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  • Imposed NASS leadership will fail, Dogara declares

    Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Monday said the leadership of the ninth National Assembly should be allowed to emerge from elected parliamentarians.

    Dogara said that any leadership that is forced on the National Assembly will fail.

    The Speaker spoke in Abuja at the ongoing induction of Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect of the ninth National Assembly.

    He noted a situation where “leadership is forced and literally driven down the throat of elected members had never endured in the National Assembly.”

    He advised Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect to look out for those who have thrown themselves into the race to see who will aggregate their aspirations better.

    The least legislators could afford in the National Assembly, he said, is crisis on account of the leadership selection process.

    “I hope we will learn from history,” Dogara noted that leadership imposed on the National Assembly has never worked.

    Dogara said: “Well, I guess that it is not a subject matter you may want just to offer an advice on because we are all parliamentarians those that have been elected, we will be here for four years to serve the people. Leadership is always something that emerges from people.

    “Some of us that have been a bit old in the field, we know how that is done.

    “My advice is that we stay calm to understand the people going in for these positions of leadership in the National Assembly.

    “At the end of the day we are praying that we have those leaders who will be able to sustain what we have done in the Eight Assembly or even surpass what we have done. We don’t want leadership that will take us back.

    Read Also: Speaker: Dogara fingered inplot against Gbajabiamila

    “We have made a lot of mileage and we hope that we will be able to get the kind of leadership that will build on the achievements of this Assembly which is unparalleled in our legislative history.

    “I will advise members to actually look out for those who have thrown themselves into the race to see who is it that will aggregate their aspirations better and then will be able to surpass the record of this Assembly.”

    On the role of party in the emergence of leadership at the National Assembly he said: “Well, I’m not here to dictate to parties, the parties have their manifestoes, the way to do their businesses but one thing I have said and if you followed the business during this induction, it is always better to allow the leadership to emerge from the people.

    “Where leadership has been forced upon the people, the history in the National Assembly, and in fact, the history of Nigeria, it has never endured.

    “The least we could afford in the National Assembly is crisis on account of the leadership selection process.

    “So who ever a party is sponsoring and supporting, they should make sure they have the backing of the legislature so that they (legislators) accept it because they own the process and they own the leadership.

    “That way, it will be good but in a situation it is forced, literally driven down the throat, in most cases it doesn’t augur well.

    “Even in the Senate it doesn’t augur well. In the House of Representatives too, it doesn’t augur well too.

    “You are journalists, you should be able to dig into the archive and you will be able to find specific cases.”

    Senator Ali Ndume said that the National Assembly is drifting and has been privatised to some extents.

    He noted that when positions have been zoned, members of the zones should be allowed to choose among themselves.

    Ndume also said that a situation where the presiding officer rules out a member who has contribution to make should be reconsidered.

    Dogara laughed and noted that since Ndume is running for the Senate President, if he gets it he will know where the shoe pinches.

    Dogara said: “If you become the Senate President, you will like to exercise such power because I know you very well.

    “Certain unwritten rules are applied by the presiding officer to stabilise the chamber.

    “If a member raises point of order, the presiding officer may even tell him to approach the chair.”

  • Reps insist on Trade Minister’s appearance over N14b transfer to NEPZA

    The House of Representatives is insisting on the appearance of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okey Enalamah, because certain information on the Ministry’s 2018 budget spending and 2019 estimates required his explanation.

    The Minister missed the budget session on Tuesday having been on official engagement outside the country.

    While engaging the Ministry’s team led by the Permanent Secretary, Edet Akpan Sunday, the Sylvester Ogbaga-led House Committee on Commerce faulted the transfer of N14b to the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA).

    The Committee was not satisfied with the explanation given, asking if the fund was appropriated, vired or warehoused in NEPZA.

    The Committee also expressed shock that a supposedly Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement run by a private company  with 75 percent ownership had no financial commitment while the Federal government has paid it’s 25 percent or N14b fully.

    As a result, the Committee requested the Minister to appear before it with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as well as the shareholding structure and the modus operandi of the company involved.

    Read Also: Trade minister: why economy collapsed

    The Committee also expected the explanation of the Ministry’s team on ‘fresh’ recruitment of over 100 staff into the Ministry about three years ago without the knowledge of the parliament.

    Furthermore, the Committee was not convinced by the explanation of the Permanent Secretary on the allocation and spending of N250m by the Ministry on meetings, inspections and programs in 2018.

    The Committee became suspicious when another N250m was allocated to negotiations in 2019 budget estimates.

    The Committee said details, including names of officers and programmes involved in the 2018 travels and negotiations must be provided when the Minister appears before it.

    The allocation of another N250m for commodity associations in the 2019 budget estimates was also questioned by the Committee

    The Committee also wondered why the Ministry kept allocating funds for procurement of computers and buses among others on yearly basis.

    More worrisome to the Committee was the commissioning of the country’s Trade Development policy to consultants at millions.

    The Committee wondered what the essence of the Ministry’s bureaucracy that supposed to be the repository of trade and commerce is if it could not develop the policy for the country.

    In his response, the Permanent Secretary, Sunday said the N14b was a decision of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)  for the development of Export Processing zones to be executed by NEPZA.

    He said it was FEC’s decision that the private sector be involved and that the money has been transferred by the Federal Ministry of Finance.

    He also explained under Zero budgeting, negotiations, meetings and programmes like the Made in Nigeria products campaign carried out by the Ministry, were provided for as recurrent capital expenditure.

    He also told the lawmakers N250m was not enough for the negotiations and meeting as logistics of officers involved, which are sometimes unplanned for had to be taken care.

    The Committee stepped down most of the critical aspects of the budget defense and presentation till the Minster appeared before it.

  • Eight things to know about Amber Rose’s sickness

    American actress and model, Amber Levonchuck, popularly known as Amber Rose has been hospitalised due to an extreme morning sickness, Hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).

    Other celebrities that have suffered from the sickness include Kate Middleton, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kelly Clarkson and many others.

    Read Also: Amber Rose learns ‘shoki’ dance

    Here are 8 things you need to know about this pregnancy complication:

    1. Hyperemesis gravidarum is defined as severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. It affects 2% of pregnant women.
    2. HG symptoms usually appear between 4-6 weeks and peak at 9-13 weeks.
    3. Unlike morning sickness, which affects up to 80 percent of pregnant women, HG causes severe dehydration and prevents sufferers from keeping any food down.
    4. The exact causes of hyperemesis gravidarum are unknown. Risk factors include the first pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, obesity, prior or family history of HG, and a history of eating disorders.
    5. The first clear medical description of HG was in 1852 by Antoine Dubois.
    6. While previously known as a common cause of death in pregnancy, with proper treatment this is now very rare.
    7. Those affected have a lower risk of miscarriage but a higher risk of premature birth. Some pregnant women choose to have an abortion due to HG symptoms.
    8. If inadequately treated, it could lead to depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Amber, 35, is 13 weeks pregnant for her boyfriend, Alexander “AE” Edwards.

    Amber’s child would be her second, as she also has son Sebastian, aged six, with ex Wiz Khalifa.

    She allegedly spent a few days at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center where she was given IV treatments because she losing weight and throwing up constantly.

     

  • m-naira App hits mobile payment, money transfer market

    BeepTool, an indigenous tech start-up based in Lagos, Nigeria, has unveiled m-naira App, a mobile app designed to bridge the gap in financial inclusion, mobile payment and remittance space.

    The revolutionary Financial Technology (Fintech) app, unveiled during the weekend, was seen by industry watchers and stakeholders as a timely intervention in the mobile payment ecosystem, contributing to the country’s stride towards a full cashless economy.

    The m-naira App came at a time Nigerians in the Diaspora are said to be sending up to $24 billion annually to Nigeria. And at an average cost per transaction of 11.89 per cent, Nigerians are said to be spending more than $7 billion in fees.

    But, the new app was designed to be the fastest, cost effective and most secured way to send and remit money home directly to a bank account or mobile wallet. The m-naira app is also designed for paying bills for family and friends from any part of the world.

    Speaking to newsmen, Co-founder & Business Development Manager, BeepTool CIS Limited, Mayowa Ihinmikaiye, said: “m-naira App is a value sharing and money transfer services platform that interconnects all Nigerian bank accounts, mobile wallets, and billing systems to deliver instant remittance services to Nigeria from anywhere in the world.

    Read Also: Mobile money firm, Paga, hits 12m customers base in 10 years

    “Whether you’re supporting your family or doing business in Nigeria, m-naira App makes it convenient and safer to send, receive, pay and save cash instantly from your phone, at a quarter of the cost of your bank or high street money transfer provider,” he said.

    Ihinmikaiye explained: “m-naira App works directly with service providers to enable remote payment for services such as utilities, healthcare, school tuition, etc, adding that Nigerians in rural areas are not left out, as they are connected to the financial world using Nano-satellites.

    According to him, this will allow Nigerians in areas with poor or no connectivity use the m-naira App to send and receive payment for goods and service.

    The app has shown a lot of promises, with features such as instant transfer available from any UK, USA and European Union (EU)-approved countries of the world to Nigeria; 24/7 delivery, real-time updates on any transfer so the user will know exactly where his money is. There are no credit or debit card fees.

    The mobile app can be downloaded via Google Play Store for now, with the iOS version coming soon or via website. The m-naira app has a high level of encryption, Know Your Customer (KYC) and security.

    The developers of the app took it a bit further by helping the unbanked to save money via the m-naira Ajo scheme.

    This scheme is a Rotational Savings Club or a group of individuals who save and borrow together in a form of peer-to-peer banking.

    Group members contribute funds into a pool on a regular basis (daily, weekly or monthly) and then take turns withdrawing funds from the pool.

    Rotational Savings Clubs are also known as Ajo, Esusu or Otataje in Nigeria.

    Pay with m-naira feature is a contactless payment method using a QR code scan from the m-naira app. Users can make mobile payments at stores and to merchants.

    On the other hand, blink with m-naira feature is a mobile payment method available in the m-naira app allowing users to make payments (in-store and online) with the use of a one-time password (OTP) pin.

    This eliminates the use of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards for shopping online, withdrawing and depositing cash at agent locations.

    m-naira blink can be used by m-naira app users and customers of m-naira app partner banks.

    All banks and stores in Nigeria are in the m-naira app network. “We believe strongly that the future of mobile payment in Nigeria and Africa at large will be shaped by fintech companies and mobile apps like m-naira,” Ihinmikaiye stated.

     

  • Age-cheat is killing junior table tennis in Africa, says Tunisia’s coach

    After watching some of the players registered by teams at the ongoing ITTF African Junior Championships holding in Accra, Ghana, the chief of coach of Tunisia, Ben Kahia Ghazi has lamented the growing trend of age falsification among the players.

    He said that this ugly trend would hinder the standard of the sport at junior level in the continent.

    Apart from the inroad made by the likes of Aruna Quadri and Omar Assar at senior levels, African players are fond of struggling at junior level in international tournaments.

    Read also: 2019 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships: Nigeria hits semifinal

    “I am not too happy with the way some countries reduced the age of their players in order for them to feature in junior competitions. Some of these players are above the age they are playing and this will surely affect the standard of the game. In Tunisia, we work hard to produce players while others are not working hard rather they bring an adult to feature in junior tournament. Coaches must be ready to work hard to produce players and not wait to use adult players to compete in junior tournaments,” a disturbed Tunisian tactician said.

    Apart from the impact this trend would had on the standard of the sport, the coach said that it would hamper such players from improving.

     

  • 2019 ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships: Nigeria hits semifinal

    Nigeria’s junior boys’ team maintains their unbeaten run to qualify alongside Egypt into the semifinal round of the ongoing ITTF African Junior and Cadet Championships holding in Accra, Ghana.

    From the three matches played in the group, Nigeria overcame Tunisia, Ghana and Congo Brazzaville to join Egypt who also defeated Sierra Leone and South Africa in their group matches.

    Tunisia being the only team to lose 1-3 to Nigeria are also in contention for the title after the North African side booked their place in the last four after a convincing win in the quarterfinal round.

    Nigeria and Egypt were given a bye to the semifinal as the top teams from Group One and Two of the boys’ junior.

    For finishing second, Tunisia and Algeria had to battle others to be certain of their slots in the last four.

    According to African Table Tennis Federation (ATTF), teams that make it to the final in the boys and girls team events will represent the continent at the World Junior Championship (WJC) holding in Thailand later in the year.

    As it is the battle for the two slots in the boys event will be among Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia and Algeria.

    However, the chance of Nigeria in the girls’ event is slim following the below-par performance of the team.

    Having lost 0-3 in the first group match to Egypt, the team redeemed its image with a 3-0 convincing win over South Africa.

    To be sure of playing in the last four, the Rofiat Jimoh-captained side will slug it out with Algeria in the quarterfinal tie.

    In the cadet division, Nigeria’s duo of Taiwo Matti and Jamiu Ayanwale were unbeaten in their matches as they pummeled Mauritius and Congo DRC to secure their automatic place in the last four while they will be joined in the semifinal by Tunisia who also recorded wins in their matches.

  • Support Buhari to actualise your mandate, S/East lawmakers-elect told

    Elected members of National Assembly from South East have been urged to support President Muhammadu Buhari and his party ideals to ensure the actualization of their political mandate to the people.

    Convener, All Progressives Congress (APC) South East Young Progressive Forum, Comrade Paschal Otimkpu, made the appeal in a congratulatory message made available to journalists in Awka Anambra State.

    He said there was no time for personal or self-serving agenda at the detriment of Ndigbo in particular and Nigerians at general.

    Otimkpu urged the lawmakers to be good ambassadors of Ndigbo with renewed resolve to attract more socio-economic development to the state and the region.

    Read Also: Buhari: It will take decades to repair Boko Haram damage

    He said, “All elected National Assembly Members from South East Zone are expected to align with pro-people agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We urge them to hit the ground running by working closely with the federal government to identify ongoing federal government projects in order to fast track their completion as well as attracting other strategic projects.

    “The federal lawmakers must establish themselves in the National Assembly as loyal and sincere patriots and work, without compromise, for the overall development of the South East and the country at large.”

    The South East lawmakers were also enjoined to close ranks and establish synergy with the state governments in the zone in an attempt to forge a common front in bringing meaningful development to the region.

    They also urged the lawmakers to lobby, where necessary to attract more national presence in the region, assuring them of full support.

    The group maintained that Principal Officers in the National Assembly, especially the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives should be zoned to South East for equity, justice and fairness.

  • Come to prosper in Nigeria, Buhari woos Dubai investors

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday met with six different groups of investors at the sidelines of the Annual Investment Meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, had a message for them all: Come to Nigeria and prosper. Come and have handsome returns on your investments, within the shortest possible time.

    Sheikh Ahmed Al Maktoum is a member of the Dubai ruling family. He is also a private investor and member of several boards of companies, both state owned and private. He is interested in establishing a power plant in Lagos, and studies have already been completed.

    Lulu Group operates a chain of supermarkets in the Middle East and Asia.

    Mr. Yusuff Alli, Chairman of the group, told President Buhari that the outfit, with headquarters in Abu Dhabi, has over 164 supermarkets and shopping malls. It employs over 50,000 people.

    The interest is to work with Nigerian farmers, using local produce to ensure food security. Quality, affordability and hygiene are the watchwords of the company.

     

    Also in bilateral meeting with President Buhari was Sheikh Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of Amea Power. The company develops, owns, and operates thermal and renewable energy projects in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Its wide range of power solutions include conventional – gas, coal, oil, and renewable – solar, wind and hydro.

    Apart from power, the company, which owns Rotana Hotel chain, is also interested in the hospitality sector in Nigeria.

    Also on cue was Sheikh Ali Rashid Lootah, Chairman, Nakheel Properties and Limitless Group.

    One of the world’s leading developers and a major contributor to Dubai’s real estate transformation, the company’s current and future retail project portfolio covers nearly 17 million square feet of leasable space. They are keen to expand their investments in Nigeria.

    Sheikh Khalid Bin Kalban is the CEO of Dubai Investments. His meeting with the Nigerian president centred around real estate, processing industries, mergers and acquisitions, health care, education, and financial investments.

    Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) has supported over 66 projects in 29 African countries. They include rural solar power and water projects, and that was the focus of the discussion, as Sheikh Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, the CEO, met with President Buhari.

    Read Also: Buhari calls for safe, inclusive digital world

    The statement said that the bilateral sessions were not concluded, till the Nigerian president had met with Mr. Jitender Sachdeva, CEO Skipperseil Group. An integrated energy company with operations in the manufacturing of substation equipment, discussions were on engineering processing, construction of transmission lines and substations for utilities, institutions and industries.

    The company’s CEO expressed delight at meeting with President Buhari, and looked forward to doing good business in Nigeria.

  • ICPC tasks NASS on transparency

    Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged the National Assembly to remove the secrecy surrounding its budget for the sake of transparency.

    Spokesperson of the commission, Mrs Rasheedat Okoduwa, in a statement on Monday, said Owasanoye made the call during the National Assembly Induction Programme for new legislators in Abuja.

    The ICPC Chairman spoke on the topic; “The Legislature and Fight against Graft and Corruption”.

    He said that the public perception of legislators as being corrupt would not go away until the National Assembly threw open its yearly budget to the public.

    He stressed that the execution of the National Assembly budget which had grown exponentially from N6.9 billion in 1999 to about N139 billion in 2018, for the same number of legislators had remained shrouded in secrecy.

    “This gives room for allegations of abuse and misappropriation of the funds.

    Read Also: NASS: Igbo won’t beg for positions, says Iwuanyanwu

    “It is believed that we have the highest paid legislators representing the poorest people in the world.

    “Since 1999, National Assembly Budget has increased without defensible legal or moral justification.

    “Without increase in membership and addition of only one or two agencies, NASS budget grew from N6.9 billion in 1999 to N139 billion in 2018.

    “The problem is that it is just a single line item; the public is hardly told the breakdown and how it is used. The criticisms will disappear if we are told how it is spent,” he said.

    Owasanoye described corruption as the enemy of development and good governance and the biggest challenge to Nigeria’s development.

    “The Legislature must wake up to its role of oversight over Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to curb the menace,’’ he was quoted as saying in the statement.

    NAN

     

  • Police arrest suspects over death of three in Rivers cult clash

    The Police Command in Rivers State on Monday said some suspected cultists had been arrested in connection with the death of three persons in Mgbodohia, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state.

    The command’s spokesman, Mr Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent Police (DSP), confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt.

    Omoni, however, could not give a specific figure of the arrested suspects.

    He said that the three persons were killed on Saturday during a fight for supremacy between two rival cult groups – Iceland and Deybam in the community.

    The police spokesman said that preliminary investigation into the clash had shown that the fight resulted from disagreement over who should collect a certain illegal levy in the community.

    NAN reports that the illegal fee collected from those buying land in the community is known as “bush entering or marching ground” in the state.

    Read Also: Six accused of killing police officer

    It will be recalled that Gov. Rotimi Ameachi’s administration abolished the levy, making it illegal and punishable on conviction.

    According to Omoni, the investigation showed that the two cult groups had the history of clashing over who should collect the illegal levy.

    He however said normalcy had returned to the community due to the deployment of police personnel to the area.

    The command’s spokesman urged the residents who had fled the community due to the crisis to return home.

    “I appeal to the residents of the state to furnished police with meaningful information on the activities of the hoodlums in their areas,’’ he said.

    NAN