Wife Of LASU Lecturer Pregnant For Her Bricklayer Lover

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The wife of Lagos State University (LASU) lecturer, Mrs Kafayat Oyekunle, has revealed that she is now pregnant for her bricklayer lover, Fatai Alimi.

Alimi was arraigned in court on Thursday for allegedly snatching her from her husband, Suraju Oyekunle in Lagos, Nigeria.

The 36-year-old woman made the revelation when she went to the court to bail Alimi from custody.

She also said her decision to dump her husband and move into Alimi’s home was due to her inability to bear another child after 13 years she had lived with Oyekunle.

She revealed that after their only son was born 12 years ago, they had tried all they could to bear another child to no avail until a few months ago when she met Alimi and she immediately became pregnant for him.

Kafayat denied she was abducted and said it was a decision she took voluntarily because Oyekunle was not taking care of her.

She said since she met Alimi, things had changed in her life and she now had rest of mind.

She also revealed that her family was aware of the development and are in support of her decision.

She added that she will do everything possible to bail Alimi.

When asked to compare Alimi with Oyekunle, she said Alimi was better in everything despite his poor status in the society.

The 34-year-old Alimi was arrested and charged before a Lagos court for allegedly snatching Kafayat.
The incident happened in Igando area of Lagos, Nigeria, where Oyekunle resided with Kafayat and their only son.

Kafayat was allegedly so much in love with Alimi that she packed all her property and moved into the bricklayer’s small apartment in undisclosed place in the same Igando with their only male child.

Kafayat had married Oyegunle for 13 years and the marriage produced their only son before she met Alimi and moved out of her matrimonial home on 15 October, 2016.

P.M. EXPRESS gathered that Kafayat told her neighbours that she decided to consolidate on the new relationship by moving into Alimi’s apartment when her husband travelled.

When her husband returned from his trip and did not find his wife and son, he started making inquiries and neighbours informed him that his wife had moved into Alimi’s house as his new wife.

Oyekunle went straight and reported the matter at Igando police division who trailed Alimi and eventually arrested him at a construction site in Igando where he had gone to work.

Ogun State-born Alimi was brought to court on Thursday and charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace by taking Kafayat and the only son produced through her marriage to Suraju, knowing full well that she was legally married.

He pleaded not guilty and the presiding Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola granted him bail in the sum of N25,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 12 December, 2016.

http://pmexpressng.com/im-pregnant-for-my-bricklayer-lover-varsity-lecturers-wife/#undefined.uxfs

Pics: the wife, the bricklayer and the lecturer

Buhari, Donald Trump To Attend Emeka Offor’s Father's Burial

By Chimaobi Nwaiwu.

Nnewi – Anambra State born oil magnet oil magnate, Chief Emeka Offor on Sunday warned pickpockets to steer clear of the funeral of his father, Chief Bennett Offor that will hold this week at Oraifite, Anambra State.

He said security arrangements had been put in place to pick anybody who would misbehave on the occasion, warning that he will not spare anybody, including hoodlums who may like to embarrass his friend and well wishers that will attend the burial in any way. .

Meanwhile President Muhammadu Buhari and American President-elect, Mr. Donald Trump and many other African leaders are expected to attend the funeral.

This was disclosed by the Vice Chairman of the Pa Benneth Offor Burial Committee, Mr. Tony Obi, while unveiling the burial plans Pa Offor who died in Febuary this year, at Emeka Okafor Foundation Centre, Oraifite, Anambra State.

According to Sir Offor, “my father served the Nigerian Police meritoriously and retired after 35 years of service, so nobody will be allowed to come here and mess up his funeral. Security arrangements have been put in place to deal with miscreants.”

“Pickpockets would often sew uniform and infiltrate the funerals of rich persons in the State and steal people’s valuables, including telephone and money, but we are waiting for them in Oraifite, that day may be their last that will land them in prison, to be fore warned is to be fore armed.”

Chief Offor said members of the National Assembly would be led to the funeral ceremony by the former Presidents of the Senate, Chief Ken Nnamani and Senstor Anyim Pius Anyim, while many people from all walks of life will have promised to come.

“My father was a very nice man, he gave me so much encouragement and everything you see me doing was initiated by him.He is a passionate philanthropist who would always like to see smiles on the faces of everyone that came in contact with him and I must tell you that most of the guys you see me hang out with were introduced to me by him.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/buhari-american-president-elect-donald-trump-attend-sir-emeka-offors-father-burial/

RSS Arrests Man Who Uses Nude Pictures Of Female Victims To Blackmail Them

A 35 year-old man, Michael Atanda, who has been threatening to expose nude pictures of four ladies on the social media if they fail to pay money into his account has been arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad of the Lagos State Police Command.

Atanda, a computer science National Diploma holder of a popular computer school based in Ikeja, was arrested on Thursday by the Decoy Team of the Rapid Response Squad after about five days of baiting and monitoring.

Atanda, an ex-convict and a father of three, had collected N121,000:00 from his four victims with the threat, but wanted the ladies to pay more or face the consequences of leaking their nude pictures on social media.

Disguising as Segun Bayo on Facebook and a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife, Atanda said he went about adding several ladies on Facebook. And, that after two weeks, he would start chatting with them.

“The profile picture on my Facebook account is that of a guy based in London, and so as part of my introductions to ladies, I tell them that, I am a Construction Engineer as well as that my parents and I am living Europe…. After sometime, I would lure them into sexual conversations during which, I persuaded them to send their nude pictures to me. They would send and I would send mine to them too," the suspect said.

"Before that I would pretended that I was seeking a serious relationship with them, and that very soon, I would be coming to Abuja on a business trip, during which I would see them…. I would again feign my seriousness by calling them with the aid of computer software that transforms my Nigerian line into an international line. Meanwhile, I would warn them that I was calling through a public phone booth,” he stated.

He noted, "As soon as they have sent their nude pictures, I would come up with all manners of stories. I would begin to extort and blackmail them. Through this means, I have collected over N121, 000:00 from my latest victims.”

He further confessed that “I was jailed last years in a similarly circumstance after fraudulently collecting N700, 000:00 from a lady I met through a dating site. I was eventually bailed but the case is still pending in court…. I have collected only 10,000:00 from Funmilola, Motunrayo N6,000:00, Joy, N5,000:00 and Lizzy N100,000:00.”

Out of the 210 friends on his Facebook, over 195 are young ladies. Apart from Lizzy, who reported the incident but declined to press charges, three other suspects, who were discovered during investigations, acknowledged on phone calls that they have been paying the suspect so that he doesn’t leak their nude photographs online.

Even though investigators have reached out to more victims after checking the suspect’s Facebook conversations with a number of ladies. All of them have refused to come forward, after confirming they were paying the suspect through his bank statement.

Atanda also opened a bank account with the same name, Segun Bayo, in one of the old generation banks.

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Dolapo Badmos, said that the Police were carrying out a thorough investigation on the case to aid prosecution. The suspect has been transferred to SCID for further investigations.

http://www.newshelm.com/2016/11/photo-rss-arrest-man-who-uses-nude.html

Dangote Pledges To Help FG Turn Around Nigeria’s Economy

Foremost industrialist and richest man in Africa, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has restated his commitment to assist the Federal Government in turning around and diversifying the country’s economy.

He said this in Lagos on Friday where he was honoured as “Man of the Year 2015’’ by The Guardian Newspapers Limited.

He said that he was working hard with his company to take Nigeria to the next level and that within the next two and half years, Nigeria was going to excel in some critical areas.

“We want to do that by looking at critical areas where Nigeria is not doing well in terms of local production and tackle the problem areas.

“Number one is refinery, Dangote Group is building a refinery which will produce 650,000 barrels of petrol per day; the current capacity that we have as a country now, both the ones that are working and the ones not working, is just 450,000 barrels per day.

“Our petrochemical is ten times that of Eleme, we are at 1.3 million, Eleme is 120,000, so it will be the largest petrochemical industry in Africa.

“In fertilizer production, we are not only trying to satisfy the market, but our size is three million tonnes which is ten times more than what is available in Nigeria today.

“We are trying to make sure we satisfy the local needs and also export and we thought about how to address our power issues, the only way we can address power issues is to have enough gas and sort out distribution.

“Distribution is important because unless you collect money from the consumers, you cannot grow.

“There are two sub-sea gas pipelines coming from Bonny which will produce about three billion volume of gas which is exactly about the same size of LNG.

“We are committed to turning around the economy of Nigeria and in the next two and a half years, Nigeria will be the highest oil petroleum products export country, will be the highest in terms of fertilizer export, will be the highest in petrochemicals export.

“Nigeria will also be the highest in terms of cement export in Africa,’’ he said.

Speaking on bailouts for the states, Dangote said: “I don’t believe the Federal Government should continue to be bailing out the states, the states have to sit down and plan to cut costs instead of looking for bailout and being lazy.

“They can create jobs and give incentives to people to come and invest, they should assure people that they are not going to be slammed with various taxes which is what some of them do.’’

Dangote added that the current situation of the economy would push people to work harder, to work in terms of diversifying the economy.

Earlier, the publisher of Guardian Newspapers Limited, Lady Maiden Ibru, had said that they were honouring Dangote because of his impact on the lives of Nigerians and Africa.

She restated the role of the newspaper in the society as working for the enduring benefits of the people and being critical and identifying as well as publicizing heroes as a way of redirecting the values of the society.

The first “Man of the Year’’ award was presented to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in 1987.

Some of the guests at the event were former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Bishop Alexander Gianniris of the Diocese of Greek Orthodox Church, and former Chief of Army Staff, Gen. Chris Ali. (NAN)

Source:http://www.nta.ng/news/20160423-dangote-pledges-to-help-fg-turn-around-nigerias-economy/

Reno Denies Accusing President Buhari Of Part-funding Hillary Clinton’s Campaign

The Former special assistant on New Media to Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri has denied ever accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of part-funding the U.S presidential campaign of Democratic Hillary Clinton with a whopping sum of $500M.

Omokri made the denial while reacting to a publication in some online media titled ‘Educating Reno Omokri’ by the Personal Assistant on Social Media to President Buhari, Lauretta Onochie where the Buhari’s spokesperson alleged that he had accused the President to have co-sponsored the political campaign of Hillary Clinton.

Omokri who urged President Buhari to call his aid to order however said that such fabrications could damage the relationship between Nigeria and the U.S President-elect, Donald J. Trump.
“My attention is drawn to an article ‘Educating Reno Omokri! By Lauretta Onochie falsely accused me of alleging PMB funded Hillary’s campaign.”

“Someone please tell @laurestar the old woman @MBuhari made a PA on New Media that I never accused PMB of funding @HillaryClinton‘s campaign.”

“President @mbuhari should call @laurestar to order. Such fabricated lies can damage our relations with the incoming @realDonaldTrump admin!”

“President @MBuhari should note that @laurestar only has irritant value in the eyes of Nigerians. Why would I accuse PMB of funding Hillary?”

“Nigeria under @MBuhari is so broke she wants to borrow $29.9 billion. Where then will PMB find funds to fund Hillary as @laurestar alleges?”

“If @MBuhari‘s intention is to alienate his govt from the public then he should keep surrounding himself with the likes of Lauretta Onochie!”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/reno-denies-accusing-president-buhari-part-funding-hillary-clintons-campaign-500m/

4 Nigerians Arrested In Hong Kong With Pangolin Scales And Ivory Worth $440,000

Hong Kong Customs seized about 44 kilograms of suspected worked ivory and 90 grams of suspected pangolin scales with an estimated market value of about $440,000 at Hong Kong International Airport on Friday(November 10).

Customs officers intercepted four male passengers, aged from 29 to 46 at the airport this evening. The four men arrived at Hong Kong from Lagos, Nigeria via Istanbul, Turkey. During Customs clearance, about 44kg of suspected worked ivory and 90g of suspected pangolin scales were found inside their check-in baggage.The cases were handed over to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department for follow-up investigation.

Under the Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing an endangered species without a licence is liable to a maximum fine of $5 million and imprisonment for two years.

http://politicsngr.com/photos-4-nigerians-arrested-with-pangolin-scales-and-ivory-worth-440000/

Why APC Would Soon Disintegrate - Fayose

AYODELE Fayose, Ekiti State Governor has said President Muhammadu Buhari is bereft of ideas to revive the country’s economy

Fayose also said the All Progressives Congress would soon disintegrate because it was founded on deceit.

So also did he say he begrudges no one despite his many travails in life, adding that total reliance on God was the secret of his political victory.

Fayose added that total reliance on God was his power and nothing else.

He cited a Biblical injunction to buttress his claims: “Phillipians Chapter 4 verse 13, says I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. Jesus Christ is my strength. If I am talking, If I am heard, if I could not be cowed or suppressed, If I am providing good governance to Ekiti people who elected me as their governor, If I am providing good leadership to people, it is because I have Christ as my strength and truly in him, I can do all things.”

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the Governor, who reflected on the rough journey of his life while addressing members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly during a closed door meeting at the Government House in Ado Ekiti on Saturday, said though his road had been bumpy but because he was a man of destiny he had never lost any battle.

He said: “Let this be known, I wasn’t born with sliver spoon but with wood spoon in mouth.

“My struggle in the journey of life, founded on truth, hard work and ‎firm believe in God, landed me where I am today.

“I remember God telling me never to avenge, but do good to all manners of men.

“In doing so, lies my victory and progress.”

Fayose said his return to power was beyond human comprehension, saying the stone which was rejected by the builder became strong pillar of the house.

Governor Fayose, who went down memory lane about the conspiracy of 2006 against him by the then members of the state House of Assembly, which saw to his sudden, un-celebrated but undeserved exit from the seat of power by an impeachment, later dismissed as illegitimate by the Supreme Court, told the current lawmakers: “The traitors of yesterday, where are they now.?

“God said in Psalm 68 verse 6, …but the rebellious dwell in dry land.

“God also said those who pay evil with evil, evil will never depart from their house.

“These messages are warnings to traitors.”

Speaking about his performance in two years in office, Fayose said he had a pact with Ekiti people to transform the state, adding that he had ideas up his sleeve but has been hampered by time and finance.

However, the Governor said: “I will complete the flyover, King’s Market, Judiciary building, new governor’s office, Ikere-Ado Road dualised and other projects going on at the local governments.”

He urged Ekiti people to continue to support him and ignore the lies of APC about him.

Hitting hard at the ruling APC at the centre, Fayose said: “Very soon, APC will explode and disintegrate because it was founded on deceit.

“If you are in PDP, you are a pen robber, but if you gate-crashed into APC, you become a saint automatically.
‎
“Within one and half year, the APC government grounded the economy.

“Unfortunately, Muhammadu Buhari cannot find solution to hunger, unemployment, depressed economy and insecurity in the country because he is bereft of the ideas.

“Nigerians should brace up to change the change because the right leader, the right president is yet to come.

“What we have now is aberration.”

Source:http://www.socialtimesng.com/2016/11/why-apc-will-soon-disintegrate-gov-fayose/

Mother Of 7 Docked For Abducting Another Woman’s Husband

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 55-year old mother of seven, Mrs Oluchukwu Nkwazoma has been arrested and charged before Isolo Magistrate’s court for hiding another woman’s husband,  Alloy Benson Njoku in her house in Lagos.

The incident happened in her house at 16, Panada Street, Isolo, Lagos where Oluchukwu resides.

She was charged with conspiracy and conduct likely to cause breach of public peace under the Criminal Code.

Trouble started after Alloy who resides at Mushin Road in the same Isolo community informed his wife, Chizoba that he was traveling to Abuja for a business transaction and asked her to manage a stipend until he comes back with money.

While the obedient mother of two wished her hubby safe journey unknown to her he moved into Oluchukwu’s house where he hibernated for several days before the wife ran into her husband and the other woman on the road.

P.M. EXPRESS gathered that both Alloy and Oluchukwu from Imo State, had known each other before they met again and then rekindled their relationship.

While they are separately married and attend same church, angry Chizoba alleged that she didn’t know that their relationship continued after Oluchukwu had separated from her own husband.

When Chizoba met her husband and Oluchukwu strolling on the street, she immediately raised an alarm, accused her husband of betrayal and asked him to follow her back to their house. But Oluchukwu stopped him but asked Alloy rather to follow her back to her house.

An embittered Chizoba followed them and continued to protest that the other woman forced out her husband from the house.

This angered Oluchukwu who then ordered her grown up children to beat up Chizoba in the presence of her husband who did nothing.

The matter was reported to the police at Aswani division who initially arrested all the parties involved in the matter, but then discovered the cause of the fight.

Oluckukwu was later charged to the court with the alleged offence.
She pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs A.K Shonubi granted her bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum.

Oluchukwu was remanded in prison custody pending when she will perfect her bail condition.

The matter was adjourned till 6 Febuary 2017

http://pmexpressng.com/mother-7-docked-abducting-another-womans-husband/

'My View Regarding The Election (US)'- TB Joshua Replies Critics

Upon release of the US general election results, criticisms have littered the social media over the failed prophecy by TB Joshua, which stated that Hillary Clinton Would win the election. However, the cleric has taken to his facebook page to express his view concerning the matter, here's what he has to say; (Pictures Below)

MY VIEW REGARDING THE ELECTION (US)

We have seen the outcome of the election in America. Having read, you will notice that it is all about the popular vote, the vote of the majority of Americans.

In this case, we need the Spirit of a Prophet to recognize or to know a Prophet. Our levels are different. We are not on the same level.

We might have great cathedrals, huge bells, and all kinds of activities that are good by human standards but human point of view is limited.

1 Corinthians 1:25. The foolishness of God is wiser than that of men and the weakness of God is stronger than that of men. There is no shortcut to spiritual maturity unless earthly understanding gives way to spiritual enlightenment.

I see many people trying to interpret prophets on the basis of their own minds and ideas. The prophecy seems to cause uproar, to many who gave it different meaning and interpretation.

Finally, campaigns and elections in any democratic country in the world are never about one person, it is about the country we care and love. Whichever way it happens, we must accept the outcome and then look to the future (God), the Author and Finisher.

Democracy is all about accommodation. All democrats must value the process of democracy more than the product.

God bless the United States of America.

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1271239246330182&substory_index=0&id=103470916440360

Spiritualist Dupe and Had Sex deliverance With Woman In Lagos

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

A 35-year old fake spiritualist, Lukman Olanrewaju has been arrested and charged before a Lagos court after he lured and engaged a woman, Adeniran Mutiat Jumoke on a three-day marathon sex deliverance under false pretense of curing her from abject poverty.

The incident happened at 14, Akinlegan Street, off Dele Ara Bus stop, Abaranje, Ikotun, outskirts of Lagos where the victim was taken and duped.

Apart from engaging her in a marathon sex, the fake spiritualist also forcefully obtained the sum of N208, 000 from her before she was finally let go.

Oyo State-born Olanrewaju was charged with conspiracy, sexual assault and stealing before Magistrate’s court sitting in Ejigbo where he was asked to be remanded in prison.

P.M. EXPRESS gathered that Olanrenwaju met Jumoke who complained she was not doing well and needed spiritual assistance to uplift her to success.

Olanrewaju then promised to assist her but asked her to pay N208,000 that would be used to buy some materials for prayer. He also told her that she will also embark on spiritual deliverance which involve doing things extraordinary.

The suspect then informed her that he will engage her for sex for three days and thereafter, perform other ritual after which she will become rich at a certain period.

She gave him the money and did other things he requested including sleeping with her for three days.

Trouble however started after Olanrewaju obtained the money, and there was no improvement with her condition became worse off. When she went to complain, she could not find Olanrewaju at the Abaranje house where the rituals were performed, it was then she realised that she had been duped.

Jumoke then went to Idimu police division to report the scam and Olanrewaju was trailed and arrested. He confessed he only obtained her because he had no such power to cure poverty.

He was charged to court under the Criminal Code and pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr A.A. Fashola granted Olanrewaju bail in the sum of N50,000 with two sureties in like sum.

He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail.

The matter was adjourned till 5 December 2016.

http://pmexpressng.com/fake-spiritualist-arrested-sex-deliverance/

Man Jailed For Six Months For Stealing Infinix Phone In Osogbo

A 23-year-old man, Omodolapo Iyanu Oluwa, was on Monday, sentenced to six months imprisonment in Ilesa prison,by an Osogbo Magistrates Court, for theft of Infinix phone.

The Magistrate, Mr Olusola Aluko ordered the convict be kept behind bars due to the magnitude of the offences committed.

The Prosecutor, Sgt. Rasaki Olayiwola , told the court that the convict committed the offense on Oct. 1,at about 10:00am ,at Akede Iyaloja area,Oke Baale, Osogbo.

Olayiwola said the convict did unlawfully seized one Infinix phone from one Mrs Oladipo Ifeoluwa, without any geneuine reason for such action.

He said the convict refused to returned back the phone to the complainant before he was arrested by the Police and bought to the court.

The Prosecutor said the offences contravened sections 516,144 and 390 of the criminal code cap 34vol.11laws of Osun, 2003.

Counsel to the convict, Mrs Bose Adeyinka , prayed the Magistrate to temper justice with mercy in the delivery of his judgement.

The convict pleaded guilty to the three count charges of theft and unlawfully possession .


Source : http://www.amiloaded.com/2016/11/man-23-bags-six-months-imprisonment-for.html

Shitte Members Killed & Injured In Kano By Police

According to multiple social media sources,police reportedly teargassed members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria aka Shi'ites during ArbaeenTrek from Kano.Some of them were seriously injured while others were killed during the process.

See more photos from the attack below...


Source: http://www.trezzyhelm.com/2016/11/see-photos-of-shitte-members-allegedly.html

Tam David-West To Soyinka: Cut Your Green Card, Keep To Your Word

Following the election of Donald Trump as President-elect of the United States, former Nigerian Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Prof Tam David-West, has called on Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, to live up to his threat of tearing up his United States Green Card should the Republican candidate win.

In an interview in Ibadan, David-West, describing Soyinka as a great and honourable man, said should the scholar fail to follow through on his very public threat and return to Nigeria, he would prove to be dishonourable.

But he dismissed the insinuation that Soyinka might go to jail if he cut his US green card, saying “Somebody said if Wole Soyinka cuts his green card, he (Soyinka) will go to jail. That is not true. He will not go to jail. The green card is his own personal property given to him by the United States Government.”

Soyinka, a scholar-in-residence at the Institute of American Affairs, New York University, was quoted to have said prior to the US presidential election of November 8, while addressing Oxford students, that he would tear up his green card and leave the US if Trump won the poll.

“If in the unlikely event he (Trump) does win, the first thing he will do is to say all green card holders must reapply to come back into the US. We’ll, I’m not waiting for that. The moment they announce his victory, I will cut my green card myself and start packing up,” Soyinka was quoted as saying.

Donald J. Trump had defeated the Democrat candidate, Hillary R. Clinton, in a stunning upset, and will take office as the 45th President of the US on January 2017.

The billionaire property tycoon defeated Clinton, a former Secretary of State and First Lady, with 306 votes to her 232 votes at the electoral college.

David-West, who noted that he was worried when Soyinka threatened to cut his green card, said “there was no need for him to have said that. If he cuts his green card, he will hurt himself not the United States. It because of the green card he works in the US.

“The green card entitles him to work in the US. Without the green card, he cannot have a paid job in the US. It is because of the green card that he has a paid job in America, which translates to thousands of dollars for him; by conversion, it is millions of naira.”

David-West further took a swipe at Soyinka for changing his tune after Trump had been declared President-elect.

When Soyinka was asked when he would destroy his green card after the election, he was quoted to have said: “Why don’t we wait until Trump actually takes office? I am just going about my normal commitments. Let’s put it that way for now.”

To which David-West responded: “Now, he has changed his tone. When I read it, I was very upset. He is toying with the intelligence of Nigerians. He said (he’d destroy his green card) if Trump is elected President. The moment Hillary Clinton conceded defeat, Trump is elected. Immediately, Soyinka should have come back to Nigeria.

“I know Wole Soyinka is a honourable man. I am waiting for him to cut his green card and return to Nigeria honourably. If he does not come back, he is very dishonourable. He should keep to his words. It was not necessary for him to make that statement at all.

“In the first instance, he never said he would cut his green card when Donald Trump takes office. He said if he is elected President. So, Soyinka should honourably cut his card and honourably return to Nigeria.”

David-West further stated that Trump would not maltreat the blacks in the US, adding that the Trump administration would translate to robust international relationships.

https://www.today.ng/news/nigeria/214694/word-cut-green-card-david-west-tells-soyinka

Fashola, Buhari And An Administration Bereft Of Ideas - Reno Omokri

By Reno Omokri

Just two days ago on the 11th of November, 2016, Raji Fashola, Nigeria's super minister of power, works and housing, who is more famous for spending ₦78 million on his website in 2014 (an amount then worth $500,000) said that the 7% GDP growth Nigeria enjoyed under the Jonathan administration was solely the result of high oil prices rather than any policy of that administration.


Said Fashola, “I say this in the context of those who are tempted to lay some claim to any form of credit about why our economy was growing at seven percent for almost a decade, and I say very very clearly, without mincing words, that I don’t think that anybody can fairly lay claim to any economic policy that drove that growth.

“It was growth that was driven by high oil  prices. If we agree that infrastructure is the driver of growth, when you get high oil prices, what do you do with it? So, where are those towers, where are those bridges, where are those highways?

The only part of the above statement that is true is the part where Mr. Fashola says "I don’t think". Yes sir, you do not think. Because if you did you would know that the oil and gas industry, by the admission of even Mr. Fashola's boss, President Buhari, is only 15% of Nigeria's GDP. This fact which is well known to Mr. Fashola is also corroborated by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

So yes, high oil prices would have a positive impact on the Nigerian economy but it cannot be the sole reason why we enjoyed 7% GDP growth under President Jonathan.

After all during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's eight years in office oil price was very low and were below $20 for a while yet that Peoples Democratic Party government did not deliver excuses, instead, they delivered consistent annual 5% GDP growth.

Going by Mr. Fashola's logic, the present administration which is enjoying an oil price that is presently $45 per barrel ought to at least match President Obasanjo's record. But here we are, at a recession.

You, see, the truth is that no matter how high oil prices are, if you do not have sound economic policies, you cannot have economic progression.

So what are the economic policies of the Jonathan era that drove Nigeria's massive 7% GDP growth year in year out while Jonathan was on the saddle?

What is beneath the ground cannot make a nation great. The only way a nation can be great is by what is between the ears of her people. Educating the citizenry is the fastest way to achieve economic growth because education makes you GROW through life while illiteracy makes you GO through life.

President Jonathan began the practice of giving education the highest sectoral allocation in the budget.

In the 2011 budget, N306.3 billion was allocated to education, in 2012 N400.15 billion, in 2013 N426.53 billion, in 2014, N493.2 billion and in 2015 N492. 34 billion was allocated for education.

Never in the history of Nigeria has any government consistently shown such commitment to education.

Such was President Jonathan's commitment to education that even though primary and secondary education is the preserve of the states, the federal government intervened to reduce the 10 million children out of school in Northern Nigeria by building 165 brand new almajiri schools.

By building 12 new federal universities and 165 almajiri schools and renovating 507 additional secondary schools all over Nigeria through the Universal Basic Education Commission, the Jonathan administration not only increased access to education, the policy also had the intended side effect of putting hundreds of thousands of youths to work which stimulated the economy and contributed to GDP growth.

Another policy of the Jonathan administration that added to GDP growth was his deliberate effort to expand access to opportunity through the YouWIN program. The Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YOUWIN) scheme was a business plan competition that provided training and funding of between $6000-$80,000 to youths to start or grow existing small, medium and even large scale businesses with the proviso that beneficiaries were to compulsorily employ other youths.

Mr. Fashola may also want to have a chat with the GIS Project Director in the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Dennis Chukwu, who revealed  in Lokoja, Kogi State, on the 5th of September, 2016 during the Career Development and Entrepreneurship Skills Training for beneficiaries of the Graduate Internship Scheme that the GIS scheme had benefited a total of 41,000 Nigerian graduates during the Jonathan administration by giving them the opportunity to earn experience and money that put them in good stead to either start their own businesses or get employed at a level that they would not have been qualified for had they not had the opportunity provided by the GIS.


In 2010 President Jonathan Promised to Revive Nigeria's Railways. By 2012 The Nigerian Railways Corporation began operating a Lagos to Kano service at the cost of just ₦1500. In 2013 rail lines were revived from Lagos Port Direct to Kaduna. By 2014, the Enugu-Port Harcourt lines were revived along with several others including the Makurdi-Port Harcourt rail.


By 2015, the Abuja-Kaduna rail which was recently commissioned by President Buhari was completed BY THE JONATHAN ADMINISTRATION!


Not only did work on these projects provide jobs to tens of thousands of Nigerians, by the time they were finished these rail lines eased transportation of goods and services all over Nigeria.


Mr. Fashola, this was a policy that added to our GDP growth.

On April 23, 2010, President Jonathan signed the Local Content Law, that he had promoted, into law. This law had the effect of forcing the oil majors in Nigeria to employ only Nigerians for certain specified jobs in the oil industry and to use only Nigerian contractors for certain contracts.


Because of this law, Shell Petroleum Development Company awarded its first ever deep pressure pipeline contract to an indigenous Nigerian company, SCC Nigeria limited to the tune of $50 million in 2011. Total also awarded a multi-million dollarcontract to Nigerdock, an indigenous firm, to fabricate platforms and top sides for its off shore operations.


When Nigerdock delivered on the project in June this year, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Patrick Daziba Obah said  “I am proud to say that this laudable achievement is a direct result of the enactment and implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act of 2010 and the overwhelming support that the Government has given and has continued to give to the development of Local Content in the Oil and Gas industry".


This is another policy that led to the steady GDP growth of the Jonathan era.

In agriculture, the Jonathan administration has a policy known as the e-wallet policy fir fertilizer distribution which cut out the middle man and sent texts to farmers on where to pick up fertilizer after payment was deducted from their e-wallet. The administration also banned the importation of rice an act that attracted Olam Farms to come to Nigeria to build the largest rice mill in Nigeria in Nasarawa state. Olam farms invested $130 million in the Nigerian rice industry.


Because of these policies, Nigeria's food import bill reduced from ₦1.1 trillion in 2011 to ₦648 billion by 2012 (the figure has now skyrocketed back to pre-Jonathan levels because the Buhari administration reversed Jonathan's ban on rice importation for reasons best known to it).


Another policy which drove GDP growth under Jonathan was the policy of 70% Tariff on imported cars to dissuade Nigerians from continuing to spend $3.4 billion annually on importing foreign cars.


This policy forced Nissan, Kia and Hyundai to establish assembly plants in Nigeria for the manufacturing of partially made in Nigeria vehicles. President Jonathan ordered federal government ministries, departments and parastatals to patronize these vehicles along with cars made by Innoson motors.


This policy had the effect of attracting over $150 million foreign direct investment into the Nigerian automotive industry and prevented hundreds of millions of dollars from leaving Nigeria to purchase imported cars.

Time would not permit me to talk of the Nagropreneur program or the fact that under Jonathan not only did CNN Money project Nigeria as the world's third fastest growing economy but that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development named Nigeria the number 1 destination for foreign direct investment in Africa.

I also would not have the time to write about how the Jonathan administration added 1.3 million jobs in 2013 alone (per the National Bureau of Statistics, the same agency that revealed that Nigeria lost 4.58 million jobs in the first year of the Buhari administration).

So, in conclusion, no Mr. Fashola, high oil prices may have contributed to GDP growth during the previous administration but it was ideas that drove growth under Jonathan and it is lack of ideas not low oil prices that is stifling growth under President Buhari.

This is more so when you consider that US President elect, Donald Trump, has not even been sworn in, yet today, he named some members of his cabinet. That is real change, not the reverse change promised by someone who waited for six months after his swearing in before naming his cabinet consisting of an Agriculture minister who studied French and other misfits! That is what is to blame for your recession Mr. Fashola. That and not low oil prices.

Reno Omokri

Omokri is the founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center in California, author of Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God and Why Jesus Wept and the host of Transformation with Reno Omokri
Reno tweets from www.twitter.com/renoomokri

Reno Omokri Mocks Buhari As Trump Names Cabinet Members Ahead Of Swearing-in

Former Special Assistant to ex-President, Goodluck Jonathan on New Media, Reno Omokri, mocked President, Muhammadu Buhari, on the time it took him to name his cabinet members.

He reacted to US President-elect, Donald Trump’s naming of some of his cabinet members even when he has not been sworn in as president.

Comparing Buhari to Trump, he said, Trump’s presidency ‘is the real change.’

On his Facebook page, he wrote: “Donald J. Trump has not even been sworn in, yet today, he named some members of his cabinet.

“That is real change, not the reverse change promised by someone who waited for 6 months after his swearing in before naming his cabinet consisting of an Agriculture minister who studied French and other misfits.”

Source: http://dailypost.ng/2016/11/14/reno-omokri-mocks-buhari-trump-names-cabinet-members-ahead-swearing/?utm_source=nnd&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=nnd

Ambassadorial List: Buhari Agrees To Withdraw Nominees

No reconciliation between Senate, President –Source

After facing frustration from the Senate, President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly caved in to pressure, by agreeing to withdraw the list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees recently submitted to the Upper Chamber for screening and confirmation. Most of the 23 governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have kicked against the nomination.

They have also agreed to formally write the president stating their reservations on the nomination. An insider in the apex chamber, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the president had agreed to withdraw the list because the Senate had made it clear to him that his list was not acceptable to the parliament, as the ears and eyes of the electorate and custodian of democracy.

The source also said that the Senate rejected the ambassadorial list because its composition ran foul of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

According to the source, the selection process used by Buhari was in flagrant disregard to the Federal Character principle, which provides that every state of the federation must be equitably represented in such critical appointments.

The source further told New Telegraph that the Senate found out that the president neither involved state governors of most states nor other political stakeholders such as the lawmakers to make input in the selection of the nominees, as has been the practice in a democratic government.

“The president has agreed to withdraw the list in order to work on it and make it acceptable because we have made it clear to him that there is nothing to be done for the Senate to accept that kind of skewed list.

“At least this is noncareer list, so the issue of some states not having qualified candidates does not arise. Unfortunately, the list he submitted to us is in total contradiction of the nation’s constitution, particularly as it affects the provisions of Federal Character.

“When you look at the list, you will find out that some states were completely left out while some got two to three slots. What kind of thing is that? We cannot take it and we have told him point blank that it will be more dignifying for him to withdraw it and correct all the anomalies spotted in the list.

“We cannot run this democracy like military dictatorship, neither are we going to allow any civilian, duly elected by the people of Nigeria to operate an authoritarian regime under the watch of the people’s parliament. “People may misunderstand us.

They may even accuse us of antagonising the president without a cause, but we won’t allow sentiments to detract us from doing what is right. It is we, the lawmakers, that history and posterity will hold responsible for our actions or inactions,” the source stated.

Buhari had, on October 20, forwarded the list of 46 non-career ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for screening and confirmation for appointment as ambassadors.

Shortly after Saraki read the list on the floor of the Senate, Senator Philip Aduda (FCT) protested the non-inclusion of any nominee from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the list, describing the situation as unfair and urged President Buhari to revisit the matter and correct the anomaly in order to give FCT a sense of belonging.

Days after, some other senators drew the attention of the Senate to the fact that their states were not represented on the list, and urged that the omission be corrected before the Chamber could screen and confirm the nominees. Earlier in June, the President sent a list of 47 career diplomats to the Senate for confirmation.

The Senate has screened the nominees, while the Chamber is expected to confirm them any moment. The list also attracted a lot of protests from states that were not represented in the nominations.

The Senate invited the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Babachir Lawal, who came and convinced the lawmakers that the states omitted did not have qualified officers based on the criteria adopted by the president in the selection.

Meanwhile, New Telegraph learnt that the Senate had resolved not to use the 2017-2019 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which was already returned to the Presidency, unless thoroughly reworked, with detailed explanation, with realistic economic indices attached to it.

It was further learnt that there was no meaningful reconciliatory discussions going on between Buhari and the Senate leadership as being recently speculated.

A source very close to the Senate leadership told our correspondent that it was because of the recent consecutive visits of the President of the Senate to the Aso Rock Villa that triggered the insinuation that Saraki was seeking to build harmony between the Senate and President Buhari.

The source, which holds very important position in the Senate, said that the executive arm had a lot of controversial issues to resolve, which Saraki alone could not, on his own, go and discuss without the approval of the entire Senate.

“I am not aware of any reconciliatory discussions going on between the executive or the president to be more precise, and the Senate. Even last time Saraki went to Villa, they did not discuss anything like that because by virtue of my position in the Senate, I ought to know if such took place between them.

“We have not heard that they want to sit down to work out a harmonious relationship. To the best of my knowledge, these issues you are raising are all speculative.

Maybe, because Saraki is now seen often in the Villa, people just concluded that they are building a peaceful relationship. “Remember that the executive has a lot of issues with the Senate: the issue of NERC appointment, INEC, EFCC, NCC, N180 billion virement, $29.96 billion loan and so on.

Don’t forget that the National Assembly is people’s assembly; so, the leadership cannot work without the consent of the majority of members of the National Assembly,” the source maintained.

Meanwhile, efforts to get the Senior Special Assistant to the President (SSA) on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, to comment on whether or not President Buhari has accepted to withdraw the list of the non-career ambassadorial nominees failed, as he did not pick his call after many trials by our correspondent.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/ambassadorial-list-buhari-succumbs-agrees-withdraw-nominees/

States To Get N20b Each For Infrastructure

The Federal Government is on the verge of refunding at least N20 billion to each of the 36 states for infrastructural development.

Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara made this disclosure yesterday while responding to the Igwe of Ogwuekpele, His Royal Highness Igwe Valentine B.C. Onyema Ogidiga, who had expressed concern on dilapidating infrastructure in Anambra State.

The speaker, who was in Igwe’s palace on a courtesy visit, said the Federal Government was planning to invest in infrastructure and provision of capital.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, Mr. Iliya Habila, further quoted Dogara as saying that when the money is refunded to the states, it would assist them in providing critical infrastructure.

According to the speaker, “As regards debts being owed to states, I can announce that very soon no state will get less than N20 billion from the money that is coming.

“I believe they will be able to translate that money into development so that they could support the diversification policy of the Federal Government.”

http://m.guardian.ng/news/states-to-get-n20b-each-for-infrastructure/

Obaseki Appoints Ogie As SSG And Taiwo Akerele As Chief Of Staff

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday in Benin announced the appointment of Osarodion Ogie as the Secretary to the State Government.

Also appointed were Taiwo Akerele as Chief of Staff and John Mayaki as interim Chief Press Secretary.

Mr. Obaseki had before making the announcement, met with the state Head of Service and Permanent Secretaries.

He directed the permanent secretaries to take full charge of the affairs of their ministries, pending appointment of commissioners.

The governor solicited for maximum cooperation from the civil service to enable him discharge his mandate effectively.

He expressed confidence in the civil service, and pledged that his administration would build a more stronger, vibrant, trusted, competent and reliable workforce to meet the challenges ahead.

“I have no doubt about the capacity of the civil service, but we will also need to clear the clog on the wheel of progress,” he added.

The governor said the administration would re-evaluate the recruitment process into the service to ensure that merit and objectivity were not compromised.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/215300-governor-obaseki-appoints-ssg-spokesperson.html

Tinubu Faces Dilemma Over Ondo Governorship Poll

By Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja and James Sowole in Akure

Following the selection of Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the November 26 governorship election in Ondo State, former Lagos State governor and National Leader of the ruling APC, Chief Bola Tinubu, is faced with a dilemma over who to support.

Tinubu, sources close to the former governor informed THISDAY, is torn between his allegiance to his party and throwing his weight behind Chief Olusola Oke, the governorship candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) in the Ondo election.

Tinubu has been extremely unhappy with his party over the outcome of APC primary, following the defeat of his preferred candidate for the Ondo election, Mr. Olusegun Abraham.

His belief was that there was a gang up by those opposed to him in the APC who allegedly manipulated the primary in order to ensure that Abraham lost to Akeredolu by 669 votes last September, leading to an outcry that the primary was flawed.

Even after an appeal panel that was set up by the ruling party to review the outcome of the primary recommended the conduct of a fresh primary, the national APC leadership ignored the decision of the panel and chose to field Akeredolu as the candidate of the party in the Ondo election.

The decision of the APC leadership drew a scathing rebuke from Tinubu who accused the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, of being compromised and demanded his resignation.

Despite Tinubu’s anger and call for Oyegun’s resignation, he was ignored by the party, which led the former Lagos governor to ignore most major meetings and events held recently by the APC.

Seeing that he could not get the party to do his bidding, a source informed THISDAY yesterday that Tinubu might have now decided to back Oke in the governorship election in Ondo State.

His decision has been galvanised by the solidarity rally by his supporters in Lagos State at the weekend who believe that Tinubu, as the leader of the APC who worked assiduously for the merger that led to the creation of the party, was being sidelined.

Furthermore, the source said Tinubu’s decision to back Oke instead of Akeredolu stemmed from the fact that the APC chieftain also lost out in the Kogi governorship election when his pick, Hon. James Faleke, was ditched by the party in favour of Yahaya Bello as the governorship candidate of Kogi after the death of Abubakar Audu before the conclusion of the election.

“Although he largely ignored what happened in the Kogi election, following Abubakar’s death, he believes that the party’s decision to settle for Rotimi Akeredolu was an insult taken too far, hence his consideration of Olusola Oke,” the source explained.

However, the source divulged that as Tinubu mulls the options before him, the call on who to back will not be an easy one.

“He cannot be in APC and be fighting the party at the same time, so this is a tough call for Tinubu after being at the vanguard that led to the creation of APC in 2013 and its subsequent victory at the 2015 general election,” he said.

The source further divulged that Tinubu is also being propelled to support Oke in the election because of his closeness to the Director General of the Olusola Campaign Organisation, Mr. Bola Ilori, who has been begging the former Lagos governor to throw his political weight and clout behind Oke.

He added that President Muhammadu Buhari will also be in Akure, the Ondo State capital, next Saturday to support Akeredolu ahead of the governorship election, but Tinubu will be conspicuously absent at the event.

Tinubu, it was gathered, is still outside the country, having departed the United States of America for the United Kingdom at the weekend.
Meanwhile, Oke will today be presented with the flag of the AD by its national leadership.

Ilori disclosed the decision of the AD leadership yesterday in Akure to present the flag to the candidate, who had been going round various parts of the state canvassing votes from the electorate.

Ilori, in a statement, invited all and sundry to join the AD family at the flag off rally of the Ondo State chapter of the party where the national leaders would present the Oke and his running mate with the symbol and authority of the party.

Ilori further disclosed that the event would also avail the party’s flag-bearer the platform to articulate his innovative ideas for Ondo State.

“We want to invite our people to be part of this historic and epoch making event, one that all and sundry have been looking forward to for the benefit of our state and our future.

“The AD as a progressive party and it is poised to bring back the lost glory and restore the fortunes of our dear state, and Chief Olusola Oke and his running mate, Alhaji Ganny Dauda are ready to drive the vehicle of this economic recovery.

“We want our people to troop out and be part of this historic event by coming to witness the dawn of a new Ondo State,” he stated.

Oke also got a boost at the weekend with the promise by the people of Ikare Akoko of Akoko North East Local Government Area in the state, expressing their readiness to support him during the November 26 election.

Oke, whose running mate hails from the neighbouring Akoko North West Local Government, was received by a mammoth crowd when his campaign trail berthed in Ikare Akoko yesterday.

The candidate, who visited the traditional ruler of Ikare, the Olukare, Oba Akadiri Momoh, said he was on a rescue mission to wrestle Ondo people from the clutches of hunger.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/11/14/tinubu-faces-dilemma-over-ondo-governorship-poll/


 

Elijah Ayodele: Tinubu Will Form A New Party

Recent happenings has shown dissatisfaction in the southwest faction of the APC, will there be a political realignment? The northern faction seem to have hijacked the party with reckless abandon. Who shall be the gainers and lossers in the event of any political realignment?

HERE ARE THE PROPHECIES

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, in a warning to Nigerian politicians, has raised an alarm that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are likely to lose key personalities this year.
In a no-holds-barred chat with our correspondent, the revered Nigerian prophet noted that the PDP is under a spiritual attack and unless they go for cleansing, they are not likely to be free.
He added that the party will break into two and while the new version of the party will go, “the old will remain. The Makarfi/Sheriff synergy will not work.”
The Spiritual leader of the INRI Evangelistic Spiritual Church thereafter made a very damming prediction of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu floating another party.
“Some APC governors will dump Buhari and Tinubu while some PDP governors will be at crossroads and find it difficult to make certain decisions when it matters most.
“There shall also be unexpected removals from President Buhari’s cabinet members while the SGF will run into crisis with the Chief of Staff. I see a change of affairs in Customs as well,” Primate Ayodele explained further.

Ondo election
The man of God spoke also on the fast-approaching election in Ondo state, stating categorically that the date for the election will be postponed.
He said: “Ondo election will be fierce and the date will be shifted. This is because the aura for that day is not good; it could make the winner to lose and make the person who is supposed to lose emerge as winner of the polls.
Mimiko going to the court to upturn the judgment may boomerang and if he is not strategically positioned, he will cry while leaving the office.”

On recession
Until the federal government declares a three-day prayer and fasting to seek the face of God, we are not likely to get out of the recession the country is presently going through.
I said it before and I am saying this again, that I am not interested in organising it. The government should seek a way of making this work because we need serious prayers to be able to get out of the present state of discomfort in the country.

On fuel scarcity
The people surrounding President Buhari will create problems and he will face internal and external challenges. There shall also be severe fuel scarcity in the country.
Scarcity of petrol is looming again in the country between December and February next year, but we need to work really hard to avert this from happening.

https://www.naij.com/1045863-apc-pdp-lose-top-personality-tinubu-will-break-away-form-new-political-party.html

Ericsson To Sack Nigerians As Firm Ships Jobs To India

Ericsson Nigeria, telecommunications services provider has served its Nigerian workers sack notice which will take effect by the end of this November, Nigeria CommunicationsWeek has learnt.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gathered that the affected workers are working in the Network Operating Centre (NOC) of the company and they are required to do a knowledge transfer to the Indians that will take over their jobs.

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek investigations revealed that Ericsson carried out similar exercise of sacking Nigerian workers in July this year when some part of MTN managed services handled by Ericsson was moved to India.

Now the Indians want to handle more of the services precipitating the recent sack notice to additional workers.

It was learnt that Ericsson Nigeria has sacked more workers in Nigeria than other African countries not because the jobs are not there but because it is easier to get away with such practice in Nigeria and the jobs are now remotely done from India which means money generated in Nigeria are used to enrich India.

Confirming the development in a reply to our email, Johan Jemdahl, managing director, Ericsson Nigeria, said that, “To maintain a leading position, Ericsson is continuously evolving and transforming the way we deliver services, both locally and globally, for the benefit of our customers. Therefore, we constantly review and adjust cost levels as market growth and business needs are changing over time from a global perspective.

“Transformation is about uncovering opportunities to further leverage global skills and scale to increase efficiencies and reduce cost across the business. This is not something that is happening only here, it is something we are doing on a global, regional and local level in our services business. It is part of being a services company. If and when we have information about any measures to take, we will as always inform affected employees first.”

http://guardian.ng/technology/ericsson-to-sack-nigerians-as-firm-ships-jobs-to-india/

Fg To Scrap Nnpc, Dpr, Pppra, Others; To Sell Unprofitable Refineries

 

GMD, NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru

By Michael Eboh


ABUJA—The Federal Government’s draft National Oil Policy has proposed to consolidate Nigeria’s oil industry regulatory authorities into a single agency to be known as Petroleum Regulatory Commission, PRC, while scrapping all other regulators, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, among others.

According to the document released by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, last weekend, the new regulator will incorporate the activities of the existing petroleum regulatory authorities and also cover some new regulatory activities not currently covered.

The document revealed that the existing institutional regulatory framework was weak, largely ineffective and inefficient, arising from a number of single-issue agencies; overlaps in regulation, gaps in regulation, mixture of policy, regulation and operations; and ineffective regulation.

It stated: “Although the agencies generally work well together, their roles, sometimes, overlap and there are significant information gaps within the government as, sometimes, one institution is unaware of what the other is doing.

“At the same time, policy making capacity has been weak, resulting in NNPC and its subsidiaries setting policy and regulation as well as conducting operations in the petroleum sector. The result is an ineffective and inefficient institutional environment in the petroleum sector in Nigeria.”

The draft policy is also proposing that, in order to reduce the inefficiencies in parastatals in the petroleum sector, the proposed single petroleum sector regulatory authority will operate under the policy supervision of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

According to the document, the Minister will set the policy for the PRC; ensure monitoring of the implementation of the policy; and ensure monitoring of the performance of the authority.

“This does not mean that the regulatory authority will report to the Ministry on a day to day basis. The new single regulatory authority will be an operationally independent regulatory institution. The Minister’s involvement will be hands off and just to ensure that the regulatory authority properly carries out its roles of implementing the policy,” it explained.

Automatic oil licence renewal jettisoned

Meanwhile, the Federal Government is considering a policy that would rule out the automatic renewal and extension of oil and gas licenses, while it has listed stringent conditions which would be met before these can be granted.

This was also contained in the draft oil policy which indicated that the new oil and gas licensing processes would become more transparent in respect of allocations of oil blocs, mining licences and leases, while local communities would be able to compete in the bids.

According to the draft policy, licence renewals or extensions will now be based on progress made by licence holders in meeting their exploration or production targets.

It stated that licence holders, who do not meet licence conditions, including oil production, gas flare down, gas supply obligations, will risk losing the licence.

Regulate petroleum revenue spending

In addition, the document is proposing a policy that would ensure that certain percentage of petroleum revenue is set aside for capital expenditure and for savings for future generations.

According to the document, under the new policy, the government will agree to a cap on the proportion of petroleum revenues that can be spent on recurrent expenditure, while setting aside a percentage of the petroleum revenue for capital expenditure items and savings for future generations.

To give vent to this proposal, the document disclosed that appropriate legislation would be passed to back the policy.

Unprofitable refineries to be sold

The draft policy also stated that each of the country’s refineries will be given a transition period within which to become viable and profitable, adding, however, that the government intended to divest, sell off, concession or if necessary, close down any non-performing refinery that failed to make the transition.

It stated: “The aim is to make the NNPC refineries successful, high volume, commercially viable enterprises. They will be encouraged to become so and will be supported as much as it is within the government’s ability to do so.

“Of the three NNPC refineries (Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna), Port Harcourt is expected to be the best placed to succeed. It has installed its independent gas-fired power supply; it has undertaken its own turnaround maintenance; it is close to jetties and the pipeline length from crude oil suppliers is short (less of a pipeline security risk); it is operationally ready to produce refined products to international standards, although the cost structure is still not right.

“Of the three, Kaduna, is perhaps, the least ready currently because of its distance from crude oil supplies and reliance on a poorly maintained crude oil pipeline.”

Another measure planned under the new policy for revitalization of the refining sub-sector in Nigeria include the return of storage depot assets to the refineries.

It stated: “The storage depots were originally part of the refineries but had been subsequently transferred from the refineries to the Pipeline and Products Marketing Company, PPMC, (now Nigerian Petroleum Marketing Company, NPMC).

“This arrangement is not considered to have been successful. NPMC has failed to manage the depots effectively and the refineries have been denied an important part of their assets. The storage depots will, therefore, be returned to the refineries.

“In addition, the perimeter fence around the refineries will be set sufficiently far from the operations, including depots to ensure that proper security can be maintained. Everything inside the perimeter fence will belong to the refinery solely and will be on each refinery’s asset register.”

Again, the document noted that as part of their new independence, each of the refineries will be given commercial autonomy, meaning that they will be free to take crude oil from wherever and whoever they can.

According to the draft, they are not constrained to take NNPC deliveries only, as under the new policy, each refinery may choose to deal with any crude oil producer apart from NNPC or National Oil Company of Nigeria, NOCN.

“It should be commercially interesting for an International Oil Company, IOC, which has downstream operations in Nigeria, to have their own crude refined and sold in Nigeria, rather than exporting crude across the Atlantic and the refined product to be shipped back,” the document noted.

The Ministry of Petroleum Resources said the petroleum industry in Nigeria had been involved in the development of the petroleum policy, through their participation in industry fora and seminars, such as the Nigerian Chapter of the Society of Petroleum Engineers, the OPTS and the Petroleum Club.

According to the Ministry, the proposed petroleum policy, while driven by the government, is a joint effort of the government and the petroleum industry community in Nigeria, with domestic and international industry involvement.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/fg-to-scrap-nnpc-dpr-pppra-others-to-sell-unprofitable-refineries/

Reps Take Delivery Of N3.6bn Cars

John Ameh, Abuja

The delivery of 360 exotic cars to members of the House of Representatives has begun amid the economic downturn in the country.

Investigations by The PUNCH revealed on Sunday that 28 units of the Peugeot 508 series had already been delivered to lawmakers in Abuja.

The 28 were among the first batch of 50 cars supplied by the Kaduna-based Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited.

The House allocated a princely N3.6bn for the cars in the 2016 budget at a unit price of N10m.

A National Assembly top aide told
The PUNCH on Sunday that the arrangement with Peugeot was that the company would supply the vehicles in batches because of the huge number of members involved.

“Fifty cars will be supplied in the first batch; 28 have already been delivered. That was last week.
“Twenty-two more in the first batch are expected to be delivered this week,” the source stated.

Findings indicated that the luxury cars would arrive in Abuja in batches till January, 2017 when all 360 members would have picked a unit.

About 223 of the members of the House are new, having come to the National Assembly for the first time in 2015.

But all 360 members will still benefit from the luxury cars, officially known as ‘utility’ or ‘committee’ vehicles.

Investigations showed that owing to paucity of funds, the lawmakers agreed with Peugeot to spread the payment of the N3.6bn across 24 months or “two years’ budget.”

The PUNCH gathered that the original plan was to start the delivery of the cars last June, but the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget stalled it.

“The House was not sure of the provisions in the budget owing to the general drop in the revenue available to the Federal Government this year.

“So, they delayed it till the budget was passed before they continued with the procurement processing.”

It was learnt that a lengthy disagreement among lawmakers preceded the choice of the Peugeot 508 series.

Investigations revealed that while the majority of the new members preferred the 2016 Toyota Camry, others argued in favour of Peugeot 508 on the grounds of patronising ‘Made-in-Nigeria products’.

“Eventually, the argument was sustained that Peugeot should be the choice to encourage local automotive industry; though it would also appear that there was a comparative cost analysis,” another legislative source added.

The Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Abdulrazak Namdas, confirmed that members had started taking delivery of the vehicles.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, Namdas stated that female lawmakers were the first in line to pick up their units, while the males would take their turn in subsequent batches.

Asked why the House would splash money on 360 exotic cars at a time the country was in recession, Namdas played down any reference to the cars as being “luxury.”

He said, “This issue of cars is long overdue. They are not for luxury but for committee and oversight duties.

“The 8th Assembly is nearing two years, yet members have no cars to carry out their duties.

“Ministers and other officials in the executive have long bought vehicles for official duties.

“At the state level, members of House of Assembly have cars to carry out basic functions.

“I think it is only fair that members of the National Assembly will have utility vehicles for their assignments.”

Namdas also told The PUNCH that the choice of Peugeot 508 was to “look inward such that Peugeot, which is locally-assembled, will benefit and grow.”

On paper, the cars are the property of the National Assembly, but the tradition over time is that lawmakers take them along with them on completion of their tenure after paying a fraction of the unit cost.

It was learnt that the management of the National Assembly would evaluate the cars after four years and deduct an agreed sum from the severance package of members.

Besides the utility vehicles, members also get a repayable loan to buy personal cars.

http://punchng.com/amid-recession-reps-take-delivery-n3-6bn-exotic-cars/

Falana Tells Buhari To Release Dasuki

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to stop various security agencies from further violating human rights in the course of carrying out their duties.

He said in a statement on Sunday that this had become necessary in view of the ban by the United States of America on the sale of arms to Nigeria over alleged continued violation of human rights under the Buhari administration.

Falana said though the basis for the ban on sale of arms by the US could be queried, the President should stop the violation of people’s rights and also release all political detainees.


He specifically urged the President to order the release of the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.), who has been held in custody without a court order.

Falana said the release of Dasuki would allow the ex-NSA’s trial for alleged diversion of arms funds to go on smoothly.

He said the government should obey the ruling of the ECOWAS Court ordering the release of the former NSA.

But the Senior Advocate of Nigeria explained that the order made by the ECOWAS Court should, however, not be viewed as exonerating Dasuki of the charges preferred against him.

Falana said, “With respect to the substantive relief, the ECOWAS Court held that the detention of Col. Dasuki without a court order could not be justified under the Nigerian Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.

“Consequently, the court ordered the release of the applicant and the payment of N15m damages to him as reparation for the infringement of his rights.

“In reporting the judgment of the ECOWAS Court, the media conveyed the impression that that the Federal Government has been ordered to release the plaintiff unconditionally from further detention.

“Contrary to such misleading impression, the ECOWAS Court has not discharged and acquitted Col. Dasuki in respect to the criminal charges pending against him in the Nigerian courts. All that the court said was that the suspect be allowed to enjoy his human right to liberty within the context of the bail granted him by the trial courts."

http://punchng.com/us-ban-release-dasuki-falana-urges-buhari/

JAMB Admission Letter Printing Guide For 2016/2017 [UTME, DE Candidates]

Joint Admission and Matriculations Board, JAMB admission letter printing for the 2016/2017 academic session is now available online. See How To Print.

Admission Letter Printing
This allows candidates to print Admission letters. Only candidates with admission will be able to use this service.

Price:₦1,000

Joint Admission And Matriculation Board, JAMB



The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board (JAMB) has opened the portal for both Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry candidates to access their admission letter online.

All the candidates offered admission during the 2016/2017 academic session are to note that their admission letters will be available for printing on JAMB Website from Monday 14th November, 2016.

HOW TO PRINT YOUR ADMISSION LETTER ONLINE.

To be able to print your JAMB admission letter, you need to purchase the e-facility scratch card from any JAMB office closest to you. After, you can now proceed to the steps outlined below to print your JAMB admission letter.


INSTRUCTION: JAMB ADMISSION LETTER PRINTING

1. You shall be required to create a profile via the Sign Up (New User) Page if you are a new user. For existing users, simply type in your login details. To create your profile, you will provide your valid email address, surname, first name, Mobile No, State and LGA of Origin and password, then click on the Sign Up button. Each candidate is entitled to only one profile.

2. Subsequently, you shall use your email address and Password to Sign In

3. Once logged in, you will be taken to the landing page where you will see all available services.

4. Select “Print Admission Letter”. This is available on the side bar or on the Home page

5. Once you select this service, a Transaction ID is generated for this service. This will be displayed on the confirmation page screen.

6. Review the details displayed on the Confirmation Page. Also, note the Transaction ID displayed in bold in red. The Transaction ID is useful for all future references concerning the Transaction. A copy of this transaction ID will be sent to your registered email address.

7. Click on the Continue button if you wish to pay with your card immediately. If you wish to use other payment channels like ATM, Cash at the Bank and Quickteller, please note the transaction ID as it will be required.

8. On the Interswitch Payment page, enter your card details and click on the Pay button.

9. The status of your payment will be displayed on the “My Payment Section” An SMS and email containing your unique Transaction Identification and payment status will be sent to you after payment. Click on the Continue button.

10. Once payment is completed, you will be asked to provide the following: a. Year of Exam and b. JAMB Registration Number

After entering the information correctly, you can now print the Result Slip as shown on screen.


Source: http://www.ngschoolz.com/jamb-admission-letter/

Pastor Shoots Colleague Dead In Osun

A pastor, identified simply as Timothy Abiola, has allegedly shot dead a fellow pastor, who was also his friend, Pastor Bamiji Ilori.

The Police Public Relations Officer for the Osun State command, Mrs. Folasade Odoro, who said this in a statement on Sunday, added that the reason for the action had yet to be ascertained.

The name of the church of the two pastors was not stated, but the PPRO said Abiola shot his colleague with a locally-made gun.
She stated that the gun had been recovered by the police, adding that the incident happened in Ikire, Osun State.

She said that the suspect was arrested following a report made to the police by a relative of the deceased cleric.

She said, “Ilori had confessed to the police. Investigation into the killing has started and the suspect will soon be charged to court.”
She stated that the remains of late pastor had been deposited at the Catholic Hospital’s morgue in the Oluyoro area, Apomu, for autopsy.

It will be recalled that a pastor identified as Adepoju, had in January 2014 stabbed his colleague and friend, Pastor Julius Oguntoye, to death in Gbongan, in Osun State.

http://punchng.com/pastor-shoots-colleague-dead-osun/

Osun Poly Graduate Dies After Project Defence

Femi Makinde, Osogbo

Students and staff members of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, have been thrown into grief following the sudden death of a fresh graduate of the institution, Felix Agandi, who died barely four days after he defended his undergraduate project.

One of Agandi’s coursemates told our correspondent on the telephone on Friday that he was dropped at his residence by one of his friends at around 10pm on Monday night.

The coursemate stated that the 27-year-old graduate of Mass Communication was an orphan, who struggled to finance his education from his national diploma days to the time he finished his higher national diploma programme.

The deceased’s neighbours were said to have rushed him to a hospital after he was heard suddenly screaming from his sleep but he was reportedly certified dead right inside the car before he arrived hospital on Tuesday morning.

He said, “We are all in a pensive mood in Iree now because of Felix’s death, who screamed from his sleep and died shortly after that.

“ Felix was a gentle person but jovial. He was humble and hardworking. Despite being an orphan he saw himself through school. His death is an unfortunate one and this week has been one of the saddest ones in recent times in Iree.”

The remains of the Delta State-born student were said to have been buried at Ilesa, Osun State, where he lived with his siblings on the same day.

A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Mr. Tope Abiola, who is also the Public Relations Officer of the institution, confirmed the death of Agandi.

He told our correspondent that the management of the school had visited the deceased’s siblings to commiserate with them.

Abiola said, “The death of the student is still a big shock to everyone of us. We were told that he died in his sleep. He died just some days after he defended his project. There were few corrections made on his project and he was supposed to submit the corrected version when he died.

“He was a cool and hardworking young man. I learnt that he was an orphan but he was focused and determined but unfortunately death snatched him away. May his soul rest in peace.”

http://punchng.com/osun-poly-graduate-screams-sleep-dies-project-defence/

Reasons South-East Senators Visited Buhari

*Senators give condition for supporting $29.9 loan request
*Demand release of Nnamdi Kalu
*Want rehabilitation of federal roads in S/East to be included in 2017 budget

INDICATIONS have emerged that South East Senators, who recently visited President Muhammadu Buhari presented a list of demands as a condition for supporting the $29.9 billion external loan being sought by the President through the National Assembly, NASS.
The proposals, which Saturday Vanguard had knowledge of focused on poor state of infrastructure in the South East geopolitical zone, security and accommodation of the zone’s interest in the proposed loan, detention of leader of Independent People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu and construction of a rail Standard Gauge Spur from Agbor to Onitsha,

Others included a request to address the issues of kidnapping, herdsmen and IPOB, the establishment of a dry port in Abia State, Onitsha and Enugu, request for a place in the National Security Council, the inclusion of South East when concessioning federal roads and airports and construction of extra River Basin Development Authority for the zone.

A breakdown showed that the lawmakers demanded a better funding of federal projects and institutions in the region, arguing that less than 10 percent of appropriated funds were released annually in last past 10 years.

They also observed that the Enugu Airpot runway had a wrong design and was dilapidated for an airport of its status.

Hence, they demanded the President should prevail on the Minister of Transport to commence rehabilitation of the facility.

While making a case for sustainable communication with South East leaders, the legislators requested that a private member bill presently at NASS be signed by the President if passed.

Beyond these, it was learnt that the legislators of South East extraction were irked by the belief that the zone was left out among beneficiaries of the proposed external loan.

It was particularly against this backdrop, that they visited the President with the list of demands expected to be met in order to bring about equity.

The delegation which was led by Deputy Senate President, Sen Ike Ekweremadu and Sen Eyinnaya Abaribe had said that the marginalisation of the South East largely informed their visit.

Ekweremadu, who spoke to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, said: “For us from the South East, we believe that dialogue is better than any other form of engagement. So we decided to visit the President and present to him some of the concerns of the South East including the issues of roads and infrastructure.

“We also discussed the issue of security with him and of course the issue of IPOB. We had a good conversation and he promised to look into the issues. This is the South East caucus in the Senate and we came to see the President because of the issues we have in the South East.

“We had a fruitful discussion with the President. He has promised us that he is going to look into the problems of South East. We know that there are problems everywhere but we also believe that the South East is the zone that is far much short-changed at this time than other zones.

“We also talked about the issue of appointments from the South East, especially with respect to the National Security Council. The President also told us that governors of the South East have also engaged him on the same problems. We were reassured by the response we got from the President and we look forward to further interaction with him in this manner.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/11/revealed-real-reasons-south-east-senators-visited-buhari/

Man Tears Neighbour’s Manhood Over Potty

Kunle Falayi

It was a simple household scuffle, which degenerated into fisticuffs. But when 24-year-old Okechukwu Chiagba woke up that day, he did not imagine that he would nearly lose his manhood over something as mundane as a potty.

But that was exactly what happened when he engaged in a scuffle with his neighbour, 41-year-old Michael Essien, a Calabar, Cross River State indigene, over accusation of using a potty without permission.

But by the time the dust settled, Chiagba had sustained a gory tear in his manhood that put him in the hospital for more than one week.

He explained to Saturday PUNCH that the incident that led to his injury began at 6am that day in the apartment building in which he lived with his wife (what is called face-me-I-face-you) in Shasha, Egbeda Lagos.

Chiagba said, “That night, my wife went out to use the toilet. We normally use potties. But when she got to where she put her potty, she could not find it.

“She came back to ask me but I told him I had not seen it. She went outside to look for it and that was when she saw our neighbour (Essien) coming out of the toilet with it.

“My wife came back to report to me. I was preparing to go out and challenge the man for using my wife’s potty when my wife cautioned me not to go. She said she would prefer to go and meet the man’s wife and talk to her. I agreed and let the matter go.”

According to him, later that morning, he went to work but when he came back in the night, he saw the potty at their entrance, even though they usually kept it out of sight in a corner of the house.

Chiagba said when he asked his wife about it, she said she did not know who put it there.

He said, “I picked the potty and put it under the staircase where we usually kept it.

When I was returning it, Essien blocked my way and said I should not put it there again, I asked why and he said because my wife was accusing him of using the plastic.

“I told him that if my wife really accused him, all he needed was to deny or ignore her that he really did not use it. I tried to go past him and put the potty there but he pushed me to the ground. We were about to fight when neighbours separated us.

“I went inside and sat down. Later, I went to put on a boxer and sat outside to take fresh air. I was receiving a call when I heard ‘I will surprise you today. I will show you today.’ I turned around just in time to catch him as he rushed at me.

“We were fighting when he grabbed my manhood and held on to it so tightly that I fell down and fainted. I think he did not know that I had actually fainted because I was told he still held on to it even when I had passed out. I learnt that it took three men in the compound to force him to let go.”

It was learnt that after Essien let go, the neighbours realised how serious Chiagba’s injuries were as he laid unconscious on the ground.

They quickly revived and rushed him to a hospital where he was stitched up and hooked on a drip.

Essien who has since been arrested by policemen from the Egbeda Police Division, Lagos, explained that he did not mean to inflict such an injury on Chiagba.

The police said Essien has now been charged before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for assault and battery.

Chiagba told Saturday PUNCH that he had not been able to walk properly since the incident. He said he had expended a lot of money on treatment and believed Essien must be made to reimburse the money he spent on his treatment.

http://punchng.com/man-tears-neighbours-manhood-potty/