@donbabajay12 said in 1000 tons of maize and soybean needed in Ikeja Lagos.:

@admin I can supply the above agricultural produce(Maize) ..Info on the maize include .
Price:330,000 per tonne
Location:Lagos

We have good knowledge on Agricultural produce procurement and logistic..produce ranging from cashew nuts,cocoa,sesame seed,maize etc

How many tonnes can you supply per day and per month?

@dipsix said in 1000 tons of maize and soybean needed in Ikeja Lagos.:

I can supply both the soya beans and maize in good time. I reside in Kaduna. I am a farmer myself and also have access to farmers with large enough warehouses to meet your needs and more at a very good price too.

Reach me on 08089620159.

Best regards.

Ok thanks, Dipsix. I'll contact you.

@donbabajay12 I'll contact you shortly. Thanks

A client needs 1000 tonnes of maize and soybean urgently.

If you have the capacity, kindly reply this thread by clicking the reply button stating your location, price, company, phone number and experience. Tell us how soon you can supply it and your capacity as a company. You can also include pictures and your business strengths.

UPDATE
For the maize, a ton can be supplied for N285,000 and N320, 000 per ton for soybeans.

DISCLAIMER

AskNigeria is just a middle man between customers and suppliers.

Here is the 1st part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part I
Here is the 2nd part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part II
Here is the 3rd part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part III

Today we shall be profiling the agricultural products and raw materials that are fairly abundant in Nigeria and which has demand outside the shores of this country and also their location locally.

CHARCOAL

Description

Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances. Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, i.e. the heating of wood, sugar, bone char, or other substances in the absence of oxygen. The resulting soft, brittle, lightweight, black, porous material resembles coal and is 85% to 98% carbon with the remainder consisting of volatile chemicals and ash.

Harvest

Hard wood charcoal can be produced year round. However, it generally advised that charcoal production and export should be done during the dry season (from November to May). Production and export of charcoal during the raining season could be rejected by buyers because of the high moisture content (i.e. above than 10%) which is usually the characteristics of the charcoal produced during this period.

Location

Charcoal can be produced from different part of the country, especially in the south west region (Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, etc), south south and south eastern part of the country (Enugu, Rivers, Cross river, etc), and also in the middle belt (Kwara, Kogi, Abuja and Benue) are of the country.

Specifications

Ash content: 3% - 4% max
Volatile matter: 5 – 10% max
Wood matter: 2-4% max
Size: 20-120mm
Carbon: 65-80% max

Uses

Charcoal are widely used for outdoor grilling and barbecues in backyards and on camping trips. It’s also used for House-Heating. Historically, charcoal was used in great quantities for smelting iron and later in blast furnaces and finery forges.

Export Market

The export markets for charcoals from Nigeria include Germany, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Poland, Spain, Bulgaria and UK. The largest importers of charcoal in the EU are Poland, France, Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. They buy and sell to the rest of Europe.

For enquiries kindly contact via WhatsApp this mobile Number 08094635254 or place a call to 07063396991

ARMI is a private driven agency that stands for Agro Revolution Movement International. It was created to develop the Nigerian agricultural sector, break agriculture to simpler form, from production, processing, packaging, commodity trading/export, marketing and sales etc. To make it accessible, affordable and appealing to our people most especially THE YOUTHS.

ARMI aims to develop the capacity at harnessing opportunities in their areas of interest, unlocking their potentials and giving them a financial reward concept.

If we are to achieve the so called diversification of our economy through agriculture, it is a top priority to develop the capacity of our people to function efficiently in this sector, it has been proven that the greatest resources any nation can boast of, is the human capital, and this our nation can boast of as the most populous black nation in the black race, but it is so unfortunate that we find it so difficult to successfully feed our citizens, despite having one of largest most unused arable land in the world, can naturally support agriculture.

If the capacity of our people is poor, no matter the abundance presence of natural resources at our disposal, we will only remain at potential level and our economy will suffer for it and remain a poor people and nation.

Therefore we must rapidly develop the capacity of our people, to create maintain and multiply agro wealth among our people.

For this purpose the ARMI TRAINING THE TRAINERS SCHEME (3TS) has been set aside to help us achieve the above stated through the 3TS PLATFORM where the capacity of our members will be developed and most importantly help them to practically implement their knowledge and carryout agric projects and businesses, and also encourage to transfer the knowledge.

MISSION

• Improve the capacity of our people to aid productivity in agric business and services

• Orientate, Encourage, train and develop new farmers most especially among our youths

• To encourage agricultural knowledge transfer

• Diversification of the nation’s economy, by promoting agro-preneurs, agricultural business and services

• Agro industrialization through cottage industries and small medium enterprise (SME)

• Aid job creation, to reduce the high unemployment rate etc

BENEFITS

• Job opportunities will be available strictly only for serious minded people that have proven themselves during training.

• Participants under our cooperative can benefit for loans, grants, support when the opportunities arise

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

For ARMI employment it is mandatory that our prospective candidates must be prepared to go through the 3TS train the trainer program, where their skills, talents, abilities, attitudes and aptitudes will be put to test.

Only those who distinguished themselves will be rewarded because the integrity of the organization must be protected, to solidify trust with all stakeholders.

For further enquiries:

Contact:
OLANIYAN TONI: 08023975810, 08032725918
BANKOLE KAYODE: 08058079753, 07063396991
Email:[email protected]
Web: http://armi.webutu.com/
ARMI OFFICE ADD: 170/172, obadina shopping complex, abule egun bus stop, Ipaja Lagos.

Here is the first part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part I
Here is the Second part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part II

Today we shall be profiling the agricultural products and raw materials that are fairly abundant in Nigeria and which has demand outside the shores of this country and also their location locally.

SESAME SEED PRODUCT PROFILE

Description
Sesame seeds (also called benni seed) are the seeds of the tropical annual Sesamum indicum. The species has long history of cultivation, mostly for its yield of oil. The original area of domestication of sesame is obscure but it seems likely to have first been brought into cultivation in Asia or India. The plant is usually 60 to 120cm tall and the fruit is a dehiscent capsule held close to the stem. When ripe, the capsule shatters to release a number of small seeds. The seeds are protected by a fibrous ‘hull’ or skin, which may be whitish to brown or black depending on the variety. 1000 seeds weigh some 4-8g. The seeds have a high oil content of 44-60%.

Harvest
Harvesting begins in late December and continues trough July. Each producing area stated in the next section below (Location) has only one season.

Location
The major producing areas in order of priority are Nasarawa, Jigawa, and Benue States. Other important areas of production are found in Yobe, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Gombe and Plateau States. The major marketing centers (towns and states) of sesame seeds in Nigeria.

Types and Varieties
There are 3 types of sesame (and these include White, Black and Brown/Mixed sesame seeds). However, only two of these are majorly produced in Nigeria and these includes:

• White/raw – Food grade used in bakery industry. 98 – 100% whitest grade seeds.

• Brown/Mixed = Primarily oil-grade

The white (Food grade) seed is grown around the town of Keffi, Lafia/Makurdi, Doma, and in Nassarawa, Taraba, and Benue States. It is easier to sort and the Fulani/Denin people consume sesame locally. The Brown/Mixed grows in the North, in Kano State and in Jigawa Sate near Hadejia, and somewhat in the southern part of Katsina state.

Uses
Most sesame is processed directly into oil by the grower or within the producing region, but can also be sold in various stages of processing, for various uses, such as meal, paste, confections, and bakery products.

Export Market

The major import of sesame seeds in the world is Japan while the major consuming markets in the EU are Greece, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK. In the past, the bulk of sesame was imported from China. Increasingly, other sources such as India, Sudan and, most recently, Pakistan, are taking the market share. The USA is the fifth largest import market with a steady demand for over 50,000 tons per year.

For enquiries kindly contact via WhatsApp this mobile Number 08094635254 or place a call to 07063396991

Here is the first part of this series. Agro Business in Nigeria Part I

Today we shall be profiling the agricultural products and raw materials that are fairly abundant in Nigeria and which has demand outside the shores of this country and also their location locally.

SHEA NUT

History: Shea butter nut butter has been used for centuries in Africa for cosmetics, funeral rites, medicinal, soap making and as cooking oil.

Estimated National Production: 500,000 MT annually

Export from Nigeria: About 3% of the national production is exported.

Type: They are usually accessed based on the content.

Uses: They are used in the production of Shea butter which is used in the cosmetics, confectionery and other such industries.

Areas of Production: Shea nut is produced in Kwara State at Ode-Giwa in the Asa Local Government Area and also in Minna area of Niger state in Nigeria. Other states include Kogi, Oyo, Kebbi and Ogun State.

Shea nuts are the fruits of shea butter tree botanically know as Vitellaria. In Africa, there re two main commercial species namely: Vitellaria paradoxa; mostly found in West African in countries like Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Mali. The second specie is called Vitellaria nilotica is mostly in Uganda.

The fruit is usually 5-8cm long and 3-4 cm wide, elliptic; a yellow or green berry with thick, butter – like, mucos pericap contains one seed which is oval or round. The seed is usually surrounded by a fragile shining shell with large hillum on a broad base.

The following is the benchmark composition of the export of Shea nut.

Free Fatty Acid (FFA) Content: Less than or equal to 60%

Moisture Content: Less than or equal to 70%

Oil Content: Greater than or equal to 45%

Latex: 4-10%

The oil content is the most crucial element of the Shea nut as that component is an important ingredient in the composition of the butter that goes into cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) and other by products. If the oil content is higher and the FFA and moisture content is lower, then the exporter will receive a price premium.

In terms of market share, the Chocolate and Confectionary market represents about 95% while the Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals market represent 5% of the market share.

The return on investment on the export of Shea nut is estimated between 10% - 15%.

For enquiries kindly contact via WhatsApp the mobile Number 08094635254 or place a call to 07063396991

We carried out an independent research at a cement dealer shop and we asked him questions as regards the pros and cons of the building materials he has on ground. He sells Dangote 3X Cement and Lafarge Elephant Cement. He also has a Block moulding Factory.

We asked him which cement is preferably among his clients? he answered saying everyone comes with his her taste. None can be said is better than the other.

Market Dynamics
Dangote moves slightly faster than Lafarge at his store sometimes, though more expensive. Dangote Cement 3X is priced at N2,200 while Lafarge Cement is priced at N2,150. Lafarge is good for plastering, and has another brand entirely for plastering. See picture below. It's very smooth and seemingly the best in this field.

He said some people returned the Dangote they bought from him, but didn't explain further reason why. He says they're coming back to fetch them.

He said the Lafarge Cement is good for in block casting.

Blocks Moulding

He says he uses both cement brand for block moulding, but found out that Dangote cement when used for moulding blocks in the raining season dries faster than Lafarge Cement.

DANGOTE 3X CEMENT

• Price: N2, 200.

• Some customers returned their Dangote 3X cement.

• Good for moulding Blocks

• More expensive

WAPCO LAFARGE ELEPHANT

• Good for plastering, using it's plastering brand

• Good for in block casting

• Price is N2, 150

• Cheaper

These were all we could gather from our field study. If you have good experience using these building materials, kindly help others reading to give your own views and experiences. AskNigeria might have missed some important aspects of these 2 competing goods that you can help shed more light on.

DISCLAIMER
These are the views of an independent dealer. AskNigeria did not in any way influence research data.

For this review, we met a dealer of 4x4 Ceiling slates and Nigerite Roofing slates. These 2 building items have alternatives. Unfortunately, he doesn't sell any of the alternatives. They're the PVC Ceiling and the Zinc Aluminium Roofing Sheets.

He gave us his honest idea on the strengths and weaknesses of these building materials. And since he doesn't sell the alternatives, we couldn't take any snapshots.

PVC Ceiling

• PVC is made up of plastic

• PVC is less Expensive

• PVC Ceiling can easily catch fire, since it's made up of plastic.

• PVC cannot protect from Sun and Heat

• It's just for fashion

4x4 Ceiling

• It can hardly catch fire. Strong against fire.

• It is more expensive than PVC Ceiling

• It can absorb heat, protects from sun's heat

• A single Sheet costs N1,200 Naira

And so therefore, you be the judge, if you're building a house, would you go for PVC Ceiling or 4x4 Ceiling? I understand that because of the price, some would choose PVC Ceiling, and also because it's in vogue, but we at AskNigeria would like you to put your safety first and choose wisely.

We shall keep this page updated with the price of PVC Ceiling and it's pictures.

DISCLAIMER
These are the views of an independent dealer. AskNigeria did not in any way influence research data.

This Road is situated within Gowon Estate, between Egbeda Axis and Ipaja Abesan Federal Housing Estate. It links Gowon Estate, Gemade and Ipaja Abesan Housing Estate to Egbeda Idimu Road. This road has been in a state of disrepair for a long time, coupled with the rains that have increased of late.

Commuters groan under this situation, complaining that it's been in this state of disrepair for more than a year. This road is under the Mosan Okunola LCDA, which also falls under the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. See Pictures Below:

Status of Road: DILAPIDATED DISREPAIR

We call on the Good Administration of Governor Akinwumi Ambode to look into this situation.

VERDICT: ROAD IS AN EYESORE

UPDATE

Visit our Sister review App Website For a detailed Review with Google Maps and Charts.

Viju Milk
Price : N100
What people are saying: I Love the taste it's thick and refreshing
Rating: 2 People love this

Nutri Milk
Price: N100
What people are saying: Watery and has absurd taste
Rating: 1 Dislike

Bobo Drink
Price: N50
What people are saying: It is quite good and because of the taste of milk in it.

Review Location: Lagos

DISCLAIMER

This is a work of independent research.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has declared business man, Goodie Ibru, wanted.

The anti-graft agency said he was wanted in connection with a case of “conspiracy, capital market fraud, stealing, diversion of funds, and money laundering”.

“He allegedly diverted billions of naira and assets belonging to Ikeja Hotels Plc, owners of Sheraton Hotel, Lagos; Federal Palace Hotel; Capital Hotel; and Sheraton Hotel, Abuja,” the EFCC added.

Source: Punch NG

With the Black market rates hovering around N467/N473, How much does your bank charge you per dollar? Do they charge you at black market rates or Interbank rates?

Mrs. Margaret Emefiele, the wife of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has been released by her kidnappers.

Sources at the Police High Command told our correspondent Margaret and four others were released around 1am on Saturday (today).

Margaret, three women and a driver were attacked on Thursday along the Benin-Agbor Road and dragged into a nearby bush while their vehicle was abandoned.

The kidnappers were said to have demanded a ransom of about N100m.

A police source said, “The kidnappers released the victims around 1am. We found them around the bush beside the expressway where they were kidnapped. Investigations are ongoing.”

Source: Punch NG

It’s something we’re all guilty of. You’re suddenly awake in the middle of the night and decide – for no reason whatsoever – to check your phone .

Be honest with yourself, are you expecting a cheeky little booty call (in which case, as you were)?

Is there a transatlantic work situation which is about to blow up at 3am GMT?

Or, is it just one of those little habits you have?

If so, you’re really not alone. According to a Deloitte report, one in three of us are so addicted to our phones we check them during the night.

And if you’re in the 18 – 24 category, this number goes up to one in two.

It may seem harmless – but it’s incredibly damaging.
Yes, that sneaky little look at Facebook you have in the wee hours of the morning is seriously bad for you.

Don’t take it from us. Sleep experts, the Metro reports, have warned us over and over how looking at our phones at night can compromise our health.

How does my mobile phone affect my health?
It’s all to do with the blue light our phone’s screen gives off.

This light tells our body it’s daytime, which means when we do eventually fall back to sleep, that quality of sleep is not as good as it should be.

The blue light “shifts” people’s sleep schedules by up to three hours found researchers at Harvard. Other studies also showed how it prevents people from getting the most restorative REM sleep they need.

Paul Lee, head of technology research at Deloitte told the site, “What smartphones enable people to do is to keep tags of what’s happening, what people are saying, what people are posting.

“You can do that throughout the day and what smartphones are encouraging people to do is to do that at night.”

So unless it’s a matter of life or death, make sure you get some good shut eye. Facebook’s not worth it.

Source: Nairadays

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said it was sheer madness for anybody occupying public offices to be looking for money.

He said President Muhammadu Buhari told him repeatedly that at his age, his only heart’s desire was to see a great Nigeria.

He said Buhari had no other objective in office than that.

According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, the Vice-President spoke while receiving a delegation of Christian Ministers Welfare Initiative also known as the Pastors’ Forum, Taraba State, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“This morning, I had a meeting with the President and he repeated to me twice, he said ‘at my age, there is only one thing I am looking for, I want to see a great Nigeria.’ He has no other objective and I feel very inspired by that,” Osinbajo reportedly told his guests.

He said anybody who had the opportunity of being the President of the country should only be thinking of how to improve the lot of the people.

Osinbajo said, “It is madness for anybody in our position to be looking for money.

“According to him, God put people in a position of authority for them to be able to do something for their people.

“I think if any Nigerian gets the chance to be President of the country, there is nothing he/she is looking for anymore, except that, while there, you improve the lot of the people.”

Osinbajo reiterated his position that no economy could tolerate the level of corruption seen in Nigeria without the consequence.

He regretted that while Nigerians were being killed by the Boko Haram fighters, people could not account for $15bn meant for the purchase of security equipment to fight the insurgents.

The Vice-President also explained how vandalism of oil installations had contributed to the recession being witnessed in the country.

He said Nigeria had lost several millions of barrels of crude oil due to the activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

On power, the Vice-President said the country was producing 5,000MW of power for the first time by early 2016, but by February 2016 the Forcados terminal was destroyed by militants.

As a result of the vandalism, he said 40 per cent of the gas used to fire the power plants was lost and the country was down to 2,500MW of power.

He observed that at the time the militants started blowing up oil and gas installations, the amnesty stipends were still being paid, insisting that they went violent because of ongoing investigation of corrupt persons.

“Nothing changed, the only reason is that we are investigating people who have stolen money,” Osinbajo said.

He added that the country was losing one million barrels of oil a day, nothing that, that was 60 per cent of the country’s revenues, and there was nowhere such an amount of revenue would be lost that people would not experience economic challenge and recession.

While expressing optimism that the country would come out of the recession, Osinbajo stated that “there is no question at all, God has a reason for bringing us in at this time and God helping us, we will see a change in this country.”

He urged the Church and all religious leaders to stand up against corruption, stressing that if this government had been doing the right thing by fighting corruption, the Church should support it.

He also assured his guests that the Federal Government was working hard to end the problem of the ravaging herdsmen.

Osinbajo said the President had instructed the police and the military to act and deal with the herdsmen’s menace.

He said those behind the herdsmen’s violence were criminals.

While calling on honest men in the country to work together, Osinbajo said God had structured Nigeria in such a way that no one could dominate another.

Source: Punch NG

The Code of Conduct Bureau has begun massive verification of assets declared by top serving and former public officers at the federal, state and local government levels.

A statement by the Chairman of the CCB, Mr. Sam Saba, released by the Press and Protocol Unit of the bureau on Thursday, stated that the exercise involved physical appearance of the concerned public officers before the bureau for conference and field verifications of their declared assets.

Conference verification requires public officers to present documents relating to their declared assets to designated officials of the bureau.

On the other hand, field verification involves public officers taking CCB officials to locations of their declared landed, fixed and other assets that could not be conveniently moved to the bureau’s office.

He stated that by virtue of Paragraph 11 of Part 1 of the Fifth Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended), “every public officer is required to submit to the Code of Conduct Bureau a written declaration of all properties, assets and liabilities and those of his/her spouse (if not a public officer) and his unmarried children under the age of 18 years.”

He added that any statement in the declaration, found to be false by any authorities or persons authorised to verify it, “shall be deemed to be a breach of the code”.

He stated, “To this end, the Bureau has commenced its 2016 4th Quarter Cycle of Conference and Field Verification of Assets of top public officers. Accordingly, letters of invitation have been dispatched to ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, service chiefs and other top public officers.

“All invited public officers are to note that failure to honour the invitation by the CCB in this regard is a breach of the provisions of the constitution and could lead to prosecution at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“Public officers not yet invited are to await their letters of invitation.”

He listed 76 public officers that had been invited by the bureau with a threat of the possibility of prosecution if they fail to honour the invitation.

Among the 76 invitees are 30 ministers whom, according to the bureau, have yet to submit themselves to the exercise.

According to the bureau, ministers who have yet to submit themselves for the verification are Rotimi Amaechi (Transportation); Babatunde Fashola (Power, Works and Housing); Ibe Kachikwu (Petroleum Resources (State); Abubakar Malami (Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice); Adebayo Shittu (Communications); Dr. Kayode Fayemi (Solid Minerals and Steel Development); Audu Ogbeh (Agriculture and Rural Development).

Others include Senator Aisha Alhassan (Women Affairs and Social Development); Solomon Dalung (Youths & Sports Development); Osagie Ehanire (Health (State)); Usani Usani (Niger Delta Affairs); Prof. Anthony Anwukah (Education (State)); Lai Mohammed (Information and Culture), and Gen. Ali Mansur (retd.) (Defence).

The list also includes Senator Udo Udoma (Budget and National Planning); Ibrahim Jibril (Environment (State)); Suleiman Adamu (Water Resources and Rural Development); Mustapha Shehuri (Power (State)); Prof. Claudius Daramola (Niger Delta Affairs (State)) and Kemi Adeosun (Finance) as those who have not submitted themselves to verification.

The rest are Prof. Isaac Adewole (Health); Okechukwu Enelamah (Trade, Investment and Industry); Geoffrey Onyema (Foreign Affairs ); Muhammadu Bello (Federal Capital Territory); Senator Hadi Sirika (Aviation (State)); Hajiya Khadija Bukar (Foreign Affairs(State)); Senator Chris Ngige (Labour and Employment); Heineken Lokpobiri (Agriculture and Rural Development (State)); Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu (Science and Technology); and Abubakar Bwari (Solid Minerals (State) ).

The rest of the public officers still expected to submit themselves to the bureau are the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs. Oyo-Ita Ekanem; Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Abayomi Olanishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadique; and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibas Ibok.

Also on the list are the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase; Chairman, Police Service Commission, Chief Mike Okiro; Controller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, Babatunde Mohammed; Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Waziri Adio; Director-General of National Pension Commission, Mrs. Chinelo Amazu; and Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer, Export Promotion Council, Mr. Olusegun Awolowo.

Also yet to turn up for the CCB verification are the Director-General, National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Sule Kazaure; Executive Secretary, Nigeria Sao-Tome & Principle Joint Development Authority, Kashim Tumash; Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru; Controller-General of Federal Fire Service, Anebi Garba; Director-General, Budget and National Planning, Mr. Ben Akabueze, and Managing Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Commission, Ibrahim Umaru.

Others include the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Abubakar Adamu; Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority, Mrs. Hadiza Usman; Managing Director, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria, Ahmed Kuru, and Controller-General of MSCDS, Muhammad Abdullahi.

The Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, who are on the list, are Ntom Chukwu, Folusho Adebanjo, Emmanuel Inyang, Maigari Dikko, Joshak Habila, Shuaibu Gambo, and Hyacinth Dagala.

An Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Bube, is also on the list.

Military officers, whose names appear on the list, are Real Admiral Joseph Osa (Commandant, Operation Delta Safe) and Major General M. A. Koleoso (GOC Tradoc).

The CCB also listed a number of Federal Commissioners of the Civil Service Commission and three Group Executive Directors of the NNPC, who are yet to submit themselves to the CCB’s verification.

In the statement, the CCB stated that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, and five other ministers, among 15 other former and serving public officers, had submitted themselves to the asset verification.

Buratai recently became the target of scathing public scrutiny when reports of his choice $1.5m properties, which he claimed were acquired in the name of his wife in Dubai, hit the public space.

Saba, confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone that all the 15 persons, whose assets had been verified, had been issued a certificate of Conference Verification/Field Verification.

“The Chief of Army Staff was the first to be issued his certificate. We started issuing to others last week,” he said.

Responding to further inquiry about whether the certificate issued by the CCB implied that the cleared public officers were free from liability of criminal prosecution, Saba stated, “Even though the tribunal (Code of Conduct Tribunal) is the institution with the power of adjudication in asset declaration breaches, the certificate means that from our own end, we are satisfied with the verification that we have done.”

The five cleared ministers are Abdulrahman Dambazau (Interior); Zainab Shamsuna (Budget & National Planning); Adamu Adamu (Education); Aisha Abubakar (Minister of Trade, Investment & Industry (State)); and Amina Mohammed (Minister of Environment).

The rest of the former and serving public officers already cleared by the CCB are the immediate past Secretary of the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood; a former Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Julius Okojie, and a former Controller-General, Nigerian Prisons Service, Ezenwa Peter.

They also include the Acting MD/CEO, Niger Delta Development Commission, Semenitari Tamunoibim; Controller-General, Nigeria Customs Service, Col. Ibrahim Ali (retd.); Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Boboye Oyeyemi; and Federal Commissioner, Civil Service Commission, Hope Ikrirko.

The CCB boss commended those that had turned up for the exercise.

Source: Punch NG

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said the outcome of the governorship election in Edo State reflected the mood of the people of the state.

He therefore congratulated the government and people of the state on the successful conclusion of the election and the victory of the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Godwin Obaseki, at the polls.

According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President conveyed his congratulatory message in a telephone conversation he had with Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

Buhari was said to have commended what he described as the well-articulated campaign programme of the APC in the state, the doggedness of the governor, governor-elect and party members.

He lauded them for going round the state to reach the people with records of good governance over the years and a promise of continuity.

The President said the outcome of the election clearly reflected the mood of the people to sustain the pedigree of responsiveness, forthrightness and diligence that Oshiomhole brought into the service of his people.

“The victory is good for democracy, for Nigeria and the people of Edo State,” he said.

Buhari said the victory was well-deserved as the campaign train, which he joined, worked hard to sell its people-centered manifesto.

The President also applauded the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, corps members and electorate in ensuring a peaceful election.

INEC had announced that Obaseki won the majority of the votes cast, with a total of 319,483 votes, and he was closely followed by Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the PDP, who polled 253,173 votes.

Source: Punch NG

Most Nigerians who have seen popular comic actor, John Okafor, aka Mr. Ibu, in action will agree that he is a talented comedian and one of a few Nollywood practitioners that are naturally cut out for the roles that they play in the movies.

Okafor has, so far, been able to prove to his fans that he does not only live by making other people to laugh away their sorrows; he is also humour personified.

But the actor, in an interview with our correspondent, also reveals that despite his commitment to making people to laugh, he has had cause to be unhappy, even bitter, on some occasions.

On one of such, Okafor had an axe to grind with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba. He was so bitter that he almost instituted a court action against the management of the hospital.

Recounting what happened, he says, “The matter was actually between the Paediatric Department of the hospital and me. It was in 2011. My wife and our two-year-old son had been kidnapped. After I paid the ransom demanded and they were released by the kidnappers, I returned to Lagos from Enugu.

“Then on January 18, 2011, my son fell ill. He was diagnosed with inflammation of the liver. The hospital suggested that he should be scanned. At the same time, I was informed that I could take my son out of the hospital to get the scan done elsewhere. But the same people later declined, saying that everything had to be done in the hospital because he was too weak to be taken outside.

“After a while, I was told that there was no electricity in the hospital. When I asked if there was no standby generator, they said there was no fuel in it. I offered to pay for fuel only to be told that the man that operated the generator was not around. When I left the place and got back later, the man still had not returned. Then I was advised to write an application and to submit to the admin department.”

After writing the application, Okafor found that there was nobody to receive and treat it. While he was waiting, he was told that his son’s condition required blood transfusion. The actor did everything possible to ensure that the ailing boy was given treatment at the hospital, but his efforts were in vain. Finally, the little boy gave up the ghost.

“That was how my son died. Later, one of the doctors came to me and, without even sympathising with me, asked if I could release my boy’s corpse to him so that they could cut it open and use it to teach other medical students. In that moment, I felt like committing murder for the first time in my life.

“When I told my lawyer what happened at the hospital, he was shocked. He said it was actionable. I told him that I was ready to take the hospital management to court and sue it for $100 million in damages because my son’s death was caused by the carelessness of the professionals whose duty was to save his life. But my lawyer advised me to let go”.

Reflecting on his career, Okafor says he has been publicly embarrassed by fans at different times and in several places. “I quickly forgive them because I was the one that looked for trouble in the first place. On one occasion, somebody came to me and said, ‘Ibu, because of what your jokes have done to me and my family, I promised God that anywhere I meet you, I would slap your face.’ I told him them to go ahead. Then he slapped me so hard that I couldn’t see clearly for two hours,” he says.

Mr. Ibu obviously relishes his status as a popular and relatively comfortable Nollywood actor. It is doubtful that, given a choice, he would have given up acting for any other career. Going down memory lane, the actor reveals that he used to be a boxer and a Karate practitioner. Admitting that only a few people are aware of this aspect of his personal history, he says, “I practised Shotokan Karate for 16 years and I was a member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria. I happen to be the first instructor that was teaching Karate in federal government colleges in Nigeria.”

The actor, no doubt, cuts the picture of a man enjoying a blissful marriage. But, asked if he ever had a girlfriend before he got married, he replied, “I had problems with my relationships with women. Each time I had a new girlfriend, other men would always take her from me. Whenever I fell in love with a girl, somebody would snatch her from me. But I don’t fear any sense of loss because I married the best woman on earth. My wife is a former beauty queen. She was the winner of the 2004 Face of Imo beauty pageant.”

But Okafor says that even now that he is happily married, women have not stopped coming to him for a date. “I don’t woo them, though. They are the ones chasing me. That is part of the price I have to pay for being popular.”

Source: Punch NG