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Tag: Nigerians

  • Killings: Nigerians losing confidence in security system, says Dogara

    NIGERIANS are fast losing confidence in the country’s security system, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has said.

    The Speaker said history would be hash to on present administration, if it fails to stop the violence and mass killings of innocent Nigerians.

    Dogara, who was speaking at the resumption of plenary yesterday, noted that the achievement being recorded by the Buhari administration would not be remembered if the orgy violence and mass killings of innocent Nigerians continue unabated.

    His words: “History will have a harsh verdict for us as a government, if we fail to live up to this responsibility and it won’t matter if we succeed in other areas.

    “Unfortunately, the stark reality now is that our citizens are fast losing confidence in our security system.

    “The stark reality now is that our citizens are fast losing confidence in our security system. This must not be the case. Before we ebb to the realm of anarchy, we must rise up as true representatives of the Nigerian people to salvage the situation and defend our hard-won democracy.”

    According to Dogara, the unresolved issue of rampant killing of defenseless people, including innocent and vulnerable children and women, in various parts of the country, calls for a sober reflection and more concerted efforts by the National Assembly.

     

  • 350 Nigerians owing banks N5.8tr, says NLC

    THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday urged the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to justify its anti-corruption crusade and recover the over N5.8 trillion presently in the hands of about 350 people.

    According to NLC, the concerned individuals borrowed the money from the banks and refuse to pay back.

    It asked the President to order the arrest of the 350 persons in possession of the N5.8 trillion and recover the money from them.

    The NLC said it was rather unfortunate that conflict across the continent was hampering growth efforts.

    Its President, Ayuba Wabba, said there was no basis  for the government to look for money to borrow from outside the country to fund its capital projects, when the bulk of money were taken away from the banks and public funds had to be used to save the banks from collapse.

    Wabba, who spoke at a public lecture to mark the 70th birthday of the NLC General Secretary, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said it was an irony that despite its abundant human and material resources, Nigeria is today regarded as the poverty capital of the world.

    He said for the last 30 years, Nigerians have been lamenting the issue of bad governance and bad policies, adding that the Nigerian system has become less accommodating for the interest and rights of the citizens.

    He said: “If not, how can 350 Nigerians out of almost 200 million people be allowed to borrow N5.8 trillion from our banks, which they could not pay. In fact, that money is enough to fund both recurrent budget of 2017 and 2018. There is no situation that should warrant this.

    “It is hard-earned money of the people that was used to salvage those banks, yet that money is in the hand of only 350 people and yet we are lamenting that there is no money and yet this money cannot be recovered from them.

    “We must work together and not allow these few swallow what belong to all of us. We will continue to challenge and be on the streets. But importantly, we must realise where the challenges lies.

    “Therefore, I urge government to do everything possible to recover that money because Nigerians will not sympathise with any person who has borrowed that money and still living in their comfort zone. They should be arrested and that money should be recovered because it is our common wealth.

    “We cannot continue to subsidise for the rich. There is no reason why we should go borrowing money when that money is there lying fallow. For more than 30 years, we have been lamenting and things have not changed and so, we should find a way out of this situation.”

    Wabba said what is happening in the country was definitely not an act of God, but an act of human beings.

    He said: “Underdevelopment in Africa, particularly in our country, cannot be the act of God because God has so richly blessed us. In all facet of human life, be it natural or human, we are blessed.

    “The population we have is an asset and not a liability. You can see what China is doing with their population and so, we have every reason to continue to give thanks for the enormous resources that our country has been endowed with.

    “But the central issue is actually the issue of leadership and policy option. Other groups and other countries have continued to manipulate our policies. We cannot on our own fashion out policies that can change our situation. That is why those of us born in the sixties, we can remember the good old days.

    “We can continue to say that those days are better than now. But in terms of resources, we have more resources now than in those days. But what are the issues. The issues are bad policies and bad governance.

    “Therefore, for Nigeria to move forward and for Africa to move forward, we must change these policies. Here we are with abundant resources, but these resources are sold and the money stolen. It is an irony and sometimes, I wonder whether it is because of our skin or what is the problem with us in Africa.”

    He added: “In fact, it is a challenge that require certain answers because there is nothing on earth that God has not made to favour us. If you look at our land across Africa, there is nothing we cannot grow. If you go the Europe, the period they have for agriculture is just about three to four months, but here in Africa, we can farm all year round and yet we cannot feed ourselves. These are the issues we must continue to engage.”

    According to him, “the provision of security and the regulation of the economy are central to the development of Africa as a continent and Nigeria in particular. We cannot achieve more if there is conflict everywhere in Africa. Today, there is hardly any country in Africa where you don’t have conflict and these conflicts are man-made.”

    Former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission Prof. Julius Okojie, who was chairman of the event, said the country’s resources were not being well-managed because of the lack of strong institutions.

  • NGO tasks Nigerians on fighting corruption

    The Executive Director of the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), Babafunke Fagbemi on Wednesday in Kano called on Nigerians to speak out against the cankerworm known as corruption so as to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in fighting the menace which has eaten deep into the fabrics of the country’s socio-economic development.

    Fagbemi who spoke at a media campaign launch of the Anti-Corruption crusade by Strengthening Citizen’s Resistance Against Prevalence of Corruption (SCRAP-C), urged Nigerians to resist the system of celebrating corruption by those that have stolen the country blind.

    According to her, “the campaign will communicate to Nigerians what they stand to gain personally by adopting a corruption averse mentality.”

    She added that, “the campaign which is adopting the consumer lens approach, has a positive brand as we hope to build confidence and values of Honesty, Integrity and Transparency (HIT),” pointing out that Nigerians are expected to participate and take ownership of the anti-corruption agenda.

    Fagbemi who was represented by CCSI Senior Programme Officer, Mr. Oluyemi Abodunrin, further stated that the campaign which pilot scheme is already spread in six states in Nigeria namely Kano, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Enugu and Lagos, has a brand known as Upright for Nigeria, Stand Against Corruption, aimed at changing the behavior of Nigerians on corruption.

    Read Also: UK-based NGO to support Nigeria in fighting poverty, illetracy

    She noted that, “the campaign call to action is for citizens to resist, report and discourage corrupt practices by refusing to participate in corrupt practices through change in public attitude on corruption.

    “Refusing to offer, accept bribes or receive gratifications before carrying out services, upholding values of honesty, integrity and hard work, speaking out against corruption, holding themselves and colleagues accountable, as well as engaging in campaign activities to promote anti-corruption.”

    She added that the campaign was organized in conjunction with the Action Aid Nigeria (AAN), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) among others.

  • ‘Nigerians have a lot to gain from efficient credit system’

    Prof. Chris Onalo is the founding Registrar/Chief Executive Institute of Credit Administration, the umbrella body for credit management professionals in the country. Onalo who clocked 61 this month recounts the story of his life growing up in the backstreet of Elele-Ibaji Kogi State vis-à-vis his career trajectory, vision for a new Nigeria and sundry issues. He spoke with Ibrahim Apekhade Yusuf. Excerpts:

    How does it feel to be 61? Taking a retrospective look back in time, do you feel accomplished?

    I must say that I have not been privileged like most people to have grown up from a royal family, family of influence, substance and noble. I grew up like any other person poor from a wretched, poor family background. I think the first and the last education that my parents gave to me is primary school. After my primary school education, I had to literally take my own destiny in my hands. Of course, because of the backwardness of education that was the problem facing my community, Elele-ibaji, in Kogi State, it was tough proceeding with my education. Before I even commenced my primary school education of the age when I should have been in secondary school and because of circumstances I had to start my primary school education at a fairly grown up age. So when I finished primary school it was much easier for me to head out to the wider world and look out for myself. I ended up working at Olisa Textile Mill in Anambra State. I stayed there for some time. And it dawned on me a poor boy from a typical village looking at life in the urban centre I had very strong passion to be like other people I saw in the city speaking good English, dressing properly and all that. So it became a challenge to me. So I had to make friends with people I was working with. Through one Simeon Abu, who was attending a commercial school in Onitsha, not very far from Asaba in present Delta State, he took me to the principal of the National Institute of Commerce, Asaba. That was how my story changed. After my short stint in Asaba, I moved to Lagos and started working as an accounts clerk at a firm. Thankfully with the help my elder brother, I met a Dutch, through whom I had the opportunity of travelling to The Netherlands to study. That’s where I first learnt about credit management. My interest was further ignited when I travelled to the United Kingdom and the United States, where I saw firsthand how those countries were able to develop their economies on the wings of credit. And that’s how I took up the advocacy of spreading the word about credit. But the idea unfortunately did not caught on well with people around here. I was a lone ranger. Nobody gave us a chance. But looking back, I can say without any fear of contradiction that God has been good to me. Today, I’m regarded as the doyen of credit management not for any reason but the fact that I was able to put Nigerian on the world map. At least today, Nigeria is ranked third after USA and UK, for countries where credit management is gaining traction.

    As you said, you pioneered efforts in credit management in the country. Can you expatiate?

    At the risk of being immodest, I can say I pioneered efforts in the sector. It all began on the early 80s. I resurrected it during the administration after Shehu Shagari, during the time of Babangida down to Obasanjo, Abacha. It’s only the administration of General Abdulsalam that did not receive my proposal. I kept insisting that the country should set up a National Credit Guarantee Corporation, those one that will serve as a guarantors to banks that advance credit to either individuals or medium scale entrepreneurs. Because when you talk small and medium scales enterprises, you are talking about Nigerian families. So if you are able to put up a structure, a policy instrument that is parallel to economic life of SMES, then of course there will a trader once you set up such institution, there are other sub sectors that would come from that before you move that as economy base, so that was my idea. Rather than being discouraged, I was turned back from every office I went. But I refused and to God be the glory that move became a reality today.

    Who were your greatest influences?

    I don’t have any influence or a role model as the case may be. I didn’t have anyone that influenced me so to speak. I can rightly say I’m a self-made man. But one day in early year 2000 or so, I read the story about Afe Babalola, how he singlehandedly did what he did. His story inspired me and I felt that I have a fellow compatriot, who before me has passed through what I was passing through and that one can actually become great if you choose to become great. Of course, one can achieve anything in life through dint of hard work, perseverance and dedication.

    What books did you read?

    I read a lot of books on credit from different authors in United Kingdom and then, that was how it was an eye opener to me. That opened my eyes to the world of … and till today, I have all the books that he wrote and recommending me to other institutions like National Association of Credit Management. There is no book on credit management that published in the United States that I don’t have, the same thing in UK. At least these are the two countries that have very strong English, so that books written can be easily and well understood. And also, in terms of what influences me, it is that credit management because I realised that credit management is the mother of all other professions. I realised that credit profession places you in a position to judge character, assesses reputation and integrity of other people. So it makes Credit management a sort of mother to other profession because whether you are an engineer or politician, whatever you call yourself, you come and sit down before credit manager to answer his questions. The information is lesson from you and put them together to rate your integrity, whether you are the one that can stand by your word or not. So it’s so unique that you are the one to assess reputation of individual businesses and all that. Of course English business communications,… are involved and when you dwell a bit psychology, you are looking unto her to nurture your sense of integrity. This is a peak of strategic management as marketing, you pick them. The university for credit management is long overdue, not only in Nigeria but all over the world, because of the growth spectrum of credit management. If you look at Nigeria what is the political in this dealing of another country or people thinking about doing business in Nigeria, what is the political conducive in the country. So it’s a unique kind of profession, what influences me is credit management because it makes you to be an  up and down person and more importantly determining whether the person has final obligation and not a way from whatever the person has said.

    A look at your career and family life

    Let me begin with my career, as career person all has passed through my hands to establish credit management profession in Nigeria. Call has passed through my hands to institute structure that drives credit management. Akintola Williams has done a lot for the accounting profession in Nigeria. In the same vein, I will also say I am instrumental to the credit management profession in Nigeria as well as the rest of the globe. What has happened in Nigeria seems to be seen as a tiger in lion from the east to swallow others. What I mean by that is the world is now jittery about us because from a relatively obscure position we are occupying the third position as far as credit management is concerned in the world.

  • Governors advise Nigerians on spiritual rebirth, tolerance, unity

    GOVERNORS Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Ben Ayade (Cross River) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) have urged Nigerians to seek spiritual rebirth, imbibe the tenets of tolerance and unity for one another as a pathway of building a strong and united nation.

    Other governors, who felicitated with Muslims yesterday through their Eid-el-Fitri messages, are: Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (Rivers), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Acting Niger State Governor Ahmed Mohammed Ketso.

     

    Ambode: imbibe tenets of love, tolerance, forgiveness

    Ambode, in his Eid-el-Fitri message, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said it is only by embracing peace, unity and fairness that Nigerians can begin a rebirth.

    He urged the citizenry to imbibe the tenets of love, tolerance, forgiveness and brotherhood, which the period of the holy month exemplifies.

    According to him, with brotherly love and harmonious co-existence among the citizens above all other things, Nigeria can overcome the numerous challenges confronting it.

    Ambode added that in the last three years, despite the seeming economic challenges, the nation has witnessed appreciable level of development.

    He expressed optimism that more can be achieved if all hands are on deck.

    He said: “As we celebrate this auspicious occasion of the end of the holy month of Ramadan, therefore, let us renew our faith in our nation and implore the Almighty God to restore to us those values that place high premium on human life, love for our country, love for our neighbour and sharing even as we ventilate our faith in the unity of our dear country and the possibility of her taking her proper place in the comity of nations”.

     

    Ajimobi urges Muslims to seek spiritual rebirth

    Ajimobi congratulated the Muslim community on the successful completion of the month-long Ramadan fasting.

    The governor, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, prayed to Allah to accept their supplications, even beyond the holy month.

    Calling for spiritual rebirth among the Islamic faithful, he enjoined them to imbibe the teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammed on the essence of Ramadan fasting.

    Ajimobi also admonished the faithful to use the Eid-el-Fitri celebrations to pray for the unity and peaceful co-existence of the country’s ethnic groups, and shun divisive tendencies capable of drawing back the country’s wheel of progress.

     

    Amosun preaches

     righteousness

    In his message, Amosun urged Muslim faithful to imbibe the values of Ramadan and continue to manifest them in their daily lives.

    Amosun, in the message signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Otunba Adedayo Adeneye, said Ramadan, which was a time of fasting and charity, also demanded righteousness in all endeavours.

    “During Ramadan, which is one of the important pillars of Islam, we were obliged to fast, shun evil actions, speak right and show love to one another.

    “It also compelled us to engage in deep spiritual reflection and I believe that if we all continue in this practice after Ramadan, it will be not only to our benefit as individuals, but also as a nation,” he said.

     

    Gaidam rejoices with

    Nigerian Muslim Ummah

    Gaidam rejoiced with Nigerian Muslim Ummah, along with millions of the Muslim faithful all over the world.

    The governor’s message reads: “The Ramadan fasting that we observed over the last one month has no doubt taught us a lot of lessons.  It has instilled in us self-restraint and discipline, truthfulness, patience, humility, devotion and obedience to the Almighty Allah. It inculcates in us feeling of mercy and good character and above all, it protects the society from evils and vices. Ramadan fasting equally strengthens in the Muslim Community the values of love of justice, equity and unity among other virtues.  As a result of the lessons which are bequeathed to us through Ramadan fasting, we are expected to continue to demonstrate understanding and tolerance towards our neighbours and show compassion to those in need.  This occasion therefore affords us the opportunity to make sober reflection and an assessment of our conduct.”

     

    Ugwuanyi preaches love, peace, unity

    To Ugwuanyi, Nigerians, especially Muslim faithful, must take advantage of the spiritual rebirth offered by Ramadan to promote love, peace, unity and progress.

    Ugwuanyi, in a message felicitated with President Muhammadu Buhari and other Muslim faithful for the successful completion of Ramadan.

    He emphasised the compelling need for Nigerians to continue to live in peace and harmony as well as offer special prayers for the country.

     

    Ayade salutes Muslims

    Ayade, in his message, called on Muslim faithful in the state and Nigeria to remain satisfied and render selfless service to their fellow countrymen and the nation as a panacea to heal a world in dire need of peace.

    Ayade averred that the celebration, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, offered an opportunity for all to break barriers and reach out to fellow human beings after meeting with the creator.

    A statement signed by his spokesperson, Mr. Christian Ita, quoted the governor as saying that: “Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater for He knows all we do.

    “Having been refreshed by the teachings of the Prophet Mohammed, which are essentially love, self-denial and good conduct in our daily relationships, it is expected that we employ a selfless approach in our dealings, irrespective of religious, political or tribal affiliations and remain content with what we have.”

     

    Wike:  pray for the unity, peace

    Wike congratulated Muslims for successfully completing this year’s Ramadan fast.

    He urged the Muslim Community to pray for the unity and peace of the nation as they celebrate.

    The governor called on the Muslim faithful to use the celebration to re-dedicate themselves to the ideals of peace, security and friendship.

     

    Niger governor to

    Nigerlites: cultivate love

    Ketso urged his people to cultivate the habit of sharing, love and tolerance to all and sundry, irrespective of tribe, religion or political inclinations.

    In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Maimuna Kolo, he enjoined the Muslims to continue with practising the teachings of Ramadan all year round for the progress and unity of the state and the country.

    Ketso, who called for special prayers for President Muhammadu Buhari, governors and continued progress of Nigeria and Nigerians, assured Nigerlites that Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello’s led administration will keep providing more democratic dividends and conducive atmosphere for everyone in the state.

     

  • HoG honours eminent Nigerians

    The HoG Awards Board is set to honour the eighth Senate for exemplary legislative leadership, Chief Executive of Alpha Grace Media, organisers of the awards, Mr. Rupert Ojenuwa has said.

    A statement by Ojenuwa   said former Minister of Information Chief Alex Akinyele is the Grand Custodian of the HoG Awards, while Prof. Dupe Olatubosun is the Deputy Grand Custodian.

    Chief Akinyele noted that that the country’s democracy is still very young and fragile. “It is so fragile that you wonder if it will survive. This is why the Board of the HoG Awards has decided to look into the activities of the eighth Senate and having done so, discovered that, in comparison, the eighth Senate has done creditably well.

    “Any country whose Senate or is harnessed by the central government has lost separation of powers and its democracy won’t survive. This is why we chose to honour Bukola Saraki and the eighth Senate.

    The HoG Awards holds on June 24 in Ikeja.

  • FBI arrests 34 Nigerians for alleged cyber fraud

    The U.S. Federal authorities have arrested no fewer than 34 Nigerians for allegedly defrauding businesses and U.S. citizens of several millions of dollars, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said.

    FBI said in a statement that the fraud was a significant coordinated effort to disrupt Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes that were designed to intercept and hijack wire transfers from businesses and individuals, including many senior citizens.

    It said a counter effort, ‘Operation Wire Wire’, a coordinated law enforcement effort by the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, was conducted over a six month period.

    “The operation culminated in over two weeks of intensified law enforcement activity resulting in 74 arrests in the United States and overseas, including 29 in Nigeria, and three in Canada, Mauritius and Poland.

    “The operation also resulted in the seizure of nearly $2.4 million, and the disruption and recovery of approximately $14 million in fraudulent wire transfers,” FBI said.

    “Following an investigation led by the FBI with the assistance of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation, Gloria Okolie and Paul Aisosa, both Nigerian nationals residing in Dallas, Texas, were charged in an indictment filed on June 6 in the Southern District of Georgia.

    “According to the indictment, they are alleged to have victimised a real estate closing attorney by sending the lawyer a spoofing email posing as the seller and requesting that proceeds of a real estate sale in the amount of $246,000 be wired to Okolie’s account.

    READ ALSO: Nigerian jailed three years in U.S for email scams

    “They are charged with laundering approximately $665,000 in illicit funds.  The attorney experienced $130,000 in losses after the bank was notified of the fraud and froze $116,000.

    “Adeyemi Odufuye aka “Micky,” “Micky Bricks,” “Yemi,” “GMB,” “Bawz” and “Jefe,” 32, and Stanley Hugochukwu Nwoke, aka Stanley Banks,” “Banks,” “Hugo Banks,” “Banky,” and “Jose Calderon,” 27, were charged in a seven-count indictment in the District of Connecticut in a BEC scheme involving an attempted loss to victims of approximately $2.6 million, including at least $440,000 in actual losses to one victim in Connecticut.

    “A third co-conspirator Olumuyiwa Yahtrip Adejumo, aka “Ade,” “Slimwaco,” “Waco,” “Waco Jamon,” “Hade,” and “Hadey,” 32, of Toledo, Ohio, pleaded guilty on April 20 to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

    “Odufuye was extradited from the United Kingdom to the United States and on Jan. 3, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of aggravated identity theft.

    “Nwoke was extradited to the United States from Mauritius on May 25, marking the first extradition in over 15 years from Mauritius.  His case is pending.

    “Richard Emem Jackson, aka Auwire, 23, of Lagos, Nigeria, was charged in an indictment filed on May 17 in the District of Massachusetts with two counts of unlawful possession of a means of identification as part of a larger fraud scheme.

    “According to the indictment, on two occasions in 2017, Jackson is alleged to have possessed the identifications of two victims with the intent to commit wire fraud conspiracy,” the U.S. authorities said.

    FBI said foreign citizens perpetrate many BEC scams adding, “those individuals are often members of transnational criminal organisations, which originated in Nigeria but have spread throughout the world”.

    The U.S. authorities expressed gratitude for the outstanding efforts of the participating countries, including law enforcement actions that were coordinated and executed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria to curb business email compromise schemes that defraud businesses and individuals alike.

    U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: “This operation, which was funded and coordinated by the FBI, serves as a model for international cooperation against specific threats that endanger the financial well-being of each member country’s residents.

    “Fraudsters can rob people of their life’s savings in a matter of minutes. These are malicious and morally repugnant crimes.

    “The Department of Justice has taken aggressive action against fraudsters in recent months, conducting the largest sweep of fraud against American seniors in history back in February.

    “Now, in this operation alone, we have arrested 42 people in the United States and 29 others have been arrested in Nigeria for alleged financial fraud.

    “And so I want to thank the FBI, nearly a dozen U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the Secret Service, Postal Inspection Services, Homeland Security Investigations, the Treasury Department, our partners in Nigeria, Poland, Canada, Mauritius, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and our state and local law enforcement partners for all of their hard work”.

    Since the Internet Crime Complaint Centre  (IC3) began keeping track of BEC and its variant, Email Account Compromise (EAC), as a complaint category, there has been a loss of over $3.7 billion reported to the IC3, FBI said.

    BEC, also known as “cyber-enabled financial fraud,” is a sophisticated scam often targeting employees with access to company finances and businesses working with foreign suppliers and/or businesses that regularly perform wire transfer payments.

    The same criminal organisations that perpetrate BEC also exploit individual victims, often real estate purchasers, the elderly, and others, by convincing them to make wire transfers to bank accounts controlled by the criminals.

    This is often accomplished by impersonating a key employee or business partner after obtaining access to that person’s email account or sometimes done through romance, lottery, employment opportunities, fraudulent online vehicle sales, and rental scams.

    The FBI provides a variety of resources relating to BEC through the IC3, which can be reached at www.ic3.gov and victims are encouraged to file a complaint online with the IC3 at bec.ic3.gov. (NAN)

  • Nigerians mourn reggae star Ras Kimono

    The Nigerian entertainment industry is mouring the death yesterday of Reggae legend Ras Kimono.

    Kimono, 60, who passed on at the Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, Lagos, is survived by his wife and musician daughter Oge.

    Recounting his last moments, Kimono’s one-time manager and friend Eddy Lawani, said the musician was billed to travel to the United States but complained of being unwell on Friday.

    He was taken to a hospital in Ikeja from where he was referred to Lagoon Hospital.

    “He was in the Intensive Care Unit on Friday because he said he could not breath well.

    “But on Saturday, he was receiving visitors and friends; we were all with him. And they all joked and left.

    “This morning (Sunday), suddenly between 11am and 12pm, I think he went into some kind of situation. By 12:30pm he was pronounced dead. The post-mortem is not issued yet.”

    Famous for his rub-a-dub style, Ras Kimono was born Okeleke Elumelu Onwubuya, on May 9, 1958. He hailed from Delta State.

    Kimono released his debut album with his Massive Dread Reggae Band, ‘Under Pressure’ on Premier Music label in 1989. It was a hit.

    He started his musical career as a student of Gbenoba Secondary School, Agbor, Delta State and joined a group cJastix Reggae Ital along with Majek Fashek, Amos McRoy and Black Rice Osagie.

    Known not to shy away from political activism, Ras Kimono who said he lived as a vegetarian for 37 years, used his songs to address socio-political situations in the country.

    He released among other albums, ‘Rasta get jail’ and ‘Rhumba style’, He won many  awards including the Nigerian Music Awards, and Fame Music Awards.

    In a tribute, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) “deeply regrets” the death  of a front-line member of our board, great African and great musician, the reggae toaster, the great Ras Kimono Onwubuya.”

    Senator Ben Murray Bruce, tweeted: ‘I feel so sad hearing about the death of reggae legend, Ras Kimono. He redefined the face of music and there will be none like him. He will be dearly missed.’

    Senator Dino Malaye too tweeted: ‘Death why! Why! My brother and my friend. Legend Ras Kimono rest in Peace. What a black day! What an unceremonious exit. I love you and will miss you. Sad sad sad,’ he said.

    Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Steve Ayorinde also posted Ras Kimono’s picture on his Instagram handle, with the caption, ‘RIP Ras Kimono.’

    Media guru Taiwo Obe tweeted: ‘On Sunday, February 3, a bubbly Ras Kimono, accompanied by his first cousin, Austin, visited me to discuss a show he was going to have at the Freedom Park towards his 60th b’day later in April. We had an engaging evening. Some mins ago, @qedng broke the news of his death.’

    At the deceased 60th birthday party which took place at Times Square, Ikeja, Lagos were celebrities like Sir Shina Peters, Chief Tony Okoroji, Eddy Lawani, Daddy Showkey, Eddy Remedies, Kenny Saint Brown, Oritz Wiliki, Alariwo of Africa, Righteous Man, Bisi Olatilo and others.

    At the party, Daddy Showkey revealed how Ras Kimono made him a successful musician by giving him the chance to perform at Floating Buka and blessing his first CD at the late musician’s Omole, Lagos residence.

    After a hiatus, Kimono in 2017, returned to the music scene with a single, ‘Blessed Africa’ which critiqued the continent’s ironic poverty, despite its rich deposit of human and natural resources.

    He said: “We are in a situation where Africans are poor even though we have plenty in terms of good soil, crude oil that has become a curse to the nation,” Ras Kimono said in an interview.

    “We also have intellectuals that would prefer to take their intellects elsewhere other than Nigeria. We have musical talents that are being exploited and left in penury, our pensioners cannot eat the fruit of their labour, our schools are in horrible conditions, we have half-baked graduates who cannot complete a statement. What is really wrong with a continent that is really Blessed by God?”

  • China calls for more interactions between Nigerians and Chinese nationals

    The Government of the People’s Republic of China ( PRC ) on Wednesday enjoined Nigerians to increase their level of interactions with Chinese nationals, whether in Nigeria or China.

    Mrs Xi Yanchun, the Vice-Director General of the State Council Information Office of China, gave the advice at an interactive session with a Delegation of visiting Nigerian Journalists in Beijing, China.

    “I think that it is really important for more Nigerians to have more interactions with more Chinese nationals, whether here in China or in Nigeria.

    “Through these interactions, we can have a better understanding of ourselves, as well as enhance the long standing relations between our two countries.

    “We know that there are already many Nigerians living in Guandong Province in China, so we want more interactions between us,’’ she said.

    The State Council Information Office of China’s Spokesperson, who restated her government’s commitment to Chinese Characteristics, said that it was important for people to understand China’s dream.

    According to her, there are people in other countries that are yet to understand China.

    “There are a lot of things that people need to know about China, because such people lack knowledge and information on China.

    “There have been different pictures painted about China. Such people are not seeing the big picture that we are seeing.

    “We are, therefore, really working at explaining the Chinese Characteristics to the world,’’ she said.

    Read Also: China to promote drug testing using hair samples

    Xi said that her office had always believed in face-to-face communication and would continue to engage with the foreign media in explaining the true China dream to the world.

    She expressed the willingness of her government to share her development experiences with the various countries of the world, as well as helping to reduce poverty within and outside China.

    Xi said that interactions between Nigerians and Chinese nationals would promote exchanges, people-to-people relationships, as well as strengthen the long existing relations between both countries.

    She added that it was imperative for people from other countries to understand that the Chinese Government was committed to its Chinese Characteristics policy.

    Bilateral relations between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the People’s Republic of China have expanded on growing bilateral trade and strategic cooperation. China is considered one of Nigeria’s closest allies and partners.

    Nigeria–China bilateral trade cooperation has hit over $2.7billion (about N745billion) as of 2017, which makes Nigeria the third largest economic partner of China.

    Nigeria’s first contact with China took place in 1960 when a Chinese delegation, on the invitation of the Nigerian government, attended Nigeria’s independence ceremony in Lagos.

  • Nigerians may experience harder days, says World Bank Consultant

    World Bank Consultant and Provost, Abia State College of Education Technical Arochukwu, (ASCETA), Dr. Phillip Ntoh, has asked the federal government to strategically embark on quick interventions both short- term and long-term measures so as to mitigate the hardship Nigerians would face next year.

    Ntoh said that unless conscious efforts are made to address the situation, the plight of Nigerians would be worse in the coming year.

    His verdict is not unconnected with the grave security challenge being experienced in the Northeast where food production by farmers has been adversely affected by the Boko Haram terrorist group as well as the herdsmen onslaught.

    The former Abia State Commissioner for Finance observed further that the federal government should do all it can to diversify the economy as failure would continue to pose great danger on the poor condition of Nigerians.

    He said that if all the endowments of the country, both natural and human, were properly harnessed by its leadership there would be no reason for the poverty the people were experiencing.

    “I see a situation where the country will run into deeper problem next year because there will be hunger in the land unless deliberate effort is made to redeem the mistake.

    “I am saying this because of the serious security challenge we are having. The Northeast has been devastated and this has horribly affected food production and food security,” he said.