Buhari Receives Corrected 2016 Budget From NASS

ABUJA—FINALLY, the corrected version of the 2016 budget was, yesterday, handed over to the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters Senate (Senator), Ita Enang.


File photo: Buhari during the 2016 budget presentation to the National Assembly.
The final conclusion and onward transmission of the corrected version of the budget, which had suffered delay, was disclosed by the Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Jonathan Gaza, while briefing journalists at the assembly complex.

Though Gaza did not give details on how and when the budget was transmitted to the Presidency, sources close to the Presidency confirmed that it was Senator Ita Enang who collected the budget from the 10-man committee of the National Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yusuf Lasun.

Recall that earlier in the day, it was scheduled that the deputy speaker would hand over the corrected version of the budget in the presence of journalists, but the plan was later cancelled and was submitted quietly.

While fielding questions from journalists on the position of the budget, Gaza said: “It is the same media that has kept the whole country abreast. Don’t forget that we are equally Nigerians and it is our desire for the country to move forward.

“A committee was set up, which was in the papers and was headed by the deputy speaker. Members from the Senate as well as the executive arm looked at the budget and I believe the resolutions have been transmitted or rather the resolutions have been submitted to the President.

“I am quite optimistic and I enjoin all other Nigerians, including yourselves, to be as optimistic as me that in the very near future, this budget will be signed into law.”

On when the budget was submitted and whether it was an amendment that was submitted, the House Deputy spokesman said: “Well, I honestly believe that we have to be quite careful with our choice of words.

“Over time, there have been differences and both arms of government had sat down to look at what those issues are. Most importantly, what we want is to see our country and our economy moving forward.”

Kanye West fires Bodyguard Bodyguard for speaking to kim react

The bodyguard fired after Kanye West reportedly flew into a jealous rage after he 'chatted up' his wife Kim Kardashian has hit back at the rapper.

Stanulis, 42, a former Staten Island police officer and father of three, said he was sacked minutes after Kanye saw him approaching his wife at the door of their Presidential suite on the 36th floor of New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Monday.
The bodyguard, who has also minded for Leonardo DiCaprio said Kanye was 'the most self-absorbed person' he had ever met.

Stanulis, who has worked for Kanye on multiple occasions, says his firing followed his decision to travel up to the 36th floor of the hotel and engage with Kardashian about their plans for Monday's Met Gala, which he believed had changed.

Steve Stanulis, in an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Online, denied he had made advances toward the TV star and declared: 'Kanye needs to chill the f*** out.'

Stanulis said:

 'They (Kanye and his wife) were getting ready for Met Gala. I was sitting downstairs in the Waldorf, and it was around 6pm.'I got some information that they were looking to rent a Lamborghini, or something of that nature.'

He said they had called their driver down to see if he could obtain the sports car.

'He tried, but he couldn't as it was last minute.'I went upstairs to see what was happening as we were supposed to be driving them.'I just wanted to make sure we were ready when they were ready. I went up to the floor to the Presidential Suite.'I was walking and the door was open and I happened to see Kim.'I thought I'd ask her or the other security or assistant if there was a change of plan.'As I was walking up to Kim and the room (within touching distance of Kardashian), Kanye walked by.

 He came from around the corner and saw me walking towards the room.

'I turned around and said "Hey Mr West… how you doing?"

He said the superstar rapper failed to return the greeting, glared at him and walked past him.

 'He went to the door and slammed it. I thought that was Ok. So I went back downstairs. I told the driver I had no idea what was going on.'

Within minutes one of Kanye's senior staff called him and told him he would not be needed any more, effectively firing him on the spot.

Asked if he had been flirting with Kim Kardashian, he said:

 'Even if I wanted to, I never got the opportunity because it happened so fast.'The way he was situated (on the hotel corridor), maybe he thought I was there longer or walking up for a different reason.'Maybe it was a misunderstanding, but I didn't have the opportunity.'I had no intention on hitting on Kim Kardashian. I am happily married. I got enough problems in the world and three young kids, so that was not my intent.

Photos Of Hausa Man Burnt In Aba Yesterday

3 people have been confirmed dead in Clash that occurred on Thursday in the popular Ariaria market in Aba, Abia state. Trouble started when an igbo trader was stabbed to death by a member of the Hausa community,who rebuked him for urinating near his store. 

This infuriated other igbo traders who beatup the Hausa man, killed him and burnt his body.The igbo youths also mobilized and attacked the hausa community in Ogbor hill.

Below are photos of the hausa man's body.

In additional reports, a trigger happy soldier was said to have stormed an abbatoir and killed two butchers.The soldier went to smoke Indian hemp after which he refused to pay, claiming he was a soldier. This angered some of the boys who insisted that he must pay. The soldier , who came with four other soldiers opened fire in the abbatoir forcing traders to scamper to safety. four of his colleagues in a Hilux patrol van and started shooting indiscriminately. Two people were shot dead. one was identified as a pig rearer called Ojukwu.

50 Cent Donates $100,000 To Autism Speaks After Mocking Teen With Autism

50 Cent found himself in hot water this week after a video of him mocking a 19-year-old man named Andrew Ferrell, who has autism, was posted on his social media accounts account.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, has since deleted the video and apologized to Farrell and his family for his terrible behavior. He then took an extra step in trying to make things right. 

According to TMZ, Jackson donated $100,000 to Autism Speaks, an autism advocacy group. 

“I want to turn this misunderstanding into an understanding. There are people that are ignored, mistreated and neglected with disabilities that need our support,” Jackson said in a statement sent to The Huffington Post via email. “I am calling on my fellow musicians, actors, entertainers and all others who may not have fully considered this cause to join together to help in any way they can.” 

Autism Speaks echoed a similar sentiment in a statement of their own.

We thank Andrew Farrell and his family, who graciously turned an unfortunate situation into something positive. 50 Cent’s apology to Andrew and generous donation to Autism Speaks at the family’s request call attention to the deep hurt – intended or not – inflicted by snap judgments and social media bullying. Not every disability is visible, but it is easy to see a person’s humanity. This donation will support our mission to increase awareness and foster better understanding of the autism spectrum. Everyone, regardless of differences, deserves acceptance, compassion and respect.

Following the incident, which took place at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Farrell and his family reportedly asked Jackson to donate $10,000 to the autism organization. Of course, the fact that he donated $90,000 more than asked doesn’t excuse his behavior at all, but we’ll give him credit for trying. 

culled from huffingtonpost

Rihana inlove with Drake, hope it works for her

Rihana have been keeping her affair with drake away from the preying eyes of the media, a source confirmed that the long time friend and collaborator have been keeping their afffair privately to make it work.

Meanwhile, Drake told Zane Lowe earlier this week on Apple Music's OVO Sound Radio

"We're not just forcing the story. We have genuine energy between us,"  "We do great music together, I think our chemistry is what makes the records better."

Ukraine offers to invest $1bn in Ajaokuta steel company

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Nigeria, Valeriy Aleksandruk, has said that his country is ready to invest one billion dollars into Ajaokuta Steel Company in order to revive the plant.

This is according to a statement by Alex Okoh, Head, Public Communications, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in Abuja on Thursday.

The statement said that the ambassador made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy call on the Acting Director General of the BPE, Vincent Akpotaire.

It also stated that Aleksandruk said that the Ukrainian company that built the plant -Tiajpromexport (TPE) – had presented a proposal to the Federal Government to that effect.

He said that the steel company has a lot of potentials which his country wanted to take advantage of and that already, meetings were on with relevant people in Nigeria for the realisation of the planned takeover of the plant.

Aleksandruk emphasised that Nigeria has a very good relationship with Ukraine especially in areas of trade and investments adding that there was a big Nigerian community in his country.

He, however, added that Ukraine was ready to “open a new page in its relationship with Nigeria” and pledged to assist the Bureau in its training needs to become a foremost privatisation agency in Africa.

The statement said that Akpotaire in his response, said that the Bureau would review the proposal by the Ukrainian government.

He said it would also review that of Morgan Stanley, the multinational financial services firm that would provide the one billion dollar investment before taking any further steps.

He added that the Federal Government was desirous to get the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the Nigerian Iron Ore Mill Company (NIOMCO) Itakpe running.

Akpotaire urged the Ukrainian Government to invest in other sectors of the Nigerian economy, especially in developing the downstream of the steel sector that would service several sectors including the automobile sector.

Agriculture minister, Ogbeh, insists imported, cultivated grass will end herdsmen violence

The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, on Thursday said the importation and cultivation of good and nutritious grass will put a stop to the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Ogbeh said this in Lagos during an interactive session with the Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

He said that Nigerian cows, which should be among the best breed in the world, lacked the capacity to produce quality milk because they wandered about.

“The largest ranch in the world, dairy farm in the world is in Saudi Arabia; 135,000 cows in one farm, but they are the most comfortable cows on planet earth, they live in air-conditioned tents.

“They eat and they produce milk; they give 40 litres of milk per day. We do, sometimes, half a litre of the milk. That’s why Saudi milk is all over the gulf.

“Where do they get their grass? They get their grass from the U.S.; import alfalfa grass from the U.S. and from Sudan.

“Our cows are wandering and the herdsmen are at war with farmers; a crisis we must bring to an end as quickly as possible. And the solution is: grow grass.

“I have said it before, but I came up against a barrage of assaults. ‘Is it grass now? Na grass you go import?’ They said.“With all due apologies to the commentators, they do not know as much as I do about this business of cattle; I keep some.

“There is no way you can keep cows without good grass to feed them and the grass must have a minimum of 18 per cent protein, trace elements and amino acids, then the cow will give you good meat,” he said.

NAN reports that Mr. Ogbeh was accompanied to the session by the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, and the Minister of Environment, Aminat Mohammed.

The NPAN was represented by its President and Publisher of Thisday Newpapers, Nduka Obaigbena, and Comfort Obi of The Source Magazine, among others.

How I leaked Sanusi’s letter on missing $49 billion oil money – Amaechi

the Judas of ubima

The Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has reacted to reports that he leaked a letter by former governor the Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi, to former President Goodluck Jonathan, detailing how $49 billion of oil revenue had been diverted.

The letter ultimately led to the removal of Mr. Sanusi, who is now the Emir of Kano.

Mr. Amaechi, then the governor of Rivers State, admits he made the letter public, but said he did not do so “surreptitiously and clandestinely”.

Read a statement from his office:

Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media that tends to infer and/or suggest that immediate past governor of Rivers State and now Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi surreptitiously and clandestinely ‘leaked’ a letter written by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor and now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Muhammad 11 to then President Goodluck Jonathan on the non-remittance of $49.8 billion from oil sale to the federation account. This is further from the truth and what exactly transpired as regards Amaechi’s involvement in that Sanusi letter.

To put the records straight, we want to categorically state that:

1. A concerned and patriotic Nigerian who felt sufficiently troubled with what was happening then, gave a copy of the Sanusi letter to Amaechi in Amaechi’s capacity as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). Like Amaechi, we should appreciate that concerned Nigerian’s patriotism.

2. When Amaechi got the letter, he spoke with Sanusi who was still the CBN governor to confirm the authenticity of the letter. Sanusi confirmed to Amaechi that he wrote the letter. During their conversation, Amaechi made it abundantly clear to the then CBN governor that the bleeding of the nation had to be stopped, all non-remitted funds remitted and that he (Amaechi) was going to use the letter to do whatever is in the best interest of the nation and Nigerians, which was the stoppage of the non-remittance and the recovery of all the non-remitted funds from oil sale. The CBN Governor didn’t agree with Amaechi on the way forward.

3. Considering that the letter was given to Amaechi as Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, he shared the letter with his colleague governors first, and with Senator Bukola Saraki (now Senate President), who before and around that period was doing some work or/and investigation around the oil sector in the senate.

4. Around that period, a delegation from the United States of America government, from the offices of the Secretaries of State and Defense visited Amaechi in Port Harcourt to discuss the issue of oil theft in Nigeria. From their records, they gave Amaechi figures of billions of dollars (about $7 billion dollars, annually) that was being lost to oil theft in Nigeria. They were discussing the issue and figures of oil theft, and that was how the CBN governor’s letter to President Jonathan came up. In the presence of journalists covering the visit, Amaechi brought out the Sanusi letter to the visiting American delegation to buttress the point that Nigeria was losing far more money to non-remittance of proceeds from oil sale into the federation account, which everyone seemed to concur, was in itself, another form and another dimension to the issue of oil theft.

5. To suggest, infer or even extrapolate that Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi surreptitiously, clandestinely or underhandedly ‘leaked’ the CBN governor’s (Sanusi’s) letter is indeed most unfair, disrespectful and uncharitable to his person. Amaechi did what he did because he believed that the theft and corruption was just too much. He was propelled by his patriotic zeal to put Nigeria first, do what is in the best interest of the nation and Nigerians, and stop the bleeding and sucking of our collective resources by a tiny few. The mindboggling corruption revelations in the recent past, that is still ongoing clearly justifies and vindicates Amaechi’s stance on the issue and the actions he took. Faced with the same situation, under similar circumstances, Amaechi will not act differently. The good of Nigeria, putting the nation and Nigerians first, will always be his guiding principle.

developing story: hausa-fulani killed someone, and people retaliate in aba (unconfirmed story)

it took the efforts of security men to quell what would have been a deadly riot between Igbos as Hausa/Fulani Cattle rearers at Water Side Ogbor Hill.
An Eyewitness narrated that the clash started when an Hausa cattle rearer allegedly stabbed an Igbo man after some slight quarrel, this led to anger among the Igbo people who saw what happened.
"They killed two Hausa men at the spot, others scampered to the nearest police station, as the slaughter boys chased them with machetes and cutlasses." he said.
The young Igbo man who was stabbed by the Hausa man, was reported to have died some moments later as he was stabbed in the heart, the news of his death made the slaughter boys to organize and head to Mosque street Aba.
the Hausa community in Aba has been deserted over what they feared as bigger reprisals by Ogbor Hill slaughter boys.

Navy destroys 100 illegal refineries in Bayelsa

The outgoing Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Apochi Ogabu Suleiman, has said that within seven months, the command destroyed 100 illegal refineries; arrested many suspected oil thieves and impounded ships and other vessels used by vandals.

Rear Admiral Seleiman, who was speaking in Yenagoa over the weekend before handing over the command to FOC, Rear Admiral Tarioworio Dick, the first indigene of the area to head the office, said he engaged illegal refiners and other maritime criminals in battles and made the crimes unappealing.

Stating that crime does not pay, advised “pirates and oil thieves to desist from the crimes,” because the command will sanction offenders severely in accordance with the extant rules and regulations in order to curb maritime crimes.”

During his seven month tenure at the command, Suleiman commissioned five projects he initiated and executed including an expansive swimming pool to keep the naval officers familiar and abreast of their natural environment, and establish a magazine titled: ‘Central Searchlight’, a publication of the Chief of Naval Staff.

In recognition of his excellent performance, the Community Media Network (CMN), led by Delight Ozoegbe presented an award to the FOC, and commended him for reducing maritime crimes especially in the state.

The new FOC Tariworio Dick in his remarks, however, appealed to the communities to cooperate with the Navy by volunteering information on those committing illegal activities, because the criminals do not mean well for the community and nation.

“I am disturbed by the actions of crude oil thrives because they dig the ground and use it as a storage facility. It damages the environment to the extent that our own children may not recover from what they have done.

“They are not friends and so there should be the whole community approach towards tackling crude oil theft, sea robbery and piracy, social commitment and responsibility, in the earnest efforts to facilitate the sustainable development of the Niger Delta region,” he said.

Nigerian Army to court-martial two generals for undisclosed offences

The Nigerian Army on Thursday inaugurated a Special Court Martial to try two of its officers for undisclosed offences.

The Judge advocate, Col. Ibrahim Musa, administered the oath on the President of the Special Court Martial, Air Vice-Marshal James Gbum and three others.

Musa said that the purpose of the special court was to try two of army officers, Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Sanni and Maj.-Gen. Patrick Falola.

Reading the conveying order for the court from the Chief of Army Staff, Musa said “by the power conferred on me by Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, I hereby conveyed this speech to every one of you in this Special Court.

“This court is saddled with the responsibility of trying the two officers’’.

On behalf of the special court members, Gum promised that they would discharge their duties in accordance with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He said that the court would also take the Armed Forces Act, Service Evidence Act, Military Law and Rule of Procedure for trials into cognisance.

The president assured of speedy dispensation of justice, acknowledging that “justice delayed is justice denied’’.

The officers’ offences were however, not stated but lead counsel to the Nigerian Army, Col. Ukpe Ukpe, said that the trial would commence on Monday.

Ukpe appeared with five other counsels for the army, while two accused officers were represented by two counsels.

BIAFRA: Appeal Court reserves ruling on Nnamdi Kanu’s bail

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division on Thursday reserved ruling in the appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB against the 29, January judgment of Federal High Court, Abuja denying him and two others bail.

The appellate court reserved ruling following exchange of briefs between M.M Diri, the lead counsel to the respondent which is the Federal Government and Chuks Momah(SAN) counsel to the appellant.

In a very brief adumbration of the brief, Momah told the three panel of judges at the appellate court led by Justice Abdul Aboki that the fundamental of their argument against the judgment denying his clients bail was that the judge, Justice James Tsoho gave the ruling as if it involved only the first appellant (Nnamdi Kanu).

He therefore asked the court to allow the appeal and grant his clients bail.

The lead counsel to the respondent however asked the court to uphold the ruling of the trial court and refuse the appellants bail. He urged the court to dismiss the appeal in its entirety arguing that it lacked merit.

Kanu who was arrested by officials of Department of State Security Service, DSS. late last year is being tried on charges of treasonable felony alongside two other pro-Biafra agitators, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi by the Federal Government.

In his ruling denying Kanu and his co accused bail, Justice Tsoho accepted the argument of the prosecution that the activities of the defendants constitute threat to national security.

Justice Tsoho also noted that the offence of the treasonable felony Kanu and his two co-accused are charged with attracts life imprisonment as punishment and is prejudicial to national security.

He added that the Supreme Court has ruled that when national security is threatened or is at the risk of being threatened, then the issue of human rights must be suspended.

He also noted that the prosecution has presented evidence to the court that Kanu, who is the main accuse may run out of the country if granted bail because he holds dual nationality and is in possession of Nigerian and British passports.

He therefore refused the applicants’ request for bail.

The Federal Government had docked Kanu and his two co-accused on a six-count criminal charge bordering on treasonable felony before Justice Tsoho on January, 2016.

The three accused however pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The Federal Government had alleged that the accused persons committed treasonable felony by spear-heading an illegal agitation for the secession of ‘Biafra Republic’ from Nigeria, an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

FG alleged that the accused persons are managing the affairs of the IPOB, which it described as ‘an unlawful society.’

One of the charges against the accused persons read: “That you, Nnamdi Kanu and other unknown persons, now at large, at London, United Kingdom, between 2014 and September, 2015, with intention to levy war against Nigeria in order to force the President to change his measures of being the President of the Federation, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation as defined in Section 3 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) by doing an act to wit: Broadcast on Radio Biafra your preparations for the states in the South- East geo-political zone, South-South geo-political zone, the Igala Community of Kogi State and the Idoma/Igede Community of Benue State to secede from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and form themselves into a Republic of Biafra, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 41(C) of the Criminal Code Act, CAP C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

The IPOB leader was arrested in Lagos on 14 October, 2015 shortly after he arrived from United Kingdom.

He was subsequently arraigned before a Chief Magistrate’s Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on criminal conspiracy and managing and belonging to an unlawful society.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was eventually granted bail to the tune of N2million. But he was not released from the detention of DSS, where he was since his arrest.

The Federal Government later withdrew the matter and the Magistrate Court subsequently struck out the charge, even as it discharged the accused persons.

Justice Adeniyi of Federal High Court, Abuja had on December 17, ordered the ‘unconditional’ release of Kanu, from the custody of the DSS based on the applications for fundamental rights enforcement by his lawyer.

DSS however ignored the order, but instead arraigned Kanu on a fresh charge of treasonable felony on December 23, 2015, before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of Federal High Court, Abuja.

Kanu declined to enter his plea to the charge when he was arraigned before Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the high court.

He claimed that he will not get justice from the court. The Judge consequently washed his hands off the case.

Apart from the appeal against the denial of bail, Kanu and his co accused have filed other interlocutory appeals against different ruling of Justice Tsoho waiting for hearing at the appellate court.

Lagos procures 115 jeeps for Obas

Lagos State Government Thursday disclosed that it procured and distributed no fewer than 115 jeeps to traditional rulers and chiefs across the state.

The state government also said 84 Streets gates shut against motorists before the 12 midnight deadline it stipulated, were demolished.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, disclosed this at the ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, in commemoration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year in office, with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan.

ured and distributed no fewer than 115 jeeps to traditional rulers and chiefs across the state.

The state government also said 84 Streets gates shut against motorists before the 12 midnight deadline it stipulated, were demolished.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, disclosed this at the ministerial press briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, in commemoration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s first year in office, with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Communications, Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan.

Folami noted “The State has 605 approved Obas, Chiefs and Baales as at December, 2015 and inherited over 132 cases of pending approval for traditional chiefs in the state. I am happy to inform you that 56 appointments, upgrading and recognition of traditional chiefs have been approved by this Administration within a year.

“The welfare and capacity building of Obas and Chiefs in the State were given the utmost attention that it deserves. Three training and workshops were organized for them to enhance their roles as alternative dispute resolution agent within the communities, promotion of gender balance activities as well as major motivators of growth and feedback collection from the citizenry,” he added.

Ebonyi govt approves N1bn for rice farmers

As part of efforts to make Ebonyi the number one state in rice production in the country, Governor David Umahi has directed the disbursement of N1billion to commercial rice farmers in the state.

The sum, according to him, will not be given to them inform of cash but as seedlings, fertilizer, pesticides, etcetera.

Umahi, who made this known   during a special stakeholder’s forum on rice production in the state in Abakaliki on Wednesday, also ordered all council chairmen, development centre coordinators, management committee members and Liaison officers of the councils and DCs to acquire some hectares of land for rice production.

Under the latest arrangement, the council chairmen are to acquire 20 hectares of land; coordinators, 10 hectares; and management committee as well as Liaison officers, five hectares each.

Umahi told the political office holders that their survival on their jobs would be predicated on their performance in the task.

Board members and heads of parastatals, according to the governor, should also own   one farm for agricultural production. He added that the state Executive Council would   manage the Ezillo Farm.

The governor stressed that his vision to make Ebonyi State the highest rice producing state in the country could only be achieved if   the ruling class showed interest in Agriculture.

He disclosed that a new office to be headed by a Senior Special Assistant on Rice Production had been created to oversee the disbursement of the N1bn rice loan to commercial farmers

Governor Umahi said, “It is not going to be dash; it is going to be loan and when you produce, we will take over the rice and pay you the difference.  It is a loan. We borrowed it from the Federal Government, which they will deduct from our allocation every month.

“So we should be able to recover this money and give it again.  It is going to be a revolving loan.”

Responding to the appeal by the governor for the provision of land for the rice production, traditional rulers, who spoke at the summit, pledged their readiness to key into the   agricultural programme.

They however   requested that five per cent of the total proceeds from the lands should be given to the original land owners.

Local Government chairmen that attended the summit also assured the governor that they had already keyed into the programme, as each of them had met the governor’s directive to acquire at least 2,500 hectares of land in their councils.

Speaking at the occasion, the   Commissioner for Agriculture, Barrister Uchenna Orji, said that the summit was convened   to deliberate on how to revolutionize rice production in the state for greater yield.

Lectures were delivered at the occasion by the Provost, Federal College of Agriculture, Ishiagu, Prof. Justina Mgbada and the Dean Faculty of Agriculture, Ebonyi State University, Prof. Foluso David Abraham.

Rivers Insecurity:Politician House Set Ablaze By Vigilantee Group In Ahoada (pics)

Yesterday Night Vigilantee Group formed by Eze Robinson O Robinson the Eze Ekpeye Logbo of Ekpeye Kingdom known as ISAKABA BOYS set the House of a former Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area Hon Cassidy Ikegbidi. The ISAKABA boys group was provided security by men of the Joint military Task Force while properties belonging to Cassidy Ikegbidi was burnt and destroyed. The action followed a petition written against him by the Eze Ekpeye Logbo that he was responsible for insecurity in the Area.

Panama Papers: Adenuga, Andy Uba, 106 Others Named

At least 110 Nigerian individuals and companies have so far been identified by PREMIUM TIMES in the leaked internal data of Panamanian law firm, Mossack Fonsecca, as operators of offshore shell companies in tax havens.
Prominent among the new names being revealed today, in addition to the several that were published in the past one month, are the founder of telecommunication company, Globacom, Mike Adenuga; Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sadiq Sani Bello and the late Ooni of Ife, Okunade Sijuwade, among others.
The list also contained names of Arik Chairman, Joseph Arumemi-Johnson and his wife, Mary, as well as two serving senators – Andy Uba (Anambra) and Ibrahim Gobir (Sokoto).
Other top business persons, politicians, and their family members were also found in the infamous database, including those currently holding public offices. See full list below.
The publication details names of companies, their owners and the particular tax havens the offshore firms are domiciled.
PREMIUM TIMES is the only Nigerian media organisation with exclusive access to the documents obtained by German newspaper, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) with over 80 media organisations around the world.
Since April 3, 2016, when the news of the unprecedented leak broke worldwide, PREMIUM TIMES has published series of exclusive reports about the offshore assets of prominent Nigerians named in the database that is now globally referred to as #PanamaPapers. Some of them, who are public officer holders, held the assets in violation of Nigerian law, failing to declare them to the Code of Conduct Bureau.
The investigation revealed the assets of some of Nigeria’s most powerful individuals, including Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote; President of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki; convicted former governor of Delta State, James Ibori; the boss of Oando, Nigeria’s biggest indigenous oil firm, Wale Tinubu, in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands, Panama, and Seychelles.
Foramfera
The unprecedented year-long investigation involving 11.5 million secret documents – which stretch from 1977 to December 2015 – exposed the hidden underground of the world economy, a network of banks, law firms and other middlemen that utilize shell companies, sometimes using them to hide illegal wealth.
The 2.6 TB files, involving 214,488 entities, also revealed hundreds of details about how former gun-runners, contractors and other members of the spy world use offshore companies for personal and private gain.
The investigation unveiled the cloak of secrecy provided by Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm that specializes in creating offshore companies, some of which have been used by con men and women to hide Ponzi schemes, predatory lending scams, and other financial frauds from their victims and from the authorities.
The use of shell companies is not illegal and there are individuals and firms who incorporate them for purely legitimate purposes.
Below is a comprehensive list of other Nigerians named in the leak, although this may not be final as this newspaper will continue its investigation in the weeks and months ahead.

Source: 
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/202917-adenuga-niger-governor-late-ooni-ife-andy-uba-106-others-named-panamapapers.html

Niger-Delta Militants Blowup Warri Chevron Valve Platform

UGHELLI – MILITANTS in the Niger Delta region have continued their onslaught on oil installations in the area with the blowing up of the Chevron Valve Platform in Abiteye, Warri North council area of Delta State. The incident it was gathered occurred at about 10:40pm on Wednesday. Though the company’s Public Affairs Manager, Deji Haastrup could not be reached for comments on the incident, on official of the Department of Security Services, DSS who spoke on anonymity, confirmed the incident adding that the platform was totally destroyed with the use of dynamites. 

The security source further hinted that the platform is a major connecting point where all other platforms link up and serves as a fulcrum to chevron BOP and the Chevron Tank farm thereby halting all operations of the company in the region. Claiming responsibility for the incident, the Niger Delta Avengers, a militant group in the region in a statement on Wednesday night, while attributing the incident to the effort of its strike Team 6, stated that attack on the facility is in line with its promise to the Nigerian government to cripple the economy. 

The group which had earlier claimed responsibility for destroying the Forcados 48-inch Export Pipeline, also threatened to attack oil facilities in Lagos and Abuja, the nation’s capital. “We want to pass this message to the all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigeria Military can’t protect their facilities. They should talk to the federal government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall their installations. “Until our demands are met, no repair works should be done at the blast site,” the group added.

VANGUARD.

Fulani Herdsmen Butcher Man Wit Machete As He Goes 2 Fetch Firewood In Enugu

According to the facebook user who shared the photos, the incident happened few days ago in Enugu. The man pictured above narrowly escaped death after he was macheted by suspected Fulani herdsmen as he went to fetch firewood. The man flee to Ugwuomu in Enugu with cuts on his head and his clothes soaked in his own blood. See more photos below