NPOWER INTERVIEWS BEGIN TODAY ONLINE

THE final assessment for over one million Nigerians who applied online for the Federal Government’s 500,000 job scheme for unemployed graduates will begin today.
According to a statement by Laolu Akande, senior special assistant, Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, the assessments in the various categories of the N-Power programme will end on October 18.
The N-Power Programme, which is the job creation and empowerment initiative of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme, also has programmes for non-graduates.
From the assessments, 500,000 job seekers would be picked for the two-year volunteer positions.
According to Akande, candidates will be assessed in phases based on their specific chosen programmes before the final selection.
”Under this phase, applicants are to log in and fill in their phone numbers and surnames as contained in their original application, using their personal profile (which has been opened for every applicant).
In addition, all candidates will be notified by SMS of their assessment the day before.
All assessments will include some personal questions and other questions testing basic knowledge of English, General Knowledge and Quantitative Reasoning.
Applicants will also be tested on other programme-specific questions depending on the programme they applied for.
Applicants can take their tests on a smart-phone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer provided that the devices have internet connection.
According to the statement, applicants can only gain access to their profile for assessment as represented in the schedule which breaks down applicants in batches by the first letter in their surnames.
The schedules for the assessments are as follows:
N-Power Teach: September 20 – September – 28, 2016
N-Power Agro: September 29 – October 1, 2016
N-Power Health: October 2 – October 3, 2016
N-Power Community Education: October 4 – October 6, 2016
N-Power Creative: October 7 – October 9, 2016
N-Power Tech (Software): October 10 – October 12, 2016
N-Power Tech (Hardware): October 13 – October 14t, 2016
N-Power Build: October 15 – October 18, 2016
Based on the schedule, applicants for the N-Power Teach programme will be first in line, starting on Tuesday September 20, 2016 and applicants whose surnames fall between the alphabets V-Z are expected to log in and take their assessments on the stipulated dates.
According to the first letter of surnames, the assessments will be held as follows:
N-Power Teach
20th September 2016 V, W, X, Y, Z
21st September 2016 P, Q, R, T, U
22nd September 2016 Aa – Al
23rd September 2016 Am – Az, B
24th September 2016 O
25th September 2016 M,N
26th September 2016 F, G, H, I
27th September 2016 C, D, E
28th September 2016 J, K, L, S
N-Power Agro
29th September 2016 A, B, C, D, F, G
30th September 2016 E, H, I, J, K, L, M, N
1st October 2016 O – Z
N-Power Health
2nd October 2016 A – I
3rd October 2016 J – Z
N-Power Community Education
4th October 2016 A – G
5th October 2016 H – N, P – T
6th October 2016 O, U, Z
N-Power Creative
7th October 2016 A – E
8th October 2016 F – N
9th October 2016 O – Z
N-Power Tech (Software)
10th October 2016 A – H
11th October 2016 I – R
12th October 2016 S – Z
N-Power Tech (Hardware)
13th October 2016 A – J
14th October 2016 K – Z
N-Power Build
15th October 2016 A – B
16th October 2016 C – I
17th October 2016 J – S
18th October 2016 T – Z.

PRESIDENT OBAMA MEETS BUHARI.

President Obama and Buhari meets at the united nations and hold bilateral talks.

AS RECESSION BITES HARDER,GOVERNOR ABOLISHES TAXES.

Following his conviction that there would be long suffering as a result of the recession in the country, Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday abolished some levies and taxes in the state.
Obiano who addressed the state in special broadcast said abolishment of the levies and taxes was to cushion the effect of the economic downtown on the people.
He said, “Following the formal announcement by the Federal Government that the nation’s economy has gone into a recession, I consider it my duty as your Governor to distil the message of the economic situation of the country down to the grassroots.
“Following this development too, I am happy to announce to you that I have come up with a Stimulus Package that will ease the pain of the recession and help our dear state bounce back to prosperity.
“Brothers and sisters, our country’s painful journey into the current recession is fairly known to us. The events that triggered this decline are very well documented in the public domain. So, I will not go through the details of how we arrived where we are.
“I wish to assure you that after a careful study of the situation, I am more convinced now than ever before that with our fundamentals, our infinite capacity to come back from deficits and our implicit faith in God, our story should be different in Anambra State.
“Consequently, our intervention comes in Four Key Areas: Tax Relief Programme, Special Intervention Programmes for Small and Medium Enterprises, MSMEs and Large Enterprises, Social Intervention Programme for Low Income Households and finally; Intervention in Infrastructure-for-Jobs.”
He said his Tax Relief Programme was meant to evaluate existing taxes, levies and fees in the state and introduce some waivers and in some cases scrap the collection of some illegal levies imposed on the people, adding that they would go a long way to cushioning the impact of the recession on households in the state.
His broadcast also reads inpart, “I hereby suspend the sale of consolidated emblems in Anambra State. I suspend the collection of Hawkers Permit on all streets in the state. I suspend the collection of Wheelbarrow Tax in all markets in the state.
“Lastly, I abolish the imposition of unapproved levies on students in public primary and secondary schools in the state. All these pronouncements shall take immediate effect.
“My role as your Governor is to envisage challenges and provide solutions that will ensure a speedy comeback from difficult situations that require the power and might of a state government.”
Obiano however assured the people that his agricultural policy and various other intervention measures would sustain hope and life for his people in the prevailing hardship and urged them support the government to continue to develop that state.

YAHAYA BELLO IS GOVERNOR OF KOGI- SUPREME COURT

The supreme court of Nigeria, yesterday affirmed Governor Yahaya Bello of APC governor of Kogi state.
Justice Kekere Ekun who pronounced the judgement said Honourable James Faleke’s appeal lacks merit and thereby dismissed.
She also said that the ruling of the lower court dismissing his appeal earlier is upheld. The seven panel of judges who unanimously agreed to the judgement said reasons for the judgement will be given on September 30.
Likewise, the appeal by a former governor of Kogi state Idris Wada has been dismissed...Governor Bello election affirmed by the Supreme Court
Today’s judgement on the November 2015 Kogi gubernatorial comes after series of appeals filed on the matter by the different parties involved.Bello’s emergence as the Kogi state governor came after a former governor of the state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) flag bearer Audu Abubakar died almost at the end of the election.
Abubakar’s death among many others led to the declaration of the Kogi election as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral commission

ARMY WANTS ATM

The Nigerian Army, on Sunday, called on commercial banks to deploy Automated Teller Machines, ATM, to the military barracks in Maiduguri for the use of front line soldiers involved in the ongoing counter-insurgency operation in Borno.
Brig. Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 7 Division, made the call while speaking at a Civil-Military Forum organised by the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri.
Ezugwu was reacting to criticisms by residents that soldiers often refused to join queues at the ATM points in the town.
He said that the army had written several letters to the banks for the deployment of ATM machines to the barracks without much success.
“We have been battling with the issue of lack of ATM in the barracks for the use of soldiers in the front line zone.
“I wrote letters to the banks over seven months ago for them to deploy the ATM at the Maimalari Cantonment for soldiers use, but there is no response yet,” he said.
Ezugwu said that the military was concerned about the development and urged the residents to intervene.
“I want to urge everybody here, especially traditional rulers, to help put pressure on the banks so that they can give us ATM at the barracks and allow you to use the ones in town.
“We are aware of the fact that everybody needs the ATM at one point or another,” he said.
“ A soldier carrying 12 ATM cards at a time must have brought his colleagues’ cards from the frontline to take money and send to their families all over Nigeria.
“We have areas where there is no network, it is only through the ATM that the soldiers can send money home to their families’ he said.
Ezugwu appealed for more understanding from the residents pending when the ATM would be provided by the banks at the barracks.

HERDSMAN GETS PRISON TERM

As most states in gear up to curtail the incessant attracts by herdsmen an
 Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti has sentenced one Ali Haruna to two years imprisonment for taking his cows for grazing in a farmland in Ado-Ekiti and destroying crops.
The Magistrate, Idowu Ayenimo, in his judgement, said the accused was arraigned in his court on Jan 22, 2016 over a two-count charge of wilful and unlawful damage of farm crops at Ago Aduloju in Ado-Ekiti.
The 18-year-old Haruna was confirmed by the four prosecuting witnesses to have been caught in the midnight grazing his cow in the farm belonging to Abdulahi Yaho and Bello Mohammed.
The cash crops said to have destroyed by the cows in the farm included cassava, maize, okro and pepper, all valued at N3 million. In his defence, the defendant had told the court that the owner of the cows lived in Ilorin, Kwara. The magistrate said that the court did not believe Haruna’s defence as it was not credible.
He held that the Police prosecutor, Mr Olasunkanmi Bankole, had proved his case beyond reasonable doubt. He thereby convicted the defendant as charged without option of fine. The magistrate ordered that sentence should run concurrently, explaining that the term was minimal because the offence was committed before the Grazing Law was promulgated in the state.
The defence counsel, Mr Chris Omokhafe, had prayed the court to be liberal in the dispensation of justice, saying that he was a first offender.

BEGGING BANNED IN ABUJA.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, has restated that grazing, begging, street hawking and commercial motorcycle remained banned in the Federal Capital City, Abuja and must be enforced by the security agents.
The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello stated this on Monday in Abuja, after an emergency FCT Security Committee meeting.
Bello stressed that the FCT Administration would continue to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that the ban was effective while following all due processes.
He emphasised that the institutions must be strengthened to carry out their statutory duties in line with the ‘Change Agenda’ of the Federal Government.
He however commended the security community for “the high-level intelligence sharing that has so far assisted the Administration to nip in the bud any security breach in the Territory.”
The security committee condemned the illegal attempt by some criminal gangs that stormed the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre, Kuchiko in Bwari Area Council to rescue some of the inmates at the centre, following the arrest of 687 beggars.
It also decried the illegal use of uncompleted buildings by miscreants and criminals in the FCT, warning that owners of such properties would be held responsible for any security breach traced to their property.
The minister reiterated that owners of such uncompleted buildings must provide security in and around such structures and also ensure the cleanliness of the surrounding areas.
The meeting was attended by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, FCT Police Commissioner, Commandant Guards Brigade, Garrison Commander, heads of Navy and Air Force in the FCT, Director of FCT DSS, Chairmen of the six Area Councils in FCT, Coordinator, AMMC as well as Mandate Secretaries and the heads of Para-military organs in the FCT.ntalive.com

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NOT PERSECUTING GOODLUCK AND WIFE- LAI MOHAMMED.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government led President Muhammadu Buhari, is not persecuting Former President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.
The Minister revealed this in an interview with journalists in Oro, Kwara State, on Tuesday, saying it would be wrong to submit that the Federal Government was probing Goodluck Jonathan or Dame Patience Jonathan.
“If you look at the history of Mrs. Patience Jonathan’s issue, I think she was the one that came out to claim that the money found in the accounts of one of the aides to the former President, her husband, belonged to her”.
“It was not the EFCC that claimed so. She claimed that the money that the guy was being prosecuted for belonged to her. It was only then they later found an extra $5m in another account. it is not as if anybody has gone out to probe Mrs. Jonathan directly or indirectly. Rather. Mrs. Jonathan was the one that said ‘that money for which you are accusing Mr. X actually belongs to me. So, you cannot start talking of prosecution or persecution.”
”“People have always said that no APC politician had been investigated. The question is ‘those who are those being prosecuted today, for what reasons are they being prosecuted?
“It is wrong to say that the government is only investigating and prosecuting PDP members. We have not even started investigating the oil and gas industry. It is not about going out to investigate PDP. No! We lost about 15,000 people. Nobody can, in honesty, accuse the FG of being one sided.’’

Former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, has written a letter the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) explaining  that the $31.4 million connected to the financial fraud levelled against Mr. Waripamo Dudafa by EFCC was for the payment of the medical bills she incurred in London in 2013.

The monies in a local bank and claimed by Mrs. Jonathan were placed on a No Debit Order in the course of investigations into the financial affairs of Mr. Waripamo Dudafa, who served as Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Patience Jonathan claimed ownership of the $31.4 million in the affidavit before a Federal High Court in Lagos.

In the affidavit by Sammie Somiari a legal practitioner on behalf of Patience Jonathan claims that it was Dudafa who helped Mrs Patience Jonathan to open the four bank accounts which the EFCC froze.

This made the EFCC to file an amended 17-count against Dudafa and seven others, including the four companies, with the defendants being accused of conspiring to conceal the monies which the EFCC claimed they ought to have known formed parts of the proceeds of an unlawful act.

The former first lady in her letter to the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu by her lawyers, Granville Abibo (SAN) and Co enjoined the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Skye Bank to lift the restriction placed on the accounts.

In the letter Patience Jonathan admitted that the she is the sole signatory to the accounts and the accounts were card-base. She further went to say that she has been using the account to pay for her medical bill and other personal purposes and that she is a law-abiding citizen.

“It is noteworthy to emphasise that the said accounts, which were in US dollar denomination, were card-based accounts and our client is the sole signatory to these accounts.

“Our client has been operating the said accounts using the cards for her medical bill payments and purchases for her private purposes without any let or hindrance.

“Our client was therefore surprised when the said cards stop functioning on July 7, 2016, or thereabout. Our client immediately, thereupon, contacted Skye Bank Plc through our solicitors.

‘‘It was only then that the bank officials informed our client that the said accounts were placed on a ‘No Debit Order’ following investigations and instruction from your commission and this is without notice to our client by either the bank or the commission.

“It is in the light of the foregoing that we urge you to use your good offices to vacate the ‘No Debit/Freezing Order’ placed on the said accounts.”

“Despite the foregoing, our client, who is a law-abiding citizen, has watched with surprise how efforts are being made surreptitiously to indirectly harass or harangue her and short-change her of her personal funds in breach of her fundamental human rights.

“We urge you sir, to kindly intervene to stop the untoward and wrongful actions of your officials to embarrass, inconvenience and short-change our client.”
Madam Patience Jonathan, on the 17 of February in 2013, had said she died and woke up after seven days during her illness for almost three months.

Patience Jonathan testimony.

According to her testimony in 2013 she said she underwent seven surgery operations within one month and the doctors had given up hope on her survival.

“I remember when Chief Obasanjo was the President of the country, I was close to his late wife, Stella. We worshiped together in this chapel.

It was a painful moment for me that time when she (Stella) died and her corpse was brought here.

“That was how my corpse would have been brought here. It was not an easy experience for me. I actually died, I passed out for more than a week. My intestine and tummy were opened.

“I am not Lazarus but my experience was similar to his. My doctors said all hope was lost.

“A black doctor in London who is with us in this service was flown in when the situation became critical. It was God himself in His infinite mercy that said I will return to Nigeria. God woke me up after seven days.

“I know that some people somehow leaked the information that I was dead. They are people that I trust and rely on; to them, I was dead and I would never return to the country alive. Some of them even sold my things off.

“I won’t say everything here. It is the Lord’s doing that I returned alive. When God says yes, nobody can say no.

CITING “People are always afraid of operation (surgery) but in my own case, while my travail lasted, I was begging for it (surgery) after the third operation because I was going to the theatre everyday. vanguardngr.com

MAKE NIGERIA GREAT AGAIN-BUHARI.

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in
Daura called on Nigerian youths to make
Nigeria great again through pursuit of
knowledge, patriotism
and commitment to values that promote
national unity.
This was contained in a press release made
available to the media by the Senior Special
Assistant to the President on Media &
Publicity, Garba Shehu on Tuesday.
Over 100 National Youth Service Corps
(NYSC) members serving in Daura local
government area, paid a courtesy visit to the
President at his residence in Daura.
President Buhari pledged his unalloyed
commitment to the unity and prosperity
of Nigeria.
He urged them to remain focused in life,
pursue their dreams and reject those fanning
embers of discord and disintegration of
Nigeria.
The President, who specially recognised
corps members from the Niger Delta and
South-Eastern states serving in Daura,
praised the vision of
former President Yakubu Gowon in setting up
the scheme in 1973.
The President said the scheme has
creditably promoted national unity and
cohesion by exposing young people to the
uniqueness and cultural
diversity of Nigeria.
“I asked for those from the other extreme of
Nigeria because I very much appreciate the
NYSC scheme and whenever I see General
Gowon, I
always thank him for that.’’
Speaking specifically to corps members from
the South Eastern states, the President said:
“Tell your colleagues who want Biafra to
forget
about it.’’
“As a military commander, I walked from
Degem, a border town between the north
and the east, to the border between
Cameroons and Nigeria.
“I walked on my foot for most of the 30
months that we fought the Nigeria-Biafra
civil war, in which at least 2 million
Nigerians were
killed.
“We were made by our leaders to go and
fight Biafra not because of money or oil,
because oil was not critical factor then, but
because of
one Nigeria.
“So if leaderships at various levels failed, it
was not the fault of the rest of Nigerians
who have no quarrel with one another.
“So please tell your colleagues that we must
be together to build this country. It is big
enough for us and potentially big enough in
terms
of resources.
”Those who work hard will earn a
respectable living. I have seen this country, I
fought for this country and I will continue to
work for the
unity of this country,’’ the President said.
The Corps Liaison Officer in Daura, Mr
Egbewumi Adebolu, in his remarks, thanked
the President for the honour of receiving
them and
making their stay in Daura memorable.
He said the youths strongly believed in the
programme of the President to reduce
unemployment and create jobs for more
Nigerians.
Adebolu thanked the President for his
personal gifts of cows, bags of rice and cash
to corps members in the community for
Salah celebration.

749,000. CANIDATES APPLY FOR NPOWER JOBS NATIONWIDE.

The Federal Government social investment programme aimed at recruiting 500,000 graduates and 100,000 trainees said it has received 749,000 applications as at the close of the online portal on 31st of August.

The Special Assistant to the President on Social Investment Programme, Mariam Uwais who stated this while speaking to journalists in Abuja said the N-power program received application from all the 774 Local government areas of the country with the highest applicants coming from
Lagos, Oyo, Rivers and Bauchi.
She said they are in the process of compiling the application and commence training of successful applicants by October adding that the training would last a period of one month before the participants are deployed to states to provide extension services.

She disclosed that the participants would be provided with a training device which would be used for the extention services, adding that the aim of the program was to help young Nigerians acquire and develop lifelong skills become solution providers in their communities and become players in the domestic and global markets.

Uwais explained that the programe has been divided into three sections namely, Paid Volunteer Teacher Corps for Graduate (N-Power Corps), Training and Empowerment for Knowledge Work (n-power Knowledge), Build Nigeria Program for Training and Empowerement of Artisans (N-power Build).

She added that the aim of the N-Power Corps was to provide temporary jobs in the area of primary education, agriculture, public health and community education, adding that the programme, which would last for two years, was targeted at employing 500,000 unemployed graduate.

She said trainees would be deployed to their immediate rurual and local communities, where they would assist in improving the inadequacies in the education, health and and agricultural sectors, adding that states government would assist in deployment of beneficiaries to the communities.

The President Aid said that others include the N-Power Knowledge, which would train 25,000 Nigerians in the area of technology, and N-Power Build, which train another 75,000 in the areas of building services, construction, utilities, hospitality and catering, automotive vocations, aluminium and gas services.

“Besides their monthly take home pay estimated at about N23, 000, the selected 500,000 graduates will also get computer devices that will contain information necessary for their specific engagement, as well as information for their continuous training and development. They get to keep the devices even after exiting the programme.

“According to the plan of the Buhari administration, the N-Power Teacher Corps programme is an invaluable opportunity for young Nigerians to make immense economic and social contributions to the nation while developing their skills.
It will also help to address the problems of inadequate teachers in public schools.

MY GOVERNMENT INHERITED NOTHING- BUHARI

Amidst economic recession and unprecedented level of hunger in the land, President Muhammadu Buhari has said he inherited absolutely to legacy from the previous government of former President Goodluck Jonathan. He also said that other administrations of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP led by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and late Umuaru Musa Yar’Adua left nothing to build on.

This was the president also said that patriotic Nigerians ought not express worry over his fight against corruption, assuring that his administration would ensure justice and fairness to all. Buhari spoke to Journalists Monday in Daura after attending Eid prayers to celebrate Eid El Kabir. He however said those who abuse public trust would face justice, in addition to returning their stolen assets to the nation’s coffers. President Buhari in Daura. President Buhari in Daura.

The President expressed gratitude to Nigerians for supporting the Federal Government policies, programmes and actions aimed at improving security, revamping the economy and combating the fight against corruption. ‘‘We should thank God this year, the reports I’m getting, which is very pleasing, is that we will have a bumper harvest this year.

‘‘I want Nigerians to realise that what this government inherited after 16 years of the PDP government was no savings, no infrastructure, no power, no rail, no road and no security. ‘‘Nigerians can see what we have done on Boko Haram and what we are doing to resolve the problem in the Niger Delta. ‘‘Before the elections, we identified three major problems confronting our country.

The first is security; we need to sufficiently secure our country to manage it well. ‘‘The second is economy, especially job for the youths and fighting corruption which is continuous. ‘‘For the youths, graduates and non-graduates who are interested in agriculture, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the CBN are doing something to provide employment for them,’’ the President said.

A statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu stated that President Buhari was observing this year’s Eid holiday in his native home Daura, Katsina State and would return to Abuja after the two-day public holidays.

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RICE PRICE MAY SKYROCKET BY DECEMBER.- MINISTER.

   The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that Nigeria spends about $22bn a year on importation of food. Lokpobiri made this known on Saturday at a town hall meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. He said the development had led to the astronomical rise in price of rice and other commodities, stressing that if Nigerians failed to produce some of the items being imported, before December the price of rice would skyrocket to N40,000 a bag. He said there was a projection that by 2050, Nigeria’s population would be 450 million, wondering what would happen then if the people could not feed themselves now. Lokpobiri said, “For your information, we spend about $22bn a year importing food into Nigeria. We know how many more dollars … and that is why you see the price of rice going up. “Price of rice was N12,000 some months ago, but it is now about N26,000 and if we don’t start producing, by December it could be N40,000. “Rice matures in three months. So, this is a wake up call for Bayelsa people to take the four farms we have seriously. The federal government has four farms in the state in our records. The average land you see in Bayelsa can grow rice, so the colonial masters were not wrong in their assessment when they said Niger Delta could feed not only Nigeria but the entire West Africa sub-region. “Unfortunately, agriculture till today, is not a priority of the Niger Delta as far as the state governments are concerned because of oil.” He said the states in the Niger Delta had yet to give priority to agriculture the way the North-West states such as Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano as well as other states like Lagos, Ebonyi, Anambra, have prioritised it. He said Anambra State for instance, was not owing salaries despite the fact that it does not have oil but raking in money by exporting vegetables.

CHIEFTAINCY LAW TO BE PASSED IMMEDIATELY- ORTOM

Benue state Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom has assured the people of the state that the chieftaincy law recently passed by the state assembly will be passed into law without much delay.
The Governor stated this today in Gungul at a thanksgiving service organized in honour of the special adviser on politics, Hon Saawuan Tarnongu by st Marys Catholic church, Gungul.
The Governor stated that the quick passage of the bill will ensure selection of credible people and called for support by the people.

TODAY IS ARAFAT DAY

Over two million pilgrims from all over
the world, including Nigerians, will today
converge on Mount Arafat (the mount of
Mercy) as this year’s hajj climaxes in
Saudi Arabia.
The 9th Day of Dul-Hijjah is usually
designated as the Arafat Day when
millions of pilgrims gather at the plain of
Arafat as an obligatory ritual of Hajj. It
commemorates the finality of revelation
of the Holy Qur’an, as well as the
completion of the Ḥajj pilgrimage.
The gathering at Arafat is the largest
assemblage of human beings of diverse
races, status and languages. It is a
reminder that everyone is fully
accountable for their deeds and Allah
(God) will take every person into
account.
According to Islamic tradition, the Mount
Arafat was the spot where Adam and Eve
united after Allah expelled them from
Paradise. Fasting is recommended for
the Muslims on the Day of Arafat.
According to the Prophet (peace be upon
him), “Fasting on the Day of Arafat (9th
Dul-Hijjah) is an expiation for (the sins
of) the previous year and an expiation for
(the sins of) the coming year.” (Muslim).
Following the Arafat gathering, Muslims
around the world will tomorrow observe
Eid al-Adha, an Islamic festival to
commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim
(also known as Abraham) to follow
Allah’s (God’s) command to sacrifice his
son, Ishmael.

I HAVE NOT FLED NIGERIA-GABRIEL SUSWAM

 Following speculations that the former Governor of Benue state, Gabriel Suswam has fled Nigeria, he has issued a statement.Read his statement below:



It has been over a year since the mandate of political power changed hands from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), at the Federal level and also here in Benue State.

This change of power came through peaceful, free and fair elections which were preceded by open space for unhindered play of politics in which the people expressed their political preferences and made the choices through the ballot which they deemed most appealing to them.

It was an epoch in our history which was marked loudly and clearly by the power of the free ballot, and rightly the people had high hopes going forward from what could be termed their political investment by their confered mandate.

My pride remains that all of this took place under my watch as Governor of this state, and I am grateful to Almighty God that I was able to surmount the pressures of high office and placed the sovereignty of the people above narrowed personal interests.

By the time we as a political group were leaving the stage of power we had whetted the appetite of the people and lifted their democratic tastes to certain standards above what previously obtained.

It is the reality of having attained such standards of Democracy that today places a minimum level of expectation by the people on the ruling APC controlled government in Benue State. And these are expectations that could only be met through ingenious application of available resources to execution of projects which are of priority to the people.

These expectations in themselves form the basis for a contract between the people and government which is at once immediate and urgent in demand, and under the circumstance there hardly could exist room for excuses for non performance.

Against this reality, I dare say that the governmnt of my successor, Gov. Samuel Ortom will need to evaluate all over again its priorities to align them with the expectations of the people for maximum impact. Spending quantum amounts of time and resources seeking after prosecution of my person and those who served under my administration could hardly pass for the priority of this state in this contemporary times.

While I and the others being arrested on a daily basis may have nothing to fear from those arrests, it could never be ignored that such a trend is hardly helpful to the quest for a better and stronger Benue State which is only possible under an atmosphere of unity of purpose.

May I say here that no governmnt can in all seriousness afford to throw away a sizeable portion of its human resources such as the political family I and others do belong in but which is presently estranged from the ruling government in this state, not by our own making but by the deliberate choice of the governmemt.

I like to call on all PDP faithful in Benue State to remain steadfast, be law-abiding and understand that the role of the opposition which is a necessity thrust on us all by historic circumstances is one we must discharge with a view to building our state more than any other thing else.

In discharging our role as the opposition, we must be mindful of the overall interest of Benue State and work towards ensuring that the electoral gains recorded during the last elections are not frittered away but are sustained and improved upon at all subsequent elections.

This is an historic duty which we must discharge against whatever odds, be they arrests, threat to life  and personal privation, for only through the power of the free ballot can we be able to build a society free and salubrious enough for us and generations after us.

Lastly, I like to dispel the rumour being peddled by government that I have ran away from imminent police arrest. This is a most pedestrian lie which shouldn't be coming from the high offices of government. I will come back after my Medicals to answer any invitation from security agencies when ever such is extended to me.

God bless you all.

WHY NOTHING WORKS IN NIGERIA- BUHARI.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said nothing is working normally in the country because of the total breakdown of our core values over the years.

He said old habits of partisanship, pettiness and immaturity must give way to new order characterized by a new spirit of responsibility, spirit of service, patriotism and sacrifice.

He said Nigerians need attitudinal change and a change of mindset in private and public life.

The President said those asking for the change must first ask themselves, how far they have also changed their ways.

Buhari made the submissions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the launch of national re-orientation campaign, titled “Change Begins With Me.”

He said the nation must be ready to put an end to the tyranny of rent seekers and vested interests, while the majority suffers.

He, however, said Nigerians should not be under any illusion that the changes will happen overnight.

But he expressed confidence that the campaign will help restore our value system and rekindle our nationalistic fervor.

Buhari said:” I am therefore appealing to all Nigerians to be part of this campaign. Our citizens must realize that the change they want to see begins with them, and that personal and social reforms are not theoretic exercise.

“If you have not seen the change in you, you cannot see it in others or even the larger society. In other words, before you ask ‘where is the change they promised us, you must first ask how far have I changed my ways and what have I done to be part of the change for the greater good of society.

“Nigeria today is passing through a challenging moment where hardly anything works in a normal manner. Many have attributed this phenomenon to the total breakdown of our core values over the years.

“It is safe to say today that honesty, hard work, Godliness have given way to all kinds of manifestations of lawlessness and degeneration in our national life. This is why we have among our cardinal objectives ‘change’, which implies the need for a change of attitude and mindset in our everyday life.”

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!!

The Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Tersoo Kpelai, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the State is inviting the following to a crucial meeting on unified standard weights and measures for Benue State. They are:
All Local Government Heads of Revenue
President, Tiv Beranda Co-Operatives Federation, Benue Chapter
Heads of Trader Farmers Association, Benue Chapter
All Heads, Traders Welfare Association, Zone C
President, all farmers association of Nigeria (AFAN), Benue Chapter
President, Kwande Beranda Association
President, Sankera Beranda Association
      ,, Jechira  ,, ,,
      ,, Jemgbagh     ,,        ,,
      ,, Minda ,, ,,
President, Nigeria Fruits Dealers Association, Benue State
Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Benue (RIFAN)
Chairman, Maize Association of Nigeria, Benue chapter
Chairman, Groundnut Farmers Association, Benue chapter
Chairman, Tomato/pepper Association,  ,, ,,
Chairman, Nigeria Soya Beans Association, Benue Chapter
Chairman, Beneseed Farmers Association, Benue Chapter
President, TIV orange  dealers association (TODA)
Chairman, Oracle Business Limited, Makurdi.
Chairman, Public Opinion Awareness Foundation

Date:  Thursday, 8th September, 2016
Venue: Conference Hall of Ultra Modern International Market, Makurdi.
Time: 11 am prompt

According to the statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Mr. Anemba Iorver Vajime, all the invitees are to attend the meeting along with their secretaries without fail as important issues will be discussed.

Signed
ANEMBA  IORVER VAJIME
Chairman, Committee on Unified weight & measure

BUHARI LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TODAY.

President Mohammad Buhari will this morning launch the National re orientation campaign today. Tagged"  Change begins with me".
The event takes place at the Aso rock villa by 10 am.radionigeria.com.

NIGERIA IS DIVIDED- UN.

Nigeria deeply divided, says UN Report
...
...
A REPORT just released by the
United Nations, UN, on Nigeria’s Common
Country Analysis, CCA, has revealed a
deeply divided society on the basis of the
plurality of ethnic, religious and regional
identities that had tended to define the
country’s political existence.
The report also painted a gloomy picture,
with most of the development and social
indices in the country registering at levels
unacceptable.
The report, which was read during a
consultative meeting on the formulation of
the UN Development Assistance Framework
IV (UNDAF IV) for the South East geo-
political zone in Awka observed that for
decades, different segments of Nigeria’s
population had, at different times, expressed
feelings of marginalization, of being short –
changed, dominated, oppressed, threatened,
or even targeted for elimination.
The report read in part: “Nigeria, with a
population of over 75 million, is the most
populous nation in Africa and the seventh
most populous in the world. Her population
will be approximately 200 million by 2019
and over 400 million by 2050, becoming one
of the top five populous countries in the
world.
“Nigeria is one of the poorest and most
unequal countries in the world, with over 80
million or 64% of her population living below
poverty line. The situation has not changed
over the decades, but is increasing. Poverty
and hunger have remained high in rural
areas, remote communities and among
female –headed households and these cut
across the six geo-political zones, with
prevalence ranging from approximately 46.9
percent in the South West to 74.3 percent in
North West and North East.
“In Nigeria, 37% of children under five years
old were stunted, 18 percent wasted, 29%
underweight and overall, only 10% of
children aged 6-23 months are fed
appropriately based on recommended infant
and young children feeding practices.
“Youth unemployment which is 42% in 2016
is very high, creating poverty, helplessness,
despair and easy target for crime and
terrorism. Over 10 million children of
school age are out of schools with no
knowledge and skills.
“Nigeria’s economy is currently in a
recession and it is estimated that
government revenues have fallen by as
much as 33 percent, which has further
resulted in the contraction of the Gross
Domestic Product, GDP, by 0.36 percent in
the first three months of 2016.
“The vulnerable macroeconomic
environment in Nigeria is affecting investors’
confidence in the domestic economy.”
When contacted last night to react to the
report, federal government officials said they
where not aware of it and couldn’t,
therefore, react.
“Despite the fact that Nigeria is a signatory
to a number of protocols on sustainable and
renewable environment, the country had,
over the decades, failed to protect the
environment, ecosystem and natural
resources. Over-exploitation of natural
resources and pollution of the environment,
desertification are exposing the population
to vulnerability and risks caused by climate
change, among others.
“Nigeria is well-endowed with forest
resources, accounting for 2.5% of GDP. But
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of
forest loss in the world. Between 1990 and
2000, Nigeria lost an average of 409,700
hectares of forest per year on average
deforestation rate of 3.5% per annum.
“Increase in population, human activities like
farming, construction and cutting of trees,
use of wood and effect of climate change
lead to environmental destruction across
Nigeria.”
This in turn leads to unpredictable weather,
drought and floods. The implication of
destruction of the environment includes
reduced agricultural productivity, destruction
of property and loss of lives.
“Nigeria faces humanitarian and emergency
crises of considerable proportions fueled by
a combination of factors including climate
change, inter-communal conflicts and
violence, insurgency, recurring floods, heavy
handed tactics of security forces in
combating crime and insurgency. The
overall consequence is the situation of
systematic and chronic internal
displacement that has given rise to different
humanitarian crises that include the most
egregious and dehumanizing human rights
abuses.
“Over 80 million Nigerians live in poverty and
are affected in one way or the other by the
current humanitarian crisis. Available reports
indicate that there are over 3.3 million
Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, which is
Africa’s largest, ranking behind Syria and
Columbia on a global scale.
“The major challenges Nigeria is currently
facing that constrain her economic growth
and social development are lack of good
governance, general increased insecurity
across geo-political zones in North East,
Niger Delta and Lake Chad region in
particular. The situation is exacerbated by
the existence of systematic accountability
challenges, limited capacities of
independent institutions/ commissions and
limited accountability at the federal, states
and local government levels.
“Nigeria is a deeply divided society
considering the plurality of ethnic, religious
and regional identities that define her
political existence. Since independence in
1960, Nigeria has struggled to build and
sustain national integration. For decades,
different segments of Nigeria’s population
had, at different times, expressed feelings
of marginalization, of being short-changed,
dominated, oppressed, threatened, or even
targeted for elimination.”
The report recommended that transforming
and diversifying Nigeria’s development paths
needed a radical and new approach,
especially by investing in people and in a
strong more dynamic and inclusive
productive informal sector.
It also called for a design and support of
joint programmes to address good
governance, peace and security.