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  • APC seeks postponement of Rivers gov poll

    • Says Wike is jittery

    The deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Rivers State, Chief Victor Giadom, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the February 16 and March 2 elections in Rivers in view of Monday’s ruling of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt on stay of execution.

    He also accused Rivers Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike of being jittery upon confirmation the governorship candidate of APC in the state, Pastor Tonye Cole and other candidates that emerged through indirect primaries supervised by members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, would participate in the elections.

    Giadom stated these Tuesday in Port Harcourt in an exclusive interview with our reporter.

    While assuring Cole and other candidates of APC would emerge victorious in the polls, he maintained that postponing Rivers elections would ensure the candidates and the electorate were not disenfranchised.

    Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Emma Okah, who doubles as the Director of Information and Communications of PDP Campaign Council, however maintained that Wike and other candidates of the ruling party were neither afraid nor jittery of main opposition APC’s candidates or candidates of other political parties, having campaigned extensively and fully prepared for the polls, thereby emerging victorious.

    The appellate court presided over by Justice Ali Gumel granted the stay of execution of the judgment of Justice Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt on the fielding of candidates by the APC.

    Giadom, the immediate past Deputy National Secretary of APC, said: “Wike is jittery, because of the strength of APC in Rivers State. That is why he teamed up with some enemies of democracy to ensure that our party (APC) is not on the ballot, but God has put all of them to shame. Wike made all efforts, including outside the law, to stop APC from fielding candidates in Rivers State.

    “Wike and his allies must stop their propaganda and futile fights, but to prepare to meet candidates of APC in the field. APC will win 80 per cent of the votes cast in Rivers State in all the elections, because Rivers people are tired of Wike’s failed promises.

    “I expect Wike and other members of PDP in Rivers State to enjoy the healthy competition of political context, so as to know who are the choices of the people of Rivers State, as against the attempts by Wike to shut the doors against APC.

    “While thanking the judges of the Court of Appeal, Port Harcourt for granting the stay of execution of the judgment of Justice Omotoso, we urge INEC, as a law-abiding institution, to do the needful by postponing Rivers elections, to ensure a level-playing field and in order to allow candidates of APC to adequately campaign as their counterparts in other political parties, who have been campaigning round Rivers State’s 23 LGAs for over two months. The postponement will be in the interest of Rivers people, especially APC members.

    “I wish to urge Rivers people to believe in the APC, as the difference is very clear. We will continue to ensure quality leadership that will transform the entire Rivers State and ensure adequate protection of lives and property, thereby making the state a destination for investments.”

    Read Also: INEC to collate elections results manually

    The deputy governorship candidate also berated a governorship aspirant on APC platform, Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers Southeast) for misinterpreting the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, accusing him of mischief.

    Giadom declared that Abe, from the same Bera-Ogoni in Gokana LGA of Rivers, was being economical with the truth, stressing that the former Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in the administration of Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, ought not to speak differently from what was contained in the ruling of the appellate court.

    He urged Nigerians to avail themselves with the ruling, in order not to be misled by individuals or groups, while calling on APC members and supporters in Rivers to take advantage of the ruling and return to active campaigns, so as to ensure victory in all the elections.

    The deputy governorship candidate assured that members of Rivers APC were ready to receive President Muhammadu Buhari and members of his campaign team in Port Harcourt next week.

    He said: “Rivers people should continue to support APC. We should ensure peaceful elections in Nigeria, especially in Rivers State. When Cole becomes governor and I as deputy governor, by God’s grace, Rivers State will experience massive transformation in all sectors. There will also be peace, security and commensurate development. We will bring back the lost glory of Rivers State.

    “The Federal Government is doing a lot in Rivers State, particularly the construction of Bodo-Bonny Road, Ogoni clean-up, completion of the international wing of Port Harcourt International Airport and massive construction of roads through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), among others. Wike’s propaganda should be ignored. Wike’s abysmal performance will end on May 29, 2019.”

    Giadom also called on Nigerians to continue to support the Buhari’s administration and come out en-masse on February 16 to vote for him and other candidates of the party in all the elections.

  • Foreign observers commend military’s professional conduct during elections

    Some Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Nigerian Military for their professional conduct during the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
    They gave this commendation via a statement made available to The Nation on Tuesday.
    The observers in the statement signed by Bill Campbell added that having examined the roles of stakeholders in the electoral processes found out that military played a commendable roles in the Saturday’s elections.
    They said, “The Independent Foreign Observers is an amalgamation of organizations drawn from all over the world to monitor the general elections in Nigeria on the invitation of a select Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria. Consequently, the head of the mission, Bill Campbell deployed election observers around Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the credibility of the elections and the role of the various actors in the electoral process.
    The Independent Foreign Observers was headed by Bill Campbell, a diplomat, and conflict resolution expert who has garnered years of experience in election monitoring in African countries. Bill Campbell’s experience spans 6 continents and over 50 countries, where he has experienced dozens of elections and other less conventional changes of government.  He has braved tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes, political revolutions and long treks on public transportation, to learn about and observe democracy in action.  A graduate of NYU, Bill has been the President of his Rotary Club, constantly looking for ways to serve communities big and small. He brought his wealth of experience to bear in the monitoring of the general elections in Nigeria.
    As part of its mandate to monitor and report the credibility of the general elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers undertook a systematic survey of the dynamics inherent in the Nigeria society and consequently designed a template that accommodated the religious and ethnic sensitivity of the Nigerian people in various states of the federation with a view to getting the objective responses from the electorate as the case may be. The essence was to help observe the dynamics, make recommendations and commendations where necessary based on the competence of the team.

    Read Also:Observers hail INEC, security agencies in Kano

    It was observed amongst other things some section of the country whipped up ethnic sentiments which could undermine the electoral process.
    Some segment of the populace also played the religious card before the electorates in an attempt to induce or coerce votes for their political parties.
    Outcome:
    Consequently, there was palpable tension in the polity as regards the security of lives and properties.
    The government, therefore, deployed a mix of security agencies to maintain the sanctity of the electoral process as well as maintaining law and order throughout the polls.
    Election Issues
    Elections were conducted in the 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our team of observers were on ground to monitor the polls and turned in a detailed report on what they observed in the various states that they were deployed.
    The Independent Foreign Observers worked in active collaboration with local NGOs in the various states, and this unique collaboration made the election monitoring exercise seamless and worthwhile.
    Voters Turnout:
    It was observed that there was a huge voters’ turnout in parts of the country especially in Northern Nigeria. (North East and North West)
    The voters defied the harsh climatic conditions to come out in their numbers to cast their votes at the various polling units
    The South Eastern States also witnessed a large turnout of voters (Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo)
    The South Western States didn’t experience as much voters’ turnout as in other parts of the country. This was primarily due to a palpable tension because political analysts had classified the South Western states as the battleground for candidates of both parties.
    The South-South states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River also witnessed a large turnout of voters.
    The Elections:
    From monitoring the elections, it was observed that the electoral process was able to maintain its credibility by the combined efforts of the security agencies led by the Nigerian Army that ensured that incidences of ballot box snatching and other electoral vices were curtailed.
    Voters exercised their electoral franchise without fear especially in the northern part of the country. Our team of observers noted that in the Northern parts of the country, which hitherto was known for underage voting did not experience cases of underage voting. Incidences of vote buying were also prevalent in most parts of the South-South and South Eastern States.
    The outbreak of Violence:
    Our team of observers witnessed pockets of violence in some parts of the country occasioned by attempts by party agents to snatch ballot boxes. This resulted in an open confrontation with the security agencies who showed resilience in the face of provocation.
    Rivers States witnessed the highest level of violence and arms bearing by political thugs that led to the death of an INEC official, an officer of the Nigerian Army and scores of people.
    The Election and the Nigerian Military:
    Our team of observers noted the contributions of the Nigeria Army in maintaining the credibility of the electoral process. The Nigeria Army was able to provide security of lives and properties throughout the election process.
    In the North Eastern states of Yobe and Borno, the Nigeria Army provided watertight security, and this accounted for the large turnout of voters in the region.
    In the fringes where it was expected that there would be security lapses, the Nigeria Army rose to the occasion as there were no recorded cases of security lapses by our team of observers.
    Conclusion:
    The Independent Foreign Observers salutes the resilience and courage of the Nigerian people through the duration of the elections.
    The elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace brought about by the combined efforts of the security agencies.
    Cases of electoral violence were minimal but for a few states
    The Nigerian Army rose to the occasion by deploying men and resources around the country to protect the credibility of the process
    The Nigeria Army conducted itself professionally and within the ambit of the law even in instances of provocation as experienced in some states.
    Commendation:
    The Independent Foreign Observers particularly singles out the Nigeria Army for praise in its conduct during the elections. We noted a display of a high sense of professionalism even in the face of provocation by agents of political parties.
    The Independent Foreign Observers also commends the leadership of the Nigeria Army for the high-level coordination of its troops across the country. The Independent also charges the Nigeria Army to deploy the same strategy in the forthcoming gubernatorial and states houses of assembly elections.

  • Amaechi tackles Wike on CJN Onnoghen

    The Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has condemned the spurious allegations levelled against him by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, especially on the alleged plot to destroy the embattled Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    Amaechi’s successor, Wike, who was his Chief of Staff between 2007 and 2011, when the then Rivers governor recommended him (Wike) to the then President Goodluck Jonathan for ministerial appointment, at a campaign rally in Rivers state on Thursday, accused the transportation minister of working against his Southsouth brother (Onnoghen).

    The Director-General of Buhari/OsInbajo Reelection Campaign Organisation, on Friday in an online statement through his media office, stated that he read with dismay and utter disgust, Wike’s senseless allegations.

    Amaechi’s media office said: “This is another blatant lie (plot to destroy Onnoghen), just to smear Amaechi and put him on collision course with the judiciary. Ordinarily, we would not have bothered to respond to a governor (Wike), whose stock-in-trade is to concoct stories and lie about almost everything and anything. Wike completely lacks any shred of credibility. Nothing is sacred to him

    “Amaechi is not a judicial officer and he is not part of whatever is happening in the judiciary. We challenge Wike to mention the name of the APC’s chieftain he falsely alleged that Amaechi discussed the ‘destruction of the CJN with.’

    “This Wike’s latest attack on Amaechi is reminiscent of his earlier spurious allegations during the Ikoyi-Osborne-gate scandal, where Wike disgracefully opened his mouth to shamelessly allege that the former Rivers governor (Amaechi) was the owner of the $13 billion and the owner of the Osborne apartment in Ikoyi, Lagos, where the money was kept. Wike lied that the money was stolen from Rivers State government’s treasury.

    “In Wike’s usual chicanery, up till today, he has refused to go to court to claim the $13 billion found in the Ikoyi apartment, which he claimed was Rivers money stolen by his predecessor. Even when a court of law openly asked anyone laying claim to the money to come forward and collect it, Wike ran far away from the court.”

    The transportation minister also reminded Rivers governor that the immunity he currently enjoys against prosecution for his many libellous attacks on him would not last forever.

    Amaechi’s media office also said: “At the appropriate time, he (Wike) will no doubt face the full wrath of the law and ultimately that of the Almighty God.

    Read Also: Charges against CJN not tenable – Lawyer

    “Wike should by now know that Nigerians are tired and are no longer interested in his ranting and cock-and-bull stories against Amaechi. Indeed, it is pathetic and a big shame that Wike does not know that Nigerians already know him as an incurable, incorrigible compulsive liar and do not take him and/or his comments seriously any longer.

    “Wike’s outburst against Amaechi is diversionary. Rivers governor knows too well that he has nothing to show Rivers people for his almost four years in office, in a state obviously with one of the highest allocations, thereby resorting to casting aspersions on Amaechi, instead of telling the people what he has done for Rivers State.”

    Transportation minister also called on Rivers people and other lovers of democracy to ignore Wike, whom he described as a frivolous and deceitful character, who is obviously drunk on power and always high on alcohol.

  • 396 pre-election cases may stymie Vote 2019

    ABOUT 42 days to the general election, there are still a lot of pre-election matters before the High Court, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court with glaring implications for  the umpire (INEC), the parties and candidates. Many candidates in  Adamawa,  Zamfara, Rivers, Ogun,  Kwara, Imo and others do not know their fate. According to records obtained from INEC, there are 396 court actions arising from the primaries conducted by political parties. The figure is higher than 200 matters in court before the 2015 poll. A source in INEC said: “All the things we have criticized about general elections manifested during the primaries.”

    The big question is: Will the court be able to resolve all pre-election matters on or before February 16? Will candidates still win elective offices through the backdoor this time around?  Nigerians look forward to the Judiciary to save the electoral process and restore sanity.

  • Rivers APC crisis ‘ll boost victory chances – Abe

    Senator Magnus Abe, representing Rivers South Senatorial District at the National Assembly has said that the current crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers will boost the party’s victory chances.

    Abe disclosed this on Friday in a statement signed by his spokesman, Mr Parry Benson, and released to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

    He urged the leadership of the party to do the right thing to sustain the unity, rather than taking the issues of the party personal, for it to come out stronger and victorious in the forthcoming elections.

    Abe stated that one of the issues that had brought the party to its knees was the failure to produce a governorship candidate that was acceptable to the law.

    “First of all, the issue of whoever that emerges as the candidate of the party, I totally subscribe to that, but what is the process by which the candidate would emerge.

    “This is the issue, when you use a process that cannot produce a candidate who is acceptable to the law.

    ”Our party is made up of human beings, people that have put their lives on the line to create and sustain the party called APC in Rivers State, they are still alive and not dead.

    “Those people have the right to fight for what they believe is right and I do not think that it will weaken the party.

    “I think at the end of the day, our party will come out stronger if we do the right thing,” Abe said.

    The senator said that the legal foundation on which Mr Tonye Cole candidacy was based, was very faulty both morally and legally.

    “However, if the leaders of the party decide to keep quiet and ignore such a trend, it may lead to party being completely shortchanged.

    He called on members of the party to speak up and help the party to stand in the state, noting that some members had suffered so much to put in place the party and should not be left without any option.

    “Whether it is Tonye Cole or I, it will get to a point where we see clearly that this is where we stand; then all of us must be able to come together and put aside our pride and our differences and help the party to survive,” he said.

    Abe insisted that lack of internal democracy in the party made Mr Dumo Lulu Briggs, one of the party governorship aspirants to dump the party.

    “If the process was free, fair and credible, how come people who participated in the process when it started didn’t accept it,” Abe said.

  • Rivers ushers in New Year with prayers, praises

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike and senior government officials  gathered  at the Government House Chapel of Everlasting Grace on New Year’s eve to praise God.

    The Government House Chapel of Everlasting Grace Choir led a spirit lifting praise-and-worship session that brought down the presence of God.

    Wike; his wife, Eberechi Suzzette and Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry Banigo danced and sang, appreciating God for his defence of Rivers State.

    Also present were the Chief Judge, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkanra and the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Christy Gabriel Nwankwo.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Religious Matters, Bishop Winston Iwo said if not for the grace of God and his protection, Rivers would have been swallowed up by the forces of darkness.

    He said: “When the enemies rose in diverse ways against Governor Wike, God stood  by him. God will receive the glory for helping Governor  Wike to deliver in the midst of adversity. We say thank you God.

    “It is by the Grace of God that Governor Wike has done all these in 2018. As we enter 2019, we are confident that God will do more for Rivers State.  We lift Rivers and place it in God’s hand.  He will keep the state and do wonderful  works  in  2019”.

    The first Bible Reading from Exodus 12: 1-14 was taken by the Justice Eberechi Suzzette Nyesom-Wike, while the second reading from Luke 4: 14-22 was taken by the deputy governor.

    There was another session of prayers that focused on the blessing of God in the lives of the people.  The congregation prayed for God’s blessing and favour in 2019.

    The prayer session was led by the Chaplain, Venerable Sunday Opara.

    Declarations were made  for God to ensure that the people eat the good of the land, with incoming investments in 2019.

    Joining faith with the governor, the leaders spoke peace and security on Rivers, saying peace in the state would enhance development.

    For Nigeria, the leaders prayed God to end the suffering by using 2019 to raise a new leadership at the federal level.

    In Rivers, the leaders asked God for continuity, because of their satisfaction with Wike.

    They prayed for credible elections devoid of manipulation by INEC and security agencies.

    In his sermon, Anglican Bishop of Evo Diocese, Rev Innocent Ordu said in 2019, God would take control, protect the people, and help them overcome challenges.

    Ordu said to merit God’s blessing, people should add value to humanity  and improve the society.

    He said as people receive the grace of God, they should bear fruits for God and mankind.

    Rivers, he said, would need fruit-bearing professionals, civil servants, top government officials and key stakeholders  to sustain progress.

    As the countdown to 2019 began, the oldest chorister, Amaopusenibo Martindale Mac-Pepple, led a string  of songs that inspired the congregation.

    Speaking for the governor, Ipalibo Harry Banigo said in 2019 God would silence enemies of the state as the election would end in Wike’s favour .

    The governor said he would continue to deliver projects and remain committed  to the people.

    Wike urged the people to continue  to support  his administration as he led his top officials to usher in 2019, with New Year best wishes.

    Rev Ordu offered the first prayer in 2019, declaring the blessing of God on Rivers, Wike and the people.

  • ‘Wike will lead Rivers unto prosperity’

    Rivers State Deputy Governor Dr. Ipalibo Harry-Banigo has said Governor Nyesom Wike’s administration will lead Rivers unto peace, development and prosperity.

    Harry-Banigo, in her New Year’s message through the Head of her Press Unit, Owupele Benebo, lauded Wike for transforming the state.

    She said: “Revoking the sale of state-owned assets to subsidiaries of Sahara Energy Limited is a clear demonstration of Governor Wike’s desire to ensure that the people enjoy the full value of the state’s resources. Every action taken by the government is in the people’s interest. The persons crying wolf over the revocation of the sale of our critical assets do not mean well for Rivers people.”

    Wike’s wife, Eberechi, has described women as the backbone of the society. She urged women to work hard towards developing their families as it was the only way the society can develop in the right direction.

    A statement by Governor Wike’s media aide, Simeon Nwakaudu, said Justice Eberechi Wike spoke yesterday when she visited the New Year Baby, Ela Diseph, at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) in Port Harcourt.

    Baby Ela Diseph was born to the family of Dr. and Mrs. Ela George at 12.05 am yesterday. He weighed 4.1kg at delivery.

    Read also: Peterside: Wike is a bad governor

    Justice Eberechi said: “Women are the backbone of any family. Therefore, we are the foundation of any society. When we get it right at the level of the family, things will be right with the society. When the society is troubled, then the problem actually started from the family.

    “When we get it right in the family, everything finds its place in the society. My message to mothers is to be supportive of their husbands and every member of the family.

    “I wish everyone a happy 2019, especially mothers who are the backbone of the society. I congratulate all for seeing this New Year.”

    She congratulated Ela’s mother for her safe delivery, and prayed God to bless the family.

    Wike’s wife gave cash and other gifts to thebaby and other children in the ward.

    RSUTH’s Chief Medical Director Dr. Friday Aaron said the first baby was delivered without complications.

    He thanked her for showing love to children and mothers in the state.

  • ‘Rivers to enforce tax law from Jan’

    Tax invasion is a criminal offence and offenders will be punished in Rivers State from 2019, the Executive  Chairman,  Rivers State Internal Revenue Services (RIRS) ,  Adoage Norteh, has said.

    Norteh spoke with reporters in Port Harcourt, the state capital, at the weekend. He advised residents to pay their taxes.

    “Tax payers will want that nobody comes at all, but it is a huge departure from what it used to be, but that was deliberate government policy to make life easy for tax payers,  and what is expected of everybody (tax payers)  is to reciprocate that gesture by being tax compliant, so that we do not return to the time when people get embarrassed before taxes are payed.

    “But from January 2019, we will probably put people behind bars to get them pay their taxes, then others will now learn because tax invasion is criminal, it is not me who will put people behind bars, it is the law,” he said.

    Stanley added: “I am aware the revenue of the state has increased tremendously under your watch however, I would like to urge you to deal with the problem of double taxation in the state. This is important because of the obvious hardship it is inflicting on residents of the state.

    “Yes, you may be making more money for the state, but the people are the one suffering in the end.  This is because when businessmen, shop owners are subjected to numerous taxes they will be forced to increase their goods and services to the detriment of the poor resident, consumers who are the last person(s), in the distribution chain.

    “I will advise that you try as much as possible define and harmonise every tax payable to each level of government. Let the taxes collectable by the Federal, state and Local government be properly  defined, and let the Federal Government  tax no be duplicated by either the state or local government under a different name, this adds so much pressure on businesses and cost of living in the state.”

  • Team Rivers threatens to boycott Festival

    Rivers State contingent to the ongoing National Sports Festival (NSF) has threatened to boycott the Festival if their outstanding salaries and arrears are not duly paid during the competition.

    Team Rivers who were duly registered for the competition, missed the opening ceremony of the event held at the main bowl of the Abuja National Stadium on Thursday but arrived later the same day for the competition.

    Some of the athletes interviewed, however, complained of neglect and alleged that their outstanding salaries and arrears and other financial obligations were not paid before coming for the competition. Team Rivers’ contingent, NationSport learnt, only left Port Harcourt on Thursday morning, hence their late arrival for the event.

    “Is it not a shame that we left Port Harcourt yesterday (Thursday) for an event which begins today? How are we supposed to rest and prepare? It is a big shame on Rivers,” the athlete said.

    Another athlete warned that Rivers State that used to give Delta and Edo States stiff competition to win the Festival, may not place well at the medals table this time around unless something drastic is done to avoid this crisis.

    “Every festival we compete with Delta to finish first, but this time I think they should expect the worst. See the governor of Delta has promised one million naira to every gold medallist from their state, but what has our governor given or promised us?” he asked rather rhetorically.

    “If you go to Rivers now, all they think about is 2019, not about us. But they have forgotten we make up the youth population in the state and could decide the outcome of those elections. How will they campaign to the young people in the state?

    “We are asking governor Wike to come to our rescue and pay our allowances or we would have no choice but to withdraw from the competition, which will be a big embarrassment for the state,” he stated further.

  • Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, FCT ahead on IGR

    The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS)  yesterday released the Internally Generated Revenue at State level for half year 2018, which tracks the performance of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in terms of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    During the period under review, the states and FCT generated a total of N579.490 billion, as against N453.833 billion posted in the corresponding period of last year, a growth of 27.7 percent year-on-year. T

    wenty-eight states recorded growth in IGR while eight states, including Abia, Anambra, Benue, Taraba, Kebbi, Kwara, Ebonyi and Enugu, recorded a decline in 2018 half-year. In the first and second quarters of the year, the states generated N280.835 billion and N263.343 billion respectively.

    The revenues generated by the states came mainly from Pay-As-You-Earn Tax (N352.509 billion), Direct Assessment (N26.293 billion), Road Taxes (N11.681 billion), Other Taxes (N84.033 billion) and revenues from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (N104.972 billion).

    A breakdown of the report showed that Lagos, Rivers, Ogun, FCT and Delta were the best five performers during the period under review. Lagos State generated N196.395 billion, up by 16.88 percent from N168.025 billion in first half of 2017, to top the list. In second place is Rivers, with N60.906 billion, an increase of 36.13 percent, from the N44.742 billion recorded last year.

    Ogun State improved by 6.70 percent to N42.519 billion from N39.849 billion in the comparable period of 2017. The FCT generated N35.311 billion during the period, while Delta State posted N29.797 billion, a growth of 17.80 percent from N25.103 billion in 2017.

    In 2017, the states generated N931.23 billion, an increase of 12.03 per cent from 2016. In the second half of 2017, the total revenue generated by states was N432.65 billion, compared to N409.09 billion in first half of the year.