APC leaders at daggers drawn in Delta as crisis worsens

 

Following the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC leaders at daggers drawn in Delta as crisis worsens.

The APC crisis has taken a different dimension in Delta as Deputy Senate President, DSP, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial district becomes the most influential power brokers in the state.

Deputy Senate President, DSP, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, representing Delta North Senatorial district recently defected from Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to APC.

The crisis has worsened seeing their dominance being risen against by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment and chairman of the party’s Leaders’ Council in the state, Festus Keyamo, SAN. This is backed by other leaders including serial governorship candidate, Olorogun Great Ogboru.

This climaxed last Saturday with the ward congresses boycotted by the leasers and party members loyal to the Minister of State for Labour & Employment and Festus Keyamo, SAN.

Meanwhile Former speaker of Delta House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Victor Ochei, co-chairman of the Leaders Council, Dr. Alex Ideh, another former Speaker, Delta House of Assembly, Monday Igbuya, former Executive Director, Projects, NDDC, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, Dr. (Mrs.) Marian Ali, AVM Okorodudu (retd.), Dr. Eugene Okolocha and Hon George Timinimi are unanimous in their rejection of the current happenings in the party. Source: Vangaurd

The council cannot be silent in the face of the monumental catastrophe which the said decision portrays for the future of our great party if not corrected, neither can the Council bury her head in the sands like the proverbial ostrich in hope that the definite arrows of the opposition parties will not hit its un-hindered target. This statement is necessitated for the sake of posterity and to make the councils’ position clear.

We hereby categorically state that we have since informed all party members to boycott the said ward congresses as same is devoid of any legitimacy in both procedure and substance as it relates to the guidelines (and in the face of the Supreme Court judgment, the legitimacy of those guidelines may be called to question later).

We are confident that the duty to set things right now falls on us and we shall do that for the sake of posterity. We shall give further updates on actions already taken and subsequent decisions to follow

The Leaders Council in a statement by Keyamo

The recent decision of the Supreme court in the case involving Ondo State between Jegede and Akeredolu has shown that our great party narrowly escaped the judges’ gavel which would have sent our hard-earned victory in Ondo state into the waiting arms of the opposition party, the PDP.

The narrow split decision of 4-3 deliberated amongst others on the legality of Gov. Mai Mala Buni as a sitting governor to run the affairs of our great party as Chairman of the caretaker committee.

The minority decision contended that our great party ought to have been sent packing from the Ondo State Government House on the basis that Gov. Mai Mala Buni being a siting governor and also concurrently serving as Chairman of the APC caretaker committee offends Section 183 of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and our own Article 17 of the APC Constitution, having signed the nomination with which Gov. Akeredolu was selected as our party’s candidate in Ondo State.

The said minority decision portrayed that the official actions of Gov. Mai Mala Buni serving as Chairman of the APC Caretaker Committee in respect of our great party is a nullity. The council is of the opinion that the saving grace by the technicality-based majority judgment of the apex court wherein the non-joinder of the said chairman of the APC caretaker committee to the suit was the basis for our narrow escape should be something with which we should not further gamble.

It must be known that the decision by our great party to proceed with the ward congresses in Delta state and across the country is a ‘gamble taken too far’. Perhaps it is pertinent to take the party through memory lane via one of the most recent ill fortunes of the party in Zamfara state, where all the victories of the party in that state were overturned in one fell swoop. The Zamfara State episode promises to be a child’s play in terms of the monumental kill-stroke which this decision is positioned to deal to our great party if not reversed.

Assuming, but not conceding, that the contrary interpretations of this clear and un-ambiguous judgment by forces who wish to go ahead with this botched congresses were probable, the question that must be answered is that; ‘should we gamble the entire ambition, fortunes and structure of our great party on probabilities’?

The resort to reasoning by temporarily suspending these ward congresses until a new leadership which comes without any legal liabilities is inaugurated will cost the party nothing and consequently leave the same with a clear future not hindered by any pending legal death-blow. Let us eschew ego and personal ambitions and be properly guided on this.

On another hand, the said fatal decision to go ahead with the said ward congresses was made without consideration to the fact that the same was already procedurally botched in Delta state and many other states as well, where pockets of court litigations have already been set in motion. In particular regard to our dear Delta state, the events have been particularly an embarrassment. “Thousands of party faithful made payments worth millions of naira to the provided party accounts within the timetable stipulated in the guidelines, but were not issued with forms. This is coming in the light of revelations given by the party agents sent for the exercise, wherein the said forms were hijacked by fellows,  who are loyal to a man that has done nothing more than to cause rancor within the party ranks due to his personal interests.

However, the said forms which were hijacked were subsequently distributed to the un-grounded loyalist of this stakeholder even though no payments were made to the bank. The said hijacked forms as at today the 31st day of July 2021, have not been submitted to the party. The question that comes to mind has to do with the essence of the unnecessary hijack of same.

According to the State Leaders Council

Blissnaija also gathered that the Delta State Caucus of the APC, yesterday, passed a vote of implicit confidence on the Governor Buni-chaired Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC for the successful conduct of ward congress of the party across the country.

POLICE NAB INEC STAFF WITH GUN IN ABIA

Ⓒ.ABN

Police Detectives attached to the zone 9 Police headquarters in Umuahia, Abia State capital, have arrested one Emmanuel Agwu, a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission for unlawful possession of a gun and live ammunition.

A Source close to the zone 9 Command who pleaded anonymity said a team of Police officers were detailed by the Assistant Inspector General of Police in the zone Mr. Hosea Karma to arrest Agwu, but he resisted the arrest, threatening to shoot the Policemen.

It was learnt that Agwu who is a director in INEC serving at Akwa Ibom State, was ordered to be arrested at his Amauba Housing Estate, Ubakala Umuahia in connection with a case of alleged threat to life leveled against him in a petition written by C. M Onwukamuche, a legal practitioner based in Umuahia.

It was gathered that Agwu who is currently at loggerheads with one Chigozie Okeahialam over a six plot of land at Amauba Housing Estate, had refused all civil approach made to settle the matter, but rather he forcefully took possession of the land and threatened Okeahialam to stay away, hence the petition was brought against him.

A Police source said when the arrest team arrived at Agwu’s house, he refused to open his gate and called the Policemen in uniform kidnappers.

The source said, “When we got to Agwu’s house he didn’t open the gate for us even though we were on Uniform and identified ourselves as policemen. He called us kidnapers and went on to contact the Police and other security agencies in the State that kidnappers were at his gate. One of his friends who is said to be a Military man came and confirmed that we were Police officers, but he refused to open his gate.

“We contacted our base and the AIG asked us to come back. We went back and obtained a search warrant and returned and carried out a search in his house. We found seven rams of live ammunition from his room. We then arrested him and asked him to produce the gun and he refused and said he had no gun, but we later recovered the gun”.

According to the petition made available to our correspondent by Onwukamuche, he stated that his client Okeahialam had a business ideal with Agwu in which he sold part of his landed property to him, leaving other parts of the land for himself.

The petition added that Okeahialam also extended a power of attorney in respect of the part of the land sold to Agwu, but Agwu had refused to return a copy of the said power of attorney to him.

The petition read in part, “All efforts made for Agwu to return the power of attorney to our client has proved abortive, until on the 5th day of march, 2018 when our client visited the said landed property only to discover that Agwu has left the area sold to him and encroached into the other remaining part of our client’s land not sold to him.

“Our client discovered that Agwu had also sold part of his land to strangers who had commenced building on it, while his wife and son had already commenced farming on the remaining part of the land.

“Efforts made by our client to challenge Agwu’s unlawful encroachment into his land was resisted by Agwu and his son who both reportedly pointed gun at him and threatened him to leave the land for them or he will lose his life’’. 

Ⓒ.ABN

2019 Election; INEC, Voters And Reluctant Optimism

By; Jerome-Mario Utomi

As the nation races toward 2019 general election, many strange things are happening daily in our political space; some heartening and others, undesirable. Particularly echoing on this wavelength is the demand for a robust political partisanship.  A move that is  aimed at terminating the dearth of leadership that has bedeviled our nation for too long a time.

Essentially welcoming is the call for good governance sermonized daily. But beyond this call, is an uninspiring preparation characterized by gaps between what we profess and our political actions; a case of more speech with less action by all parties  (state actors/citizens) alike. This has become a growing source of  concern prompting  keen political watchers to ask whether Winston Churchill, had us (Nigerians) in mind when he defined a fanatic as ‘he, that can neither change his mind nor change the topic’.

Undeniably, the need for electing the right leaders has become inevitable and eminently desirable. And Nigerians have within this period expressively preached leadership change but visibly shown ineptitude in strategy and commitment that will bring this position to fruition. Beyond doubt, we are more styled than substance in this 2019 project.

Going by what is happening currently, analysts are however worried that what the masses have so far exhibited is, but, a reluctant optimism which could only lead the nation scoring the usual electoral result as speeches alone cannot win an election.

Another deep-seated source of worry is the telling evidence that the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), has recently become a body that is good at expressing regrets for their misdeeds without a promise of repentance or apology; under age voters’ registration saga comes flooding.

But the most damaging of all these scenarios is the current spate of insecurity in the country; an occurrence that points to the fact that the federal government may not be promising a firm security for the exercise. Particularly now that disobedience of order has become a familiar music hall act.

These looming signs of woes have again necessitated discerning minds to conclude that if the nation eventually elects the right people in 2019, such victory shall be viewed as an unmerited success. And if we fail, such will again be considered as an accident the nation could have avoided since we saw it coming.

Against this backdrop, it will be gratifying that these unspoken fears are urgently and sprightly addressed as doing so shall translate to a force of stability and a small beginning that will bring about an important breakthrough. But having them disregarded may come at heavy political and socio-economic cost for our nation.

Aside from the above, it also appears that our inability to coexist is another indication that we are not doing so well to establish a democracy and leadership that is enduring. History bears eloquent testimonies that true democracy can only work in a ‘peaceful environment, where the people have the culture of accommodation and tolerance which makes a minority accept majority’s right to have its way until next election, and wait patiently and peacefully for its turn to become the government by persuading more voters to support its views’. I doubt if our nation as currently postured can fit into this description.

Our inability to coexist in my views may not be the only hurdle against 2019 general election as the age-long underage  registration/voting challenge mooted above   raised its ugly head  in  a  recent but still trending video   captured during  a registration exercise and  a  local council poll in some states. Nigerians are not particularly happy that the Independent National Electoral Commission has not been able to give an impressive explanation of what happened as expected.

As if that was not enough misery for our democracy, damaging state of illiteracy and attempt to regulate freedom of speech as we have recently witnessed with the attempted introduction of hate speech bill, has but become another stumbling block standing on the way to achieving a people-purposed leadership.

Going by what is happening at the global stage, there is again, a telling proof that ‘for democracy to succeed, a relative level of literacy, a growing middle class, and political institutions that support free speech and human rights is desirable. It needs a civic society resting on shared values that make people with different and conflicting views willing to corporate with each other’. In contrast, Nigerians are going about this 2019 electoral project divided while a greater percentage of the electorates still wallow in ignorance.

Illustrating the above, most of the people leading this electoral discourse have neither registered for nor collected their Permanent Voters Card (PVC). Again, a gross apathy on the part of the youths has become another significant source of worry.

A story was told of how in  Anambra state, some youths in their resolve to stop a particular candidate from winning the recent gubernatorial contest, decided not to participate in the electoral exercise. Such a decision in my views was born out of political ignorance and further portrays the democracy we practice as ‘democracy turned upside down’.

However, despite these negative developments, it is my firm believes that these monsters can be caged and the anticipated 2019 election result achieved if the FG allays this fears as expressed by the masses.

To get started, such step may include but not limited to our realization as a people that democracy can only guarantee good governance when it is mixed with the appropriate ingredients. Such ingredient is our ability and resolves to vote the right people that will uphold probity as well as build institutions. Therefore, as we commence yet another ‘political ultimate search’ come 2019. Voting based on pecuniary inducement or ‘stomach infrastructure’ should be discouraged

it is imperative that INEC  as a public institution run with the approval, and from the funds of the public perform its responsibility of facilitating/regulating the electoral process responsibly as failure may lead to losing public/peoples  support and by  extension, its existence.

To further disabuse the minds of Nigerians who may have doubts about the forthcoming election, the FG should take pragmatic steps to address the nation security challenge as well as tackle  in a holistic manner  other issues raised that may blur the 2019 general election outcome.

Dangote Opens N1.2bn Business School in Kano

Dangote traced the journey of the construction of the school to the days of Prof Attahir Jigawa as the Vice Chancellor of the University when he pleaded with him to help in the establishment of a business school that can accelerate  entrepreneurship in the country.

He said he agreed to build the edifice because of his conviction that good quality education is the bedrock of meaningful development in the country and only a sound mind can facilitate development.

The school. According to him, will train African Business leaders by crying out research on how Nigerians can do business in the very particular kind of environment and succeed.

On his part, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Muhammed Yahuza Bello said with the new business school, the university is now poised to serve the society better through training, research and services.

He said the university adopted the name “ Dangote Business School”, because the name Dangote is internationally synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship and successes in business and industry and pledged that the school will live by its name and tradition.

Explaining the uniqueness of the school He stated that the new structure comprises 650 seating capacity auditorium, two theaters, four lecture halls, two libraries, incubation center, two cafeterias, 800kva soundproof generator and borehole among others.

In their separate remarks, Gov. Ganduje, represented by his Deputy, Prof. Hafeez Abubakar, his Jigawa State Counterpart, Gov. Muhammed Badaru Abubakar and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II showered accolades on Alh Aliko Dangote for his several interventions in various sectors in the State and beyond, urging other wealthy individuals to emulate.

Kano Deputy Governor, Professor Abubakar who represented Gov Ganduje said Nigerians have a lot to learn from Alhaji Dangote whose wealth has no influence on his humility and is ever willing to do for his immediate environment and make the society better.

He pleaded with the University authority to grant Alhaji Dangote opportunity to lecture once in a while in the school, even if it’s interactive session because he has a lot to offer beyond available in the text books as a successful business man.

Emir Sanusi said what Dangote has done is what he has always advocated for other Nigerians to do and that not units Nigeria gets her education right a lot of things may not fall in place as expected.

He expressed his appreciation to Alhaji Dangote for rising up to the occasion each time he calls on him to do one thing or the other in the interest of the society.

Emir Sanusi urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate him and contribute to the development of their society

Characteristics of Trustworthy Political Leaders (2019 ELECTION FAST APPROACHING BE WISE)

comr.Ndukwe Chidiebere Okpan 

BE WISE COME  2019 ELECTION Make Your Vote Count

 Characteristics of Trustworthy Political Leaders

A good leader is a self actualized leader. Self actualization is the highest form of human growth, someone who is self actualized is a fully functioning human being.It is worth to pay attention to these and take them into consideration when we’re making a choice as to whom we chose as a leader come 2019.

A good leader:

1. Is fair and objective. A good political leader does not take what is similar to his views as facts and base his decisions on that. He uses reliable and unfiltered information to make judgments and to come up with resolutions. In other words, he stands above his own believes to observe events objectively while the general public fails to do so. In addition, he does not suffer from a self serving bias.
2. Is moving above himself and serving the society. A good leader stands above any specific religious or political views of his own and is independent of any attachment to a specific agenda. His personal beliefs become his private matters and he learns to leave them out the door once he steps into a leadership role. In other words, his belief expands so that it includes everyone’s beliefs.
3. Is not seeking fame and attention: A good leader has been able to move above and beyond any egoistic and primitive need for power, attention, or establishing his personal agendas and works with the intention of good-for-all.
4. Is not into hiding the truth for the sake of looking good. A good leader says it as it is even if it feels uncomfortable for many to hear it. He is not a people pleaser in a sense that he would say anything to please others even if that means manipulating or misguiding the public. It takes a lot of courage to do this and a good leader has that courage.
5. Is focused on specific, achievable, and measurable goals and demands outcomes.A good leader is focused and does not get distracted. His goals, whether small or large, are reasonable and achievable and are directed towards the long term results not quick and temporary fixes that may backfire.
6. Encourages people to be accountable for their actions. A good leader helps people understand that they are accountable for their society and its outcome and teaches them to make compromises and responsible choices. He does not support a sense of self-serving entitlement that has gone too far and is counter-productive for the society as a whole.
7. Does not pay attention to being politically correct but ethically so. A good leader understands that in order for the whole society to be a functional and healthy one, some adjustments need to be made and people need to learn to give some in order to gain some.
8. Does not make idealistic promises but realistic ones. A good leader makes a sustainable promise and is a man of his words.
9. Is honest even if it does not get approval. People know where they are standing with an authentic leader. He does not hide bad news just because it is uncomfortable to the public’s ear.
10. Thinks globally and acts locally. He realizes that in order for us to live in prosperity as a powerful and blessed country, reasonable steps need to be taken to make sure others achieve the same goals. He is aware that with power comes responsibility and that now more than ever, through technology, we are becoming more and more inner related, globally.
11. Takes personal responsibility. A good leader is secure enough with himself to take personal responsibility when one is needed. In other words, a good political leader has an internal locus of control while he is aware of the effects of the external forces.
12. Remains level headed and has a sense of humor. A good political leader has a healthy emotional IQ and has learned to move above his emotions, conditionings, and his fixations to specific outcomes to think logically and globally. In other words, he is rational and in control of his emotions and when the public is going through the emotional roller coaster, he is there to guide them through it.
13. Has a curious mind. A good leader is thirsty for factual, expert oriented and unbiased knowledge all the time and on all levels.
14. Does not make himself look good by assaulting others. A leader that can be trusted does not take others down for himself to go up. He is more of a collaborator than a competitor. He tries to build bridges rather than destroy them. He is a natural mediator rather than one that creates conflict, tension, and separation.

It is important to know that there is really no evidence indicating leaders are innately born. While some people have more of a predisposed personality for it but all people can become a great leader with enough determination, self reflection, open mindedness, experience and knowledge.

Make Your Vote Count

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)will begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the country in May

pvc

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said it would begin the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the country in May.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia, Dr Joseph Iloh, said this at the 5th triennial delegates’ congress of Abia council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Umuahia on Friday.

Delivering a lecture on “Voter Registration: Foundation for Credible Election and Good Governance”, Iloh said that PVCs for those who registered before Dec. 31, 2017 had been produced for most states in the federation.

He, however, said that distribution of the cards would commence when production of the cards for the remaining states had been completed.

The REC explained that the delay in the production and distribution of the cards was occasioned by the fact that the job was being handled by one team.

He said that the decision to entrust the job to one team was to avoid a mismanagement of the process by multiple hands.

He appealed to the media and the public to exercise patience with INEC over the distribution of the PVCs.

Iloh said that the commission was doing its best to ensure that the 2019 general elections were not only free, fair and credible but that the people were happy at the end of the exercise.

He said that voter registration was a continuous exercise but would be suspended 30 days to the commencement of the general elections.

He expressed delight that the commission had deployed super-fast machines that had the capacity to register at least 500 persons per day in Abia.

The REC said that the measure had resulted in substantial increase in the number of registrants in the state.

He decried the lukewarm attitude of some citizens toward the discharge of their civic responsibilities by refusing to be captured in the voter register for the upcoming polls.

Iloh assured Abia indigenes that the election year would be violent-free, devoid of ballot-box snatching and intimidation of voters by desperate politicians, using thugs.

He said that card readers would be used during the polls, adding that the commission had taken inventory of functional and non-functional ones, while a new set was being expected in the state.

“We have also taken note of all the lapses in the last general elections and we are working hard to avoid those lapses in 2019 elections,” he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six-member executive committee of NUJ in the state was re-elected for another three-year term.

The team, which was inaugurated by the Vice President of NUJ, South-East Zone C, Mr Chris Isinguzo, is headed by Mr John Emejor of Information Chapel as Chairman.

We expanded our free meal programme to accommodate more vulnerable pupils — Ikpeazu

GOV

Abia State Government has extended its free school feeding programme to cover all primary school pupils in the state by including pupils of primaries 4 to 6 in the programme.

Hitherto, the programme was limited to only pupils in primaries 1 to 3 but was last week extended to pupils of primaries 4 to 6.

The government said the decision was informed by the fact that the first phase covering pupils in primaries 1 to 3 has positively boosted the primary school enrolment in the state from 100, 000 to over 300, 000, with the vulnerable ones benefitting immensely.

Flagging off the primary 4 to 6 programme at Ubakala Central School in Umuahia South Council, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu commended the Federal Government for the initiative to feed primary pupils 1 to 3, which he said has greatly benefited the vulnerable pupils.

According to him, the government decided to extend the programme to pupils in primaries 4 to 6 because of the desire to ensure that pupils focus their attention on learning, noting that there is a direct relationship between well fed pupils and the capacity to learn as against hungry pupils that find it difficult to concentrate.

Ikpeazu said that it is imperative to mainstream school feeding as a policy of his government, which he said informed the decision to open warehouses in the three senatorial zones where food items can be donated for the success of the programme.

He commended his wife, Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu and her team for sustaining the programme, saying that the programme has moved school enrolment in the state from 100, 000 to over 300,000 and called on well meaning Abians to donate towards the programme.

In her remarks, Deaconess Ikpeazu whose office coordinates the programme, expressed happiness with the progress recorded by the programme and thanked all those who have supported the programme so far.

The Focal person of the Abia Social Re-investment Programme, Mr. Chinenye Nwogu disclosed that the state expends the sum of N176 million monthly in feeding the over 300,000 primary school pupils, saying that the programme has impacted positively on the vulnerable in society.

FG Uncovers Fresh 130,000 Tax Defaulters

The Federal Government on Tuesday disclosed that it has uncovered a fresh 130,000 individuals and corporate entities that either under-declared their tax status or simply defaulted.

The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, said that the government is collating data collected both locally and internationally on tax status in order to arrive at a credible data base that would enable the country know who the defaulters are.

Adeosun stated these while appearing on the Good Morning Nigeria programme of the Nigerian Television Authority.

The Minister disclosed that the data was currently being compiled by Project Lighthouse in preparation for the closure of the ongoing Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), which ends on 31st March, 2018.

Project Lighthouse is a unique project of the Federal Ministry of Finance that combines data from Federal and State agencies and overseas countries.

She said, “The data have been received from a number of sources including land registries of the Governments of Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

“In addition, Nigeria has been able to request data from a number of nations including traditional tax havens. The data have been received from a number of foreign jurisdictions under the exchange of information protocols.

“Under the exchange of information protocols, this information relates to bank records and financial filings for tax purposes and is obtained from tax havens who are signatories to the information sharing agreements such as British Virgin Islands and Mauritius.”

She explained that the data received from overseas countries would only be used for taxation purposes in line with the protocols governing the exchange of information

“The sole interest of the Federal and State Governments in the use of the data is in raising tax revenues. There is absolutely no hidden agenda on the use of the data,” she added.

Adeosun hailed the ‘unprecedented’ level of cooperation between the Federal and State Governments, which she said was a marked change from the past when the various arms of Government did not align their efforts.

The Minister identified the common violations by non-compliant tax payers to include:

·         Under-declaration of and non-declaration of income earned including income from Government contracts and overseas trading;

·         Collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) which is not duly  remitted to FIRS;

·         Charging of non-allowable personal expenses to company accounts particularly with reference to overseas school fees;

·         Inconsistency between income declared for tax purposes and the value of assets owned.

She advised non-compliant tax payers to seek professional advice and to also consult relevant literature available from the tax authorities on tax rules.

She underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to raising tax revenues which were essential to grow the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

She cited the fact that just N1 million could feed over 14,200 primary school children under the Homegrown School Feeding programme as well as creating many jobs in the agricultural sector.

Asked if the Federal Government would extend the deadline of the tax amnesty programme, the Minister ruled out an extension of the deadline saying sufficient period had been given to tax payers to voluntary and truthfully declare their assets and income which had not been declared previously.

On the economy, she assured that the country was on the path of growth.

Nigeria, it would be recalled, had exited recession in the second quarter of 2017, recording a growth of 0.72 per cent.

The country further consolidated its recovery in the third and fourth quarters of last year, with growths of 1.40 per cent and 1.92 per cent, respectively.

Adeosun said, “The Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has laid the foundation for the repositioning of the economy by a series of reforms which are being sequenced to ensure maximum impact and benefits to Nigeria and the citizens.

“These include huge investments in infrastructure and social welfare across the country, improved revenue mobilisation, rebuilding of foreign reserves and stabilization of exchange rate.”

She further noted that revenue mobilisation was potentially the master key to unlocking Nigeria’s huge growth potentials and funding the infrastructure programmes.

In addition, the Minister said the Federal Government would continue to create more fiscal space for reforms to enhance productivity and opportunity in the non-oil sector.

UBA Moves Higher on SMEs Development; Signs MOU With China Development Bank

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, today moved higher in its quest to boost Small Medium Enterprises as it signed a memorandum of understanding with China Development Bank (CDB), the world’s largest development finance institution.

The deal is to cover the whole of Africa in the development of SMEs

UBA,  in a statement made available to the Nigeria Politics Online on Wednesday, said the $100 million loan will enhance UBA’s capacity to provide access to finance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the 19 African countries where UBA currently operates.

The statement quoted the Managing Director of the UBA, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka, as  saying, “We are excited to partner with China Development Bank (CDB), the Development Financial Institution of the Chinese Government, on this historic transaction, as we strongly believe that the facility will serve as a catalyst to the sustainable development of commerce and industry in Africa through provision of critical financial interventions to SMEs across our presence countries,”

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Chairman of UBA Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu said that the fund will boost small and medium scale enterprises across Africa, noting that CDB’s interest in supporting SMEs aligns with UBA’s vision in growing business across Africa.

“In UBA, CDB would have an enduring partner in reaching out to Africans as UBA provides banking services to over 14 million people across 20 African countries, and like CDB, UBA funds critical infrastructural projects on the continent “  Elumelu said. He expressed that he would like to see an even stronger relationship grow with CDB and UBA as well as with China and Nigeria.

Also commenting, the President of CDB, Mr. Zheng Zhijie, said the agreement is the beginning of cooperation between UBA and CDB that would translate into an enduring business relationship between China and Africa and Nigeria in particular.

“UBA is a leading and dependable bank not only in Nigeria but Africa, and this partnership will help our Bank to accelerate its business objectives in Africa, more importantly as we deepen our investment in energy, road and rail constructions, infrastructure in Africa,” Zhije said

UBA, Africa’s global bank, is one of the largest commercial banks in Nigeria incorporated which operates in 19 African countries whilst providing a wide range of products and services. UBA is a leading bank in infrastructure financing particularly in the Power, Telecoms and Transport sectors. UBA leads in social infrastructure such as hospital and education facilities to various countries in Africa. In Nigeria, the bank operates in each of the country’s 36 states, helping to deepen financial inclusion through its brick and mortar network as well as through its cutting edge digital platforms. Globally, UBA has over 1,000 branches and customer touch points, serving over 14 million customers.

CDB, funded in 1994, is the world’s largest development finance institution and, the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation.  CDB provides medium-to-long-term financing facilities that serve China’s major long-term economic and social development strategies. By the end of 2016, its assets grew to RMB 14.34 trillion, a balance of loans of RMB 10.32 trillion. CDB currently has 37 primary branches and 3 secondary branches on the Chinese mainland, one offshore branch in Hong Kong and five representative offices in Cairo, Moscow, Rio de Janeiro, Caracas and London

Senators Applaud Total and Partners on Egina FPSO

Nigerian Senate Committees on Gas and Petroleum (Upstream) have commended Total and its partners for the remarkable progress made towards the completion of the Egina Floating, Storage, Production and Offloading (FPSO) unit, which is currently being finalized at the Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) Yard in LADOL Free Zone, Lagos.

Senator Omotayo Alasoadura, who is chair of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources and his Gas Committee counterpart, Senator Barnabas Gemade, led their committees on an inspection tour of the 330m-long Egina FPSO on Friday, February 16, 2018, where they expressed delight with the pace of work on the unit and its massive Nigerian content profile.

“Seeing the Egina FPSO has shown that a good investment has been made to ensure that Nigeria moves deeper and deeper into the sea to exploit its God-given endowment of oil,” stated an elated Senator Alasoadura, pointing out that touring the FPSO facility had been a very wonderful experience.

“I believe that with Egina going operational very soon, Nigeria will be able to meet its quota not only to OPEC but also will have enough to meet its other commitments. I believe that it is a good project and Total has done a great thing bringing such an FPSO to Nigeria making it first in Africa. This milestone has brought us to where we should be as the giant of Africa,” he added.

On the local content work being done on the project, Senator Alasoadura said: “It is massive development of capacity. You cannot do much for local development without building capacity and that has been done by giving Nigerians the opportunity to build part of what we are seeing here today. I am sure the next time it will take less money and time to build something similar because of developed capacity.”

In his remarks, Senator Gemade who led the Senate committee on Gas said, “We are very excited about the participation of Nigerians that are technically qualified in major and huge projects like Egina. This impact cannot just be swept under the carpet. Those responsible for actualising this project must be commended.”

The Managing Director of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mr Nicolas Terraz, thanked the senators for taking the time to visit the Egina FPSO saying, “What you are seeing here is a product of the hard work of our staff, many of whom are Nigerians, along with our very supportive partners and Nigerian authorities.”

Other senators on the visit were Senators Gershom Bassey, Magnus Abe, Samuel Egwu, Peter Nwaoboshi, Benjamin Uwajumogu, Baba Garbai, Ogola Foster and Ibrahim Kurfi.

The Egina FPSO cast anchor at the SHI-MCI quayside, LADOL Island, Lagos, after her 86-day journey from South Korea to Nigeria on January 28, 2018 for the integration of six locally fabricated topside modules.


Being the first project to be launched after the enactment of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry Content Development Act in 2010, the ongoing integration and work on the Egina project pushes the Nigerian local content on the project to the highest level and has set a benchmark for the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry.

Alex Otti's 53rd Birthday Celebration: Dangote, Amaechi & Obiano Attend

Abia heavy weight Dr Alex Otti yesterday celebrated his 53rd birthday in grand style in Lagos.In attendance were the National Leadership of APGA, the Board of Trustee Leadership ,led by the Governor of Anambra State His Excellency Chief Willie Obiano, Deputy Governor  Dr. Nkem Okeke;Alhaji Aliko Dangote , APGA leadership in the National Assembly led by Senator Chief Victor Umeh and other important dignitaries led by the Hon minister for transport HE Rotimi Amaechi, the Managing Director Fidelity bank of Nigeria Mr Nnamdi John Okonkwo led the banking sector while other top Abia dignitaries including Chief David Ogba Onuoha Boudex,Mazi Eni Paul, Barr  Chukwudi-Oracle Nwala,Chigozie Onyeukwu Ubani , Chuka Ofili and Chief Nwaka Inem

Mandela Obasi Empowers His Constituents With Cutlasses And Hoes In Abia (Photos)

 

Our lawmakers have got to do better in the aspect of empowering their constituents. Just when we thought we've seen it all, comes this shocker. Honourable Mandela Obasi, the member representing Ohafia North State constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is in the news for empowering his constituents (mostly old women) with cutlasses and hoes.


According to reports, the lawmaker did to in order to encourage the people to be more productive.