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
Following the need to develop Nigerian economy and other African countries, the Federal Government has indicated interest in improving its trade relationship with Japan even as the later has agreed to commit $30 billion for African development under the Asian Tiger’s sustainable development.
Based on this, the Federal Government has assured Japanese investors of a safe and business friendly environment for their investments, noting that it has begun to improve the ease of doing business in the country.
Speaking at the Japanese Business Mission to West Africa Business Seminar and Networking held in Lagos, the Minister, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, said that though the country is going through trying times, the present administration is working relentlessly to identify areas where Nigeria can attract the much needed foreign exchange to carry out developmental projects for economic growth and stability.
The Minister who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Ms. Yewande Sadiku, during a business seminar organised by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said that there are more investment opportunities Nigeria and Japan can do considering the size of Japan.
"There is a lot more both countries can do together. However, the Federal Government is doing more to improve the ease of doing business in the country and that is why it inaugurated the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
In addition, Director General, JETRO Paris, Mr. Susumu Kataoka, said that at the Tokyo international conference on Africa development, the Prime Minister of Japan, announced its commitment to invest about $30 billion in Africa for the sustainable development in Africa especially in infrastructure, human resources development, technology, improvement of living conditions and regional stability.
Also speaking at the event, Research Analyst, Asoko Insight Limited, Mr. Olayinka Omolere, said, "Nigeria as the largest population in Africa has huge untapped potential that needs to be developed to make Nigeria among the world leading economies in the world".
Head, UNIDO investment & technology promotion office, Nigeria, Ms. Adebisi Olumodimu, said that the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in Nigeria, is ready to direct Japanese investors to regional ECOWAS market and as well help in facilitate meetings and business discussions between potential Japanese investors with government MDA's and state Governments.
In the same vein, Senior Director, Africa Finance Corporation, Ato Gyasi, said, "there is need for interconnectivity in the race to develop trade in Africa. Even though developing a project tends to take a long time, infrastructure financing in Africa should be directed to retail trade, financial services, seaports, natural resources, telecom, roads & logistics, heavy industries, power, rail, agriculture etc.
Honourable Bemigho Eyeoyibo is the CEO, Roseview Global Concepts Limited, owners of Roseview Court, Hotel & Catering Services and Club 3sixty Reloaded among other companies. He is a philanthropist and politician who contested in the last general elections in his constituency,Warri North LGA, Delta State. In this interview with Moses Nosike, he argued that the Buhari administration was not responsible for the current economic recession in the country but our dependent on foreign goods as well as failure of previous government to save for the future.
How do you see the current economic recession in the country?
The economic recession in the country today is like the dooms' day we've been long awaiting, which is now staring us on the face. The recession we are talking about didn't start instantly, it has been accumulating over time through the failure of previous governments. However, the new administration has to come out and tell Nigerians the true position of the economy and what they are doing to get things right. But like every other patriotic Nigerian, I'm optimistic that the recession is a phase that would pass over. Nigeria is not the only country that has experienced recession. Some advanced countries like America had gone through numerous recessions and it came out of it. Nigeria is not an exception and we will come out of it. Recession is a global thing and countries that are plunged into it take their time to come out of it with good economic policies in place. Nigeria's case is however caused by over dependence on foreign goods and oil and the crash in the Naira.
Nigeria's economic challenge today is not the problem of APC or those in charge now. It is a result of long accumulated socio-economic and political problems which previous leaders refused to address. So it has got to a melting point which is near explosion. So accusations and counter accusations among political parties are not important now. What is important is that everybody should come to the table to chart a course for the survival of Nigerian economy and polity. We don't need all these distractions for now.
Eteoyibo
Small and Medium Enterprises and other business are facing some challenges because of the problem of forex, does it affect hospitality business like yours?
Every facet of the economy is affected, hospitality business is not an exception. Things are not just working,the cost of running hospitality business now has gone up in the mist of zero energy supply. And to worsen the matter, people don't have the economic power to patronize these businesses as they have to consider their stomach first. The situation is tough now in the country and hospitality business in all ramifications is badly hit.
What is your take on Niger Delta youth development?
Well, I would not ascribe what is going on in the Niger Delta region as crime, insecurity, terrorism or whatever negative name anybody would like to give it or government would choose to label it. Unfortunately, the Niger Deltans, in the mist of plenty and as the major source of income generation for the Nigerian economy through oil, are the most impoverished with their social and economic environment destroyed from pollution from the wells of oil companies and the neglect from government. The avenue through which they are making their demands might not be appropriate, even though they are fighting a just cause. I therefore advise that rather than resort to arms they should use diplomatic approach and peaceful means to achieve their goals.
On the other hand, I think the way forward is to keep these youths busy and provide alternative to oil. Over dependence on oil is the bane of our economic problem. Government should come closer to those regions, communities and provide them with social amenities such as roads, potable water, housing, electricity etc. The youths should be empowered with skills and introduce them to agriculture. In the riverine areas if the water is not polluted by the wicked tendencies of oil companies we can plant rice which the country needs now. At the river banks we can plant sugar cane. There is no part of the Niger Delta apart from oil that is not fertile because of the water there. Let's spend money to develop agricultural and crafts schemes.
Federal Government has met severally with Niger Delta elders on development in the area but there seems to be no result…
Those who have been going to dialogue with Federal Government on behalf of the Niger Delta people are not sincere. They not only dialogue with government but they go into shoddy negotiations with oil companies in the region, get things for themselves and it ends there. The outcome of their dialogue has always favoured them and their cohorts, meanwhile the communities are not getting any impact from their dialogue with government. My suggestion is that government should directly get involved and any project they want to carry out should be done by government itself, and that is the only way result will come in Niger Delta. They should do away with intermediaries. So, there is need for a blue print, a mission statement for Niger Delta from the government that should be executed directly by government.
Insecurity appears to be on the increase, for instance, your recently concluded conference at Sapele was allegedly invaded by local vigilante and group of people in army uniform. Why is this so?
I was actively involved in that conference that was held on February 18, 2017 in Sapele, Delta state where I was one of the guest speakers. The Neo Black Movement of Africa is a registered organization with Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. Apart from that registration, they also have a Federal High Court declaration in Lagos that the Neo Black Movement of Africa is a legal entity and they must be allowed to exercise their fundamental human right to gather without harassment by anybody for that matter. I was ably informed that necessary permission was sought and same granted by the officer in charge of Sapele divisional police station. The humiliation, embarrassment, attack of the members and non members, men, women and children in Sapele on that day was unimaginable. It's an abuse of our fundamental human rights as citizens of Nigeria. We have finished with the seminar proper and the organization was treating members, family, friends and invited guests to dinner and cultural display and refreshments within the hotel premises, Richard Continental Hotel, Sapele. Suddenly, some soldiers came in with over 20 Hilux vehicles with policemen, mobile policemen and army officers numbering over 50 with two young men identified as commanders of the local vigilante from a community in Sapele. People then started running helter skelter on seeing military men. But these military men led by a lieutenant had no tags. They took over the entire premises and forced over 300 people to sit on the ground, gave them thorough beating with planks, gun boots. They came into my room dragged me out, stripped me half naked, pushed me to the ground and humiliated me. Some people sustained injuries while the hotel lost over N2m as a result of the mayhem. All entreaties to speak with them fell on deaf ears. Myself and about 30 persons were bundled into Hilux trucks like animals and taken to the police station where we were paraded with our hands tied and pictures taken. Due process was not taken and the security agencies acted very unprofessionally manhandling innocent citizens. The organization is seeking legal redress, so also my humble self and the owners of the hotel premises that was invaded. With this kind of scenario what confidence can the common man in the street have in our security operatives? Government needs to step up proper training programme for these operatives.
Donald Trump has thrown his full weight behind a contested plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, battling to overcome resistance from the Republican Party’s right wing and meet a key campaign pledge 50 days into his presidency.
With Democrats expected to unite against the new health care plan, Trump can ill afford defections from within as he seeks to drive through the top legislative priority of his new administration.
While the bill winds its way through Congress in the coming weeks, Trump is using his bully pulpit, powers of persuasion, and deal-making savvy to try and salvage the controversial plan.
On Friday Trump met in the White House with senior House Republicans to discuss the way forward on the repeal and replacement of Barack Obama’s signature health care law.
“We must act now to save Americans from the imploding Obamacare disaster,” Trump said as he sat down with the lawmakers.
US President, Donald Trump
“This is the time we’re going to get it done.”
The president has spent much of the week huddling with key health care players, including Republican lawmakers who support and oppose the bill, known as the American Health Care Act.
On Wednesday he hosted several conservative groups that have expressed concerns about how the plan to use tax credits for people to buy insurance on the free market is too similar to the subsidies in Obamacare.
Trump dispatches Vice President Mike Pence to Kentucky Saturday to talk up the bill. It could be an arm-twisting gesture of sorts, as Kentucky’s Senator Rand Paul is one of its chief Republican critics.
The president has signalled he is open to “negotiation” on the AHCA — a potentially critical acknowledgement as some conservatives in his party warn that the bill will not pass Congress without significant changes.
At the heart of the debate, Trump wants to repeal Obama’s landmark reforms and remove the federal government from its role as health care architect, while maintaining the high levels of coverage for Americans entitled to Obamacare.
Trump has stated he ultimately wants a plan in place that allows for “insurance for everybody.”
– ‘Binary choice’ – The chief champion of the plan in Congress, House Speaker Paul Ryan, claimed that millions of US taxpayers would benefit from a rollback of Obamacare’s subsidy system.
In a crisp rolled-up-sleeves presentation Thursday, Ryan also sounded a clear warning to Republicans who are considering bucking the president.
“This is the closest we will ever get to repealing and replacing Obamacare,” the charismatic 47-year-old said, describing the path forward as “a binary choice” between reform and the status quo.
House Republican Steve Scalise reiterated the us-versus-them approach Friday on CNN. “Members are going to have to pick a side: (House Democratic leader) Nancy Pelosi or President Trump.”
Polls show that Obama’s Affordable Care Act, which helped 20 million Americans gain coverage, remains popular. About half of those people are covered through Obamacare’s expansion of the Medicaid insurance program covering the poorest Americans — an expansion that would phase out by 2020 under the new plan.
Several health-related interest groups, including the American Medical Association, are opposed to the Republican reform, fearing millions could lose their coverage.
According to the Washington Post, citing figures from New York University research, the Republican plan would strip away vital drug addiction or mental health treatment benefits from as many as 1.3 million people.
The new legislation’s cost remains a major unknown. Next week the Congressional Budget Office is expected to release its “score” on the bill’s costs and the estimate on the number of people who could lose or gain coverage.
A preliminary analysis by Standard & Poor’s concluded that between six million and 10 million people could lose coverage if the Republican plan replaces Obamacare.
Ryan told his footsoldiers in Congress to gird for battle, as he framed the fight as between the free market and government mandates — which under Obamacare required people to take out health insurance.
“Our goal is not to show a pretty piece of paper that says we’re mandating great things for Americans,” he told the conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt.
“Our goal is to get a vibrant health care system that’s patient-centered, that brings down costs (and) that increases choices.”
A lagging sex drive and poor erection could be the result of what you've been eating. Of course, it's not always about food.
Poor erection can be attributed to a number of factors, including sociological, psychological, and hormonal influences. Often, antidepressant medications are the culprit. Other times, stress or drug and alcohol abuse can play a role.
Smoking, along with all of its other terrible health effects, can diminish sexual desire and satisfaction, especially in men.
"Smoking has a direct, negative effect on the sexuality of a man on every level," says Panayiotis M. Zavos, PhD, Altering bad habits, like smoking and excessive drinking, in order to encourage better overall health, will no doubt be beneficial to your sexual health as well.
Now lets talk about the kinds of food that may be affecting your performance on bed.
Generally any food type that makes us gain weight can affect one's libido as well but below are some foods that could be ruining your pleasures.
Fried Foods
Fried foods definitely don't do your sex life any favors. Trans fats found in fried foods dramatically decrease the male and female libido, according to Medical Daily.
Consuming trans fatty acids can also cause abnormal sperm production in men and interferes with female gestation. You and your significant other would be wise to skip the french fries at dinner, since they could be at fault for more than one sexual problem.
Processed Carbohydrate
Any refined carbohydrates, like those found in bleached white flour and white rice, are bad news for your sex drive. This includes many pastas, cereals [rice and wheat], breads, and snack foods like crackers, cookies, and chips.
Men's Fitness explained that large amounts of refined carbs will cause your testosterone levels to decrease. The sugars from these carbohydrates can make men gain weight and raise estrogen levels as testosterone is depleted. Reach for good carbs like vegetables and whole grains instead.
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Akwa Ibom State has gone beyond rhetorics on the functionality, or otherwise on the Poultry hatchery at Mbiaya Uruan. An assessment tour with the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, earlier Friday, confirmed that the State's signature poultry project does a lot much more than the sell of day-old chicks.
WHY THE HATCHERY
The Udom Emmanuel led administration inherited a project site that was designated for a poultry hatchery facility. According to the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Technical Matters and Due Process, Mr. Ufot Ebong, who was also on the tour;
"On the swearing-in of His Excellency, May 2015, he had promised industrialization. Afterwards, he actually informed his aides that you cannot hang industrialization on nothing. You must provide the raw materials. That's where he came up with that statement "all you need is all you have". By March 2016, we were able to get an investor from Ethiopia, Prime Poultry. They came in and we were given marching orders to get this thing up and running".
Akwa-Ibom hatchery
"We found out that the entire Eastern part of Nigeria got day old chicks from the West Even farmers from the far North-Eastern corner of this country received those products flown to them. We said, if we have this big hatchery that can produce 230,000 day old chicks per week, that we can supply the entire eastern Nigeria, north to south; and that's the target."
THE BREEDER FARM
At the start of the factory, according to the General Manager of Akwa Prime, Mr. Yakubu Bala, the hatchery had to buy eggs from the Western part of the country, which were brought down to Akwa Ibom, hatched and sold as day-old chicks.
The Government resolved to construct a breeder farm complex, for raising breeders, commonly called Parent Stock. The temporary breeder farm structure has several 60 by 30 feet floor space structures being built. Already, an entire block and several other sections are in use as pens housing over 20,000 layers, broilers and cocks, as at time of research.
THE OFF-TAKERS SCHEME
Interestingly, research has revealed that the largest number of off-takers in Eastern Nigeria come from Akwa Ibom State. This meant that we also had the largest and nearest market; all we needed to do was to create in-roads for sales. The Akwa Prime Off-takers Scheme took off, based on this.
In simple terms, Mr. Bala puts it as; "contract farming. I tell you I want chicken, you grow them for me." Poultry farmers in Akwa Ibom no longer have birds waiting to be bought.
15 hectares of land has also been allocated to an investor to build the permanent breeder farm complex. This portends absolute independence of the State and regions nearby from Western poultry farmers.
HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS INVOLVED
When asked what the agreement between the State Government and the Ethiopian investor looks like, Mr. Ufot Ebong, who also revealed the full involvement of the Ministry of Agriculture in the execution of this project, had this to say;
"We have equity participation. And most importantly, our agreement ensures that our people are employed here by up to 90%. There is no interference from government, but we have auditors that will check the books at the end of every financial year to ensure that the State's part of the equity has been remitted. We check that they have honoured the MOU they signed with the Akwa Ibom State Government to employ our people; good jobs, not slave labour.
So we're not going to interfere with any investor coming to do business, after all we have never hatched eggs; we don't know how they do it. It stops at our equity participation".
Mr. Bala supports that assertion thus;
"I'll confidently say that 93% of the staff here are Akwa Ibomites. It's even an employment rule that; "look where are you from?" before you're employed. The breeder farm manager is from Akwa Ibom; in fact virtually all the managers are from this state."
HOW EFFICIENT IS THE ENTIRE SCHEME?
The General Manager emphasizes the techniques employed and regulations observed in the entire hatchery project.
Firstly, the enforcement of Bio-secure zones, which prohibit visitors and especially unsterilized personnel from physically accessing the breeder pens, to the absolute prohibition of access to the incubating section – greatly reduces the risk of the breeder getting infected with the risk of deadly disease passing on to the day old chicks hatched from their eggs. It prevents fatalities too.
"We've not had even one mortality; I can say that with authority because they're under my watch. Our customers comment that the birds are strong, so that even when they have not been sold for a day or two, they still thrive. The product is our pride".
The establishment of the breeder section has greatly saved poultry farmers the cost, time and stress of travelling to Ibadan and other western cities for day old chicks. In time past, it was revealed also, the greatest problem faced by poultry farms in the State was the availability of buyers, but the Akwa Prime out-grower scheme has gone to solve that problem, thereby shooting up the number of poultry farms currently operating in Akwa Ibom State.
At the moment, says the General Manager; "the establishment even has a problem of shortage of products for the market. "We have a wider market in Akwa Ibom here than outside. My sales manager has had to recently delay treating an order from Owerri, asking the buyer to hold on for two weeks." He said.
At present, the hatchery produces 10k to 20k per week. The volume of day old chicks lifted from the hatchery has gone up from 35,000 tonnes per week to an average of 60,000 tonnes leaving the hatchery per week.
BENEFITS TO ASSOCIATED INDUSTRIES
Mr. Bala showed the tour team to few bags of waste matter remaining from sales. Vegetable farmers, including Benny farms – one of the beneficiaries of the State's Tomato cultivation programme – have become off-takers for the bags of animal waste.
The carpentry industry has also been impacted greatly. The proliferation of poultry farms has increased demand for wood-shavings, a product that carpentry workshops did not know, prior to the time, could fetch them revenue.
THE FEED MILL
Research reveals that several agriculturalists had attempted to set up feed mills in the state to produce to commercial quantity, but none was sustainable. Mr. Bala lends a conclusion as to a major cause of such failure:
"They did not have the depth of consumption to compete with the bigger millers", he says.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR MORE BUSINESS
In order to have raw materials for the feed mill, Akwa Prime factory has extended the out-grower scheme to maize farmers in the state. In simpler terms, if you can plant maize, the feed mill can buy it off you. Mr. Bala revealed that the company has designed a contract for two maize farmers in the state. They will be the pioneer maize out-growers.
The scheme is also in need of out-growers for soya, palm kernel cake, bone meal and other raw materials needed at the feed mill.
AKWA-PRIMO MEAT
The hatchery Facility rears breeder chicken, manages the process of laying hatch-able eggs, incubates and hatches; sells day-old chicks – and even extends to the management of a feed mill and the out-grower scheme, but there is still more. It also packages poultry meat products for sales to end-users.
The tour went through the preparation, preservation and packaging section for meat. There are refrigeration rooms that preserve prepared and packaged meat at -170C. These packaged products are sold to malls, supermarkets, dealers and end-users. Stone-cold, the products can survive, sold for days without decaying and without need for addition of preservatives.
MOVING FORWARD…
Mr Bala says that by middle of next month, the hatchery section will double in production capacity. And, according to him, it will continue like that till the last pen, still under construction, is ready for sue.
"Between now and end of the year, we should be approaching the threshold of our capacity, which is over 200,000 day-old chicks per week.
Noted Figures
230,000 – Targeted capacity for hatchery production
20,000 – Day-old birds sold weekly
60,000 – Weight in tonnes of products bought by off-takers weekly
93 – Ratio, in percentage, of Akwa Ibomites in the staff database of Akwa Prime
17 – Temperature, in Degree Centigrade, at which Akwa Primo meat is preserved at the Akwa Prime complex.
Uduak Umo is a PR Strategist and Public Interest researcher. He wrote this piece from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
Eden Hazard’s stunning solo effort against Arsenal has been selected as February’s Carling Goal of the Month.
Picking the ball up inside his own half at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian danced past three players before finishing past Petr Cech to put Chelsea on their way to a 3-1 victory.
The Belgian’s effort, one of 83 Premier League goals in February, was chosen from a shortlist of eight contenders from the combined votes of a panel of experts and the public, who picked their favourite via the Carling Tap and website.
“It is one of the best Premier League goals I have scored for sure,” he said. “I was not thinking about scoring but step by step I came close to the goal and in the last 10 metres I was alone.
“When the ball went in I felt that I created something special so I was happy.”
Hazard is the second Chelsea player to win the award this season, after Pedro’s goal against Tottenham Hotspur earned the November prize.
As the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) Youth Clubs League is set to kick-off, over 100 coaches including 40(2 per club) of the 20 NPFL Youth Clubs converged in Abuja for a weekend of coaching clinic with Resource personnel from the Spanish LaLiga. Over 60 coaches from the Nationwide League One, also participated in this clinic that was run by two LaLiga trainers, Oscar Pruzon and David Aznar.
FC Ifeanyi Ubah was represented by U-15 Coaches Sunny Pekus and James Okoroji, as participants in this wonderful program designed to upgrade the coaching skills of youth gaffers all over the country. The duo confirmed that they now are well equipped with all the necessary tactics they need to help them perform well during the upcoming U-15 League Championship.
The U-15 coaches who spoke exclusively to FC Ifeanyi Ubah Media, on their exposure to several tactical and physical training specifically designed to help U-15 players develop and improve their career.
Coaches Pekus and Okoroji
They however expressed optimism, towards the practical implementation of the technical knowhow, skills and knowledge acquired during the weekend long program and when applied in training will help to redirect the players approach to football.
Coaches Pekus and Okoroji commended the Chairman of FC Ifeanyi Ubah Mr. Chukwuma Ubah for giving them the opportunity to handle the U-15 team and also the privilege to be participants of this coaching course which according to them is highly rewarding.
A highly elated Chairman of FC Ifeanyi Ubah, Mr. Chukwuma Ubah received the duo in his office at the Club House, located at 21 Nnobi Road, Nnewi. He expressed gratitude towards the League Management Company LMC for organising this practical educative course for young coaches in the country. Adding that such vital program on a spontaneous sustenance remains a fulcrum to development of football at the grassroot level in Nigeria.
The Nnewi born Soccer Administrator, encouraged the two coaches to judiciously implent, the knowledge which they acquired in fashioning these crude talents of the team, to be physically fit and mentally ready as they prepare for the U-15 League championship soon to kick start.
The ever cool but goal getting Chairman, added that he strongly believes, FC Ifeanyi Ubah’s U-15 team will do extremely wel at the league championship and maintained that he will work together with these coaches, towards ensuring the team emerged as maiden champions of the country at this category.
The coaches were presented with certificate of participation, which they showed it to the Mr Ubah as an appreciative gesture for an opportunity to be called worthy Ambassadors of Anambra Warriors.
It is part of the League Management Company’s (LMC) long term strategy to develop a supply chain of trained players for the league.
Nigerian youths have been charged not to allow their challenges be their limitations in the quest to become successful in their endeavours. As a way out, the youths are advised to develop the necessary skills, attitudes and attributes to succeed as entrepreneur and excel in their chosen carrier.
The call was made during the grand finale of the MTN Foundation Scholars Alumni Conference. The event which held in Lagos, was part of several initiatives from the MTN Foundation aimed at empowering the Nigerian youths towards making their lives brighter.
Providing insight for becoming a successful entrepreneur in Nigeria, founder of arts and style centre, Tera Kulture, Ms. Bolanle Austen Peters, advised the students and alumni to build valued relationships that will be instrumental in their path to success.
According to Austen-Peters, "a valuable relationship and a bold determination is important to climbing and staying on top of the ladder of success. Fear is the enemy, dream big, be bold".
Recounting how he also surmounted his challenges, CEO OkadaBooks.com Ofili Okechukwu encouraged the youths to always explore every opportunity to achieve their objectives He said "don't get addicted to your degrees you have to get up and be a reformer, reformers do it until they get it right".
Earlier in Owerri, CEO, SLOT Nigeria, Nnamdi Ezegbo, urged the participants at the conference to grab opportunities as they come and avoid losing sight of their goals. "There is no perfect time for you to strike at success.
Every time is the best, but you need to understand the times." Speaking on the same issue in Abuja, the Co -Founder and Executive Director of Sahara Group, Tonye Cole, urged the alumni and other students to believe in their abilities and start winning.
He advised the participants to take advantage of the strength that comes from their abilities and use it to achieve their desires.
Assuring the participants of MTN Foundations' continuous support, Director, MTN Foundation, Elder Dennis Okoro, said that the participants should see the scholarship as a rare opportunity that must be well utilized.
For the alumni Okoro said, "now that you have all gained and have been empowered, it is essential that you show yourselves as worthy ambassadors of the programme. Feel free to exhibit your creativity positively and contribute your quota to the development of the country; also remain assured of our continuous support".
Headlined by a road show which began in Owerri, through Abuja and Lagos, the Scholars Alumni Conference is yearly gathering of the beneficiaries of MTN Foundation Science and Technology Scholarship Scheme and Blind Students Scholarship Scheme.
The event was preceded by the annual employability workshop, where the graduands were taught relevant life skills needed for economic empowerment.
Since the inception of the scheme, the MTN Foundation has awarded scholarships worth over 6 Billion Naira to more than 8,000 blind/science and technology students. The Foundation has provided annual scholarships since 2009 worthN200, 000 to 500 eligible students studying a science related discipline and 100 deserving Blind students.
A cleric and Chief Imam of Ansar-ur- deen Central Mosque Osogbo, Alhaji Sanusi Imogbemi on Friday adjudged the Rauf Aregbesola administration as the very first administration since the creation of the state to ensure the emergence of Osogbo as a truly capital city.
The Cleric listed previous governors and military administrators before Aregbesola whom he said made some semblance of efforts at changing the face of the state capital but left with not much impact.
The cleric stated that former Governor Adebisi Akande tried within the limit of the resources but said his efforts at constructing a befitting state secretariat for the state would go down as one of the landmark achievements of his administration.
Aregbesolat
He said some of the courageous decisions being taken by the Aregbesola administration could have been taken before him by his predecessors to develop the state.
"When Aregbesola began to remove illegal structures around Osogbo for the transformation of the state capital, there was uproar but only the discerning could realize that this was for the good of the state capital. Today, the status of Osogbo, the state capital has confirmed that what some people wanted to use to blackmail the government was for the good of all of us," Imogbemi said
The Chief Imam of Ansar-ur-Deen Osogbo said one of the governors had confessed that he would have embarked on some of the projects which today now earn Aregbesola his popularity but for the advice given by his aides who said such efforts would not be popular.
He said that the development efforts, though very heavy and noticeable at the state capital for obvious reasons, also cut across the entire state.
The cleric said this is why the response of the people of Osun to payment of taxes have been encouraging saying, "We are ready to pay taxes because we know this is a trustworthy administration which is using the taxes for development of the people. If, for some people who had ruled this state before, we would not have shown interests in paying taxes."
He advised the Governor not to listen to side talks as he said those given to mischief would continue with their mischief no matter how sterling Aregbesola’s performances are.
The cleric prayed for the governor and against all the machinations of those seeking to halt the development of the state.
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), has expressed joy at the return of President Muhammadu Buhari from the United Kingdom on a medical vacation.
Atiku
The former vice president, in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by his media office, urged Nigerians to unite and shun bitterness.
"With the president's return, Nigerians should unite behind their common interests and speak with one voice instead of nursing bitterness against one another because of political differences,'' he said.
Atiku said that Buhari's safe return was a happy moment for him not because he was a fellow party member, but because he had tremendous goodwill and best wishes for him.
According to him, the return of Buhari at this time will put to end the uncertainty and the conspiracy theories that attended his 50 days absence.
The former vice president prayed to God to bless Buhari with many more years of good health and energy to serve the country.
By Bashir Bello KATSINA – Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State on Friday described President Muhammadu Buhari’s safe return to the country as the best thing and gift that had happened to Nigerians in year 2017.
PRESIDENT BUHARI RETURNS 8B. President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Zamfara governor, Abdulaziz Yari, Kano Gov and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello and Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari during a brief meeting with Service Chiefs and Ministers on arrival at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Governor Masari stated this in a statement by his Senior Special Adviser on Media, Abdu Labaran Malumfashi and made available to newsmen in the state on Friday.
The Governor equally thanked Allah for answering it collective prayers by bringing the President back to Nigeria hale and hearty.
He commended Nigerians for the outpouring of love and support they expressed during the President’s medical vacation abroad, and his eventual return,
Part of the statement reads: “All praise be to Allah, the All mighty, who has answered our collective prayers by returning the President back to us hale and hearty to continue leading us in the just, fair and sincere manner that are his trademark over the years.
“The President’s safe return today is so far the best gift we as Nigerians have so far had this year.
“The Governor, who made these observations yesterday in reaction to the return of the President from a 50-day medical trip to the United Kingdom, also lauded Nigerians for their prayers for the health and wellbeing of President Buhari while he was away.
“Governors Masari and Katsina State had witnessed a series of prayer and fasting sessions organised institutionally and privately, by both Muslims and Christians for the health of the President and the welfare of the nation.
“Governor Masari urged Nigerians to always put their leaders and country in thoughts and prayers, saying that with positive thoughts and prayers, the country would overcome any challenges confronting it,” the statement however reads.
ABUJA – The Federal Government, on Friday, preferred nine-count money laundering charge against former Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, who was accused of stashing over N3billion at his house in Kaduna.Andrew Yakubu
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recovered the alleged loot which was in foreign currencies, from Yakubu’s guest house situated at Sabon Tasha, Kaduna State, following a tip-off by a whistle-blower.
EFCC said it had while raiding the house, discovered the sum of $9.7million and £74,000 that Yakubu hid in a fireproof safe inside the house.
A Federal High Court in Kano, on February 13, granted an order that forfeited the recovered money to FG, a decision Yakubu had since challenged, maintaining that the money was accumulated gifts he received during different ceremonies.
Meantime, in the charge marked FHC/Abj/ CR/ 43/ 2017, which was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, FG, alleged that Yakubu failed to declare the money in the assets form he filed at the EFCC on August 18, 2015, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 27(3) (a) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act 2004 and punishable under section 27(3) (c) of the same Act.
In count three and four of the charge dated March 9 and signed by three EFCC prosecutors led by Prince Ben Ikani, FG, alleged that Yakubu had between 2012 and 2014, without going through a financial institution, received cash payments of $9, 772, 800 and £74, 000, and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 1 of Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 and punishable under section 16(2) of the Act.
In count five and six, FG alleged that Yakubu had with intent to avoid a lawful transaction under the law, transferred at various times in Kaduna, aggregate sums of $9,772, 800 and £74, 000, when he reasonably ought to know that the said funds formed part of the proceed of some form of unlawful activity and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 7(4) (b) (ii) of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, 2006.
Meantime, no date has been fixed for arraignment of the defendant who was GMD of the NNPC between 2012 and 2014.
It will be recalled that Yakubu was sacked by the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan for alleged insubordination and corruption.
The Ekiti State Government on Friday declared a three-day mourning in honour of the late Military Governor of the old Western Region, Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo.
Gov. Ayodele Fayose, who also signed a condolence register opened by the government, announced this in a state-wide broadcast in Ado-Ekiti.
Fayose explained that the declaration was in recognition of the fatherly role the late retired army general played in uplifting the entire western region.
Late Adebayo was also renowned for uniting the people towards the path of integration.
The governor conveyed the condolences of his family and the state government to one of the children of the deceased, who was the first civilian governor of Ekiti state, Chief Niyi Adebayo.
The State House of Assembly also commiserated with the people of Iyin-Ekiti in Ekiti state and the entire South-West over the demise of the late general.
Its Speaker, Mr Kola Oluwawole, in a statement signed on his behalf by Dr Samuel Omotoso, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Youth and Sports, noted that the death of Adebayo was a colossal loss to the country.
The speaker described the death of Gen. Adebayo as the end of a glorious era for the country.
He said the late Adebayo was a courageous and dependable soldier, who dedicated his life to the course of Nigerian.
"He was an illustrious son of Ekiti state.
"He was an elder statesman, whose counsel would be missed at this crucial time in the history of our nation," Oluwawole said.
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo state has declared a seven-day period of mourning in honour of late Dr Samuel Ogbemudia, a two-time governor of Bendel State.
Obaseki, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr John Mayaki, said the mourning period would begin from March 10.Samuel Ogbemudia
The governor described the death of late Ogbemudia as saddening and prayed for his soul to rest in peace.
Obaseki described the deceased as "a fine military officer who helped to liberate the Mid-West region during the civil war".
He said under Ogbemudia's administration, Bendel became a leading state in education, sports and industry.
"As two time Governor of Bendel, which comprised present-day Edo and Delta states, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, will be fondly remembered for the strong foundation that he laid to consolidate the infrastructural, social and economic development of both states.
"Amongst his several milestone achievements was the Mid-West Institute of Technology, which is now the University of Benin.
"As we mourn our great leader and father, we take solace in the legacies he bequeathed Edo State and indeed Nigeria."
By Bashir Bello KATSINA – A Katsina based Islamic cleric, Imam Sheikh Suleiman Rahma on Friday said it will not stop and relent in it prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Islamic cleric stated this while delivering his sermon during the two rakkat Jumaat, Friday prayers at Kandahar Mosque.PRESIDENT BUHARI RETURNS. 14C President Muhammadu Buhari Returns to abuja.
Imam Rahma whose sermon centred around Prayer – Dua – as the weapon and sword of muslims, said it prayed for the President to get well and return safely and so they will not stop praying for him.
According to him, “we are the most happiest people today, particularly that President Buhari is back safely. We thank Allah for the success and pray that You give him long live and good health.
“We prayed that God gives him the strength and ability to lead the nation to the right path as well as his teams, advisers and others.
“we have started experiencing light in the Nation. So we need to continue to pray for Mr. President for him to continue with the good work he has started. We should lift our hands up and pray to him. We should cry to him because He (Allah) said we should pray to Him and He will answer our prayers.
“We pray for those who are sick in the hospital and at home that Allah grant them quick recovery from the sick bed,” Sheikh Rahma however prayed.
The terrorist ISIS group is on the verge of lasting defeat as its last strongholds are fast crumble, the U.S. Department of Defence has said.
"Despite a long road ahead for the U.S.-led coalition in its fight to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the enemy is being degraded by every measure and is on a trajectory to lasting defeat.
"In Iraq, with eastern Mosul liberated and the fight to retake western Mosul ongoing, liberating the city from ISIS' control is an important step in defeating the enemy.
"Without Mosul from which to recruit, train and plan attacks, and from which to project atrocities into Europe and the U.S. homeland, the coalition has seen ISIS' flow of foreign fighters and external support diminish significantly," the Department said.
It said by denying the group unfettered access to Mosul, its population and Iraq's natural gas and oil revenue, ISIS's ability to raise money and sustain its forces has been systemically reduced.
"Retaking Mosul will also be a symbolic victory after ISIS announced the birth of its 'phony' caliphate from Mosul's great mosque in 2014, it said, noting that without a power base in Iraq, ISIS' claims of legitimacy as a credible, alternative state are being exposed as a fallacy."
It said progress in Syria to liberate key cities from the enemy was evident, citing the recent liberation of Bab, which was the last major city ISIS held west of its proclaimed capital of Raqqa.
Bab lies at the intersection of four major Syrian cities, and its gain by Syrian Democratic Forces severed key ISIS logistical corridors and restricted the enemy's ability to move fighters and essential equipment, it said.
The Department noted that ISIS also lost the ancient Roman city of Palmyra, which was the only territorial expansion ISIS had made since 2015.
Another threat to ISIS lies in the remnants of its caliphate that's centered around the Euphrates River between Syria and Iraq, it said, noting that ISIS has limited ability to cross the river and has been driven to use ferry systems to move from one river bank to the other.
It added that ISIS cannot transit the river unimpeded, saying ISIS has lost a 'host' of high-level leaders after many were killed and the remaining fled.
"And as mid-level operational commanders are killed, they are being replaced by inexperienced fighters who are not able, in many cases, to marshal ISIS' dwindling forces. ISIS has also been observed turning on itself."
It said U.S. officials have seen reports of Iraqi fighters killing foreign fighters and rejecting the preferential treatment they were sometimes given.
"There are also indications of intensified hunts for spies within the organisation when ISIS suspects one of its own is providing targeting information to coalition forces.
"The enemy is not a unified force; ISIS is being beaten back in the face of increasing pressure and is struggling to maintain power with higher taxes, sagging morale, increasing recruitment of children and the elderly, and increased executions.
"Those are all indications of a desperate organisation falling under sustained pressure," the statement said
Pope Francis on Friday sent 100,000 euros (106,090 dollars) to the poor in the ravaged Syrian city of Aleppo, a Vatican spokeswoman said in a statement.
The Vatican administration, known as the Curia, contributed to the donation, which will be made through the papal charity office and the Franciscan order working in the Holy Land.
Pope Francis
Aleppo was Syria's most populous city before war broke out six years ago, but swathes of it have been destroyed and thousands displaced in the conflict gripping the country.
A monitor group said government forces, which seized the city from rebels in December after months of intense fighting, have captured its main water supply station from Islamic State.
The Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development has said that ineffective political leadership at all levels of governance is a challenge to development, stability and security in the country.
The centre stated this in a communique at the end of the second edition of its four-series Policy Monitoring Dialogue on Leadership, Governance and Security Challenges in Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.
It said that majority of the nation`s leaders lacked national vision and ideology due to their ethnic, religious or regional cleavages.
It said that Nigerians expected their governments to ensure their welfare and security which could be met through the judicious and accountable management of the nation's resources.
According to the centre, it is therefore in the best interest of the political elite to deliver to the people the dividends they justifiably deserve.
It explained that effective leadership and good governance depended on the quality and effectiveness of the political parties in a country.
This, it said, required that political parties reinvented and re-positioned themselves for the important role through the development of appropriate content in their manifestos.
The group added that this could be achieved through a determination to attain high standards of education, character and competence for political office holders.
The communique said that it was unfortunate that most political parties in the country were funded by the wealthy who manipulated their affairs for selfish gains.
"The Nigerian political elite use religion and ethnicity negatively to advance their own selfish interests.
"Religion and ethnicity have gradually and unduly crept into politics and public affairs contrary to the spirit and letter of secularity as enshrined in the Constitution,'' it said.
It, therefore, recommended that curriculum of schools and other manpower training institutions should be designed to include appropriate content for discovering and grooming future leaders for the country from childhood.
It also recommended that political parties should develop and publicise clear procedures and standards for choosing those that should stand for public offices.
It further recommended that a crowd funding or public funding mechanism be prescribed for political parties to improve their internal democracy and encourage ownership by all members.
"Clear limits of financial and material contributions should be set for political parties, while anti-corruption and other accountability institutions should be strengthened to give more impetus to the fight against corruption,'' the communique said.
It added that the National Assembly should fast-track the passage of the Whistle-Blower Bill to promote the quick recovery of stolen public funds.
"Public institutions responsible for monitoring, evaluation and accountability should be strengthened through adequate funding and capacity building for efficiency and reliability,'' it said.
It said that security threats facing the country included insurgency, terrorism, violent extremism, ethno-religious conflict and vandalism, economic sabotage and unemployment among others.
All this, it added, could be attributed to the prolonged failure of government in delivering on its duty to guarantee the welfare and security of the people.
The centre charged civil authorities to summon the political will to hold the military and other security agencies accountable
for the use of excessive force or the abuse of their discretionary powers in handling civil insurrections.
According to it, the government should ensure the improvement of the capacity of the Nigeria Police to reduce the apparent over-reliance on the military to quell civil insurrections.
It said that the Office of the National Security Adviser should be reviewed with the aim of separating its roles of advising the president of the country, and coordinating security agencies.
It said that to effectively check open rivalry and overlapping roles between and among security agencies, government should clearly define their roles and create a suitable platform for the sharing of intelligence.
The group also advised that an effective cyber defence strategy should be developed and embodied in the reassessed National Security architecture to check cyber security threats.
The return of President Muhammadu Buhari from a 50-day medical vacation abroad has re-energised the nation, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, has said.
Tambuwal also said Buhari's safe return has renewed the confidence of Nigerians on the president.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to Tambuwal on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Imam Imam, to newsmen in Sokoto on Friday.
On the significance of the president's return, Tambuwal said: "The unbridled joy shown by many people across the nation showed that the country is united in their love for the President.
"Nigerians from all walks of life prayed for their President, now that God has answered their prayers, culminating in safe return of the President, we should continue to pray for him and his family.
"The President has said he wants a few days of rest until he writes to the National Assembly before resuming work."
Tambuwal added that the president deserved the extra days, urging that "we should continue to pray for him and for the nation.
"The President has shown uncommon commitment to solve the myriad of problems bedeviling the nation.
"We have absolute confidence in his ability to take us higher as a nation," the governor said.
LAGOS – SystemSpecs, a financial technology company in Nigeria and owner of Remita, Friday announced the release of the Beta version of Remita Mobile Application, to empower individuals to view multiple bank balances on one screen, make payments from and to various bank accounts including microfinance banks, settle various bills to Federal and State Government agencies as well as other billers, easily manage their expenses, and other key capabilities that allow users stay in firm control of their finance.
"Remita Mobile App will provide individuals with a much easier way to manage their finance," said John Obaro, SystemSpecs' Managing Director at a ceremony held recently in Lagos where a new Remita logo was also unveiled. "Now, with Remita App, customers of various banks will experience increased convenience, as they would be able to access their various accounts, seamlessly settle bills, and stay in firm control of their finance, anytime, from anywhere, on a single app."
With this app, individuals will be able to send and receive money from the comfort of their phones, without needing any other mobile app or visiting any bank branch. Also with the app, payers can respond to payment requests from restaurants, shopping outlets, schools, family, friends or other billers by quickly snapping a QR code from their smartphone or tapping their device against the biller's to complete transactions.
Speaking on the gesture, John Obaro said: "We are always glad to support innovative tech-driven startups to grow and scale their businesses. Remita Seed Fund is one of our contributions to the advancement of Nigeria's technology ecosystem. It is our belief and desire that it will help these three tech startups to take their ideas to the next level."
Commenting on the rebranding of Remita, David Okeme, SystemSpecs' Chief Marketing Officer, said: "The new Remita logo signifies our entry into a new phase in the history of the brand and represents our strong desire to consistently remain top of our customers' mind."
Speaking further, Okeme added: "We expect that the new Remita identity will affectionately resonate with existing and potential users, especially at this time we are introducing another innovation to them with the release of Remita Mobile App."
With Remita Mobile App, payments can be requested in the most convenient manner. Whether from customers for services rendered, from family and friends for various purposes like weddings, birthdays, for ‘aso-ebi’ payment contributions, or any other need. Funds or payment request can also be made by generating QR codes and sharing with customers and friends via email or other social media channels.
Asides the standard industry security measures which have been built into the app, Remita has specific security layers that guarantee the integrity of all access and transactions, including Personal Security Number, fingerprint authentication, One-Time Password Verification, among others.
Olówè however added that, "Currently, six Nigerian banks—Zenith, UBA, Access, Wema, FCMB, and Providus—have been fully integrated on the mobile application, with more banks already lined up to be introduced in the coming days when we take the solution out of the Beta phase."
Not only individual bank accounts can be accessed on Remita Mobile App, as individuals who play various roles on their corporate bank accounts will be able to play such roles on the App in addition to being able to conveniently manage their various personal bank accounts.
The app is the mobile version of the multiple award-winning Remita payment solution, which has revolutionalised the payment processes of various individuals and organisations in Nigeria for more than a decade.
The Beta version of Remita Mobile App is available for download on Android Play Store
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.
