Afenifere, a pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and political organization, has endorsed the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 Presidential election.

The group announced the endorsement through its spokesperson, Chief Biodun Akin-Fasae, after a meeting of delegates and elders from the six Southwest states held on Thursday at the House of Chiefs, Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the group, which was led by Pa Ayo Fasanmi, included former governor of Oyo State, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Dr Abayomi Finnih, Chief Adeleke Adewoyin and Prince Biodun Ogunleye.

The meeting, which lasted four hours, resolved that any other group not with the Yorubas on the decision and choice were usurpers as well as renegades.

The group noted that Afenifere, as started by the late sage, Obafemi Awolowo, was known for being progressive.

“We have decided to host the whole Yorubaland in Ibadan on January 29, 2019. It is to proclaim the support of the Yorubaland for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

“It is also to tell the whole world that Afenifere created by Baba Awolowo before his death is still intact as a progressive movement and any Afenifere person who is not in the progressive is not part of us.

“We are now telling the Yoruba people and the whole world that we are going to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo come 2019 Presidential election,” the group said.

It said they were supporting Buhari inspite of the economic challenges which was a collective issue, adding that the economy, which had been bastardized for years, is growing under Buhari.

The group affirmed that Buhari was trying his best, saying the economy and GDP is growing.

According to the group, “look at the programmes for the youths and the children through empowerment and school feeding programmes in schools across the country.

“26 states are already in the programme and many other states are happy with it.
So, Buhari is trying his best and the best is yet to come, that is why we are asking people to vote for him, particularly in Yoruba land come 2019 Presidential election.”

It described the factional group which threw its weight behind another presidential candidate as usurpers, adding that the Afenifere they know in Yorubaland is a progressive movement.

The group said that the factional Afenifere group, led by Chief Ayo Adebanjo, which threw its weight behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, was not part of them, but usurpers.

“Yoruba is not divided, there are not so many Afeniferes. Yoruba is a nation and even during the time of Baba Awolowo, there were dissent voices, so we are not embarrassed.

“Our group is led by the longest living senator in Nigeria, Pa Ayo Fasanmi, and you can see everybody there including Sen. Biyi Durojaiye, Dr Omololu Olunloyo, Baba Olusi and many others in Yorubaland who are not renegades with us.

“There was no time Afenifere has not been a socio-political organization. It is a socio-cultural and political organization and that is just the full name of Afenifere.

“Let me again say that the owner of the mandate of the Yoruba people is APC. The six governors of Yorubaland are APC, all houses of Assembly in Yorubaland are APC, so we have six speakers of houses of assemblies, so you can imagine.

“Those who claim to be in the other group of Afenifere, none of them have ever contested an election. The fact is there for all to see. So, they don’t have any mandate.

“It is our Afenifere that we are talking here that has the mandate of the Yoruba people and you will see them here on the day.

“By January 29, they will all be here including the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to declare support for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election,” the group added.

Afenifere decried the jeering of Buhari by lawmakers during Wednesday’s budget presentation, saluting Buhari for not being deterred and concluding his presentation.

Among others who attended were a former Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Pa Ayo Afolabi, Mr Oladosu Oladipo, Mr Muyiwa Ige, Prof. Adebanjo Ademodi, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin and Mr Awa Bamiji.

NAN reports that Oyo State Government was represented by Dr Morounkola Thomas, the Executive Assistant on Political Matters to Gov. Abiola Ajimobi.

By Cecilia Ijuo

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill(PIGB) and other bills critical to national development.

Saraki said this in his opening remarks at the 2019 budget presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari, the speech was however not delivered at the ceremony, but was made available to newsmen.

He noted that in response to the economic recession, the National Assembly passed a number of bills to assist the executive mobilise investment into the country to stimulate economic activities.

He said the PIGB alongside National Transport Commission Bill and Federal Road Authority Bill, had not been signed into law, contrary to the expectations of many.

Let me make it clear that the National Assembly appreciates Your Excellencys assent to some of these bills.

We recognise the prerogative of the president to sign or not to sign these bills.

However, we believe that some of the issues cited for withholding assent may be better addressed through further technical engagements, since the bills are, in the main, aligned to government policy direction, he said.

Saraki said unless the countrys laws were improved upon to create the right structures that enable the private sector to power the economy, job creation and opportunity to thrive and prosper would be difficult.

I must commend the President for the Social Investment Programme initiative.

However, as laudable as this initiative has been, it is pertinent to note that the current approach is unlikely to have a sustainable, measurable impact that is free of corruption and abuse.

You will agree with me that such a programme should carry no whiff of politicisation. Our role as leaders must always be to ensure that we deliver governance results that do not discriminate.

We should also ensure that all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion and political stride have access and are seen to be treated equally, he said.

Saraki expressed the National Assemblys readiness to work with Buhari on the peoples-oriented programmes of the administration to ensure success.

He assured the President that the assembly would continue to work with him and his team to ensure that whatever was required through legislation and oversight to plug revenue leakages and ramp up revenues was given priority.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari on Wednesday unveiled a budget of N8.83 trillion for 2019.

The budget is N300 billion lower than the N9.1 billion being implemented in the current fiscal year.

The sum of N4.04 trillion or 50.31 per cent is earmarked for recurrent expenditure and N2.03 trillion representing 22.98 per cent is for capital projects.

Other estimates are N492.36 billion for Statutory Transfers, N2.14 trillion for Debt Servicing and N120 billion as Sinking Fund.

The budget is based on an oil production estimate of 2.3 million barrels per day and an exchange rate of N305 per dollar.

Other benchmarks are Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 3.01 per cent and inflation rate of 9.98 per cent.

The total projected revenue is N6.97 trillion, which is three per cent lower than the 2018 estimate of N7.17 trillion.

The expected incomes consist of oil revenue projected at N3.73 trillion, and non-oil revenue estimated at N1.39 trillion.

Meanwhile, estimate from non-oil revenue consists of N799.52 billion from company income tax; N229.34 billion from value added tax, and customs duties of N302.5 billion.

Other revenues expected in 2019 include various recoveries of N203.38 billion; N710 billion as proceeds from the restructuring of government equity in joint ventures, and other sundry incomes of N104.1 billion.

The N8.83 trillion proposed expenditure for 2019 includes grants and donor funds amounting to N209.92 billion.

The budget deficit is projected to decrease to N1.86 trillion or 1.3 per cent of the GDP in 2019 from N1.95 trillion projected for 2018.

On sectoral allocation, the Ministry of Interior would get N569.07billion, Defence-N435.62 billion, Education-N462.24 billion and Health, N315.62 billion.

Source: NAN

The Congolese aviation firm Gomair said its cargo plane which went missing on Thursday after delivering materials for an upcoming presidential election had crashed.

Gomairs financial director, Jean de Dieu Gato Karekezi, said he did not yet have any information about casualties.

The firm lost contact the plane on Thursday evening as it was flying back to Kinshasa after delivering materials to Tshikapa, a city near the border with Angola.

It was not immediately clear how many people were on board. Air accidents are relatively frequent in Congo due to lax safety standards.

Karekezi said the plane had been rented by the national electoral commission (CENI) to deliver election materials.

A CENI spokeswoman said the agent who had taken the flight to Tshikapa had stayed there, but she did not provide any further information.

The incident follows a tumultuous week in Democratic Republic of Congo, which has seen the long-anticipated election postponed for a week due to logistical issues, clashes between protesters and police, and the deaths of over 100 people in fights between ethnic groups in the northwest.

Source: NAN

Deji Adeyanju has been remanded in prison custody until 6th February 2019 by the Chief Magistrates Court in Kano.

The court on Friday took the plea of Adeyanju who is charged with complicity in series of murders since 2000s.

The court said that it lacked jurisdiction to hear murder charges against Adeyanju who had been arrested since Dec. 13.

Adeyanju stood trial on similar charges between 2005 and 2009 but was discharged and acquitted by the Kano State High Court.

Adeyanju was arrested and detained for five days in Abuja before he was moved to Kano.

Chief Magistrates Hassan Fagge had on December 19, ordered his remand and scheduled today for bail hearing.

But when the court opened at about 9:42 a.m. Friday, Mr Fagge said he had determined that he lacked the power to hear the homicide charges brought against Mr Adeyanju by the police.

Adeyanju was moved to Kano Central Prison.

The position of the court has hit the social media, especially the twitter.

BREAKING: The Chief magistrate in charge of Dejis case declines Jurisdiction. The case has been adjourned to 6th February for further mention. will spend his Christmas and New year in Prison.

This phase too shall pass.

Th Deji Adeyanju (@Shalomttheo)

Source: NAN

A combined global audience of 1.12 billion watched the World Cup final between France and Croatia in July, FIFA, the governing body of world football, said on Friday.

In total, FIFA said, a combined 3.572 billion viewers more than half of the global population aged four and over tuned in to world footballs ultimate competition for at least a minute, over the course of the World Cups from June 14 to July 15.

A survey it had commissioned by FIFA found that 3.04 billion viewers caught at least three minutes, a 10.9 per cent increase on Brazil 2014, and 2.49 billion watched at least 30 minutes, or one third of one match, up on 2014s 1.95 billion.

FIFA calculated that the average live audience for each of the 64 matches was 191 million.

The survey estimated that 9.5 per cent of that audience, or 309.7 million people, watched no coverage at home but caught the action on digital platforms, in public viewing areas or in bars and restaurants.

That proportion was higher for the final between France and Croatia. FIFA said 884.37 million viewers tuning in to traditional TV coverage and a further 231.82 million watching outside the home or digitally.

According to FIFA, Publicis Media Sport

Two persons have been intercepted carrying $2.8million cash at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The men were arrested by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Enugu Zone.

The suspects, identified as Ighoh Augustine and Ezekwe Emmanuel, claimed to be workers of Bankers Warehouse.

The EFCC said the two men concealed the cash in two suitcases, containing $1.4 million each.

According to a statement by the commission, they were arrested at the departure lounge of the airport on Thursday night while about to board an Arik Air flight to Lagos.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed that they have been in the business of conveying cash for some notable banks, for over six years and were in the process of doing same for Union Bank Plc, located at New Market, Onitsha, Anambra State, when they were caught.

The suspects further confessed that they had so far carried out such assignments, four times this year.

They will be charged to court soon, EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade said.

Source: NAN

Counting their blessings as the year comes to an end, Nigerian rice farmers have confessed that they have been transformed from poverty to wealth.

The farmers attributed their fortunes to the Anchor Borrowing Programme which made many of them to improve on their inputs especially fertilizers, seedlings, and water pumps.

The owed their successes to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari which introduced the programme through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Aminu Goronyo, commended the administration for introducing the Anchor Borrowers Programme, which was inaugurated on Nov. 17, 2015, in Kebbi state.

“Mr President, with the Anchor Borrowing Programme many farmers have improved their inputs especially fertilizers, seedlings, water pumps etc.

“Farmers are benefitting from your administration because rice farmers have transmitted from poverty to wealth,’’ he said at a Gala Night organised by Rice Farmers in honour of beneficiaries of the Anchor Borrowers Programme at the old Banquet Hall of the State House in Abuja.

To this end, Goronyo, announced that the 12.2 million rice farmers had pledged their support for the re-election of President Buhari.

According to him, the farmers have contributed N100 each, amounting to N1.22billion, to promote and boost the Buhari/Osinbajo campaigns for the 2019 presidential election.

Goronyo urged the president to thank the Kebbi State governor, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu; the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, for their support to the farmers.

The President of the Fertilizers Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), Mr Thomas Etuh, who also spoke at the event, lauded President Buhari for his efforts in the revitalization of the nation’s fertilizer sector.

He announced the contribution of the association amounting to N570million towards ensuring the re-election of the president in 2019 general elections.

President Muhammadu Buhari had also directed the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to commence the restocking of all its Strategic Grains Reserves nationwide

He said the directive had become imperative following the completion of a comprehensive survey on damages done to farmers and fishing communities in the riverine areas as a result of flood disaster.

He said the report indicated that over 160,000 farmers and additional 70,000 fishermen were affected by the disaster.

“For about three months the National Food Security Council working with the National Emergency Management Agency conducted comprehensive survey of the farmers, fishermen and livestock owners affected by the flood disaster,’’ he said.

President Buhari, who was honoured at the event with an award of excellence for his administration’s favorable policy that had impacted positively on the country’s agricultural sector, pledged that all the affected persons would be compensated to cushion their hardship.

He thanked the organisers of the event, and assured that the federal government would continue to implement policies and programmes meant to uplift the standard of living of the Nigerian farmers as well as boost food sufficiency in the country.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is the vice Chairman of the National food Security Council, spoke on the essence of the award given to the President Buhari by the rice farmers.

He congratulated the president for the award, and assured that Nigeria would soon commence the exportation of rice to boost the nation’s revenue base.

The CBN governor, Emefiele, in his contribution, said the Anchor Borrowers Programme had remained the most successful agricultural programme in Africa.

According to him, many African countries are now under studying the programme with a view to replicating the success in their countries.

“The program is changing the narrative of agricultural investments in Nigeria.

“It has brought the era of food security and sustenance leading to a cut in forex being used for importation of rice and other food items into the country,’’ he said.

He stated the programme had received support from stakeholders across the country including state governors.

The CBN governor revealed that the bank was also in partnership with other commodity associations who were working to reduce importation bills and to create jobs.

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, who is the vice Chairman of the National food Security Council, spoke on the essence of the award to President Buhari.

In his remarks, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Audu Ogbeh, noted that Nigeria had remained the world largest producers of maize, cassava, yam and other staple foods due to the progressive agricultural policies and programme of the Buhari administration.

He stressed that the fortunes of farmers across the country had improved, adding that the farmers had told him that they would `reward’ the President in 2015.

Source: NAN

The incidence of Bank Verification Number theft is now very rampant in our society. And something that is meant to help check identity fraud has turned to a potent instrument that ‘agents of the underworld’ could use to clear out the funds in an individual’s account. Time and again, we have heard reports of how people end up losing the money in their account right after losing possession of their mobile phones. Long before now, the loss of a mobile phone may not be something to fret about but now [with one’s BVNvbound number in the misplaced phone], there’s a lot to be concerned about. You surely cannot afford to keep calm if your phone’s apps are not locked prior to losing your device.

Notwithstanding, I feel there’s got to be well-thought plan to help ‘undiscerning’ individuals better secure their BVN, and that goes beyond just advising them to desist from disclosing the code to a third party. This is particularly necessary bearing in mind that the miscreants who specialize in stealing people’s phones usually catch them unawares.

Preventing BVN theft
In preventing BVN theft, the first line of action is to keep secret things ‘secret’; do not disclose it to a third party; keep your BVN-bound SIM safe from any suspicious individual and avoid writing or storing your BVN on a sheet of paper. But having done all these, you may still fall victim upon losing your phone, and this is why I feel the following steps need to be taken:

Creating a password for checking BVN
Dialling 5650# and having your BVN displayed on the screen of your smartphone is quite ‘loose’ and/or insecure in my own perspective. It makes things rather too easy for the BVN thieves who eventually enlist the help of some devious bankers to make available other relevant information about a customer’s account. It is to this end that I believe having to input one’s password before being able to access the Bank Verification Number can help in a great way to stop fraudulent individuals from having possession of one’s BVN. This is a very simple solution that the regulators need to bring into effect without delay.

Deactivating your phone number
Another way of securing your BVN as well as other information is to deactivate your phone number by contacting your mobile service provider as quick as you can after you must have lost it. This must be done on time considering the fact that it takes the fraudsters nothing – after getting hold of your device to extract your details.

Secure your apps
You can give the thieves some hard time gaining hold of your password by setting a password on your apps. With this, they will not be able to easily dial the code that would reveal the BVN. You can also find apps like AppLock, Privacy Knight, Lockit etc. really useful in this regard. It however needs to be said that this should not always be seen as a fool-proof solution as these crooked guys could find a way to bypass the system.

Contact your bank
The primary reason why you are securing BVN is to prevent the loss of your hard-earned cash. So, it is expedient that you inform your bank about the loss of your BVN-bound number/SIM as soon as possible. Contacting them will ensure that whatever transactions initiated are well monitored and this could subsequently lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. Again, this would prevent the 'ravenous wolves' from carting away your fund.
In concluding, I will like to stress the need for regulators to see to the very first step – about enabling the use of password to check BVN.

This, I believe, is the ultimate solution to prevent BVN theft but before the implementation of such, you can consider the other points and ensure that you do not fall into the web of the purloiner of BVN.

The Nigerian Air Force has announced the death of the former chief of defence staff, Air Chief Marshal, Alex Badeh (retd.).

He was 61 years old.

According to the Air Force Spokesman, Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, Adamawa-born Badeh died today from gun wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked by gunmen on Abuja-Keffi Road. He was said to be returning from his farm.

Daramola broke the news on Twitter:

It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road

— Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola (@KunleDaramola3) December 18, 2018

It is with a heavy heart that I regretfully announce the unfortunate demise of former Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh, who died today, 18 Dec 18, from gunshot wounds sustained when his vehicle was attacked while returning from his farm along Abuja-Keffi Road

— Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola (@KunleDaramola3) December 18, 2018

Alex Sabundu Badeh was born 10 January, 1957 in Vimtim, Mubi LGA of Adamawa state.

He was educated at Vimtim Primary School and Villanova Secondary School.

He obtained his secondary school certificate in 1976 and gained admission into the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1977 as a member of the 21 Regular Course.

He was commissioned Pilot Officer on 3 July 1979 and commenced his flying career at the 301 Flying Training School on the Bulldog Primary Trainer aircraft in 1979.

Between 1981 and 1982 he attended the Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base in the United States Air Force. He was at the 301 Flying Training School (FTS) as a squadron pilot and later became an instructor pilot on the Bull Dog and DO-228 aircraft.

He rose through the ranks and became Air Vice Marshal in 2008.

He became the 18th Chief of Air Staff in October 2012 and was appointed Chief of Defence Staff in January 2014.

He held the post till July 13, 2015, when he was retired by the Buhari administration.

Since then, he had faced a court trial for alleged theft of defence funds during his tenure.

The House of Representatives has resolved to admit President Muhammadu Buhari on the floor of the green chambers to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill just as Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) reports that ongoing strike by workers could not stop the ceremony.

President Muhammadu Buhari had intimated the National Assembly of his desire to present the budget on Wednesday.

The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion by the Leader of the house, Gbajabiamila, at the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Yussuf Lassun on Tuesday.

Moving the motion earlier, Gbajabiamila urged the house to support the motion to enable the president to perform his constitutional functions.

When the motion was put to a voice vote, while some members in the house were in support, others shouted against the motion.

The deputy speaker, however, ruled to allow the president to present the 2019 Appropriation.

Femi Gbajabiamila had earlier said that the ongoing strike by members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN) would not stop the legislature from sitting.

Gbajabiamila said told journalists Tuesday that shutting down the National Assembly was tantamount to shutting down the nation.

He said that the house would sit to pass a resolution to allow President Muhammadu Buhari to present the 2019 Appropriation Bill to the joint session of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Everybody has the right to strike, you cannot take that away from anybody, it is a constitutional right, it is almost a fundamental human right for you to down your tools but thats where it ends.

You down your tools but you cannot stop lawmakers from doing their work, that is totally out of the purview of strike.

In fact, it is in our laws, the Legislative Privilege Act that nobody can stop a legislator from doing his work and it attracts certain punishment, he said.

The leader said that the lawmakers would protect the rights of the striking workers and that the right of lawmakers to sit must also be protected.

According Gbajabiamila, when you shutdown the National Assembly, you shutdown the entire country.

Gbajabiamila explained that the monies being demanded for by the striking workers had nothing to do with the legislators at the National Assembly.

According to him, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the management have separate account and they operate differently.

The leader said that the lawmakers were only intervening to ensure peace between the workers and the management of the assembly.

He said when the National Assembly cannot perform its constitutional functions and the budget cannot be laid before the house, that will amount to shutting down the country and that nobody would sit and watch that to happen.

Gbajabiamila said that the leadership of the National Assembly met yesterday and the matter was being taken care off and that the results were already being seen.

Source: NAN

Residents of Maiduguri, Borno state capital, are irked by the recent uninterrupted electricity supply which has caused astronomical increase in charges.

Yola Electricity Distribution Company (YEDC) came under attack by residents who see the 24 hours electricity supply as waste and digging holes in their pockets.

The constant power supply according to the residents had caused what they described as outrageous billings.

Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman, a resident at who lives in Bolori Layout, appealed to the YEDC to reduce supply of electriticy.

YEDC should go back to the former supply system where electricity was supplied for 12 hours and not 24 hours recently being enjoyed.

Suleiman described the stable power supply as a wastage because many consumers cannot use electricity during working hours.

I work from 7 p.m. to 4 p.m. So I do not need any electricity until I get home. But in this case whether you consume power or not, you will be billed to pay for it. I think this is not fair, he said.

Residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday that the incurring high bills was worrisome.

They said that it was not in the interest of the masses, because it has hindered economic activities and social life of the people.

They also alleged that YEDC jacked up their electricity bills by over 100 per cent for commercial and residential areas sequel to appreciable improvement in power supply in the metropolis.

Mr Esther Chukwuma, one of the consumers, described the new billing adopted by the power distribution companies as frustrating and lamentable.

My bill indicated that I used 605 units in November and they charged N14, 000 as against N6, 500 for September where I used the same units.

They are charging me for what I did not consume because during the day, I spend most of my time in my shop. I only use the electricity at night at home.

I have a prepaid metre in the shop and I dont spend more than N2, 000 in a whole month.

So how come I am not staying at home and i am being asked to pay N14, 000.

I am here in their office, demanding an explanation, she said.

Also speaking, Mrs Fatima Musa, a widow, said: I was given a bill of N15, 000 monthly instead of the N5,000 I used to get monthly.

I strongly disagree with this outrageous charges given without any explanation.

She said that electricity consumers were at the receiving end especially those without prepaid metres, noting that the billing process was opaque and lacks transparency.

Malam Abdullahi Bako, who lives in Gwange, said how can YEDC be bringing between N9, 000 and N15, 000 to a room apartment in a month.

We are being forced to pay for electricity we never consumed; this is extortion, we demand for transparency in the billing methodology, Bako said.

Responding, Alhaji Usman Wakta, the YEDC Maiduguri Business Manager, said the company does not bill its customers arbitrarily.

These complaints may be as a result of the commissioning of the 330kV transmission line which now supplies electricity 24 hours.

He said that before the commissioning of the new line, the stations relied on the 132KV controlled from Biu, which can only supply for a period of ten to twelve hours per day.

On the average, we now supply electricity in the town for a minimum of 22 hours in a day which simply implies that the consumption of energy by residents in the state have multiplied or even tripled itself.

We took a simple study from our prepaid metres users and we found out that the people that usually came to buy unit of N2000 or N3000 in a month now have to spend N15, 000 or N20, 000 because of their energy usage.

One thing we notice about the consumers is that they waste energy. People have this habit of leaving their lights on even in the afternoon.

Go to some super markets or filling stations, you will see more than 200 bulbs on in the afternoon. So the more you load you use the more energy you consume.

On the allegation of exorbitant billing of consumers without meter, Wakta said : We go to peoples home to do load assessment based on the gadgets they have in the house and bill them accordingly. (NAN)

Source: NAN

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial Instagram post of him smiling after manager Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club on Tuesday.

Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday after Uniteds worst start in 28 years left them trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points.

The volatile Mourinhos exit was in part triggered by the breakdown of his relationship with France midfielder Pogba, who did not even make an appearance as a substitute for Sundays dismal 3-1 defeat at Liverpool.

Pogba took to Instagram just moments after news of Mourinhos sacking broke, posting a picture of himself smiling and writing caption this next to it.

The 25-year-olds post was widely interpreted as celebrating Mourinhos departure and he was criticised by former United defender Gary Neville, who responded on Twitter by writing: You do one as well!, suggesting he should leave the club as well.

Over 64,000 people, out of his 30 million plus followers had liked the cheeky message, but he deleted the post 10 minutes later amid claims it was actually part of a marketing campaign for Adidas.

The controversy was an appropriately rancorous end to the World Cup winners stormy relationship with Mourinho.

Pogba joined United for a club record 89 million ($112 million) just weeks after Mourinho was hired in 2016.

But the former Juventus player was repeatedly criticised by Mourinho during his two-and-a-half year reign.

After his inspired performances helped France win the World Cup in Russia in July, Mourinho opted not to praise Pogba, instead infuriating the star by publicly asking why he did not try as hard for United.

Pogba was stripped of the United vice-captaincy earlier this season.

The pair were captured having a frosty exchange on the training ground as Mourinho grew angry with his key midfielders lethargic performances, dropping him on several occasions to spark talk he would be sold by the end of the season.

Former United midfielder Darren Fletcher knew Pogba during the Frenchmans first spell with the club as a youngster and he says his old team-mate needs a kick up the backside.

Fletcher fears Mourinhos sacking could convince the flamboyant Pogba that he can now get away with whatever behaviour he feels like, unless the new manager clamps down quickly.

I dont think hes conducted himself well recently and I think he needs a kick up the backside, Fletcher told the BBC.

I think his post today, whether it was his team or whatever, it was totally out of order. Thats a big concern for me.

Everybody talked about, Whos going to go, is it going to be Pogba or Mourinho. Now, if Pogba starts thinking that hes bigger than Mourinho, theres your next problem.

Somebody needs to get control of Paul and say, Listen, this hasnt been a battle between Mourinho and Pogba and youve won, youve got to go and prove yourself now.

A managers got to come in there and demand more from him, to lead this team forward.

Source: NAN

By Joan Nwagwu

Mr Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman, All Progressive Congress (APC) has called for a united Labour movement that would confront the challenges bedeviling workers welfare in the country.

Oshiomhole said this at a programme in honour of the new President of the International Trade Union of Confederation (ITUC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Dec. 5, Wabba, who is the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was elected President of ITUC in Copenhagen, Denmark for a term of four years.

ITUC is the largest trade union federation in the world and represents 207 million workers across the globe with 331 labour centres in 163 countries.

Oshiomhole said that the unity had become necessary as there were a lot of distractions to divide the labour movement in the country.

He said: I congratulate Comrade Wabba. But this must force us to do serious reflections if we are going to preside over the workers of the world.

What do we do to deal with the distractions at home when we still have some of our brothers and comrades who still think that at this time, we can make sense out of a divided labour movement.

The slogan that united we stand, divided we fall will always be valid; I hope that the spirit of your election will touch the heart of those who seems to be confused.

There can be no question that united we stand, divided we fall.

There is only one organised Labour and I am happy that President Muhammadu Buhari, speaking through the lips of the Vice President has reassured Nigeria Labour Movement that his government will not provide a platform for anyone to factionalism Organised Labour.

You are not under the kind of threat that we faced when I was President of NLC when the former President sent a law to the National Assembly, not only to deregister the NLC, but also to make it possible for any three or four unions to form a Labour Centre, he said.

He said that Buhari believed that the country needed more national institutions and that organised Labour was a potent unity bridge that must be sustained.

He added that under this government, there would not be another registered Labour Centre in the country.

We need to be fired by the spirit of our people to work together and deal with all the issues that are bedeviling our country, he said.

He therefore, charged the new president of the ITUC to confront the new challenges as it concerns trade unions around the world.

Also speaking, Mr Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said the Presidency was delighted about the international recognition.

I want to congratulate Comrade Ayuba and assure you that as a government, we will give you all the support that you desire to succeed, because we believe that from this elevation, you have become ambassador of Nigeria to the international arena.

They will watch you as they will watch the President of Nigeria because by extension, every decision you take there within the context of the fact that you are first a Nigerian before leading the world.

I plead with you that in your representation, let the spirit of excellence with which you have led in this country be reflected in your leadership so that for once, it will be adjudged by the entire world that Nigerians are competent, efficient, and effective when it comes to the provision of leadership.

Mustapha, however, said that Nigeria would continue to give effective leadership to the different organisations to which Nigerians have been appointed.

Source: NAN

An illegal, unfinished cross-border tunnel running into the U.S. was uncovered by authorities Monday, Customs and Border Protection announced.

The detection was made via a joint effort with Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents and Mexican law enforcement who were conducting a regular bi-national tunnel sweep, the agency said in a news release Tuesday.

The entry point was found submerged underwater along the international waterway channel constructed below both cities of Nogales, CBP said.

The tunnel was adjacent to the Port of Nogales, DeConcini Crossing and came to an abrupt stop underneath a parking lot in Nogales, Arizona.

Structural shoring and digging tools were found inside the roughly 50 foot long illicit passageway, suggesting to authorities that the construction was not yet finished, the news release said.

Of that length, 44 feet ran into the U.S., according to the agency.

Agents will continue to monitor and inspect the incomplete tunnel until it is properly secured and remediated with concrete filler, the news release said.

Source: NAN

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks set to replace Jose Mourinho as Manchester Uniteds interim manager after the club appeared to accidentally announce the appointment on their website.

Mourinho was axed on Tuesday after just two-and-half years in charge at Old Trafford and the troubled Premier League club are reportedly ready to bring back one of their old heroes to take his place on a temporary basis.

Solskjaer, currently in charge of Norways Molde, was widely reported to be Uniteds leading candidate for the interim role for the rest of the season while they search for a permanent appointment in the close-season.

There has been no official announcement from the club, however a video appeared on Uniteds official website celebrating Solskjaer and seeming to confirm his appointment.

A video of him scoring the winner for United in their 1999 Champions League final triumph against Bayern Munich was accompanied with the headline The most famous night of Oles career.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg also appeared to confirm Solskjaers appointment, writing on Twitter: Great day for Norwegian football. Good luck keeping control of the Red Devils.

Solskjaer, nicknamed the baby-faced assassin, scored 128 goals in 367 appearances for United during 10 seasons playing under the clubs legendary boss Alex Ferguson, who signed him from Molde in 1996.

After retiring, the Norwegian was appointed as Uniteds reserve-team boss before joining Molde as manager in 2010.

Solskjaer had an ill-fated spell in charge of Cardiff in 2014, winning just nine of his 30 games as they were relegated from the Premier League before being dismissed and returning to Molde in 2015.

Moldes season ended last month and does not resume until March 31, with Solskjaer unlikely to refuse the chance to manage such a prestigious club.

Ironically, his first match in charge of United could be against Cardiff on Saturday if the mooted deal is completed in time.

United are in sixth place in the Premier League after their worst start for 28 years.

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino and former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane are among the bookmakers favourites to take the United job at the end of the season.

Source: NAN

Britain risks slipping from being the worlds fifth-biggest economy to its seventh-largest next year, when it is due to leave the European Union, with France and India on course to overtake it, accountancy firm PwC said.

PwC projected economic growth in 2019 of 1.6 percent for Britain assuming the country manages to avoid the shock of a no-deal Brexit in March versus 1.7 percent for France and 7.6 percent for India.

The UK and France have regularly alternated in having the larger economy, but subdued growth in the UK in 2018 and again in 2019 is likely to tip the balance in Frances favour, PwC economist Mike Jakeman said.

The ranking is based on the size of national economies in U.S. dollar terms.

Britains economy slowed and the value of the pound slumped after the 2016 Brexit referendum decision to leave the EU.

India is the fastest-growing large economy in the world, with an enormous population, favourable demographics and high catch-up potential due to low initial GDP (gross domestic product) per head, Jakeman said.

It is all but certain to continue to rise in the global GDP league table in the coming decades.

PwC expects India to rise to fifth place next year from seventh, and France to remain at sixth.

Source: NAN

A Chicago cocaine trafficker on Tuesday detailed the U.S. operations of accused Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzmans cartel.

Pedro Flores, who ran a drug trafficking operation with twin brother Margarito Flores in Chicago before working with Guzman and later cooperating with the government in 2008, described his role as a key operative under Guzman for the Sinaloa Cartel.

Flores testified that Chicago was a pivotal location for Guzmans operation to move tons of cocaine and heroin in the United States.

Its practically centred in the middle of our country, which makes it convenient, he said. Youre practically halfway to everywhere.

While working with Guzman, Flores and his brother were entrusted with moving drugs hidden behind false walls in trucks to cities such as New York and Washington.

He and his brother agreed to cooperate with authorities in 2008 after a conflict between Guzmans group and another cartel they moved drugs for left them fearing for their lives.

They agreed to secretly record cartel members in conversations, including one in which Guzman can be heard negotiating a lower price on a shipment.

Flores said he first encountered Guzman after being abducted in a meeting with his previous cocaine supplier in Mexico, where he and his brother fled to escape a charges in a drug case in Milwaukee in 2004.

The brothers were held captive for about two weeks before being released and sent to one of Guzmns alleged cartel co-bosses, Ismael El Mayo Zambada Gonzalez, who informed them the Sinaloa Cartel was impressed with their ability to distribute cocaine in the United States.

Any idiot could sell drugs in Mexico. Its very difficult to sell drugs like that in the U.S., Zambada said, according to Flores. From now on, Im going to give you some work.

Before working for the cartel, Flores met with Guzman, who began the meeting by making fun of Flores cut-off jean shorts.

With all that money, I couldnt afford the rest of the pants? Flores said, recalling Guzmans joke.

Flores also said he saw a naked man chained to a tree as punishment when he first arrived to meet Guzman and saw the alleged cartel leader appear to order an assassination in response to the seizure of one of the cartels cocaine shipments.

*UPI

Source: NAN

The National Council of Womens Societies (NCWS) has identified the humility, honesty and exemplary leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari as hallmarks that rekindled hope of Nigerians.

Congratulating President Buhari on his 76th birthday, the the President of NCWS, Mrs Gloria Laraba Shoda, said in Abuja: On behalf of all Nigerian women, we congratulate our president and father of the nation on this very special day in his life.

We congratulate you on all your achievements in your life and particularly for your humility, deep sense of honesty and faith you have shown in the various aspects of governance, politics and democracy as our President.

Your commitment to the nation and exemplary leadership style is not only worthy of emulation but equally inspiring for the next generation.

Your commitment to the ideals of good governance, accountability, and probity have rekindled the hope of Nigerians for the country.(NAN)

Source: NAN

Ogbonna Victor Chibuzor, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC was charged today with attempting a scam that would have fetched him £12.5 million from his targeted prey.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested him before he completed the sting operation.

He was arraigned before Justice A.M. Liman of the Federal High Court, Enugu on a five-count charge bordering on intent to defraud, and possession of fraudulent documents contrary to Section 6 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act 2006 and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the same Act.

Ogbanna’s arrest was sequel to series of raids carried out by operatives over the past one week in which several suspected online fraudsters in their early 20s, were arrested having been found to be living a flamboyant lifestyle, not commensurate with any visible means of livelihood.

Analysis carried out on the computer of the suspected fraudster revealed certain incriminating documents intended to be used in swindling gullible Nigerians and foreigners alike.

Further investigations disclosed that Ogbanna uses his e-mail address [email protected] to send unsolicited emails to his victims using fake or stolen identity to legitimize his nefarious activities.

One of the documents was addressed to one Alan Christopher of BG Group Plc, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6, Berkshire, United Kingdom, with a rider “Your attention is needed” and a second paragraph talking about a £12,500,000 (Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Pounds Sterling) unclaimed contract fund.

Another document found with the accused was a purported “Contract Award Certificate” to one Michael Morgan of 101 Brooklyn, New York, United State of America, on “Directing and Fixing of Oil Spillage” in the Niger Delta signed by the Chairman, Contract Tender Board and Chairman, Legal Department of Chevron Nigeria.

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charge preferred against him occasioning his counsel E.O. Isiwu to move a motion for bail.

The application was opposed by prosecuting counsel, Innocent Mbachie.

The presiding judge, however, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N500, 000 and one surety in like sum.

The surety, he ruled, “must have a landed property in Enugu which must be verified by the Commissioner of Lands”.

Ogbonna is to be remanded in prison custody until he fulfils his bail conditions.

The case has been adjourned till January 30, 2019.

An Igbo political group, One-on-One Nigeria, says it will work for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 general elections.

The group, which announced this at a press conference in Awka on Tuesday, said a lot of positive strides had been recorded under the Buhari-led administration.

Chief Chido Obidiegwu, National Coordinator of the group, noted that there had been massive upgrade of physical infrastructure across the country, especially in the South-East, under the present administration.

Obidiegwu expressed optimism that a second term for the president was the shortest means to the actualisation of Igbo presidency which he said, had eluded the region for a long time.

“We are determined to achieving Igbo Presidency by returning the president for a second term because we are convinced that four years of this present administration are better than eight years of any other person’s.

“In his wisdom and magnanimity, President Buhari has begun to address the Igbo’s most pressing needs which bordered mainly on infrastructure development.

“There is serious work going on, on the long abandoned second Niger Bridge, the long abandoned Enugu Port Harcourt expressway, the Zik’s Mausoleum and the Ariaria Aba Independent Power Project, among others.

“These, among other projects that the Igbos yearned for, for over 16 years now and can only be realised under President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

The coordinator commended the president for his achievements in the fight against terrorism, corruption, and other anti-social vices in the country.

“On the national sphere, it may not be gainsaying to posit that the war against insurgency, militancy and insecurity has been reasonably contained.

“Corruption, profligacy and unbridled brigandage among public office holders have reduced drastically and recovery of stolen public funds is going on with huge success.

“The bar has also been raised in accountability and transparency in government and leakages are also been effectively blocked through the single treasury account.

“Agricultural revolution especially in rice production has guaranteed food security in our country; federal pensioners’ backlog of emolument have been cleared by the President.

“In addition, several social intervention platforms have been enunciated to touch the lives of ordinary citizens of Nigeria and provide employment for the youth such as N-power and School Feeding Programme.

“Monthly Stipend for Indigent People, Paris Club Refund, Bailout for State Governments, Anchor Borrowers Fund, Bank of Agriculture and Industry Loans to MSME, Trader Moni, among others.

“There are also massive enhancements of roads, rail and water transportation more than ever before, the construction of 365 road projects across the 36 States of the country.”

The group, therefore, promised to campaign vigorously for the president across the zone and the entire country to ensure his victory in 2019.

“The President is doing his best for the region to realise its dream of clinching the presidency. As such, we are resolute and unequivocal in our support for his re-election.

“To achieve this, we are already on course in the execution of several vistas of action in the 1694 political wards in the region, 95 Local Government Areas, and 15 Senatorial Districts across the five states.

“We have paid a courtesy call on the President where we intimated him with our plans and from his body language it is now left for us, to fulfill our own part of the bargain.

“In the light of the foregoing, we humbly and effusively invite our brothers and sisters in Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu State, Imo, Delta and our people in diaspora to join us in this noble cause,’’ the national coordinator said.