fortunes, providing income and employment for a fast growing population that, by 2050, is likely to be larger than that of the United States.
Kehinde discusses Nigeria's National Agriculture Investment Plan, which was consolidated at a meeting in Lagos in early March to place African farmers and agriculture businesses at the center of the continent's economic development. He also draws on his experiences in the country to highlight new income opportunities for poor smallholder farmers, including production and processing of cassava.
Viewed from the historian's perspective, a significant advance in a nation's fortunes can seem to occur almost overnight and be driven by destiny. The reality of course is quite different. Meaningful change is most often the long-term product of a series of small, connected, deliberate actions whose importance may not be immediately apparent.
One of those low-key events that one day could be endowed with historical significance took place in Nigeria last month, when senior officials from the national government and the African Union Commission, joined by agriculture experts from across the continent, gathered in Abuja to consolidate Nigeria's National Agriculture Investment Plan, or NAIP. Similar blueprints are being drawn-up across sub-Saharan Africa to ensure countries stay focused on the African Union's Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and their commitments, re-enforced in the 2014 Malabo Declaration, to place African farmers and agriculture businesses at the center of the continent's economic development.
If there is anywhere in Africa where a surge of agriculture investments could change the fortunes of an entire country, it is here. Moreover, success in Nigeria would send a strong signal to the rest of the continent that agriculture offers our most promising path to sustainable and equitable economic growth.
Agriculture's emergence as Nigeria's number one economic opportunity comes as falling oil prices are taking their toll on this oil-rich country. Nigeria urgently needs a more stable foundation for providing income and employment for a fast growing population that, by 2050, is likely to be larger than that of the United States.
Agriculture already accounts for 70 percent of employment in Nigeria, but only 40 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), an indicator that the sector is underperforming. Every year, Nigerians still spend billions of dollars on food imports, a huge economic opportunity forfeited to farmers and food companies outside of the country.
Part of the reason for the shortfall is that Nigeria has 84 million hectares of land suitable for farming, but less than half of this area is planted with crops—and most of the farming is accomplished with inefficient, outdated methods and without basic inputs. . Irrigation, which is becoming more important as climate change disrupts rainfall patterns across the country, is available on only 220,000 hectares, when there are enough water resources in the country to supply three million.
But if last week's meeting is any indication, agriculture may finally be getting the attention it deserves in Nigeria. Under the leadership of Chief Audu Ogbeh and his predecessor, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who went on to become president of the African Development Bank, over the last few years, Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has pushed through several ambitious initiatives.
For example, Nigeria is the world's largest cassava producer. And there are now a number of new income opportunities for poor smallholder farmers and local agriculture entrepreneurs around producing and processing this hardy root crop. Cassava is now being processed into high quality flour that can be used as a substitute for expensive wheat imports. It's providing a source of fish feed for Nigeria's rapidly growing aquaculture industry. Cassava can also provide an industrial starch with surprising usefulness in areas like paperboard and plywood manufacturing.
Similar efforts are underway to bring jobs to rural areas by attracting investments in maize, rice, sorghum and livestock production. For example, the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) has generated US$273 million in loans for some 454 projects. They include a new rail-shipping venture that is connecting struggling livestock producers in the north to consumer markets in the south.
Despite the promising progress, agriculture in Nigeria still needs far more investment. For example, a lack of storage and processing options causes many poor farmers to lose nearly half of their harvest to rot or pests. Also, while fertilizer usage is up and local seed production is rising, many farmers in Nigeria still lack access to improved crop varieties and basic inputs.
That's why it's so critical to develop a new agriculture investment plan that shows Nigeria is committed to ensuring agriculture can flourish as a business. Numerous studies have shown that, along with increasing food security, economic growth driven by the agriculture sector is far more effective at pulling people out of poverty than growth in any other sector. If Nigeria ultimately realizes its ambitions for agriculture, historians of the future may point to an investment meeting that occurred in Abuja in February of 2017 as the juncture when farming and food production became an engine of opportunity for Nigeria—and helped rally similar efforts across the continent. And those falling oil prices that capture the headlines of today? Maybe they will be relegated to a footnote.
Kehinde Makinde is the country lead for Nigeria at the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).
By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor The Presidency has finally come out with a bumper package aimed at accelerating the return of peace to the troubled Niger Delta region and ensure the steady production of oil, Nigeria's biggest foreign exchange earner, in a bid to bail the country out of recession.
Top on the list of key measures approved for immediate implementation by relevant federal government agencies are the takeoff of the controversial National Maritime University Okorenkoke in Gbaramatu Kingdom, in Delta State and the return of the lucrative Oil Pipeline Protection Contracts to militant leaders and the overhaul of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, which enters its seventh year this October.
A top Presidency official, who is familiar with the roadmap being fine-tuned by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to address the crisis in the Niger Delta, confirmed to Vanguard last night necessary directives had been given to the agencies of the administration saddled with the strategic tasks to revamp the Niger Delta and give the people a new lease of life.
According to the top official, an implantation planning meeting was held last week in the Presidency where several ministers and relevant MDAs started putting draft measures that will ensure the immediate takeoff of the programmes aimed at transforming the region.
ABUJA-Presidency, Sunday, said that the report in some quarters that President Muhammadu Buhari upon his return from London on a medical trip scaled down his work-load to get some rest was totally false.
It said that Buhari’s resumption week was activity-packed, saying that he never recorded absent for one day.
The President’s Media Aide, Mallam Garba Shehu made the refutation in an interview with Pyramid Radio in Kano State, of which the details were later made available to newsmen.
He said: “In the first week of his return, President Buhari walked his talk on his intense desire to pay back to Nigerians by way keeping their trust and serving their interests.
Prseident Muhammadu Buhari
“His reply to the people for their support and trust is to work much harder for them.
“The President didn’t have a day off or even a light week at all throughout his week of resumption,” he said.
Reacting to a question of what the President’s engagements in his first week after the London trip was, Shehu said the president had time, treating policy issues even when he retired back home.
He added that the President took briefings from Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, also met with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara amongst others.
“I read those analyses and I believe they were mostly wrong. What they don’t understand is that the President doesn’t follow official working hours because he is on duty all the time. He has another office by his living room. So, he works from home when most civil servants have closed.
“He started on Monday with the letters he sent to the two arms of the parliament signifying his return to work. He then went in for a handover briefing by the Vice President. They had a lot to discuss between themselves. Although he gave specific mandates to the Acting President, he needed to be brought up to speed on the developments in the Supreme Court, the Niger Delta, the economy with particular reference to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, ERPG which was launched in his absence and programs like the Small and medium Enterprises Clinic which have strong connections to the agricultural strategy of the administration.”
“On Tuesday the President followed up his meeting with the Vice President getting details from the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele on the liquidity situation of the country, the issue of reserves and the outlook for the rest of the year.
“He then met with the Presiding Officials of the parliament, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara. Those two arms have dealt with the issue of his vacation with great sensitivity.
“On Wednesday, the President presided at the Federal Executive Council.
“The noticeable thing about the last meeting was that it dwelled on policy. The meeting didn’t discuss contracts.
“On Thursday, the President had a joint sitting with the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, the Ministers of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and that of Budget and Planning, Udoma Udo-Udoma. They discussed the country’s economic situation, the progress on the 2017 budget and liquidity issues.
“On the same day, he held a state-of-nation meeting with Governors who had assembled for the routine meeting of the National Economic Council under the Vice President.
“Friday was used mostly for security briefing before the Juma’at prayers. The President has big ambitions for the country, driven by an intense desire to leave his mark on national affairs. This is as he said on his return last”, he explained.
Scientists from different parts of the world would converge at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan to discuss genetic improvement of yam in Africa.
A statement by IITA Communication Specialist, Mrs Adaobi Umeokoro said the programme had been scheduled to hold between March 20 and March 24.
Umeokoro said that progress on research efforts geared toward the improvement of the genetic potential and productivity of two most cultivated yam species in Africa would be the focus of the deliberations.
A typical yam barn in Igboland
According to her, the meeting will also provide a platform for stakeholders to review the current status of the project in relation to set goals.
"AfricaYam was initiated in 2015 to use the latest technologies in plant breeding to develop high-yielding varieties of white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and water yam (D. alata).
"These species will show great promise in resisting infestation by nematodes, viruses, and anthracnose, known to greatly limit productivity in West Africa's most preferred staple crop.
"Every year, sub-Saharan Africa produces no less than 54 million tons of yams from about 4.6 million hectares of land. But this output is only 40 per cent compared to cassava production in the continent.
"Farmers are unable to cope with the demand for the crop which is further constrained by low yield and losses in storage.
"In Africa, one very important constraint limiting productivity for most smallholder farmers apart from climate change, diseases and pests infestation is production cost," it said.
According to Umeokoro, the AfricaYam project recognises this challenge and is developing yam varieties that will make yam production more profitable for farmers.
The statement also quoted the Project Leader, Dr Patrick Adebola as saying "the project explored environment friendly technologies to breed quality yam varieties that would meet the demands of farmers''.
"The project is also seeking to enhance active yam breeding programmes in Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Benin-the countries in West Africa producing over 95 per cent of Africa's yam.
"It will employ faster and more precise genomic tools to improve the efficiency of yam breeding programmes.
"It will also improve yam genotypes adapted to production systems and suited to market preferences," he said.
According to Adebola, AfricaYam is led by IITA, in partnership with the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) among others.
The Police in Ekiti have freed Mrs Toyin Adeyeye,the American returnee who was arrested and detained by the Police Command after being brutalized for refusing to bribe policemen at a checkpoint.
A family source confirmed this to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Sunday.
He said that the woman was released to her husband late Saturday night on administrative bail.
According to the source, Toyin's husband, Akanni Adeyeye has taken her to a private hospital in the Ado Ekiti for the treatment of bruises on her body, as well as the trauma she suffered in the hands of the police.
Toyin and her two month old baby, along with her brother, were detained from Friday up till Saturday night, before being released.
Mr Abdullahi Chafe, the Ekiti state police commissioner accused Toyin of slapping one of his men at a checkpoint and tearing his uniform.
Chafe spoke in a reaction to the social media outrage against the policemen for brutalising the woman.
Chafe said Toyin committed the offence at the checkpoint when she was asked to prove the ownership of the car in which she was being driven.
"Those people slapped my policeman on duty and tore his uniform. Uniform is an authority and what those people did was against the law and it is not good for a civilian to slap a policeman
"It is not good for somebody to prevent a law enforcement officer from carrying out his lawful duty, somebody wearing the uniform? It is not about his age but the authority he carries, I don't allow my men to do something contrary to the law
"I don't want a woman to be detained with baby or with pregnancy, I don't want an old woman or a minor to be detained. I have taken note of this and we will take the right action on the matter as investigation continues", he said.
The husband of the woman, Mr Akanni Adeyeye refuted the police claim, saying his wife and her brother were beaten up and detained for refusing to offer bribe to the policemen at the checkpoint.
He told newsmen that about five policemen on duty at the checkpoint beat them up before taking them to the New Iyin Police Station where they are being detained.
He said the police also impounded the black Kia Picanto car with registration number LAGOS FKJ 221 EE conveying them.
He claimed that the policemen requested for vehicle particulars and driver's licence of his brother-in-law who drove the car and found them to be up to date.
Governor Ayodele Fayose has meanwhile, called for an independent enquiry over the incident.
A human rights advocacy group, Save Humanity Advocacy Centre, has issued a seven-days ultimatum to Amnesty International (AI) for allegedly fuelling the survival of Boko Haram terrorists in Nigeria through what it described as undermining of the country’s security agencies through negative reports and emboldening the terror group.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Sunday, Executive Secretary of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar said despite the widely circulated videos of Boko Haram atrocities in Nigeria, Amnesty International has not condemned it or deemed it necessary to show any iota of sympathy, implying the citizens of our country do not deserve sympathy in their reckoning.
According to him, the international organization has instead always emboldened the terror group by portraying the Nigerian security agencies as the aggressors.
The group which said Nigerians have had enough of their “absurdity and evil machinations” however urged the federal government to expel Amnesty International from Nigeria over its repeated attempts to undermine Nigeria’s security.
Save Humanity Advocacy Centre
Abubakar said Nigerians can no longer tolerate these deliberate acts of sabotage and indirect compromise of national security by the human rights organization.
He said, “To this end, we are opening a register of protests in our office to collect the signatures of Nigerians, who are resentful to the destructive activities of Amnesty International as well as their dubious reports of hate and espionage on Nigerian soil.
And failure of Amnesty International to respond to this plea as stipulated, they would incur the wrath of Nigerians, who would have no option than occupy Nigeria on the streets, until government compels Amnesty International to leave the country.”
According to Abubakar, those who pose obstacles which hinder Nigeria’s success must not be tolerated, saying matters like insecurity are matters accorded national priority and handled with all seriousness
He said the latest report of Amnesty International which alleged human rights violations against the Nigerian military and other arms of security agencies in combating acts of terrorism, separatism and extremism in the country is another indication of the organization’s continued quest to undermine Nigeria’s security.
He described the report as lopsided, biased, partial and concocted with a pre-determined motive to rubbish the good works and the sacrifices of security institutions in Nigeria.
He said, “we are worried and indeed, sad to note that each time peace and normalcy is returning to these troubled parts of the country, Amnesty International, an international human rights body mindlessly punctures the essence of this peace by cooking up baseless reports that maliciously indict and disparage efforts of the Nigerian security architecture, by alleging unsubstantiated human rights violations.
“We have noticed that each time Amnesty International wail for criminal gangs or terrorists in released reports, Boko Haram terrorists increase their crude and barbaric attacks, including slitting the throats of captives with knives, gain momentum and the tempo of violent insurrections also heightens in the country.
“Even in the last edition of their report, Boko Haram terrorists struck in Borno a day after it was released, a confirmation that Amnesty International must have been working in consonance with terrorists.”
On the 19th March 2017, a man has been allegedly reported to have committed suicide at the Apogbon axis of Third Mainland Bridge. The man was said to have stopped his driver and suddenly jumped into the Lagoon.
Policemen from Adeniji Police Station are reported to have taken the driver and the SUV to the police station.
Officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA and the police are currently at the scene to retrieve the body of the victim.
A don, Prof. Sani Badayi, on Sunday predicted that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will reduce the benchmark interest rate to 12 per cent at its next meeting this week.
Badayi, Professor of Economics, Bayero University, Kano told the Newsmen in Abuja that recent drop in inflation rate would play a major role in the MPC's decisions.
The MPC, which among other things, decides the official interest rate would hold its second meeting this year in Abuja on March 20 and 21.
CBN rose from its last MPC meeting on Jan. 24, retaining the Monetary Policy Ratio (MPR) at 14 per cent, alongside other monetary policy parameters.
Badayi said that from all indications, the economy was improving and the MPC would likely sustain that growth by reducing the MPR.
"MPC is likely to drop the Monetary Policy Rate from 14 per cent to 12 per cent.
"This is because the economy has started picking up and the inflation rate is slackening generally.
"Also, the recent ease in access and supply of dollars and stability in the Niger-Delta region in terms of oil production will influence the committee's decisions.
"This is quite promising, so I think they are likely to lower it so that the economy and businesses can continue to pick up," the economist told Newsmen
However, Dr Ogbo Okiti, President, Time Economics, said that the MPC is more likely to retain the existing rates because the economy was still cloaked in uncertainties.
"I think they will leave the rates unchanged and the reason is very simple.
"Yes, we are seeing some positives; inflation rate is coming down, oil prices are going up and we are seeing signs that the economy is growing.
"However, all these growths are not concrete yet. There is still a high level of uncertainty.
"So, because of that level of uncertainty, I will still expect a cautious approach to monetary policy.
"The MPC will be cautious until they begin to see firm growth, firm increases in government revenue and expenditures which we have not really seen because the 2017 budget has not been passed.
"So, if you look at everything, even though there are positive trends on inflation, on growth, on government revenue, on oil prices, they are not firm enough," Okiti said.
Manchester United on Sunday moved up to fifth in the English Premier League (EPL) as Middlesbrough's first game after the sack of manager Aitor Karanka ended in a 3-1 defeat.
Ashley Young's deep cross found Marouane Fellaini at the back post to head past Victor Valdes, before Jesse Lingard's terrific strike doubled United's lead after the break.
Boro, with caretaker boss Steve Agnew in charge, were invited to apply pressure and when Chris Smalling made a mess of an easy clearance in the box, substitute Rudy Gestede pounced.
Manchester United’s English midfielder Jesse Lingard (2nd R), Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea (R) and Manchester United’s Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini (L) celebrate on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Middlesbrough and Manchester United at Riverside Stadium in Middlesbrough, north east England on March 19, 2017. Manchester United won the game 3-1. / AFP PHOTO
But former Manchester United goalkeeper Valdes slipped in stoppage time and Antonio Valencia's tap-in secured the three points.
Jose Mourinho's side therefore leapfrog Arsenal and Everton into fifth, while Middlesbrough remain 19th on the table and are now five points from safety.
Having parted ways with Karanka on Thursday, Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson charged Agnew with helping the Riverside club avoid the drop.
But the former assistant manager was unable to inspire his side to a fifth Premier League win this season despite dominating possession for large periods of the game.
Alvaro Negredo looked isolated up front before Agnew introduced Gestede on 67 minutes, and with two in attack Boro looked capable of drawing level.
But United, showing seven changes from their Europa League win over FC Rostov in midweek, ground out a tricky three points.
This was Manchester United's 600th victory in the Premier League – making them the first side to reach the landmark.
While this was undoubtedly a historic moment for the club, their manager would be more concerned with their rise up the Premier League table.
He would also be concerned about the team's ability to grind out a win without suspended top scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic and injured record signing Paul Pogba.
United finished the day inside the top five of the Premier League table for the first time in 184 days.
They are also on an 18-game unbeaten run stretching back to a 4-0 loss to Chelsea in October.
However, they have only moved up two places, from seventh to fifth, during that spell.
Their fans will be happier they have finally relinquished sixth spot –a position they have made their own this season.
But their progress might be too slow to fight off the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Spurs for a top four finish.
A Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr. Henry Ugese, has called on Nigerians to uphold the family values, desist from gossip and stereotyping in order to receive blessings from God.
Ugese made the call in his homily at a Mass on Sunday SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Nyanya, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to him, when families are not living in peace, it will definitely affect the larger society.
He called on husbands and wives to live up to the vow they took on their wedding day, adding that they must learn to always pray together as a family.
The cleric said that in life only few things mattered, recalling that humans were created in the image of God but that due to sins "we have moved away from God".
He advised that people should always read the word of God in order to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
"Families should always pray together and seek God's face in any problem that arises,'' Ugese said.
He advised that Nigerians should cultivate the habit of praying for their neighbours rather than engaging in gossip.
Ugese said that stereotype conducts had dangerously affected the lives of people, and advised that Nigerians should see themselves as God children, no matter their ethnicity.
"The greatest gift of God is Jesus who has come to save us, so, we must believe in God to be able to handle all impossibilities in our lives.
"When we fail to put God first, we will always have problem in our lives.
"As God's children, we need to be constant in prayer, seek to obey God's will and rely always on Him for strength and graces,'' he said.
