ISIS Bans Madrid, Barca Shirts as Citizens Face 80 Lashes>> read more!!!

The terrorist group known as Islamic State (ISIS) has made a list of Nike and Adidas football kits that it prohibits repressed citizens from wearing, according to The Mirror.

The regulations, established by ISIS’ Hisba religious police in Al-Furat province in Iraq, rule that anyone caught wearing sportswear made by the sports manufacturers, including replica tops of La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, will be sentenced to 80 lashes.

Other tops that ISIS has banned are those of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and several other Premier League sides. England, France and Germany’s international shirts are also among the forbidden memorabilia.

The laws were highlighted by MEMRI Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM), which scrutinises global Islamist terrorism and violent extremism.

Buhari Invites UN to Mediate in Release of Chibok Girls>> read more!!!

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, that Nigeria will welcome intermediaries from the global body.

A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the decision to invite the UN negotiators was to demonstrate Buhari’s commitment to swapping the abducted schoolgirls from Chibok with Boko Haram fighters in custody.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with the UN scribe at the sidelines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York, Buhari said the Nigerian government was willing to bend backwards to get the Chibok girls released from captivity.

“The challenge is in getting credible and bona fide leadership of the Boko Haram sect to discuss with,” the president said, adding that “the split in the insurgent group is not helping matters. Government had reached out, ready to negotiate, but it became difficult to identify credible leaders. We will welcome intermediaries such as UN outfits, to step in.”

The president reiterated that the teachings of Boko Haram were far from being Islamic, as neither Islam nor any other religion, advocates hurting the weak and innocent.

“The fact that they kill men, women, children, and other people wantonly, and shout Allahu Akbar (God is Great) shows that they do not know that Allah at all. If they did, they would not shed innocent blood,” Buhari said.

He thanked Ban Ki-Moon for the moral and material support given to Nigeria, which he said had enabled the country surmount many of the challenges facing her.

In his response, the UN Secretary General congratulated Buhari on the anti-corruption war, declaring: “You are highly respected by world leaders, including myself. Your persona has given your country a positive image.”

He said the UN recognised the achievements of the Buhari administration against Boko Haram, urging that human rights be upheld always to prevent a repeat of the scenario being witnessed in Syria.

Ban Ki-Moon also thanked the Nigerian leader for his commitment to issues on climate change, adding that the government should “own the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” for the good of its citizens.

Buhari signs Climate Change aggreement with France

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration is committed to reversing the negative trend of climate change in the country.

He said this is the reason behind his signing of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

The President said this while addressing the opening of the meeting on Taking Climate Action for Sustainable Development in New York, co-hosted by Nigeria and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as one of the Side Events of the 71st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA71).

Buhari had earlier signed the Paris Agreement, where he committed Nigeria to reducing “Green House Gas Emissions unconditionally by 20 per cent and conditionally by 45 per cent” in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions.”

The President described the signing as historic. He had also expressed confidence that with support from development partners, Nigeria will meet the above targets.

The President also promised to ensure the ratification of the Paris Agreement before the 22nd Conference of Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2016.

According to Buhari, it was to demonstrate his personal dedication to the process of implementing the Agreement that he was hosting the side event on Taking Climate Action Towards Sustainable Development.

The President expressed appreciation for what he called “genuine efforts by President Francois Hollande of France in drawing global attention to reviving the Lake Chad Basin,” and for galvanizing the political will that led to the global consensus in reaching the Paris Agreement.

The Nigerian President said his country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement articulated through its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) “that strive to build a climate resilient society across the diverse terrain of Nigeria. We have instituted an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change to govern implementation of my country’s NDCs, thereby ensuring a strong cross-sectoral approach, coherence and synergy for Climate Action.”

President Buhari, while admitting that implementing the Roadmap will not be easy in the face of dwindling national revenues, however, indicated that both internal and external resources would be mobilized to meet Nigeria’s targets, adding that the 2017 Budget will reflect Nigeria’s efforts to accord priority to realizing its NDCs.

“In addition, we are set to launch our first ever Green Bonds in the first quarter of 2017 to fund a pipeline of projects all targeted at reducing emissions towards a greener economy,” he said.

President Buhari, who thanked the Presidents of Chad, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Niger for attending the event, also called on the international community to “give special recognition to the plight of Lake Chad and support our effort to resuscitate the livelihoods of over 5 million people in the region. This will reinforce our efforts to reintegrate the thousands of Boko Haram victims and returning Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).”

The President noted that the Niger Delta region was a unique coastal environment that is highly prone to adverse environmental changes occasioned by climate change, such as sea level rise, coastal erosion, exacerbated by poverty and many decades of oil pollution leading to loss of livelihoods and ecosystems.

“Through an integrated approach, implementation of the NDCs, and our efforts to clean up Ogoniland, we will improve livelihoods, protect the environment and take climate action, and ensure the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said.

Why we’re fighting corruption headlong –Buhari>> read more!!!

President Muhammadu Buhari has told the international community that his administration is fighting corruption headlong because it denies the nation resources required for development.
This was even as he reiterated his call to development partners to support the fight by returning ill-gotten assets and halt future illicit financial flows into their countries.
Buhari said this at a high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in a statement said President Buhari stated that such collective action “will guarantee a stronger international defence of the right to development.”
The president further said illicit financial assets stashed abroad deprive developing countries, including Nigeria, of their national wealth and resources needed for development. He cautioned that non-repatriation of illicit financial assets could impinge on the determination of States to achieve an all-inclusive 2030 sustainable development.President Buhari, called on the United Nations “to remain vocal and active in addressing the negative impact of non-repatriation of illicit financial assets on their countries of origin,” adding that “as soon as stolen assets are legally established, they should swiftly be repatriated.”
Buhari welcomed the commemoration of three decades of the Declaration which he observed, coincided with the first anniversary of the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and said “it reminds us all of the essence of development and provides us with the opportunity to reaffirm commitments to converting this right into the policies and operational activities of relevant actors at the national, regional and international levels.”

Nigeria new war ship departs China for Lagos>> READ MORE!!!

The second Nigerian Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) NNS UNITY which was under construction in China has been completed and has commenced her journey to join the Nigerian Navy fleet.
A statement from the Nigerian Navy Spokesman Commodore Chris Ezekobe said the vessel has been handed over to Nigeria and has commence her 9719 nautical miles back home.
At the Handing over and departure ceremony in China, the Chief of the Naval Staff represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans Rear Admiral Jacob Ajani conveyed the appreciation of the Navy to the C-In-C, President Muhammadu Buhari for approving all steps taken towards the departure of NNS UNITY.
He stated that NNS UNITY upon joining the NN fleet would strengthen the efforts against all maritime crimes and illegalities in the nation’s territorial waters and the Gulf of Guinea in general. He also added that areas hitherto that were unable to be covered by other NN ships will now be covered by NNS UNITY which will no doubt enhance the NN’s effectiveness and responsiveness to the maritime security challenges within Nigeria’s waters.
NNS UNITY enroute Nigeria will pay ‘port calls’ on some ports of friendly nations before arriving Nigeria. This will further boost the existing cordial relationship with sister navies around the world and the Gulf of Guinea in particular. He concluded by soliciting the maintenance and improved cooperation between Nigeria and the respective China Ship building corporations further beyond the departure of NNS UNITY.
The ceremony which was adjudged a success was attended by Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy Senator Isa Misau, Chairman, House of Representative Committee on the Navy Honourable Abdulsamad Dasuki, Representative of the Honourable Minister of Defense Hajia Rabi Tedman, the Consul General of Nigerian Mission in Shanghai and Senior Officers of the Nigerian Navy. NNS UNITY departed China today 21 Sep 16 and expected to arrive Nigeria in the first week of November 2016.

Govs endorse sale of assets>>> read more !!!

Twenty four hours after the Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu, called for the sack of Budget and National Planning Minister, Udoma Udo Udoma and Finance, Kemi Adeosun, state governors have passed a vote of confidence on them, praising their efforts, competence and capabilities.
Ekweremadu had Wednesday advised President Muhammadu Buhari to remove  Udoma and Adeosun, even as Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) said sacking the two ministers will not solve the current economic crisis.
Ekweremadu said the Buhari administration “should not put square pegs in round holes.”
The National Economic Council (NEC), presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, expressed support for the plans and proposals of the Federal Government to steer the country out of recession.
The NEC is an advisory body on the economy, comprising  of all 36 states governors and the Central Bank Governor.
While acknowledging the current economic challenges and difficulties, the governors  endorsed the measures taken by the Economic Management Team to get the country out of recession and also commended the Budget and Planning and Finance Ministers.
Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Governors of Kebbi, Atiku Bagudu, Oyo, Abiola Ajimobi and Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Yetunde Onanuga, said they were briefed by the Economic Management Team, Udoma, Adeosun and the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emiefele on measures put in place to get the nation out of the woods.
On measures for economic revitalisation, Bagudu said, the EMT, was working on plan to generate immediate larger injection of fund into the economy through, asset sales, advance payment of license renewals, infrastructure concessioning, use of recovered funds among to reduce funding gaps in the economy. He also listed the, Implementation of Fiscal Stimulus/Budget Priorities, Fast-track procedures through legislation and implementation of Strategic, Implementation Plan (SIP) of the budget, though meaningful diversification of the economy and a cut down on importation.
Bagudu said, “Council members in response commended the Economic Management Team and generally welcomed the presentation and expressed support for the plan to steer the nation out of recession”.
Ajumobi said the council was briefed on the Land Use Act of 2013, which seeks to make provisions to Streamline mortgage transactions and clearly delineate the rights, duties and obligations of a mortgage
“Other aspects of the draft are Conditions for disposal of proceeds of sale and subsequent mortgages and implied terms of a mortgage; Rights of redemption and remedies and issues on mortgage by companies; Power of Assignment by mortgage and right of transfer and application of insurance money by the receiver”.
The Oyo governor also said the council was briefed on the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative on affordable housing by Adesoun.
He said. ”Target of N1billion fund to operate PPP (N500 billion initial) to create a blended pool of long term funds to intervene in housing development finance and mortgage provision.
“Funds aims to deliver family housing priced from as low as N2.5 million up to N18 million delivered in a ready to occupy condition with essential services (water and power connected).
“The delivery target is 400,000 to 500,000 housing units per annum. The ultimate aim of the programme is to channel funds from savers to borrowers, so that builders have the required capital to construct and prospective buyers can access credit to purchase.
“The fund will attract low cost local and international capital, including from domestic pension and insurance funds, FG funding, as well as contributions from State Governments and other agencies”, he said.
Onanuga on her part said the Minister of Finance reported to the council the balance in Excess Crude Account in US dollars which stood at $2.453 billion as at September 2016.
“Also at the council meeting another presentation was made on best options for managing the flow train forex policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria. This was a joint presentation by the Governor of Central Bank and the Minister of Finance, the highlights are that the CBN should introduce special monetary policy in the nation as dictated by consumer price and exchange rate.
‎”Adoption of policy tax measures for flexible forex rate to address persistent pressures occasioned by statutory and speculative demands.
“Improving market dynamics by CBN
“Interventions to states in the area of salaries and commercial agriculture,the presentation also noted the following, controlling inflation is key to stabilising other macro economic indices and the current stance of monetary policy is expected to continue to help macro inflation expectations.
“Also an update on Budget support loan facility was discussed at the council, the Minister of Finance reported to council that N50billion has so far been disbursed and the facility is ‎ongoing”.

Give Buhari more time, Kalu begs Nigerians>>> read more!!!

Eminent businessman and former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has appealed to Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari more time to deliver on his campaign promises, saying that one year was insufficient to judge an administration that has a four-year life span.
Kalu, who spoke on Tuesday night, when he hosted Catholic Bishops and the diplomatic community at his Abuja home, also revealed Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation was already discussing with credible international organisations and governments on how to end human trafficking and come to the aid of Nigerians languishing in foreign prisons over drug-related offences.
While acknowledging the current economic downturn and its effects on Nigerians, Kalu, however, absorbed President Buhari and recalled that the country entered recession in 2014.
He said:”Im calling on Nigerian youths to be of good use to themselves. Let me be honest with you, I cannot judge Buhari. He has a four-year mandate to turn things around. He still has time and I expect that he will do something.
“Young people might be feeling frustrated. Government must not do everything. The only thing is that government is not paying enough attention to the manufacturing sector. If I am government, I will pay attention to manufacturing and agriculture.
“You pay attention through the entrepreneurs by giving them single digit loans and opportunities. All the enterprise done by government will not work until they see us as partners. When Dangote was starting his cement factory, he was encouraged by the government. Today, he is all over Nigeria.
“The problem is people are envious and jealous; they see Orji Kalu who is rich, but they do not know what I have gone through to get to this level. They want to be like me, and that is not possible.
“Government should grant more incentives to the entrepreneurs. In June 1999, I told President Olusegun Obasanjo how to solve the power sector by doing something differently. We brought people and they promised to fix the power problem up to 75 percent. But Obasanjo refused. The amount needed was N14 billion. If Nigeria can fix power and insecurity, the country will move forward”.
On his effort to come to the aid of Nigerians in foreign prisons, Kalu said: “I’m concerned about human trafficking. That is why my foundation is working with Caritas to ensure that we are able to put in more efforts. I have already discussed with the Secretary-General of Caritas worldwide.
“I’ve been working with Ford and Clinton Foundation on the logistics. You see need to how our young girls in Italy and Spain are being maltreated.
“There are many Nigerians in jail in foreign countries as a result of drug trafficking. Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation has visited seven countries, namely, the United Kingdom, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, Turkey and Indonesia.
“We pleaded with the President of Indonesia on behalf of those Nigerians that were killed as a result of drug trafficking. This is the first time I am saying this. I was in China few days ago and I spoke with Chinese authorities over the plight of Nigerians in their prisons.
“Many Nigerians have taken to drugs. This gives me concern as a Nigerian. They are not driven like I was when I was a young man. The youths are withdrawn these days. They are not doing enough to help themselves.”

I won’t be Oshiomhole’s puppet – Obaseki>>> read more!!!

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared that he will not be a puppet to any godfather if elected governor of Edo State in the Saturday’s election.

Obaseki made the declaration during an interview monitored on Television Continental on Wednesday.

“I will not be a puppet to any godfather or godmother if I become governor of Edo State,” Obaseki said.

The APC candidate said if he needed to be a puppet to anybody, he would rather be a puppet to the good people of Edo State, whose general mandate he was seeking to become their governor.

Obaseki described Governor Adams Oshiomhole as a true democrat who, according to him, does not even like to be seen as a godfather, let alone expect someone to be his puppet.

He commended the achievements of the Adams Oshiomhole administration and promised to continue work on the good template already set by the governor so that he could move the state to greater heights.

Obaseki said he was also set to make a positive difference in governance, if elected, and promised to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

Commenting on how his government would generate at least 200,000 jobs for youths within his first four years in office, Obaseki said he hoped to achieve this through agricultural reforms and by also creating the necessary enabling environment for investors to come and do business in Edo State.

Trump vows no legal status for those who enter US illegally>> read more!!!

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump issued a stern warning Wednesday to people intent on sneaking into the United States, saying those who enter illegally would never obtain legal status.

"Our message to the world will be this: you cannot obtain legal status or become a citizen of the United States by illegally entering our country," he said in a speech in Phoenix as he laid out a tough, 10-point plan to crack down on illegal immigration.

"You can't just smuggle in, hunker down and wait to be legalized," Trump added. "Those days are over."

The fiery speech confirmed Trump's hard line on immigration just hours after he met in Mexico with President Enrique Pena Nieto and insisted he would order that a giant wall be built on the US-Mexico border if he is elected.

The billionaire candidate's plan includes deporting immigrants with criminal records, cancelling President Barack Obama's executive orders protecting millions of undocumented migrants, and blocking federal funding to so-called "sanctuary cities" that bar discrimination against undocumented workers.

While he insisted, as he regularly does on the campaign trail, that Mexico will pay for the wall, Trump said in Mexico that he and Pena Nieto did not discuss who would fund the construction.

But Pena Nieto contradicted Trump by tweeting that he told the Republican nominee in their meeting that Mexico would not pay for such a wall.

"At the start of the conversation with Donald Trump I made it clear that Mexico will not pay for the wall," Pena Nieto wrote after Trump departed Mexico City for Phoenix.

Trump's measured, calm tone in Mexico City was dramatically different from the loud rhetoric in Phoenix that served as red meat to his mainly white supporter base.

In his speech, Trump laid out a grim, sweeping plan to dramatically slash illegal immigration, a main plank of his presidential campaign.

"Our enforcement priorities will include removing criminals, gang members, security threats, visa overstays, public charges -- that is those relying on public welfare or straining the safety net along with millions of recent illegal arrivals and overstays who have come here under this current corrupt administration," he said.

Trump demanded an end to what he called "catch-and-release" programs along the country's southern border, enforcement of existing immigration law, and "zero tolerance for criminal aliens."

Seeking to end his ambiguity on his immigration positions, he said he would be "fair, just and compassionate" in his plan.

But he remained unclear on exactly what would become of the 11 million people currently living in the shadows, other than to suggest they would need to leave and come back legally if they wanted legal status.

Nigeria, UK sign MoU on return of migrants>> read more!!!

Nigeria and the United Kingdom (UK) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on immigration.

Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this yesterday.

He said the development was a review of a bilateral agreement signed in 2005 between both countries on return of irregular immigrants, as well as regular migrants who had overstayed their visas.

Speaking earlier, leader of the UK delegation and Minister of State for Immigration, Robert Goodwill MP, stressed the importance of preventing immigration abuse by those who enter and leave the UK. He particularly commended the Minister of Interior for driving the process, which culminated in signing of the MoU.

Dambazau said the review was informed by new challenges that have emerged, and which could only be met by reappraisal of the agreement.

He said such include difficulties in ascertaining “the correct nationalities of some immigrants, as there have been instances where their declared nationalities are in variance with their real ones, creating problems with their return processes.”

Dalung Proposes New Road Map for Nigeria Sport>> read more!!!

Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, is craving the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to play a pivotal role in the new sports architecture being proposed to move the sector forward.

Speaking on an NTA Network Programme, Tuesday Live, Dalung said for the ministry to get it right in sports development, it must go back to the foundation of sports which is the grassroots.

“We have to restructure our sports architecture where government will concentrate on investing grants on talents or grassroots sports development while the elite sports will be left for the federations and professionalism,” stressed the minister who claimed not to be part of the move that scrapped the NSC.

Dalung explained that a technical committee was set up to streamline the merging of the Youth and Sports ministries of which he was not part of.

“The NSC was scrapped when I was appointed minister of Youth and Sports. The merging of two ministries to become one led to the establishment of a technical committee to merge the ministries. What came out of the report of the committee was just a briefing for me. The committee had already decided to merge the ministry independent of the minister (Dalung) but the popular opinion was that I scrapped NSC,” stressed the minister while fielding a question during the programme late Tuesday night.

He admitted that one of the major predicaments of sports administration in Nigeria was the election of people into offices of the federations.

“There, you have the immigration of people from their traditional sports to other federations to assume leadership.
“In the next elections, we will ensure that elections are conducted based on the rules and regulations of the federations.

“Federations will not be created for the purpose of accommodating political interests. They must be viable and functional and will be charged with the responsibility of identification of talents,” the minister further observed.
He pledged to have men and women of proven integrity on the boards of the federations at the next elections.
The minister continued: “The management of the resources is also important because when you talk about Corporate Nigeria, nobody will invest in a place where he’s not sure of transparent management of the resources. So the federations have to manage their affairs very transparently.”

Dalung however promised that shortly, the ministry will revisit the architecture of sports in Nigeria to ensure that it serves the passion of Nigerians against all these issues.

“We will soon put up a council memo that will get the backing of the Ministry of Education to restore school sports as part of the compulsory component of the school curriculum in Nigeria because sports development cannot be isolated from educational development. This has to be restored back to our school system,” he said.
On talents development, the minister noted that some of the athletes who took part in the Rio Games have been recycled over the years.

“Some of the athletes have been to the Olympics five to six times without replacements. How can we make progress without setting the pace for new talent development? So for me, the job for 2020 Olympic has started and by this week, we will begin to unfold some of the things we have for restructuring the sports architecture of the country and ensure that it is compatible with passion of Nigerians,” concludes the minister.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, Dream Team VI coach, Samson Siasia and two others who were part of Team Nigeria to the Rio2016 Games spoke on various ways to avoid a repeat of the country’s poor outing at the next Olympiad in Tokyo, Japan.

Nigeria finished in the 78th place on the final medals table with only a bronze medal won in the men’s football event.

North-East development: UK minister to visit Nigeria, meet Osinbajo>> read more!!!

United Kingdom’s Minister for the Department for International Development, Mr. James Wharton, has said the UK is determined to work with Nigeria to address challenges facing the country.

Wharton said this ahead of his three-day visit to Nigeria, during which he will meet Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, among others.

“The UK is committed to furthering its relationship with Nigeria and, as we move to seize the opportunities presented by leaving the European Union, we are all the more determined to work together on tackling big challenges facing the country – which is both in Nigeria and the UK’s interests,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by the British High Commission.

“Nigeria’s success truly matters to the UK and to Africa as a whole. As an outward-looking, globally engaged nation, I want to deepen the broad range of support and assistance the UK provides Nigeria, including in health, education and economic reform.”

 Wharton will also discuss the security and humanitarian challenges in the North East, and observe the ways in which UK aid is being distributed in partnership with the International Committee of the Red Cross to transform lives of some of the most vulnerable people.

“It is a tragedy that the conflict in North East Nigeria has left millions of people in urgent need of shelter, protection, food and emergency health care,” he said.

The minister, who oversees all development assistance in Africa, will also assess human development projects in the country and visit the Bridge Academy School in Lagos as well as the Mile 12 Market to meet with retail and wholesale traders.

He will also meet business leaders in the country as part of steps to promote trade between Nigeria and the UK.

Abdulmumin: I Ensured Ogor Did Not Emerge Deputy Speaker>> read more!!

The sacked Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin, has said he is proud of his role in ensuring that Minority Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, did not emerge as the Deputy Speaker of the House, during the tussle for the leadership of the green chamber in June 2015.

In a statement yesterday, Abdulmumin said Ogor has not forgiven him for the role he played in stopping his ambition.

Ogor is one of the four principal officers accused by Abdulmumin of corruption and abuse of office. Others are the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, and Chief Whip, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, whom he accused of making senseless insertions into the 2016 budget.

“Ogor will never forgive me for the selfless and onerous role I played at ensuring he did not emerged Deputy Speaker! That would have amounted to bringing up one of the longest serving mafia in the House as a presiding Officer. It is a role I played and remained very proud of,” Abdulmumini said.

Attempts to reach the Minority Leader were unsuccessful as his mobile number was unavailable.
Abdulmumin in another statement again outlined allegations against the principal officers, and nine chairmen of standing committees.

He has however refused to address allegations that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating several petitions against him including a N413 million contract fraud for the National Commission of Refugees.

The EFCC has also allegedly resuscitated a money laundering charge against Abdulmumin, and his firm, Green Forest Investment Ltd.

He was charged alongside a former Governor of Nassarawa State, Mr. Aliyu Akwe Doma, and seven others inconnection to the charges of laundering stolen state funds totalling over N15 billion in October 2011.

In December 2012, the EFCC removed his name from its amended charges.

Abia: Another PDP Aspirant Pushes to Replace Ikpeazu>> read more!!!

One of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants in the 2015 governorship primary election in Abia State, Mr.  Friday Nwosu, has dismissed the legal challenge initiated by Dr. Uche Ogah seeking to replace the state Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, saying the duo were not qualified to be governor.

Nwosu said contrary to claims by Ogah that he is the rightful replacement of Ikpeazu, he is actually the person that came second in the  December 18, 2014 PDP governorship primary.

Nwosu, also claimed that he was the first to blow the whistle over the Abia governor’s alleged tax evasion, adding that while Ikpeazu contested with questionable tax papers, Ogah, participated in the primary election but withdrew midway, alleging irregularities, a development, he said,  made him as the only qualified  candidate the party and so should be declared winner.

He said he had since instituted legal suits, one of which is seeking the disqualification of Ikpeazu and the other asking that Ogah, who was ordered by the Federal High Court in Abuja to be given Certificate of Return by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) be either made governor or recognised as candidate of the party given that he withdrew from the contest, alleging irregularities.

But he alleged that some powerful forces from the state who knew the strength and merit of his case in courts were working to frustrate him by ensuring his cases were not heard.

Addressing journalists in Abuja at the weekend, the legal practitioner frowned at what he called “expeditious treatment” of Ogah’s case against Ikpeazu, leaving his case which he said was instituted before that of Ogah.

He called on the President of the Appeal Court to immediately constitute an appeal panel to hear his appeal  case.

Nwosu said: “What  happened was that on December 8, 2014, at Umuahia Central Stadium in Abia State, the PDP conducted its governorship primary election, and a lot of people took different views of that election.

“The governorship election was zoned to Abia South senatorial zone in compliance with what Abia people called Abia Chatter of Equity, where political positions in the state are zoned to the comprising areas.

“When the election came up, seven aspirants came out from Abia South senatorial zone including my humble self. One person, in defiance of the party’s zoning policy, Dr. Uche Chukwu Ogah, who aspired from Abia North senatorial zone contested.

“When the election was conducted, Ogah had a very different view from the view of the party. I won’t be too free to speak because of the pendency of this matter in court.

“But it is enough for me to say that Ogah wrote a petition to the party complaining about a lot of things among which were that PDP delegates who were supposed to vote in that election were locked up somewhere by the then governor of the state, Chief Theodore Orji, now a senator.

He said the real PDP delegates were locked up somewhere, detained somewhere while the party imported several persons from neighbouring states who were not even PDP people into the Umuahia Central Stadium who voted without accreditation.

“I also wrote a letter to INEC to that effect  that they have obligation to look at the documents submitted to them and crosscheck it with the position of the law. That now that my candidate has submitted documents that cannot pass the scrutiny of the law, that they should advise my party, the PDP to withdraw him and bring a qualified person, that was my letter to INEC.”

He said he was worried that no panel had been set up to superintendent over his case.
‘”Well, my worry now is that some people, powerful people somewhere are sitting on my appeal.  The appeal that was contemptuous with the appeal of Ogah has not been listed for hearing, no panel has been set up to hear that appeal while a panel was set up promptly to hear Ogah’s appeal,’’ he said.

B’Haram Stalls Prisoner Swap with Abducted Chibok Girls>> read more!!!

Fresh facts have emerged on why President Muhammadu Buhari has remained steadfast on his position that the federal government would only negotiate for the release of the abducted Chibok girls with those who are directly holding them.

It has emerged that two recent attempts in recent weeks by the Federal Government for prisoners swap with the so called representative of the terror group may have reached a dead end as each time security officials arrive at designated locations with Boko Haram prisoners for the swap, Boko Haram representatives fail to show up as they are required to produce at least 50 verifiable Chibok girls for the first wave of the swap, security officials said.

Two hundred and seventy six girls were kidnapped from their school dormitory on April 14, 2014, and although 59 were able to escape, one recently, 217 have remained in captivity, sparking global outrage over their abduction.

THISDAY exclusively gathered that the federal government had through the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), in conjunction with the Directorate of the State Service (DSS), have in the last two weeks reached back channels agreements with some on the leadership of the sect on the venue, date and other logistics necessary to facilitate the swap of identified Boko Haram prisoners from specific prisons for the Chibok girls.

The source familiar with the back channel deal said at the appointed time and date, when all was set and the identified prisoners were moved to the location slated for the swap, neither the Boko Haram representatives, its commanders nor the Chibok girls were anywhere near the vicinity, prompting the federal government to return the Boko Haram prisoners to their prison cells.

Boko Haram’s inability to deliver the girls, the security source revealed is frustrating the federal government’s efforts to recover the girls.

Given its propensity for reneging on its promise, the source told THISDAY that the development informed the president’s insistence that, going forward, although the federal government remains open to negotiations with the sect for the release of the Chibok girls, his administration would only contemplate further negotiations with any group within the sect’s bona fide leadership who are in possession of the girls as that would have to provide proof of life, as well as verifiable guarantees through credible 3rd parties, including the Red Cross, that they know the whereabouts of the girls.

It is the same reason, the source added, that Buhari two days ago asked the sect to nominate an internationally recognised non-governmental organisation (NGO) that would negotiate on its behalf for the release of the girls.

The president, while addressing the issue in Nairobi, Kenya, on the sidelines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), said: “If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised non-governmental organisation, convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.”

The federal government, starting with the Goodluck Jonathan administration, has made a number of efforts to rescue the girls since 2014, but all attempts have failed to date.

Japan Donates $800m to Fight Malaria, TB, in Nigeria, Pledges $30bn Investment in Africa>> read more!!

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed special appreciation to the government of Japan for donating $800 million to the fight against malaria, tuberculosis among other deadly diseases in Nigeria.

The contribution was part of the $1.3 billion made available to the Nigerian health sector by the Global Fund.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya yesterday, Buhari gave an assurance that his government would ensure full rehabilitation and resettlement of the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east who are currently scattered in different camps as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The two-day summit which had a theme ‘Advancing Africa’s Sustainable Development Agenda – TICAD Partnership for Prosperity’, was attended by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, some 35 African leaders and chief executives of at least 80 major companies from Japan.

The TICAD VI agenda and programme specifically focused on three thematic areas which included “Economic transformation through diversification and industrialisation; promoting resilient health systems for quality life; promoting social stability for shared prosperity.

Buhari said the Nigerian military had decimated the insurgents and that normal life was beginning to return to North-east Nigeria. The president however said the welfare of the IDPs remained his primary responsibility. He commended development partners for their help to improve the lives of the two million IDPs in the country.

He said: “The bottom line is that these problems are our primary responsibility. We must tackle them and find lasting solutions for ourselves. I took over the mantle of leadership in Nigeria when the North-Eastern part of the country was being ravaged by Boko Haram.

‘’However, soon after assumption of office, our administration with the support of our immediate neighbours – Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin – and international partners including Japan, faced the challenge frontally.
‘’As I speak, the terror group has been decimated, and life is beginning to return to normal in the affected region. The challenge we currently face which is also being addressed, is that of the IDPs which number over two million to get them re-integrated with their families and their original homes.”

On the gains of TICAD which was holding on African soil for the first time since its beginning in 1993, the president noted that partnerships between Africa and Japan would help create and improve investment opportunities in industries, agriculture, information technology, science and technology among others for the good of the continent and investors from Japan.

He told the conference that already his government had taken concrete steps to diversify the economy. ‘’In view of the challenges Africa is facing, the imperative for a viable partnership like the Tokyo International Conference on African Development cannot be over emphasised. Today, many countries in Africa including the oil producing ones are wisely seeking to diversify their economies away from mono-cropping.

‘’In Nigeria, our administration has already taken concrete steps to diversify the economy by making agriculture not just a development programme but a thriving business. Investing in the economies of this continent especially through Public-Private-Partnership can contribute to building capacity for our economies,’’ he said.

Prime Minster Abe announced that Japan would be investing $30 billion in different areas ranging from agriculture, industrialisation, health, energy, water among other things in Africa. He expressed delight that finally TICAD has come to Africa.

He said: “With 23 years behind us, TICAD is now on African soil, opening a new chapter in the relationship between Japan and African countries. Throughout the continent, I cannot but think that we are witnessing a quantum leap.

“Today, Africa has leapfrogged over legacy technologies and aims at cutting-edge quality. It is little wonder that an increasing number of young people from Japan find Africa intriguing and want to be a part of it.

“For a period of three years from 2016 to 2018, Japan will invest for the future of Africa through implementing measures centering on developing quality infrastructure, building resilient health system and laying the foundation for peace and stability, amounting to approximately $30 billion under public-private partnership.”
The Japanese prime minister recalled that one of the priority areas in the Nairobi Declaration of TICAD VI was that “Japan will steadily translate into action in Africa the outcomes of the G7 Ise-Shima Summit”. He said his country would contribute to African’s human resources development.

He also said: “Japan will provide training to 1,000 people to promote public awareness for intellectual prosperity in Africa. Japan will promote practical training for youths engaged in the IT industry which is expected to grow in Africa under the collaboration among industrial, public and academic sectors.

“Japan will aim by 2020 to have agreements related to investments signed or entered into force in 100 countries and regions and will intensify work towards concluding them with African countries to achieve the goal above”.
While expressing regret that Africa has no permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council despite huge potentials and contributions the continent has made to the world, the Prime Minister said Agenda 2063 was aimed at rectifying the problems by 2023.

He said: “Africa is now up and running, aiming at long-range goals, aspiring to be a certain kind of continent with certain kinds of countries in 2063. Agenda 2063 — the grandness of this concept, to the best of my knowledge, is simply unparalleled.

“However, the enormous continent of Africa has given no permanent member to the United Nations Security Council. Agenda 2063 states clearly that by 2023, it will rectify this situation. Please accept my complete support on this point.

“You in Africa have a right as a matter of course to demand that the international community better reflect your views. Africa should send a permanent member to the United Nations Security Council by 2023 at the very latest.

“Reform of the United Nations Security Council is truly a goal that Japan and Africa hold in common. I call on everyone here to walk together towards achieving it. Can I have your approval of that?”
Welcoming participants to the conference, ‎Kenyan President, Mr. Uhuru Kenyatta urged the world to support Africa. He pointed out that terrorism was dismembering African countries.

He said: “I am happy that TICAD will be held every three years. Together we must ensure that global trade is supportive of African aspiration. We must press for open and fair trade for the development of human resource for our people.

“Terrorism in particular is threatening or even dismembering some states. Organisations practicing this illicit and savage form of violence are spreading themselves throughout the world. We must also ensure that global governing system response is robust to Africa security as it does to other parts of the world”, he added.
The Chadian, President and Chairman of African Union, Idris Derby called for the establishment of an African Fund against Terrorism (AFT). He also called for massive Japanese investments in Africa.

“AU is happy to be part of TICAD and will play its role. I plead in favour of massive Japanese investments in Africa agriculture, industrialisation, health, energy, water etc. The trend of terrorism compromises…to contribute to African fund against terrorism as was established”, he said.

In a goodwill message, President of World Bank Group, Dr. Jim Yong Kim said the world must stop the illicit flow of stolen funds, recognising that Africa though faced with numerous challenges still had opportunities in energy.
“African countries face key economic challenges, yet there are significant opportunities especially in energy. There are untapped resources. We must stop illicit financial flows”, he said.