Heineken Commences Entries for #ShapeYourCity Campaign

Heineken Commences Entries for #ShapeYourCity Campaign

Heineken, the world’s leading international premium beer, in its ongoing attempt to enhance the cities of the world, brings the third edition of its cities campaign to Nigeria.

According to a statement made available to journalists today, this year’s campaign tagged: ‘Shape your City’ is aimed at transforming great cities while broadening the imagination of the new generation city dwellers, inspiring them to contribute their quota to improving their cities.

The statement added that Heineken is taking this opportunity to call on Nigerians to visit http://www.heineken.com/ng and share ideas to shape the city of their dreams.

“To achieve the #ShapeYourCity campaign, Heineken Nigeria has partnered ‘City Shapers’, individuals known for using their skills in creating one-of-kind experiences to make their cities more enjoyable for dwellers. They are urban visionaries who have by small actions of their own, contributed to shaping cities across Nigeria,” the statement added.

The selected ‘City Shapers’ are Bolanle Austen-Peters, Founder of Nigeria’s foremost cultural hub, Terra Kulture; Theo Lawson, Architect of the acclaimed Freedom Park and Kalakuta Museum, and Kenneth Gyang, Director of award winning films ‘Confusion Na Wa and Blood and Henna’.

The statement quoted the Senior Brand Manager, Heineken Nigeria, Ngozi Nkwoji, as saying: “Globally, Heineken is committed to making great cities even greater and we are glad to include Nigeria in this movement.

“This year’s theme of shaping cities is focused on encouraging people to contribute to their city as Heineken believes that the smallest of gestures have the potential to bring about unexpected transformation to our Nigerian cities.”

As part of the campaign, Heineken has also launched a series of limited Heineken City Edition bottles and cans, each bearing the name of renowned cities across the globe, including 10 Nigerian cities namely: Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, Benin, Warri, Kaduna, Aba and Onitsha.

“Heineken, is reaching out to city dwellers across Nigeria to share their ideas for improving great cities. At the end of the campaign, the winning idea(s) will be executed by Heineken Nigeria while engaging ‘City Shapers’ and other passionate urban explorers across the country to help make the project a reality.

Christian Leaders: Nigeria Fatally Becoming an Islamic State

Christian Leaders: Nigeria Fatally Becoming an Islamic State

The Nigerian Christians Elders Forum (NCEF), an affiliate of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), today said Nigeria is fatally sliding into an Islamic State under President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

The NCEF position came as a response to serial killing of Christians in the northern part of the country in recent times. Last week, Christian students were brutally killed and burnt in Talata Marafa, Zamfara State, over alleged blasphemy.

The NCEF also cited the arrest of Mr. Joe Chinakwe for naming his dog ‘Buhari’ in Ogun State as a clear case of discrimination by the  against Christians in the country.

According to the NCEF Chairman, Chief Solomon Asemota (SAN), “There is a bill now pending before the National Assembly, titled: “NGO Regulatory Bill” intended to silence non-governmental organisations (NGOs) including the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

“It is not in dispute that Nigeria is an Islamic State contrary to Section 10 of the constitution.  What is in dispute is whether Nigeria is ruled by mainstream Muslims or by Islamist Jihadists.   We plead with the Sultan of Sokoto to appreciate that Nigeria is safer and more peaceful when the federal or state government does not adopt any religion as ‘State Religion’.”

The NCEF explained that the overt dominance of the National Security Council by members of the Muslim faith and the expressed reservations whether Vice President Yemi Osinbajo plays any role in the council.

“It is as a result of the understanding (or lack of it) of civilized jihad that we are apprehensive of those in the ‘Security and Intelligence Committee’ of the federal government by some unexplained reasons who are mainly Muslims.

President Buhari, (Muslim), Chief of Defence Staff (Christian), Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Minister of Defence, Minister of Internal Affairs, Inspector General of Police (IG), National Security Adviser (NSA), Director General of DSS are all Muslims from the North.

“We are not too sure whether the Vice President is a member of this committee following information that he was once excluded from the meeting which the president called.  When the vice president summoned the same meeting in the absence of President Buhari who was away in the United Kingdom, there was resistance and the meeting had to end abruptly,” the Christians elders stated.

Asemota maintained that going by the activities of the Fulani herdsmen, it is clear that a jihad is being staged through the back door, adding: “The atrocities committed by Fulani herdsmen such as number of persons killed, farmland and buildings destroyed with other property during the same period were not included.

“The conclusion which we, Christians, draw is that jihad is being committed against our country especially when the cohesive instrument of state is in the hands of three ethnic nationalities and one religion.  This enlists fear in the minds of the populace especially Christians.”

The group also differed with the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III, on the interpretation of the secular status of Nigeria, stating that: “NCEF begs to disagree with the Sultan that Nigeria is a multi-religious state based on the fact that the constitution which forms the basis upon which our founding fathers agreed to live together as a country, provided under Section 10 that ‘the government of the federation or of a state shall not adopt any religion as ‘State Religion’.

“Nigeria has multi-cultural and multi-religious communities, tribes, ethnic nationalities but one nation. It is correctly assumed that in the interest of peace and justice, the constitution in Section 10 prohibits the state from religious participation by way of recognising one and two religions. Multi-religious country does not fit the interpretation of Section 10 rather, it is its opposite. 

“The Sultan’s interpretation, we submit, is intended to justify Islam and Christianity as state religions until Islam dominates to become de facto and de jure religion of Nigeria.”

On the arrest of Chinakwe, NCEF said: “If Nigeria is being run as a secular state, Sections 10, 37, and 38 of the constitution guarantees that the right of private and family life, right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion should protect Joe Chinakwe and the complainant would have been arrested but because Nigeria is an ‘Islamic State’, Chinakwe has to face trial, and in the process, promoting the most effective way to get rid of critics which is to instill fear in ordinary Nigerians.  One wonders if the dog had been named Gowon or Jonathan would there have been any furore about the matter.”

Missing Scavenger Found, As Police Investigate Mysterious Disappearance

Missing Scavenger Found, As Police Investigate Mysterious Disappearance

A scavenger, Zaradin Sani, who was allegedly kidnapped at no 31, Kayode Adebanji Street, off Unity Road, Ashamu Estate in Oke-Afa, last weekend, has been found, after operatives of the Lagos State Police Command tracked him from Ibadan to Kano.

This is just as the command has begun detailed investigation into the mysterious disappearance, with a view to unravel what really transpired.

It was earlier reported that the scavenger had in the company of colleague, gone into the said building to cart away a used fridge only to disappear, but had somehow managed to contact his colleague, who hitherto had been worried.

The victim was said to have told his colleague that he was being held inside a particular compound with a cross sign in

 front.

When news of his alleged disappearance filtered in, some scavengers numbering over 50, had stormed the said house  to protest.

Going berserk, the protesters had damaged several properties at V-Sleem gym, the ceiling of the main building, where the victim was allegedly abducted from, as well as the transformer stationed in front of the house.

Other scavengers, armed with cutlasses and knives, stormed the compound, threatening to pull it down and they were soon joined by other youths led by  the Seriki Hausa in Ejigbo.

However, a company of soldiers and policemen, who later searched the entire premises did not find the victim, who allegedly told them he was being held in ceiling and could see them.

They were said to have climbed the ceiling in search of the victim but could not find him. At a point, his phone line allegedly suddenly became unavailable.

  Despite interventions by security operatives, the youths started destroying television sets, glass doors, windows and other valuables in the compound.

  It was gathered that most of them brought out knives and cutlasses strapped on their bodies and forcefully opened the gate to the gym breaking everything on sight, forcing security agents to use force on them.

  However, the detectives attached to the command were said to have been tracking his movement through his phone and was once pinpointed at Ibadan.

Attempts to rescue him was aborted when the tracker indicated that he was again on the move, this time towards the Northern regio

Budget Scandal: Abdulmumini Meets Presidential Committee August 31

 Budget Scandal: Abdulmumini Meets Presidential Committee August 31

The sacked Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumini, has received an invitation from the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption to brief the committee on the allegations of corruption levelled against House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, and three principal officers. 

Abdulmumini revealed this on his twitter handle on Tuesday.

“In another victory for my journey to ensure that justice is served on Speaker Dogara, Lasun, Doguwa, Ogor and 9 other members, I have received official invitation from Prof Itse Sagay SAN, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption to make a comprehensive presentation to the Committee on the allegations I raised against Mr Speaker and others and discuss strategies on how to achieve results. The letter was signed by Executive Secretary of the Committee  Prof Bolaji Owasanoye,” the tweets read.

It was gathered that he is expected to meet with the Prof. Itse Sagay led committee on August 31, 2016 at 11 am.

The lawmaker last week had petitioned the committee and requested to make an appearance to present his testimony.

Abdulmumini had also petitioned the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, accusing Dogara and others of allocating to themselves N40 billion out of the N100billion allocated to the National Assembly, and making senseless insertions into the 2016 budget.

Obasanjo: Nigerians Brought Buhari to Power, Not Me

 Obasanjo: Nigerians Brought Buhari to Power, Not Me

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that no individual or group including himself can lay claim to bringing President Buhari to power.

The former president, who stated this in Jalingo today when he paid a courtesy call on Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, said Nigerians overwhelmingly voted for President Buhari and as such nobody could claim to have brought him to power.
Reacting to a media report that he claimed that he and a few Nigerians brought the president to power, the former president and head of state said the report was not just untrue but malicious. 

Obasanjo, who was in the state on a five-day working visit to inspect some of the key projects he initiated while in office particularly the Mambilla Hydro power project said the election of President Buhari was an overwhelming decision of the generality of Nigerians and it was inconsiderate of any single person or group to claim the glory.

"I was astounded by media reports quoting me to have said that I and a few other persons brought President Buhari to power to save Nigeria. I never said that because it is not true. Nigerians voted overwhelmingly for the president and we are all witnesses to that fact. No single person or group can claim that glory," he said.

Stressing that he has spent most of his life trying to better the lot of humanity generally and Nigeria specifically, he stated that he was motivated to do even more now that he was approaching the end of his life and promised to help in any way possible to explore the enormous resources in Taraba state.

"Taraba state is a blessing to Nigeria. The potentials in the state can turn the fortunes of the country for good. The Mambila Hydro Power project alone has the capacity to generate more than half of our present power capacity in the country.

" The livestock potentials in the state span all known livestock in the country including cattle rearing and poultry all in commercial quantities. The tea factory is a symbol of national greatness while the tourism potentials can attract global tourists and earn the nation good foreign exchange

"Since I have spent most of my life doing good for humanity and Nigeria, I am motivated to do even more now that I am approaching my evening. I will therefore do everything to ensure that the potentials in Taraba generally and the Mambila Plateau specifically are optimally explored to make the nation great".

Extolling the virtues of Governor Ishaku, the elder statesman called on the people of the state to cooperate with the governor in his bid to make the state great just as he enjoined them to embrace peaceful coexistence, tolerance, mutual respect for each other and respect the sanctity of human life.

241 Nigerian Voluntary Returnees From Libya Arrive MMIA

241 Nigerian Voluntary Returnees From Libya Arrive MMIA

 

 

Another batch of Nigerians on Tuesday arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International (MMIA) as voluntary returnees from Libya.

 

The returnees who were 241 in number arrived in Nigeria at about 4:00 p.m. amid relief and excitement as many of them searched for their relatives who came to welcome them home.

 

It was gathered that their return was facilitated by the International Organisation for Immigration (IOM) aboard a chartered aircraft operated by Libyan Airlines with registration number 5A-LAR.

 

The deported were documented on arrival at the cargo wing of the Lagos international airport by officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

 

According to an official of IOM, the deportees consisted of 17 males, 67 females, six children and three infants.

 

The official said the Nigerians opted to return home because of the harsh conditions they underwent in their bid to travel to Europe.

He said the IOM is committed to reducing the loss of lives associated with seeking greener pastures abroad.

 

According to an official of NEMA, the deportees would be given a stipend to enable them start a new life at home even as those with medical conditions would be assisted.

 

It was also learnt that the returnees were very grateful to IOM, which saved them from precarious experience, which might have resulted to the end of their lives.

FAAN, Affiliated Unions Stage Peaceful Protest in Kano

FAAN, Affiliated Unions Stage Peaceful Protest in Kano

The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) workers in Kano, alongside its two affiliated unions, yesterday embarked on a peaceful protest over the plan by the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika, to concession the four major viable airports in the country.

Addressing the protesters, the Chairman of Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Ahmed Lawal Fagge, who spoke on behalf of NUATE and NUP at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, said the concession of the four viable/major airports would lead to the death of 6,000 FAAN workers.

Fagge said some cartels in the government are only interested in buying the viable airports and concession it to Turkish investors.

He said the move would lead to a serious national security breach as well as economic terrorism in which the workers union would mobilise and protest against any such attempt in the name of Airport concession.

THISDAY learnt that the protesters were carrying placard with  inscription such as ‘Cartel in government are interested in buying the four viable airports, our airports cannot be sold in bits’,  ‘airport concession is economic terrorism and workers say no to airport concession’.

The chairman also called on President Mohammadu Buhari not to succumb to the mindset of the Aviation Minister to concession the four viable airports, namely, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Lagos and Kano.

 

It was also learnt that the protest came as a result of the unanimous decision taken by national headquarters of their union over the proposed concession of the four major airports in the country.

According to Fagge, “We have raised four major issues to the government.  All we want is to win the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari. Every Nigerian knows of his proven integrity but it is unfortunate that this time, the mantle of leadership was given to somebody who is out to sell the property of the federal government that has been generating huge revenue for the country.

''Let me put the record straight; the FAAN is generating N33 billion annually, out which 25 per cent goes to the coffers of the federal government, 20 percent is being paid to the new Terminal Building been constructed by a Chinese company across the nation, while 45 percent is the amount used for the maintenance of the airports and the maintenance of workers among others.

“Now, what we are agitating for is his plan of not carrying the union along. They just want to concession the four viable airports overnight.

''The destiny of over 6,000 workers across the airports is hanging in the balance, so we are therefore calling on the president, whom we know is not aware of this dangerous plan, for him to be aware.

''Why are they so interested in concessioning the viable ones? Why can't they go and build their own airports, I think you can only concession something that is unworkable, you are looking for a way to make profit. Now the four major airports, Kano, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Lagos, are not only generating revenue but sustaining the airports and the other 22 airports.

''Why are they so interested in something that is viable? We don't want a similar situation that happened to Nigeria Airways to happen to FAAN. So, by the time these four major airports are concessioned, what happens to the minor ones. So what we are saying is that to concession the four major airports is an economic terrorism and a threat to the security of the country.

''The president should know that we are telling him the truth and not what those ‘big’ men are telling him by deceiving and telling him what his ears would want to hear. The truth is that our four major airports are viable, vibrant and generating revenue.

''So, I see no reason why a minister would just wake up overnight night and want to concession the four major airports. Ever since this new minister came on board, he has never initiated any policy that has brought development.

''Since the inception of this government, we have been talking of a new national carrier, but ended up to concessioning what we have. Following the ongoing biting economic situation of the country, we are trying to diversify from oil to non-oil sector and airport is one of them.”

Emergency Powers Bill: Senate Rejects Buhari's Move to Turn Himself into a Tyrant

Emergency Powers Bill: Senate Rejects Buhari's Move to Turn Himself into a Tyrant


The move by President Muhammadu Buhari to secure emergency powers to address the nation's economic crisis may not see the light of the day as senators today rejected the bill, saying Buhari is only seeking to transform himself into a tyrant and foist dictatorship on the nation.
The bill, entitled:"Emergency Economy Stabilisation Bill 2016," will be sent to the National Assembly by the president upon its resumption from its long vacation after eid-el kabir.
However, given the reactions of some senators to the proposed emergency powers being sought by Buhari through the bill today, the bill may be thrown out on the floor of the Senate as some of the senators had vehemently kicked against it, insisting that it is dead on arrival.
According to the senators who did not want to be named, some of the provisions in the bill were unnecessary as they described the move as nothing but a subtle way of avoiding counterpart funding by the government of Buhari.
According to them, evolving the new bill only underscores the level of frosty relationship between the executive and the legislature adding that if the bill is passed as proposed, the president will gradually transform himself into a dictator and draw Nigeria back to the path of military rule which it exited 17 years ago.
According to them, without such emergency powers yet at his disposal, Buhari has continued to trample on legislative powers, explaining that if further given emergency powers, he will more or less reduce the National Assembly to a rubber stamp institution like the kind of legislatures which exist in China and Soviet Republic.
Therefore, they threatened to kill the bill before Buhari kills the entire legislative institution and by extension, the nation's traumatised democracy.
An anonymous government official had disclosed to journalists at the weekend that Buhari would seek emergency powers from the National Assembly to push his planned stimulus for the economy.
The objectives of the bill, according to reports, will include raising the value of the naira; job creation; boosting foreign reserves; reviving the manufacturing sector and also improving power supply.
The search for emergency powers by the executive is the initiative of the economic team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo which has been saddled with the responsibility of reviewing various existing policies in the country and their effects on the economy.
The team, according to reports, examined the state of the nation and concluded that there was the urgent need to take some drastic decisions that  the nation's extant laws do not provide for.
This assumption by the team was predicated on beliefs that “the recession may be longer than expected and Nigerians will not get the desired respite, which is the goal of this government.”
As provided in the bill, the president is seeking unfettered powers to set aside some extant laws and simultaneously be empowered to come up with an economic recovery initiative within the next one year.
Among others, the bill also seeks to empower Buhari to abridge the procurement process with a view to guaranteeing stimulus spending on critical sectors of the economy;
make orders to favour local contractors/suppliers in contract awards;
abridge the process of sale or lease of government assets to generate revenue;
allow virement of budgetary allocation to projects that are urgent, without a recourse to the National Assembly.

Four Youths Murdered by Suspected Gunmen in Lagos

 Four Youths Murdered by Suspected Gunmen in Lagos

In a suspected revenge attack, some gunmen, alleged to be cultists, last weekend at Apapa Road and Otumara communities in Lagos Island, murdered four youths in cold blood.

At Abule-Nla community on Apapa Road where the gruesome killings took place, they opened fire on the residents killing three persons, while  stabbed one Darlington Ogbu at Otumara community.

Journalists gathered that Ogbu was boozing with his friends when the killers came in Otumara community on two motorcycles and stabbed him to death.

But at Apapa Road, the gang said to belong to the  Kogbagidi boys opened fire on three youths identified as Samuel Olu, Junior and Taiye to death while other residents caught in the gunfire sustained gunshot  wounds. 

Following the killings, suspected cultists stormed Lagos Mainland the next day  to wreck havoc but they were prevented by Vigilantes and a combined team of Police men.

Speaking on anonimity, one of the residents said, "Gunmen came in two Toyota Camry cars at  Apapa Road and opened fire on the residents at Abule- Nla. The place they shot people is the base of the Kogbagidi boys.

"The boys were relaxing when the gunmen stormed the area. Three youths died at the end of the shooting while other residents sustained gunshots wounds.

"We are suspecting that this is  cult related. Various boys belonging to the Kogbagidi boys, the Otto boys, and the Fagbayimu Apapa Road boys also known as Skippo boys are involved in this supremacy fight."

Power: TCN Rolls out $7.5bn Five-year Network Upgrade Plan

 Power: TCN Rolls out $7.5bn Five-year Network Upgrade Plan

* Says distribution is sector’s weakest link

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has rolled out plans for the implementation of a five-year upgrade of Nigeria’s electricity transmission network from its present 5,500 megawatts (MW) wheeling capacity to 11,500MW by 2020.

TCN disclosed that the five year plan would cost it $7.5 billion, adding that the huge funding will be sourced mainly from a mix of the federal government’s annual budgetary appropriation to it, concessionary loans and grants from multilateral financial and aids institutions as well as contractor-financing model.

The acting Managing Director of TCN, Abubakar Tambuwal Atiku, disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing in Abuja today.

He was supported by TCN’s Executive Director, Finance and Accounts, Mr. Sonny Iroche; its Executive Director, System Operations, Musa Gumel, and Tom Uwah who manages the Transmission Service Provider (TSP) department at the briefing.

The four had recently taken over the management of the company after government ended its business relationship with Canadian Manitoba Hydro International which managed TCN for four years on a contractual basis.

Atiku also said out of the N50 billion the company requested from the government in the 2016 budget, N30 billion was approved for it while N9 billion has been allocated so far, but it is still not within its account.

“We hope to increase our capacity to 7500MW with the completion of 31 projects by the end of 2017; TCN has mapped out strategies to boost its capacity to 8200MW by the end of 2018, this we intend to achieve with the completion of eight new projects in 2018.

“In the realisation of 10,000MW as envisaged in 2019, our five-year expansion plan has 66 projects to be completed, leading to a total wheeling capacity of 11,500MW by 2019. The plan has also been carefully developed with the aim of realising stable power supply by 2020,” said Atiku.

He gave a breakdown of how the company hopes to raise funds for this, saying: “The ongoing and new projects cannot be realised without adequate financial resources; TCN therefore anticipates that the federal government, as the sole owner of the company, will facilitate funding of the various projects.

“Apart from the government appropriation, TCN is also supported through funding agencies like AfDB, ADB, World Bank and special funds from the Eurobond, China-Exim Bank and JICA.

“Expected funding in terms of concessionary loans and grants from these agencies is put at $3.4 billion; federal government is expected to bring in about $1.5 billion for the five year period, while the proposed investor-financing initiatives by TCN is expected to contribute about $2.6 billion, this makes an estimated total funding requirement of $7.5 billion for the five year expansion plan.”