STREET LIGHT: Enugu govt approves N122m for power generators

Determined to ensure an effective operation of street lights in Enugu metropolis, the Enugu State Government recently approved the sum of N122, 220,000.00 for the procurement of 10-unit of 200KVA generators to replace the existing ones that are over 7years.
The state government disclosed that the 60KVA and 150KVA generators currently in use were old, below the rated amperage and no longer sizeable because of installation of more street lights on the roads, adding that most of the facilities that power the lights were being vandalized by hoodlums.
Speaking on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, who is also in charge of maintenance of street lights, Hon. Obiora Tega Onyia noted that the present administration decided to procure new generators to ensure effective operation of street lights to enhance security of lives and property of the people.
Hon. Onyia disclosed that street lights were also being destroyed by reckless driving, which causes the government huge amount of money to repair despite the current economic challenges in the country.
While appealing to vandals to stop the vandalism of street light facilities, the state government called on the people of the state to be vigilant and report any person found or suspected to be tampering with the facilities to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Hon. Onyia, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration towards an effective street light operation in the state. / IN News /
Comments
By Anozie Egole
ENUGU—Determined to ensure an effective operation of street lights in Enugu metropolis, the Enugu State Government recently approved the sum of N122, 220,000.00 for the procurement of 10-unit of 200KVA generators to replace the existing ones that are over 7years.
The state government disclosed that the 60KVA and 150KVA generators currently in use were old, below the rated amperage and no longer sizeable because of installation of more street lights on the roads, adding that most of the facilities that power the lights were being vandalized by hoodlums.
Speaking on the development, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, who is also in charge of maintenance of street lights, Hon. Obiora Tega Onyia noted that the present administration decided to procure new generators to ensure effective operation of street lights to enhance security of lives and property of the people.
Hon. Onyia disclosed that street lights were also being destroyed by reckless driving, which causes the government huge amount of money to repair despite the current economic challenges in the country.
While appealing to vandals to stop the vandalism of street light facilities, the state government called on the people of the state to be vigilant and report any person found or suspected to be tampering with the facilities to the appropriate authorities for necessary action.
Hon. Onyia, therefore, reaffirmed the commitment of the present administration towards an effective street light operation in the state.

Tarfa falsified his age, EFCC insists

A prosecution witness with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in the ongoing trial of Rickey Tarfa, SAN, Tosin Owobo yesterday insisted that there was discrepancies in the age declaration that Tafar gave in the age declaration form that he filled at the commission’s office. Owobo, an operative of the EFCC, while he was being cross examined said that in the course of investigation, the agency wrote letters to three banks Zenith, Fidelity and GTB Bank requesting information on Tarfa account.
The witness said upon the analysis of GTB response, it showed that he was born on February 23, 1962, but from the International passport, his age is 54, while that of the statement he made before the commission was 43.
Tarfa is standing trial before Justice A.A. Akintoye of a Lagos State High Court sitting at Igbosere on a 27-count charge of offering gratification to public officer, alleged failure to declare assets and false statement of age.
The witness further told the court that Tarfa’s GTB Bank account was a domiciliary account which he made two payments.
He said that the defendant paid a cash sum of 10,000 US dollars into his GTB Bank domiciliary account on November 21 2013 and also a deposit of cash in the sum of 10,000 US dollars into the same account on January 29, 2016.
However, Justice Akintoye adjourned the matter till today for continuation of trial.

NUP kicks as FG pays military pensioners 42 months, Police 3 ON October 14, 2016 3:55 AM / IN News / Comments By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA—LEADERSHIP of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has expressed surprise over the alleged disparity displayed by the Federal Government in the payment of arrears of military, para-military and civilian pensioners. The union specifically lamented that while the civilian pensioners collected 24 months, military and para-military counterparts got their entire 42 months arrears, while the Police were only paid three months. According to a statement signed by the National President of NUP, Dr. A.O. Afolayan and the General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, the union pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to address the alleged injustice against the police. The statement read: “We were surprise that as the civilian pensioners collected 24 months, para-military got the entire 42 months arrears and the Nigerian military pensioners got 42 months.”

LEADERSHIP of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has expressed surprise over the alleged disparity displayed by the Federal Government in the payment of arrears of military, para-military and civilian pensioners.
The union specifically lamented that while the civilian pensioners collected 24 months, military and para-military counterparts got their entire 42 months arrears, while the Police were only paid three months.
According to a statement signed by the National President of NUP, Dr. A.O. Afolayan and the General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, the union pleaded with President Muhammadu Buhari to address the alleged injustice against the police.
The statement read: “We were surprise that as the civilian pensioners collected 24 months, para-military got the entire 42 months arrears and the Nigerian military pensioners got 42 months.”

Many reasons Buhari should change style – Opara, Ex- Deputy Speaker

Former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara speaks on a wide range of issues. While condemning the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the former deputy speaker, however, blames the issue on the skewed appointments made by this government, which he says are “provocative.” Excerpts .
Over one year into office, how would you compare the All Progressive Congress government and the sixteen years of the Peoples Democratic Party?
It is very clear to everybody. The situation is worse than it has ever been in the country in all sectors. We are using the recession as a blanket phrase to describe the situation. Going to the grassroots, the situation is precarious and pitiable.
There is no foodstuff, workers salaries are not being paid, the price of fuel is beyond reach, electricity supply is terrible, the exchange rate has skyrocketed.
There is crisis in virtually all sectors of the economy. We need expert intervention as well as divine intervention to save this nation from total collapse.
But it has been argued that the poor foundation laid by your party is responsible for what we are going through now.
That does not make sense to me, except for a government that is unserious and is keen on making excuses. When President Barack Obama took over in the United States of America, the American economy was in crisis as left by President George Bush.
War against corruption
Obama never spent time blaming President Bush but took on the challenge. We have elected a government because they told Nigerians that the PDP government was not performing.
To turn around to blame their failings on the PDP government is no longer excusable. For a president who had contested election four times, the least Nigerians expect from him is to have a plan on how he is going to do things differently. For him to turn around to blame others for his failing is very unfortunate.
But it is agreed that the president has made much progress in the fight against corruption.
It has come out clearly that even the war against corruption is skewed against a few people and I will give you examples. In Rivers State, so much has been presented against the past government but nobody has said anything but this government goes after people whom they don’t even have evidence against. It is a clear indication that this government only goes after its opponents in the so-called war against corruption.
The precarious state of the economy has made the government consider selling some national assets. Do you support this?
For me, something must give in at this point. I disagree with the sale of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas because, in the past several months, it has paid dividends of over $4 billion which was shared amongst the three tiers of government. To that extent, the NLNG is a productive and viable entity. But divesting government interests in some of the assets is necessary, especially those that have continued to constitute liabilities to the country. One good example is the JVC with the oil companies where Nigeria holds about 54% shares. There is nothing wrong with divesting say 4%. But the important thing is to ensure that in doing this, the government must ensure that the beneficiaries of such policies are Nigerians.
To get us out of recession now, there must be some short term measures, including borrowing. But there must be a cocktail of opportunities that government must bring to bear. It must inject money into the system in the short term.
What is your reaction to the chain of events in the House of Representatives that culminated in the suspension of a member for one year?
It is unfortunate that a member of the House, former chairman of a prominent committee will speak in the manner that he did, denigrating the parliament because he lost out. I don’t understand what he is talking about padding or no padding.
As a parliament, you have the right to adjust the budget in a manner that would be for the total good of the nation. Section 4 of the Constitution says the Parliament should make laws for the good governance so if an adjustment is done to ensure good governance, what is wrong with that? It is only when such adjustment is done out of selfish reasons that you can say there is a problem.
My take on the crisis is that the former chairman of the Appropriation Committee was wrong in his approach. The speaker or any member of the parliament can introduce projects to the budget, but the problem again is the approach. Some of the projects they may introduce may not be federal government project.
Yes, while it may not be outrageous to amend the budget or introduce new projects, this must be done in liaison with the relevant agency that may execute such projects. But for a member of the House to speak in the way the former chairman of appropriations committee spoke, it shows that he is just bent on pulling down the system.
The institution is bigger than any individual. The fact that you have fallen out of favour does not mean that the institution should be destroyed.
What is your reaction to the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region?
We have condemned this. A lot of us have spoken out against this because ultimately, we from the region would be the loser. The degradation of the environment, the loss of revenue to our state and local government and other issues. We keep talking to those who say they are aggrieved or unhappy because we believe there are better ways of going about the problems. Let the destruction of pipelines stop in the interest of our people and the nation.
But it is also necessary to put it on record that this government, in all that it has done, including appointments that have been skewed in favour of a section of this country, has been provocative.
The government should look inward and address the style of governance. This is not the first government we have had in this country.
It is important that the government should look inward and readdress a lot of issues, especially that of appointments. The appointments so far made are skewed, and it is very provocative.
What are the lessons to be learned from the recent governorship election in Edo State?
The fact that has come out of the Edo election is that 2019 will not be business as usual. It will not be like the previous elections. Both the government and the governed should know that 2019 will be different. I congratulate PDP members in Edo state for their performance. We have been told that the unit by unit results that the party agents indicated that PDP won the election.
We will leave that for the tribunals to decide but the fact is that for a state that it does not have a government yet they performed so creditably, they deserve commendation and it is an indication of what will happen in 2019.

Many reasons Buhari should change style – Opara, Ex- Deputy Speaker

Former deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sir Austin Opara speaks on a wide range of issues. While condemning the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region, the former deputy speaker, however, blames the issue on the skewed appointments made by this government, which he says are “provocative.” Excerpts .
Over one year into office, how would you compare the All Progressive Congress government and the sixteen years of the Peoples Democratic Party?
It is very clear to everybody. The situation is worse than it has ever been in the country in all sectors. We are using the recession as a blanket phrase to describe the situation. Going to the grassroots, the situation is precarious and pitiable.
There is no foodstuff, workers salaries are not being paid, the price of fuel is beyond reach, electricity supply is terrible, the exchange rate has skyrocketed.
There is crisis in virtually all sectors of the economy. We need expert intervention as well as divine intervention to save this nation from total collapse.
But it has been argued that the poor foundation laid by your party is responsible for what we are going through now.
That does not make sense to me, except for a government that is unserious and is keen on making excuses. When President Barack Obama took over in the United States of America, the American economy was in crisis as left by President George Bush.
War against corruption
Obama never spent time blaming President Bush but took on the challenge. We have elected a government because they told Nigerians that the PDP government was not performing.
To turn around to blame their failings on the PDP government is no longer excusable. For a president who had contested election four times, the least Nigerians expect from him is to have a plan on how he is going to do things differently. For him to turn around to blame others for his failing is very unfortunate.
But it is agreed that the president has made much progress in the fight against corruption.
It has come out clearly that even the war against corruption is skewed against a few people and I will give you examples. In Rivers State, so much has been presented against the past government but nobody has said anything but this government goes after people whom they don’t even have evidence against. It is a clear indication that this government only goes after its opponents in the so-called war against corruption.
The precarious state of the economy has made the government consider selling some national assets. Do you support this?
For me, something must give in at this point. I disagree with the sale of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas because, in the past several months, it has paid dividends of over $4 billion which was shared amongst the three tiers of government. To that extent, the NLNG is a productive and viable entity. But divesting government interests in some of the assets is necessary, especially those that have continued to constitute liabilities to the country. One good example is the JVC with the oil companies where Nigeria holds about 54% shares. There is nothing wrong with divesting say 4%. But the important thing is to ensure that in doing this, the government must ensure that the beneficiaries of such policies are Nigerians.
To get us out of recession now, there must be some short term measures, including borrowing. But there must be a cocktail of opportunities that government must bring to bear. It must inject money into the system in the short term.
What is your reaction to the chain of events in the House of Representatives that culminated in the suspension of a member for one year?
It is unfortunate that a member of the House, former chairman of a prominent committee will speak in the manner that he did, denigrating the parliament because he lost out. I don’t understand what he is talking about padding or no padding.
As a parliament, you have the right to adjust the budget in a manner that would be for the total good of the nation. Section 4 of the Constitution says the Parliament should make laws for the good governance so if an adjustment is done to ensure good governance, what is wrong with that? It is only when such adjustment is done out of selfish reasons that you can say there is a problem.
My take on the crisis is that the former chairman of the Appropriation Committee was wrong in his approach. The speaker or any member of the parliament can introduce projects to the budget, but the problem again is the approach. Some of the projects they may introduce may not be federal government project.
Yes, while it may not be outrageous to amend the budget or introduce new projects, this must be done in liaison with the relevant agency that may execute such projects. But for a member of the House to speak in the way the former chairman of appropriations committee spoke, it shows that he is just bent on pulling down the system.
The institution is bigger than any individual. The fact that you have fallen out of favour does not mean that the institution should be destroyed.
What is your reaction to the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region?
We have condemned this. A lot of us have spoken out against this because ultimately, we from the region would be the loser. The degradation of the environment, the loss of revenue to our state and local government and other issues. We keep talking to those who say they are aggrieved or unhappy because we believe there are better ways of going about the problems. Let the destruction of pipelines stop in the interest of our people and the nation.
But it is also necessary to put it on record that this government, in all that it has done, including appointments that have been skewed in favour of a section of this country, has been provocative.
The government should look inward and address the style of governance. This is not the first government we have had in this country.
It is important that the government should look inward and readdress a lot of issues, especially that of appointments. The appointments so far made are skewed, and it is very provocative.
What are the lessons to be learned from the recent governorship election in Edo State?
The fact that has come out of the Edo election is that 2019 will not be business as usual. It will not be like the previous elections. Both the government and the governed should know that 2019 will be different. I congratulate PDP members in Edo state for their performance. We have been told that the unit by unit results that the party agents indicated that PDP won the election.
We will leave that for the tribunals to decide but the fact is that for a state that it does not have a government yet they performed so creditably, they deserve commendation and it is an indication of what will happen in 2019.

Morocco: A prodigal son gives conditions

AFRICA, beloved of God has many sons and daughters. Some of them in ancient Egypt gave the world its modern civilisation. It also gave Greece its philosophy which became the basis of Western thought and philosophy. However, a different race whom our Seers had warned us against, swooped and enslaved almost all of Africa’s children. In pain and in tears, through our sweat and blood we struggled for freedom. That was years before the whole humanity agreed that the right of a people to self-determination is non-negotiable.
Even at the dawn of freedom, Africa’s children were like sheep without Shepard as the former slave masters sought to continue our enslavement, this time, indirectly. Then we coalesced into two broad groups. Some met in Casablanca, Moroccco and became the Casablanca Group; the other became the Monrovia Group. Africa’s far sighted leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and on May 25, 1963, gave birth to one united movement of the African people called the Organisation of African Unity. We vowed that never again will Africans be enslaved and that those still in bondage like South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Western Sahara shall be free. Indeed, despite the efforts of enslavers, they became free. All African children became free but we did not envisage that one of our prominent sons would collaborate with the foreign slave masters to deprive one of us her freedom.
Mother Africa has been generous by providing for us all; big and small, we have our own inheritance. But our brother Morocco decided in addition, to seize the inheritance and wealth of small Western Sahara. First it connived with the Spanish slave masters to deprive Western Sahara, its independence. Then it got the latter to hand over the riches of Western Sahara to him and Brother Mauritania; both proceeded to share it as a booty. Mauritania was to rethink and wash its hands off its share of the loot which greedy Morocco seized and added to its share.
However, Africa will not have such covetousness and decided to call Brother Morocco to order reminding him that the African peoples are one and that our ancestors forbid stealing. But stubborn Morocco would not agree, and when the rest of Africa welcomed our Saharawi brothers and sisters to our common home, the African Union, Morocco would have none of it. It decided to leave home and go hunting with the old slave masters. A few brothers walked out with him, but when they got to the gate, turned back to join the rest of the family. Morocco, backed by the former slave owners, went looting the fishes, phosphate and the riches of the Saharawi. It brutalised the Saharawi, detained some, destroyed their homes, forced some into refugee camps, built a wall dividing the territory, and forced the rest under its jackboots. It paid no heed to the international community, refused to allow the referendum the rest of the world directed should be conducted to allow the Western Sahara decide freely whether it wants to be free or be part of big brother Morocco. In one of the most ridiculous cases of thuggery, Morocco seized one our Saharawi sisters, Aminatu Haider and exiled her to the territory of the former slave master. If indeed the Saharawi is Moroccan, how would you exile your citizen to a foreign territory?
After thirty two years of wandering in the desert and keeping bad company, prodigal Morocco decided to return home to the African Union. He must have realised that he is a nobody outside the homestead; that his foreign friends will never threat him as an equal, that is if in the first place, they regard him as a human being. Our brother, King Mohammed VI of Morocco who was born three months after the Union was founded, wrote a rambling and insulting 2,144-word letter announcing Morocco is willing to return. Nobody will stop such a return because Morocco is a long lost son and our home is a common patrimony. It is like a long lost sheep; why won’t motherly Africa rejoice that her prodigal son has decided to retrace his steps and return home? But while the Biblical prodigal son was remorseful, full of regrets and begged for forgiveness, the Moroccan prodigal is unrepentant, arrogant and exhibiting the traits of a street thug.
In the letter announcing his decision to return home, he referred to his brother Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, SADR (Western Sahara) as a “phantom state” His illogical argument is that the SADR which is a biological son of Africa, is not a member of the United Nations (UN). So what? How is being a member of the UN the criteria for statehood? For decades, Switzerland, one of the oldest republics of the world, was not a member of the UN. In any case, do we need the certification of the UN to determine that the Saharawi is a full blooded African?
Morocco indulged in falsehood when he claimed it left the homestead because he does not want to create a division. The truth is that it left when it could not create a division. It wants to adopt the same tactics by trying to induce other Africans with economic and monetary baits to expel or suspend Western Sahara from our common home. Morocco can swallow its pride and return to the African fold, but the Saharawi will never be expelled from the home of his father. Africa belongs to all Africans and no African is superior to the other. Any African leader who backs Morocco whether for a mess of porridge or due to pressures from the former slave masters to expel or suspend Western Sahara from the African House, should know he is trying to break and destroy the union of the African peoples. Such people will be the enemies of the African people and foes of social justice. We cannot allow the rule of might over right in our continent. All those sharing in the loot of Western Sahara be they foreigners or Africans will ultimately have to account for their greed.
When leaders like President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Julius Nyerere (who presided) sat in the African Union thirty two years and decided to admit the SADR into the Union, it was in the fundamental interest of Africa. To seek to take a different action today, is to betray these leaders, endanger the health of mother Africa and mortgage the future of our continent and children. If the prodigal son will not abide by the basic principles and the brotherly love that bind all of Africa, it is free to continue wandering in the desert. Prodigal Morocco cannot give Africa conditions to return home.

Morocco: A prodigal son gives conditions

AFRICA, beloved of God has many sons and daughters. Some of them in ancient Egypt gave the world its modern civilisation. It also gave Greece its philosophy which became the basis of Western thought and philosophy. However, a different race whom our Seers had warned us against, swooped and enslaved almost all of Africa’s children. In pain and in tears, through our sweat and blood we struggled for freedom. That was years before the whole humanity agreed that the right of a people to self-determination is non-negotiable.
Even at the dawn of freedom, Africa’s children were like sheep without Shepard as the former slave masters sought to continue our enslavement, this time, indirectly. Then we coalesced into two broad groups. Some met in Casablanca, Moroccco and became the Casablanca Group; the other became the Monrovia Group. Africa’s far sighted leaders met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and on May 25, 1963, gave birth to one united movement of the African people called the Organisation of African Unity. We vowed that never again will Africans be enslaved and that those still in bondage like South Africa, Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Guinea Bissau and Western Sahara shall be free. Indeed, despite the efforts of enslavers, they became free. All African children became free but we did not envisage that one of our prominent sons would collaborate with the foreign slave masters to deprive one of us her freedom.
Mother Africa has been generous by providing for us all; big and small, we have our own inheritance. But our brother Morocco decided in addition, to seize the inheritance and wealth of small Western Sahara. First it connived with the Spanish slave masters to deprive Western Sahara, its independence. Then it got the latter to hand over the riches of Western Sahara to him and Brother Mauritania; both proceeded to share it as a booty. Mauritania was to rethink and wash its hands off its share of the loot which greedy Morocco seized and added to its share.
However, Africa will not have such covetousness and decided to call Brother Morocco to order reminding him that the African peoples are one and that our ancestors forbid stealing. But stubborn Morocco would not agree, and when the rest of Africa welcomed our Saharawi brothers and sisters to our common home, the African Union, Morocco would have none of it. It decided to leave home and go hunting with the old slave masters. A few brothers walked out with him, but when they got to the gate, turned back to join the rest of the family. Morocco, backed by the former slave owners, went looting the fishes, phosphate and the riches of the Saharawi. It brutalised the Saharawi, detained some, destroyed their homes, forced some into refugee camps, built a wall dividing the territory, and forced the rest under its jackboots. It paid no heed to the international community, refused to allow the referendum the rest of the world directed should be conducted to allow the Western Sahara decide freely whether it wants to be free or be part of big brother Morocco. In one of the most ridiculous cases of thuggery, Morocco seized one our Saharawi sisters, Aminatu Haider and exiled her to the territory of the former slave master. If indeed the Saharawi is Moroccan, how would you exile your citizen to a foreign territory?
After thirty two years of wandering in the desert and keeping bad company, prodigal Morocco decided to return home to the African Union. He must have realised that he is a nobody outside the homestead; that his foreign friends will never threat him as an equal, that is if in the first place, they regard him as a human being. Our brother, King Mohammed VI of Morocco who was born three months after the Union was founded, wrote a rambling and insulting 2,144-word letter announcing Morocco is willing to return. Nobody will stop such a return because Morocco is a long lost son and our home is a common patrimony. It is like a long lost sheep; why won’t motherly Africa rejoice that her prodigal son has decided to retrace his steps and return home? But while the Biblical prodigal son was remorseful, full of regrets and begged for forgiveness, the Moroccan prodigal is unrepentant, arrogant and exhibiting the traits of a street thug.
In the letter announcing his decision to return home, he referred to his brother Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, SADR (Western Sahara) as a “phantom state” His illogical argument is that the SADR which is a biological son of Africa, is not a member of the United Nations (UN). So what? How is being a member of the UN the criteria for statehood? For decades, Switzerland, one of the oldest republics of the world, was not a member of the UN. In any case, do we need the certification of the UN to determine that the Saharawi is a full blooded African?
Morocco indulged in falsehood when he claimed it left the homestead because he does not want to create a division. The truth is that it left when it could not create a division. It wants to adopt the same tactics by trying to induce other Africans with economic and monetary baits to expel or suspend Western Sahara from our common home. Morocco can swallow its pride and return to the African fold, but the Saharawi will never be expelled from the home of his father. Africa belongs to all Africans and no African is superior to the other. Any African leader who backs Morocco whether for a mess of porridge or due to pressures from the former slave masters to expel or suspend Western Sahara from the African House, should know he is trying to break and destroy the union of the African peoples. Such people will be the enemies of the African people and foes of social justice. We cannot allow the rule of might over right in our continent. All those sharing in the loot of Western Sahara be they foreigners or Africans will ultimately have to account for their greed.
When leaders like President Muhammadu Buhari and Dr. Julius Nyerere (who presided) sat in the African Union thirty two years and decided to admit the SADR into the Union, it was in the fundamental interest of Africa. To seek to take a different action today, is to betray these leaders, endanger the health of mother Africa and mortgage the future of our continent and children. If the prodigal son will not abide by the basic principles and the brotherly love that bind all of Africa, it is free to continue wandering in the desert. Prodigal Morocco cannot give Africa conditions to return home.

Reps query UBEC over pre-budgetary spending

THE House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education yesterday queried the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, over pre-budgetary spending which violated the Fiscal Responsibility Act,
The Committee on Universal Basic Education, led by Zakari Mohammed, APC, Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, issued the query during an interactive session with the leadership of the commission to appraise the 2016 budget performance, in line with its oversight responsibilities.
The Director of Finance win the commission, Mohammed Sambo, while responding to a question by a member of the committee, gave the indication that the commission had received almost 92% of the 2016 budget allocation with 100% utilisation.
Sambo told the lawmakers that the commission started accessing funds for recurrent and other expenditures since March, 2016 from a budget that became operational in May.
He said: “We get our funding based on what was appropriated. If the appropriation is N77billion, we get N6billion every month and in 1st quarter, we would have got N18billion.’’
He explained that the commission started accessing funds as early as March, 2016 even before the budget was passed.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Mr. Habib Bobboi, however, tried to clear himself of any complicity, saying he came to UBEC on August 4and met N300million in-balance according to his handover note.

Reps query UBEC over pre-budgetary spending

THE House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education yesterday queried the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, over pre-budgetary spending which violated the Fiscal Responsibility Act,
The Committee on Universal Basic Education, led by Zakari Mohammed, APC, Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency, issued the query during an interactive session with the leadership of the commission to appraise the 2016 budget performance, in line with its oversight responsibilities.
The Director of Finance win the commission, Mohammed Sambo, while responding to a question by a member of the committee, gave the indication that the commission had received almost 92% of the 2016 budget allocation with 100% utilisation.
Sambo told the lawmakers that the commission started accessing funds for recurrent and other expenditures since March, 2016 from a budget that became operational in May.
He said: “We get our funding based on what was appropriated. If the appropriation is N77billion, we get N6billion every month and in 1st quarter, we would have got N18billion.’’
He explained that the commission started accessing funds as early as March, 2016 even before the budget was passed.
The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Mr. Habib Bobboi, however, tried to clear himself of any complicity, saying he came to UBEC on August 4and met N300million in-balance according to his handover note.

Rep advocates adequate funding for NDDC

THE Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Mr Nicholas Mutu, has called for adequate funding of the commission to enable it deliver its mandate for the benefit of the people of the region.
Mutu, who addressed newsmen in Abuja shortly after being conferred with the Most Outstanding Legislator award by Tozali magazine, urged the Federal Government and the oil companies to endeavour to live up to expectations in their onerous responsibility.
Mutu argued that the NDDC, more than ever before, needs adequate funding to embark on aggressive infrastructural development across the region in order to douse current tensions in the area.
He recalled that the assignment of the NDDC, which is to transform the neglected Niger Delta region, was an uphill task that must be met.

Cynthia Osokogu: Court forecloses right of defendant to file address

Justice Olabisi Akinlade of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere, yesterday, foreclosed the right of the second defendant, Ezike Olisaeloka, to file his final written address in the ongoing trial of four men, who allegedly killed Cynthia Osokogu.
Osokogu was allegedly killed on July 22, 2012, at Cosmilla Hotel, Lakeview Estate, Festac Town, Lagos, by her Facebook friend.
The defendants are Okwumo Nwabufo, 33; Olisaeloka Ezike, 23; Orji Osita, 33, and Ezike Nonso, 25.
The defendants are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy, murder, stealing, reckless negligence and possession of stolen goods.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, Justice Akinlade ordered the prosecution counsel, Mrs Bola Akinshete, to file her reply to the final written addresses of the defendants.
The judge said: “I am not going to wait indefinitely for the second defendant’s counsel to file his final written address.
“It is on record that the court had given the second defendant several opportunities for him to file his written address since June 16 at the last adjourned date. Up till now, he has been unable to do so.
“It is obvious that the counsel is not ready to file his final written, address. I hereby foreclose the right of the second defendant to file his final written address and order the prosecution to file her reply on the final written addresses.”
The judge adjourned the case to December 8, for adoption of the final written addresses.
Prosecution’s prayer
Earlier, the prosecution urged the court to foreclose the right of the second defendant from filing his final written address to enable her file her reply on the defendants.
Akinshete said: “Since June 16, despite the order of your Lordship for the second defendant to file his final written address, he has refused to do so. I, therefore, urge your Lordship to foreclose his right to file the address to enable us make progress in this matter.”
The trial had suffered several adjournments due to the delay tactics of the defence counsel.
It will be recalled that Justice Akinlade, at the last adjourned date on June 8, expressed displeasure over the delay of second defence counsel in filing his final written address and threatened to award substantial cost to the second defendant over failure to file same.
The prosecution said that the 25-year-old Osokogu, who was resident in Abuja, was lured to Lagos, where she was killed.
The offences committed are punishable under Sections 221, 249, 285 and 327 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

PRESIDENT BUHARI ARRIVES BERLIN, GERMANY FOR HIS THREE-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT

President Buhari has arrived Berlin for his three-day official visit to Germany. While in Berlin, President Buhari, will meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on issues of shared interests between Nigeria and Germany, including further cooperation on security, the humanitarian situation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and rehabilitation of the North-East, as well as trade and economic relations between both countries. 

President Buhari is accompanied by Governors Kashim Shettima of Borno State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo respectively and representatives of the National Assembly, they will meet with Federal President Joachim Gauck. 

In furtherance of the administration’s objective to attract more foreign investment and create economic opportunities in the country, President Buhari will participate in a Business Forum in Berlin with leading German companies already active in Nigeria and other prospective investors. Before returning to Abuja, President Buhari is expected to meet with representatives of the Nigerian community in Germany.

BEING AN INTROVERT

No matter how any of us characterize our personalities — introvert, extrovert, ambivert, whatever — we're all unique and diverse and lovely in our own nonconforming ways, and I get that. We have discovered several (dare I say) ubiquitous truths introverts can relate to. If you identify as such, see the points below, crack a beer, and celebrate. It's a weird, wonderful life indeed.
1. Introverts are often alone and rarely lonely.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: introverts need alone time. We absolutely require a few hours or even days to ourselves if we're expected to operate like the rest of our functioning peers in society. It's how we recharge. So if you notice us with our earbuds in and heads down listening to music, reading a book, playing a game, or watching a YouTube video in our own little corners of the world, just nod and pass on by.
2. Introverts are total homebodies.
I have a strong attachment to my apartment, and I'll readily admit I rarely leave it on the weekends. I can curl up in bed and do my own thing on my phone or Kindle. I can sprawl out on the couch and peruse Netflix. I can chill out on the floor and complete a puzzle. Home is where the heart is, and it's the one place where introverts don't have to put on the "hi, how are you, please engage in conversation with me" happy face.
3. Introverts usually think before speaking.
Obviously, we're not perfect. Here and there, we'll blurt things out and we'll say things we don't mean, just like everyone else. For the most part, though, introverts think before speaking — especially when it comes to work-related functions, like meetings or happy hours. We may have much to say, but we pick and choose what we ACTUALLY say, because our ultimate humiliation is blabbing about something completely
stupid and being rebuked for it. That happened to me once, when I was in eighth grade and made a dumb joke at a sizeable gathering, and no one but my best friend laughed (kind of funny in hindsight, but it was super embarrassing and slightly traumatizing at 13). Mark my words: I've been careful ever since.
4. Introverts overanalyze.
In the same vein, introverts tend to overthink. Sometimes we should be saying more than we are, but we overthink what we want to say, and by the time we decide to say it, the moment has passed and it'd be weird as hell to bring the topic back up. I find myself in this situation fairly frequently, though I think (hope?) I'm getting better about joining the discussion.
5. Introverts don't enjoy the spotlight.
One thing that consistently stands out to me is how poised the bride and groom appear walking down the aisle, all beaming smiles and confident sashays. I try to picture this wallflower ambling to the same altar, every sharp pair of eyes on me, and I immediately break into a cold sweat in the underarm region. Obviously, introverts get married; I'm just naming an example of an anxiety-inducing, center-stage scenario. We're really not big on the spotlight.
6. Interacting can feel like hard work for introverts.
The key word, here, is "can." Interacting CAN feel like hard work, most especially if we've been thrown into a wild sea of strangers where uncomfortable small talk is deemed socially appropriate and/or necessary. Honestly? I find big parties to be more terrifying than any of the Paranormal Activity movies, because mingling with people I'm unfamiliar with is both nerve-racking and mentally exhaustive. Nine times out of 10, I'm passing on that invite.
7. Introverts are not antisocial.
Despite our general aversion to large group settings, the idea that introverts are 100 percent antisocial is a misconception. We're not some sort of human subspecies immune to the affection and interest of our fellow primates. We enjoy a nice one-on-one dinner date with someone we know well,
coffee run with a few friends, and even, occasionally, making an interesting connection with someone random ("Oh, you're best friends with your dog?! SO AM I!").
8. Introverts are fiercely loyal to loved ones.
Speaking of that interesting connection, introverts tend to stick like glue with a few good ones. This isn't to say we ONLY get on with other introverts — my boyfriend's about as extroverted as it gets — just that when we do achieve a real, meaningful relationship, we don't take it for granted. We keep very small, very special social circles.
9. Introverts love the small stuff.
A hike in the forest during the Fall has been known to bring me to tears once or twice. I freak out when an animal willingly crawls into my lap for a scratch behind the ears. A great story will find a permanent home in my heart. We introverts derive inspiration from the little things, which maybe aren't little at all, if you think about it.
10. Introverts embrace every emotion.
We're in touch with our emotions, plain and simple. Alone time allows us to thoughtfully ruminate in our complexities. We feel all the feelings, and we're not afraid to face them, question them, analyze them, sort them, and even write them down, if we're so inclined. (In fact, it may be argued that we communicate best on paper.)
11. Introverts take on new challenges.
Despite what you've probably heard, introverts don't live timidly. It's true that we have a natural tendency to remain within our comfort zones. It's true that we shy away from attention, spend a lot of time at home, and feel some level of discomfort around strangers. However, it's also true that we explore new things, push the limits, make the effort, and strive for success. As introverts, we may have our own set of challenges, but we rise to the occasion, day in and day out.

Ford awarded £1.6m over accident

Actor Harrison Ford has been awarded £1.6million pounds in compensation over the 2014 accident that he suffered during the filming for the latest Star Wars movie.
Ford, 74, was crushed by a hydraulic door during the filming.
Actor Harrison Ford in one of his action films.
Disney’s Foodles Production (UK), a film production company will pay the fine, a  court in the United Kingdom ruled.
The star was knocked to the ground and pinned down by the heavy door while filming for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire in June 2014.
He could have been killed by the door on the set of the Millennium Falcon spaceship which crushed him like a ‘blunt-edged guillotine’, a court heard.
Hollywood star Ford, who was 71 at the time, was reprising his role as Han Solo when he was hit by the door, which had been designed to mimic the action of a door on the original set.
His sidekick Chewbacca’s safety was also endangered by the incident, which saw Ford suffer a broken tibia and fibula, a dislocated ankle and a cut hand.
The Health and Safety Executive said the power of the rapidly closing metal-framed door meant Ford was hit with a power comparable to the weight of a small car.
Foodles Production was set up specifically for the making of the film. It was fined a total of £1.6 million on Wednesday after admitting two counts of breaching its health and safety duties.
Aylesbury Crown Court was told the scene being shot involved Ford helping his injured Wookiee friend Chewie aboard the ship then shutting the door behind him.
Ford had gone through the door and hit a button. He started to walk back through it, believing the set was not live – as it was a rehearsal – and that it would not close.
But it was remotely operated by another person, and as the star passed underneath he was hit in the pelvic area and pinned to the ground.
Director JJ Abrams and Ford screamed for the door to be lifted but it could not be done manually and he had to be released by the controller.
The court previously heard there had been a ‘risk of death’.
Prosecutor Andrew Marshall said today: ‘In any construction project there is a need for safety.
`It is something that has to be planned. There was an investigation that was brought about by an incident.
‘During the making of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the actor Harrison Ford sustained injuries as a result of being struck by a hydraulically powered vertical sliding door that was part of a film set.
‘Part of the concept of the film was that the original actors and scene locations of the previous films would be used.
‘The area (the door) was known within the film production as the carousal. The door was designed to ensure rapid closure.
`‘The door was designed for a film but that is just a species of workplace where the same requirements of safety are imposed as anywhere else.’
According to Daily Mail Online, the door was operated by a person sitting behind a screen and pressing the button.
However, when the operator closed the door she did not realise Ford was planning to back through and he became trapped.
The actor was airlifted to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital from the set of the much-anticipated latest instalment in the Star Wars saga.

Ford awarded £1.6m over accident

Actor Harrison Ford has been awarded £1.6million pounds in compensation over the 2014 accident that he suffered during the filming for the latest Star Wars movie.
Ford, 74, was crushed by a hydraulic door during the filming.
Actor Harrison Ford in one of his action films.
Disney’s Foodles Production (UK), a film production company will pay the fine, a  court in the United Kingdom ruled.
The star was knocked to the ground and pinned down by the heavy door while filming for Star Wars: The Force Awakens at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire in June 2014.
He could have been killed by the door on the set of the Millennium Falcon spaceship which crushed him like a ‘blunt-edged guillotine’, a court heard.
Hollywood star Ford, who was 71 at the time, was reprising his role as Han Solo when he was hit by the door, which had been designed to mimic the action of a door on the original set.
His sidekick Chewbacca’s safety was also endangered by the incident, which saw Ford suffer a broken tibia and fibula, a dislocated ankle and a cut hand.
The Health and Safety Executive said the power of the rapidly closing metal-framed door meant Ford was hit with a power comparable to the weight of a small car.
Foodles Production was set up specifically for the making of the film. It was fined a total of £1.6 million on Wednesday after admitting two counts of breaching its health and safety duties.
Aylesbury Crown Court was told the scene being shot involved Ford helping his injured Wookiee friend Chewie aboard the ship then shutting the door behind him.
Ford had gone through the door and hit a button. He started to walk back through it, believing the set was not live – as it was a rehearsal – and that it would not close.
But it was remotely operated by another person, and as the star passed underneath he was hit in the pelvic area and pinned to the ground.
Director JJ Abrams and Ford screamed for the door to be lifted but it could not be done manually and he had to be released by the controller.
The court previously heard there had been a ‘risk of death’.
Prosecutor Andrew Marshall said today: ‘In any construction project there is a need for safety.
`It is something that has to be planned. There was an investigation that was brought about by an incident.
‘During the making of Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens, the actor Harrison Ford sustained injuries as a result of being struck by a hydraulically powered vertical sliding door that was part of a film set.
‘Part of the concept of the film was that the original actors and scene locations of the previous films would be used.
‘The area (the door) was known within the film production as the carousal. The door was designed to ensure rapid closure.
`‘The door was designed for a film but that is just a species of workplace where the same requirements of safety are imposed as anywhere else.’
According to Daily Mail Online, the door was operated by a person sitting behind a screen and pressing the button.
However, when the operator closed the door she did not realise Ford was planning to back through and he became trapped.
The actor was airlifted to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital from the set of the much-anticipated latest instalment in the Star Wars saga.

A’rese set to explode at ‘A Night at Kazbah

SOUL singer and first ever winner of “The Voice Nigeria”, A’rese who is honing her music career with outlined gigs this year, is slated to perform her first live music concert alongside other international acts as ‘Night at Kazbah’ jazz concert beckons.
A’rese, a vocal powerhouse will be opening for soulful house trio Mi Casa and headline performer South African singer songwriter and guitarist Jonathan Butler in a live Afro jazz night tagged: ‘A Night at The Kazbah’ billed to hold on October 22, at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island.
The songbird, who classically trained in piano, flute, and dance (ballet, modern jazz and aerial) in a chat with WG said, it’s going to be one unforgettable show for her, as she’s going to have the rare opportunity to perform alongside big names like Jonathan Butler and Mi Casa, both from South Africa and home based acts.
“I’m very excited and I feel like I can learn a lot just from watching Jonathan Butler play.

Janet Jackson confirms she is pregnant at 50

Pop superstar Janet Jackson has confirmed that she is pregnant with her first child at age 50 — and has the baby bump to prove it.
People magazine on Wednesday published a portrait of the star, her face beaming as she stood on a beach, with an unmistakably protruding belly.
“We thank God for our blessing,” she told the magazine.
The younger sister of late king of pop Michael Jackson in April stunned fans by halting a global tour and saying that she and her husband, Qatari tycoon Wissam Al Mana, were “planning our family.”
Jackson had not said more since then but was recently spotted by paparazzi shopping at a baby store in London — and looking like she had the tell-tale bump.
Natural pregnancies are highly unusual, but not impossible, for women past their mid-40s, but in vitro fertilization can extend the age at which women can have children.
Jackson has been discreet about her personal life and did not immediately publicize her 2012 marriage to Al Mana, whose company sells luxury fashion brands throughout Gulf Arab kingdoms.
Michael Jackson was also non-traditional in his efforts to have a family. He had two children with Debbie Rowe, who worked at his dermatologist’s office and married him, and a third through an undisclosed surrogate.
Janet Jackson won an international fan base in the late 1980s with her albums “Control” and “Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814,” which brought together pop music and funk with the emerging genre of hip-hop.
The albums were notable for their socially conscious lyrics, in which Jackson identified with women’s empowerment, and were accompanied by intricately choreographed live shows.

Judges’ trial shifted as aggrieved litigants flood DSS with petitions

The trial of seven suspected corrupt judges earlier slated for today has been shifted till next week.
The shift, according to top security officials involved in the matter, is to attend to new information thrown up by aggrieved litigants, who claimed that they lost huge sums of money to the suspects.
The source disclosed that since the suspects were arrested and their names made public by the Department of State Service, DSS, aggrieved victims of the suspects’ financial misdeeds had been coming forward with stunning revelations against them.”
The agency said it could not overlook the new evidence being volunteered by Nigerians against the suspects and would only arraign them after going through the new petitions brought against the judges.
One of the top officials said: “We are almost through with the investigation of the judges. The ongoing investigation is not supposed to go beyond this week.
“We have written the National Judicial Council, NJC, about what has happened and we expect it to take some decisions on the affected judges this week.
“Once that is done, hopefully, by next week or thereabout, we should arraign them in court. For now, more facts in the form of petitions are trickling in about the judges. It’s like everyone who had cause to go to court for one reason or the other had been a victim.
“More facts are trickling in and we cannot ignore them. It is our statutory responsibility to investigate painstakingly, every complaint. Some victims have even indicated their readiness to testify in court.
“We assure the public that we will do a thorough job. We are investigating all the properties linked to them.
“The kind of things we observe as regards the forms they submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau is another kettle of fish.
NJC keeps mum
Meantime, NJC rounded-off the emergency meeting it convened over the arrest of the judges, last night.
Vanguard learned, last night, that though the Council has fully deliberated on the matter, it decided to keep mum until, today.
A source said: “There is rumour that they might be arraigned before the end of the week, possible tomorrow (today). I believe that is what has delayed release of NJC’s position on the issue.”

Corruption: FG’ll step on ‘sensitive’ toes – Lai Mohammed

The Federal Government has said it would step on more big toes in its anti-corruption war.
The government said the fight against corruption must be whole and thorough and, therefore, would not spare anyone found culpable.
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, accompanied by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing and Minister of State for Aviation, Mr. Hadi Sirika, stated this, yesterday, while fielding questions from State House correspondents after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council, FEC at the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.
Recalling the arrest of judges, Mohammed said the DSS duly obtained search warrants before embarking on the mission last weekend.
He, however, emphasized that the Federal Government had no deliberate intention to ridicule the judiciary, stressing that the present government had huge respect for the judiciary.
He said: “I think the Federal Government is being very careful with the handling of this particular issue. I want to state clearly that this government believes very much in seperation of powers.
‘’This government has a lot of respect for the judiciary and for obvious reasons. Not just because the constitution says so but I think probably this is one cabinet that has the highest number of lawyers as ministers.
“As at the last count, about eleven or twelve council members are lawyers and we have female lawyers also in cabinet. Until death robbed us of late Ocholi, we had five SANs in our cabinet and I think this is unique, therefore you can understand the kind of respect we have for the judiciary.
“Also look at Mr President himself. Three times, he sought to be President. Three times it was thwarted and all the three times he took his case to the judiciary.
‘’So, I can say clearly that this administration has a lot of respect for the judiciary and I think I stand by what Mallam Garba Shehu said that please do not mistake the fight against corruption for a fight against judiciary, what the government is concerned and passionate about is to fight corruption.
“In the process of fighting corruption, it’s not unusual that you step on some very sensitive toes but the question to ask and I think this has been adequately answered by the Attorney General is let’s remove emotion from facts.
“One, do judges have immunity? The answer is no. Can judges be arrested? The answer is yes. Can judges that are serving be arrested in Nigeria? The answer is yes. Justice Okoli had been arrested and tried.
‘’Now the next question to ask is, what is the proper procedure for arresting anybody, including judges? There must be proper search warrant. Was such presented? The answer, again is yes.
“People have tried to muddle the facts about when do you search the person’s house. The truth of the matter is that under the new criminal justice law, you can search anybody, anywhere, anytime.
“Again they have tried to muddle issues by trying to say that the NJC is the only authority that can attend to complaint and discipline, the answer once again is no.”
Mohammed dismissed the intervention of the National Judicial Council, NJC in the matter, underscoring a difference between professional misdemeanour and corruption.
“There is a difference, when a judge is accused of professional misconduct is quite different from what is happening now.
‘’If you suspect anybody, including governors who have immunity, they are still subject to investigations.
“So, I want to make it clear, this government has the highest respect for judiciary and two, we are not in anyway trying to ridicule the judiciary. Three, we are not painting the whole of the judges with the same brush but we also have a duty to fight corruption at whatever level and in doing so, we will do so within the ambit of the law.
“Unfortunately, people have even brought issues that are completely irrelevant to the matter. Some people are saying oh, the reason they went to some particular judges’ house is because the President wants somebody from one part of the country to be Chief Justice of the Federation. I think that is preposterous.
“I want to assure you that this government has no intention to humiliate the judiciary and for those who are talking about separation of power, I think you are stretching it too far. I and members of the Executive, I can be invited by any arm of the government and I will go, so I think we should situate this thing in the right perspective.
“You were all witnesses in 2015 in Ghana here, 32 judges were caught on tape by journalists asking for bribe, 22 of them were dismissed in one day in Ghana. Yes, it’s true that what is happening today has probably never happened at this level before but frankly speaking and with all due respect, we do not intend to humiliate any judges.
‘’We have no intention to humiliate the judiciary but believe me, what we have done, we have done within the ambits of the law,’’ Mohammed stressed.

Rivers election verdict: Leave Justice Odili out, CGGA warns

Centre for Good Governance and Accountability, CGGA, has described the allegation that Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court influenced the apex court’s verdict on Rivers State election as a scripted campaign of calumny, warning that she should be left out of the matter.
It also warned those behind the development to focus their attention on building institutions in Nigeria rather than discrediting those who had helped to strengthen institutions of governance.
CGGA, in a statement in Abuja by Prof Nasiru Gomwalk, said that the insistence on linking Justice Odili to the Supreme Court’s verdict on Rivers State was an indication of desperation to discredit her by every means.
He said: ‘’This platform is inclined to make this statement on the strength of the concocted narrative making the rounds online to the effect that Justice Odili allegedly facilitated perceived questionable act in the run up to Supreme Court ruling on Rivers State governorship election petition. This surreptitious and well-scripted act was birthed by an online medium and it is being passionately driven by the same medium.
“While we are not averse to conventional and acceptable attempts aimed at curbing corruption in every facet of Nigeria’s life, the mission to demean the hard earned credible professional and public integrity of Justice Odili is what we strongly condemn in every term.
‘’It is on record that she has been contributing positively to the growth of the judiciary in the country through the display of unquestionable professional practices over the years. In all these, there had not been any incident of abuse of the best practices in the profession against her, as her career had been marked by excellence and credibility.”

18TH ABUJA MOTOR FAIR KICKS OFF ON OCTOBER 25

The 18th edition of the annual Abuja International Motor Fair will hold at the Eagle Square, Abuja from October 25 to November 1.
According to the Chairman of the organising committee for the event Mr. Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, the event is targeted towards boosting investments in the auto sector, which despite the economic downturn is set to seriously assume its rightful place in the Nigerian economy.
He assured that the platform of this edition has been packaged to increase the attention of the government to the importance of urgently addressing the current challenges in the sector so as to use it to drive the nation’s economic diversification policy.
Mr. Agwu, who is also the Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited, organisers of the event said that every effort has been deployed to ensure that through the event, the sector receives the needed support from the government and the private sector to enhance its’ rapid development.
“We are packaging a show that will showcase all the existing and potential investment opportunities that abound in the Nigerian automotive industry, which we believe are very attractive to existing and prospective investors,” he announced.
According to him, this edition of the annual event is set to provide the litmus test to the shape of things in the industry with the current paradigm shift in the economy, government and the automotive sector, Agwu said.
“The quality and quantity of showcased automobiles is undoubtedly the primary yardstick of measuring the success of any auto exhibition. This means that auto enterprises showcasing at any exhibition must ensure visibility, wholeness and completeness, not leaving anything to chance.
“With our reach, high-powered delegations from the Federal Government, executives of states and local governments, members and leadership of the other arms of government in all the tiers of government in Nigeria as well as lots of corporate heads and organisations across the nation have been invited to visit the fair”.

Kardashian leaves France after police questioning on robbery

Kim Kardashian left France on Monday after being robbed at gunpoint at a luxury Paris residence by assailants disguised as police officers.
Police sources said the US reality television star, wife of rapper Kanye West, flew out of Le Bourget airport on the outskirts of Paris after being questioned by police over the robbery.
Kardashian, 35, had been in the French capital for Paris fashion week.
The sources said the robbers, who struck in the early hours of Monday at the residence in a chic district of Paris, made off with jewels worth at least nine million euros ($10 million).
A spokesperson for Kardashian said she was “badly shaken but physically unharmed” after the assault.

Nigerian play, Maafa, on unity set for show in London

Prof. Ahmed Yerima of the Department of Theatre Arts, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun, says the play entitled Maafa will be shown in Broadway, London soon.
Maafa, a Swahili word meaning disastrous, was written by Mr Segun Olujobi, expressing the essence of unity among Africans through the agony of the slave trade era.
It was recently shown at the National Theatre, Lagos State.
Yerima said he was impressed with the production, observing that such plays would “preserve history and educate our grandchildren about occurrences of the past.
“I am thankful to God for this kind of production. It shows that playwrights are still relevant in passing useful information through the theatre arts.
“This play should be neatly packaged and taken round the country starting from Abuja for all to see.’’
He commended the National Troupe of Nigeria on its supportive role in encouraging the development and production of the play.
Mr Akin Adejuwon, Artistic Director, National Troupe of Nigeria, said that the play was wonderful and concise but needed sponsorship to be shown in other states and eventually, worldwide.
“The play is relevant today because the trauma of slavery and slave trade is still on — the power tussle and the people that suffer from the outcome.
“We still have them going on in Africa today that is why the play is relevant in educating the people on the importance of unity,’’ he said.
Adejuwon said that the theatre industry had the potential to bring about innovation thereby creating jobs for thousands of youths and curbing unemployment if adequately invested in.
Mr Makinde Adeniran, Director of Maafa, said that the play told Africans through the slavery story on how we had wronged ourselves and the essence of peace and unity in our continent.
Adeniran said that the play was educational theatre and commended the playwright and the actors and actresses that participated, noting that they were diligent in bringing the play to fruition.
Olujobi said that he was thankful to God for the success of the play and encouraged upcoming artists never to be discouraged in whatever venture they found themselves in.
He said his inspiration came from trying to bring people of different tribes in unity to be able to speak with one voice for the progress of the country.
“I thank everybody that contributed and encouraged the production of the play. Our driving force is to make a statement that art can contribute positively to the nation,’’ Olujobi said.

‘Kim Kardashian “a bad influence” for American youth

Social media megastar Kim Kardashian has brought the phenomenon of being “famous for being famous” to new heights of hype, repeatedly “breaking the internet” with her sexy selfies.
The world’s highest paid reality television star, 35, was a lucrative target for the gang who robbed her at gunpoint in Paris early Monday, making off with millions of dollars worth of jewellery.
Love her or hate her, it is almost impossible to ignore the US model and socialite, who keeps 84 million Instagram followers enthralled with endless posts featuring celebrity friends, rapper husband Kanye West, and her scantily-clad self.
Having first come to public notice as the stylist of “It girl” and hotel chain heiress Paris Hilton, she quickly surpassed her old friend as the star of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” and a notorious leaked sex tape with her former boyfriend, singer Ray J.
The controversial reality show about her rich Los Angeles family’s search for fame has divided America.
While the Kardashians and their Jenner half-sisters have won millions of fans who follow their every moment in the limelight, critics have condemned the show as the nadir of bad taste and of “self-absorbed” celebrity culture.
US President Barack Obama even called her conspicuous consumption “a bad influence” for American youth.
The Washington Times, meanwhile, claimed that the Kardashians’ narcissism and constant shopping “illustrates our nation’s moral, spiritual and cultural decay”.
– ‘Break the internet’ –
That has not stopped their show becoming the longest-running American reality series ever, now in its 12th season.
Kardashian was also quick to see how her television fame could explode further through social media, splashing her accounts with naked and nearly-naked photos.
She became a truly global star in 2014 with a cover shoot for Paper Magazine headlined “Break The Internet, Kim Kardashian”, featuring heavily oiled buttocks and a fizzing champagne bottle. The look has spawned thousands of internet memes.
Kardashian has shrewdly monetised her notoriety, making $71.8 million alone last year from her mobile game “Kim Kardashian: Hollywood”, and millions more from her social media endorsements, according to Forbes magazine.
But it was her staggeringly ostentatious marriage in 2014 to West which sent her fame stratospheric, with the New York Times calling the brouhaha surrounding the ceremony a “historic blizzard of celebrity”.
They first flew to France for a pre-wedding “rehearsal” at the Palace of Versailles, where they arrived in a gold-plated carriage before flying on to tie the knot in Florence.
– Kimye –
The couple now have two children — North and Saint — and are collectively known as “Kimye”.
Their shared passion for fashion means they are often in the French capital, and are — for the paparazzi at least — the king and queen of the catwalk front rows.
But despite being one of the most photographed women in the world, Kardashian remains very much in control of her own image.
On Sunday alone, six carefully selected photos in various outfits at Paris fashion week were posted to her Twitter feed, as well as three from her facial.
Many in the French capital are now asking whether the robbery will end her love affair with the city and its fashion world.
Kardashian is known to be a close friend of Olivier Rousteing, creative director of Balmain.
Both she and West — now a designer himself — are also big fans of Paris fashion’s star of the moment, Demna Gvasalia, and his Vetements brand.
Kardashian was photographed wearing thigh-high boots and an off-the-shoulder raincoat designed by Gvasalia for Balenciaga on Sunday, hours before she was robbed.
And it was French photographer Jean-Paul Goude who was behind Kardashian’s notorious oiled bottom photo shoot.
The public fascination with the Armenian-American Kardashian clan began during the 1995 murder trial of former American football star O.J. Simpson, a close friend of Kim’s late father Robert.
Simpson even rang the lawyer and businessman from his Ford Bronco while he was being followed by police along 60 miles of LA highways, with the car chase broadcast live on television.
He sat next to Simpson throughout the trial and was the centre of conspiracy theories over the mysterious Louis Vuitton bag he carried out of Simpson’s home the day after Nicole Brown, the football star’s ex-wife, was found stabbed to death.

Kardashian flees to NY after $10 mln Paris robbery

Reality star Kim Kardashian jetted home to the United States on Monday to be comforted by husband Kanye West, after being tied up at gunpoint in Paris and robbed of jewelry worth $10 million. The multimillionaire mother of two and wife of the American rap superstar, was holed up at a luxury apartment in New York’s swish Tribeca neighborhood “badly shaken but physically unharmed” after the assault.
Kardashian and her husband stepped out of the back seat of a car after a convoy bristling with bodyguards pulled up to the apartment block, as seen in a video posted on celebrity news website TMZ. Kardashian kept her head down and ignored questions from reporters about how she was doing, her long hair hiding her face. She wore baggy eggplant-colored pants, towering black stilettos and a plunging black top.
West kept to his usual street cool of jogging bottoms, green anorak and a grey hoodie as he walked behind his wife into the building, where a five-bedroom penthouse was sold in August after being advertised for $24.5 million. Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner also arrived at the apartment building, an AFP photographer said, dressed in black and also ignoring questions from reporters about her and her daughter’s state of mind.
Her daughter — a California-based TV and social media star who earned $51 million last year according to Forbes — has yet to comment publicly on the robbery. French police said the 35-year-old was “tied up and locked in the bathroom” of a residence in the chic Madeleine district of Paris, near the city’s main department stores. The crime occurred at 2:30 am (0030 GMT) on Monday.
– Masked men dressed as cops –
A police source said the robbers made off with a ring worth around four million euros ($4.5 million) and a case of jewelry with a value of five million euros ($5.6 million). Two mobile phones were also taken. Police said five men were involved and two of them entered Kardashian’s bedroom in the luxury residence where she has stayed before.
Kardashian’s spokeswoman said “two armed masked men dressed as police officers” burst into her room. Another member of the gang restrained the building’s security guard during the robbery but he was unhurt, police said. Investigators believe the assailants may have fled on bicycles.
The star’s bodyguard, Pascal Duvier, was absent at the time, providing security for Kardashian’s sister Kourtney at a Paris nightclub, an investigation source said. It is not known whether Kardashian’s two young children were with their mother at the time of the robbery.
Upon hearing about the robbery, West cut short a performance at a music festival in New York, citing a “family emergency.” An hour into his set, the rapper said mid-song, “I’m sorry, show’s over,” and abruptly left the stage. His wife flew out of France on a private jet after being questioned by police about the robbery. She had been in the French capital attending Paris Fashion Week, including catwalk shows by Balenciaga and Givenchy.
– Special snowflakes –
Her jet touched down at the small Teterboro Airport in New Jersey where a motorcade of around a dozen black vehicles was seen driving away from the airstrip by an AFP reporter. Other celebrities leapt to her defense after she was mocked on social media following news of the ordeal.
“People making jokes about @KimKardashian tonight would do well to remember that she’s a mother, a daughter, a wife, a friend. Be nice or shut up,” tweeted British comedian James Corden, host of CBS’s “The Late Late Show.” Model Chrissy Teigen wrote: “Please do not think that I think celebrities are special snowflakes. I just miss empathy, in general, for everyone.”
Kardashian, one of the most recognizable US celebrities, has been a fixture of celebrity news for more than a decade after the leak of a sex tape and the success of reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” In Paris, tourism professionals said such a high-profile incident was disastrous in a city where tourist numbers have declined since jihadist attacks in November killed 130 people.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo sought to downplay the robbery, saying it was “a very rare act that happened in a private space.” Kardashian and West are frequent visitors to France. In 2014, they threw a lavish private party at the Versailles chateau near Paris during a no-expense-spared tour of Europe to celebrate their wedding.

Kardashian flees to NY after $10 mln Paris robbery

Reality star Kim Kardashian jetted home to the United States on Monday to be comforted by husband Kanye West, after being tied up at gunpoint in Paris and robbed of jewelry worth $10 million. The multimillionaire mother of two and wife of the American rap superstar, was holed up at a luxury apartment in New York’s swish Tribeca neighborhood “badly shaken but physically unharmed” after the assault.
Kardashian and her husband stepped out of the back seat of a car after a convoy bristling with bodyguards pulled up to the apartment block, as seen in a video posted on celebrity news website TMZ. Kardashian kept her head down and ignored questions from reporters about how she was doing, her long hair hiding her face. She wore baggy eggplant-colored pants, towering black stilettos and a plunging black top.
West kept to his usual street cool of jogging bottoms, green anorak and a grey hoodie as he walked behind his wife into the building, where a five-bedroom penthouse was sold in August after being advertised for $24.5 million. Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner also arrived at the apartment building, an AFP photographer said, dressed in black and also ignoring questions from reporters about her and her daughter’s state of mind.
Her daughter — a California-based TV and social media star who earned $51 million last year according to Forbes — has yet to comment publicly on the robbery. French police said the 35-year-old was “tied up and locked in the bathroom” of a residence in the chic Madeleine district of Paris, near the city’s main department stores. The crime occurred at 2:30 am (0030 GMT) on Monday.
– Masked men dressed as cops –
A police source said the robbers made off with a ring worth around four million euros ($4.5 million) and a case of jewelry with a value of five million euros ($5.6 million). Two mobile phones were also taken. Police said five men were involved and two of them entered Kardashian’s bedroom in the luxury residence where she has stayed before.
Kardashian’s spokeswoman said “two armed masked men dressed as police officers” burst into her room. Another member of the gang restrained the building’s security guard during the robbery but he was unhurt, police said. Investigators believe the assailants may have fled on bicycles.
The star’s bodyguard, Pascal Duvier, was absent at the time, providing security for Kardashian’s sister Kourtney at a Paris nightclub, an investigation source said. It is not known whether Kardashian’s two young children were with their mother at the time of the robbery.
Upon hearing about the robbery, West cut short a performance at a music festival in New York, citing a “family emergency.” An hour into his set, the rapper said mid-song, “I’m sorry, show’s over,” and abruptly left the stage. His wife flew out of France on a private jet after being questioned by police about the robbery. She had been in the French capital attending Paris Fashion Week, including catwalk shows by Balenciaga and Givenchy.
– Special snowflakes –
Her jet touched down at the small Teterboro Airport in New Jersey where a motorcade of around a dozen black vehicles was seen driving away from the airstrip by an AFP reporter. Other celebrities leapt to her defense after she was mocked on social media following news of the ordeal.
“People making jokes about @KimKardashian tonight would do well to remember that she’s a mother, a daughter, a wife, a friend. Be nice or shut up,” tweeted British comedian James Corden, host of CBS’s “The Late Late Show.” Model Chrissy Teigen wrote: “Please do not think that I think celebrities are special snowflakes. I just miss empathy, in general, for everyone.”
Kardashian, one of the most recognizable US celebrities, has been a fixture of celebrity news for more than a decade after the leak of a sex tape and the success of reality show “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” In Paris, tourism professionals said such a high-profile incident was disastrous in a city where tourist numbers have declined since jihadist attacks in November killed 130 people.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo sought to downplay the robbery, saying it was “a very rare act that happened in a private space.” Kardashian and West are frequent visitors to France. In 2014, they threw a lavish private party at the Versailles chateau near Paris during a no-expense-spared tour of Europe to celebrate their wedding.

President Muhammadu Buhari Recession: Highlight what recovered funds’ll be used for, Ojikutu tells Buhari

FORMER Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to highlight what funds borrowed and recovered from looters will be used for, in order to give hope to Nigerians suffering as a result of the recession.
Ojikutu, who spoke to newsmen at her Ikoyi residence in Lagos, said that only the goodwill of the people will keep the president of a nation in place.
She, however called on President Buhari to take action in order not to lose the confidence of Nigerians.
She said: “President Buhari should ensure that whatever money the government gets, he should highlight and inform Nigerians on what the money will be used for. It will give Nigerians hope. He should be transparent on the way he handles people’s affairs.
”The commonwealth we are recovering from looters should be used for the common good of the people.”
Ojikutu who served as deputy to former Lagos state governor, late Michael Otedola said: “Everybody is cutting corners because the government is not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Everybody is giving up. Though the systems are not working, we must not give up on the matter. We have to keep praying. Buhari has a mission and we should pray to God so that Buhari can be able to fulfill his mission.”

Mr Babatunde Omidina, a.k.a. Baba Suwe Baba Suwe sick, health deteriorating, cries Yomi Fabiyi

Popular Nigerian actor, Babatunde Omidina, popularly known as “Baba Suwe”, is sick
The health of “Baba Suwe’’ deteriorating, said Producer and Actor Yomi Fabiyi who tried to reach out for assistance.
Fabiyi said on Wednesday in his Instagram page that since an encounter with officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), “Baba Suwe’s’’ sagged.
Baba Suwe was arrested by NDLEA at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on allegation of drug trafficking, but was later released after screening and was exonerated.
He later approached the courts for the restoration of his fundamental human rights and was granted general damages of N25 million against NDLEA.
The money has not been paid by the Agency, Fabiyi said.
Fabiyi said accused NDLEA officials of torturing Baba Suwe in the encounter and had since then been sick.
He appealed to stakeholders in the entertainment industry to rally round to rescue Baba Suwe from the undisclosed ailment.
“On Baba Suwe, I am calling on all senior colleagues in the entertainment world especially those close to Baba Suwe because I don’t have everyone’s contact to please reachout to him ASAP (As Soon As Possible).’’
“The torture done on him by NDLEA is vastly damaging his health at an alarming rate.
“He told me he no longer feel comfortable since that episode. Baba Suwe is a widower, he can hardly walk properly as I speak, let alone go to film.
“How will he feed and take care of the children Aunty Moladun left behind?
“This is an A-List Entertainer and this conspiracy of silence gives me MENTAL AGONY on my part, I don’t want to speak when it may be too late, I won’t forgive myself.’’
Fabiyi said Baba Suwe told him that NDLEA official inserted a long pipe was inserted through his anus and was detained for too long because he was randomly suspected like every normal person.
“In my opinion, only lazy, ill-trained, unfit and uncivilised officers torture in the name of investigation. Torture is criminal and sinful. If this accusation is found to be true by independent investigators, it shouldn’t go unpunished.”

President Muhammadu Buhari Recession: Highlight what recovered funds’ll be used for, Ojikutu tells Buhari

FORMER Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, yesterday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to highlight what funds borrowed and recovered from looters will be used for, in order to give hope to Nigerians suffering as a result of the recession.
Ojikutu, who spoke to newsmen at her Ikoyi residence in Lagos, said that only the goodwill of the people will keep the president of a nation in place.
She, however called on President Buhari to take action in order not to lose the confidence of Nigerians.
She said: “President Buhari should ensure that whatever money the government gets, he should highlight and inform Nigerians on what the money will be used for. It will give Nigerians hope. He should be transparent on the way he handles people’s affairs.
”The commonwealth we are recovering from looters should be used for the common good of the people.”
Ojikutu who served as deputy to former Lagos state governor, late Michael Otedola said: “Everybody is cutting corners because the government is not doing what they are supposed to be doing.
Everybody is giving up. Though the systems are not working, we must not give up on the matter. We have to keep praying. Buhari has a mission and we should pray to God so that Buhari can be able to fulfill his mission.”

Senate rejects Lagos special status bill

FOR the second time in three years, the Senate, yesterday, rejected proposals to grant Lagos a special status, in view of the avalanche of socio-economic challenges it is facing as former political capital of Nigeria. The state is still the economic capital and nerve centre of the country.
Indeed, the Senate Chambers was thrown into a rowdy session as senators deliberated on a bill for an act to make provision for a special Federal grant to Lagos State.
The Bill, titled A Bill for an Act to make provisions for Federal Grants to Lagos State in recognition of its strategic socio- economic significance and other connected purposes, was sponsored by Senator Oluremi Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, APC, Lagos Central.
The said Bill was first presented to the upper chamber in the 7th Senate, but the lawmakers turned it down at the committee stage.
Specifically, on June 5, 2013, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu-led Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Constitution Review, in its report, ruled out special status for Lagos. It said: “On Special Status for Lagos, while the Committee appreciates the peculiar needs and challenges of Lagos, it is our considered opinion that according such special status should be a matter of political decision, which should be kept out of the Constitution.”
Yesterday, while opposing the move, Senators Gershom Bassey, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Cross River South, and Philip Tanimu Aduda, PDP, FCT, said the same provision being asked for by Senator Tinubu, be provided for Calabar, being the first Capital of Nigeria and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
Aduda, who said he would only support the bill if FCT got similar attention and special funding from the Federation Account, said: “I will support it (bill) on one condition, that what will be given to Lagos State should be given to other states like the FCT. Some special allocations should be given to FCT. The FCT is over-stretched and government needs to intervene. In the FCT, we have riverine areas.”
Senator Aliyu Wamakko, APC, Sokoto North, who also kicked against the bill, said the timing was wrong because while other states are finding it difficult to pay salaries, Lagos State that was the richest state, asking for special grant, adding that if granted, it would make other states poorer and Lagos richer.
The rowdy session started when Senator Olusola Adeyeye, APC, Osun Central, in his contribution and apparently referring to what Aduda said, stated that the FCT was like a pampered and spoilt child. He demanded for 13 percent derivation on tax proceeds generated from the state, arguing that one percent was too small.
Senator Adeyeye’s description of the FCT as a pampered child elicited sharp and rancorous reactions from many legislators.
The statement angered Senator Aduda, who immediately asked Adeyeye to withdraw the statement. Senator Aduda had the support of most senators from the Northern part of the country who stood up demanding the withdrawal of the statement.
It was at that point that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, asked Senator Adeyeye to withdraw his statement.
Adeyeye withdrew the statement but then the harm had been done, given the commotion and bitterness it caused on the floor of the Senate.
It was, therefore, not surprising that the senators unanimously rejected the bill when it was put to vote by Deputy Senate President, Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterday’s plenary.
Senator Adeyeye, in his contribution to the debate had said: “I rise to support most of this bill and to oppose an aspect of it. The aspect I oppose is the same aspect that James Manager attempted to highlight. But in doing so, I want to point out that…I don’t even believe that one percent is enough for Lagos. I think what we need to do is to be fair to every part of this country and to say that we must not kill the goose that lays the golden egg. And we have already from Independence and subsequent alteration to the Constitution, say whatever revenue you get from oil by the principle of derivation, a certain percentage must belong to that community.
“By the same token, whatever you get from VAT, a certain percentage should belong to that community. We have among us a governor, who made a law that banned the consumption of alcohol. That’s what the people want. I supported it. He has the right to make the law. However, if my own people consume alcohol and pay VAT on it, he should not take a penny of what my people have for VAT on alcohol.
“In Lagos, all of us are paying tax. And all of these VAT is taken to Abuja. What we need to do is to say whatever is good for the goose is good for the gander. If it is 13 percent for Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers for oil, let it also be 13 percent to Lagos for the VAT paid there.’’
On what he meant by FCT being pampered, Adeyeye, who is the Senate Chief Whip, while withdrawing the statement and tendering an apology said: “Mr President, you led us to Washington DC on fiscal federalism. We were told that when we see federal roads in the US, it’s federal only in name. It is federal only because the Federal Government of the US provides 80 percent of the money and the state government provides 20 percent. But all of the money is given to the Federal Government on that road.”

back-to-school: Pupils of Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School, Ojodu, at the assembly ground on their first day in school, Monday.

ON the lips of many Nigerians across the country are lamentations and tales of woe as hardship occasioned by the prevailing wind of recession bites harder. Apart from feeding, a host of the citizenry, who spoke to Vanguard,
said they are finding it difficult to meet other basic needs of life.
Price of foodstuff doubles in Imo, Jigawa: The current hardship sweeping across Imo State, hit a feverish pitch, weekend, as the prices of some major staple foods have gone out of the reach of many families. Vanguard’s check at markets in Owerri revealed that most food items had gone up by 100 to 150 percent in the state.
A bag of rice now goes for between N23,000 and N25,000, as against N8,000 in 2014. Similarly, 30-litre container of palm oil that was sold for N5,000, now goes for N12,500, while a measure of beans now sells for N1,500 as against N500. A tiny ball of onion sells for between N10 and N20, depending on the bargaining power of the buyer, as a small paint bucket of garri, which was sold for N300 now goes for between N700 and N850.
Most residents who spoke to Vanguard said that their purchasing power has gone down so badly that they are barely managing to survive.
“We have either deleted completely or reduced the frequency of serving some foodstuffs in my family’s menu. Food items have really gone out of the reach of poor people in Imo State”, a widowed mother lamented. Continuing, the anguished mother said: “My children and I have been surviving by sheer God’s grace. It has not been easy to pay our medical bills and the children’s school fees”. A staff of one of the ministries in Owerri, said it has not been easy for Imo workers and pensioners.
Salaries and pensions
“It is no longer news that those of us that can be said to have received salaries and pensions, were largely underpaid for months. You can, therefore, imagine what we are passing through”, the civil servant said. In her own contribution, Mrs. Augustina (surname withheld) said that the economic situation in the country was sending heads of families crazy. I am aware that many families have adopted divergent ways to tackle the economic crisis, including withdrawal of their children from private schools”, Mrs. Augustina said.
A young man, who simply identified himself as Harrison, lamented that “the ugly situation in the country has led to massive reduction of jobs in various sectors of the economy”. Meanwhile, a visit to the red light districts in Owerri municipality at the weekend, showed that prostitution was gathering momentum. “I am in this business (prostitution) because of the hardship members of my family are passing through. We lost our father three years ago and my mother can’t get her pensions”, a young girl sobbed as she narrated her story.”
Asked if prostitution was the only way out of the economic crisis, the girl said: “Where is the capital to even start sale of groundnut or crayfish? I was given a sales job that was to give me N5,000 monthly. What can this solve for a family of seven? This is how I found myself in this business”.
She appealed to government to make good their promise of creating jobs and improving the sagging economy. A transporter, who identified himself as Onye Army, lamented that “commercial transport owners are equally finding things hard. Fuel has jumped from N87 to 145 per litre. The Naira has since been messed up by the American dollar. The costs of new and used cars have hit the skies. The same is also true of motor spare parts and this is why fares have been adjusted in line with the reality of the time”, he said.
A similar scenario obtains in Jigawa where prices of foodstuffs and other essential commodities in major markets and mini shops have rising by 150 per cent thereby throwing many households into economic chaos. The situation is worsened by the closure of Niger Republic boarder through which food items such as rice, spaghetti, macaroni, milk, vegetable oil and other assorted goods are imported to Nigeria.
The development has compelled many people especially those living in rural areas to revert to local foods such as moringa, cassava and their related leaves combined with groundnut cake popularly known as kulikuli. Even garri has been priced beyond the reach of many people. A small measure of rice is now N1,100 as against N500 while local rice goes for N800-N900 as against N350-N400 in the past. A mudu of beans is N800 as against N400, while a pack of Maggi star is N360 as against N250. A carton of Indomie noodles sold for N1,800 now costs N2,500.
A kilo of meat which sold at N800 now costs N1,200 and a kilo of fish is now N800 as against N600; kilo of chicken now costs N1,000 as against N600. A sachet of powder peak milk sold at N35 is now N50; a mudu of sugar is now N1,100 as against N600, flour cost N580 as against N350. Big pack of stick matches now costs N50 as against N25.
Asked how he is coping, Malam Abdulkahar Mohammed, said he and his family now eats twice a day. “Life isn’t easy with the increase in everything and money is hard to get. It is not easy to get job and even those with jobs, their salaries are not enough for them to cater for their daily needs. The circumstance had compelled many of us to withdraw our children from private schools back to government schools as an alternative for them to pursue their education,” he said.
Malam Aliyu Dangida, one of the parents who have withdrawn their children from private schools and enrolled them in government schools, said: “I have six children in private schools, but with the increase in their fees by over 100 per cent, I can’t afford to continue paying their fees. So, I have transferred them to government schools.”
Families cry out in Abia
Residents of Aba, Abia State have cried out over the soaring prices of foodstuffs in the market, and urged the government to introduce policies to check the trend.
Vanguard investigations revealed that some families have devised stringent measures to tackle the prevailing situation. Such measures include ‘skipping meals’ and avoiding those they classify as luxury. Some are used to taking breakfast and skipping lunch to have dinner while others take light meals to save cost. It was also discovered that some men have set up small scale businesses for their wives to generate more income for the family.
A visit to major markets in the city revealed that price of foodstuffs has sky-rocketed beyond the reach of consumers. Worst hit are the prices of staple foods like rice, beans and yam. A bag of rice sells for N21, 000 from N11, 000 while a cup of foreign rice goes for N120. It was also discovered that a bag of local rice sells for N10, 000 while a cup goes for N80.A tuber of yam sells for N700 from N400, while a bottle of Kings cooking oil has gone up from N250 to N450.
A cup of beans which was sold for N60 now goes for N90, same for carton of tomatoes which now sells for N1, 500 from N1, 200. A bowl of garri consisting of 16 cups has gone up to N600 from N400.
On the other hand, a family size loaf of bread sells for N600 from N400 while a basket of tomato fluctuates between N12, 000 and N18, 000 depending on availability. A bag of pepper, which formerly went for N12, 000 has gone down to N4, 000. A bottle of palm oil is now N400 from N200. A carton of ice fish has shot up to N13, 500 from N9, 000 while a bowl of crayfish sells for N1,500 from N1,200.
A housewife, Nnenna Nwabeke, said: “Prices of everything has shot up in the market. I used to make a pot of soup with N3, 000, but today it is no longer possible. You will spend N400 to buy only vegetable. Even the normal ice fish, which my family prefers for rice and stew now sells for N1, 500 from N500 each. The woman, who I buy fish from told me that the price of a carton of ice fish now sells for N13, 500 from N9, 000. The worst thing is that any foodstuff you buy for N100 today will soar to N200 before two days. It is a terrible situation. People are dying of hunger. The government should do something to assist the citizenry.”
Exorbitant fees
A lecturer at the Abia State Polytechnic who declined to have his name on print, lamented that he had to return his two children to the public school as he could no longer afford the exorbitant fees being charged by private school. “I have two children in higher institution, including the younger two in private school. I had to withdraw them from private school to the public one because I can no longer afford it. I’m being owed six months salary; how can I feed my family, pay bills and school fees for my children? It has been difficult for me in the last three months that we had to adjust some expenses due to lack of money. My wife runs a boutique, but she no longer gets patronage as before. It takes tact and careful planning for any family to survive this period.”
Speaking on the situation, Harold Nwanne who deals on dredging equipments in the city said the dwindling economic situation has adversely affected many businesses as families are now preoccupied with survival strategies.
He said, “There is hunger in the land; every family is now concerned with how to survive. I blame the government; yesterday’s jamboree has turned to today’s misfortune. There was a lot of miscalculation on petrol dollars; they thought that oil sales would continue even when most countries had developed alternative energy. The government should invest in social welfare and rebuild infrastructure.”
Traders record low sales: Businessmen in Aba also lamented that customers no longer patronise them.
Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, NANTS, Ariaria chapter, Deacon Michael Aniorji, said: ‘’We are finding it difficult to make sales. Our customers are complaining that they don’t have money to make purchases. It boils down to the dwindling economic situation in the country. It is high time the government introduced policies to boost the local economy. Unlike the situation before now, you can stay in the market from morning to evening without anybody asking if your wares are for sale. It is only when you make sales that you get the profit to take care of your family needs. We have the stock but no sales.’’
Recession in Bayelsa: In Bayelsa, residents have devised copy mechanisms to survive the recession as prices of food stuffs such as garri, rice, beans, and yam and bread among others soar by over 100 per cent. A bag of rice previously sold between N11, 000 to N14, 000 is now sold at N22, 000 to N24, 000. A bowl of garri formerly at N300 is now N500. A bread of N250 is now N400. A tuber of yam now goes between N500 to N1, 000 depending on size.
The dire situation in Bayelsa state has been aggravated due to the delayed and infrequent payment of salaries to workers in the predominantly civil service state where one third of the population are civil servants.
Unfortunately, the state and local governments owe their workers backlog of salary arrears following the drastic drop in federal allocations. The state government now pays half salaries to workers. This scenario has piled more misery on many families and plunged many into starvation and huge debts.
Many families hardly afford two square meals daily. Most families now skip meals and are contented with eating once daily while staple foods like garri and rice which used to be a common menu in many homes are now considered as luxury.
Many families now resort to cheap and affordable food substitutes, like coco yam and in Yenagoa for instance, many families now consume locally made bread called Madiga in local dialect, even though it is said to be high in bromate. Many parents have withdrawn their children from private schools to access the tuition free public schools in the state.
A resident of Yenagoa, Mr Akene, a father of four, said he had to withdraw one of his daughters from a more expensive school to a cheaper one while his last child who is over three years old could not be enrolled due to the economic situation. We also gathered that some parents have stopped home lessons for their children and disengaged private drivers. We gathered that most private schools have also downsized their work force or in most cases slashed workers’ wages.
In the state civil service, findings indicate that the electronic mandatory clock introduced to ensure punctuality and check absenteeism is no longer tenable as civil servants barely go to work promptly due to high transportation cost. Some residents, who cannot afford exorbitant rents in the cities have sent their families to their country homes and moved into smaller apartments.
Foodstuff business
Some understanding landlords now accept instalment payments and other concessions.
Commodity trading in food stuffs and transportation seem to be attractive now in the state. A seamstress, Miss Naomi, who abandoned her tailoring job to venture into foodstuff business, said that people are not thinking of clothes or fashion but food first. “In this present economic situation, what people are thinking is food and food. Nobody is thinking of clothes because you must eat before you think of fashion. Look around, other businesses are on standstill but at all times people must buy foodstuff, and that is why I started it.”
Now, many people go to the hinterland to buy foodstuff and fruits for sale in the city. With low construction activities, many young people have embraced commercial tricycles popularly called Keke NAPEP operators.
The hunger in the land has led to an upsurge in criminal and cult activities. A new trend of thieves have emerged, they dispose people mainly of their food stuffs, phones and electronic gadgets.
Religious centres, schools record low attendants in Ekiti
In Ekiti, the tales of lamentation are very loud as residents lament on the daily increases in price of foodstuffs, especially rice which is one of the common food consumed in Nigeria.
In Ekiti, government is the largest employer of Labour and workers dictate the pace of the state’s economy, but presently they are being owed six months salary arrears.
In-spite the parlous nature of the state’s economy, the prices of foodstuffs and other commodities keep increasing daily. For example the price of a bag of rice, which is the staple food of the people in this area jumped from N8,500 to N20,000 and locally produced one, which could serve as alternative has also moved up, almost matching the imported one
Mrs Kike Adeyemi, a clothes seller, Mrs Jumoke Ogundele, a provision seller and most of the residents, who spoke to Vanguard complained about the low inflow of money, rising costs of foodstuffs and essential commodities.
They therefore implored the federal government to finance the small scale farmers with capital and other necessary equipment to facilitate the productivity.
Private Schools are not left out of the effect of the gloomy economy as many parents have withdrawn their wards to public schools. Churches and other religious houses in the state are also suffering from the economic crunch, as many worshippers prefer to stay at home.
Lagos residents lose purchasing power
Lagos residents are also groaning over the hike in prices of goods and services in the country.
Some corporate organizations are laying-off staff,while many parents have withdrawn their children from private schools and enrolled them in public or less expensive schools.