Ambode appoints 57 sole administrators for LGs

June 11, 2016

    

Akinwunmi Ambode

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Saturday approved the appointment of new sole administrators expected to oversee the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas in the State.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, Governor Ambode would on Monday, June 13, 2016, swear-in the new appointees at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja.

Among those to be sworn-in include: Ayeni A. Babatunde; Adebayo Taoheed; Adekunle Julius; Samuel Ojo; Jacob Kent; Mrs. Bashorun Bolanle A.; Gbenga Abiola; Olumide Olayomi; Mrs. Yeyintola D. Agaba; Isa Abiola Jubril; Yusuf Temitope; Alh. Musa Nasir A.; Ogunleye Gbolahon; Babatunde Adetunji; Olu Ogunniyi; Sola Akande; Alh. Wasiu Sanni; Abiola Kolawole Esrom; Muyiwa Okesanya and Shukura Okeowo.

 Others are: William Lawanson; Label Raji; Ibrahim Adigun; Mrs. Samiat O. Raji; Segun Anifowoshe; Sherif Balogun; Ilelaboye Rasaq; Mrs. Stella Kokumo; Yinka Kazeem; Quadri Ganiu; Princess Abiodun Elegushi; Mrs. Doyin Y. Salami; Ms Soikoya Abimbola; Bolaji Adele Solomon; Mrs. Animawun Adejumoke; Shefiu O. Osinnuga; Adefuye Bayo; Biodun Agbaje; Genesis N. Williams; Engr. Biodun Taiwo; Okinurudeen Bamidele; Gokef Ona Olawale; Abdul Adewale; Femi John; Sanya Oshijo; Ipaye N. Adeleke; Hon. Tunde Alao; Are B. Abiola; Samson Akerele Oloyede; James Agboola; Princess Aderemi Adebowale; Rotimi Ogunwuyi; Olufemi Okedeyi; Rojaiye A. Olayemi; Surakat O. Idogun; Emmanuel Aguda and Habib Aileru.

The Statement added that the 57 sole administrators after being sworn in would take charge of their various councils pending the conduct of elections at the Councils later this year.

Ambode had last Thursday approved the immediate dissolution of Caretaker Committees following the resolution of the Lagos State House of Assembly relieving the Executive Secretaries of the 57 Local Governments Councils and Local Council Development Areas in the State of their responsibilities.

The Governor had also directed the Executive Secretaries to hand over the reins of administration to the Head of Administration in each of the Council Areas.

June 11, 2016

    

Odusina and Ogunmefun photos: twitter

Tears flowed freely on Friday at the Ikoyi Cemetary, Lagos, as the remains of Adesola Ogunmefun and Olufunmilayo Odusina, two University of Lagos post-graduate students who drowned and died during one of their friend’s birthday party at a private beach in the Lekki area of the city on June 6, 2016, were finally laid to rest.

An emotional tribute service which started as early as 11:00am, saw family members, friends and well wishers of the departed young women pour out in droves to bid them farewell.

In glowing words, mourners at the event paid tributes to the victims who many described as very charming and promising.

Sunmibola Ogunmefun, a sibling to the late Adesola, said even though the family is in mourning, they are consoled by the good life she lived and impact she made during her sojourn on earth.

“Very simplistic, you’ve never been the kind to take things too seriously and your smile is from ear to ear. Keeping malice with you was futile, you’d always find a way to break the ice…never one to hold grudge.

“Sola, in your short years on earth, you’ve connected us with so many people and your death has brought reconciliation…you are indeed a special one,” she said while paying homage to her late sister.

Modupe Mujota, a boss to the late Adesola, described her as not only a workaholic but also a young lady with a warm heart.

In her tribute, she said, “Desola took care of me. She would wake me up daily at 6am and like a child I would often beg her for 15 more minutes. As many times as I asked, she would oblige me, she was that caring.

“Desola, our loss is heaven’s gain, light it up as always with your brilliant smiles. We love you dearly.”

Born on April 12, 1989, Adesola attended the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria Staff School Ikeja, Lagos, Home Science Association of Nigeria Secondary School and Covenant University before proceeding to the University of Lagos for a Masters degree in International Law.

Until her painful demise, she worked as Personal Assistant to the Commissioner of Education, Science and Technology, Ogun State.

Odusina equally described as an easy-going and lovable young woman, was born on February 13, 1991.

Don proffers solutions to illegal wildlife trade

June 11, 2016

    

Tunde Ajaja

A Professor of microbiology and chairperson, Akwa Ibom State chapter of the Nigerian Environmental Society, Comfort Etok, proffered what she described as environmental and cost-saving solutions to the menace of illegal wildlife trade in the country.

She said the menace could be checked through the provision of incentives to the local communities to conserve wildlife in their area, setting up of more national, private and community based parks and partnership with non-governmental organisations to create awareness on wildlife conservation.

Speaking in Uyo at an event to mark the 2016 World Environment Day, themed ‘Fight against illegal trade in wildlife,’ Etok, who is the chairperson of the University of Uyo’s Table Water Management Committee, identified overhunting or over-harvest of wildlife reserves for food, fashion and profit as the major threats to wildlife conservation.

She was, in a statement on Friday, quoted as saying that  these practices result in habitat destruction through uncontrolled logging, oil spills, highway and urban development, exploitation for fuel wood, degradation, fragmentation, invasion of non-native species, pollution, climate change and their attendant adverse environmental effects on humans, flora and fauna.

While lamenting that most of the tropical rainforest that harboured chimpanzees, gorillas, lions, forest elephants and others were lost to unfriendly environmental practices, she called for strict adherence to wildlife laws, international treaties, adequate funding, public support and strong enforcement to existing legal provisions to check wildlife excesses in Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria.

FG considers ending military invasion in the Niger Delta, asks Avengers for dialogue

FG considers ending military invasion in the Niger Delta, asks Avengers for dialogue

Posted on Tue 7 Jun 2016, 11:28 AM

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Minister of state for petroleum resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has called on militants in the Niger Delta region to sheathe their sword and embrace dialogue with government.

Dr. Kachikwu made the appeal while briefing reporters in Abuja on Monday.

“My first appeal will be to my brothers who are engaged in these acts of protest to sheath their sword and daggers and come back to the table so that we can have a conversation,” he said.

“There is no doubt that over the decades of oil production, a lot of things that ought to have been done in the oil geographical areas were not done.

“The answer to the issue will not be heating up the grounds. The federal government is committed to continue the dialogue and the president has appointed a team.”

According to him, the team will be led by Babagana Monguno the national security adviser (NSA), himself, opinion leaders and all the service chiefs.

He noted that the dialogue was expected to wrap up in one week, adding that the NSA had been directed to work with the armed forces to de-skill the intensity of operation to ensure the dialogue held.

“Probably, we will suspend the operation of the military in the region for a week or two for individuals in the creeks to converge for the dialogue.”

Kachikwu said government had made contacts with all the people involved, especially those that could be identified
He expressed the hope that through dialogue, everything would soon be resolved, adding that it was always difficult when arms were used against citizens.

He urged the militants to allow the truth reign and gave an assurance that the federal government was ready to intensify efforts to ensure development in the region.

On oil production level, he said that the level was still between 1.5 million and 1.6 million barrels per day down from 2.2 million barrels on which the budget was based.

He said government would continue to work hard to enhance the production level.

He added that over the last few months, the country had lost 600,000 barrels from various attacks by the militants.

“We are making effort to see how we get the barrels back but my attitude is that when citizens are harping on something, we need to engage,” he said.

“The take of the president is to try and engage in a dialogue, I know that given the intensity of the attack, it has caused a lot of trouble.

“Both in terms of production and continuity of production and certainty of career plans in the oil industry, the best option is ensure adequate security measures in those areas.”

JUST IN: POLICE BAN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE FROM RECRUITMENT

written by Faith RolandJune 7, 2016

The Nigerian Police have placed a ban preventing individuals with tattoo on their bodies from participating in the ongoing nationwide recruitment into the force.

Mr Ebere Amaraizu, the Spokesman of the Enugu command, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Monday, said that the measure was part of the rules for the recruitment.

The spokesman said that procedures for the screening process had already been put in place by the authorities and that those shortlisted for the interview had been communicated through their contact address.

“The present recruitment is for degree holders and will last for three weeks and after that, the selected ones will proceed for the written interview.

“Over aged people, tattooed persons, falsified results, statement of results over five years and people with some physical impediments will be disqualified from the exercise,” he said.

Amaraizu said that the number of applicants shortlisted in Enugu State,  would only be determined after the exercise.

“All I know is that 10,000 people will be recruited nationwide but I do not know the number of those that will be recruited in Enugu zone.

“We have started and you can see that it is going on peacefully.

“The exercise is done in batches to avoid any form of rush or stampede.

“This command will screen the applicants thoroughly to ensure that the best get the Job,” he said.

Kingsley Kenechukwu, one of the shortlisted candidates at the venue, was in high spirit after scaling through the first step of achieving his dream. He said he had always dreamt of becoming a policeman to defend and fight for his country.

“I am happy that the recruitment is transparent and peaceful,” he said.

Samson Okeke, another applicant, who spoke with NAN, said he was happy that the exercise was going on well but observed that more personnel were needed to hasten the process.

“The exercise is not moving fast as I expected and I wish more personnel would be deployed to accommodate more applicants,” Okeke said.

NYSC SCRAPPED? READ OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENCY

written by Faith RolandJune 6, 2016

Unconfirmed reports has it that the Federal government has scrapped the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC). Shehu Garba, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, has released a statement debunking the rumours. Read the statement below

“Contrary to the rumour renting the social media that the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC), established since 1975 by then Head of State General Yakubu Gowon (retd), has been summarily disbanded and scrapped by President Muhammadu Buhari, 
alongside post Jamb tertiary institutions exam, UMTE, authoritative Villa source has promptly denied such as unfounded and legally illogical. “NYSC is a creation of the law. Only another law can repeal it.” – Garba Shehu (Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity)

More uncertainties as CBN fails to fails to clarify exchange rate policy

More uncertainties as CBN fails to fails to clarify exchange rate policy

Posted on Fri 3 Jun 2016, 10:54 AM

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The Central Bank of Nigeria has failed to dispel uncertainty over the implementation of the flexible exchange rate policy that will lead to the abandonment of the naira peg, bankers said on Thursday.

A meeting between the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and local currency traders under the aegis of the Financial Market Dealers Association on Wednesday to discuss the policy did not yield the desired result, according to a report by Reuters.
The central bank announced last week plans to abandon the naira’s 15-month peg to the dollar, which has overvalued the Nigerian currency, harmed investments and caused the economy to contract.

However, the bank has yet to clarify how the new policy would work, spooking foreign investors, long worried about getting caught in the middle of a currency devaluation.

“We are unlikely to get anything in the next two to three weeks. I don’t think the guidelines are ready. The reality is that he (the governor) does not understand the meaning of signals,” said one senior banker, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“By not coming out (with the details) the governor has shown he doesn’t believe the policy. There is the risk the policy could be reversed,” the senior banker added.

However, the CBN said on Thursday that it would issue the guidelines for the flexible exchange rate policy at the “appropriate time.”

Responding to enquiries by our correspondent, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, said the guideline would soon be released by the apex bank.

“When we are ready, we will release the guideline. Be rest assured that the guideline on the flexible exchange rate policy will be released at the appropriate time by the CBN,” he said and declined to make further comments.

Dollar deals dried up on the interbank market on Thursday as investors stayed on the sidelines, dealers said, in a sign of the continued uncertainty created by the new policy.

The stock market posted its biggest daily decline in 16 months this week as investors waiting for clarity sold shares. The main index gained 1.02 per cent on Thursday, clawing back some losses.

Analysts at DaMina Advisors said the delay could cause the central bank to backtrack as it tried to reconcile the new policy with President Muhammadu Buhari’s vow not to devalue the naira.

The President has for months rejected calls to devalue the naira. During his Democracy Day speech on Sunday, he backed the central bank’s flexible policy on the currency but said he was still against a devaluation.

Punch